time to make a little more room in our home sweet, you and me

Stella Kidd had never been so tired in her life. No blazing inferno or high-risk rescue had ever left her feeling as sore and fatigued as she felt at the moment. A dull ache had settled deep in her bones and mixed with the exhaustion that had seeped into every part of her being.

The long, hot shower she'd just taken had done wonders to relieve most of her aches and pains and despite the still lingering exhaustion, Stella felt infinitely better. She styled her hair in her signature braids and pulled on her comfiest pair of sweats and one of Kelly's old CFD shirts. As she left the bedroom and entered the main area of the loft, the scene that awaited her melted her heart, providing enough serotonin to flush out the remaining soreness and fatigue.

There was her husband, standing in the living room with a small bundle of blankets in his arms and gently swaying back and forth. This had been their new normal for a few days but to Stella, it felt like this had always been their life. Stella smiled softly and made her way over to where her two favorite people were, thinking back to less than 48 hours ago when their lives changed forever.

"It's a girl!"

Stella collapsed back onto the bed, sweaty and exhausted. From his spot at her side, where he'd dutifully stayed the entire time, Kelly smiled and leaned over to place a kiss on Stella's forehead. "You did it! You're amazing." He whispered proudly.

Stella smiled at him, still trying to catch her breath. After nine months of pregnancy (closer to ten months because their child was as stubborn as they were and came nearly a week after the due date) and eighteen long and painful hours of labor, their baby was here. They had a daughter.

The doctor placed the wailing baby on Stella's chest. Tears immediately filled Stella's eyes as she gently moved her baby closer.

"We have a daughter" Stella exclaimed quietly, all memory of the pain of labor and the delivery gone as she stared through misty eyes at the screaming baby on her chest. She looked up at Kelly, who was just as teary as she was. "We have a daughter."

They had decided early in the pregnancy not to find out the sex of their baby, wanting to be surprised when he or she arrived. It was a point of contention for Sylvie, who had put herself in charge of the baby shower, but everyone had been eager to find out if baby Severide was a boy or a girl. Herrmann even had a baby pool going at Molly's so their friends at Med and CPD could take part.

"She's perfect," Kelly breathed as he reached out a hand to touch his daughter. He smiled as the baby grabbed a tight hold on his finger. Kelly locked eyes with Stella and the new parents shared a look of love, relief, and pure happiness. He leaned impossibly closer and gave Stella a kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too."

A small squawk from the baby in Kelly's arms brought Stella out of her memories and back to the present. Stella's smile grew as she made the final few steps over to where her husband and daughter were.

Kelly turned towards her as he heard her approach, a smile on his face. "How was your shower?"

"Amazing. I feel like a new person." Stella moaned, happily. Her first shower post-baby in the hospital had done wonders for her but nothing compared to showering in her own home. Stella moved a hand up to the baby and gently ran a finger up and down her soft cheek. She smiled as the baby's eyes opened briefly, the blue orbs locking on hers. Stella knew she wasn't seeing anything, but it felt like a special moment all the same. "How's she doing?"

Before Kelly could answer the baby screeched again, louder this time, and started rooting around. Kelly laughed quietly. "I think she's very happy you're out of the shower."

Stella rolled her eyes playfully and expertly took the baby in her arms. She made her way to the couch and settled in, getting the baby latched on and comfortable.

Kelly just stared at them for a moment, overwhelmed with affection. Every time he thought he couldn't love Stella more, he always did. Stella had taken to motherhood with ease, as if she was made for the role. Despite her worries and doubts that reared their ugly heads during the pregnancy, Kelly never doubted Stella, knowing full well she'd excel as a mother like she did everything else.

After a few more moments watching Stella feed their daughter, Kelly turned and made his way to the kitchen. "It's almost lunch time," he announced as he opened the fridge. "Are you hungry? There should be some of that lasagna my mom made still left.

Jennifer Severide had made the trip to Chicago the week of Stella's due date, hoping to meet her grandbaby when he or she entered the world. While in town, she channeled her nervous and excited energy into cleaning the loft, doing laundry, and cooking enough freezer meals to last a month. Unfortunately for Jennifer, the baby's due date came and went—with no appearance from said baby, much to Stella's chagrin—and she had to return home. Now, the baby had arrived, Jennifer was out of state on a business trip and had to meet her granddaughter over FaceTime.

Before Stella could answer, Kelly's phone dinged from its spot on the counter. Picking it up, Kelly laughed at the message. "Well, maybe not. Casey just texted; they want to bring us lunch if you're up for it."

Stella nodded and Kelly replied to the message before grabbing a bottle of water for Stella and leaving the kitchen. He joined Stella on the couch and the two made small talk while the baby finished nursing.

Twenty minutes later, the baby had been burped and changed and was sleeping soundly, snuggled against her mother's chest. Kelly and Stella were enjoying the peace and quite and were just dozing off when a quiet knock came from the door. Kelly opened it to find Matt and Sylvie, arms filed with bags of food and baby gifts.

"What's all this?" he asked, eyeing the pink gift bags as he let them into the loft.

"Violet, Hailey, Kim and I might've done a little shopping after we found out baby Severide was a girl," Sylvie said with a shrug. She placed the bags by the counter and made her way over to the couch to see the baby. Stella carefully transferred the sleeping baby into Sylvie's arms, smiling as she hears her best friend speak in quiet baby talk to the newborn.

Kelly helped Matt get the food set out on the island and after a minute or two of distracted small talk, Kelly laughed. "Go see the baby Case."

Matt smiled sheepishly but nodded and left the kitchen to join Sylvie on the couch.

Kelly had his back to the living room, working on getting the food ready, so he was surprised when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind. He smiled and turned carefully to wrap his arms around Stella. "You didn't have to get up; I was going to bring you a plate."

Stella smiled sweetly at him. "It's fine. I needed to get up and move around anyway."

"You feeling ok?"

"It feels like I got hit by Truck, but I'm happy." Stella answered, her smile growing bigger.

Kelly smiled and kissed Stella's forehead. "I'll get you some more Tylenol."

Kelly went to get the medicine, but Stella tightened her grip. "I'm ok for right now. I just wanna stay here for a minute."

Never able to deny Stella anything, Kelly agreed and held his wife closer, enjoying being able to hug her again without her baby bump in the way.

The new parents turned their attention to the living room, where their best friends were on the couch holding their newborn daughter. It was a sweet scene, very reminiscent of when 51 met their newest member for the first time.

A few hours had passed since baby Severide arrived in the world. The new parents had managed to get a little bit of a nap in between nurse check ins, FaceTimes with Katie and Jennifer, and their Med friends popping in to meet the new addition. Jay and Kim even stopped by, having been at Med to interview a victim. They congratulated the new parents on the baby and Jay promised to come by later with Hailey so she could meet the baby—the Halsteads were just a few months out from welcoming their own daughter and they needed all the practice and familiarity they could get.

According to the constant barrage of texts he was getting from Casey, Boden, and practically every other member of 51, it had been an unusually busy shift for early October and nonstop calls were keeping them from visiting.

They had all been begging for pictures and stats since Kelly had texted Casey at the beginning of shift announcing that the baby had arrived and everyone was safe and healthy, but the proud parents were keeping quiet, wanting to keep the baby's name, gender, and everything else a secret.

Baby Severide had been fed, burped, changed, and was now swaddled tightly and sleeping peacefully in her daddy's arms. Stella had put a small bow headband on the baby's head and baby girl was ready to meet her crazy firehouse family. Just in time too as a pack of voices led to a knock on the hospital room door and a herd of firefighters and paramedics entering the room. Kelly turned away from them, hiding the baby from view and keeping the secret for a few moments longer.

Stella welcomed them in with a wide smile and accepted all the hugs cheek kisses the team freely gave. They clearly noticed Kelly was purposefully keeping his back to them, but Stella only smiled bigger every time they asked why.

Once everyone had hugged Stella and settled themselves around her hospital bed, it was time to let them in on the secret.

"All right, we're all here," Herrmann grumbled good naturedly. "Can you finally let us in on the secret now?"

Stella smiled and nodded. "Weighing in at a very healthy 8 pounds, 5 ounces, measuring 22 ½ inches long, born at 1:07pm…. ladies and gentlemen of Firehouse 51, please say hello to our daughter, Maya Elizabeth Severide."

The room was filled with excited gasps and cheers as Kelly turned around and everyone got their first in-person look at baby Severide. Kelly moved closer to their friends and joined Stella on her bed, angling the sleeping baby towards the group so they could get a good look. To say they were smitten would be an understatement.

"You guys, she's beautiful!" Sylvie gushed, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. Matt put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close.

"You wanna hold her?" Stella asked, smiling.

"Really? Me?"

Kelly nodded. "If anyone gets to hold her first, it should be her godmother."

Sylvie's jaw dropped. "You want me to be her godmother?"

"Of course!" Stella answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That is, if you want to be."

Sylvie nodded ecstatically, happy tears now flowing down her face.

Kelly handed the baby to Sylvie and his little girl was instantly surrounded by her honorary aunts and uncles. "She's perfect!"

With their baby in good hands, being loved and doted on, Kelly settled on the bed next to Stella, throwing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side. Together they watched Sylvie begrudgingly pass the baby to the next set of waiting arms.

From Matt to Mouch to Herrmann, Boden, the Squad guys, and everyone else, the baby was passed around—snuggles were given and pictures were taken. Eventually Maya made it back into the arms of her father.

A nurse entered the room to do her hourly check, effectively interrupting the fire family time. Casey took the opportunity to round everyone up to leave so the new parents could get some rest. No one objected but Sylvie did ask the nurse to take a group picture before they left.

That picture was now framed and proudly displayed in the living room. Maya couldn't possibly recognize or understand how absolutely loved and adored she was now, but she'd never doubt it growing up.

Stella got her Tylenol and rejoined Matt and Sylvie in the living room while Kelly plated the food. She watched two of her closest friends love on her little girl and in that moment, Stella realized just how much had changed in the past 48 hours.

Nothing would ever be the same again and Stella was perfectly fine with that.

A/N: in order to maintain a somewhat regular posting schedule, I'm only allowing myself to write a Maya fic AFTER I've finished a chapter of my other WIP, Forged by Fire. I LOVE writing Maya, so hopefully this little arrangement is beneficial.

got any prompts for Maya? let's chat on Tumblr!