Dawson walked Erin to the maternity ward where a nice young midwife saw them immediately. Erin had calmed herself somewhat but started to worry again when the midwife requested a doctors opinion. While they waited for the doctor they were escorted into a room where Erin was asked to fill out admission papers.

"Erin, how are you today?" The doctor asked looking at his notes for her name.

"Fine, I hope, I'm not really sure what's happening" Erin answered honestly.

"And you're thirty-four weeks?" He asked.

"Yes" She confirmed, if the baby was born today it would be 5 weeks and 6 days early. She didn't really know what that meant as far as its chances of being healthy.

"Okay, we'll get a fetal heart rate monitor going and see how baby is doing" He said gesturing for the midwife to do it. The baby's heart rate was established as just below the expected rate and the doctor left giving the midwife specific instructions.

"I'm going to be back in a little while to check again, are you alright here?" The midwife asked, Erin appreciated the level of genuine concern in her voice.

"Yes, thank you" Erin answered still struggling to come to terms with how quickly things had unfolded.

"I'm going to go call Boden, he'll get Severide here pretty quickly" Dawson said, she had played the silent observer since their arrival at the hospital.

"No, I don't want to worry him, things aren't moving very quickly" Erin said fighting not to let Dawson see she was having another contraction. They were ten to twenty minutes apart leaving plenty of time for Kelly to finish at the fire and arrive safely.

"Are you sure?" Dawson asked knowing that these things were highly unpredictable, it could be minutes or hours before anything happened, there was no way of knowing.

"I don't want him to worry" She reiterated, she knew how awful it felt to rush to hospital and she didn't want him to be unnecessarily concerned.

"Okay" Dawson agreed before taking a moment to inspect the equipment in the room, if this was just a standard room she couldn't wait to see the gear they had in the actual delivery room. It appeared they were prepared for any and every eventuality. Erin used the silence to contemplate the situation, she didn't want to have the baby today, or this week, or even this month. She wanted more time to prepare herself. She knew she was only causing herself unnecessary stress. It wasn't something she could control, the baby would arrive on its own terms.

"How's it going?" The midwife asked upon her return.

"Good" Erin said, at least if she kept a positive attitude outwardly she could pretend to be alright.

"We'll just see what baby's up to" The midwife said using the heart rate monitor. Erin knew something was wrong as soon as she heard the baby's heartbeat, it was considerably slower than it had been only minutes earlier. The midwife didn't hesitate to press the emergency help button and time sped again as she was wheeled straight to the delivery room. Dawson stayed at Erin's side the entire time.

"We're going to give you an injection to speed things up a bit, we need the baby out now" An older midwife said, Erin nodded dumbly seriously regretting not calling Kelly.

"I'll call him" Dawson said once the rush of hospital staff subsided slightly.

"Thank you" Erin managed.

"Erin you need to tell us when you're having contractions" The midwife in charge said after a few minutes of waiting for the injection to kick in.

"Sorry" Erin apologised, she had been trying to focus on breathing. The contractions were increasingly intense and much more frequent as well.

"He's on his way" Dawson confirmed, hoping that Kelly would arrive before the baby. Erin couldn't have cared less about the midwives, doctors and nurses poking and prodding her. All she focused on was taking one breath after another. She signalled the midwife with her hand during each contraction but was otherwise completely self absorbed, determined to get the baby out as quickly as possible. It wasn't long before the midwife broke her trance and instructed her to push with the next contraction. It took a few attempts to perfect but soon enough things were progressing rapidly. If Kelly didn't arrive soon he was going to miss it, she couldn't stop though, the baby stood the best chance once born. Dawson took Kelly's place without hesitation, completely in her element, and did her best to support Erin, sacrificing her hand.

"Where is he?" Erin questioned in the lull between contractions.

"I don't know" Dawson answered.

"He promised" Erin said before turning her effort again to the task at hand.

"He should be here" Dawson replied.

"I need him" Erin said channelling her frustration to get the baby moving.

"One more like that" The midwife demanded. Erin obliged and just as the baby was finally born the door swung open. Erin realised that the baby had already inherited it's fathers ability to make an entrance. Kelly took of his jacket and helmet handing them to Dawson as he wiped soot from his face.

"I'm so sorry" He said keeping his eyes fixed firmly on Erin. She nodded before breaking eye contact to see what was happening with the baby. It was tiny, bright pink, and silent. The midwife cut the umbilical cord and handed the limp infant to a doctor. The doctor took it almost roughly and rushed it into the huddle of other medical practitioners. They worked on it as minutes dragged on, Erin had never been more conscious of every single second passing. After what felt like an eternity the baby let out a tiny cry, gaining confidence in it's new-found ability it did it again getting louder. Kelly moved to see get a better view of the baby, it was now crying and moving. The midwife wrapped it carefully before handing it over to him.

"It's a girl" The midwife informed, one of the joys of her job was the look of pure amazement in the eyes of new parents. Kelly took a moment to take in every tiny detail of his daughters face, blue eyes with the finest eyelashes, a tiny nose, small, soft cheeks and a mouth with bright red lips. She was absolutely perfect. He was filled with a feeling he could only describe as love followed by a surge of gratitude. Walking slowly, after all the most precious thing in the world was in his arms, he made his way to Erin who waited patiently enjoying the calm of watching.

"She's perfect" He said carefully handing the baby to her mother.

"She really is" Erin said after a moment.

"You're amazing" Kelly replied taking a moment to appreciate Erin's efforts.

"I made her" Erin announced still finding it hard to fathom, she had made a whole human in the same amount of time it took to bust an international drug ring.

"You did" He agreed leaning across to kiss the perfect mother of his perfect child. They remained completely transfixed on their baby, she was tiny and wrinkly but at the same time the most beautiful thing they had ever seen.

"I just need to check her" The paediatrician said looking down at the baby.

"Sure" Erin said holding the baby out so that the doctor could assess her.

"We've given her an injection to help her lungs mature. She seems to be doing pretty well so I'll let you keep her for now" The paediatrician said with a smile. "Just keep an eye on this, if it drops below ninety tell the nurse" She added indicating the pulse oximeter she had attached to the baby's foot.

"Okay, thank you" Erin replied knowing the doctor could just as easily have demanded the baby be taken away and monitored more closely. They kept her tiny foot poking out from the blanket so they could keep a close eye on her oxygen levels. It wasn't until they left the delivery room that Erin realised she'd completely forgotten Dawson. "Dawson, come have a look" Erin said once they were settled in the room.

"No, I should go" Dawson responded quickly feeling like she was intruding.

"Don't be silly" Kelly replied with a look Dawson knew well, determination, she didn't fight it instead moving closer to admire the baby.

"Thank you" Erin said knowing Dawson didn't have to have stayed with her. Dawson shrugged of the gratitude instead turning attention back to the baby.

"You have some visitors" the nurse said upon entering the room.

"Is Hank here?" Erin asked before realising the nurse had no way of distinguishing the visitors apart.

"I'll go see" Kelly said leaving the room to check. He arrived back with Hank a few minutes later.

"Good job kid" Hank said after a quick glance at the baby.

"Everyone's out there, anyone in particular you want to see?" Kelly asked after giving Erin and her father figure a few moments alone.

"All of them" Erin announced, she wanted everyone to see her perfect daughter. Her statement lost momentum when she saw the look on Hank's face. "What?" She asked knowing she was being left out of the loop.

"Did you call your mum?" Hank asked.

"No, why would I do that?" Erin replied.

"Well I don't know how she found out but she's here, and she wants to see you" He informed her.

"Take her" Erin said handing the baby to Severide she promptly got up and headed for the door.

"Erin, don't" Hank said stepping between her and the door.

"I just want to talk to her" She said trying to sidestep around him.

"I'll tell her to leave" He offered shifting to block her.

"Move" Erin insisted. Hank stepped aside letting her out into the hallway, she followed the familiar voices and found the waiting room. Jay spotted her and gave her a confused look. As soon as her mother saw her she pounced.

"Oh darling, congratulations!" She said throwing herself at Erin for a hug, Erin simply extended her arm deflecting the advance entirely.

"We need to talk" Erin said moving out of the waiting room away from the intrigued stares of her visitors.

"Erin" Her mother said pleadingly.

"I don't know why you're here. I don't need you in my life and I don't want you you in my life, please go" Erin told the woman who had let her down too many times to deserve a chance.

"Erin, I'm your family" Her mother replied resolutely.

"All of those people in there are my family" Erin said gesturing to the combination of police and firemen in the waiting room. "You aren't" Erin finished before returning to her room. Hank stood at the door, he'd been keeping a close eye on her.

"Sorted?" He asked as she passed him.

"Yes" She said getting back into the bed. Kelly handed her the baby still slightly confused as to what had just happened. As soon as her mother had left Erin invited everyone into her room. Baby Severide was passed around meeting plenty of 'aunts' and 'uncles'. The nurse was less than pleased with the mass of people but didn't bother to comment.

"So when are you starting work again?" Jay joked approaching Erin after waiting his turn, holding the baby and passing her on.

"I have to bust out of here first" Erin replied, he didn't think for a moment that she was being serious.

"End of the week then?" He pressed.

"Of course" She agreed.

"Erin, how much does she weigh?" Herrmann interrupted.

"Four pound six" Erin answered before turning to see that Jay had moved off to talk with Antonio. Erin looked around the room, things had not gone at all to plan but she couldn't help but think this was better. "Make your own" She teased watching Dawson show Casey the baby.

"Here you go" Dawson said handing Baby Severide back to her mother. After a brief chat Erin had an announcement to make.

"First I'd like to thank you all for coming" Erin started "I would also like to invite you all to Molly's on Friday night to celebrate Baby Severide's arrival" There was a soft cheer, they had already been told to keep quiet by a grumpy old midwife. They started to leave, slowly at first then in a great rush. For the first time it was just Kelly, Erin and the baby in the room.

"We have to come up with a name" He said looking down at his daughter.

"You don't like Baby Severide?" She asked with a laugh.

"I love baby Severide but she needs a name" He said loving the way her tiny hand held the tip of his finger.

"I've already worked it out" Erin said triumphantly.

"Really what?" He asked eagerly.

"You'll find out on Friday night" She replied loving the way his forehead creased as he frowned.

Hope you liked it and thank you for continuing to read and review :D I'm still not a doctor so it's all nonsense, beautiful Linseride nonsense! The best birthday presents you can give me are reviews :D