I'm working on my plan for what the future of the series looks like and it's getting me pretty excited - except there are still some loose ends I need to tie up with this installment, so working through those in the next few. And it means the boys are on their way :)

"Babe, babe, wake up. You're dreaming. You're home with me."

Jay's eyes snapped open, his breath catching on his lips. "You're home," Erin repeated, running her fingertips over his heaving chest, "You're home, we're safe. Everyone is okay."

He swallowed, struggling to regain control of his breath. His dream had escalated so quickly. One moment, he was in the park with Piper, the next, he was watching his little girl get ripped from his grasp as he was unable to move. It was a paralyzing fear he'd experienced a handful of times that he never wanted to feel again.

"S-sorry," he stuttered, shaking his head slightly, "I didn't mean to-"

"Don't apologize," she interrupted gently, "Not with me, remember? We're in this together." Erin smoothed his hair back carefully, her fingertips ghosting over the beads of sweat that had formed at his hairline. "We all have tough nights."

He let out a breath, Erin's careful touches bringing him back to present. He was home, in their bed. Piper was sleeping across the hallway. His family was safe.

Until he noticed that the baby monitor was displaying an empty bed. "She's…she's not in bed," Jay gasped, pulling back from Erin's fingers, "Babe, she-"

"Daddy?"

Relief and shame flooded his veins simultaneously when he caught sight of his little girl standing in the doorway of the bedroom, eyes cloudy with sleep. He'd woken her up. "Hi, sweet girl," Erin whispered, offering a reassuring smile, "Are you feeling okay?"

Piper nodded and took a step forward. "Is Daddy okay?" she asked softly, looking over to her father who was gripping the sheets tightly in his fists, "Should I call Will?"

Erin resumed her gentle ministrations, working her fingers down his chest to rest on his racing heart. "Daddy's okay," she promised, "Nothing to worry about."

The little girl paused her advances. "Am I making you worse?" she whispered worriedly, "I can go back to my room, I just heard and-"

"No, no," Jay managed, finding his voice, "It's not you kiddo. It's me. I just…I had a bad dream." He swallowed again and took a breath in an attempt to be steady. His little girl needed him to be steady. He needed to be steady for himself too.

"Maybe I can help," Piper suggested, slowly making her way over to the foot of their bed, "I could tell you a story, like you do for me sometimes when I have bad dreams."

Erin's lips lifted. Their baby was so precious. She ran her fingers across Jay's bare chest, feeling his heart rate steady. "You up for a story, babe?" she asked lightly, "I bet Noodle's got some good ones."

Jay nodded. "That sounds good to me," he rasped, a smile forming on his lips when Piper carefully clambered up onto the bed by Erin's feet. He extended a hand to her, hoping to indicate that if she wanted to come closer, she could.

His heart swelled when she immediately shuffled toward him and settled against his chest. His baby was in his arms. It was exactly what he needed. Jay kissed the top of her head, allowing his lips to linger. Somehow, his little bug knew she was what he needed too. "You can close your eyes," Piper told him, reaching up to stroke his cheek gently, "I'm gonna tell you about the industrial revolution, 'cause that's what I'm learning about in school."

Jay closed his eyes and rested against the pillow, both of his girl tucked into his chest. As Piper's voice grew sleepier, the warmth of her daddy and time of night lulling her back to sleep, Jay couldn't believe how lucky he was. His girls were absolutely amazing. They were the reason he was going to be okay.

"Did you check her temperature?"

Jay glanced up at his fiancé, who was standing in front of him, hands on her aching hips. He'd settled on the couch on Saturday morning with Piper, his snuggly little bug nestled into his chest. Having his baby close was everything he needed. Following an incredibly gripping nightmare, all Jay wanted to do was press his nose into the top of Piper's head and allow her sweet kiddie shampoo scent to remind him that he was home and safe. And Piper just wanted to be in her daddy's arms.

The days of getting to carry her around were numbered. Jay knew that, but he never wanted to think about it. In his mind, she would always, always be his little girl. His first baby. He didn't even want to entertain the idea of her not wanting a boost into his arms for a full body hug. He lived for those.

With the impending arrival of baby boys Halstead, Jay had noticed an increase in Piper's clinginess. In the year and a half that she'd been in his care, the child seemed to go through cycles of growing up quickly, but also cycles of regression and acting much more like a little girl than she'd been previously. The research that he did let him know that it was because he and Erin were doing things right - Piper readily saw them as a source of comfort in times of change and turmoil. Unfortunately, change and turmoil seemed to be unrelenting, and now with the boys coming in a few weeks, Jay could see the signs again.

But clingy Piper was far better than scared and skittish Piper. Jay was more than happy to indulge in all the sweet snuggles she wanted, the comfort she was seeking in him helping him almost as much as it helped her. It was a win-win.

"'m not sick," Piper mumbled, lifting her head to meet Erin's worried gaze, "Daddy's warm and it's cold out."

Jay smiled and ran a hand over Piper's back before pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Erin was still on high alert about her baby with the flu circulating Piper's class. "She's totally fine, babe. You want to join us?"

Erin let out a heavy breath. "I'm so hot," she mumbled, tugging at her top, "I'm sweaty and gross. You don't want any of this near you."

"Daddy doesn't care if you're sweaty," Piper informed her knowingly, "He gives you kisses even after you go running."

That got a smile on her lips. She sank heavily beside her family on the couch. "Daddy gives the best kisses," she mumbled, resting her head on Jay's shoulder. She exhaled again when he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead.

"Eww," he said teasingly, "Sweaty."

"Jay," Erin whined, pulling away from him, "I told you I was gross."

"He's teasing," Piper said quickly, putting a hand on Erin's baby bump. She looked up at her daddy seriously. "Me and Hailey talked about not teasing Mommy with Will. I think we need to have a talk with you too."

32 weeks.

Baby A and Baby B were thirty-two weeks and one day, which got them closer to delivery and Erin closer to losing her mind.

A weekend as just their little (and soon to be not-so-little) family was just what Jay needed. He was continuing to get better. He found himself second-guessing himself less and feeling more like he used to. Nightmares weren't as bad, and his continued reconnection with Piper was amazing. While Erin was on the couch, Piper happily helped him with all sorts of chores and giggled at all of his jokes. It felt normal.

But the weekend together also gave Jay a front row seat to just how rough the twins were being on Erin's body. His girl was up and back to the bathroom consistently, and he could tell that her back was killing her. Jay could also tell that she was doing her best to downplay any of the symptoms to prevent freaking Piper out, but every flinch had him on high alert.

Jay had never been so grateful to be attending an appointment at Dr. Hsu's come Monday morning.

He poked his head into their bedroom, expecting to find Erin in their bathroom. Instead, his fiancé was seated on the bed in a pair of his sweats and a nursing bra – because it was the only one that fit. And tears were trickling down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" Jay asked urgently, quickly closing the gap between him and his girl, "Are you in pain, babe?" He brought his hand to her cheek when she shook her head, tears dropping onto her lap. "Talk to me, Er. What hurts?"

"I'm not in pain," she mumbled, tossing the flannel that was in her lap to the side, "I'm just fat. I can't fit into these." She pointed at the pile of fabric beside her. "I got us all matching pajamas for Christmas." Erin sniffed and picked up the top before tugging on it. "I was going to try mine on, but I couldn't fit the top over the boys."

Jay's gaze immediately softened. "They're growing," he offered, putting a gentle hand on her belly, "That's a good thing, right?" He leaned down to kiss his boys gently. "But they're not being too kind to their Mama, are they?"

"It's not their fault," Erin whispered, "I shouldn't…I shouldn't be so upset over a pair of fucking pajamas but-"

"You're exhausted," Jay interrupted, "You haven't been sleeping. You've got two thirty-two week sized Halsteads dancing on your pelvic floor. You're allowed to be frustrated with them."

Erin shook her head. "Parents are supposed to love their kids," she argued, gesturing to her protruding belly, "And I love them, I do, but I get these moments where…where-" She covered her face with her hands, unable to finish the sentence on the tip of her tongue.

"Babe-"

"Please don't try to make me sound like a good mom," Erin begged, "I can't…I can't hear that. You always build me up and make excuses for me and I love you for it but this…this is inexcusable, okay? It's unforgiveable."

Jay was quiet. He knew it was the hormones talking. He knew Erin was exhausted from weeks of turmoil with her own health, not to mention his and the health of their kids. It didn't help that she was massively uncomfortable from the extra weight of the twins that was making it hard to sleep, move or do anything, really.

"What's unforgiveable?" he pressed gently. He wiped her cheek with his thumb. "Try me, Er. I'm not judging. I'm not going anywhere, remember? Neither are you."

Erin took a breath. "If I say it, I can't take it back," she choked out, "It's why I don't want to say it. I can't say it."

Jay brushed her cheek again. "Just us here," he whispered, "Just you, and me. The boys won't understand it, and Pipes is on her way to school with Hailey as we speak." He swallowed. "Would it help…would it help if I said something that's unforgiveable? I'd bet you a hundred bucks anything you say won't be as bad."

She sniffed and nodded, grasping his hand tightly. "Hundred bucks says mine's worse."

He drew in a breath. "For the past few weeks, since I got myself stabbed, I keep thinking that it would be better if I had just died."

Erin felt her chest constrict. "Babe-"

Jay shook his head. "You don't have to try to make me feel better or try to make it less horrible than it is. That's not what we're doing right now." He gave her hand a light squeeze.

"I wasn't supposed to be a mom. And sometimes…sometimes I wish I wasn't."

The second the words left her lips, Erin choked out a sob. "I'm excited to meet them but I'm so tired and my back really fucking hurts and I can't sleep now and I know it's only going to get worse when they're both crying." Tears sluiced off her cheeks. "And I love Noodle so much but all I do is worry about her and in a few weeks, we're going to have three kids, Jay. Three. There…there won't be a moment to ourselves, they're all going to need us and we're going to forget about each other…and you need me too, and I need you and we can't do it all."

He ran his fingers through her hair carefully, allowing her to catch her breath. "Please stop looking at me like that," she managed, dragging a hand across her nose, "I can't…I can't have you looking at me like that."

Jay titled his head to the side. "Like what?"

"Like that." Erin gestured to him. "The way you look at me. Like you love me."

He offered a small smile. "I do love you, Er. All the time." Jay rubbed her fingers softly. "Even when you don't think I do."

Erin shook her head. "I don't…I don't look at you like that," she insisted, "How…how do you still love me after I told you that I wish I wasn't a mom? I-I'm literally having your kids."

Jay rested both of their fingers on her bump. "Our kids," he said gently, "You're giving our kids a home, even though it's a really shitty situation for you. Every time I think that I couldn't love you more, you find a way to make me love you even more than before." He felt one of their boys kick and smiled. "And you remind me every second why it's better that I lived."

Tears streamed down her cheeks before she could stop them. "You weren't supposed to try to make me feel better," Erin managed, "You broke the rule."

"I couldn't help myself," he replied, giving her bump another kiss. "Not after you were lookin' at me like that." Jay smiled wider when she wrinkled her brow. "You've got a look too, babe."

"This is my 'if you had died I would have asked them to bring you back so I could kill you myself' look," she retorted, "Don't think just 'cause we started with you doesn't mean you get off the hook, because clearly I'm not off your hook." Erin swallowed. "You being alive is the only option. There isn't a better scenario than that. Anything else-" She shook her head, unable to finish. "It's not an option, okay?"

"I know," Jay nodded, "And I know that, because you got this look in your eye the second I said that. And it's a look you get when you are about to beat the shit out of someone for hurting someone you care about." He smiled again and stroked her cheek. "Same look you get when Pipes tells us about her past. Same look you'd get in an interrogation. And it's the same look you gave me that first week we were partnered up and I took a fist to the jaw. You laid that perp out without a second thought."

Jay gave the boys another kiss. "You fight for the people you love," Jay continued, "You fight for Pipes. You fight for me, even when I don't think I deserve it. You are fighting for our boys every second of every day even while they throw punches left and right. That's the look you give me, babe. It's why I'm fighting to be here. And I think it's why you're fighting with yourself a little too. You're trying to protect the boys from the other parts of your heart that are exhausted and overwhelmed. It doesn't mean you're not supposed to be a mom."

Erin rested her head on his chest and tugged him closer. "I love you," she choked out, "I love you for a lot of reasons but this-" Her voice cracked. "We're going to have three kids."

He nodded, resuming the gentle strokes of her hair. "Three kids," he murmured, "And I know it's not going to be easy. I get that. But I do think it's going to be worth it." Jay pressed a kiss to her forehead. "And we'll find time for us. That's a promise."

She sniffed. "In between diaper changes and tantrums and homework?" Erin exhaled when she felt Jay nod. "You're still gonna want to touch me even after I'm all stretched out?"

Jay pulled back. "Babe," he gasped, "Did I do something to make you think-" Erin shook her head and pulled him closer. "You're stunning," Jay managed, "Erin, babe, I…I don't want you to ever think that, okay? I love you, no matter what. I'd love you with three heads."

Erin snorted and ran her hand down his chest, settling her fingertips at his abs. "You don't work out for a month and you still look like this," she muttered, "No fair."

"I'll switch to a diet of cheeseburgers and milkshakes if you want," he offered, "Pizza for every meal-"

"Don't you dare," Erin said, "One of us has to be the hottest parent at preschool." She rubbed his stomach gently. "And you might be strong, but your stomach isn't. You wouldn't last a day on what I used to get away with eating."

Jay couldn't keep the smile off his face.

He had new photos of his boys to hang on his desk. They were doing incredible. At almost four pounds each, Dr. Hsu was incredibly surprised by their size and how Erin's blood pressure had remained steady. It was the confidence boost Erin needed after a morning of pregnancy hormones and weekend of feeling uncomfortable.

After settling Erin back onto the couch following the appointment, Jay headed into work. If he was being honest, he didn't mind the new normal of desk duty. It sucked to know that his team was working to make up for his need to stay behind a desk, but it was also allowing him to heal and find extra time to reconnect with his girls. Ordinarily, the extra time in the morning spent with both Piper and Erin was all too rare, but desk duty allowed for it. And Hank also allowed for it. His boss had been incredibly lenient with him…and Jay wasn't about to deny the extra slack. Not when it meant reconnecting with the people he loved most.

Jay disembarked from the driver's seat and stifled an eye roll. His brother was leaning against the hood of Hailey's car, talking to his partner. He was trying not to be weird about it, but it was still kind of weird to see his brother at his place of work not there to visit with him.

"Don't stop on my account," he joked when Hailey instinctively stepped back from Will after catching sight of her partner, "You know, it's warmer inside. No wind chill."

Will cleared his throat. "Platt's inside," Hailey supplied, "I don't think any of us are ready for that conversation."

Jay nodded. "I bet you she already knows," he told them, offering a cheeky smile, "You know that woman knows everything."

Hailey snorted when Will's face dropped. "Relax," she said, rolling her eyes, "She's fine. She likes me. Not the biggest fan of Jay though, so I'm not sure where that'll land you."

"Ugh," Will groaned, "You've gotta be kidding me."

"Halstead!"

Both Jay and Will turned at the familiar bark of Hank Voight. "Jay," Hank clarified, "Just got a call from the DA. Jury's reached a verdict. Coming down in two hours."

Jay widened his eyes and looked to Will and Hailey. "I can go be with Erin right now," Will determined, reaching into his coat pocket for his keys, "Did he call her already?"

"Not yet," he replied, "I told him I'd disseminate the information." Hank looked to Jay. "I figured you'd want to be the one to tell them. Platt's going to get a squad car out front of the house and Piper's school, just as a precaution. In the event the jury comes up on the wrong side." He put one hand on Jay's shoulder. "Just in case."

Jay managed a small nod. He knew that Kenny's reach was wide and he didn't want to risk anything happening to his girls. "Pipes is at school," he managed, "She's been really good, I don't want to pull her out but…but I don't want her to be alone."

"I can come with you to pick her up," Hailey suggested, "She might get a little freaked out if it's just me. You can drop both of us at your place so that you can be at court." Will nodded in agreement. "Will and I can stay with Piper and Erin."

"She's been doing so well," Jay said, bringing a hand to his forehead, "If this-"

"Don't go there unless we have to," Hank interrupted, "We'll deal with whatever comes, alright?"

Jay gripped his phone tightly in his hand as Hailey sped through the streets toward Piper's school. He'd quickly placed a call to the front office so that Piper would be ready when he arrived and was waiting for Erin to pick up the phone. Will would be at their place shortly, but Jay knew she would want to hear the news from him.

"You just saw me twenty minutes ago," Erin teased when she picked up, "You on your way back already?"

"I um, I will be," Jay managed, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll be back in fifteen or so, but Will should be there sooner." He grimaced when he heard Erin draw in a breath. She wasn't in front of him, but he could envision her face falling and her brow pinching in concern.

"What? Why?" Erin pushed her laptop off her legs, "Is it Piper? I was on calls so I could have missed-"

"Pipes is fine," he interrupted quickly, "Hailey and I are on our way to her now. Hank just got a call that the jury reached a verdict." He swallowed when he heard a knock through the phone. "Will was at the district. He and Hailey can stay with you and Pipes while Hank and I go to the courthouse. You'll probably see a squad car on the street as well, just as a precaution." Jay paused when Erin remained quiet. "Babe?"

"Will's here," she said, clearing her throat, "But Noodle…she's going to freak."

"We'll tell her together," he promised, "She'll be with you the whole time." He frowned when his phone beeped, indicating he had another call. "Shoot. Park's calling me."

"Take it," Erin insisted, "I'll…I'll be here."

"I'll grab Piper," Hailey informed him as she pulled into the parking lot, "Be back in a second."

Hailey hustled into the school, intent on grabbing Piper as quickly as possible. She was fairly certain that the little girl would be consumed with anxiety after being pulled out of class abruptly, most occasions for someone else picking her up from school was when either of her parents were not doing well.

"I'm here for Piper Halstead," she said to the woman at the front desk, "Her father called?"

"Are you Ms. Lindsay?" A well-dressed man emerged from a small office within the front office, "Blaine Cotlin. I'm the new vice principal here."

"Hailey Upton," Hailey corrected him, "I should be on a list of people who can pick up Piper. I work with her dad." She searched the man's eyes. "Erin Lindsay is Piper's mother."

The vice principal nodded. "Piper has certainly missed a lot of class since enrolling here," he said, "I trust her parents understand the importance of education for a child's development?"

Hailey steeled her gaze. "They're very aware," she gritted out, "Extenuating circumstances. Where is Piper?"

"She should be coming from class now," he replied, gesturing toward the door. "There she is."

She turned to see her little friend making her way down the hallway, eyes wide with worry. "Hey, kiddo. Everything's alright. You dad's outside in the car, just on the phone." Hailey looked back at the vice principal. "Am I able to take her?" She reached for Piper's hand when he gave a nod and hurried out of the school. She'd fill Jay and Erin in on the new vice principal later.

"Where's Daddy?" Piper asked, stopping in her tracks at the edge of the sidewalk. She looked up at Hailey, tears pooling in her eyes. "What's going on?"

Hailey glanced toward their vehicle, which was empty. "Uh-"

"They took him, didn't they?" Piper gasped, dropping Hailey's hand to race to the car in search of Jay, "They took him, they took him!"

"Woah, kiddo, no, no," Hailey rushed out, carefully taking Piper's arm to prevent her from sprinting into the parking lot, "He's just on the phone. I'm sure he's around here somewhere." She looked around, hoping to catch sight of her partner. "I'll call him, but I need you to stay next to me, okay? There are a lot of cars in the parking lot."

Tears spilled over her cheeks. "He's dead," she whimpered, bringing her hands to the side of her head. "They took him, he's not gonna come back and I'm gonna get taken-"

"Hey, hey," Hailey interrupted, sinking down to meet Piper's gaze. She wiped the child's cheek gently, "Your dad's very much alive. He's fine, and you're not going to get taken anywhere." She wiped another tear away. "As soon as we get you home, Erin and Jay will explain everything."

Jay caught sight of his partner from across the parking lot. He needed air after hearing Erin's voice crack over the phone and Park's subsequent update that court would be resumed in an hour. He couldn't imagine what was going through his girl's head. Or his little one's. His heart thumped loudly in his ears as he realized that Hailey was wiping Piper's cheeks. His little girl was distraught. She needed him.

His heart clenched harder when Piper crumbled into Hailey's arms, a desperate wail escaping her lips. "He's coming," Hailey whispered, carefully stroking the child's hair back, "Your dad's just there, Snipes. Right by the car."

Piper lifted her head. "Daddy!" she cried, pulling back from Hailey's embrace to race across the parking lot.

Jay didn't have enough time to register the fact that his child was about to sprint across the parking lot to him when he caught sight of a car moving quickly across the lot.

"Car!" he shouted, hoping it would be enough to deter her, "Car!"

"Piper!" Hailey shrieked, reaching forward to grab the little girl. She caught the back of her coat and pulled forcefully, catching Piper against her chest. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Jay raced across the parking lot, his heart practically beating out of his chest. He hadn't had so much exertion in weeks. "She hurt? You hurt?" he asked, immediately sinking down to the pavement to his little girl and partner, "Hailey?"

Piper launched herself at his chest with a sob. "I'm fine," Hailey promised, wiping her hands on her jeans, "She's…"

"I'm here, Pipes," Jay promised, "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and pressed her face into his neck with another sob. "Worried you got taken," Hailey supplied, "I think picking her up without warning really freaked her out. I'm fine."

Jay nodded in understanding. "Thank you for grabbing her," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Piper's head. He couldn't let his mind dwell on it, but his little girl could have been seriously injured, or worse. "I can't even-"

"She's okay," she interrupted, "Don't even think about it, alright?" She put a hand on Jay's back. "I can drive so you can sit with her."

He nodded gratefully and grimaced when Piper choked out another sob. "I'm here, I'm here," Jay cooed, rubbing her back gently as the child trembled, "I'm here, Pipes. You're okay." He pressed another kiss to the top of her head. "You're not going anywhere, no matter what. Can you take a breath for me? Just one, okay?"

"I'm sorry," she wept, "I'm sorry."

"You're okay," Jay repeated, "Hailey got you in time. I know you've got a lot going through your head right now, but you're safe. It's why you always have an adult when you cross the parking lot, right?"

She gave a small nod. "S-sorry."

Jay continued to hold his little girl closely. "It's okay. Let's try that breath, alright? Just one."

Piper drew in a gasp for air, gripping the collar of Jay's jacket with shaking fingers. "Good job," he praised, continuing to rub her back, "Keep trying that. You're doing so good, kiddo."

"E-everyone is going to think I'm a freak," Piper rasped, "N-normal kids don't cry at school."

Jay shook his head. "Nobody thinks that, Pipes," he assured her, "It's just you and me and Hailey here. Nobody else. And even if anyone saw, there is no reason they would think you're a freak." He wiped her cheek with his thumb. "It's okay to cry when you need to. You've been through a lot."

Piper sniffed. "I want to stop going through stuff," she said flatly, wiping her eye hastily. "I don't like it."

"I know," he replied, cradling her head with his hand, "I don't like it either. We're going to head home to Mommy now, alright? Everything's going to be okay."

"Is it the boys? Is Mommy dying?" Piper asked, panic rising in her throat again, "We have to go!"

"Mommy's alright," he soothed, "She's okay. She's waiting for us at home. The boys are okay too. I promise, we'll talk about everything when we get home."

Piper gripped Jay's hand tightly as he led her up the path to their side door. He promised that they would talk about what was going on when they got home, and Piper was worried. She didn't understand why she had to leave school so abruptly. The only times she left school early was when her mommy or daddy was in trouble, or if they were picking her up for something fun. But Piper could tell that whatever it was, wasn't fun. Which could only mean that her parents were in trouble. Or that she was.

"Do I have to leave?" Piper whispered solemnly, looking up at Jay as he unlocked their side door, "Is that…is that what's happening?" She swallowed, trying her best to be brave.

"No, no," Jay promised, sinking down to meet her gaze, "You're not going anywhere, Pipes." He brushed a stray tear off her cheek lightly. "Let's go inside and see Mommy, alright? I bet she's waiting for us on the couch."

She sniffed and gave a small nod. "Hey, Munchkin," Will greeted, giving the child a small wave, "Your mom's on the couch. I can take your coat since I know Erin really wants a hug from you."

Piper obediently handed Will her jacket. "There's my best girl," Erin managed, holding her hand out from her seat on the couch, "Hi, sweet bug." She felt her heart clench when she took in her child's red-rimmed eyes. "It's okay."

"We haven't talked about anything yet," Jay said gently, putting a hand on Piper's shoulder, "You think we can sit with Mommy on the couch for a little, kiddo?"

She gripped the material of Jay's jeans tightly. Piper didn't want to hurt her mommy. "I don't wanna hurt Mommy or the boys," she whispered, looking up at Jay worried.

"They're totally fine." Jay smoothed some of Piper's hair back and offered a reassuring smile to his fiancé. "I bet they'd kick for you."

"The kicks hurt Mommy," Piper mumbled, shuffling beside him as he moved to the couch. She held tighter to his jeans. No part of her wanted to harm her Mommy.

"They've been on their best behavior," Erin said, reaching forward to stroke Piper's cheek, "You won't hurt us, baby. I promise." She relaxed slightly when Piper released her hold on Jay and settled into her side. Having her baby close was what she needed. She kissed the top of Piper's head. "I know today's been tough."

"I don't know what's happening," Piper protested, "What's going on?"

Erin and Jay exchanged a glance. "The jury came to a decision about Bunny and Kenny," he said slowly, "So I need to go down to the courthouse to hear what's going on. I don't know yet, but when I do, I'll come right back here."

Jay stroked Piper's cheek gently, watching as his little girl processed the information. "You and Mommy are safe here with Will and Hailey," he continued, "And I'm going to be with Hank. We should have some answers soon, but for right now, the safest place for you is right here."

More to come soon! I've been planning out what comes next with some of the requests I've gotten over the series and it got me all nostalgic and very very appreciative for everyone who has stuck with me through all the ups and downs. Thank you so much for being here!