The break up was still imminent. Things have gotten better. Kelly and Stella had regained their friendship. It wasn't easy to go back to friends but they both needed one another in their lives in any capacity. There was no hard feelings. The hurt of the breakup has long since past. The feelings they had for each other were still lingering. At least, they were able to have a friendship back.
Kelly, was silently struggling. As much as he loved having Stella back as his friend. He longed for much more. Old Kelly would of gotten back on the saddle with other women. Not this Kelly. He didn't even want to look at other women. There was only one women he wanted to be with and he was convinced that would never change. Kelly had always been able to hide his emotions, not letting people see the truth of how he was feeling. He wasn't doing a good job as any extra time was spent at Mollys when Stella was working. Hour after hour sitting at the bar until close to when Molly's would close. This was not a rare occurrence for Kelly to chill at Mollys with his 51 family but many could see, including Otis and Foster this was different. Making sure he was in Stella's presence whenever possible. That alone was what was keeping him going, giving him that small hope that someday she would be more than his friend again. If he was ever lucky enough to be given a second chance from the love of his life, his priority would be to show Stella the man he could, the man he would be for her and would never let her go again.
Foster was not so supportive of a reunion. Stella was her friend. She saw what Stella went through before the breakup. How Kelly broke her heart. How deeply hard it was for her to end the relationship. How difficult it was for Stella to move forward in the aftermath. Stella was finally in a good place. Foster, was her friend and didn't want to see Stella go through that again. Night after night, she saw Kelly sitting at the bar. Staring at Stella and seeing that puppy dog look in his eyes radiating towards his ex girlfriend. Finally, she felt like she needed to talk with him, showing she had Stella's back. As she confronted the squad lieutenant.
"What are you doing?"
"What?"
"You know?"
"The truth is. I can't stop thinking about her. We were good together and I miss it"
"Severide, you put her through the ringer this last time. Half in and half out. Bailing when things got tough. If you can't step and be the man she deserves, let her move on"
"I CAN'T"
"Really, Severide. She's your friend. If you care about her. Let her be happy"
"Look, Foster. Of course I want her to be happy. There is nothing I want more. Stella is the love of my life. She's it for me. I know is screwed up, royally screwed up. I just can't let her go. I miss her so much and have nothing but regret for losing her"
"Severide. I just care about Stella. She's my friend and I don't want to see her hurt again. If you would of seen her before you broke up and also after. Her heart was shattered into a million pieces. Breaking up was the last thing she wanted. She just couldn't handle being shut out time after time. It literally destroyed her. If it happened again, I don't think she would survive it"
"I get that. I really do. I know you are just being a friend to Stella and protecting her. But I need you to know. Not being with her is something I WON'T SURVIVE. She's my everything. She has changed me. I just want a second chance to show her the man she fell in love with is still there"
"OK. I can see you really love and miss her. I won't stand in either of your way. I will support any decision Stella makes. And support a relationship. I know she still loves you but is scared to go back to that place. You hold her heart in your hands. Always have and always will. Just don't understand one thing?"
"What's that?"
"Why haven't you told her how you feel?"
"I'm scared. Terrified of her not feeling the same way anymore. If she's over me and doesn't want to go back down that road. Scared, I have ruined the best thing that has ever happened to me"
"Talk to her. I promise it will be ok"
