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𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!

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Kelly Severide ─ a man of few words ─ had a lot to say about this moment. 

It was indeed magical. Extraordinary. Unimaginable. To hold his baby, who was a half of himself and half of the person who he loved the most, in his arms for the first time; to feel delicate hands wrap around his calloused finger; to gaze upon unfocused blue eyes that seemed to say I'm new to this life stuff, I need you. 

"It's okay. I've got you." Kelly said, breathless and in awe.

He understood now why parents desperately pleaded him to save their child, why some dared to run back to a burning building, why that father died saving his children (he laid on top of them to make sure they would be safe and sound). Kelly understood now; he'd do it in a heartbeat too. 

He heard Maddie moan from the hospital bed, the pain meds and exhaustion from delivering a tiny human taking it's toll on her. Slowly, he made his way to where she was, making sure to support the baby's neck. Kelly shifted his arms so that his wife could see the baby ─ their baby. "And, this is your mom. She's the most amazing person I know." 

"Hi." Maddie's voice broke, happiness and fear and excitement all stringed into one single phrase, "Hey there, langga (dear/love). Oh, Kelly, those are your eyes!"

During the skin-to-skin contact, Maddie felt like she was actually a mom ─ someone's mama. She read about skin-to-skin contact and how it helped the baby's heartbeat and breathing because they were so new to the world. They never tell you just how needed you felt and how it was like your first time communicating with them. She wanted to tell the baby that she already loved them and that every single cell in their body was perfect in a way they'd understand. 

Their baby was restless as it laid right on her bare sternum. Little arms flinging around, little feet kicking, and a strong cry from their mouth. When Maddie placed her hand softly on their head, the action sent tingles to her palm.

"Shhh. . .I won't let anything hurt you, my love. I got you." She cooed, oblivious that her husband had uttered similar words just a few seconds ago. 

Kelly snaked his arms around her and they stayed in that position for awhile. Him holding his now family of three in his arms and Maddie cradling their beautiful baby who was already changing their lives so much in just a few minutes. 

She felt a kiss pressed to the top of her head and looked up to see Kelly ─ her person ─ looking at her with so much love in his eyes. Maddie wondered if he too could decipher that her love for him had just deepened. He probably already knew but she felt like she needed to tell him anyway. "Hey, Kelly, I love you." 

"I love you, babes." He replied, kissing her square on the lips. He ran her hands through her still damp hair (it was damp because of the sweat) and rubbed her back.

"We're parents!" She exclaimed as calmly as she could, careful not to upset her already fussy baby. "We're really someone's mom and dad!"

"Does baby have a name?" The nurse asked, walking into the room with papers. 

Kelly and Maddie shared a look and they just knew.

"He does." He answered the nurse and it was Maddie who spoke next, uttering the name of their son. "His name is Benjie Florian." 

Maddie had experience her fair share of tragedy. And, that wasn't just an understatement. If anything, those tragedies only made her appreciate the time spent with loved ones even more. She knew how precious each second was and that ─ at any moment ─ the people she loved could be ripped away from her especially given her husband's line of work. She worried a lot. But, but, but. . .

It was something in the way Kelly was holding her and gazing down at his son and wife with so much pride and love in twinkling in his eyes that told her he was going to do his best to stay safe despite his profession. It was something in the way Benjie had calmed down and emitted soft yawns from his mouth as he settled his eyes on his mama and papa ─ who already promised the world to him ─ that made Maddie feel she had a greater purpose rather than to just exist. She was going to protect her boys and love them through and through. 

Kelly and Benjie. 

Her boys. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

SIX MONTHS LATER. . .

The whole firehouse was in low spirits. There were calls that had a happy ending and some calls. . .that broke their hearts. This was one of them. 

As the morning light bled in, the firefighters and paramedics of 51 went through their coffee and breakfast like zombies dragging their feet. Borelli was cooking an all-American breakfast with pancakes and bacon to try and lighten the mood but even the bright candidate had trouble mustering up a smile. The cruel winter Chicago brought in didn't help one bit. 

Kelly Severide watched as snow had began to fall slowly. His mind wandered off to his family as he clutched the pendants on his necklace. Even as his fingers gripped the familiar pendant with coordinates, he felt himself relax for a little while. He would be home soon; shift was going to be over in a few more hours. The squad lieutenant often had his mind wandering off to his wife and son and counting down the minutes until he could see them again. 

It turned out he didn't need to wait for a few more hours. 

Slamming the button that opened the apparatus doors, Kelly jogged up to her and kissed her deeply, his hands enclosing her face. They only pulled away when Benjie had started to squeal in his carrier at the contact of both his parents surrounding him. Sharing a laugh, Kelly pulled them inside. The mother and son duo looked quite adorable being bundled up in jackets and beanies. 

"Hey there, little guy." Kelly cooed and swiftly removed his son from the carrier. He blew raspberries to Benjie's little tummy which made the little one erupt in a fit of giggles. Kelly turned to Maddie and kissed her cheek, "And, of course, hello to you too, babes."

Maddie rolled her eyes and patted his cheek warmheartedly. "It's good to see Benjie hasn't erased me from your memory, mahal (love)." 

"Not a chance, babes. I'm happy that you're both here but why? Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. Other than your son making a mess of his pureed bananas, everything is peachy."

"I say he got his table manners from his mama." 

"Sure. But, he's starting to crawl so you're going to have to start baby proofing the house." 

"Crawling, huh?" Kelly bounced the baby in his arms, "You practicing your firefighter's crawl, Benjie boy?" 

Maddie shook her head, a smile falling on her lips. "No chance in hell he's going to be running into burning buildings." 

A squeal was heard from across the apparatus floor. Sylvie Brett had practically sprinted towards the family, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"It's my handsome godchild!" She bellowed, sweeping Benjie away from his father's arms. "Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is he starting to look like Severide?"

It was true. From the ocean blue eyes to the long nose and down to the boyish grin, Benjie Florian Severide looked like his father. The only physical characteristic he inherited from his mother was his tuft of dark hair.

"I feel like he's a project I've been creating for nine months yet Kelly gets all the credit." Maddie grumbled, leanimg back against her husband's chest. In response, Kelly wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. It was instinct; a routine the married couple had gotten used to.

Benjie giggled and flailed his arms as his Aunt Sylvie continued to engage him in baby talk. "Should we go inside and see if we can stir up some trouble?"

With one look of permission to his parents, Sylvie was off to the living area where the cheers upon the arrival of Baby Severide could be heard.

Kelly led Maddie to the deserted squad table and pulled her to his lap. "Thank you."

"Hm?"

"I really needed it ─ the whole firehouse needed it."

Hand on his cheek, Maddie kissed him. "I know. Are you okay? Were you hurt?"

Without waiting for his reply, Maddie's hands found their way under his long-sleeved squad shirt, checking for any new bandages or bruises on his skin.

"I'm fine, Mads. I'm okay."

"I just worry sometimes, you know?"

She laid her head by the crook of his neck and sighed, "I never want to get that phone call from Matt and feel the ground just collapse from under me."

"The offer from OFI still stands."

"You're going to wilt away in a desk job, Kelly. Just stay safe out there. For our Benjie and me. Please?"

He caught the worry that flashed in her eyes and dripping in her voice. "Hey, Mads. That's not how I'm planning to go."

"Oh? And, how are you planning to go, Lieutenant?"

"I'm going to be old and so are you. In our home, I'd be laying beside you, surrounded by our children and grandchildren."

Maddie smiled, her fingers tracing his jaw. "That sounds like a good way to go."

author's note
one year since
i published this
story aAAAAAHHHH
also, epilogue
will be up in
a few hours ((: