A/N: wrapping up the Maya Birthday Special, here is part 3!

this isn't the part 3 I originally had planned, but I am happy with how it turned out. I hope you guys enjoy it too.

thank you for the constant support and for celebrating my best girl with me.


what's in a name?

The new parents were oblivious to anything else happening in the delivery room, their focus solely on the newborn baby still nursing at her mother's breast. Their daughter.

They had a daughter—a fact Kelly and Stella were still trying to wrap their heads around.

"I was so sure we were having a boy," Stella said quietly.

Kelly chuckled, slipping his hand under the blanket to play gently with the baby's toes. Her little legs twitched slightly at the contact, but she soon settled again. Kelly stroked his thumb over the tiny foot in his hand. "You and most of the firehouse."

Stella briefly turned her attention from her daughter to her husband. She glared at him playfully. "You can say it you know….'I told you so'."

"Yeah, well…" Kelly trailed off, throwing a smirk Stella's way.

Stella rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that took over her face. She was exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally—but she was also deliriously happy.

She moved her body slightly, angling herself so she was leaning more against Kelly's chest. He mirrored her actions, positioning his body in a way so he could take more of her weight as she relaxed against him.

Stella hummed her thanks then turned her attention back to the baby. Her sucking had slowed a bit, but it was clear she wasn't finished yet. Stella watched her peacefully, bringing a hand up and running her fingers over the fine layer of dark curly hair on the baby's head.

The peace Stella felt was immeasurable. Realistically, she knew she wouldn't have this moment forever—the baby would be taken from her to be weighed, measured, and given the full newborn exam and they'd have to move to a different room—so she wanted to soak in every single second she could.

"You know," Kelly started. He kept his voice quiet, not wanting to disturb the baby. "She still needs a name."

Stella was quiet for a moment. She and Kelly had discussed baby names throughout the entirety of her pregnancy, trying to find the perfect name. Not knowing the sex of the baby complicated things a little, but by the time Stella went into labor they had a list of boy names and a list of girl names that they loved. Now though, as Stella looked at the baby in her arms, none of the names seemed right, not even the front runners.

Their little girl was special, and she needed a name that reflected that.

"What about Shay?" There was hesitancy in Stella's voice because even after a decade, Shay was still a hard topic for Kelly. Stella felt him tense behind her.

"You…. you want to name her after Shay?"

It was impossible to miss the emotion in Kelly's voice. Stella shrugged and looked over her shoulder at her husband. "I know I never got to meet her, but I know how important she was to you… how special of a person she was. And I know how proud she'd be of you if she was still here."

The silence from Kelly stretched on long enough for Stella to start worrying that she hit a nerve. She was about to apologize when she heard a sniffle from Kelly. A quick glance back at him showed a new round of tears in his eyes.

"I think Shay would love that." Kelly's voice was watery, but Stella could hear the smile in his words. "But maybe as a middle name? This little girl needs her own name."

"What are you thinking? Got any name ideas you've been holding on to?" Stella teased.

Kelly huffed out a laugh but he actually did have a name in mind. "How do you feel about the name Maya?"

"Maya? Where'd that come from?" Stella was curious; that wasn't a name they'd had on their list.

"It was an answer on a crossword – Maya Angelou, but it stuck out and it wasn't one of the names we'd already discussed so I looked up the meaning. It means dream, which I think is fitting for what she is to us, and bravery, which she'll no doubt learn from you."

Stella swallowed hard, pushing down the emotion welling up inside of her. Damn Kelly Severide for being so sweet. "My hormones are already out of control Kelly Severide, don't make me cry even more."

Kelly chuckled while he rubbed her back and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"I love the name though," Stella said, a laugh bubbling out of her despite the emotions coursing through her. "Maya Shay?"

"I like it, but it doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like her," Kelly tsked, gesturing towards the baby. "Shay's middle name was Elizabeth…"

"Maya Elizabeth Severide," Stella said slowly, testing out the name.

Maybe it was fate, or maybe it was just a coincidence, but immediately after Stella said the name out loud the baby stopped nursing, opened her eyes for the first time, and looked up at her parents. Both Kelly and Stella gasped at the action but also at the blue eyes, already so similar to her father's, staring back at them.

"I guess that's it then." Kelly laughed. He stroked a finger down the baby's cheek. "Maya Elizabeth Severide."

"It's perfect," Stella cooed quietly as she readjusted the baby in her arms, kissing her little head. ""Hi Maya. We love you so much."