13. Chapter 13

A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry this took so long, school is killing me and unfortunately I can't promise anymore updates soon :( Hope you like what I did with this chapter, there's a few flashbacks, and I'm not really sure how well I've integrated them but hopefully it works! And one of the flashbacks and also present borrow from another show. Let me know if you figure out which two they are haha

Enjoy!

~ Another Broken Heart You've Left Behind ~

November 10th, 2015

Erin felt the sun streaming down on her through the peep in the curtain. She could feel it's heat radiating over her as she tried to move away from it's warmth and further into the comfort of her bed.

Only it wasn't her bed. And it wasn't the sun that was making her warm. Erin rolled onto her side and opened her eyes slowly, taking in the sight of Jay Halsted laying next to her. She smiled to herself as she noticed his arm wrapped protectively around her waist, pulling her to snuggle against his chest.

She never thought they'd be here again. Three months ago she thought she had screwed everything up. And now here they were, together on such a special day. The day commemorating the birth of their son.

"What are you thinking about?" Erin's eyes shot up to meet Jays.

She smiled softly "Our baby's a year old."

Jay's smile matched hers "I know. Pretty soon he's going to be walking and talking. It's crazy to think he's only been with us for a year, and he's completely changed our lives."

Erin nodded her head in agreement as Jay asked "Do you remember the day he was born?"

Jay chuckled at her loud groan "Please, I don't think I'll ever forget 16 hours of labour."

...

"I hate you Jay Halstead!" Erin yelled as she tried to breathe through another contraction.

"I'm sorry, tell me how I can make it better for you." Jay murmured pleadingly.

"Can you go back in time nine months and keep it in your pants!?" She snarked back.

Jay just chuckled "It'll be worth it Erin, our little guy will be here soon."

Erin's breathing slowed and she released her vice grip on Jay's hand as her contraction faded.

"It's been six hours Jay, I don't know how much more of this I can take." She cried into his shoulder.

"Hey." Jay frowned, placing his fingers under Erin's chin to lift her eyes to his "You're the strongest person I know Erin Lindsay. If anyone can do this, it's you."

"Promise you'll be here, Jay. Promise me."

Jay nodded vehemently "Of course Er, I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her head softly.

...

"I kept my promise." Jay smirked

Erin laughed "That you did, even though it cost you a finger."

"I still can't believe you broke my finger! I mean, I know you're strong but …"

"Consider it a reminder to never underestimate me Halstead."

"I wouldn't dream of it Lindsay." Jay kissed her cheek "I think little man's awake. You want to do the honours?"

Erin grinned nodding her head as she quickly got out of bed. She moved quickly and quietly through the bedroom, pulling on a pair of tights under Jay's shirt and tying up her hair in it's usual messy ponytail as she made her way into Ben's room.

Ben's head popped up slightly as his sleepy eyes took in his mother's figure entering the room. Erin smiled as Ben's head lulled back onto the mattress of the crib, his head laying comfortably on his little arms as he lay on his stomach.

"Hi birthday boy!" Erin softly exclaimed, picking up her son and holding him tightly to her.

Ben whined and snuggled up against his mum, rooting his head against her chest releasing a content sigh.

"Are you humouring your sad mama?" Erin murmured "You're growing up baby boy, I don't like it."

"We knew it would happen eventually." Jay says from the doorway.

Erin turns to face him, a pout gracing her face "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

Jay chuckles and comes to wrap his arms around Erin and their son "Happy birthday little man." He says planting a gentle kiss on the top of Ben's head "I hope you got your rest, because we have a big day ahead of us."

Erin groaned "I still don't fully understand how Kim managed to convince me to have such a big birthday party. This is going to be a nightmare."

"Well, look at this way. Ben will have the time of his life." Jay countered.

Erin huffed "I hate it when you're right."

Kim smiled proudly as she walked around the backyard of Hank Voight's house. The whole place was done up in Thomas the Tank Engine themed, in honour of Ben's favourite kids show - Jay had showed it to him since it had been a favourite of his growing up and Ben was obsessed.

Kim's smile grew as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and a gentle kiss placed on her temple."You did a great job darlin" Adam mumbled against her skin.

"Thank you, I'm just glad Ben and all the other kids like it." Kim replied looking at Ben and all the other little toddlers from his daycare.

Everyone had come to celebrate Ben's birthday; kids and parents from his daycare, some of Jay and Mouse's army buddies, Will and some of the doctors and coworkers from Med and a few of their friends from the Fire department, even Erin's brother Teddy had managed to make it down for a few hours before he started work. Hank's house had never been so full.

"You two ready for this?" Erin said as she walked up to them.

Kim nodded before making eye contact with Platt, signalling to her Sergeant that they were ready.

"Alright listen up folks!" Platt yelled over the group "There are a couple people who want to say something for the birthday boy. Not that he's gonna understand a word they're saying but, whatever I guess."

Jay rolled his eyes at the woman's words. No matter how sarcastic she acted, Jay knew deep down she cared about Ben and this unit more than she'd care to admit.

"Thanks for those kind words, Trudy." Hank says as he stands up "Now I won't keep you long, I'm not the most eloquent speaker anyways. I wasn't the most...receptive about Halstead telling me he knocked up the woman I consider my daughter."

"What the hell do you mean you're pregnant!?" Hank growled.

"Sir, we didn't-" Jay didn't get the words out of his mouth before he felt his Sergeant's fist against his eye.

"Hank!" Erin exclaimed rushing to a hunched-over Jay.

"I told you she was off-limits!" Erin moved now to hold Hank back from attacking her partner any further "Not only are you disobeying my rules and dating Erin, you knocked her up!"

"We're not dating Voight!" Jay yells out.

Hank stops pushing against Erin "What does that even mean!?"

"If you had let us explain in the first place, you would've heard how this was all a drunken occurrence. We are not dating Hank, but jay is going to be there for our child. Like it or not, we're in this together, for life."

...

Everyone lets out a laugh "but, truth be told, I'd rather it was Halstead than some other idiot. I knew from day one, he would do right by Erin and Ben. And he has, at every point he's made sure his family were looked after and protected. And I couldn't think of two better parents to raise my grandson. So, I guess that's it. Happy birthday Ben."

Jay stood up and walked towards Hank, shaking the older man's hand as a thank you for his words. Jay smiled as he watched Erin hug hank as well, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Thank you." She whispers against his shoulder.

"I'm proud of you kid, I meant every word I said."

"Okay, my turn!" Erin chuckled as she pulls away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

She quickly walks to the front of the tables Kim has set up for everyone to be seated at, smiling as she passes all the guests.

"So, like Hank said, Jay and I are really glad you all could come. Uh, I'm kind of nervous of what I'm about to say but here goes...About one year, seven months and two weeks ago I found out I was pregnant. And it's been a whirlwind ever since. I remember the day I told Jay he was going to be a father." she smiles reminiscently.

...

"Hey." Jay smiled as he opened the door to his apartment.

"Can I come in?" before Jay can answer Erin's already rushing through the doorway, pacing his living room floor instantly.

Jay frowns "Everything okay?"

"Uh, not really."

Jay walks towards her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Er, what's wrong?"

"Nothing really. Well ... it depends on how you look at it."

"You're not making any sense."

Erin continued to pace, knocking Jay's hands off her. "Well, you and I, six weeks ago. We - I mean, that night -"

"Oh." Jay said in realisation "Look Erin, I can't say I haven't thought about that night. And, as amazing as it was, Hank's rules were pretty clear. We can't."

"What? No." Erin shook her head "I'm pregnant Jay."

Silence.

Erin watched as Jay stumbled backwards, shocked, before sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.

"I don't understand." He mumbled minutes later.

"Well, when a man and a woman get really drunk together ..." Erin replied sarcastically.

"I know that part Erin." Jay rolls his eyes "We used protection."

"Yeah but it only works like ... 97% of the time."

"What!? Well they should put that on the box!" Jay exclaims.

Erin looks at him confused "Is that really what's important right now?"

Jay shakes his head "Sorry, I just- of all the things I was expecting you to say, that definitely wasn't at the top of the list." he takes another deep breath "What do you want to do?"

Erin sighs, sitting down on the couch next to him "I don't know...I'm really scared Jay."

"Hey, there's nothing to be scared of." Jay assures, wrapping his arms around her "I promise, no matter what you decide, we're in this together."

Erin's head tucks under Jay's chin as he pulls her in tighter "You promise?"

"Of course. We're partners Erin, always."

...

"And he's been true to his word. He's been my partner everyday since then, in both our professional and personal lives. He's a wonderful father to Ben, and we've had the most amazing people supporting us during our journey as parents." Erin smiled and locked eyes with Jay "But that's not with this speech is about, it's about Ben. And the people in his life that have protected him since day one. Now, Mouse is Ben's godfather, but Jay and I never picked a godmother. Nadia and I weren't that close yet, and we didn't really have anyone else at the time to pick so we left the role empty. Until now."

Jay and Erin both watch amused at their friend's confused face "Over the past year I've made a wonderful friend, someone who's supported me as I learnt how to be a mum, and who helped me when I came back to the unit. She's been a wonderful 'aunt' to me son and Jay and I would really love it if she would accept the role of being Ben's godmother. What do you say Kim?"

Kim's eyes widen, turning to face her fiancee as if he'll be able to explain it to her. She can hear Erin calling her up to the front, Jay having joined her with their son.

"Go on darlin'." Adam whispers, giving her a gentle push. Kim slowly walks up to the front of the tables, trying not to fall over her own feet. She's still shocked as to what just happened.

"I don't understand." She stutters.

Erin gives her a cheeky smile. "We want to make you Ben's godmother."

"But, I thought Nadia was-"

"Nadia would want this." Jay interrupts "She would want you to be protecting Ben."

"So, what do you say?" Erin asks again.

"I- Yes! Hell yes! And I promise, I will so kick ass in this!" Kim exclaims hugging both Jay and Erin.

"I know you will. Just, maybe don't say 'kick ass' too much in front of him?" Erin jokes.

Kim nods seriously "Right" she says before both woman burst into laughter

"Today was a good day." Erin said as she and Jay were snuggled up on the couch, Ben resting in between them.

It was now late in the evening and everyone had left a few hours ago, wanting to give the two parents some time to celebrate with their son on their own. They had opened the rest of Ben's birthday presents with him, playing with his new favourite gift from his grandpa hank - a Thomas and Friends interactive book and play mobile.

"It was, I'm really glad we agreed to let Kim organise a party."

"Well, Ben's only going to turn one once. It's only fair we give our family and friends the opportunity to celebrate that." Erin agreed.

Jay smiled and nodded his head looking down at the little boy laying between them "I think it's someone's bedtime."

Erin let out a soft chuckle as she saw Ben snuggled in between his parents, eyes closed and sucking gently on his thumb. Jay scooped Ben up in his arms and held him to his chest. They both began walking to the nursery when there was a knock at the door causing Ben to stir.

"You put him down, I got it." Erin whispered. Jay nodded and heading into the room while Erin went to answer the door as the person knocked again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She mumbled.

Erin opened the door to an unknown face. She frowned, taking in the older man. He was wearing a classy suit, the blue tie matching that of his eyes. She took in the wrinkles around his eyes, the silver-grey of his hair. He couldn't be any older than Hank.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Jason Halstead."

"Jason?" Erin sighed "Look, can this wait? I'm trying to put my kid to sleep."

"Well lucky for you, I'm not looking for you young lady. Now, is Jason here or not?" The man snapped back.

"Excuse me!?" Erin's posture straightened as she stood in the doorway, growing defensive at the man's rude tone. "Look, I don't know who the hell you are, but-"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Erin's head snapped around to see Jay standing a few feet behind her, his whole body rigid.

"I wanted to wish my grandson a happy birthday." Erin's eyes widened as Jay walked up to the door.

"Get the fuck out."

"Now Jason, I thought I taught you better manners than that. Is that any way to talk to your father?"

A/N: Well, I hope I did the end justice! I've been going over this ending bit for a few days trying to get it write but the more I edited the worse it seemed to get so I hope this met expectations!

As always, please leave me a review and let me know what you thought, and if you could spot the two shows I referenced ;P

- Maddie :)