The next seven weeks flew by and Haileys due date was getting closer and closer by the day. They were having a quiet, relaxing evening, well as quiet and relaxing as it could get with a five- and three-year-old. There had already been disagreements over what movie to watch, Zoe wanted Tangled, and Sebby wanted to watch Toy Story so to make both kids happy they were now pressing play on Toy Story after watching Tangled first.
Hailey and Jay had sat on opposite ends of the couch Zoe and Sebby in the middle, but Zoe had decided to cuddle up to her mama tonight which caused another round of tears from Sebby so of course they were now taking turns at cuddling with their mama. Jay didn't mind one bit, he knew how preoccupied Hailey would be with the baby and healing after she was born so he was letting them soak up all the time they could with their mama, which was why they decided to have a third movie night this week.
Hailey didn't want her babies to think that she didn't love them as much as the new baby and she could tell that they kind of had an idea that there were going to be some big changes happening soon, Zoe understood more than Sebby, being older and having gone through a new baby being brought home already. They knew that Sebby would be the most amazing big brother, but they were still worried that it might not go down as well with him as it would with Zoe.
Sebby was now curled up into his mother's side, taking his turn while Zoe sat in Jay's lap, eyes fixed to the screen, as much as she loved Tangled and her princess movies, Toy Story was another one of her favourites once it got playing. Jay swears up and down that the best investment he had ever made (money wise) was on their Disney plus subscription.
Hailey sucked in a sharp breath at a pain in her stomach, which made Sebby sit up straight and look at his mama, blue eyes filled with worry
"Mamas okay baby, it's okay" she told him cupping his face with one hand "watch your movie" he nodded and cuddled back into her side, but she didn't miss the way his position had changed from how he was before, and how he could now easily look up at her to make sure she was okay. Hailey had been experiencing Braxton hicks for the past couple of days so brushed this off as nothing but once again she didn't miss how Jay, just like Sebby, looked over at her concern written across his face
"You okay?" he whispered
"Braxton hicks" she told him "That did hurt a bit more than usual though but it's probably just from how i've been sitting"
"You sure?"
"I think so"
"Hailey…"
"It's fine, I'll let you know if it gets worse okay"
"Copy you" Jay turned back to the movie his hands moving to play with Zoe's hair
"Mama okay?" she heard the small voice next to her and Sebby was looking up at her with those big blue eyes that matched her own
"I'm okay, I promise baby" she told him and pulled him closer to her side and stroked his head gently
"Zozos turn with mama now?" the little boy asked his hand in a tight fist around the edge of the t shirt she was wearing
"I think you can have your turn for a little bit longer" she whispered to him seeing how content Zoe was sitting in her dad's lap, leaning back into his chest, him giving her a little head massage, like he does with Hailey sometimes, she was surprised that the five-year-old hadn't fallen asleep yet but was sure she would be soon.
As the credits for Toy Story rolled, Hailey looked over at her husband and her daughter and she was right, the little blonde was curled up on top of Jay fast asleep. Sebby on the other hand was wide awake
"nother one?" Sebby, being the smart boy that he was, looked up at him mom knowing there was more than one Toy Story movie
"Not tonight, but we can watch another one tomorrow" she whispered not wanting to be too loud and wake Zoe up
"I'm thirsty mama"
"You want some water?"
"Water please" he nodded
"I'll get him some water and you put her to bed?" Hailey looked over at her husband
"I got her" he nodded and carefully stood up with Zoe in his arms so that he didn't wake her, Hailey got up off the couch slowly and pressed a kiss into her daughter's crazy blonde locks, that were more of a mess that they usually were due to Jay's head massage.
"Good night my girl" she whispered, and Jay gave her a small smile before walking over to their staircase. Hailey turned to the three-year-old sitting comfortably on the couch clad in a toddler onesie covered in dinosaurs holding onto a stuffed dinosaur that Hailey and Jay labelled it a gift from Zoe on his second birthday and it's never left his side since, and why would it, his big sister 'got' it for him, its sacred.
"Let's get you some water then" Hailey held out her hand to the three-year-old, he was a bit too big for her to carry him all the way to the kitchen while being pregnant so holding his hand was the next best thing. Sebby rolled onto his stomach and slid off the couch, making sure to grab hold of his dinosaur with one hand and his mamas with the other.
The pair made their way to the kitchen slowly, Hailey basically waddling like a penguin. She lifted up Sebby and let him sit on the counter next to their fridge while she got out a small water bottle for him to drink from. She twisted the cap off and handed it to him
"Here baby, drink slowly, okay?"
He nodded his head up and down a couple times before starting to gulp back the drink
"Hey slowly Sebby, you don't want to get the hiccups" she told him, while gently lowering the bottle to stop him from drinking so fast
"Slowly, please" she let go of the bottle and let him bring it up to his mouth to drink some more, slower this time. Hailey turned back to the fridge to get a water bottle for herself only to drop it when she felt a painful pressure in her lower abdomen and back
"Mama?" Sebby questioned the way his mom's face screwed up in pain, not quite understanding what was going on, Hailey let out a huff and rubbed her hand over her bump, she now realised maybe the pains she had been getting all day hadn't been Braxton hicks but maybe real contractions. She tried to keep calm and turned back to her son
"It just slipped out of my hand, it's okay" she told him not wanting to worry him
"Baby sissy?"
"Baby sissy is in mama's tummy"
"Baby sissy hurt you?" She could see how he scrunched his eyebrows and gave a pointed look at her bump
"Oh no baby, it's not her fault"
"But you're hurt?"
"Just a little bit" she told him, she wasn't going to lie to him, he would be able to tell, just like his father
"Why you hurt for?"
"I think your baby sissy is going to be here soon" she said pressing a kiss onto his head and then running a hand through his dark curls
"And then she can play with me?"
Hailey laughed at his innocence "not right away, she'll be too little, but she'll be able to play with you soon"
"How soon?" He questioned putting the water bottle next to him, he wanted some answers now
"Soon" Hailey told him as her face screwed up in pain again, she placed her hands either side of him and leant on the counter
"M-mama?" Sebbys' big blue eyes were now filled with fear, the worry was evident in his face, and tears were close to spilling.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, I'm okay"
"I don't want you hurt mama"
"I know, baby I know, but it's okay, I'm not hurting bad at all, it just means that your baby sister will be here soon"
"She'll like my Toy Story, right? That means we have to watch it if she likes it" he told her which caused Hailey to laugh
"I'm sure she will baby, I'm sure she will"
"M tired mama" Sebby yawned "want my bed"
"Daddy will be back down soon, and he'll take you to bed, okay?"
"Want you to tuck me in mama!" Hailey sighed she knew she was going into to labour, and it was progressing faster than the last times, everything she has read about labour getting faster and faster was definitely not wrong with the way things were going right now so she wouldn't be able to make it up and down the stairs to be able to tuck him in
"I wonder where your daddy is huh, he's taking his time"
"Daddy tuck Zozo in, you tuck me in"
"I don't think I'll be able to tuck you in tonight baby"
"No!"
"Hey, hey, hey, why are we yelling?" Haileys head turned to the sound of her husband's voice
"Mama tuck me in!" Sebby half yelled, a couple of tears rolling down his cheeks
"Hey, Sebby, don't yell please" Jay said softly making his way over to where his wife and son were
"Hailey?" Jay question
"I'm not gonna be able to make it up the stairs" Hailey let out a short breath, in pain and Jay realised what was happening
"Oh, this is happening now?"
"Mhmm and it's happening fast, I don't think those Braxton hicks were Braxton hicks" Hailey told him
"Oh god, Okay um, come here little man let's get you to bed" Jay said while lifting his son into his arms
"But mama" Sebby's voice was barely a whisper
"I love you so much, my baby, okay, so you do me a favour and let daddy tuck you in tonight, for me please and I'll tuck you in soon okay?" She could see the tears fall down her son's cheeks as she stood up straight and it broke her heart
"Okay mama, I loves you too" she gave him a quick kiss before Jay took him upstairs promptly to try and get him settled as fast as he could.
While she was waiting for Jay to come back down Hailey picked up her phone and dialled Vanessa's number and it didn't take long for her to answer
"Rojas"
"It's Hailey"
"What's up? It's late?"
"Could you uh oh ow, could you come stay with the kids?"
"Are you in labour?" Vanessa all but squealed
"Mhmm, I'm having contractions"
"I am on my way right now; I'll be as fast as I can"
"Be quick please, this is going faster than I- oh…" Hailey trailed off as she felt a big gush of liquid down her leg
"Hailey?"
"I-I uh I think my water just broke"
"Oh my god, I'm in my car and I'm on my way now"
"Okay, see you soon"
"Don't have a baby before I get there, okay?"
"I will try my very best not to"
"See you in a sec"
"Oh, ow bye"
Hailey hung up the call as Jay came back into the kitchen hospital bag in hand
"I just got off with Vanessa, she's gonna come stay with them"
Jay let out a breath "okay good"
"And uh, my waters broke"
"Oh my god, okay, um, why does this feel like it's the first time all over again?"
Hailey laughed "I guess it never gets boring huh?"
"You want me to run and get you new pants?"
"Yes please"
Just as Jay had finished helping Hailey get into new pants in the middle of their kitchen they heard their front door unlock, they knew it would be Vanessa with her spare key, her having a spare key just made their lives a whole lot easier, especially in times like this.
"Kitchen" Jay whisper yelled in an attempt to not wake his sleeping children. Vanessa made her way into the kitchen, to be met with Hailey leaning against the counter, Jay rubbing her back, waiting for a contraction to pass before she started walking.
"Hey"
"Hey, they're both asleep as of 10 minutes ago but Sebby was worried about Hailey so he might try to come find her in the night" Jay updated Vanessa as Haileys contraction finished
"Okay I think we need to go, like now, I'm not having this baby in the middle of my kitchen" Hailey said
"You got this" Vanessa told her giving her shoulder a squeeze
"Thank you" Hailey gave her a loving smile before she and Jay made their way to the truck, water bottle on the floor long forgotten.
And with that Vanessa was left alone in their kitchen, she picked up the forgotten water bottle and put it back in their fridge and cleaned their floor. She knew their home like the back of her hand, she was always welcome there, no matter what, Hailey and jay had made that abundantly clear.
She shot off a quick text to Kevin to let him know to not worry when he got home to an empty apartment.
After tidying up some things around their house that she knew the married couple would appreciate when they got back with a Newborn baby, she settled into the couch and took full advantage of their subscriptions. Well, it wasn't like they wouldn't let her log on to any of their subscriptions anyway, but she had declined their offer. They really were the older siblings she never had and for that Vanessa would be forever grateful.
About an hour after Hailey and Jay left, two pairs of little feet came sneaking down the stairs, well they thought they were being sneaky, and Vanessa would let them have that.
The mini-Halsteads rounded the corner of the couch expecting to find their parents but much to their surprise it was their auntie Nessa instead
"Auntie Nessa" Zoe squealed and jumped up on the couch to be with her
"Hi mi amor" Vanessa hugged her god daughter back
"Why are you here?!" Zoe asked all excited and confused at the same time "Sebby came to my room looking for mama and we heard the tv so I thought that mama and daddy would be down here"
"Well, your baby sister decided that it was her day to be born" Vanessa told them
"Mama home?" She heard Sebby's voice, he was still standing at the end of the couch, really confused by the situation
"Come here Sebby" Vanessa held out her hand to Sebby so that he would come over to her. She lifted him up onto the couch and held them with one arm each
"Baby sissy home now?" Sebby questioned again
"Not just yet" Vanessa told them "Your mama and daddy went to the hospital so that your baby sister can be born" vanessa explained calmly and carefully
"Uncle will works at the hospital!" Zoe pointed out
"Yes, he does, smart girl" Vanessa smiled
"Uncle Will gonna help mama?" Sebby asked
"Not uncle Will but some of his doctor friends"
"Mama be okay?"
"Your mama will be okay Sebby, don't you worry" Vanessa told him and pressed a kiss into his hair
"When will mama and daddy be back?" Zoe was asking questions now
"I'm not sure Zo, but I'm pretty sure me and Uncle Kev are going to take you to see them at the hospital tomorrow" Vanessa turned her attention to the little blonde on her other side
"Tomorrows far" Zoe pouted
"Not that far, and if you go to sleep it'll come around faster" Vanessa told her
"Really?!"
"Well, it will feel faster, so how about we go back to bed huh? Its really late now and you don't want to be tired when you see mommy, daddy and your baby sister tomorrow do you?"
"Uh uh" Zoe shook her head no
"Come on then, off to bed" Vanessa said standing up and taking Sebby, who had practically fallen back to sleep against her side, into her arms and held out her other hand for Zoe to take. The trio made their way up the stairs slowly coming to Zoe's room first
"Can you go get yourself settled? I'll put Sebby in his bed and then I'll come say a proper good night to you?"
"I'm a big girl now auntie Nessa of course I can" Zoe said standing up a little taller to make herself seem older
"Of course you are, my big girl" Vanessa cupped the little girls face gently with one hand
"Good night, Sebby" she whispered to her little brother and went into her own room while Vanessa went with Sebby into the room next door.
She carefully placed the sleeping toddler in his race car bed and pressed a kiss onto his head to say goodnight. She switched his night light on and closed the door as quietly as she could when exiting his room and making her way into Zoes
She was met with the five-year-old lining up all her stuffies at the end of her bed, something her big cousin Makayla had taught her.
"What are you doing Zozo?" Vanessa questioned
"Lining up my stuffies" the five-year-old stated
"I can see that, but why?"
"So they can keep me safe"
"Safe? You're always safe here Zo, you know that right?" Vanessa said while crouching next to the little bed
"I know but I'm also scared"
"Scared of what sweetheart?"
"Mama being in the hospital"
"She's going to be okay, they're gonna look after her real good"
"I know, but I'm still scared, I tried to be brave for Sebby because he was scared when he came in here earlier, but I'm scared too auntie Nessa"
"Oh baby, come here" Vanessa moved so that she was sitting on the bed and opened her arms so the little girl could crawl into her lap. Vanessa held the small blonde close to her and gently rubbed circles on her back
"Makayla said whenever I wanted to feel safe or whenever I was scared, I could line up my stuffies at the end of my bed and they would look after me"
"Makayla is the best huh" Vanessa hummed "l know it's so scary but nothing bad is going to happen to your mama Zo I promise"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm so sure sweet girl"
"Okay" the small girl in her lap yawned
"Come on, let me tuck you in"
Zoe moved under her covers and Vanessa crouched down by the side of her bed again after pulling the covers up and tucking Zoe in.
"You are safe, and you are so loved, you know that right, mi amor?"
"Sí"
"Smart girl" Vanessa praised, she had been teaching both Zoe and Sebby some Spanish words and absolutely adored it when they spoke back to her in Spanish
"I love you"
"I love you too auntie Nessa"
"You come get me if you need me yeah?"
"I will" Zoe yawned again
"Goodnight Zozo"
"Goodnight"
Vanessa pulled the door shut quietly as she didn't want to disturb Sebby in the next room and made her way back downstairs and took her place back on the couch. She picked up her phone that had been left on the small table in the living room and switched it on. She checked her messages to see one from Kev
IMESSAGE
TODAY 8:01PM
Vanessa: Had to go look after Zoe and Sebby for Hailey and Jay so I won't be home when you get there, dont want you to worry❤️
TODAY 9:09PM
Kevin: It's all good! I'm not going to be home till much later, will you be home tonight or stay at Hailey and Jays?
Vanessa: I have to stay the night 👀
Kevin: You're not saying what I think you're saying?
Vanessa: Maybeeeee
Kevin: Nessa?
Vanessa: They left for the hospital about an hour ago
Kevin: Am I allowed to tell Adam who will then probably text Kim?
Vanessa: They didn't say to not tell anyone
Kevin: Adam said he's got a bet with Severide that this kids gonna have red hair
Vanessa: Will would love that
Vanessa: How long till you finish?
Kevin: I think I'll be the last one here
Kevin: Being Jays second while Haileys not here is hard work
Kevin: Wouldn't change it for a thing though
Vanessa: Being a detective suits you
Kevin: Yeah?
Vanessa: It's hot
Kevin: Noted 😉
Kevin: Think it will be too late to late stop by to see you tonight?
Vanessa: The kids are already asleep...
Kevin: It's okay, I'll bring breakfast in the morning
Vanessa: And fresh clothes please 😫
Vanessa: I rushed out of the door with nothing but my phone and car keys
Vanessa: Gonna have to swipe Jays charger he left in the kitchen#
Kevin: Breakfast and fresh clothes got it!
Vanessa: You're amazing
Vanessa: I love you
Kevin: I love you too
Kevin: I've gotta finish up this paperwork, I'll text you when I can, enjoy the subscriptions ❤️
Vanessa: Have fun 😅❤️
Just as Vanessa was about to put her phone down and press play on the show, she was watching she felt her phone vibrate and this time it was a text from Jay and her face lit up at what it said
IMESSAGE
TODAY 9:48PM
Jay: Baby girl is here and healthy! Hailey was amazing and is doing amazing, shes resting now. How have the kids been?
Vanessa: Oh my god yay! I cant wait to meet her! Give Hailey my love!
Vanessa: They came downstairs looking for you guys and found me so I explained to them what was happening. I think Sebby was too tiered to understand anything, Zoe was scared and worried about Hailey but I told her Hailey was going to be okay. They're both back in bed now, have been for about thirty minutes
Jay: She's so perfect I can't wait for you all to meet her
Jay: Thank you, I'm glad they have you
Jay: Can you bring them to the hospital at some point tomorrow? Not too early, I want to make sure Hailey has rested enough before they're climbing up on the bed to be with her
Vanessa: Kev is gonna bring breakfast over tomorrow anyways so we won't be leaving early anyways
Jay: Okay good, come around noon or after? And I'll let the team know they can come visit after that, already had texts from Kim saying her and Makayla are excited to meet the baby
Vanessa: That sounds perfect! I can not wait!
Vanessa: She got a name yet?
Jay: Yes, but we want to tell people in person
Vanessa: That's fair, I'm even more excited now
Jay: I'm gonna go rest as well but call if the kids need anything and I'll be right there
Vanessa: I think we'll be okay, but if anything happens I will
Vanessa: Oh and congratulations Jay, to both of you ❤️❤️
Jay: Thank you V ❤️
Vanessa smiled at her phone, she could not wait to meet the new baby, she was so proud of Hailey, they had had long emotional talks with each other about things like kids and to see Hailey overcome all her fears and shatter all the negative connotations she had with being a parent made Vanessa's heart so happy. She was truly happy for her sister, and she loved those babies like no other.
Notes: Comments/Reviews are always appreciated!
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I know this chapter didn't have much upstead but I wanted to showcase Zoe and Sebbys little personalities some more, I really hope you guys love them as much as I do!
You can find me on twitter or instagram both knownforyears but I'm more active on twitter!
Until next time... 3