Making amends (An Upstead story)

Chapter 5

After Will had handed over the information and told them to go home to get some rest, Jay and Hailey chose to listen to his advice. "I will let you know if anything changes, and when my shift ends, I will ask Natalie to keep you updated during hers." He says reassuringly. They give Will a hug and thank him, then turn to Kevin. "Thank you for being there for us today" Hailey smiles at him gratefully as she hugs him. "You should go home as well," Jay says while looking at the exhausted giant. "I'm good, Adam will come over in a little bit, and then I will go home. Adam insisted on staying the night (not wanting her to be alone). And then tomorrow, we can figure out where we go from there." He smiles at them, "we are family, and family has each other's backs," he states determinedly. Jay pulls him in for a hug, grateful for the support.

When they get home, they can hear giggling coming from the bathroom, where Kim was bathing JJ. Jay and Hailey had given Kim a key to their house after JJ was born, in case something like today would ever happen. They take off their boots and jackets and drop their bags and other stuff on the kitchen table before going to the bathroom. While doing so, they enjoy the sounds of their happy baby. Jay gives Hailey another kiss, knowing she feels conflicted. - Hailey is grateful that JJ is happy. And she definitely does not want her to notice anything of what's going on right now. Not even that she's struggling. But at the same time, she worries about her other child, who is definitely not okay. And so she feels conflicted when she enjoys the happiness of one child while she worries about the other child -. She takes a deep breath and thanks Jay for everything he (always) does for her.

They start laughing once they see what's going on in the bathroom. Kim's shirt is soaked, and there are bubbles on her hair, clothes, and all over the floor. While JJ is proudly standing in the bathtub (she can no longer sit down because of all the bubbles), squealing, "me bubbelss!!" Kim turns around and looks apologetic, "she snatched the bottle out of my hands." Once JJ, Kim, and the bathroom are all cleaned up again, they put JJ to bed. They thanked Kim again for everything she had done for them and then said their goodbyes. Kim had told them that there was pizza in the fridge, so they reheated the pizza and ate in (a comfortable) silence.

After that, they sat down on the couch, and Hailey snuggled up into Jay's chest. Jay was getting tired, so he wanted to lay down on his back. He still wants Hailey close, so before he lays down, he pulls (a surprised) Hailey onto his lap. Moving them together, he puts his legs on the couch and lays down on his back. Hailey had no problem with that and simply adjusted her position a little. Placing her head in the crook of his neck, letting her arms rest on his shoulder. She moves her hips on his and her legs in between his. Jay puts his arms around her and rests them on her lower back.

A few hours later, Hailey woke up from a nightmare and accidentally woke up Jay as she shifted. She had lifted her head from his chest and looked Jay straight in the eye. Jay looked concerned as Hailey was trying to catch her breath. Once she did, she kissed his chin (too tired to move and kiss him on the lips) but still wanting to give him some sort of sign that she's okay. Hailey puts her head back down again, placing her chin on her hands, still looking into those beautiful green eyes of his. Her mind had wandered off again, this time to a happy memory (which she could really use today).


*** A about a year ago:
She looks in the mirror, checking her wedding dress and hair nervously. When she hears Vanessa and Kim entering the room, she turns around, looking at them with insecurity written all over her face. Vanessa looks her up and down for a second. "OMG, Hailey, you look stunning! If he's not gonna marry you, I will!" She says, smiling and winking at Hailey. Kim just stood there in silence, looking at Hailey for a moment. "You look perfect," she says calmly, smiling at Hailey. Hailey hasn't invited her father, and because of that, her mother also didn't show up. Which made her a little sad, but she has a man to give her away, Voight. At first, Hailey didn't want to ask him. But when he offered, she accepted it right away.

Voight patiently waited outside her room. When she opened the door, he looked at her for a second. Voight did not say anything, he didn't need to, his facial expressions already said it all. He was proud of who she had become, grateful that she had allowed him to give her away, and stunned at how gorgeous she looked. Before he lets her reach for his arm, he pulls something out of his pocket. "It belonged to Camille. Her father gave it to her on our wedding day, and I want you to have it now, Kiddo." He states, and before she can open her mouth to politely decline, he cuts her off. "I want you to have it, so she can live on through us. And maybe one day you can pass it onto JJ at her wedding day." Hailey is touched by his gesture, knowing how much he still loves Camille. She pulls him in for a hug, "Thank you, Hank. It means a lot." She looks at the bracelet he slides onto her wrist. "I love it," she says, looking at the bracelet and then back at Voight.

When she walked down the aisle, Jay looked at her with the biggest smile on his face. Hailey stepped in front of him and placed her hand in his. She looked at him with the exact same smile on her face. Jay was wearing a light grey suit with a white button-down shirt and a blue tie. Hailey was wearing a beautiful, white wedding gown with a light blue ribbon around her waist. Vanessa and Kim stood behind Hailey, wearing light blue bridesmaid's dresses. And Will, Kevin, and Adam stood behind Jay. Wearing a black suit with a white button-down shirt and a blue tie.
As she looked into his green eyes, everything around her faded away. It was just him and her on their magical day.
***


She gets pulled out of her thoughts by Jay, who playfully pokes her side, raising an eyebrow. "What are you thinking about?" he asks curiously, watching her smile at her thoughts. And because of that bright and happy smile, he's not too concerned this time. "Nothingg..." she grins at him, still smiling at her thoughts. She giggles when he pokes her side again. "Tell me! Please?" he demands playfully. He turns them over, so he is on top of her now. He takes her hands and gently pulls them above her head, holding them in place with one hand. His other hand playfully squeezes her thigh or pokes her side. She turns red as she tries to hold in the laughter, but when he starts nibbling on her neck, she breaks.

She lets out a giggle before starting to shriek with laughter. "Okay, okay, you win. I'll tell you!" She's barely able to get the words out, between the laughing and her, trying to catch her breath. Jay gives her a break, letting her catch her breath but keeps looking at her curiously. He keeps one eyebrow raised, as a warning, that he might 'attack' again if she doesn't tell him. "I was thinking about our wedding day," she says with that big smile on her face again. "Okay... Maybe we should also think back on our wedding night then, wouldn't you agree?" Hailey nods and starts smirking at him after she playfully bites her bottom lip. He smirks back at her and starts kissing her. Moving from her lips, along her jaw, past her ear, and down her neck.