Hi friends! I don't know about you, but I'm still on cloud nine after last night's episode. So here's a short, sweet post 8x11 fic as requested by some friends over on tumblr. Enjoy lovelies!

The first thing she notices when she wakes is the pounding in her head. The previous day had been one for the books, taking its heavy toll on her, and rendering her to such a vulnerable state, making her wonder when the last time was that she really cried and let her guard down the way she did with Jay the night before.

At the thought of her partner – her boyfriend, the second thing she notices is his arms around her. He's holding her close with her back to his chest and his arms are wrapped around her in a grip so tight, as if he's trying to keep her safe even in sleep.

The third thing she notices is the bright sunlight streaming through her curtains. She attempts to reach for her phone on the nightstand to make sure they haven't overslept when she feels Jay grunt behind her and tug his arms around her a tiny bit tighter.

"I turned off your alarm," he mumbles into her hair.

"Why?"

"Voight called me while I was waiting for you to get home last night. Told me to make sure you take the day. Told me to take it with you. I think he's giving the whole team a freebie today after the case, but I'm also pretty sure he knows about us."

She taps her fingers against his forearm that lies across her chest and he loosens his grip enough so that she can turn over and face him. He gives her a sleepy smile and repositions his hands to her lower back before he presses a soft kiss to her forehead.

"That doesn't worry you?" She can't help asking when he pulls back to look at her.

At the raise of his eyebrows she says, "Sarge knowing."

He gives a small shrug and runs his fingers up and down her spine. "I don't think he really cares to be honest. He gave me a look yesterday when you were - well, when you were doing what you were doing. And then on the phone last night, he said something."

"What did he say?"

"He said if it wasn't for me then yesterday might have gone a lot differently. Then he told to me take care of you and said to take the day."

"What if he makes one of us leave the unit?" She can't help asking.

There's a sinking feeling in her stomach then, similar to the one she felt last night when she got scared and thought for sure that he was gonna tell her they were done and then walk out the door.

"If it happens, we'll deal with it," he says so simply. "Why worry about something that might not even happen?

"You make it sound so easy," she says with a teasing smile.

He rolls his eyes at her before he closes the gap between them and kisses her on the lips slow and firm and with purpose. When they pull away he's smiling at her.

"I meant it when I said I'm not going anywhere. We'll figure it out babe," he tells her.

She smirks at him with raised eyebrows. "Babe?"

"Too cliche?"

She shakes her head and smiles almost shyly. "I kinda like it."

He just continues smiling at her and they stare at one another for several silent moments. She lifts a hand up towards him and rests it in the crook of his neck, needing to touch him.

"Voight's right though you know," Hailey tells him a few beats later as she traces the tips of her fingers across his skin. "About yesterday going differently if it weren't for you. And you were right too. I was spinning out."

He shakes his head at her. "Maybe, but I wouldn't have let you spin out completely."

All she can do is nod her head before she leans into him and places a kiss against his neck.

"So we get a re-do of our D.O.," he tells her then when she leans back and settles in his arms again.

"We do. How do you wanna spend it?" She asks. She squints her eyes in curiosity as a smirk forms on his face and he tilts his head down at her.

"Well, first I want you," he says, pressing his lips to her shoulder.

"Then coffee," he says, placing a kiss against her neck.

"And waffles," he says, his lips landing on her cheek.

"And then I wanna try out those .44 mags with you at the range," he says before pecking her lips. He pulls back and sees a knowing grin plastered on her face.

"Hmmm, pretty sure that's what I wanted yesterday."

"Well it was a good plan," he tells her.

She hums out another response and then she's looking at him with bright eyes and the smile on her face doesn't falter. She remembers all too well the conversation they had mere hours ago. When she had put her heart on the line, taken the biggest leap she's ever taken with someone before, but Jay had caught her with his arms wide open.

"You gonna tell me you love me again too? I promise I won't run away this time."

He raises his eyebrows at her, a smirk reappearing on his face, but she just shakes her head at him.

"I told you I wanted to do this with you. Be with you. Learn how to do this and I meant it. I'm not gonna run anymore. Not from you," she assures him.

"That's good because I do in fact love you. Also pretty sure I run faster than you so I'd catch you," he tells her and she shakes her head at his teasing, but he just goes on.

"I plan to show you every single day just how much I love you, Hailey. How good it can be. How it's supposed to be because you only deserve the good things."

She swallows a lump that quickly appears at the back of her throat at the sweetness and sincerity of his words. She's once again taken off guard by this amazing man who sees her and knows her, but loves her still and loves her right. Who stays.

She nods her head at him then with tears glistening in her eyes. "I like that plan."

"I think it's a good plan," he tells her and she nods again before she wiggles out of his arms and pushes him onto his back. She hooks a leg over his waist and settles on top of him, straddling his hips.

"Maybe we can focus on your other plan right now though? Something about you wanting me before coffee," she says smirking down at him.

His hands rest on the tops of her bare thighs and he holds her steady over top of him. He grins up at her and then she's leaning down and kissing him, her hands gripping his hair and the back of his head. She pulls back for a moment to look him in the eyes, a hand falling to his chest.

"I love you, Jay. God, the way I love you. I don't think I'll ever be able to say it enough now," she tells him.

"I won't stop you," he says.

It's her turn to rolls her eyes before she presses her lips back to his and then rolls her hips against him.

She knows it won't be easy. Letting her walls down completely and allowing him to see the worst parts of herself that she's kept hidden for so long. But she knows it'll be easier because of him. Because he loves her good and loves her right.