Chapter 19 Engagement
A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews! They really mean a lot. I can't believe this story is almost finished. When I started this story it was only supposed to 10 or 12 chapters. Now I'm over 50,000 words and 20 chapter plus the Epilogue!
Erin woke up with a huge smile on her face. She glances down at her hand and catches the sparkle of her ring and her smile grows wider. Jay's arms tighten around her waist and she feels his hot breath on her neck, "You know it's your ring, so you don't have to keep staring at it."
She lets out a throaty chuckle, "I know but it's just so pretty." Jay laughs and begins to trail gentle kisses up and down her neck. Erin lets out a soft moan, "Don't start something you can't finish."
Jay continues his movements down her neck, "Trust me, when I start something I intend to finish it." Erin lets out a laugh as Jay turns her over onto her back and attacks her mouth. Before things can go any further there is a knock at the door. Jay groans and bury his head in Erin's neck as she let out a small laugh.
"Mommy?" A little voice says from the other side of the door.
"Do you think if we pretend to be a sleep she will just go back to bed?" Erin lets out a laugh and gives Jay a look. He sighs and rolls off of her as Erin answer their daughter, "Come in."
Nadia opens the door and runs over to her parents bed as Ollie trails behind her. Jay effortlessly lifts her onto the bed as Nadia settles next to her mother. Jay leans down and pulls Ollie up on to the bed. "Do you have to go work today?" Nadia says with a pout on her face.
Jay lets out a chuckle, "Sorry, munchkin but we have to go. Mommy and I already missed too much and it's time we all got back to our regular routine."
"Okay daddy." She looks up at him with wide eyes, "But can you make breakfast now, I'm hungry." She says with a pout on her face.
Erin laughs, "Of course you are." She says smoothing Nadia's hair down. "How about you and I go and get ready while daddy takes Ollie out and starts breakfast?"
"Okay."
Erin sets her back on the floor as she gets out of bed, "Go pick out your clothes and I'll be there in a minute."
Nadia turns and runs out of the room, "Walk Nadia." Erin shouts after their daughter.
"Okay, mommy." She yells. Erin shakes her head at Nadia as Jay gets out of the bed and grabs a sweatshirt on the nearby chair. He grabs Ollie and heads out the door.
By the time Jay gets back from taking Ollie out, Nadia is already dressed and watching Paw Patrol on the tv. He lets Ollie of his leash and the dog immediately runs over to where Nadia is. Jay kicks off his shoes and heads into the kitchen. He pulls out the eggs out of the frig and begins cracking them to make scrambled eggs. He grabs a frying pan from the cabinet and get the bacon out and begins frying it in the pan.
Erin comes out of the bedroom and goes to help Jay in the kitchen, "Hey, remember we have that dinner with Hank tonight?"
"How could I forget. Tonight's the night we tell him about the engagement."
Erin looks over at Jay who has a weird look on his face. She lets out a small laugh, "What's wrong with you?"
Jay shakes his head, "Nothing."
"Something's up." Erin says as she turns in her seat to face him.
He glances over at her, "It's stupid." She continues to look at him and waits for him to continue,. He lets out a sigh, "Just wondering what Hank's reaction is going to be."
Erin looks at him, "You're really nervous about Hank's reaction?" She tilts her head, "After all this time are you still afraid of Hank Voight?" Erin says with a teasing smile on her face.
He gives her a serious look, "I'm not scared of Hank." Erin laughs, "I'm just wondering how his going to feel about me wanting marry his daughter." Jay takes the bacon out of the pan and places it on a nearby plate.
Erin moves closer to Jay and places her hand on his chest. "Jay, Hank's going to be fine with this. He loves you."
Jay looks at her likes she's crazy, "I think love might be too strong of a word."
Erin laughs and grabs a pan to cook the eggs in, "Oh, come on. You to have gotten closer in the past three years and not to mention you are the father of his favorite little girl." Erin replies as she looks over at their daughter.
"That is true."
"See you have nothing to worry about." She says as she places a sweet kiss on his lips.
Jay at her with a smirk on his face, "Who knew that I all I had to do was knock you up for Hank to like me."
Erin hits on the arm and shakes her head at him, "You think you're so funny don't you?"
"What? I'm hilarious" Jay says with a smirk on his face. Erin looks at him and rolls her eyes.
"So, did Hank say why he wanted to have dinner tonight?"
Erin gets a huge smile on her face, "I think he is finally going to introduce me to this woman he's been dating."
"You know this may work out in my favor." Jay says looking over at Erin.
She kinks her eyebrow up at him, "How so?"
"Hank's going to be so focus on wanting to make a good impression with his lady friend that he won't have time to mad at us for getting engaged."
Erin smiles at him, "You're an idiot."
Jay smirks at her, "But you love me." Erin shakes her head at him and lets out a laugh.
"That I do Halstead. That I do."
…
It was their first day back at the District since they left for Wisconsin. Jay was in his office catching up on paperwork with Al. As the older man filled him and on the open cases they had while they were gone. Kevin and Ruzek were in the breakroom getting coffee as Erin sat at her desk enjoying her second cup of coffee. "Hey guys." Erin says as she greets Kim and Hailey as the enter the bullpen.
Kim waves at Erin and makes her way over to her desk, "Hey. How was Wisconsin?"
A huge smile appeared on Erin's face, "It was great." Erin grabs the cup of coffee on her desk and takes another sip.
Kim notices something sparkling on her left hand and screams "Oh my god!" turns Everyone heads in the bullpen turns to look at Kim as Jay and Al come out of the office and Adam and Ruzek exit the breakroom.
Hailey looks at Kim, "What?"
"Jay proposed!" Kim screams. Erin gets a huge smile on her face and lifts her left hand up, "Yup."
Erin gets up from her seat as Kim comes over and pulls her into a hug, "I'm so happy for you!"
They pull apart and Erin looks at the younger woman with a smile on her face and says, "Thanks Kim."
Al slaps Jay on the shoulder, "Congrats, kid."
"Thanks, Al." Jay says with a smile. "Just don't say anything to Hank. We're going to tell him tonight over dinner."
"No, problem." Al says as he makes his way over to Erin and pulls the younger woman into a hug congratulating her.
Adam moves over to Jay and pulls him into a hug, "Congrats, buddy." Adam moves aside to let Kevin offer his congratulations. "Congrats, Sarge."
"Thanks Kevin." Jay watches Erin and Kim as they talk about the ring and smile appears on his face. He sees Hailey standing off to the side with over by her desk. He slaps Kevin on the shoulder and makes his way over to her.
Hailey watches him approach and gives him a small smile. "Congrats." She tells him as she gives him a hug.
"Thanks." He tells her as they pull apart and he moves to stand next to her.
"I mean it. I'm really happy for you. She makes you happy and that's all I ever wanted for you." Hailey says looks up at him and finds him staring at Erin with a dreamy expression on his face, "I think this is the I have ever seen you."
He looks back at her, "Thanks, Hailey. I haven't been this happy in a long time."
"So, have you told Will yet?"
"Yeah, we called him when we got back." Jay says looking over at Hailey. "He knew it was coming since he was with me when Nadia and I picked out the ring."
Hailey smiles, "You took Nadia with you to pick out the ring?" Jay nods his head, "Jay, that's adorable." Everyone continues to offer their congrats to the happy couple. After a while the excitement begins to settle down, everyone goes back to their desk to finish up some paperwork on their active cases.
Erin pulls Kim aside and takes her into the breakroom. "What's up?" Kim asks Erin.
"I wanted to ask you question. Would you be my Maid of Honor?" Kim lets out a scream. Erin laughs, "So, I take that's a yes?"
"Oh my god. Of course it's a yes." Kim says as she pulls Erin into a hug. "We have so much to do. We have plan the bachelorette party, we have to find a venue. Oh, and we have to go dress shopping!"
"Kim, calm down. We haven't even set a date or told Voight."
Kim looks at Erin shock all over her face, "You haven't told Voight yet. What are you guys waiting for?"
"Relax, Kim. The only reason why we haven't told him is because we haven't seen him since we got back and it's not something I want to tell him over the phone. We're having dinner with him tonight and plan on telling him the news then."
"Okay, once things settles down and you two pick a date then we can start on these wedding plans."
Erin laughs, "Sounds good, Kim."
Kim claps her hands together. "Oh my god! I'm so excited." Erin shakes her head and laughs as the two of them head out the breakroom.
…
Later that evening they pull up outside of Hank's house. Jay grabbs Nadia from the backseat and pulls her into his arms. "You ready to go see, Poppa?" He asks Nadia.
The little girl nods her head excitedly, "I haven't seen him in forever." She says dramatically.
Jay chuckles, "I don't know about forever. It's only been a couple of days."
"Well. It felt like forever." Erin laughs as Jay shakes his head. They walk up to the house and Erin raises her hand to knock on the door.
The door swings open and an older lady is standing there. She gives the small family a smile. She holds out her hand and says, "You must be Erin. I'm Margie."
Erin shakes the woman's hand and smiles, "It's nice to meet you. This is Jay and this little munchkin is…."
"Nadia." Margie says with a smile, "Hank talks about her all the time." Margie pulls the door open further and moves aside to let them into the house. "Come on in, Hank's outside grilling."
They walked through the house and head outside onto the deck where Hank is grilling. As Hank spots them a huge smile appears on his face. "Poppa!" Nadia shouts as she sees her grandfather. Jay sets her down on the ground so she could go over and hug him.
"There's my girl. Poppa missed you."
"I missed you too." Nadia replies as she places a kiss on his cheek. The adults all smile at the sweet scene in front of them.
"Dinner is almost ready. I'm going to go grab the rest of the food from the kitchen." Margie says.
"I'll help you." Jay offers as he heads inside. Erin gives Hank a hug and takes a seat at the table. She keeps her hand from view, "Margie seems nice."
Hank looks over at her, "She is."
"She's very pretty too." Erin looks over at Nadia. "Don't you think so sweet pea?"
Nadia nods her head, "Yup." Before Erin could say anything else Margie and Jay appear with the rest of the food. Once everyone is seated Jay nudges Erin giving her the hint that this the perfect time to tell Hank. "So, we have some news."
Hank looks at the two of them waiting for someone to say something. Erin and Jay look at each other and then back at Hank, "Okay, are you going to tell us what it is or are we going to have to guess?"
Erin lifts her left hand up to so Hank the ring, "Jay asked me to marry him. We're getting married."
Margie gets a huge smile on her face, "Congratulations." Margie says. While Hank's whole focus is on Jay.
"Thank you." Erin replies with a smile. She looks over at Hank and finds him staring at Jay with no emotion on his face, "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Couldn't even ask my permission before you ask her Halstead?" Hank asks in his gruff voice.
Jay looks nervous, "Umm…You know Erin told me a long time ago if I needed her dad's permission I shouldn't bother asking."
Hank smiles, "Relax, Halstead. I'm just yanking your chain." He stands up from his seat and walks over to Erin and pulls her into a hug, "Congratulations kid. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, Hank. That means a lot." She says as they separate from the hug.
"I love you, kid."
"I love you too, Hank."
Hank moves over to Jay and pulls him into a hug as they separate he laughs, "Who knew that the punk kid I told to stay away Erin would one day become my future son in a law." Everyone lets out a laugh. "I want you too to know that I'm paying for this wedding."
"Hank…" They both say simultaneously. "We can't ask you to that?" Erin says.
"You're not asking. I'm telling. Erin your like a daughter to me. Did you really think I was going to let you pay for your own wedding?"
Erin gives him and smile and hugs him, "Thank you, Hank." She says into his shoulder.
"Thanks, Hank this means a lot."
Hank slaps him on the shoulder, "No problem. You just take her of her and that little girl."
"You have my word."
Hank turns toward Nadia who's watching everyone interact. "How do you feel about your parents getting married little one?"
Nadia smiles up at Hank, "Awesome! I even got to help daddy pick out the ring."
"Well, you did a good job."
"He's right. The ring is gorgeous." Margie says from her seat as Erin shows her the ring.
The conversation flowed nicely during dinner between everyone. After dinner Nadia wanted to watch a movie so they set her up in the living room and while the adults stayed on the deck talking. "So, how did the two of you met?" Jay asks as Margie and Hank look at each other and smile.
"Okay, I feel like we're missing something here?" Erin says as she looks over at Jay and back at them.
"We actually knew each other in high school." Margie says with a smile on her face.
"What? Really?" Jay says as he takes a sip of his beer.
"Yeah, I knew Camille and Hank in high school but I lost touch with everyone after we graduated. I got married a couple of years after I graduated to my high school sweet heart moved to Boston with my husband. He passed away ten years ago."
"I'm sorry about your husband." Jay says.
"Thank you." Margie says giving him a smile.
Margie clears her throat as Hank gives the hand his holding that rests on the table a squeeze. Erin watches the sweet gesture and smiles. "My son recently moved here for work and since there was nothing keeping me in Boston anymore I moved here to be closer to my son and his family."
"So, how did the two you run into each other again?" Erin asks.
Hank smiles, "At the grocery store if you believe it."
Margie laughs, "We literally ran into each other with our carts. We got to talking about our lives since high school." She looks over at Hank, "It was just so nice to have someone to talk to again." He gives her a smile as she continues talking, "We started off meeting for coffee and to just talk to have someone to talk to but soon realized something more was growing between the two of us and the rest is history."
Erin sits back in her chair, "Wow, it's like it was fate." She takes a drink from her beer, "I'm happy the two of you found each other. I haven't seen Hank smile like this in a long time."
Margie looks at Hank and smiles as she squeezes his hand. She turns toward Erin, "That means a lot coming from you. I mean I was so nervous you wouldn't like me and I know how much you mean to Hank. He talks about you all the time and constantly tells me how proud he is of you."
Erin looks over at Hank and smiles. She turns her attention back to Margie, "There's nothing for you to be nervous about. You make him happy and that's all I have ever wanted for him." Hank smiles at Erin.
"It's getting late and we should probably be heading home. Cuz, I'm pretty sure that little girl in there is passed out on the couch." Jay says rising from his seat. "Thanks for dinner Hank and it was nice to meet you Margie." Jay says he shakes the older woman's hand.
"It was nice meeting you too Jay."
Erin stands up and goes to hug Hank while Jay and Margie head inside the house, "Congrats, again kid. I'm so happy for you. You couldn't have found a better guy."
Erin smiles, "I know and I'm truly happy for you too. Margie's seems like an amazing women."
Hank holds the door opened for Erin to enter the house, "She is and she makes me very happy."
"If your happy them I'm happy." She walks into the living room as Jay is lifting Nadia into his arms. She smiles at the sight. She spots Margie watching them and makes her way over to the woman. "It was really nice meeting you. I've notice a change in Hank since he met you and it makes me happy."
Margie gives Erin a warm smile as she gives the younger woman a hug. Jay makes his way over to them, "Hey, you ready?"
"Yeah. Goodnight and thanks for dinner." Erin says as they head out the door.
A little while later the Erin and Jay enter their apartment with Nadia passed out in her father's arms. He carries the little girl into her room and puts her to bed. He heads into the living room and plops down on the couch beside Erin.
"So, tonight was interesting." Jay says as he glances at Erin.
"Ummm." Erin replies clearly lost in her own thoughts.
"What's up?" Jay says as he looks at Erin curiously.
"It's just weird seeing Hank with someone. I mean don't get me wrong I think Margie is good fit for him it's just weird seeing him with someone other than Camille."
"I bet It's gotta feel the same for her son when he sees her with Hank."
"Yeah." She pauses, "It's just going to take some getting used to." Erin shakes her head clearing her thoughts. After a couple minutes of silence Erin speaks again, "So, we should probably talk about setting a date."
Jay places his arm on the back of the couch and turns to face Erin, "Yeah we should."
"I for one don't want a big wedding."
"I agree. I think we should have something small with just friends and family."
Erin draws her legs up onto the couch, "Okay, I like that idea. Do you want a long engagement or short."
"Short, definitely short. I don't want waist anymore time."
"Same. I like the idea of a fall wedding. So, how about sometime in September?"
"How about September 3rd?"
"Sounds good. Now we have five months to plan a wedding and I'm already exhausted." Erin says dramatically.
Jay laughs, "Picking a date is hard work. I say we take a break with all this planning and have some fun."
She gives him a smirk, "What kind of fun were you thinking?"
"Why do I take you into the bedroom to find out." Jay says as he pulls Erin into his arms and carries her into their bedroom as she lets out a laugh.
…
A month later Erin, Nadia, Kim and Rachel were all seated in bridal shop waiting on Hank and Margie to arrive. Since Hank was the only real parent she had she wanted him there when she tried on dresses. She invited Margie along too. Ever since the dinner at Hank's a month ago the two of them hit off. She loved the side of Hank that Margie brought of him. The two of them regularly got lunch and formed a fast bond. It was nice having a somewhat mother figure again. She missed Camille dearly but it was nice to have someone like Margie to confide in. The sound of her daughter's yelling brought Erin out of her day dream, "Poppa!." Nadia yells as she runs over to greet Hank.
"There's my girl." Hank says as he lifts her up into his arms. He walks over to were Erin and the rest of the ladies are sitting. Erin gets up to greet them and introduces Margie to Kim and Rachel. Once everyone is settled on the couch the bridal consultant makes her way over.
"Erin Lindsay?" She asks with a smile on her face.
Erin lifts up her hand, "That's me."
"I'm Paige and I will be your bridal consultant. Do you have an idea of what you're looking for?"
"The wedding is in four months and It's a small wedding with just close friends and family. So, I'm looking so something simple and not too expensive."
"Okay. I'm going to pull a couple of dresses for you and have you try them on. So, if you'll come with me we'll get started."
Erin gets up and follows the bridal consultant into the room. Erin had tried on a couple of dresses already that were not what Erin was looking for and she was starting to get discouraged. She watched a few other brides with their mother come and find the dress bus she was having no such luck. She was currently standing in front of her friends and family in a simple fit and flare V-neck dress with an opened back and train.
"It's just so plain." Kim says with a frown on her face.
Rachel nudges Kim and says, "But you look great in it."
"Oh, I wasn't trying to say you look bad. It's just very blah."
Erin laughs, "Thanks, Kim. But I get what you're saying. It is a very plain dress." Erin sighs. "Guys. I have tried on 10 dresses already and none of them are what I want. Who knew this was going to be so exhausting."
Hank lets out a laugh as Erin pouts, "You're acting like Nadia right now when she starts to." Erin looks over at him and sticks her tongue and as Nadia laughs.
Nadia walks over to Erin, "Don't worry Momma. We're going you a dress." Erin bends down and gives her a hug, "Thanks, baby."
Margie noticing the sad look that passes on Erin's face and decides to speak up, "Okay, I know your tired but I think you should try one a few more before we call it a day. You need to find something that's going fit your personality." Margie get up from her seat and approaches Erin. "I think Hank should sit here with Nadia while the rest of us look for a dress we think you might like and if none of these work out we'll leave and try again another time. How does that sound?"
Erin smiles, "I think that's a great idea."
"Okay, ladies let's fine Erin a dress!" Margie says clapping her hands together.
Erin heads back to the room to change out of the dress and back into the robe as waits for the dresses that they picked. She hears a soft knock on the door, "Come in."
Margie pokes her head in, "I brought you our picks but I wanted to come in and talk to you for a moment."
Erin nods her head, "Sure, come in."
Margie comes into the room and hangs up the dresses. She closes the door and takes the sit next to Erin, "You know I had a hard time picking out my wedding dress too. My mom died when I was sixteen and I always imagined she would be there when I got married. It was supposed to be me and her picking out the perfect dress. But she wasn't there and I had to do it all by myself."
Tears form in Erin's eyes, "I'm sorry."
"it's hard letting go of a dream, but you have some people out there who love you and are here for you." Margie says as wipes the tears from Erin's face.
"I never thought I would even get married. I was so cautious about relationships in general because of Bunny and how I grew up but then Hank took me in and I watched the love between him and Camille and I secretly hoped I would have that one day. I used to dream of her being there when I picked out a dress but then she got cancer and before I knew it she was gone. And I stopped dreaming." Margie takes a hold of Erin's hands as she continues to talk, "I look around this shop and I see all these mothers and daughters and I can't help but think about Bunny." Erin lets out a dry laugh, "She's still on my mind even after everything she had done to me. Crazy, right?"
"It's not crazy. She's your mother it's only natural that you think about her during a time like this. But don't let those thoughts consume you. You have a lot of people out there who love, and one in particular who loves you like a parent should love their child. So, let go of the past and look to the future. Think about that little girl out there who going to see her mother come out in a beautiful dress and in a couple of months she's going to see her parents take the ultimate step to love and commitment. Think about the moment that you are going to have with her one day in the future as she picks out her own wedding dress." Margie removes her hand from Erin's and moves it to cup Erin's cheek. "Let go of all the negative thoughts and the things that are holding you back and focus on this moment. This is your moment and don't let anything take away from it."
Erin gives Margie a smile, "Thank you. I really appreciate you coming in here and talking to me. I really needed it."
Margie looks at Erin lovingly, "I know we haven't known each other that long but I think of as one of my own kids. " A surprised look appears on Erin's face but soon turns to a smile. "Now, no more tears. You have some dresses to try one."
Erin let's out a small laugh as Margie gets up and heads to the door, "Okay." Before Margie leaves Erin stops her. She pulls Margie into a hug and says, "Thank you again."
"Anytime."
A little while later the bridal consultant comes out to talk to them, "Okay, before she comes she wanted me to talk to you guys. She looked at all dresses you guys picked out but she found one she immediately feel in love with. So, rather than show you the other ones she just going to come out in the one that she thinks is the gown." Everyone eyes light up in excited at the news that Erin may have found a dress. "I'm going to go get her but she wants all of you to close your eyes and I'll tell you when to open them."
The group agrees and close their eyes as Erin comes out. She stands before them praying that they all agree that this is the dress. She takes a deep breath, "Okay, open your eyes."
Erin stood in a Anna Campbell cap sleeve illusion neckline two piece sheath wedding dress with a beaded top. The skirt was a sleek figure hugging shape with a flattering crepe waistband and elegant train. As they open their eyes they all stare at her in wonder but it's Hank who draws her attention. He stares at her with tears in his eyes, "You look beautiful."
With tears in her eyes she smiles at him, "Thanks, Hank."
"Erin this is the dress." Kim says.
Rachel looks at Kim and back at Erin, "She's right. This is the one. You absolutely gorgeous."
Margie smiles at Erin, "I hoped when you saw this dress that you would fall in love with it the way I did when I saw it."
Erin gives her a wide smile, "You were right. I love this dress and I can't wait for Jay to see me in it.
A/N: I searched for weeks trying to find the right wedding dress that I think the character of Erin would wear and when I saw this dress I knew it was the one. I plan on creating a Tumblr post with the Erin's dress, Nadia's flower girl dress, the bridesmaids dress and the groomsmen suits and post it the link in my bio for anyone interested.