Happy Post Thanksgiving y'all! Sorry so late in updating, but real life is getting in the way of writing. Hope you enjoy this long ending to my crazy story. Feeling thankful for many things and for all of you! Love!

No video, no record of a visitor, no hint of who dropped off the prison-warming basket.

The case of Nicole Meyer was officially closed and with it a chapter in Kelly Severide's life. His sleepless nights lessened again with the realization that a trial was not happening. The only re-telling of the ordeal would remain in his head. He could live with that. He would have to.

Erin felt like she could breathe again, that the ordeal was finally over, that Kelly would make it back. He would make it back to her.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Herrmann called out from squad's table, sitting alone.

Kelly smiled widely, his grin covering the nerves rising up from his chest. He'd been out a long while. Longer than when he'd almost blown up in a million little pieces. Longer than when his neck almost broke into a million little pieces. Those had been different. Job related crap, came with the territory.

Every fireman knew the score. No, this was different. He'd opened the door on this one and invited the trouble in. On those nights when he still couldn't sleep, that realization came through loud and clear.

But once again, he'd made it back. And now Herrmann was looking at him like he'd barely missed a day.

Whatever.

"You better get your guys in line. They've been running around like a bunch of wild banshees," Christopher complained. What was he even doing at squad's table, Kelly thought.

Not the welcome he expected.

"Where the hell is everybody?" Kelly asked, eyes scanning the empty bay.

"Think Mouch brought donuts. They're probably stuffin' their faces," Hermann answered. "I'm watchin' my girlish figure," he added patting his gut.

"Uh, thanks," Kelly said, heading off for the kitchen with Christopher on his heels.

Whatever. Just another day. Better this way. No fuss. Business as usual. It was actually helping to calm his anxiousness.

As Kelly walked through the common area, his face broke out in a wide grin. All the guys were waiting for him, gathered around a huge cake.

"Bout damn time you showed up," Casey teased knowing his friend was fifteen minutes early. The cake said something like Welcome Back, Missed You.

Whatever.

It could've said Asshole and Kelly would have the same whole feeling in his heart. This had been missing. His work. No, more than work. His passion. The thing that defined him for almost 15 years. He needed this, and it was good to see that they needed him.

"Patterson sends his regards," Mouch deadpanned as Jimmy raised a plastic fork to a huge wedge of cake.

Kelly chuckled as he grabbed the candidate's plate. "And who are you again?" he asked the young firefighter with more laughter breaking out. "No, seriously. I don't remember you," he said taking a huge bite.

Casey gave him a "be nice" look, but Otis couldn't help from adding his two cents. "Yeah, Boden hired him cause he wanted someone to represent in this year's FD calendar."

Jimmy looked crestfallen, wondering if the lieutenant really didn't remember him.

"It sure as hell ain't gonna be you with the way you're attacking that cake," Kelly replied as Brian cut a smaller piece.

And with that, everything was the way it should be. Squad's lieutenant was back.

After his first shift back, Kelly had everything in motion for the long awaited date with Erin. Always doing things backwards, he thought wondering when time started moving so quickly. It had been a lifetime ago. It seemed like another person had prepared for the date that never happened.

Yes, they'd definitely passed up tradition with Erin moving in more out of necessity than anything else. Kelly needed her, needed to feel her pressed up against him at night, needed to hear the soft breaths that always seemed to land on his neck, needed the way her hazel eyes said "I love you" with the way they never left his.

But was she anything more than a visitor in his home? He'd given up one drawer but not much else. That was gonna change. The date was a first step. His way of letting Erin know that he wanted her to stick around for the long run. Maybe for the longest run.

He needed everything to be perfect. This date would set that run in motion.

"Kel, I'm gonna be a little late," Erin said, calling the second she had a free moment. "Our perp's being a little bitch. He's trying to work a deal tonight," she explained, exasperated at the loser they'd been shadowing for weeks. A loser trying to provide drugs to kids as young as elementary students.

"Uh, so what time you thinkin'?" asked Kelly, the unmistakeable disappointment in his voice heard by the brunette detective.

"No telling. I am so sorry about this," Erin began. "I can't just up and leave, gotta see it through," she mumbled as an afterthought.

"It's okay. Really," Kelly assured. "I'll see if I can bump the reservation. You text me when you know something."

Erin let out a frustrated breath, wishing she could just tell Halstead to handle it.

"Hey. It is okay," Kelly said. "You hear me, Lindsay?"

"I hear you, Severide," Erin laughed, closing her eyes so she could picture his, trying to comfort herself with the image of those piercing blues. The eyes that held so much turmoil for weeks, the troubled waters calming. This date their first shot at a normal existence. They were going back to the beginning.

But now her job seemed to be conspiring against them.

Erin hung up, letting her hands rub through her hair. "Damn!" she muttered angrily.

"Trouble with your fireman?" Jay asked, a teasing smirk on his face.

"No," she said raising her eyebrows in a challenge.

"You seem upset," he added, "that's all." He tacked on a cute smile at the end with raised brows of his own.

"No, everything's fine. This asshole's just cutting into date night," Erin admitted.

"Didn't think you two did that kinda thing," Jay commented.

"We do." Erin looked at her partner, enjoying the squirm he was now performing. "Well, we want to but…"

"Forces are working against you," Halstead finished her sentence the way he had since they were first partnered up.

"I guess so," Erin said sadly.

Yep, Jay thought keeping the words to himself. He did want to see the sun come up the next day, so best to keep that mouth shut, he told himself.

10:00.

That was the last possible time the hostess at Bayette's would push the Severide reservation back to. And only because she'd recognized the fireman's name from the news, remembering that handsome face splashed across the screen. She'd even made a joke to her friends about not blaming "that crazy bitch for kidnapping the guy."

At 9:45 Erin burst into Kelly's place, hair a mess, pulling her T-shirt over her head while saying a quick hello, apology, and missed you all at once.

"Hey, slow down," he said taking her shirt from her hands, planting a kiss on her forehead. "We'll get there when we get there."

She took in a deep breath, dimpled smile spreading across her face. She knew how much he wanted this night to be all theirs. How he'd probably agreed to pick up an extra shift in the coming weeks to pay for the meal. How this date was more than just another date. It signaled a new beginning, and it was off to a bad start.

"Give me five minutes. Seriously. I can be ready in five," Erin insisted, pecking Kelly's cheek and tearing off to the bathroom. She threw on a simple black dress, fluffed her hair, dabbed a little concealer under each eye, slid some gloss across her lips and rushed out of the room. She turned right back around … shoes, yes, she'd need shoes.

She skipped out of the bedroom almost tripping over her own feet as she slipped on flats.

"Sorry, left my heels at my place," she said wishing they had time to swing by and get them.

"You look perfect," Kelly said, thinking they should blow off the whole date. Just for a second. No, they were doin' this thing.

"Relax. They said they'd hold our spot. Let's get outta here," the fireman said, taking Erin's arm gently. She was instantly calmed, taking in the strength, breathing in his scent. For a split second, she thought about suggesting they just stay in. She thought about throwing off that dress and jumping him right then and there. But she knew he'd been planning this for how long? No, they were doin' this thing.

The hostess who kept pushing back Kelly's reservation was nowhere in sight, an older, stodgy maitre d' taking her place.

"You are egregiously late," he said barely looking up from his precious book.

Kelly's face reddened, a hot flush spreading from his neck up. Do not blow, he told himself. Do not blow.

"Yes, we are late as hell, but my, uh, friend had an unexpected work thing come up," Kelly felt his words fumbling around like a lost football, the lame word "friend" hanging in the air.

The maitre d' was shaking his head no when a bubbly blonde came in from the side, touching the older man's arm lightly. His face lightened up immediately as the two exchanged words in a hushed tone. She took charge as the man excused himself to check on a guest.

"Sorry about that," she said brightly. "It is 10:30, so the table I've been holding all night is gone," she added with a small pout.

Kelly hung his head. The date was a bust.

"But no sad faces," she said meeting those blues with blues of her own. "We can squeeze you in." She motioned with her hand and led the two through an obstacle course of tables, the dimly lit restaurant full of couples sitting across from each other.

They kept going, led further and further back. Finally, they reached a small table right by the kitchen. It had the looks of a makeshift spot, hastily put together to accommodate a couple of tardy patrons.

"It's good, Kelly," Erin said letting him pull her chair out. She saw that crestfallen look.

"Yeah, it's good," he agreed, pushing himself in the small opening between his chair and the table.

The third time the kitchen door hit his chair, Kelly decided it was not really good.

Every time he tried to say something, a waiter would rush by, brushing his arm, bumping the table, or almost taking Erin's head off with a tray.

"Being so close to the kitchen, you'd think we woulda got our drinks by now," he said glumly, slumping over a little as a waiter hovered a tray over his head in passing.

"Hey, it's okay," Erin said softly, reaching for his hand across the table. "We're here."

Kelly just nodded.

"Look at me. We're here," she repeated. "And that is all I need. All I want."

Another fifteen minutes ticked by with drinks finally delivered. A coke for Kelly and tea for Erin. Too bad they both had asked for waters.

Kelly threw a twenty on the table. "Let's get the hell outta here," he said smiling, a mischievous grin telling Erin to get up.

So they weren't doin' this thing after all.

"Sorry that was shot all to hell," Kelly said maneuvering the six pack in one hand and the pizza in the other with the balancing skills of a circus performer. He kicked the door to his place shut, warding off Erin's helping hands.

"Nah, I got this. You wanna change?" he asked. She nodded enthusiastically, her flats hurting her feet more than heels.

"I'll be right back," she promised. "You start eating. I know you're starved."

Erin looked at her sweats draped over a chair in Kelly's bedroom, a dirty, purple jelly stain down the front courtesy of dropped toast that morning. She searched her drawer, no sleepy clothes in sight. Hesitantly, she reached for the top drawer, his drawer. She slowly pulled it open, peering in to find … underwear. She slammed it shut.

Next drawer, T-shirts. White ones on top, but CFD shirts below. Erin looked at the sizes, feeling like she might be overstepping, hoping she wasn't. She slipped on the biggest one she could find, taking in the smell as it covered her face. All Kelly. She breathed in deep, that familiar scent of her fireman filling her nostrils. Her fireman. Yes, this shirt was the perfect fit.

Kelly tried to wait, but ended up stuffing one piece down before Erin sauntered in, shyly sporting a CFD T-shirt. His shirt.

He caught sight of the bare legs and let out a long, low whistle.

"Hope you don't mind. My stuff's all dirty…" Erin started, pulling at the hem.

"It's yours. Looks a helluva lot better on you than me," he replied, wiping the sauce off his lips. "I'm sorry the date was a bust. We can try again next week…"

"No, I'm sorry, Kelly. I was so damn late," Erin cut in wanting to ease the disappointment of the night. She didn't know that he'd already gotten over it. Seeing her in his shirt went a long way to erase the stuffy restaurant let down. "But our date isn't a bust. It's just starting," she said moving behind his dining room chair, massaging his shoulders, kissing him on the neck.

Not her style. Not her style at all, but Erin was done waiting for Kelly to make a move. They'd been sleeping together for weeks. But that was the problem - they had been SLEEPING together. Yes, there were kisses and caresses, but the minute it was going further, Kelly would pull away.

He was definitely not pulling away now. He got up, sliding his chair roughly to the side, facing the beautiful brunette, hesitating to touch her.

The fireman ran a single, calloused fingertip from just under her cheek down her neck, feeling the thump thump of her heartbeat, taking pleasure in the steadiness of it, the surety of it. Both of his hands were suddenly in her hair, his fingers weaving in the brown silk, his face pushed into the tangled mess. Kelly inhaled deeply, taking a second to pause and let her scent truly enter him. His mouth collided with hers and there was no stopping him. The world could have fallen away and Severide wouldn't have noticed.

His chest heaved with a pleasure he hadn't felt in so long as Erin arched her back, pressing her chest into him. He lifted her up off her feet, sliding her up against the wall, staring into those hazel eyes, face to face. Her lips parted slightly and Kelly pressed his tongue lightly around the small opening, tasting the sweetness of her mouth that was all Erin. She moaned loudly, dropping to the floor with Kelly on top of her.

Erin's hands trembled against his cheeks, control gone, her body doing what it wanted as if having a mind of its own. She arched her back again slowly sliding her hands down his neck to his chest.

The sweet smell of their sweat intermingled in a passion made of a pent up wanting, a longing so deep, lasting so many weeks, now released as the couple let themselves get lost in each other. Completely lost.

"I think this is now my favorite room in this joint," Kelly gruffed out, his voice coming back to him, his breath returning as well.

"This joint?" Erin questioned, also catching her breath, her head propped up in her hand. "This is your joint. I think I agree though," she said, her hoarse laugh ringing out.

Damn, that laugh, thought the fireman. It's gonna be the death of me. He was okay with that. Death by Erin's laugh. Death by Erin's dimples, her eyes, her body. Yes, he was definitely okay with that.

Kelly picked up the T-shirt, a rumpled pile at his side. Erin snatched it out of his hands, covering her face with it.

"Where'd you go?" he asked, pulling the shirt down, chuckling at the smile he found underneath.

"I'm here," she answered, pecking him on the forehead. "I'm right here," she said, smile spreading to her eyes.

"Let's keep it that way," Kelly commented, so full of happiness he couldn't remember the last time he was so content.

"You got it," Erin said, pulling the shirt over her head.

"Hey! You don't need that yet," he said, stopping her in mid pull.

Erin's laugh rang out again and round two began. The pizza was officially cold. And long forgotten.

XXXX

A month flitted by and the date measured up to all those Severide expectations… in the most unexpected way, in the best way. The couple sharing a bed actually became a couple sharing a bed. Erin brought her stuff over, little by little, and before she knew it, she was moved in. The day she sublet her place cemented their "living together" status. No fanfare, no announcement … it was their way, nothing conventional, but somehow just right.

Another month rang by and the guys at 51 didn't really talk about their lieutenant without sayin' Kelly and Erin… up at 21 Voight rarely spoke to his girl without saying, "You guys wanna head up Sunday? Thinkin' about throwin' something on the grill…" It was Kelly and Erin, Erin and Kelly … a couple, a match, a perfect match.

The cold winter day said stay inside, crank up the heat, snuggle in front of the TV and sip hot cocoa to ward off the deep freeze temps outside. But Erin decided she wanted to get Kelly a new coat, a real winter coat, something better than that macho leather jacket he always wore.

"That thing CANNOT possibly keep you warm," Erin insisted, trying to zip it up, his hands pushing off any zipper action.

"This old thing is warmer than your 23 layers, babe," Severide insisted right back.

Erin's raspy laugh rang out in its familiar way.

"But whatever you want," Kelly said giving into those dimples. Always.

Erin took her man's arm in hers as they headed outside. Macy's was the goal. She'd done her homework and found the perfect Kelly North Face coat on sale at the retailer. She knew he was more of a purchaser and not a shopper. They'd get in and out before he even knew he was at Macy's. That was the plan.

The walk from the parking garage to their destination was like competing in the Iditarod, the freezing temps, the slippery pavement, the piles of snow.

Erin watched as Kelly shivered uncontrollably, not able to suppress a smile. Warm my ass, she thought smugly. She tried to wrap her arms around him, but he was having none of that, draping an arm around her shoulders as their pace picked up.

She gazed up at him as they reached the doors, thinking about how she loved the way he would never admit he was cold. She realized she loved all the little things about this man at her side.

She loved the way he gave a couple of bucks to the old man on the corner, palm up. The way his smile could light up any room. The way he flirted with Platt anytime he visited Erin unexpectedly at 21. The way he brought her flowers in spite of her saying they were a waste of money.

Erin even loved those things that would drive a normal woman crazy. She loved the way he insisted he was all good, even when he wasn't. The way he clamped his mouth shut at the mention of Nicole Meyer. The way he puffed his chest up at the sight of Jay Halstead. The infuriating way he took the weight of the world on his shoulders.

She watched as he tried on her pre-selected jacket and declared, "This one'll work."

"I love you, Kelly Severide," Erin blurted out.

Kelly stared at her, eyes wide, looking at her through the mirror he'd been admiring the coat in.

"I love you too, Erin Lindsay," he said to her reflection. He turned around, taking her in his arms, wrapping his jacket around her small body, both of them cocooned in the warmth. "I love you," he repeated, whispering it in her ear this time.

Erin had another thing to add to her list. She loved the way he held her, nothing could touch her in his arms. Nothing.

But it was the way he said, "I love you," that made its way to the top of her list. Yes, she decided, that was what she loved most of all.

Hope you enjoyed the sweet! God knows I put him through enough sour. Ha! This one is officially done, wasn't really going to get into their life together. Thanks for reading!