Forever and Always

Epilogue

Four years later

Casey was walking along the path that ran alongside the lake, using one crutch. He was smiling. The sun was shining and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky.

"Hey, tiger," he called out. "Don't go that close to the edge unless me or dad are with you…"

The blond-haired boy stopped and turned around. "Daddy! Daddy!" he exclaimed with excitement.

Casey turned around and grinned at Severide, he had been hanging back taking photos of his two favourite boys on the new camera Casey had bought him for his birthday.

"Daddy! Look… boat!" the boy called, pointing out over the water, smiling excitedly, that same beautiful smile that Casey had always had.

"I'm coming!" Casey walked up to him, grabbed him and swung him into the air. A few years ago Casey hadn't been at all confident in even just holding him unless he was sitting down, but as time passed that all changed.

"Look!" he grinned, looking out at the boats.

"Think we should ask dad if we can go out on his boat later?"

"Yes!"

"Hey! Stop putting ideas in his head, we're only going out if the conditions are absolutely perfect," Severide responded as he caught up with the two of them.

"We don't have to take it out onto the water," Casey smiled. The three of them had probably spent more time in the small vessel whilst it was tied to their small deck, than out on the water.

"Don't you both look at me like that…" Severide shook his head, teasing, "Fine. We can play boats later. You two need to stop ganging up on me. You know I can't say no."

"Dig that little outfit out that Shay got him," Casey said to Severide.

"I think you need a little sailors outfit too," he spoke close to Casey's ear, grinning widely.

Casey was resting on the couch, his latest scar could been poking out of shirt, from the heart surgery he'd needed six months ago. He was watching their son playing with the zoo animal set on the floor, smiling as he tried to catch what Jack was saying. Severide was watching them both from a distance as he gave the place a tidy-up, there were a few scattered items lying around from when he'd been playing with Jack, whilst Casey had slept that morning. Severide was meticulous about keeping their house tidy, there'd been more than a few incidents where Casey had ended up tripping over something that was misplaced, he'd always laugh it off despite Severide's concern.

Jack may not have been Severide's biological son, but it made no difference. He was their greatest miracle. He had Casey's cute nose and his eyes were almost identical. In his three years of life, he'd already brought so much joy into their house. Casey'd had his concerns beforehand, worried that bringing him into the world was selfish, because what if Casey became ill or his heart worsened to the point where nothing more could be done? But he'd been reassured countless times that this kid would grow up with the biggest family anyone could ever ask for; the whole of 51. They all had a large role in Jacks life. Shay carried Jack into the world and remained a large part of their lives.

Eventually Severide joined Casey on the couch. "Shay messaged, she's gonna come over tomorrow night, so we can go out if you want," he told Casey before raising his voice. "Or we can all watch Frozen for the hundredth time."

"Oh God no… I love him, but I cannot watch that film again this week," Casey protested, teasingly. "Can the great Captain Severide even cope with it one more time?"

"Third one is out soon," he reminded Casey. "And apparently she's been looking at pre-schools, said she sent you some stuff on WhatsApp."

"Yeah, it'll be good to have a look at them… you don't mind that she's getting involved with all this, do you?" Casey asked.

"No, I'm really glad she is. I know nothing about them… don't think I even went to one."

"I was in day-care, preschool will be better I think. It can just be a few hours a day, couple of days a week. Or more if he enjoys it," he said.

"You'll miss having him around though, and teaching him stuff," Severide responded.

"That's not gonna stop entirely. My parents had nothing to do with school, they didn't prepare me for it at all," he admitted. Another detail Severide noted down about Casey's childhood.

"They didn't teach you to read?" Severide asked.

Casey shook his head.

"Jack will know all his ABCs, and timetables before he's four if you have anything to do with it," he teased.

"Do you think I do too much?"

"No, not as long as he's having fun," he answered.

Casey let out a chuckle. "I still can't get that kids safe paint off the table… I think I'll need to sand it all and re-varnish it."

"And remember to use the tablecloth in the future," Severide replied, smiling.

"Yeah, that too."

"Right," Severide began, looking at the time. "It's bedtime, kiddo."

Jack looked at the both with dismay. "No…"

"Uh huh, go to the bathroom and I'll help you get ready," he told him. "Then I'll read to you."

"Daddy will," Jack said.

"Will I?" Casey responded, brows raised as he smiled.

"You make the voices," Jack responded.

"Daddy is tired, but I can try my very best to do the voices," Severide said, standing up, getting ready to shepherd Jack towards the bathroom.

"Goodnight, tiger." Casey blew him a kiss.

He smiled as he started to dose off on the couch, listening to Severide help Jack get ready for bed. He had the best people around him, and Jack would grow up surrounded by them too, he'd had the recent health scare over his heart again, and he had only started to feel himself again in the last month, the operation had taken it's toll on him, but seeing Jack and Severide had truly helped his recovery, and he knew that if anything happened to him in the future, his son would be taken care of.

He had never pictured his life turning out the way it had, but he'd also never thought he'd be as happy as he was right now. Life was good, and whatever was thrown at them next; they'd deal with it all together.

The End