A wedding and a meet cute – two of my favourite things!

This is just a little one-shot imaging how Brett and Casey first met and their wedding. It's set in the same world as 'Easy' and 'Family Portraits.'

I hope you enjoy!

Courageous Companions

Matt Casey stood in his bedroom staring out the window onto the streets of Chicago. It was a beautiful summer's day. The sun was shining through the trees, kids were out playing on the streets and Matt knew it was reflective of the day ahead.

He was getting married today.

When Gabby left, he never thought it would be possible to find a love like that again, let alone one that made his heart soar even further. He found that kind of love and more. He found someone who made him realise that when you were with the right person, love was easy. It was natural and beautiful and passionate and so fulfilling.

When Matt thought of his soon to be wife to be he couldn't help but smile. She crept up on him without any warning. One day she was his friend and then the next she was more. She was his best friend, his confidant, his person. He didn't seek to love her. His love for her consumed him without him even realising that's what he felt. But he loved her and everything she was with every fibre of his being. He didn't like to think of it as an accident – to him that implied a regretful mistake. There was nothing he regretted about this. It was just meant to be.

He thought back to the first time he met her. It was her first day at 51 and he didn't think much of the meeting at the time. It was clumsy and a little strange, but the more he thought about it, the more it made him laugh. Hindsight was a wonderful thing.

September 2015

Casey was walking through the hallways of the firehouse looking at some paperwork from their previous shift's calls. The house was still reeling for Shay's death – there was definitely a different vibe amongst this make-shift family. They were also due to be getting a new, permanent paramedic today (permanent granted that she fit in with this often-obscure group of individuals.) Casey also sincerely hoped that Gabby got along with her. Naturally, Shay's death had hit her hard and Casey wished Gabby could build a friendship like that again.

Suddenly, as Casey turned the corner in the hallway, he ran headfirst into someone. They smacked foreheads in a rather rhythmic fashion as their heads flung back and their hands jumped to rub the spot.

"Ow…" they both groaned at the same time, their eyes firmly closed, her bag on the floor and Casey's files scattered at his feet.

Casey's eyes were still closed when the person spoke up, "Oh gosh… I am so sorry, I had my head turned away when I was turning the corner which was really stupid and now your paperwork is all messed up and that's really not the impression I want to make on people here. I'm not normally this clumsy, it's just – first day nerves and all." She rambled as Casey finally opened his eyes and looked at the girl in front of him.

Casey had no idea why, but he felt something drop in his stomach when he looked at her. It was a brief feeling but it was there. It was like that feeling was trying to tell him something. She was pretty in a very cute way. She looked a bit like a doll. Bright blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, pretty smile.

"I'll just… yeah…" Brett said, feeling a little awkward that Casey was just looking at her and not saying anything. She bent down to pick up Casey's papers, just as he realised what he was doing.

"Oh here, let me—" he began, trying to make up for being so weird.

Smack.

They managed to bang heads once again.

"Ow…" the both grumbled again as they both fell on their behinds, once again rubbing their heads.

They looked at each other for a brief moment before they both started to laugh.

"You said it's your first day?" Casey asked as Brett quirked an eyebrow at him. That was what he managed to pick out from her ramble? She made a mental note that this guy must be a good listener.

"Yeah, I'm the new paramedic. Sylvie Brett" she said as she reached out a hand and shook Casey's. "I just moved here from Indiana, fancied a change of pace." she added.

Casey nodded his head and smiled, "It's nice to meet you, I'm Matt Casey, the lieutenant on truck… I'm a Chicago guy. Born and raised and forever will I be a Chicago guy." He joked as Sylvie smiled.

"Good to know Matt Casey. I'll remind you of that if you ever think to leave the windy city." She teased.

"That would never happen" he assured her. "I uh – I'm sorry for headbutting you" he apologised politely.

Sylvie shook her head, "no, it was my fault, I totally wasn't looking where I was going… you're going to have a bit of a bruise on your head." She said, pointing at the already red spot.

"Right back at you" he said with a little laugh. "I guess solidarity is key in times like this." He mocked.

"You're funny" she said sincerely. "I think that's important in a firehouse… it's an intense job, a little humour goes a long way."

Casey raised his eyebrows. Not many people called him funny. "I agree" he replied. "If you think I'm funny, wait till you meet the others. I make them look like stand-ups." He said, thinking of Otis, Mouch, Hermann and Cruz.

"Well I'll look forward to meeting them." she said. They smiled softly at one another. Casey could already tell she was going to be the perfect fit here.

"We should uh – we should maybe get off the floor…" he suggested as Brett looked down, entirely forgetting that they were sitting there.

"… right. Totally forgot that's where we were" she said with a little laugh as Casey gathered his papers and then held out his hand to help her up which she gratefully took.

Sylvie lifted her bag and began walking in the direction of the lounge, "Uh – thanks." She said as Casey frowned.

"What for?"

"You're the first person I've met since I got here and already, I feel really comfortable here. It's kind of strange… I don't think I've ever met someone who could instantly make me feel like that." She confessed gratefully.

Casey nodded. He knew exactly what she meant. "Happy to help" he said in a classic Casey polite and serious way.

"I'll uh – I'll see you around Matt Casey" she said as she backed away, taking one last look at him before disappearing into the lounge to find Gabby.

Casey stood there for a brief moment, just thinking about what how strangely nice that moment was. Little did he know it was a moment that would be forever etched in his mind – and he was eternally grateful.

Casey didn't think of their meeting much of the subsequent years – but he always remembered the feeling he got from it. Brett was someone he associated with goodness, light and comfort – all because of that meeting. She was someone he trusted implicitly.

There was a knock on the door as he turned around and Kelly appeared behind him.

"You ready?" Kelly asked with a smirk that Matt couldn't help but return.

"More than ready."

Before too long, Matt was standing at the top of the aisle in the beautiful roof top garden they'd chosen for their wedding. They wanted somewhere that overlooked their favourite city in the world but was also insanely beautiful. As soon as they found this place, they knew it was the one.

Matt watched up the aisle, with Severide, Cruz and Boden at his side. The music soon started, and Stella, Chloe and Emily all walked up the aisle in short, floaty light green dresses that were perfect for the summer. Only a few moments later, Sylvie appeared at the top of the aisle, her arm linked through her father's as he steadily walked her down the aisle.

So many eyes were staring right on Sylvie in awe. She looked so effortlessly beautiful in her beautiful white gown. It dipped in the back, the material floating down her body rather than sitting snuggly and a small train following her behind. Despite all of the eyes on her, which in any normal situation would make Sylvie feel uncomfortable, she could not care less. She was focused on the blue eyes at the end of the aisle that she could see were brimmed with tears of pure joy and love, causing her own to well up too as she smiled brighter than she ever had before.

Sylvie was convinced that every relationship she'd ever have would be doomed to fail – but it took falling in love with Matt Casey to realise that wasn't true. She just hadn't been in the right relationships. The men who had come and gone from her life – Harrison, Antonio, Kyle – she truly believed they were all there for a reason. Harrison made her realise she could be her own person and was capable of being independent and reliant on herself. Antonio made her feel confident and Kyle made her realise what she deserved and to never settle for anything but what she deserved.

Matt made her feel all of those things and more. He made her feel so beyond loved and she was determined to spend the rest of her life making him feel the same. She got to the top of the aisle and her dad kissed her cheek before shaking Matt's hand. As Peter sat down, Matt took Sylvie's hands and smiled.

"You look so beautiful" he whispered for only her to hear.

Sylvie winked at him, "right back at you handsome."

After some introductions from the officiant, it was time for their vows.

"Matt" Sylvie began with a little laugh as he immediately smiled back. "You once said to me that you would place money on me finding exactly what I'm looking for because that's what I deserved. Little did I know that exactly what I was looking for was right in front of me. Because of you I wake up every morning with a smile on my face. I wake up confident that no matter what life throws at me I'll be ok because I'll have you right beside me to weather the storm. My strong, sensible…" she said as everyone laughed lightly, "courageous, kind, compassionate love. Everything you have been able to give to me over the past few years is everything I have ever wanted. If it's what I deserve then I know it's what you deserve and more. So I promise to always make you smile in the mornings. I promise to be your strongest ally in conflict, your biggest fan in times of joy and your courageous, compassionate companion for the rest of our lives. I love you more than I have ever loved before and I give you my heart to keep."

Every single guest was beaming with joy at Sylvie's beautiful words. Their love was so refreshing and beautiful and it gave people all the hope in the world that unconditional, exceptional love was possible.

"Matt, if you would please share your vows" the officiant instructed as Matt let out a breath before looking at Sylvie and smiling.

"This morning I was standing in my room, looking out the window and for some reason I started to think about the first time we ever met. I don't think anybody knows this story, but we had a bit of an unconventional meeting in that – we ran head first into one another on your first day." he explained as everyone let out a laugh. "It was clumsy, and it hurt like hell – but it was an oddly calming experience. When I looked at you for the first time I had the strangest feeling in the pit of my stomach. I didn't know it then, but it was like something was trying to tell me that you were about to become a very important part of my life, but I could never have anticipated just how important. You are my dearest friend and my deepest love and I am so thankful for you and all that you are every day. You've shown me a love that I didn't think was possible and it has pushed me to be a better man because of it. To be the best man that I can be for you. So I promise to love you every day without condition, to laugh with you when you're happy, to cry with you when you're sad. I promise to guide you when you ask for direction and push you to be the best version of yourself. I promise to never stop being your joyous, courageous, compassionate companion – because that is exactly what you deserve. I love you Sylvie Brett. Always."

As Matt finished, Sylvie was desperately trying to keep the tears in her eyes. She was so overwhelmed by the love she felt and she hoped this feeling would never go away.

The officiant then asked for the rings as Severide quickly lifted them from his pocket and handed them over. Matt was honestly impressed he hadn't managed to lose them.

"With this ring" Matt began as he took the platinum, diamond encrusted band and slipped it onto Sylvie's finger. "I give you my heart as a promise to love you with all that I am."

Sylvie then lifted Matt's platinum ring and placed it on his finger, "With this ring, I give you my heart as a promise to love you with all that I am."

"By the state of Illinois I now pronounce you husband and wife – you may kiss your bride" the officiant said with a wide smile as Matt immediately moved forward and engulfed his wife in his arms, kissing her like it was the first time.

Their guests erupted in applause and cheers as confetti was thrown all around them. It had been the most perfect day, shared with the people they loved most in this world. They couldn't wait to see what life had in store for them in their courageous, compassionate companionship that was ready to weather rain and sunshine for the rest of their lives.