This one's up pretty quick for all my lovely reviewers asking for a speedy update. Thank you again for the love! Your opinions/reviews are awesome and so fun to read. I hope you like this chapter.
Kelly flipped over again yanking the sheet over his head, trying for a few hours of sleep at least. His phone was vibrating almost continuously, on the kitchen counter where he'd left it long ago.
A pounding at the front door sent him flying down the steps, nothing good came at this hour. Hell, what time is it? He stole a side glance at the clock in the living room - 2:37. In the morning. Shay was running down the steps now, half asleep.
"Stay up there," he said waving her off with his hand. He looked through the peephole, seeing Erin on her phone and banging again on his front door.
"Hey, what's goin' on? You okay?" Kelly asked opening the door wide as she pushed it open till it slammed against the wall.
"No, I'm not okay! Not okay, at all, Kelly!" Erin brushed her hair out of her face walking to the living room. She turned around quickly facing the fireman again.
"Sit down. Do you need me to call your doctor? Shay! Get down here!" Kelly grabbed Erin's arm trying to lead her to the couch.
"No, I don't need a damn doctor! Shay! Stay up there!" Erin was now sitting, looking like she was going to burst into tears.
"The problem is you, Kelly! Now, apparently I can't sleep without you! I've been trying all night and I can't do it. And I feel like I won't be able to unless you're lying next to me. Ever again."
Kelly laughed, a loud, uproarious, full on laugh. He looked at the messy hair, the worried, frustrated expression, and all he could do was laugh.
"It is not funny! I think you did this on purpose!"
"Fall in love with you? Make you not sleep?"
The madder Erin got, the funnier Kelly thought the whole situation was.
"We could go upstairs so you can catch some z's?" he suggested trying to stifle some of his laughter.
"Oh, you think? Laugh it up Severide." Erin crossed her arms which only made Kelly laugh some more.
He moved closer knowing he was risking a serious swat or punch. He braced himself for one. Instead, Erin put her head on his shoulder and let him drape his arm around her tightly. It felt good, so good. She didn't want that feeling to end.
Kelly pulled her in closer letting the warmth of his body radiate into hers. She could feel the muscles in his arms contract, the strength of them always allowing her to exhale her worries away. She wondered if she missed this when she was little, that feeling of security from a parent, and that was why it felt so comforting now.
"So... wanna go upstairs?" Kelly tried again rubbing her hair, smoothing it down over the stubble.
"Yes," she whispered in his ear, kissing it lightly, biting the lobe gently.
He grabbed her hand and almost ran up the stairs...this time it was Erin's turn to laugh as she could barely keep up. He glanced back at her with that little boy enthusiasm he didn't let too many see...just Shay and her. He lifted his eyebrows simply with a look of innocence. Erin laughed harder almost missing a step, Kelly catching her easily.
"Calm down, big boy," she teased relenting to the charms of her man, letting go of her anger of a few minutes earlier. Impossible to stay mad, she thought. No matter how hard I try.
Kelly threw Erin on his bed roughly, easing himself on top of her, grabbing a handful of hair. She knew he'd been treating her with kid gloves the past few weeks. There was a sweetness to his affection that showed every time he stroked her cheek or planted a soft kiss on her cheek. There was none of that gentleness now.
He pressed his lips into hers hard, his tongue searching for hers. His hips pushed further into her, refusing to let her turn him over. No, he was staying on top. Kelly ran his hands down the front of her jeans, unbuttoning them with two fingers. He propped his chest up with his arms looking at her beautiful face, taking in those eyes for a second.
He jumped up throwing off his worn sweatpants as quickly as he put on his turnout gear at 51. Damn quick change artist, thought Erin smiling. She sat up watching him, taking in the muscles in his arms as they flung his old sweats to the side. He was in front of her now, grabbing her T-shirt, yanking it over her head. He ran his hands down her shoulders, sliding them slowly along the curve of her back, under her jeans, to the top of her panties. He let his fingertips just barely go inside, just the tips.
"Oh, God," Erin moaned arching her back.
Kelly deliberately slid his hands back up, unhooking her bra, tossing it on top of his sweatpants.
He grabbed the back of her head gently this time, their mouths pressed hard against each other wanting more, becoming more desperate with each kiss. Erin's hands trailed down his hard stomach venturing beneath his boxers. She pulled away suddenly with Kelly trying to position her back onto his body. She wriggled off her unbuttoned jeans, letting her black lace panties come off with them... kicking all of it to the side. He slipped his boxers off in one quick move.
Erin grabbed Kelly's hands interlocking her fingers in his, pushing him back on the bed. She was on top now, letting her full weight fall on the fireman. She kissed his neck going further down with every nibble, caressing his body with her tongue. Working her way back up, each kiss a little deeper, more intense, almost to the point of pain, but then Kelly's mouth went softer, more gentle.
His hands were on a slow journey down her back stopping at Erin's ass squeezing tightly. Each second of Kelly's touch was an exquisite torture, almost too much. She was completely his at this moment and he was completely hers.
"Erin," he called out holding her in tighter.
Lost in each other. No other thoughts, just the moment. Their moment.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I can't believe you're doin' this, Kel," said Shay closing a box with packing tape. She glanced up at Kelly, unwanted tears forming.
"Hey, I'm just fifteen minutes away. I'm gonna be over here so much... and you're gonna be at Erin's, I mean our place all the time." Kelly put down the box he was holding to grab the blonde in his arms.
Shay broke away after a quick squeeze turning her attention back to the box.
"I know. It just feels weird is all. You know...it's always been you and me." A sob broke free with Shay leaning over the box, both hands holding onto the sides, tears dripping onto the packing tape.
"It is. You and me, forever. Always." Kelly took her forcefully in his arms, not letting her turn away. "You know I love you, right?" he asked using her words.
She nodded her head, trying to convince herself that nothing would change. But it already had.
"I'm sorry. I should be excited for you. I'm ruining everything," Shay managed to get out between cries.
"Just shut up. You couldn't ruin anything."
"Remember when I blew Manny's surprise anniversary dinner. I..." Shay sniffled trying to stop the torrent of tears and snot that came on stronger with the memory.
Kelly couldn't help but smile, recalling when Shay called the missus asking what time to come over to babysit, realizing her mistake the second she spoke. Severide listened as she tried to worm her way out unsuccessfully. He and Clarke had laughed their asses off much to Manny's chagrin.
"Hey, assholes. Your friend just wrecked my anniversary."
"She didn't wreck anything. She's babysittin' for you. Quit your bitchin." Kelly defended his roommate.
"I think Mama's gonna want a divorce," teased Clarke doubled over with laughter.
"You two are not my friends. Not - my - friends. Assholes."
Manny got over it, and they all learned a valuable lesson - Shay was not so good with the secret.
"When's Clarke movin' in? He's probably got a lot of shit. Like a damn woman," said Kelly trying to distract his best friend.
"I'm supposed to text him when you... leave." New sobs broke with Kelly afraid to say anything.
He thought he'd break her if he squeezed any tighter, so he stroked the back of her hair instead.
"Shhhh, shhhhh," he said wiping her tears. "I'm not gonna be able to walk outta here, Shay."
"Yes you are. You need to. I'm being dumb." More tears.
Those big, blue eyes never let up, thought Kelly.
"Text him. I'm waitin' till he gets here."
"Text who?" asked Jeff Clarke smiling, coming through the dining room.
"Yeah. You've been replaced, Severide. An upgrade if you ask me. Right, doll?" asked Clarke both hands behind his back.
Shay cracked a small smile.
"And look what I brought?" He swung one hand forward revealing the DVD Frozen.
Shay laughed wiping the tears still flowing.
"Since when do you like that kinda crap," mumbled Kelly not liking this one bit.
"I love Frozen, Kelly. Geez, get to know me already," she teased sharing a look with Clarke.
No, not one damn bit.
"And this," Jeff said pulling out half a gallon of some caramel vanilla ice cream, "because I'm makin' it my goal to fatten you up a little."
That isn't even her favorite, thought Kelly with a smug smile, waiting for the disappointed look.
"That looks so good!" enthused Shay wrapping her arms around Clarke.
Kelly got back to the box he'd been taping. Adding an unneeded strip furiously before smoothing it down roughly. He picked up the box ready to load it up in the waiting U-haul outside and get the hell out of Frozen town.
"Let me give you a hand, buddy," said Clarke grabbing the tear-soaked box Shay'd been working on.
"You okay?" asked Jeff sliding his box in the rented truck.
"Yeah. Seems like nothin's gonna be the same though. Worry about her," said Kelly, pushing the boxes further to the back.
"One less thing to worry about. Check it off your list."
"She's cryin' one minute, shovin' me to the curb the next."
"You know tonight's gonna be a big Kelly cry fest, right? I'm gonna have to listen to every damn thing you've ever done."
"No, I'm glad you're movin' in. And I couldn't be happier that Erin wants to play house." Kelly paused. "Change is hard. Gonna miss that one."
"Change can also be good."
"Are you two gonna play grab ass all day or are you gonna help me?" yelled Shay from the doorway sliding a box almost her size.
"Yeah, I'm not gonna miss that part," muttered Kelly with Jeff laughing, head down as he jogged back to grab the huge box.
"Yes you are!" yelled Shay trying to help Jeff with the box but only getting in his way.
Yes, I am, he thought watching the pair almost drop the box twice before an awkward slide into the truck.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Erin cleared out half her closet and two of the five drawers in her dresser. Kelly said he only needed one, but she figured just in case. She fumbled with her pony tail checking herself in the mirror again.
Why am I so nervous, she thought. We've been dating for a year, he knows every damn thing about me, even the not so pretty parts. Jesus, get a hold of yourself.
She checked the roast in the oven, reviewing the handwritten instructions of Mrs. Mills again. Looked and smelled delicious.
Kelly's trademark double knock made the cop jump slightly.
He stood in her doorway holding a box, silly grin on his face. Looks like an excited puppy, she thought.
"I might need a key."
"You think?" Erin tried to grab the box, but Kelly swooped around her depositing it on the floor next to the coffee table.
"Did it go okay?"
"Uh huh."
"You sure you want this?"
"Uh huh. You sure?"
"Oh yes," Erin said grabbing his face and pulling it in for a deep kiss.
Kelly ran his hand under her pony tail noticing how much her hair had grown back. He kissed her more deeply biting her lower lip tenderly as he pulled back.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered in her ear. "Those boxes will wait."
"Oh yes," she repeated.
"Knock, knock," called Casey pushing open the slightly ajar door. "Bad time?" He said as Kelly released his grip on the brunette.
"I can always go, and you can unload those boxes yourself."
"No, no, stay. Perfect timing," said Erin hugging Matt and planting a kiss on his cheek. "And I have a roast in the oven when you guys are done."
Matt raised his eyebrows avoiding the obvious question.
"Recipe courtesy of Mrs. Mills, so it'll be more than edible."
"But if you gotta get back to Dawson, we get it," hinted Kelly.
"Thanks for the concern, but I'm good. Roast is my favorite. Thanks, Erin."
"Let's hit it," Kelly suggested.
Erin felt like a useless lump, but they'd already had the "I'm fine" argument. She insisted she could bring in a few boxes and he insisted she wasn't liftin' a finger.
"You do know I'm back at work, no restrictions?"
"But this is all my shit, so you're not doing any of the heavy lifting. Can I not win this one thing? Just this one."
"You can win this one. But say it's because you're being a gentleman and not cause I can't do it."
"I'm a gentleman. A complete gentleman."
"Shut up."
"I'm such a gentleman, I'm going to move my crap without you."
"I'll cook something."
"Yes, stay in the kitchen where you bel..."
Erin swatted him in the arm. "Shut up."
"Just doin' what I can for my little woman."
"My hero," Erin teased smiling at the look on his face.
It had been such a long time since she'd called him that. Felt good, felt right. And he'd finally won. This would be a good day. Hell, this would be a good life, he decided.
Good times. No drama, just some of my favorites - Shayveride and Linseride. Hope you enjoyed it because all things may not remain sunny in Chicago. Haha! As my new, writer chick friend CavalierQueen says, "Reviews feed the soul."