A/N: Stellaride AU story: Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd have put their love lives on hold to raise their daughters. What will happen when they meet, will it be love at first sight or will they need a little bit of help from their daughters?

Perfect Match

Chapter 1

Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation where you're just not happy or living in the past because you're afraid to move on. You can't stop the future, and you can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret is to press play.

Stella Kidd was ready to press that button; she was done living a stressful life. She needs to change things, not for herself but for her daughter. Not that she wasn't happy; in Springfield, she loved her hometown; she just wanted a change. A new life in a new city, where everyone didn't know her life story, she wasn't looking for anything special; she just wants to be happy, and she wants her daughter to be happy. So, moving to Chicago just felt right; It's for sure the change she needed, she just didn't plan on falling in love within her first month there.

Stella met Gabby Dawson at the academy years ago, and they instantly clicked. So, when Gabby's firehouse had a spot open, she called Stella, knowing that she hadn't been too happy in Springfield. Stella immediately jumped at the chance. Gabby told her that she and her daughter could stay with her till they found a place. Even though Stella didn't want to be a bother, she really needed a change, so she agreed to live with Gabby and Her husband Matt, till she got on her feet.

One week after Stella moved to Chicago

Gabby and Stella were talking in the kitchen when the front door opened, then slammed shut. "Mommy, mommy!" a little voice yelled.

Stella smiled at the sound of her daughter's voice. "In the kitchen, baby girl,"

"Mommy, guess what?" The six-year-old grinned,

"Wow, you look happy—way better than you did this morning," Stella said as she picked her up. She was mad at her mom this morning for having to start a new school and make new friends.

"You were right, Mommy; I like that school, my new school; I like it."

"Good. I'm happy to hear that. I told you that you would love it. Did you make any friends?"

Yes, yes, I got a new best friend; you were right. I mean, I miss my old best friend Shelley, but now I have a new best friend, whose name is Madison Nicole Severide. Isn't that a cool name?

"It sure is." Stella tells her, "So you're not mad about moving here to Chicago now?"

"No, I'm not mad. I really like it here; I like my teacher, and, my new best friend." Haley said as she kissed her mom's cheek.

"Go put your bookbag up, and then you can go outside; Uncle Matt has a surprise for you out there."

" Really? "What is it?"

"Go put your bookbag up so you can figure it out."

"Aunt Gabby, what is it?" Haley was too excited to move.

"Haley Marie Kidd," Stella said in a warning tone.

"Yes, ma'am, I'm going."

Gabby laughed as she watched the little girl run out of the kitchen. "I can't wait till my little one is here," she said, as she patted her tummy. She was a little over twelve weeks pregnant. With her first kid.

"Yeah, they are cute until they start talking." Stella laughs.

"Okay, Mommy my bookbag is put up I'm going outside," Haley said, as she ran past her mom.

" Be careful Baby," Stella yelled, as the door closed, " You guys didn't have to buy her a trampoline."

"We wanted to we want to make this move easy on the both of you. Plus, in a couple of years, my son or daughter can play on it."

"You and Matt are already doing too much I do appreciate everything. " Stella tells her honestly, " You have no idea how much."

Gabby winked at her, " We will always be here for you and Haley, your family don't forget that. " She tells her as she touches her hand." I'm glad she likes the school, and I find it funny that her new best friend is the daughter of Matt's best friend."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Kelly Severide, he and Matt go way back; he's also the squad lieutenant at 51."

"Wow! Small world."

"They are coming over for dinner tonight."

"Well, that will make Haley happy," Stella said as she looked at her phone. "So, we are adding three more to dinner."

"No, two more, just Kelly and Madison."

Stella raised her eyebrow. "No wife? " She asked.

"No, he's not married; Madison's mom isn't in the picture. by her choice, she hasn't seen her daughter in a little over five years."

"That's awful."

Gabby nods. "Yeah, I just don't understand how someone can just walk out of their child's life."

"Me either." Stella, she said sadly. "Gabby, is this the same guy you tried to fix me up with last summer when you came to visit me?"

"Yes, it is, but I didn't invite him over for you, Stella. I did it because I figured your daughter and his daughter would click, which they already did.

"I'm not ready to date," Stella said seriously.

Gabby rolled her eyes and said, "I know you have been telling me that for years; besides Kelly is seeing someone now. So, you missed out, ha," she smiled.

"Oh, good for him." She said it a little sadly; she had never met him, but she had heard so much about him that she did kind of want to get to know him. "I'm going to go check on Haley."

Casey smiled at her as she walked out the backdoor. "She seemed upset over that."

"Yeah, I know," Gabby said as she bit her lip, wondering why Stella seemed down.

"So, when did Severide start dating again?" Casey asked his wife

Gabby turned away from him. "He hasn't," she said, as she picked up a book and pretended to read it.

"Then why did you...?" Casey smiled and shook his head. "Gabby, you did that on purpose."

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

"Matt, Kelly, and Stella are perfect for each other; they are a perfect match, and I really believe once they meet, they will like each other. So, I figured if I told Stella he was seeing someone, she wouldn't be so stressed at dinner. If she believed we were setting her up, she would spend the whole night broody. "

"True." Casey said, as he thought about it, "I do agree with you; I think that would make a good couple; they both are hardheaded." He laughed as he thought about the two.

A few hours later, Gabby was in the kitchen peeling potatoes when she heard, "Aunt Gabby, we're here." Gabby smiled at the sound of the voice. She couldn't wait for Kelly and Stella to meet.

"I'm in the kitchen, princess," Gabby yelled back.

Gabby smiled at the brown-haired girl. "Hey, sweetheart," Gabby said as she dried her hands. "Where's my hug?" she asked.

The little girl ran to Gabby's and hugged her. "Where is Haley?"

"She is upstairs in her room; it's the third door on your left."

"Okay," the little girl took off running,

"Madison Nicole no running in the house," Kelly yelled as he walked over to the counter, where Gabby was standing. "She really likes Haley; it's all I've heard about since I picked her up from school."

"All Haley talked about was how she likes the same things Madison does."

"I'm happy she has a new friend after Michelle moved away last year. Madison was really sad; she seemed so sad about school starting up again. I was so worried about her today, but when I saw her running out to the car this afternoon with that big, bright smile, I knew she had found someone special."

"Daddy," Madison said, as she walked back into the kitchen, "this is Haley Marie Kidd; she is six, and her favorite color is green too, and she loves Coco Melon, and guess what, Daddy?" Madison said, with a huge grin, "She likes JoJo Siwa as much as I do."

Kelly walked over to the girls, "No way," Kelly teased, "I didn't think there was a girl in this whole world who liked her as much as you did."

"Me either,"

"Hey, Haley, I'm Madison's dad, Kelly," he said, to the little curly black-haired, brown-eyed girl. "It's really nice to meet you," he said, extending his hand to the cute six-year-old.

"It's nice to meet you, Kelly," Haley said as she shook his hand. "I really, really, really like Madison; she's going to be my best friend forever." Haley said as she wrapped her arm around Madison's shoulder, "Oh, Kelly, I want you to meet my mommy. Stay right here. I will be back." Haley said as she took off running with Madison with her.

"Well, another JoJo lover, yay me," Kelly said, sarcastically, and Gabby laughed. "Do you need help?"

"Yeah, finish the salad if you don't mind."

Kelly was making the salad and Gabby was boiling water when Stella and Casey walked back into the kitchen "Well, Kelly Severide is working in the kitchen—I never thought I'd live to see that," Casey joked, as he walked over towards his wife.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, man; I'm full of hidden secrets." Kelly jokes as he looks up, his eyes landing on the woman standing next to Casey.

He looked her up and down. She was beautiful. He took a deep breath before walking over towards her. "So, your Stella," he said, as he got closer to her and she looked up and smiled; he had to swallow hard;

She smiled, keeping her eyes locked with his. "Yes, and you must be Kelly," Stella said, as she extended her hand and he shook her hand; both pulled back fast. There was a spark or something, but neither really knew what it was. But their eyes were still locked.

"Daddy, Daddy," Madison said, trying to get her dad's attention, but he kept staring at Stella.

"Mama, Mama," Haley said, also trying to get her mom's attention, but she kept staring at Kelly.

Gabby and Casey were standing there with big smiles on their faces. "See, I told you—a perfect match," she whispered to her husband.

"Daddy, stop looking at Stella!" Madison yelled in an upset voice. Kelly broke eye contact to look at his daughter.

"What honey?" Kelly asked nervously; his heart was beating fast and he wasn't sure what had just happened, but this girl is different, really different, and he really wants to get to know her more.

"We were trying to talk to Haley's mom."

"Sorry honey."

"Mommy, this is Madison, my new best friend forever," Haley said, as she smiled at her

Stella smiled, then bent down. "Hey Madison, nice to meet you, sweetheart."

"Hey, nice to meet you, Mrs. Kidd," Madison said, in a serious tone, then she put her hand out and Stella shook it.

"Honey, you can call me Stella."

Madison looked over at her dad. Kelly nodded his head. "Okay, Hey Stella," she whispered.

"So, Mommy, guess what? Madison is a Jojo fan too; she said her room is covered in Jojo stuff; she has her CD; it's that great, Mommy." Stella sighed; she was really starting to hate Jojo's songs; it's all she heard anymore.

"Yeah, that is awesome," she said, with a faked smile.

"Hey, how about you two go upstairs and dance around to her music till dinner is ready?" Gabby said as she checked the oven. Both girls nodded and ran out of the room.

"So, I take it you're not a JoJo fan?" Stella joked, as Kelly shook his head, "Well, I just thought since your best friend loves her and loves Justin Bieber too, that you would too." Stella and Gabby burst out laughing.

Kelly's eyes widen as he looks at Casey. "Seriously, dude, you like Ju...

"Hell no," Casey said, interrupting him, "They don't know what they're talking about." He glared at both girls, who were still laughing.

"Oh, really, because I got you dancing on video to a Justin Bieber song, Casey," Stella said, with her hands on her hips.

"The other day, Casey watched Haley while Stella and I went grocery shopping. Later, when we came back, we walked in on the two of them singing and dancing to "Baby, a Justin Bieber song." Gabby tells Kelly.

"Whatever," Casey said, as he walked away, "I'm going to go play with my girls; upstairs, they treat me better than you guys do."

"What song are you going to dance to this time?" Stella yelled, then laughed. She laughed harder when she heard the door slam. "He's so easy to tease."

Kelly just watched her; she had an amazing laugh and smile, and he really wished he had taken Dawson up on her offer last year to set them up. Well, that's life; you can't sit around waiting forever and expect the world to wait on you. Life waits for no one. He thought to himself.

After dinner, the girls went upstairs to play Barbies while the adults sat in the living room talking. Well, it was more like Gabby talked while everyone listened. She was a talker.

"So, Stella, what do you think of Chicago so far?" Kelly asked, hoping that Gabby would get the hint.

Stella smiled over at him, then looked at Gabby, "Fine, I know I was talking a lot, but I hate silence." Gabby said as she pouted.

"It's okay, baby; I want to hear about your day; you can tell me all about it tonight in bed," Casey said, then kissed her cheek.

"Thank you, honey," Gabby said, sticking her tongue out at Kelly.

Kelly and Stella both rolled their eyes. "Anyway, Kelly, to answer your question: It's okay here; I haven't really been anywhere yet.

"Seriously?" he asked, shocked. He figured Gabby would have dragged her everywhere already.

"I've only been here a week; I had to get Haley's registration done so she could start school. Get my driver's license changed over; you know, little stuff here and there. I haven't really had a chance to do anything else."

"You know, Stella, if you want to explore the city with someone who knows everything there is about Chicago, Kelly here is your guy; he knows this city inside out," Gabby said with a huge smile.

"Well, I was born here, raised here, and spent twenty-nine years of my life here; I can't picture myself living anywhere else."

Stella nodded. "We'll, I'm pretty much free every day while Haley's in school, so when are you free?"

"Well, we have shift tomorrow, then I'm off for two days after that," Kelly tells her. "Casey said you're a firefighter, so when do you start?"

"Well, I wasn't supposed to come until next month, so Chief Boden wasn't able to get me in early. So, he has me starting the last shift of the month. "

"Must be nice to have close to two months off, bitch." Gabby joked.

"Oh, Gabby, don't be jealous, honey; green is so not your color." Stella laughed as Gabby flipped her off.

"Okay, girls, no fighting, unless you're willing to put on swimming suits and roll around in mud," Casey said, smiling; he raised his eyebrows. "Right Severide?'

Gabby slapped Casey's thigh, "You're a pig," then looked over at Kelly, "Please tell me you don't agree with him."

Kelly shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry girls, I have to agree with the pig, it's a big turn-on for two girls to roll around in mud or jello." Kelly laughed as both girls called him a pig. Then Casey high-fived him.

"You know I like it when Severide is here because now you girls can't double-team me all the time."

"Oh, poor native Casey, honey, give it time. I'll have Kelly on our side." Stella said cockily, she winked at Kelly, who was staring at her.

"Please, Kelly is my best friend; he will always be on my side. What could you possibly say or do to him that would have him on your side?" Casey asked with a silly grin.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Stella said, in a sexy voice, causing Casey and Kelly both to look at her and raise an eyebrow. Gabby just laughed.

"I would love to know; care to share with me?" Kelly said that as he eyed her, Stella blushed, then turned away. Kelly continued to watch her, then decided to let her off the hook. By changing the subject. "Why did you become a firefighter?"

Stella sighed. "When I was little, about nine or so, our house caught fire. I was pulled out, but my mom, sister, and grandma died in that fire," she said, pausing. "So, I decided I wanted to save people too. So, I became a firefighter."

"I'm sorry," Kelly tells her.

She shrugs, "Thank you, why did you become one?"

"I was born to be one; according to my dad, firefighting was in my DNA since birth. My dad and grandfather were one. " Kelly tells her.

Stella smiled, " You guys must be close for you to follow in his shoes, and your grandfather's shoes."

" No, not really, my dad and I don't see eye to eye on anything, He's a...

"Daddy," Madison's voice interrupted what Kelly was saying.

"Yeah, baby," Kelly said as he stood up.

"Haley fell asleep on me," she pouted.

Kelly looked at the time and said, "Wow, it's after eight. We need to go home, so you can get to bed. You've got school tomorrow."

"Okay, can you carry me, Daddy?" she asked, as she let out a yawn.

"Of course, angel." He tells her as he lifts her up. "I will see you all later," he said, as he looked at Stella. He didn't want to leave yet. But his responsibility as a dad came first. "Nice to meet you, Stella."

"You too Kelly," she replied. "I'll walk you out."

" See there is something between them already I can see it," Dawson told her husband, as she watched the couple walk to the front door.

As they got to the door. "So how about I show you around Chicago the day after tomorrow? I can stop by the house in the morning, then we can drop the girls off at school. I could take you to some of my favorite places. If you're not busy." Kelly tells her, secretly praying that she says yes.

"Yeah, I love you," she said, as she looked at him again.

Kelly smiled. "Good. We should get going so I can get her ready for bed."

Stella walked them outside and said goodnight, then came back into the house and closed the door. She smiled to herself; it's been five years since she felt anything for a guy; she was feeling things she hadn't felt ever. Her smile faded as she wondered if Kelly was anything like Grant; he was her first love and Haley's dad; they met in high school; she was a junior and he was a senior; she fell head over heels for him. He was wonderful, caring, sweet, and handsome, and he treated her like she was his queen. While in the beginning, he did. Stella's prince charming turned into a monster, and her fairy tale life turned into a nightmare.