Author's Note: Tigger Warning: talk about abortion and pregnancy complications. Other than that my a bit corny maybe ;-)

March 27th, 2020

14

Erin awoke in Jay's arms in what felt likes minutes after they finally went to bed the night before. After their little "session" in the secret office, they had still needed to get their reports done and reread. They both had been tired after that, Jay, because he hadn't had enough sleep the night before, and Erin, because she was still easily tired after recuperating from the virus. Hence, they just snuggled in bed, and had fallen in asleep in each other's arms.

It felt weird, and so damn normal and right at the same time. Jay's closeness made her feel so safe like it always had. But something was different waking in his arms like this: The reason she'd awoken. There was a soft whimpering and louder demanding for "Mommy" coming from the next room.

Erin sighted, and freed herself from Jay's arms. He didn't even stir. He must have been really tired. As Sophia's cries grew louder, the sleep drunken Erin got into her room, and closed the door behind her, that Jay could go on sleeping.

"Hey, Baby! What is it?" she asked while she sat down at Sophia's bed. She stroked her head and realized her daughter felt quite warm, and had a running nose, and was coughing between sobs.

Erin turned on the bedside lamp to have a better look at Sophia. She put her on her lap, shushing her.

"Let's go downstairs, I make you a tea," she said picking her up.

In the kitchen she sat Sophia down on one of the chairs, which Sophia didn't like, and paid back with even louder screaming. Erin got a feeding cup and a bag of baby tea out of the cupboards fast and filled it with the cooking temperature water from the extra faucet of the kitchen sink. One good thing about owning such an antique kitchen, you wouldn't need a water boiler. While the tea was steeping, she scooped up Sophia again, and tried to sooth her. When her efforts were beginning to take effect, she got the tea bag out and added some cooler water from a bottle, that the tea was drinkable for Sophia. She put the feeding cup on Sophia's mouth, who began to drink between small sobs. When the cup was empty, Erin convinced Sophia to open her mouth for her. She carefully felt Sophia's upper jaw.

"Just what I thought! Your last baby tooth is breaking through. Sophia is becoming a big girl!" she said hopping Sophia a bit on her hip.

Sophia looked at her funny, and in the next moment puked all over her.

"Great!" Erin said. It was mainly the freshly drunken tea, but there were some bits of pizza as well. "You're feeling better now, Baby?"

Sophia shook her head. Before she could puke again, Erin held her over the sink. There was more pizza this time.

Erin got a napkin and cleaned Sophia's face. "Now better?" she asked.

Sophia nodded.

Erin put some water on the napkin and cleaned Sophia's face again. Then she put some water in the feeding cup. "Drink just a little, will you?"

Sophia nodded, and swallowed some water. She took Sophia downstairs and cleaned her up some more. She got a washcloth and filled it with an ice cube in the kitchen.

"Here, you can suck a bit on this one," she told her daughter before she went upstairs with her again. She put Sophia in a new body. With that and her washcloth, she put Sophia back into her bed. Sophia whimpered again when Erin was about to leave the room. "I'll be back in a sec, sweetheart, I just want to soak our puky clothes, and get myself something new to wear." She went back to Sophia and put her Mouse into her arms. "Your Mouse will take care of you for a moment."

Sophia hugged the Mouse and turned around.

The moment Erin left the room again, the wailing became louder again. Erin quickly made it to the bathroom, and pulled her night gown off, and put it in the sink with some water and Sophia's bodysuit. In the bedroom the wailing was louder. She quickly checked on Jay, but he was still sleeping. She didn't get how he could sleep with that much noise, and the light on, but hurried, nevertheless. She just grabbed a T-Shirt from the closet, turned the light off again, and closed the door to Sophia's room again. Sophia became quieter as soon as she saw her mother. Erin put the T-Shirt on, and realized in her half sleep drunken state, that it must have been one of Jay's, as it was quite large on her. She looked down on herself and recognized a Blackhawk emblem quite familiar to her. For a split second she thought, if that might be the shirt she used to sleep in at his place, when they still had been living in separate places all those years ago. But he wouldn't have kept it, or brought it, would he? Sophia soon distracted her from those thoughts with a loud sneeze. Erin got her a tissue, and another one just in case, and lay down behind her daughter, trying to calm her down with some soothing tones and stroking of her hair. Eventually, Sophia drifted off to sleep again. Moments later, Erin followed.

Jay woke to his alarm at 6:30 am. That was strange. There was no Sophia kicking any limbs to his side nor could he feel Erin anywhere close. He ended his alarm and looked around.

The door to the adjoining bathroom was slightly open, but there were no sounds coming from there, thus it was probably empty. The door to Sophia's room was closed. But there was no sound coming from that room as well. Or anywhere else in the house. You normally could hear, if Sophia was up, even if doors were closed.

If Sophia had been up during the night, he surely would have heard something, wouldn't he? Did Erin flee to Sophia's room, because she regretted what had happened last night? He shook his head and got up.

Carefully, he opened the door to Sophia's room. Erin was indeed in Sophia's bed. So was Sophia, mouth open, and drooling. On the floor in front of the bed was a wet washcloth. Jay came closer and picked up the washcloth. He bent down to Sophia and was about to touch her face checking on her when Erin's hand grabbed his in reflex. She opened her eyes. „Oh, you!" she murmured with a very hoarsy sleepy voice.

„Who did you expect?" Jay whispered.

Erin smiled weakly. „Sorry!"

„Everything ok with Sophia?" he asked concerned.

She checked her daughter's head for temperature.

„I think she's better."

Sophia opened her eyes, and immediately sneezed. Erin grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and cleaned Sophia's nose. Sophia whimpered, and closed her eyes again.

„Okay, maybe not completely," she said to Jay. She tried to get up, but Sophia protested.

Jay tried to carefully touch Sophia's cheek, but that was answered by a very defensive sound from Sophia's side.

He looked confused at Erin.

"She's teething," she explained. "Don't take it personally."

She sat up, this time ignoring Sophia's protests. Jay realized she was wearing his old Blackhawks T-shirt. He had to smile.

"You stole my T-shirt again!" he said with a cocky grin.

Erin looked down at herself and realized just what t-shirt she was wearing. She was slightly blushing. "Sorry! Sophia puked on my night gown and I just grabbed something from the closet in the dark." She cringed when she realized what she'd said. She quickly hid her face by kissing Sophia's head. Then she realized the puky clothes were still soaking in the sink, and looked up again, with wide eyes. Against her expectations, Jay was grinning.

"That's not funny!" she complained.

That widened his grin only. "Actually, it kind of is." He laughed.

"Well, it wasn't this night!" she said more annoyed than she intended to.

"I'm sorry, Erin!" Jay said still amused. He got more serious. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Well, Sophia was loud enough to have waken you. I thought if that wouldn't do the trick, you probably really needed your sleep. After all you did something quite tiring last night." She winked at him.

So, she definitely hadn't fled on him. That gave him courage to be sassier. "Obviously, it wasn't too tiring for you, was it?" he said kissing her.

"Nuh, I could handle more!" she winked at him after the kiss.

Sophia protested grunting gibberish.

Jay looked at her and back at Erin. "Doesn't she like Daddy kissing Mommy?" he asked with some uncertainty in his voice.

"Don't take it too personally. She's always grumpy when she's teething." Erin tried to get up again.

"Mommy!" Sophia protested.

Erin sighted.

"Shall I still drive you to Celina before work or isn't that the best idea considering..." Jay pointed towards Sophia.

Erin looked at the child again and tested her forehead for temperature. „No, we should still go. She isn't running a fever, just cranky, but that might change as soon as she's more awake and had something to eat. You were right, it's important that I get my eyes checked ASAP. It's just too dangerous otherwise."

Jay nodded.

Erin continued towards Sophia. "Hey Sophia, what do you think? Shall we go to the park today, and see the great lake? Maybe we can feed the birdies there?"

Sophia opened her eyes at that. "Birdies?" she asked.

"Yes, there are supposed to be ducks and even swans, and maybe we see a squirrel? You love squirrels!"

Sophia smiled. "Kirrels!"

"So, shall we get breakfast, that Daddy can drive us?"

Sophia sat up and nodded. She put her arms up for Jay to take her.

"That was easy!" he said amazed as he scooped her up.

"Can you prepare breakfast, and I clear the mess in the bathroom, and take a shower. I still feel like I smell like puke. And then we change?" Erin asked while she got out of bed as well.

"What mess?" Jay asked.

"Uh! You haven't seen yet? Our puky clothes should be still soaking in the sink."

"Yucky!" Sophia commented.

"Exactly, Sophia!" Jay commented amused. Then he looked at Erin. "Sure!"

"There are some glasses of mash in the kitchen you could microwave for her. I don't think she'd be good with bread this morning."

Jay nodded. Then he added. "Did I tell you, that I really like you wearing that tee?"

Erin looked down at herself and then back at him. "Not in the last three years, you didn't. It's really the same shirt, isn't it?"

Jay nodded.

Erin didn't know what to say. Why did he pack it? By accident? Or intentionally? Couldn't be the last, could it? She'd understood Hailey had just broken up with him the night before they left for Mercer. Thus, he must have already have packed by then, mustn't he? Did he pack the tee after the conversation with Hailey and thus seamlessly jumped from one relationship to next? Did they even have a relationship yet? Erin rolled her eyes to herself. She needed to get a grip on herself! Wash the clothes, take a shower, get dressed, have breakfast.

Two hours later, Jay dropped Erin and Sophia off in front of an optometrist in Celina. As it was quite early, they were the first customers of the day. Their temperature was taken in the entrance. The assistant looked very critically at Sophia's running nose.

„I'm sorry, Mam, but you can't come in here with a sick child," she said.

„She's not sick, she's teething," Erin explained.

But the assistant wouldn't budge. Erin took out her PPE-masks from New York.

„And if we wear these?" She asked.

„I have to ask!" the Assistant went inside again. She came back smiling.

„That would be fine!"

Erin had already her mask on and was about to put the other one on Sophia, when she said loud. „No!"

„Please, Baby, only for the shop!"

„No!" Sophia insisted.

Erin looked up at the assistant. „Would it be okay, if only I wore a mask?" She asked.

„I'm sorry, Mam, but your child has the running nose!"

Erin didn't know what to do. She needed to get her eyes checked out, but she could hardly tell the lady that they already had had the virus, or could she? These people obviously believed in the virus and treated it seriously enough. Thus, she decided to try.

„Listen," Erin looked at the assistant's name tag. „Corina. I can assure you my daughter doesn't have COVID."

„I believe that you believe that, Miss. But you can't know that, can you?" Corina replied.

„Actually, I can. She already had it at the beginning of the month. So did I, but we're both cleared now. We took a test last week and it came back negative for the both of us."

Corina looked at her non-believing. „There weren't any COVID-cases in Ohio by the beginning of this month," she said.

„We moved here from Chicago. We were some of the first cases over there. Caught in during a visit in New York."

Corina still looked at her critically. "Do you have proof of that?"

Unfortunately, all Erin had were the FBIs test results on her phones, which pointed out both, that they had been done in New York and by an FBI lab, which was both too risky to show Corina.

Thus, she tried to make Sophia wear the mask again. She still protested loudly. Erin couldn't hold that against her. The mask was far too big for her.

Erin got an idea. "I'll call my doctor," Erin said and dialed Will's number, but he wouldn't pick up. She tried Med's number next, but only reached a machine telling her with which symptoms she should stay at home, and with which she should go to the closest testing station.

"I can't reach my doctor!" she told Corina.

"In that case, I can't let you in."

Now Erin got annoyed, and was about to get really unfriendly with Corina, when Will called her back.

"Sorry, Erin, I was at a consult. Everything okay? Did you get your eyes checked out?"

"Actually, I'm just trying to do that just now, but they won't let me in the practice, because Sophia has a running nose. She's teething."

"How can I help?" Will asked. He was obviously in a hurry.

"You could call the optometrist from a med phone and tell them we both had the virus by the beginning of the month, and thus can't be contagious right now."

"Okay, send me the number. I try to find a landline ASAP."

"Thanks, Will!"

"Anything for my family," he said with some humor in his voice, and hung up.

Erin asked Corina for the number. About five minutes later, an older black man came to the door.

"You Mrs. Halstead?" he asked.

Erin nodded.

„I'm Mr. Michaels. Your doctor from Chicago called me and assured me that you have had the virus. I'm sorry, that you had to wait outside, but during these times, I ask my assistant to be extra careful. I hope you understand." He looked at her apologetically.

„I do, believe me, it's not a disease I would have wanted to catch, and we still had mild version."

The older man nodded and let both of them inside. There, Corina still looked critically at her while Erin used the desinfectant dispenser for her hands.

„Corina, would you be so kind to offer our customers something to drink?" the older man asked.

Corina nodded and went to the back.

„So, your doctor, or brother-in-law?, told me your eyesight worsened lately, and that he believes it has to do with the virus."

Erin shrugged. „I'm not a doctor. But I'm having real problems making out street signs lately."

Michaels nodded. „We'll have a look at that." He pointed to the chair of examination to the left. Then he bent down to Sophia. „And you, young lady, can play over there." He showed Sophia the kids' corner of his practice.

Sophia looked at Erin for reassurance. She bent down to her daughter, opened the security belt of Sophia's stroller, and let her hop off.

Mr. Michaels took his time examining Erin's eyes. It took several trials for her to finally be able to read all the letters and ciphers shown. When she finally passed that test, Mr. Michaels explained to her that her eyesight had worsened on both eyes. Minus two dioptres on the left eye and minus 1 point 25 on the right with some corneal irregularities as well. „That's still not a lot," Michaels explained, „but it's enough not to be ignored, and it's actually a lot, if you really had perfect eyesight before the illness." He looked at her thoughtfully. „I could make some glasses for you and offer you contacts, which you could try, but you should still see an ophthalmologist about that sudden change. He could also check if your retina is damaged. Do you have any other symptoms?"

„My hands are shaking from time to time," Erin admitted.

„Then maybe, you should also see a neurologist," Michaels said looking worried.

„Well, that'll be difficult as long as we are in lockdown, but I can try to make an appointment," Erin lied. „For now, I would take the contacts and glasses, please."

„As you please!" Michaels smiled warm heartedly at her. „I can sell you the contacts right away, but you'd have to pick the glasses later. It's going to take me till the afternoon to fit the glasses inside. Would that be ok with you?" Erin nodded getting up from the chair. Michaels left her with Corina who showed her different models of glasses. Sophia helped her pick one. She said a definite no on one that really looked what a librarian would wear, although maybe Jay would have had a big laugh on that one, and decided for a more modern, but not too extravagant or hipstery model. She put the contacts in at the shop already. After the first strange sensation had faded, and her eyes were adjusting to the new material she could really make out the differences. She paid with her own credit card and thanked Corina and Mr. Michaels and was about to get Sophia who was back in the kid's corner, when the girls said: „Pee! Bath!"

Erin looked at Corina. „Is there a bathroom we could use, that I can change her?"

Corina smiled, and showed her to the room.

When Erin took off her daughter's diaper, she realized it wasn't wet at all. Sophia pointed to the toilet. „Sophia pee!"

„Wow, you really are a big girl now!" Erin said, when she sat her down on the toilet, holding her as the toilet was of course much too big for her.

When she wanted to put the new diaper on Sophia afterwards, she protested. „No!"

Erin explained her, that there wouldn't be any toilets at the lake plus she hadn't packed neither panties nor training panties, just bodies and diapers. Sophia still persisted shaking her head.

„Baby, it's far too cold to walk outside without any panties and it won't be comfortable for you to walk in a body. Just take the diaper in case, please?" Erin asked desperately.

„No!" Sophia still insisted.

„You don't have to use the diaper, just wear it!" Erin kept on trying. „I am really proud of you, that you didn't need this last diaper, I really am." She tried being the good cop now. „If you manage to keep this one on without wetting it, Daddy and I will give you something nice. What would you like?" Now she tried to bribe her.

Sophia looked up at her pondering. „Tricycle!" She said out loud.

„You want a tricycle?" Erin was surprised, but the remembered that Sophia had loved the tricycles at her day care.

Erin smiled. „Fine! You put that diaper on now, and another one, if you need to go potty again during the day. Or I try to get training panties for you somewhere. If everything stays clean, and there are not major accidents till the Easter bunny is coming, it'll bring you a tricycle."

Sophia smiled and nodded.

„But you need to wear the diaper now, just not use it. Understood?"

Finally, Sophia let Erin put on that diaper and close the body. After washing their hands, they thanked Mr. Michaels and his assistant again, and said to be back in the afternoon for the glasses.

The City of Celina was quiet. It was also small. Except for the impressive Court House and some churches there were only few buildings that had more than two stories. There was a cinema, a quite old fashioned one, and a few more stores than in Coldwater, but the residential areas looked quite similar to the ones over there. The park at the lake was nice, though. It was a pity, that the playground was closed. It looked as if Sophia would have enjoyed it. Erin soon pushed away from it towards the lakeside because she didn't want Sophia to throw another tantrum because she wanted something she couldn't get.

The lakeside was also quite nice, not like Chicago of course, but there was water stretching almost to the horizon, and boats, and most importantly ducks and swans to feed for Sophia. They fed them with the old bread they brought with them. Sophia loved it. Afterwards, they had lunch at a bench with sandwiches Erin had hastily made in morning. The bread was soft enough for Sophia to chew. They were almost alone outside. The people of Celina seemed to take lockdown more seriously than the ones in Coldwater. Erin could make out only one person on a bench far away, but that was about it.

After lunch, and another potty break in the bushes of the park, somehow changing diapers appeared easier than looking for a potty spot in a city in lockdown, Erin decided to take a walk at the lake side hoping Sophia would fall asleep in the stroller. She did before they reached the other person on the bench.

When she came closer to the person, she recognized Brianna. She starred at the lake, looking unhappy and sad. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see Erin and Sophia approaching. Erin thought, if she should maybe turn around and leave Brianna on her own. She didn't look like she wanted to see someone. But then again, Erin hadn't really spoken to her after Johnny had picked her up at the hospital. Building a relationship with Brianna was part of her job. In addition, she began to care about her and the boy. She knew, she had to keep a professional distance to them, but she couldn't help caring for them. Hopefully, in the end they would be able to lock up Johnny and find no evidence that Brianna herself was involved neither in the sons of mercy nor directly with KAnon. But reaching that end would take time.

Erin began to doubt, that they would have gathered enough evidence by Easter. Especially, as with the lockdown in place, everything was slowed down. There would be no rallies of any politicians the Sons of Mercy could target anytime soon. It would be on Jay to find out, what the Sons were planning instead. What she was here to do, was to see how the women's believes in KAnon-theories influenced their husbands' actions, if they were more than just believers, and if their beliefs triggered any illegal actions by themselves. To get this information she needed their trust. Therefore, walking away, when she saw one of them in despair, wasn't really an option, neither professionally nor personally. Thus, Erin came closer and alerted Brianna to her present.

"Hey, Brianna, what are you doing here?" she said carefully.

Brianna looked up in shock. "Erin?"

"Yes, are you ok?" Erin asked.

"I'm fine," Brianna lied. She tried a smile. "How are you? Why are you in Celina?"

Erin scanned her. "Sophia and I wanted to see the lake. We fed the duckies. Now she's asleep." She pointed to the sleeping child. "Where's Alex?"

"At his grandma's. She has the day off. Working on the weekend again. I am supposed to be on bed rest, but I couldn't go on staring at the ceiling and thinking dark thoughts. So, I came here." She looked up. "Sorry, I don't know you that well. I shouldn't have said anything."

Erin tried a smile. "May I sit down?" she asked.

Brianna nodded and made some room for Erin.

"Listen, Brianna, I know, I'm still a stranger to you. But you obviously trusted me enough to leave your child with me. If you want, you can trust me with whatever is putting you down now. Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger, than someone close to you."

Brianna looked at her and nodded but didn't say anything.

"Is everything ok, with the baby?" Erin carefully asked.

Brianna shook her head and began to cry. Erin immediately put her arm around Brianna. That made Brianna cry even more.

Erin tried to sooth her, but Brianna kept on crying unable to talk. Thus, Erin just carefully stroked Brianna's back and let her cry. After a while she soothed herself, wiping away the tears, and looked at Erin apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Erin. Normally I'm not so weak. Must be the hormones."

"Hey, you are not weak! It's good to let it all out. If you are able to do that, I'd rather consider it a sign of strength. Especially, if it is in front of someone you don't know that well yet." Erin tried a reassuring smile on her.

"Thanks, Erin!"

"Do you want to talk about it now?" Erin asked again.

"Yeah, maybe I should." She carefully touched her stomach. "There might be something wrong with the baby. I had some bleeding the day before yesterday, that's why I went to the hospital. The baby was still alive, but they had to make a lot of test, and said something wasn't normal. They also said, continuing the pregnancy could put me at risk." She cried again. Erin put her arm around her again and let her talk. "They basically said, I should end the pregnancy. But that is of course not an option!" Brianna said determined.

Without thinking about her cover, Erin asked "Why?"

Brianna looked at her shocked. "Because this baby is alive!"

Erin realized her mistake. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or imply anything." She tried a smile. "It just sometimes helps, me at least, to ask myself why to realize what I really want."

"I want that Baby!" Brianna said defiantly.

"Of course, you do! But doctors are normally not bad people with bad intentions towards their patients. They don't say anything, just to annoy you, or make you miserable. They normally have your best intentions in mind." Erin tried to explain herself further.

"Johnny says, they just want our money. They make up claims to treat us longer so that they can earn more money! It's like with this virus. They say it's really dangerous so they can earn a lot of money from treating symptoms and selling drugs and vaccines."

Erin had to suppress her impulse to role her eyes. "I agree with you, that doctors as well as any professionals have an interest to earn money. Of course, they do. But I just don't believe, they would suggest ending a pregnancy lightly, especially in Catholic Ohio. I also think, they would actually earn more money, if a child can be delivered with complications or without, because they would earn more money in the long run, than from ending a pregnancy prematurely."

Brianna looked at her thinking.

"Also, they would lose a lot of future money, if you and your baby would not make it. So, I think, if they say this pregnancy might endanger you, you shouldn't just ignore it or take that lightly. You have another child, which is already alive, to consider."

"I don't take this lightly!" Brianna said angrily.

"Of course, you don't, I'm sorry!" Erin replied fast.

"The children are both alive for me, and I don't care, if they are not normal or have issues, they are my kids!" Brianna continued enraged.

"Yes, you are right. I'm sorry, I just...", Erin was looking for the right words to say, but maybe there weren't any. "I just would hate for anything bad happening to you. Alex needs his Mommy!"

Brianna cried again.

"Did the doctors say, when you have to decide?" Erin asked.

Brianna looked up angry. "They basically made the decision already. They were ready to cut that baby out of me. I just refused to sign the paper."

"And then?" Erin asked.

"Then Johnny got me out of there."

"Are you still in pain or bleeding?" Erin asked.

"Not for the moment, no!"

"And now? Did you talk to your OB-GYN how to proceed?"

Brianna shook her head.

"Do you have another appointment?" Erin kept asking.

"No! She's only going to tell me what the other doctors told me, that I have to kill the Baby."

Erin had to breath in and out before she could reply. "I'm not sure about that. I mean, after all it's your body, your choice. Isn't that what those feminists keep telling us? If you want to risk keeping the child, she has to support your choice, and treat you as good as she can."

Brianna looked up. "Do you think so?"

Erin grabbed her hands. "I'm sure! And I am more than willing to go there with you."

Brianna tried a weak smile. "That's truly kind of you to offer, neither do I think Johnny would approve of that nor that it's actually possible to go to a doctor's appointment with a plus one at the moment. They wouldn't let Johnny in the hospital, and he's the father!" Brianna looked angry again.

Erin still held her hands and stroke them calmingly. "You might be right, but I'm more than willing to drive you there and stay outside with the kids as long as you need to be there."

That made Brianna smile. "That might be a great help. Thanks Erin! I don't know where you came from, but I am glad you are here." She hugged her. "We just shouldn't tell Johnny about that." She said looking serious.

Erin nodded. "Of course! Why don't you call your doctor right now, and make an appointment for today, if possible, or next week, if that isn't possible."

"I think, I saw enough doctors this week, I ask for early next week."

"Sure, whatever you prefer, Brianna! Remember, your body your choice!"

Brianna had to smile at that and hug Erin again. "Thanks!" she said before calling her OB-GYN, who unfortunately didn't pick up.

"I'll try again later!" she promised Erin, a promise she wouldn't keep.

Jay was strangely excited when he came home from work that day. He was happy, happy to see his girls. He decided to enjoy this good feeling as long as it lasted, because as happy as he was that he'd become much closer with Erin last night, and that she actually didn't pull back when he kissed her this morning, he still knew that with Erin it was always a step forward followed by at least two steps back, and he knew they both still had many issues between them. He still wasn't sure they'd completely forgiven each other for their past mistakes. Plus, they were in a real strange situation right now. Acting as if they had been a happy family for years when they actually had just found each other again or were still in that process of finding each other. Nevertheless, Jay had decided, to enjoy every happy moment he'd have with those two, and not to overthink it. Thus, he went into their new home with a smile on his face. That smile soon turned into an amused grin when he heard Sophia screaming a loud "No!" followed by a not as loud but equally intensive. "Please, Sophia, you could at least try to eat some, and not just play with it!"

Jay put his jacket on the hanger, and entered the kitchen, where he saw that Sophia had basically spilled what he thought was mashed potatoes with spinach all over the place.

"Daddy!" she waved happily at him with a spoonful of spinach.

"Sophia! No!" Erin exclaimed who had been hit by parts of the spinach. "Enough now!" She took Sophia's spoon away and quickly got a napkin cleaning of her face.

Sophia looked surprised, but then decided to continue eating with her hands.

Jay still stood in the door frame trying not to laugh out loudly.

Sophia's "eating" soon turned into a play with mash, and an exploration how to mix the spinach with mash. Erin took the plate away from her as well. Sophia protested, and looked for support at her father.

Erin shot him a warning glance, and asked her daughter after she cleaned her hands against loud protest: "Are you still hungry?"

"Mash!" Sophia demanded.

Erin put some mash on a spoon and showed it to Sophia. "Do you still want to EAT some more?"

Sophia grabbed for the front of the spoon, but Erin was prepared, and was able to secure the spoon with the mash.

"Do you want to eat some more?" Erin asked her again.

Sophia looked undecided from one parent to the next and then back to her plate, that was now in front of her mother.

Jay decided to enter the kitchen fully now. He came over to Sophia and distracted her by giving her a kiss on the crown. „Hey, little Princess!"

Sophia smiled at him, and then pointed to her mash. "Mash!" she told him.

"I can see that, baby. Do you like Mash with spinach?" He asked her.

Sophia nodded. "Yes!"

"Do you want some more?"

"Yes!"

"To eat, that is, not to play!" Erin said.

Jay quickly stepped to the sink and washed his hands. He turned around soaping his hands thoroughly and saw how Erin got a spoonful of Mash and spinach into their daughter's mouth looking proud of herself. Jay had to smile at her. „Hi!" he said. „How are you?"

Erin smiled at him. „Great. Fighting my own little demon, but other than that..."

„Shall I take over that fight? Then you could have a break?"

Erin couldn't help widening her smile. „That would be so great. Then I could write my report, because, actually," she became more serious, „I would really like to get your opinion on something, preferably before you leave again later"

„Sure, what is it?" He quickly rinsed his hands and turned around again.

"How bad a person I am." She looked serious.

He tried a cocky grin. "I'm a bit biased on that matter. Always have been."

"Funny!" Erin said while successfully putting another spoon of mash into Sophia's mouth.

"Come on, let me take over!"

Erin stood up and gave him the spoon. "Thanks!"

His hand touched her face. She looked at him questionable.

"Some spinach!" Jay said.

Erin rolled her eyes. Jay kept looking at her.

"Do your eyes look different?" he asked.

"Contacts," she replied. "But I'm taking them out shortly. My eyes are getting dry."

"And wear your new glasses?" Jay said grinning.

"Don't get too excited. I'm only slightly near sighted. Therefore, I should be able to work on the laptop without glasses."

"I'm sure it's much more relaxing to work with them!" Jay kept on grinning at her.

„You wish!" she said turning around. In the door she turned around again. „Thanks for this! When do you need to go again?"

Jay looked at his phone. „I got two hours."

„Would you mind giving her a bath after and putting her to sleep, if I'm not done by then?" she carefully smiled at him.

„Not at all! I love to spend some time with Sophie."

Erin smiled. „Thanks!" She turned to Sophia. „Mommy's going upstairs now. Daddy is staying with you, okay?"

Sophia nodded smiling brightly.

Erin was just out of the door when she heard her demanding for her food again. She was about to get back in to warn Jay not to give in on her, but then decided, it was his responsibility now. He still was new to being a father, he'd have to learn what leads to what. And he'd seen the kitchen, and her... Spinach in her face! Great! She shook her head and went upstairs.

Jay had been right. It was indeed less tiring for her eyes working on the laptop with her new glasses. Erin was almost done with her report when she saw Jay carrying Sophia into her bedroom. She was wrapped in a towel.

„You sure, you want no diaper?" Jay asked Sophia.

Sophia shook her head saying: „No! Want tricycle!"

Jay looked confused.

„Baby, we don't have a tricycle here, and it's way too late, to drive one now anyways."

Erin went into the room fast. „Sorry, I didn't tell you!" she said to Jay, who looked amazed at her new look with the glasses. Before he could say anything, though, Erin had turned to Sophia. „The Easter bunny will still bring you a tricycle, if you put the diaper on during the night, Baby."

„For real?" Sophia asked.

„I swear. I spoke to him before, and he said wearing a diaper during the night isn't cheating. I'll tell you what, if your diaper stays dry during the night for three whole days, you can try without, deal?"

Sophia smiled: „Deal!"

„Can Daddy give you a new diaper now?" Erin asked her.

Sophia shook her head. „Mommy!" She demanded.

„Mommy needs to finish something, Baby."

„Mommy!" Sophia demanded again.

„Fine!" Erin had had enough discussions with her daughter for that day. She looked at Jay. „Pass her over!" she said with some humour in her voice.

„Maybe you can let me in on what you discussed with the Easter bunny?" he asked, and added: "Great glasses, by the way."

Erin just rolled her eyes and began to put the diaper on Sophia. „You want to be a big girl, don't you Sophia?" Erin began to explain.

„Sophia's big girl!" Sophia intersected.

„Yes, you are a big girl, sleeping in your own bed, not wearing diapers during the day. That's what big girls do!" Erin confirmed. She turned back to Jay. „I had to make a deal with her today. I hadn't had any training panties with me, and she refused to wear a diaper. So, I promised her, the Easter bunny would bring her anything she wants if she she put on that diaper, didn't wet it, and was done with potty training by Easter."

Jay looked amused. „You two actually made a deal?"

„Sure, we did! Your daughter is quite the negotiator. She asked for a tricycle."

„Well, maybe she should work on ransom cases, when she's grown up."

Sophia looked confused. Erin decided to keep quiet on Jays comment. Sophia needn't to be reminded, that both her parents were cops. She turned to Sophia instead, helping her to put on her PJs. Of course, she wanted to do that on her own as well.

Jay went to the shelf and got out two books for Sophia. „Which one would you like?" he asked her.

„Bunny book!" Sophia said.

„Of course!" Jay said putting the other book back in the shelf. „Shall Daddy read it to you?"

Sophia nodded. „Yes!" she demanded while she crawled under her sheets.

Erin gave her a kiss. „Good night, Babygirl! Love you to the moon and back!"

„Love you, Mommy!" Sophia said.

Erin had to hug her. It was still rare that Sophia used pronouns. „Love you too, Babygirl."

Jay began to read. „Guess how much I love you..."

Erin viewed them from the hidden office afterwards. It was just cute. She couldn't really concentrate on her report anymore. When Jay finally said his good night as well and turned off the light, she quickly wrote her last sentences.

Jay came inside. „You were spying on us, weren't you?" he asked with a wink.

„Of course, I was. It was so cute! You are great with her! Did I tell you that before?" Erin asked.

„Well, Mouse said this room might come in handy. And it did," he said with a cocky grin. They both knew he wasn't talking about her watching him putting their kid to bed.

„Yeah, it did!" Erin said with an equally insinuating smile. She got serious quickly, however. „But I still need your opinion on my conversation with Brianna today."

„She ok?" he asked.

„No, and I'm not sure, if I made it worse." She handed him the laptop with the report.

After he read it, he looked at her. "I know what you mean, but it's her decision."

"Everything inside me screams to take her to a planned parenthood, convince her to listen to the doctors. She's risking her life. You've seen that boy! He needs her. His father is an asshole, and if we are successful in our mission, he'll be locked away. Alex would be in the system!"

"He still has a grandmother," Jay said coming closer.

"Marge is not very healthy. If COVID hits here, I won't be sure she'll make it. I mean, I was quite healthy when it hit me, and look at me now: Wearing glasses, shaking hands! Imagine what'll will do to an elderly woman with diabetes?"

Jay put his arms on Erin's shoulder, trying a smile on her. "I like those glasses!" More serious he continued: "And I still hope that the thing with your hands is temporary." He held her hands and inspected them. "I would feel better, though, if you could get that checked out."

"It's not possible as long as we are here!" Erin said.

„I know, but I don't like that," he changed the topic still holding her hands. „About that boy. Most of the guys I'm meeting tonight have family. And we still don't know if their wives are involved as well. When we find out, what we think we'll find out, more than one family will be destroyed. But that's our job. It's not that we normally lock away only singles without any kids. If they threaten the lives of others, if they threaten our democracy, it's actually them not us, destroying their families."

"But it's a difference, if they bring that on themselves, or they are just another victim pulled into that mess because of something their spouses or parents did. And Brianna might die if someone doesn't talk sense into her soon!"

"You're right, but if you'd actually convince her to see a doctor, or even consider an abortion, you'll break your cover."

"Even for the Catholic Church it's okay, to have an abortion, if the life of the mother is threatened, isn't it?" Erin asked. Jay

"Yes, officially, but I'd think, Catholics over here are a bit stricter on that matter. Johnny is already suspicious about you, and maybe me as well, we shouldn't give him more fuel for that."

Erin took a step back. "That's so frustrating!"

"Maybe this mission is over before it's too late for Brianna," Jay tried. "We could ask Natalie. She works closely with OB Gyns, maybe she can help to get a second opinion?"

"Natalie, of course!" Erin saw a ray of hope. "Maybe I can get more information on Brianna's exact condition, after she saw her OB. I think, she trusts me. But therefore, this needs to come to an end soon."

"Well, we don't really know, how much time Brianna has, do we?" Jay asked.

"Another thing, I hope to get intel on that from Brianna."

Jay came closer again. "I l... like you for caring so much, but don't let it get to you, do you hear me? Don't get too involved. Keep your inner distance."

"Like the one we are keeping?" she asked mockingly looking up at him.

"I don't know about you, but I like us better not keeping our distance, even if it's not that professional." He hoped he wasn't too honest by that but was instantly rewarded.

She kissed him. "There are so many reasons, why we should keep our distance."

"So, why are you kissing me then?" he asked sassily. "Am I so irresistible?"

She grinned and kissed him again. "Partly," she said when they parted. She touched his face with her hand and looked more seriously at him. "I don't know, if this is wise, actually, I'm pretty sure it isn't, but I don't really want to think about that. This feels good, and I need something good at the moment. Someone close that is a bit older than three, who knows the real me." She looked at him with some uncertainty in her eyes. It was difficult for her to speak about her feelings, and she wasn't sure he shared them. "I don't want you to feel used or obliged to anything," she therefore continued.

He kissed her. Then he smiled at her. "I assure you I don't feel obliged to kiss you!" He kissed her again this time more intensely. When they parted, he smiled at her with some cockiness: "You're right, this feels good. And I think, I also could need someone close to me who knows, I'm not a Nazi for real, who makes me feel better about myself, and maybe offers some stress relief?" his cocky grin widened.

Erin grinned back. "Stress relief, huh?" she kissed him harder and then parted. "Too bad, you have to meet your Nazi-friends now."

Jay kissed her again more intensely. "Too bad!" He looked at his watch. "And I really should leave now." With some sighing he parted from her. "As much as I would like you to: Don't stay up, will you?"

Erin nodded. "I am actually really tired. I'm doing the kitchen and afterwards hit the sack. I won't expect you to need backup tonight. Do you?"

"No, drinking some beer with the guys from work and their Nazi friends should be fine."

"I'll keep my phone on just in case. I am a light sleeper, after all."

"I'm pretty sure, that won't be necessary." He said waving at her as a goodbye. He would have loved to add an "I love you", but that would have been far too early.