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We still have to wait a while for Chicago Fire Season 13, but the moment the screen went black on the shocking Season 12 finale, the theories for the next season started. It could be no other way. Of all the shows on NBC’s hit Dick Wolf One Chicago franchise, Chicago Fire ended with the most shocking cliffhanger, as Jack Damon confessed to Severide that he was actually his long-lost half-brother and he’d come to Firehouse 51 to find him. But that wasn’t all, as the Season 12 finale also provided a goodbye – for now, for Wallace Boden, who became Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department. It was a bittersweet hour, that perfectly set the stage for Season 13 and yet didn’t leave anyone in mortal peril, as this show has been known to do on more than one occasion. This time, fans can breathe easy! Or, more or less easy. There’s still some relationship drama to resolve.

Here are our Chicago Fire Season 13 theories about how the cliffhangers will resolve and what to expect in the season once they do.

Stella and Kelly Decide to Have a Baby

Chicago Fire Season 12 ended with Kelly telling his wife Stella that he would like to start a family, and he’s been thinking about it for a while. Stella’s reaction to his words was one of shock, and they didn’t really get to discuss the idea before they got interrupted by the news that Boden was the new Deputy Commissioner.

Of course, starting a family is a much bigger deal for Stella than it is for Kelly, and it’s important that Chicago Fire is letting the couple take the time to have the conversation before throwing them into an unplanned pregnancy. But the two have discussed their future together as a when, not an if, before, and Stella’s reaction might just be a shock of the moment kinda thing. It’s unlikely she’s entirely against the idea, even if she isn’t sold on the timing.

Either way, Chicago Fire Season 13 feels like the time for the two of them to decide to expand their family, whether it ends up happening right away or not.

Herrmann Takes Over for Chief Boden, At Least Spiritually

Severide was right when he told Boden that Herrmann was very much suited for the parts of the job that Severide was not. And with Boden becoming Deputy Commissioner, that means someone has got to step into Boden’s shoes at Firehouse 51 during Chicago Fire Season 13, and though Severide could do it, he really doesn’t want to. Herrmann, on the other hand, isn’t just the best man for the job, he actually wants the job.

Realistically, this doesn’t mean Herrmann can do the job right away. He’s still just a Lieutenant. He can’t just magically become Chief. There is a procedure. And there is a part of Herrmann that doesn’t think he can do the job, but that’s just because he’s thinking of the job as Boden’s job. He doesn’t have to replace Boden, however. No one can. He just has to be Herrmann, with other responsibilities. Everyone already respects him, and they will follow his lead. He just has to believe in himself and know that Boden believes in him too.

Jack Damon Becomes a Permanent Part of Firehouse 51

The shocking revelation that Jack Damon is Kelly Severide’s half-brother explains not only why he came to Firehouse 51, but why he lied to Stella about Severide. It also explains his interest in Severide in general. But, above all of those, it gives the show an excellent reason to keep the character around. Family is, after all, family. Even if Damon is the kind of family Severide doesn’t know and might not even want.

Ironically, the revelation comes right on the heels of Severide telling Stella that he wants a kid. He clearly wasn’t thinking about gaining a new brother as a way of expanding his family, but a new brother he has, and now he will have to decide how he wants to deal with that. Does he want a relationship with Damon? What kind of relationship can they even have, considering they have missed most of each other’s lives?

One thing is for sure, they will have an easier time figuring those things out if Damon becomes a permanent part of Firehouse 51 during Chicago Fire Season 13, which is why he will most likely stick around.

Violet and Carver Make it Official

Carver ran away from his feelings for Violet, or he ran away from her reaction to his feelings, but it didn’t seem like Violet wanted him to run away. And Carver cannot run forever – he does have a job. He will have to return at some point, and this feels like the kind of thing one conversation could fix, at least for now. So smart money is on Violet and Carver making it official at some point in Chicago Fire Season 13.

That is, however, not to say the two of them don’t have a bumpy road ahead. They’ve managed to stumble into feelings without really knowing each other all that well because Violet has kept him at arm’s length. So, they’re going to have to build the foundation of their relationship as they go, and that is always complicated. Plus, Violet’s fear cannot just be brushed away. How is she going to react the first time Carver is in real danger? How will she feel when the flashbacks to what happened to Hawkins make themselves known?

Season 13 is sure to explore that, and it’s a much better storyline if the two of them are together as it does.

Kylie Finally Joins Firehouse 51 for Good

It feels like Kylie Estevez has been playing hot and cold with Firehouse 51 for too long, and Chicago Fire Season 13 feels like the time for Kylie to finally come home. From the moment she decided she wanted to become a firefighter; fans couldn’t imagine her ending up anywhere but at Firehouse 51. And now, with Boden gone, she might feel like it’s not as much of a conflict of interest to get back to the place where she belongs.

Either way, it’s time. We’re tired of unfamiliar faces and floaters. We just want people we can get invested in, or people we already know we’re invested in, like Kylie.