Jay woke up once he rolled over in the middle of the night to an empty bed. He wiped his eyes and searched the room with his eyes but frowned when he didn't see his wife anywhere.
He pulled the blankets up and tiredly made his way through the house, checking to see if she was in Lily's room but only his sleeping daughter was in there cuddled up in bed with Zeus sleeping at her feet, his new favourite spot.
Once he got to the kitchen he couldn't help but smile, Erin was sitting on the lounge, her hospital/baby bag in front of her while she was eating a bowl of cereal.
"Hey Er," Jay said as soft as possible so he wouldn't scare her.
"Hey, sorry I didn't wake you did I?" She said as she continued eating her cereal.
"No, well kinda yeah. Only because you weren't there and I couldn't get back to sleep." Jay smiled, although the didn't get to snuggle into her while they spelt he still couldn't sleep without her in the bed.
"I'm sorry, want some?" She said holding her bowl up.
He chuckled and turned his wrist to look at the time, "No thanks. People usually have cereal at breakfast time, it's only 2 in the morning."
"Sorry babe, I just wanted to tidy up and make sure everything was sorted out for when we have to go to the hospital and I organised and cleaned out the fridge..."
Jay zoned out, she was babbling. She'd been doing this for a few days, changing things around, over cleaning and organising but it was only because she was nesting which meant that the baby was going to be here soon and he couldn't wait.
"Jay?"
"Sorry babe, what?" He focused back on her.
"I'm babbling again aren't I?"
He nodded, "But I love when you do."
She laughed, "No you don't. It's all I've been doing lately," she stretched out awkwardly and put the bowl on the coffee table, then wriggled forward on the lounge, Jay quickly made his way over to her stretching out his hands for her to pull herself up with, "I'm so excited to get this baby out. I feel like a huge, huge, fat duck the way I'm waddling around."
"Aw but ducks are cute." Jay nudged her.
"Haha. Sure. Now lets get you back to bed because you have had a busy week and I'm sure tomorrow is going to be just as busy." Erin said wrapping her arm around his.
"Funny that's what I was coming to do."
"Hmmm?" She mumbled.
"I was coming to get you back to bed."
She smiled, "Well take me to bed then mister."
"Now your talking."
Erin turned around and rolled her eyes, "Yeah you wish, no funny business mister."
Jay chuckled, he definitely knew that. She'd gone off sex a few weeks ago. So that was just another reason why he was keen to get this baby out aswell.
The next morning Jay woke up to Erin's yelling, he quickly got out of bed and ran towards her voice.
"Lily, please sit still. I need to do your hair." Erin said, tears rolling down her face.
Jay approached her, "Hey what's the matter?"
"I can't run after her like this, she just won't sit still. I have so much to do still and I have to drop her off to daycare."
"How about you sit here, take a breath and I will deal with her." Jay said pushing her gently down onto the couch.
"I was trying to be quiet so I wouldn't wake you up and I failed. I can't do anything." She said sadly and defeated.
Jay crouched down, "Hey...hey," he tilted her head up, "You can do everything but maybe not so much at the moment because you are growing a baby Er, you gotta take it easier on yourself. It's going to be over soon."
"I just wanted you to sleep."
He smiled, "Meh. I will sleep when the baby sleeps."
"The baby isn't due for two weeks idiot, you need to sleep now otherwise your going to have no energy for when the baby comes."
He kissed her forehead, "I can deal with it, your growing the little guy so I have the rest under control don't worry about me. Now I will sort Lily out, take her to daycare, then come back and run you a bath."
"What about work?" She asked confused.
"I'm picking up an overtime night shift, so I don't need to go in until later."
"So once you have run me a bath you need to sleep otherwise you will be no good for tonight."
"Yes ma'am," He saluted as he walked to Lily who was playing with her dollhouse, "How do you want your hair Lily?"
"Bwaids," She pointed, "Like mummy does them."
"What happened to old fashioned pigtails," he mumbled under his breath, "How about pigtails with the pretty pink bows you like?"
He watched her think about it then smile, "Okay. Up daddy?"
She stretched out her arms for him to pick her up, "No you need to sit here so I can do it."
Jay sat down on the couch and sat a couple pillows between his legs on the floor for Lily to sit on, she happy obliged and sat down, he then heard Erin mumble something under her breath, "What was that?"
"Why does she behave for you?"
He chuckled, "I think she can pick up on the frustration so she likes to test it. I wonder where she gets that from."
"Shutup."
"The sass is all you Erin and you know it."
"You love it." She winked and walked off.
"Unfortunately yes I do." He said quietly and said to himself.
Hank came over for dinner while Jay was off working, "You all ready for the baby?"
She smiled, "Ready as can be. Jay is so excited, but I think that's maybe just because I'm a crazy lady."
"No. Not at all."
"Oh thanks, that was convincing," Erin rolled her eyes, "I'm going to go put this one to bed."
He waved his hand around to stop her, "Let me, I'm sure she'd love a story book read by grandpa. What do you think squirt?"
"Yay. Grandpa can you tell me a story."
He nodded and picked her up, "I'm sure I can think of something."
As he walked off with Lily on his hip Erin yelled out, "Keep it g rated Hank! Nothing to scary or gruesome!"
Once Lily was sound asleep Hank went back into the kitchen where Erin had just finished cleaning up. He couldn't help but smile, watching her now and thinking back on when he first met her, he couldn't be more proud.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Huh?"
Erin smiled, "You zoned out and you were staring off into space."
"Just thinking of how proud I am of you kiddo, you have done so well. You have a good job, that your amazing at. Your an amazing mother, you found an amazing husband even when at times I want to strangle him and we disagree," they both chuckled, because they both knew how much both he and Halstead bumped horns, but they still respected each other, "I am so proud of you Erin. Really I am, I don't say it enough. I'm proud of the both of you, you have both come from family issues and you have done your very best to make sure Lily and I'm sure this little one has the best life imaginable."
Erin was now crying, "You can't get this sentimental around a pregnant lady Hank."
He laughed, "Sorry, I love you kiddo."
"I love you too, I'm so thankful for you."
Erin was woken up by a sharp pain and once she sat up in bed she saw Zeus on the bed hovering over her, she patted his head, "Can you sense it bud? Cause you know your not usually allowed on our bed."
He came closer to her and sat beside her, she rubbed her belly wondering if this was time, she was still two weeks away from her due date but it was very likely and normal for the baby to come now.
Another sharp quick pain overtook her body after about fifteen minutes, she grabbed the pillow beside her and rolled onto her side, controlling her breathing like she had done in the past and recently practised.
Once the contraction passed she sat back up catching her breath while searching for her phone, "Where is it dammit."
She walked around slowly to the dresser where she found her phone and dialled Jays number, waiting for it to connect she searched for something to put on.
"Hey Erin, I finished up early, on my way home now."
She turned her head to the clock, it was a little after five in the morning, "Jay, the baby's coming."
"Oh the baby's coming. The baby's coming, oh shit okay. I will be there in like five minutes."
"Don't rush, I have only had two contractions and they were a fair way apart."
"Not taking chances, once we get there we will drop Lily off with Adam and Kim and go to the hospital."
"Okay okay."
"See you soon.
"Jay I love you."
"Love you more."