Over the years, Chicago Fire has built a reputation for tugging heartstrings through high-stakes rescues and emotional personal arcs—but there’s one recurring plot device the show just can’t seem to resist: babies. From Gabby Dawson’s heartbreaking custody battle to Cruz’s adoption of Javi, the path to parenthood has always been paved with turmoil, loss, and unexpected twists. Now, it looks like Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide—better known as Stellaride—are the next couple to step onto the baby-go-round. But after a string of similar storylines, it’s time for the series to take a bold, fresh approach.
A Pattern Fans Know All Too Well
There’s a familiar formula when it comes to parenthood in the Chicago Fire universe: a firefighter stumbles upon a child in need, forms an emotional bond, and then gets swept up in a custody crisis or health scare. Gabby’s story with Louie ended in heartbreak. Sylvie Brett’s adoption of baby Julia took a more hopeful turn. Cruz’s transition into fatherhood was touching, yet predictable. And through it all, the stakes rarely deviate: will they keep the child, or will circumstances rip the family apart?
With Stellaride now dipping a toe into the parenting pool—following Kelly’s surprise announcement in the Season 12 finale that he wants to start trying for a baby—Chicago Fire finds itself at a creative crossroads. The couple’s romantic reunion has barely had time to breathe after years of emotional whiplash and physical separation. So the timing of Kelly’s declaration is not only unexpected—it’s downright jarring.
Why Stellaride’s Baby Story Needs a Different Beat
Let’s be clear: Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd are fan favorites. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their resilience as a couple has helped anchor the show in turbulent times. But rushing into a baby storyline—especially one that feels recycled—risks undoing the emotional progress they’ve fought to reclaim.
Instead of following the usual path of fertility issues, tragic loss, or another rushed adoption arc, Season 13 has a rare opportunity to explore the realities of parenting through a new lens—one that challenges not just their love, but their identities.
Imagine this: Stella, fiercely independent and passionate about her career, finds herself struggling with the loss of control pregnancy brings. She hates feeling physically vulnerable. She questions whether she’s cut out to be a mom at all. Meanwhile, Kelly, so certain in his desire to be a father, can’t understand her doubts. Suddenly, their bond is tested—not by external forces, but by the messy, internal conflicts that so many real-life couples face.
Let Kelly’s Brother Shift the Narrative
There’s another intriguing angle the writers could explore: Kelly’s newly-discovered half-brother, Jack Damon. Introduced in a Season 12 twist, Jack represents a piece of family Kelly never knew he needed. Maybe Kelly’s sudden desire to have a child is really about filling a deeper emotional void—and maybe, just maybe, helping Jack adjust to life in Chicago shows Kelly that he’s not quite ready to become a dad after all.
This storyline wouldn’t just be unique—it would be grounded. And in a show where characters regularly leap through windows and run into burning buildings, a little emotional realism could go a long way.
Reinventing the Parenthood Arc
Ultimately, the Chicago Fire writers have a clear challenge ahead: take a storyline we’ve seen time and time again and inject it with something unexpected. Whether it’s exploring the emotional toll of motherhood on a woman used to leading with strength, or allowing Kelly to wrestle with his own past before shaping someone else’s future, there’s room here for nuance—and for real growth.
As Season 13 approaches its September 25 premiere, fans are holding their breath not just for high-octane rescues, but for storytelling that honors how far Stella and Kelly have come. If the show wants to keep its emotional core burning bright, it’s time to let Stellaride blaze a new trail.
