Title: Worth Waiting For
Chapter 1 - Pushing Back

Summary: He wanted her and knew she wanted him, but it wasn't the right time and he knew anything worth having was worth waiting for. She was worth waiting for. Based on eppy 6.06 'Down is Better' #stellaride.

Disclaimer: Same as always. I own nothing but my muse and my love for all things #stellaride

A/N: Ah dang finale! On a plus note am sooooo happy that lying Hope is gone (HOPEfully for good‼) and I loved all the #Stellaride in this eppy and hope you like this little piece as much as me.

Note: As always "words in quotes and double italics taken from the eppy" single quotes or without are past convo's or thoughts.

She didn't care that she was drunk; she needed it after the day she had. The highest high – saving the mother and then her baby and feeling that rush surge inside her she always got when rushing head first into a fiery situation – to the lowest low, her sudden transfer to the CFD headquarters in a role she professionally loathed – public relations. After her tumulus day, she just wanted to go to Molly's and…get hammered – forget about life for a while. And she did, that is until her current irritant – Hope showed up and sat down at the same table with Brett, opposite her and Kelly Severide.

Stella tried not to read into it because Hope did come through in the end, but the way Hope looked at her with that fake smile when her and Kelly would share a past moment, rubbed her the wrong way. Everything about Hope rubbed her the wrong way and she wished she could let go of her inner resentment but it wasn't possible; she knew something wasn't right with Hope and wished others seen it also.

However, her brain just told herself to have another and another…regardless of food which would have countered some of the effects of what the golden poison was doing to her already supercharged system. But as soon as she started to get verbally loud, Hope looked at Stella with a hidden look of disdain which quickly turned to a fake smile that so far Brett had bought. What she really wanted was Stella to get to the point of being so obnoxious that she'd bake herself unwelcomed but everyone from 51 made concession – she's having a bad day and can you blame her, that she could only sit and seethe.

"Alright…time to go," Kelly suggested as he gently took Stella by the arm; much to Hope's dismay.

"I'm fine…I'm…" Stella insisted as Kelly insisted once more. A few more eyebrows raised and Brett could only offer her very inebriated friend a sympathetic glance.

"Time to go," Kelly insisted with a bit more force as Stella finally gave in.

"Okay…alright," she grumbled as she grabbed her red coat and slightly stumbled to her feet, her hand instantly seizing his strong arm to steady herself as she slowly stumbled toward the door and outside into the cool night air.

Stella slumped down into the passenger seat of Kelly's car and cast a miserable stare outside at the front entrance of Molly's. "Public relations…" she muttered in disdain as Kelly's brow furrowed heavily. "I mean how come…this sucks."

"Casey and Boden will figure it out," Kelly promised her as they neared their shared loft.

"51 is my home!" She argued back with a slight slur as she looked at him with a frustrated gaze. "My home and now…damn desk monkey."

He could only offer her a slight smirk as he stopped the car and the two of them got out.

"Home sweet home," Stella drawled as she pressed her body a bit further into his; Kelly's arm instantly wrapping around her and holding her – mostly upright. "You smell good," she whispered as her lips nuzzled his neck. Of course he loved the attention but knew she was drunk and it might result in something they could both regret. Or they could just get it on, enjoy the night and take the chance she might not remember it the next morning.

As soon as his door opened, Stella upped it one notch when she grabbed Kelly by the arm, spun him around to face her and instantly pressed her lips against his. The feel of his strong body against hers; the husky warmth of his scent and the fact that she remembered their nights in the past, fueled her strong desire for him. However, a few seconds later he pulled back and looked at her with a small smile; her expression instantly drooping.

"Not like this," Kelly told her softly.

"But…"

"No," he insisted as he put a bit more distance between them. "Goodnight," he added softly as she looked at him in disappointment. Kelly had surprised himself by not actually giving in; his brain not following the orders of his body which wanted her – badly. His hand offered hers a small squeeze as he passed by and offered one more goodnight before he headed for his room and then disappeared inside. Once inside, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He could hear her shuffling around in the main living space, grumbling at something. Go to her…she's had a hellish day and just found out she's leaving her professional home…her family! His brain scolded as he lingered.

Console her…that was something he could do. And if she wanted more…she does want more! His brain reminded him as he yanked off his jacket and tossed onto the bed. He thought his brain had won out but a few seconds later, his body finally won the physical battle and he found himself opening the door and then slowly heading into the main living area.

Kelly stopped as he looked at the couch and saw Stella lying down – asleep. For the best he reasoned as he quietly crept toward her, draped a blanket across her slender frame and then planted a tender kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight," he whispered once more before he tiptoed back to his own bedroom, carefully closed the door and sunk into his own covers; falling into his own darkness a few moments later.

XXXXXXXX

Stella awoke the next morning with a pounding head and a dry taste in her mouth. Damn…how much did I drink last night…she inwardly cursed herself as she looked up to see Kelly seated at the table looking at that paper with a mug of steaming coffee a few inches from his left hand.

"Ouch…" she groaned as her face crunched from another painful throb in her head. "Don't…judge," she stated with a frustrated huff.

Kelly could only chuckle and nod in agreement before he added, "I've had a few benders in my day," and looked back down at the morning news. "And the problem is you always end up like that in the morning," he added softly as Stella inwardly cursed herself once more.

"How did I get back to the apartment last night?" Stella asked as she tried to get some inward clarity from the fuzzy events of the night before.

"I brought you," Kelly told her in truth.

"Wow I…" Stella stammered as events actually started to clarify somewhat and she was able to recall a few details. "I do not remember anything…past Molly's."

He looked at her and she looked at him and both knew – they had each given the other a way out; a reason to not make the come-on, drunken kiss any more awkward than it might have been. But each knew…she recalled the kiss and he knew she did. But she wasn't asking and he wasn't telling. Maybe it wasn't the time?

Kelly's gaze continued locked with hers but instead of disappointment she could see something else in his warm blue sapphires – contentment? He had been there for her in a tough time and wasn't asking anything in return. He got it. She needed that and her warm chocolate pools found themselves drowning in pools of blue and it was a feeling that she didn't want to let go of – just yet. She found strength in his silent gaze. Affection? Possibly. Something more growing? Absolutely. But now wasn't the moment to make something more of it. She wanted the pounding to stop and he wanted to help her feel better.

And he did by a kind but surprising suggestion.

"Want some eggs?" Kelly inquired a few moments later.

She looked at him and felt her heart skip a small beat as she pondered what it was like to have someone want to take care of her…offer to help her feel better – no strings attached. "Will it help my head to stop throbbing?"

"Can't hurt," Kelly lightly quipped as he slowly stood up to put his suggestion into action. She rolled over onto her side and watched him get up and head for the fridge. She wanted more than anything to get up, cross the room in a few long strides, take him in her arms and hold him close. Hug him tight. Not let go. Anything worth having is worth fighting for…

Kelly glanced over and looked at Stella on the couch with a somewhat distant distressed expression and felt his heart slightly sink. But he was glad he had stuck to his guns on waiting and reminded himself something that something worth having was something worth waiting for.

And they'd both come to realize in the end…they were right. Something worth waiting for is something worth fighting for!

THE END?

A/N: So….would love your thoughts on this little piece. I wasn't sure if I should leave it there or extend and do another OS (or part 2) to include Stella's small stint at the PR office and her coming back to 51 but you all let me know in your review. If you want a part two I might be able to convince Alice to write one up for you all. Thanks everyone #Stellaride all the way!