Thank you for all the reviews on this! I had originally planned on this being a one-shot, but all of your kind words inspired this. So to everyone who read and reviewed, this one is for you.

As for a third part, not too sure about that. It may depend on if inspiration strikes again, but never say never!

Enjoy!

"You ready?" Jay asked, his hand finding hers and bringing it to his lips to kiss.

"As I'll ever be," she replied, following him downstairs to his truck. They were back in Chicago, she was back, for the first time in a year. It was hard to believe this was happening and she was back on such a somber occasion.

Since Jay came to New York a week ago, he had to leave soon after on Hank's orders. They talked nonstop and he was the first person he called when Al was arrested, and when he died.

"Erin?" he whispered, his voice shaking.

"Hey, what's up? Are you okay?" It was almost one in the morning and Erin had actually been sleeping. But when she saw his name on the display, she didn't hesitate to pick up.

"I, no," he said, feeling the tightness in his chest that was reminiscent of every time one of his friends overseas died on his watch.

"Talk to me," Erin pleaded, sitting up in bed and ready to get to Chicago as soon as she could.

"I'm okay, physically," he explained, knowing that's what she needed to hear first. "It's Al."

The strangled gasp that came from her told him she knew. He didn't have to explain further.

"Where are you now?" she asked.

"I'm outside Med. We all came as soon as Hank called. I had to get out of there, it," he paused. "I had to get out of there."

Erin just sat there in bed, unable to move. She didn't know what to do, but after Jay's impromptu visit, they decided just to see what happens, to not put labels on anything just yet.

"What do you need, babe?" she asked, the endearment rolling off her tongue so easily. It was comfortable to her, and she hoped he felt the same.

"I need you, here," he replied instantly. "But I know Hank and he's going to find out who this guy is first. There's so much going on you don't know. But, I promise I will call you when they have details about the service. I'm sure Meredith will appreciate you being there."

Erin nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see her. But he knew her well enough to know that even through the phone, she was understanding.

"I should get back in there. I'm sure everyone is wondering where I disappeared to and they don't need to worry more."

She smiled at his selflessness, concerned for everyone else. It was typical Jay Halstead.

"Keep me updated?" she asked. The quiet "okay" that came from him eased her worried.

"Be careful," she followed up.

"Always."

"And Jay? Do whatever it takes to catch this bastard."

"We will. For Al," he replied before hanging up.

They caught the guy a few days later, and a week after his call, she was back. They had dinner with Hank when she arrived last night, the sergeant surprised at the unexpected guest when he walked into the restaurant. Jay hadn't told him she was coming.

The ride was relatively silent, both were still in shock and disbelief that he was gone, but Erin had refused to let go of Jay's hand. Her hands tightly wrapped around his when he got into the truck and started driving.

"How do you want to do this?" she asked, breaking the surprisingly comfortable silence. He glanced over at her, silently telling her he was confused.

"No one knows I am here, and if I show up with you, they are going to start thinking," she rambled. "Are we ready for that?"

Jay sighed, glad that they were at a red light, so he could give her his attention.

"Whatever you are comfortable with, that's what we will do," he said, kissing her hands again. "But no one will assume anything. It's our family, Erin."

Our family. The words rang in her head, but they didn't scare her as much as they once might have. He was right, the only people that mattered to her were family, and they would support whatever was happening with them.

Those words were on the tip of her tongue, but it was too early. She didn't want to jinx this, even if whatever this was felt right, maybe more than it ever had.

"I don't know what I would do without you. What I did without you," she whispered before amending her words.

Despite the occasion, she smiled at his own smile, that heart-stopping one he gave her that made her insides flip.

"I could say the same," he replied, not bothering to give a sarcastic comment. They were so in tune with the other, knowing when to joke and laugh, and when to be serious.

Before either of them realized, they were outside of the funeral home. Meredith wanted a more private service before the formal one, the one Hank managed to get to honor their friend that dedicated years to doing what they were all trying to do.

Erin felt her heart rate pick up, knowing not much separated her from this little cocoon she had with Jay and the rest of reality. She thought back to his words and a part of her mind, way in the back, told her she had absolutely nothing to worry about.

"Everything will be fine," he whispered, holding his hand out for her to step down. He briefly teased her this morning about her heels, and she had been so wrapped up in her head she hadn't noticed he'd come to open her door.

"I know," she said, some conviction in her voice.

Knowing she didn't want to become a focus of today, he held back, despite the desperate want to hold her hand. Instead, it fell to her back, just lightly enough that she could feel his fingertips on the material of her coat.

While he concentrated on crossing the road, Erin finally had a moment to look at him. Jay had told her earlier that Meredith wanted zero uniforms at the private service, wanting to be able to celebrate and mourn who Al was as a person. Later, they would change to give him the proper send-off for a fallen Chicago police officer. Erin was already generating more worry about seeing everyone else in uniform, except her. It would be weird, but she wasn't reinstated yet. In fact, she wasn't sure she wanted to be, but that was for a conversation later with Jay.

Ever the gentleman, he opened the door for her, allowing them to feel the warmth from inside. Even in May, there was still a bite from the wind, especially on a day like today, when the sun was gone and replaced with grey skies and rain. Her eyes immediately found Meredith, who had to hold back more tears when she saw Erin.

Without hesitation, she accepted her hug, not knowing how much she needed it until now. Meredith had been almost a second mom to her, besides Camille, and Erin's heart broke for the woman who lost her daughter and husband within a year.

"You don't know how much it means that you are here," Meredith whispered into her ear. Erin only hugged her tighter before pulling back.

"It means the world to be here. Al was family, as are you."

The older woman gave a sad smile before accepting a brief hug from Jay.

"Everyone is sitting up front. I don't care what they say, you all are family, more so than our own."

Both Erin and Jay nodded before walking towards the double doors. Even before they could attempt to find seats or pay their respects, they were met with the wide eyes of the rest of Intelligence. Hank hadn't told them she was back, it had only been a day, and Erin couldn't imagine what was going through there heads. They stood at the entrance, probably blocking other mourners, but everyone else was not moving.

She felt Jay's hand on her back, urging her forward. Her steps faltered slightly, still feeling out of place in her heels and the black dress she wore to Terry's funeral. No words were said as they moved closer, but the tears that were building in her eyes finally fell when Kim moved forward, wrapping her arms around her old friend.

"It's so good to see you," Kim whispered, hugging tightly. Erin responded in kind, before moving onto the rest of her team. When she finished greeting everyone, she saw Jay standing off to the side talking to Hailey. She closed the distance, her arm looping through Jay's but not before giving the blonde a quick hug.

"Thank you," she whispered, not needing to explain herself. Jay had told her enough during one of their long talks about how much Hailey had done to pull his head from his ass over the last few months.

"Anytime," she replied, stepping back. Moments later, they were asked to take their seats, and one by one, Intelligence filed into the first few rows opposite of Meredith. No one batted an eye or questioned anything. They were just as much his family as anyone else.

"That was better than I thought," Erin said as they walked into Jay's apartment later that night. Her heels were killing her, and she was ready to be out of this dress and into one of Jay's old shirts and yoga pants.

"I agree," he said, removing the black tie from his uniform and starting to unbutton it. After both services, it only seemed fitting for everyone to reconvene at Molly's. It was not after midnight and both were wiped.

"Everyone was happy to see you, you know that right?" he asked, grabbing them waters from the kitchen before settling onto the couch next to her.

"I know. I just expected more," she paused, taking a sip. "I don't know. I'm not sure how I can leave like I did and expect everyone to welcome me back so easily."

"I did," Jay answered without missing a beat. "I did because I love you, we all do. And we never stopped, and we never will."

Erin was stunned speechless. Even while she had those words in her mouth for the past few days, there was so much that was stopping her from saying them. He told her that back in New York, she was aware of how he felt, how he still felt. But she was scared. That was the only explanation.

"I love you too," she whispered. "I guess I was scared, not knowing how much things had changed in the last year."

"There may have been some changes, but that's one thing that didn't."

She paused, looking at him for a moment. Until now, she never noticed how much he had seemed to age. It may have only been one year, but he looked at least five years older than when she last saw him.

"I got all your calls," she whispered after a moment. "I'm just sorry I didn't return them."

Erin saw the heartbreak on his face, even as he tried to conceal it.

"Hank told me not to, at least for a while," she explained. "And, it's my fault after, because I got caught up in work and pushed everything down.

"Hank and Al called me when they started getting heat about Justin's killer and told me to lay low. And then Hank let it slip about everything that happened when you went undercover. I wanted nothing more than to get on a flight and apologize for everything."

"There's nothing to apologize for," he interrupted, but she shook her head. She paused for a moment, trying to find the right words for what she wanted to say.

"I let you, alone, with your mother's ring in your pocket because I was trying to protect my own, lying mother. I made a mistake, probably the biggest one I ever have. I should never have saved her again because she sure as hell didn't deserve it. You know, she OD'd a few months back. And when Hank told me, I laughed. And for once, I didn't feel pathetic about the reaction I had about my mother. Because at the end of the day, she took every single good thing I had in my life and threw it away."

Erin looked up at Jay as his fingers brushed away the tears falling down her face.

"I'm not letting her do that anymore," she whispered before kissing him with every ounce of emotion she had left in her. She felt whole, complete, more than she ever had before. Kissing Jay always made her feel safe and loved, but she had never felt this level of completeness before. Jay soon pulled back, just enough for their lips to ghost against the others. His eyes fluttered open, allowing her to see just how blue and pure they were.

"What are you saying?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion and arousal.

"I quit my job today," she replied, and before he could answer, she continued. "And you're looking at the newest agent for the Chicago FBI field office."

Jay chuckled, pecking her lips once more.

"Oh, am I?" he replied, causing her to giggle.

"My apartment goes on the market next week; my stuff is being shipped here tomorrow. Now I just need to find a place to live."

"Move in with me," he interrupted before she could finish her thought, his nose nudging hers to pull her attention to him. "I'm never letting you go again."

"Deal," she said, before crashing her lips onto his once more.

The only other thought going through Erin's head at that moment, besides how much she loved this man, was that she felt complete and whole for the first time in a year, and perhaps more than she had ever in her life. It was all because of him, and she silently promised herself she was never leaving again.