First Day (PILOT)

Story starts in season 2 Episode 4 'Stuck.' Character is aged 4 right now, and will progressively grow up in the book. Will change the OG storyline though, and Chris is slightly older here (7-8)

"Are you sure about this, Bobby?"

"Yes, Athena. It would be nice for the guys to get to know Maeve. Plus, I'm gonna have to start bringing her more often."

...

Maeve couldn't help but feel worried, she was going to the firehouse for the first time.

She's never seen any of Bobby's friends before. Most of the time, she'd hide out in her room when they came over. "You are going to love them, kid." Bobby reassured, noticing her worried expression as he looked in the rearview mirror.

But today, after being asked so many times, he decided that today would be the best day to bring her. "They won't hate me, right?" Maeve asked, it wasn't uncommon for people to squirm when they saw her scars.

"Of course, kid. They are one of the kindest people I ever met." He smiled, and that is normally something Maeve can take comfort in.

If Bobby is smiling, then it must be something good.

The little girl watched the outside past her by, something about watching the world pass her by in a car amused her. "What if they don't like me...?"

When Maeve was rescued from a car crash she caused during her first foster home, she was first accessed by doctors because shapeshifting is not a normal occurrence.

They treated her well and cleared her in a few weeks.

She was not that dangerous, according to them.

She was still just a child.

Though, after they told the first foster family why she could do that, they immediately sent her back to the group home.

Sweet of them.

"I think they will really like you." Bobby chuckled, let's hope so.

The car stopped a few minutes later outside of the 118 firehouse, it looked like an awesome workspace. Maeve shuffled behind Bobby, looking around in the new building.

It was big.

"Pretty cool huh? You're gonna be here a lot, so it's like a second home." The captain said. "It's bigger than I imagined..."

Everyone was sitting on the couch upstairs, surrounding a laughing little boy.

Maeve stayed behind Bobby as he approached the group.

"I didn't know we had more guests today" Bobby said, earning the attention of his coworkers. "I'm sorry cap, I had nowhere else to take him..." Eddie stood up.

But Bobby just smiled warmly.

"It's fine, Christopher is happy to stay."

"Wait, did you say more guests?" Chimney added, and everyone looked confused. The question stunned the captain for a bit, he turned to his side and the little girl was gone.

Again.

"Not again... Maeve, come on out!"

"Maeve...? Oh my god, we finally get to meet your new kid!" Buck cheered, he loved kids. "That's great cap, how old is she?" Chimney asked, and Hen grinned.

"Where did you find her?"

"In the hospital a few months ago, she's a little shy and it took me a few to get her to fully open up to me."

"What makes you think that she would take a minute to get used to us if it took you a week?" Eddie asked. "Well, I guess she was just scared back then and she does have one thing..."

The little girl peeked from behind the corner for a moment but moved back when Chimney noticed her. "Come on kiddo, this will be good for you." Bobby called.

But there was no reply.

It took exactly 2 minutes before Bobby came over and picked her up. Maeve hanged upside down from Bobby's arm, but shape-shifted into a mouse and hid behind the older man at the sight of the other firefighters.

"Woah." Hen stood up, the transformation startled the team. "No, no it's okay, she was cleared by the doctors. Come on, honey.." Bobby explained, shifting his foot aside.

"The doctors cleared.. that?" Eddie asked. "Don't be mean, dad." The little boy scolded. After an attempt to gather her courage, Maeve shape-shifted back and stood next to Bobby.

More like behind him.

"Everyone, meet Maeve Nash." Bobby introduced, picking her up. "She's adorable." Hen cooed. "Where did you find her?" Buck said in awe wagging his finger at her.

"I saw her at the hospital a few months ago, she was scared and she scared the hell outta her foster parents. When she looked at me, I guess I... saw myself in her." He explained.

"Hello.." Maeve waved. Bobby almost looked surprised, "I think she likes you guys." He chuckled. "This is Hen, Buck, Eddie, Chimney and Christopher."

"Hello..." Christopher said, and Maeve gave him a little smile. "I think our kids are going to be friends, cap.." Eddie grinned, and Bobby smiled back.

...

Maeve stared out the window of the firetruck, "Maeve, how did you find Bobby at first?" Buck asked. "He's very tall.." she replied, lifting her hands to gesture how tall.

"But he's kind.." She nodded.

"Aww, that's sweet."

"She's a sweet kid." Bobby smiled.

"Turning into a mouse, is-is that all she can do or?" Buck asked again. "She hasn't done it much around me or Athena yet but the orphanage said something along the lines of shapeshifter."

"Shapeshifter? In real life?" Chimney gaped. "I'm still trying to find more information, but she's been stuck in the system for a year before I found her. All her birth records all were burnt in the fire."

"So, how old is she?"

"The orphanage says around 4, she was 3 when I met her."

They pulled up to a street, it was a car accident.

A fender bender.

Eddie left Christopher and Maeve by the firetruck while they tended to the shouting people. The young girl sat on the truck steps, swaying her legs back and forth.

"Where is your mom?" Christopher asked, trying to be social.

"I don't know." Maeve replied, staring at her feet. "Where's yours?"

"I don't know either." Christopher replied. "Do you wanna be my friend?" He asked, Maeve stayed quiet for a long time before nodding. "That's great." Christopher said.

"Yeah... you wanna see something cool?" Maeve asked, lifting her head. Christopher turned to her and nodded, Maeve got up from the truck and led Christopher aside where no one could see them.

"Since you're my friend, I can show you how to shapeshift." Maeve smiled. "Really?" Christopher exclaimed, "yeah, so you think of what animal you want to become and you just.."

She hopped into Christopher's hands and shape-shifted into a little mouse just as she lands. "Woah!" Christopher said, "I can be anyone too." She hopped off, and shapeshifted into Eddie.

"That's my dad." Christopher laughed as Maeve shapeshifted back. She was laughing too.

"You're the first kid that didn't scream because of me." Maeve grinned, laughing.

The two started talking, sharing interests when Christopher suddenly grinned evilly. "I have an idea." He said, making Maeve tilt her head. "What is it?"

"How big are you as a snake?"

...

"And that's how you diffuse a situation!" Eddie beamed as he approached Christopher . "Where's your bag?" He asked, Christopher pointed to his blue bag lying by the truck opened.

"Chris, I told you, you gotta- AH! What the f-" Eddie reached for his bag and suddenly cursed as a snake slithered out of his bag. Christopher started to laugh so hard he couldn't breathe.

"I don't do well with snakes." Chimney said, the snake slithered towards him and started chasing Chimney around. "Cap! Cap! Hen, do something." Chimney shrieked.

He climbed to the top of the firetruck and stared down below.

The snake stopped, slithered under the truck and Maeve jumped behind Chimney, "Boo!" She yelled. Chimney made a little girl scream and fell off the truck and into Bobby's hands.

"Uh, Hi Cap.." he smiled awkwardly. "Hi... you okay Chim?" Bobby asked, setting him down.

"She really can shapeshift."

Maeve hopped down the truck and leaned against it next to Christopher.

"From now on, we are going to pull more pranks on you!" Christopher exclaimed, high fiving Maeve. "You two are going to be the death of me." Chimney sighed, grabbing his chest.

"I'm glad you made friends, sweetie." Bobby ruffled Maeve's head, which gave her a lot of validation for some reason. "Try not to give them a heart attack though?" He asked.

"Okay."

"Alright, let's move out."

The day on with more calls, and more pranks. All masterminded by Christopher while Maeve executed them perfectly, they made a great team.

The 118 were happy they got along, but Chimney, Eddie, Hen and Buck were all terrified the entire day by kids no older than 10.

They freaked out Chimney several times during the day, that man hated snakes a lot.

...

Christopher and Maeve were drawing when Christopher's nonna came to pick him up. "Come on Chris, time to go."

Chris waved bye to Maeve and got up, earning byes from everyone else. Eddie led Christopher to his nonna and gave Bobby a hug, saying something like thank you.

"Bye Maeve." Christopher waved again, "Bye Chris!" Maeve waved back. "Had fun today?" Bobby asked, kneeling down in front of her.

"Your job is fun" Maeve giggled, and Bobby laughed back. "I guess so, the people here are my family." He nodded, looking at Buck and Chimney who were talking with Hen and Eddie.

"Am I part of your family?" Maeve asked quietly, and Bobby gave her a soft smile. "You're a very important member in the family, sweetie." He said. "It doesn't take DNA to be a family, alright?"

The captain stood up and turned to leave, however Maeve suddenly replied.

"Alright... daddy.."

Bobby immediately stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around. It had been years since someone called him that, and he nearly cried right there on the spot.

Instead, he picked the toddler up and embraced her tightly.

"... Thank you, baby..."

T H E  E N D