Chapter 62

"If you don't stay still, Emma, I'm going to handcuff you to the chair," Vanessa threatens Emma, and applies a layer of mascara on the girl's eyelashes. 

"Vanessa..." Emma, who has been in the same spot for so long, tries to protest, but the young woman does not accept any objection. 

"Shh," she tells her abruptly, making the others laugh loudly with everything that's going on. 

"Kelly just texted me, the first guests are starting to come," Stella announces as she checks her phone and smiles with the heart that accompanies Kelly's text message. 

"Ready!" Vanessa exclaims a few minutes later, and after taking a step back, she smiles satisfied with the result in front of her. 

"Oh my God, Emma, you're so beautiful," Sylvie comments as soon as they all see her, and the girl turns to see herself in the mirror. Her hair falls over her shoulders straight without any elaborate hairstyle, while the make-up made by Vanessa looks professional. Her fingers caress her white dress, with the little white flowers, and smiles. 

"Jay will be shocked," Kim comments and Emma turns to her, smiling sweetly as she thinks of Jay. 

"You think?" 

"There's no doubt," she replies confidently, knowing the man well enough. 

Before they get to say something else, Cindy and Will walk into the room, and their mouths open wide as soon as they see the bride-to-be. 

"Oh, Emma you're gorgeous," Cindy says excitedly, and Will nods. 

"Thank you," she tells her blushing and then turns to Will. 

"How's Jay?" she asks as she knows very well that just like her, he didn't like the fact that they hadn't seen each other since yesterday afternoon. 

"Intolerable. That's why I came here, I couldn't stand him anymore," he replies, and Emma looks at him confused. 

"He's so nervous he can't tie his tie. And he doesn't stop pacing... Kevin even threatened to handcuff him to a chair," he reveals, and all the girls laugh realizing how same these two are. 

"Guys we're ready to go as soon as Jay gives the signal," Stella announces after a few minutes, interrupting their conversation when she sees Kelly's new message that all the guests have come. 

"Great, I'm going to go inform Jay, and I'm going to send the others to take their positions," Will says, and after kissing Emma on the cheek, goes quickly to the other room.

A giggle escapes from Will as he goes to the other room and hears Adam trying to convince Jay to help him with his tie. He shakes his head as soon as he hears that Jay refuses and walks in wanting to save the two men from his brother's nagging. 

"Hey, Kelly said, that the organist is waiting for your signal. The girls are ready," he announces smiling, and without having to say anything, Adam and Kevin understand that it's time to leave the two brothers alone for a while. 

"Fix his tie or I'll choke him with it," Adam whispers as they leave and Will nods, reassuring them that he wasn't going to let his brother get away. Without saying anything he approaches Jay and with gentle movements begins to tie his tie, while to his surprise his brother this time does not complain. 

"How's Emma?" 

"Just as nervous as you are," he replies, and Jay smiles as he thinks there are some minutes left from having the girl in front of him. 

"Mom and Dad would be very proud of you," Will says suddenly after a few minutes of silence, and Jay's eyes immediately fill with tears as soon as he hears the reference to their late parents. 

"I miss them," he admits quietly, and Will is sure that if he didn't stand so close to him, he wouldn't hear him. 

"I know, I miss them too... They would love Emma," he comments, and Jay nods as he truly believes that their mom would see Emma as the daughter she didn't have, and their dad would love her easily. 

"Come here," Will says, and this time he wraps his arms around Jay. It's always been easier for him than for Jay to express his feelings, but he smiles as soon as he feels Jay's hands on his back. 

"I love you, little brother," 

"I love you too," Jay says in a hoarse voice, having now completely accepted the fact that today he was going to let his sensitive side be seen. A few minutes later they break away from each other laughing at how emotional they suddenly became, and Will smiles again broadly. 

"Ready to get married?" he asks him, and Jay nods confidently. 

All it takes is a gesture to Kelly who's in charge of organizing and suddenly the ceremony begins.

The anxiety that until a while ago they both felt disappears as soon as they see each other. Jay's mouth opens wide the moment he sees Emma standing on the other side of the room, and it's only thanks to Will who moves next to him that he manages to recover from the shock. They both smile sweetly as Emma approaches him with Christopher by her side and very quickly, they stand opposite each other. Their hearts pound hard as if they're about to come out of their chests, and Jay giggles as soon as he sees the girl mouthing a silent hello. The minister looks from the couple to the crowd of guests and then starts the ceremony. 

"We are gathered here today, for the purpose of uniting Jay Halstead and Emma Spencer in matrimony," he begins, and after a few more words, which Emma and Jay don't hear much lost in each other's eyes, it's time for their vows. After Will and Vanessa give them the wedding rings, the minister nods at Jay first, and without having to read from somewhere what he has to say, Jay starts talking.

"You know that I'm terrible at expressing my feelings," he tells her seriously, making not only her but also some of the guests laugh as they know his statement is true. 

"But Emma, when I'm with you, I feel like I'm a different person, and that I can do anything, even talk about everything I feel. You're my friend, my conscience, the reason I stay grounded, my home, my sunshine. And I promise to try to be yours just as much. I promise to love you and always make you smile. Because your smile is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in the world, and your laugh is the best sound I've ever heard. And it would be an honor to call you my partner not only at work but in our life too, as long as we both shall live," he ends his vow and places the ring on her finger. 

A few tears manage to roll down Emma's cheek, and although Jay is quick to wipe them away with his thumb, the girl is grateful that Vanessa chose waterproof makeup. The minister smiles towards the girl and giving her the okay, it's her turn to speak. 

"When I was growing up I didn't have a normal mother and father, or a regular family like everybody else. And it took me a long time to understand what it's like to be loved by others, what it's like to have people close to you who care about you," she starts to say and turns towards the Herrmann family smiling gratefully for everything they've done for her. 

Everyone who's there looks at them in tears. Even Voight looks at the couple with his eyes glistened with tears, even though he would never admit it. 

"But even then, I always knew that something was missing and I couldn't figure out what. But while I'm standing here today, looking at your eyes, I know that I have everything I'm ever gonna need. Because Jay, you're what was missing, you're my family. And I promise to be your family, too. I promise to spend my whole life with you and have your back whether we're at work or at home. You said my smile and laughter are the best things for you, but you're the reason behind them, and I promise to always try to make you as happy as you make me, as long as we both shall live," she finishes, placing the wedding ring on Jay's finger, and this time it's his turn to let a few tears escape from his eyes. 

"And now by the power vested in me by the state of Illinois, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!" the minister ends the ceremony and Jay doesn't need to hear anything else. 

He places one hand on Emma's cheek, and the other on her waist pulling her close to him, and then joins their lips. Something they've done countless times, and yet right now it looks like it's the first time. 

"I love you, Jay Halstead" she whispers to him as soon as they separate and Jay smiles as soon as he sees her smile. 

"I love you too, Emma Spencer Halstead," he replies, and before she can tell him anything, their moment is interrupted by Kevin and Adam who start to cheer loudly, making everyone else in the room applaud excitedly.

"I still can't believe I lived to see Jay Halstead's wedding day," Trudy says a few hours later while they're at the reception, and drinks a sip of her drink. 

"Are you kidding me? I still can't believe I lived to see the day Jay would laugh so much," Voight replies, pointing to the side where the detective stands, talking to Kelly and Matt, laughing at something the firefighters told him. 

The rest of the team, who are sitting at the same table, turns to Jay, but quickly everyone returns their attention to the two sergeants. Today it wasn't their bosses, today it was just Trudy and Hank who cared and loved them all as if they were their children, even if they didn't admit it most of the time. 

"Emma, the wedding was wonderful," Kim comments still touched and doesn't know if it's because of her hormones or the vows. 

"And we're not done. Halstead hasn't shown his dance moves yet," Vanessa says, and it's only then that Emma realizes that the girl next to her knows the song Jay has chosen. 

But before she can say anything, she feels his hand on her shoulder, and when she lifts up her head he meets his smiling face.

"Hey, can I steal you for a moment? Will said he's got it all ready," he announces and reaches out his hand waiting for her to get up. 

"Set fire to the dance floor, Halstead!" Adam shouts as the couple walks away holding each other's hands, and Jay laughs loudly when he hears his friend. 

"So happy..." Hank mutters, still surprised, smiling towards the couple. 

"So, Vanessa knows which song you picked" 

"Guilty" he answers her, and places his other hand on her waist, while Emma opens her mouth to complain. 

But she doesn't say anything, and instead, she widens her eyes as soon as the music reaches her ears and realizes what his choice is. Jay smiles and begins to swing in rhythm, holding the girl close to him. 

  the first lyrics of the song are heard and Emma still looks at him surprised. 

"Jay..." she says his name as she doesn't know what else to say and Jay bends down to kiss her. 

"I love you," he tells her against her lips and touches their foreheads. 

"I love you too," Emma tells him. And they keep slow dancing without caring about anyone else. It's just them right now. They're finally husband and wife.