AU story
There is gonna be a second chapter if you like the first chapter, so... please leave a review...
Stella was lying back on her boyfriend's bed reading a book while the squad lieutenant was filling out a few reports, the office door has been left ajar, after a soft knock Herrmann pushed the door open, the man had a huge smile on his face, stepping forward to get a better look at them, "You two won't believe who is here! I, myself, I can't".
Stella pushed herself up to a sitting position, "What are you talking about, Herrmann?" she smiled looking back and forth at him and Severide.
"I'll give you one chance to guess who our visitors are...", he raised his eyebrows and folded his arms.
"I give up", Severide threw his pen over the table and turned his body towards Herrmann.
"Wait... you didn't even try", Stella narrowed her eyes at him, looking back at Herrmann, "... give me a clue, just one", Stella stood up leaving the book on the side table. "No, it's not necessary..."
"Herrmann gave her a knowing look, that's when Stella realized who could be the visitors, and Herrmann wore a little smug smile.
"Oh my god", she exclaimed excitedly when Severide cut in. "They're here... They just got here?! How long they are staying?".
"Stella, tell me...", his boyfriend still clueless. "Why are you so excited?" Severide got up from his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
His question hit her, not everyone would be happy... Not Kelly Severide, her smile fell a bit. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Why did she have to leave Chicago?
Rubbing her ear, "Herrmann, could you give us a minute, please? We'll be there in a second..., please, don't let them leave...".
Severide felt her request was a bit weird, then Herrmann winked at her and closed the door. Stella stayed quiet as his eyes roamed her face, a few seconds passed, "She is here?"
"That's what I think, and it's okay, right? Firehouse 51 will be always her home... the kids have known us as a part of their family... you recall those times they ran around... how ours miss those times...".
Severide laughed sarcastically, "She abandoned us, her family, don't defend her and her poor choices...", he shook his head a few times, "... I can't believe it... what is her excuse for coming back? That guy kicked her ass?"
"I-I don't care... you need to forgive her, you two can't live like that...", Stella walked up to him, "... for the kids' sake you two must be civilized around each other... I don't know the reason she is here, it doesn't matter in the end...", Stella rested her hands against his waist.
"She had no right to take the kids, Chicago is their home... Darden would have never agreed with that-", Stella interjected.
"I won't get into it with you again, okay? I'm tired... I love you, I love her and the kids, they need us, and we made a promise to Darden, remember? So, if you want to stay in here, it's on you, but I can't wait to see my friend and the boys...".
Severide watched her leave his office... Stella wouldn't understand... Darden and he were friends since little kids, his friend inspired him to be a firefighter, they were like brothers... He never would be okay with Gabby moving out of Chicago to Florida almost two years ago...
...
"Hey, girl", Stella stated as soon as she saw Gabby while talking to Cruz and Boden lively in the common room. Stepping in their direction, "... Excuse me, guys...", hugging her friend,"... I'll never let you go, you hear me?".
"We are gonna leave you two to catch up... we'll be outside with the boys...", Cruz uttered.
"Okay, thank you, Cruz... Chief, may I talk to you later?" Gabby asked."Of course... stay for the lunch... we'd love to have you and the boys around, like the old times...", Boden smiled warmly at her.
Gabby chuckled softly, "Okay... I don't see them wanting to leave any time soon... they always loved this place...".
Boden nodded before walking out of the room with Cruz.
"You are so beautiful, I like the new hair cut...", Stella commended her.
Gabby had a big smile on her face, she missed her friend so much, actually she missed everyone. She felt everything had changed and at the same time never had changed. They hugged for a few minutes, "It's so great to see you..."
"I imagine you are here for the holidays...", Stella assumed as folded her arms.
"We are moving back to Chicago-", Stella cut her off with another hug. "Yeah...", Gabby giggled, "... we are back home...".
"The best news ever... I'm so happy, I have some news for you too... look...", Stella pulled out from her under her t-shirt her necklace with a ring on it.
"Kelly proposed to you?! When did that happen?"
"Two weeks ago and now I can ask you properly to be my maid of honor, please say yes...", Stella held her hands.
"I'd be honored, but...", Gabby paused as looked around, "Does Kelly know about it? I-I won't feel comfortable if he doesn't agree with it...".
"Don't worry about him... okay... I'm the boss in our relationship...", Stella rubbed her hands.
"Where is he? Hiding in his office...", Gabby embraced herself, "... I'm so tired of this animosity between us, you know...", Gabby dropped her head.
"He will come around, I think now that you guys are back... Besides, Kelly loves the boys as if they were his own...", Stella squeezed her upper arm.
Gabby lifted her head, "It's been 18 months since my husband died, and Kelly still doesn't understand that we can grieve in many ways... you told me how he started to drink a lot... so in my case, I had felt like I was suffocating here, I had to take some time from everything that reminded me of him, there is no right or wrong here...".
"I got it, you don't have to explain yourself for me, okay? I have your back, as I said give him a time, he will get that...".
Gabby nodded and mustered a smile.
"Now, where are my boys? I think I watched a thousand times the video you sent me of Louie, he is so cute...".
They started to walk towards the apparatus floor, "... He is, isn't he? The first time I saw him, I had this feeling, it's hard to put into words and the way he clung to my neck... my ex-partner in Florida told me she never had seen anything like that... He chose me as his mother the day we met each other-".
"Mama...", the 3-years-old boy reached out from Mouch's arms. "Mama...", Mouch put him on his feet. Louie ran to her...
"Hey, baby... hey... Look, I'd like you to meet Aunt Stella... say hi...".
"Hi...", he spoke shyly. "Tela...".
Stella snickered, "Hi, Louie... Did you like the truck?" Stella questioned him.
He shook his head eagerly, "Yeah... Ben... Grif like too...", he pointed in their direction.
"Let's see...", Gabby walked over to them where they were gathered, next to the truck.
Getting closer to the passenger side, Gabby saw Ben and Griffin in the driver's seat, standing outside, next to them, there was a blond firefighter, who she hadn't met yet showing her sons the control switches...
"Hey, boys... look who is here?" They turned their heads, and Gabby and Matt eyed each other for a slight second.
Ben and Griffin looked at her, "... Aunt Stella...", Ben said trying to make his way out of the truck by crawling on until the passenger seat.
"Where is Uncle Kelly?" Ben, 10 years old, asked unmoved. "He doesn't like us anymore?" His question caught everyone off the guard...
"Of-of course he likes you, he loves you and Ben... he was on the phone, that's why he is taking so long to get here...", Gabby said quickly.
"Maybe, he is not on the phone anymore?", the six-year-boy voiced.
"I'll check, okay... Cruz can you get him, please? It won't take long... I hope...".
"Come here, Louie...", the boy accepted his open arms.
...
Kelly was in his chair in his office, writing something.. he had finished the reports.
Gabby leaned against the door frame, she folded her arms, "Don't punish the boys, because of me, Kelly... don't do that", Gabby voiced angrily.
Severide scoffed, he kept looking at the wall in front of him, "I'd never do that, as you see I'm busy...".
Gabby sighed deeply, "That's bullshit, you know... Look, I'm moving back to Chicago, I'd like you to put aside all the feelings you have against me and together we can be there for the boys, they deserves to grow up in a healthy environment-", Kelly interjected.
"You are serious right now?" Kelly stood up, "... We had barely buried Darden and you ran to Florida, started to date who knows, in a couple of months you two were living together, those things seem healthy to you?, I mean, five-six months into Darden's death you were already getting into someone else's pants, you never respected Darden, that's the truth...", he yelled at her.
Gabby bit her lower lips as tears filled her eyes, "Darden wasn't perfect... Kelly, you don't know half of the things I had to deal with during our marriage, so you are not gonna make me feel bad, so you'd better drop the opinion where you think you are better than me because you are not, you hear me?", her voice exasperated.
Looking into her eyes, "I hope that guy didn't come with you, because if I see him near the boys...", he shook his head, "... I'm taking him down...", Kelly passed by her on his way out of his office, leaving her alone.
Dropping her head, tears rolled down Gabby's face, she stayed like that for a few minutes, feeling empty, unworthy, a terrible person, she had never thought Kelly would have that power over her.
Turning around, her eyes wandered around the bunk room... she missed her days as a paramedic at 51...
Walking slowly towards the laundry room, she stopped suddenly when saw Griffin's drawing through the glass, she didn't know who had taken her husband's spot as a lieutenant in the truck... Perhaps, the blonde guy?! she thought.
Taking a glance around Gabby entered her husband's old office, then she drew the blinds... she needed some time alone... Gabby sat at the table and ran the tips of her fingers over the drawing on the wall... her eyes blurred with tears..., we miss you... Getting up, Gabby turned her back against the glass wall, and sank to the floor as sobbing, it took a few minutes for to her calm down...
Seconds had passed when Casey opened the door of his office, both of them were surprised to see each other...
Gabby stood up and turned her back to him, wiping her tears, "I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean... to... it's your office, I guess-", Casey cut her off.
Casey had closed the door behind him, "It's okay... I-I'll leave-".
Gabby turned to him, "No, I should leave... sorry for this", she pointed at the face, "... my son drew that...", she tilted her head as got close to his table. "I'm glad you kept it...".
"I think we weren't introduced to each other... I'm Matthew Casey, truck lieutenant...".
"Sorry, I'm Gabriela Dawson, I was a paramedic at 51 while ago, my husband, Andrew Darden, he was, you know...", Gabby paused as looked down.
"My condolences, I've heard great stories about him from the guys... he will never be forgotten...".
Gabby raised her head, "Thank you...".
"You have great kids...", Casey looking into her saddened eyes, "... I-I lost my mother a couple of years ago, so... it gets easier believe me...".
"I hope so... I pray for it every day...", Gabby embraced herself.
"I know we barely know each other, but I'm sure you and Ben, Griffin, and Louie will be okay...", Matt gave her a half-smile.
Gabby nodded quietly, "You are too kind...", as they locked eyes for long seconds, averting her eyes, "I should go... thank you again... bye...".
"Bye...", Matt sighed as he digested what just had happened in his office.
Chapter edited by StarMoore60 : ) thank you