The steadfast firefighter will soon be filing for paternity leave as his family grows.
Season 14 of Chicago Fire has been jam-packed with exciting changes, and Firehouse 51 fan favorite Joe Cruz (Joe Miñoso) is celebrating some “big news” in the family: He has another baby on the way!
That’s right, Cruz and his wife, Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie), are welcoming another little one to their growing brood. As a Chicago Fire OG, fans have watched Cruz celebrate so many exciting milestones, and he’s crushed it as a father. From the adoption of their eldest, Javi, to the arrival of Brian “Otis” Cruz (lovingly named as a tribute to Cruz’s longtime bestie on the squad), Cruz has always been a family man to his core.
Now, the Cruz family is growing by one, and Cruz couldn’t have been more excited to tell his longtime buddy Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) during Chicago Fire’s latest.
Joe Cruz was excited to reveal baby news to his Firehouse 51 family
Cruz had a pep in his step at the top of Chicago Fire Season 14’s “Firehouse 66” as he and Severide touched base ahead of their shift. Severide was eager to know what was on Cruz’s mind, learning that his friend had “big news” to share.
“Chloe’s pregnant,” Cruz revealed, holding his breath for a reaction. After a delightfully shocked blink, Severide soon broke into a huge grin, hugging his dear friend with utter glee. The Firehouse 51 family expands again!
“Congratulations, man!” Severide told Cruz, curious about when the baby was due. Cruz happily revealed that the baby was expected in August, ushering forth an exciting new chapter for his growing family. Cruz explained that while his youngest, Otis, was excited to welcome a new sibling to the household, Cruz and Chloe’s adopted son, Javi, was having trouble adjusting to the news.
The 51 firefighters were all very excited about the news, congratulating Cruz on becoming the father of three kids. Chloe later stopped by the firehouse, and the firefighters were all eager to celebrate the pregnancy. While she admitted she thought their diaper days were over, Chloe was excited.
Cruz has made some exciting plans with his eldest son, Javi
After asking to speak with Cruz privately, Chloe revealed that she was worried after discovering that Javi had reached out to the adoption agency to contact some of his biological family in Honduras.
Worried that Javi was feeling ostracized by the pregnancy news, Cruz assured Chloe that she would talk to their son and learn more. Javi later visited Firehouse 51 for lunch, and Cruz touched base with the boy about their concerns about Javi tracking down his family. Cruz didn’t want Javi to hide anything; he wanted his son to know that his family was growing in Chicago.
“You are our son, Javi. You always will be, and this baby won’t change that,” Cruz assured him.
Javi revealed that he’d reached out to the adoption agency before Chloe ever revealed she was pregnant. Javi was annoyed by his parents’ reaction, prompting Cruz and Chloe to apologize for making assumptions. At dinner that night, they reminded Javi of how much his presence had elevated their family’s lives.
Cruz was excited to reveal he had bought plane tickets so that he and Javi could go to Honduras together to learn more about his family during his next furlough. Javi was teary-eyed over the exciting news, eagerly accepting the pitch and sharing a heartwarming embrace with his parents. From delightful baby news to exciting travel plans, the horizon is bright for Cruz as Season 14 of Chicago Fire continues to heat up.
Watch Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.