Again, thank you so much for all your support and reviews! They make me smile.
FYI there is a four week time jump in this chapter. Sorry if that makes anyone mad.
Chapter 21
"I think Sean or Simon."
"I think Peter."
"Seriously? Sean and Simon both sound way better than Peter."
"Sean Halstead? That just doesn't sound right."
"Oh, thanks a lot. Since when was our baby taking my last name?" Jay replied with a hint of confusion.
Erin gave Jay one of her looks, replying, "We talked about this. Since the baby is a boy, he's going to take your last name. If it had been a girl, her last name would have been Lindsay." Erin threw one of Jay's old hockey shirts at him as she taped up another brown box. Just by looking at the densely packed box in front of her, she could tell that it was heavy. "I think you're going to have to lift this one, Jay."
"Sure thing, honey," Jay replied, smirking at Erin as she gasped in shock. "Did you seriously just call me that?"
"Yes, I did," Jay said, walking over to give Erin a kiss. As he pulled away, he said, "Simon."
"No, I still think Peter!" Erin spat, pushing Jay away a little. As Jay was about to speak, the doorbell rang. "Who's that?" Erin asked, a confused expression taking over her face.
"No idea," Jay replied, equally confused, as he began to weave around all the boxes in his apartment. They had moved some of Erin's stuff into storage, and what she had wanted to keep had been at his place for the past few days. It had all been in an effort to make today easier, but Jay was still nervous. He and Erin were getting a brand new two bedroom apartment that happened to be less than 20 minutes away from 51, and 15 minutes from the precinct. Jay's thoughts were stopped when he opened his front door to find Shay, Dawson, Burgess, Atwater, and the entire Intelligence Unit (even Voight), waiting outside the door. "Hello?" Jay asked, confused.
"Happy Moving Day!" Antonio yelled from the back. Everyone began to file in and grab boxes, and as Erin said hello to everyone, Antonio told Jay, "We all have today off, so we figured that we would come help you guys out. We've got a few trucks and a big U-haul outside. And don't let Erin touch anything. She deserves to relax."
"Alright man," Jay replied, giving him a pat on the back. He turned back to everyone and said. "Okay, Erin, you are not to touch a single box because we don't want you stressed out all. Guys, the boxes with blue tags are full of fragile stuff, so please take care with those. Otherwise…thank you so much."
Antonio walked over to give Lindsay a hug and asked, "How is it being on maternity leave? Are you sure you don't want to do desk work?"
Erin crossed her arms and said, "I love my job, but if I can't do all of it, I don't want to do any of it. Of everything I do, the thing I hate the most is paperwork."
Her words made Antonio chuckle and say, "Okay, I get it. Now, Gabby, please get Erin to sit down." His efforts were halted by Erin replying, "I'm fine thanks." Antonio nodded, gave Lindsay a hug, and went off to grab a couple of boxes. To both Erin and Jay's delight, they were out of the apartment before lunchtime.
After about thirty minutes in traffic, Jay pulled up outside their new apartment. Erin just smiled and said, "Oh my God. I can't believe we're actually doing this."
"Diddo," Jay replied with a smile. Erin was about to grab Jay's hand and say something sentimental when she saw the two lieutenants from 51 sitting on their new front steps. She got out and asked, "Casey? What are you two doing here?"
"Halstead? Did you not tell her?" Casey yelled to Jay.
"Dudes, it's supposed to be a surprise," Jay replied. Erin, confused, asked Jay, "What are we talking about?"
Jay sighed, and said, "You know the room for the baby?"
"Yeah?"
"I got Matt and Kelly to help me out with more than painting. Do you wanna see?"
"Yes, come on! Let's go inside!" Erin said with excitement. She was the first to walk through the apartment and into the baby's room, and when she was through the doorway, she gasped with delight and felt tears coming to her eyes.
The room, which had been bare a few weeks ago, now had bright blue walls, little ducky curtains, a changing table, a rocking chair, a new dresser, and a spotless white crib in it. As she wiped her eyes and looked around, Jay walked in to join her and she told him, "This is…beautiful. Oh my God, it's perfect!"
"I'm glad you like it," Jay replied, smiling and internally rejoicing that he had gotten the design right. Erin speed walked over to Kelly and Matt and gave them both huge hugs and thank you's. And since Erin was technically not supposed to lift anything, while everyone else helped move stuff in, Erin sat silently in the nursery on the rocking chair that had been placed next to the crib. People came to check on her occasionally, but observed that she was enjoying some peaceful time to herself, so they left her alone.
After Jay had said thank you to everyone and he and Erin were only two people left in the new apartment, he locked the door and started unpacking some of the stuff in the kitchen. He had almost finished his third box when he heard a high-pitched "Jay!" from the back of the apartment.
Panicked, he rushed to the baby's room and found Erin sitting on the rocking chair holding her hands over her belly. He immediately rushed over and asked, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Erin didn't respond, just put a finger up to shush Jay as she concentrated on something. After a few more seconds, she smiled, grabbed Jay's hand, and placed his hand on her baby bump. And that was when Jay felt it.
A little kick.
Jay gasped and said to Erin, "Oh my God. That's…amazing."
"He just started doing it – that's why I yelled."
"Only a few more months before we get to meet this little guy," Jay said.
"Yeah, let's just hope that he doesn't keep me awake all night," Erin joked.
"Well, if he does," Jay replied, holding Erin's hand, "I'll be there."
