Feeling thankful today for many things … family, friends, and all of you, the amazing readers and writers of fanfiction. Thank you to all who review and leave such funny, sweet, and awesome comments. Much love!

Erin and Kelly's inevitable return to reality was made more pronounced as the couple was slapped with a cold Chicago hand, stepping outside the airport. Luckily, the waiting warm truck of Matt Casey was offering curbside service.

"Glad you're home," he told Erin with a trademark Casey smile, as she slid into the passenger seat.

"Uh, that's okay, I got these," called Kelly from outside, scrambling into the back after throwing their luggage into the bed of the truck.

"I've been stuck in this crap while you've been sunbathing on some island," Matt defended, not able to prevent a small smile from forming.

"Sunbathing?" inquired Kelly at the strange choice of word.

"You have got to take Gabby, Matt. You have to." Erin went on to describe every detail of the beach, the clear water, the resort, and the luxury suite. Casey didn't think he'd ever heard her talk so much.

"Yeah, gotta agree with the wife on this one. I'm callin' it as your honeymoon spot. Dawson'll love it," Kelly agreed, shaking his head enthusiastically.

"We're gonna have to talk about that one," Casey said, looking pointedly at Kelly in the rear view mirror.

"Ah, hell," Kelly said, exchanging a look with Erin. The Casey Dawson romance had been anything but storybook, but Severide always figured they'd get hitched before he ever did. Figured they'd be poppin' out little ones before he was even dating anyone serious. Matt's head injury had put a strain on them, and instead of strengthening the couple it had pulled at it like a ball of yarn slowly coming unwound. Dawson's pursuit of becoming a firefighter had only set that ball loose leaving an unraveled mess.

Casey got out of his truck to help haul the luggage up to the apartment, avoiding the curious eyes of Severide.

Erin excused herself to call Voight and see what his flurry of calls was all about. She was pretty sure the team was making progress on their college drug connection.

"So what gives? What's up with you and Dawson?" asked Kelly once Erin was out of earshot. He plopped on the couch waving Matt to sit. He had the feeling this was gonna take a while.

"Now, she's saying we should delay gettin' married till she's done with her candidacy. She's under the gun over there. It's hell for her," Matt started, hesitating before saying more.

"There's always somethin.' Not that you're askin' for my advice, but you gotta just do it. There will never be a perfect time. I say let's get Shay to talk to Gabby and you two get hitched before the year is up." The smile on Kelly's face almost had Casey convinced.

"That's not all of it," Matt continued. "We've been arguing."

"You've seen me and Erin, right?" Kelly laughed.

"No, it's more than that. Really fighting. If it's not the job, it's where we're gonna live. If it's not that it's about having kids. She says she doesn't know if she wants kids, like ever."

"Welcome to my world, buddy," Kelly said slapping Casey's back.

"And you're okay with that?" asked Matt, giving an empty smile.

"Of course not. But ya gotta remember this is the woman who said she'd never get married 'n look at us now," reminded Kelly holding up his ring finger. "So am I holdin' out hope she'll change her mind. Hell yeah," he added honestly.

"And if she doesn't. You good with that?"

"Been tryin' to figure that one out…" He paused for a sec doing that thinking before speaking thing Shay was always pushing on him. "And yeah, I'll be okay with it. Is it what I want? No. But is life with Erin enough? Yeah. I'm happy. I'll keep bein' happy."

"You are happy, bud. Everyone at the house can see that," Casey said, pondering those Severide words and wondering when the hell his friend got so smart.

"So is Gabby enough for you? That's what this whole damn thing comes down to. Personally, I think she's more than enough sometimes," laughed Kelly, waiting for Matt to say he agreed, that he could be happy with his girl, that she was all he needed.

Casey just nodded his head, leaving Kelly with silence.

"Did I say thank you for the best week of my life?" asked Erin jumping on Kelly's back once Matt left.

"Hey!" Kelly called out, dumping her off on the couch. "And there's nothin' to thank me about. Best damn week of my life," he agreed, leaning over Erin, kissing her on the neck.

"Enough Severide. We have a ton of laundry, need to unpack," said Erin pushing him away reluctantly.

"Hey, you jumped me, Lindsay," protested Kelly, grabbing and poking at her sides.

"Stop! We have stuff to do."

"I know we do," Kelly agreed, grin spreading across his face. He snatched Erin roughly, throwing her over his shoulder in a classic fireman move. Both so glad they had one more day off because nothing productive was getting done on this day.

They were lying in bed staring at each other for a long, long while, Kelly brushing the sides of Erin's hair with his hand. She didn't want to break the spell that was keeping the real world at bay, but the butterflies in her stomach forced her to speak.

"Kelly, we need to talk," she began slowly.

Ah, hell, thought the fireman, just be happy, Erin. We're not on borrowed time. He raised his eyebrows, remaining silent as his gaze followed her.

Erin got up, leaving Kelly more confused. She was out of the bathroom and back in bed before he could ask what the heck was up.

Back on her side, Erin was staring at her husband again, now, a smile on her face. She pulled the blister pack from behind her putting it straight in Kelly's face.

Startled, he jerked his head back reflexively. "What are tho…" began the fireman not sure what he was lookin' at. They came into focus, and he knew what they were… those little pills she took every day to prevent a baby Severide from making an appearance.

Normally self-assured, Erin was at a loss for how to start the conversation. Her stomach in knots, she hesitated a second too long.

"What is it? Erin, talk to me," Kelly asked, still confused, worry spread across his face.

"I'm just going to spit it out."

"Well, spit it out," Kelly requested trying to be patient, realizing he would never read this girl's mind.

"I haven't been taking these," Erin finally said. "I should have talked to you first, but I didn't want it to be a thing, and I know it would've been a thing. If you're mad, I get it."

They were back to staring at each other again.

So many thoughts, spinning round and round. Kelly taking them all in… what this meant.

"Say something, husband," Erin implored, her smile now weak.

Kelly couldn't speak, a swelling in his heart catching in his throat, making words impossible. He draped an arm across his wife, both still lying side by side. He pulled her in bringing his head to her chest, burying his face. Words impossible, the wetness Erin felt was all the answer she needed to hear.

Kelly practically skipped into 51 with Shay meeting him at the door and leading him back to the lockers. She pat a spot on one of the benches indicating he should sit, plopping down directly across from Kelly.

"We had a great time at the beach?" asked Shay, smiling at the huge grin on her best friend's face.

"We did," Kelly answered handing over his phone. Shay scrolled from one pic to the next, stopping a little too long on the ones with Erin in a bikini.

"Nice," she said more than once.

"Best damn week of my life," Kelly said noticing the zooming going on with some of the pics.

"Looks like it."

"I might have some news, but you gotta keep it quiet. No bullshit, Shay." Kelly was having a hard time keeping a lid on the baby making venture. He'd called Benny, Katie, Clarke, and Manny, who demanded a boy's night soon. But the one person he couldn't wait to tell… the blonde in front of him.

The look in his eyes warned her he was serious. He didn't need Casey's nose rubbed in this. Not right after the Matt confession about his relationship snags.

"I have news too," said Shay excitedly, not really heeding her friend.

"You first," Kelly replied, seeing there was no reigning this one in.

"Holly moved in!" Shay jumped up into the arms of her best friend.

"That's great!" Kelly let out a laugh, catching Leslie, swinging her around a little. "When you know, you know," he proclaimed.

"Damn straight," agreed Shay, loving her friend more than ever. No "that was quick" and "are you sure" from him, not like the conversation with her dad and sister.

She loved her crazy redhead and wanted the world to know. She finally felt like her love was given back full force probably for the first time in her life.

"I'm so happy, Kelly," Shay beamed.

"I can tell," Severide replied, his own enthusiasm reaching the blowing point. His news made that much better by hers.

"What's your news? You're moving to St. Bart's to work on boats?" Shay snorted. "Wait, that's not it, right?" she asked, frown replacing her smile.

"No, that's not it. We're stayin' here. We might be needin' a bigger place."

"You bought a new place? Awesome! Where?"

"No new place. We might need a new place in the future. We might be expandin' the family," Kelly crossed his arms and closed his mouth waiting for the Shay reaction.

It could be heard out in the common room. Shay was up again, jumping, screaming, and finally crying.

So much for keeping it quiet.

Mills was in with Boden when they heard the squeals of Leslie Shay boom through the firehouse.

"What in God's name," asked Chief getting up slowly, those sleepless nights taking their toll on his battered, not so young body.

Shay was announcing that Kelly and Erin were practically pregnant, or trying to get pregnant.

"They're going to have little Severides!" she screamed to all the wide eyed firemen staring at her, and one wide eyed paramedic. "With the way they go at it, I'm saying two months, tops. Who's in? Twenty bucks." Money was flying as well as pats on Kelly's back.

When the commotion died down, Boden summoned his lieutenant back to his office with Mills following.

"Kelly Severide. A dad. I never thought I'd see the day…" Chief said smiling and shaking his head. He pulled a bottle of amber liquid from his bottom drawer, pouring three glasses.

"Oh, no, Chief, thanks, but…" Mills said, declining the glass.

"Loosen up, Pete, and drink up. We're celebrating something big here," Boden held up his glass waiting for two glasses to clink his. They downed the whiskey and all three sat down.

Kelly looked around sensing there was more to this little get together than his good news.

"I wish the news we had was as good as yours, Kelly," Boden said. "Mills has been going over the water rescue and he's discovered some pretty disturbing things."

Pete detailed the cut in Kelly's suit that looked like it was ripped later by the grating. He found four other similar small cuts, probably made by a small knife. The last of his allegations was the most troubling.

"This is just a gut feeling, but I think Brett's boyfriend has his hand in this. Somehow, someway."

A silence filled Chief's office, another round of drinks in order.

"Harrison? How? Why?" asked Kelly, not believin' it for a second. Not believin' the whole business.

"He was stalking Brett. You ruined his car. He's not blind. He can see her crushing on you hard. He's always in the house. And he was here the day of the rescue." Mills knew it was all circumstantial, but he also knew he was right.

"Pete, I appreciate the concern, but I think you got knocked on the head while I was gone," Kelly laughed, looking to Boden for agreement.

"I'm not ready to go to PD with this, but I am ready to implement a no visitors policy for a while until we can figure this thing out," Chief said not siding with Pete but also not discounting the accusations.

"Mills, thanks for lookin' into it. No disrespect, I just can't wrap my brain around this. Seems like somethin' out of a movie," Kelly said getting up, shaking the younger man's hand.

"You're probably right, but nonetheless, watch your back, Lieutenant."

One day folded into the next with weeks whirring by before anyone in the house blinked. Pete's accusations forgotten with the absence of Harrison in the house. Brett was growing tired of her former fiancé, his possessiveness once viewed as devotion now feeling more like a slow squeeze around the neck cutting off the ability to breathe.

"Lieutenant, got a minute," Brett asked Kelly in the kitchen.

"Sure, what's up?" inquired Kelly stuffing a roll in his mouth, reaching for another.

"Somewhere more private?"

"Yeah, let's head to the back," Kelly answered leading the way to his office, not yet registering the somber tone of the paramedic.

Once inside, her eyes filled with tears as she told the fireman about her relationship doubts, not knowing if she should stick it out or if she was really done with Harrison.

"How did you know the detective was the one?" Brett asked, taking a Kleenex Kelly was holding out.

"Honestly, Sylvie, I just knew the minute I met her. Also, to be perfectly honest," Kelly sighed, knowing a rush of tears would surely follow, "I think Shay'd be a helluva lot better at this than me." He was stunned she'd unload all this girl crap on him, not sure why him. The words of Shay and Erin echoing somewhere in that brain. Mills confirming it… "crushing on you hard."

He opened his door and sent the blonde on her way. He felt like a heel, but a heel that wouldn't be in trouble at home. That felt good for a change.

The DePaul University drug ring was still in business, gaining strength. The early success of the Intelligence Unit was stalling with the lack of a reliable CI. Erin was working on an athlete they'd found with a record who had his hand in a couple of minor illegal dealings, backroom betting and essay writing for a price. Lindsay was hoping the threat of those indiscretions would persuade the guy to join team Voight.

She was running late, Hank relentless in his texts asking about Caleb, the potential CI. Erin threw her phone to the side, pressing down on the gas. She cursed the car that seemed to be on its last legs. Lindsay was trying to do something about that.

She'd talked to the mechanic who specialized in "classics" several times. Erin meant to get it towed, but her work interrupted every time she had the thought of calling for one. Now, she was rushing to the shop, make a quick drop off, and then surprise Kelly with his fixed up man mobile. She smiled at the thought of his face seeing his old girl good as new, or at least running better.

Erin's smile quickly faded as she tried to brake, the red light in front of her growing closer. Nothing. Panic set in as she pushed harder and harder, laying on the horn hoping the intersection would clear. The detective swerved hard to the left avoiding a car headed straight for her door. She turned the wheel frantically to the left, but there was no avoiding the truck that plowed into the passenger side of Kelly's car bringing it to a violent stop.

Harrison answered the call from Sylvie almost the second it came in.

He listened sympathetically as she told him about Kelly's car being in an accident. Erin was driving, and Kelly'd taken off to the hospital.

"Wait, what?! His wife was driving?" asked Harrison, blood rushing to his face. This was not the plan, this was not what was supposed to happen.

He could feel Sylvie withdrawing from him a little more each day. His plan to woo her back was at a standstill. Desperate times called for desperate measures… The last "incident" hadn't finished the fireman, but it had pushed his girl far away from the lieutenant. He'd suspected that Severide was the reason Sylvie was retreating from him now. The asshole was probably giving her some false hope of a happily ever after. He also knew that it was only a matter of time before the guy got behind the wheel of his piece of crap car. Wasn't supposed to be the wife though. Great, he though bitterly. If she died, Sylvie would have smooth sailing with the fireman. Not what he had in mind.

Kelly rushed to the ER not understanding a thing Voight had said other than Erin was taken to the hospital. She was driving his car? Had a wreck in his car? Didn't make sense.

He flew to the nurse's station demanding to see his wife but being led to the waiting room full of cops.

"They said she's fine," graveled out Hank, worry etched in every line on his face. "They're runnin' a few tests."

"I want to see her," Kelly said, taking note that Jay was one of the cops waiting.

"We all want to see her. We gotta wait," Hank replied tersely, adding, "She was driving your car. Do you know why'd she be driving your car?" The way Voight said "car" implied the piece of shit it was. Implied this was somehow Kelly's fault.

A doctor entered putting a stop to the questioning.

"Ms. Lindsay is fine. We're getting her paperwork ready for release."

Voight thought he'd been relieved of about ten years when he got the call. Now, he was getting those years back. He smiled patting Kelly on the back, all the cops up, hugging each other.

"She's asking for her husband," the doctor continued.

Kelly followed him back to the bay where Erin had been checked out. He smiled watching her check her phone, furiously texting Caleb the wannabe CI. He gave her a delicate kiss on the forehead, bringing her in for a tight hug.

"Hey, husband. They shouldn't have even called you. I'm fine, not a scratch. Promise," she said, sending out one final text.

"What were you doin' in my car? I shoulda gotten rid of that thing when it first started actin' up," he said, remembering Shay and Erin telling him as much a couple months ago.

Another doctor interrupted, holding some papers in his hand.

"Yes!" exclaimed Erin, happy with her sooner rather than later release.

"Not here to let you out just yet," he said studying the papers in his hand. "We ran some routine tests when you were brought in and you may want to sit down for this." He looked directly at Kelly, gesturing to the nearby chair.

Severide drew closer to Erin, grasping her hand in his. "Don't do this to us, doc. What is it?"

"It looks like you're pregnant," the doctor said, eyes leveled at Erin now.

The detective was glad she was lying down.

Well, you knew I wouldn't make you wait too long. Those Severide sperm are able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, right?