I started this when Texas was getting absolutely SLAMMED with crazy thunderstorms for like 2 weeks straight. Seems ironic I finished it after a week of sunshine lol. Enjoy!

your shelter in the storm

6 months old

Kelly didn't know what woke him up first – Maya's cries or the booming of thunder coming from outside the cabin.

It wasn't storming this bad when the family had gone to bed a few hours prior but the weekend seemed to be full of weather-related surprises.

Stella began to rouse as Maya's cries continued. Kelly moved quickly, rubbing Stella's back and whispering assurances that he would get Maya. Stella nodded, eyes still closed, and buried her head back in her pillow.

With a chuckle, Kelly climbed out of bed and made his way over to the travel crib they'd set Maya up in for the night. The six-month-old was wide awake, face crinkled in fear, and giant alligator tears rolling down her cheeks. It was a truly pitiful sight, but damn was it adorable.

When another clap of thunder sounded, Maya's little body tensed and her cries intensified. Kelly quickly scooped her into his arms and cradled her against his chest, moving out of the bedroom to avoid waking Stella again.

Kelly carried Maya into the living room. It was no quieter in there but they were far enough away from Stella so she could at least get some sleep.

"It's your first big storm baby girl," Kelly cooed as he paced back and forth, gently bouncing and rocking the infant. "And I know it's pretty loud and scary but that's ok because storms never last."

Leaning down, Kelly placed a kiss on Maya's head. "I'm here and your mommy's here and we will always keep you safe."

As Kelly continued to gently rock and murmur to Maya, she started to calm down. The safety and security of being in her daddy's arms lulled her back to sleep despite the storm still raging outside of the cabin.

3 years old

Lightning lit up the sky and thunder crashed as a Spring storm rolled through Chicago. Kelly and Stella slumbered away, completely unbothered by the flashes and booms outside their bedroom windows.

After years of sharing bunk rooms with a dozen other people with different sleeping patterns and habits, the two firefighters could sleep through almost anything–especially when they were off shift.

However, they had also been parents for three years now and while they could sleep through the loudest of thunderstorms, both Kelly and Stella were wide awake the second their bedroom door opened, and a small sniffle came from the other side. Kelly flipped on the light on his nightstand. In the soft yellow light, he saw Maya standing in the doorway, curls askew and eyes welled up with tears. Before he could say anything, another crack of thunder had the toddler jumping in fright.

Sitting up quickly, Kelly held his arms out. Maya immediately ran to her daddy, practically jumping into his arms and wrapping her arms around his neck. He lifted her into the bed, whispering soothing words and rubbing her back. "It's okay. Mommy and daddy are here."

Stella moved closer, sitting up and joining Kelly in rubbing Maya's back. With the addition of another hand, Maya turned her head to look at her mom. Stella gave her a gentle smile and moved a few curls out of Maya's face. "What's wrong baby girl? Did the storm wake you up?"

"Tunder too woud," Maya said quietly. "Scawy."

"It is pretty loud, huh?" Kelly asked, placing a kiss on the crown of Maya's head.

Maya nodded against Kelly's chest. "I don wike it."

"I know baby," Stella said, her hand joining Kelly's on Maya's back.

"Daddy," Maya mumbled, moving away from Kelly's chest to look at his face. "Make it stop peas."

Kelly chuckled. "I wish I could baby girl but it doesn't work like that."

Maya huffed and laid back down on her daddy's chest. Kelly and Stella shared a look.

"Do you want to sleep with me and daddy tonight?" Stella asked, patting the mattress between her and Kelly.

Maya nodded and Kelly lifted her off his chest and laid her down in between him and Stella. Stella got the toddler situated and then pulled the blanket up to cover her.

"Do you remember what we always say about storms?" Kelly asked as he lay down.

Maya nodded. "Storms neva last."

"That's right," Stella said as she joined them laying down. She started running her fingers through Maya's hair. "Close your eyes," Stella soothed. "Mommy and daddy are right here."

Maya did as she was told, the soothing motion of Stella's fingers in her hair lulling her to sleep. "Love you, mommy. Love you daddy."

"We love you too."

The storm continued to rage for several more hours, but Maya slept soundly with the security of her parents surrounding her.

9 years old

A sharp poke to the forehead woke Maya up, followed by another gentler poke to the cheek.

With a groan, she moved away from the offending fingers before cracking her eyes open and sitting up. There, silhouetted by the light from the hallway filtering in through the slightly ajar door, Maya found her little siblings standing in front of her bed. She groaned again and collapsed onto her bed, pulling the covers over her head.

"Why are you guys awake?" Maya's voice was slightly muffled, but it still rang clear in the otherwise quiet room.

"It's stormin," Addie said quietly. "Nico got scared."

"You were scawed too!" Nico argued, voice louder than his sister's.

Under the covers, Maya rolled her eyes at her little sister and brother. The 3 and 4-year-olds were best friends most days but man did they love to argue–especially with each other. "Shush you two! Where's Sadie?"

"Sadie sweepin," Nico whispered.

"So was I," Maya grumbled.

From under the covers, Maya heard another clap of thunder, quickly followed by whimpers and sniffles. Peeling back the covers slightly, Maya saw the twin terrified looks her siblings have on their faces and most of the annoyance she felt at the late-night wake-up melted away.

Despite looking almost identical, she and Addie were total opposites and Nico was just like Addie. One thing they shared, it seems, was their fear of storms. Maya had eventually outgrown hers but Addie and Nico were still too young.

Scooching over, Maya threw back the covers and patted the bed, inviting her siblings to climb into her bed.

Addie and Nico didn't hesitate; they immediately climbed into Maya's bed and settled in around her, Addie on one side and Nico on the other.

Maya pulled the covers over them and settled into her spot just as thunder sounded again. Her siblings jumped and Maya wrapped her arms around them, shushing them as she did. "It's OK. I know storms can be pretty scary - they used to scare me too."

"But not no mo," Addie mumbled. "Cuz you a big kid now."

Maya snorted as she shuffled to get comfortable. "That's not true. I still get scared sometimes, especially when the storms get really loud. But, do you remember what daddy always says?"

"Storms neva last," Addie and Nico said in unison.

"Exactly," Maya said with a smile. "It might be scary now, but it won't be like this forever. I bet it'll be sunshiny by the time mommy and daddy get home from work."

Addie and Nico both smiled sleepily at the thought. Maya, seeing the opportunity, began gently running her fingers through both of her siblings' hair. It was a tried-and-true trick that would put all the Severide children to sleep. Sure enough, all three were sound asleep within minutes.

When Sadie checked on them a few hours later and saw them all in bed together, saw Maya's arms wrapped protectively around her siblings, her heart melted. She wasn't the least bit ashamed of how many pictures she took of the three and sent to Stella and Kelly.

Sadie had been the Severide's babysitter for nine years now. She'd gotten to watch Maya grow from a happy, independent baby to a fierce, strong-willed toddler to a wicked smart, sassy little girl but her favorite was watching Maya grow to be the best big sister.

A/N: Did I just hard launch Maya's siblings? Yes, yes I did, though Nico has made an appearance before (well, he was name dropped, but still).

A million thanks for the continued love and support for Maya and happy Memorial Day!