''First time I am not in Chicago on the f-fourth of July.'' Matt grabbed his sunglasses from the dashboard, looking as Gabriela sat down behind the wheel of his pick-up.

''We always went to the cabin, my parents hated being in Chicago on the fourth, my dad couldn't stand the crowdedness.''

''I have to admit I am glad t-to be gone this time. I like to be with you in a more p-private place.''

''You mean private as in with my parents?''

Matt chuckled as the put the sunglasses on his head, the sun shining bright as they drove to the highway out of Chicago. It was a two drive to the small cabin by the lake, as he had been there a few months before.

''We don't have t-to share our bedroom, right?'' He said with a cheeky smile and Gabriela was happy to see he finally seemed a little cheerful again. For the past two weeks since the second attack he had hardy had been talking and eating but yesterday Boden and Kelly had visited him and had promised him that they would do everything they could to let him return. They would see if there was anything that could be arranged.

''It's warm, even for this time of the year.'' Gabriela complained as she opened the window a bit, as the old pick up didn't have airco.

''Don't m-melt before we are there.'' Matt chuckled. ''So I am finally going to meet your n-nephew and niece?''

''You will regret looking forward when they start to tease you tomorrow.''

''But t-they are coming?''

''Yeah. They won't stay over, but Antonio and Laura and the kids are coming to festive the fourth of July.''

Matt nodded. Although he knew Antonio, he felt nervous to meet the rest of her family. Lately he had lacked PT, since he hadn't felt it would help him, knowing he wouldn't be able to return to fifty-one. While his arm and hand hadn't deteriorated and even bettered a bit, his leg had. He regretted it now, as he had promised Gabriela that he would be able to walk – although aided – before this trip with her family but he had failed her.

''Oh my mom brought us t-this.''

Matt looked through the bag on his lap and grabbed a small container out.

''I t-think she got jealous when she saw your m-mom brought me the cupcakes.''

He opened it, looking at the cupcakes. Although his mom could be annoying, she meant it all really good and sweet. The slightly burned cupcakes were decorated with slump marzipan flowers, but he know she had made a lot of effort and he held one out for Gabriela, so she could take a bite while driving.

''I think she feels that she should make up to you.'' Gabriela mumbled, her mouth still full of cupcakes.

''I think so. T-they are not as good as your moms, but at least they aren't lethal, which is always an option when it comes from my mom's kitchen.'' Matthew mumbled, eating as well.

''We should put her in a class together with Antonio.'' Gabriela laughed as she opened her mouth, waiting for another bite. Matt leaned sideways as they finally drove out of the Chicago and left the last suburbs and he pushed the last part of the cupcake in her mouth, just a little too low and the cake dropped.

''You have to practice feeding me cake if we are ever going to marry.'' Gabriela laughed it off.

''Well, we have e-enough cupcakes left to last all the way to Florida.''

He shared another one with her and tried to remember if his mom ever made cupcakes when he was little, but he couldn't remember. She did make chocolate cake for his birthday and it was usually just a sticky bunch. After his mom had gone to prison and he and Christie lived with their uncle before he moved out to live on his own, Christie would make them sometimes, but since their uncle had a company he never was in time for dinner and Christie had given up after a few weeks.

''I think are not so bad after all.'' Gabriela admitted a little later. ''Did you mom visit you yesterday?''

Yesterday she had stacked up for the trip and when she came by in the evening he was already asleep, saving energy for the trip.

''Yes, she c-came to wish me a lot of fun for the trip.''

''I am glad you made up with your mom.'' Gabriela smiled. Although she didn't like Nancy as much and she still didn't forgive her for the things she had done, she was really trying with Matt. Honestly, she didn't know much about his situation at home when he was younger and she didn't want to ask either because she knew Matt hated to talk about it, she didn't know what had passed there and knew she didn't have the right to judge Nancy, but something inside her knew she shouldn't like Nancy. But Matt had forgiven her and that was what mattered.

''Just an hour and a half and we will be there.''

''Alan, let go of me! Let go of me!'' Nancy yelled as Alan grabbed her by the arm, pulling her down on his lap. Matt could smell the alcohol from the other side of the couch. His cheek was still burning from the slap on his cheek when he had shown the paper that said he got accepted in the academy.

''Alan!'' he heard another slap and he didn't even want to know if had been his mom hitting his dad or his dad hit his mom.

For once he had hoped that his dad would be proud. But no, his dad still wasn't proud. He couldn't make his dad proud if he wanted to life his own life and the thought of giving up being a firefighter was still haunting through his mind. That he would enlist for the army, to hopefully make the situation at home better for Christie.

He walked away, running up the stairs. Slowly he opened the door, to see if Christie was asleep but he felt bad when he saw she still had her eyes opened.

''Matt?''

Matthew walked to the bed.

''Why are dad and mom yelling again?''

''They aren't yelling.'' Matthew lied, tucking his little sister in.

''They are.'' Christie said and matt bit his lip. She was right and he was sorry he caused this by showing the paper. But he wasn't even sure I fit was really his fault, as his dad was already drunk anyway.

''What is that paper?'' Christie snatched the paper from his hand when she saw it had the CFD crest on it.

''My brother is going to be a hero.'' She said with a smile, handing it back. ''Are you going to safe mommy and daddy? That they love each other again?''

''I am going to try.'' All he could hope his parents would be standing clapping and cheering when he graduated, maybe even exchanging a small kiss.

He would try, but he couldn't save his own family.

''Gabby, Matt! I am glad you are here.'' Gabby's mom greeted them as they started unpacking the truck and Matt stacked the overnight bags on his lap as Gabriela tried to push the wheelchair over the rocky path. It wasn't perfect, but at least they would have some time for each other and some time to relax. He could also get to know her parents a little better. The cabin was not extremely big on the inside but it had a large porch looking over the lake.

''Is this also the bedroom you slept in when you were fishing here?'' Gabby asked as they unpacked their bags in the second bedroom. It was even smaller than the room in the centre, but had a queen sized bed and a window that looked over the lake.

''Yeah, I slept here when I was f-fishing. I didn't t-think your parents would like me to sleep in t-their bedroom.''

''So you approve the bed?'' Gabriela teased him and before she could lean over the throw the last stash of clothes in the closet Matthew suddenly grabbed her sides, pulling her next to him on the bed and he leaned on his left arm, his face only an inch away from hers.

''Let's t-try.'' Gabriela laughed and laid her hands in his neck, forcing him to move forward.

He kissed her but stopped and sat up as Eduard walked by.

''Glad to have you both here.'' He greeted them as he closed the door and Gabriela giggled.

''I think he s-saw us.'' Matthew laughed as Gabriela pulled him back down.

''Severide, in my office.''

Kelly walked behind the chief and sat down in the chair in front of his desk.

''Any update? Can Matt come back here?'' Kelly said, hopeful for some good news.

Boden shook his head.

''No, the only thing they can over is another job. It will be dangerous to keep him on truck and I can't approve it. I wish I could especially because it is Matt, but we barely saved 51 from being closed.''

Severide looked to the desk.

''We can't do this to Matt. We promised that we would arrange something for him.''

''I know and we will.''

''Don't just promise him, promise me as well we will get something arranged for him.'' Severide stood up and left the office. He was so mad this had happened and especially that nobody could help Matt. He had promised himself to always look after Matt and care for him,to make sure nothing happened. But now, he would have to see how his brother would have to leave here, for something he couldn't change.

He grabbed his phone from his pocket, knowing he would rather tell Matt than Matt hearing it from Boden or his doctor. He searched for Matt in his phone but locked the phone again. He was on a trip now with Gabriela and Severide didn't want to ruin this good cheerful occasion.

''I bet the water is warm enough.''

''I am not b-buying is, it's probably still cold.'' Matthew hesitated as Gabriela walked to the water. Suddenly she made a cup from her hands, letting some of the water and turned around.

''Oh, no. Oh no!'' Matthew tried to back up but Gabriela already threw the water his way and the water splashed in his face and over his shirt.

Matthew moved closer to the lake and Gabriela looked puzzled as he lifted his left leg of the footrest and tried to get up. Suddenly he dove forward, leaning on his leg only for a second and diving forward, towards the lake, taking her with him as he grabbed her with his arm.

As they were both laying in the undeep part of the lake now Gabriela sat up, splashing the water in his face.

''What if I was still carrying my phone?''

''You t-took mine of the charger to charge yours.'' Matt chuckled. ''What if I was had s-spent hours on my make-up before you splashed t-that water in my face?''

Gabriela shook her head and stood up, the water streaming down from her clothes. She looked up to the porch, where her parents were laughing at them.

''He got you, Gabby.'' Her dad laughed and Gabriela helped Matt sit up and helped him out of the water.

''I am really worried about m-my make up though, am I still p-pretty enough?'' Matthew teased her as he pulled his leg on the footrest.

''A little make up can't safe that face.'''Gabriela teased back and she rubbed her hand through his soaked hair. ''Neither can that hair be saved.''

His hair was almost as long as again as before the surgery, when they had shaved it away.

They joined her parents for dinner and her mother kept loading the plates while they looked at the sun setting over the lake. After enjoying some card games and the warm summer evening on the porch, the Dawsons and Matt went inside.

Dawson closed the door behind her as Casey was reading on the bed. With a smile he laid the book aside.

''I checked the walls, they seem pretty t-thick.'' He said with a teasing smile while she laid down next to him.

''My parents both sleep with earplugs anyway.'' She smiled as she sat on top of him, removing his t-shirt.

''I -I just don't know if my b-body..'' He mumbled, a little nervous.

''Shhh.'' She mumbled as she kissed him.

NOTE: Ooh what a happy and adorable chapter...can only mean something awful is coming their way! Why? because I am an awful human being :) When things get too sweet I spread chaos and drama.

Although this chapter was pretty uneventful and the next chapter will just be about the holiday...the chapter after that will be drama. Big drama.

Well, I hope you liked and please leave a review, telling me what you thought about the chapter :)