Sometime later a loud clap of thunder scared Erin awake. She slipped out of bed and made he way downstairs to make some tea to calm her nerves. She made her way into the kitchen and turned on the kettle and grabbed a mug from the cabinet. Just as she set the mug on the counter to wait for the water to boil another clap of thunder, louder than anything crashed out and she felt her stomach tense with pain as she collapsed to the floor. She was all the way downstairs, and she knew Jay may not hear her as a harsh contraction gripped at her, warm fluid running down her leg.

" Jay!" she cried out as the pain tore through her.

Jay moved to hold Erin close but, found her side of the bed cold and empty. Getting out of Bed Jay went in search of his wife. He could hear the rain and thunder and he knew she did not like these storms. He made his way down the hall to the baby's nursey hoping that maybe she had sought comfort in there. We he reached the open door he was met with a dark room and no Erin in sight. Jay then had an idea that maybe she went to make some tea to calm her nerves.

" Erin?" he called out making his way down to the kitchen. He couldn't hear anything other than the noise of the storm, but suddenly as he walked through the living room, he heard a voice he knew all too well crying out for him.

" Erin!" he shouted running towards the kitchen and finding her collapsed on the floor, her face a mask of pain.

" God Erin, what's wrong?" he asked in panic, rushing over to her.

She sat on the floor, holding her stomach and crying in pain, her water had broken and was pooling around her legs.

"Jay…" she whispered in a pained voice, reaching out for him.

Suddenly a tree branch banged loudly on the kitchen window from wind of this terrible storm and she shrieked in terror, taking on another contraction as she clutched her stomach.

" Oh Erin!" he cried when she screamed, out of fear or pain or possibly both. Of all the nights to be born, their little girl had to pick this one. Trying to clear his head he knew he had to get her out of the kitchen and back to their room.

" Erin? Erin honey listen to me," he said firmly, lifting her chin up to look into her eyes.

" I need to get you out of here and back to the bedroom, so I am going to carry you. Ok?"

She nodded as he leaned down and put his arm around her back and the other under her knees. She relaxed and curled into his chest. The storm was really raging outside and even though she was scared about having the baby she felt safe in her husband's arms.

" We're almost there, babe" he said encouragingly as she tensed up with another contraction.

" Stay with me honey, I got you. You're doing great."

As he reached the bed and gently placed her down onto it. He placed a tender kiss on her lips and smiled.

"Our baby is coming today" she smiled back at him shakily.

"I'm right here with you Erin, it's going to be alright." Jay encouraged as she was breathing through another contraction. He knew that despite his attempt to calm her he knew she was scared, and he was trying his best to take that fear away. Suddenly, the lights went out in their room.

"Jay? What happened? " she asked, frantically searching through the darkness for him.

"Hey, it's ok. I'm here looks like the power went out" he said, grabbing hold of her hand and squeezing it gently.

"Jay, could you get me something to drink and a cool cloth to wipe my forehead?" she asked weakly.

"Sure babe. Be right back" he smiled and kissed her. He grabbed the flashlight off the table and made his way to the kitchen. He grabbed a couple bottles of water from the refrigerator. He made his way back to the bedroom. He came back into the room hearing Erin breathing through another contraction. He placed the water on the night table and went to their bathroom to retrieve a cool cloth for her.

" That better?" he whispered, brushing her hair back from her face and kissing her head.

" Yeah, I think the contractions are over for now" she sighed. She was relieved that the pain was over for now. The cloth on her forehead was soft and cool and she closed her eyes.

A little while later he smiled when he found her asleep and relief washed over him. She was free from pain, for the moment anyway. He contemplated taking her in his arms but decided against it, not wanting to wake her. Instead, he just sat very close to her, kissing her forehead gently and taking one of her hands in his. She awoke about ten minutes later with another strong contraction battling her system and she leaned forward to breathe in deeply.

"Aggghhh Jay it hurts so much" she cried.

"I know babe. I am so sorry for all the pain you are in. You're so strong Erin, far stronger than I'll ever be. I love you so much sweetheart."

" I love you too."

Another hour passed, and Erin's contractions were coming strong and fast. Jay knew she had to be getting close. Being police officers, they had both taken courses on first aid and delivering babies he just never thought he would be delivering his own baby. Jay was snapped back to the present when Erin called out his name.

"Jay…. I am feeling a lot of pressure and I think I am getting close"

"Yea it looks like we will have a baby very soon" he smiled at her.

A moment later Erin sat up and Jay looked at her with concern.

"I feel like I need to push" she panted.

Jay took a deep breath to steady his nerves and helped Erin position her legs back. "Alright Erin, I need you to take a deep breath and push for me alright? I need you to push now sweetheart."

She leaned forward and pushed with every amount of energy she had, her face tight with pain. She reached for his hands and gripped tightly.

" Keep pushing honey, you're doing great, " he said, squeezing her hand.

" I can see the top of her head." He said excitedly.

"Come on Erin you can do it you are so close" he encouraged.

Erin mustered us all the energy she had and pushed. Suddenly all the pain was gone, and she heard her baby crying. She looked up to see he husband, her love cradling their newborn daughter in his t-shirt. Jay looked up at her and smiled his eyes red with tears. He gently moved towards he and placed the baby in his wife's waiting arms.

"Hi baby girl. We are so happy you are here." She cried. She looked over and pressed her lips to Jay's with the most tender loving kiss.

"I love you so much. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to help me through this" she kissed him again.

I love you too. I am so happy and honored I was able to help bring her into the world." He smiled back.

Jay went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up a bit and grabbed a blanket and towels for Erin and the baby. When he came back into the room Erin was already nursing the baby for the first time and he swore he couldn't have been more in love than he was at that moment.

He helped Erin clean up and get more comfortable. As he stood by window in their room admiring his new family, he picked up his cell and placed a call.

"911 what's your emergency"

"This is Detective Jay Halstead CPD Intelligence I need an ambulance to my home at 2251 S. Indiana. I just helped my wife deliver our baby."

"Is the baby breathing?" the dispatcher asked.

"Yes, she is breathing fine" he responded.

"Ok Detective, we have an ambulance on it's way. Do want me to stay on with you until they arrive?"

"No that's ok. Thank you."

Jay walked back over to the bed and sat down next to Erin who admiring their beautiful baby girl.

"We need to give this little beauty a name now that she is here" he said

"How about Ava Elizabeth Halstead?" she cooed at the baby.

The baby looked up at her parents with her baby blue eyes and gave a little smile.

"That sounds beautiful" he leaned down to kiss Ava's head and then captured Erin's lips in a sweet passionate kiss.