Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and Haley Reed.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews from last chapter. I'm sorry for the extremely long wait for this final chapter. A lot has been going on lately and I've been struggling with the tiniest part at the very end but I finally found it so, enjoy.
10 years later - Haley's POV
"Anabelle Herrmann and Shawn Ruzek." Herrmann bellowed, their heads looking in the direction of the voice. "Touch that and I'll cut those fingers off." Both sets of eyes became wide and they scampered away, all the adults laughing.
"Same thing different year Herrmann?" I laughed from my perch on Adam's lap, his hand resting comfortably on my thigh.
"Haven't you leaned by now that these two are trouble together?" He accused.
"I've known he was trouble all on his own when I was pregnant with him." I chuckled. "And these two have been wreaking havoc since he learned how to walk."
"Speaking of our evil spawn, where's Evan?"
"Playing dodgeball with the other kids."
"It's a whole new generation." Matt came walking from the field, one of the twins swung over his shoulder.
"Come on baby, set him down before all the blood goes to his head." Gabby stood from her seat and rushed to him, trying to put him back upright.
"It doesn't change anything mom, he's already crazy."
"Samuel Casey." She admonished. "You do not speak about your brother that way, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes mom." He looked to the ground, not wanting to get his mom angrier than she already was.
"And you, put your son back upright, now." She told Matt, her motherly tone on full display.
"Yes Ma'am." Matt quickly set Michael down and he quickly scampered off again towards the field and the kids, making everyone laugh at how quickly Matt listened to Gabby.
"We know who runs THAT house." Cruz threw over his shoulder with a chuckle as he made his way towards the BBQ.
"Be careful Cruz, there's a dirty apparatus floor with your name on it."
"Nice try lieutenant." He chuckled.
"It's chief now." Matt yelled over his shoulder, Cruz giving him a fake mortified glance.
Matt had made chief a few months back and he was lucky enough to get the spot at fifty one. He had hounded me for weeks to take the lieutenant's exam and after Boden had told him about our talk years ago, it only fueled his resolve to have me as his Lieutenant on Truck 81. And over the past decade, Kelly Severide had been sought after on more than one occasion to be at the helm of his own house but he turned them down every time, his allegiance to 51 too strong to pull him away. And of course it didn't hurt that he had found love within 51, giving him an extra reason to stay in Chicago.
Stella Kidd had come through 51 like a little tornado while I was gone on maternity leave, pregnant with Shawn, who was now eight. Of course they had had their ups and down, the two splitting up and getting back together more than once but in the end, they made it work and they were now stronger than ever. And speaking of the both of them, they came walking towards us, hand in hand.
"If it isn't our two favourite lovebirds." I smiled at them as I stood from Adam's lap. Kelly pulled me in for a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"And I can see the two of you are still glued to each other even after all these years."
"What can I say, my girl is still hot." I blushed as I looked at him, sending him a smile and him a wink my way.
"Speaking of hot." The sun hit against Kidd's hand. "Is that what I think it is?" I looked at Kelly who simply smirked as I pulled Kidd's hand in for a closer look, Gabby and Shay huddling around her too.
"He asked me this morning." She smiled broadly, sharing a loving look with Kelly, one that he reciprocated.
"I'll be damned." Matt pulled him in for a hug. "I can't believe that after all these years, you've managed to make an honest man out of him Stella."
"What can I say, it's my magnetic charm." She smirked.
"Well this deserves an extra celebration at Molly's tonight." Gabby announced, her arm wrapped around Stella's waist.
"Anything for these two lovebirds." Herrmann added.
"Want a beer babe?" I ran a hand through his hair as I stood next to him, his arm around my waist.
"Please darling." He bend down and brushed his lips against mine. With a slap to the butt and a giggle coming from me, I walked towards the tub of beer. I walked up to Severide, Newhouse and Mills who were standing by the beer tub.
"Like what you guys see?" A sudden feeling of déjà-vu washing over me.
Adam's POV
I watched as Haley walked towards the beer tub and I smiled, letting my mind bring me back almost a decade back.
I was pacing the room I had been put in at the church, nerves getting the best of me. "What's taking so long?" I growled.
"Relax Ruzek. You know how women are." Matt chuckled, Kelly at his side.
"Not funny guys."
"Breathe Adam, everything will be ok." Matt clapped his hands on my shoulders, giving me a smile. "No one is having cold feet, I can promise you that." I nodded, trying to get my breathing in check and my heart rate down.
"You saw her?" Haley had been adamant about me not seeing her the night before the wedding so I had spent the night at Kevin's apartment.
"I stopped by the house this morning and she had that goofy grin on her face."
"The one she gets when she's really excited about something." I knew exactly which one he was talking about.
"That same one. And she asked me to give you this." Matt pulled an envelope out of his inside coat pocket and handed it to me before he left with Kelly, leaving me all alone with my thoughts. I sat down and took a deep breath before I pulled the tab open and pulled the single blue sheet of paper, Haley's handwriting waiting for me.
To my future husband,
It's finally here. It's been a long road to where we are but I can finally have you to myself for the rest of our lives. I love you and I can't wait for us to be husband and wife.
I love you with all my heart
Haley
xxx
Her words spoke the truth and I couldn't wait to be able to slip the wedding band on her finger, making her mine, forever.
"We're ready dog." Kevin slipped his head through the door before fully opening it.
"So am I." I slipped the note in my jacket pocket and buttoned my coat up before following Kevin, Matt and Kelly up to the front of the altar where we waited for the music to start and Haley to appear, on her father's arm.
"Stop it, you're getting on my nerves." Kevin shook my frame a bit to get the stress away but it was only when my eyes caught Haley's at the other end of the isle that my nerves settled. The church became quiet as the music started but my eyes were only for my bride. They walked slowly in our direction, her smile everything to me. It was a smile that graced her features only when we were together. It seemed like it took forever before she was next to me, her father pulling me in for a hug before she extended her hands for me to take, the both of us with a silly grin on our faces.
"We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in wholly matrimony." It was the last line I remembered before Haley was asked to tell her vows, vows we had written ourselves.
"When I first came back home to find myself, the last thing I was expecting was to find love. And when I least expected it, it came knocking on my door. While I wasn't looking for it and never thought in a million years that I would find it so quickly, there you were. You've made me feel things I had forgotten about and given me new emotions I had never experienced before. We've had our shares of ups and downs and life's given us our fair share of till death do us part since we've been together but the love we have for each other will get us through whatever life throws our way and I'm looking forward to keep living this crazy life with you." I smiled at her and the minister nodded at me, telling me it was my turn.
"When I first met you, I had just come out of a relationship and I didn't know if going into a new one so soon was the best idea but making that first move was the first of many best decisions I've made in my life. You've been patient and forgiving on more than one occasion after all the crap I've pulled on the job. You're the rock in our relationship and that's why we've ended up here now, strong and parents of a beautiful boy. Our love will keep growing and we'll get to live an amazing life together and I can't wait to live the rest of it with you." I ran a finger along her cheek where a tear rolled out of her eye, a huge smile on her face. "I love you." I mouthed and she mouthed it in return. We exchanged wedding rings and there was only one thing left to do.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." I smirked at the words, wrapping an arm around Haley's waist and pulling her to me, not waiting another second before capturing her lips in mine, under loud applause from everyone in the church. The rest of our lives was waiting for us and I had no doubt that it would be as close to perfect as we could get.
"Hey, you're Haley right?" I walked up to the beer tub where Haley was still standing, watching the kids play. Her soft giggle made me laugh too.
"I didn't know it quite yet then but I was falling in love with you right there." She turned to face me.
"I was so nervous." I pulled her to me.
"Tell me about it." She smiled and she raised on her toes, pressing her lips to mine. "Who would have thought we'd end up here?"
"It's been one hell of a ride."
"Come on mom." We looked down to find Evan tugging on Haley's shirt. We both listened as they announced the football game.
"I'm coming." She laughed at our eldest son. We shared a kiss and I released her from my grasp. "Come on kid, let's show these people who's best." She winked at me.
"CFD!" Evan bellowed as I watched them head towards the field. I followed closely behind, grabbing Shawn with me.
"Come on squirt, let's show them what the CPD is made of." Shawn happily bounced next to me and we joined the ranks of the CPD that consisted in Kevin, Antonio, Jay and Erin along with all their brood, Diego part of the CPD now too.
"Losers pay the first round at Molly's." Haley yelled from across the field, Matt, Joe, Leslie and Peter Mills with all the kids there too.
"You're on babe." I yelled back before Voight handed the first play to us. It was a friendly game because of all the kids running around with us but it was all in good fun, pizza and drinks would be passed around at Molly's in the evening to top it all off. We had to go back home to get ready for Molly's because Shawn had gotten a few deep scrapes from the game, having wrestled with Evan at some point for the ball. Haley was in the washroom with him to fix him up.
"How's our little wrestler doing?" I poked my head through the door, Shawn perched on the counter, the first aid kid next to him.
"Mom says I'll have battle scars." He said proudly, making me laugh.
"Is that so?" I looked at Haley who shrugged.
"Some of them are pretty deep but he's being a champ." She applied a gauze to his knee and made a fresh wrapping.
"He's a Ruzek, he's tough, right son?"
"Damn straight."
"Shawn." She looked at him with large eyes, his hand clapped to his mouth as he looked at me with a guilty look, making Haley give me the death look.
"Sorry." I said sheepishly with a nervous chuckle. "This wasn't supposed to come out."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear anything." She took him off the counter and back on his feet. "Send your brother in would you?" Evan wasn't hurt as bad but he did need some patching up. Haley cleaned the wound he had on his elbow and a small scrape above his eyebrow and he was ready to go too.
"Come on Hales, we have great kids." I pulled her to me as Evan scampered off to finish getting ready.
"I might have to rethink that thought about my husband." She slapped me playfully against the chest.
"I'm a great husband, you can't deny it." I poked her side, making her laugh.
"And an amazing dad." She smiled, leaning up and kissing me.
"Keep talking like that and we're not going to Molly's."
"Still the charmer after twelve years." She kissed me one last time before reluctantly pulling away. "I love you."
"I love you too." I wrapped my arms around her waist as we left the bathroom, going in search of the boys who were already waiting for us in the living room.
"Aw come on dad, can't you keep your hands off for one second?" Evan scrunched his nose as he saw the squeeze of the butt I had given Haley on our way into the living room.
"That's only because he loves her." Shawn tried to reason his brother, making us both laugh. Shawn was already a hopeful romantic at eight, treating girls as if they were worth the world. Evan on the other hand had girls chase him but was in no way interested by any of them, finding them annoying if anything.
"Enough about us, let's get going. Dad owes us a drink." She winked at me as the kids almost came running through the door, excited to be able to go into Molly's and have fun. The boys bounced in the back of my truck and under the sound of their bickering, Haley and I made the drive in comfortable silence, our fingers intertwined on the middle console. Shawn went running inside the bar as soon as the truck was stopped and the three of us followed closely behind, the bar was already packed with people from the CFD and CPD, kids running around while they were allowed inside.
"Another win for the CFD." Haley helped Evan lift the trophy we had gotten years ago over his head as we walked in. "And PD gets to pay for the first round." She teased as she made her way to me.
"I always loved watching my girl kick some ass out there every year."
"Well you're lucky because I kick ass out there every. single. year." She kissed me. We made our way to the bar and I gave the order for the first round for everyone and we started mingling with the rest of our friends.
Matt's POV
We walked into Molly's and the place was packed already. Charlotte had taken extra time to get ready and I suspected it had something to do with Luke Halstead, Erin and Jay's son. Even if she was older by only a couple of years, the two of them were gravitating towards each other already. Knowing that he was a good young man and that we knew his parents was the only thing that kept me from going after him and telling him to leave her alone, not sure if I was entirely ready for her to have her first crush. She disappeared as soon as she was through the door Gabby waving my concern off and we made our way towards a booth, Leslie, Kelly and Stella waiting for us.
"If it isn't Chief Casey." Stella teased.
"I don't see a chief here." I looked around, teasing her back. "Just here to enjoy some time with family."
"Dad, dad, dad." Shawn and Michael came bouncing our way through the crowd.
"If it isn't my favourite nephew." I gave my fist for a bump and Shawn obliged.
"Can Shawn come sleep over tonight dad, please?"
"I don't see why not but did you ask Auntie Haley if it was ok with her?" Shawn and Michael were close from the day they were first introduced to each other.
"Can we go ask her now?"
"Sure thing bud, let's go." Michael dragged Shawn by the arm and I followed close behind through the thick crowd, finding Haley and Adam by the bar, the trophy atop of it, on full display.
"Hales." I pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek.
"Mom, can I go sleep at Uncle Matt's house? Pleaseeeee." He begged, putting both hands together and giving her his best pout, making us both laugh.
"Please Auntie Haley?" Michael was practically jumping up and down in anticipation.
"The answer's going to be a no if I don't get a hello and a hug." He all but leaped into her arms and she squeezed him tight. "That's better." She chuckled, setting him back down.
"So, can I mom?"
"Sure, if it's ok with Uncle Matt." The two looked at me and when I nodded, it sent them in a total frenzy. They thanked us about a hundred times before they scampered off. "These two are inseparable." She chuckled.
"It takes you back doesn't it?" Haley and I were friends for more than 30 years now but meeting her still felt like it was yesterday.
"Like it was yesterday." She echoed my thoughts, bringing me back to that fateful day.
It was a hot summer day and I was absolutely bored at home. Mom was cooking lunch and the neighbourhood wasn't exactly bouncing with kids my age.
"Mom, can we at least go to the water pad, it's hot as hell."
"Don't say hell Matthew." I scoffed. I hated when she used my full name.
"Fine mom. I'm roasting on an open fire here." I rolled my eyes, wishing I could go cool off.
"I'm sorry Matt but I'm making dinner, I can't go there with you."
"I can go by myself mom, I'm seven." I hated when she treated me like a baby.
"I don't think so."
"Fine." I made my way outside and slammed the door behind me, sitting on the front stairs of the house. The light breeze was just a tease really and all I could do was watch as all the cars rolled by. Some of the older kids were moving around, some playing hockey in the alley and some throwing a football around to pass the time. I was just about to go back inside when a moving truck stopped in front of the house next door, making me sit back down and watch, hoping that the new family had kids my age.
The moving guys kept going in and out of the house with various furniture but still the owners hadn't shown up yet. It took about thirty minutes before a black SUV stopped right behind the moving van. Out came a man and a woman, followed by a guy, about three or four years older than me and he was less than happy.
"Why do I have to help move things?" He complained.
"Because you're old enough to give us a hand and put you're things away in your new room." His mom answered back. "Come on Haley, you need to come out of the car sweetie."
"I don't want to." She had a small voice so I figured that maybe she'd be just what I was waiting for. I skipped down the stairs and headed towards the neighbour's house.
"Come on Haley." The older boy whined.
"Fine." She huffed before jumping out of the truck, coming face to face with me. She blinked a few times before she smiled. "Hi, I'm Haley." I looked as she extended her hand for me to shake.
"Hi." I smiled and she laughed in return.
"Do you have a name?"
"Yeah, I'm Matt. I live next door." I pointed behind me.
"Maybe we can play together later?" She asked. "Do you know anywhere around that we can cool off, it's hot as hell."
"Don't say hell Haley." I laughed as her mom said that, coming out of the house to grab some more things.
"Fine mom. But can we go somewhere to cool off when we're done bringing the things in?"
"Sure sweetie, your friend can show us around if his parents want to."
"I can help you too if you want."
"It's very nice of you Matt. I'm Helen by the way and you're welcome to pizza with us when we're done." She grabbed a couple more boxes, leaving me to help Haley with her things. We spent the rest of the afternoon together and the rest was history.
"Thirty five years."
"Yeah." She smiled at me. "I'm happy they found a bond like that too."
"We got lucky." I raised my bottle of beer to her.
"The luckiest ones." She hit my bottle with her own. "To friendship, the kind that lasts forever."
"To friendship." I smiled at her and took a sip of my beer.
Haley's POV
Adam had left Matt and I to talk while he moved over to the rest of intelligence who had arrived a few minutes later. Matt had to leave to go after the boys who were trying to bribe Otis for a beer and I walked over to Adam with a chuckle, finding the irony in all of this.
"Hey babe. You guys catch up?" Adam asked as he pulled me to his side.
"Walked down memory lane but Matt had to leave to run after the twins. Something about them, a beer and Otis."
"Trying to get beer in your mom's bar; that takes balls." He laughed.
"Well considering who their parents are, I'm not surprised."
"Point taken."
"Speaking of parenting, where's that offspring of yours?" I asked Erin, Jay nowhere to be seen.
"Getting a talking."
"Would that have anything to do with a certain Charlotte Casey?" She raised her brows with a smirk.
"Trust me if Matt doesn't find out, Luke is lucky."
"Oh GOD, she's only twelve."
"And he's TEN. Their lips shouldn't even think of getting close." Erin and Jay had gotten the pregnancy news less than six months into my pregnancy with Evan so they were close in age.
"Look who's back." Jay kissed her temple. "Is he still alive?"
"Barely. I swear kids these days try things way sooner than we did."
"Oh stop, you were worst." Will Halstead gave in his two cents. If Jay could blush, he would have been beet red by now.
"Point taken." He smirked, earning a slap from Erin. "I think he understood."
"He better if he values his life." Severide came walking our way, a kid slugged over his shoulder.
"Is that one of mine?"
"I just found my godson, in cahoots with the Casey twins, trying to bribe Otis into giving them a beer." Kelly set him down and put his neck in a head lock and ruffled his hair before letting him go.
"That's my man." Adam high fived Evan who was smiling.
"Adam Ruzek!" He took a step back with a nervous chuckle. "What have you been teaching our sons behind my back?"
"Come on Hales, you haven't forgotten when he was four?"
"I do but you should know better, Mr. big shot detective that knows the law inside out."
"Nothing bad is going to happen to him babe. We're all here to watch over him.
"I'll remind you of that when you're half-drunk later with the boys." Everyone around us laughed, knowing the women would probably be the responsible ones here later."
"I'd like to have your attention please?" We all turned around to see Herrmann standing on a stool.
"We're here today, surrounded by colleagues who became friends and friends who became family." Stella hollered and everyone else cheered. It took a few minutes for everyone to quiet down before Herrmann continued. "This family has come a hell of a long way. We've seen relationships start and grow into something great. Some of our kids grew and we've welcomed a few more during this past decade. So today, let us be thankful because we have two families, and not many people can say that." He raised his bottle of beer with a smile.
"To family." Boden said loudly from the back.
"To family." Everyone else echoed.
I watched Adam as Christopher's words about family rang true. Family isn't always about blood. Family is the people you surround yourself with that help you grow and feel free and that's exactly what I found here. Chicago was home more than ever now and I was thankful every single day to be surrounded by the people I love most, and that, no one could ever take it away from us.
A/N: WOW!I can't believe that this is IT. I started this story a long time ago and it was the very first one that I ever wrote. With this story, I learned more about myself as a writer and what I like and don't like. So chapter 50 is the final chapter. I want to thank everyone who pushed me to actually post this first attempt at fiction and because of them, it's grown into something fun that further distracts me from the reality of everyday life. So please take a few seconds to write a final review before you leave, I really want to know what you guys think of the end. Love - Sarra
