A/N: thank you all so much for the reviews. This is probably my favourite chapter so far so please let me know what you think!
"You sure this is okay?" Kelly asked quietly looking down at Stella.
Stella leaned into him, lacing her fingers through his, she wasn't entirely sure, but she wanted it to be so badly, "Gotta start somewhere right?" she asked, not looking at him but instead leaning her head on his shoulder, keeping her eye on Maya who walked a few feet in front of them. She had invited Kelly, Gabby and Matt to go bowling.
"Right," Kelly agreed after a moment also keeping a close eye on the teen in front of them, "Well for what it's worth," he continued, "I appreciate it." Stella didn't look up at him but she did squeeze his biceps with the hand that wasn't laced through his. She stayed close to him and he looked down at her again noticing the unshed tears in her eyes. Stella Kidd was one of the toughest people he knew and this was tearing her apart.
The moment ended as they approached the bowling hall and noticed Matt and Gabby standing there giving them a wave. Maya slowed down to hang back beside her sister and Stella plastered a big smile on her face while wrapping one arm around Maya's shoulders. "Hey guys!" she greeted cheerfully, and Kelly frowned as he watched Stella put on a brave face, "How's it goin'? You remember Maya?"
"Of course." Gabby smiled at the teen.
"Ready to bowl Maya?" Casey asked with a cheeky grin, lifting up his bowling ball case and Maya couldn't help but give a little smirk.
The evening went surprisingly well, and for a couple hours, Stella finally saw a piece of the old Maya, even if just a little bit, it gave her hope that they could one day, get back to some kind of normal.
Casey bowled a strike, again, throwing his hands up in victory, Gabby rolled her eyes and Maya chuckled. Gabby smiled at her, "Hey can you help me grab some more drinks?" Gabby asked giving Maya a small nudged as she noticed their turns weren't coming up for awhile. Stella glanced over at her friend and sister, unsure how Maya would react.
"Sure," Maya replied as she got up without looking over at her sister.
Casey followed after them, "How about some pinball?" he asked cheerfully and Maya smiled again. They waited for the drinks before heading over to pinball, Maya watched as Casey nudged Gabby playfully, teasing her some more about beating her at the next game.
"This was fun," Maya spoke, surprising even herself a little.
Matt and Gabby looked over at her and smiled, "I'm glad," Gabby grinned, "we had a great time too."
"And thank you," Maya continued, Casey's brow furrowed a little in confusion, "for being normal around me."
Gabby moved closer to Maya, "You know, sometimes, being normal, helps the most."
"And eventually," Matt added, "you start to heal."
Gabby nodded, "Stella and Kelly are just worried about you, but if you ever need to get out of your head or talk, you're always welcome to come see us, at the firehouse or at home."
Maya smiled, "Thanks."
They arrived back at the apartment and Kelly hovered at the door, "You sticking around for a bit?" Maya asked. She was exhausted, but something about Gabby's advice had stuck with her from earlier that night. If she really wanted to feel back to normal again, than she had to act normal, even if that meant forcing herself at first.
"Uh," Kelly looked from Maya to Stella who raised her eyebrows with a brief smile, "Sure."
Stella's smile widened, and Kelly felt himself relax, "Beer?"
"Sure," Kelly replied as he sank onto the couch.
Maya sat down across from him, "Who knew bowling was actually fun."
Kelly and Stella exchanged a look, something about being out and around friends was actually helping the situation and Kelly took this as his opening, "What do you usually do for fun in Milwaukee?"
Maya shrugged, "Just, hang out with my friends."
"You must miss 'em?" Kelly asked and Maya shrugged again, "how bout tomorrow you come meet some of our friends at the firehouse?"
Maya looked at him, "Really?"
"Sure, why not?" Stella jumped in, as she settled between the two of them on the couch, excited at the prospect of getting out of the apartment. Despite Herman and Kelly checking on her daily, she was keen to get back to work, but of course, not until she knew Maya was okay.
"Yeah," Maya looked interested, "I'd love to."
"It's settled then," Stella raised her glass and Kelly raised his as well.
The next morning, Maya didn't feel as strange having Kelly there, he was kind, and you could tell Stella loved him. Kelly popped some toast into the toaster and grabbed a carton of eggs from the fridge, "You okay with scrambled?" he asked holding up the carton.
"I'm not really hungry in the morning," Maya admitted, glancing around for Stella.
"Oh come on," Kelly noticed Maya searching for Stella but pushed through, "could be a busy day."
Maya looked back at him and Kelly raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for a response, the correct response, "I'll have a little," she conceded.
"Great!" Kelly replied as he pulled the frying pan from one of the lower cupboards, "You excited to ride with Truck?" he asked passing her the butter, toast and a knife.
Maya picked up the knife and began to butter the pieces for their breakfast, "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I thought you were riding along on calls today?" Kelly asked with a bit of a smirk.
"Really?" Maya asked in surprise.
"Oh yeah, we'll get you to suit up and everything," a mischievous smile played on his lips.
"Seriously?" Maya asked again not sure whether or not to believe him.
"Nah, they don't let us do that, I'm just pulling your leg." Kelly's eyes sparkled.
Maya chuckled to herself behind a piece of toast as Stella came in, "What's going on in here?" she asked snatching the piece of toast from Maya's hand.
"Hey," Maya whined.
"Thought you didn't like breakfast." Stella retorted having overheard the earlier conversation.
"She changed her mind because I'm cooking." Kelly replied with a smirk.
"Yeah," Stella planted a kiss on his lips, "well, you're burnin' the eggs."
"Shit," Kelly cursed, quickly removing the pan from the heat and frowning.
Stella held up and shook a box, "Cereal it is."