Chicago Fire’s Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd’s Timeline: Relive the Characters’ Ups and Downs
Chicago Fire has been filled with red-hot romances throughout its run, but nothing compares to Kelly Severide’s relationship with Stella Kidd.
When fans first met Kelly (played by Taylor Kinney), he was a rough and tough firefighter who was known for being a ladies’ man. However, the arrival of Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo) in season 4 shook things up — and changed Kelly for the better.
The twosome has weathered many storms, including a season 9 moment when Kelly ices out Stella while she’s studying for her lieutenant’s exam.
“Of course, I know I don’t need your help with some test. I needed you to do what you do best: To tell me, ‘You got this, Stella Kidd,’” Stella says to which he replies, “This attitude of yours is exactly why I know you got this, Stella Kidd, and it’s why I know how badly I screwed up, and it’s why I’m never gonna let you go away from me again.”
Chicago Fire airs on NBC Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
Scroll down to relive all of Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide’s relationship highs and lows:
Stella Joins Firehouse 51
Four seasons into Chicago Fire, Stella joins Firehouse 51 as the newest member of Truck 81 during season 4, episode 15. It is clear from the moment she sees Kelly in “Bad For the Soul” that they have a past, but they keep it to themselves.
Their History Revealed
The duo first met at academy training years prior to her coming to Firehouse 51. Their origin story was revealed during season 4, episode 18, “On the Warpath,” after attending Randal “Mouch” McHolland’s (Christian Stolte) wedding.
“So, late one night, I’m coming back from a tactical training course at the academy. The moon was bright as hell that night, I remember I unlock my door and I hear this sound coming from the roof,” Stella recalled during the April 2016 episode. “So I look up, then suddenly, there’s Severide rappelling down from my skylight singing [Frank] Sinatra’s’ This Love Of Mine’ with a rose in his mouth. He’d been mooing over me for weeks.” What Kelly didn’t know was that Stella was married when he made his grand romantic gesture.
Luckily, no one pressed charges for his breaking and entering. “I talked Grant out of calling the cops. Kelly went home and the next day he comes to me and he says, ‘Thanks, I owe you a big favor,’” Stella adds, to which Kelly says, “Still do, I guess.”
First Kiss
The sexual chemistry between Kelly and Stella hits an all-time high during season 4, episode 21, which aired in May 2016. After Stella convinces Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) to invest in a fancy ice maker for Molly’s bar, she finds herself in a mess as the machine starts to malfunction. Luckily, Kelly is there and comes in to save the day … and they kiss for the first time.
The pair’s passionate kiss moment in the backroom is brief but noteworthy for Stellaride fans. Two episodes later, during the season 4 finale, the duo takes their relationship to the next level, having sex at Stella’s apartment in an attempt to blow off steam following a funeral for a fellow firefighter. What they don’t know is that Stella’s ex-husband is lurking in her apartment.
Stella’s Ex Causes Problems
Season 5 kicked off with a haunting episode as Stella’s ex-husband, Grant (Guy Burnet), starts stalking her as her relationship with Kelly starts heating up. Things hit a breaking point when Grant attacks Stella behind Molly’s before Kelly steps in and stabs him while trying to protect her.
The story line picks up during season 5, episode 2 after Grant safely makes it out of surgery. Although Stella convinces Grant to voluntarily commit himself into a rehab program, she chooses not to press charges for attempted murder. The choice causes tension between Stella and Kelly and their romantic relationship ends before really getting started.
Roomies
Stella crashes with Kelly at his place at the beginning of season 6. While living there, Stella gets transferred out of Firehouse 51 when Kelly’s name flame — and Brett’s hometown friend — Hope (Eloise Mumford) secretly submits her for a different position.
Despite hooking up with other people during the first half of season 6, Stella and Kelly start to realize they both have feelings for each other.
Officially Dating
The roommates officially start dating during season 6, episode 15’s “The Chance to Forgive.”
“Kelly, look I know that communication is not your first language, but what’s going on with you lately?” Stella asks him while at Molly’s. “You’ve been dodging me and just acting off ever since Otis got hurt. Can you just, for once, just tell me what you’re feeling?” Kelly pauses for a minute and then leans in to kiss her, marking the beginning of their official romance.
Their relationship, however, is instantly put to the test when Stella meets Kelly’s mom later that season and she isn’t exactly welcoming. Later on in season 6, Stella chooses to move out and starts living in Herrmann’s attic apartment in order to help move their relationship forward. The new living arrangement comes around the same time that Kelly’s ex, Renee (Sarah Shahi) comes back to town and monopolizes his time with a case.
By episode 19, “Where I Want to Be,” the couple are back on solid ground despite living apart. “Wherever you are, is where I want to be,” Kelly tells Stella after going to her new place.
Kelly’s Mourns the Loss of Benny
After Kelly’s dad, Benny (Treat Williams), dies during season 7, episode 7, the firefighter begins to unravel. Throughout the “What Will Define You” episode, Kelly cuts himself off from Stella and the rest of his loved ones while trying to deal with his dad being gone.
Splitsville
As Kelly is mourning his dad’s death, Stella’s childhood friend Tyler (Tye White) comes to town and causes an even bigger rift between the couple. During one scene, Tyler confesses his love for Stella, who is surprised by the revelation and even more mad that Kelly was right.
At the end of season 7, episode 8, “The Solution to Everything,” Stella confronts Kelly about their status, calling him out for pushing her away recently. She then breaks up with him, saying, “I love you, but I can’t be with you anymore.”
Rekindled Romance
The pair continue to work together throughout season 7, but it’s clear that their relationship needs work before they can reunite romantically. In season 7, episode 22, “I’m Not Leaving You,” Stella goes to check on Kelly at his dad’s cabin and is surprised to find a changed man.
“You deserve a better man than me. So, I decided … I decided, I’m going to be the man you deserve,” he says after opening the door. The two shared a kiss before Stella joins him inside the forest getaway.
The Speech
After a season of bliss for the firefighters — who started living together in season 8 alongside Matt Casey — they hit a little bump in the road toward the beginning of season 9. After Kelly learns that some men in the CFD think Stella’s rise in the ranks is because of their relationship, he distances himself from her so she can focus.
Kelly’s plan, however, backfires when Stella thinks that he is no longer interested in her or doesn’t believe she has what it takes to become a lieutenant. He then has to reassure her during season 9, episode 6, “Blow This Up,” that he’ll never leave her despite how his recent actions made it seem like the opposite.
“This attitude of yours is exactly why I know you got this, Stella Kidd, and it’s why I know how badly I screwed up, and it’s why I’m never gonna let you go away from me again,” Kelly tells Stella after she yells at him for being so MIA.
Stella responds, “You are not the decider. And pretty soon, we’re gonna be in the same rank, so listen up. I am the one who’s never going to let you get away again.”
Firey Proposal
In typical Stellaride fashion, the couple gets engaged while standing in a burning building. After Stella comes back to save Kelly during a house fire in season 9’s “A White-Knuckle Panic,” Kelly drops down on one knee and proposes.
“I don’t want you to ever leave me. Stella Kidd, will you marry me?” he asks. Stella says, “Hell yeah.”
Long-Distance Drama
Stella is noticeably absent throughout much of season 10 as she is traveling to different states to try and get her Girls on Fire program up and running in other firehouses. During the “Winterfest” episode it becomes clear that Kelly hasn’t heard much from his fiancée, which makes him start to wonder what’s going on with them as a couple.
Stella Gets Her Groove Back
Tensions are high when Stella finally returns to Chicago in season 10, episode 10. After admitting that she messed up by going radio silent on Kelly while she was out of town, she reveals she was anxious about the next phase of her career and panicked. When asked if she was having any second thoughts about being with Kelly, however, Stella assured him she was still all in. “I love you with everything I got. That is never gonna change,” she tells him while sitting in their apartment.
The episode ends in a cliffhanger after Kelly asks whether she wants to get married. Season 10, episode 11 picks up the morning after their conversation, with Stella saying, “I meant what I said last night. I want to marry you. Yes, yes, a million times.”
He Put a Ring on It
Better than ever! During season 10, episode 12’s “Show of Force,” Kelly and Stella cemented their relationship status after teaming up to keep Lieutenant Jason Pelham (Brett Dalton) at Firehouse 51. Although it means that Stella will have to continue to ride on Truck 81 as a member of the team and not the leader, she makes Kelly proud when she fights for what’s right with Jason.
At the end of the January 2022 episode, Kelly proposes once again — this time with a ring — and Stella accepts. “I was blown away by what you did for Pelham. It was brave and beautiful and strong,” he tells Stella, adding, “I am actually the luckiest man in Chicago.” The two seal it with a kiss outside the firefighter gala.
Pre-Wedding Jitters?
Ahead of their nuptials, Kelly and Stella seemed at odds during season 10, episode 21’s “Last Chance” episode, which aired in May 2022. The couple got into a tiff after Kelly claimed that Stella gets everything she wants — and he frequently gives into her demands.
Things only got more intense after Stella tried to bring up paying for the reception alcohol and the food tasting they had set. Kelly blew off the tasting, which made Stella confide in Herrmann that she wasn’t sure whether the wedding would happen.
When Kelly ends up in the hospital after getting beat up by men associated with a drug ring, the pair make amends. Kelly later suggests that they move the wedding to ease the stress it has brought to their relationship.
“The only way to learn how to run into a real fire is by doing it,” he tells his fiancée while at Chicago Med. “So, let’s just do it. Let’s not wait another four months. Let’s do it next week.”
