A/N: Our favorite couple has finally worked through things and started figuring this relationship thing out. They still need to deal with Erin's rapist being out there and figure out a way to make their relationship work long term, but they've finally gotten to a good place.

"Good morning, beautiful," Jay whispered, placing a kiss on Erin's forehead.

She opened her eyes, looking up at him and smiling. "Hi," she replied, still half asleep.

"I didn't want to wake you, but we need to get to the district," Jay told her. "I already have coffee brewing for you in the kitchen."

Erin groaned. "Are you sure you can't play hooky today?" she pouted, making Jay laugh.

"I'm sure," he replied. "Besides, I think there's a certain two year old who's probably missing her mom.

"Yeah, right," Erin grumbled, getting out of bed. "Antonio probably spoiled her and loaded her up with sugar. He's probably her favorite person now."

Jay laughed again. "Do I sense some jealousy?" he teased.

"Yeah; my old unit is slowing turning my daughter against me. I swear she likes you, Hank, and Antonio more than she likes me now. I think Kim and Hailey are in the running to be her favorites, too," she retorted.

"You're her mom; she's never going to love anyone more than she loves you," Jay assured her.

When they arrived in the bullpen, they found a sleepy looking Antonio sitting at his desk, Cami nowhere in sight. Erin immediately burst out laughing. "What's wrong, Dawson? Did my two year old get the best of you?" she teased.

Antonio looked up at her, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he looked back and forth between her and Jay. "I may have forgotten how hard it is to raise a toddler," he admitted. "It's much easier once they're teenagers. Minus the attitude, of course. And the horniness." He looked pointedly at Erin and Jay.

Erin felt her face flush. "I'm going to talk to Hank," she said, quickly taking off in the direction of his office."

Jay watched her as she went, unable to wipe the goofy grin off of his face that had likely been what had given them away. He was head over heels in love with her, and after last night, there was no coming back from it.

"Hey," Erin called, walking into Hank's office. "Any update on the case?"

Hank glanced up from the paperwork on his desk, shaking his head. "Not yet," he told her. "But we'll get him; I promise."

Erin nodded, taking a seat in front of his desk. "Can I ask you a question?" Hank leaned back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head, and Erin knew from experience that was his way of telling her he was listening. "Did you know Jay was going to propose? Three years ago, when I left Chicago. Did you know?"

Hank leaned forward, folding his hands and placing them on his desk. "No," he told her. "At the time, I didn't know."

"But you found out later?" Erin questioned.

"I didn't know for sure, but I suspected," Hank stated. "I take it he told you?"

Erin nodded. "Last night. I had no idea. We weren't even together at the time."

"I was wrong, you know," Hank admitted suddenly. When Erin looked at him questioningly, he continued. "When I told you not to look back, I was wrong. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting you. But instead, I took away everyone you had at a time when you needed them the most."

"Hank…you couldn't have known what would happen," Erin argued. "Besides, I could have kept in touch with everyone, but I chose not to."

"Still," Hank insisted, "if I hadn't told you that, maybe things would have been different, for both you and Jay."

Erin shook her head. "It just wasn't the right time for us then."

"And it is now?" Hank asked.

Erin smiled. "Yes," she replied, looking Hank in the eyes. "This time is definitely the right time."

Hank nodded. "I'm happy for you, kiddo. I'd be even happier if you weren't taking away one of my detectives along with my granddaughter when you return to New York," he added gruffly, making Erin laugh.

"You know you always have an open invitation to come visit," Erin told him affectionately as she stood up. She glanced out into the bullpen, smiling as she saw Cami interacting with Jay and Hailey. "I am going to miss this when it's time to leave," she stated softly.

"You'll be back for visits," Hank assured her.

"I know; it's just not the same," Erin sighed. She made her way to the door before turning back to look at Hank. "Hank, I know you blame yourself for what happened to me. I know you think it's your fault because you're the reason I got the job in New York. But it wasn't; none of it was your fault. I just wanted you to know that," she told him before turning and heading out into the bullpen.

Hank sat at his desk, thinking about what Erin has just said to him. She wasn't wrong; he had blamed himself for her rape, knowing that he was the reason she was in New York. He wasn't sure how Erin knew that, but he wasn't surprised. He knew she was right that it wasn't his fault, but he still wasn't ready to let go of the guilt that he'd carried around for three years.

He stood up from his desk, walking over to stand in front of the couch and look at the window in his office that overlooked the bullpen. Cami was in Jay's arms and Erin was standing next to him, talking to her daughter, looking happier than he'd seen her in years. There had been a period of time after the attack that he'd wondered if he'd ever see her happy again. Yet there she was, standing next to the man she loved, who loved her, while doting on her daughter, a daughter that was the one good thing that had come out of that horrible night.

He watched as she turned to Ruzek, rolling her eyes at something he'd said before laughing and shaking her head at Antonio's response. He'd missed this these past three years. He'd missed having here in the bullpen, interacting with the rest of the team. He'd missed seeing her nearly every day, knowing that she was safe. He'd miss spending holidays and birthdays and special events with her. And he wasn't sure he wanted to miss anymore. He wasn't sure he was ready to let her walk out of his life, walking out of Chicago, again. It was time for her to come home for good, which meant that it was time for him to start working towards ensuring she could do that without giving up a career that she loved.