Dawsey: Starting a Family Part 2

Chapter 246

Jay's POV: Once me and Erin both got dressed to get some groceries, I was now in the middle of helping Erin with her jacket when I looked at the nice ring I put on her hand recently. Erin saw me staring at her hand and she already knew what I was looking at. "You're staring at my engagement ring aren't you?" I laughed and nodded. "I picked a pretty good one if I don't say so myself." Erin nodded and smiled when I said that. Stepping close to me, she kissed me softly before wrapping her arms around my neck. "Yes you did, I love it babe. Because it's from you."

I smiled when she said that, letting her go before grabbing her hand and opening the door to our apartment. "Now just to get a wedding band on your finger." Intertwining our fingers as I went to lock the door, I looked at her and smiled. "When are you thinking you might want to get married...just curious? I am open of course." Erin nodded when I said that. "Honestly, I want to just wait. Listen, I just got back in town and I want to really get established here. I know we jumped back into this fast and got pregnant right away but..." I nodded and understood.

"Hey, listen to me." Turning to look at her, I brought her close. "I am on your side okay. I am always going to be on your side...you are already guaranteed that. I am going to be your husband and that means I need to have your back. Well that and I already have your back because I am your partner at work." Erin bit her lip when I said that, following me out of the apartment building so we could go out to the truck. "Am I going to be your partner though? I thought you were partnered with Hailey?" I nodded and looked at her. "I'll talk to Hank."

That's when I heard Hank walk up to us. "Talk to me about what Halstead?" I turned to look at him when he said that. "Okay, how in the world..." He laughed when I said that. "There was a drug bust down the street. I just finished and was going to say hi." I nodded when he said that. "Just promise me you'll..." He nodded when I said that and smiled. "What's this you need to talk to me about?" I sighed when he asked me that. "It's about Erin coming back to intelligence. With her coming back...I was wondering if you could somehow make us partners again?"

Wrapping my arm around Erin, I could tell that she was nervous when I said that. Getting close to me, she grabbed my jacket. Hank then thought about it and nodded. "Honestly, it's probably the best move if you guys are going to work during the COVID pandemic. If you guys are partners, then I don't have to worry about you sitting a car with just any detective or officer. You guys already live together and are expecting a child...so you guys would be safe." I nodded when he said that. "Exactly what I was thinking. I mean Hank, admit it...you want me to protect her."

Hank nodded when I said that. "Oh definitely. You will be a dead man walking if something happens to Erin or that baby." Erin then looked at him. "Hank, no...that's too far." Hank was shocked when Erin said that. "What?" Erin then took a breath and looked at him. "When it comes to him protecting me...you can be mad and punish him all you want if something happens that gets me hurt. But not when it comes to the baby..." Erin then turned to look at me and wrapped her arms around me. "...he will already be punishing himself and grieving the loss of our baby."

I nodded when she said that before going to rub her arm. Kissing her forehead, I just held her close. "Nothing will happen to the baby, I promise. I will take a bullet for you before a bullet gets anywhere near you or our child." Erin smiled when I said that and nodded. "See Hank, you don't need to worry about Jay. He is going to protect me because he is going to hate himself if he does anything that causes us to loose this baby. He will punish himself so much that you punishing him will just be considered cruel. Hank, you have to promise you will back off our child."

I then looked at him. "Oh and no pressuring him or her to join the CPD or intelligence. I am going to let your kids choose their careers." Erin then looked at me when I said that. "Excuse me?" I then sighed. "If our child wants to serve in the military, then they will do so with my blessing. If they want to join the CPD, they will join with my blessing. As long as they are wearing a uniform. Sorry babe but...I would love to watch our son go to the military academy just like me and follow in my footsteps." Erin nodded when I said that and smiled at me. "Of course, I understand."

I smiled when he said that. "Now listen, we are going to go do some grocery shopping while it's quiet at the stores. Middle of the week, middle of the afternoon." Hank nodded when I said that. "Of course, just be safe." We both agreed when he said that. "I will. Oh and by the way, she's letting me drive." Erin then looked at me when I said that. "Nice try Halstead. Oh and by the way...I am not taking your last name when we get married, don't even think about it." I then looked at her. "What?" Erin then went to walk away to my truck. Hank then laughed. "Shut up."

Walking away to join her in the truck, we were not done with this conversation. I want her to be a Halstead just like me. If she didn't take my last name...then what was the point of us getting married? I mean, other than the fact that I love her.