A/N: Hi! I felt like posting something a bit on the happier side to break up the Summer Sun posts, so here's the story I've been slowly adding to over the course of the last four months. Christmas in March anyone? I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think? :)


The district holiday party was typically boring. There'd be a white elephant gift exchange, and everyone was guaranteed to walk away with either alcohol or a gift card. The food was fine, nothing spectacular, but nothing gross either. And the decorations were minimal, usually some garland haphazardly thrown around some banisters and poinsettias on the tables at whatever banquet hall was hosting. It was nothing over the top. Probably half the cops would show up just to get out of the house.

Until Trudy sprang for an open bar.

She didn't say why she did it, but gave a pointed glance toward Intelligence when she announced it at the district staff meeting.

"The hell's she looking at me for?" Adam had whispered, "I swear I didn't ask for this."

"Because we've had a year," Kevin whispered back, "Accept the booze."

They weren't the only ones whispering. It was good Trudy had waited until the end of the meeting to announce it because the whole room was then filled with a buzz of people saying they'd show up this year; even Hailey and Kim were excited.

"I'm going to ask the sitter now," Kim had said while they walked back up the stairs toward the bullpen, "I could use a night out."

"Free alcohol, we should go," Hailey told Jay on the way to their desks, "I think it'll be fun."

"Yeah?" he'd asked, "You sure? Could get a little…sloppy."

Hailey had rolled her eyes and corrected him: "We don't have to get sloppy. Isn't it just a little enjoyable to see some of these patrol officers we love oh so much get drunk? Personally, I loved seeing Pearson half gone at Molly's last week after she'd been such a stick in the mud during our rape case."

"You're still on that?" Jay chuckled, "Hailey, it was her first time. We were all extra thorough our first year."

She raised an eyebrow to say, "Twenty minutes gave him enough time to sober up and realize he needed a lawyer."

"Maybe you're the one who needs the drink," Jay said with a squeeze of her arm as he walked around her to his desk. "We can go; you're right, it'll be fun. Plus, it can be our first event as the Halsteads."

Hailey blushed and smiled at his wink. Glancing at the black ring on his left hand, she took a deep breath and sat down. Kevin was right: they'd all had a year; this was the perfect chance to celebrate.

She knew she had a lot to be happy for.

Just like how Jay knew it'd get sloppy.

The party started out rather tame with everyone having one or two drinks with dinner, but as a few of the higher up people left, more started drinking.

Voight was out the door for about a minute when Kim looked at everyone and said, "Who wants a shot?"

Jay had two, Kevin had three, and Adam tapped out at four, but Hailey and Kim sat together in the back corner on their phones looking up different shots to tell the bartender.

"Two Girl Scout cookies."

"We'll have two washington apples."

"Hi, two lemon drops."

"Yeah, another two, but this time we'll do the velvet hammer."

"All right, let's stop," Jay had whispered to Hailey, "You're mixing a lot."

"Darlin, I think you've had enough," Adam added to Kim.

"Jay, stop, I'm fine," Hailey sighed, "I'm not drunk."

"It's nothing, this is nothing," Kim agreed.

So Jay and Adam nursed another beer at a nearby table once Kevin left while the girls continued drinking.

Soon enough, their laughter got a little louder and their drinks a little bolder.

"Two buttery nipples."

"A redheaded slut, oh and one for my friend."

"Sex on the beach times two."

"We want two ankles in the air."

It wasn't until the bartender slipped them sprite with cherry juice instead of a shot that they finally gave in and called it quits.

"I'm not drunk," Hailey said while Jay led her out to their car.

"Okay," he breathed and unlocked the truck.

She tugged at the door before climbing in with a soft huff leaving him outside to close the door for her. He then walked around and got in the truck just as Hailey was pulling at the seatbelt and twisting it around. He stared at her struggling for a moment before beginning the drive home. Soon enough, though, a loud beeping started and the screen showed that she never got the seatbelt on.

"Are you serious?" he asked as he pulled over.

"What?" Hailey snapped.

Jay shook his head and took off his own seatbelt to reach over and click hers in to silence the sound.

"Oh thank god," Hailey said as she closed her eyes and rested her head back, "I thought I was going crazy."

"Nope," Jay whispered.

Hailey hummed and lightly shook her head around.

"Hey, hey, don't get sick," Jay said while driving away again, "Just relax."

"I won't, I won't get sick," Hailey replied, "Trust me."

Jay sighed and looked at her to say, "I trust you."

"Thank you," she hummed. She was quiet for a few minutes then let out a soft giggle as she opened her eyes. "Jay," she whispered.

"Hailey," he smiled and put a hand out.

She held onto his thumb then pointed out the window as she said, "I love all the Christmas decorations."

"They are pretty," Jay said with a smile and nod.

They fell into a silence the rest of the ride. Had he not seen her drink so much, he'd think it was a normal drive home after a date with her sticking to just playing with his fingers as he drove.

That was until he parked the car and she practically fell out of the truck.

"Hey, okay," Jay said and hurried around to grab her, "Are you good? You good?"

Hailey put a hand on her stomach and nodded.

"Are you going to get sick?" Jay asked.

She shook her head and steadied herself before confidently saying, "Let's go to bed together and try out some of those drinks."

Jay blinked and tried not to laugh. He firmly believed no one should be laughed at for wanting to do something in the bedroom, but right now with his wife standing in front of him with her hair a mess and cheeks flushed from the excess of alcohol coursing her veins…he really sorta wanted to laugh.

"Let's just go to bed," he said and grabbed her hand.

"But…Jay," Hailey sighed as she followed him inside.

"Tomorrow," Jay squeezed her hand, "Think you can handle the elevator?"

Hailey rolled her eyes and pressed the button. "Yes, Jay Halstead."

He smirked and followed her inside. "Just asking."

"Mhmm," Hailey hummed blinking slowly and staring at all the buttons.

Jay raised an eyebrow and asked, "You gonna take us home?"

"Yeah." Hailey cleared her throat then hesitantly pressed the 5.

Smiling, Jay leaned against the back wall and crossed his arms.

"There," Hailey said as the doors closed.

"Still not drunk?" Jay asked.

"Not at all," Hailey said and gripped the railing.

"Okay," Jay chuckled.

Hailey pressed up on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Do you remember when we moved in here?"

He nodded and grabbed her waist as he said, "I do."

Hailey hummed softly and teased the buckle on his belt when she continued, "And the elevator ride?"

"Up to the fifteenth floor," Jay nodded.

"I know," Hailey said and undid his belt.

"Do you?" Jay asked and pointed to the buttons.

"Yes, Jay," Hailey huffed.

"Well, Hailey, you pressed 5," he replied. He leaned around her and pressed the 15 while keeping a hand on her waist.

She blinked a couple times and wavered as the elevator jolted to a stop on the fifth floor.

"I've got you," Jay said and gently squeezed her waist when they started moving again.

She pursed her lips and looked up at him.

He held back a laugh as he kissed her forehead.

Finally, they reached their floor and Hailey marched down to their apartment. She was mad at him, but Jay was still trying not to laugh as she struggled to walk in a straight line.

At the door, she stumbled to get her key in until it finally swung open. Kicking off her heels, she turned and walked backwards while saying, "You're sure you don't want to do anything?"

Jay smiled and locked the door. "I'm sure. Go brush your teeth and wash your face." He pulled his belt off and wrapped it around his hand.

"Are you sure?" Hailey asked as she began unbuttoning her pants. She blinked quickly then tugged her sweater over her head.

Jay laughed and nodded. "We'll relax in bed with a Christmas movie, okay? We haven't seen that new Grinch movie yet."

"It's not new, it came out a few years ago," Hailey corrected before going in their bathroom and shutting the door.

"Got it," Jay smiled. He filled a few bottles with water then changed into his sweats in their room. Glancing to the bathroom door as he pulled a t-shirt on, he said, "Hails, everything okay?"

"Great! Everything is really good - oops."

There was a harsh thud, so Jay raised an eyebrow and stepped toward the door as he asked, "What's going on in there?"

"Just a bit…dizzy," Hailey giggled with another clatter of noise.

"All you have to do is brush your teeth, we can go without washing your face for the night," Jay said.

"I did that anyways, so don't worry. Oh, shoot."

Jay walked over and knocked before opening the door to see Hailey now standing in only her underwear struggling to get lotion on her legs. The bottle was continuously slipping from her hands as she struggled to balance on one leg while putting it on.

"Really?" he laughed.

Smiling, Hailey said, "Dry skin."

"Mhmm," Jay sighed and shook his head, "What're you doing? Come on, come lay in bed with me."

"One second," Hailey said only to slip and fall to the tile with another thud.

"Whoa," Jay chuckled and knelt next to her, "You okay?"

"Help me out?" she whispered and held her hands out.

Jay breathed in, but couldn't resist and slipped his hands amongst hers to grab her lotion that he then rubbed into her legs.

"You workout?" he said softly.

Hailey laughed and brushed the backs of her fingers over his cheeks when she answered, "A bit."

Jay smiled and pressed his thumbs along her calf muscle. "Thought you took your makeup off?" he asked.

"Brushed my teeth," Hailey corrected.

Jay hummed and switched her legs.

Hailey watched, and felt, his wedding ring rub along her skin for a moment before saying, "I think I am drunk."

Jay laughed, "Yeah, baby, I think you are."

Hailey smiled and giggled softly, "Oops."

"Was it?" Jay smirked. He stood to grab some of her makeup wipes from the drawer.

"Was it what?" Hailey asked.

"Was it an oops?" Jay laughed and returned to her side to wipe her face off.

"I had fun," Hailey said.

Jay hummed and tossed the wipe in the trash. "All right, you have lotion on, your teeth are brushed, and your face is clean, can you please drink some water and lay in bed with me?"

Hailey leaned back on her hands and said, "Maybe."

"Hailey," Jay argued and raised an eyebrow.

She laughed, "Jay."

He smirked then helped her slowly stand up. After she tripped over her own feet and then her scattered clothes, she shakily followed him into their room where she plopped on their bed with a soft groan.

Jay helped her out of her bra then pulled one of his t-shirts on her before repeating, "You good?"

Frowning, Hailey sighed, "Just disappointed you put clothes on me."

Jay laughed and turned to pull their covers down while saying, "Let's talk about that tomorrow."

"I'll hold you to it," Hailey said and fell back onto her pillow closing her eyes, "I don't feel great."

"Hey, hey, water," Jay said as he pulled her up then pressed a water bottle into her hand.

Hailey groaned, "No."

"Yeah," Jay said and put a hand on her back. He raised an eyebrow until she gave in and slowly drank the water.

After just a few seconds, she put the water on her nightstand and shook her head to say, "Doesn't agree with me."

"Because it's the first pure thing your liver has had to drink in hours," Jay said as he settled into his pillows. Grabbing his laptop, he asked, "Any idea on where we can watch that movie?"

"Alcohol is pure," Hailey mumbled while laying back. She sighed and threw an arm around his middle.

Jay smirked and kissed the top of her head. "So where's the movie?"

Hailey hummed and pressed her face into his throat, "The internet."

Laughing, Jay shut his laptop. "No longer interested?"

Hailey shook her head and rubbed her thumb over his shirt.

"Relax then," Jay whispered, "Goodnight."

He laid still while Hailey wrapped herself around him. Her fingers continued lightly tangling within his shirt while his own played with her hair. Every once in a while, she'd let out a long breath and groan prompting Jay to shush her softly and drag his fingers down her back.

It was just after 4am when she pushed off of him to sit up and put her head in her hands.

Jay blinked his eyes open and reached out to set a hand on her back.

"I don't feel good," she whispered.

Jay nodded and sat up to say, "I know. Try some water."

Hailey shook her head and gripped her hair.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom?" Jay asked.

"I don't know," Hailey whispered.

"Okay." Jay kissed the back of her head as he rubbed circles on her back and said, "We'll wait it out."

She groaned and leaned into him. "I'm cold."

Jay hummed and held her tightly as he said, "We'll warm you up then."

Hailey closed her eyes as he continued rubbing one hand over her side and the other over her leg. She tried remembering how she'd gotten to this point: there was several shots, a lot of laughing with Kim, Jay warning her to slow down and then telling her she was drunk, and maybe he put lotion on her legs in the bathroom, but that was all pretty hazy.

"I don't feel good," she repeated under her breath.

"Okay," Jay said and slipped out of bed, "Maybe you need some warmer clothes on."

Hailey shrugged and scooted to the edge of the mattress. He soon helped her into one of his hoodies and passed her a pair of sweatpants and fuzzy socks. Once she was in the warmer clothes with the hood over her hair, she rolled onto her side. Jay slipped from the room then returned a minute later with a thick quilt that he covered her in.

Hailey weakly smiled and looked up as he crawled into bed next to her. "Thank you," she breathed.

"Always," he kissed her head and slipped his hands under the sweatshirt to rub along her back.

She moaned quietly and whispered, "What did I do?"

Jay smirked, but stayed quiet and simply pressed his fingers along her spine in slow strokes.

She sank into him with a sigh, "It hurts."

"Want to try that water?" Jay asked.

Hailey groaned and pressed her face in his side, "I can't. My stomach will burst."

"Just try it." Jay reached back for one of the water bottles he'd filled earlier and opened the straw, "Come on."

"No," Hailey laughed and pushed it away only for him to raise an eyebrow and tap the straw to her lips. "I didn't marry the doctor," she teased.

"Yeah, but you married the doctor's brother and this guy wants you to drink more water right now," Jay said.

Hailey sighed and gave in to the straw. She slowly sipped the water occasionally taking a short break when Jay would return to brushing his hand over her hair. Finally, she finished the bottle and passed it over so he could place it on the nightstand.

"Thank you," he said softly and tugged the hood back over her hair.

Hailey smiled slightly at him then slid down in bed. Tugging at the blankets, she closed her eyes with a soft sigh.

"Relax, okay? Go back to sleep," Jay whispered and settled down next to her.

"Everything is buzzing," Hailey breathed.

Jay chuckled and tugged her to his side. "Appropriate," he joked.

She hummed under her breath and turned to throw an arm over his waist.

"Sleep," he repeated and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

In reply, she simply shivered and twisted her fingers once more in his shirt.

She wasn't able to fall back asleep and just continued shifting around against Jay preventing him from sleeping either. Her frustration was evident with each soft grunt and sigh that escaped her lips. In a way, Jay felt like he was embodying his dad's "I'm just resting my eyes" statement: time was passing, occasionally he'd slip from reality, but he really didn't sleep as well as he'd like.

Eventually, Hailey sat up again and slid out of bed to walk into the bathroom.

"Dammit," Jay breathed. Pressing his palms to his eyes, he waited a second before getting up to follow her. "Hailey," he said through the door, "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she mumbled, "Just debating a shower."

"Well, you don't need one right now, come on," Jay replied and set his hand on the doorknob, "Let's lay in bed."

"I need a shower."

The water started and Jay could hear the soft sound of clothes hitting the floor.

"Hailey," he sighed and opened the door just as she stepped under the water. "Do you really want to do this?"

"No turning back," she answered as she set her hands on the wall and tipped her head down against the hot water.

Jay rolled his eyes, but still turned back to their room. He debated making waffles when he realized he'd rather be elsewhere, so he quickly grabbed his phone to order breakfast.

Once half a dozen bagels were on their way to the apartment, he turned to go back in the bathroom where Hailey was still letting the water wash over her. He finally let a small smile cross his face as he began slipping his own clothes off.

Hailey heard him and glanced over her shoulder as she asked, "What're you doing?"

"Making sure you don't fall again," he said softly and stepped into the shower. He gently tugged her back against him and slid his hands down her sides.

"I'm not in the mood," she mumbled while resting her head back on his shoulder.

"That's okay, neither am I," he said with a kiss to her throat, "Just want to stand here and wait it out with you."

Hailey smiled and set her hand on his now resting on her hip. "Thank you," she whispered.

He hummed in her ear before returning to place soft kisses up and down the side of her neck and shoulder. He waited until most of the tension seemed to leave her shoulders to quietly ask, "What do you remember?"

She weakly laughed and shrugged. "A lot of alcohol. Did I really just do shots?"

"Might have had a couple beers and a whiskey sour," Jay answered, "But yeah, mostly shots."

"God," Hailey groaned, "I hate myself."

"Don't," Jay kissed under her ear, "You deserved to have fun. Maybe the hangover's hell, but we'll lay low today, drink a lot of water, I ordered bagels…it'll be okay. You didn't do anything embarrassing or wrong, okay?" His fingers slid along her skin in soothing, random patterns before slipping up into her hair and lightly twirling a wet curl.

"What did I do to deserve you?" Hailey whispered.

"I think the real question is what did I do to deserve you?" Jay countered, "I'll take a thousand of your hangover days if it meant I could be your husband."

Hailey laughed then groaned, "You're lucky my head hurts cause I really want to make fun of you and your cheesy words."

"Sounds like I can keep saying cheesy things then," Jay chuckled.

Hailey smiled as she leaned into him. She closed her eyes when he began kneading his fingers into the back of her scalp. With a soft moan, she breathed the steam in and relaxed, grateful she wasn't alone anymore.

She thought she could have stayed under that hot water forever, but eventually came a knock on their door. Jay left one last kiss on her throat before stepping out of the shower and yelling, "One second!"

Hailey turned in time to see him quickly drag a towel over himself before slipping back into his pajamas and running from the room. The promise of carbs encouraged her to step out as well and wrap a towel around her because actually putting clothes on felt too difficult. She heard the apartment door close again and stepped into the living area to see Jay setting the bagels on the kitchen island.

"What'd you order?" she asked.

Jay did a double-take at the sight of her in a towel and laughed softly. "What're you doing? We have windows."

Hailey shot a smile toward their balcony then said, "We're high enough up."

Shaking his head, Jay returned to pulling out the bagels. "There's two blueberry, a salt, two cinnamon raisin, and a chocolate chip," he explained.

"Sounds delicious," Hailey said while walking over to the fridge, "We can freeze the extras."

Jay snorted and accepted the cream cheese, butter, and orange juice she passed him.

"What?" she asked. Getting two plates and glasses from the cupboard, she added, "What's wrong with freezing food?"

"It's a diner thing, isn't it?" Jay countered as he grabbed their toaster out, "Your parents were big on saving food you didn't sell?"

"Well," Hailey let out a breath and shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe it's a…'lived on my own for a while scraping by so I'd buy in bulk and freeze' thing?"

"Makes sense," Jay said. He was about to open a bagel when he groaned and stepped around the island to grab a knife. "I asked for them to be sliced," he muttered while cutting one of the blueberry bagels in half, "I'm not as good at doing it myself."

Hailey smirked at him then said, "Need me to do it?"

"No, no, you go get dressed," Jay replied, "Go put on some of my clothes if you want. I can start yours; I'm guessing you want the chocolate chip?"

"Yeah, but," Hailey trailed off as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind, "Maybe I want to stay like this. The effort to go put clothes on right now…ugh, sounds horrible. My head hurts and I'm just really hungry."

Jay straightened up with a laugh. He stopped cutting Hailey's chocolate chip bagel and put his hand over hers on his stomach before saying, "What the hell are you doing?"

Hailey smiled and kissed between his shoulder blades. "Getting ready to eat breakfast," she answered. She stepped around him then to settle herself on one of the barstools. Her towel slipped slightly, but she didn't seem to mind as she reached over for the orange juice and a glass.

Jay watched her take a long sip of juice then said, "I don't know how you're functioning right now."

"Oh, I'm miserable," Hailey replied and grabbed her bagel from his hand, "But this? The chance to have no clothes on in front of you while I eat? Sounded fun."

Laughing, Jay shook his head and set his bagel in the toaster. "You're sick," he joked and walked over to start the coffee.

"Hungover, but not sick," Hailey said with a wink. Her fingers teased the top of her towel before she began putting cream cheese on her bagel.

"You're not gonna toast that?" Jay asked.

Hailey shrugged then took a big bite. She winced and slowed down.

"I got it," Jay said softly and walked back into their bedroom. By the time his bagel was done a minute later, he was coming out of the room with his own towel being the only thing he was wearing. Hailey stared after him and stopped chewing, prompting him to say, "Two can play at that game, Hailey Anne." He passed her the bottle of medicine then spread butter on his bagel.

Hailey licked her lips before putting her bagel down and resting her elbow on the counter so she could lean against her palm. "Jay," she began. He hummed in acknowledgment so she continued, "Putting clothes on made my head spin and I thought I'd puke-"

"Real shame," Jay said through a smirk. He walked over to sit next to her on a barstool.

"I don't want sex," Hailey finished.

"That's fine," Jay replied before biting into his bagel.

Hailey scoffed and continued eating.

"You're saying you don't want to lay on the couch in our towels, maybe with other blankets and some hot chocolate, and watch Christmas movies with me all day?" Jay asked.

Hailey glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Sounds like the perfect hangover cure to me." Jay smiled at her then leaned over to kiss her temple. "What do you say?" he whispered.

"I think I like that," Hailey said softly. She placed her hand on his thigh and swirled her fingers over his towel. "All day?" she clarified.

"As long as you want, you're the boss," Jay said and winked.

Hailey laughed softly and continued eating her breakfast.


When the snow began a few hours later, Hailey was half asleep on top of Jay on their couch. Their towels were long forgotten on the floor next to two mugs once filled with hot chocolate. She was barely focusing to Home Alone on the TV and was instead drifting off to Jay's soft fingers dragging through her hair and down her spine.

Years before, she experienced her first hangover at 19. She didn't eat anything, could barely hold down water, and felt miserable enough that she even skipped all her classes the next day. She'd vowed to never get drunk again, but that only lasted a month before she was bent over her dorm room toilet throwing up vodka and sprite.

She wondered what that girl would think of her now.

Now she was a detective and married and happy. She could see a future past tomorrow. She had someone who she loved just as much as he loved her – it was a safe, happy relationship.

In the past, she'd be hungover on her own because despite that vow at 19, she got drunk countless times between then and now. Usually those times in the past would be lonely and quiet and frankly boring.

Now she had Jay. She wasn't alone anymore dealing with hangovers. She had someone taking care of her and supporting her even if she made rather stupid decisions the night before. Even on these dull days, he made life much more enjoyable.

While she loved looking back at her life with him, parts of her were still a little confused on how she'd gotten so lucky to have someone who loved her so much. He loved her at her craziest when drunk, her most determined at work, and her saddest when reliving her past. She was lucky, she knew she was.

19 year old Hailey would be beaming at her…

As soon as she recovered from her hangover from hell.