It was officially December. The baby would be here any day now. Sylvie was making sure everything was in order. When the due date got closer, she made sure the hospital bag was ready. The baby stuff was organized when suddenly she forgot the most important thing a baby would need.

"Oh my god!"

She was starting to freak out. Matt looked over at her.

"What is it?"

"Matt, we forgot the most important thing a baby would need!"

"You mean a crib?"

She nods slightly, "Yes! Oh my god. Our baby doesn't have anywhere to sleep. I.."

She rambled on as Matt guides her into their bedroom.

Once in the bedroom, Matt walks her to the corner of the room and she notices the crib.

"What? How?"

Matt smiles, "After we found out we were having a girl, I made this my secret project."

The crib was made out of regular wood and once Matt sanded it all down so the baby wouldn't get sprinters, he had it stained in mahogany.

Sylvie ran her hand along the wood admiring the craftsmanship.

"I can't believe you made this."

He wraps his arms around her waist, clasping his hands together behind her back.

"You honestly think I would let my daughter go without a bed to sleep in."

"Knowing you, no."

"I love it. Great job and I love you."

"I love you too Sylvie."

They kissed and since we were literally touching, they both felt the baby kick and they both smiled.

Dec 5th…

When they woke up that morning Matt had asked her if she felt anything and she said she was fine for the moment. So they got up, ate breakfast and got ready for shift. Just in case, they kept the hospital bag in the truck.

They walked, well in Sylvie's case waddled into the firehouse. Everyone spotted her and they were surprised to see her there. They thought she would stay home but knowing Casey, he would want her close in case she went into labor.

All morning she was good but by the time everyone was out of the house on their 6th call, she kept feeling light contractions.

Sometime later Cindy walks in to drop something off for Hermann but she only sees Sylvie.

"I'm guessing everyone's out on a call?"

Sylvie was going through a contraction and it took her a minute or two to answer.

"Yeah. Bad accident involving a car crash. 10 or so. They have been out for a while."

She goes to stand up and she goes to take a step when a sharp pain went through her and she doubled over.

"Ow!"

Across the way, there was debris everywhere from the wreckage. Additional ambulances were called out to the scene so people could get checked out.

Matt helped extract people out of their cars and handed them off to paramedics.

Severide and his crew were working on someone who was stuck in their car. Their legs were crushed in.

"Cruz, get the jaws!"

"On it!"

Cruz runs to Squad 3 truck and opens up the compartment that housed the tool then he runs back to Severide and hands it to him.

Severide gets the door open and he uses another tool to push the dashboard forward so the victim's legs are free.

"Need a backboard!"

He cuts off the seatbelt while the paramedics get a neck brace on them.

While Boden was watching them in action, his phone rang. He pulls it out from his pocket and answers it.

"Boden."

"Hi, this is Maggie from MED. Hermann's wife Cindy brought Sylvie in. She's in labor."

"I'll send him on his way."

Boden hangs up the phone and radios to Casey.

"Casey, you're needed at Chicago MED."

Matt was just finishing getting the last victim out of their car and he almost radios back "for what" and then his eyes widen realizing what was happening.

"Oh my god!"

Boden radios back

"Come on, I'll drive you there!"

Matt radios back, "on my way!"

Stella looks at him and says "I'll make sure this gets cleaned up. You go be with Sylvie. We'll be there after all of this is cleaned up."

Matt nods and takes off running to where Boden was waiting inside his buggy. Once Matt's safe inside the vehicle, Boden speeds off to the direction of MED.

Stella and Kelly keep everyone in line as they finish getting everyone out of the cars and they start doing overhaul.

Boden drops Matt off at the door and he goes to park the buggy. Matt rushes in through the double sliding doors and he sees Maggie in the waiting room.

"3rd floor. Room 2023."

Matt takes the elevator up to the 3rd floor and searches for the room number. He walks down the hall and to the left, almost at the end of the hall.

He puts his hand on the handle of the door and takes a deep breath. In just a few hours he and Sylvie are about to become parents. He thought after what happened with Gabby, his chances of becoming a father were slim to none.

He had no idea that after she left, he and Sylvie were going to get close and that he was going to fall in love with her, then once they were together, had no idea Griffin would show back up in his life needing help and him moving to Portland for at least 3 years.

He lightly knocks on the door and he walks in to find Sylvie laying on the bed wearing the hospital gown while hooked up to various machines and Cindy sitting in the chair.

Sylvie looks over from talking to Cindy, her face lighting up from seeing him.

"Hey baby." She says the same way she did the morning he told her he had to move to Portland.

He was still in his turnouts except his coat and he leaned over to kiss her softly.

"What's the latest?" He said, pulling back to look at her.

"Light contractions and slight pain but nothing too big yet. Dr Asher will check in again in about an hour or so. She said if my water doesn't break by then she'll do it and it'll be fast track from there."

An hour and a half passed and nothing changed. Sylvie did call her parents and Matt called Christie so they had updates. Both said they would call them when it was close to having their daughter.

In a group chat including Emily and Olivia, Sylvie messaged them.

I'm officially in labor but not close yet.

There were six dots showing up on her phone screen notifying her they were both texting back.

Yay! Keep us posted.

Sylvie messaged them back

Will do.

Now it was a waiting game. Matt had filled her in on the call and then Dr Asher walked in.

"Hey Sylvie."

She looks over and sees Matt.

"Nice of you to join us."

He nods and says "was out on a call. Took a while but I'm glad I'm here now."

Dr Asher checks her and tells Sylvie she is going to go ahead and break her water. Once she's done doing that, the contractions will start getting close together.

4 hours later, Dr Asher checks her and smiles softly.

"Looks like we're making some progress. You're about 7cm. Won't be long now. I'd say in the next 3 hours or so you'll have this baby."

"Really!?" Sylvie said while feeling a contraction coming on and breathing through it.

Dr Asher nods and takes off her gloves and throws them in the trash and uses some hand sanitizer.

"I'll be back then."

"Thanks."

After she leaves, Matt and Sylvie look at each other feeling overwhelmed knowing in 3 hours or so they'll finally be parents.

"Matt.."

"Sylvie."

They kissed and they poured everything that they were feeling into it. Sylvie had tears in her eyes and Matt took his thumb to wipe them away.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Sylvie called her parents and they told her they would be on the road within an hour. Matt came back with some ice chips and then he called Kelly and then Christie.

Once Kelly and Stella told the troops, they made their way over to MED, happy for the couple. They spent some time in the room with them and Hermann speaks up.

"Me and Mouch knew a year before they did they were going to end up together."

"Really?"

Mouch looks at them and nods "Yeah. We noticed you guys were talking more and getting close."

She looks at Matt and remembers all of it. When she talked to him after he had a gun in front of him to get his head checked out.

"Uh Matt, I have a confession to make."

"What is it?"

"Remember when we first met on my first day?"

He nods.

Flashback- 9 years ago

It's been 6 weeks since Leslie Shay died. Everyone was having trouble processing what had happened. Severide who was best friends with her, had taken off and no one has heard from him.

Sylvie had walked into the firehouse not knowing what to expect. She walked into what was called the common room. First she had met Gabby Dawson. After that, she walked into the locker room to put her things away.

While she was doing that, a man walked in and opened his locker. Sylvie decided to introduce herself so she walked the short distance.

"Hey I'm the new paramedic, Sylvie Brett." She holds out her hand

"Matt Casey. Lt on Truck 81." He shakes her hand

When his hand came in contact with hers, Sylvie suddenly had a feeling she hadn't had before. It was this warm fuzzy feeling.

The feeling scared her and she pulled her hand away quickly and said

"Nice to meet you."

Matt looks at her and asks, "why did you pull your hand away?"

Sylvie had just gone through an intense contraction.

"I had a feeling.."

Back then Matt thought he felt something too but quickly dismissed it, he was with Gabby.

"Guilty. I had one too."

Sylvie looks back at him, stunned.

"We're meant to be. It's always been you."

Within an hour, Sylvie's adoptive parents have arrived so the crew go out into the waiting room.

Karen hugs Sylvie and says, "hey sweetie."

"Hey mom."

"How are you feeling?"

"Getting through it.."

Sylvie grabs an ice chip from a cup she was holding and chews on it.

Soon Christie, Violet, and Nancy show up. They spend the last hour with her and Matt.

Sylvie was now sweating and breathing hard from the contractions. Matt kept wiping the sweat away from her forehead with a cold rag.

25 minutes later, Dr Asher comes in and everyone stands to the side while she checks on her.

"Looks like it's showtime."

Sylvie smiles through the contraction and looks at Matt.

"Ready to meet our daughter?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Sylvie's adoptive parents, Matt's mom, and Christie go out in the waiting room.

Dr Asher calls for backup while she gets ready. She could see how much in love Matt and Sylvie were. Love like that only comes once in a lifetime.

"Okay Sylvie, on your next contraction I want you to start pushing."

"Okay."

Matt grabbed her hand and told her to squeeze it if she needed too. She took slow breaths and got ready for the hardest part of pregnancy.

Dr Asher watched the machine that kept track of her contractions and knew one was coming. She told Matt to grab ahold of her leg and pull it back towards her chest.

"Okay Sylvie… and push!"

Sylvie starts to push. She squeezes Matt's hand while she pushes. She groans from the pain and has tears running down her face.

"Come on Sylvie! You're doing great."

Dr Asher looks and says, "she's crowning.."

She suddenly feels like yelling so she does.

"OH MY GOD! I'M NEVER LETTING YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN!"

Dr Asher looks at Matt and says "Don't worry. They all say that."

"Well on the bright side, Emily's right. We do like jumping each other."

Sylvie glares at him and he instantly wipes the smirk off of his face.

"Shutting up now."

Dr Asher says, "heads out, stop pushing."

She grabs something to clean out her nose. A nurse was standing by her with a towel. Then she told Sylvie to continue pushing.

Together, they navigated the final moments of labor, and as the cries of their newborn baby filled the room. Matt and Sylvie looked at each other with more love than ever.

Once Julia was all cleaned up by the nurses, weighted, and all the other fun stuff, Dr Asher brought Julia over and laid her on Sylvie's chest.

Sylvie had fresh tears in her eyes from laying her eyes on Julia for the first time.

"Oh my god.."

She was wrapped in a light pink blanket and wearing a pink beanie on her head.

"She's here Sylvie.." Matt said in awe and emotion in his voice

"I know. We made her."

"She's all you."

Sylvie had her hand holding Julia to her chest and she kissed her little forehead.

After Sylvie holds her, she looks at Matt and says, smiling tiredly

"Want to hold her, dad?"

"Absolutely."

Sylvie transfers her into Matt's arms. He looked down at her and was in awe. He didn't know you could love someone this much.

"Hey there, Julia," Matt whispered softly, his voice cracking with emotion. "I've been waiting to meet you for a long time. Your mom and I love you so much."

Sylvie watches on as the two most important people in her life meet for the first time.

Yeah, he was meant to be a girl dad and he'd make a damn good one at that.

After the proud parents bonded with Julia, they let everyone come in to meet the newest member of 51.

Matt introduces her to the crew

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Julia Casey."

"Actually Matt, her name is not just Julia Casey."

Matt looks at her while holding his newborn daughter.

"It isn't?" He said with an eyebrow raised

She shakes her head and says, "I've been thinking about this for a while and it may make you cry.."

Matt continued looking at her wondering where this was going.

She looks into his eyes and says the name Hallie.

"Julia Hallie Casey."

Matt felt like crying at the mention of his late fiancé. After that call of delivering his first baby, he knew right then and there he wanted to start having a family. Hallie told him she didn't know if she ever wanted to have kids and then they broke up after that.

Gosh he thought he couldn't love Sylvie even more. That's when he knew he had to propose to her very soon.

"That would be perfect. Thank you."

And so, their daughter was officially named Julia Hallie Casey. A name that carried the weight of love, gratitude, and the merging of past and present.

Everyone was watching them and they thought,

They look like a nice family.

They all took turns holding Julia. When it was Kelly's turn to hold her, he took one look at her and he felt his whole heart crack right open. He knew he would be the one to protect her and anything she needed she could go to him.

3 weeks have passed, Matt and Sylvie have been running on little sleep trying to adjust to being new parents to a newborn.

It was now Christmas. The day before, Christie, Violet, and Nancy showed up at the house and they took turns watching the baby while Matt and Sylvie got cleaned up.

Matt Casey and Sylvie Brett were preparing to celebrate their first Christmas as a family of five. Their cozy apartment was adorned with twinkling lights and the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air.

Their daughter, Julia, only three weeks old, lay peacefully in her crib, bundled up in a soft, knitted blanket. Matt and Sylvie took turns holding her, marveling at the tiny fingers and the button nose that mirrored a perfect blend of their features.

As the snow gently fell outside, the couple decorated a small Christmas tree with ornaments that held sentimental value.

Sylvie cradled Julia in her arms, looking at the twinkling lights on the tree. "Our first Christmas as a family," she whispered, her eyes reflecting the warmth of the moment.

Matt nodded, a proud smile on his face. "It's a special one, that's for sure."

The couple exchanged thoughtful gifts, but the true joy came from watching Julia experience her first Christmas. Wrapped in a festive onesie, she gazed wide-eyed at the lights and decorations, her tiny fingers reaching out to touch the ornaments.

As the evening progressed, they gathered around the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa and sharing stories. The crackling fire provided a comforting backdrop to the laughter and love that filled their home.

Amidst the glow of Christmas lights and the soft lullabies sung to Julia, Matt and Sylvie felt a deep sense of gratitude for the precious gift they held in their arms. Julia, named after Sylvie's birth mother and with a middle name honoring Matt's late fiancée, brought a sense of continuity and connection to their family.

As the clock struck midnight, marking the beginning of Christmas Day, Matt and Sylvie exchanged a glance filled with unspoken promises and shared dreams. In the quiet of the night, with snow falling gently outside their window, they revealed in the magic of their first Christmas together as a family—celebrating love, new beginnings, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season.

Under the glittering lights of the Chicago skyline, where the cityscape seemed to shimmer with anticipation, Matt Casey had a plan that would make New Year's Eve unforgettable for both him and Sylvie Brett. The chilly winter air couldn't cool the warmth of his determination as he prepared for a moment that would change their lives.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Matt took Sylvie to a rooftop overlooking the city. The skyline sparkled with an array of colors, echoing the festive spirit of New Year's Eve. Sylvie, dressed in a stylish winter coat and a beaming smile, had no idea what awaited her.

They stood together, hand in hand, absorbing the vibrant energy of the city below. The countdown to midnight echoed through the air, and as the crowd joined in, Matt's heart raced. This was the moment.

As the clock struck midnight, fireworks illuminated the night sky, casting a dazzling display of lights. Matt turned to Sylvie, his eyes reflecting the love he felt in his heart. Amidst the celebratory chaos, he dropped to one knee, presenting a small box that held a symbol of his commitment.

"Sylvie Brett," he began, his voice carrying over the cheers and laughter around them, "I had no idea that 5 years after you were here we would become close friends. As time went on, I didn't realize that I was falling in love with you. I know after we had our first kiss, I made a mistake. You threw me for a loop but I knew that I loved you. Thank you for getting my head on straight. I've never had someone as an equal to worry about me or consider my feelings first. That night at Molly's when I told you I was in love with you and nobody else. That's still true. Even after we broke up, I never stopped loving you and never will…"

He took a moment before he continued on. He loved Sylvie with his whole entire being.

"… Now the second time I came back, out on the apron as I was leaving, you told me that you were pregnant. I was overwhelmed because I didn't think it would happen for me considering what happened. I've wanted kids most of my adulthood. You're everything I've ever wanted in a partner. You're selfless, you make people better; trust me I know.."

They both smiled at another time when he had told her that.

"… You made me a better person. You're the reason why I knew I could take care of Griffin and Ben cause I had you supporting me. Now that we have Julia, it only made me fall in love with you all over again.."

He took a breath and asked her a question he's been meaning to ask her for awhile.

So, will you make me the happiest man and marry me?"

Sylvie's eyes widened with surprise, and her heart skipped a beat. Tears of joy glistened as she looked at Matt, realizing the magnitude of the moment. The crowd, sensing the unfolding scene, hushed into a collective murmur.

"Yes, Matt Casey," Sylvie replied, her voice a mix of excitement and emotion. "A thousand times, yes!"

As Matt slipped the ring onto Sylvie's finger, cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd. The cityscape became a backdrop to their joy, and as the fireworks continued to paint the sky, Matt and Sylvie shared a passionate kiss—a kiss that sealed not only the beginning of a new year but the start of a forever.

Their love story, intertwined with the city lights and the magic of New Year's Eve, would forever be a cherished chapter in the book of their lives. As they embraced, surrounded by the energy of the city and the promise of a shared future, Matt and Sylvie embarked on a journey of love, commitment, and endless possibilities.

Next up: Wedding bells