Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.
a/n: Thank You for the fourteen reviews on the FF website as well as the half a dozen ones I got on my twitter feel and I want to send a shout out to everyone who favourited and followed the story yet again, I'm truly blessed.
So this chapter is dedicated to MackCovington on Twitter, I hope you feel better and I hope everyone else enjoys it as well.
Matt looked at Gabby as soon as the words came out of her mouth. He wasn't at all surprised that her father had looked into him, being an ex-detective and a Dawson at that.
"Gabby?" Somehow Gabby was more important to him right now that anything her father could throw at him.
"I'll ask one more time, what are you doing here dad?" She completely ignored him.
"Gabby, I didn't know you would be here."
"And what are you doing here dad?" She asked again, starting to be visibly frustrated.
"I wanted to have a little talk with Matt, that's all." He tried defending himself.
"I heard what you said dad and you're not having this conversation." She hissed.
"Gabriella." He pleaded.
"Don't Gabriella me dad. I already know everything and I don't care so you're NOT having this conversation and we have to put the kids to bed." She hadn't raised her voice but it was dangerously low, anger bubbling at the surface.
"Gabby, baby, it's ok." Matt touched her hand with his fingers, trying to get her attention.
"It's not ok." She finally looked at him. "What happened wasn't your fault and it has nothing to do with us."
"Gabby." Her father tried again.
"Does something that happened fifteen years ago really worth it dad? Because it isn't to me." She countered, not really giving her father the chance to talk.
"I just want to talk with Matt Gabby, I'm not here for a fight." Her father raised his hands in defeat, he really didn't want to upset her more than she already was.
"It's ok Gabby. I'll put the girls to bed and I'll help you settle the kids in the car. I'm sure your dad doesn't mind waiting. Can I get you some coffee Mr. Dawson?" Gabby couldn't believe Matt was being so calm about all of this because she was mad.
"Thank you." Edouardo replied.
"The kitchen is all the way in the back, I'll be right there." Matt smiled at Gabby's father and he nodded before leaving the couple alone to talk.
"How can you be ok with this Matt?" She finally hissed as he gently placed his hands on her arms and absentmindedly rubbed them.
"I know we haven't know each other that much but I would do anything to protect my girls and that's what your dad is doing. You're his daughter and you've been through a lot this year and he just wants to make sure that you're ok and in good hands." He pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head.
"I am in good hands." She mumbled in his chest.
"Maybe but I did drop a huge bomb on you tonight, one that I've been carrying with me for the past decade and a half. I can't even imagine what was going through his mind when he found out."
"Antonio must have helped him. I'm going to kill him." She growled
"Hey, Gabby, look at me." He reluctantly pulled away from her and made her look at him. "Go easy on Antonio too. He's looking out for you too. Plus, I still need him in my good graces." He chuckled. He had told Gabby about the few times he worked with her brother on arson cases.
"Fine." she huffed. "Why is it that you have all the right words?"
"It's part of my charm." He winked, making her laugh.
"Fine." She leaned up and gave him a sweet peck. "Rain check on a quiet evening together?" She asked hopefully.
"Absolutely. Let me go start the coffee and then I'll put the girls to bed." They parted and Matt went towards the kitchen to get some coffee started. He had a feeling it would be a long conversation, and not one only concerning his past.
"I'm sorry about disrupting your evening." Gabby's dad said when Matt walked into the kitchen.
"It's ok." He said even if he wasn't expecting any sort of company tonight, only keeping Gabby close to him. "I'll be right back after I tucked the girls in."
"Take your time son." Matt nodded and headed for the living room.
When Matt left for the kitchen, Gabby decided to bring the girls to bed as a means to stay calm. She wanted to explode at her father and throw him out but there was still time for that. She picked Grace first, who didn't offer much in the way of resistance. She had been the last to fall asleep after Luis had succumbed to it. She put her in her bed and put the sheets over her small frame before heading back down top get Emma. She blinked a few times as Gabby had her in her arms.
"Where's daddy?" She mumbled.
"He's downstairs. He'll be right there to tuck you in." She ran her fingers in her hair, putting a stubborn strand behind her ear as she she settled her on her bed. She kissed both girls on the forehead and headed back downstairs.
"You didn't have to do that." Matt smiled at her when she was back in the living room.
"Thought I'd help out a little. I told them you'd come tuck them in, assuming Emma didn't fall back asleep already." She chuckled. they shared a sweet kiss and he excused himself to go see the girls. When he got to their rooms, both of them were sound asleep. He kissed their foreheads and closed the door, not wanting anything to disrupt their sleep from this point on. When Matt came downstairs, Gabby already had Luis in his arms and heading for her car. Matt gathered all of the kids things in her bag and scooped Valentina in his arms to bring her over to the car.
"Mama." Valentina whimpered as Matt buckled her in her car seat.
"It's ok sweet girl, mommy is picking Filippe up, she'll be back." He kissed her little forehead and her head lulled to the side again. Gabby didn't take a lot of time returning with the other boy while Matt made sure they were ok in the car. She buckled him in and took her spot behind the wheel.
"Be careful." Matt closed her door as she buckled herself in.
"I will. Are you sure you'll be ok? Don't you want me to stay?"
"I'll be fine Gabby. Text me when you get home so I don't worry." He leaned against her open window for a kiss.
"I will. Next time it'll be just you and me, no interruptions." She promised.
"I can't wait." He leaned farther in and kissed her one last time before he headed back inside to Gabby's waiting dad.
"Gabby's on her way safely back home, I'm all yours. I'll answer any question you might have." Matt poured himself a cup and sat down opposite Edouardo Dawson.
Gabby safely got home and moved all three kids to their room before texting Matt that she was home before she did her nightly routine and went to bed herself but sleep didn't come just yet, she was nervous about Matt and her father in the same room.
Silence stretched a few minutes between Matt and Edouardo Dawson but the chime from his phone brought them back to reality. Matt looked at it and saw Gabby's message, making him laugh lightly. Got home in one piece and the kids are in bed. I hope you're not dead yet, I kind of like you -xx I'll tell you how it went tomorrow and I kind of like you too ;) Good night xx Matt replied and set his phone down before looking at Gabby's dad once more.
"Gabby just got home safely and the kids are in bed." He updated her dad.
"I'm glad to hear that. Again I'm sorry for the interruption, I didn't know my daughter would be here tonight." Gabby's dad took a sip of his coffee.
"It's ok. You have an amazing daughter Mr. Dawson, I plan on sticking around for as long as she'll have me." He didn't really know what else to say, silence filling the space once again.
"I told the truth when I said I only came to talk. I know what happened but I want to here it from you." Matt sighed and took another sip of coffee before starting to tell Edouardo Dawson the whole story, far more information than what he had given Gabby, knowing he had time to confide in her about what had happened all those years ago. He told him about the verbal and physical abuse both him and his mother had to endure after his father's several tours in the army, clearing changing the man that was once his father. He told him about the foster homes he had been in before being taken in by his aunt until he was 18 and old enough to go on his own. Then, he proceeded in telling him about the academy, his place in 51 and last but not least, Hallie and the twins.
Edouardo sat in front of Matt Casey and listened. He listened to the man's story and how it had been for him as a teen, not wishing what he had gone through on anyone. Then he listened to him talk about the woman who had been the love of his life until the birth of their twins and the life after that became too much for her, leaving him to raise them on his own. He hadn't as much as dated anybody, his focus solely on his daughters and their welfare. Silence stretched once again between the two before Matt spoke again.
"Everyone at 51 kept telling me that it was time to think about myself now, that I was doing a great job with the girls but I didn't want to confuse them."
"Our kids are the most important thing in our lives, we'd do anything to protect them."
"That's one thing I'll never argue with you about. The girls are my whole world."
"So is mine." He said, three small words full of meaning.
"I know. That's why I would never push her Mr. Dawson. I care too much about her and the girls have been getting along great with her and her own kids."
"I've seen you first hand with her kids last night, I think they really like you."
"I like them a lot too. I've thought about this a lot Mr. Dawson and I wouldn't have continued with Gabby if I didn't think it could work. I want to see where it takes us but I want to have your blessing too. It's very important to her so it's very important to me too."
Edouardo hadn't expected this from Matt by coming here. He had been nothing but honest with him, which he respected and he respected his Gabriella, which he liked but still it wasn't enough for him, he needed more from the man that was in front of him.
"You're a fine young man Matt, I can see what she sees in you but I need more from you. You need to prove to me that you're the one that makes her happy, that you'll be there for her no matter what." He pushed his now empty coffee cup and stood up, Matt doing the same. they both walked towards the front door before Matt opened it and spoke again.
"Than I'll prove it to you and I'll prove it to her. She's amazing and so are her kids and I never ever would jeopardize that. She's making me feel something I never thought I'd feel ever again so I'll prove it to the both of you every day that I'm the right man for her."
"Don't make me regret it son."
"You won't." Both men shook hands before Mr. Dawson left Matt's house and he closed the door behind him, leaning his back against it and sighing. It had gone better than he imagined but he was hell bent on proving to Gabby's father that he was right for her. He made sure everything was locked and he went to his fridge and grabbed a beer, zapping through the channels, trying to take the edge off before going to bed.
Gabby woke up the next morning and brought the kids over to the neighbour who had accepted to babysit them while she ran a few errands, 21st district was the first on her list of places to go. She walked up to the front desk and was greeted by a smile from Platt.
"Is Antonio around?" She smiled back at the woman who seemed in a good mood.
"He's a very popular man since yesterday."
"So I've heard." She said a little bit annoyed, she had a few words for him.
"He's in I'll buzz you up. Give him hell." Platt had a small idea why the detective's sister was here and she would enjoy it thoroughly.
"Count on it." Gabby pulled on the door as she heard the buzz and went up the stairs two at a time. Antonio was surprised to see his sister but he wasn't expecting her tirade. "Where do you go OFF digging in Matt's PAST and handing it to dad on a silver platter?" She held her hand out and gestured to it as if it was a piece of silverware. His mouth opened and it closed again but Gabby didn't give him the chance to speak. "He came knocking on Matt's door late last night, demanding to have a word with him. He stayed there for God knows how long, probably giving him a piece of his mind."
"Gabby." He tried, much like his father last night but she wouldn't have it.
"You had no right to go snooping around. What happened fifteen years ago has nothing to do with who he is now, you have no right." She continued, oblivious to the chuckles from the rest of Antonio's team who were enjoying seeing him go through the Gabby Dawson ringer.
"What did you want me to do Gabby?" He finally found his voice.
"You should have said no Tonio. You should have told him to mind his own business."
"I told him that you'd be mad at him when you'd find out and he said he didn't want to mention it until he had spoken with Matt. You weren't supposed to find out."
"Isn't that convenient?" She growled, she was angry. "Well I was there when he came knocking."
"I'm sorry sis. Matt is a good guy and what happened in his past isn't who he is now and dad will see that." He didn't want his sister to be mad at him anymore. He knew his father only wanted to protect her. She huffed and sat down at his desk.
"I just hope he didn't go all Dawson on him." Gabby knew the three of them were all the same but Matt didn't deserve that.
"Did you talk to Matt this morning?"
"No, he's on shift. I think I'll stop by before I go pay dad a little visit." She stood up again and hugged him before quickly saying by to the rest of the unit, apologizing for the interruption before she drove the short distance between the district and firehouse 51. She walked up the driveway and saw all the trucks were parked so she made her way into the common room and everyone was there, looking tired.
"Hi." She smiled at everyone who looked up at the sound of her voice. "Is Matt around?" She went straight to the point.
"Lieutenant's in his office, he'll be glad to see you." Herrmann smiled at her and she thanked him before heading to the bunk area where she found Matt leaning over his desk, writing up an incident report.
"Do you have a minute?" she gently asked, leaning against his office doorframe.
"Hey." He smiled up at her and got up to kiss her cheek. "This is a nice surprise, come in." He closed the door behind them and gestured for her to take a seat on his cot.
"I wanted to see how it went last night. Please tell me he was nice to you?"
"We talked. I told him everything from the beginning and he listened. It was ok, I promise." Gabby looked at him and she already knew he was hiding something from her.
"What are you not telling me?" She asked, making him laugh.
"You already recognize the look, that's not good." He sat down next to her and took her hand in his before telling her everything. When he was done, she immediately stood up and paced inside the small space.
"He has no right to tell you that, no right at all."
"Gabby, baby, it's ok." He stood up and stopped her from pacing. He had gone to bed last night after that beer, thinking over his whole discussion with Gabby's dad and he knew that all he wanted was to protect his little girl.
"It's not ok Matt. This is my life and I'm happy in it, he has no right to meddle."
"He's your dad Gabby. How do you think Alberto would have felt if Valentina came home at sixteen with a boy with a sketchy past? You know he would have done ANYTHING to make sure he was the right guy, that he would always be nice to her and treat her right." Tears instantly came to her eyes and Matt hated being the one who had put them there with his words but he needed her to understand. "I told him that I would prove to him and you EVERY DAY that you were worth it, that I was the right man for you." He brushed the tears away with his thumbs before leaning down and kissing her. It was gentle at first but Matt cupped her face and she deepened it. It lasted only a few seconds but they were both breathless.
"What did I do to deserve you?" She whispered, her heart finally calming down.
"You gave me a chance. Now go see your dad and spend some time with him, have a talk."
"Ok." She conceded. He pulled her into another hug and walked her back to her car before kissing her under the cat calls coming from the Squad table, Severide smiling at his friend's new happiness. Matt walked back inside as Gabby drove off, returning to his office to finish the report, hoping Gabby would take his advice and talk to her father.
Gabby made the drive to her parents house, pondering what she would tell her dad. Matt's words kept replaying in her head as the trees went by quickly and before she knew it, she had arrived and was ringing the doorbell.
"Gabriella, honey, what are you doing here? And where are the kids?" Esmeralda hugged her daughter and let her in.
"They are with Mrs. Martinez next door, I had errands I had to make. Is dad here?"
"In the living room." They walked together, Gabby's mom had her arms her waist and vice versa.
"Gabriella, sweetie, what are you doing here?" He was surprised to see her after last night, no doubt Matt had told her everything.
"I came to talk to you."
"Listen, I'm sorry about last night." He started but Gabby simply smiled at him.
"What did you do last night Edouardo Dawson?" Gabby's mom saw everything and Gabby had inherited that from her.
"I went to have a talk with Matt Casey last night." He confessed.
"How could you Edouardo?" She was about to give her a piece of her mind when Gabby stopped her.
"It's ok mom." Gabby looked at her father with a smile but he had a look of confusion all over his face.
"I thought you'd be mad at me."
"I was this morning when I went to 21 and yelled at Antonio for helping you but then I went to see Matt at 51, he told me the whole story and had a few words of wisdom for me."
"Well if he can talk you down from being angry." Her mother smiled, making Gabby laugh. "Then I approve." She went and hugged her daughter, keeping her close to her as they both looked at her husband.
"I know that you want what's best for me dad but Matt makes me feel good, he makes me feel alive, like myself again. I think Alberto would be happy for me and that he would like him." She leaned her head against her mother's shoulder.
"All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy Ella and if he makes you happy than you've got my blessing." Gabby's eyes filled with tears and she let go of her mother to go hug her father.
"Thank you daddy." She simply said, letting her father envelop her in a hug.
"I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too dad." They stayed in their embrace a little longer before Gabby stayed over for lunch and then left to pick her kids up from the babysitter.
Wow so I got another big one in right there. I wasn't expecting it to be soo long but then I started writing and suddenly I kept going. I know some one you wanted to have a big confrontation between Gabby and her dad or Gabby's mom and her dad when she found out what her husband had done behind her daughter's back but I liked the thought of Matt having that kind of effect on Gabby to be able bring her down from her anger at the situation so I just went with it. I hope you guys will take a few minutes to leave a review, I can't wait to know what you guys thought about it. Until next update :) - Sarra