Work Text:
As every morning for a few months now, Kelly got up happy, happier since his marriage with the beautiful and fierce woman who was sleeping next to him than he had ever been. Stella Kidd-Severide (How he loved the sound of that name!) had brought a light in his life that no one else brought, not even Shay. With her, it was different, the paramedic had been his best friend, his partner in crime. Stella had been too a very close friend, at a time, before their relationship but it wasn’t the same. Very quickly he had known that she was more than a friend, even after the Grant fiasco, their first meeting at the academy or his love story with Anna. Stella was always in the corner of his mind even if he tried to deny it.
He looked at her and placed a kiss on her bare shoulder as she was peacefully sleeping on her belly, embracing his pillow. He knew how much she loved her sleep and it was not so long ago that she would wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare because of the RPG.
He went to the kitchen and began to quietly prepare the pot of coffee that both of them would need to get through the day at the firehouse and face the various calls. As he set the table since a few minutes, Stella appeared out of the corner of his eyes. The smell of the drink that she loved so much had probably waking her up. He put the last of the things on the table and joined her in a few steps, taking her in his strong, loving embrace.
"Good morning sunshine," he said playfully.
"Mornin'," she grunted as she melted into his embrace.
He chuckled as he placed a kiss on her temple and walked her to the table. She dropped onto a stool as he handed her a cup of her favorite hazelnut coffee. A smile spread across her features.
"Thank you," she murmured as she brought the cup to her lips.
He was looking at her once more unable to hold back his smile. They savored in silence their breakfast, then Kelly decided to go to the shower first, which would leave her more time to savor her meal and to be completely awake.
Half an hour later, Kelly drove them to the fire station. They were both chatting happily and looking forward to a quiet day. After a few minutes, he parked his mustang along the curb not far from the house. They headed for the locker room to put their things in their lockers. Joe Cruz came instantly to them as they entered the common room.
"Good morning lieutenants. The chief wants you in his office, Severide," he apologized as he looked at Stella who was not invited.
Kelly didn't need to be asked twice, he placed a light kiss on Stella's cheek and went to Boden's office. The truck lieutenant stood there for a few moments without saying anything. Finally, she turned to Cruz and asked.
"Do you know what this is all about? "
"No. Sorry Lieutenant" he walked away because he was not comfortable giving out information he didn't have.
Stella poured herself another large coffee, waiting for her husband and answers about what was happening.
Fifteen minutes later, when the chief's door opened, the people who came out did not please the truck lieutenant. Right behind her husband was Wendy Seager, the OFI lieutenant. Of course, Stella had worked with her on Girls On Fire and she would always be glad that Seager had agreed to help her. Nevertheless, she felt deep down that feeling of uneasiness towards the young woman, because the latter never missed an opportunity to flirt with Kelly or to make eyes at him. The fact that he and Stella are married obviously did not change anything to the feelings of the young lieutenant for Kelly.
To Stella, Seager was a threat like Renee, but in a different way. This woman always brought all her insecurities to the surface. Stella had once said that she wanted to be the perfect one for Kelly and he had assured her that she was. But sometimes she remembered what he was like when she met him at the academy and all the things everyone had told her about his personality at this time, especially Brett and Casey. She knew more than ever that she shouldn't doubt Kelly's love, sincerity and loyalty. He was the love of her life and she was his. Even so, her demons kept coming back when Seager was around.
As soon as he reached the room, the squad lieutenant looked for his wife to reassure her. But they didn't even have time to exchange a word when the alarm sounded.
"Truck 81, ambulance 61, person trapped."
Stella gave him one last look and turned back to the truck. She didn't have time to let her worries get the best of her. She had to be the professional firefighter and lieutenant of her team for now.
Later that day, when she returned to the Firehouse after several calls, she already knew she wouldn't find him here. He had probably gone to work with her at the OFI office. She decided to go straight to the locker room, take a shower and head to their loft. But something struck her, he had probably taken his car and she needed to find a way home. As she stood there pondering her options, Sylvie Brett walked into the hallway.
"What's the matter, Stella?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering how I was going to get home since Kelly had gone to work with Seager."
Her friend could sense the bitterness in her voice.
"I can drive you home, you seem to be exhausted. I think you should go to bed early so you're fit and not thinking too much about Severide and Seager. Besides, you don't need to worry about anything. "
Without another word, the two friends left the firehouse. As soon as Stella was home, the silence hit her. He hadn't come home yet. She decided to turn on the TV and watch a game while waiting for Kelly. As 9:30 p.m. struck, she ate a light dinner and finally went to bed as her eyelids threatened to close with every minute. When her head landed on Kelly's pillow, she fell asleep immediately.
At midnight, the door to the loft opened to an exhausted Kelly as well. He was disappointed that Stella hadn't waited for him, but he couldn't blame her because she had probably had a long day at work. He regretted not to have returned earlier to the house to speak to her about his momentary leave to help OFI. He would have to wait until the morning to have the opportunity. He took the time to shower and went straight to bed, pressing his body against Stella's and his face into the crook of her neck. He was where he wanted to be.
*
At six o'clock, when Stella opened one eye, she could feel Kelly's warm breath on her neck. It felt good to have him against her as he wrapped his arm around her waist. A long sigh escaped her mouth as she pulled away from his embrace. She didn't know what time he was supposed to be at OFI and she hadn't heard him come home last night, so she made no noise as she got ready, to let him sleep.
His coffee was ready and she would have breakfast at the Firehouse. So she left him a note:
Early morning work. Sorry to leave without having time to talk to you last night or this morning. I hope we make it up to you tonight. Hope all is well at OFI. See you tonight; love you. Stella. "
Two hours later, the coldness and emptiness of the place next to him greeted Kelly as he awoke. Sadness washed over him as his brain instantly registered Stella's absence. He sighed as he got up to be ready and on time at OFI. He hoped this case wouldn't take too long to solve, he didn't like the way things were set up in their lives at the moment, even though he had only worked one day out of the Firehouse. It was one of the many reasons he wouldn't leave his position as a squad lieutenant and transfer to the OFI office, as he'd already told Stella, and this beginning of the investigation with Seager only reinforced his decision... This was not the life he wanted to build with her.
When he walked into the kitchen and found his wife's note, it brought a little levity to his early morning despite everything. He folded it in his pocket and would take the time to send her a text when he got behind his desk at OFI.
*
For a few days, the same rhythm organized their days. They finally managed to see each other for a few hours when Stella was working at Molly's. Kelly had decided to take Seager to finish what they were doing during the day and spend some time with Stella.
*
On Friday afternoon, as Truck 81 returned to the Firehouse, some people on the sidewalk caught Stella's eye as Mouch went right: Kelly and Seager. His back was to her but she could clearly see Seager's face very close to her husband and she could recognize him anywhere, even with her eyes closed. She was too far away to see for sure if they were kissing, but that was the impression they gave from where she was standing. She looked around to see if her partners had noticed anything, but was pleased to see that Mouch was focused on his driving, Carver and Gallo were deep in their conversation about the call. She kept a blank face until they got to the Firehouse, apologizing for the paperwork. the blood pounded in her temples and jealousy made her blood boil. She didn't want to accuse without certainty, but she knew why she couldn't trust Seager. She took advantage of the opportunity and Stella's absence to achieve her goals.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated announcing the arrival of a text message.
The case is over, I'll be home by 7. Love you. Kelly.
She decided to put that aside and focus on her work, personal issues should be resolved at home, not now. She shouldn't let her feelings get the better of her. It had already played tricks on both of them, not long ago, and that had not been a good thing.
*
As soon as Seager brushed her lips, Kelly shoved her hard, nearly knocking her over.
"What are you doing? I'm a happily married man in case you forgot," he roared, furious at her intent.
She didn't answer right away, she knew she shouldn't have done that but it was her heart talking and not her brain. She had feelings for him for a long time now and despite the fact that he was married and in a long term relationship, she couldn't stop thinking about him, falling in love with him.
"I wish I could call you mine." She simply whispered with tears in her eyes, regretting her actions and knowing that it would end the friendship that existed between them until now.
"You have no rights in this area and you never have. It's only Stella's and always has been. " answered Kelly with anger before taking leave, leaving her there on the sidewalk.
*
When he entered the loft, she was on the couch reading. She wasn't looking up from her book. He could feel some tension in the air but he really couldn't understand why. He went to sit next to her and kissed her temple, she tensed up and turned to face him. Sadness covered all her beautiful features.
"Good evening Stella, what's wrong?" He asked, knowing he had to tell her what had happened with Seager.
She didn't answer, stood up and took a few steps towards the window, her back to him.
"I saw you with Seager this afternoon, Kelly!" She barely said it.
He knew it would be hard to explain this to her, but he could swear to her that he hadn't done anything about it.
"I'm really sorry, Stell'. truly sorry. I know you didn't trust her, but I promise you, she initiated it and I pushed her away instantly. I gave her a piece of my mind and walked away. And if you hadn't seen it, I would have told you the truth tonight. That's what I was going to do but you beat me to it." He gently explained, giving her time to proceed and staying away from her for now.
"How could you let her do that? Do you know how hurt I am and how I felt when I saw you? " Stella said with a bit of anger. "You promised me a long time ago that you were going to be the man I deserve!".
He was stunned by her words and he really understood her reasons but she had forgotten a little quickly what had happened with her friend Tyler. He perfectly remembered the jealousy he had felt at this time when he saw them together . She had been a bit blind about Tyler as he had been about Seager apparently.
They must find a way to erase all those people from the past or present to be worthy of each other as he had promised her in his wedding vows. He waited a few minutes to gather his thoughts before opening his heart, something he didn't do often. Words were not his strong suit but he had to make amends and fix what was between them.
"Stella, when I asked you to marry me in that fire, I had never been so sure of myself in my life. I thought about it and talked about it with Casey and several times he pushed me in the right direction because he said we have that connection that a lot of couples don't have. I knew and I know he was right. I told you when you came back from Girls On Fire that you are the perfect person for me and I mean it. I am so proud to call you mine, to call you my wife and to hear people call you that or Stella Kidd-Severide. I'm not so stupid as to jeopardize what I built with you for a woman I wasn't even attracted to. We were only partners in the OFI and she overstepped her rights when she kissed me what I in no way allowed. I know I have a heavy past, but I put it aside when I chose you because I love you more than I can say and I would never do anything to hurt you or lose you; I won't be able to live without you, Stella. You are the best part of me."
She finally turned to him, tears streaming down her cheeks, and smiled.
"I love you so much it hurts sometimes. Thank you for opening your heart to me. I can assure you that I am as proud as you are to call you mine and carry your name."
She didn't need to go any further in her sentence, he joined her in a few steps kissing her fiercely with all the love he felt for her. She took him in her arms and let herself melt in his embrace.
He broke the kiss by taking her bridestyle and headed to their bedroom.