Chapter 51: Engagement dinner.

Jay/Hailey. Set after series 7. At Kim and Adam's wedding, Jay and Hailey finally confessed their feelings and spent the night together and now they are back in Chicago and hiding their relationship from their friends.

I hope you're still enjoying this story and, if you are, please review. Here's the next chapter :)

I do not own Chicago PD or any of the characters.

Avery was very excited about her dad and Hailey getting married and she, Gail and Danny booked one of the best restaurants in Chicago to celebrate the engagement. In truth, neither Jay or Hailey wanted this, but they wanted Avery to be happy and Gail and Danny were there as Jay's surrogate parents, so, along with his daughter and Will, it was fitting. Jay had assured Hailey she was more than welcome to invite her mum, but Hailey didn't want the drama that could cause. She wanted this to be a happy night. She hadn't even told her mum that she was engaged, but it was very recent, so she had not seen her since she and Jay had become engaged. Hailey would tell her, when she saw her next. Her mum had apologised for her brother's words and Hailey had told her not to worry. It hadn't been her doing. Unknown to anyone else, Avery had invited Hailey's mum. She had invited her because Hailey had said that she and her mum had a better relationship with and she didn't want it to just be Jay's family celebrating this great event, because it was for both of them.

Before the dinner, Avery came round to the house, to help Hailey with what to wear. She was wearing a beautiful silk, blue dress and she wanted Hailey to look great, too, and Avery also wanted to see the engagement ring and Hailey was more than happy to show it to her. "It's so beautiful, Hailey. It's so you." Avery smiled, before she asked, seriously, "Have you chosen your dress, or decided what to do with your hair?"

With an amused smile, Hailey asked, "Can't I just have it down, like I normally do?"

The look on Avery's face was almost funny as she shook her head and replied, "No, you can't! It has to be elegant and graceful. This is an important meal."

Jay walked into their bedroom, already dressed in his blue and black suit and he frowned and asked, in a mocking tone, "You're not ready yet?"

"Your daughter's bullying me!" Hailey joked.

"You need to wear something that stands out, because this is celebrating your engagement and we need to talk about arrangements for the wedding. Dad, leave us alone, please?"

Jay kissed the top of Hailey's head and gave Avery a hug before he left, knowing it was best to be out of the way.

Finally, Hailey chose a bright, green dress and Avery fashioned her hair into a bun with bits falling down, framing her face, and she did Hailey's make-up. This was out of Hailey's comfort zone and Jay knew it, but Avery meant well.

They met Will, Gail and Danny at the restaurant and, like Avery, they were all very excited about this evening, especially Will, who knew that his brother would secretly not be enjoying any of this. Gail and Danny wanted to hear the story of the proposal again, so Hailey smiled and gave them the outline, but the rest of it was private. Just for her and Jay. They had no fixed plans for the wedding, but Gail and Avery wanted to change this, although they knew that, ultimately, Jay and Hailey would do what they wanted to do, in their own way. The only thing Hailey and Jay had agreed with Gail and Avery was that they wanted to be married in a church. There was no fixed date, but Gail insisted they needed to get it organised if they really wanted to get married. She meant well and she loved Jay as if he were her second son, but it still annoyed Hailey, but she bit her tongue and just smiled.

The door of the restaurant opened and Hailey heard the footsteps. "Hailey, darling, you look so beautiful." Hailey tilted her head in confusion and her eyes connected with Jay's. She knew that he hadn't invited her. He wouldn't do that behind her back, but someone had and, when she saw the smile on Avery's face, she knew who it had been.

Avery saw the look on Hailey's face and she looked at her dad. She mouthed I'm sorry. Hailey gave her a small smile, before she stood up and faced her mum. She would deal with Avery later. "My darling, this young woman called me and told me that you and Jay are engaged. I can't believe it. It's one of the happiest days of my life. My only daughter. Jay, it's nice to see you again."

Jay stood up and shook her hand, before he suggested that she sat down, so she did. "Hailey, I know I haven't seen you this week, but, darling, you could've called me to tell me. I'm so happy that Avery told me and invited me here."

Hailey smiled and reached out for her mum's hand as she said, "I'm glad you're here, too, Mum."

Hailey's mum said hello to Gail, Danny and Will, before she saw the ring and asked, "So, that's the ring? Now, Jay, when you asked her to marry you, did you get down on one knee? My daughter's a hopeless romantic at heart."

Smiling, Jay nodded. "Yes, I did, Mrs. Upton. I'm old-fashioned." He threw Hailey a smile and she smiled at him, before turning back to her mum.

Gail brought Hailey's mum into the conversation with how Hailey and Jay hadn't any fixed plans for their wedding and, just like that, it was as if they'd known each other for years and Jay was glad to see that Hailey relaxed. Her mum loved her, she was a part of her life and she wanted to be involved in the wedding.

When the meal ended, Hailey walked ahead with her mum. "Mum, I know you and I have an unspoken agreement where we never talk about Dad. That's what I want, but I have to ask: Have you told him I'm engaged?"

Her mum smiled and shook her head. "No, I haven't told him." She reached out for Hailey's cheek and whispered, "I love you, Hailey. I can't wait to see you walk down the isle." Hailey smiled, but said nothing.

Later that evening, Avery was asleep in Vanessa's old room. She had apologised to Hailey hundreds of times and Hailey had assured her that she was actually glad that Avery had invited her mum. Hailey was happy, but she was still bothered by what her mum had said. There was no way her mum would be able to come to their wedding, without her father being there, too.

Jay was in the shower, so Hailey slipped out of her dress and into a pair of Jay's old sweatpants and one of his old jumpers as she climbed into bed and pulled her hair out of all of the pins. She rested her head on the pillow and went under the covers, looking at her engagement ring. Just the sight of it made her happy. She and Jay were going to be married. Nothing could be better than that and nothing made her happier.

After leaving the shower and drying his hair, Jay found his PJs and watched Hailey as she lay in their bed, staring at her engagement ring. Slowly, he slipped himself into bed beside her and kissed her shoulder as he said, in a low voice, "I'm sorry about what Gail said. She and your mum kind of ganged up on us, didn't they?" He rested his head next to hers on the pillow.

Hailey didn't take her eyes off her ring as she replied, "I was actually glad Avery invited her, but I suddenly realised she won't be able to come to the wedding without my dad being there and there's no way in Hell I want him there, not on a day that's about us. Our new chapter, together." She sighed and turned to look into Jay's eyes. "What are we going to do?"

Jay brushed one of his fingers against hers before he put his finger against the engagement ring. "We'll figure it out, Hailes. I promise. Our wedding will be perfect, just for us."

A smile spread across Hailey's face as her lips met Jay's when she whispered, "Yes, it will be and we'll dance, all by ourselves, just the two of us. You, Jay Halstead, for the rest of my life."