"Follow me home?"

"Pretty sure I've told you I'd follow you anywhere."

Hailey parked her car to the side of her apartment building and glanced in her rearview mirror to see Jay's truck pulling into the parking lot.

He kissed her.

She shakily laughed in disbelief again, just like she had when she'd stepped away from him for a breath at the bar, as her fingers lightly touched her lips.

He didn't say the words she had wanted to hear…but actions spoke louder than words.

She'd been avoiding the FBI for well over a week despite knowing what her answer would be the second she read the first letter they'd sent her. She could never leave Chicago.

She could never leave Jay.

His own thoughts on the job offer really didn't matter too much. Even if he told her that she needed to take the job, she wasn't sure she'd do it.

She wasn't staying because of Jay. She was staying because of Jay.

There was a difference.

He had been a gentleman – it had pissed her off, she sort of wanted to hear him fight for her, but she wasn't surprised he hadn't – and left the choice up to her in the end. And in the end, she was staying to be with him on her own accord. Originally, she hadn't been staying so they could date (or whatever this might be turning in to, she didn't know if a kiss automatically meant they were dating), she had been staying because she is a better person with him.

She liked who she was when she was around Jay Halstead. She liked who she'd become because of Jay Halstead. He hadn't changed who she was at her core; he just helped her grow.

Staying in Chicago would always be the right choice.

There was a soft knock on her window and she glanced up to see Jay standing outside her door.

She smiled and stopped the engine before stepping out of her car, "You know, men coming up to women while they're sitting in their cars is a little creepy."

"Shut up," Jay laughed and lightly grabbed her waist.

She laughed with him and slipped her hand in his tugging him toward the front of the building.

Just two months before, the two of them had spent the majority of a Saturday making this same trek from the parking lot up to her new apartment multiple times. He had helped her move out of her condo and into this place without even blinking an eye.

Everyone else had spent the morning finishing up a case, but Voight – or rather, Trudy – had actually been kind enough to give Hailey and Jay the day off for her to move.

Hailey had not been looking forward to it, but Jay made it enjoyable. He bought pizza and helped her make her bed and unpack all of her dishes. He'd put together the new dresser she had bought and didn't say anything when she teared up while she placed her pictures on the shelving unit in her new office.

She missed her condo and all the space she'd had, but it just wasn't practical to live there on her own anymore without Vanessa.

Vanessa.

With Jay's fingers lightly squeezing her own as they entered the elevator, Hailey wondered what Vanessa would think of this.

She would probably laugh and roll her eyes and say 'Finally.'

Hailey smiled at the thought and stole a glance at Jay next to her.

He happened to already be staring at her, so he winked and breathed, "Yeah?"

Hailey shook her head and stepped closer to him keeping their hands together so the side of his arm was pressing into her front.

"You look really pretty," Jay whispered.

Hailey blushed and couldn't help but look around their surroundings. She said softly, "Even in this crappy elevator lighting?"

Jay laughed and swiftly tugged her into him tipping her chin up to press a quick kiss to her lips at the same moment the elevator doors opened.

Hailey reluctantly stepped away at the soft ding to see two kids, probably in their early teens, staring at the two of them on the other side of the metal doors. She weakly smiled and gave them a wave before quickly pulling Jay from the tiny space and down the hall to her apartment.

She fumbled with the keys until the door finally swung open and she was able to step inside with Jay pressed up against her.

She didn't know why she felt so fluttery and nervous. It was just Jay. He made her feel safe, there was no reason to be nervous around him.

But maybe it wasn't nerves. Maybe it was excitement.

Excitement that Jay wanted her. Jay wanted her more than just a friend or a partner. He wanted her in, most likely, the same way she wanted him.

She smiled again at the thought and turned while slipping her coat off. She absentmindedly placed it in the small closet by the door before reaching forward and unzipping Jay's coat for him. She tugged it off of him and placed it on the hanger near hers.

They both looked at each other for a moment debating the next words.

Hailey decided to skip words though and, instead, closed the distance between the two of them. Her lips were on his in under a second and it felt good. She liked making the first move this time and based on the way Jay's hands gripped her waist and how his fingers lightly slid under the edge of her shirt, he liked it too.

"Hailey," he whispered while slowly walking her backwards in the direction of her room.

"Hmm?"

"Only if you want to," Jay breathed and stopped at her door, "This…us…I don't want to rush anything."

Hailey pulled away enough to look at him and raise an eyebrow, "Well, I'll be honest with you, like I said at the bar, I've been waiting quite some time for you."

Jay chuckled and lightly cupped her face, "And I've been waiting for you too, but I don't want any regrets. You mean more to me than a one-night stand."

Hailey held his eye contact as a smile started spreading across her face. She reached up to brush her fingers along the side of his jaw.

She had wondered for months now, usually in the comfort of her own bed, what it'd be like to kiss him when he looked like this. Adam had had a full beard and it was different than what she was used to, but definitely not bad. Jay not shaving for a few days always made her wonder if it'd feel scratchy on her face, yet these past three kisses were anything but scratchy. She just liked feeling him against her and around her and with her.

"I trust you," Hailey said simply, her thumb swiping briefly against his lips, "I do, Jay, I trust you."

Everything about him relaxed at her words – it was all the reassurance he needed that this wasn't going to result in regrets.

He smiled then bent down to catch her lips in his once again before continuing the short walk toward her bed.

Hailey's hands made their way to the edge of his shirt as his fingers started sliding the buttons of hers undone. She waited for him to slip the flannel off her arms to pull the shirt up and over his chest.

They broke away for a moment as it passed over his head giving Hailey a second to look at him. It didn't take long for her eyes to travel to the red circle on his upper chest.

Jay tried kissing her again, but she dodged his lips and stared at that damn scar.

"Hailey," Jay whispered.

She ignored him and trailed her hand up his chest; she silently cursed herself when she realized her fingers were shaking as they traced the slightly raised skin.

It had been just over a year since she thought she'd lost him. In all honesty, she thought about it often. Occasionally it haunted her nightmares – watching his blood pour out of him and seep through her fingers, the way his eyes were rolling backwards in the ambulance, how it took too long to scrub the blood from her hands as she waited and waited and waited for him to wake up.

She hated that scar.

She'd seen it in passing in the locker room a handful of times, but never this close. It was pinker than she imagined and the edges where the bullet had ripped his skin felt strange against the pads of her fingers.

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Hey," Jay said just loud enough to pull her from her thoughts. One of his hands made its way to her back and lightly rubbed over the thin material of her tank top. "I'm okay," he breathed, "I'm here and I'm with you. I'm okay."

Hailey nodded and swallowed against the residual fear that had bubbled in her throat. She let her pointer finger circle the scar one last time before pressing her hand over his heart.

The thumping on the other side of her palm was much stronger than it had been that day. She stepped closer to him and, without even registering the movement herself, kissed his chest. Even absentmindedly she couldn't bring herself to kiss his scar, but she had forever to do that…she hoped.

Jay smiled down at her as he slipped his hands under her tank top. It was off of her quickly, but it didn't feel hurried. She was well aware that he was not rushing anything.

He was kissing her again and she was pulling him toward her bed. Once the backs of her knees connected with the mattress, any formalities seemed to disappear from either of their heads.

She couldn't get his belt off of him fast enough in the same way that he had her ponytail out of her hair faster than she could blink.

He had her pants around her ankles and was kissing his way back up her legs when she breathed, "Jay."

He hummed in response while pressing light kisses across her stomach.

Hailey laughed softly as he touched her sides and reached down to thread her fingers in his hair, "Come here."

"Ticklish?" he smirked.

Hailey tried not to laugh more and tugged his hair, "Jay."

"Mm fine, fine," he pressed another kiss above her belly button and slid up to her, quickly attaching his lips to hers again.

Hailey smiled against him and slid her hands down to the back of his neck scratching the edge of his hairline. She realized then she could get used to the sound that came out of him at that moment, so she continued dragging her nails along his skin while he trailed his mouth down her neck.

"How're you feeling?" Jay whispered under her ear.

Hailey gasped at the feeling of his breath against her, "Good."

"Glad you're staying," Jay said before lightly nipping at her earlobe.

Hailey moaned before asking, "Was that a question or a statement?"

Jay smirked against her and swirled his fingers down her chest, "A statement, but since you brought it up…are you sure you're okay with staying?" He pushed himself up to meet her eyes.

Hailey smiled at the slight nervousness in his eyes that was so similar to the look he'd had in the bar. She nodded, "I'm more than okay with staying."

Jay smiled back and kissed her, his hands slipping down to her waist and pulling it up to meet his earning a soft gasp from Hailey.

Her eyes fluttered close. As she felt him everywhere around her, she never wanted the moment to end. His fingers were intertwined with hers sometimes, and others they were making her bite her lip so she wouldn't disturb the neighbors with every profanity, moan, and utter of his name that she so desperately wanted to scream out.

At no point did it feel awkward. It was just right. Breathing the same air and feeling his hips pressed into hers and the way his scruff she'd wondered for so long about felt against her throat were all things she would be wanting to relive for a very long time.

Just like the soft groans he made when she pressed her thumbs into his upper arms and how soft his hands were along her thighs and the way his breath hitched when her hips snapped just right.

Part of it didn't feel real, yet it wasn't some fantasy or dream that she needed to fight off in the morning. He really was there in her bed breathing her name and surrounding ever part of her being.

Hailey eventually blinked past the fuzz in her brain and turned her head to see Jay laying next to her with his own eyes trained on her.

She smiled and whispered, "Hi."

"Hi," Jay chuckled. He found her hand among the twisted blankets and, once again, intertwined his fingers with hers, giving a soft squeeze when her eyes fluttered close for a brief moment. "Doing okay?" he asked.

Hailey laughed and rolled into him hiding her face in his shoulder.

He laughed with her and wrapped an arm around her, "Did we really just do that?"

"I think so," Hailey kissed his warm skin then glanced up at his face, "Unless it was an incredibly realistic dream, then in that case, I don't ever want to wake up."

Jay hummed in understanding then said, "If this was a dream, you have no idea how disappointed I'm going to be when I do wake up."

Hailey couldn't help the smirk that spread across her lips as she moved up and rested her chin on his shoulder, "Disappointed, huh? Been thinking about me in ways you shouldn't have been, coworker?" She winked and set her hand on his chest.

"Don't you dare," Jay laughed, "I heard you say 'finally' once or twice."

Hailey blushed, but still lightly shoved him, "I did not say that at all."

"Oh, I think you did," Jay smiled then sat up enough to kiss her.

Hailey moaned into him and slipped her free hand into his hair smiling when she heard his own noise in response.

Jay quickly pulled her on top of him and traced the soft muscles of her back while she rolled her hips against him.

"Hey, hey," he breathed while pulling slightly away, "Five minutes, babe."

Hailey felt like the air was sucked from her and that her heart had stopped beating for just a moment as she blinked enough to find his green eyes staring up at her.

"What?" Jay whispered, "I just need a couple minutes, that okay?" He slid his hand up to her throat and brushed his thumb along her bottom lip.

Hailey weakly laughed and nodded, "Uh…yeah, yeah, that's okay. I…sorry, you said 'babe.'"

"Oh," Jay blushed slightly, but still chuckled, "I guess I did."

Hailey's gaze flickered down to his lips before kissing him again and saying, "I liked it."

Jay moaned into her mouth then breathed, "Noted."

Hailey laughed again and pulled away to carefully climb off of him out of bed.

"Whoa, hey, not done," Jay sat up and put his hand out, "Where are you going?"

"Water," Hailey linked her pointer finger with his, "You wanna come with me?"

Jay smirked at her words, "Wouldn't mind doing that again."

Hailey laughed harder as she bent down to pick up her discarded bra and underwear to slip them on quickly. She couldn't help but smile at his boxers on her rug before she grabbed those as well.

"Thanks, babe," Jay winked and took them from her standing to pull them on.

"Oh, so now he knows the trick and will be laying it on thick," Hailey laughed.

"Trick?" Jay smirked, "That a turn on for you, pretty lady? Because I have no issues with calling you 'babe' or 'baby.'"

Hailey grabbed his hand again and led him to the kitchen where she still held onto him while filling two glasses with water and ice. She waited until she took a long sip of water to reply, "I do like that. I like it even more that you're the one saying it too."

Jay chuckled and set his glass of water down to lift her onto the counter, "What do you like about it?"

Hailey shrugged and took a piece of ice in her mouth swirling it around with her tongue.

"Tell me," Jay nudged her nose with his, "I want to know even better ways to make you fall apart."

Hailey laughed and set her water near his to wrap her arms around his shoulders, "I really have no clue. I've always liked it, but then hearing you say it…way better."

"Look at that," Jay kissed her quickly, "Hailey Anne Upton is into me."

Hailey smirked slightly and played with the back of his hair, "You like this, don't you? Bet you like being called 'detective' too."

"That's a little self-centered," Jay rested his hands on either side of her legs and pecked at her lips again.

"And the hair thing?" Hailey raised an eyebrow.

Jay waited a moment then smirked, "Yeah, I like that."

"Thought so," Hailey smiled and slid her hand forward slightly to stroke her thumb over the back of his ear. She watched as his eyes fluttered close and tilted her head to the side before using her other hand to lightly trace his nose then his eyelids and finally his lips.

He smiled against her finger and lightly kissed it.

Hailey laughed softly and set her hand on his chest, "Can I ask you something?"

Jay opened his eyes and nodded, "Yeah, of course."

Hailey wanted to laugh at the way he turned serious so quickly, but instead she just smiled and said softly, "Stay the night?"

Jay softened and moved his hands onto her legs, "As long as you're okay with it."

"Jay," Hailey laughed then pointedly scanned him up and down, "I'm okay with it."

"Just wanted to make sure," Jay chuckled and rubbed his thumbs along the edge of her underwear.

Hailey's smile widened and she wrapped her legs around him, "Come closer."

"Yeah?" Jay stepped closer and kissed her throat, "Closer to you? I can get closer to you."

Hailey hummed and tipped her head back, "Thank you."

"So pretty," Jay breathed while picking her up.

Hailey ran her hands over his back, "Look who's talking."

Jay chuckled while carrying her back to her bed. He dropped her on the mattress and climbed over her as she laughed. He smirked and returned to kissing her warm skin, lightly brushing her hair back before twisting it around his fingers.

Hailey found herself lost in the feeling, her eyes struggling to remain open as he made his way down her front. She wanted to watch him to reassure herself yet again that this was real, but all she could manage to do was grip his shoulders and tug the top of his hair every once in a while as he once more reminded her that the wait for this night was worth it.

Jay kissed the inside of her knee earning a weak laugh to escape her lips. "Feeling okay?" he asked softly as he crawled back up to her. He lightly brushed a kiss along her forehead and ran his finger over her lips still panting softly for air.

She smiled at him and nodded still trying to find the words to describe what exactly she was feeling in that moment.

Jay held himself up on his elbow and traced the edges of her bra. He watched his finger move up and down as her chest continued rising quickly. He chuckled then kissed her.

"What?" Hailey breathed.

Jay shook his head and returned his hand to the back of her hair holding her firmly against him.

Hailey gave into his lips for another moment before pulling back enough to ask, "Why'd you laugh?"

Jay held her eye contact then said, "I really just can't believe this is happening. I don't think I ever want it to end."

Hailey smiled and set her hand on the side of his face, "I know."

Jay returned to kissing her running his hands up and down her sides occasionally whispering, "You're really staying," as if in disbelief himself that their night had taken such a different turn than either of them had expected.

It was after the fourth time he breathed the words into her skin that Hailey gently pushed him away and moved up onto her elbows, "Jay."

"Hailey," he smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear.

She made sure their eyes were locked before saying simply, "I am not leaving you."

Jay breathed in then nodded.

"I'm here with you," Hailey continued, "It's where I belong whether it's in this bed or at work. I am not," she sat up enough to kiss him then breathed, "Leaving you."

Jay tucked a hand under her back and whispered back, "Okay."

"Okay," Hailey laughed softly and kissed his nose, "You are one with words, aren't you?"

Jay chuckled and lightly pressed her down to lay next to her, "I think I say some good stuff."

"Oh you do?" Hailey shifted so her head was on his chest, "What was that you said when I first told you about the FBI? Cool?"

Jay laughed and grabbed her left hand, "Shut up."

"That pissed me off, Jay Halstead," Hailey squeezed his hand back, "Cool? Your partner and friend says she got a job offer in New York and you reply 'cool.' God, I wanted to kill you."

Jay laughed and kissed the top of her head, "Sorry."

"Mhmm," Hailey smirked and used her free hand to twist his in her grip to look at his palm. She traced the lines softly before tilting her head up toward his jaw, "Thank you."

Jay kissed her forehead, "I'll take it, but what's it for?"

Hailey laughed softly and turned against him to press her face into his neck, "Just being here. For giving me a reason to stay."

Jay's hand trailed down her back, his fingers swirling small circles along her skin, "What'd you say earlier? You're not leaving me? Hailey, I couldn't ever dream of leaving you. I'm here to stay."

Hailey smiled and lightly kissed his throat fluttering her eyes closed.

She could so clearly feel his heartbeat under her hand as it lulled her to sleep along with his soft breath on the top of her head.

Staying in Chicago wasn't the safe choice because she was scared of change. It was the safe choice because, in the long run, it helped her heart and made her happy. She'd put her career in front of everything for so long that this was long overdue. Hailey needed to put herself first for once. Hailey needed Jay. He was her reason to stay.


A/N: Part 1 :)