The next morning, the sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Jay stirred first, his head pounding from the previous night's celebrations. He turned to see Hailey beside him, her hair tousled and a sleepy smile on her face.
"Good morning, wifey," Jay murmured, his voice rough from sleep.
Hailey opened her eyes, blinking a few times before smiling back. "Good morning, husband."
Just as she was about to snuggle closer, Hailey's expression changed. She quickly sat up, her hand covering her mouth. "Oh no," she muttered before bolting out of bed and rushing to the bathroom.
Jay winced at the sound of the bathroom door closing and the unmistakable noises that followed. He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples. "Rough night," he said to himself, chuckling softly despite the headache.
A few minutes later, Hailey emerged from the bathroom, looking a bit pale but managing a weak smile. "Sorry about that," she said, climbing back into bed.
Jay wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "It's okay. We definitely overdid it last night."
Hailey nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "Worth it, though. It was perfect."
Jay kissed the top of her head. "Absolutely perfect."
As Jay and Hailey lay in bed, savoring the quiet morning, they heard the soft patter of tiny feet approaching. The bedroom door creaked open, and their daughter Emma toddled in, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Mommy! Daddy!" she called out, pushing the door open wider with her small hands.
Jay and Hailey both turned to see their little girl, her hair a mess of curls and her pajamas slightly askew. Emma's face lit up with a big smile as she saw her parents awake.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Hailey said, her voice filled with warmth.
Emma didn't hesitate. She ran towards the bed and, with a little jump, tried to climb up. Jay quickly reached out, lifting her onto the bed and into their arms.
"Morning, princess," Jay said, kissing the top of her head.
Emma giggled, snuggling between her parents. "You 'n' Mommy sleep good?"
Jay chuckled, glancing at Hailey. "We did, but I think Mommy might need a little more rest."
Hailey smiled, ruffling Emma's hair. "Just a bit, but having you here makes everything better."
Emma beamed, clearly pleased with herself. "Can we have pancakes?"
Jay and Hailey exchanged a look, both knowing that pancakes were the perfect way to start their first morning as a married couple with their daughter.
"Pancakes it is," Jay said, giving Hailey a quick kiss before getting out of bed. "Let's go make some breakfast, Emma."
Hailey watched them go, feeling a wave of love and gratitude wash over her.
Jay and Emma made their way downstairs, Emma's tiny hand gripping Jay's finger as they descended. The house was quiet, the morning light streaming through the windows, casting a warm glow on everything.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, there was a sudden knock at the door. Jay paused, looking down at Emma with a smile. "Hey, Emma, can you be my big helper and open the door?"
Emma's eyes widened with excitement. "Okay, Daddy!" She let go of his hand and toddled over to the door, reaching up on her tiptoes to grasp the handle. With a bit of effort, she managed to pull the door open.
Standing on the doorstep was Voight, a small smile playing on his lips as he looked down at Emma. "Good morning, Emma," he greeted warmly.
Emma beamed up at him. "Morning, Uncle Voight!"
Jay walked over, a bit surprised but pleased to see Voight. "Hey, Voight. What brings you here so early?"
Voight stepped inside, giving Jay a nod. "Just wanted to check in and see how you two were doing after the big day. Thought I'd bring some breakfast, too." He held up a bag that smelled deliciously of fresh pastries and coffee.
Jay's face lit up. "That's really thoughtful of you. Thanks, Voight."
Voight shrugged, a hint of a smile still on his face. "Figured you might need it after last night."
Emma tugged at Jay's hand, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Daddy, can we have pancakes and pastries?"
Jay chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Looks like we have quite the feast this morning. Let's get everything set up."
As Jay was busy flipping pancakes in the kitchen, he heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs. He turned slightly to see Hailey, wearing his oversized hoodie, her hair tousled from sleep. She smiled warmly at him, her eyes twinkling with affection.
Hailey walked up behind Jay, wrapping her arms around his waist and planting gentle kisses on his back. "Good morning, chef," she murmured against his shoulder.
Jay chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through him. "Good morning, beautiful. Did you sleep well?"
"Better now," Hailey replied, resting her head against his back.
Emma, who was busy setting the table with her little hands, looked up and giggled. "Daddy, Mommy's giving you lots of kisses!"
Jay turned his head to look at Emma, a playful smile on his face. "She sure is, sweetheart. I think she's trying to steal some of my cooking secrets."
Hailey laughed softly, giving Jay one last squeeze before letting go. "Maybe I am," she teased, moving to help Emma with the table.
Emma looked up at Hailey with wide eyes. "Mommy, can I help cook too?"
Hailey nodded, smiling down at her. "Of course, Emma. Let's make this breakfast together."
The kitchen filled with the sounds of laughter and the delicious aroma of pancakes and pastries, creating a perfect start to their day. Just as they were about to sit down, there was a knock at the door. Jay glanced at Hailey, who shrugged, and then at Emma, who was already running to open it.
Standing on the doorstep were Voight, Ruzek, Burgess, and Atwater, all grinning widely. "Morning, Jay! We heard there was a feast here," Ruzek joked.
Emma beamed up at them. "Daddy and Mommy made pancakes and pastries! Come in!"
As they entered, Voight noticed Hailey's arms around Jay's waist and the pancake mix splattered everywhere. "Looks like you two are having fun," he teased.
Ruzek laughed, pointing at the mess. "Man, the pancake mix is supposed to go in the bowl!"
Burgess and Atwater joined in, shaking their heads with amused smiles. "Yeah, Jay, not all over the kitchen," Atwater added.
Hailey smirked, giving Jay a playful nudge. "Guess we got a little carried away."
Jay laughed, shaking his head. "Looks like we're going to need more plates."
Hailey smiled, wrapping an arm around Jay's waist. "The more, the merrier," she said, welcoming their friends inside.
As everyone enjoyed their breakfast, Emma suddenly looked up with bright eyes. "Daddy, can we go to the park today? Please?"
Jay smiled at her enthusiasm. "Sure, sweetheart. We can go to the park."
Hailey, catching on quickly, interjected with a playful grin. "Oh, but Daddy's busy with Mama today."
Jay, a bit confused at first, started to protest. "I'm not—" Then he caught Hailey's mischievous look and quickly corrected himself. "Oh, right. I am busy with Mama today."
The unit burst into laughter, with Ruzek leading the charge. "Eww, you guys!"
Burgess shook her head, laughing. "Too much information, Jay."
Atwater grinned, adding, "Yeah, we'll take Emma to the park. You two enjoy your 'busy' time."
Voight, with a rare chuckle, nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
Emma, oblivious to the teasing, clapped her hands in excitement. "Yay! Uncle Ruzek, Aunt Burgess, Uncle Atwater, and Uncle Voight are taking me to the park!"
Jay and Hailey exchanged amused glances, grateful for their friends' support. "Thanks, guys," Jay said, smiling.
As the unit prepared to take Emma to the park, Jay finished his pancake, still having two small ones left on his plate. Just as he was about to take another bite, Hailey grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the stairs.
Jay groaned playfully. "Can't we wait until I finish my pancakes?"
Hailey shook her head, a mischievous smile on her face. "Nope, no waiting."
Jay sighed dramatically but couldn't hide his grin. He quickly grabbed Hailey, lifting her off her feet, and started walking her upstairs. "Alright, alright. Let's go."
The unit, watching the scene unfold, burst into laughter. Ruzek called out, "Eww, you guys! Get a room!"
Burgess added, "Well, I guess they are!"
Atwater shook his head, chuckling. "Man, you two are something else."
Voight, with a rare smile, nodded. "Enjoy your time, you two."
As Jay carried Hailey upstairs, they heard the sound of little footsteps behind them. Emma toddled in, holding her little monkey boots, her face full of determination. "Come on, no waiting!" she babbled, trying to mimic her mother's earlier words.
The unit, watching this adorable scene, couldn't help but laugh. Ruzek grinned, shaking his head. "Man, she's just like Hailey."
Burgess nodded, smiling warmly. "Yeah, she's got that same spunk."
Atwater chuckled. "Definitely a mini Hailey."
Voight, with a rare soft expression, added, "She's got her mom's spirit, that's for sure."
As the unit took Emma's hand and led her out the door, Ruzek closed the door.
Later in the day, the unit returned from the park, laughing and chatting as they walked inside. They were greeted by the sight of a cozy scene: the duvet was draped over the couch, and Hailey and Jay were snuggled up together, watching a movie.
As they approached, Emma toddled in ahead of them, babbling excitedly. She caught sight of the screen and her eyes lit up. "Movie! Movie!" she exclaimed, pointing at the TV.
Jay, realizing the movie wasn't exactly kid-friendly, quickly grabbed the remote and switched it off. "Oops, sorry about that," he said, a bit sheepishly.
Ruzek laughed, shaking his head. "Caught in the act, huh?"
Burgess grinned. "You two really know how to make the most of your time alone."
Atwater chuckled. "Man, you guys are something else."
Voight, with a rare smile, added, "Just make sure to keep it PG when Emma's around."
Hailey, blushing slightly, gave Jay a playful nudge. "Guess we got a little too comfortable."
Jay laughed, wrapping an arm around Hailey. "Yeah, we'll save that movie for later."
Emma, still excited, climbed onto the couch between them, snuggling into the duvet. "Movie with Mommy and Daddy!"
The unit settled in, joining the family on the couch.
Jay smiled and turned on Netflix. "Alright, someone cover Emma's eyes while I pick a child-friendly movie."
Ruzek quickly covered Emma's eyes with his hands, making her giggle. "No peeking, little one!"
Jay scrolled through the options and finally settled on a fun, animated movie. "Here we go," he said, pressing play.
As the movie ended, Hailey stretched and looked at Jay. "Alright, hotshot, time to get your ass up and make dinner."
Jay groaned, clearly not in the mood. "Can't we just order takeout?"
Emma's eyes lit up with excitement. "Takeout! Takeout!"
Hailey smirked, seeing an opportunity. "Alright, but only if you promise to make dinner tomorrow."
Jay sighed dramatically. "Deal."
Hailey then turned to Emma. "Hey, Emma, why don't you help Daddy pick out what to order?"
Emma nodded eagerly, and Jay grabbed his phone to look at the menu. Hailey, meanwhile, cooked up a plan to distract Jay while he ordered. She leaned in close, whispering something in his ear that made him laugh and blush.
The unit watched the playful exchange with amusement. Ruzek grinned. "Man, you guys are something else."
Burgess nodded. "Yeah, it's like watching a rom-com."
Atwater chuckled. "Just make sure to order enough for all of us."
Voight, with a rare smile, added, "And don't forget the extra fries."
Jay, still laughing, nodded. "Alright, alright. Let's get this order in."
Jay tried to focus on ordering the takeout, scrolling through the menu on his phone. "Alright, let's get a couple of pizzas and some sides," he said, dialing the number.
As he started to place the order, Hailey leaned in and tickled his ear, making him giggle. The person on the other end of the line paused. "Did I say something funny?" the pizza employee asked, sounding confused.
Jay quickly composed himself. "No, no, sorry about that," he said, then whispered to Hailey, "Knock it off."
Hailey, with a mischievous grin, kept tickling his ear. Jay tried to keep a straight face but couldn't help laughing again. "Seriously, Hailey," he whispered, trying to sound stern but failing miserably.
Hailey just laughed and continued her playful antics. Jay, realizing he couldn't finish the order like this, got up and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. "Sorry about that," he said into the phone, finally able to speak without giggling. "Can I get two large pizzas, one pepperoni and one veggie, with extra fries and some garlic bread?"
The pizza employee chuckled. "No problem. Your order will be ready in about 30 minutes."
Jay thanked them and hung up, then walked back out to find Hailey and the unit all laughing. "You guys are impossible," he said, shaking his head with a smile.
Emma, still excited, ran up to him. "Did you order the pizza, Daddy?" she asked in her adorable toddler voice.
Jay burst out giggling at her cuteness, which made Hailey catch on and start laughing too. The unit couldn't help but comment.
Ruzek grinned. "Man, she's too cute!"
Burgess nodded. "Yeah, she's got everyone wrapped around her little finger."
Atwater chuckled. "Definitely takes after her mom."
Voight, with a rare smile, added, "She's got the whole room laughing."
But Emma, seeing everyone laughing and not understanding why, suddenly burst into tears. "No laugh at me!" she cried, her little face crumpling.
Jay immediately scooped her up, hugging her tightly. "Oh, sweetheart, we're not laughing at you. We're just happy because you're so cute."
Hailey quickly joined in, gently wiping Emma's tears. "That's right, Emma. We love you so much."
The unit, feeling a bit guilty, quickly reassured her too. Ruzek said, "We're sorry, Emma. We didn't mean to make you sad."
Burgess added, "We think you're amazing."
Atwater nodded. "Yeah, you're the best, Emma."
Voight, with a gentle tone, said, "You're our favorite little girl."
Emma sniffled, her tears slowing down as she looked around at all the loving faces. "Okay," she said softly, snuggling into Jay's shoulder.
As the delicious aroma of pizza filled the house, the doorbell rang. Jay got up to answer it, returning with the pizzas and a stack of mail. He set the pizzas on the table, and everyone eagerly gathered around.
Ruzek, sorting through the mail, noticed an envelope from the hospital addressed to Jay. "Hey, man," he called out, handing the letter to Jay. "Looks like you've got something from the hospital."
Jay took the letter, a bit puzzled. "Thanks, Ruzek." He opened it and quickly scanned the contents, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern.
Hailey, noticing the change in his demeanor, placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Everything okay, Jay?"
Jay nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's just a follow-up appointment. Nothing serious."
The unit, sensing the slight tension, quickly shifted the focus back to the pizzas. "Alright, let's dig in!" Atwater said, trying to lighten the mood.
Emma, excited about the pizza, clapped her hands. "Pizza time!"
Jay smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, let's eat."
As everyone enjoyed their pizza, Jay couldn't help but glance at the hospital letter again. He unfolded it and started reading through it more carefully, his brow furrowing slightly.
Emma, noticing her dad's distraction, toddled over to him. "Daddy, play with me?" she asked, tugging at his sleeve.
Jay, still focused on the letter, absentmindedly replied, "One second, sweetheart."
Hailey, seeing the concern on Jay's face, leaned over. "Everything okay with the letter?"
Jay nodded slowly, folding it back up. "Yeah, just a follow-up appointment. Nothing to worry about."
Emma, not understanding the conversation but sensing the shift in mood, tugged at Jay's sleeve again. "Daddy, play now?"
Jay smiled down at her, setting the letter aside. "Of course, Emma. Let's play."
The unit, noticing the exchange, gave Jay reassuring nods. Ruzek, trying to lighten the mood, said, "Man, you can't keep a lady waiting."
Burgess added with a smile, "Especially not this little one."
Atwater chuckled. "Yeah, she's got you wrapped around her finger."
Voight, with a rare smile, nodded. "Family time is important."
Jay, feeling the support from his friends, scooped Emma up and started playing with her, the earlier concern fading away.
