╔═══*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═══╗

𝐂𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝
𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲
𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞
𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚
𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫.

╚═══*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═══╝

Chloe Allen peered up at the yellow exterior of the house. She couldn't hear noise from outside and wondered why Sylvie Brett dorve her over to the place if nobody was around. The paramedic in question brought out a set of keys and welcomed herself inside the home. She looked back at her friend and waved a hand over. "Chloe, come on in."

"You live here, Sylvie?" Chloe asked as she walked up the front porch steps.

"Oh, no." Sylvie answered, offering to take off Chloe's coat for her. "My best friend does. It's usually loud around here." She cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled. "Maddie? Show yourself!"

"Kitchen!" A voice from down the hall called out.

There was no need for Chloe to walk delicately around the wooden floors of the house; it looked welcoming with the framed family photos by the staircase and the scattered kid's toys in the living room. Chloe was met with the scent of pancakes and coffee as she trudged further down the hall. On the white door frame of the kitchen, there was a small line, no less than 4 feet tall. Beside it was Benjie, 2019 neatly scribbled.

"Are you guys hungry?" The voice asked and Chloe saw that it belonged to a woman who stood behind the stove, draping syrup over a stack of pancakes. "I'm almost done with this batch for the boys. Take a seat, take a seat." The smile the woman gave was just like the color yellow: bright, full of optimism, and one that would surely grab anybody's attention.

Sylvie had started to place three coffee mugs on the dinner table while also introducing Maddie Severide. "Just accept the food she shoves in your face. You won't regret it." Sylvie placed a plate of pancakes in front of herself and Chloe.Nodding, Chloe took a seat at the table.

Maddie had long and dark hair that fell down her back and reached her waist and Chloe wanted to ask which salon she had got it done because it looked so shiny. As Maddie came around the kitchen island, Chloe saw that her belly was huge like watermelon huge.

"Hey, Mads, where are your boys?" Sylvie asked.

"I sent them on a food run." Maddie answered and took a seat at the head of the dinner table, right between the two ladies. She neatly perched her hands over her swollen belly. "It was supposed to be only Kelly but Benjie wants to help any way he can with the baby."

"Sylvie said it's usually loud in your house. . ." Chloe trailed off, wondering if there were any more occupants she needed to be aware of. When Maddie confirmed this, she asked. "It doesn't drive you crazy?"

Maddie laughed. "Not at all. The noise is like music to my ears ─ kinda reminds me I have people to turn to but the peace and quiet is can be nice too. Those nights are rare."

Rolling her eyes, Sylvie joked. "Yeah. 'Cause you and Severide are always ─ ow! You're getting better at kicking me under the table, Madeline!"

"Anyway," Maddie turned to Chloe. "It's nice to meet you, Chloe, but I'm guessing you didn't come here to eat breakfast or by your own will."

It was Chloe's turn to laugh. Maddie was the kind of person who made you feel at ease and welcomed in her own home. "You guessed right. Sylvie dragged me here but the breakfast is a bonus."

Sylvie sighed, gulping down her food. "I know it's not any of our business ─ "

" ─ and we don't want to pry."

"But can we just ask: what happened with Cruz?"

"Wait." Chloe said, her brown eyes darting back and forth the two women. "He told you guys?"

Maddie shrugged. "He did. The three of us reached Otis via Skype while he was somewhere in Antarctica. He showed us the ring too then the proposal suggestions just came rambling in."

"I suggested a flash mob."

"Otis suggested the firetrucks surprising you at work and then Joe would get down on one knee."

Still overwhelmed by this new information, Chloe turned to Maddie. "What did you suggest?"

"I told Cruz to do it however the hell he'd want it to be."

"The way Joe proposed ─ it was beautiful." Chloe told them softly, glancing briefly at her left ring finger where the most beautiful engagement ring previously adorned it. When she looked up, she was met by the curious gazes of her friends. She guessed she could call Maddie a friend. She was having breakfast and was about to confess her feelings for a wonderful man to her! That clarified as a friend. Sighing, Chloe answered their curiosity. "I can't be with a firefighter. I can't handle every day wondering if he's going to be home or at the hospital. But, I love Joe ─ I really do. You know those heart eye filters on Snapchat? That was me when I first saw him and that's me every day when I'm with him."

Maddie reached out and patted Chloe's hand and warmly told her. "I get it." She nodded understandingly. "But, you're going to be dealing more than just wondering if he's going to be alright at the end of the day."

"Uh. Maddie, I don't think that's what Chloe wants to hear."

"I know but it's what she needs to hear."

"Don't scare her off!"

"Sylvie, I won't!" Maddie insisted then met Chloe's gaze and sighed. "On the job, it's all adrenaline coursing through their veins ─ the fun and high of being a firefighter. When they get home, they're exhausted. On bad days, they become detached even. Chloe, the injuries you have to watch out for aren't really the ones you can see; it's the injury going inside their heads that's dangerous."

"The PTSD firefighters have after a horrible call. . .that's something I can't really relate to. I'm just an architect who paints in her free time!" Maddie giggled. Chloe noticed that her gaze had settled upon her hand ─ specifically her left ring finger where a rusted gold ring was sitting on it. It looked nowhere near a Tiffany & Co. engagement ring. "But, I do know a thing or two about a bad day."

"Did your husband ─ "

"Call him Kelly. He won't mind."

"Did your husband tell you about what happens during calls? Did it scare you away when you guys were dating? Joe doesn't tell me anything."

"Oh, Kelly and I never dated."

"Uh. . .pardon?"

"We met in a bar and got married after a few hours of talking to each other."

With a smile, Sylvie shook her head and waved her hand dismissively. "It happened in Vegas. Long story short: they're still married and have beautiful children who also have the best aunt. It's a win!"

"I guess it was." Chuckling, Maddie continued. "To answer your question, Kelly does tell me about the bad calls but he doesn't get much into detail about it. The great thing about 51 is they look out for another no matter and it extends to their personal lives too. When he's on shift, I know he's in good hands. It's the same for us 'firefighter spouses'."

"How so?"

"Well, we have this understanding of the varying work schedules, odd sleeping patterns, and detached reactions our spouses can have on their loved ones. It's great because I have Cindy Hermann and Bri to rant to."

"Who's Bri?"

Sylvie smiled, a look of fondness settling in her blue eyes. "She's my wife. She'd tell you the same thing too."

"As painfully cliché this sounds, you don't really choose who you fall in love with. It just happens." Maddie told them. "I never thought marrying a firefighter would be hard but I wouldn't change a single thing because he's worth it. And, when you feel like it's too hard?" She threw a wink at Chloe's direction. "We got you."

Chloe let the words sink in. We got you. It was calming to know that someone would be there for her to lend an ear or to give a shoulder to cry on. Joe Cruz was the man of her dreams. Sure, his job would entail unusual work hours and the high emotional toll and accidents. (She worried less about accidents happening ever since Maddie had stressed the bond that 51 had with each other). But, didn't most people have those kinds of jobs too? What most people didn't have was someone who loved and understood them ─ their very own person. That was a one in a billion chance.

The front door opened and the pitter-patter of hurried footsteps followed. "Papa and me are home, mama! Call out!" After Maddie had disclosed their current location, a little boy with a tuft of black hair and striking blue eyes came barreling in their line of view. "Mama!" He gleefully screamed and ran towards Maddie who had bent down to give him a kisses on his cheeks. "We got what you liked. Spicy chicken wings."

"Thank you, langga (dear)."

The boy turned to Sylvie with the same enthusiasm. "Tita (Aunt) Sylvie!" He flung himself to the open arms of the blonde .

Sylvie laughed and ruffled his hair. "Hey there, you little rascal."

"Benjie, hey." Maddie cooed and the boy's undivided attention was immediately hers. He looked up at her with wide eyes. "This is Chloe. She's. . ." She trailed off, unaware of what her current status was after their little talk.

Chloe smiled and confidently said. "I'm Joe Cruz's fiancé." At the sound of this, Sylvie and Maddie breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's a fiancé?" Benjie asked his mother.

Maddie met Chloe's gaze and smirked. "She's going to be Tito (Uncle) Joe's wife."

Benjie nodded, digesting the new information. He turned his body to the doorway. "Papa, give mama her chicken wings!" He bellowed, perched on Sylvie's lap. A chuckle was heard and then a container full of chicken wings was placed in front of Maddie.

Kelly Severide stood behind his wife, hands pressed on her shoulder. "Hey." He greeted her softly accompanied with a short kiss on her lips. "Here's your extra spicy chicken wings." In response, Maddie hummed and began to eat her food. . .with her bare hands. Chloe guessed it was a normal occurrence since neither Sylvie nor Kelly flinched at the action.

Kelly nodded to Sylvie. "I'm not surprised you're here, Brett. I am surprised by Chloe's presence in my home though."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I didn't mean to ─ "

" ─ don't be!" He smiled reassuringly at her. "I thought they'd be quicker in roping you into their little club. And, please. Call me Kelly, your fiancé's lieutenant who needs a good shower."

Sylvie crinkled her nose. "Gross! You haven't showered since shift, Severide?"

Kelly gestured to Maddie who was happily munching on her food. "The Missus wanted her cravings ASAP. I'll be back in a few."

As Chloe observed how Kelly lovingly bent down to press a kiss on the top of his wife's head and listened on to Benjie's story-telling about how he and his mama & papa defeated the monster under his bed, Maddie smiled at her as if to say: See? All worth it.