Title: Plan B
Chapter 25 – The Past & Future Collide

"Feels good to be going back to work without…" Severide starts as he and Casey stand in the kitchen a few days later getting ready for their early morning shift. "Injury," he adds with a small groan. He looks down at the calendar and can only shake his head. "Damn where did summer go! School is…well preschool…ah damn it!"

"Christie is taking her shopping this weekend and...we've talked about this and done a few practice runs at the preschool and she's been there…she has a few friends…she'll make more and…"

"Trust me, it's going to be harder on me than her," Severide admits with a small frown. He had talked to Nick the day before and gotten some really great advice on what signs to watch for in his daughter that might indicate some post-traumatic stress issues and then how to lovingly counter them. He had scheduled another follow up appointment just for himself but after unloading all the feelings of helplessness, anger and frustration that came as part of the aftermath of Adrian Gish's fiery reign of terror.

"At least you won't be doing it alone. I know that's little comfort but it's true."

"And then…the fun really starts," Severide huffs as he rubs his face; Casey offering his friend a sympathetic smile.

"Just keep Christie and Cindy on speed-dial," Casey suggests with a small smirk. "Pauline…just don't try to ask your dad about…you know female stuff."

"Ha!" Severide laughs. "Big bad Benny Severide brought down by female talk. Shay did that to him once; gosh I've never seen him that…squeamish. And he's been married how many times?" Severide retorts with a mock groan.

"And what about…Erin?"

Severide pauses as he looks at Casey with a small smile. "I just…I know she says she likes Aurora and I can see it when they're together but um…but I guess…if it was just me I'd be…"

"All over her?" Casey interjects as Severide's face warms and he can't help but nod.

"But with Aurora…I don't want just something casual and I can't expect her to want to play parent to…"

"It'd be the same with anyone right? Why not ask her?"

"Yeah making up Erin's mind for her would land me in a world of hurt," Severide admits with a small chuckle; Casey nodding in agreement. "I'll um…I'll see."

"Just don't wait too long. The good ones never last."

"True," Severide agrees as he turns back to the calendar with the big red circle on it – 'Aurora's first day of pre-school.' He feels a lump starting to develop as he recalls another discussion with her absent mother.

'I can't wait for the first day of preschool Kelly. I want to do a mommy and me shopping day and buy her all the best things and…'

'Within reason right?'

'You want to skimp on your only daughter? Aurora.'

And as if on cue Aurora looked up at her father with an adoring glance and instantly he felt his insides turn to mush.

'That isn't fair,' he sighed as Aurora jumped on his lap. 'Are you excited for school?'

'No! Want to stay with mommy.'

"Always," Severide whispers as he remembers Shay's reply. He feels Casey's hand rest on his shoulder as he sniffles and then looks at his friend with a firm glance. "Let's go," he tells him just as a knock is heard at the door. "Aurora! Gramma Pauline is here!"

"YAY!" They both hear Aurora shout as she runs out of her room and hurries toward the front door.

"Don and I are going to do a few errands and then we're going to take Aurora to the zoo," Pauline explains as Severide and Casey head for the door; Aurora running happy circles around her grandmother. "I'll see you both later."

On the ride to 51 Casey listens as Severide talks a bit more about Aurora's upcoming preschool starting date and knows his friend will be emotionally raw that day and probably a few to follow – separation anxiety for both of them would be in order. Maybe I can help make it a bit less…lonely, Casey's mind silently ponders.

As soon as Severide steps into the large garage doors of Firehouse 51, his anxiety surges. But today was different. It wasn't peppered with angry frustration as it had been with Gish on the loose but it was more a sense of empty longing. School was approaching and Aurora would be facing those new milestones without her mother there to see and enjoy it and that makes his heart ache.

Casey, his father…Shay's parents have all been such a tremendous help so far but it wasn't the same as Aurora having her birth mother there to see and help her grow up. His thoughts then drift toward Erin and he wonders if she'd even want to take on the role of step-parent. I want something more than just…will she want to be a perm step mother? No? Let her decide for herself…don't make assumptions. Course that's easier said than done and he wonders how he'd even broach the subject. How about a proper date first?

He can only snicker at his own joke as he pulls away from Casey and heads toward his gathered team, plunking himself down at the table and trying to engage himself in their rather mundane conversation.

"How is he?" Boden asks Casey as he nears.

"He's…nervous about the first day of preschool in a few weeks."

"It's almost that time?"

"I know I don't know where summer went," Casey replies with a small sigh. "Seems like it just started and now it's almost already over."

"That it is. But he knows he doesn't have to do this alone right?"

"I told him but I think until that day actually comes…and when it does…damn it'll be tough. Aurora is going to see all the other families there and…"

"She has family in spades," Boden lightly retorts as he looks at Casey with an almost expectant expression; Casey slightly cocking his head in wonder.

"Chief… you have that look," Casey smirks.

"I have an idea."

The day thankfully is mostly routine, Severide's recovered leg feeling somewhat stiff after the burn injury and then the almost week of just resting to heal it with very little physical exertion on it. By the end of the shift, he wants nothing more than to put his leg up and just relax.

But as soon as they get home, he hears Aurora crying and looks at Casey in misery.

"She won't go to sleep without you here," a very tired Pauline informs them.

"Sorry, we had a late call," Severide apologizes as he pulls away and hurries into his daughter's bedroom. "Hey little Lady bug I'm here."

"We tried," Casey offers meekly as Pauline heads for the door, grabbing her coat in the process.

"I'm not mad," she turns back with a faint smile. "Just tired."

"You okay to drive home at this hour?"

"I napped a little when she did this afternoon. I'm just glad it's Christie's turn tomorrow."

"Thank you," Casey tells her on Severide's behalf. He walks her down to the door and watches until she gets into her car and then pulls away before he turns and heads back upstairs; entering his apartment just as Severide exits his daughter's bedroom with a weary expression. "Is she asleep?"

"Finally," he replies with a yawn. "See you in the morning."

"Goodnight."

XXXXXXXX

'Kelly I want her name to be Aurora.'

'Seriously? Like the Disney movie?'

'It's rather unique and…hey at least it's a fun name association and kids can't really make it short or make too much fun of it. You know we call her Annie and she gets Annie banannie or Mary and its mary mary quite contrary or whatever…' Shay's voice rattled off a whole other list of names.

'I think it's great,' he shrugged. 'Aurora it is.'

'Yes!' Shay had literally squeed in delight as she hugged him close and then went about arranging other things.

Severide looks at his daughter at the table with Casey and feels his heart starting to tug inside his chest once more. She would get back into the routine of him going to work but when school comes…it would be a whole other story. How would having no mother affect her and how would she explain to other kids where Shay is and then what fallout would she have to endure because of it?

'Kelly it'll be very important to have a serious talk with Aurora before school so that she's aware of what the other children might ask or say to her. Some will be understanding and some will be cruel. It's your job to help her work through it all.'

Nick's words are heard next and he had tried – twice but didn't think at the time it really sunk in. Try again later, his brain reminds him as he joins them for breakfast.

"So Aurora, are you ready for school in a few weeks?" Severide dares to ask as Casey looks up with a small frown.

"Can I stay here with you daddy?"

"No sweetie, daddy and Uncle Matt have to go to work."

"Gramma Pauline?"

"No. You'll like school. You know Kenny-James and Belle right? From the park?"

"Yes."

"So you'll know a few kids. Uncle Matt and I went to school and it um…it was fun," Severide adds as Aurora shrugs and looks back down at her coloring. Severide shakes his head, feeling like somewhat of a failure and wondering if this would get any easier. Casey gives him the thumbs up but it does little to ease the growing agitation now taking root inside his worried mind.

"I wish Shay was here to tell me this gets easier," Severide mentions to Casey in a low tone; breakfast already over and Aurora in her room getting ready for her day with Auntie Christie.

"Think she'd tell you that?"

"Maybe for about five seconds to ease my mind and then she'd tell me to suck it up and face reality," Severide retorts just as his voice breaks. "Only trouble is…reality is her growing up without her mother and me facing all that alone."

"Never that alone," Casey reminds him in haste. "You always have family here to help you."

"Always," Severide whispers as he gives Casey a firm smile and nod. A few seconds later, a knock is heard and once again Aurora races to the door to see who's there.

"We might have another late call tonight," Casey tells his sister as Severide gets his daughter ready for the day.

"Don't worry about it. If its past 11 just get some sleep and I'll bring her back tomorrow."

"Thanks again," Severide offers a hug and then both take their leave.

Christie heads inside with Aurora at her side and tells her they'll be doing a few things to get ready for school and then pick up Violet from her summer art class. Unlike Severide's waffling heart, Christie knows not to give Aurora the option – she's going to school and now was the time to prepare her for that.

XXXXXXXX

"Ready to have some fun this afternoon?" Severide asks as he and Casey near the front of the pre-school.

"Yes!" Aurora exclaims happily as she looks out the window as the familiar setting nears. She instantly earns a small scolding from her father for undoing the buckle on her booster seat before the car had completely stopped and so has to do it back up and then wait a few extra moments until they were ready to get out.

But not wanting to be the one parent that sends his child to the playground with a sad, teary face, he tells her next time she has to wait and then opens the door.

"Just when I think I'm gaining ground," Severide groans as he looks at Casey with a heavy frown.

"She'll get it."

"Glad you guys could come…I'm in desperate need of some adult talk," Herrmann walks up to Casey and Severide as they head toward the gathering of familiar faces. The two 51 lieutenants both chuckle at their friend's mock pain-filled expression; Severide turning to see Aurora along with her friend Belle, Kenny-James and the rest of the underage Herrmann clan all heading for the playground.

"Wait is that…" Casey starts as they look over to a very familiar and very adult figure on the monkey bars.

"And look who…"

"I think they came for the free food," Herrmann retorts with a small groan as they watch Otis and Cruz hamming it up for the kids who of course laugh and clap with delight. "As I said…some adult talk." Casey and Severide can't help but laugh as they know the kids are in good hands and rejoin the other adults; Christie and her family included.

A few minutes later Severide looks up as another familiar face approaches. "Hey," he greets the attractive woman nearing him.

"Heard this is where the party is so I brought beer," Erin replies with a coy grin. Severide's brow furrows but when he sees that she meant root beer he just shakes his head and pulls her in for a warm but brief hug. "Thanks for the invite."

"Of course," Severide whispers as he pulls back to talk for a few minutes.

"Do you think they need a chaperon?" Herrmann nudges Casey who looks over with a fond smile.

"I don't think he's ready to rush into anything after all this but she makes him happy and I'm all for that. After the past few months of darkness, he needs something a bit brighter to hold onto," Casey replies in truth as Kelly and Erin near them.

"She brought beer."

"Thank God," Herrmann answers with a grin.

"Christopher!" Cindy gently scolds as Herrmann looks at her with a shrug.

"You might need to drink them all before you get any kind of buzz," Erin retorts as she holds up the soft drinks.

"Or a sugar rush which trust me is scarier. One only," Cindy warns as Herrmann shakes his head and then offers a laugh himself.

"Okay so who's in for some football?" Casey asks as he looks at Severide with a nod.

"Squad versus truck?"

"Ah you're easily outnumbered," Herrmann tosses back a mock as Severide's lips purse.

"How about squad, CPD and…others," Severide snickers as he looks at Jim and the wives. "Versus truck?"

"You're so gonna lose," Casey whispers as they all laugh and Severide has to admit defeat. "Guys versus girls?"

"Aurora is on our team because you can't rush her," Erin pipes up in haste.

"That's playing dirty," Severide counters with a grin.

"Only way to play Lieutenant," she winks; Severide looking at her in amusement as the rest of them laugh.

"I know…I know…eenie meenie miney moe," Casey suggests.

"Just get the two clowns off the monkey bars and let's play," Herrmann states in mock exasperation.

"Cruz! Otis! Let the real kids have their playground back!" Casey calls out as everyone laughs once more.

The group of players head into the large open area, Violet volunteering to watch the little kids so that she didn't have to play; Herrmann's three older boys eagerly joining in. A few minutes later Pauline and Donald Shay arrive to enjoy the group outing, watching Severide with his daughter, their beloved granddaughter and enjoying their antics. Benny showed up about twenty minutes after that.

The game isn't much of a game, but more a free for all filled with laughter, friendly taunts and a few challenging calls. At one point Severide had gotten the football and with Aurora perched on his shoulders, gave her the ball and ran for what was supposed to be the end zone. After the rather light touchdown, Aurora puts her hands into the air and starts to cheer along with her father – after all they had endured it was a sweet moment to witness.

"It's mine!"

"It's mine!"

Both Severide and Erin call at once and rush for the ball, Erin catching the ball while Severide wraps his arms around her and both tumble to the ground.

"I got the ball!"

"I got you!" Severide states last as she looks at him with a playful glance.

"So you do," she replies with a smile as she plants a playful kiss on the top of his nose. This distracts him, enabling her to grab the ball and twist out of his grasp. Erin then gets up and runs for the other end zone.

"Game called on account of teenage silliness!" Herrmann shouts to a chorus of laughter; Severide's face red as he realized he had been played.

"Aww daddy!" Aurora rushes into the arms of her father still seated on the ground.

"Did I still win baby girl?"

"Yes!" She replies as he wraps her arms around her and holds her close.

The group slowly disperses – the ending in a draw match that all could be happy with and then all start to prepare for their barbeque dinner. Casey watches as Severide and his father take Aurora to the playground to just talk in private.

"How is he?" Christie asks her brother in wonder.

"He's…he's getting there," Casey answers in truth as he watches Benny's hand rest protectively on his son's back. "Kelly always told me he wished he had been closer with his dad and I think this was the real wakeup call that Benny needed and its pushed them together. I know he was worried about losing his only granddaughter but losing his son also…I thank that finally made Benny Severide realize what's really important in this world."

"Kelly has a great support system. So are he and Erin…" Christie starts as Casey shrugs and then offers a coy smile.

"I keep telling myself I'm ready to let go a little bit more but um…but I don't know if I am," Severide admits to his father as they take turns pushing Aurora on the swings.

"For what it's worth I think you're doing a great job," Benny tells his son in truth as he hugs him tightly. "I'm so proud of you and I love you both very much."

"Thanks dad," Severide replies with a tender smile. "I guess worrying is natural right?"

"Very. I worried."

"Really?"

"Your first day at school? Course I was worried. For the other kids," Benny snickers as Severide shakes his head. "No. I was actually worried. I remember…"

Not long after Benny finishes the story, they are called for supper, all of them gathering around the picnic table for a very casual meal. The atmosphere is light and friendly, upbeat and somewhat loud. But the noise is happy noise and it's also a bit contagious as two other larger family groups take two other spots in the park and soon the late afternoon air is filled with the smell of barbequed offerings and infectiously happy chatter.

"Look…Lady Gaga," Aurora holds up the little wooden toy Erin had bought her; showing it to Erin and her father as they sit side by side on the bench; Casey on Severide's other side.

"She loves that thing," Severide mentions in truth as he looks at Erin with a kind smile. Their eyes lock for a few seconds and she can almost see a small hint of panic rising in the sapphire pools a few inches away.

"I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," she whispers. In that moment, his hand reaches out and covers her, giving it a squeeze as relief instantly floods his expression. He's attracted to her, there was no doubt and the longer they spend time together, it would only continue to gain strength. But with Aurora having only him now to look after her as main guardian he'd have to be a bit more careful; he'd want someone to love her as much as him and be in it for the long haul just as much as him. Did Erin want that too? That's what he'd have to find out.

Just as the sun is starting to set and the air turning a bit chilly as fall threatens to come early, the happy little group decides it's time to pack up and head for home. They all help with the cleanup, making sure the area was as spotless when they are leaving as when they arrived.

Severide carries his sleeping daughter back to his car, Erin slowly walking beside him as Casey carries their cooler and walks a few feet behind, offering his friend a kind smile.

"A real adult coffee date?" Erin looks at Severide, arching her delicate brows.

"Adult…sounds…" his voice trails off into a small smirk. "In a few days…just the two of us. Coffee…Danish…whatever," he adds somewhat nervously.

"Coffee would be great," Erin tries to put his mind at ease before she leans in and grasps his hand. "I can't wait. Goodnight."

"'night," he whispers, giving her a warm smile.

Casey says nothing as he watches his friend linger with the attractive brunette for a few minutes before both part and Casey gives her a friendly wave.

On the ride home, they talk about their fun-filled outing while Aurora is fast sleep in the back seat. That night none of them have any trouble finding sleep; after all the fun excitement of the day, a good night's rest caps it off perfectly.

And they'd need all the rest they can get – in a few days emotions would skyrocket once again as Aurora would prepare for her first day of school, propelling them forward into another milestone of the unknown and Severide without Shay at his side to witness their child's big milestone.

A/N: Okay so sorry…I thought I'd end it here but apparently Alice had other ideas and didn't want to rush through the school stuff or a special tribute to Shay up next so I hope that's okay. Some happier times once again for the little family but also a bit of real world tension as the first day of school and another Severide-family milestone nears. Would love your thoughts via a review before you go, so thanks so much in advance!