I'll Be by Your Side, You Know I'll Take Your Hand

"I'm pregnant."

It's only three words, a short sentence, but the power it holds is enough to change a life. It takes Jake a full second for the realization to hit him but when it does, he can feel a rush of happiness coursing through his body and his heart starting to race in his chest. Amy, his wife, his favorite person in the whole wide world, is pregnant – with his baby. Their baby.

They're really gonna do it – have kids together.

A few months ago such news who have been terrifying to him but now it's nothing but pure overwhelming bliss even though it still comes as a surprise. They only started trying a few weeks ago after all. He would have never imagined it would be this quick before it works out for them.

But he's ready. More than he's ever been. And after the day he's had, the things he came across to, this is the best thing he could have come home to.

(Although technically, they're still at the precinct and not just yet at home. But with everything significant that happened in here in the past between them, the evidence lockup does feel like home now.

And anyways, no matter where they might be, Amy is his home.)

There are a million things Jake wants to say – a million things he wants to shout and sing at the top of his lungs – but they all get stuck at the back of his throat, too emotional to pass the barrier of his mouth. He takes a step forward then, framing his wife's face with both his hands before meeting her lips with his in a searing kiss to let her know exactly how he feels.

He rests his head against hers when they part, eyes looking down at her stomach. There's a life growing there, he can't help but marvel.

"We're gonna be parents," he whispers dreamily and Amy nods slightly, both grinning with their eyes shining in the dark of the small room. A tear falls down her cheek that he softly removes with his thumb still resting on her face. "I love you so much." He presses another kiss, more tender this time, against her lips.

They barely have the time to draw away a little that the sound of the door opening distracts them in their intimate moment. It's Rosa, who frowns when she enters the room and finds them both crying – thankfully though, she doesn't ask any question. She simply lands her eyes on Jake.

"Captain wants to see you," she informs him.

"What does he want?" He doesn't move. This is not really the right time.

"I don't know. Go ask him yourself." Rosa shrugs.

Jake pauses, looking at his wife to seek her approval. He doesn't want to leave her so quickly after learning such life-changing news.

There's still so much they need to excitedly gush about.

"Go." Amy smiles softly at him and draws away from his embrace to emphasize her words. "I'll wait for you."

But Jake's still hesitant.

"It's okay, I promise. Go, it might be something important," she repeats more firmly this time and he reluctantly obliges.

"You guys are weird," Rosa comments with a jaded pout when he passes by her but he ignores it.

There are two other people inside Holt's office when he enters it – people Jake knows for a fact are part of the FBI. This can't be good, he thinks as he nervously greets them and stands next to them. He can already tell this has to do with his case and the huge discovery he made about Commissioner Kelly. A rush of panic suddenly takes over him. What if he gets fired?!

This would be the worst timing ever, with this new member about to join Amy and his family…

"I guess you remember Special Agent Clarke from your time working with the FBI? This is his partner, Special Agent Rogers," Holt doesn't waste any time to do the introductions.

Jake only nods, waiting nervously to know more about his fate.

"The discovery you made about Commissioner Kelly? It's huge – it could dismantle the entire NYPD. But we lack evidence. This is why we couldn't let you arrest him. And this is also why we'd like you to go undercover and help us with the investigation," Special Agent Clarke lets it all out at once.

Jake's mouth opens, in shock, but no word gets out of it. It's a lot to process – definitely not the turns he thought these events were gonna take.

"Of course, as it is a dangerous mission that would take place over several months – we're thinking at least five – you don't have to give us an answer right away," the agent adds when a few seconds pass and Jake's still silent. "We can give you some time to think about it."

"No." The word eventually passes the barrier of his lips, firm and sure of him.

"What?" The confidence with which he declines the offer seems to take the others off guard.

Jake turns around for a second before further explaining himself. There, through the curtains, he sees Amy sitting at his desk and absentmindedly tidying it up – it seems like she came up from the evidence lockup to wait for him here. Watching her brings a fond smile to his face. When he puts his eyes back on the FBI agents and his boss, there's a new look of determination shining inside them.

"I'm sorry but I'll have to decline the offer. I really appreciate the faith you're putting in me, and if you'd asked me a few years ago I would have accepted without a second thought but… there's too much at stakes for me now. I can't abandon my family."

He's never been so sure of anything before – apart maybe from the moment he told Amy he fully was ready to be a father and he wanted them to start trying. He doesn't even feel an ounce of regret in his core as he lets out the words.

He's made up his mind, and nothing's gonna change his decision. It's crystal clear to him that nothing's more important than his wife and now future child. Not even this job he loves so much and the amazing opportunity coming with it.

There's absolutely no way he's going to leave Amy alone during her pregnancy. He has to be – and wants to be – there every step of the way, from pulling up her hair while she throws up because of morning sickness to letting her crush his hand with hers during labor. And it's not just about their upcoming baby.

Even if he'd gotten the offer before Amy told him the great news, he would have still declined it. He wouldn't have left the love of his life alone again.

They've gone through enough separations in the past to last for a lifetime.

"Well, thank you for the work you've done so far. We won't keep you any longer." Special Agent Clarke nods understandably.

"Thank you, Sir."

Jake doesn't waste any more second and hurries out of his Captain's office, towards Amy. She smiles when their eyes meet and the way his heart rushes when he reaches her side confirms once again he made the right choice.

"What did Holt want?" she asks once he's facing her. She plays with one of the toys on his desk while she speaks.

"It wasn't Holt. It was the FBI. And they wanted me to go undercover."

At that, he can see her features harden and her smile falter all of a sudden. Her hands stop moving as she stiffens in front of him. The look of love she was wearing on her face is now replaced with a scared and horrified expression.

"Hey, relax." Jake brings a hand to her arm and strokes gently to calm her down. "I said I didn't want to go." He attempts a reassuring smile at her but it doesn't seem to help – nor do his words.

"Why? This is like, your dream job."

"Yeah. And you're my dream girl, remember? Dream girls, even, now." He shoots her a bright, knowing beam. "Sure, I love my job, but you – both of you – mean so much more to me than this. I couldn't leave you."

It finally seems to work as he sees Amy relax a little.

"You sure you won't regret it?" she still insists.

"Never," Jake assures. "Now let's go home? There's so much we need to talk about." He gives her his hand and Amy takes it without replying anything, apart from letting out a small chuckle. It's only when they're inside the elevator that she talks again, her tone playful this time.

"So, you think it's gonna be a girl, uh? Wanna bet on that?"

"You know I do."

They exchange an amused grin and, as the elevator's doors close on them, he knows this is right where he belongs. Right by Amy's side.