Chapter Text
Severide jerks awake at the sound of an owl hooting in the distance. He had convinced Casey to move back to the blanket after enjoying their beer and cigars. They’d spent the night telling ridiculous star stories (joking about them being bedtime stories) and the memories of waking up to Griffin’s nightmares and calling each other for bedtime stories causing them to laugh and tease.
They love teasing each other about that. It’s even funnier now that it was little things like that that had turned their friendship into more. It started with sharing a room, then, making up bedtime stories, and honestly, Severide sometimes wonders how he didn’t realize it sooner (especially since they had teased about kinda being a married and/or divorced but staying for the kids couple, and the way he told him straight up that he could never have sex (with anyone else) in their room because they would immediately assume he was cheating on his boyfriend). These days, it seems so obvious, but as he shuffles so he could watch the sun starting to rise, and he looks down at Casey asleep on his chest, he can’t help but realize that they were just too close to the picture to see it, clearly.
Now, he can.
“Hey Dad,” a voice says from behind him, a bit too loudly, but thankfully, Casey doesn’t wake.
He turns his head to see Griffin, shuffling from side to side as if he’s worried that he’s interrupting.
“Can I join you?” he asks, voice softer than it had been a minute before since they’ve learned not to disturb their dad’s sleep if they can.
“Of course,” Severide offers as Griffin shuffles the chair so he can be closer by the blanket. “What’s got you up so early?”
Griffin shrugs. “I like watching the sunrise out here.”
“Nothing’s on your mind?” he prompts.
They’ve always maintained that the boys don’t have to share anything with them until they’re ready, but they do like to remind them that they can always talk to them.
Griffin runs his hand over his face like Casey does when he doesn’t want to talk about something, but he kinda feels like he has to talk about whatever’s on his mind. It’s honestly amazing that the boys have picked up these little things from them.
“Do I have to start dating this year?” he asks, not looking at him.
“No, of course not. Why would you think that?” Severide questions, frowning slightly.
Griffin’s not looking at him, focused instead on the sunrise.
“Well, you gave me and Charlie that talk at the start of the summer, and everyone was talking about crushes and all of my friends –”
“Listen to me, bud, whatever anyone else is doing … doesn’t matter,” Severide states. “Only you get to decide if you’re ready for something and frankly, as your dad, I may have an opinion on timeline, but I don’t get to decide that. Only you do.”
Griffin turns away from the sunrise and gives him a very confused look. “But you and dad were teasing the whole time about teasing each other and dad number one about all that stuff.”
He’s not wrong. They had mentioned him and Andy teasing Casey about going slowly with Hallie (as she had been his first and they wanted him to get some experience). Casey had never said it really impacted him, but listening to Griffin’s worries, he wonders if maybe it had.
“Buddy, I – yeah, we tease each other about that stuff, but it’s just –”
He doesn’t – he doesn’t know how to explain that it was just how they were – how they are. Hell, he still remembers the orange conversation shortly after he married Brittany.
“Kid, it’s just our friendship that led to teasing,” Casey interrupts, clearly awake now.
“Sorry, dad, didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t, the sunrise did,” Casey retorts as they both sit up cross-legged to face Griffin and each other. “And I mean what I said. Your dads and I were just different in the sense that we built a bond that was deep enough that I felt comfortable teasing about that stuff, but I know that whatever they teased, it didn’t mean anything. I waited until I was ready and ignored everyone else. It’s no one’s business, but mine who I chose to have a relationship with and when. And the same goes for your dad or you or Ben.”
“Exactly, bud,” Severide adds. “No one can force you into anything you’re not ready for, and your dad and I only had that talk with you because it seemed like… with all of your questions that you might need it, but you don’t have to talk about anything with us or anyone else.”
“And you don’t have to feel pressured to do anything by anyone either,” Casey finishes for him. “You’ll know when you’re ready.”
Griffin hums. “I don’t have to just because everyone else does?”
“Definitely not,” Severide assures him. “People are ready for these things at different times.”
Casey’s nodding along with him. They definitely don’t want their kid thinking that he has to do anything. In fact, he knows that while they may tease, he and Casey would probably prefer that he stays a kid a little while longer anyway.
So, they both smile when Griffin gives a small smile and nods, looking relieved. Clearly feeling better.
***
Griffin’s worries appear to be put at ease for the rest of the trip, which is definitely good, Casey thinks as they pack their bags into the truck.
He can’t believe that their kid is even old enough to be thinking about crushes and dating, but he’s glad that he knows that he can take his time with it. He doesn’t have to rush, even if he hopes that it doesn’t take until his mid-thirties to find the partner of his dreams.
He feels Severide’s arms wrapped around his waist, a kiss to the back of his neck.
“What are you up to, love? Getting me all riled up before we have to drive back to the city?” Casey teases. “You didn’t do that enough this trip?”
Severide hums as he shifts and kisses his cheek. “Please, we had to be quiet, but I definitely didn’t get you riled up for nothing.”
Casey turns and kisses him, shortly. “Yes, but the boys are already up, and we have a long drive into the city and then, back on watch.”
As usual, they opted to stay at the cabin as long as possible and Donaldson already agreed that they could bring the boys to the House, and they could head home with him, so they were headed straight back to watch.
“Yes, but you have private quarters that we’ve already broken in, so…”
Casey laughs and rolls his eyes. “A good captain would point out that we shouldn’t use those private quarters for the fun you’re suggesting.”
“And your sexy boyfriend would point out that we already have, so why deny ourselves?” Severide retorts, teasingly. He’s smiling in that you know you love me, and you can’t resist me way that always has Casey’s resolve melting.
“We’ll see,” he offers as the boys join them.
“Can we watch the sunrise before we leave, dad?” Ben asks, giving a slightly pleading look in his eyes. Both boys are surprisingly awake considering they most of the previous night telling star stories and naming the constellations. Staying up way too late just to make the most of their trips.
It could make them cut it close depending on traffic, but he smiles. “Of course, we can, kiddo.”
“Awesome!”
***
“So, how was it?” Mouch questions on the way back from their first call of the day.
Casey smiles, in a good mood because he and Severide had managed to find some private time together. “It was great. We have lots of fish, saw the sunrise every day, told star stories, it was … pretty great. It’s always nice to get out of the city with the boys.”
“Proper family vacation, then,” Mouch offers with a grin. “Going to share any of your fish?”
“Severide’s already put some in the fridge, figuring we could make some fish for dinner – well, someone can.”
“Sounds like a great dinner to round out a great trip, yeah?”
Casey grins. “Definitely.”
Another mini-tradition, sharing their fish with the firehouse, but he’s not complaining. It’s a great way to finish out their family tradition.
A family trip that starts and ends here, which is perfect for them and he can’t wait for more.