Jennifer Love Hewitt is the reason Maddie and Chimney fell in love on 911

As 911 fans get ready for the big Chimney-Maddie wedding, Jennifer Love Hewitt has revealed her surprising connection to how this romance came to be!

It's easy for 911 fans to forget Maddie wasn't always part of the show. Originally, Abby Clark (Connie Britton) was the main 911 operator handling emergencies but she left after the first season. Season 2 introduced Maddie, Buck's older sister who'd moved to L.A. and joined the center.

The show soon developed a romance between Maddie and Howie "Chimney" Han (Kenneth Choi). They got through numerous issues, especially Maddie's abusive ex-husband hunting her down. There was also her pregnancy and her handling postpartum depression which caused a brief separation.

Thankfully, the pair are not only back together but also headed down the aisle. Previewing the big wedding episode, Hewitt shared with People that getting Maddie and Chimney together was one of her first requests when she joined the show. 

"My very first day of work, Tim [Minear] was like, 'What do you want to do on 9-1-1 as Maddie?' I said, 'I want Maddie to fall in love with Chimney.' And he was like, 'Why? You guys just met.' I was like, 'There is just something about him that feels right for her and I think it would be really good. And we got to do it! It's just been amazing. [Choi is] like truly one of my favorite people on the earth and we just love Maddie and Chimney so much together. And the audience really responded to it and when that happens, it's just like magical."

Hewitt has been proven right as the chemistry between the actors made for a great romance. Fans should be quite grateful as Maddie and Chimney are ready to tie the knot. But of course, as with anything on 911, it won't be so easy.

Jennifer Love Hewitt on the Maddie-Chimney wedding hijinks

The last 911 episode ended with the wedding running late, Maddie freaking out just as Buck (Oliver Stark) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) entered in torn-up suits and looking like messes. When Maddie asked where Chimney was, the pair weren't sure how to answer.

This leads to the May 2 episode as Chimney is missing and Buck and Eddie have no clue what happened at the bachelor party. Expect some hijinks as the team race around the city to find Chimney while Maddie frets. 

Hewitt shared that the wedding "has been a long time coming. I think it feels more like that for the audience than for us. I think they've been waiting a long time, but I'm excited. It's really good."

Fans can certainly agree with Hewitt on that and are more than happy she pushed for this wonderful romance that should lead to one of 911's biggest episodes yet.

911 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.