Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 15 – The Love Between Us

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

Kelly stared at her for a minute, almost in disbelief until she mentioned his name and snapped him back to reality.

"Kelly?"

"Yeah I…yes? You will?" He repeated as she nodded in agreement and his arms quickly enveloped her and held her close. Their lips crushed each other's for a few heated seconds until they heard the sound of children approaching the park area and quickly broke apart. "I wasn't sure…you'd say yes. That sounded wrong," he stammered as her face broke into another happy smile.

"I'm not afraid of getting married Kelly. I just don't want to marry the wrong person. I don't want to wait a lifetime to get to know you…I want to continue to get to know you as I continue to fall in love with you."

"Good answer," he grinned as she playfully pinched him and he chuckled. "I want the same as well. In fact…I don't want to wait. I don't want to just see you here and there…I want to really commit to this."

"Sure but…" she started and then watched his brow furrow heavily. "What's going on? I know that look remember?" She lightly teased.

"My father…I don't want to become him. After the divorce…I was young and there were other women and he…marriage was something casual to him if it was anything at all. I want a real family. I want this."

"Then let's go to city hall and officially become a family."

"Right now?"

"Well we're both off for a week right? Why not put that to good use," she suggested as his grin widened.

"Then we'll get the gangs together at Molly's and have a party," Kelly said as they started to slowly walk Buddy back to Firehouse 51. "Don't want a white dress?" He gently teased.

"Not a fan of white," she gently deadpanned as his warm encircled her waist and pulled her close while he planted a kiss on the top of her head. "So…my place or yours?"

"Mine's bigger?"

"Well…size does matter," she replied with a wink as his face warmed. "I think yours also. What about Katie?"

"Well I told her the next time I came to New York I'd bring you and what better than bringing you as my wife?"

"Wife…do like the sound of that."

"Me too," he whispered huskily as they entered 51 and Buddy bounded toward his bed and then flopped down and started to chew on a toy inside the plush fabric.

"You know the crew is off tomorrow."

"And?"

"And…okay so Matt and Gabby got married at City Hall so how about a surprise wedding at Molly's tonight?"

"Tonight?"

"Kinda nice to celebrate with friends and family there. But if you think it's too casual…"

"Yeah I like that idea. I'll tell the team it's a welcome home something at Molly's tonight. They won't suspect a thing," she grinned as she started to feel excitement well inside. "Will it be the first for Molly's?"

"A wedding there? Yeah, the first."

"Let's do it."

"Oh wait…" he paused as reality finally hit him. "Your leg…my leg…ah damn…"

"We don't have to use our legs to have sex," she reminded him as it was his turn to feel his face warm. "See you tonight."

He happily accepted a kiss as he watched her walk away and then suddenly felt a twinge of nervousness start to develop.

'What if I fail?'

'At what? Kelly you love Erin. You are sure of that. That's what counts because then you'll work so hard to keep that feeling growing and make it work. No regrets son. Don't waste time wondering about what if's or waiting for something perfect. Go and make your life happy. No regrets.'

'No regrets.'

"No regrets," he whispered with conviction as he texted Matt. 'Heading home to rest up a bit. Tell the gang to meet at Molly's tonight and Erin will tell 21 and we'll have an official welcome home or we survived kinda thing. Good drinks and good friends right? That's what counts the most. See you tonight. –Kelly'

With that he headed home to get a few things put away, text his father and call his sister with the good news.

XXXXXXXX

"I'm getting married…I'm getting married? I'm…getting married…" Erin mused to herself as she finally made it home a few hours later after dropping 21 and inviting her team. She looked at herself in the mirror and tried to make a serious face but the thought of being with Kelly just made her smile.

"I do love him…I do," she told her reflection in the mirror as her heart started to race a bit faster. She looked around her rather cramped apartment and frowned. "His place is better," she added as she recalled his airy loft and how Katie had decorated it with a modern but cozy appeal.

But a few seconds later panic started to grip her and she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes for a few brief seconds. What are you afraid of? Her mind inquired as she opened her eyes and slowly walked over toward the window. You told him all about your past and your relationship with Voight and your team. He told you all about his life and his father's philandering ways…you covered all the major stuff…what are you still afraid of?

"Messing up his life…that's what I don't want to do…" she huffed as she pulled herself away from the wall and slowly limped toward her bedroom and then stopped and looked at herself in the full length mirror. Her expression remained placid for a few seconds before a frown displayed and she looked down at the small cast boot on her foot and growled.

"How is this sexy..."

With a somewhat perplexed feeling, she headed over to the bed and slumped down on the edge and then stared absently at the ceiling and closed her eyes. But as soon as she did, she was whisked back into the cabin with Kelly pressed up against her. Despite the tense situation, the memory made her smile and her body started to warm and her anxiety lessen.

"Married…"

XXXXXXXX

"Yeah yeah…I'm trying to clean up a bit and left it exactly as you had it. You made it a home," Kelly told Katie over the phone as he tried to hold it pressed against his ear at the same time he cleaned a few things.

"I am so happy for you Kelly! She's totally in to you and you love her and she loves you and this is the right move. I mean you always do things spur of the moment so this seems just you and she's down with it also so yeah. Go for it! And then come out here and visit!"

"Erin said she'd like too," Kelly told her in truth. "Just wish you were here to help us celebrate."

"Can't afford it. Cook's life right?"

"True. Well when we come out there, we'll come to your restaurant for a second wedding reception."

"Now that's a deal!"

"Alright I gotta run. I need to…oh wait...I wanna make this place special for tonight but not too sappy you know?"

"Okay…what's she into?"

"Handcuffs?" Kelly chuckled as his sister groaned.

"Yeah save that for the honeymoon."

"Right…right…okay so something romantic but also casual. Ah damn…I wasn't nervous before but I am now," he confessed as he stopped his cleaning and sat down on the edge of the table. "I love Erin but…"

"But what? You said she said she loves you back and said yes."

"She did."

"The rest you'll figure out as you go."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Alright I gotta run. Text me those ideas."

"Okay will do. Love you Kelly…happy for you."

"Love you too. Bye."

He hung up and then slowly headed toward his large bedroom as his sister, Katie, started to text him a few ideas of what to arrange for their first official night as husband and wife. Of course the thought of being with Erin in an intimate moment made his heart skip several beats and his grin widen but as he thought about the 'real life' that followed he started to feel nervous.

"I love her…what am I afraid of?"

XXXXXXXX

"Hey there he is!" Matt greeted Kelly with a loud voice as Kelly entered Molly's later that same day. He gestured to his friend to join him at the bar; his wife Gabby on the opposite side of the counter with a smile as happy as her husband's.

"You're lookin' pretty fine tonight," Gabby commented as she hugged Kelly and then him up and down.

"Think I'm supposed to be jealous," Matt laughed as he handed Kelly a beer. "First official date?"

"Yeah…kinda," Kelly replied with a somewhat nervous tone as he took a sip of beer and then put it back onto the lacquered counter.

"You okay?"

"Yeah just a bit…nervous," he answered Matt in truth as Matt clapped his friend on the shoulder.

"She's gonna show," Gabby said as she patted Kelly's hand.

"Hey, Benny's here," Matt mentioned as Kelly looked toward the door and looked at his father and then pulled away from the bar and headed toward him.

"Anyone but me know?" Benny asked his son as he nodded to Voight a few tables on the right.

"Uh…no. You see Erin outside?"

"No. Is she…not here yet?"

"No. What if…she doesn't show."

"Kelly, she'll be here," Benny tried to reassure his son in a quiet tone. "I need a drink."

Kelly watched his father head toward the bar and offered him an amused expression before he turned and looked at the clock on the wall and then back at the door. Is she not coming? Did she have second thoughts?

"What's going on?" Voight asked as he neared Kelly who looked at the seasoned Detective with a heavy frown. "You waiting for Erin?"

"Yeah you uh….heard from her?"

"She'll be here," Voight assured him with a pat to his back as Kelly tried to get his anxiety to lessen.

"Course."

"Wouldn't want to let the dress go to waste," Voight whispered before he turned and walked away with a knowing smile; leaving Kelly with his mouth slightly agape.

But as much as he wanted to be a bit irate with Voight, his words filled him with hope and he remained in place for a few moments before he turned and started to slowly head back toward the bar where Matt and Gabby waited. But just as he approached a hush instantly fell over everyone in Molly's and Kelly slowly turned and instantly felt his heart start to race at top speed.

She's here and….WOW! his brain inwardly yelled as he stood and stared at his future wife…his bride to be and his face instantly warmed. She said she didn't want anything too traditional but as he looked at her in the creamy dress he instantly felt guilt that he didn't give the whole traditional affair that defined most weddings.

He finally felt his legs start to work again and made his way toward her, while everyone else remained in place with large smiled plastered over their faces.

"Wow…you look amazing," he told her in truth as she slightly lifted the dress to reveal her cast which of course elicited a small chuckle as he looked back at her beautiful face.

"Is this…what we think it is?" Matt asked as he approached.

"Feel like being my best man?" Kelly asked as Matt readily agreed and gave his friend a hug as Herrmann gestured to one of the patrons who quickly stepped up.

"Herrmann was in on it?"

"He's better at keeping secrets," Kelly told Matt with a smirk as Kim Burgess stood by Erin. "Had to make it official. And be a first for Molly's."

"And we didn't want anything big or a lot of fanfare," Erin told everyone around as her hand slipped into Kelly's. "Just something with all our closest friends and family."

"Well…let's get this party started so the real party can follow!" Herrmann announced as all clapped in agreement.

Another hush fell over the crowd as the City Official started to speak. Erin and Kelly stood face to face; trading adoring smiles as they listened to the words while trying to drown out their rapidly beating hearts.

"Do you Kelly Severide take Erin Lindsay…"

"I do."

"And do you Erin Lindsay take Kelly Severide…"

"I do," she answered with a warm smile as the city official prepared to announce them husband and wife.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You can kiss your bride," he concluded with a smile before a kiss was exchanged and he announced to the happy crowd the new couple – "Mr. and Mrs. Severide."

"YAY!" was the chorus heard all around as the real party finally started.

"The meal for the bride and groom only is on…the Casey's," Herrmann grinned as he pointed to Matt who looked back in confusion and Kelly just laughed.

"Proud of you son," Benny whispered as he hugged his son and the two of them sat down at the same table as Benny and Voight as they all ate their food. They talked and ate for about an hour before it was time for them to take to the small dance floor for their first official dance as husband and wife.

"What's going on?" Erin asked as Kelly held her close to his body as they gently swayed to the rather upbeat music.

"Don't like a white dress?"

"It's cream," she countered with a smile as he chuckled.

"Ah."

"What else…come on Kelly tell me."

"Just wondering if this was…perfect enough for you. The dress…maybe…" he started as she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

"This is exactly what I wanted."

"Not…perfect?" He teased.

"Well…the night isn't over yet," she winked as his face warmed.

"Well…we can remedy that anytime we want."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

A/N: I wanted them to do just something spur of the moment b/c that's how it's been so far for them and hope you all liked it. After all the sad world events going on this tough week wanted to end it with a happy update! So please do review before you go and thanks so much!