So I decided I wanted to continue this story. There will be one more chapter after this, because i'm not mean and WOULD NOT leave it the way it is. Let me know if you have any suggestions or anything you want to see in the last and final chapter I will see if I can work it in. Enjoy!
Jay woke up to an arm resting on his chest and a soft breath on his neck. The last time this happened he was about to leave for tour. He opened up his eyes and took in the sight. She looked peaceful, in a moment he thought she would be uncomfortable considering her injuries. He took a couple of breaths and slowly peeled her body off of his. Careful to avoid her injuries, he climbed out of bed and walked quietly out of the room.
"Rough night huh?" Alex laughed as he walked into the room to make coffee. Alex was sitting on the breakfast bar eating cereal.
"What? Your mother is very persuasive. Plus she said she wasn't going to take no for an answer," Jay shrugged. He started brewing the coffee when he heard a groan from the room he had just vacated. "That's my cue," Jay smiled. He entered the room to see Erin on her back groaning. "Pills and breakfast first or get up to the couch?" Jay asked.
"Pills and breakfast please," Erin groaned. "Thank you babe," she smiled and winked.
"Babe?" Jay laughed.
"Yeah babe," Erin continued. "Bring me some grub?" Jay laughed and walked out of the bedroom into the kitchen.
"Your mother is a piece of work," Jay began cracking eggs and scrambling. "You go get dressed so we can leave as soon as I feed your mother." Alex hopped off the stool and went into her room to change. Jay continued to cook the eggs and toast the bread. Finally, he was finished and able to deliver the morning medications and food he walked back into the bedroom.
"Finally I thought I was going to die of starvation," she laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, breakfast first, meds second. I'm going to take our daughter to school I'll be back in an hour. I'm going to stop by my place and grab some things." He leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"Bye babe," Erin winked as he walked out of the room.
Jay met Alex at the door and she started laughing. "You're going to have a rough couple of weeks."
"Yeah, I know. I've already stocked up on ice cream and mac and cheese," he opened the door and allowed Alex to walk out of the door first. "Let's get a move on or you're going to be late."
"You say that every day and yet I have never been late," she got into the car and waited for him to get in too.
"Yeah, because it gets you moving faster. You're just as slow as your mom," he laughed.
"I am not," she laughed back.
"You are so," he pushed. "Your mother used to take forever and make me sit outside her house for ten minutes every day waiting for her. The one day I was late, your mom thought I forgot her," he smiled. "I was never late again."
"I'm sure you weren't. Mom is the worst when she's angry. I never want to experience that again," Alex laughed.
"Neither do I," Jay responded as they pulled up to the school. "Have a good day. I'll be back at 3:00."
"Okay, thanks Dad," she hopped out of the car and went inside.
Dad, he could never get over that fact. He was a father and he hadn't even experienced any of the childhood. He didn't get to see her walk for the first time; he didn't get to hear her talk for the first time. He wasn't there for her first day of school. He's missed almost everything.
He walked into his apartment to grab a couple sets of clothes and decided that he wanted to talk to Erin about it. This wasn't something he could just get over. He didn't know he had a 14-year-old daughter. What kind of father doesn't know they have a kid? He rushed to fill a bag with clothes and ran out of his apartment. He drove quickly to Erin's.
As he opened the door he heard Erin from the bedroom, "Finally Jay, I need a form of entertainment. I'm dying from boredom here."
He entered the bedroom and saw Erin laying flat on the bed. She let out a long sigh. "What would you do if I wasn't here?" Jay asked.
"I'm not quite sure. To be honest I was kind of hoping that didn't happen," she smiled up at him.
He placed his bag on the end of the bed and sat beside her legs. "I have to ask you something," Jay stated as he looked up at her.
"Uh-oh, sounds serious," Erin smiled.
"Yeah. So as Alex was getting out of the car, she called me dad."
"Well, you've been taking care of her for the past four weeks. I hope she'd start to get an attachment to you," Erin smiled up at him. She winced as she placed her arm on his thigh. "You're are and always have been a great guy. I'm surprised it took her this long to start saying it."
"It made me start thinking about how I missed everything. I missed all of her firsts, and you know how I always said I never wanted to be my father," Jay started.
"Jay, you're not your father. Your father was the worst. If you were your father you'd never be a cop, you'd never have taken Alex while I was in the hospital. Jay, you are not your father. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Alex. But after you got back and we had lunch, I didn't want Alex to have to see any of that. I was hoping that after a couple of months you would come back," she ranted.
"You've been waiting for me? I thought you were over me," Jay wiped a tear and placed his hand on hers.
"I could never be over you. You are the love of my life. I couldn't just replace you. There's no replacing Jay Halstead," she visibly winced and groaned as she sat up. She pulled his chin up to look at her and placed her lips on his. "I could never replace you, I love you too much."
"Okay," Jay smiled. He removed himself from the bed. "So how about some grilled cheese and some milk. Build those ribs back together," he walked towards the door.
"That's it?" Erin questioned.
"What do you mean?" Jay turned to look at her.
"You walk in here wanting to discuss something serious and I reassure you and kiss you and make you feel better and all you say is 'okay, want food'?" Erin ranted.
"Um thank you?" Jay questioned.
"No, I want some explanation as to why you would ever think any of that," her voice rose.
"There was more, but it's time for your next med. So, I'm going to make it, you're going to eat it, and then we'll discuss the rest," he turned around and headed to the kitchen to make the rest of grilled cheese.
Erin sat bewildered. He was so vulnerable no less than a minute ago and now he's just walking away. It was unbelievable the way he could just switch off his emotions like the flip of a switch. Ten minutes later he walked in with a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of milk. "Eat," he demanded.
"A bit demanding aren't you?" Erin laughed.
"Demanding but I have good intentions," He smiled as he sat on the bed beside her legs as she ate.
"Why are you watching me eat?" Erin asked after a couple of bites.
"I miss the moans you make when you eat my food," Jay winked.
"You're a dirty dirty boy," Erin laughed as she continued to eat.
"I feel like you should be in a little bit more pain," Jay pointed out.
"These meds are great, I barely feel any pain. Well, I feel the pressure from the injury. But let's be real, I've given birth."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for that," he swallowed and wiped his forehead.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I mean I wanted to tell you in person, but you signed up for another tour," she shrugged. "So I didn't want to worry you or make you feel preoccupied. I wanted you to come home to me safe and sound," she continued. "It only took thirteen years longer than expected."
"Your meds," Jay handed her a couple of pills. "I wanted to run something by you."
"Of course," Erin nodded.
"I know we just recently reignited our relationship. I'm still getting to know our daughter and you're in pain, but I want to experience everything with you," Jay reached into his pocket.
"Everything? What do you mean everything?" Erin stuttered as Jay presented the ring she gave back 13 years ago. "Jay," Erin sighed.
"I love you Erin. I always have. Now that I'm here and we're both in good places I want you to be my wife. I finally want to be a dad to Alex. I want us to be a family. Please say yes," Jay pleaded.
"Of course, but I want to make sure you're serious about this, because as soon as we tell Alex it has to be a done deal. No backing out," Erin raised her eyebrows.
"Of course I'm serious about it. I don't want to ever live without you again," he slipped the ring on her finger. "Fits like a glove," Jay leaned in to kiss her. "Also I have another request."
"So demanding," Erin laughed as she leaned in for another kiss. "What's the request?"
"I want to have another baby. Let's do it right. But not right now, cause you're injured and I think we should get married first. Also, we can adopt if you don't want to get pregnant again," Jay rambled.
"Jay," Erin placed her hands on his shoulders to calm him down. "Of course I'll have another baby with you. We always planned on a big family," she leaned in for a kiss. "I love you."