So finally the next one. I'm sorry for the long wait, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway. Let me know what you think. As always I'd like to thank SweetKittyCat and Asher Knight for their reviews, am always happy to read them. And I also want to thank queen2395, runawaycherry93, andrea1234, lynnenikko666, ML143 and jjchickybabe for following and favoriting my story.

So now on with the story and enjoy.

Chapter 5

On the day of the barbecue Nora was just getting ready in her bathroom, putting the finishing touches on her light make-up. She had told her uncle that she would meet him and the rest at the park.

Shay had called her two days before, telling her about the call they had had. Kelly had to go down and rescue one of the workers from a floor hole. At least he wanted to, but wasn't able to do it, as the worker's, an older man named Peter, leg was trapped under a boulder. The dark haired lieutenant had to watch him die from the internal bleeding.

A pang of guilt gnawed on her conscience, knowing she had been too harsh not answering his call.

Even before Andy's death, Nora had sworn Kelly, Andy and Casey could call her whenever they needed to after a bad call or just to talk about things in general.

But now she only had her head wrapped around Michael and her cafe, not wanting to let anything or anyone get in her way again.

Sighing, Nora pushed a stray strand away from her face, pulling it back up into the messy bun she had created on her head. Dressed in mint colored shorts, a white tank and a red and blue plaid button-up the blonde pulled on her black flats and was just about to leave, when her door bell rang.

Frowning slightly she went to the speaker, when Michael's voice rang out, bringing a smile to her face. Herrmann's niece pressed the buzzer to let him enter her apartment building, before she walked out and waited for her boyfriend to come up the stairs to the second floor.

As he finally reached her front door, the blond threw her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her, kissing his lips. But soon she stopped, looking him up and down. Michael had abandoned his usual attire consisting of a pristine suit, dress shirt, tie and shiny dress shoes. Now he wore a pair of dark washed jeans and a white shirt, making him look more his age, then he usually did.

"Well that's what I call one hell of a greeting." he said, grinning down at her, his arms wound around her waist.

"Hey!" Nora said, smiling. "I didn't know you would come here. I thought, we would meet at the park."

The dark haired CEO smiled down at his girlfriend, putting his hands on her cheeks. "I know, but I promised you, I'd try to get everything done, so we could go there together."

"You're amazing." Herrmann's niece gushed, kissing Michael passionately.

He laughed, slightly stepping back from her, before he grabbed her hand. "Don't I know it. But are you almost done now, so we can go?"

Nora nodded her head and reached over to the small closet beside her front door. She grabbed her bag and led him out of her apartment, making sure it was all locked up and closed tightly.

"Now I'm done." she said, intertwining their hands and walking down the staircase of her apartment building to get out to his car.

Michael had to park a few feet away from the building, as he wasn't able to get a spot right in front of it, but they didn't mind the short walk, enjoying the fresh air. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled the blonde closer to his body.

"Have I told you, that I love you?" he asked with a smile.

Nora shook her head, returning his with her own smile. "Not today. But the day before."

"Then I am saying it again. I love you, my little torch." her boyfriend said, sealing her lips with a soft kiss, while holding onto her hand over her shoulder.

After Nora had ended the kiss, she grinned at the CEO. "How'd you come up with that name?"

"I read somewhere that Nora could be a shortened form of Eleanor, meaning 'Torch'."

Nodding her head, Herrmann's niece kissed his cheek. "I would have never guessed you'd do something like that."

Michael laughed loudly, holding his belly in the process. "I'm full of secrets and hidden talents."

"Aren't we all?" she asked, lightly hitting his side.

It wasn't long before the couple reached his car and drove off, maneuvering the Mercedes-Benz through the streets of the windy city. Nora enjoyed Sundays, getting to take a look at the busy life of Chicago and going out to the parks or even the Zoo.

"Have you been to Lincoln Park before?" she asked Michael as they neared their destination.

The dark haired CEO shook his head, intertwining his fingers with hers. "No, I usually don't have time to go there. And I didn't have a girlfriend who's family is part of Chicago's finest Firehouse."

Once they were at the park, Michael told Herrmann's niece to wait for him at the entrance while he looked for a parking spot. As it was a big event for everyone of the CFD and for every citizen of Chicago, it was hard to find a good place to park the car, but he finally managed and joined his girlfriend, who stood patiently in front of the large tree where he left her.

The dark haired CEO took her hand and gave it a light kiss, earning a soft smile from his girlfriend.

"Ready to go in?" he asked.

She nodded excitedly like a small kid asked if it wants candy. "Of course, can't wait to show you off."

Michael and Nora reached the place where Firehouse 51 met for the barbecue a short while later. The blonde could see her aunt standing with a few other wives, while her uncle sat at a table with Otis, Cruz and Vargas.

"Nora, dear!" Cindy said as she saw the blonde head of her niece walking over with her boyfriend. "I hope you didn't have any troubles getting here."

"Oh, no, Aunty. It was fine, really." she said, smiling softly as she shook her head.

Her aunt watched her, putting her hands on Nora's shoulder. "Michael! How have you been?"

The CEO smiled, kissing her aunts cheek, before pulling his girlfriend back to his side. "Good, thanks for asking. Work has been very stressful, so I'm glad to get some time off to relax today."

Cindy nodded her head and pointed over to the table where Herrmann was sitting with the members of Truck 81. "Why don't you guys go over and say 'Hello' to your Uncle."

"Sure, were Uncle C and the boys already in the games?" the blonde asked, knowing Lee Henry and his younger brother loved to cause trouble and play games with their father.

Nora's aunt smiled. "You know them." was all she said, before her niece walked away with Michael after her.

"Hey! Lee Henry! I'm not gonna tell you again! Put the stick down before I beat you with it!" she could hear her uncle yell at his oldest, who was playing around with a large branch nearly hitting the younger ones that stood in front of him.

Cruz and Vargas were shocked at his outburst, not being used to such language from the father of two.

"Hey! What?" Herrmann asked looking over at his comrades.

Vargas shook his head, taking a sip of his beer, before he put a hand on Christopher's shoulder. "Take it easy."

"You gotta be fair but firm." Nora's uncle explained, earning a giggle from the blonde as they finally reached the table.

She pulled Michael after her, as she leaned down to kiss Herrmann's cheek. "You always knew how to raise good little soldiers."

Hearing her voice so close to his ear, caused the older firefighter to nearly choke on his beer. He turned and saw his niece laughing at his shocked expression. Beside her stood her dark haired boyfriend, scratching the back of his neck, as he was now in the middle of the people Nora called her family.

"Ah, yeah. You never really complained about the way I raised you." Herrmann said, pulling Nora into a tight hug. Then he reached out and shook the CEO's hand in greeting. "Michael."

"Sir." Although Christopher had told him to call him Herrmann or by his given name, Nora's boyfriend still insisted on calling him 'Sir'. He was intrigued, but also quite annoyed, feeling rather old that way.

The blonde sat crouched down next to her uncle and pointed over to Peter Mills, who was currently walking up to their little group in his dress blues.

"Uh, guys. Why did Peter come here in his uniform?" she asked and earned a snigger from the men around her.

"Hey!" Cruz called out and grinned at the sight before him.

Her uncle agreed as they all saw their Candidate standing there dressed to the nines. They clapped and whooped and Nora couldn't help but shake her head at how they treated him. Even Otis, but it was probably due to the fact that he had received the same treatment.

"Howdy!" Mills greeted them, tilting his head.

Otis couldn't help himself and joked around, knowing he'd have to say something about Peter's outfit. "When's the parade, Candidate?"

Nora reached out and slapped him on his forehead, only getting to reach there, as Michael had his arms around her waist, holding her to his body.

"Yeah, that's a good one. Good one Otis." the Candidate said, smiling over at the blonde standing with her boyfriend. "I'm Peter by the way."

"Michael, nice to meet you." the CEO said and shook hands with the dark skinned man in uniform.

Cruz spoke up again, chuckling as he couldn't get over the fact how funny it looked to have Mills standing there all dressed up, while they had come in casual attire. "Hey, you taking collections for the Salvation army?"

"Got ice cream?" Herrmann asked, earning another snort from around the table.

Mills looked at the men sitting there, not knowing if he should be angry or just amused altogether. "That's original. Real good."

Just then a dark haired girl walked up to him, smiling from behind her sunglasses. "Excuse me, are you the Captain?"

"Uh, no miss. He's actually the Commissioner." Gaping at him, Nora watched as Otis hopped down from the table and walked over to the two.

The blonde leaned down to her uncle and tapped his shoulder. "What's he doing?"

Herrmann shrugged and watched the exchange with a bemused expression.

Mills shook his head, not wanting to be part of Brian's scheme, wanting to tell the girl that he wasn't, but she was not in the slightest convinced. Otis jumped in again talking about how he was the Commissioner and how Mills was the youngest one in Chicago history.

Now the young woman was really impressed and Nora couldn't help the giggle that bubbled in her throat, as she heard the ex Candidate tell their new one to take her with him. "Go show her where the beer cooler is, Commissioner."

"I'd like that." the girl said, smiling at Peter, who returned it with a lopsided grin of his own.

Mills put his hand on her back and directed her over to where the beverage was located. "All right. Right this way."

All were impressed by Otis show, knowing he was the one to want to get the girls at the Friends of Firefighters Barbecue.

"What?" he asked looking at the group around the table.

Cruz turned slightly still sitting on his perch atop the table, an unbelievable expression on his face. "So you're his wingman now?"

"Karma." was the only thing Otis said and all laughed at him, knowing his Karma would never lead him to where he wanted to go.

Nora turned to Michael putting her arms around his neck, full well knowing that everyone at the barbecue, including Casey, Shay, Dawson and Severide, were watching them with hawk eyes. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Sure, show me the way, babe." he said and let himself be pulled after his smaller girlfriend.

They reached the beer cooler just as Heather left. Nora saw Kelly still standing there, a sour expression on his face.

"Kelly?" she asked, her hand still held tightly onto Michael's.

The lieutenant chanced a look at the couple and only nodded his head in greeting. He didn't want to do anything he might regret later on. Knowing if Herrmann's niece made him talk to her boyfriend he'd probably smash his head in with a beer bottle.

"How have you been? Shay told me"

"Shay should look out for herself." he snapped at the blonde, who involuntarily took a step back from him at the harsh tone he had used.

The CEO stepped up to him and held his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, man. If you got a problem with your girl, you don't need to get angry at Nora. It's not her fault."

"Yeah? Listen buddy, you should just go back to you're upper class parties. No use in staying down here. It's too boring for you." Kelly said, not taking his eyes off of the dark haired man in front of him.

Even so Michael was the same build as him, Severide knew he could take him on with out a problem. But Nora took a step towards them, putting herself between the lieutenant and her boyfriend.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Kelly? He hasn't done anything to cause your animosity." she said pushing against his chest, so he would step away from Michael.

He didn't know why, but seeing her with that finance buddy made him see red. When Nora was with him, Kelly knew, he didn't have a chance at ever being with her. Not that the fact that she was Herrmann's close relative was any easier.

Without a word, he grabbed another beer and left the couple standing there. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get her out of his head. Couldn't stop the feelings he had for Nora Herrmann. And just that combined with what was going on at the moment made his life a living hell.

Sighing Nora watched her friend walk away. She was thinking strongly about the fact if Kelly still was her friend. Ever since she had started dating Michael he had kept his distance, not even wanting to come to the break room for lunch.

"Come on, lets get a beer and enjoy the day." her boyfriend pulled her away from the sad thoughts. "Forget about him. If he has a problem with us, he should just keep his distance."

Nora nodded her head, smiling at Michael and kissed his cheek. "I love you."