Chapter 60: Thanksgiving.

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 do not own Chicago PD.

Here it is. Chapter 60! I can't believe it. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I love receiving reviews to hear how you guys are enjoying this story, so please read, enjoy and review :)

November brought with it the force of snow in many years, meaning that many people Thanksgiving plans were halted, but not for Hailey and Jay, who had planned on spending the day with Will, Natalie, Avery, Gail and Danny. Hailey wanted to see her mum, but on such a day, her mum wouldn't be free of her father, so she arranged to see her mum a couple of days after. It was Hailey and Jay's first Thanksgiving as a married couple and also Jay's first Thanksgiving as a father. Avery was a huge part of his life and Hailey was also very fond of her. She fitted into their lives well and Hailey was glad to see that Jay had adjusted so well to becoming a father under such strange circumstances. Since returning from Afghanistan, Jay hadn't celebrated Thanksgiving, besides with Hailey, but he preferred Thanksgiving to some of the other national holidays, such as Memorial Day or New Year's because there were no fireworks. Fireworks triggered PTSD and he hated that. He had Hailey, who was now his wife, having to deal with that, no matter how many times she told him she was beside him, no matter what.

The weather effected Kim and Adam's plans, as well as Kevin's, Voight's and Platt's. It was also baby Maria's first Thanksgiving and Kim and Adam wanted it to be special. The unit were off for the Thanksgiving weekend, so they wanted to make the most of it.

At Molly's, Kim asked, "Jay, Hailey, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?"

"We're having it at our place, with Will, Natalie, Avery, Gail and Danny." Hailey replied, before she caught the look in Kim's eyes and asked, with an amused smile, "Why do you ask, Kim?"

Kim looked like a dear in the headlights and she looked at Adam who shook his head, so it was Kevin who spoke up. Hailey and Jay exchanged a look, finding this amusing. Clearly, this was something Kim, Kevin and Adam and, possibly, Platt and Voight had discussed beforehand. Kevin cleared his throat before he began, "Well, you see, I was going to go to Texas to see my brother and sister, Kim and Adam were going to see Kim's parents and sister and Voight was going to see Olive and Daniel- So, we were wondering if, maybe, we could spend Thanksgiving with you guys? You know, make it a real party! We can bring food and it's Maria's first Thanksgiving, so we want it to be special."

Hailey could feel Jay's reluctance beside her. He only wanted to celebrate the holiday with her and his family, considering he didn't normally celebrate the holiday, but Jay could also see how much their friends wanted this. He nudged Hailey and shrugged, with a smile, and she smiled at him, in a wistful way, before he said to Kevin, "Yeah, you guys can come for dinner." Hailey reached out to Jay's hand and squeezed it, smiling. She knew that that was a sacrifice for him and she knew that he was doing it for their friends. It was their first Thanksgiving as a married couple and Hailey knew what she was Thankful for, above all else.

On Thanksgiving morning, Jay woke up, with one thing on his mind. He looked over at Hailey, who was asleep in his arms and he kissed her softly on the cheek before he moved himself from under her arms. He found his black and white suit and left the house, leaving a note for Hailey. He liked wearing his wedding ring and he also put his dog tags around his neck, as a reminder that he was home. He had survived and others had sacrificed their lives so that he and others could come home. Could live.

First, Jay went to the graveyard and found his mum's grave. He knew that Will had been there a couple of days ago, but he sat down in front of the grave and told her everything. He hadn't been there since he and Hailey had married and he wanted to tell her that, on their wedding day, Hailey had worn her neckless and Jay knew that his mum would have loved that.

After about 2 hours, Jay left and went to his second destination. The memorial for fallen soldiers. He stood to attention and pulled his dog tags out from under his suit, then saluted as he looked at the memorial. He wanted to remember all of those who had lost their lives, so that he could live. Jay told himself that he needed to remember the good times oversees, not just the bad and traumatic.

When Jay turned around to leave the memorial, he wasn't too surprised to see that Hailey was waiting for him at the other side of the road. He crossed the road and she gave him a sympathetic smile, before tilting her head and they walked home, in silence. Like Hailey, Jay sometimes needed silence and they knew what the other needed. They always had.

Despite being in a suit, Jay crawled back into bed when they arrived home and Hailey followed suit, cuddling close to him. Her blue eyes searched his as she waited for him to speak. In a husky voice, Jay told her, "They sacrificed their lives so that I could live and the best way for me to honour that is to life my life, the best way I can." He gave her a small smile as he added, "That's what you are, Hailes. The best part of my life. Our future together."

"I'm glad to hear it, Jay." Hailey reached out for his dog tags and traced them with her fingers. She could see the memories they held for her husband. She bit her lip and suggested, "If today's too much, we can call everyone else off? Just have Will and Avery here?"

Jay shook his head and replied, "No, that wouldn't be fair. Kim and Adam really want this and so does Kevin." He rested his head against hers and closed his eyes and Hailey kissed his forehead and closed her own eyes as they drifted back into sleep.

Hailey and Jay shared the Turkey cooking duties and Gail and Danny came over earlier than the others, to help them prepare for such a big dinner and Avery came over, dressed in a beautiful blue dress. She said she wanted to help Hailey chose what to wear and she called Hailey 'her stepmum'. There were chuckles when she said this and Hailey and Avery went to the bedroom. With Avery's help, Hailey picked out a purple dress and Jay chose a pair of blue jeans, with a formal looking, blue shirt and Hailey told him he looked handsome. Avery laughed and joked, "Get a room, you two!" She paused, then said, "Maybe, this time next year, I'll have a baby brother or sister!" Hailey and Jay looked at each other and blushed.

Before everyone arrived, Hailey called her mum. She wanted to talk to her mum and to hear about her nieces and nephews and Jay spend time with Avery. It was their first Thanksgiving of knowing that the other existing. Avery's first one without her mum, something Jay could relate to and he wanted to be there for his daughter. His daughter. Avery felt very complete and happy, with Jay and Hailey and Gail and Danny as her grandparents.

Voight was the first to arrive. He hugged Hailey and shook Jay's hands in a proud way, before turning his attention to Avery. Platt had told him who Avery was and he was very happy to meet her. Platt arrived next, with Kevin and Hailey showed them into the sitting room and gave them some drinks. Voight could see that Jay was anxious, but he knew not to worry. Jay had survived worse things than a Thanksgiving dinner. By the time Kim and Adam arrived, with baby Maria, the turkey was ready, so the food was served.

"Before we start," Kim began, smiling, "We should go around the table and say what we're thankful for this year. I'll go first: I'm thankful for, first of all, my beautiful baby girl, Maria Lexie, and, second of all, for the chance to remain in the Intelligence Unit."

Kevin was next, then Adam, then Voight, then Avery. Avery paused, before she spoke, "I'm grateful for finding, not only my dad, but an amazing stepmum. They're my new family and my grandparents and, hopefully, by this time next year, I'll have a baby brother or sister." Both Jay and Hailey hugged Avery as she said this.

It was Jay's turn next and he ran his hands across his legs in a nervous way before he said, "I'm thankful for my wife, Hailey Halstead. She's always been there for me and she loves me enough to spend the rest of her life with me. I'm thankful that, despite the sad circumstances, I found a daughter. A wonderful, kind, intelligent daughter." Jay paused, before he swallowed and added, "I'm also thankful for the men who died so that I could come home and live my life."

There was a silence and everyone seemed to understand the emotional importance of what Jay was saying. Hailey smiled softly and said, "I'm thankful for my husband, the best partner I've ever known and for my family. My mum, Avery, Will and Natalie, but also the Intelligence unit and Voight and Platt. We're not family by blood, but we are what matters. Love and loyalty."

The front door opened and a voice came through the door. "I'm thankful I was able to get a flight back stateside at such short notice." It was Mouse and Jay almost jumped up out of his chair to greet his friend.

The two men embraced and Jay whispered, "I'm so glad you're here, brother."

Mouse smiled and nodded. "Me too, man." He frowned and asked, "Jay, is that a wedding ring, I see? Don't tell me you and Hailey got married?"

Jay smiled and nodded, and Hailey left her seat to greet Mouse. Mouse hugged and congratulated both of them. She hugged Mouse and told him, "It's so good to see you, Mouse."

Grinning from ear, Mouse demanded, "I want to know everything! Every detail about your wedding and don't leave a single thing out!"

"We will. Do you want to come and eat with us?" Jay asked, as he grinned.

Thanksgiving was the best it had ever been and Avery said that Mouse could have her room for the night, considering that she had her dorm room in the city and a room at her grandparents'. She could see how close her dad and Mouse were and she also understood that Mouse's time at home was limited.

Before midnight, Hailey went to bed, leaving Jay and Mouse a chance to catch up, to talk about things they wouldn't talk about when she was there. Afghanistan and what had happened over there. Jay did talk to her about it, but she knew that it was easier for him to talk to Mouse about it, because they had experienced it together.

Early in the morning, Jay slipped into bed next to Hailey and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her blonde curls and told her, "I'm grateful for you, Hailey Halstead. You and me, always. Happy Thanksgiving." He closed his eyes and fell asleep, holding his wife, grateful for the life he had created.