Notes: The song quoted is Danny's Song by Kenny Loggins. I got the idea for having Benny play it when I remembered Treat Williams playing an acoustic guitar and singing on the premiere episode of Everwood about a hundred years ago…and I'm not sure if anyone's old enough to remember him in Hair…
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June 2016—Two Years of Wedded Bliss
June 21, 2016…Kelly and Alyssa's second wedding anniversary.
That called for a celebration.
It had been a little tense around the house in the past month…and Kelly in particular was looking forward to a little relaxation.
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Jonny DiNardo had moved into the downstairs guest room when he was finally released from Lakeshore. Not that there were a whole lot of choices…just a couple of halfway houses…and Kelly and Alyssa had taken one look at those and said 'no thank-you'.
Jonny didn't need to be with a bunch of recovering addicts and sometime felons. But there were a few moments around the Severide house.
The first one was when Kelly had gotten Jonny a job down at the firehouse answering phones and doing office work. It was really a perfect fit…it wasn't full time, so it left plenty of wiggle room for Jonny's therapy sessions. It gave him a little walking around money…and Kelly could serupticiously keep an eye out for him. But Jonny still felt awkward around the team…he was sure they were looking at him and remembering the night he tried to end it all.
It took separate talks with both Alyssa and Kelly to make him understand that it wasn't all about him.
Kelly had told him gently…but truthfully…how many calls the firefighters can get in just one shift…they couldn't possibly remember all the people they had helped save. And what's more…the only ones who knew the whole story were him…Shay, Dawson, Mills, Casey…and Chief. As far as the rest of them knew, he was just an old friend of Alyssa's who was going through a rough time.
And Lyssa had spelled it out. She and Kelly were there for Jonny…he was welcome in their home and as a part of their family…but he had to get on with his life. He couldn't hide in the house and feel sorry for himself…he had to help himself. And that meant getting into a routine, getting out, interacting with people. Alyssa told him she was proud of him for the steps he'd made thus far…getting out of the hospital, making peace with Kelly, getting to know the twins. But he had to keep pushing forward.
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There were also little moments when having another adult in the house was not always convenient…
One night Kelly had come into the kitchen late at night…the twins were asleep…Jonny was in his room with the door shut…and Lyssa was putting the last of the cookies she'd made in their containers.
Kelly stood in the doorway watching his wife as she stretched to put the container atop the cabinet…far, far…far out of the reach of curious little fingers…and little bodies that were beginning to climb like monkeys. Particularly the one that was like a bottomless pit when it came to food.
He silently came up behind her and took the container from her hand…turning her to face him. He ran his hands through her long brown curls and over her shoulders, down her back, bringing them to rest around her tiny waist.
Alyssa was so small…barely five feet…hardly more than a hundred pounds…and Kelly lifted her easily up onto the kitchen counter. Once they were more on an even keel…he leaned down to kiss her deeply…allowing his hands to once again roam over every inch of her.
And she responded in kind…her hands sliding up under the t-shirt that was molded to her husband like a second skin…her legs wrapping around his waist as he pulled her closer.
But the moment was shattered into a million pieces when they heard a startled gasp from the kitchen door and as they reluctantly tore themselves from one another saw a flash darting back into the guest room and slamming the door behind it.
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Kelly was angry as he stomped off to compose himself…and Alyssa went to Jonny's room.
He turned on the shower and stripped down. As the water ran over him, he tried to reign in his anger and frustration. It was his house, damn it…and this wasn't the first time Jonny had walked in on him and Alyssa during a private moment.
Downstairs Alyssa felt like she was confronting a child.
"Jonny…he's my husband. What's so shocking about a man and his wife having a moment together?
"In the kitchen?" Jonny wailed.
"Or the living room…or the laundry room…whatever…" Alyssa said. "Do I need to remind you of all the places we got caught?"
"That was different…we…at least I wanted to get caught…that was all part of the game!"
"Well, this is no game…I'm sorry if it bothers you…but Kelly and I have a very…healthy…relationship."
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Kelly heard the bedroom door close…and moments later the bathroom door opened.
Then he felt hands slide across his back and shoulders.
He didn't move.
"Kelly…please don't be angry…"
But he was.
"Kelly…please…" she whispered.
The desperation in her voice made him turn around…and take her in his arms.
He was mad…but not at her. Alyssa was the most kind-hearted, loving person he'd ever known. And he knew she was walking a tightrope too…trying to help her friend and still keep their life running normally.
"I love you…" she whispered. "I love you so much…"
He took a deep breath…and just let it all go.
"I know you do, Baby. I know. And I love you."
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Kelly was hosing down the patio set…so it would have plenty of time to dry before everyone showed up looking to eat…
He loved that everyone got together at his place…but he was seriously gonna have to start charging the guys for groceries. Alyssa's phenomenal cooking skills coupled with her Italian tendency to over prepare made for some heart stopping grocery bills.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he jumped when he heard a horn behind him.
And he turned around to see Casey putting his truck in park.
"Aren't you a little early?"
Casey got out of the cab and looked at his watch…
"Only about seven hours…." He said.
He started pulling back the tarp from the bed.
"Whatcha got?" Severide asked him.
Casey shrugged.
"Just a little something I been working on…consider it an anniversary present. Some assembly required…"
Kelly laughed and turned off the hose.
They started hauling pieces out of the truck…and Casey surveyed the yard to find a good spot to set it up.
It was a climbing gym he had designed…to look like Truck 81. It had a fiberglass slide down the back and ladders up the sides…knobs and gauges and valves that actually turned…a pretend hose…and a cab with a steering wheel and a bell.
Kelly went into the garage to grab his tool box and he and Matt got started…some assembly required.
"You know…most people get an anniversary present for the couple…" Kelly quipped. "Not the couple's kids."
Casey smacked his palm to his forehead.
"Oh…that's right! Oh well, maybe Andy and Jesse'll let you play with it…"
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They worked in silence for a while…
"So…uh…how's things going with the houseguest?" Casey asked.
Kelly shrugged.
"Up and down…kinda sucks how he knows Lyssa better than I do in some ways. Sometimes it's like the two of them have their own language."
And that language was music…usually connected to some song.
Kelly had known Alyssa and Jonny were in choir and swing choir together…and they did some plays in high school. But he never knew that they used to sing in her brother Joey's garage band…or that they had performed together all over the city.
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The team started arriving…and so did four of Alyssa's five brothers and their families. They never saw her brother Jimmy…his wife Roxanne would never lower herself to come to a backyard BBQ…especially coming into the city…where all the robbers and rapists and gangbangers lived. Whatever…they were missing a good time.
Joey also brought his best friend Jason Biscan. Jason had been in the band with Lyssa and Jonny…and right off the bat, Kelly didn't like him.
More specifically…he didn't like the way the guy was eyeing his wife. While Kelly was lighting the grill he watched Jason flirting with Alyssa. She was uncomfortable, he could tell. And she kept taking a few steps back to put a more respectable distance between them. But the guy didn't get the hint.
Jonny came out with the meat…
"Here…this should be enough to get started…" he said.
Then he noticed the distracted look on Kelly's face. He followed his host's gaze…
Ahhh…
"Jason, Jason, Jason…some things never change." Jonny said, shaking his head.
Kelly looked up.
"What's the deal with this guy?"
"He's had a thing for Lyssa I think since he hit puberty….and subtlety was never in his repertoire. I had to call him out a bunch of times. You see how well that worked out." Jonny told him.
"Well, I'm about ten seconds away from throwing his ass outta my house." Kelly said.
"I'd offer to help…but you've prob'ly got everything under control."
Across the yard, Jason took another step closer to Alyssa…and she was running out of escape room.
"You can hold the door." Kelly said to Jonny.
"You got a deal…" Jonny replied.
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Everyone was having a good time, filling plate after plate with the good food Alyssa had made.
Andy and Jesse and their cousins, Declan, Aiden, and Connor were having a ball playing on the new fire engine Uncle Matt had built.
Kelly just looked out at his friends and family…hanging out on a beautiful day, laughing and eating and drinking…this was exactly the way he had wanted to spend the day.
Alyssa came up to him…
"You want anything, Baby?" she asked.
Out of the corner of his eye Kelly caught Jason checking Alyssa out…and he reached out for her hand and drew his wife into his lap.
"I do want something…" he said, pitching his voice so only she could hear him. "But we got a house full of people right now…"
Alyssa smiled as she curled up in his arms.
"Well, it just so happens…I do have a special anniversary gift for you later."
Kelly kissed her…and gave her a wicked smile…
"I can't wait."
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Later, Alyssa's brothers and Jonny brought out the guitars…
As Jonny tuned the twelve string that had belonged to Alyssa, and Mark picked up her old six string…Leslie lifted Andy up into her lap.
The little boy was practically falling asleep…he'd run himself out.
Jesse wobbled over to Uncle Matt and tried to climb up into his lap.
Casey lifted him high in the air.
"Where're you goin', Mister?" he asked."
"Uppy…" Jesse answered.
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From over his shoulder Kelly heard someone coming.
"I heard there was a party 'round here…"
He turned his head to see his father coming up the drive.
"Hey, Pop…"
Benny came into the yard…and rocked uncomfortably on his heels as he eyed the guests…his gaze coming to rest on Chief Boden and then on Peter Mills…
Kelly rolled his eyes in exasperation.
His dad really needed to get over himself.
"Grab a plate, Dad…" he said.
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Instruments tuned, Jonny strummed a couple chords…
"Play Lyssa's song…" Jason called out.
Jonny's expression hardened.
He didn't know who Jason was trying to score points with…but it wasn't working.
Jonny turned to Kelly. He raised his eyebrows in a question.
"You mind?"
"Go ahead…" Kelly told him.
So Jonny began to play… "Brown Eyed Girl"…and Joey, Nicky and Mark joined in.
He had to admit…the impromptu concert was nice. What really surprised him, though, was how good Alyssa and Jonny sounded together.
He'd heard Alyssa sing…around the house, in the car with the radio and he thought she was good…but now he could see how good.
Another surprise was how much his dad was enjoying the music.
"What? This is my era…" Benny said when Kelly made the comment.
They were playing all the songs from the 70's… "Sweet Home Alabama"… "Take It Easy"… "Midnight Rider"…and "Feel Like Makin' Love".
"Hey…can I borrow that?" Benny asked Mark.
Mark handed him the six string…and Benny fingered a couple chords…
"Since when do you play guitar Pop?" Kelly asked.
Benny strummed a chord…
"How do you think I hooked your mother? With a pike pole?"
He began to play…
"This was your mom's favorite…" he told Kelly.
People smile and tell me I'm the lucky one
And we've just begun, think I'm gonna have a son…
Kelly didn't miss the smiles that Alyssa and Jonny shot one another.
Like he'd said…their own language.
But Lyssa snuggled into his arms and softly sang the chorus into his ear.
And any anger and resentment he had melted away.
And even though we ain't got money…I'm so in love with you, Honey
Everything will bring a chain of love
And in the mornin' when I rise, bring a tear of joy to my eye
And tell me everything's gonna be all right.
Benny was lost in the music…and in his memories. But Kelly couldn't help but think that this old song could have been written for him and Alyssa.
…Now I smile and face a girl who shares my name
I'm through with the game…this boy'll never be the same.
Jonny and Joey had come in on their guitars…and as Benny got to the last chorus, Alyssa and Jonny came in with the harmony…
And even though we ain't got money…I'm so in love with you, Honey
Everything will bring a chain of love
And in the mornin' when I rise, bring a tear of joy to my eye
And tell me everything's gonna be all right.
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But the party had to come to an end eventually…and Kelly finally had his confrontation with Jason when he caught the guy practically leering at Alyssa as she took a sleeping Jesse from Matt.
When she and Leslie carried the boys into the house to put them in bed Kelly came up behind his brother-in-law's old friend.
"You like what you see? 'Cause she's taken…"
Jason whirled around in complete surprise.
He couldn't mistake the dark look on Kelly's face.
"Don't you think it's maybe just a little disrespectful to be checkin' out another man's wife? Especially when he's standin' right here?"
"C'mon…" Jason stammered. "I've known Lyssa since she got her first training bra!"
Like that made it okay?
"I don't give a fuck…" Kelly growled. "I know you noticed she's not wearing one now…"
He took a step closer to the guy…
"She's my wife…and you're not comin' into my house and actin' like that doesn't matter!"
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Apparently Jason got the message…'cause he high tailed it out of there right away.
Jonny was folding chairs and breaking down tables with the rest of the guys from the firehouse.
"Everything okay?" he asked Kelly in a low voice.
Kelly looked toward the street…and he heard a car peeling down the street.
" I should've just hit him. It'd make me feel a helluva lot better…"
"I'm sure you'll have better luck than I did…" Jonny said. "All I got was a sprained wrist for my troubles."
Kelly chuckled. Jonny definitely wasn't the fighting kind…
"Well, I can always hit him once for you too…or you can start workin' out with me and the guys at the house. We'll whip you into shape in no time."
A look of pure horror crossed Jonny's face.
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After everyone was gone…and the boys were safely in their cribs…and Jonny was holed up in his room…Kelly shut the bedroom door.
He moved up silently behind Alyssa…wrapping his arms around her and folding himself around her tiny frame.
"Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Severide…" he whispered.
She turned to face her husband.
"Happy Anniversary, Kelly…"
He pulled her flush against him…letting her know exactly what was on his mind.
"I think you promised me a special anniversary present…"
She smiled.
"I did…didn't I."
And she took him by the hand and led him to their bed.