Stella Kidd’s Big Season 13 Decision

Chicago Fire Season 13 wasted no time putting Lieutenant Stella Kidd in the spotlight. After the Season 12 finale ended on a cliffhanger about whether Stella and Kelly Severide were ready to start a family, the new season’s premiere made things clear: Stella isn’t ready for motherhood yet.

Miranda Rae Mayo, who plays Stella, explained why her character feels torn. “I really resonate with where she’s coming from,” Mayo said. “At a certain point, you just have to jump in, but I resonate with her being afraid.”

Fear, perfectionism, and the weight of Stella’s job all factor into her hesitation. Working as a firefighter exposes her daily to tragedy, especially involving children. According to Mayo, this leaves Stella terrified of the risks tied to raising her own.

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The Baby Storyline Isn’t Over

Mayo confirmed that Stella’s struggle will continue throughout Season 13. In the premiere, Stella admitted that child-related incidents fill her with dread. Fans will see this theme surface again as multiple calls involving children shake her confidence.

There’s another practical layer too. Stella hasn’t been a lieutenant for long and still feels pressure to prove herself. Taking maternity leave now would pull her away from the field and halt her leadership growth. As Mayo put it, “She wants to validate Boden’s belief in her, validate her belief in herself. And having a kid right now would totally take her out of the action.”

So Stella isn’t closing the door forever. She’s simply saying not yet.

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Clash With Chief Pascal

Motherhood isn’t the only challenge Stella faces. Season 13 introduces Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) as the new Chief, and his leadership style immediately rubs Stella the wrong way.

Mayo explained that Pascal’s arrival feels like a power move. While he claims he wants to learn about his team, Stella interprets it as him testing whether they operate by his rules. “She’s protective of Firehouse 51,” Mayo said. “She’s irritated that Boden is not there, that Pascal is not Boden. And she’s not hiding it very well.”

Though Pascal’s true intentions remain unclear, Mayo teased that viewers will see the relationship evolve over time. He’s not a warm leader, which contrasts sharply with Mulroney himself, whom Mayo described as “basically an open heart with legs.”

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Building Bonds With Damon

Season 13 also expands Stella’s family dynamic with the addition of Jack Damon, Severide’s brother. Stella is determined to build trust with him as part of her crew on Truck 81.

“Stella takes great pride in having a fierce, solid crew,” Mayo said. “She needs to be able to trust him. That’s why she asked Severide if she could be the first to talk to him.”

Mayo praised actor Michael Bradway, calling him “such a sweetheart,” and laughed about their intense on-screen clashes that quickly gave way to warmth once the cameras stopped rolling.

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Hoping for More Women of 51

Looking ahead, Mayo said she and Hanako Greensmith (Violet) hope to see more scenes with the women of Firehouse 51 outside of work. Mayo especially wants to explore Novak’s fun, free-spirited side, which adds a different energy to the team.

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Stellaride’s Lasting Impact

Of course, Stellaride remains a cornerstone of Chicago Fire. Mayo reflected on her years of working alongside Taylor Kinney to build the fan-favorite couple. “It’s been such a long time building this relationship that people get invested in,” she said. “I love being part of Stellaride.”

While Stella isn’t ready to start a family yet, fans can expect her journey to motherhood, her leadership role, and her relationship with Severide to remain central to Season 13. Between baby fears, Chief Pascal drama, and new firehouse bonds, Stella Kidd is in for one of her biggest seasons yet.