I just couldn't wait to share this one! Let me know if you celebrated in the middle like I did while writing it :)
"Hi Noodle," Erin smiled, turning around from the driver's seat, "How was school today?"
With Piper's concussion recovery, she'd been able to work from her office in the morning and work from home some of the afternoons. Piper had been doing some half days and some full days, and the flexibility in her schedule was welcome. She loved getting to pick Piper up from school.
Piper shrugged and leaned against the backseat. "My um, my head hurts," she said shamefully, "I-I know I'm supposed to tell you when it does."
Erin wrinkled her brow. She and Jay were meticulously keeping track of the headaches Piper complained about and knew that the little girl hadn't complained of a headache in over a week. She was really hoping the concussion symptoms had faded, but she'd been too optimistic. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," she said, "We're headed home, maybe it would help if you had a little nap?"
Tears filled Piper's eyes. "I'm sorry," she croaked, "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry about your head hurting," Erin assured her, "You were hurt and your body is healing. It's not your fault."
"It is," Piper whimpered, "I-I got pushed down on the playground today 'cause Davey was telling Griffin he was stupid just because he has red hair. He called him a freak."
"He pushed you down?" Erin immediately bristled, "Davey? What's last name, Peters?"
Piper nodded again. "I just told him to stop being mean. I-I didn't try to fight him because I didn't want to get in trouble."
Erin nodded. She glanced down at Piper's jeans and saw they were dirty, likely from the boy pushing her sister to the ground. These were fifth graders, so it wasn't like young little kids on the playground. These boys had a problem, and Erin was going to solve it.
"I will be right back," she said, taking the keys out of the ignition. "Sit tight, okay? I'm locking the car."
"Erin, wait-" Piper watched as her big sister marched down the pick-up line, not caring that she was holding up traffic, stopping at a car three cars back. She knew that car. That was the car that Davey got into after school.
Erin's blood was boiling. It was beyond boiling. Someone had hurt her child, on purpose. She didn't care if the kid was ten years old. She waved through the passenger window to the woman she recognized to be Rebecca Peters.
She wasn't proud of it, but she'd done some research. After she found out about the boys who had been bullying Piper, Erin couldn't sit by. She was still friendly with Virginia in the records department, and had been able to identify the parents of the three boys who'd been bullying Griffin, and by association, Piper. "Rebecca, hi. My name is Erin Lindsay."
"Oh yes, Piper's mom," Rebecca said, "How can I help you?"
"Piper doesn't have a mom," Davey said from the backseat, "Nobody wanted her."
"Davey!" Rebecca admonished, "I apologize for my son's behavior."
Erin gave a curt smile. "Well, that's what I'm hear regarding. Piper's been in and out of school for the past few weeks with a concussion, and when I picked her up today, she mentioned that there had been a bit of a disagreement on the playground. There was some teasing of Griffin, and Piper's knees are all dirty, like she'd been pushed down."
"David Peters," Rebecca said firmly, "Did you put your hands on another child today?"
Davey looked at Erin worriedly. "My partner is a detective in the Chicago police force," she said lightly, "If you're ever having trouble with Davey, I'm sure he'd be happy to show him around."
The little boy widened his eyes. "You are in such trouble, young man. Video games are done," Rebecca chided, "I really am sorry. I will handle this." She gave a small smile. "I was the parent lunch monitor in January, and I had the pleasure of meeting your little girl. She's very sweet."
Erin responded with a smile. "Thank you. Let me know if you need anything. I work for the FBI." She looked pointedly at Davey before giving Rebecca another smile and heading back to her car that was holding up traffic.
Jay flashed a smile to his girl as she sat on the couch, Piper cuddled in her lap. He set the take out he'd procured on the kitchen island before placing his keys in the dish and running his hands under the tap. "There are my favorite girls," he said, approaching the couch, "Long day, huh?"
Erin nodded, gently threading her fingers through Piper's hair. "Her head hurts," she whispered, "She got pushed on the playground and I think it jostled her."
Jay immediately felt his heart rate accelerate. Someone had pushed his kid. "Who pushed her?" he managed, taking a seat on the coffee table. He stroked the top of Piper's head as she remained snuggled into Erin's chest. He knew she was awake, but he could also tell his little girl was in pain.
"I already had words with Davey Peters mom," Erin assured him, leaning down to press a kiss to Piper's forehead, "Told her you worked for the CPD, and if Davey needed a tour, you could show him around lock up."
At that, a grin spread across his lips. His girl was such a mama bear when it came to Piper. She was always protective about the people she loved and honestly people she didn't, but with Piper, it was a whole other level. "Threatened him with jail time, huh?"
"Not in so many words," she replied, offering a wry smile, "I figured you would have done the same."
"Woulda cuffed him," Jay said honestly, relaxing slightly knowing that Erin had already spoken with Davey's mother, "Her ribs okay?"
Erin widened her eyes slightly. She'd been so focused on Piper's aching head that she'd forgotten to see if the little girl was hurt elsewhere. "Noodle?" she asked gently, running her fingers over her sister's back, "Are you hurting?"
"Just my head," Piper said in an exhale, "The medicine is helping, I think."
She let out a breath. "I gave her some of that kids ibuprofen that was in the medicine cabinet," she explained to her partner, "Might make her a little dozy."
"Erin held up traffic to tell Davey's mom about him being mean to Griffin," Piper said, opening her eyes slightly to meet Jay's.
"You were standing up for him, huh?" Jay stroked her hair again, "I could have used a friend like you growing up."
"Kids were mean to you?" Piper looked surprised, "But you're so strong."
Jay's gaze softened. "I wasn't always that big a guy," he said, "Some of the guys I went to school with weren't that nice either. Used to trip me up in the hallway, that kind of thing."
"That's what they do to Griffin," Piper whispered, "That's how come I got in trouble for fighting, 'cause I punched them. And they were really surprised that a girl could hurt them, but I did."
"Right, and we know you were defending him, but you know that fighting isn't always the answer," Jay reminded her, smiling when Piper gave a nod of understanding.
Erin swallowed. She knew that Piper was usually defending Griffin, but there was something about the fact that she didn't fight back that had her instincts on high alert. "Are those boys mean to you as well, Noodle?" she asked carefully, "I know they're mean to Griffin, but are they saying mean stuff to you too?"
Jay drew in a breath when Piper gave a small nod. "Who is it?" he asked, with more force than he intended, "Which one of those kids is giving you a hard time, kiddo?"
"Easy, babe," Erin said putting a hand on Jay's arm, "We're not arresting fifth graders. Not today, anyway. But we can call their parents or the principal." She stroked the top of Piper's head. Her little sister could be so much like her – so willing to defend others, but less willing to stand up for herself. "If you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to tell us. But we want to help, sweetheart."
Piper looked up at Erin and then to Jay. "At one of the schools I went to, the kids were really mean, 'cause I always had to wait for a long time at the end of the day for Mrs. Marsh to come get me," she said slowly, "Most kids at school are nice now. To me, anyway. More kids are mean to Griffin just because he's shy."
Erin instinctively held tighter. "But some aren't so nice to you?"
"Just Davey," Piper mumbled, "He found out that I was in foster care before and said that nobody wanted me."
Jay's eyes darkened and he clenched his fists. The little punk had something coming alright. "You know that we want you, right?" Erin asked, her voice tight, "More than anything, Noodle."
Piper nodded. "I know. And I used to think that before, it was my fault that I got moved. But you said it wasn't?"
"Right," Jay said, clearing his throat, "It was not your fault at all. You are a very special kid, and I know that Erin and I are the envy of everyone because you're our kid."
The little girl managed a smile. "I just ignored Davey," she said simply, "Except when he picks on Griffin. But when he said nobody wanted me, I told him that it wasn't true, and I knew that I had people who wanted me. And that it was too bad for his parents that they were stuck with him."
Jay smiled at Piper's wit. "That's right," he praised, "You're our kid, and we want you forever."
"Hey guys," Erin greeted softly. The Halstead brothers were stretched out on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, with Piper snuggled in between them. She had the monthly departmental dinner where her presence was required, and it had become a tradition for Will to bring over pizza and beer. The little girl was resting against Jay's chest, fast asleep while he watched the game. Will had also fallen asleep on the couch, mouth slightly agape as soft snores escaped his lips. "What's the score?"
"Hawks are up by one," Jay reported, "How was the event?"
"Waste of time," she sighed, setting her purse down on the kitchen counter, "Would have much rather watched the game with you guys." Erin let out a yawn. "I'm also starving."
"There's two slices for you already waiting in the microwave," he said with a smile, "Just need to hit the button."
"You really know the way to a girl's heart, Halstead," she praised, "Reheated pizza and a cold beer in the fridge?" She grinned when she pulled open the fridge and found her favorite beer on the shelf.
"Just for you, babe," Jay smiled, "I'll even wake my brother up to make room for you on the couch." He gave Will a flick to the shoulder, startling the doctor.
"Sorry," Will muttered, dragging a hand across his face, "Been a long week." He stretched slightly, "I guess that's my cue to leave then, huh?"
"Bye Will," Piper mumbled, rising from her soft snooze against Jay's chest, "Thanks for bringing the pizza."
"You're welcome, munchkin. Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys." Will stood from the couch and stretched again. "I'll see you guys soon."
Jay swallowed a sip of his beer. "Uh, remember man-"
"Yeah, yeah, I won't say anything about the proposal," Will waved his hand flippantly before immediately blanching when he made eye contact with Erin.
Piper startled and looked up at Jay worriedly, then to Will, and then to her big sister who was standing beside the kitchen island shell shocked.
Jay paled. His brother was an idiot. He just wanted to remind him that the walkway got slippery after it rained, but he'd gone ahead and blown the surprise proposal that he and Piper had been planning.
Erin looked to Jay, who was thankfully seated on the couch because had he been standing, he might have passed out. "You…you're going to propose?"
She'd been waiting for the moment for longer than she wanted to admit.
After returning home to Chicago, falling in love with Jay all over again (though admittedly, she'd never stopped), building a family and a life together, she'd wanted to marry him. She'd almost gotten down on one knee the day she showed him the house that she bought for them to raise Piper in but had chickened out. Plus, she knew that her partner was a romantic, and for all his progressive thoughts on relationships and love, she knew he wanted to be the one to ask.
So she waited.
And she fell more in love with Jay Halstead each and every day.
Watching him love her little sister, seeing him grow and fight the demons in his own head, experiencing just how tender and passionate he was – it was all a privilege that she never wanted to take for granted. She loved him, with every inch of her being, and there was nobody who could ever come close.
She'd marry him in their kitchen if she could.
Will shot an apologetic look to his brother, his face beet red. He hadn't even realized that Erin had arrived. Jay could have smacked him.
He'd spent months, even years, imaging how he would propose to Erin Lindsay. He'd stopped himself once before when he had the ring in his palm at the realization that neither of them were ready. He spent a year wishing he'd done it, even though she couldn't have said yes.
And then he got a second chance.
He saw her across the district parking lot, and in an instant, he knew that he had never stopped loving her. Having her back in his life, even if it was just as Piper's sister, filled him in ways he'd never known possible. He almost proposed when he found out they were staying in Chicago, and was pretty damn close to getting on one knee in Piper's therapist's office, but he'd held back. He wanted the moment to be special and perfect. Just like his girl.
He also was going to ask when she asked him to move in with them in the new house. But again, he held back. The moment needed to be perfect.
And then his brother had to open his big mouth.
Will had casually dropped the fact that Jay was going to propose earlier in conversation back before they started dating again, and he'd nearly passed out from embarrassment. Of course he had to go and do it again, but this time, the proposal was imminent. Jay and Piper had hatched a plan to get Erin up to the cabin on Memorial Day weekend, before it was too hot for Erin to use the weather as an excuse. Piper would come on the hike as well, but would duck away to take sneaky pictures while Jay popped the big question at the crest of the mountain. It was special and perfect, just like his girl. Their kitchen, for all its cleanliness, was not special. Or perfect.
"Uh, yeah," Jay stood shakily, "Yes. But I was waiting until you were ready." He took a step toward Erin, who was using the kitchen island to keep herself upright. "Pipes and I, we uh, we wanted it to be a surprise, and I wanted to wait until you were ready. I wasn't sure if you would even say yes and the ring isn't back from getting resized. We had this whole thing planned and you finding out in our kitchen was not it and I don't even know if you're ready and if you want we can just forget that my brother's an idiot and move on-"
"Ask me."
Jay's eyes widened. "Ask you what?"
"Ask me to marry you." Erin gave a smile. "Ask me, Jay."
"But I don't even have the ring and I didn't ask Hank yet and-"
"I don't need a ring or Hank's permission or anything," she whispered, eyes shining with tears as Jay stood in front of her. "Ask me."
She watched as her boyfriend stared into her eyes, overwhelmed by how much she loved him. Jay had been planning it for a while, and apparently had help from her sister. She swallowed the lump in her throat at the realization that Piper being involved with the proposal meant that she was okay with the thought of them getting married. It was the only hesitation she had about marrying Jay, not knowing if Piper would feel like she was still a priority for them. Erin never wanted the little girl to feel out of place in their family, but Jay figured out a way to bring her in. He was truly the best man she knew.
And she could have brushed it off. She could have told him that she'd wait for him to surprise her, that he and Piper should still go along with whatever plan they had, but she couldn't. Erin couldn't stand the fact that she wasn't engaged to Jay for one more minute. She wanted him forever, for always and right now.
Jay slowly knelt on their kitchen floor and took Erin's outstretched hand. "I loved you from the second I saw you take a bite out of that chicken sandwich. And I never stopped." He swallowed, "Erin Lindsay, will you marry me?"
Erin gave a watery nod. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes."
"Yes!" Piper cheered when Jay and Erin kissed, bursting into giggles when Will dramatically covered her eyes with his hands, "She said yes!"
"I couldn't wait another second of not being engaged to you," Erin whispered into his ear when Jay lifted her into his arms, "I love you, babe."
"I love you," he replied, pressing another gentle kiss to her nose, "And I know it wasn't-"
"It's perfect," she insisted, glancing over his shoulder to see Piper standing on the couch, practically bouncing up and down with excitement. "And you had Noodle in on it?"
"You bet," Jay chuckled, "Though she's got tighter lips that Dr. Halstead over here."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Will said, running a hand through his hair, "But hey, congratulations. Now you get to tell Hank that you're engaged to his daughter without asking him first."
"Don't worry about him," Erin assured Jay, rubbing his chest lightly. "He'll be happy."
"When you're happy, he's happy," Piper said with a grin, "And I'm happy too!"
"C'mere, you," Erin lifted her sister over the back of the couch and held her close, "I love you, Noodle."
"I love you," Piper held tightly, "I'm so glad you and Jay are getting married." She wiped a tear off Erin's cheek, "You deserve to be really happy. And Jay makes you the happiest."
"He does," Erin confirmed with a nod, "The happiest I've ever been."
Following the eventful Friday evening, Piper crashed relatively quickly and Erin and Jay found time to enjoy being the bride-and-groom to be.
He still couldn't believe that Will had blown his and Piper's plan.
He still couldn't believe that Erin Lindsay had agreed to marry him.
Jay was positively on cloud nine. Erin said yes, without any of the frills or even the ring. She said yes to him, right there in their kitchen, pizza grease on his t shirt and crumbs on his jeans. She loved him outside of any extravagant plans. She loved him for him.
They decided together that they wouldn't tell anyone else of their plans before they told Hank, and Will was sworn to secrecy. His brother had felt pretty bad about the whole situation, but he was thrilled for his brother, and given that Erin said yes, Jay couldn't stay frustrated with him forever.
As much fun as their celebration had been, there was another event that took precedent – Piper's birthday. He and Erin had been planning for weeks, purchasing gifts online and shipping them to Erin's office so Piper wouldn't know and planning a day just around their favorite kid.
Weeks before, Jay had casually asked Piper about a birthday party. The little girl had been incredibly skeptical, so Jay and Erin decided that keeping the day for just their little family would be a good way to introduce Piper to what a birthday meant. They'd picked up through anecdotes that Piper had never had an actual birthday celebration, and they wanted her first with them to be one to remember.
"Happy birthday Noodle!" Erin exclaimed, leaning down to press a kiss atop her sister's head when the little girl shuffled down the stairs, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, "How does it feel to be ten years old?"
Piper managed a shy smile. "I thought I might grow a bit before I turned ten," she said, "But I still feel the same."
"Double digits!" Jay shook his head as he kicked the door to the garage closed with his foot. He had an armful of presents that he and Erin had been keeping in the back of the garage. "I can't believe it. Are you sure you want to be ten? Because I know a guy, and I think we can keep you at nine for a little longer."
She giggled and Erin ran her fingers through her hair. "I think I'll stay ten."
Jay let out a huff and set the presents down on the kitchen island dramatically. "Do ten year olds still give hugs?"
Piper giggled again and nodded. She squealed when Jay carefully boosted her into his arms, mindful that his little girl was still healing. "Good to know you're still little enough for me to toss ya around," he remarked, peppering kisses atop her head, "Happy birthday, kiddo. The big one-zero. You're getting old. Makin' me feel like an old man."
She squeezed his neck tightly. "You guys aren't old," she promised, "No gray hairs yet." Piper tilted her head to the side and pretended to examine Jay's scalp. "Oh wait."
Erin chuckled when Jay gasped, and Piper laughed. "I'm kidding," Piper insisted after Jay ran a hand over his head before moving it to his chest in shock, "I'm just kidding."
"You're a ten year old jokester now," he quipped, setting the little girl on the kitchen island, "Erin, check my head."
"You're fine, babe," she assured him, patting his shoulder gently after standing on her tip toes to examine Jay's head. "How about we get those pancakes started for Noodle's birthday breakfast, hm?"
"Good idea. We've got some special stuff planned, don't we babe?" Jay shot a look at Erin, "Should we tell her?"
Erin nodded excitedly. "You ready for your first present, Noodle?"
"I get more than one?" Piper's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Oh yeah," Jay grinned, passing her a gift bag, "Open it."
Piper reached into the bag and produced a soccer jersey. "Chicago Fire," she read, wrinkling her brow, "Isn't that where Sergeant Platt's husband works?"
Erin chuckled. "Yes. But they're also a soccer team. And that's what we're doing today."
The little girl's eyes widened even further. "We're going to a soccer game?"
"We are," Jay beamed, "I think the women's team is better, but they're not playing today. We'll have to go to one of those games too, don't you think?"
Jay couldn't stop smiling. He had his little girl on his hip, and his fiancé to his side, and all was right in the world. Watching Piper see a live soccer game was every bit as adorable as her first baseball game. He honestly didn't even watch the game – he just had his eyes on his girls.
He and Erin planned to have a simple family dinner with pizza and cupcakes for dessert. They knew that Piper had never been celebrated properly before, and wanted it to be special, but not so much as to overwhelm her. It had been so much fun for both him and Erin to pick out presents and plan the day just around their little bug. There was something so domestic but so perfect about the entire situation.
"You don't even have to have salad tonight, because it's your birthday," Erin said seriously as she tossed the salad in the bowl, "Greens can wait until tomorrow."
Piper widened her eyes. "Really? Even though Jay says we gotta have at least two greens a day?"
Erin gave a cheeky smirk, and Piper giggled. "I like salad though," Piper said thoughtfully, "Could I still have some?"
"Absolutely," Jay piped up, "Don't listen to your sister about skipping the two green a day rule. It never takes a day off." He slid the pizza onto plates, "You hungry, kiddo?"
She gave an emphatic nod but jumped when a knock came at the door. "Who is it, Er?" Jay asked when Erin went to answer. He was incredibly aware that Piper had moved immediately to stand beside him, and his heart ached. He loved that she felt safe with him.
"It's Will," she said, pulling open the front door, "But I don't think he's here for you, babe."
"Happy birthday munchkin!" Will exclaimed, jumping into the house wearing a pair of birthday cake themed sunglasses and bearing a wrapped box and two bags, "I heard someone turned ten today."
A smile spread across Piper's face. "You knew it was my birthday?"
"You bet. These lovebirds wouldn't shut up about the planning," Will said, gesturing to Jay and Erin, "And they said you wouldn't be home much today because of their birthday plans, so I had to schedule a post-shift surprise."
"We went to a soccer game," Piper told him, "It was so cool."
"Without me?" Will frowned and slumped his shoulders. "Jay, I thought live sports was our thing. Is it because I blew your big proposal?"
"Next time, bro," Jay promised, leaning down to kiss the top of his ten year old's head, "I told Pipes we'd see the White Sox play after the season starts. And yes. You did blow the proposal."
"Ugh," Erin made a face, "The White Sox."
Will smiled, the disappointment over not being invited to the soccer game wearing off quickly. "Well, speaking of sports, I did pick up a few things for the birthday girl." He extended the box and bag to Piper, who looked incredibly surprised.
"You got me gifts?" Piper glanced over to Erin and then to Jay, "Really?"
"You're my favorite kid," Will insisted, "I can't wait for you to open them."
Piper again looked to Erin and Jay. "Go for it, kiddo," Jay said, "There better not be anything weird in here, William."
The little girl tore the paper off the box. "Woah! Soccer goals?" She extended the box to show Jay, "That's so cool. Thank you."
"This box is empty," Jay said, shaking it slightly.
"That's because they're already in your yard," Will said proudly, "Check it out."
Piper scurried over to the porch window and saw the two soccer goals in the backyard. "Wow!"
"I thought it would be a fun way to practice. And then you and I can take on Jay and Erin, hm? A little sibling rivalry?" Will's eyes sparkled as Piper nodded and then hugged his legs.
"Thank you," she said, "I feel very special."
"You should," Jay smiled, lifting his kid into his arms after she returned to stand beside him, "You are a very special kid." He exchanged a smile with his partner, who's eyes were shining. She loved watching Piper open up to another person.
"A special kid with one more gift to open." Will extended a bag to Piper, "This one is a little different."
"A camera?" Piper picked up the present, "So I can take pictures?"
"Exactly," Will nodded, "Like in that Natural Geographic movie we watched when Jay and Erin went to that fancy party. It's disposable, so after you take the pictures you don't know what they look like until they get developed."
"Cool!" She squealed, "Thank you, again."
"I also brought a gift for the happy couple," Will said, extending an envelope to Jay and a bag to Erin, "Sorry I let the secret slip out yesterday. I was a little tired." He gave a goofy smile, and Piper giggled.
"Did you make us coupons?" Jay held up the contents of the envelope, "Using your prescription pad?"
"I was pressed for time so I had to do some stuff at work. Pretty sure I accidentally gave that nurse Juan-Carlos a prescription that was meant for you that's redeemable for a night out instead of a patient's order. I might be dealing with some awkwardness at the office tomorrow." Will shrugged, "But yeah, I wrote a bunch of stuff on there for you to use 'em for."
"Will brings dinner," Jay read aloud, "Will and munchkin's excellent adventure. Alone time. Amoxicillin."
"Ah yes, that is what I prescribed for Mrs. Thompson." Will took the note that was scrawled on his prescription slip, "That's supposed to be redeemable for date night babysitter."
He chuckled at his brother's offer to babysit Piper. "Thanks man."
"You don't need coupons to hang out with me, Will," Piper told him after looking up from the cards, still on Jay's hip, "Pretty soon we're gonna be in-laws."
"We are, aren't we?" Will beamed, "You and I will have to find something fun to do to give these two lovebirds some time to figure out a ring."
"You literally blew the proposal. I would have had the ring," Jay huffed, earning a snort from Erin who was rifling through the gift bag.
"Champagne," she remarked, pulling a nice bottle from the bag, "With several shooters of whiskey."
"Had to keep it on brand for you guys," Will said with a grin, "I was thinking the gifts kind of went together, you know, a night where I entertain the munchkin while you two-"
"Give each other googly eyes," Piper supplied knowingly.
"Yes. Exactly," Will pointed at Piper, still wearing the birthday cake sunglasses. "It's important to make time for romance, so I've been told."
Ok so this proposal honestly just came to me and I thought it was almost more special to show that Erin was just too excited to wait, and I wanted to get Will in there somehow. But don't worry, they're still going to figure out a way to use that hike for something super special (wink wink)