Chicago P.D.’s Marina Squerciati on Burgess and Ruzek’s Engagement — and Why the Timing Is ‘Right’ (Exclusive)

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Wednesday’s episode of Chicago Cop

The third time really could be the charm for Burzek fans.

At the end of Wednesday’s episode Chicago policeOn-off couple Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) made the big decision to officially be “the one.”

After putting their adopted daughter Makayla (Ramona Edith Williams) to bed, they talked about Kim’s great work on a touching immigration case earlier in the episode. “Kim, you’re kind of a walking miracle,” Adam said as she described helping young women from Venezuela. She mentioned that all this makes her question the lives they have.

“Promise me we’ll keep fighting for this,” she added, “because I need us, Adam. I need this family.”

Marina Squerciati, Patrick John Flueger and Ramona Edith Williams in ‘Chicago Police’.

Lori Allen/NBC

Adam gave her a long look before saying, “You know I will,” and getting up to grab something from his nightstand. “I will continue to fight for it for the rest of my life.” When he returned to sit next to her, he added, “I was going to do the whole thing here, but this seems better,” and held out the engagement ring. “Let’s get married. Make it forever.”

“Third time’s the charm, huh?” she replied, holding out her hand for Adam to place the ring on her finger.

As fans know, this is indeed the third time Adam has proposed to Kim. The couple were engaged in the second season, but soon broke up when it became clear that Adam wasn’t quite ready for marriage. The couple dated off and on over the years, and when Kim was pregnant in season 7, Adam proposed again. She refused him (and later had an abortion). In season 10, Kim and Makayla moved into Adam’s house.

In a quick chat with PEOPLE, Squerciati, 39, talks about why he believes the moment is finally right for Burzek and shares his thoughts on wedding planning, an upcoming serial killer storyline and celebrating 10 years with NBC’s One Chicago franchise.

PEOPLE: Why do you think this third time is the charm for Burgess and Ruzek?

MARINA SQUERCIATI: First of all, I think it’s time. We played enough with the emotions of the audience and I think the proposal just shows you that it will work. Only they are both adults. It’s not schmaltzy. There are no dozen roses. It’s like, “This is right.” And I feel that is true. That’s who they are. They know they want to be with each other forever, and that’s how it is for them.

Why is this the right time for Kim?

She has her own child. She was dealing with her PTSD. Adam, in the previous episode, seems to be back on track and I think they are both in good places.

Why do you think people have been rooting for Burzek for 11 seasons?

I don’t know Can you tell I think it’s because Paddy and I have great chemistry and he’s my best friend in the whole world? I sound like I’m 7 years old. He is truly one of my closest friends and I think that chemistry just shows. And we love working together.

Will we see wedding planning by the end of the season?

I don’t think so. It doesn’t seem like a tone CPD. It seems more Fire. If we make a crossover with Firemaybe I’ll get into a wedding dress.

You could do a joint wedding with Casey and Brett.

Look, I’m holding them so I’m inside. Or maybe I could just run in as a cameo and grab flowers or something. [Laughs] I don’t think so. I mean, there’s probably going to be something down the line, but we’re going to have a really big, bad kind of serial killer coming up, so I think that’s going to take more attention than the colors for my wedding.

Chicago Fire Star Kara Killmer is leaving the series during season 12

Marina Squerciati on ‘Chicago PD’.

Lori Allen/NBC

What else can you say about this serial killer story?

It will kind of wrap up the season. He is a big bad guy. We’ve only just begun. I probably shouldn’t even talk about it. I’m really excited because I don’t think we’ve seen the old Voight lately, like in his rage, and that’s kind of going to take over the second half of the season. He will go hunting. He takes the lead and he is our fearless leader, so it’s time.

Engagements aside, Kim had a really big, powerful story on immigration this week. Did something really touch you?

That really touched me, because the migrant crisis in Chicago is really there. I’m fluent in Spanish and I live near one of the shelters, so I’ve worked with them a lot. I help take the kids to the trampoline park, I try to bring dinner every now and then. A lot of people donate clothes, and I do, but I feel like there’s another side because I’m fluent in Spanish that I can bring to it, and I get involved. So when I saw this script, I honestly felt moved because I knew what I needed to do because I’m in it every day when I’m not working.

It has to be really special for a show like that Chicago police with an audience that must be made aware of such a thing.

Yeah right. I also got to use some of my Spanish, which was exciting. One of Dick Wolf’s touchstones is “ripped from the headlines,” and this is it. This is really, I mean, really a crisis that needs to be resolved in a loving way.

Chicago Fire, Honey and PD Stars Torrey DeVitto, Joe Minoso, Marina Squerciati and more unite for a good cause

You just celebrated 10 years since the premiere of the series. When you look back on it, could you have imagined it 10 years ago?

Not. I mean, what a life I got. Unlike many actors, I act almost every day. I’ve heard there are shows that have a hostile set, but our set is simply, I’ve made best friends. I feel like after college they say everyone else is an acquaintance, but I feel like I met five new best friends, late in life. How happy am I?

What is your biggest wish for Kim this season?

I want him to continue this rise to power. I think she’s into it. She owns her power, she owns her femininity, and I think she’s really ready to take the lead, she gets it. She is ready. So that’s my goal. And in life I will reach my power.

She could go full Olivia Benson one day. I can see.

One hundred percent. Me too. Like my mom.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Chicago police airs Wednesdays at 10:00 PM ET/PT on NBC.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education