Title: Plan C
Chapter 3 – Investing in the Future

"What's that?"

Erin looks at the item in her grasp and the up at Voight with a small shrug; it being a few hours later. "Jay and I were checking that lead in Chinatown and…it was for Aurora…it's nothing," she huffs as he puts the small hand-sewn doll to the side.

"Kinda cute," he muses as he picks up the small item and then looks down at her in concern.

"Kinda cute?" She retorts.

"So I'm getting soft in my old age," Voight shoots back. "You wanna talk?"

"Nope I need…"

"You need to tell whats his face where to go!" Voight gently snaps as he leans in closer. "You know what he's really like. I don't want you near him."

"He's passing through and…"

"Detective Lindsay? You have a visitor."

"Another one?" Voight interrupts in haste, making both Erin and Platt look at him in amusement. But before anyone can say another word, little footsteps are heard bounding up the stairs and they all look to see Aurora Lesley Severide reach the top and look at them all in wonder; her face instantly brightening when she sees Erin in her path. But instead of rushing toward her, she waits for her grandmother and then ducks back behind her legs.

"Uh oh…" Erin's panic instantly skyrockets as she stands up and heads toward Pauline Shay. "Is everything okay?" She asks in haste. "Is Kelly okay?" She blurts out next; the older woman giving her a kind smile and nod.

"Actually yes…sorry to intrude…Don is downstairs paying a parking fine," Pauline explains with some embarrassment as Aurora pokes her head back out and then dares to walk toward Erin's waiting arms. "I remember Kelly saying you worked out of division 21 so I thought I'd just come up and say hello. I hope we're not interrupting. Is now a bad time?"

"Not at all; it's fine. How is Aurora today?" Erin asks in haste; her adoration for the little girl not lost on her boss or desk Sargent.

"Fine," Aurora answers with a shy smile as she looks up with an adoring glance.

"How was school?"

"Good. What's that?" Aurora points to Erin's badge.

"That's…my badge. And this…keeps you safe," she pauses as she takes off her vest and then puts it over the darling little girl, who is dwarfed in comparison to the large bullet proof vest with the shiny badge attached to the front.

"Look Gramma!" Aurora exclaims with a beaming smile as she looks up at Pauline and then at Erin. But every face is smitten by the darling little girl who looks up with bright blue eyes and her mother's captivating smile. Erin takes a picture and then is surprised when Platt steps up and takes the phone.

"Detective Lindsay and her mini-me," Platt smiles as she takes a picture with Erin's phone and then hands it back to her. "Someone else might like a copy of that," she gently winks before she turns and heads back downstairs, nodding to Voight as she goes.

Just then Don Shay appears and Aurora goes running over to her grandfather with the vest still around her. Don picks up his granddaughter and then laughs in the process. "This should fit in very nicely with Kelly's jacket," he mentions in an undertone.

"You have a picture of her in his jacket?" Erin inquires with a somewhat coy smile.

"A few of them," the older man states as he hands his phone to his wife who looks for the pictures. Pauline shows the ones of Aurora in her father's professional fire gear, once again dwarfed by the large professional attire but making Erin's heart swell with affection – especially the one with Kelly in only his fire pants holding his daughter who was wearing his helmet.

"Where um…was that taken?" Erin asks somewhat rhetorically; her mind racing with instantly naughty thoughts of him half dressed. "I was just…"

"Shay took it," Pauline states with a whisper. "It was her idea of a firefighting modelling session."

"She likes that one best," Voight pipes up as Erin's cheeks enflame.

"I'll send it to you," Pauline states in haste. Erin, however, doesn't want to argue as the picture alone forces her mind to continue with delightful and superheated thoughts, making her feel contented and warm all over. "Well we have a few more errands go do. Aurora, give Erin her vest back."

But when Aurora looks at Erin with a sad expression, the Detective's heart droops and she plucks the little girl from her grandfather's grasp and holds her tightly. She had planned to give Kelly the little gift when they met for their 'date' but can't wait and so hands Aurora the little hand-sewn doll, smiling instantly when her little face brightens.

"Thank you!" Aurora exclaims as she throws her arms around Erin's neck and kisses her on the cheek. At the same moment, Randy walks up the stairs just in time to witness the moment of affection.

"You're welcome sweetheart," Erin replies as she kisses her back and then slowly removes her vest from off Aurora's frame. "You be a good girl for Gramma and grampa okay? I'll see you later."

"Okay," she smiles sweetly as she clutches the little doll in her grasp.

"You're going to spoil her," Pauline praises as she squeezes Erin's hand and then looks at her husband. "All paid?"

"Someone's gotta lower the parking rates around here," Don complains as they all take their leave.

Voight waits until they're gone before he marches up to Randy with a demanding glare. "CPD's not hiring."

"Do I look like I want to take a step down?" Randy retorts as Voight's eyes narrow. "Who's the kid?" He asks as he looks past Voight to Erin.

"Her boyfriend's," Voight replies firmly as Erin remains fixed in place, her lips pursing as the two men carry on a conversation about her in front of her without her input.

"I have a field call to make," Erin excuses herself with a hint of annoyance in her tone.

"Halstead's in evidence," Voight replies before he looks at Randy. "What do you want?"

Randy just smirks before he nods to Erin, telling her he'd talk to her later and then leaves.

"He's bad news," Voight states simply.

"He'll tire of this in a few days," she tells Voight as she pats him on the back. But as she heads to evidence to collect her partner, she pulls up the picture on her phone of Kelly Severide and his daughter and smiles once more. He's what I want…

XXXXXXXX

"What's going on?" Casey inquires as he walks up to Severide as they start to pack up to head back to 51. "You were distracted in there."

"I uh…remember the guy I told you about…the old friend from Erin's past?"

"Yeah…Randy right?"

"Right…well I thought I saw him just before we entered. It couldn't have been him but…ah I think…" he pauses as he finally pulls out his buzzing phone.

"What's going on?"

"Popular guy," he snickers as he looks at the number of texts waiting. Despite the fact his father's is first and marked urgent, he can't help but look at Erin's first reply to his date question.

'Sure. How about Miller's brew house? 6pm?'

"She said yes right?" Casey smiles as he leans over Severide to read the text. "I was right."

"Okay…okay," Severide nods as Casey looks at him with a gloating smile. "She…said yes and…" he pauses as he looks at the picture she had sent a few hours later. "I wa…what the…" his words stop as he looks at the picture of Aurora wearing Erin's vest, two happy grins and posing for the selfie. He shows the picture to Casey who can't help but smile in return and mutter another 'I told you so' before he heads back to his truck to help Herrmann and Cruz pack up. He reads the little message that Don and Pauline had stopped by to pay a ticket and then said "hi" before leaving.

'Aurora is adorable.'

Her loving words dance in his brain and for a few seconds Randy Cameron doesn't even exist; his brain focused on the sweet picture before his eyes. I want this…her…us to be a family but…but taking a selfie and committing long term are two totally different things. And as he starts to dwell on the negative his heart begins to droop. However, before he can really dwell on the negative seed starting to take root, he commands himself to focus on their upcoming date night and then read his father's text.

"Dad said they caught Chandusky," Severide tells Boden as he heads toward him and Casey.

"He was responsible for the large 56th warehouse fire right?" Casey searches his brain as Boden nods.

"One more arsonist off the street," Boden states in agreement. "When's the hearing?"

"Well…he was caught but before he could…yuck," Severide pauses in his reading of his father's text. "He doused himself with gasoline and lit the match."

"Wow," Casey replies with a small hiss. "What a horrible way to go."

"He killed the warden's nephew. Guess he knew he'd face worse in jail."

The three of them finally disperse, heading back to Firehouse 51 where they get out of their gear and then each go about their regular business of cleaning the gear for next time, putting away anything extra and the two lieutenants filling out their field reports.

After shift, Severide and Casey head for Pauline's to pick up Aurora and then head for home to sleep in their own beds.

"Here is a reminder for the parent teacher interview on Friday and here is a September schedule of events that Aurora might want to attend, with you of course," Pauline smiles as she hands the sleeping child to her father. "And the new toy in her grasp is from Erin."

"Really?" Severide asks happily as Pauline nods in agreement.

"Yes they had quite the moment today," Pauline tells him warmly. "It was nice to see."

"Pauline…"

"Lesley wanted you to be happy. Her and Chloe…I know they wanted a life together…a future together with Aurora and I know she wanted you to be happy with whoever would make you and Aurora happy. She'd want that for you both now. I loved my daughter and I love my granddaughter. I want her to be happy. I don't know what your future plans are with Erin but I'm just telling you…they had a nice moment."

"Thank you," Severide replies with a tender smile as he gives the older woman a hug.

On the drive home, Casey softly reads the events on the calendar that might be of interest but as soon as they are inside their apartment it goes front and center on the fridge and then the lights go out for the rest of the night. But even still as he lies there in the dark, Kelly Severide can't help but ponder Pauline's parting words and if he really saw Randy at the fire scene.

XXXXXXXX

"Hey son," Benny greets his son the next morning as he nears the large truck entrance to Firehouse 51. "What's going on?"

"You still have a friend in the Bureau?" Severide asks, referring to the FBI.

"Yeah, Jack Stanton. Just about to retire…what why's going on?"

"I uh…" Severide pauses, wondering if he should even be poking into her past like this without asking. Your father will tell you and then that'll be it…his brain tries to convince him.

"Kelly, what's going on? Are you in trouble?"

"Me? No. Everything's fine. I uh…can you ask him to see what he can find on a Randy Cameron? It's just…this is personal."

"You okay?"

"Yes…trust me, it's not what you think. Just…whatever you can find out okay?"

"Sure thing. But…who is he?" Benny tries to press.

"An old friend of Erin's has come back and…it's nothing but I thought I saw him at a scene. I don't read arsonist from him but I know nothing about him," Severide finally confesses.

"Got it. How's Aurora's first week of school?"

"Going okay. Pauline was able to distract her by taking her to uh…well not purposely but…" he pauses as he pulls his phone and shows the picture of Aurora and Erin together.

"Well I'll be damned…that's a sweet picture," Benny praises in truth. "Future family?" He grins broadly as he slaps his son on the back.

"Never one to be afraid of the obvious," Severide retorts as Benny nods.

"Life's too short to be subtle…besides the name Severide doesn't really go with subtlety," Benny grins. "I gotta run. I'll stop by on Saturday to see you all. Love the new apartment."

"Glad to hear it."

With his mind somewhat comforted that his father was going to look into Randy Cameron on the sly he tells himself he can get back to other things weighing upon his mind. He tells Boden and reminds Casey that he has an appointment to see Nick his therapist and hurries back outside to his car.

XXXXXXXX

"Great to see you again Kelly," Nick greets him with a friendly handshake as he gestures for Severide to sit. "Oh by the way some happy news to share, Shawna said yes and we're getting married."

"Hey that's great," Severide shakes his hand once more and both trade happy grins. "That's great news. Congratulations. So…when?"

"Late fall. I know it's fast but I'll be small and…and I'd like you and Aurora to come and to bring a date if you'd like of course."

"Yeah…that'd be great. Thanks, we'd love to."

"Great. Having a small engagement party in a few weeks," Nick states as he hands him a small card. "Give you a chance to meet my future wife," Nick hands Severide a small, embossed engagement party invitation card. "So…enough about me. Let's talk about you."

"Okay," Severide replies slowly, suddenly feeling very nervous. "I uh…damn suddenly I'm nervous."

"Just us here."

"Right…well uh…there's this woman…Erin…a friend…more than a friend…well I'd like her to be more but…" he stammers in haste and then stops. "Shay was Aurora's mother and we um…we were best friends but…"

"But she was gay and didn't love you romantically."

"Right."

"And this Erin…she does?"

"We have our first date on Friday," Severide offers a nervous chuckle. "I…I don't want to just be casual or…with Aurora I want to be more serious but…but I can't just ask a woman her long term plans on the first date."

Nick looks at Kelly Severide with a kind smile knowing he had been there himself not too long ago. "Well…you can and us guys can tend to be blunt and that can sometimes scare women away. But…it also depends on the woman."

"I don't want to scare her way but I don't want to waste time either. Ah that sounds stupid right?"

"Not at all, in fact it sounds like a very legitimate concern. I had the same with Shawna."

"Really?"

"I think all single parents, male or female would worry about who they want to help them look after their family long term. Course it's natural to worry about that. In fact, if you weren't worried, it'd mean you're only thinking about yourself not your daughters wellbeing and I'd have concern about that. So don't worry, you're right on track here. But first off, tell me about Erin."

"She's a cop," Severide blurts out and then slumps back in his chair.

"Okay…so she sounds like she's got a bit more tough in her than a few other professions. What else?"

"She's beautiful and funny and smart…she loves to be around Aurora and….she's beautiful," Severide grins. But as quickly as his smile grows, it turns strained once more. "I just worry that she won't want to be a step mom full time."

Nick can tell by Severide's appearance lighting up that this is someone he's obviously smitten with but his fears are completely justified.

"I understand. Of course there has to be chemistry between you two and I think you have that and it sounds like she likes to be around your daughter and that's very important. But now…tell me how she…"

Severide had entered Nick's office with a mind and heart full of agitation and worry. He knows it won't be an overnight fix and even with Erin, he'd have to get a bit more from her than just a mere 'yes I want to be with you and your child for the rest of our lives'. She'd have to prove to him that she wanted the job on a permanent basis and that he wanted her in his life on a permanent basis and that his daughter wanted that also. So far it sounded like her and Erin got along and that was huge in his books.

'Some women are attracted to the man but not what he brings with him and their first thought is to ship the kid off to boarding school and then you have nothing but issues; especially if you're as close to your daughter as you are. If Erin already likes being around Aurora that's great. But that's also not on a regular daily basis. Cooking, shopping, taking her to school, helping when she's sick or needs guidance, discipline, correction…other stuff that a woman can help a little girl deal with as she grows into a young woman. So she might say yes she wants to stick around but actions speak louder than words.'

So while his nervous agitation had lifted about confessing his romantic troubles to his friend and therapist, new issues abound on how to get Erin to want to help him with the regular daily parenting stuff in the long run.

'If you only see each other on dates or when you have her over for supper or each other is on their best behaviour, you won't know what happens when a real test comes. You need to see each other when you're at your worst…on a regular day…daily life.'

He had given him a few tips and then what to talk about on their date. Now he can only hope the evening goes as smoothly as he wants…as he hopes. However, as eager as he is to see Erin, he can't help but wonder what Randy's real story is. A blind person could see the way he was looking at Erin when he entered the diner and then the look of veiled disgust directed at him when he neared the table and purposely interrupted. And then…to show up at the fire scene…it was him…he's bad news…I know it!

But he didn't want to project his jealous mistrust onto Erin so early in the game; especially if Randy was just passing through as she had said.

"Kelly?"

Just as he exits Nick's building, he hears his name and then stops to see Erin slowly walking up to him with a wondering glance.

"Hey," he greets her with a warm, broad smile. "What's going on?"

"Jay had to drop off some documents to court. What brings you here?"

"Had to talk to someone about…stuff," he stammers nervously. "Nick," he finally confesses. As soon as she hears the name of his therapist and friend….but therapist first she knows that if he wasn't wanting to share then it's not the time to press the issue. "So…thanks for the pictures of Aurora. Seems like you two had fun. She loves to play dress-up."

"Don't we all," Erin retorts with a small wink; her mind inwardly groaning at her lame attempt at flirting but at the same time declaring triumph when he blushes as hard as her. "She had fun. Sounds like school had its ups and downs this week."

"I know. One moment she's happy and the next sad and then…then I feel good but when I see her sad and crying I feel like a failure."

"You're doing a great job."

"She's a good kid," Severide moderately praises his daughter. "I do worry but I'm hoping the teacher will say she's getting along with the other kids and I have nothing to worry about."

"Have you noticed anything at home that is cause for alarm?"

"No, but then I wonder if it's me pushing something aside and just dismissing it when I should be addressing it?" He ponders with a small frown. "Parenting is hard work."

"It can be, but you have such a great support network to help you with that. I'm happy you're not alone."

Uh oh…sounds like…one minute she flirts and then the next it sounds like she's backing off. She has to want both me and my daughter. hmmm….Stop stressing for nothing!

"So, we're still on for Friday?"

"You bet we are."

"By the way Aurora loved the new dolly."

"Was in Chinatown the other day and thought she might like it. It was nothing really."

"No it was great…" Severide insists warmly. "I think I want one," he tosses back, his mind delighting in her warm, almost musical laughter. "I'm glad that Aurora feels at ease around you. I sometimes worry I'm sheltering her too much. Shay would get after me for that."

"She'd tell you you're doing a great job. She always said you were more paranoid than you needed to be."

"When did she say that?"

"Girl talk," Erin replies cryptically.

"Really?"

"Yeah we had some great chats. I miss her too."

"Halstead's back," he nods as her partner exits the building in the distance and then heads toward their waiting police sedan. "I gotta get back also."

"Tell me how your parent teacher meeting goes," she requests; her hand reaching down and giving his a small squeeze; his body instantly flooding with warmth. "See you Friday."

"Okay," he whispers in return as they regrettably part and he watches her head back to the car; Halstead giving him a small wave before both get inside and then pull away from the curb.

Literally feeling like he's walking on clouds back to his car, Severide gets in, telling himself that Friday is going to be a success. However, he's unaware of the set of jealous narrowed eyes watching him in disdain – having witnessed the happy interlude with an unhappy expression; two angry fists curling into tight balls – ready to inflict pain.

A/N: Okay continuing to build the story for our little would-be family and I wanted to get some sweet Erin/Aurora bonding in there, bring Nick back into the fold and of course have some Kelly/Erin (texting and in person!). Randy is still lurking and Voight knows he's trouble but what will Benny's friend find that even Voight doesn't know? And their first date is up next – how will that go? Want to bring into play some real-life concerns (via Nick's words) for our couple to consider and work out together. So please do review before you go and thanks so much!