Hitting Reset Season 5: Family Life Part 3

Chapter 335

Meanwhile, back at Matt's birthday party at Molly's:
Matt's POV: As I sit on the patio here at Molly's with Severide, I smiled as I look at the nice cigar I have in my hand (which I have yet to start smoking). Turning to look at me after taking a puff of his, Kelly went to make a joke. "You forget how to smoke?" I snickered a bit when he said that. "Oh trust me, I remember how to smoke a cigar man. It's just weird I guess. I have smoked one in over 2 years." Kelly was shocked when I told him that. "It hasn't been 2 years since you smoked one!" I nodded and smiled. "I haven't smoked a cigar since Gabby was pregnant with the boys."

Kelly just stared at me when I said that, still seemingly shocked that was the case. "Holy shit, that's crazy." I needed and agreed with him when he said that. Going to grab my beer, I went to take one last sip before (finally) going ahead and taking a puff of my cigar. Going to exhale, I just smiled. "God, that feels good." Kelly just laughed when I said that. "Let me guess, stress relief?" I sighed and agreed with him when he said that. "Kelly, I brought my daughters home from the hospital for the first time yesterday...after a 7 month stay in the NICU. Trust me, that was hard."

Kelly agreed with me when I said that. "I bet. I saw how stressed you were while we were still there." I sighed and agreed with him. "Didn't help that another one of my friends had twins and then was gone a month later." Kelly seemed confused when I told him that. "Who?" I smiled at him. "The Halsteads." Kelly then just looked at me. "Erin's daughter is almost a year old." I laughed. "Natalie. Or did you forget that I'm friends with her from when I was with Hallie and going to all of those medical mixers with her. God, I don't remember how many hospitals."

Kelly agreed with me when I said that. "I remember when I almost lost you to Springfield!" I laughed when he said that. "Yet, I almost had to go through the same thing. God, that's crazy." Kelly nodded and agreed with me when I told him that. "I don't think I really would've left. I'm still in line for my dad's old Battalion." I turned to look at him when he said that. "Would you really leave Squad 3?" Kelly shrugged when I asked him that. "I'm not sure really. I mean, would you blame me if I got a chance to take over my dad's old Battalion for considering it?"

I shrugged and shook my head. "No way man. Knowing what I know about being a Battalion Chief...I would call you crazy for not wanting to take the opportunity to be a Battalion Chief in your dad's old Battalion." Kelly sighed when I said that. "Yeah, I am pretty sure that first I need to get rid of the problems I have in my marriage right now." I turned to look at him when he said that. "What's going on man? Talk to me. It's just us." Kelly sighed when I told him that. "Did I tell you that Diana, my mother-in-law is still living with us to help with the boys?" I agreed with him.

"Yeah." Kelly then took a breath. "She just sold her place. Apparently, she asked Stella to move in permanently." I smiled and agreed with him. "That's great!" Kelly just turned to look at me when I said that. "Or it isn't...." Kelly then laughed. "Whose side are you on?" I sighed. "Kelly, my mother-in-law lives with me. And trust me when I say this...I'm glad she's there with us. It's such a relief to know that Gabby has her mom there with her should something happen and I'm out. Whether it just be getting groceries or going to shift." Kelly agreed with me when I said that.

"Speaking of shift, when am I getting you back?" I laughed. "July. The day after Hannah and Sofia's first birthday." Kelly seemed shocked when I said that. "How'd you swing that? You should be done paternity leave by now!" I nodded and agreed. "Boden told me to take my paternity leave after they left the hospital. And since I didn't do it with the boys...I took that one too. So, it's my 3 months from when we had the boys and the 3 months for the girls combined. So that brings it to July. But I'm also taking some of it as mental health time."

Kelly turned his head to look at me when I told him that. "Mental health time?" I nodded and agreed with him, smiling,. "Yeah." Kelly then bit his lip. "How'd you get that?" I just glared at him when he asked me that. "PTSD from Gabby giving birth twice in extreme circumstances. Do I have to remind you that Gabby was assaulted when she gave birth to the boys...and then she had a medical condition when she gave birth to the girls?" Kelly agreed with me when I said that and just took a breath. "Sorry about that. You guys just can't get a break can you?"

I shook my head when he asked me that and just sighed. "Well, she's much better now and I'm glad that's the case. All I want in life is for her to be safe and healthy." Kelly agreed with me when I said that and just smiled at me. Going to take another puff of his cigar, he smiled at me. "You think you're getting any tonight?" I smirked when he asked me that. "No comment." Kelly agreed with me. "Good, because I haven't gotten ANY since we brought the boys home." That's when I heard Stella come out. "Okay, that isn't true. We take showers together sometimes."

Turning around, I was shocked to see Stella there. "Hey. I thought that Kelly said you were with the boys." Stella agreed with me. "I was...because Kelton has a cold. But my mom convinced me to come out with you guys. I saw Gabby and she said that you and Kelly were having a birthday cigar out here." I nodded and agreed with her when she said that. Setting my cigar down, I smiled as I walked over to her and then went to hug her. "I'm glad you could come. You pump?" Stella agreed. "Yeah, I am going to be drinking a bit tonight. Kelly, did you already drink?"

Kelly sighed when she asked him that and went to show her his beer. "Sorry Stella, you're going to have to be the DD then." Stella agreed. "Might be better. I'm sure that I'm going to have to pump more the minute I get home. By the way, don't you dare let him complain about my mom when he said that he doesn't want me alone during the day with 3 boys. He said it was either my mom or his mom. I chose my mom!" I laughed and agreed with her. "Okay, I can sense that there's a little bit of drama here so...I'm going to let you guys talk while I go talk to my sister."

Stella agreed with me when I said that. "Yeah, Gabby told me to tell you that they are leaving. Violet has school tomorrow." I nodded and agreed with her when she said that. "Thanks for letting me know. Now, keep the drama on the down-low. Remember that this is my birthday party first." They both agreed with me when I said that and just smiled. "Just go say goodbye to your sister." I nodded and agreed with Stella when she told me that, walking away to go say goodbye to my sister...leaving them alone so that they could talk it out.