are you ready for some football?

It was a bright and sunny Sunday in Chicago and football fans all around had gathered in the parking lot of Soldier Field to tailgate before the day's game. This game had all the makings of being a special one; the weather was warm, despite it being late October in Chicago and it was National First Responders Day, meaning the Bears were offering discounted tickets for all firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and other first responders and their families.

The Intelligence gang and members of 51 had made plans to meet in the parking lot to tailgate before the game. The Severides, decked out in their Bears gear, were the first from 51 to arrive. Kelly got the grill out and was getting it fired up right as most of the Intelligence crew arrived.

After a quick greeting, Kevin worked to get the TV set up while Kim, Adam, and Makayla started unloading their car, pulling coolers and bags out of the trunk, before working together to set up chairs.

"Where's Stella and Maya?" Kim asked, digging in one of the coolers to grab a drink for Makayla.

"Bathroom break," Kelly said with a smirk. He shot Kim a look that instantly made her remember the conversation she'd had with Stella a few weeks ago at Molly's.

"Stella mentioned you guys had started potty training." Kim replied. She raised an eyebrow at Kelly. "How's that going?"

Kelly chuckled. "Surprisingly well, actually."

Kelly and Stella weren't planning on potty training Maya so soon. All the parenting books and websites encouraged parents to start potty training once the toddle had started showing signs that they were ready and enforced the reminder that there wasn't a 'right' time to potty train. So, Kelly and Stella were just going to sit back and watch Maya, waiting for her cues that she was ready to ditch the diapers.

Maya, like the true Severide she is, wanted to do things her way. Just days after her second birthday, she decided she didn't want to wear diapers anymore. She flat-out refused to a point where, after multiple phone calls to Cindy Herrmann, Chloe Cruz, and Kelly's mom, they officially started potty training that same day. Less than a week later, Maya was officially potty trained.

Kelly claimed the (almost immediate) success was solely because Maya was a rockstar like her momma. Stella would always smile, roll her eyes, and argue that it only happened because Maya was as stubborn as her daddy. Those who knew them, knew both explanations were right.

"She decided she didn't want to wear diapers anymore and she hasn't worn them since," Kelly continued.

He had a soft smile on his face, one that always appeared when talking (or thinking) about his daughter or wife, and Kim easily noted the pride in his voice. It made her smile; while she was closer with Stella, Kim had known Kelly Severide longer and the changes she'd see in the man since Stella entered his life and he'd become a father were amazing.

Before Kim could say anything else, the little girl in question came on the scene, holding her mom's hand tightly in the busy parking lot.

"Daddy!" Maya yelled with a bright smile on her face. It'd been maybe 10 minutes since she saw him last but was still excited to be reunited with him.

Kelly smiled, looking over at his daughter as she struggled to get to him faster.

As soon as they were a close, safe distance away, Stella let go of Maya's hand and let the toddler sprint the last few feet across the parking lot to her daddy. She crashed into his legs, hugging them tightly as she looked up at him with bright eyes and an even brighter smile.

Kelly reached down and picked her up, hugging her close before situating her on one of his hips.

Maya would've been content to stay with her daddy, talking to him about anything and everything while Kelly got the burgers on the grill, until she noticed Makayla and some of her Intelligence aunts and uncles had arrived. She wiggled, wanting to be let down, and Kelly obliged. The second Maya's feet hit the ground, she was running towards Makayla.

Kelly looked over at Stella as she approached. "We've been replaced."

"I think you'll be ok," Stella snorted and placed a hand on his back. She turned her attention to Kim, who was unloading the condiments from the cooler. "No Halsteads yet?"

A grimace crossed Kim's face. "They can't make it. Ella's been sick the past few days and now Jay thinks Hailey's coming down with it."

"They OK?" Kelly asked.

Kim nodded. "They had Will check her out. He's pretty sure it's just a cold, something Ella picked up at daycare."

Stella and Kelly shared her grimace. They'd dealt with their fair share of daycare-induced illnesses when Maya started going. Little kids were gross. They felt for the Halsteads. Having a sick kid was rough, there's no denying that, but having a sick kid and being sick as a parent was a whole other level of rough.

Before they could say anything, Maya ran over to them, her little space buns bouncing with each step. "Mommy, daddy, wook!"

Maya pointed behind them and when they turned to look, they saw Casey and Brett walking towards them. Gallo, Ritter, and Violet were close behind and Kelly was able to see Capp and Tony a little further away.

Stella knew her daughter; she loved her aunts and uncles and wanted nothing more than to run to them and attack them with hugs. Clearly the parking lot safety talk they'd had in the car on the way to the stadium stuck and, despite how much Maya wanted to run off towards some of her favorite people, she stayed safely by her parents.

Kelly and Stella shared a proud smile, which quickly turned to an amused one as they watched the two-year-old bounce up and down in barely contained excitement. Stella laughed and put a hand on Maya's head, causing the toddler to look up at her. "Pease mommy?"

"Wait just a little bit longer baby girl," Stella said gently. "Let them get a little closer."

Maya sighed dramatically (making her parents chuckle) but listened and waited, watching carefully as her aunts and uncles walked closer and closer. Finally, when the group was just a few feet away, Stella let Maya go and she ran right to Casey.

"Unca Matt!" Maya yelled as she ran towards him as fast as her little legs could take her. When she was close enough, she launched herself at her godfather, who caught her easily with a huge smile on his face.

"There's my girl!" Casey exclaimed happily, hugging Maya closely.

As soon as the hug is over, Maya immediately launched into a very detailed and animated retelling of her day and every day that had passed since she saw him last. It had only been a few days but that felt like forever to a toddler.

Casey listened intently to Maya's stories as he walked the remaining few feet to the tailgate setup. He greeted the others with nods, but he kept his attention solely on the little girl in his arms.

Soon the others had made it and the tailgate officially began. Kevin had pre-game going on the TV and Kelly had finished the first round of burgers and started on the second. Stella, Sylvie, Kim, and Violet talked about Violet and Paramedic Chief Hawkins finding their footing as a couple (he was her boss after all) and Brett's recently announced pregnancy, while they watched Maya and Makayla be entertained by Gallo and Ritter. Matt and Kelly were talking by the grill while Capp and Tony were watching the pre-game with Adam and Kevin.

As the afternoon continued a breeze had arrived, bringing with it a slight chill to the air. Stella slipped a jacket on Maya, over her tiny Bears jersey, before getting her a plate of food and sitting her with Kelly to eat with the others.

The number of tailgaters in the parking lot had grown exponentially over the next few hours and the atmosphere had turned into one big party. The scene was electric and Maya, in her short two years of life, had never seen so many people in one place. The little girl was in awe of all the people around her, decked out in Bears gear and blue and orange body paint.

As the group made their way towards the stadium, Maya spotted Staley Da Bear from her spot on Kelly's shoulders.

"Daddy, wook!" Maya gently patted the top of Kelly's head, getting his attention. "Stawey Beaw!"

Kelly laughed. Maya had been obsessed with the Bears mascot for almost her entire life. As an infant, she'd watch the Bears play on TV with her parents or aunts and uncles and she'd squeal in delight and clap her hands anytime Staley appeared on screen. Up until this point, she'd only seen him on the TV but now that he was right in front of her, Maya's little mind was blown. "I see him baby. Do you want to get a picture with him?"

With Maya on his shoulders, he couldn't see her reaction, but he heard her gasp and felt her start to bounce up and down in excitement. Kelly shared a smile with Stella and changed directions, heading over to the spot where the mascot was stationed for photos.

There was a bit of a line, but it went quickly and soon the Severides were standing next to Staley and getting their picture taken. Maya even got a solo picture with Staley and a special sticker, making the toddler's day and putting her in an even better mood. A mood that lasted throughout the long lines to get into the stadium, the overcrowded bathrooms, and the crazy, loud fans.

Maya spent the game bouncing between her parents and her aunts and uncles, mimicking all of their actions, from cheering when the Bears scored and booing the refs when they made a bad call to dancing to the music that played in between plays. The two-year-old knew absolutely nothing about football, but she was having the time of her life spending the day with some of her absolute favorite people.

It was Maya's first football experience, and Kelly and Stella didn't know how she'd handle being surrounded by the noise and all the people and missing her afternoon nap, but the toddler stayed awake and enjoyed the entire day. She made it back to the car after the game, happily chatting her parents' ears off, but the second the car started moving, Maya passed out. She didn't even wake up once they got home and Kelly carried her inside, got her changed, or put her into bed.

There was still an hour or two before her usual bedtime, and Kelly and Stella knew they'd be looking at an early morning with Maya tomorrow, but it had been such a great day—one of their favorites as a family—they didn't even care.

A/N: Maya updates are back! I don't know if I'll be updating weekly, because I'm still trying to finish Forged by Fire (check it out if you haven't) but I'll try to update as often as I can!

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