Title: Plan C
Chapter 13 – The Next Big Step?
"Okay so I can't make much but I figure if I put the eggs into the frying pan, mix them around a bit we'll have scrambled eggs," Erin explains to Severide as he watches her that morning, hovering at the edge of the kitchen, watching in silence. "What?"
"Just….happy to be here."
She pulls away from the counter and approaches him, her fingers gently resting on his stubbled jaw, slowly moving up closer to his recovering eye and resting on his cheek as his face slightly winces. "Sorry."
"Doesn't hurt," he whispers as he takes her hand and brings it to his lips and kisses it. "I need to shave or…do full on beards do it for you?"
"Hmm think if you had a grisly Adams look I'd still find you hot but…" she stops as her hand drops down to his broken arm, her fingers resting on his cast. But before she can say anything else, his free hand reaches out, snakes around her neck and pulls her head close to his, pressing his lips against her and crushing them with passion.
"I'm going to burn the eggs…" she stammers as she pulls back a bit breathlessly, the moment interrupted by Aurora's little footsteps rushing toward them; Casey in tow. "I mean cook…hush now," she warns playfully as he chuckles.
"Daddy! Look what I found!"
"Hey…Prince Pantsless," Severide laughs as he snatches the doll from his daughter's grasp. "You finally found him!"
"No daddy, Prince Philip."
"Pantsless?" Erin arches her brows in amusement.
"Blame Benny," Severide smirks as he hands the doll to Casey who holds up the male Barbie dolls pants. "You know…this is a nudity free zone."
Aurora looks up with a scrunched nose, making all three adults laugh. Casey helps with the doll and then the four of them help with breakfast; Severide feeling physical fatigue starting to pull at him and so excusing himself to the table to watch and direct his daughter to help set the table.
"I'll help Aurora get dressed for school," Erin volunteers after breakfast is done.
Both Casey and Severide watch as Erin takes Aurora by the hand and then Casey looks at his friend, gently tapping him on the shoulder and watching a worried gaze look back.
"Still nervous about having her here?"
"No. I uh…I offered her the spare bedroom yesterday," Severide admits in a quiet tone as he looks back down at the remnants of his coffee cup. "I want her to stay Matt," he says as he looks back up; a serious expression on his face.
"Have you asked her to move in?"
"Sort of trying that now. Figured if she doesn't mind being here at my worst then…maybe it could work long term?"
"Well…you love her right?" Casey asks directly.
"I do."
"Then…what are you waiting for?"
"You mean…?" Severide toys with a same idea they're both thinking about.
Severide looks up, the two friends locking eyes for a few seconds before a bout of soft laughter coming from the other room breaks the silence.
"Tickles," Aurora confesses with a sweet smile as Erin tries again to get her undershirt on.
"I'm ticklish there too," Erin confesses. Within seconds, Aurora's fingers zoom to her sides and Erin's lips emit a surprised laugh; Aurora squealing with delight. Although she might not confess it openly to anyone outside of maybe Christie or Cindy Herrmann but the night before she had spent surfing the net, looking at pictures of what little five year old girls wear to school.
So this morning she had selected Aurora's yellow pants, a sweater with large yellow dots and some smaller colored dots and was trying to put her hair into a sleek ponytail; a surprisingly arduous task.
"Can I take Annie to school?" Aurora asks as she holds up one of her larger dolly's.
"Uh…sure," Erin replies slowly, not really sure. She had seen Christie pack a dolly for her the day before so figured it would be okay for this one. After they're done, they head into the living room, Aurora rushing up to her father to give him a kiss goodbye.
"Aurora, you know you can't take Annie to school."
"Oh…I didn't know," Erin explains as she looks back down at Aurora. "Sorry sweetie, daddy had said no."
"But daddy…." Aurora tries to protest as she tries to grab the doll back from her father's grasp. But Severide holds fast, bending down as best he can to his daughter and kissing the top of her head.
"Annie will wait for you here. But you look very pretty today. Like the yellow," Severide tells his daughter and then looks up at Erin with a proud smile. "Thank you."
Erin gives him a nod before Casey takes Aurora to the front to get her runners and jacket on. "Didn't know about the toy."
"She did it to Matt at the start also. One of us says no…she'll ask the other. Thanks for backing me up."
"Gotta be on the same page right? So thanks for the patience."
"Course," he whispers as he leans in and kisses her on the cheek. "I do like the yellow."
She pulls back with a smile and then heads for the door. "I'll be back later."
"Okay. The one armed man here is going to…laundry."
Her and Casey just offer him a snicker while Aurora waves bye and within seconds the apartment is rendered silent. Severide slumps back down onto the nearest chair, his leg slightly throbbing but his brain cursing the fact that he can only hold her close, his frame on the road to recovery but not as fast as he might like or want.
Severide heads into the living room and looks at the neatly folded blanket and pillow on the couch and offers a small frown, his brain knowing that for one night the couch is okay at best to sleep on…longer? He slowly slides down into the soft folds of the couch and closes his eyes, her faint scent lingering just enough to tempt his senses and play with his desires.
He opens his eyes and lifts them upward, looking at a picture of Shay and then feels his heart starting to race a bit faster. "Help me with this…"
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"You're back so soon?" Voight questions Erin as she emerges atop the stairs.
"I uh…yeah I have to work…do something."
"What's going on? Tired of family life already?" Voight questions in a serious undertone.
Erin nervously looks around and then back at her boss, but the man she thinks of as a father figure with a look of concern.
"What is it?" Voight presses.
"I uh…I can't be in the apartment right now…Kelly's leg is healing and his arm is still casted and…and when I'm so close I…" she stammers as her cheeks gently flush. "And I…can't do much about it."
"Ah," Voight replies with an amused smile as she just shakes her head.
"But even when he's fully healed I don't just want to….okay I'm getting ahead of myself. Maybe in a few days he'll be kicking me out."
"Doubt it."
"Who's kicking…wait…you moved in with Kelly?" Jay asks in shock as he approaches with a wondering expression.
"Trial run," Erin confesses with a small huff. "Okay the subject of my life is now over."
"Why? It's a hell of a lot more exciting than ours," Jay retorts with a small snicker until Voight looks up with a less than amused expression. "Okay so…might have an address for Winters. Where's Ro…"
"I'm coming."
Jay looks at Voight with a frown; Voight shrugging as both of them watch Erin hurry over to her desk, collect her vest and then look up in expectation.
"What? Aren't we going?"
"Yeah…and I'm driving."
The two of them get into the dark police issue sedan, Erin in the front passenger seat, staring contemplatively out the window.
"So…what's going on?"
"Think Kelly will want to get married?" She asks suddenly as Jay looks over in surprise.
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Severide wanders into his bathroom and then stops and looks at a few things that…are new. A few female things he hadn't seen since Shay's in their previous apartment when she as she put it 'borrowed his bathroom for an emergency'. He picks up her small bottle of body wash and closes his eyes as he takes a whiff and a small smile slowly spreads across his face. "Almond…" he whispers as he carefully places is back down. Only a few items were there but enough to let him know that she had invaded his personal space and would be there until he said she had to go.
"Don't want her to go…ever," he mutters as he looks at a small hair elastic with an amused glance, puts it back and then slowly heads back to his bedroom; his leg begging to be slightly elevated. Before he enters his bedroom, he makes a small detour into the living room, turning on the sound so as not to be stifled by the mounting silence. Casey's at work…Erin's at work…Aurora's at school…this is going to suck if I don't heal faster, his mind laments as he slumps down onto his bed, his recovering leg slightly elevated.
But even the white noise coming from the living room, isn't enough to distract his mind and keep nasty images of his ordeal with Randy from popping into his brain and forcing his sleep to be restless.
'Hey hero…still alive!'
Severide's lips offer a soft moan as his body gently twitches, his mind in dark torment as he is forced to relive certain tormented memories.
His body jerks as the crowbar strikes his vulnerable arm. Again. Again. He cries out. Asking him for leniency because of his daughter. He's hit again. Again. This time…the bone breaks and he cries out in sheer agony.
'Well…I guess you're not that indestructible after all.'
He lies there in sheer misery, his teeth having sunk into part of his lower lip, the taste of coppery blood mixed with bile swishing around in his mouth as it slides down his jaw, pooling on the dirty floor of the moving rail car. His eyes water. Pain seizes him and he almost…almost prays for a quick way out.
'What keeps you going hero?'
But that line does more good than harm as it forces his mind to picture his beloved daughter's face and hold onto it…then he pictures Erin holding his daughter the two of them looking at him with loving smiles.
'My…family.'
After that he sunk back into darkness.
"NOOOOO!" Severide shouts as he's ripped from his tormented sleep with an angry cry. Sweat wracks his frame, his heart pounds and his entire frame is on fire. However…as he rapidly blinks his watery eyes, he realizes he's not alone and quickly focuses on the frame in the doorway to his bedroom. "Erin? Hey…what's um…thought you were at work?"
But as she nears he notices a small scuff to her cheek and a bit of a cut by her bottom lip. "What happened?"
"Regular day at the office," she retorts somewhat flippantly. "Nightmare?" Erin asks softly as she eases herself down onto the bed beside him, looking down in concern. "You're hot," she whispers as her fingers rest on his cheek and then move down to his neck.
"So I've been told," he looks up with a warm grin as his free arm wraps around her back and holds her in place.
"By who? Tell me and you'll never see her again," she playfully counters.
"I'd be lost without her," Severide states seriously as his hand snakes higher up her back, bringing her lips down to his.
She plants a warm kiss on his mouth before she slowly lowers herself down by his side, her head resting near his shoulder his uninjured arm holding her close. "I don't want to ask you what you saw…but if you want to talk about it, I'm here."
"He just…kept hitting and hitting and…I felt my arm break and…couldn't fight back. He didn't stop."
Her eyes squeeze shut as his body tense and the strain in his voice thickens. Her hand gently rests on his chest, slowly sliding down to the thick bandages helping his ribs to heal. Her mind struggles with how much to push him to open up about his horrific ordeal as she doesn't want him to dwell in misery for longer than he must.
"Maybe…you should go see Nick," Erin kindly suggest as he twists his head and looks at her with a heavy frown; her eyes looking up with a weak glance. "I just…I want you to open up to me but…but I worry I'll fail you in some way."
"You're here now…that's all I need," he replies as he gives her a tender squeeze, his body aching for something more, but his mind regrettably reminding him that his weakened frame cannot yet bear any sustained weight. The two of them lie side by side; Severide's mind reveling in the feeling of her body pressed up against his, her soft scent forcing his lips to twist upward as he slips back into a comfortable sleep.
About half hour later, Erin's phone softly buzzes and her mind reminds her that she needs to get to get to the school to pick up Aurora. She slowly sits up, looking down at Severide's sleeping frame and feels her heart starting to ache.
I can't do this…just be here for a few days and then go home and…be alone and come back on the weekends or…her thoughts drift off as she carefully pulls away and gets up, planting a soft kiss on his forehead as he rolls onto his uninjured side; remaining in the darkness.
I want to stay here…always.
XXXXXXXX
"Hey Erin."
"Hey…Pryia," Erin gives Jasmine's mom a friendly wave as she nears. As she nears the two moms, she notices the wondering looks at the small marks on her skin that weren't there this morning. "Yeah uh…tough call," she sighs as she quickly flashes her badge. After getting two 'ah's' from the moms, the conversation quickly turns to the upcoming fall fair and a field trip to one of the local high schools to see their rendition of the 'wizard of Oz'. At first the conversation is somewhat strained as she politely listens to the two moms, hoping that time speeds up and Aurora would come rescue her from this painfully new situation. But a few minutes later she's engaged and time suddenly is over before she was even expecting it; the conversation friendly and inclusive.
"Erin!" Aurora calls out as she rushes toward her, Erin's grin widening as she nears. Despite hearing the other little girls calling out to their 'moms', she doesn't expect that from Aurora; she's just happy that the little girl is so comfortable in her presence.
"See you guys later," Erin tells the two mothers; one Jasmine's and the other's Belle's – her name being Naomi. "How was your day?"
"Good," Aurora answers as she swings her arm with Erin; laughing as it gets higher and higher. She straps her into the booster seat in the back and then starts for the apartment, asking Aurora about her day and listening to the little girl chattering on about her friends and what their coloring project and what letter they got to practice on.
'Part of Aurora's nightly routine is reading with her…little board books with short sentences with words that she understands and can read on her own. Shay and I wanted to keep this up every day if possible.'
She asks about what other things they learn and Aurora tells them about a new plant, the fern. And the longer she listens to the little girl talking, the faster she realizes just how important it is for her to be a stabilizing force in her life. But I can't rush Kelly…but I…ah damn this!
"We're home!" Erin calls out before she realizes just how liberally she's tossed out the word 'home' and feels her heart starting to race a bit faster.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Aurora calls out as he rushes toward her father as he rounds the corner and looks at them with a happy smile.
She stands back and watches them with a tight lipped smile; her eyes threatening to water with conflicted tears. Just pull it together a bit longer, she commands herself as she pulls away from the door and heads toward them. "Smells good."
"It's uh…mac and cheese," he admits with a small frown. "Gotta learn to cook…something more."
"Think that makes two of us," she agrees as she enters the kitchen, looking at the simple supper waiting on the stove. "What can I do?"
"Set the table? There's some wine in the fridge for us and let Aurora choose which drink box she wants."
"Grape juice!"
The table is set and the three of them sit down to a casual relaxed dinner; talking about the day, Severide telling him how he's becoming a vacuuming expert, Erin downplaying her dangerous call but both of them interested in Aurora's day and what she did and learned. Once again, Erin leans back in her chair and watches father and daughter lovingly interact about their day, laughing about something they had obviously laughed about in the past, something that each day draws them closer.
I want to stay…I want this…I want a family…I want this family…
"So…if you want to go and read in the living room, I can clean up," Erin suggests as Severide looks up wonder. "Matt gave me a copy of your….daily routine."
"Come join us when you're done….if you want."
"Sure," she nods, giving him a bit of a tense smile. She watches him and his daughter head into the living room and settle onto the bigger couch, side by side as his legs weren't strong enough yet to hold his daughter's full weight. She finishes the dishes about twenty minutes later and then slowly heads toward the living room, casting an adoring smile on the two as they look up and beckon her to join them.
"So…what are we reading?"
"Eeeeee's," Aurora answers with a giggle. Aurora starts to read the page again, the picture of the elephant and then the eggplant. She is told to read it until she's able to read it smoothly and then they move on to the next page, still with some short sentences all showcasing the letter E.
After that she's allowed a bit of playtime and happily pushes some dollies into her father's and Erin's grasp; the three of them laughing playing make believe. This time it's Severide's turn to sit back and watch his daughter interact with Erin and feels his heart warm; his brain also wondering what it will be like after a few days when she's gone.
I don't want her to go…will she want to stay? Want this family…on a daily basis? Us?...me? Us.
"Alright sweetie…time for bed."
"No daddy…want to stay up," Aurora moans as she looks at Erin with a small pout. "With Erin," she points as Erin leans in closer and kisses her on the cheek.
"Time for us all to go to sleep sweetie, me too," she agrees as she pulls back with an adoring smile.
Aurora tries to protest as Severide gently nudges her out of the living room, Erin happily volunteering to put everything away. Still in a kneeling position, she leans back and rests on her heels as she picks up two dolls, one with Brown hair and one ken doll and looks at them with a soft smile.
"And…they lived happily ever after," she whispers as she briefly closes her eyes and feels her heart warm. I want to stay. Forever.
XXXXXXXX
That night both Severide and Erin lie awake, each in their respective sleeping areas, her on the couch and him in his bed; Casey having come home after a long shift and asleep in his bedroom, Aurora in hers – the spare bedroom still empty. Both of them want to fall asleep, especially after the long and trying day, but both their minds are awake pondering the same thing - does the other want this family arrangement as much and as fast as they do? Sheer fatigue finally pulls them both into sleep, where this very topic would be discussed – seriously.
The next morning, just as Erin is making up the living room, Aurora comes running up to her, climbs up onto the couch and starts to jump; Erin giving her a small laugh. But just before her happy time can be enjoyed any longer, a knock is heard at the door and she's quick to look at Aurora. For a split second she reaches for her gun; Aurora's eyes widening as she stops jumping and looks at Erin in shock, Severide rounding the corner just as her arm drops to her side.
"Uh…force of habit," she stammers as Casey heads for the front door. "Instinct."
"Hello?"
"Gramma!"
"Gramma…right…of course," Erin shakes her head as she looks at Severide with a weak glance. "I can't do this."
"What?...no it's okay…it was reflex, Aurora knows you're a cop."
"Who just pulled a gun on her grandmother!" Erin hisses as she quickly shoves her weapon back in place and then hurries to put the blanket and pillow away. "I uh…"
"Erin…"
"No I…" she starts and then quickly pulls on her jacket, Severide moving in closer. She hears the warm laughter and then looks up with wet eyes.
"Hey…what's going on?" Severide asks seriously; Casey ushering Pauline and Aurora into Aurora's bedroom to give them some privacy. "Erin…what is it? It's okay…I'm not angry."
"I…I'm scared…being a step mom and…and just screwing up. I loved Shay…she was a great friend and I don't want to let her down but…but being here and then…each time I leave here it gets harder to come back. I thought this would work but…"
"It has…it's worked great so far. Or…so I thought. Erin, please…don't go. I know this couch is lame but you can stay in the spare bedroom. Just…please don't go."
"That's just it…I don't want to go but I don't want to ru…I love you Kelly…I love Aurora and…when you first told me about your rule on one night stands I didn't really get it until I was here…living with you and getting immersed in your life and your routine and…and being a part of Aurora's life…her routine."
"But…"
"But she needs that stability, from anyone in her life and being here…having dinner, reading, playing with her…dressing her…heck picking her up and meeting her friends and then thinking about going home in a few days to just…come back here on occasion or…Kelly…I want it I do but…I want more but I'm scared and…ugh I don't know what I'm saying."
"Aurora wants you here. You know I want you here and…"
"I don't want to just…I have to go."
And before Severide can utter another word, Erin pushes past him, grabs her boots and ducks into the hallway, her heart racing to the point of exploding and eyes misting over. She opts for the stairs and reaches the bottom with an even faster racing heart, Severide rushing to the window and watching her get into the dark police sedan and racing away.
"Kelly?" Casey's voice is heard; Severide turning to see his friend looking at him in wonder, Pauline with Aurora in her grasp coming up behind Casey. "What happened?"
"She left."
"Why? What happened?"
"She…she wants more than a few days…I think."
"Do you?" Casey counters pointedly, his brows arching in wonder. "What are you waiting for?"
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Erin closes the door to her apartment and leans against it, closing her eyes as he bag slowly drops to the floor; her heart racing at top speed. I just…did I just try to…damn what the hell did I say? She pulls away from the door and heads into her bedroom, plunking down on the edge of her bed and rubbing her face, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees, her hair spilling all around.
She flops back on the bed and starts to ponder what her next move might be. I can't believe I just pulled a gun on…But before she can get too far in her decision making, a knock is heard at the door and she pushes herself up and heads toward it. A smile can't help but grace her face as she slowly opens the door and looks at Kelly Severide standing before her, his hand holding his daughter's.
"Hey…" she greets softly. "Kelly…I uh…"
"I think I'm just as scared and nervous as you in…well making this work but…but I have something to say that might at least put to rest the idea about the temporary living arrangement. Well at least Aurora does."
"Aurora…has something to say to me…about…?" Erin asks in shock as she looks down at Aurora who nods in agreement. "Okay…"
She looks down as Aurora fumbles with a piece of paper and then watches as the little girl holds up the paper, giggling when her father tells her it's upside down and then quickly rights it; Kelly slowly trying to get down on one knee.
"Oh my…" she whispers as she reads the hand drawn sign.
'Will you marry my daddy?'
A/N: surprise! Hehe but hmm did Kelly's surprise go exactly as planned? Will Erin say yes? And hope you liked the bonding moments all around. Of course Kelly has Matt's support (yup always gotta keep them close) and some bits with Pauline in there. Also a few new side plots mentioned in here will also continue to develop. Kelly is anxious to get back to work (of course) and Erin's slowly being assimilated into Aurora's world. BUT….what will happen next with our little family? Hope you're as excited as I am about where this is going so please do review before you go and thanks so much!