Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago P.D. or Chicago Fire.

Chapter 13

Shift had been relatively quiet. They never actually caught a case, so they got out on time. Erin went on home to start getting ready, while Jay went to get JayJay. He already had her stuff to go to Voight's, but she was already asking "where mama was," so he decided to go on home and get Erin. Plus it would let him have time to get dressed up. He set Jaylyn down once inside the door and she took off to find Erin.

He heard her once she found Erin. "Ooooo mama pweety."

"Why, thank you baby. Daddy & I are going to go out to eat tonight. How would you like to go play with Grandpa Hank?" They had not left her at night before so they were hoping by leaving her with Hank she would be okay for an hour or two. "You come back?"

"Of course we will come back for you pretty girl. We would never leave you."

"Otay then" and JayJay was happy again. Hearing Erin refer to Hank as "grandpa" made him happy; obviously she was planning on sticking around for a while. After getting his clothes out of the closet he went to the bathroom. "Wow…. Er… You're…. Uh… Yea, stunningly beautiful."

"Thanks, Jay" Erin said shyly. Jay was still looking her up and down. That little red dress was going to be his undoing tonight. Maybe they needed to leave JayJay with Hank tonight, but Erin promised they would come back so maybe not tonight but definitely one night soon! She kissed his cheek as she walked by to allow him to get ready. "I'll go keep JayJay busy while you get ready. Hank said she could eat with him so make it quick." Jay nodded as he jumped in the shower, a cold shower at that.

When he got out, he could JayJay signing along with Frozen. Of course she picked that movie to watch; he'd be so glad when that movie lost its popularity. The songs were killing him, but he didn't have the heart to hide the movie from JayJay. He quickly dressed in dress pants, dress shirt, and a sports coat. He was already to take his lady out on the town.

He went out to find his girls curled up on the couch. Jaylyn now had a princess dress on. When she saw him her face lit up; "Dada I look like mama."

"You sure do baby. Are you ready to go?" Jaylyn nodded as Erin got up to get her coat. Jay grabbed JayJay's bag on the way out. He had brought it in and added a few things to it. It was now stuffed full of anything and everything Voight might possibly need. Once in the car, Jaylyn babbled/talked the whole way to Hank's. Jay didn't know if she was really that excited or if she was nervous about them leaving her at night. Once there, Erin grabbed Jaylyn before he was even around the car so he grabbed her diaper bag.

Erin used her key and they went in. "Hank, we're here."

"In the kitchen," he called back. Jaylyn had gotten really quiet once they got out of the car and was hiding her head in Erin's shoulder. She was still pretty shy around people she didn't know so well. "Well who is this princess I see?"

JayJay kept her head hidden in Erin's shoulder. "It's ok JayJay. You remember Grandpa Hank." Erin encouraged. Jaylyn finally looked up at him. "Hi," she whispered.

"Well hi there princess."

"I dressed like mama," JayJay announced.

"Well, I guess you are. You both look beautiful. Do you like grilled cheese, Princess Jaylyn?"

JayJay nodded yes. Grilled cheese had become one of her favorite meals lately. "Well good. Would you like to eat with me then? I made my special grilled cheese just for you. Your mama there used to love when I made my special grilled cheeses." Jaylyn finally reached for him. Hank took her with ease; "Well, I'm so glad you decided to join me. I was really hoping a princess would join me for dinner."

Jaylyn giggled; "Grandpa you silly. I not a real pwincess. I just dressed like one."

"Ah! Really? I thought you were a real princess?.." Hank feigned shock. They kept going back and forth. Jay was really surprised to see this side of Hank. No wonder Erin looked up to him so much. He'd probably been the best dad to her ever. Erin slipped her hand into his; "Come on, she'll be okay now."

Jay nodded. "Let's at least say good-bye." Erin nodded. Hank had put Jaylyn in a booster seat at the table beside him.

"Bye, baby girl. You be good and listen to Grandpa. We'll see you later tonight okay." Jaylyn leaned up to kiss him. He still felt weird calling Hank "grandpa," but he didn't seem to mind. "Bye Dada. Bye Mama."

Erin blew her a kiss; "Bye baby. We'll see you later." Jay turned to Voight, "Just call if there are any problems. I'll keep my phone on. We probably won't be gone more than two maybe three hours."

"Go on you two. We'll be just fine here."

"Her bag is on the couch. Should have everything you will need." Hank nodded and Erin grabbed his hand to pull him on out the door. Once outside, Jay let out a deep sigh. "I was afraid JayJay would throw a big fit or something. I really hope she is good."

"She will be fine Jay. I turned out good right?" Erin said jokingly.

Jay laughed; "Of course darling."

They drove to the restaurant. Jay had chosen an upscale restaurant in Chicago. You could see the city lights and the water from their seats. It was rather romantic. They had easy conversation all throughout dinner. Jay finally worked up the nerve to talk to Erin about the future. Erin sensed a shift in his mood. "What's on your mind, Jay?"

"Ever since I got hurt, I've been thinking about the future. I have more than just me to think about now, and I've been thinking more about settling down and giving Jaylyn a real family. Every vision I have includes you Er, and I just want to know that I want this (he gestured between the two of them) to be permanent. I told Voight yesterday to be prepared because when the time was right I wanted to ask for his blessing. I want a future with you Er. I want you to adopt Jaylyn and be her real mommy on paper. I want to have more kids with you. I watched how amazing you were with JayJay while I was hurt and it just made me want everything more. I just want to know that we are on the same page."

Before Erin could respond, the waiter came to see if they wanted desert. They both declined saying they had eaten too much. Jay was still waiting on Erin to say something, and he was getting really nervous. She was just staring out over the water; maybe he had jumped the gun. "It's okay if you don't feel the same Er; I just wanted you to know how I was feeling."

Erin finally turned and looked at him. Tears were glistening in her eyes. Before she could say anything he felt horrible. "I'm sorry Er. I shouldn't have said anything. I just wanted you to know how I felt but obviously I am too far ahead. Let's get the check and go get Jaylyn. Please don't cry."

"Jay, Jay, stop. Ok just wait a minute." Jay sat back down. "These are not sad tears, they are happy tears. I honestly never thought I would feel like this about anyone. I never thought someone would want me like you do. I was a terrible teenage and had Hank and Camille not taken me in, I never would have had the chance to even have someone like you. I love you Jay. I love you so much. And I love your little girl as if she was my own. I want everything you said, Jay, I do. I'm just still surprised that I am where I am right now."

Jay pulled her hand to his lips. "Never doubt my love for you Er. You deserve all this and so much more. And I'm going to do my best, my very damn best, to give you everything you deserve."

The waiter brought the check and Jay paid. "Come on Er; let's go get out baby girl." Erin nodded as she stood up. She sent Hank a text as they were leaving letting him know they were on their way. Hank's reply was almost immediate; "JayJay is asleep if yall want to just leave her tonight and get her in the morning. If not, see ya soon."

Erin relayed the message to Jay. He really wanted a night with just Erin, but they had promised JayJay they would come back, and he didn't want to break his promise; not when he could be deploying soon.

They got to Hank's; Erin went to get Jaylyn while Jay talked to Hank. "Thanks for the offer sir, but we promised her before we brought her over that we would come back for her. She seemed to think we were just going to leave her."

"Say no more Halstead. I understand; I just wanted to offer again since she fell asleep."

Jay nodded; "I hope she wasn't too much trouble."

"Jay, your daughter is an angel. She was no trouble at all."

"Thank you sir."

Hank patted him on the back. "Al is looking into your deployment. Hopefully we will get an answer soon. I watched the news tonight, but the conference wasn't mentioned. I was hoping to be able to give you good news tonight, but we are still working on it."

"Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me." Erin came walking into the room.

"Ready?" she asked him. Jay nodded. He grabbed a sleeping Jaylyn from her arms. "Come on let's get the princess home in her bed."

Erin hugged Hank as Jay took Jaylyn to the car. "Thank you Hank. Tonight was special."

"Anytime kiddo. You deserve it, and Halstead knows it. Let him take care of you Er-bear. It is ok to give him your heart for forever."

Erin nodded as she hugged him once more before she went to join Jay in the car.

A/N: So there is chapter 13. I know it's been forever, but I have been stuck in the house for the last 4 days because of the weather, and since I am finally a little bit ahead on homework, I decided to finish this chapter so it could be published. I must admit, I end up missing my own story when I get too busy to write. I am loving this story as much as I hope all of you are. Please let me know your thoughts and if there is anything you want to see in the coming chapters. I will gladly take suggestions!

Hope you all are staying safe and warm with all this winter weather we here in the US have been experiencing. Hopefully a faster update? Not making promises, but I'm hopeful :P