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Sequel Chapter 1: Good to be home

"I can't believe you've lost my bag," Zoe exclaimed, turning away from the women at the customer service desk at O'Hare Airport. "I'll be speaking to your supervisor." Zoe insisted as she looked back once more.

"Hey, hey!" Will tried, holding his arms up in protest. "There's four of us! I only assumed you would pack a bag each. How was I supposed to know you were going to overpack!" Will defended, returning the stroller to Zoe as she returned to the trio.

Zoe glared at her partner.

It was then that Will sought it in his best interest to avoid the subject and made a mental note to contact the lost baggage claims before Zoe started on him about that too. He knew he probably should have checked that all the luggage was in place before abandoning the conveyor but he had been so glad to return to the windy city, he was in a hurry to get out of the airport.

Turning her attention to her 10-month-old, she smiled, "Daddy, silly, Evie." Earning a gleeful chuckle, Zoe looked towards her partner in a slight turn of victory. "Come on kiddos, our ride should be waiting."

"Momma, hey look it's Uncle Jay!" Jamie shouted as they neared the revolving door, the now 7-year-old. With an affirmative nod from his mom and dad, he fled the trio and headed straight outside and straight to his Uncle Jay.

"Hey, bud! How was Oahu? Did you enjoy your vacation?" Jay smiled as Jamie reached up to high five the older man.

Will rolled his eyes before looking towards his girlfriend,"it wasn't a vacation for all of us."

"Hey! You loved it, you couldn't have handled 4 months on the island if you didn't have the outreach clinic to look forward to." Zoe grinned. "Anyway, I made the most of my maternity leave. The sun, the sea, it was well deserved."

Zoe and Will had decided to spend some time away from Chicago following the birth of their daughter Evie May Halstead, born at Chicago Med in December the previous year. When Evie had turned 6 months old, the pair agreed to go and see Zoe's 'Ohana' on the Island but when Zoe suggested that they made it a 4-month trip and Will could take a sabbatical then Will began to protest and agreed that he would go if he could do some work at an outreach clinic. Zoe agreed, knowing Will would only complain about the heat if she didn't let him have his way.

Jay laughed, knowing the argument they had had prior to leaving Chicago. "And you.." He started, kneeling towards his niece. "Did you miss your favourite Uncle!" He cooed. The Halstead had developed a soft spot for the two kids, especially his niece, Evie. It wasn't something that anyone had expected from the tough loving detective, but when Zoe and Will brought their not so little 8lb 10oz baby home, he had been first in line for a visit.

"Don't let Uncle Kelly hear you say that." Jamie pried. His eyes were wide in shock.

Jay gave Jamie's hair a ruffle, nudging him towards the truck. "He knows it, kid." He winked, opening the door to allow Jamie to jump in. Looking towards his brother and his girlfriend, he said. "Ready to head home?"

****

"Hey, you ready for your first day back Monday?" Jay smiled as he helped his brother and family into their recently renovated townhouse. Whilst Will had taken Jamie and Evie to get some food and make some coffee for the adults, Zoe and Jay were tasked with emptying the truck full of luggage and baby apparatus.

Zoe sighed, "would it be bad if I said I was?" She chuckled slightly, dragging the biggest bag from the GMC, "It's been great being home with Jamie and Evie but boy! I cannot wait to get back to IU."

"Hawaii didn't do the trick then?" He grinned, knowingly.

"Who told you?" She asked curiously, taking a moment to think it soon dawned on her, "it wasn't Ruzek? It was wasn't it?" She fumed, "can't tell that tool anything!"