Jay was going to lose his mind this morning, he was sure of it. James was being difficult and it seemed like he enjoyed pushing Jay's button and was trying to see how far he could push his limits till Jay caved. But Jay was just as stubborn and won't give in so easy, or at all.

"James please finish your breakfast before the sitter gets here."

"No."

"James." Jay warned.

"Daddy." The child mocked back.

Jay sighed. Was James always like this in the morning, he really had no clue. Most mornings, James was just waking up as Jay would be getting ready to leave, so he would take him from his crib, sit in the rocking chair for a bit and then bring him downstairs to Olivia and would go to work. Today Olivia had to work on site at a wedding, starting at 4 am, so she stayed the night at the hotel where the bridal party was staying, with another girl from work, because it made the job a little easier, and that was she didn't wake Jay or James when she was getting ready her self at 2 am. Working on site usually meant a 24 hour gig. Olivia usually wasn't done until the very last minutes of the wedding reception. When she came home from those she was exhausted and just down right dead tired.

Jay had let James sleep in bed with him last night, and James had spent most of the night sleeping soundly, cuddled up on his chest. They stress of the adoption was taking it's toll on them all, and they would hopefully being finding out soon what they already knew, that they were the perfect fit for James and could officially be a family, The Halsteads.

"If you're not going to eat, then let's get showered and dressed."

"Mommy gave me a bath."

James was right, Liv did it last night before she left.

"Right, okay, let's get dressed."

"No."

"James, come on, Tasha will be here soon."

"No Tasha Daddy, you stay."

"I can't stay, I have to work."

"I goes too." he said heading upstairs to get ready.

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"Halstead, my office."

Jay wasn't in the mood to be yelled at for being late, or almost ruining a drug bust. He slowly got up from his desk and went into Hanks' office, closing the door behind him.

"Everything okay Sarge?"

He motioned for Jay to sit.

"I want you to know, I did everything I could, I pulled every string I had."

"Okay?"

Voight sighed.

"You and Olivia didn't get approved for the adoption. I'm so sorry."

Jay's heart shattered, he felt like he'd been punched in the gut, like he was going to throw up. How could they not get approved? They were perfect for James, James was perfect for them. They had already made a life and a home together. Created a bond with each other.

"How'd we get denied?!"

"The social worker didn't say."

"I've got to call her. Find out how we can fix this. They can't take our son, they can't."

"Jay, go home. Call Olivia, go spend time with James, there's limited time left."

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Two days, two days was all they had. James didn't really understand but he understood enough. The family that was adopting him and warmly and graciously accepted to take all the things he had with Jay and Olivia and even extended the invitation that they could see James whenever they wanted. The social worker advised against the visits, saying it would only confuse James further, that they just needed to let him go and move on. 'Fuck you, bitch' was Olivia's response to her.

Every time he called them Mommy or Daddy, broke them a little more and they had to fight to keep it together. They brought James to the district so he could say goodbye to his aunts and uncles there, and play with the sirens in the cop car one last time. Will, Natalie and Owen came by the house and Owen said they would always be cousins no matter what. The girls from the shop bought him a teddy bear that was dressed as a police officer and had both Jay and Olivia's voice programmed inside.

"Okay buddy, now tell me what my name is."

"Daddy." James said proudly.

"No James, come on, what did we practice."

"Jay..." Olivia started.

"He needs to know this Liv."

"He's just a baby Jay."

Jay waved her off.

"Okay James, tell Daddy, what do you do if you hurt, in trouble, or in an unsafe space?"

James thought for a second.

"Call 9-1-1."

"Good and what do you say?"

"My name is James. This is an emergarry! Call my dad Destective Jay Halstead, disick 21, badge number 51163. Hurry."

Jay hugged him.

"Close enough buddy, good job."

Jay put James between Olivia and himself.

"We love you so so much James, and so will your new family. You will always have a very special place in our hearts forever."

"I no stay?" James pouted.

"We want you to, but it wasn't up to us."

James turned to Jay.

"I lobe you."

Jay's eyes filled with tears.

"And I love you, more than I could have ever imagined."

"Please no go." James cried.

"I know buddy, I know."

When the social worker came later that day she had to pull James away from them, screaming and crying. Olivia couldn't watch as the woman took him away and put him into the car, and she cried into Jay's chest. The social workers gave them an apologetic look before she left and Jay and Olivia stood there heartbroken on the porch after losing their son. Out of all the pain they were feeling, Jay knew one thing, they'd never forget that little boy, and if at any moment he needed them, they would be there. They would always be his family, no matter where life led them, James would always be a Halstead.