#3 Sunshine And Roses

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Good grief Severide, what's with you tapping your feet? I can barely hear myself think?!" Cruz asked as he stood up from the squad table, Kelly rolling his eyes. "Cruz, since when do you think?" Cruz looked at Kelly and rolled his eyes, brushing his hands off on his pants. "At least I have common sense" "That explains why you're still single," Tony laughed, Cruz lightly slapping him on his arm. "Tony, shut up," Cruz mumbled as he looked back at Severide, crossing his arms. "Now back to you, what's with the tapping? Are you nervous or something?" "Cruz, do you ever get this feeling in your gut that something is going to happen but you just don't know when and why?" Cruz nodded and so did the rest of the guys at the squad table, Max walking over and sitting down in one of the chairs, running his hands through his hair. "Whoa what's wrong with you Max, Violet getting on your case again?" Capp asked, Max sighing. "I guess you could say that. She's constantly nagging me and yelling at me for the little things that I do. Instead of marrying a wife, I feel like I married my own mother," Max explained, everyone laughing. "Anyways Lieutenant, I'm always getting that feeling and for me, it never goes away. It almost feels as if I know something is coming, but I just don't know what it is yet," Cruz said, Kelly shrugging. "Whatever I'm feeling I don't like it and while I'm sitting here with you guys doing absolutely nothing, I could be dancing with my daughter at her school dance. "Is that what's bugging you?" Tony asked as he slowly stood up, Kelly nodding. "Yeah I guess so, why?" "I'm bringing you to that dance... Hell all of us are." "No Tony, you don't have to do that and plus if you haven't noticed, we're on shift." "So what?! We just tell the Chief we're heading out and we'll keep our radios on, no harm no foul." "There is when it comes to people in a burning building screaming for their lives and waiting to be rescued..." "Shut up Cruz," Tony said annoyed as he turned around and gave Cruz a death stare, Cruz stepping back and holding his hands up in surrender. "Anyways like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we're bringing you." "Tony..." "Don't come up with any excuses Severide. I remember when I danced with my daughter at her dance, it brought us closer together. Severide, this kind of thing doesn't happen everyday, so don't let moments like these pass you by," Tony told Kelly as he started to walk toward the truck, the rest of squad following after him. "You know, you're really starting to sound like Sylvie the way you talk," Kelly told Tony as he got into the squad truck, Tony shrugging. "Well what can I say? Your Sylvie is a sweet girl. She always knows the right words to say."

"Mom, I don't know if I can do this," Alexa said as she sat in the back of the car, Tensley placing her hand on Alexa's leg, gently patting it. Sylvie looked through the rear view mirror of the car and stared at her daughters face, looking at her as if the word fear was written across her forehead. Sylvie then turned around and leaned over, brushing her hand on the side of Alexa's cheek. "Baby girl, you can do this. I remember when I was your age and went to my last middle school dance. I had the time of my life," Sylvie told her, Alexa shrugging. "I know I'm not scared about that but what if, what if dad doesn't show up for the daddy daughter dance? I'll be standing out there looking like an idiot," Alexa said as she hanged her head in sadness, Sylvie lifting her head back up by gently lifting her chin. "Alexa look at me... Your father would never ever disappoint you like that. He will be here, I promise," Sylvie said, a smile spreading across Alexa's face. "I love you mom," Alexa told her as she climbed out of the car, Tensley getting out on the other side. "I love you too," Sylvie replied as she pulled away, Alexa and Tensley watching her go. "You know, you have great parents," Tensley told her, Alexa looking at her cousin and smiling. "Yeah, I do don't I?" Alexa replied back chuckling as they walked into the school together, heading into the gym where the dance was being held. "Well look who it is... Alexa Severide," a familiar voice suddenly said, Alexa turning around, finding herself staring into the face of Marcus, Tensley rolling her eyes. "What do you want Marcus?" Tensley asked as she crossed her arms, Marcus looking at her and biting his lip. "What do I want? I want to talk to Alexa, alone," Marcus replied looking back at Alexa, Alexa blushing. "Well, that's not going to happen," Tensley snapped at him, Alexa looking at her cousin and placing a hand on her shoulder, slowly nodding her head. "Ten, why don't you head inside? I'll join you in two minutes, I promise." "You better because if you're not back within those two minutes, I'm going to open up a can of butt kick you got it?" Tensley asked as she placed her hands on her hips and looked at Marcus, Marcus slowly nodding his head, not sure if he should be scared or not. "You got it..." he mumbled as Tensley shoved past him and walked into the party, immediately being greeted by a bunch of friends. "Wow, your cousin sure is something," Marcus nervously chuckled, Alexa crossing her arms. "What do you want to talk about Marcus? You heard Tensley, two minutes..." Alexa replied repeatedly tapping her wrist, Marcus sighing. "Follow me," he whispered to her as he started to walk down the hallway, Alexa quickly following after him, always looking back to make sure nobody was following them. "In here," Marcus said as he slowly opened a classroom door, Alexa quickly walking inside and Marcus doing the same, quietly closing the door behind them. "Why have you been avoiding me at school?" Marcus suddenly asked, Alexa looking at him surprised. "I haven't been avoiding you. It's just that you've been a real jerk and my parents get a bad vibe about you. You've already pretty much got on my dads bad side." "Yeah I've noticed. I think that's only because I'm the only first true boy that takes interest in his daughter who wants to show much he cares for her publicly." Marcus told her as Alexa looked him up and down, noticing his mismatched socks. "Nice tux, but your socks don't match," she silently chuckled, Marcus smirking. "I knew that would make you laugh," he told her, Alexa staring into his eyes, her heart beating within her chest. Before she could even say another word, Marcus had her against the wall, his forehead rested against hers. "Alexa I know I've been a jerk, but I only acted the way I did is because I thought you liked boys with that type of attitude. I only did it to impress you and quite frankly, that's really not who I am." "Then show me who you really are," Alexa whispered, Marcus sliding his hand into hers before placing his lips onto hers and leading the kiss, Alexa slowly melting in his arms. When they pulled away Alexa felt Marcus lifting her up into his arms, Marcus looking up at her and smiling. "Alexa, from here on out I promise you'll be my number one priority. I don't ever want to be the reason why your gorgeous smile gets wiped off your face. Let me show you the real me. Alexa when I'm with you, I feel like I can finally be myself around you and I don't have to wear a mask. Since a couple minutes ago, the moment I laid my lips onto yours, I crumpled up that mask, and I'm ready to tell you about the real me," Marcus said, Alexa wiping away a tear that fell from her eye before wrapping her arms around Marcus' neck, leaning down and placing a kiss on his lips, it suddenly getting heated. Once they have pulled back, Alexa fixed Marcus' hair and smiled, Marcus placing Alexa back on the ground, twirling a piece of her hair on his finger. "I don't know about you but, I can't wait to get to know the real Marcus," she told him as he smiled, sliding his hand into hers as they exited the classroom, Marcus leading her back towards the dance, Tensley walking back out to the hallway, eyeing Marcus and Alexa, slowly shaking her head. "Um, what happened here?" Tensley asked as she pointed at their two hands, Alexa smiling. "Healing's happened," Alexa replied as she looked at Marcus, Marcus giving her hand a light squeeze. "So, you're all Sunshine And Roses now?" Tensley asked using her fingers to make quotes, both Marcus and Alexa laughing. "Absolutely, now I don't know about you but... I want to get my party on!" Alexa exclaimed, Marcus and Tensley nodding their heads in agreement. "Well what're we waiting for, let's get this party started!" Tensley replied as they walked towards the dance, Alexa and Tensley trailing behind Marcus, Tensley tapping Alexa on the shoulder. "Yeah?" "You know I'll be major third wheeling you two tonight right?"

"Tony, do you even know where you're going?" Kelly asked as he looked up from his phone, realizing the scenery around him was different. "Yeah, I just made a left down Firgland" "Why in the world are you heading towards Chicago Smiles?" Mills asked as he chuckled, Tony eyeing him from the rear view mirror. "That's where the kids go right?" Kelly looked at his friend and slowly shook his head, not knowing what to say without bursting into laughter. "That is where my kids used to go, ten years ago!" Kelly exclaimed laughing, everyone in the squad truck laughing along with him. Tony rolled his eyes and turned the truck around, finally heading in the right direction, not saying a word to anybody on the way there. Once they reached the front of the school, Tony parked the squad truck by the curb and everyone hopped out, Kelly fixing his radio strap. "You ready to do this?" Cruz asked as he placed a hand on Kelly's shoulder, Kelly nodding his head. "Yeah, it already feels as if I'm one step away from her wedding," Kelly replied as he walked towards the school, everyone trailing behind him.

Alexa sat at a table as the daddy daughter dance started to play, watching as her friend Victoria danced with her father, swaying to the music. Marcus saw this out of the corner of his eye and walked over to Alexa's table, sitting in the chair next to her. "You okay?" Marcus asked as Alexa looked at him and shrugged. "Not really. Once again, my dad didn't stick to his word. He told me he'd be here," Alexa replied, Marcus placing his hand on top of Alexa's. "I wouldn't worry. He probably got held up at work or something" "No he didn't, he probably forgot. Trust me, this wouldn't be the first time he's let me down."