Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 14 – Laying it all on the Line

"I'm thinking of asking Erin to marry me."

"Do you think…she'll say yes?" Matt countered as Kelly sagged against his doorframe and rested his head against the back of the wall. "You said she just broke off an engagement."

"A few months ago. The guy won't let it go but it's over now and…but I don't think either of us need time to get to know the other…or…or maybe we do. I just…don't want any regrets."

"Do you want to get married?"

"I do," Kelly replied with a soft whisper as Matt's brows gently rose. "I think I did the moment I met her," he added with a chuckle as Matt smiled at his friend. "Then we were forced to spend every second of a whole week together and…and…" his voice trailed off as he rubbed his face and pulled away from the wall and turned to leave.

"Hey," Matt started as Kelly turned back with a small frown. "It's your life. I wanted to ask Gabby the moment I met her also but waited. Would I do it all again? Yeah I would. But next time, I'd have asked sooner. But that's just me."

"Right."

Kelly walked back into the hallway with his mind all aflutter as he continued to ponder his father's words and then his buddies'. I know I love her…but if I tell her that will it freak her out? Will she reciprocate?

"Hey Severide! Visitor!" Cruz called out as Kelly stopped in his tracks and then hurried as best he could with his recovering leg toward the large truck area.

XXXXXXXX

"Hey Buddy!" Erin greeted as she entered Firehouse 51 and the golden lab instantly broke free from Otis's side and bounded toward her.

"Hey…not fair," Otis playfully whined as Cruz hit him on the back.

"Can you blame him?" Cruz retorted in a low tone as Otis's lips pursed.

"She's taken. Get Severide."

"Right."

Erin offered a smile to some from Firehouse 51 who stopped what they were doing to look at her in wonder but told herself that this was Kelly's place of work and if she was to have any kind of future with him she'd have to get past any kind of nervousness being inside.

"Erin."

"Hey," she greeted Kelly as he neared. Despite the curious glances, she couldn't help but offer him a hug and kiss as soon as he was in proximity. The affection was fully reciprocated and she told herself that the feelings between them hadn't died at all; in fact they were only growing stronger.

"He's happy to see you."

"Trudy says you have to bring him back with you," Mouch piped up as Erin offered him a laugh. "And she adds to make 51 pay to get him back."

"That I believe. Course…she'll probably just take him home with her," Erin winked at Mouch who shrugged.

"I don't argue with her anymore," he resigned as those within earshot laughed.

"You can take him for a visit if you want but uh…but you might have to fight off some of the guys when they come to take him back."

"I think he'll be better here. More room."

"And more treats," Kelly added as he led the way toward a small bench by the open door and the two of them sat down with Buddy at their feet. "He's used to this."

"So am I," she whispered as she cast a faraway glance at the side of the nearest firetruck.

"Erin…" Kelly started as he looked up and noticed a few of his team watching before they quickly went back to their jobs at hand. "Wanna go for a walk to the grassy area over there? Take Buddy for a walk?"

"Right…you can't answer a call right now," she smiled as she reminded herself that even if a call came in he couldn't take it yet. He was sidelined for at least another week. Her a week longer.

"So…desk duty?"

"Cold cases," she gently groaned as her right hand took the end of Buddy's leash and they started to slowly walk toward a grassy area. "At least it's better than filing."

But as soon as they had cleared the bay doors, Kelly's hand slipped into hers and she clutched it tightly. The motion wasn't lost on Matt either who watched his friend and then smiled in approval.

"I sense a wedding coming," Gabby stated as she wrapped her arm around her husband's waist and he quickly pulled her to his side.

"Wedding? What makes you think that?" He played ignorant.

"Matt Casey…is he planning to ask her right now?"

"No. What?" Matt replied as his face gently flushed.

"You're so not a good liar," she teased as he nodded. "Okay details…now."

"I don't mind the cold cases," Erin continued. "I feel like I get to help bring some closure to families that they think the system has forgotten. What about you?"

"Call desk," Kelly groaned. "In between that and paperwork. I'd much rather work old cases. Might call my dad a bit later and see if I can help with some arson stuff."

"That sounds interesting. Katie gone home?"

"Yeah…left early this morning," Kelly replied as his mind replayed a brief but important conversation with his sister.

'Next time you come bring Erin with you.'

'Katie…'

'She's in to you Kelly. Totally into you. You don't need dad's permission. So just go for it. Love you. Bye.'

"I hope she comes back to visit."

"She will once she has things up and running a bit more to her liking in New York. She's a bit of a control freak," he chuckled. "Got that from her mom. At least I assume so because dad sometimes just goes with the flow."

"Is that…bad?"

"Nope, it's Benny," he smiled and then quickly frowned.

"What's going on?" Erin asked as her many years of suspect profiling came into play. She tried to downplay 'cop mode' when around those she cared for but old habits always died hard.

He looked at her seriously before his hands rose and cupped her cheeks and his lips crushed hers with heated passion. With the leash still on one hand she wrapped the other around the back of his neck and fully reciprocated his affection.

"I love you Erin. Think I did the moment we first met," he stated a bit breathlessly a few seconds later as they pulled back for some air; finally realizing they were in public view. His heart pounded so loud and fast that he swore he would pass out before he got an answer. Thankfully he didn't have to wait too long or fear the response wouldn't be what he wanted. It was.

"I love you too Kelly. I do, with all my heart," she confessed as his grin widened and he kissed her once more.

"You do?" He asked in surprise and then shook his head while she offered him a small laugh.

"I think I did the moment we got onto that plane."

"Not before?" He retorted cheekily as she shook her head in playful disbelief. "But it was before for me. I just wasn't sure you felt the same way."

"Keep telling myself that you have to really get to know someone and spend time with them to find out what they are like. I know you Kelly and I want to keep on getting to know you."

His heart sunk slightly. Keep getting to know you…so that means…do not ask! His mind cautioned as his lips thinned.

"Good and bad times right?"

"Think we experienced a lot of that in just a week," she replied as they continued on their walk to an area that was fenced off.

"He likes this," Kelly said as he pulled out a tennis ball and then tossed it for Buddy to fetch and bring back. He leaned against the fence and pulled her back against him and wrapped his arms around her while they watched Buddy chasing the ball. "I'm glad we kept him."

"Me too. Couldn't imagine him in the pound."

Buddy raced back up to them with the ball in his mouth and tried to bark. He dropped the ball at their feet and playfully barked and bounced while his tail wagged the whole time.

"Needs to be with people who love him," Kelly mused as he tossed the ball once more and then gestured toward a small bench for them to sit down on once more. "We all do."

She heard his words and then twisted her head to look up at him as their hands remained clasped on his thigh. "Kelly…" she started.

But before she could say anything further they heard horns start to blare and looked up in the direction of Firehouse 51 and watched as the teams scrambled into the trucks and each emergency vehicle file out of 51 in an orderly fashion. Buddy raced to the edge of the fence and barked at the trucks as they drove past.

A few seconds later Kelly's phone buzzed and just as he went to retrieve it, Buddy raced up to him with the ball for another toss and the phone clattered to the ground. Erin quickly picked it up and couldn't help but notice the message from Matt:

"Did she say yes?"

She pretended that she didn't see but it wasn't lost on him as he looked at the message and then at her with a perplexed glance.

"No secrets right?"

"Depends if that she was about me…?" Erin started to inquire and then stopped.

"There is only you," he quickly qualified as Buddy sat at their feet and wagged his tail. You have to tell her now…she might be suspicious otherwise and that isn't fair…what are you waiting for? The perfect moment! There isn't one…just the present – do it now! His brain urged as he turned to face her and took her hand in his.

"What Matt meant was…" he stopped and then took a deep breath before he looked back at her with a nervous smile. "I know this might seem sudden but I don't think it is…I do but I'm ready and…and I don't know if you are or…" he nervously rambled before he stopped when her hand gently reached out and touched his stubbled cheek.

"I love you Erin. I…I don't want to spend my life with anyone else. I want to be with you but not on a casual basis or here or there. Together. All the time. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" He asked in a rushed tone as his heart started to race at top speed. "Can't get down on one knee."

She looked at him in stunned silence as her eyes wanted to well.

"I know it's bad timing after you said you want to keep getting to know me but…"

"I can keep getting to know you as we grow old together…as husband and wife."

"What?" He asked as he actually expected her to say she wasn't ready. "Did you just…"

"Yes. I will marry you," she replied with a wide grin as he leaned in and kissed her once more; Buddy barking in approval.

A/N: Okay so I needed something happy tonight (after the emotionally devastating eppy‼-no other spoilers here) but hope you all liked this and please do review before you go and hope you still like this and are still with me and thanks so much!