It was two weeks till Christmas and that not only meant, Christmas shopping, decorations and eggnog. It also meant the annual red carpet, black tie FireFighters Gala!
It was apparently the big thing of the year. Every woman you talked to that was convened to this gala was talking about the dress, the shoes, the bag. Heck it could have been the Oscars!
Emily, who had starting working end of October at Chicago Merci, thanks to an amazing recommendation letter from her boss in Paris, had had little if no time to think or even shop for a dress. Ever since she had started she was doing back to back shifts and surgeries. She and Kelly were hardly ever together and it was taking its toll on her.
Stephanie popped her head in Emily's office. "Hey sweetie.. ready for the big gala tonight"?
Emily lifted her head from her laptop. "Are you kidding? I think Kelly should go without me. I have nothing to wear; I didn't find the time to get a dress. My hair is a mess. I'll barely have time to get home and shower, let alone do my hair, get dressed and put on make-up"!
"You can't miss out on the Gala! You know how our men are hot and good looking in their uniforms, well tonight we get to strut our stuff and show them that we are just as hot and sexy"!
Emily laughed. It's true that she hadn't gotten the chance to see Kelly in his formal attire yet. Although she preferred him in the slightest of apparels, she had to admit she wanted to see him looking dashing.
"Sexy huh? Can I come in my negligé then.. I don't have anything else"?
Steph looked at her watch. It was almost noon. "Do you trust me"?
Emily blinked a couple of times. "Ah yeah why"?
"What time do you get off tonight"?
"At 6 and the gala is at 7. I'll never make it".
"Ok. I'll be back in a half an hour. I need to make a few phone calls".
With that Steph vanished and Emily returned to her pre and post ops.
A half an hour later Steph was back. "Ok sweetie we are all set".
"What do you mean"?
"I've taken the liberty of advising Randy and Kelly that we will meet them at the gala. We'll get ready here. Meet me back here at 6 sharp, and let my connections do their magic".
Before Emily could say anything, Steph had disappeared. 'Do their magic? What were they elves'?
After a major surgery from 2 till 5 and then checking up on a few patients, she headed back to her office just a few minutes before 6. Her assistant looked at her smiling as she opened the door.
Her office had been transformed in what seemed to be a mix between a beauty salon and a black tie apparel store.
Steph walked over to her. "Ok. We have 1h to get ready. Mario is going to go through with you the dresses her brought over, then we'll get in with Daniel and Joyce for hair and makeup. A limo is picking us up at 7 downstairs".
Emily stared at her in disbelief with her mouth wide opened.
"Hello gorgeous, I'm Mario, I think I have exactly what you need. Come with me". Emily followed him still in disbelief.
Mario was right; the first dress he picked out for her to try was the one. He put her in a chair while Daniel did her hair and Joyce did a quick manicure. Stephanie was getting her make up put on and then headed to Mario to get dressed and accessorized.
As Joyce was finishing her make up Stephanie came out, in a beautiful black gown signed Vera Wang, black high heel shoes, a black clutch and diamond jewelry.
"Wow! Stephanie you are just stunning"!
She turned. She was simply beautiful. "Your turn. I'll make sure the limousine is here".
Emily stood and went to get dressed.
As she and Stephanie passed down the hallway to the elevator, all eyes were on them. Once they reached outside, the chauffeur opened the door and they settled in. Emily was nervous and she didn't know why. Or maybe she did. She wasn't used to be dressed like this. The venue was only a 15 minute drive from the hospital.
The limo stopped right smack in front of where the red carpet started and led to the inside of the venue. Stephanie got out first and Emily followed. There were a few photographers outside and flashes of light followed them till they reached the inside of the building. They handed their coats to the clerk who wouldn't keep his eyes of Emily.
Steph and Emily made their way to the reception area. Steph stopped and looked at Emily. "This is your moment to shine. I'll be right behind you".
She smiled at Emily and stayed a bit behind while Emily entered the room. She paused for a few moments scanning the room for Kelly. It was sufficient enough for heads to turn and for some people to stop their conversations.
Jeff, Otis, Randy, Kelly's father and Kelly were near the bar. Both Randy and Kelly had been more than impatient for their girlfriends to arrive and had preferred having a drink while they waited. Both Randy and Kelly had their backs turned to the main entrance but for Otis, Jeff and Ben, what they saw was definitely worth the wait.
Jeff smiled. " A vision in red has just entered the room and one of you is a very lucky man"!
Randy and Kelly turned around at the same time. When he saw her, his heart skipped a beat. There standing alone in the entrance of the venue, was Emily. She was wearing a beautiful an off-the-shoulder red gown, seamed at the waist and with the helm that fell to the floor. Her hair was up and she had a river of diamonds around her neck. She was beautiful, stunning, drop dead gorgeous and any other adjective that he was sure existed. Even Randy, was at a loss of words upon seeing his sister.
Emily caught Kelly's stare on her and smiled. She walked slowly and elegantly over in his direction. Kelly walked over to meet her. Stephanie was following just a few feet away and as Kelly and Emily met, she continued on to meet Randy.
Kelly was more than handsome in his formal attire and she smiled.
People around them were talking.
"Who is that"?
"That's McHolland's sister. She's with Severide".
"She's a surgeon at Mercy".
"She's beautiful".
"Man! Severide is one lucky SOB"!
Kelly took Emily in his arms and kissed her. "You are beautiful . I'm at a loss for words".
Emily blushed. "Thank you. You are simply stunning and sexy in your uniform Lieutenant".
"You do realize that every man and woman in this room has their eye on you"?
"Your eyes on me are the only ones that matter".
He smiled. "Well, you've got my undivided attention Dr. McHolland. I'm going to be making a lot of guys jealous tonight. Come on let's get some champagne".
They walked over to the bar, with Emily being very conscious that her every move was being followed and watched.
Randy came up to greet her. "You look beautiful kiddo"! She kissed him on the cheek. "Well it's all Stephanie's doing"!
Randy brought Stephanie into him for a hug. "You are amazing. Thanks love".
They all took champagne glasses and toasted. "Here is to firehouse 51"!
Emily looked at the wall clock. It was almost 8PM. She turned to the entrance and smiled before turning back to the group.
"Otis, I have a surprise for you".
"For me"?
She nodded. "There's someone who wanted to be here with you tonight".
"Who"?
She made Otis turn around to face the entrance.
"Katie? Katie"! He walked, well almost ran to meet her.
Kelly looked at Emily. "You did this"?
Emily nodded as they watched Otis and Katie reunite. "Katie and I have been skyping a lot lately. She's not ready to come back for good yet to Chicago but she wanted to be a part of this for you and Otis".
"And for you", she said as she looked at Ben.
Ben, who was usually not one for demonstrating his feelings, gave Emily a hug. "Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me"!
Katie and Otis joined them. She hugged both her brother and father. "Thanks Ems".
Emily winked and smiled at her. "My pleasure".
The bell toll, meaning that they had to get to their tables so that the Captain could make his speech and they could eat dinner.
Kelly and Emily found themselves sitting at the table with Mills and his date, Chief Boden, Randy, Steph and Jeff. The table next to them was composed of Otis, Katie, Cruz, Shay, Melissa, Capp, Matt and Gabriela.
Matt looked at her and smiled. They hadn't talked since what had happened in September. She smiled back politely and then turned her attention to the Captain starting his speech. His speech ended 10 minutes later with a round of applause.
They ate their three course meal and then the men got up and headed for the bar while Shay, Melissa and Katie joined Emily and the rest of the women at their table. They talked about a lot of things and laughed. Emily was truly happy. Not only was she back in Chicago, but she was near her brother, had a job, was with Kelly and was surrounded by wonderful friends.
A slow song came on and couples started heading for the dance floor. Emily felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around.
"May I have this dance"?
It was Matt. Emily quickly searched the room. There was no sign of Kelly or Gabriela. She didn't want to make a scene so she nodded and stood. He led her to the dance floor.
"You are really beautiful tonight Ems".
"Thanks Matt".
Even though it was a slow song, she kept a reasonable distance between them.
"I owe you an apology. I was a jerk and I shouldn't have done or said all those things. I want to call a truce".
"Matt, we've been friends for years. I value our friendship more than anything. But you just as even pull a stunt like that on me again, I will make your life a living hell".
"Ok then, we are on the same wavelength".
Kelly came back from the restrooms and looked over to the table. Emily was gone. He then saw Matt with her on the dance floor. His blood started to boil. He walked over hastily.
"Mind if I cut in"?
"Absolutely not, she's all yours Kelly".
Kelly took Emily in his arms and led her away. "Are you OK"?
"I'm fine. He wanted to apologize and we took the opportunity to set things straight".
Kelly turned and looked at Matt. Emily put her hand on his face and turned it so that he looked at her.
"Kelly, we're good. He is my past. You are my present and my future. You've got nothing to worry about. He knows where we stand. Now come on dance with me".
She closed the space between them and they slow danced the next song.
Ben arrived and looked at his son. "I've danced with my daughter, do you mind your old dad, dancing with Emily"?
"Of course not".
Kelly let his father take his place on the dance floor and went to ask Leslie to dance.
"Emily, I wanted to thank you for everything that you've done".
"Ben, I haven't done anything".
"Oh but you have".
"It was my pleasure to organize things for Katie to come".
"I'm not just talking about Katie. I'm also talking about Kelly".
"I know my son pretty well and he's a changed man. I've never known him this happy and I know you are responsible for this. There is nothing more a father wants then for his children to be happy in life. Katie is almost there, but where Kelly is concerned, I don't have to worry anymore".
Emily didn't know what to say. "I love him. You should also be proud of him. He brings out the best in me. When someone loves you like that you'd move mountains for them".
The song ended, Emily thanked him and headed back to the table. Her feet where killing her, she was not really used to being so long in high heel shoes and to top it all off, her busy day was starting to take its toll on her. Ben intercepted Kelly on his way to their table.
"Son, I'm going to say this once and only once".
Kelly looked at him both worried and intrigued.
"What you have there is gold, a rare diamond. Don't let this one go, she's a keeper".
"I know dad. I'm a very lucky man".
"Are you going to marry her"?
Kelly looked over at the table and watched as Emily laughed and chatted away with Capp and Jeff.
"I hope to, someday, if she'll have me".
Ben gave a pat on his son's back and walked away.
Kelly kept on watching Emily. Yes, someday, he hoped that she would give him the honor of becoming Dr. Emily Severide!
