Featuring: Matthew Casey, fem!reader, Kelly Severide, Christopher Herrmann, Wallace Boden, Firehouse 51 ensemble
Warnings: the whole station meddling, idiots in love
This time you really have no excuse. Matt didn’t even ask you to do this. But the thing is, he’s Matt now. Your Matt – in your mind at least. It’s been six months since the almost kiss on New Year’s Eve. And you’re still... friends. And because your FRIEND Matt is working on the 4th of July with his men, you decided to take charge of the catering.
On a normal day they find the time to cook and sit down to eat. Today that is unlikely. Since human beings take any excuse – and preferably holidays – to turn off half their brain. With a sigh you get out of Matt’s truck and grab the first cooler along with a box of sports drinks.
You’re about 20 feet from the bay door when Herrmann hollers, “Casey! Your girlfriend is feeding us again!”
The heat spreads all the way down the neckline of your summer dress. In Herrmann’s defence though – he, Cruz and Otis immediately get up to help unload the truck. It looks as if you interrupted them checking gear after a call. You enter the common room and nearly collide with Matt. He grabs your arms and takes a quick step back.
“Hey. So, that’s what you needed my truck for. You’re feeding us – again.”
Before you can summon a protest, he’s taken the cooler and the drink box from you and carried them over to the kitchen counter.
“Well, I figured you’d be busy on the 4th of July.”
“Yeah, we usually are. And with the heat we’ll get even more calls.”
The others bolt through the door, loaded with more supplies. Herrmann looks at you, “You mind setting up a quick lunch? We just came back and still have to put the truck back in order.”
You smile, “That’s what I’m here for.”
“So, would you go out with me?” that’s Kelly’s voice from behind you.
“What?”
He shrugs, “Until now I thought you just kept bringing food to have an excuse to see Casey. But if you’re not – I’d never turn down a pretty lady.”
“Well, tough luck, Kelly. I’m not even remotely interested,” you latch onto the second half of his statement.
Any possible answer is cut off by the next alarm.
For the next seven hours the guys come in, grab something to drink, take a quick bite and the next alarm sounds. They’re even splitting between who checks over the truck and who takes a short break. By the time the sun finally sets, they resemble a group of grouchy, sweat-soaked, exhausted gremlins.
The Gremlins have polished off the food and the drinks you brought for lunch and dinner by six. So, you make a resupply run to the store. When Chief Boden notices the bags and boxes, he comes over to where you’re prepping the next batch of meat filled pastries.
“Hand me the receipt, please.”
“Ugh, that’s really not necessary, Chief.”
He looks at you, “I say it is.”
You hand the receipt over and he hands you twice the amount. Apparently, he’s decided to fully financially cover the holiday catering. Given your mortgage, you say, “Thank you, Chief.”
Waving you off, he takes one of the muffins you brought.
You snuck onto the roof as the fireworks started and enjoyed watching them illuminate the skyline. The guys are still out on a call, probably because of fireworks. Which makes you like the colourful spectacle in front of you a little less. You sincerely hope people finally go to bed or at least stop doing dangerous nonsense.
It’s close to eleven by the time the calls have stopped somewhat. The gremlins get to shower and emerge as very tired, freshly dressed firemen. This time everyone gets to sit around the table and demolish the leftovers as a late-night dinner.
You’re mentally calculating the time it’ll take you to finish cleaning the kitchen and storing the rest. Your eyes are starting to burn and your feet hurt. In the quiet at the table Kelly speaks up, “Casey, get your woman to bed. She’s asleep just sitting there. We’ll take care of the kitchen.”
You blink, “What!?”
Matt looks at you, “Kelly is right, you’re dead on your feet. Do me a favour and lie down in my quarters. You shouldn’t drive home like this.”
You huff and go to lie down. You’re lacking the energy to argue.
Waking up, you nearly fall out of the bed as you try to turn over. Huh. Also, the blanket is only a sheet. But the pillow smells nice. Wait... the pillow smells like Matt?! Right. Alright. You went to bed in Matt’s quarters. Because you were exhausted. But where did your poor man sleep then?
You push off the blanket, get up and remake the bed. You look at your phone to check the time. The screen is black. Yeah, you didn’t charge it at all yesterday. There’s a gentle tap on the door window.
“Come in.”
Matt smiles at you, “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“Ready to head home? The guys packed the truck so I can drop you off at home.”
“Yes, thank you.” You follow him out into the dormitory.
Matt turns. “For what? You were the one who cooked and catered to the whole house for hours on end on a holiday.”
You shake your head. “You were working – on a holiday.”
You both have reached the bay where everybody is lingering. It’s like they’re waiting for something. Then Herrmann calls out, "For God's sake, get married already."
You stare at him, "We're not even dating."
A chorus of voices answers, “That's the problem.”
Followed by Herrmann adding, “Casey, have mercy on the poor woman and ask her out already.”
While Matt replies, “Herrmann, stay out of it.”
You hurry out the bay in the direction of Matt’s truck. Matt doesn’t unlock it immediately after he catches up. Instead, he leans over the truck bed in the early morning light and looks at you. "Would you like to?"
“Like to what?” you shoot back irritated.
“Go out with me,” Matt clarifies.
You take a breath and grip the door handle tighter, yet your answer comes out as a quiet huff, “Yes, please.”
This is the official companion to No Resolutions for New Year's Eve
Hence these idiots wouldn't leave Herrmann, Kelly, or me alone.
My contribution to the 4th of July celebrations of 2026. Happy holiday, dear readers across the pond!
Featuring: Matthew Casey, fem!reader, Kelly Severide, Christopher Herrmann, Wallace Boden, Firehouse 51 ensemble
Warnings: the whole station meddling, idiots in love
This time you really have no excuse. Matt didn’t even ask you to do this. But the thing is, he’s Matt now. Your Matt – in your mind at least. It’s been six months since the almost kiss on New Year’s Eve. And you’re still... friends. And because your FRIEND Matt is working on the 4th of July with his men, you decided to take charge of the catering.
On a normal day they find the time to cook and sit down to eat. Today that is unlikely. Since human beings take any excuse – and preferably holidays – to turn off half their brain. With a sigh you get out of Matt’s truck and grab the first cooler along with a box of sports drinks.
You’re about 20 feet from the bay door when Herrmann hollers, “Casey! Your girlfriend is feeding us again!”
The heat spreads all the way down the neckline of your summer dress. In Herrmann’s defence though – he, Cruz and Otis immediately get up to help unload the truck. It looks as if you interrupted them checking gear after a call. You enter the common room and nearly collide with Matt. He grabs your arms and takes a quick step back.
“Hey. So, that’s what you needed my truck for. You’re feeding us – again.”
Before you can summon a protest, he’s taken the cooler and the drink box from you and carried them over to the kitchen counter.
“Well, I figured you’d be busy on the 4th of July.”
“Yeah, we usually are. And with the heat we’ll get even more calls.”
The others bolt through the door, loaded with more supplies. Herrmann looks at you, “You mind setting up a quick lunch? We just came back and still have to put the truck back in order.”
You smile, “That’s what I’m here for.”
“So, would you go out with me?” that’s Kelly’s voice from behind you.
“What?”
He shrugs, “Until now I thought you just kept bringing food to have an excuse to see Casey. But if you’re not – I’d never turn down a pretty lady.”
“Well, tough luck, Kelly. I’m not even remotely interested,” you latch onto the second half of his statement.
Any possible answer is cut off by the next alarm.
For the next seven hours the guys come in, grab something to drink, take a quick bite and the next alarm sounds. They’re even splitting between who checks over the truck and who takes a short break. By the time the sun finally sets, they resemble a group of grouchy, sweat-soaked, exhausted gremlins.
The Gremlins have polished off the food and the drinks you brought for lunch and dinner by six. So, you make a resupply run to the store. When Chief Boden notices the bags and boxes, he comes over to where you’re prepping the next batch of meat filled pastries.
“Hand me the receipt, please.”
“Ugh, that’s really not necessary, Chief.”
He looks at you, “I say it is.”
You hand the receipt over and he hands you twice the amount. Apparently, he’s decided to fully financially cover the holiday catering. Given your mortgage, you say, “Thank you, Chief.”
Waving you off, he takes one of the muffins you brought.
You snuck onto the roof as the fireworks started and enjoyed watching them illuminate the skyline. The guys are still out on a call, probably because of fireworks. Which makes you like the colourful spectacle in front of you a little less. You sincerely hope people finally go to bed or at least stop doing dangerous nonsense.
It’s close to eleven by the time the calls have stopped somewhat. The gremlins get to shower and emerge as very tired, freshly dressed firemen. This time everyone gets to sit around the table and demolish the leftovers as a late-night dinner.
You’re mentally calculating the time it’ll take you to finish cleaning the kitchen and storing the rest. Your eyes are starting to burn and your feet hurt. In the quiet at the table Kelly speaks up, “Casey, get your woman to bed. She’s asleep just sitting there. We’ll take care of the kitchen.”
You blink, “What!?”
Matt looks at you, “Kelly is right, you’re dead on your feet. Do me a favour and lie down in my quarters. You shouldn’t drive home like this.”
You huff and go to lie down. You’re lacking the energy to argue.
Waking up, you nearly fall out of the bed as you try to turn over. Huh. Also, the blanket is only a sheet. But the pillow smells nice. Wait... the pillow smells like Matt?! Right. Alright. You went to bed in Matt’s quarters. Because you were exhausted. But where did your poor man sleep then?
You push off the blanket, get up and remake the bed. You look at your phone to check the time. The screen is black. Yeah, you didn’t charge it at all yesterday. There’s a gentle tap on the door window.
“Come in.”
Matt smiles at you, “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“Ready to head home? The guys packed the truck so I can drop you off at home.”
“Yes, thank you.” You follow him out into the dormitory.
Matt turns. “For what? You were the one who cooked and catered to the whole house for hours on end on a holiday.”
You shake your head. “You were working – on a holiday.”
You both have reached the bay where everybody is lingering. It’s like they’re waiting for something. Then Herrmann calls out, "For God's sake, get married already."
You stare at him, "We're not even dating."
A chorus of voices answers, “That's the problem.”
Followed by Herrmann adding, “Casey, have mercy on the poor woman and ask her out already.”
While Matt replies, “Herrmann, stay out of it.”
You hurry out the bay in the direction of Matt’s truck. Matt doesn’t unlock it immediately after he catches up. Instead, he leans over the truck bed in the early morning light and looks at you. "Would you like to?"
“Like to what?” you shoot back irritated.
“Go out with me,” Matt clarifies.
You take a breath and grip the door handle tighter, yet your answer comes out as a quiet huff, “Yes, please.”
This is the official companion to No Resolutions for New Year's Eve
Hence these idiots wouldn't leave Herrmann, Kelly, or me alone.
My contribution to the 4th of July celebrations of 2026. Happy holiday, dear readers across the pond!
When Katie bakes them a cake for pride, Casey and Severide realize that there's another part of discovering their sexualities that they hadn't exactly thought about.
AO3
***
Despite the fact that they have the boys and Katie and know that Christie, Violet and Severide’s brothers are coming over after their shift, when they get home Katie assures them that she can take care of the boys for a bit longer to let them get some sleep.
So, it’s no surprise when they wake a few hours later that they hear the sounds of gleefully screaming children from the backyard and laughter from their sisters. It’s, honestly, one of the best sounds in the world.
There had been a part of Casey that always wanted a family and never thought he’d really get one, and even years since they adopted the boys and falling in love with Severide this year, it’s still hard to believe.
But as they step outside to see some sort of water war going on, he can’t help thinking that he’s just insanely lucky.
It only takes a second for everyone to realize that they’re awake and for them to turn their water guns on them.
“Hey, no fair!” Casey yells when Severide dodges behind him. But he’s quick to find some water guns laying on the picnic table next to paints of different colors and the kids’ art of colored flags that he’ll look at later.
He turns his water gun on Severide who is getting soaked despite his best efforts to use Casey as a human shield.
He’s yelling and dodging as he tries to find a water gun himself. Christie gets him wet, distracting him from the fact that he’s getting wet from above, but as soon as he does, he glances up to see Ben and Caden in the treehouse, covering for the kids on the ground against him, Severide and their sisters, which deeply unfair.
“It’s cheating to be in the tree!” he yells, but his words are drowned out by the water raining down on him.
He hears Severide laughing behind him, followed by a playfully annoyed, “HEY!” when he’s drenched in water by the kids on the ground.
“That’s what you get,” Casey teases, even as Katie and Christie turn their guns on him.
Well, damn, guess they didn’t need that shower this morning.
***
It takes a while for everyone to settle down and dry out. Laughing and teasing about teaming up against Severide and Casey.
“I see you spent the morning trying to get the kids to team up against us while we were sleeping,” Severide teases as he starts up the grill.
“Yes, while you were just sleeping off your shift, we decided that we were going to mess with you,” Katie teases with a look in her eyes that suggests that were decidedly not as quiet as they tried to be.
He hears Casey choke on his water from where he’s chatting with Christie about the kids’ paintings, as Severide offers, “Oops?”
Katie just laughs. “You’d think you’d be better at hiding considering you have kids.”
“Well, we did everything backwards, so…” he glances over at the boys playing monkey in the middle with Violet as the monkey (at least for the moment). “… besides, the boys didn’t seem to notice.”
“That’s because they’re too young to notice,” Katie offers. “Me, though, I definitely noticed, and you should remember that your bedroom is on the floor with the kitchen and living room and dining room… you know right where visitors hang out.”
“And here, I thought you’d be outside plotting your sneak attack…”
Katie’s shaking her head with a laugh. “I was trying to bake your cake before it got too hot, and I thought you two went straight to bed –”
“Technically, we did –”
“Sev!” Casey warns.
Severide laughs as he spots the flush on Casey’s face and knows that he and Katie don’t have the same sibling type relationship that Casey has with Christie, and they definitely tend to say some inappropriate things at times.
“I wasn’t going to –”
“You baked us a cake?” Casey prompts turning from Severide to Katie, who’s giggling at them.
“Yes,” she says, excitedly. “I am very proud of the art I did. Can’t wait for you to see it.”
“Can we show them now, Aunt Katie?” Ben asks, apparently abandoning the game and causing the others to stop. “We can show you what we made for you, too.”
“Sure,” Severide offers, even though he’s confused about what art she added or why she made them a cake. “We’d love to see it.”
Katie grins. “Awesome. I’ll get go it.”
He’s immediately distracted by Ben pulling him away from the grill to where the kids’ paintings are drying on the picnic table.
“This one’s for you, dad.”
He gestures at a painting that he thinks is meant to be him and Casey and they’re both holding colored flags. Griffin’s painting, too, has them and the same two – yet, different – colored flags with him and Ben squeezed in there, too.
“It’s great, buddy,” Severide assures him.
“Yeah, great painting, kid,” Casey offers. “But why are the flags odd colors?”
Ben gives him a confused look. “They’re your flags.”
“Our flags?” Severide questions, glancing at an equally confused Casey.
Before anyone could respond, Katie comes out with a cake that also has the same two flags crossing. One that has a black triangle with thin purple stripe coming out of the triangle with a white stripe on top and grey stripe on bottom. The other with three horizontal stripes – the middle a thinner purple with the top pink and the bottom blue thicker stripes.
The words Happy Pride are written underneath the flags.
Katie puts the cake on the table with a little “Ta-Da,” smiling and grinning and he’s still a little confused.
“It’s, uh, very pretty, Katie,” Casey offers when no one moves for a minute – waiting on their response. “But what is … pride? And what are these flags?”
For a second, Katie’s mouth opens and closes, clearly because she doesn’t know what to say and ends up with, “Wasn’t Shay a lesbian?”
“Yes,” Severide says, slowly. “What does that –”
“She never talked to you about pride? About the lesbian flag or anything else?” Katie questions, sounding genuinely confused. “You said you – you started wondering a year ago, didn’t you do research?”
Casey shakes his head as Severide contemplates how to tell her about his research. “Don’t ask him about his research, it’s not going to be what you think it is.”
Katie makes a face, shakes her head and laughs. “You two really just went – eh, we want to date each other and nothing else matters, right?”
“Yes,” Severide offers because he honestly hadn’t thought about anything else. All he wanted was to kiss Casey and never stop. “Although I did make a reddit thread, but that was more about if Casey liked me.”
“Kendra gave me a book,” Casey offers with a shrug. “Which helped me figure things out – I wasn’t really sure exactly. But yeah, pretty much.”
Katie laughs and shakes her head as Christie offers, “Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, identity and history. June is pride month. Katie – we – thought with you two coming out to us that we’d honor that.”
Casey offers her a hug before asking, “So, what do the flags mean? Isn’t there only one flag?”
“Yeah, I think Shay had a flag that she said was the flag of her people, but I thought she was just making things up,” Severide offers. “Or that it was just a general flag. Neither of these looks like that one, though.”
The look Katie’s giving him is one of disbelief and mouths, “Wow,” at him.
Christie looks like trying not to laugh as Violet says, “There are a lot of different flags now.”
She pulls out her phone and shows something to Casey scans through them for a minute and says, “Yours is the pink, purple, blue one. Mine’s better.”
“Better?” he teases. “How so? It’s grey.”
“It’s not just grey and it’s got more of a design to it,” he offers, but he’s eyes are bright as he teases.
“Haha,” Severide offers as Violet launches into an explanation of the colors on the bi flag versus the colors on the demi flag.
He only finds himself mildly distracted by the fact that he’s gotten distracted from the grill and burning their burgers, but he listens as she explains, smiling slightly. It’s not exactly something that he really thought about in the last year.
Like, objectively, he knew he was bi. He knew there was an easy term for it, and he knew that he liked both men and women and particularly, Casey, but he never really looked into anything else. He doesn’t remember any mention of pride or more than one flag when he lived with Shay (she did have the lesbian flag up at their place) and he never really asked questions about Shay’s love life. They had a deal – no interference – and they kept to it, even when he wished that they wouldn’t keep to it. And when he was talking to Kendra, he never really asked about the history and stuff either. He knew, of course, of the parade and march, but he never really thought too deeply about it.
He was more interested in figuring out if his interest was worth the chaos (and wouldn’t mess up what they have) than anything else, but as he looks at the crossing flags on the cake and hears the conversation about pride and whatnot (at least what Katie and Christie know of it), he wonders if maybe he should care to learn more about that stuff.
Especially since it’s now a part of him, even if he and Casey hadn’t exactly put any more thought into it other than wanting to be with each other.
He catches Casey’s eye as he puts the food in the middle of the picnic table, and he knows he’s wondering the same thing. Maybe it’s something that they can explore together, but that’s something for later.
Right now, he just wants to enjoy celebrating with their family and their new colored flags, couldn’t ask for anything better than this.
