A\N: This story is set Pre- Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. It is Dawson Family story mostly focusing on Antonio and Gabby; although because of this ages it is going to be more about Antonio and his coming-of-age as he deals with his father's death and having more responsibility to help his mother look after Gabby. For the purpose of this story Gabby is Twenty months old and Antonio is Eleven years old.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, NBC or Global.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None

Prologue

Eleven-year-old Antonio Dawson sat at the kitchen table twirling his pencil between his fingers. He had been starting at his English assignment for nearly an hour and hadn't even gotten his name down yet. He would much rather he doing his science or math homework but his paper was due in four days.

"Onee," Twenty month old Gabriela walked up to the table a half toothless grin on her face, "Pay," She handed him one of the baby dolls she was carrying.

Antonio looked at his baby sister and a smile formed on his face. He reached forward to touch her delicate face, "Sorry kid. I have homework?"

Gabriela's lower lip trembled and she began to cry, "No pay."

Antonio looked at the clock on the wall; it was almost eleven o'clock, which meant that lunch would be in half an hour and then Gabby would be put down for two-hour nap. He could work on his English paper then.

"Alright Gabby," He stood up and reached down to pick her up, "What do you want to play?"

"Dollie," Gabby waved the dolls in his face, "Petty," She smiled happily.

"Okay Gabby we can play with your dolls."

"Dollies," Gabby repeated happily as Antonio carried her into the living room and put her on the carpeted floor. She took his hand and led him towards the area of the room that had all her toys set up.

"You," She handed him a baby doll and some clothes, "Help."

"I dress him?" Antonio spoke in words the young toddler would understand as he sat down and crossed his legs.

"Yes."

"Does she need to wear a dress Gab's?" Antonio put the doll and dress down and looked for another outfit.

"No!" Gabby slapped his hand away and glared at him.

"Owe Gabby, no hitting."

"Dress," She pointed to the dress for the doll she had picked out.

"You use your words Gabriela you don't hit. Can you say sorry?"

"Norie," Gabby hugged her older brother and kiss his cheek.

"That's okay kiddo," Antonio hugged her and then began tickling her.

The sound of Gabby's contagious laughter filled the walls of the living room making Antonio smile.

Walking past the living room carrying a laundry basket Esmerelda smiled, "Looks like you two are having fun."

"Mommy!" Gabby jumped up and ran towards her mother at full speed, "Onio pay!" She grinned.

"Yes sweetheart Antonio's playing with you."

Gabby turned around and ran back to her older brother, "Love you."

"I love you too Gabby," Antonio hugged her.

"Come on Gabby lets go make some lunch; Antonio needs to work on his homework."

"Onio pay?" Gabby pouted.

"Later kid," Antonio looked into her eyes, "I promise I'll play with you later."

"Lawer," Gabby tried to repeat the word as she smiled and walked back to her mother and took her hand.

"Onio!" Gabby bounded into the kitchen at eight o'clock that night, "I hep?" She watched her brother load the dishwasher.

Antonio washed his hands on a towel and looked down at her, "You wouldn't be putting off bedtime would you?"

Gabby smiled innocently at him, "Me?"

Antonio had to laugh, "You're going to be a handful when you're older. You're only one and you already know how to trick people.

Gabby seemed to think this was a compliment and so she smiled at him, "Like you."

When Antonio had found out his mother was pregnant almost a year and a half ago he had never expected to be this attached to his younger sibling; but as he was given more and more responsibility to help look after his baby sister be began to get attached and to even love her; That was why when she looked up at him with her smile and big brown eyes and said she wanted to be like him his heart swelled with pride and happiness.

"Come here," Antonio lifted her into his arms, "I'm going to tuck you into bed and read you a story."

"Piness orie."

Antonio kissed the side of her head, "Any Princess story you want."

"Yay!" Gabby clapped her hands together. "Onio," She tugged on the hem of her brother's shirt and pointed to the window where she saw a police squad car and two officers getting out. "Daddy?" She struggled to get down. "Daddy home!" She screamed.

Antonio's throat tightened and his heart felt like it had stopped; he didn't think it was his father and he was sure it wasn't good news either. "Mo-Mom!" His voice hitched, "Come here quick!"

Esmeralda walked down the stairs just in time to answer the door. In front of her she saw her husband's Sargent and the District Chief. "N-No," She stumbled backwards, "No."

Antonio looked at his baby sister who was now almost crying herself. She didn't know what was going on but she knew it wasn't good. "Come on Gabby lets go upstairs."

"No!" The toddler kicked her feet and punched her brother, "No! No! Daddy!" She cried, "Want Daddy!"

Antonio wrapped her in a tight hug and held her, "I do too."

"Da-Daddy!" She sobbed, "Where Daddy?" She looked at the men still standing on the front porch.

"Gabby go upstairs with your brother," Esmeralda told her daughter, "Antonio try to get het to sleep; I'll-I'll be up to talk to you later."

Antonio nodded his head and did what his mother told him to do. Despite the girls attempts to get out of his hold Antonio was able to get her into her bedroom and close the door. He set her on the floor and knelt down to her level, "Say with me."

"Daddy?" She tilted her head, "Where Daddy? Want Daddy!" Tears flooded down her face, "Want Daddy! No bed!"

"How about we sleep in Mommy and Daddy's room?" He asked her, "I'll stay with you."

"O-day Onio," She agreed, "Toys!" She pointed to her crib, "Teddy," She requested her favourite stuffed animal she couldn't sleep without.

Antonio lowered the crib and grabbed the bear and held it as he raised the bar on the crib again, "Now we should put you into some pajama's right?"

Gabby wasn't paying attention to her older brother; she had found a toy and was busy chewing on it.

"Right;" Antonio realized he'd have to get his sister ready for bed by himself; "Come here squirt," He lifted her up and carried her over to the change table where he placed her down on it.

He gulped; he had watched his parents and other relative and even some babysitters change her diaper loads of times but he had never changed it himself; never been allowed to but he didn't want to bother his mother so he held her on the table and reached down to get a diaper and wipes from the storage area and put on gloves.

"Diapie," Gabby pointed to her diaper as she saw it, "Me," She dropped her toy and reached her hands out for the diaper.

His hands shaking Antonio handed Gabby the diaper. "Okay Gabby;" He spoke as he gently lifted her and took off white tights and pulled them down to her ankles. He then proceed to lift both of her legs and remove her solid diaper. "Gabby! Pe-ew!" He held his noise and quickly wrapped the diaper and threw it in the trash.

"Poopie," Gabby continued to hold her diaper as Antonio cleaned her.

"Yeah that's what you did," Antonio threw out the wipes and the gloves, "Give me the fresh one please," He reached his hand out.

"No." Gabby shook her head, "My!"

"Gabby give it to me. I need to put it on you!"

"No!" She stuck out her tongue.

"Gabby," Antonio's patience was wearing thin, "Gabriela-"

"Here Antonio," Esmerelda stepped into the room; "I'll finish changing her." She whipped tears away from her eyes, "You go on downstairs and I'll come down okay."

"Mom-" He began but realized quickly that she didn't need him arguing with her; So he nodded his head and walked out of the room.

Antonio only needed to wait twenty minutes before he saw his mother walk into the living room; fresh tears glistened in her eyes, "Dad…. Dad…." Antonio couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Esmerelda slowly nodded her head and as soon as she sat down Antonio buried his head into her shoulder; for a second she had almost forgotten he was only a child as well; despite how grown-up he acted.

"So-sorry," He lifted his head and tried to make himself stop crying. He needed to be strong for his mother and his sister.

"Don't ever be sorry for crying Antonio," Esmerelda told him, "You don't need to be strong." She let tears fall down her own face and she reached out and hugged her son.

Antonio hugged his mother in return but he knew that she would need him to be strong for her and for Gabby; He knew that he had to be the man of the family now that his father was gone.

TBC

A\N: Please review and let me know what you thought of it.