They are almost finished getting ready for the BBQ when Evan asks, "Do you want to tell everyone we're engaged tonight?"
"Absolutely, I don't want to hide the fact that you're mine and I'm yours." Kelly explains.
"I agree." Evan replies before adding, "We still haven't decided where we're going to settle down, whether it's here in L.A or in Chicago."
Kelly nods as he puts his wallet and phone in his back pocket. "I haven't told you this yet, but both Boden and Grissom have agreed to let me keep my spot on Squad 3 for a year. That gives us enough time to decide where we want to call our forever home, and in the meantime, I can work here in L.A." He explains.
"Okay, are you sure you want to give up Squad for even just a year?" Evan asks, hesitantly.
"I'm sure." The older of the two replies before kissing Evan tenderly and deeply.
Kelly and Evan leave the apartment and head to Bobby and Athena's. On the drive over, Kelly catches Evan up on the 51's drama, their antics, and their most trying calls. With Kelly insisting on getting Athena her favorite bottle of wine, it takes them a few extra minutes, but they arrive about a half an hour after leaving the apartment.
They knock on the door, and Athena answers with a smile. "Buck! Come in, and this must be the famous Kelly." Athena greets, letting them into the house.
"Yes, Athena, this is Lieutenant Kelly Severide, my fiancé!" Buck tells the woman who's been like a mother to him.
"Nice to meet you, Athena. I've heard a lot about you." Kelly greets.
"Nice to meet you as well, and wow! That was fast. Are you happy, Buck?" Athena asks.
"Yes, Athena. I'm very happy as I've been waiting 3 and a half years for this. I'm more than happy." Buck tells the older woman.
"Well, then congratulations." Athena says hugging Buck then Kelly.
"Why are we congratulating Buck?" Chim asks as himself, Maddie, Eddie, Hen, Karen and Bobby step into the room.
"Buck here is getting Married." Athena answers, causing Chim and Eddie to almost choke on their beers.
"Congratulations, baby brother! I know how long you've waited for this." Maddie cheers, hugging her brother, and then she turns to Kelly and says, "Welcome to the family! I'm glad I finally got to meet the man who stole my brother's heart. I've heard a lot about you, and I'm so glad you're back for good." Maddie, her excitement unmeasurable, pulls Kelly into a hug.
"Thanks, me too. I've wanted to meet you for a long time. I'm glad we finally got the chance." Kelly says hugging Maddie back.
"Wait… You knew about him and didn't tell me?" Chim asks, shocked.
"It wasn't my place to out Evan like that, and I knew when the time was right, you all would find out." Maddie says.
"Well, I'm happy for you, Buck, but does this mean you're transferring on me?" Bobby asks.
"Actually, no. I was hoping Kelly could join the 118, as we're gonna live here for at least a year. The CFD Commissioner is holding his spot on Squad 3 for a year and then we have a decision to make." Buck explains.
"I've all my squad certifications, and with the lieutenant exam under my belt, I'm a lieutenant. Ev has explained that you guys work a little differently than Chicago, so I get if there's not a spot for a lieutenant. I'll just take a normal spot than if at all possible." Kelly replies.
"We can always use someone like you on our team, even if we don't have a squad rig or a place for a Lieutenant, but you will still be second in command. I'll put the transfer through if this is what you both want." Bobby explains.
"This is what we both want." Buck and Kelly reply in unison.
"Okay, then I'll put the transfer though in the morning." Bobby smiles before turning to the gang and adding, "Hey everyone, we got a new member to the 118."
Hen and Chim welcome Kelly while Eddie just stands to the side nursing his beer, his eyes in fine points. "So… Why did you come back after 3 and a half years?" Eddie probes with a little venom.
Kelly and Buck both sighing, they glance at each other and nod. Kelly then says, "I regret not coming sooner, but I had to get my head on straight, or else, I knew Evan would never take me back. Honestly, I didn't think he would either way, but I had to try. I owed it to myself, him and us as a couple." Kelly squeezes Evans hand lovingly.
"What made you guys break up in the first place?" Hen asks.
"So, I guess we're jumping right into the question portion of the night." Buck says, sighing and rubbing his forehead with his hand. Clearly uncomfortable, he takes a swig of beer that maddie hands him, before taking a seat, and Kelly, unprompted, sits beside him. "My good friend and Kelly's best friend/roommate died almost four years ago in an arson warehouse fire." Evan begins, tearily. He looks over to Kelly, who nods and encourages him to go on with a tender smile. "…It broke the entire house, but it destroyed Kelly, and he went on a downward spiral. I…" Evan visibly chokes up, and Kelly takes over.
"I was becoming a self-destructive bastard, who drunk all the time. I shut Evan out. I shut everybody out. I left for a week and went to my dad's cabin, isolating myself. Evan found me with our other good friend, Casey, and they got me back home and to work, but I wasn't myself still." Kelly exhales. "So, two weeks later when I came home from the gym, I found Evan packed and ready to go. He told me he was leaving, and I couldn't blame him. I didn't fight for him then like I should've, which I regret more than anything." He pauses, his eyes dropping to Evan's hand. "Just before Shay died, Shay and I picked out the band that Evan is wearing now. I was going to propose back then before everything went to hell, but I didn't get a chance. So, I promised myself I would never let him go without asking, again." Kelly explains with tears threatening to fall.
"Wow, I'm so sorry for your loss and that you both lost someone to this job. Shay was it? Was she a firefighter as well?" Bobby asks.
Evan shakes his head while Kelly speaks, "she was a paramedic, a damn good one at that. She shouldn't have even been in that warehouse to begin with, but there was an unconscious victim. We were trying to clear the building, which is why we brought her and Gabby, another Paramedic, in to examine the victim, but then there was an explosion and a beam fell and struck her side of the head." Kelly explains.
"I'm sorry" echoes from everyone in the room.
"Thanks. I've moved on as best as I could, but I knew I needed to fix one of the biggest mistakes I ever made before I completely regretted it." Kelly says, rubbing circles on Evan's hand.
"So, how long did you guys together before everything happened?" Hen asks.
"Five years. We got together when I was 21 and Kelly was 32." Evan explains, slowly. His eyes scan each of them for a reaction.
"How old are you now?" Eddie asks.
"I'm 41 now, but I'll be 42 Next month. Evan will be 31 in September." Kelly says slowly, knowing some aren't a fan of the age gap. "I'm 11 years and 5 months older than Evan…"
"Don't you think that's a bit too old?" Eddie snares, his nose flaring.
"No, Eddie. I don't." Buck states firmly.
The questions die down for a bit and their attention turns to the food. After eating, they sit around the firepit for a bit, basking in the heat. Athena, Maddie and Hen and Karen are sitting a ways away from the men, and insuring they won't be overheard, Athena asks Maddie, "How much do we know about this guy though? I'm worried, especially considering I never heard about this man until now."
"Don't be. Kelly is a standup guy, who loves my brother with his entire heart. Plus, my brother loves him, which is all that matters to me." Maddie answers.
"Okay… if you're okay with it then I guess I am too." Athena says.
Meanwhile over with the guys, Bobby asks Kelly, "So how did you get into firefighting?" Buck snorts at the question but Kelly answers. "My dad was a legend in the CFD, and his best friend who's like a father to me is the commissioner, so it's in my blood." Kelly answers.
"Oh wow, your dad must be proud of you." Bobby exclaims.
Evan sees the sad look in Kelly's eyes and squeezes his hand tightly. "I'm not sure about that as my dad and I had a rocky relationship…. He died last week suddenly. " Kelly says, regrettably.
"I'm so sorry." Bobby says.
"It's okay, I've made peace with it." Kelly states sorrowfully.
The night winds down and everyone is getting ready to leave when Eddie comes over to Buck as Kelly is talking with Bobby.
"Hey, Eddie, what's up?" Buck asks, clocking the strained expression on Eddie's face.
Eddie scrubs a hand over his face and then says, "Do you think you're making the right choice here? He's so much older than you, and plus, it took him three and a half years to actually fight for you." Eddie, puffing out his nose, crosses his arms.
Sighing, Buck goes, "Yes, Eddie, I'm making the right choice. Not one doubt. I don't think, I know I am making the best choice for me. And yes, while he's a bit older than me, age is just a number. Also, he had to get his life straight, and I get that. I understand why it took him this long. I'm just glad he did fight for me " Buck huffs out as Kelly approaches, silently asking if he is okay with his eyes. "Goodnight Eddie." Buck states as he waves goodbye, not leaving any room for Eddie to respond. Hand in hand, Buck and Kelly head to leave.
"You okay babe?" Kelly asks
"Yea, better than fine, I'm great. I love you, Kel." Buck tells the love of his life.
"I love you, Ev." Kelly says before they kiss tenderly and drive home.