Just want to say a big thankyou to everyone's reviews! If anyone has ideas or they want something to happen don't hesitate to ask, it always helps. But I hope everyone is still enjoying the story. Now I feel like there is a lot going on in this chapter but I hope you enjoy it.
Another couple days passed with a colicky baby, both Erin and Jay were exhausted. After Jay had finished up on the last case he had a few days off but they consisted of feeding, burping, changing diapers and little sleep. Yet he still loved every moment of being a dad, especially when Lily finally started liking the sense of Jay again, which that also gave Erin a break.
They hadn't spoke about their late night kiss that they shared but they both could tell it was a step in the right direction and they both knew that they had to stop putting walls up and just let it gradually work itself out, life always had a funny way of doing that.
Erin had just finished Lily's first morning feed for the day, while she was adjusting her top Jay walked out. There rule of 'not walking around half naked' had gone out the window, but she wasn't exactly against it and she loved the bond Jay and Lil shared when he would placed her little body on his chest.
"Morning you two." Jay smiled as he walked past them both, giving Lily a kiss on the forehead, then walking to grab a coffee.
"Morning, she slept much better last night." Erin smiled as he fingers brushed up and down Lily's cheeks.
"Yeah I woke up and checked on her once, but a little daddy time put her straight back to sleep, she's starting to like me again." Jay said walking back to them, passing Erin a cup of coffee.
"She never stopped Jay she was..."
"Just going through a phase." Jay chuckled as he finished her sentence.
"So the guys invited us to a barbecue later today, what do you think? I know you probably want to sleep before you go back to work but it might be nice, I haven't socialised with many adults since the day everyone was here trying to burst my baby bubble."
Jay laughed, "Yeah I mean I'd love sleep but who needs sleep."
"I do." Erin looked over defeatedly but joined in as Jay laughed.
"So who's idea was this barbecues anyway?" Jay asked as he reached over and picked Lily out of Erins arms.
"Kim's but everyone was on board as soon as she said it and to be honest I think they miss seeing our faces and they thought a barbecue at the park was very baby friendly so we wouldn't turn it down." Erin shrugged.
"I think it would be really nice, we need to start getting use to our new normal." Jay said as he reached down to squeeze Lily's chubby cheeks.
"Okay well while you have her I'm going to go shower and make myself look a little less like a zombie." Erin said walking away.
"Not anything close Er," Jay chuckled then looked down and whispered to his daughter, "She will always be beautiful, just like you."
...
Later that day they arrived at the park, as they got out of Jays truck and started organising the pram and baby bag Erin looked down at her watch, "Do you know what happened to those detectives that always use to be on time? If not five minutes early?"
"Don't know, might have to give them a call." Jay shouted from the back as he walked over with the pram.
Erin stepped back as Jay carefully pulled the baby carrier out of the car and gentle connected it to the pram, he really had the hang of this whole dad thing down and god he looked good doing it. Sure Erin was getting back to her pre baby body but as she looked Jay up and down she knew that he would never be the one to get the 'dad bod' he always loved making sure he stayed in shape and she never complained. But now for some reason seeing him with a baby and how amazing he was at being a father it turned her on so much more.
"Er, did you hear what I said?" Jay said interrupted Erin from her thoughts.
"Huh? Sorry, what did you say?" Erin said as she felt her cheeks flush.
"All good, come on let's go," Jay said as he started walking towards her, pushing the pram he stopped as he got right next to Erin and leant towards her ear, "You really should try not to drool all over me detective, I'm not a piece of meat."
Erins mouth dropped open as she started to chuckled, he was really something else. She quickly turned around and quickened her pace to catch up with Jay and Lily.
As the boys all stood around the picnic table sipping beers they turned to see the new 'family' if that's even what you call it turning up.
"Here they come, only forty-five minutes late." Hank said as he chuckled and continued to turn the meat.
"Hey give them a break, you know what it's like adjusting." Al said.
"Yeah I know." Hank smiled.
"Hey guys, sorry we are late." Erin said as she walked over to give them all a hug.
"All good, foods just about ready." Hank shouted from the grill.
"So Halstead you defiantly have all the ladies attention in this park, your really rocking this whole DILF thing." Trudy said as Jay quickly choked on the fresh beer he'd just opened.
"On that note the food is ready." Hank said as he cleared his throat and walked over with the food.
"She's not wrong." Erin quickly whispered into Jays ear as she walked him to sit down, grabbing the pram from his hands.
Jay cleared his throat and adjusted his stance, what was she trying to accomplish. He just shook his head and went and sat down with the rest of them.
"So Erin how you going?" Hailey asked.
"Exhausted but it's okay, I never thought i could love someone so much." Erin said as she ate her burger.
"If you ever need help don't hesitate to ask, I love babies." Kim piped up, getting a gaze from Adam, knowing exactly what was going through his head 'Do not get any ideas'.
"Thanks Kim, you guys have all been really great." Erin smiled.
After about half and hour of sitting down eating, Lily woke up from her nap. Jay reached over and pulled the cover off the pram but Erin quickly stood up.
"Hey it's all good I got her, it's time for a feed anyway. I will just go do it in the car, keys?" Erin said with her palm reached out, Jay reached in his pocket and pulled his keys out and passed them to her.
"Let me know if you need anything." Jay said.
"Unless you have boobs Jay, I don't think you will be much help, don't worry I will be back soon." Erin said as she walked away, while the whole table laughed.
...
After everyone had ate, including Lily, the boys were all throwing a football around, Hank and Al were standing back watching them while the girls gathered at the table, admiring Lily and taking turns holding her. No one could get enough of the newest member.
"So Jay, you and Erin? You's together yet?" Adam asked.
"No." Jay said shaking his head.
"Seriously? But everyone can see something." Adam said.
"Ruzek leave the poor guy alone." Antonio said throwing the ball to Adam with force.
"It's fine Tony, honestly he's right. We both know it too and we've had moments but we have both agreed not to rush anything and just let life work itself out." Jay shrugged.
"Well I hope everything works out man, you both deserve it." Kevin smiled.
Jay thanked him and continued throwing the ball for a couple more minutes but it was quickly interrupted when he saw Erin started to pack up their daughters things and settle her in the pram. He threw the ball to Adam and walked over to her, "Ready to go home?"
"Yeah I think this little girl is done for the day." Erin said with a yawn.
"I think she is." Jay chuckled.
...
Once they got home Jay said he'd bath and change Lily, he loved this time with her. Erin got to experience the bond of breastfeeding so this was his thing, whenever he got the chance anyway.
Erin sat on the lounge flicking through the tv channels when she watched Jay come out of the bathroom holding Lily close to his chest with a towel wrapped over her. But Erin started chuckling when she noticed her daughter wasn't fully wrapped and was just laying on top of Jays shirt and at the moment she had a thing of peeing as soon as the fresh air hit her, so now Erins trick was to firmly wrap the towel around her so it wouldn't soak through to her clothes.
"Jay I should warn you," Erin said as Jay turned around with a defeated look on his face and a now very wet shirt, "She pees when the fresh air hits her."
Erin couldn't contain herself from laughing as she got up and walked over taking Lily off his hands, "I got her you go deal with that."
"You could have warned me." Jay said not amused.
"Sorry," Erin said still trying to hold back her laughter, "No you know what I'm really not, it's pretty funny."
"Oh, if you weren't holding her right now."
Erin raised her eyebrow, "You'd do what Halstead?"
Jay paused, he actually didn't know. Erin was feisty and sometimes a little scary, that's why he loved her, she was tough and didn't take shit from anyone.
"I have absolutely no idea." He shrugged as they both walked in different directions.
...
Later that night after an hour of getting Lily settled Erin walked out and sat next to Jay on the couch.
"Finally."
"So I have been looking," Jay paused and reached down to the rental paperwork he'd been looking at, "Maybe we should talk about getting a bigger place again, I think it's time."
"Jay."
"No Erin seriously, your crammed in that tiny room, we need more space."
"Okay." Erin said defeated, she knew he was right so she didn't exactly know why she was making this a big deal.
"Okay? So you want to do this?"
"Yes I do, show me what you have looked at." Erin said sitting up holding her hand out.
They flicked through the brochures and had a look on the computer, before they knew it they were asleep on each other. Jay was woken up by the faint cries over the baby monitor. He gentle moved Erin trying his best not to wake her, he slipped a blanket over her before he walked in to get Lily.
"Hey peanut, you hungry?" Jay said looking at his watch, it wasn't quite time for her to nurse, "You just want some loving? Well you get me, mumma is sleeping."
Jay sat on the rocking chair that was squished into the corner of Erins room, he rocked back and fourth as he watch Lily's eyes slowly start to shut. Little did he know that Erin had woken up and was standing in the doorway, taking every bit of the sight in, how could she not love him?
She gentle tapped on the door and walked in as Jay looked up at her, "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's fine, the couch isn't that comfy anyway. Probably best to get into bed." Erin smiled and waited for Jay to settle Lily back down in her bassinet.
"Night Erin." Jay said as he started to walk towards the door but was quickly stopped by Erin who grabbed his hand and pulled him back, as soon as he spun around her lips were crushing on his. First he was shocked but then he quickly relaxed and adjusted, taking every bit of it in.
Jay pulled back for a breath when he noticed Erin staring into his eyes, "Sorry but I can't do this anymore."
"Can't do what Er?" Jay looked at her confused.
"I can't keep hiding my feelings, I love you so much. I mean who are we kidding? We are trying not to step on each other's toes and not push each other into anything but I love you Jay and I can't hide the fact that I want us to be a family anymore."
Jay cupped Erins face, "I love you too Erin, so much. I want us to be a family too, no more hiding or pushing feelings away. I'm all in."
