On Chicago Fire, few themes stir up as much drama — or heartbreak — as babies. Over its twelve-season run, the NBC hit has turned

children into both saviors and destroyers of relationships, often with devastating emotional consequences. As fans gear up for Season 13,

one burning question looms: if Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) take the leap into parenthood, will the writers finally give us a storyline that avoids the repetitive pitfalls of the past?

 

 

The series has never shied away from showing just how much pressure children can place on couples. Longtime viewers remember the tragic arc of Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) and Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer). Their love story unraveled under the weight of family dreams that never came true. Gabby’s miscarriage and the heartbreaking revelation that carrying a child could cost her life destroyed their future together. Before that, her attachment to foster son Louie — and the agony of losing him — was a turning point that fractured their marriage beyond repair.

 

 

Elsewhere, the show has presented more uplifting takes. Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) and Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie) became adoptive parents to Javi (Carlos S. Sanchez), blending him into their family alongside their biological son, Brian. That storyline transformed Cruz into one of the most grounded, protective fathers in Firehouse 51. Meanwhile, Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), adopted herself, found healing and a new purpose by adopting her daughter Julia, poignantly named after her birth mother.

But even these happier stories tend to follow a formula: a foundling is discovered, bonds are formed, biological relatives resurface, and the couple is forced into an emotional tug-of-war that tests their relationship. Sometimes the child stays; sometimes they don’t. The beats are familiar, and by now, fans can see them coming from a mile away.

Which brings us to Stellaride. After years of breakups, reconciliations, and personal battles, Stella and Severide finally tied the knot and clawed their way back to stability. But “stable” in their world doesn’t last long. The Season 12 finale hinted that the couple might be considering parenthood — a development that immediately set off speculation among fans.

The timing, however, is tricky. Severide is still wrestling with his demons, while Stella is consumed by her leadership role. Adding a baby to the mix could either cement their bond or crack it wide open. The fear, of course, is that the writers will simply recycle old storylines and saddle Stellaride with yet another “lost child” saga.

The Trap Chicago Fire Must Avoid
If Chicago Fire wants to make this work — and keep Stellaride’s relationship both believable and compelling — it needs to resist the temptation to repeat its greatest hits. We don’t need another plot where the couple finds an abandoned baby on a call, grows attached, and then loses them. Nor do we need the same conflict we’ve seen before, where one partner yearns for family life and the other hesitates. Those tropes have already been played out.

Instead, Stellaride’s potential journey into parenthood should be a chance to show growth. These two characters have survived fire, betrayal, distance, and tragedy. Why not let them navigate parenthood in a way that feels fresh? Perhaps they could explore fostering older children, an angle the show has rarely touched. Or maybe the drama could focus less on custody battles and more on the challenges of balancing high-risk careers with raising a family.