Throughout the day, while Arnold was having a great time with his fiancée and daughter, he's been thinking really hard about Randall leaving his program.
Soon, the scene soon went into their home gym. Arnold was sitting on one of the benches thinking, while Spinelli was lifting 45-pound dumbbells in her black sports bra.
"49…." She managed to squeeze one last rep with her left arm. "…50!" She crouched and set down the dumbbells. Spinelli looked over at Arnold. "Come on, Arnold! Aren't you gonna do anything? You've been looking like that for the past few hours! What gives?" She questioned.
Arnold sighed. "Spinelli, I've been thinking about what you said before you left the station, about Randall."
"What about him?"
"I'm worried about him. He left the program early, he gave me a personalized item, he cooked dinner, and that has to mean something, no?" Arnold looked her in the eye. Spinelli didn't know what to answer as she only exhaled through her nose.
Pep soon walked in. "What's going on?" She had on a pink sports bra.
"I guess I'm overreacting about it but I really think we should keep a close eye on Randall. I don't like where this may be headed." Arnold only took a deep breath.
"Wait, Steven is back? Jeez, I'm behind on quite a lot." Pep lowered her eyelids.
Spinelli sighed. "I guess we'll all have to keep an eye out. Until then, I think it's best if we DON'T talk about work…" Spinelli put a towel over her shoulders while wiping off her sweat.
Arnold finally stood up and walked over. "Pep, don't overdo it on weights or anything. I don't want you ending up like Alexander did." Arnold lightly smirked.
Pep rolled her eyes with a smile. "Trust me, Arnold. I won't overdo it, I'll go light!"
Arnold smiled and patted her bare shoulder. "I'll see you." He gave a small peck on her cheek. Pep lightly giggled before she went to the weight rack.
Arnold soon followed behind Spinelli and caught up to her. They started to kiss each other.
"Arnold!" She giggled as they kissed.
"Did I ever tell you how much I love you, Spinelli?" Arnold smiled. She giggled. "If you want to shower together just say it." Spinelli bit her lip while her hand rubbed against his crotch.
"I wish, but…. we have a daughter to take care of." Arnold smirked. "You mood killer." She pushed him off while chuckling.
"I'll see you." Arnold kissed both her cheeks and soon went to Andy's room.
Soon, a knock on the door was heard. Arnold only rolled his eyes as he walked to the front door.
He opened it to see it was Stella. She currently had on her Battalion jacket.
"Mom? W- What are you doing here? Is everything alright?" Arnold asked.
"I'm great, sweetie. I just wanted to take some time and see how my precious son is doing." Stella gave a warm smile while caressing his cheek.
She soon walked in. "Uh, Mom? About the race for Captain of 55…"
"Look, sweetheart, as much as I love you and I want to say anything, I can't tell you every detail about it!" She sighed. "Look, all I can tell you is that I'll be calling in the Lieutenants who want to be recognized for the Captain position real soon. Ok?"
Arnold nodded. "Alright."
Stella then stopped him. "Sweetie, it's not that I don't love you, I'm just doing my job!"
"I know you're doing your job! I just-… I just feel like I should be Captain of 55, but I also feel like Michelle deserves that chance, especially to carry her Dad's legacy-"
Stella cut him off. "Alright, alright, alright! Enough! Look, I can't tell you much or guarantee anything. I'm only doing my job." Arnold only nodded.
15 Minutes Later
"Mom? How come you never considered… You know… Dating again?" Arnold asked, rather skeptical. "I mean, you're still young, and well, what guy would say no to you?"
Stella merely chuckled. "Date and barely have time for two things I love? My job as Chief and especially my handsome son?" Arnold lightly blushed.
"Well I- I uh, I suppose so, no?" Arnold chuckled, nervously while shrugging.
Stella smiled as she caressed his cheek. "I could care less about anything else, all I want is just my job as Battalion Chief and be able to spend quality time with my adoring son." Stella proceeded to kiss his cheek. "I'll always love you, honey." She briefly stroked his hair.
Arnold smiled. "I love you more, Mom." He hugged her tightly while she smiled and hugged him back.
Spinelli came over while adjusting her crop top. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Not at all." Arnold looked over and smiled.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds be, I'll be checking on my granddaughter." Stella smirked. She kissed Arnold's cheek once more before she left the living room.
Spinelli walked over and sat beside her husband. "So Arnold, what was that about?" She asked.
"Nothing important, just mother and son talks." Arnold smiled. "Now, I think you owe me a little something." He smirked.
Spinelli blinked in confusion. "What? Owe you? As far as I'm concerned, I-" Arnold cut off Spinelli's sentence and silenced her with a passionate kiss.
Right after their kiss, Stella came running back to them.
"Spinelli! I almost forgot something!" She soon said.
"Huh? What is it?" She replied.
"Spinelli, the Department was taking the past few weeks to talk about rewarding you with a Medal of Valor. For your heroics from the house fire, you remember?"
While Arnold had a big smile on his face, Spinelli froze for a minute.
"Th- The house fire where Warren and I fell through the roof?" She asked, rather scared about that day.
"Yeah."
Spinelli gulped. "Why, uh… Uh, thanks, Chief. I really appreciate it." She tried to give a warm and confident smile.
"Of course." Stella replied with a smile and went back to Andy's room.
Arnold smiled and rubbed Spinelli's shoulder. "A Medal of Valor? Spinelli, that's an amazing award!" Arnold was about to say more, but noticed the major disappointment on her face. "Hey, what's wrong, honey?"
"I can't accept that award…" She said while hanging her head.
"Spinelli, what?" Arnold looked at her. "Spinelli, this is a big award! You did something probably other firefighters couldn't!" Arnold cupped her face. "I know you weren't able to save Taylor, but you saved a life while on a broken hand and cracked ribs! Don't let one loss affect your win. In my eyes, you'll always be amazing." Arnold proceeded to kiss her forehead.
Spinelli sighed. Arnold immediately cut off her sentence. "I know what you're going to say, 'You probably could've done more'. Even if you weren't injured, there was nothing you could've done." A tear slipped down her left cheek. Arnold gave a comforting smile. "Just take the win. You did more than great, you were amazing." Arnold wiped off a tear from her cheek. "And one more thing. I'll always love you regardless of what happens. You're the best, you're perfect in my eyes, and I love you so much, Spinelli." Arnold kissed both her cheeks and then her forehead. He then pulled her into a hug.
"Thanks." She smiled softly.
"Always happy to help." Arnold smiled and kissed her cheek.
Arnold then turned her head to face him and started a kiss between them.
"Just a little reassurance for you." Arnold winked and smiled. "You're the best, Arnold." Spinelli smiled.
Soon, they leaned over to each other where their foreheads touched while they smiled.
Arnold had an idea. "Hey. How about a date night to celebrate this?" He offered.
"Been a while since we had a date, so why not?" She smirked.
Arnold only smiled and then kissed her.
Soon, Stella came over with Andy in her arms while she had two envelopes.
"Hey guys, I nearly forgot something important for you guys." She handed over the envelopes.
Arnold opened his envelope and saw an invitation to… "The Firefighters Ball?"
"Yup." Stella replied. "And that's where the ceremony for Ashley's Medal of Valor will be held." She smiled.
"Oh, please tell me we can just wear our Class A's…" Spinelli grimaced.
Stella gave an unsure look. "Uuuhh… I think they'll want all of us to wear formal clothing. You know, tuxedos for men, and dresses for women?"
"Ugh… What's next, dolling myself up?" She saw the look on Stella's face, more or less answering her question. "Oh, great…" She facepalmed.
"Oh, come on, Spinelli! You don't have a thing to worry about! You know I'll be beside you at every moment!" Arnold gave a side hug, rubbed her shoulder, and kissed her cheek.
"Fine…" She pouted.
"Great." Stella warmly smiled and soon walked toward the kitchen.
"With or without makeup, you're always beautiful." Arnold told her and then kissed her cheek. Spinelli only smiled.
"I love you." She leaned against him. Arnold only smiled and soon kissed her forehead while stroking her hair.
Arnold smiled at her. "Hey." Spinelli looked at Arnold with a warm smile. The two leaned over and soon shared a joyful kiss.
Spinelli then shoved Arnold down on the couch and soon mounted him.
"Are we just going to sit here or are you going to kiss me?" Spinelli smirked, while Arnold only had a warm smile.
"This reminds me of one morning where I was straight up naked, while you barely woke up in your usual and sexy sports bra." Arnold kissed Spinelli's cheek.
"Enough blab! Just kiss me!" Spinelli soon pressed her soft lips against his as they shared another joyful and passionate kiss.
After only a few seconds of kissing, Arnold separated from her, leaving her rather confused.
"Come on, Arnold, what gives?" She dismounted him and sat up. Arnold sat up and sighed.
"Spinelli, as much as I want to keep kissing you, I have something that's troubling me… It's about Randall, he's not fine. Scott, Travis, Vic, Donovan, and Tommy told me what was going on in the Engine. Randall isn't fine!"
Spinelli shrugged. "I suppose you're right but…" She sighed as she looked around for a moment. "Can you at least wait until our next shift? I just want to be with my damn husband!"
Arnold only smiled. "Just get over here." He wrapped his arm over her shoulder. "I guess I can worry about it later, after all, it's not everyday I'm able to show some love to my beautiful wife." Arnold kissed Spinelli's forehead.
Spinelli looked left and right, curiously. "Are you referring to me?" She playfully asked.
"Who else am I talking about? Of course it's you, Spinelli!" Arnold kissed her forehead again. Spinelli only giggled while they cuddled together.