February 2010

Emilia had been invited to a bar with the Dawson siblings to celebrate. Feburary 13th, Emilia Frances' 21st birthday however all her other friends had been on shift that night and little did they know we're going to host a surprise party for her.

"How about we head somewhere else?" Antonio suggested trying to pry the duo from the quirky bar Emilia and Gabby had fallen in love with. There wasn't a coherent response as the two answered with groans of dissatisfaction unhappy they were to be moved.

"Go on then" Emilia agreed reluctantly considering the night was still young and it wasn't going to be her 21st Birthday for ever.

The trio walked down the street of bars, Emilia trying to get the Dawson siblings to follow her into yet another pub she had seen. Eventually making their way to a bar on the corner of 102nd W Bucktown Emilia stopped in her tracks. This had been the bar firehouse 51 and the 21st district gathered after shift, remembering the many times she spent running around after a fundraiser with her best friend as a kid a small tear escaped her eye.

Shaking the thoughts away Emilia made her way towards the corner door of the old building and couldn't help but notice the darkness brushing the thought away as she remembered the dim lighting she continued through the door only to be greeted with cheers and applause.

"SURPRISE!" The people gathered shouted raising their glasses to the birthday words weren't flowing and Mia stood in shock and to be relieved when her best friend engulfed her into a hug.

"Happy Birthday Mia" Severide greeted placing a kiss on his friend's forehead

"Oh my- This" Emilia pulled away from the embrace and quickly flew her hands around in exasperation before turning back to the Dawson siblings "who?"

"It was all Kelly, we just had to get you here" Gabby chuckled

"Thank you, thank you." Emilia quickly returned to her best friends embrace.

After making her greetings Emilia and Gabby made themselves confortable at one of the bar tables whilst Antonio had drawn the short straw to get the drinks.

"Can I get what's on tap for me, whiskey for the birthday girl and a cosmopolitan for my sister over there"

Everyone was so busy socialising they hadn't realised the three men who had arrived. Feeling a hand on her shoulder Emilia was about to hit the owner of the hand but quickly stopped in shock when she saw her high school friend stood there.

"Jay? You're back? When-when did you get home?"

"Yesterday. I'm here with -you remember mouse right?" With a nod from Emilia he called his fellow soldiers over "Mouse and Steve"

"Mouse" Mia engulfed him a hug and held him dearly. Mouse had been a good friend to the newly graduated firefighter. After pulling from the embrace Jay introduced Emilia to the soldier she had yet to meet.

"Steve this is Emilia" And there he stood a man of 6ft with sharp features. His eyes were a piercing green, his smile made Emilia's heart skip a beat.

"Hi, pleasure to meet you" Extending his hand Emilia excepted it almost instantly

"The pleasures all mine ma'am and happy birthday"

And that's how it all started.