Prompt #11: "Shooting star. Make a wish!"
"Babe, you almost ready? The forecast may panic people into making traffic worse." Jay calls out.
"Yup, I'll be out in a minute." He hears Hailey yell back, her voice slightly muffled behind the bathroom door.
It was their two year wedding anniversary and they had reservations at Cork and Kerry where they had their first kiss a little over three years ago, which somehow feels like a lifetime ago and yesterday. They've been through so much together and separately since that day. Jay had been home from Bolivia for about four months now. His military contract finally ended and he knew better than to extend again or agree to another job with them. The first one nearly destroyed his marriage, and even though Hailey has forgiven him and they're working through things, there's still a small part of him that hates himself for missing their first anniversary. He just wanted to do right again, by Hailey, by him, even by Voight. He knew he was never a perfect man and had crossed lines plenty over the years, but he wanted to be reminded of what black and white could really mean again. Unfortunately, he soon found out while he was away, that even work in the military and experiencing it as a mature adult, as such as life, is just not that simple. The world doesn't work like that and it's just a belief system to make us feel better to try to justify our actions into right and wrong. Part of him wishes he had realized that before he agreed to the three month extension he took. He was deep in his undercover trying to take down one of Bolivia's biggest cartels that was finding a way to funnel drugs through Columbia to make its way back to Mexico and the States. He made sure to keep his personal phone turned off and locked back at base camp, in fear of getting caught and these goons discovering who his loved ones were back home. He rationalized it by the fact he knew that if there was an emergency he needed to be pulled out for, Hailey, Will, and Voight all had his Major's number. So he instead wrote Hailey a letter, opting for the safer option in his mind, explaining his decision. It hit him too late that he should have at least texted his wife he was going dark; and it wasn't until he took a break from his UC assignment a couple months later to debrief that he unfortunately realized the letter never made it to Hailey when his Major told him she called asking if he was okay and for his ETS. He ran to his phone and turned it on to see the infinite missed voicemails and texts from her, along with a myriad of angry and well-deserved texts from his brother, Adam, Kevin, Hank, and even Trudy.
Their messages still circle through his head on a nightmare loop sometimes…
"Where are you, bro? She's worried."
"I get if you can't reach out to your brother, but at least call your wife!"
"I know you handed in your badge and that limits my capability of giving you shit anymore, Detective, but I thought you grew out of this stage? She's not going to wait around forever for you to wise up again. Don't make me regret rooting for you two!"
"Jay. This isn't you. Call me back. Or at least call her."
"What the fuck man? I thought you changed! Don't be that guy!"
And while they all haunt him, nothing is worse than reliving hearing Hailey in all those voicemails, breaking a little more each call.
"Hey Jay, it's me. I thought I'd try you again. I'm not even sure if you're getting these, but um, I was just wondering if you heard a date yet? Call me when you can. Love you!"
"Jay, me again. Just wanted to check in and make sure you're okay. Please call me back! I love you…"
"Hey Jay, really need to hear your voice. I'm getting worried. I don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I'll call your major. Okay, call me back as soon as you get this, please. Um, we're okay, I just want to make sure you are. Love you!"
"Jay? Are you purposely ignoring me? Please, just at least text to let me know you're safe. I'm going to try calling the base... Love you…."
That one was the worst, he could hear her final two words drifting softly, voice cracking and uncertain, like she was questioning if she even had the right to tell him she loved him anymore. She was definitely holding in evident sobs. But nothing was worse than knowing she just stopped. That was the last message she left, whether through voice or text, she stopped after she spoke to the Major and he told her about the extension. Jay didn't blame her, but again, it all still haunts him no matter how good they are now… hurting her and making her worry like he did will remain the biggest regret of his life.
He called her instantly once he realized. When she first picked up it was complete silence on her end. He couldn't remember a time Hailey wasn't even whispering his name off her lips, but she didn't utter a word. So he spoke. He let it all out, explained everything. And while after that first phone call they weren't good, and she was still incredibly angry, they worked through it. He had to go back under and finish the assignment no matter how much he wanted to fly back to her, but this time he made sure to reach out to her through burner phones. And when his team finally wrapped up that mission as best as they could, he thanked them for the opportunity, gave his resignation and notice of no reassignment, and was on a plane back to her three months later. They'd been in therapy and communicating for themselves and each other ever since. So now four months later, while he still has some lingering guilt, they're finally Hailey and Jay again. He realizes now he doesn't need to be the perfect man for her, or for himself, he just needs to be there. Be present. Be mindful. Work through his fears. And just like she did when they first met all those years ago, she helped him through it. She's still doing great things in Intelligence and he's in good graces with the team, Hank, and Trudy again. Him and Hailey make it a point to try to hang out with them all outside of work a couple times a month. As for his resignation from the force, he still found it to be the right decision. But he still wanted to help people, so Hank and Trudy were able to get him in to be an Academy Instructor. There was something about getting the chance to help and guide young versions of himself and aim to make them better, maybe do it differently than him and his friends and superiors, that was so rewarding.
He's broken out of his thoughts once Hailey comes out of the bathroom, dressed to the nines in his eyes in a simple black dress, earrings in, and nails painted. She straightened her slightly wavy hair, making it appear even longer and he had to squeeze his hands to stop himself from reaching out and running his fingers through it. He licks his lips as she walks closer to him, grabbing her purse off the counter.
"Okay, I'm ready." She gives him a beaming smile, fully aware of his reaction to her.
"You look beautiful!" he says as he comes closer and puts his hands around her waist. She leans in and tips her head up, slightly blushing.
"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself." She folds her hands over his button-down shirt, and he can feel his dark jeans getting tighter thanks to his body's response to hers.
He bends down to brush her lips with his own, fully intending to give her a quick kiss, but he soon gets carried away. He pulls her tighter to him as she moans into his mouth, using it to his advantage to slip his tongue in between her lips and deepening their connection even more. Hailey allows a minute or so to go by before she slowly pulls away, flushed, and Jay tries to follow her lips again as she laughs.
"Jay, you were just worried about the traffic." She whispers against his mouth.
He grins mischievously. "Ehh so what, we have time, we'll take your Jeep and drive with the police flashers on."
She laughs some more and manages to fully pull away from his embrace. "No, absolutely not. Come on, I'm all dressed up and hungry… for food" she clarifies after she sees the look he gives. "And I promise I'll make it worth your while later tonight." She winks as she goes to grab her coat.
"Yeah?" he questions excitedly.
"If you play your cards right." She smiles and gives him another quick kiss as she hands him his own jacket.
Jay grins as he zips his jacket and starts following her to their front door. He's happy. And he's forever grateful he's gotten another chance to make her happy again too.
Hailey couldn't have asked for a better anniversary. It's everything she had hoped that their first one would have been. Jay has apologized profusely for missing that milestone and vowed over and over again to be there for all of theirs here on out for the rest of his life. She appreciates the sentiment, even if she's not so sure on promises anymore. Oh, she's forgiven him entirely and happy that he's finally found peace again, she just knows that life is hard and sometimes things get in the way. But if they can, they're damn well going to celebrate and spend it together, always. She hated being without him for so long. It was a grueling 10 and a half months, but they made it through. For better or for worse. After she called his major and found out he asked for an extension, she had all but given up. She started to assume he was happy on his own and wanted nothing to do with her or their life in Chicago anymore. Everyone tried to assure her she was crazy, from Will to even Trudy, that she was Jay's life, but she saw that after a while maybe they even started to doubt it too. So she focused on work, and started to make it a point to go out with her friends when they asked and had the time, because she couldn't keep sulking at home. It was bad enough that everything at work reminded her of Jay, but everything at home was so much worse. From the photo frames of their happy grins, to the kitchen island Jay couldn't resist "christening" with her the second they moved in, to the homemade waffle maker he bought her while she had her old apartment, to even his hoodies in their closet that still carried a hint of his scent. So yes, she made sure to start living again, and not just for work.
Then suddenly out of the blue one day two months later, she finally saw the name she'd been hoping and begging for for months come across her phone screen. 'Jay Halstead.' It may have been typed informally in her phone, but it was her Jay. When she first heard his voice, she was in shock. She knows he thought it was because she was so angry, and a part of her was and wanted him to believe that, but she was stunned speechless that he had finally reached out to her again. She wanted to sob again (like she had so many past nights) because she thought they were done, instead it was him sobbing on the other end begging for forgiveness. He explained everything to her and while she was still wounded, she agreed to his promise to work on it and be there for her as much as he could from so far away. He stayed true to his word and somehow the weeks turned back into her not going out with her friends as much anymore and heading home, because he was waiting on the other end of the phone for her when he blocked out essential time to. Then finally the weeks turned into more months and he was officially home with her in-person 90 days later. It was surreal. Jay and Hailey both started therapy, together and separately. He made amends with their old team, friends, and Will. He loved his new job and it suited him perfectly. And they were finally them again. Now here they were four months since his return and celebrating their anniversary, together. It was perfect and Hailey couldn't ask for more. It made all the pain and uncertainty of the previous year worth it.
They had a wonderful dinner at Cork and Kerry. Jay even agreed to share an extra rich and sweet dessert with her. And when it was time to pay the bill, the lights somehow dimmed to a twinkle again, like the decorative ones they had up at the time of their first kiss. Hailey was confused for a second as Jay helped her into her coat, until she saw their waiter wink at Jay when he returned the bill. Before she could respond her husband was swooping in and kissing her just like he did that first time. It wasn't as surprising as that first time, but it certainly was as toe curling. When they pulled apart, he gave her the biggest smile and she pulled him back to her in thanks and gave him another quick kiss. Public Display of Affection be damned for the second time for them there. As they made their way out of the restaurant, the lights dimmed back up as if nothing had happened or been planned. For their after-dinner cordials they opted to head to Gene and Georgetti's to visit Jay's bartending family friend, Marco, now Hailey's too. Jay had taken her with him and Will on one of their traditions of stopping in to commemorate their father's birthday, and it had become a staple for them ever since. Marco loved Hailey, and it made Jay so happy since she would never get the chance to spend much time with his actual parents. He was at least glad his dad had met her as his partner way back when. The man was always hard to read, but it seemed he approved of the girl who would become his future wife. And Marco always made it a point to tell them both that Jay's parents would adore them together.
They spent another hour with him at the bar before they decided to end their night by walking along the lake in Grant Park. It had started flurrying already and they knew they didn't have much longer until likely the full snow storm set in, but it was so peaceful and serene, and one of their favorite spots, so they couldn't resist. There weren't many others out, clearly, night time in December on the verge of an oncoming blizzard, so it was also romantic they got this private moment. They stopped along one of the dock railings and just stared out into the water and sky, the flurries falling softly on both their rosy cheeks and lips, but neither were feeling the cold at all in the moment.
"This night was perfect, thank you, Jay." Hailey whispered as he held her waist from behind.
"You're perfect. Thank you for allowing me to give it to you. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't." he tells her honestly.
"Hey, we're good, and we're always gonna be good, remember?" she looks up and assures him.
He grins. "Yeah. Yeah we will. But even better will be when I get you back home for dessert."
"What? You can't possibly still be hungry! We ate and drank so much!" she exclaims.
"I'm not talking about food!" he groans teasingly in her ear as he pulls her tighter against him.
"Oh, well in that case…" she turns her head and pulls his down to kiss him. "We better get home." She finishes. "I love you."
"I love you, too! Come on." He smiles as he grabs her hand and they start walking again.
They only get a few feet when amidst the flurries in the sky they see a quick moving flash of light.
"Look, Shooting star, make a wish!" Jay says excitedly.
Hailey squeezes his hand harder and states simply, "It already came true!"
Jay gives her his lopsided grin and wraps his arm around her shoulder as they walk out of the park attached at the hips. Feeling happy and hopeful. With their future in the stars, that promise of a lifetime of anniversary celebrations seemingly will hold true…
[A/N: Hi again guys! Wow, what a crazy few months its been. After I finished my last story before this season started and the Jesse news dropped, I had thought I could circle back to doing more one-shots again at least. But what a shocking blow we were given as Upstead fans. I have faith we will persevere though! Anyway, like most everyone, I was not thrilled with the direction 10x12 took, so this is my hope on how they rectify things. Stay strong, keep positive, and thank you to all the fandom writers, editors, posters, artists, etc trying to keep the Upstead love alive; and a forever thank you to Jesse and Tracy for being the best!]