After a season of soul-searching and uncertainty, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) finally received the life-changing news fans were hoping for: Stella is pregnant. The Season 13 finale marked a turning point for the beloved couple — affectionately known as Stellaride — setting the stage for a whole new chapter when Chicago Fire returns in Season 14.
💭 A Complicated Journey to Parenthood
Pregnancy has always been a complex and emotional topic for Stella. Unlike Severide, who was ready early on, Stella had deep-rooted hesitations — shaped by her past, her childhood, and the realities of being a woman in the fire service.
“It is more complicated for a female firefighter than a male firefighter,” said showrunner Andrea Newman. “This season was really about [Stella] coming to understand all of that.”
Throughout Season 13, the couple explored adoption and other paths to parenthood. For Stella, it wasn’t just about logistics — it was personal. Watching her cousin navigate motherhood and remembering how her aunt struggled with postpartum depression forced Stella to confront her own fears.
“She started to truly believe this is something not only that she can do, but that she really wants to do,” Newman explained. “By the end of Episode 20, she believed in herself enough to be ready for whatever parenthood was going to look like.”
🔥 Parenthood Raises the Stakes for Firehouse 51
When Season 14 begins, Stella and Severide will have more than just fires to fight. The emotional and physical risks of being first responders while expecting a child will become a central theme.
“You think the stakes are high now,” Newman said. “What if you’re both trapped in a fire together and realize you could leave your child orphaned? That’s what happened to Kidd when she was young. It’s a big fear of hers.”
With their love still strong, Newman promised fans that while the tension will rise, Stellaride will remain a dynamic, romantic force. The upcoming season will explore how parenthood challenges them emotionally, professionally, and romantically.
“It’s a way to really amp everything up… while keeping them in love and sexy and all the things we like about them together,” she added.
⏳ What’s Next in Season 14?
While a time jump is expected between seasons (as is tradition for the show), how far ahead we leap — and how deep into Stella’s pregnancy we arrive — remains a mystery. What’s certain is that parenthood will redefine everything for Stella and Severide, on and off the job.
Stay tuned — Chicago Fire Season 14 returns this fall, and Firehouse 51 will never be the same.
