Hailey was sitting at her kitchen table, with a cold cup of tea in her hands.

He was late. Again.

Despite the fact that this was usual behavior for him, it never ceased to surprise her.

-Mom? - her daughter Olivia asked her from the kitchen's entrance. -Can you drive me? -Olivia's eyes were just like her mother's but that was all she had gotten from her. She was all Adam on the outside. The mouth, the cute smile, even her height.

Hailey nodded in silence, getting up to put the cup on the counter. She would wash it after she got back.

The older woman grabbed her purse and followed her daughter out the door.

Hailey even glanced around the street to see if he would suddenly show up, fix the situation.

But no, even when their daughter was leaving to spend four weeks in Paris with Hailey's sister, he still wouldn't show up.

Adam Ruzek was no father of the year.

-Are you excited, kid? - Hailey asked her pulling their car on the street to head towards the Airport.

The younger girl nodded, slightly smiling.- Aunt Lily sounds really excited. I wish you could come with us. -

-I wish I could too. - Hailey admitted for the first time. But four weeks in Europe weren't possible for a Sexual Crimes Detective who was about to be promoted to Sergeant.- You are going to have so much fun. Please, send me pictures.-

-I'll post them on Instagram Mom. We got you an account so you could follow my adventure. - Olivia said laughing.

-I know I know… Just don't forget about Chicago and me while you stroll through Europe. -

Olivia smiled, letting the wind blow her air. Spring in Chicago was a blessing at the moment.- Never.- she promised.

They arrived at the Airport and after Hailey parked the car, they got out to get the bags from the trunk.- Olivia! - they heard Adam shout for them running towards the car.

Olivia Ruzek looked at her father, shaking her head once, while Hailey took care of the suitcase.

-Surprised you're here.-Olivia told him as a greeting.

-I told you I would drive you to the Airport right? - he said, trying to offer his daughter a smile.

-Yeah, well, you didn't.- Olivia added taking the suitcase from Hailey's hand and heading towards the Airport's entrance.

Hailey locked up her car and headed behind her daughter, giving Adam a look.- Morning. - she said passing by him.

-Couldn't you call me? -he asked walking behind her.

-We'll talk later Adam, Olivia is about to leave.-she warned him.

Soon, after Olivia had checked in and sent of her bags, the unusual family of three was standing near the boarding gate.

Olivia turned her look towards her father, and shook her head.- I'll see you soon.-

-Come here, give me a hug. - he told her pulling her to him enveloping her in his arms.

Olivia finally gave in, and Hailey held back unshed tears at seeing them.

-Be good and be safe and don't go out on any dates. And come back soon ok? I'll be here waiting for you.-he told her, giving her a kiss over her head.-

Olivia shook her head, and finally smiled at her father.- Be safe too Daddy. - she said and turned towards her mother.

They had already had a dinner together the previous night and they had said their goodbyes. Neither Hailey or her daughter were fans of big displays of affection, but they did love each other and distance was a new thing between them. It had been only the two of them since the beginning.

-Chicago will be right here. Try not to grow up so much.- Hailey said to her daughter before hugging her. She smiled, trying to hold back the tears.

-Take care of yourself Mom. I love you. - Olivia told her smiling.

-I love you too. -she replied hugging her one more time before letting her go. - Go go.. Come on. Text me when you land.-

Olivia nodded and gave one last look to her parents before heading of. She knew she was Hailey's world and that Adam usually stayed on the right path only for her, so she had to wonder how would her parents behave now that she wasn't around.

Only time would tell.

Hailey saw her daughter disappear behind the doors, until Adam's phone interrupted the moment.

-Ruzek. - he answered following Hailey with his eyes, who had started walking towards the exit. - Ok, I'll be right there.- he hanged up jogging towards Upton.- Hey, wait up.-

-What is it? -she asked him while they walked.

-Couldn't you call me this morning? -

-Excuse me? Olivia told you about this months ago and you begged her to drive her to the Airport.-

-I know, but I… -

-I don't want to hear your excuses Adam. Olivia is on a plane to Paris so we don't have to talk for the next few weeks.-

-Actually… Antonio needs to talk to you. -he told her.

-What about? - she had been long gone from the Intelligence unit, even before Antonio had been named Unit Chief.

-Come with me to the unit and you can talk to him there. - he told her before heading to his own car.

She got into her SUV and when she started the engine, she couldn't help but think about all that had happened since she had gotten pregnant.

Shortly after she had joined the Intelligence unit, she and Adam had started sleeping together. A few months later, she had found out she was pregnant. They hadn't been on a relationship and Adam had promised her he would take care of the child but that he wasn't ready for a formal thing with her.

He had, indeed, taken care of Olivia when she had been born, but their little girl had been not even one year old when he announced his wedding to Kim Burgess.

Despite that their relationship had never made it far from one night stands, Hailey still felt hurt that he had moved on so quickly from her. It wasn't that he wasn't ready for a formal relationship, he just wasn't ready for one with her.

Since she had learned those news, she had been planning to leave the Intelligence unit. God knew she loved her job and her partnership with Jay but it was getting hard to keep up with the job, raise a baby and on top of that, having to watch her ex start a new relationship.

She had admitted to herself that she had loved Adam, but that wouldn't have changed anything, she used to say to herself. He loved Kim and she loved him, and soon they would start a new life together. One that she didn't fit into.

She had applied for a transfer to the Sexual Homicides Unit and even though Voight hadn't been happy to let her go, he understood her special circumstances.

"Don't ever forget that you can count on me. You and your little girl" he had told her before leaving. She still smiled when she remembered him. She wouldn't be the person she was today if she hadn't worked with him.

Turning her car on a street, she thought about the time when she had heard that Antonio had been made Intelligence Chief. She still kept in contact with some of her colleagues, Jay included. Kevin was Olivia's Godfather and she usually saw Kim when Olivia had been growing up, considering she was Adam's wife.

Just recently, a little after Olivia's fourteen birthday, she had heard that Kim and Adam hadn't been on good terms for a while. They had been separated for almost a year and they had just recently made it official. Kim was even dating a new guy from the DA's office and according to what Olivia had told Hailey, Adam was taking it well.

"He said he should have seen it coming. That Kim was destined to a greater guy than him."

Now, parking her car in front of the 21st Precinct she couldn't help but feel her stomach turn as old memories came back to her.

-You ready? - Adam asked her opening the back door so they could walk in.

She nodded, gladly walking through the back entrance. She felt she would never get used to the 21st without Platt at the front of it.

-Look who's back! - Jay got up to greet her. Her former partner and Hailey still spent time together once in a while. He was not only a friend these days, he was family.

-Hales! - Kevin said giving her a small hug when she walked in.

Hailey smiled, waving at Kim and to the two new police officers that worked there now, Matthew Banner and Jim Pearson. - Hey guys. -

Adam stood behind her.- The boss wants to see her. -

As if he had been called, Antonio stepped out of his office to see her. - Hailey. -

-Sarge. - she said.

-Why don't you come into my office? -he said and the team got back to work after she got in.

-You are being mysterious Sarge. - she told him taking a seat across from his desk.

Dawson smiled looking at her, taking a seat on his chair. - It's good to see you Hailey. I hear the life at Sexual Crimes is about to get better. -

Hailey stayed silent, but a smile escaped her. - What's this about, Antonio?-

-Well, I heard a promotion is about to be offered to you. -

-And? - she knew secrets couldn't be kept for long in the Chicago PD.

-I want to beat that offer. - he told her frankly.

-Excuse me?-

-Eva had a baby, Hailey. -he told her lowering his gaze. - And Diego just moved back to the city.- he continued.

-I'm not following you Antonio.-

-I'm not retiring Hailey, but I was offered a position that doesn't involve weekends and it allows me to spend more time with my family. Sylvie and our son need me too. - he told her. - And I want to leave Intelligence in the best possible hands. The hands of someone Hank Voight trusted. -

Hailey shook her head. - I know you mean well but like you said…-

-I already told the Chief I want to offer you this job. And he offered the Sexual Crimes position to someone else. -he said, interrupting her.

By Antonio's expression, he knew she didn't like the information. - What the hell Antonio? -

-We need you here Hailey. They need you. - he said referring to the team.-

-Why not Halstead? -

-I love Jay like a brother but he's not ready yet. He's going through some personal stuff..-

-And Kevin? Or Adam? -

-Kevin doesn't want it, I know that. At least not for now. And Ruz isn't ready or prepared. You know he's made a lot of mistakes down the line. I love him, but… no. -

Hailey took a deep breath, feeling cornered. -I don't like the way you handled this.-

-I'm sorry, but I knew you would have said no otherwise. And we need you. -he told her.

Hailey shook her head. - I need time to think about it. I have a daughter too. -

-I know. Ruz never stops talking about her. The perfect Olivia.-he said smiling.

Hailey stood up, and she shook her head once more. - I'll call you.-

Antonio nodded, standing up. -Ok. It was good to see you Hales.-

She nodded, before exiting the office. -Hey guys.. I'm heading out. I'll see you. - she said smiling at her colleagues, knowing Adam would follow her.

She didn't spoke until they were near her car.- Was this an ambush? Why the hell do you want us to work together again? -

-Don't get this the wrong way. Antonio is right, the unit needs you. - he looked down before adding- I need you. -

-You haven't needed me in fifteen years Adam! What are you talking about? - she asked, losing her patience.

-Look Hailey, I know I made a lot of mistakes. But I realized that now. I see Olivia and how perfect she is and I know I had little to do with that.-

-Olivia loves you Adam…-

-Yeah, because you made sure she loved me. Don't you think I know all the excuses you made up about me being away on an important case and that's why I couldn't go to her school plays? -he asked her.

The blonde took a deep breath. - You have time to make it up to our daughter. But what does that have to do with me working here again? -

-The unit needs you. The younger cops and us too. We used to be a good team, don't you remember? -

-Yeah, but I left for a reason.-she told him, leaving no room for confusion.

-Kim and I are not together anymore…-

-I don't care, I'm not in love you with you anymore..-Hailey told him, but Adam was quick to interrupt her.

-What? When were you in love with me? -he asked taking a step towards her.

-Forget it. I need to go home and think about this. I can't just quit my job. I have cases and people that depend on me too. - she told him, changing the subject.

-I know…- he accepted her words. - Just let us know when you decide.-

She nodded before getting in her car. The day had taken a turn she wasn't expecting.