The recent One Chicago crossover event has come and gone, leaving fans eager for the next big three-show storyline. However, another crossover likely

won’t happen until at least the second half of the 2025 TV schedule. That doesn’t mean the events of this one won’t have lasting effects—

what Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman called “ramifications.” After seeing how the storyline played out for Stella Kidd, I’ve completely changed

my perspective on whether she and Severide will take the plunge into parenthood before Season 13 ends.

At the start of the season, there was discussion about Stellaride possibly starting a family, but I had my doubts. Chicago Fire has never made pregnancy an easy journey—just look at Dawson and Casey’s struggles during their Dawsey days. If Stella were to get pregnant, it would likely sideline her from her role as Truck lieutenant, which seemed hard to imagine. (Fans who want to revisit those intense Dawsey moments can stream past seasons on Peacock.)

However, there are other ways for Stellaride to become parents without Stella having to go through pregnancy. Adoption has been a successful path for other characters—Cruz, for example, is proof of that. While Mouch’s promotion to lieutenant could allow Kidd to take a leave of absence without causing major disruptions at Firehouse 51, I was still unsure if it was the right time for them.

That changed after the crossover. Stella’s experience made it clear that she might be reassessing her life and priorities. Seeing how she handled the challenges, combined with a key moment in the latest promo, makes me think that she’s ready to take that next step.

Normally, both partners facing life-threatening danger would make me think starting a family is a bad idea—unless one of them was planning to switch to a safer career. But two things stand out: First, I don’t want to see either character step away from the action, and second, Andrea Newman’s comments now seem much more significant after watching Stella’s reaction to Severide suggesting they take a break from the CFD.

Initially, Newman’s remarks didn’t seem connected to a possible Stellaride baby, but in hindsight, they feel more telling. One statement in particular caught my attention. While discussing characters from Chicago Med and P.D., Newman mentioned how Ruzek and Kidd—both strong-willed leaders—had to work together. This immediately reminded me of a pivotal Burzek moment during the crossover.

While some fans may have focused on their romantic reunion, what struck me most was Burgess offering to bring their daughter to the radio so Ruzek could talk to her. He declined, but it was a small reminder that Chicago P.D.’s main couple has successfully balanced parenthood with their high-risk careers. If they can do it, why not Stellaride?

Newman also emphasized that the crossover’s ramifications would deeply impact key relationships, including Severide and Kidd’s. Given that Stellaride has already talked about the possibility of a family, it makes sense that this major event could push them toward making that decision.

The promo for the upcoming episode adds even more weight to this theory. Stella—who had previously been hesitant—is now showing signs of being ready to take that step with Severide. Could a Stellaride baby be on the horizon? If there was ever a perfect time, it’s now. With summer hiatus approaching, a late-season reveal or finale twist about a pregnancy would be ideal, with the early months happening off-screen during the break.

Of course, nothing is set in stone yet, and fans shouldn’t start picking baby names just yet. But after revisiting what the showrunner said and seeing how the crossover played out, I now believe that Stellaride could be expanding their family sooner rather than later. To see how their journey unfolds, keep watching Chicago Fire Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC as part of the One Chicago lineup