This is the last chapter of my story already. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. As there won't be any Upstead until the next season, I needed this bit of plain and simple romance, which hopefully is still in character for these two. Thank you very much for your support and kind comments, as always. You rock, dear readers!

Chapter 11

Jay took a quick shower, then returned to the bedroom, to change into the one suit he had brought with him. At least he had thought of that, without even knowing why. In the meantime Hailey had placed her clothes for the evening into the adjacent living room, she wanted to surprise Jay with her outfit. Just like him, she had taken one fancier dress, for no obvious reason. She was usually more a denims and t-shirt girl, but she was looking forward to wearing this dress tonight – for Jay.

When she had finished her shower, she vanished into the living room, closed the door behind her. Jay couldn't suppress a smile at her secrecy, her excitement about this. Their first proper date.

As soon as Hailey was in the living room to get dressed, he got up from the bed and put on his suit, leather shoes, one last finishing touch to his hair, and he was ready. Sat down back on the bed – suddenly nervous – and waited.

He was grateful that Hailey wasn't one to take too much time to get ready, so it was only some ten minutes later that the door opened, and a gorgeous Hailey stood in the doorway. Jay's jaw dropped at the sight, and his knees were literally shaking when he stood up and walked the few steps towards her.

Her blonde hair was down, wavy and with a golden shimmer. She wore a dark blue tight-fitting dress that ended above her knees, it was sleeveless and had a lacy neckline, revealing just enough to make Jay want to undress her right there right now. With matching heels she looked perfect.

Hailey smiled, at first a bit insecure, then her smile widened, when she realized that her dress and his suit had the exact same color. Jay wore a dark blue three-piece suit, the jacket still lying on the bed, with a light blue shirt, the upper buttons undone. The buttoned-up vest and the pants hugged his slender waist and hips and showed off his muscular upper body.

Both stared at each other in awe, at first none was able to say a word.

Hailey was the first to regain her composure. She stepped up to Jay, took his hands and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You sure are presentable, babe."

"Oh, you too," Jay whispered with a husky voice. "You're beautiful."

They took a cab to the restaurant, and Jay couldn't take his eyes off his girlfriend. How did he deserve someone as beautiful, as considerate, as loyal, as sweet and as sexy as Hailey?

Hailey noticed how Jay looked at her, how it gave her a warm feeling in her stomach. Jay is more than just presentable tonight, she thought, he's the most handsome guy I have ever met. The reddish brown hair, the sparkling green eyes, the freckles – now more prominent thanks to being out in the sun so much – the sensitive mouth, perfect lips. These lips she wanted to kiss all the time.

When they entered the restaurant, Jay had the impression that everyone looked at them, looked at this gorgeous woman at his side, and he was suddenly so proud of her.

In fact they made a beautiful couple, looked perfect together, and the other patrons of the restaurant did notice. A lot of friendly smiles greeted them.

They had a booth in a corner, where they had enough privacy to talk but could still enjoy the atmosphere in this high-class restaurant. There was a candle on the table, the light was not too bright, the music was low. Under normal circumstances this wasn't be the place Hailey or Jay would choose for a night out, they preferred the more casual atmosphere of Molly's, but for this evening it was perfect.

They couldn't take the eyes - and hands - off each other; they stared at the other, their hands touched constantly. And they couldn't stop smiling.

They didn't talk much, enjoyed the food and the wine, and looked at the other – both still in disbelief this was actually happening. They had a three-course-meal, took their time, and nobody rushed to their table with the bill right when they were finished. The waiters left them alone and only appeared once they had finished their wine and were ready to leave.

Back in their hotel room, Jay quickly took off jacket, vest, shoes and socks and went outside on the balcony with another drink for himself and Hailey. The air was still warm, and both wanted to spend just one more evening out here, taking in the sound and smell of the ocean, the atmosphere.

Hailey kicked off her shoes, too, and followed Jay outside. She pulled her chair close to his, took his hand.

"We should do this from time to time," she said.

"What? Witness protection?" Jay couldn't help himself, but raised his hands immediately, apologizing. "Sorry, Hailey. Yes, you're right. We should."

"The summer has just started," Hailey suggested. "We should so go away for a few days before the fall. Just the two of us. As much as I love the others and miss them."

"Yeah," Jay agreed. "I'd love to have some more time to ourselves."

"I'm sure we can convince Voight to give us a few days off. Not right now, but in August or September."

"Oh, and I have the perfect spot." Jay said enthusiastically. "Wisconsin. My grandpa bought a cabin by a river there." He stopped, looked at Hailey, as if he expected a clear no.

But Hailey tilted her head, looked at him and smiled. "Wilderness, eagles and fishing?"

"Great fishing." Jay confirmed with wide grin.

"That sounds perfect, Jay. Absolutely perfect."

The next morning they left for Boston, partly sad to leave this place, and partly happy to go back home. They had agreed to meet with Connor in the city, to have a late breakfast together, chat and spend some more time before going to the airport. They met at a place to which Halstead the dog could accompany them; and Connor and his dog were waiting for them on the parking lot already.

Jay took Hailey's hand, they smiled at each other, then at Connor. Connor couldn't suppress a big grin when he saw his friends. But of course Halstead approached them first – ran towards Jay and Hailey, as if he had missed them terribly. Both knelt down on the warm concrete, cuddled with the dog, let Halstead lick their faces, until Connor lost his patience.

"Come on, you intrusive creature," he mockingly scolded Halstead. "Come back here."

Reluctantly the dog let go of his friends, and the two of them got up again. Finally Connor could say hello to his friends. He hugged Hailey, clearly happy to see her, then Jay.

"Don't try to still tell me you're just friends," he whispered in Jay's ear.

Jay laughed, shook his head. He put his arm around Hailey. "No, we're not just friends," he confirmed. "It just took as a while to realize."

Connor shrugged, "Yeah, that happens."

"So," Connor asked, when they were at their table, had made their orders. "You finally figured it out?"

Hailey smiled at Jay, then shrugged. "Sometimes you need a change to see what's important."

"And being so close helped," Jay added. "I wouldn't have imagined that it could be so easy being so close to someone."

"But it wouldn't have been that easy with anybody else," Hailey said.

Connor looked from one to the other, smiled. "Oh, I understand. At least you realized it, because everyone else knew long ago."

"Oh, everyone knew?" Hailey rolled her eyes.

Jay shrugged, took Hailey's hand. "Do you care what others think they know?"

"Oh, and by the way, only Adam knows I'm here, right?" Connor changed the topic.

"Don't worry, Adam will not tell anyone, and neither will we." Jay reassured him. "But you know that there are people in Chicago that miss you, don't you?"

"I miss them too," Connor admitted. "But it's too early."

"I know," Jay said. "I'll still let you know what's happening back home."

"I'd like that," Connor agreed. "And I'd like you to come back whenever you have a weekend off."

They sat together as long as possible, chatted, played with Halstead, and time went by too fast. They promised to keep in touch and knew they would, before Jay and Hailey left for the airport.

The flight to Chicago was uneventful, it was on time, quiet, without turbulences, and when they approached Midway, both looked out of the window in anticipation. Yes, they were coming home. It felt as if they had left only yesterday and at the same time as if they had been away for months. Everything was the same, yet their whole world had changed – for the better.

Jay and Hailey picked up their luggage and talked about how to get home, if they wanted to go to one of their apartments together or each go to their own place first, to meet again later.

They were walking through the airport holding hands, concentrating on each other, that they only noticed people approaching them when they almost bumped into them.

The whole unit was standing in front of them, smiling.

"You're back," Kim said.

"We missed you," Vanessa added.

Only Adam looked at their hands, grinned. "So it is true?"

Jay smiled and nodded. "It is."

"What?" Vanessa asked, her eyes following Adam's gaze. "Oh... oh, I see." There was no surprise in her voice.

She hugged Hailey. "Finally."

After greeting and hugging everybody, Hailey leaned against Jay, put her arm around his waist.

"There's a lot you need to tell us," Kevin decided. "How about Molly's?"

Jay and Hailey agreed.

Molly's, that would be the best place to go to. And there they would decide if they spent the night in Jay's apartment or in Hailey's. Because it was out of the question they would spend this night apart.

- The End -