He climbed up onto the bed next to Liv. "And she's down for the count. Want to fool around?" he looked over at her in a pair of his boxers and a shirt that read "Proverbs 31: Wifey."
"No, I want to lay here. "She said flatly stretching an arm over her head.
He poked out his bottom lip. She doesn't open her eyes. "If that doesn't work for my daughter, it will not work for you."
"How do you?"
"It's my mom superpower."
He leaned over and kissed her. "Wake up and be my friend. "He whined
She tried not to smile at his pouting. "We're friends already."
"Sex friends then."
"That's called a hooker love." She can feel him tracing the Y looped over her boob with his index finger. "And if you want to cop a feel just do it Kell." She said dryly.
Kelly laughed ducking his head to kiss her neck. "I love you, you're funny." He pressed his lips to her neck. He trailed open mouth kisses up her neck to the pulse point behind her ear. He scraped his teeth down slightly and she shivered. "Fine now I'm awake...asshole."
"I'mma leave a hickey, a big one."
"You woke me up, you better do something fantastic." She retorted looping her arms around his neck as he kissed her.
"Challenge accepted, hang on to your stethoscope or you know the headboard." He joked while kissing down her neck and creeping his hands up her sides beneath her shirt.
You're Shameless." She replied.
"You love it." He replied smirking against her chest.
-/-/-
"Worth waking up for?" he asked spooned up against her. His thumb strokes up and down a tiny patch of her belly that his hand laid on. She just chuckles. He kissed the side of her neck breathing in her flower scent before speaking again. "Since Shay… since Shay left I sometimes forget how deep I love you... How you're the one I want. I'm sorry I forget Livvy."
She rolled to her back to look up at him. "I forgave you Kelly," She traced his bottom lip with her thumb nail. "You should do the same." She leaned up to kiss him slowly. "I know pain can block out good things. It's okay."
"It's not, not when I let it hurt you, change us."
"As long as we're together, we're going to be fine Kelly. I believe that." She said brushing his hair back with her fingertips.
"I sense a but somewhere in there." He gives a smile it's meant to be charming but sadness pulls at his eyes.
"No buts, I just have one request. When we adopt Klaire on Friday? I need you to be completely present. Physically, mentally, emotionally, I need you all there. Not for me but for her, for you. Because if you let missing Shay flood in on that moment? If this is somehow muted or I don't know unremarkable compared to the pain, you will regret that. Forever."
"Okay, I hear you." He said with a nod.
"Okay?"
"Okay Baby." He leaned in and kissed her.
-/-/-
Kelly got out of Liv's truck. "Come in with me a minute ladies? Please?"
"Fine but you get Klairey." She relented and pushed the button to open up her door.
When Kelly walks in carrying Klaire and walking beside Liv holding her hand he gets a few odd stares. Stares like the ones he got when introducing Liv the first time.
"Hey guys! "He said with a happy smile.
"Hey how was Vegas?" Capp asked.
"Great! In fact thanks for ditching me, I got time with Liv so it's all good. I just wanted to invite you all to the courthouse we will officially be adopting this one." He paused to kiss Klaire's head. "On Friday!"
Everyone applauded and gave their well wishes.
"Can you help me get the paper work in order to add Klaire to my insurance and benefits Mouch?" Kelly asked nodding at Mouch.
"What he means is hand my wife the paperwork she'll do it." Liv quipped in response.
"Totally unfounded accusation." Liv just stared him down. "Maybe not totally."
As Kelly went off with Mouch to find the paperwork needed. Gabi approached.
"He seems happy…Really exceedingly happy. What'd you do?" Gabi leaned on the table next to Liv.
Liv answered slightly confused by the question. "Nothing. We reached a milestone we've waited a long time for. He's happy."
"You don't think he's hiding from, I don't know missing Shay?"
Liv shook her head minutely a spark in eyes that Kelly could have told her meant take cover. "You know what Gabriela not everything in my life revolves around the absence of Leslie Fucking Shay! I wanted for five freaking minutes to feel normal! He's trying to do that for me, just back off and look at your life before you judge mine! It's okay if Kelly's happy! Leslie would want that!"
Kelly heard Liv yelling and came out to the common area. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, sorry Gabi. I'm just over tired and I'm gonna go." She rolled over and took the baby from Matt. She rolled out to the truck bay.
"What'd you do? What'd you say to her?" Kelly said to Gabi as he chased after Liv. "Baby, wait!"
Herrmann poked his head around the corner to watch as Kelly caught up to Liv. He crouched down to be in her eye line. They talked in low tones and he kissed her with Klaire trying to grab for his St. Florian's medal. He released Liv to smile down at Klaire talking to her for second before picking her up and loading her into Liv's truck. He bids them goodbye and turns back to the fire house. Herrmann moves out of his sight line fast.
He straightens his medal with a smile. He usually has to adjust it for dirtier reasons. He honestly never thought he'd have a little girl trying to capture the gold medallion like she had his heart. When he goes back into the firehouse he rounds on Gabi.
"That is the one person left in the world I don't fake it with. When I'm with Livvy I'm actually as happy as I can manage, and yes I've done some shitty stuff to her but I'm working on it. How dare you make her think that me being happy with her is a lie! It's not, I love her and Klaire. Next time you question my life look at yours because honestly you're the one hiding."
-/-/-
Liv brings back the paper work and has lunch with Kelly. He eyed her chili cheese fries. "That's gonna return to sender fast babe."
She put down a chili soaked fry. "You're ruining my food buzz."
He laughed. "What you know I'm in a special relationship with food right now."
"Livvy you crack me up baby." He smiled at her as he bit into his burger.
"My love of cheese feels very real." She defends herself.
"As long as you love me more than the cheese we're good."
"This is why I got fat in med school." She said sipping her chocolate milkshake.
He cocked his head at her in speculation. "You got fat because you were having an affair with the dairy aisle? Or I wasn't around to love you up?"
"Both kinda. Am I still hot?"
"Smokin' quit hoggin' and gimmie a fry." She pushed the fry boat toward him.
Connie popped her head in. "Severide you have a visitor."
"Be right there," he stood and turned to scoop Liv off the bed. "Come with me."
-/-
Liv peered around the corner to see the girl from the craps table furtively glancing all around the firehouse obviously edgy. "Honey what the hell did you say to craps table girl? No, scooch back she'll see you! I'll handle it."
"Livvy…" He warned but she's already rolling away.
"I got this." She tossed over her shoulder
Liv rolled forward directly into the other woman's path. "You're the girl from the craps table right Brittany? Look, I admire your persistence. I get it even, he's hot. Here's the rub though Barbie, when I said I was his wife, it was the truth." Liv said plainly and calmly.
Brittany's eyes light in challenge. "You think Vegas is the only place I know him from? Nah, I seem to remember a very steamy moment in the car, outside Molly's Pub. It all makes sense now, after all you seem exactly as he made you out to be some frigid, clingy, pathetic, bitch. The chair is a surprise though; he doesn't seem the charitable type."
Once "The Chair is thrown in her face she laughs dryly. She can hear Kelly coming up behind her but she ignores his presence and fights back. "You think you're the first woman I've ran across who thinks that me being in the chair makes me less than you? You think you're the first to throw a nasty insult my way? You're not and sadly you won't be the last. He kicked you out of his car and ignored you at the craps table. Face it sweetie, he's just not that into you're crazy ass. Yes, I may live my life from a seated position but at least I haven't spent it on my knees if you catch my drift. You ain't nothing but a sad little girl beggin' for scraps. You won't find them here. You come back and I'll bring cops to the next little nut ball parade we march in that clear?" She kicks her chin up and holds her gaze.
Kelly puts hands on her shoulders. "You should leave, that's your best course of action here."
"But-"Brittany sputtered.
Kelly's eyes turn cold and hard. "I talked to you at the craps table because I forgot you. I was bored. Leave."
As the woman stomps off. "Seriously? You had to screw around on me with a crazy chick? Not just like a normal dirty hoe?" Liv complained glancing up at him.
Gabi laughed. "Pretty sure you're the first normal girl he's ever picked."
"The Renee's were normal." Kelly adds in.
"From what Shay told me, they were far from stable." Liv smiled. "That's okay though we all crash and burn a few times."
"Oh Yeah! What was the hockey player's name?" Kelly teased back,
"I don't exactly recall."
The fire tone goes off.
-/-/-
Kelly steps out of the shower. "Drop the towel and no one gets hurt." Liv says as she looked at him from where she sat on the sink.
"How'd you get up there?" He asked with a lopsided grin, he held firmly to the towel.
"Magic." She smiled at him. "Should I cut my hair?" She asked conversationally.
"I definitely vote no, but it is your head and your hair."
She crooked her finger at him. "I am really starting to love your pregnant girl sex drive I gotta say." He said as came closer.
"Drop the towel." She commanded in a no nonsense tone.
"Where is everyone?" He asked.
"Klaire is with my mom. Vivi had some party to plan and Rainey is out with pin cushion. Since when do you care about privacy?"
"Fair point." He dropped the towel and she gave him a satisfied smirk. "I've corrupted you." He steps up to the counter catching the backs of her knees he drug her to the edge of the counter. "Hi."
She cocked her head up at him. " Hi." He pulled her hair to tilt her head back and kiss her. "Hair pulling is not nice baby." He does it again just to spite her and she chuckled kissing him back full force when her phone rang.
"Ignore that." He picked her up and started to carry her off when the urgent tone on her phone blared.
"That's important; we only use the urgent option in a crisis. Gotta get it." She said he backtracked.
She snatched up her phone as Kelly carried her to the bedroom. "This had better be good. I'm with my very- You what? When? Wait Kelly what? Are you sure it's him? Yes right, I'm sorry. I'm on my way to the station, I just need to put on pants." She paused. "Well you've seen my husband; you'd take off your pants a lot too." Liv smiled. "There we go a laugh, be right there. Love you."
She hung up. "Why didn't you tell me about the fire?"
"I didn't wanna tell you I saved a pedophile."
"Erin's baby brother was in some of the pictures. I gotta go calm her down. Put me in the chair?"
"Sure baby." He answered landing a quick kiss on her mouth.
-/-/-
"Erin okay?" Kelly asked from the top of the second floor stairs.
She tossed aside her bag. "She's far from it, but there's not much I can do to change it."
"Anything I can do to help?"
She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands as if to force away fatigue. "I want a beer."
"Of the root variety." Kelly hedged.
"Nope."
He came down the stairs smiling at her all cheesy like. "Just a few more months and you can pump and dump to your hearts content."
"How do you know what that is?"
"I saw it on the Kardashians." He planted a smacking kiss on her mouth. "Come if we hurry we can have sex before you mom comes back with Klaire."
A few days later there is a knock on the door. "Can you get that Kell? My hands are full." Liv said as she kneaded bread dough for the family dinner. The crashing and exploding of the latest call of duty paused as Kelly got to his feet. Klaire chattered next her as the door creaks open.
Seconds later Kelly appears at her side. "Erin's outside and there are tears. A lot of them. Like you at the end of My Sisters Keeper volume of tears. You should probably run…er roll real fast."
She rolled into the elevator and was down stairs in a blink. "Erin? Honey, what happened?" Erin just sobbed curling on herself like old paper. "Hey, Hey, Hey," Liv chanted as she stood and hugged her friend. "It's okay." She rubbed her back as the stood clinging together on the sidewalk.
Erin continued crying clutching Liv tight. Liv became alarmed. "You need to tell me what's going on Erin! I'm starting to get scared."
"I should…have…" She starts but crumbles.
"Shhh, Should've what E?"
Erin sucked back her tears. "Looked for him, helped him."
Liv shakes her head and wiped Erin's tears." Erin you were what? Twenty one when he left. He was not your responsibility. He was Bunny's child! Do you hear me? If this shit lands on anyone its Bunny!"
"He was a sex slave Livvy, my sweet kind hearted half in love with Liam baby brother was forced to do horrid things for people to watch and lived in squalor! He's so messed up and strung out. No one helped him Livvy! He hooks Liv to get by he sells himself! I failed him!" She railed at herself.
"Well you're here now, and you have enough experience with life to help him. You can help him now." Liv said in an attempt to soothe her friend's jangled emotions.
"He hates me."
Liv shook her head. "I promise you he doesn't hate you for getting out. He loves you. I remember that much."
"How do you do that?" Erin gave a watered down smile.
"Do what?"
"Make me feel better."
"Same way you do for me." Liv crossed her arms. "Now, you wanna tell me why you have a life size q-tip stapled to your head?" Liv cocked an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Took a spill, minor concussion. I'm all good Doc I swear." Erin retorted with a half smirk.
"Eh, I'll check you over inside. Wanna come play with Klaire?"
"I'd love to see my sunshine!"
They solved the case the day before Klaire's adoption. Liv receives a frantic phone call from her mother saying the head of the Chicago based child porn was one of her coworkers. Liv is shocked but refuses to let it slow her down from all her planning.
-/-/-
"Livvy you seen my tie?" he asked walking into the bathroom with his head down when he looks up she's nitpicking at the messy side bun on her head. She's wearing the red dress from her high school reunion. Her baby bump protruding ever so slightly.
"Third drawer next to your socks. What?" She answered as she caught his intent blue eyed stair in the mirror.
He wolf whistled. "Whoa, hello Honey."
She looked at him confused. "What? I've worn this before."
"You look beautiful." He said honestly. He came to stand behind her he leaned and kissed her neck.
"Thank you," she looked up at him. "Red or pink?" she held up lipstick tubes.
"Uh, you know I'm partial to you and anything red but pink is more low key, Classy fits the occasion better. Pink."
"You have been watching ANTM with Rainey Jane haven't you?" Liv teased.
She went to apply the lipstick. "Wait! Kiss me first."
"Goofball!" she kissed him. "Who is getting your sister from the airport?"
"My Dad, your family is meeting us there right?" He rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Yup all of em' and Erin and Hank."
Kelly smiled. This is new. You popped overnight." He touched her belly.
"Stop… don't be a belly toucher it's weird." She tried to shove his hand away but he refused to budge.
"I put it there I'll touch it if I want." He said defiantly and it made her smile.
"Sexist pig." She quipped.
"I'm a feminist you know."
Liv glanced at him again deciding to play devil's advocate. "Yeah? What if Klaire wants to be fireman."
"It's not like I'd want her to be a firefighter but if it's her thing, her passion more power to her."
"Yeah, not buying it." Liv shook her and changed the subject. "Will you go get the future smoke eater dressed? Her dress has big white and yellow daises on it with a blue back ground; I'll handle shoes and her totally outrageous mop." Liv bargains and Kelly must accept because he takes off.
As she applies a coat of mascara she can hear Kelly talking to Klaire. "Morning love bug! Look at you already up!" Klaire claps and giggles. "I know Daddy's excited to see you too!" he said Liv can tell by the squeaky floor board he'd be reaching into the crib.
There's a pause and his tone belies being totally grossed out. "What is in your hair Klaire Katherine Eliza?" she just mumbles. "Is that snot or poop?" more disgust and total confusion. Liv has to bite her lip not to laugh but she relents and decides to give him an out.
Liv wanders into the room. "Do a sniff test."
He looks at her as though she'd just suggested he sell his organs on the black market. "That's gross."
"Babies are as gross as they are cute." She states plainly.
He sniffs. "It's not poop. Just snot, I'll just wash her up real quick."
"I'm done I can…" Liv offers holding out her hands to take Klaire.
"Nah you're all pretty. I got it."
She leaves Kelly to it and goes to put on her shoes. Kelly strips off his shirt and then strips down Klaire and carries her into the bathroom off her room. "Only you could get snot in your hair on the most important day of your life child."
Liv goes to put on her nude heels and when she looked at their bed she saw the teddy bear the judge had given her from her own adoption day sitting on the bed. Mr. Stuffy holds a velvet box and a note.
She opened the note.
Hey Livvy,
Today, you become more than you were before. Today you become Klaire's mother in every way that counts and not just for the moments she's within grasp of your arms but forever. No one can love her like you do and will continue to for all her days. I think it must be harder to be a mother than a father. I get to be her own personal super hero, the person who chases away monsters and men, the one who will teach her how to throw a spiral and drive. You though are the roots in which she ground herself. She will watch your every move and mimic all that she sees within you with the love and innocence of the truly trusting. We are and will always be a team but there are pieces of Klaire that will belong solely to you. I read somewhere "God can't be everywhere so he created mothers." I am glad God created you for my own selfish reasons, because you choose to love me every day. Most importantly I'm glad he made you to be Klaire's exceptional mother. I love you happy adoption Day!
-Kelly
P.S. This letter is similar to a naked confession. Tell no one.
When she opens the box amethyst stud earrings greet her. Klaire and the other's baby's birthstones.
She turns to the mirror over her dresser and puts them on. She picks up Mr. Stuffy and kissed his dusty head. She nestles him back on the bed. She puts on her shoes.
-/-/-
"Look talk into it." He waves the hair dryer in Klaire's face. She blinks rapidly and swats him away. "Klairey I am your father!" he says into the dryer his voice distorting and Liv cracks up.
"Hey Darth Vader." She rolled up beside him to give him a quick hug.
"Hey Hot Doc, found your gift I see. Did you like it? It's your adoption Day too and I know it's a big deal to your family." Kelly said.
"I love them baby, how'd you get Mr. Stuffy?"
"Your Mom actually, they line her office apparently the adoption bears are a thing with the courts I asked your mom if she had yours."
"I gave her Mr. stuffy for safe keeping when I left for college." Liv moved to lean on the sink.
"I didn't do college just fire academy." He said while gently drying the back of Klaire's curly hair.
"Not the book learning type?"
"I don't really like the whole idea of paying for something I'd never love…"
"Fair point. Klaire is going to college though and aby Cinder too. We're not actually naming it that. I just don't like calling the fetus an it."
"She's clean her hair it's mostly dry though I can't be sure she wiggles more than a meth head stripper on a greased pole." Bored of Daddy Klaire reaches for her.
"Know a few of those do ya baby?"
"Yes actually."
"We shall discuss that later trust me, but for now let's get dressed and moving." She picked up Klaire standing the girl her lap she straightens her dress. "Pretty Girl!"
-/-/-
Kelly is parking the car when he looks over to find Liv crying. "Baby we're in the parking garage and you're already starting?" He said laughing.
"I'm happy." She replied wiping her eyes
He leans across the seat to kiss her. "I am too."
They get out of the car and are quickly enveloped into the chaos that is being a Grayne. The older ones organizing and keeping track of the younger ones. Liv picks up Klaire. Cole quickly takes over wheeling Liv and Kelly feels a little like his girls have been stolen from him.
"Hi Keely! Miss you!" Hadley said in all one breath before clambering up him like an aerial ladder. It makes him smile.
"Hi Baby! I miss you too, how you been? You look real pretty. "He said as she laid her head on his shoulder. Her arms looped around his neck.
They head inside to be greeted by Matt and Gabi along with the chief and Herrmann and his wife. Liv is hugging Gabi when Erin runs up and steals Klaire from Liv's lap.
"You made it!" Liv said happily.
Hank leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Said we would, didn't we Kitten."
She talks to them until Owen approaches Erin. "Here comes Owen best of luck…I'll just be elsewhere."
As Liv passed someone staring her down. "Come a little closer Sweetie. It's contagious." She quipped and even hissed at the man to make him jump.
Let's hope that old fart isn't the judge." Kelly said from beside her.
"Next time I get a creeper in New York mind if I use that?" Katie asked coming over to them with Benny.
"My skeevy men deterrent is your skeevy men deterrent."
"Wanna meet your niece?" Kelly asked Katie and led her off toward whoever had possession of Klaire.
"How is he?" Benny asked.
Liv cast her eyes up at him. "Some days I just don't know Benny, but today? Today he's great. Go meet your granddaughter."
-/-/-
"Next on the docket petition PA792674 the Severide Adoption." The para legal calls into the waiting room they're all gathered in.
"That's us!" Liv smiled.
"I know I memorized the case number. I feel like puking…"
"That's my line." Liv retorts. She reached over and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Just breathe son it'll all be fine." Cole soothes patting Kelly on the back as Benny looks on perplexed.
Liv wheeled a half step in front of him but kept to his side.
"Wait! Who has possession of Klaire! I need Klaire!" She called out panicked.
"I've got the Ladybug." Hank said all gravelly voiced. He tries to hand her over to Kelly but she's not biting. She doesn't care that they have to go in that courtroom, Hanky is here and in her mind that must mean she gets all his attention for the duration of the day.
"I need something shiny or sweet!" Kelly said. Liv shakes her head Kelly' is not used to not being the coolest dude in the room where Klaire is concerned.
"Something she wants but never gets," Cole tossed Kelly his reading glasses.
"Look Klairey… gotta come with Daddy first." He waves the glasses at her and she bails for him. "I will always win Klaire. Learn it, live it, love it."
"What I have told you about gloating to the baby?" Liv asked holding out her hand again for him to retake.
"It ain't gloating if it's the truth." He smiled back taking her hand.
They walk into a fairly barren courtroom. "Oh we're gonna need a bigger room." The paralegal said taking notice of their crowd of family.
"Welcome to every family function we've ever had." Kelly said narrowly avoiding being stabbed in the eye by a rogue ear piece as Klaire tried to put the glasses on his face.
After walking a winding path they get situated and the judge comes in and starts the proceedings.
"We're here to finalize the adoption petition of one aby Jane Doe, later identified as one Alaina Pena currently and hereby and forthwith known as one Klaire Katherine Eliza Severide. Is that correct?" he said looking down to read off the file.
"Yes your honor." The social worker replied.
"And Kelly and Olivia Severide are petitioning to legalize the adoption of their daughter correct?"
"Yes."
They will now be sworn and the adoption will be under way. Would you both please raise your right hand?" he looked to them as they bailiff brought forward a Bible.
They both raise their right hands. Klaire ignores them entirely, too intent on destroying her coveted prize.
"Do you swear the testimony you are about to give is the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?" he asked.
"Yes." They both parrot in unison.
"It says here that the child is a safe haven baby literally handed to Mr. Severide?" Judge Parsons asked as a way to understand the background.
"Yes your honor, she was." Kelly replied as Klaire growled as she tried to bend the glasses frames to her liking.
"You must have had an instantly meaningful connection with the little girl."
He smiled softly and laughed lightly. "Yes, you can't tell it right now but she is usually a Daddy's girl."
"It says here that you are a firefighter and you Mrs. Severide are a doctor. I'd imagine Miss Klaire is in the best hands to care for her. You believe her adoption is in her best interest taking into consideration her heart condition yes?"
Liv unsure of whom he's speaking to answers. "My daughter is worthy of adoption regardless of any medical condition she may have. I love my daughter and I am more than equipped to care for her emotional, physical, medical, and spiritual needs. I'm the person meant to be her mother. So yes your honor her adoption suits all involved." Liv's tone is clipped and irritated.
"Livvy…" Kelly warns knowing his wife's temper.
"It's alright Mr. Severide; it's nice to know the little girl I made into a Grayne is such a fighter. Your daughter might need it one day. I seem to remember someone else's mother having similar reaction." Judge Parson's smiled at her. Liv just looked on shocked having not recognized the man. "Well let's get on with it, have you both read the decree and understood it?" He asked looking back down at the file.
"Yes." They answer.
"And it is your wish to adopt Klaire today?"
"Yes." They say quickly and they can hear a low chuckle coming from their onlookers.
"Kelly, do understand that by adopting Klaire, you will be responsible for her physical, and emotional wellbeing. That you agree to educate her? That you have the same responsibilities under state and federal law as if she were your natural born child? As such, she would have the right to inherit as a natural born descendant of you?"
He cleared his throat. "Yes I understand."
"Olivia, do understand that by adopting Klaire, you will be responsible for her physical, and emotional wellbeing. That you agree to educate her? That you have the same responsibilities under state and federal law as if she were your natural born child? As such, she would have the right to inherit as a natural born descendant of you?"
She took a deep breath answering on exhale. "Yes."
"Let the record show I'm sending the decree over to be signed by the parents."
Kelly's hands shake as he signs his name.
He slides the paper to Liv. She quickly gives him a smile and wipes her teary eyes as Klaire makes a grab and a miss at the shiny pen.
"No ma'am." Liv reprimands gently taking the pen and signing her name with a smile mirroring Kelly's.
"From this moment forward the child shall be known as Klaire Katherine Eliza Severide. As it is now her legal name."
The paper is sent back to the judge to sign. "Mara, are you still a notary?" he directs to her mother behind them.
"Yes."
"Would you like to notarize your granddaughter's adoption decree? There by making it legal." He inquired with a grin.
"Yes." Her mother came over to the bench and she looked everything over and stamped it Klaire bored with Kelly reached for Liv.
Liv took her and Klaire stood in her lap.
"This is largely ceremonial now, but Olivia and Kelly Severide are now the official and legal parents of Klaire Severide." The gavel bangs down.
Liv kissed Klaire's forehead and Kelly leaned in to kiss them both.
"You can applaud, cheer, and hug your newest family member." The judge directs at the crowd behind them.
They erupt and the fear Liv has held at bay for month's turns to relief and she can't hold it in. She sobs.
"Liv honey…" Kelly said quietly.
She can't stop crying long enough to tell Kelly she's ok. She can feel her dad kiss the top of her head. She knows it's him by his cologne.
"No one's going to take her away now." She said trying to suck in her tears. "She's ours now…"
Kelly is confused and slightly frightened. "Baby its okay… just take a deep breath. It's a happy day Livvy I don't understand baby."
"She's relieved… she doesn't have to be scared now." Cole clarified for her.
With Shay's death Kelly had refused to let in the fear he could lose even more and he'd come close lately and not just with Klaire but with Liv too. At the realization tears spring to Kelly's eyes too.
He kissed Klaire as Liv pulled herself together. "I'm good. You?" she kissed him and she gives him a glittering a smile like she hadn't just had a meltdown. He kissed her back smiling in return, pregnant Liv was oddly fascinating.
"I'm perfect Babe. Wanna grab the judge for a picture?" He asked.
"Is my makeup runny? Do I look pregnant?" Kelly can't help it he laughs.
"Baby…" he starts but then sees both of their fathers and Herrmann making various faces and no gestures. "Never mind! You look great Honey." He amended.
-/-
"Why're we here? I need to pee." Liv said as they pulled up to the park near their house.
"I don't know, I just followed Viv's instructions." Kelly replied.
"There are balloons. With our faces on them." Liv's tone implies disbelief.
They get out and walk to the pavilion of Klaire's favorite park giant puzzles pieces dot the area and pictures too. Kelly is caught of guard by one of Shay and Klaire in the firehouse.
"You alright? She'd be happy today. She'd be happy for you that not only have you found your person but you found your family." Vivi walked up beside him.
He nods unable to speak of Shay. "The puzzle pieces? I don't get it." He asked as he read notes to them scrawled on one of the puzzle pieces.
"Klaire she was your missing piece until today."
They hear Olivia squeal loudly as Owen, Lang. and Liam attempt to tackle hug her. Grady stands off to the side. "I do not hug, I refuse on the basis that physicality makes me uncomfortable. I am not affectionate adoption day tradition aside. I simply refuse." He laments mostly to himself.
"Hey watch it! Be careful, of the baby!" Kelly gripes and moves to rescue her even though she doesn't truly need his help taming her brothers.
Erin walks up to Kelly and takes Klaire without asking. There's a younger man following her. "You sure He's Livvy's cause that is a cryin' shame if he's straight." The young man muttered making Kelly self-conscious.
"Yes he's very much mine and so is the baby Erin just stole. Get off me fuckers!" Liv yells the last part of the statement. They release her but not before Owen gives her a wet Willy. "That is so disgusting and juvenile Owen! Hey Teddy! It's good to see you back in town!"
"It's good to be back I think."
Vivi whistled through her teeth. "Everyone gather up." Once everyone was assembled she brought out a cake matching the party décor. "Adoption Days are a huge deal in my family similar to our birthday days. Livvy and Klaire share one! There are 27 candles marking the years of Liv's adoption and one for Klaire. We don't sing or make wishes. Instead we use the candles to remember our blessings." They lit the candles. "Erin give Liv her baby back."
Liv took a second to just remember the moment before blowing out her candles. When she felt more than saw Kelly's hand shoot out to keep Klaire from destroying the icing she has to laugh. Klaire makes a pouty face. "This works on me. Blow out the candles." Kelly demands. Liv blows out her candles but leaves Klaire's burning.
"Can you blow it out baby?" Liv asked as Klaire just stared mesmerized by the lone burning stick.
"I'll do it." Kelly said bending to kiss Klaire's head before blowing the candle out.
Vivi continued. "I just have one more thing to say. I think it's rather obvious our family is not defined by any one thing but love. Uh the first time I stepped foot in Mom's kitchen I knew I was home. Then my sister rolls up to me with more confidence and spark than any ten year old should have and says. "I'm Livvy, I'll be your sister for as long as you are here and oh yeah don't touch my wheels." Everyone laughs at that.
Vivi forges on." I have re learned recently that love and people can be…Shit…" Vivi wiped her eyes. "I'm crying, I loathe crying. " Vivi tried to gather herself but as she went on her voice shook.
"Anyway, I learned that it can be taken from you. Then all my siblings, my sister especially, reminds me that sometimes love grows and lives forever where ever it's planted. I just have to take a minute and say thank you to you Livvy because even in the chaos of your life you pick me up, put me back together and keep reminding me that real love is possible at all times. Thank you, I am really proud of you for doing the things that scare you to reach your dreams. I know you're going to be the best Mom because you're a really excellent sister." Vivi finished still weeping.
Liv handed Klaire off to Kelly and moved the chair to stand to hug Vivi. "I am so unbelievably proud to see you doing the things you love again. I know somewhere up there Shay's smiling on you and is proud too. Thank you for bringing Klaire into the tradition is such a fantastic way!"
"My mascara is totally wrecked." Vivi sucked a breath.
"Nah, Still beautiful I promise." Liv wiped Vivi's eyes before kissing her cheek.
"Damn it Viv!" Lang calls out they look over and he's crying too.
"My turn!" Cole calls out.
"Oh God help us. Okay, its Tess' fault she handed him the microphone." Liv muttered to Vivi.
"Ollie Girl."
"Daddy." She returned guardedly.
"Don't worry I'm not going to reveal anything highly personal like your burning desire to marry that girly looking kid from Titanic when you were in the eighth grade? Or the time you cried when I told you your favorite skirt was made from cows when you were ten."
"DiCaprio is still fine." She justified without shame.
"He got fat Livvy." Kelly points out.
"He's jealous…." Cole chuckled "When that building fell on my girls afterward Kelly said he wanted to take Liv home but he had no intention of marrying her, little more than a month later he was asking me if he could marry her. So, I could understand Liv's hesitancy in taking in Klaire at first. Until he told Liv he felt like he was looking at their child. It brought a lifetime of precarious destiny full circle. I said the exact same thing to my Mara when we met Livvy." He looked at Liv and smiled. "Life will always scare you more than it comforts but there beautiful things in between the fears. No one can take her. She's yours love her and do your best and it'll all be fine." He tossed her a little box. "Your present." He kissed her cheek. "No cryin' now."
Liv opened the gift. Inside the velvet box lay a charm with a tiny hand print on it colored in by a deep blue etching. "The blue etching is Klaire's fingerprint." Her dad said as she read the inscription on the back. "Ollie and Klairey forever connected. August 4th 2014
He handed Klaire a tiny box. "And her present. There rest are on you from here on out Kelly."
Klaire shook the box and chewed the paper. "Can Daddy help?" she looked at him and gave an irritated scream.
"Sorry honey, you can't open it with all three off the teeth in your head."
He gently took the box and opened it. Inside was a tiny engraved bracelet. I was born: February 1st 2014, I came home forever: August, 4th 2014.
"Look baby, your own shiny thingy!" he put it on her. "And I did get you a gift we just have to pierce your ears first. In that pink bag, that I know you are dying to tear into just for the tissue paper has matching earrings same as Mommy's. And a journal from the Mommy but hello boring. You can't even write."
Klaire babbled back at him.
"Do you always talk to her like that?" Katie asked.
"Like what?" she glanced at his sister as he hitched Klaire up in his arms.
"Like she's adult and fully understands you?" Katie asks laughter coloring her words.
"Yes, it helps them acquire verbal skills faster. I read it in a book okay? I read!" Kelly replied.
-/-/=
Toward the end of the party she finds Kelly sitting alone flipping through the journal her mother had bought for them both. It was filled with her observances of them as a family. Liv was carrying forward the tradition as well.
"Hey husband, can I cuddle up?" he nodded and helped her transfer into his lap. "You're awful quiet baby. You alright?" She asked.
He confesses his thoughts looking into the middle distance. "I miss her. She wanted a baby and we were going too… but then I met you and my life changed. I will never regret it; because God do I love you. I'm just sad she never got that. That there is no piece of her left behind."
"There are pieces of her left behind. In every person who remembers her, misses her, or had the privilege of loving her."
He looked hard at Liv he was trying to imprint this moment on his mind. "I know, still sucks though."
"I know I'm sorry baby."
Kelly buried his face in her shoulder and took a moment to gather himself before he started crying. Liv played with the tiny curls at the nape of his neck. "I hope the baby has your curly hair." She said with hopefulness that makes joy bloom on Kelly's face in the next moment.
"Yeah? Klaire totally digs Pop." Kelly said and Liv followed his gaze to where Benny had stopped mid swing push to talk to Klaire as the sun went down. Klaire looked up at him clearly perplexed.
"Oh look at that face. She's thinking, he looks like Daddy, sounds like Daddy, but totally is not my Daddy! What is this black magic?"
"I don't look like my Dad." He defended. "Pop push before she blows a gasket."
"Yes you do. It's okay though Babe, you'll age well Benny's not bad lookin' I'm good with it." Liv teased back.
"I don't." he became indignant.
"You do it's even worse when you talk shop. You have his mannerisms too." She kept on for the fun of it.
"Okay, okay stop rubbing it in." he sulked.
The conversation suddenly got serious. "It's okay to admire his good qualities Kelly."
"He was a shitty husband and a worse father." Kelly muttered lowly.
"Not wanting to be those things made you a great father Kelly. You aren't the best communicator but I know you love me at all times. You're a great husband Kelly. I know today was emotional but you were there Honey, you kept your promise to me in spades today. I was so proud of us today." She told him. Brushing his hair back.
"Me too, here comes Grady maybe if act like you don't care he'll hug you." Kelly commented.
He glanced at Liv then talked to the concrete floor. "Sissy…I mean Olivia, Mom said I have to work on expressing myself more so I just wanted to say I think you will be satisfactory parents and I'm glad for you." He kissed her quickly on the cheek. "This is as much affection as I feel I can manage at this present time. Now can Kelly take me for a drag in the car?" He said in a rush,
"Sure Bud," Kelly stifled his smile and lifted Liv from his lap. He slid her back on to the seat. He kissed her quickly. "I shall return."
"With my brother in one piece." Liv reminded him.
"Didn't you hear him I am satisfactory I got this." He gives her a smile so bright for a second all her worries lift.
She watches them walk off. Grady busy trying to shrug off Kelly's hand on his shoulder.
Erin came to sit on Liv's lap. "How was your day Bestie? I brought you cake." She waved it under Liv's nose.
"My day was the stuff of dreams. How was yours?" Liv returned quietly as Erin took a bite of cake the handed the fork to Liv to do the same.
"Your Mom and Dad tried to foster my brother; they couldn't because of our connection. They assumed I knew Teddy was being fostered and trusted the system." She replied with melancholy.
"I'm sorry E,"
She sighed. "Don't be, life is what it is and I just gotta keep at it til I hit dream status."
"And you will Erin."
Erin said with a wide smile. "Today was good. I love you."
"Today was great, I love you too."
They sit there in companionable silence all cuddled up together until Kelly returns with a sleepy Klaire on his shoulder. . He gives them an odd look." Time to return the wife Lindsay." He commands.
"I had her first." Erin retorts making Liv snicker.
"Yeah well…I married her so there."
"He's sexier and he's my ride home. My kid looks done for. I'm ready to blow this beautifully decorated pop stand and put on my sweats. He wins, Get off me Slutbucket." Liv settled the quarrel.
"Ugh fine Doc McTrampy." She got up. "I'm taking the cake." And she walked off.
-/-/-
Before they are even half way home both girls are sleeping. Klaire cuddling up with her own Adoption Day bear Mr. Stuffy II. Liv snored softly leaned on the car door. It makes him smile, really and truly for the first time in months he is perfectly happy.
AN: obviously I'm doing my own twist on Brittany Baker. I own nothing but Liv her family and Klaire I do not own anything of the shows plot lines I just tie it all in. Lastly if you enjoyed please tell me! The edit for this was horrible! Thanks again for your continued readership!-MM