Kelly walked into Molly's and looked around and saw that Erin was sitting on his left gazing at the door. Erin stood up and smiled brightly as Kelly closed the space between them. The two greeted each other with a warm hug that lasted for a while before the broke and the both took seats at the table that Erin already occupied.

"You look great." Kelly smiled at Erin warmly as he thought of the time they had spent together as a couple.

"Keli, thanks. It's been a while you know." Erin measured her words carefully. She knew that Kelly had been very serious with a nurse who had passed away from cancer. Erin also knew Kelly well enough that he was serious since it took a lot for him to get close to people. She and Kelly were two of a kind in how they focused on their careers, took risks and thumbed a middle finger to playing things safely.

Kelly's blue eyes surveyed Erin and answered and a more subdued tone, "Yeah it has been a while. So Casey says that you are leaving Chicago to go work in New York. I thought you were pretty set with Voight and his crew and Jay."

Erin nodded and carefully sipped her beer trying to think about how to answer his round about probe of the reason she had left. Then answered Kelly, "It's complicated Kel. It involves my mom and some obligations that I have to her. Besides recently, someone close to me told me to go and don't look back. It feels the right time to move on to get a fresh start. She left the subject of Jay untouched since she was still sorting all of her feelings out about leaving him behind."

Kelly held up his index finger and said, "Hold that thought, I am going to go grab something to drink. I'll be right back. With that sentence Kelly rose and strode toward the bar where Stella and Otis were tending bar. Otis was busy taking a group order so Kelly walked to ask Stella for a drink.

"Hey Kidd can I get a club soda with a twist of lime."

Stella looked at him and smirked before commenting on his drink order, "Since when do you come in here and order no alcohol? You on some kind of meds for an std or something?"

Kelly rolled his eyes and answered, "Stella, not tonight. I have an appointment that's important and I want to be up early."

Stella instantly felt dumb about her flippant answer, "Sorry, you know with everything being so serious I just thought I should crack a joke. It's just been hard. I go back next shift but I feel like unsure and jittery. You know what I mean."

They locked eyes and Kelly's hand closed over Kidd's hand and his voice dropped low and more intimate. "It's normal the first time you get hurt after getting hurt or losing another fire fighter in a blaze. You'll be fine. Just take one fire at a time and go to see someone if you need to get things off your chest. I am here as a Lieutenant too."

Stella looked over at Erin and pulled her hand away noting that Kelly had said that he would be there as her Lieutenant. She knew at that point she was wasting her time looking at Kelly as anything more than a coworker and friend. It stung but did not hurt as bad as Stella would have expected.

"Thanks Severide, I appreciate it. One club soda coming up." Stella replied as she turned her back to get his drink. Otis who was not helping anyone watched the exchange intently. Brian felt for Stella since he knew what it was like to have unrequited feelings for someone. He had long ago put Sylvie Brett and his feeling for her to rest. So he could see the sting that Stella felt when Kelly had gently given her the message that they were friends only- nothing more. He diverted his eyes and made a note to try to cheer Stella up later by inviting her to do something together.

Before long Kelly picked up his club soda and another beer for Erin and headed back to the table. When he arrived he found Erin on the phone making arrangements with some friends for a good bye party. Erin mouthed thank you to Kelly and proceeded to wrap up the call shortly after Kelly sat back down at the table.

"Some old friends are all trying to sit up some kind of good bye party. I tried to brush them off but no deal. They want to get together. I am going to have to brush them off I don't want long drawn out explanations right now, You know?" Erin shook her head in frustration as she tried to think how to get out of yet another invitation.

Kelly nodded in understanding, 'They want a party instead of just letting you leave Chicago quickly and quietly?"

Erin nodded, "The only one I have checked on a few times is Trudy. She is taking Mouch's death pretty hard. I guess she is taking a leave of absence after the funeral to see what she is going to do. She is pretty devastated about being left alone. I can't imagine."

Then Erin realized who she was talking about and what she had said as she caught a glimpse of Kelly's unguarded expression. He looked raw and tired but then smiled thinly in a veiled attempt to cover up his hurt.

Kelly looked around and nodded in the direction of the door as he spoke to Erin choking back pent up emotion, "Do you want to get out of here and go back to my place? I need some air."

Erin nodded sure as she looked toward Kelly and walked with him to the door. She needed air too. In fact, she needed the space of a million miles from all the events and her past that haunted her like a unwanted, ever present ghost.

Stella watched Kelly and Erin leave Molly's together and vowed that she was done mooning over Kelly. She needed to learn how to take care of herself not everyone else.

Behind her Stella heard Otis ask, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I am fine just a little hurt from my muscles." Stella tried to say brightly and brush off the pointed stare from Otis.

"No really Kidd. I mean Stella. Look I get it I have been there with Brett. Trust me I know how it sucks to care and have the person look right past you." Otis looked around and the bar had cleared out. He walked to the door and locked it.

"There Molly's is officially closed. Now let's drink the morning away and play some pool" Otis walked back to behind the bar and watched a confused Stella.

A small smile graced Stella's face and she said as she looked at her puzzled co-worker, "Thanks but I want more than pool or drinks. She clasped her hands behind his head and kissed him deeply."

"But, but … what about Kelly and 51 and …" Otis stammered as he broke from the kiss in surprise.

"Shut up you talk too much. Just kiss me and think about everything later." Otis and Stella kissed each other and danced to the music that played from Stella's phone. Brian and Stella slowed danced and kissed well into the morning in the empty Molly's bar. The sunlight may bring new problems but these few moments were filled with the hope of something new as they buried all of their past heartbreak with each new kiss.

Kelly did not take Erin back to his place but instead decided to drive. He turned the car radio on low and just listened as the early morning air hit their faces.

Both were buried deeply in their own thought when Erin blurted out, "Have you ever thought of leaving Chicago? I mean have you ever thought about a new start?"

Kelly kept his eyes trained on the road and paused, "Actually I have thought about it a few times. I mean I considered leaving to take a job in Springfield to be with Anna. But I knew Chicago was my city and my job and too much a part of me to leave. But lately everything reminds me of her."

"Yeah I know what you mean. So come with me…. " Erin thought glumly of leaving behind Jay but then brushed him out of her mind.

Kelly glanced over at Erin and realized she was hurting too. He had been so consumed lately with his own loss that he hadn't seen the hurt in Erin's eyes. "Maybe if you had asked me a few days ago I would have considered your offer but things are more complicated now."

Erin sounded hurt that Kelly had not even hesitated before declining her offer. "Yeah I get it."

Kelly replied as he pulled the car over into a parking lot ,"No I don't think you do. I got a call today that my ex Brittany has and son that she says was mine. His name is Jack."

Erin's eyes widened and then turned to look at Kelly shock," Wow Kelly, do you think he could be yours?"

"Truthfully I am still in shock that I could be a dad. I go to take a DNA test tomorrow to find out for sure but his age is right. I owe it to him to find out if I am his dad." Kelly shook his head as if to try and convince himself.

"Kelly I am happy for you really I am."" Erin was surprised but now felt awkward at her proposal now as they sat in the car across from each other.

Kelly reached over and leaned to turn Erin's face toward his. He let his lips meet her lips and felt that her cheek was wet. They exchanged a kiss for a few more seconds and then Kelly broke the kiss. His thumb caressed her cheek and then kissed her forehead has he brushed Erin's hair out of her face.

Erin let out a small sigh that sounded a little like a sob. "This is not how I wanted things to go. I mean I just wanted tonight to be about my new beginning in New York.'

"It's ok. I really would consider going with you. But right now Jack has to be my first priority. You know that I will always love you. You will do great in New York. "Kelly said as he tried to soothe Erin.

Erin placed one more kiss on Kelly's lips and said."Kel, I wish you luck. You will be a great dad."

All Kelly could manage to say was, "I hope so Jack has been through so much. If anyone deserves my best it is my son."

Kelly shifted and started his car and started to back out when Erin said awkwardly, "Can you take me back to my car now? I have lots of packing to do before I ship some stuff ahead of me? I have a friend who is going to help me to find a place. "

Later Kelly walked Erin to her car and they said their final goodbye's to each other. There was promises of staying in touch and going to see each other. But as Kelly watched Erin pull he knew that by him saying no to her had been a final good bye. Somehow it seemed appropriate to let her go onto find happiness in another city in a new job. Kelly looked up at the full moon that lit the parking lot outside Molly's and laughed out loud as he walked to his car"Damn, I could be a dad."