Chapter 61: Maria's first birthday.

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.

Chapter 61! I loved writing this chapter, because it felt like an important chapter for Jay and Hailey. I really appreciate all of the reviews for this story and I would love to hear you thoughts of this chapter because I loved writing this one :)

I do now own Chicago PD. Read, enjoy and, please, review :)

Before anyone would have imagined, Maria's first birthday arrived. Both Kim and Adam had the day off for the special day. They didn't know if they'd have another child and they wanted to make the most of their baby girl's first birthday. Kim organised a small party in the garden, with a couple of Maria's friends and their parents. It was princess themed, but Maria was so young she didn't understand what it was, anyway. Adam had ordered a cake for his baby girl. He spoilt her rotten as Kim always told Jay and Hailey. Voight also spoilt her, treating her as his granddaughter, as did Platt. Baby Maria also spent a great deal of time with Jay and Hailey, but they didn't spoil her and neither did Kevin, who had previously raised his brother and sister. Both Kim and Kevin were Detectives now and they worked in Intelligence, on the cyber cases and their skills had improved. It was what Kim wanted and she was so happy where she was now and she still had Kevin was her partner. She could not believe that her daughter Maria Lexie, was one year old.

Of course, Kim and Adam invited the unit, Voight and Platt to come to see Maria on her birthday, after their shift was over and Kevin was the first to go to their house because Hailey went for a run after their shift and Jay was still in his office, working. Hailey talked to her mum and her mum was asking her when she and Jay were going to give her a grandchild. Hailey's reply was always Someday, when we're ready. It was to happen when they were ready, but they had specifically discussed it. Hailey knew that Jay would be a great dad and the only person she had ever wanted to have a child with was Jay, but it was still so scary. They had time, to wait until they were ready. It was clear that Avery wanted a half-brother or half-sister, and Will wanted a niece or nephew and had made this clear to Jay. Kim had recently made a couple of remarks about keeping Maria's baby things in case Jay and Hailey needed them, but Hailey just rolled her eyes. She wasn't ready to have a baby and Jay wasn't pressuring her. There was no rush.

Kevin gave Maria a present and Kim and Adam were so glad that he was there. It was Maria's birthday and they wanted all of the important people in their lives and in Maria's life to be there for her birthday. Kim knew how fond Hailey was of Maria, so she hoped that Hailey would make it to their house to see Maria.

Hailey returned from her run, had a shower and changed after talking to her mum. She wished that her mum would stop asking about grandchildren. She just wasn't ready for babies yet. She saw how much Kim loved Maria and she wanted that with her and Jay's child, when the time was right. She had already bought a toy, cuddly dog for Maria and she was in the middle of wrapping it up in pink paper when Jay arrived home. Jay walked over to her and kissed her, before he said, "If I have a quick shower, can you text Burgess to ask if we can still go round to say happy birthday to Maria?"

Nodding, Hailey kissed Jay back and replied, "Sounds like a plan, partner." She tried to push her conversation with her mum out of her mind as she texted Kim, asking if it wasn't too late for her and Jay to go round to say happy birthday. She knew that the baby would have had a very busy and exciting day, even if she didn't understand what was happening.

Before they left for Kim and Adam's house, they took their wedding rings off their necks and placed them in their rightful places, with their eyes connected, before they left in Hailey's car.

The princess themed party was totally over by the time Hailey and Jay arrived, but the birthday girl was still awake and Hailey was carrying Maria's birthday present. Jay knocked on the door and Adam answered it, with the biggest grin on his face they had ever seen. He adored Maria so much. That much was clear. "Hey, guys. I'm so glad you're here. Come in! The birthday girl's still awake."

Taking off her coat, Hailey asked, "Is anyone else here? Kevin? Platt? Voight?"

"Nah. They were all here earlier. Platt and Voight sure know how to spoil our girl. Watch out when you guys have a baby." Hailey and Jay glanced at each other and laughed in an awkward way for a second. Adam didn't seem to notice and he invited them upstairs, to Maria's room.

Kim was sitting in the chair, rocking Maria as Jay and Hailey entered and she smiled, so happy to see them. Hailey hugged Kim, then focused on Maria, who reached out to Hailey, wanting to be held by her. Hailey looked at Kim for permission, so she picked Maria up into her arms and settled her into her arms. Maria just looked up at her. With a smile on his face, Jay passed Maria's present to Kim and said, in a soft voice, "I bet she's had a tiring day?"

Nodding and smiling, Kim replied, "Yeah, she has, but it's been great. I can't believe our baby girl's one already." She walked over to Adam and put her arms around him. "And, of course, Adam's spoilt her rotten."

Adam chuckled and shrugged. "She's my little girl. She's only going to be one once and my baby girl deserves that very best."

Hailey wasn't listening to what was being said; all of her attention was on the baby who was staring into her eyes. She kissed her tiny head and smiled down at her. Jay stepped closer and reached out to one of Maria's hands. The baby took hold of one of his fingers and held onto it, as tight as she could. As if they were the only ones in the room, Jay and Hailey looked at each other and smiled softly as they looked at each other and then back at the baby. Jay was imagining it was their own baby Hailey was holding. It would, one day, when they were both ready.

Kim and Adam could see what was passing between their friends and Kim interrupted, "Sorry, guys, would you mind watching Maria for about half an hour? Adam and I need to run to the store."

Adam looked at his wife, confused. "Darlin', no we don't." Kim nudged him in the ribs. "Yeah. We do."

"You're sure you don't mind? It could be good practice for you." Kim suggested and Hailey nodded, never taking her eyes off Maria, so Kim and Adam left.

Settling himself down on the chair where Kim had been before, Jay asked, softly, "Hailey, can I have a turn now?"

Tilting her head with a smile, Hailey replied, "If you insist, now go to your Uncle Jay, Maria Lexie." Maria was transferred into Jay's arms and she settled there as he rocked her. Jay moved her around, gently. He loved Maria and he knew that Hailey did, too. With tears in her eyes, Hailey whispered, "When Maria was born, Voight said you'd be a good dad, someday. I know you'll be, Jay."

Jay looked up at his wife and nodded, saying softly, "When the time's right. When we're both ready." He turned his attention back to Maria and whispered, "You're 1 today. 1 year old! That's so little!" He paused and added softly, "I wonder what Avery was like when she was this little. I've seen pictures, but I still wonder."

Hailey smiled sadly as she said, "I know, but she's here now and you have a relationship with her now. That's what's important, Jay, and she loves you so much."

"She loves you, too, Hailes." Jay looked up and smiled at his wife, before he asked, "Do you want to go back to Auntie Hailey?" He stood up and passed Maria back to Hailey. Hailey smiled and closed her eyes and, when she opened them, he could see tears in her bright, blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

Lifting Maria up to her chest, Hailey held her close and kissed her tiny head. She looked into Jay's eyes and whispered, "I want one."

With a small smile on his lips, Jay asked, "You want a baby?" It wasn't really a question, because they could read each other like a book.

Hailey looked between Jay and Maria, before she said, "Yes, I want a baby, our baby, Jay. I realised I wanted to have kids with you after you met Avery. You're the only man I've ever wanted to have kids with, and I've never loved anyone like I love you and you know that, because we got married and you make me happier than anyone. We always say, someday, when we're ready, but, Jay, I'll never be more ready. I want a baby with you."

The tears fell down her face and Maria nestled into Hailey's neck. Jay found himself becoming emotional, too, and he wiped away Hailey's tears as he whispered, "I want to have a baby with you, too. Hailes, I love you so much." Their eyes connected and they shared a sweet kiss before breaking apart and looking back at Maria, who was now asleep against Hailey's chest. The very sight made Jay happy and he kissed Maria's tiny head and kissed Hailey's forehead. They were married, they were good together and this was a part of their new chapter, as married couple. With a tender smile, Jay whispered, "You and me, always."

As soon as Jay and Hailey retuned home they looked at each other and whispered, "I love you" before they went to their bedroom. Their partnership, their relationship, had developed and thrived into their loving marriage and now they wanted nothing more than to bring a child into the world. Their child and it was Hailey's wish as they lay together, in each other's arms, afterwards. She was still scared of being a parent and she knew that Jay was too, because he had missed Avery's whole childhood, but they were a good team. The idea of bringing a child, their child, into this world had never felt so right and it was the start of their new life together, their new chapter.