A/N: Please don't hate me for this chapter, remember I am a strong supporter of happy Stellaride. But every story needs some drama. If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain first.
Chapter 5
Hearing him say he had a son was heartbreaking. She wasn't expecting that; yes, she had a bad vibe about the woman, but that wasn't what she was thinking. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She needed to calm herself down. Why now? She kept wondering, why is this happening as they are starting their family. They are bringing a baby into this world together. A baby they both wanted. They are overly excited about the life they have created. She was supposed to be the only mother of his children. She didn't want to share the role.
"I... need to get ready." She tells him as she walks to their bedroom. Pretending like she didn't hear what he said. She can't deal with this right now. She doesn't need the added stress.
"Stella, say something." He said this as he followed her. "Babe, don't shut me out."
She took her robe off and started getting dressed. "Forgot to tell you, I have to meet DC Hill; she called me yesterday and asked me if I would do her a favor and be her assistant for two weeks while she found a replacement for her old assistant. I said yes; I'd rather spend time with her than Seager. Especially since the whole Carver situation." She keeps talking; it's the only way to keep herself together. She ignores whatever he is saying so she can focus on her day. She can't let herself get stressed, she or the baby doesn't need it.
"Stella, we need to talk about this."
"I can't be late on my first day, Kelly; bad first impressions are not professional." She said this as she did her hair. She is proud of herself for not breaking down. Yet.. she knows it's coming.
"Tell me what you're thinking," he begged. He watches as she puts her shoes on. And walks out of the room. "Stella, I need to know how you feel."
"I'm working nine to six Monday through Friday. Just for the next two weeks, the money's pretty good." She tells him as she grabs her keys.
He grabs her arm. "Stella, talk to me; don't leave like this."
She won't look at him because she knows he can read her like a book. "I won't be home till late; I work at Molly's tonight." She pulls away from him. "Don't wait up."
He watches as she walks out the door; this wasn't how he wanted the conversation to go. He throws himself down on the couch. As he thinks about his current situation.
Stella got to Molly's a little after seven. "Sorry, Herrmann, I was going over a lot of paperwork, and I lost track of time." She tells him as she comes behind the bar.
"No problem, not much of a crowd tonight," Herrmann tells her as he leans over the bar. "So personal assistant, is it better than being a firefighter?"
" Nothing is better than being a firefighter." She tells him.
"True, very true."
Stella looked around the bar. "Kelly has a son." She blurted it out, then covered her mouth. She couldn't believe she just said that out loud like that.
Herrmann looked at her and asked, "What?" He wasn't sure what she just said. "Repeat that?"
She pulled him to the side and said, "I've been holding it in all day, and I just need to talk. I can't hold it anymore. Kelly has a son " She cried. She felt relieved for finally telling someone; it's been weighing on her all day.
Herrmann saw how upset she was and yelled, "Gallo, watch the bar for a minute. I need to talk with Stella. I'll be back."
"Sure thing," Gallo responded.
Herrmann pulled her to the back. "Calm down, don't get so worked up; you're carrying a future firefighter in there." He tells her, pointing to her stomach.
Stella took a deep breath. "That Angie woman at the firehouse yesterday," Herrmann nods. "She claims Kelly is the father of her son."
"Wow! That was a punch in the gut. Huh?" Herrmann wasn't expecting this twist.
"Yeah, it was not something I expected." She admitted.
"How old is the kid?"
"I don't know."
Hermann gave her a confused look. "What's his name?"
"I don't know."
"When did this happen?"
"I don't know."
"Stella, what do you know?" Herrmann asked, trying to get more information.
"That my husband has a kid with another woman. He just told me this morning, and I didn't stick around to ask questions," she tells him flat out. "I was scared of the answers."
Hermann sighed. "I'm going, to be honest with you. Give it to you straight."
Stella raised her eyebrow. "Okay," she said in an unsure tone.
"I get that this is unexpected news, news you or Severide didn't want. And I know for a fact he didn't cheat on you; that man loves you way too much to hurt you like that. So if that's what's weighing you down, forget it." He said this to her, giving her a reassuring smile. "But honestly, I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner." He told her in his most honest tone.
"Excuse me, what does that mean?" Stella was a little taken back by his honesty.
"Stella, you know Severide had a wild past before you came into his life. You heard stories; I know you did. I always wondered if one of those one-night stands was going to end up pregnant. Otis, Mouch, and I used to talk about it all the time. "
Stella bit her lip. Deep down, she knew he was right. The thought crossed her mind a time or two, especially today. "I know; I was thinking about that all day. I know he didn't cheat on me; Kelly wouldn't do that to me. The kid has to be an older kid, you know, like eight or older. There is no way he cheated on me. I trust him." She replied. She was positive that he wouldn't cheat on her. She never questioned his loyalty to her.
"How is Severide handling this?" He asked, knowing the news had to hit him harder.
"I don't know," she tells him. "After he told me this morning, I refused to talk about it. And I haven't talked to him all day." She sighed. "I'm a bad wife."
"No, you're not; you needed to process it; this is huge, life-changing news. It's going to change your life as much as Severide's. "
She wiped her eyes. "Am I selfish if I suggest he do a DNA?"
"No, not at all. Severide should definitely get one done. You need to make sure before you try to build a connection with this kid. The kid's mom might not be too happy about it, but it's the right thing to do."
Stella ran her fingers through her hair. "My emotions are all over the place right now. I cry every time I think about it. I can't blame him for something that happened years ago. I don't know what to do."
Herrmann grabbed her hands. "You go home, and you talk to him. Tell him how you feel and find out more about the kid. Stella, I know you're upset, but I can guarantee this took a toll on Severide. And he needs his wife's support more than anything. Let him know you've got his back."
Stella nods and says, "I can do that. Thanks, Herrmann." She said this as she hugged him.
Kelly spent the day in a daze; hearing her tell him he's her son's father wasn't something he was planning on hearing the woman say. A woman he still doesn't remember; her voice didn't sound familiar. Her name still doesn't ring a bell. He knows he had his share of women, and for a lot of them, he didn't remember their names. But he never thought about one of them popping up in his new stable happy life, claiming he fathered their child.
All he wanted was to be a dad and give his kids a childhood that he didn't have. He vowed his future kids would not grow up in a broken home like he did. Finding out Stella, the love of his life was carrying his baby was the best news ever. He knew deep within his heart that no matter what was thrown at him and Stella, they would pull through. Divorce was not an option for them; she was his till death do them part.
He has been thinking of buying a house with a fence in the yard for their kids to play in. A basketball goal in the yard so he can play ball with them. Having Casey build them a tree house in the backyard. Sitting on the deck, holding Stella close to him, and watching their kids run around the yard together. Growing old with Stella and experiencing grandchildren together He had it all planned out. But now it felt like his dreams were coming undone, and he couldn't stop it.
All he can think about is that he is his father's child. He didn't want kids from different women; he wanted them with only one woman, his wife. He couldn't stop thinking about how Stella left this morning. He knows she's upset, but he needs her to talk to him. He needs her to tell him everything will be okay. He hates it when she shuts him out. Her opinion is what matters most to him.
Stella walked into the loft and saw Kelly sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. The TV was on, but he wasn't paying attention to it. She felt bad, so she quietly shut the door. And put her bag and keys down. She walked over to him. She leans down and kisses the top of his head.
His head snapped up. "Hey!" he said, surprised to see her. " I thought you had to work at Molly's tonight."
His eyes are bloodshot, and she feels worse now. "Hey, I did, but Herrmann, being the great boss he is, told me to go home, and talk to my husband. " She tells him as she pushes him back against the couch. He watches her as she kicks her heels off and pulls up her skirt so she can sit on his lap. He puts his hands on her hips. She cupped his face and said, "I love you." She tells him.
He smiles at her, relief washing over him like running water. "I love you too."
She smiled. "I'm sorry for the way I acted this morning; I was being selfish; I wasn't thinking about your feelings. And what must be going through your head?"
"You weren't being selfish; this is big news, and it's going to affect you just as much as me."
She rubbed the back of his neck. "We will have to make some adjustments, but we will figure it out together."
Kelly's eyes widened. " Really?"
" Kelly, I know you had a wild past, and honestly, I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. You can't change the past, babe; I'm will always by your side. No matter what, I've got you."
"You have no idea how happy I am hearing you say that." He tells her this as he leans up and kisses her.
"I do think you should do a DNA." She tells him after the kiss breaks.
"Angie said she would understand if that's what I want. I already told her I wanted it done as soon as possible."
She was relieved. "Good, that way we know he is your son before we get involved. So, how old is he? What's his name?" she asked, figuring Herrmann was right she needed to know.
"His name is Michael, and I am not sure about his age. I didn't ask many questions; I was too shocked, and trying to connect dots, and we got a call right in the middle of our conversation. The whole thing has been overwhelming."
" Understandable. Michael is a nice name?" She tells him as she looks down at his chest.
He can sense that something is bothering her. "What's on your mind?"
She smacks her lips. "Nothing; it's going to make me sound selfish."
"Tell me, I want you to be completely honest with me."
She sighed and got up from his lap. She walked over to the kitchen island. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "What is it?" He asked as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
She closed her eyes. "I... It's not fair." She admitted.
"What's not fair?" He asked as he moved her hair from her neck. He kissed her neck.
She leaned back against him. "I was... " She paused. She felt bad for what she was about to say.
Kelly turned her around so he could see her face; he noticed her tears. "Babe, what's not fair? Please talk to me." He begged.
She touched his face and looked into his eyes. "I wanted to be the one who gave you your first baby. I wanted to be the only one you had children with." She tells him sadly. " This wasn't part of my plan for us. " She quickly looks down at his chest. "I'm sorry, I know I sound selfish."
"You don't have to apologize. And you are far from selfish. Stella, I wanted that to this is not something I expected. All my dreams I've been having lately are of you and me and our future children." He tells her as he wipes her tears away. "I'm going to hope the DNA results come back negative."
She was secretly hoping for the same thing. "When are you getting it done?" She asked, knowing she needed the truth as soon as possible. So, she can start to process her feelings.
"Maggie is going to do it tomorrow; Angie agreed to meet me there." He tells her. As he pulls her closer to him.
" Tomorrow?" She was surprised by his answer. She didn't think it would be this fast.
"Yeah, the sooner we know, the better." He tells her.
She nods and says, "I want to be there."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I want to support you through all this. I'll take my lunch around noon and meet you there. I'll tell Gloria. Yes, DC Hill said I can call her Gloria; we are on a first-name basis now." She tells him with a big smile and in a excited tone.
"Of course, you are." He smiles loving how happy that made her.
"I'll tell Gloria I have an appointment; she'll understand." She told him.
Kelly smiled. "I would love that." He tells her this as he kisses her forehead. " Angie and Michael will be there. Are you okay with that?" He asked her, he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
Stella sighed, "It's going to be awkward, but I can handle it. I'm going for you anyway. " She tells him this as she kisses him sweetly. "We got this Kelly Severide."
"Yes, we do; " He said, as he rested, his forehead against hers. " We got this Stella Severide." He tells her as he kisses her. He knows that no matter what the outcome, as long as he has Stella beside him everything will be okay.
The next day, a little after noon, Stella walked into Med and smiled as she saw Kelly talking with Maggie. " Hey," she said, as she approached them.
"Hey, babe," Kelly said as he kissed her.
"How are you feeling, Stella?" Maggie asked.
"I'm good. I'm tired but good." She tells her, but not exactly the truth. Her head is killing her, and she's been feeling dizzy all morning. And she feels unwell. She doesn't know if it is because of the baby, or her nervousness for today.
"Well, Kelly, if you're ready, I'll do your test first," Maggie tells him.
"Where's Angie?" Stella asked. Looking around for the woman she met at the firehouse.
Kelly shrugged. "I don't know; she said she would be here."
Stella looked around. "Go with Maggie, and I'll wait on Angie to let her know where you guys are."
Kelly was surprised. " Okay. I'll be right back." He tells her with a quick kiss.
"I'll be here." She smiles as he follows Maggie down the hall.
Stella sat down and took her phone out. She texted Herrmann back; he texted her earlier to see how she was. She looked up and saw a brown-haired woman looking around. She had a little boy with her. She heard the woman tell a nurse she was there for a DNA test. "Are you meeting Kelly Severide?" Stella asked as she walked over to them.
The woman turned towards her. She was a different woman; this wasn't Angie. "Yes, I am, and you are?"
"I'm Kelly's wife, Stella."
The woman's eyes widened. " Wife? I didn't know he was married."
Stella gave her a confused look. "Well, he is, and you're not Angie. Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm April, Angie's sister. Angie is stuck in a meeting at the office. I watch her son while she works. So, she asked me to stop by here today."
Stella stared at the little boy. "Who is this?" Stella asked, figuring it was April's son.
April smiled and said, "This is my nephew, Michael."
"This is Michael?" Stella questioned. "Does Angie have two sons named Michael?" She knew it was a dumb question to ask, but she couldn't help it.
April gave her a confused look. "This is Angie's only son, Michael."
Stella swallowed hard. "How old is he?" She asked. As her throat went dry, she could hear her heart beating. This isn't happening.
April wasn't sure what was going on. "He just turned one."
"He's not my husband's son." Stella said bitterly: "He's not my husband's son."
"Hey, I honestly don't know; my sister said he is."
"No, she's wrong; he can't be my husband's son." Stella was starting to see spots, and her head was spinning.
April was getting annoyed. "Look, I don't know what's going on here. I was asked to come here for a DNA test, not to argue with Michael's father's wife."
"He's not his son," Stella said in a loud tone, The coloring was draining from her face. "Stop calling him that," Stella demanded.
April was feeling bad for her. "Hey, I'm sorry that your husband cheated on you. He told my sister he was single. So it's not her fault. And I don't need you taking your anger out on me. Scream at your cheating husband."
Stella felt like she was being hit repeatedly with a sledgehammer. Her head was hurting, her eyes were blurry, and she couldn't breathe. Her chest felt tight. Everything went black.
"Are you okay?" April asked. As she watches Stella's eyes roll to the back of her head. "We need a nurse over here." She yelled as she caught Stella before she hit the floor.
"Stella!" Kelly yelled as she collapsed. "What the hell happened?" He asked the brown-haired woman.
"Kelly, move; we've got her," Maggie yelled. As Stella was being lifted. "Stay here; as soon as I know something, I'll tell you," Maggie assured him.
Kelly stood there, feeling helpless, as they rushed Stella down the hall. "What did you say to her?"
"She was the one questioning me."
"About what?" He yelled. He then noticed the little boy. "Who's that?"
"Your son, apparently, if you're Kelly Severide."
Kelly looked at her. "The hell he is, that's not my son."
"You and your wife have some issues. My sister said you knew about Michael. I'm not sure why all the yelling, but my nephew doesn't need this." She said this as she picked up the little boy. "This is ridiculous."
Kelly groaned. "Stop, I'm sorry." He tells her "There is some confusion going on here. How old is he?"
April looked at him and sighed. "He's one. Look, I don't know if you're the father. All I know is that my sister called me one day and said she was pregnant. At the time, she didn't have any boyfriends and wasn't dating. I asked her who the father was, and she said a guy she met at some bar. " She paused," she said he was a firefighter at house 51, and he was a squad lieutenant. Is that you?"
Kelly rubbed the back of his neck. "I am the squad lieutenant at 51, but I didn't meet her at a bar. I'm a happily married man, and we just celebrated our first anniversary. We have been together for close to six years. I wouldn't cheat on her."
April felt bad. "I don't know what to tell you; talk to my sister. She's not going to just accuse some random guy of being her son's father. She's not like that. "
"Something doesn't make sense." He replied as he stared at the brown-haired boy.
"I'm sorry; I wish I had answers for you."
Kelly leaned up against the wall, tears falling from his eyes. "Please, God, don't let her lose the baby." He begged, looking up at the ceiling.
April's heart breaks for the stranger in front of her. "She's pregnant?"
"Yeah, our first child." He tells her as he continues to look up at the ceiling.
"I'll say a prayer for her and the baby, and I'm going to go see my sister now. And get you some answers. "
Kelly looked over at her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She tells him this as she gives him a sad smile.
He watches April and the little boy walk away. He doesn't understand why Angie would say he was Michael's father. He expected the boy to be older, like nine or so. Not one. He knows the shock of the situation is what caused Stella to collapse. "This can't be happening," he said, sliding down the wall.
Maggie found him sitting on the floor with his head in his hands. " Kelly."
He jumps up quickly. "How is she? How's the baby? What happened? ...
"Hey, one question at a time," Maggie tells him. "Stella fainted; her blood pressure is extremely low and her heart rate is low. Dr. Asher is still running the test, and Stella is awake and alert. Which is a good sign."
"The baby?"
"The baby's heartbeat is good. We don't see anything to worry about baby-wise. But Stella needs to rest, and we need to find out what's going on with her before her health affects the baby."
"Can I see her?" He asked. His eyes begged Maggie.
Maggie took a deep breath. She wasn't sure how he was going to handle this. "Kelly, Stella has requested not to see you." She watches as the hopefulness on his face disappears.
" What? Why?"
Maggie shrugs. "I don't know, she didn't say, but she is my patient, and I have to respect her wishes, and you need to respect them too for her health and the baby. I promise I will keep you posted. "
He ran his hand over his face. He could make a scene, but he knows it will end up getting him kicked out of the hospital. They kicked him out for making a scene when they wanted to take Stella's lung out. He didn't want to add more stress to Stella than he already did. "Okay, I understand," he tells her. It's a crushing blow, but he has to hold himself together.
Maggie is surprised by his response. She really thought she might need security. "I'm sorry, Kelly It's going to be okay." She assured him as she touched his arm.
"Maggie," he said as she started to walk away. Maggie turned around. "Tell her I'm not going anywhere."
Maggie smiled. "I will."
Stella lay there staring at the monitor that they had the baby hooked up to. "What caused me to faint?" Stella asked. Dr. Asher.
"The main causes of dizziness and fainting during pregnancy are hormone changes, which can cause your blood pressure to drop, allowing less blood to get to your brain."
"Can hearing heartbreaking news cause someone to faint?" Stella asked as she continued looking at the screen.
Dr. Asher gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Emotional responses can cause a cascade of things to happen in the brain and body. In some people, this will result in a person fainting."
Stella lay there crying. "I let my emotions get to me. I could have lost the baby."
"Stella, I don't know what happened out there; I did witness you getting upset with that woman, but it's not your fault, honey. Your body is tired; you just need rest, and the baby looks good. Don't stress yourself out. Too much stress can cause you to have trouble sleeping, headaches, a loss of appetite, or a tendency to overthink, all of which can be harmful to you and your developing baby. Stress is the last thing you need right now."
Maggie walked in, giving Asher a look. "Stella, I want you to do some breathing exercises for me while I go check in on my other patients." Stella didn't acknowledge her, Dr. Asher gave Maggie a concerned look before walking out of the room.
Stella just lay there, and Maggie waited till Asher was out of the room. "Do you need anything, Stella?"
Stella wiped her eyes. "The truth is what I need."
Maggie's eyes widened, not sure what she was talking about. "The truth about what?"
"This hurts so much; I can't believe he lied to me."
Maggie wasn't sure what to say. "Honey, do you want me to call someone for you, like Brett or Violet anyone."
Stella looked at her. "Can you call Herrmann and tell him I need him?"
Maggie was surprised by her words. "Of course." She smiled at her before walking towards the door. As she opened the door, she looked back at Stella. "Stella, I know you don't want to hear this right now, but I have to give you a message. Your husband said to tell you he's not going anywhere."
Stella just looked at her and didn't say a word. Maggie walked out of the room. Leaving her with her thoughts.
Kelly sat in the waiting area. It's been two hours, and she still won't see him. He feels so lost and broken. He knows what she's thinking, and it's killing him that she believes he cheated on her. He doesn't understand what is happening; they were good this morning; they were happy.
"Severide what is going on," Herrmann asked. As he walked into the room, seeing Kelly sitting there.
Kelly looks up at Herrmann and Cindy. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We are here because Maggie called, saying Stella was here and wanted to see me."
Kelly's eyes widened. "Stella asked for you." That was unexpected; he thought she would call Brett, not Herrmann.
"Yeah, that's what Maggie said," Herrmann told him.
"What happened, Kelly?" Cindy asked as she sat down beside him.
"Everything is so messed up." He tells them " Herrmann, go see her; she needs someone in there with her. And since she's refusing to see me, at least she'll have you. I don't want her to be alone."
Herrmann looked at his wife, then back at Severide. "She won't see you."
" Nope."
" Why?"
"Long story, and the unfortunate end of my marriage possibly. if I can't convince her otherwise." His voice cracks as he talks.
Cindy and Herrmann exchanged looks. She shakes her head, silently telling her husband not to question him about what he just said. They can sense the devastation in his tone and the defeat in his eyes. "Kelly, are Stella and the baby, okay?" Cindy asked.
" Maggie said her blood pressure was extremely low, as was her heart rate, and the baby was doing well. I haven't heard anything else. " He tells them like it wasn't nothing. But his eyes reveal what words hide.
"Christopher, go see Stella; I got Severide," Cindy tells him.
Herrmann gives her a questionable look. "I'm going."
Kelly looked up at him. His face was pale; his eyes looked empty; the light that was once there is now gone; the happiness that has been reflected on his face since he married Stella has disappeared. " Herrmann, tell her I'm sorry and what she's thinking I did. I didn't."
Herrmann stood there for a moment, watching a dejected Severide. He hadn't seen him this heartbroken since the last time Stella was here. "I will." He promises He walks to the nurse's center and asks where Stella's room is. He gives a glance back to his wife, who is now hugging the sorrowful Severide.
Herrmann enters Stella's room, and his heart breaks as he sees her sitting there crying, playing with her wedding ring. This is not good," he thought. "Hey, are you okay?"
"No, my world is falling apart, and I can't stop it." She cries, not once looking at him.
"Stella, what happened?" He asked as he sat down at the edge of the bed.
"We were wrong, Herrmann?" She said this as she looked up at him.
Her bloodshot eyes are so red and swollen from all her crying. He has never seen her this broken, and it was killing him to watch her continue to break in front of him. "What were we wrong about?" He asked as he grabbed her hand.
"Why did we get married?" She said this instead of answering his question.
His words echo back to the same words he said to her before she got married. When she made a comment about calling off the wedding, "Because you love each other." He tells her. Like it's the simplest reason in the world.
She gave him a half-smile. "I do. I love him so much. I had so many dreams wrapped up in him. And now... "
"And now what?"
"I know everything happens for a reason, but this reason hurts; it hurts so much."
"Stella, talk to me. What happened?" Herrmann begged. He knew it was something big and hurtful for her. One thing Herrmann has learned through the years is that people's eyes reflect better than a mirror. And Stella's eyes were soulless.
"Everything is a mess." She closed her eyes and sighed. "His son is a little younger than you and I thought—really younger."
"How young?"
She opened her eyes. "His name is Michael, and he just turned one." She said it in a shaking voice. "
Hermann was shocked. "One. Really. I can't believe it."
Stella bit her lip. "As I said, we both were wrong."
Herrmann gave her a confused look. "Wrong about what?" he asked, still not following what she was talking about.
She looks at him, and he swears the pain in her brown eyes is the same pain he saw in Severide's eyes. "He cheated on me, Herrmann; I can't even look at him." She tells him. Her tears fell like rain, and she took her wedding ring off. "I don't know what to do, this is not how our love story is supposed to end. " Her voice is heartbreaking and laced with so much disappointment. " It's just not fair," she whispered, as she rubbed her tummy.