Since I Found You
The wrong one will find you in peace
...and leave you in pieces.
The right one will find you in pieces
...and lead you to peace.
Kelly looked over at the series of professionally taken photographs that stood on the mantle over the fireplace; every member of the family sharing a starring role as they smiled with their similar looking grins pointed at the camera. He only had eyes for one of them however. It was the same young woman that had unknowingly stolen his heart the moment that she almost ran into him holding a box that most definitely weighed more than she had at the time. She had grown into a beautiful, strong, independent woman that would continuously steal his heart every single day until he willingly gave it to her and she gave him hers in return.
"Kelly," the jovial sound of her father's voice sounded behind him, "What are you doing here, son?"
"I've come to see you, sir," Kelly responded, holding his hand out for the older gentleman to shake, but the man he had known since he was a hot headed teenager with an overwhelming amount of Daddy issues practically smacked his hand in mid air and gave the young lieutenant a hug instead. Kelly smiled as the large man gave him his biggest smile and led him into his home office.
"Sandy said something about you needing to ask me something," Rae's father chuckled, "Should I take a seat or-"
"I, uh, well, Mr. Lowe-"
"Kelly, you've known me since you were fifteen," Rae's father fixed him with a look, "You've been friends with my daughter since you were seventeen and the two of you have been dating for the last couple of years, the least you can do is call me by my first name.
"Okay, uh, Reginald," Kelly started again.
"Reggie," the older gentleman corrected with a smile, "The only person that calls me Reginald anymore is my wife and I don't see her in this room, son." Kelly smiled again.
"Reggie, I-"
Kelly paused. He had been practicing this speech every moment he could, but now that he was faced with actually saying it to the man that he had been practicing it for, the speech had completely left his mind. He was drawing a blank in what could possibly be the most important moment of his life.
"Kelly, son," Reggie said, fixing the young lieutenant with a look, "What is it?"
"I," Kelly paused, as he took a deep breath through his nose, "I want to ask for your permission to ask Rae to marry me." Reggie looked at Kelly over his half-moon glasses that sat in the middle of his nose before running a large hand through his salt and pepper hair. It wasn't the first time that he had sat in this room opposite a young man who wanted to marry one of his daughters. First, it had been that doctor, the one that had broken his little girl's heart over the relationship she shared with the man that now sat in front of him. Next, it was the man who was now married to his eldest. All of them good men, but Kelly was probably one of the best. He had no doubts about what Kelly would do to keep his baby girl safe, just what he would do within his power to make sure that she was happy, that she felt loved, that she felt protected. Reginald Lawrence Lowe had no doubt that Kelly Severide was the man that would make his little girl happy.
"And if I tell you no," the retired Paramedic Field Officer asked the Squad Lieutenant looking at him seriously, the grin he was sporting five minutes ago now gone. Kelly looked across the room at the much larger man.
"I would respect what you had to say," Kelly responded, looking down at the floor, "But, with all due respect, sir, I would still ask her. Rae, she, Rae frustrates me to no end, but I would never change a single thing about her. She, she makes me want to pull my hair out when all we're doing is fighting, but when she smiles, I want to do everything in my power to make sure that she can keep smiling, when she's crying I want to wipe her tears and hold her until I can make whatever is hurting her stop. I know that whatever I do, she deserves a lot better than what I can give her. Rae, she's lived the good life, the privileged life growing up here – she's never wanted for anything. I'm just a fire fighter that repairs boats on my days off, but she makes me feel like I'm a damn king every damn day even when I'm one move away from giving her a stress induced heart attack. I have never loved anyone more than I love her and I love her more and more everyday and I will do whatever I can to make sure that she knows that. I-"
"Kelly," Reggie interrupted with a chuckle.
"I will understand if you still want to say no," Kelly continued despite the interruption, "I will understand if you think that there is someone out there that is better for her, but sir, with all due respect, there is no one that I would rather fight with than her. Because even fighting with her makes me love her with everything that I have."
"Kelly," Reggie chuckled again, causing the young lieutenant to look at him once more, "I have never doubted that you were the man for my daughter, for my Raelynn. The two of you have been fighting like cats and dogs since the day the two of you met. Hell, son, she sucker punched you at a Fireman's Ball for calling her a Chihuahua-"
"You know about that?"
"I knew about it from the moment that it happened," Reggie responded, a smile playing on his lips, "Kelly, I've watched you grow into the man that you wanted to become, not the man that you were destined to be; a man who is just like your father. Every day you show me, more importantly you show my daughter that you love her the exact way she needs you to love her. You give her the room to breathe, but help her reign in that damn temper – she gets it from her mother."
"And let me guess," Kelly chuckled, "Sandy would say that she gets it from you."
"I love the woman, but she is damn liar," Reggie joked, pointing a strong finger at Kelly, "Don't tell her I said that though, she has a temper after all." Kelly chuckled, shaking his head.
"From the moment you stepped into my office with that ring burning a hole in your pocket, you had my permission to marry Raelynn," Reggie continued to explain to the young man. Kelly smiled at his future father-in-law, before he reached into his pocket to pull out the ring that he intended to propose to the woman he had spent the better part of his life in love with. It was simple, the way she'd like it. It wasn't too over the top, something that she wouldn't miss leaving at home while on the job.
"How'd you know I had it in there?"
"Because I know you, Kelly," Reggie joked, holding his large hand out for Kelly to place the ring into, "You wouldn't have come into this house without something to show me just how serious you were about proposing to my Raelynn." Kelly smiled as he placed the ring into Reggie's large hand. It looked so tiny in comparison.
Kelly often wondered how someone as short as Raelynn had a father that was almost 7 feet tall and looked to be the size of a small car when you were standing in front of him. Raelynn was a five foot ball of rage and fire when she needed to be, but everyone that had ever had the pleasure of meeting both father and daughter never quite understood how a man who looked like he could bench press his own daughter had a daughter that couldn't reach most top shelves.
"Dare I ask where you got the ring, son," Reggie asked, looking down at the ring with that stood proudly between two large fingers, "This better not be the ring that you proposed to that Renee girl with..."
"No, no," Kelly assured the older man, "No, that, that ring is probably sitting at the bottom of the Chicago River if someone hasn't already drudged it up by now. No, uh, this, this was my grandmother's ring."
"A family ring," Reggie asked, looking impressed with the squad lieutenant.
"My grandmother and grandfather were married for seventy years, sir-"
"What did I tell you about calling me sir, son," Reggie warned with a soft chuckle, "We're practically family already. There's no need for formalities in here."
"Right, sorry, Reggie," Kelly corrected himself once more, "My grandparents were married for seventy years. Most of them were happy, but they had their rough spots just like everybody else. My grandmother she was a stubborn woman. My Dad used to call her a stubborn old bat, but that was usually when she was giving him shit about something. She'd never take anything less than what she knew she deserved and she wouldn't take any kind of flak from anybody."
"Sounds like Raelynn..."
"That's why I wanted to give her this ring, sir, uh, Reggie," Kelly explained, a smile coming to his lips, "Rae reminds me of my Nan in a lot of ways, I mean, she can't bake worth a damn-"
"That'd be her mother," Reggie joked once more, "The woman could burn water if left unattended in the kitchen..."
"But, she's stubborn, has a temper that could rival most hot heads, but she puts it to good use," Kelly continued to smile, "She protects the one she loves and she, she's everything that I have ever wanted and I know, it took us awhile to get here, a lot of fighting to actually see that we were made for each other, but I want to make sure that every day for the rest of my life she never has to question how I feel about her ever again." Reginald Lowe smiled at the man who would become his son-in-law.
"You're a good kid, Severide," Reginald told him, a smile still playing on his lips, "Just remember what I told you the day you and my Raelynn decided to tell us that the two of you were dating."
"If I ever hurt her make sure that she gets her hands on me first," Kelly repeated, thinking back to that day with a smile of his own on his face, "Because if you find me before she does, not even the grim reaper will be able to find my body." Reggie nodded and held out his hand for Kelly to shake.
"I think we've already said this enough," Reggie said as the two men shook hands, "But, welcome to the family, son."
"Shit, shit, shit," Raelynn repeated as she aggressively shook the third positive pregnancy test that she had taken today in her well manicured hands like it was an old Etch a Sketch hoping that the word 'not' would eventually find its way to the little electronic window that was currently telling her that she is pregnant. This; this was not supposed to be happening right now. They had WAY too much on their plates already.
"Shit, shit, shit," the red head said again, as she continued to shake the test in her hand, praying to whatever God that there was above that Kelly did not come home in the next few minutes. He had been acting increasingly cagey these last few weeks. She was hoping that it had something to do with some of the more recent drama that was happening at Firehouse 51 with their pseudo little brother, Matt, running for Alderman and with his old flame from the academy, Stella Kidd joining the firehouse.
Admittedly, Raelynn had not been too thrilled when Stella joined Firehouse 51. The two women had never gotten along. Stella thought that Raelynn thought too highly of herself and was doing the stereotypical woman thing by becoming a paramedic and later a paramedic field officer instead of going the extra mile and becoming a firefighter. Raelynn thought that Stella had made her assumptions about her before actually getting to know her and deserved whatever attitude she was given in return. Kelly thought that they were more alike than they thought, but he usually kept that thought to himself.
"No, no, no," Raelynn continued with a shake of her head as she looked down at the pregnancy tests. How could the two of them been so stupid? How could either of them let this happen? How could they have let Hermann talk them into finishing the bottle of Daniels that more than likely led to this result? Why, oh why did drinking Jack Daniels make her into some insatiable succubus that could not in any way resist the oncomings of her ridiculously hot incubus of a boyfriend?
After running a hand through her red head wavy locks, Raelynn swept the pregnancy tests into the shopping bag they came in and tied the plastic bag into a knot. She was not going to be that cliché. She was not going to throw the tests into the trash can in their shared bathroom, only for Kelly to find them and think that she doesn't want this kid.
She wants this kid.
She wants this kid like a chubby kid wants to escape fat camp.
She wants this kid no matter how stupid she feels about forgetting protection, but she does not want Kelly finding out on his own. She wants to find the perfect way to tell him and the perfect way to tell him does not follow him acting like a secretive bastard that makes her want to tear her damn hair out over trying to figure it out.
He was talking to himself more, spacing out mid conversation. The other day she had sworn that he had actually willingly spoke to his father about something that didn't end in an argument. The man she had loved for the better part of her life was acting strange and admittedly she wanted to get to the bottom of it, but first she wanted to get rid of these pregnancy tests before he got home.
"Rae," she heard a male voice call causing Raelynn to look at her reflection with wide eyes.
"Rae," the voice called again, though this time she recognized it as the voice of Firehouse 51's other lieutenant, "Rae, you here? Kelly said you'd be here, so I could-"
"Check out the busted window frame," Raelynn finished for him coming out of the bathroom as she did. Matt smiled at his long time friend before eyeing the plastic bag in her hand where he could clearly make out a pregnancy test box brand.
"Are you," he asked pointing to the bag.
"Nope, nope, not at all," Raelynn answered, shoving the bag behind her back before pointing Matt in the direction of her and Kelly's kitchen, "Window's over there. Landlord said that he could get someone to look at next month, but you know Kelly. Kelly threatened to have the Fire Commissioner come take a look at the entire building. Landlord told us to find someone and that he'll pay for it."
"Kelly said that the window won't open," Matt said, placing his bag of tools down on the counter next to the sink that the window was over, "And this is..."
"Yeah," Raelynn answered, "That's one of two windows that lead to the fire escape. I know Kelly and I have a right to worry, I just hate when he throws around that he knows the Fire Commissioner. I call the head of the Chicago Medical Board my uncle, but you don't see me throwing that around every time Kelly finds himself in the damn emergency room at Chicago Med."
"No, but I'm sure you'll throw it around once you give birth to the baby you're carrying..."
"Probably," Raelynn chuckled, before her eyes went wide as she slapped a hand over her mouth. She could not believe that she fell for that. She narrowed her eyes at the Truck Lieutenant.
"Don't worry, Rae, I won't tell him," Matt chuckled in response to her glare, turning to look at the window once more a smug smile on his face as he did.
"Tell me what," a voice behind the pair said, causing Raelynn to turn abruptly and almost fall flat on her face doing so.
"That you were right," Raelynn said with wide eyes as she looked at Kelly standing in the living room smiling at her, "I have to stop slamming that when I'm angry and you don't want the neighbours to be bothered by my yelling." Kelly looked at Raelynn in amusement. She would never readily admit that he was right about anything. She would rather admit defeat and say that she was wrong about something, but never, for as long as he had known her, would she admit that he was right about something like this.
"Oh yeah," Kelly said, coming to stand in front of her.
"Yeah," Raelynn responded.
"And me being right has nothing to do with the bag that you are unsuccessfully trying to hide behind your back," Kelly asked, the smirk on his face beginning to show as he came to stand toe to toe with the woman that he loved.
"Uh..." Raelynn stuttered.
"I don't believe it, Matty," Kelly chuckled, " Raelynn Evangeline Lowe doesn't know what to say. What about that?" Raelynn went to smack Kelly in the chest, but he grabbed her hand faster than she could blink.
"Now, come on," he chuckled again, "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing," Kelly responded, reaching behind her to try and grab the bag that she was holding. Raelynn turned away from him, trying to keep the bag out of his reach. Kelly made to grab it again, but Raelynn moved to the other side of the counter causing Matt to jump and sit on the counter to get out of her way as moved away from Kelly.
"Oh, is that how it's going to be," Kelly asked, raising an eyebrow at the red head.
"Yeah," Raelynn chuckled, "That, that is how it's going to be."
"What's in the bag, Rae," Kelly asked, as he made to move around kitchen island.
"Don't worry about it, Kel," she responded, slowly beginning to move to the other side away from Kelly, "I'll let you know."
"You'll let me know," Kelly hummed, "Why not let me know now?"
"Why don't you tell me why you're being so secretive," Raelynn countered. Kelly paused for a moment.
"Nuh huh," Kelly answered, "This isn't about me and what I'm hiding-"
"Oh, so you admit you're hiding something..."
"I'm not hiding anything you stubborn woman," Kelly sighed, "Now, tell me what is in that bag!"
"No," Raelynn shouted back as Kelly ran around the counter towards her. She quickly made to get around to the other side, but Kelly jumped over the counter and stood in front of her. Quickly wrapping his arms around her waist, Kelly held tightly onto Raelynn making sure not to let her go.
"Uh,' Matt interrupted, jumping off of the counter, now that Kelly and Raelynn were no longer running around the kitchen, "I think I'm going to go. You two obviously have something that you need to talk about and I, uh, I'd rather not be here when that happens."
"Bye Matt," Kelly said, keeping his eyes trained on Raelynn.
"See you Matty," Raelynn said, not wanting to break eye contact with Kelly. Matt rolled his eyes, picked up his bag and bid his friends goodbye once more. Seriously, those two were made for each other.
"Now," Kelly began, "Are you going to tell me what's in the bag or are we going to have to do this whole thing all over again?"
"Kelly," Raelynn sighed, "I-I-I'm late..."
"Nuh huh," Kelly said again, "You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's in the bag."
"No," Raelynn sighed, gently placing her forehead on Kelly's chest, "I'm late..."
Kelly looked down at Raelynn in confusion for a moment before it dawned on him what she was telling him exactly.
"You're..."
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"When'd you find out?"
"Just now."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Holy-"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
"Okay," Raelynn repeated in shock, "Okay? That's all you have to say is okay. How about? It's not exactly the time or we have a lot going on or wow, that's amazing, we're having a kid. Something. Anything. Don't just say okay. React. Say something."
"You done," Kelly asked, a slight smile on his face.
"No," Raelynn responded, "I want this kid more than anything, Kel, but are we ready? Are we ready to be parents? You're a reckless hothead and I'm an overreacting hothead, is that something we're ready to combine? Especially with everything going on our lives right now. Matt is running for Alderman. Kidd is back in our lives. I'm in the midst of training a new paramedic."
"Hey, hey," Kelly said, tightening his hold on Raelynn, "Everything is going to be okay."
"How can you say that?"
"Because of this," Kelly said, as he reached into his pant pocket and pulled out the box that he had been carrying around for the past week, "I've been meaning to do this for quite some time, but after a long talk that I had with your Dad..."
"My Dad," Raelynn asked, looking up at Kelly in confusion.
"Yeah, your Dad," Kelly chuckled, "Had to get his permission to do something."
"Kelly..."
"Lynn, Rae, Raelynn Evangeline Lowe, I have been in love with you for years. I have loved you since the moment that you made it pretty damn clear that the only thing I was taking for a ride was your Barracuda, even though I might not have known it then. I knew that I loved you the day you ended up getting food poisoning thanks to that busted old fridge in our first home together. I have loved you every damn day since we met and I will continue to love you until we are long gone from this world and into the next because since I found you, I have never felt more loved and more at peace," Kelly paused, as he slowly dropped down to one knee, "And as I kneel in front of you, I promise that I will continue to love every part of you from the ends of your red hair that I love tangling my fingers in to the tips of your freezing cold toes, you just have to say yes to one little question."
Raelynn gasped as he popped open the box and held it out to her.
"Lynnie," Kelly whispered, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes," Raelynn gasped out as she sank down to her knees to kneel in front of Kelly, nodding her head as she went, "Yes, yes, I'll marry you."
Pushing herself into his arms, Raelynn wrapped herself around her new fiancée as tightly as she could never wanting to let go. Pushing kisses to her hairline, Kelly couldn't stop smiling.
"I love you, Rae."
"I love you, Kel."
A/N: Okay, so this has been a long time coming. I started writing this back in 2019 and I was just able to finish thanks to some really bad writer's block that it seems that I am forever working through.
I have a couple of other things in the works for these two that I hope you'll enjoy, but until then...
Drop a review and let me know what you think.
xo
