The bullpen was unusually quiet after a long day that started ridiculously early in the morning but was well worth it when the end result was the case being closed before the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. With everyone doing their best to finish the required paperwork as diligently and quickly as possible, there were no sounds coming from the usually rambunctious team with the exception of a few questions asking for clarification of facts here and there, the scratching of pens and clicking of keyboards.

Erin momentarily glances away from the report she has almost completely filled out in order to check the date on her fact of the day calendar; it was something Jay had jokingly gifted her after he moved in that now resided on her desk which was home to little else aside from the basic work necessities and a framed picture of her and Jay that was the only thing allowed to be displayed so publicly that hinted to the more romantic side of their relationship. The number glaring back at her in large print above the much smaller fact of that day has her doing a double take because there was no way that could be right.

Jay, either being hyperaware of her every move as he always is or hearing the small intake of breath coming from her, pauses in his movements and looks up at her with concern flashing across his features. After a moment of hesitation she knows he catches, Erin flashes him a small dimpled smile to reassure him before finally writing the date at the top of her paperwork and piling it neatly into a folder to hand over to Hank on her way out. She begins gathering her things together while she waits for Jay to finish up so they can head home for the night, promising herself that she'll freak out later.

Once Jay is finished, they both head into Hank's office and stack their folders on top of each other before bidding their sergeant and the rest of the team goodbye and descending the steps away from the bullpen out into the cold Chicago night to hurry into the 300 and start their drive home.

"Babe," Jay says, finally breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them as a result of the exhausting day they had. "Is everything okay?"

Erin appreciates the simplicity of his question. He somehow always finds the words that won't push her into defensive mode and get her instead to open up to him. She's not quite sure how to tell him what's on her mind, though, so she goes with a brief but truthful, "I was surprised by the date, babe, that's all."

Although he can tell something is bothering her, Jay lets it go because they are well past the early days of their partnership, both personal and professional, where he had to coax her to talk to him. He reaches across the center console to squeeze her thigh and rest his hand there to convey all of this to her. She seems to get it because when they're at a red light, she leans over to kiss him chastely and the twinkle in her eyes as she pulls away puts any doubts lingering in the back of his mind to rest. She'll tell him when she's ready.

They're both completely worn out by the time they get home but still curl up together on the couch with a beer each after they've changed out of their work clothes into something more comfortable in order to unwind from their hectic day before turning in for the night. Jay flicks on Sports Center to catch the highlights from the games they've missed that day as Erin takes the quiet moment to let her thoughts drift while she cuddles against him.

The reason for her earlier moment of surprise comes back to her and she does her best to keep from tensing so Jay doesn't ask any questions because she doesn't know how to explain her thoughts right now. Hank was right about one thing when he said that she'd been leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her since she was fifteen years old. She's never stayed with anyone long enough for an anniversary to be celebrated so now that her first with Jay is approaching, she begins to feel the tightness in her chest that indicates panic because she doesn't know what to expect. Doesn't know what he expects.

Jay Halstead deserves everything good in life in her unbiased opinion, and even though she is secure in their relationship and has no doubt that he loves her, she still has her moments when she wonders if he is getting everything he needs from her.

She's a simple person, growing up the way she did made her that way but she doesn't mind it. She'd rather hang out with her boyfriend and their friends, their family, at Molly's than go out to fancy dinners at restaurants that are not in the budget of two detectives working to pay off their now shared mortgage. She prefers the thoughtful little things Jay gives her at seemingly random moments when his only explanation is that whatever it is made him think of her to the expensive trinkets on gift-giving holidays that she knows make other women the happiest.

Erin knows that Jay is the same way but, with the way he tends to let her control the pace of their relationship so as not to spook her, she can't help but think there must be something he wants that he hasn't voiced because of her skittish nature in regards to anything to do with commitment. She doesn't ever want him to think that he can't tell her everything that's on his mind, including the things he thinks might scare her off. She needs him to know she's not going anywhere now that she's found him.

Jay leans forward to place his empty beer bottle on the coffee table before gently pulling hers from her hand to do the same, effectively breaking her out of her spiraling thoughts. He brings his other arm around her and squeezes her close to him before placing an affectionate kiss first on her forehead, then trailing down to her lips, making her look up into those often mischievous blue eyes she loves so much with adoration when they break apart. She doesn't know what she did to deserve this wonderful man.

"Few more minutes and then we can head to bed, babe," Jay says with a boyish grin that never ceases to make her heart flutter.

"You got it," Erin responds with a smirk that manages to show him a peek of her precious dimples.

It's when she turns her attention back to the television set that's currently showing a preview for the upcoming hockey season that she's struck with inspiration. She knows exactly what she's going to get Jay for their very first of what she hopes with everything inside of her is a lifetime of anniversaries celebrated together.