Again - thank you for all your lovely reviews! So excited for CF tonight... hopefully we'll get some sweet Brettsey moments!

Matt struggles with Annie's dating life in this chapter... Enjoy!


Knowing Your Worth


It was a Saturday night and Matt picked up a book from the bookcase in the hallway and began walking into the living room. He was anticipating it being a quiet one since Sylvie was heading out with Emily and Stella for dinner, so he thought now was the perfect opportunity to start reading all those books he had been telling himself he'd read for a solid 5 years. Somehow, he could never find the time for them.

As he was about to turn into the living room, he saw his daughter race down the stairs towards the door.

"Hi dad, bye dad!" she called as she reached for the door handle.

"Hold it" Matt said as Annie froze where she was before slowly turning around to look at her dad with a sweet smile on her face (a sweet smile that always got her out of trouble). "Where you going, Ann?"

"I have a date" she replied honestly as Matt furrowed his eyebrows and nodded his head.

"Didn't you just break up with Austin?"

Annie rolled her eyes, "Dad we broke up 3 months ago, my weeping period is over, it's time I got back out there and had some fun while I'm still young!" she reasoned.

Matt nodded his head to show he understood, but there was something in him that just felt a little uneasy about it. He had never been the sort of dad to be wildly overprotective of his kids and he certainly wasn't the sort of dad to stop them from dating. Of course, he wanted them to be safe and he worried about them like any parent would, but he also trusted them explicitly. He believed that one of the greatest things he could do as a parent was show his kids he trusted them – which they in turn had fairly earned.

Despite how much he trusted Annie, he didn't know why he felt so uneasy. He looked at his daughter who still had that cute little smile on her face. She looked just like Sylvie, but with a few of Matt's hard lines, and he was often putty in his daughter's hands. He just couldn't bare anything bad happening to her, even the smallest thing – especially after her heartbreak over Austin.

"Do you uh – do you need any money?" Matt asked after realising he'd been silently studying her for a little too long.

Annie quirked an eyebrow, "I wouldn't say no if it was offered…" she said as Matt smirked and handed her some cash. "Thank you daddy" she said as she walked forward, took the money and kissed his cheek.

Before Matt could give her a subtle but clear 'be careful' speech, there was a honk from out front and Annie turned to the door.

"That's for me, see you later dad!" she said as she turned, but Matt halted her again.

"Wow, hold on… did he just honk for you?" he asked. He wasn't delivering a package, he could at least come and knock at the door.

Annie sighed, "We're already late, it's just to save time—"

"It he can't come and knock on the door then chivalry must really be dead…" Matt grumbled as he set his book down on the table in the hallway. So much for reading now, he was just going to be spending the night worried that Annie was on a date with a total tool.

"Why are you being so weird?" Annie asked as she narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'm pretty sure Austin honked his horn to get me to come out on more than one occasion and you didn't say anything then." She said with a little laugh.

"And look how that turned out" he said as he raised his hand. She was really just proving his point for him. "All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt to have some basic standards. What's this kid's name anyway?"

"Archie."

"Huh." Matt said with a grimace. "I'm pretty sure there's at least three dogs on our street called Archie…"

"Dad!"

"Ok, I'll stop" he said as he held up his hands in surrender. Annie looked like she was one step away from punching him. "Enjoy your date with Archie and just be careful" he said. He would like to say an awful lot more, but he didn't think it would go down too well.

Annie nodded her head, "I will… and thank you for the money. I won't be late" she promised before rushing out the door for her date.

"You do realise this is only the beginning, right?" he heard a voice behind him say as he turned around to see Jack and Elliot standing behind him.

"Do you two really have nothing better to do on a Saturday night than hang around here?" he asked his boys.

"Mom said she'd do our washing for us this weekend so we're just dropping it off before heading out." Elliot explained.

"Don't worry grandpa, we'll be out of your hair soon." Jack teased.

"Watch it… and what do you mean it's only the beginning?" Matt asked curiously as the boys smirked from the entrance to the kitchen.

"She's finally over that post-Austin funk she was in" Jack began, "which means she has a new lease of life"

"And a renewed belief in the joys of dating and not being in a committed relationship." Elliot added. "Archie is just the first of a whole herd of boys who are going to be showing up at the door."

Matt gulped. A whole herd? He understood why a whole herd of boys would want to date Annie. She was incredibly intelligent and witty and beautiful, but he was convinced the whole experience would send him into an early grave. He didn't like the idea of someone as great as Annie not dating someone who could match her. He also didn't like the idea of this herd of boys breaking her heart.

Jack smirked, "I think I just saw the old man's life flash before his eyes."

"She'll be fine dad, it's all part of the teenage experience. Jack and I were the exact same." Elliot reasoned. They'd dated their fair share of girls too in high school and now college.

"Yeah… all part of the experience…" he grumbled before walking into the kitchen. "I need a drink."


5 weekends had passed since Annie's date with Archie. 5 weekends had passed – which meant 5 dates had also passed. After Archie there was Chad whose hands hovered a little too closely to Annie's butt for Matt's liking. Then there was Vic who called Matt 'Papa Casey' and greeted him with a 'sup dude'. Then there was Michael who tried to out-do Matt on his firefighter knowledge, which really went down like a lead balloon. Out of all of them Jason was his favourite. Annie was running a little late getting ready, so Matt had him change the oil in his car, which he did only a little begrudgingly. If Jason was his favourite, then Isaac was his least favourite. While waiting for Annie to come downstairs, he was texting other girls. Matt knew it was a little hypocritical, but if this kid was going to date his daughter then she should be the only girl on his mind – no matter who else might be on Annie's.

It was early afternoon on the 6th Saturday and Matt woke up anxious. He wasn't sure he wanted to face who would walk through his front door that evening. The standard of men hadn't exactly been high. As he made some lunch that afternoon, the back door opened and Annie and her childhood friend Robbie appeared, looking like they had just been out on a run. Annie and Robbie Halstead had known each other since they were little kids, mainly because their parents were good friends and also because they attended the same school. They had been thick as thieves for years now and Robbie was often in the Casey house – it was like a second home with a second family. Matt and Sylvie had a very open doors policy to their friends and their kids' friends. They wanted their home to be a place anyone could come to and feel welcome and safe.

"Hey guys" Matt greeted as they stood on the other side of the counter.

"Hey dad" "Hi Matt" they simultaneously greeted.

"How was your run?" he asked as Annie moved to the fridge to get some water from the cooler.

"I whooped Robbie's ass – as usual." Annie boasted as she handed her friend a glass.

Robbie glared at her, "She wishes she whooped my ass…" he grumbled as Annie smirked.

"He doesn't need an ego boost from me, he's starting on the lacrosse team next Saturday." Annie said proudly as she nudged Robbie's arm.

Matt smiled, "That's awesome Robbie, congrats"

"Thanks, I'm pretty stoked" he said with a little smile that in turn made Annie smile.

"Are you guys going to do something to celebrate tonight?" Matt subtly inquired, hoping that this would be an excuse for Annie to cancel her date.

Annie shook her head as she took a sip of water, "Not tonight, I have a date"

"When do you ever not have a date?" Robbie challenged as Annie shoved him lightly and Matt scoffed. Wasn't that the truth…

"I'm sorry but last time I checked you also have a date tonight." Annie said with raised eyebrows.

Robbie frowned, "How do you know about that?"

"Girls talk Robbie, the fact that you thought you could keep it from me is cute, really." She teased as Robbie rolled his eyes. "Cathy's cool… also a little crazy, but cool."

"Oh no, you don't get to judge me when your date is with Logan Matthews." Robbie protested.

Matt gulped. Did Robbie know something he didn't know about this boy? Annie assured him he was a nice kid. Captain of the lacrosse team, straight A student, a shoe in for class president. He seemed like a dream.

"Wha- what's wrong with Logan Matthews?" Matt asked, trying sound as calm as possible.

"The guy will sleep with anything that has a pulse." Robbie said with a scoff, almost forgetting who he was talking to. "He doesn't date, he hooks up."

"Oh my god, Robbie!" Annie exclaimed as she slapped him on the arm, causing him to choke slightly on his water. "Why would you tell him that?!"

"He asked!" he defended.

Matt watched, in a stunned silence as Annie and Robbie continued to bicker with one another. Sylvie was convinced that the pair were destined to be together. Ever since they were children they instantly clicked and as they grew older, Sylvie was convinced she saw a little sparkle in their eyes whenever they looked at each other. Matt was largely indifferent to the idea, but it took this moment right here for him to see it. The way they cared about each other and laughed together – and bickered together – seemed to genuine and loving. He wouldn't be surprised, or mad, if Annie came home one day and said she loved him.

"Look" Annie said, turning to her dad and snapping him out of his thoughts. "We're just going for a walk by the river and then to this little park down by Greenway. We won't even be out late." She said as she walked around the island to stand beside Matt. "Dad you know me, you know I would never do anything reckless and I take sex seriously—"

"It's ok." Matt interrupted. He didn't really want to be talking about sex with his teenage daughter, and besides, he did trust her – he just didn't necessarily trust the guys she was bringing home. "I trust you but uh – did you say the park by Greenway?" he asked as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. He was pretty sure Annie was conceived in the carpark of that park. Normally sensible Matt Casey and Sylvie Brett had a night of teenage-esque recklessness on a rare date night 18 years ago. Matt felt like the past was somehow coming back to haunt him.

"Yeah. What's wrong with Greenway?" Annie asked.

Matt contemplated giving a warning, but once again felt like he should take a step back on this one. "… nothing. Just be careful and get back before it gets dark."

"Ok..." Annie said with a little laugh, not entirely buying Matt's reasons for concern.

"I better go and get ready for my date" Robbie said as he walked towards the door. "Annie… don't do anything I wouldn't do" he playfully instructed.

Annie scoffed, "That list is very short then."

"Ha, ha..." He huffed. "Bye Matt"

"Bye Robbie"

Matt watched as Annie watched Robbie leave. She had a look in her eye. He couldn't quite place it but he'd seen it before. She turned away from the door and leaned on the counter, a pondering look on her face. She looked up and saw Matt staring at her curiously.

"… I'm going for a shower." She announced, realising that she'd been caught out by her dad.

"Ok" he simply replied. Again, he could have said something, but he wasn't much of an interfering parent. Annie's feelings were her own to work out.


"I'm telling you babe, she had this look in her eye…" Matt said, trying to explain to his wife about how Annie looked at Robbie as they made dinner this evening.

"Like how I look at you?" she asked with a little smile that Matt returned.

"Yeah. Exactly like that" he said as he affectionately kissed her shoulder.

"I would most definitely believe it, I've said for years that those two are meant to be!" Sylvie reasoned. "I'm glad you didn't say anything though. It's definitely for them to work out by themselves."

"This whole dating thing Annie is doing is for her to work out by herself but believe me – it's getting hard to just say be careful and then send her on her way." he confessed. He knew Annie could handle herself, but he felt like it was only natural as a dad to worry about your kids. He just wanted her to feel safe and secure and loved by everybody in her life - even if that maybe wasn't realistic.

Sylvie wrapped her arms around his waist, "I know it's hard, but it's the best thing you can do for her. She's a smart kid, she would never do anything reckless and knowing that we trust her will go a long way."

"I know" Matt said as he hugged her into his side.

Suddenly, the front door slammed open and shut and Annie stormed down the hallway and into the kitchen – her face like thunder. She was normally a calm and level-headed girl, so something really must have gotten her worked up.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Sylvie asked quickly as she released herself from Matt's hold and walked over to her.

"Robbie is what's wrong!" Annie exclaimed as she began to pace in front of them. "God, he's such an idiot!"

"Take a breath, tell us what happened." Sylvie said in her calm voice in an attempt to get Annie to stop pacing and speak calmly and not in the heat of anger.

She sighed and eventually stopped, but kept her arms folded tightly over her chest. "I went to his house to pick something up that I left there the other day and we got into a stupid fight because he told me that Logan wasn't good enough for me. Who does he think he is criticising who I date?! It's nothing new I guess, he never had one nice thing to say about Austin! Asshole." She grumbled finally as she slumped down on one of the islands and Sylvie comfortingly rubbed her back and looked to Matt for back up.

"Annie" Matt began as she looked up at her dad, "Robbie is your best friend. Anything he says is because he cares about you. I'm sure he wasn't critical of Logan or even Austin because he wanted to hurt you. He's looking out for you and he always will."

"Your dad is right Annie. You can't let his opinion of one boy take away from years of friendship." Sylvie reasoned. "Why is this one getting to you so much? I don't remember you ever being this worked up about what he had to say about Austin."

Annie looked between her parents. She rarely held anything back from them, so telling them this wasn't that big of a deal.

"Holly and Jess…" she began, referring to her two best friends. "They've been teasing me for months now that Robbie is in love with me and that we're meant to be together which is just ridiculous… right?"

Sylvie and Matt shared a look that Annie immediately read as 'nope, not that ridiculous.'

"Guys, seriously?!" she protested. "He's my best friend! I could never ruin what we have."

"Honey – someone once told me that all the rules you think there are about who you should and shouldn't date go out the window when you meet someone you really click with." Sylvie recited, remembering what Foster had told her all those years ago.

"I get that you find the possibility scary but if you take that leap… it might just be the best thing to ever happen to you." Matt added as he looked at his wife. They were living proof of taking a leap and it being entirely worth it.

"Maybe…" Annie grumbled. "If this has taught me anything, it's taught me that this whole dating while you're young thing – entirely over rated." She said as she stood from the counter.

"Does that mean no more boys rocking up at my door?" Matt asked hopefully.

Annie giggled, "No more boys. Thank you for being patient with me." She really wasn't oblivious to her father's worries concerning her dating life.

"You know your own mind Annie. I'm glad that means you also know what you're worth."

"Trust me. I really do." Annie confirmed as she stood from the stool. "I'm going to go wait by my phone under Robbie calls to apologise" she said with a smug smirk. "And… I think I could do a lot worse than having Robbie Halstead as the love of my life." She added at the end to which Sylvie gave a gleeful smirk to Matt.

They knew in that moment that Annie would always find her way in life. She was bold and confident and strong and growing into a women her parents were immensely proud of – and she could definitely do a lot worse than having Robbie Halstead by her side through it all.