A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews and favorites. I really appreciate it. I apologize for the delay in updates, but this one will complete the story.
I don't own anything, except for the typos and grammar mistakes.
P.S. Kudos to the person that can find the Grey's reference.
Gabby and the kids had walked to a diner close to the hospital and were quickly seated next to the front window of the restaurant overlooking the bustling city sidewalk.
After they settled into the booth and the server had brought their drinks Gabby asked the kids what they wanted to eat.
"ICE CREAM!" They answered simultaneously.
Laughing at their outburst Gabby answered, "How about we have some real food and then we can talk about ice cream?"
"Deal" they hummed in agreement.
The three enjoyed their lunch and then decided on hot fudge sundaes with extra whipped cream for dessert.
Austin and Bella sat across from Gabby giggling about something or another as ate.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing. It's a secret."
"Oh yeah. What kind of secret?" She asked, curiosity peeked.
"We can't tell you, but it has something to do with my dad."
Gabby wondered what kind of secret they could possibly have with Matt. Had something happened earlier that she didn't know about? She knew she would get to the bottom of it eventually.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After lunch Gabby took the kids to a bookstore around the corner from the diner. They still had time to kill before Matt would be finished with his presentation.
It was a hole in the wall kind of a place and Gabby loved the character of the store. It wasn't your typical big box chain and it reminded her of 'Shop Around The Corner' from the movie You've Got Mail. She could easily get lost in the aisles in search of the perfect book.
"Hey kiddos, the children's section is over on this aisle if you want to pick out a book."
"Cool, mom." "Thanks, Gabby." The two answered as they headed in that direction.
Gabby stopped for a moment to look at a cookbook that was on an aisle end cap.
A few minutes later Austin appeared with the book he wanted. "Hey mom I'm ready to go if you are."
"Yeah. Where is Bella?"
"I thought she was with you picking out a book."
"Bella?" Gabby called. "Bella where are you?"
"Excuse me, have you seen a little girl that came in with me?" Gabby asked the woman at the register. She's about 8. She's wearing a pink sweater. Blue eyes, brown hair.
"No. I'm sorry Miss."
Gabby started to panic. Where could she have possibly gone? It had only been a matter of minutes. How could she just disappear?
"Austin, I can't find her."
"Why don't you call Uncle Antonio? He can help."
Gabby wondered when her son had become so smart and how she hadn't thought of that in the first place.
She quickly called him. "Antonio. Antonio. Bella she's, she's gone."
"Whoa, Gabs. Slow down a minute. Bella, who? Tell me what happened."
"Her name is Isabella Casey. Austin's school had a field trip today. Long story short, he and Bella ended up missing the ferry and her dad and I have been taking turns watching the kids today. I took them to the bookstore and now she's missing. I only had my back turned for a minute."
"Ok. I pulled the address from your phone. My unit is on the way. Take a deep breath. It will be ok."
Ten minutes later Antonio and the rest of the team arrived at the bookstore.
"Antonio, how do I tell someone I lost their kid? I was so rude to him this morning. I told him he was forgetful, irresponsible and now I'm the one that can't find his daughter. And I can't even get a hold of him."
"What do you mean you can't get a hold of him?"
"I've been trying to reach him but his phone keeps going to voicemail. He had a presentation for one of his construction jobs so he probably turned it off. "Matt. It's Gabby again. Call me."
"We are going spread out and canvas the area. Don't worry, Gabs we will find her."
It had only been a little over an hour but it had felt like days. How could she have gotten that far?
Gabby and Austin were standing out by a police cruiser giving a description and statement to one of the other officer's when Antonio called out. "Gabby, look who Burgess & Roman found down the block at the pet store?"
"Bella, sweetheart. Oh thank God. I am so glad you are okay. You had me so worried," Gabby cried in relief. "You went to a pet store?"
"There was a cat hanging out in the reading corner and he started to run away so I followed him and we ended up at the pet store. I have been trying to get my Dad to let us have a kitten and they had the perfect one there. I got to hold one of them. It was so cute and fluffy."
"Gabby, we are going to head back down to the station and finish paperwork to wrap this up unless you need anything else."
"Antonio. Thank you so much. I don't know what I would have done if you guys hadn't have found her."
Just then her phone started ringing. It was Matt. Finally.
Before she could even get a word in edgewise Matt started rattling off frantic questions, "Gabby, what do you mean Bella is missing? What is going on? I'm on my way. I don't—"
"Matt. Everything is ok. We found her and she is with me. My brother is a Detective. He and his unit came to help find her. She was found in the pet store down the block. I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. One minute she was with me and the next minute I turned around and she was just gone."
"You have her? And she's ok? I have never been so scared in my life."
"Yes, yes she's fine. I promise. She was gone for about an hour. Why don't you meet us back at the hospital? I have to get a few things from my locker and you can pick her up from there."
"Alright. I'll see you there soon."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Daddddyyy," Bella yelled as she saw Matt race through the hospital doors. He picked her up and held onto her like nothing else in the world mattered. "Bella. Don't ever scare me like that again. "
Gabby stood back and watched the heartwarming scene between a father and daughter.
"Matt. I'm really sorry again. I can't apologize enough."
"Gabby, its ok. All that matters is that she is home and safe. I know it wasn't entirely your fault. These things happen."
"Bella, please apologize to Gabby for wandering off. You probably gave her a heart attack."
"I'm really sorry for scaring you Gabby. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to see the kittens."
"Bella. I'm just glad you were found and are safe now."
"Well Matt, I guess this is where I leave you. I just wanted to say thank you for your help with Austin today. I know we all had a lot going on but somehow we made it work."
"We did make a good team," he agreed. "I'm sure we will see you around."
"Would you guys want to come over for dinner later tonight? I could whip up my famous homemade mac and cheese. It's the least I can do," she offered with a hopeful smile as he and Bella started to leave.
"Thanks, but I think we've had enough excitement for one day. We are going to head home and call it a day."
He almost missed it but there was a slight flash of disappointment that met her eyes. A feeling came over him, one that he couldn't quite place. But the only thing that did make sense was that he wanted to see more of her. "But Gabby, rain check?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Sure. Another time then."
"Come on bud," Gabby said as she ruffled Austin's hair. "Let's head home. It has been a long day."
"I guess it's probably not the best time to tell you about my incident with a marble then?"
"Austin, again?" She scolded. "What have I told you about putting things in your nose?"
"I know, but Bella dared me and I thought it would be cool to show the guys at the firehouse how cool it is and then it got stuck in my nose and one of the people Matt works with had to help.
"Well you should be happy they were able to get it out. Next time you might not be so lucky."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Austin was watching a movie in the living room and Gabby was rummaging through the refrigerator for rest of the ingredients when there was a knock at the door.
She didn't bother looking through the peephole and was pleasantly surprised to see the last person she expected to be standing on the other side.
"Matt. Bella. Hi. "
"I hope we aren't interrupting anything," he began with a timid smile. "Does the offer for dinner still stand?"
"Yeah Gabby. Please don't make me eat my Dad's cooking again," Bella pleaded.
"Well how could I say no to that? Come on in."
"Hey my cooking is not that bad," he feigned innocence and nudged Bella with his elbow as they made their way into the apartment.
"Dad, you just burnt our grilled cheese sandwiches. It is that bad."
Gabby simply laughed. "Bella, Austin is in the living room watching a movie if you would like to join him."
"Would you like my help with anything?"
"No, thanks. I think you've done enough damage in the kitchen for one evening mister."
"Touché."
Matt sat back and observed as she moved effortlessly through the kitchen adding and mixing all of the ingredients. It felt like home to him.
An hour later dinner was served and conversation flowed easily for the rest of the evening.
"Gabby. Thank you for dinner. It was delicious."
"You're very welcome. Austin, do you and Bella want to finish the movie you were watching earlier or pick a new one while Matt and I clean up the mess from dinner?"
"Ok, mom," he answered as they excused themselves from the table.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
With the kids in the other room, Gabby & Matt cleared the dishes from the table and fell into a comfortable routine washing and drying at the sink.
"This was nice. I'm glad you two came."
"Thank you for having us." He paused for a moment, contemplating his next move as he turned to face her.
"What would you do if I kissed you right now?"
She was somewhat taken aback at his forward gesture, but she would be lying if she said the thought didn't excite her.
"You. You aren't going to kiss me."
"So you're telling me not to kiss you"
"What no. I just."
She was like coming up for fresh air. Sassy as hell, stubborn and perhaps exactly what he needed.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a control freak?"
"I'm not a total control freak."
"This must be difficult for you?"
"What?
"Admitting that you were wrong. That maybe I'm not as terrible as you thought I was."
"I never said you were terrible. I said you were forgetful. There is a difference."
"Right. Says the woman who lost my child."
"I thought were past that. You could have told me she has a tendency to run off and hide."
"And you could have told me your son has a tendency to put things where they don't belong."
"I.."
"Gabby. I'm going to kiss you now."
"OK."
It was a whisper of a kiss. Breathless. Soft, warm and it left her wanting more.
In that moment she wondered what it would be like to have him kiss her for a lifetime.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hours later Gabby stirred from her sleep and a mild panic set in. She was on the couch, in a rather uncomfortable position that she was sure would leave a mark, and she was most definitely not alone. The memories from the evening flooded her mind and she smiled to herself in contentment. The blue glow from the TV screen provided just enough light in the background to illuminate the room and Gabby took in the sight before her. The two kids were sprawled out across the living room floor with blankets and pillows and Matt was propped up on the other end of the couch. She glanced over at his sleeping form and marveled how her luck had changed in the matter of one day. Closing her eyes she settled back into her spot on the couch. She could get used to this.
One Fine Day. You'll look at me & you'll know it was meant to be.