Here's the nest installment, sorry for the wait! I'd love to know what you thought of the last chapter too. I had fun writing it, and hope you like the direction it took the story in. I've also decided to keep the chapter in the Chicago Fire section and not the crossover section. I moved it there briefly but moved it back, because I feel like this is predominantly Sylvie's story and don't intend the rest of the PD or Justice characters to play a major role. Of course, that might change, but for now...

Chapter 8

"What do you think?"

Gabby and Eva came out of their changing rooms at the same time, looked at each other then looked at Sylvie.

"You look beautiful" she replied, but with trepidation.

"But..." Eva prompted.

"They're very... purple."

Gabby let out a long, relieved breath. "They are a bit bright."

Sylvie sat down heavily on the ottoman in the wedding store and groaned. Bridesmaid dress shopping was going about as well as her search for her own gown. Gabby and Casey got married in turn out gear, that was always an option. Somehow, she didn't think Antonio would go for it.

Eva stepped in front of the mirror and studied her reflection. "I like the cut" she said, doing her best to sound upbeat. "It's just the colour."

Sylvie smiled, appreciating her for looking at the positives when Sylvie was too exhausted to see nothing but the negatives.

Gabby stood beside her niece. "Yeah, Eva's right. They come in other colours right?"

"Probably." Sylvie stood up. "They looked more blue in the catalogue."

Sylvie was beginning to resent all the stress that this wedding was causing her. She wanted to marry Antonio, but whether that happened at City Hall in front of a judge and a handful of witnesses or in the ballroom at the Ritz, she honestly didn't mind. But she knew she was just cranky, and when the day came she would thank her past self for persevering with the details to make everything as perfect at the could be. And she owed it to Eva to be interested, she was putting far more effort into planning this wedding than Sylvie could muster.

"I'll go find the clerk" said Gabby, and left the change area.

Eva fiddled with the waistband of her dress and turned around to look at the back of it in the mirror. Sylvie watched her, she really did look beautiful. Eva caught Sylvie watching her when she turned around. "What?"

"I meant it, you do look beautiful." Eva smiled, embarrassed. "Thank you for doing so much for this wedding" Sylvie continued. "You don't have to."

"No problem, I've got heaps of time."

"I bet the guys aren't having this much trouble."

"Don't worry, I did my research. The shop I sent Dad to had every suit you could imagine, they'll find something.

Gabby and the clerk returned with a bundle of swatches. Sylvie took a deep breath, deciding that since she was the bride, it should be her and not Eva to do most of the work. "Do these dresses come in other colours?" She asked, taking the sample book.

"Absolutely." The perfectly groomed and smiling clerk replied. "What colour were you thinking?"

"Something subtle" Sylvie said. "Something a little less... purple."


They dropped Gabby off for her shift and returned home, dress less but more upbeat than when they had traipsed into the fourth store that morning. Sylvie had taken some fabric samples and would get back to the last store with her decision. Now she only had to find her dress. Only.

Eva ran straight upstairs after calling out a greeting to her father. A muffled reply came and Sylvie followed the sound to find Antonio pulling endless baby clothes from the dryer. Sylvie draped her arms around his shoulders. "Hey."

"Hey yourself" Antonio said and turned around, holding a handful of tiny socks.

"Thanks for doing the laundry."

"No sweat. How'd it go?"

"Ok. We're getting there. We found the dresses but not the colour. How about you?"

"All sorted. Eva did a good job finding that store, we had no trouble. Now you just need to decide on a colour scheme so I can pick out ties."

Sylvie sighed. "I will. Soon, I promise."

"Oh!" Antonio suddenly said and darted out of the laundry room. He returned a minute later holding a shopping bag. "We found these, they're so cute, you're gonna love them."

He set the bag down on top of a pile of clothes and pulled out two tiny little suits on their hangers. The dopey grin on Antonio's face made Sylvie smile almost as much as the suits themselves.

Sylvie took one from him looked at it. "Good job, Daddy. Now they just need to stop growing for the next 2 months."

"Don't worry, I bought them a little big. And kept the receipt."

Sylvie nodded her approval. "Where are the boys?"

"Out back with Diego."

Sylvie pricked her ears up and could hear happy shrieking coming from the garden. Satisfied that her children we happy and safe with their brother for the moment, she turned back to Antonio. "What are your suits like?"

"Like this but bigger?" Antonio said with a cheeky grin. "They're in the dining room, you can take a look. I thought I better get your approval before putting them away."

Sylvie raised an eyebrow. "Mine or Eva's?"

Antonio gave her a meaning look and didn't need to answer verbally. "We should finish unpacking. It's been a month, we shouldn't still be surrounded by boxes." Sylvie had been surprised how much stuff they had when they moved, all the stuff from their apartment and the things Antonio had kept in storage amounted to more belongings than they realised they owned. Neither of them enjoyed unpacking particularly, but Sylvie thought it best to get it over and done with.

"Ok" Antonio said. "But only if we can build a fort when we're done."

Sylvie laughed. "Deal."

"But not now" Antonio said, leaning down to kiss Sylvie lightly on her neck the way she liked. It had the desired effect, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. "The weather is beautiful, we should enjoy it. Let's go somewhere."

Sylvie was wise to his tactics, but she didn't fight it. "Where?"

Antonio's kisses moved from her neck to her collar bone while his hands around her waist found their way under her shirt. "I don't know, anywhere that's outside in the sunshine."

Sylvie tilted her head to one side, her eyes still closed. Her body tingled at Antonio's touch. "We could just stay here" she said quietly.

"Mmm" Antonio said. It wasn't an answer, or a protest. With Sylvie's body pressed against his he was having a hard time forming coherent thoughts.

There was a rapid thudding noise that came closer and louder as Eva bolted down the stairs. "Sylvie" she called. "I found a dress."

Antonio stopped what he was doing immediately. There was nothing like his teenage daughter shouting ten feet away to kill the mood. Sylvie looked at the frustrated look of longing on his face and sighed too. She couldn't pretend she wasn't enjoying where this was going.

"I should go" Sylvie said. "You stay here."

"I'm not going to sneak around in my own house" Antonio protested, but Sylvie indicated the pile of half folded laundry with a slight smirk and Antonio didn't argue. Sylvie opened the door and left Antonio to it.

Eva was on the back porch with her laptop when Sylvie walked through the kitchen and into the midday sunshine. "What are you shouting about?" she asked, "I thought we found your dresses?"

Sylvie took a moment to glance up to check on the twins. Diego sat with the boys on a blanket on the lawn constructing colourful towers with building blocks. At least, that's what he trying to do. Matteo was more interested in chewing one, and Gabriel had discovered to his delight and Diego's annoyance, that banging them together loudly was much more fun.

Eva set her laptop down on the garden table and looked at Sylvie with wide, excited eyes. She shook her head. "Not for me and Aunt Gabby, for you. Look."

Sylvie turned her attention back to Eva, who tilted the screen so Sylvie could see. Sylvie cupped her hands over her eyes to keep out the glare from the sun and bent down to get a better look. The browser window Eva had open was for a vintage wedding boutique and the dress that had got Eva so excited was simply stunning. Eva saw the look on Sylvie's face and grinned.

"Right? I knew you'd like it."

"It's gorgeous."

"What have you got there?"

Antonio appeared in the kitchen door way and Eva slammed her laptop closed. "Dad, stop it. It's bad luck for the groom to see the dress."

A bemused look crossed Antonio's face. "Even a picture?"

Eva glared at her father. "Yes."

"I'm free tomorrow, we could go down and take a look." Sylvie said. Actually, she was free most days. It was a good job this wedding was taking up so much of her time, she thought she might go mad from boredom otherwise. Of course, she loved being home with her boys, everyone had told her to savour every moment of time when they're little because it will be over before you know it. But Sylvie wasn't very good at sitting around. She missed work, and she missed adult company when Antonio was at work himself.

"Great." Eva pulled out her cell phone. "I'll call the store and ask them to hold it." She scooped up her laptop and headed back into the house. Antonio and Sylvie smiled at each other before walking down the steps from the porch.

"What's all that noise for?" Antonio asked Gabriel, diving onto the blanket and seizing his son with both hands. He lifted him into the air and the baby squealed with delight. "Are you gonna be a drummer in a rock band?"

"Not if I have any say" Sylvie replied to Antonio, lying down on the blanket beside Matteo and propping herself up on her elbow. She rubbed him on his back and kissed his soft cheek. He reached his little arms to Sylvie, both offering her the slightly soggy building block and begging for a cuddle. She wrapped her free arm around his body and pulled him close to hers.

Diego abandoned his tower half built and leant back, his hands on the grass behind him. "I'm starving. What's for lunch?"

"Not a lot honestly. I haven't been to the grocery store yet."

"Let's go out to eat" Antonio said, putting Gabe down in the middle of the blanket.

Sylvie was reluctant. "I'd rather stay here. We can order take out?" She looked at Antonio pleadingly. After the hectic morning she'd had, Sylvie was enjoying relaxing at home.

She was pleased how quickly the house had begun to feel like her home. Even though there were still boxes everywhere and they hadn't done any decorating themselves, the moment they had walked through the front door after finalising the purchase, Sylvie knew that she could be happy here with her family. Besides, a home was more than the building itself or the furniture within, it was the people who lived inside that made a home. Sylvie knew intrinsically that wherever she lived with Antonio and the twins would feel like home. Eva and Diego were just a bonus.

Laura had postponed her job for six months in the end, to give the kids time to finish out the school year, but Eva and Diego were both so furious at her for causing such an upset in the first place that they chose to live with Antonio anyway. Sylvie was angry too at first. Not at Antonio's kids, not even at Laura really, she was angry in an indefinable stubborn way, like the universe wouldn't let them catch a break.

Sylvie was roused from her thoughts by Antonio's hand on her arm. He had placed Gabriel back down, giggling, in the centre of the blanket and sat down himself. "Go and see what your sister wants to eat" he said to Diego. "And bring back some takeout menus."

"It's all online now Dad" Diego said, standing up.

Antonio watched his son jog back to the house and rolled his eyes before turning back to Sylvie. "Are you ok?" he asked her, spotting the faraway look that came over her face whenever she was daydreaming.

Sylvie smiled warmly. "Yes, I'm great." She pushed herself up into a sitting position and lifted Matteo onto her lap. Gabriel had rolled off the blanket onto the grass and was lying on his belly, playing curiously with a handful of grass.

"Don't even think about eating that, buddy." Antonio said, and pulled him back, lifting him onto his own lap.

Antonio had to admit that he wouldn't mind staying here for the rest of the day either. He closed his eyes and tilted his face to the sun, enjoying the warmth on his face. If he never had to leave this spot ever again he would be happy. He loved his job and he was good at it, and could be as ambitious career-wise as anybody, but when it came down to it, all he ever really wanted was to be with his family, and coming home to Sylvie and his children was the highlight of every day. "I love you" he said to Sylvie.

The surprise of his statement caught Sylvie off guard. Not the words themselves or the feeling behind them. She knew Antonio loved her, she felt it every time they were together, but the fact that he said it. When they had first bed he had been somewhat closed off with his feelings, but something had changed and he often came out with sentiment like this, unprompted. "I love you" she replied, "what brought this on?"

"Nothing. I felt like telling you, that's all."

Sylvie leant forward as far as she could, which wasn't that far with a baby on her lap, but Antonio did too and they were just about able to share a kiss. "I like hearing it" she whispered.

"Tacos!"

Diego, as tactful as ever was walking back towards them carrying Eva's laptop. Eva trailed behind him. He sat down on the blanket, oblivious.

Antonio and Sylvie both laughed at his timing. Trying to share a prolonged intimate moment with four children in the house, all of them wanting attention, was impossible. But the momentary look they shared before getting back to the business of ordering lunch made it obvious that they'd get back to it later.

"Sounds good to me" Antonio said.

Eva sat down too, grinning at her baby brothers and taking Matty's pudgy little hand when he reached towards her. He strained against Sylvie's grip and she released him. Eva quickly gathered him into her arms.

Suddenly, there was a piercing scream. The afternoon's bliss was shattered. The sound came from Sylvie's left and she immediately snapped her head in the direction of the woman's scream. Antonio, Eva and Diego also turned. Even the babies were silent, startled by the sudden noise.

Sylvie jumped up, her first responder instincts kicking in. She ran to the porch to look over the fence. Next door's yard was empty, but two doors down she could make out the top of a woman's head. Her cries seemed louder now that Sylvie could see where they were coming from.

She hadn't noticed Antonio beside her until he heard him call to Eva and Diego to watch the twins, and together they left the porch and ran down the side of the house into the street. They found their way to the back yard blocked by a locked gate. "Stand back" Antonio said, then kicked it open. They ran down the side of their neighbour's house, their adrenaline flowing and their hearts pounding and saw straight away what had happened.

A teenage boy, maybe 16, leaned over the soaking wet unconscious body of a little girl. Water from his hair dripped into his eyes and he was struggling to check if she was breathing. The screaming woman stood rooted to the spot only a metre away, paralysed by fear. Her hand was over her mouth and her body shook with every agonised sob. Sylvie barely paid any attention to the crying, frightened woman, her full attention was on the motionless child.

When Antonio took hold of the woman's shoulders, she let out a startled cry. The act of being touched by another human being jolted her out of her paralysed state and she struggled to get free. Antonio's strong arms held her back. "Who are you? What are you doing?" Hysterical, she tried to push him away to get to her daughter.

"She's a paramedic" Antonio said, nodding towards Sylvie who was kneeling down beside the little girl. "She knows what she's doing, let her help."

Sylvie heard Antonio's words of confidence in her and fought to keep her own fear at bay. Did she know what she was doing? It had been almost a year since she'd worked in the field, she was rusty but she couldn't hesitate for a second, not when this little girl's life hung in the balance.

The boy moved aside to let Sylvie in. "She was only alone for a minute" he said, struggling to catch his breath. "She was just face down in the pool, it all happened so quickly."

Sylvie heard him speak but it was as if he was speaking from some distance away. His voice sounded faint, so focused was Sylvie on the girl in front of her. She tilted the little girl's head back and held her cheek to her mouth, watching her chest for any signs of movement, movement which didn't come. "No breath sounds" she said, to nobody in particular. She was so used to calling updates to her partner on ambulance calls that it was a hard habit to break. Next she felt for a pulse. It was there. It was weak, but it was there.

"Please, save my sister" said the boy.

"What's her name?" Sylvie asked.

"Kaitlyn. She's four. Please. It's my fault."

"What's your name?" Sylvie asked, trying to put the boy at ease. He was breathing so sharply he was in danger of hyperventilating.

"Simon."

"I'll do my best, Simon" Sylvie said, "step back and let me work."

What Sylvie wouldn't do for a heart monitor, a stethoscope or even another pair of capable hands right now. By the sixth or seventh round of CPR she looked up at Antonio helplessly. If she didn't get this girl breathing soon, even if she survived, the longer her body was without oxygen the greater the chance was that she'd sustain brain damage.

The mother's sobs were quieter now, but her body still shook in Antonio's arms, and Sylvie heard the pain in her voice and her chest tightened. She prayed a silent prayer, that she would never have to know what this mother was feeling right now. She leaned down again, resuming CPR. Two breaths followed by 30 compressions. Sylvie's arms were getting tired, but she knew she wouldn't stop. "Come on sweetie" she muttered quietly. She felt tears forming in her eyes.

Suddenly the girl started coughing violently. Water shot out of her mouth, and Sylvie quickly rolled her onto her side so she could spit it out and gasped with relief. She heard sirens coming up the street.

Kaitlyn opened her eyes, looked around with shock and began to cry. Sylvie cradled her head, hitting her back gently to help her cough up as much water as possible. "There we go" Sylvie said, soothingly, and could have cried with relief herself.

The next moments were a blur to Sylvie, as Antonio let go of the mother and she ran, distraught towards her daughter. Sylvie backed away as the ambulance crew came to take over, wiping sweat from her forehead. Antonio was by her side and he gently lifted her to her feet. They stood in silence, watching the trolley being wheeled away and the little girl's mother and brother run behind.

As quickly as the drama had begun, it was all over, and Sylvie and Antonio were left alone standing in their neighbour's garden. Antonio had his arm around Sylvie's shoulders and she leaned heavily on him, all her energy gone. With one hand, he rubbed her back comfortingly, and with the other, brushed a strand of sweat soaked hair from her forehead before planting a kiss there.

"Nice work" he said, turning to look into Sylvie's eyes. "What a way to meet the neighbours, eh?"

Sylvie burst into tears.


That night, Sylvie sat on the edge of the bed staring out the window when Antonio returned from the bathroom. She was calmer now, and the multitude of thoughts that had been racing around her brain since the accident that afternoon had slowed and she'd had a chance to process them. When Antonio sat down beside her she offered him a timid smile.

"You were amazing today" he said, taking her hand. "The way you stayed calm and saved that little girl was incredible."

Sylvie let out an ironic laugh. "I didn't feel calm" she admitted. "I was terrified. All I kept thinking was what if it was Matty or Gabriel lying there."

"Shh" Antonio soothed, holding her. He didn't offer her any more words of comfort. The truth was that as he stood there watching Sylvie try to revive the girl, the same thought had entered his mind. This was what being a parent was about. You never stopped worrying about your children, never stopped anticipating everything that could go wrong. He always suspected it was different for mothers, but of course he could never know. He just wished he could do something to shield Sylvie from those feelings but he knew he never could.

"We'll stop by the hospital tomorrow" Antonio continued. "Check on Kaitlyn and Simon and Rachel." Sylvie looked up. She hadn't known that was the woman's name. "She'll be ok."

Sylvie nodded slowly. "I used to deal with stuff like this every day" she said, looking down at her lap. "But today was so much harder than I remember. But the feeling I had when she started breathing again…" Sylvie paused, trying to find the right word, but discovered that she couldn't. "It was indescribable. I miss it Antonio. I think after the wedding I'd like to go back to work."

Antonio hugged her. The pride he felt for his wife to be just then was overwhelming. Helping those in need was such a huge part of who Sylvie was, and watching her work reminded Antonio of all of the reasons he had fallen in love with her. Every patient she treated as if they we someone she knew. She opened her heart to every single one. Sylvie was tough, he knew that, but every police officer, firefighter or paramedic, no matter how tough, needed a shoulder to cry on sooner or later. When the emotions got too much for her, Antonio would be there to hold her up, as he knew she would do for him.

Sylvie was quiet. Antonio lifted her chin gently with his index finger. She smiled sadly, reluctant to share her fear, but in the end Antonio's worried look prompted her to speak. "I never intended to be a stay at home mom. I love my job. But am I letting the boys down by wanting more?"

"You could never let them down. They're lucky to have you as a mother. They'll grow up seeing you help other people doing a job you love."

Antonio leant down and kissed Sylvie, while his hands worked their way up into her hair. He cradled her head, pulling her closer. Sylvie didn't fight it, but also wasn't as hungry for it as she had been earlier in the day. She was still thinking about the little girl she had saved. Antonio felt her reluctance and pushed no further. "She'll be fine" he said again, knowing what must be playing on Sylvie's mind. Although of course he couldn't know that for certain, he felt like he needed to say it.

Sylvie exhaled heavily, realising for the first time how much the afternoon had taken out of her. Before she got pregnant, calls involving children were always the hardest ones, especially the truly life-threatening cases, but now she was a mother she knew they would be infinitely harder. But rather than discouraging her from going back to work, it made her more determined. If she had the skills and the knowledge to save somebody's life, she owed it to them and to their loved ones to not waste it.

"I just need to sleep" Sylvie said. "I'll be alright in the morning." She closed her eyes and lay back on the bed. She was just drifting off, Antonio stroking her hair soothingly, when the baby monitor crackled to life and soft whimpering that would quickly turn into full blown wails if not tended to soon, could be heard through the speaker.

"Don't move, I've got this" Antonio said. He planted a soft kiss on Sylvie's forehead before she felt his weight lift off the mattress.

Five minutes later, both babies fast asleep, Antonio crept quietly back into the bedroom to find Sylvie also sleeping soundly. He covered her over with the quilt and climbed into bed beside her, turning out the light.