A/N: Hello, I am back with the next update for you all. I am sorry this one took so long to get up. These past few chapters have been insanely long ones and have not been the easiest to push out, but I am pushing through and am happy to have this one up for you all. I am unsure if HTD will be updated tomorrow, or if that one will come next week so I can get a little ahead first... The likelihood is to expect that one next Sunday the 24th.
Thank you so much for your continued support for this story. I know this one is a favorite for many of you, and I am so happy so many enjoy this one, it is my favorite of mine as well. This one has been long-awaited, and I hope it doesn't disappoint.
I can't wait to hear what you think of this one, so please leave a review and let me know!
Fair warning, this one does have an M-rated moment.
Yellow:
Coldplay
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow
"Oh please, he was scared to death. By the time we got to him he was shaking like a leaf." Hermann recalls, a teasing tone to his voice.
Matt shakes his head, sending a playful glare to his friend and truck member. "So, I was a little scared." He finally concedes.
The morning had started off slow for house 51's second shift. It was well into the afternoon and Truck had only been on one call, while Squad still had yet to leave the station. They had settled around to eat lunch together when Shay and Dawson were called out over an hour ago. Now with lunch finished the guys were sharing stories back and forth.
Hermann letting Severide in on a story about when Casey was still their candidate and got caught up in his first fire. Severide had been stationed at a different house out of the academy, only moving to 51 when he was placed on Squad. Though he and Matt had known each other since the academy, they hadn't always been at 51 together. Leaving Severide always ready to hear a new story of his friend. Though they both know he was just thankful that there was no one from his first house to share those same stories back.
Both men knowing Severide had the upper hand in this situation.
Severide laughed loudly, smacking his friend on the shoulder. "Damn, Case, you never shared that one with me."
Casey rolled his eyes, "Yeah, and I was never planning to."
Severide shook his head, "Oh come on, I'm sure it wasn't that bad... besides you've redeemed yourself, Lieutenant." He teased.
Casey sat up straighter, pointing at him and sending a pointed look to his firefighters, especially those that had been here when he was just a Candidate. "Damn right I have."
His words earn a chuckle from the majority of the room, Hermann and Mouch both waiving off the younger man with a grumble.
Dawson and Shay walked back through the double doors. Shay walking by and taking a seat at the table next to Severide, while Gabby walked to her boyfriend's side. She runs a comforting hand along his shoulder, scratching her fingers along the back of his neck before taking her seat next to him, the couple sharing a happy smile.
Casey's attention immediately goes to the woman next to him. "Hey, you. How was the call?"
"Dawson got her ass grabbed." Shay quickly interjects before the PIC can speak, Casey's eyes going wide, his body tensing.
Gabby rolls her eyes, shooting her friend a glare. "Drunk and disorderly." She explains, while her partner chuckles. Though her explanation does nothing to calm the man beside her.
"Did he hurt you? Are you okay? Did you file a report?" He quickly asks, his sole focus on her.
Gabby directs her attention back to him, though his round of questioning has now gained the rest of the common room's attention. She tilts her head, offering him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Matt. He was wasted, it was harmless..."
Shay quickly interjects once more, pulling her phone out and sliding it across the table where it bumps into the Lieutenant's hand. "Besides, we prettied him up a bit before drop off."
Casey looks to the blonde confused before grabbing the phone and looking down at the picture in front of him. The clearly wasted, much older gentleman, covered in makeup and fingernail polish. He shakes his head chuckling, the rest of the guys coming to stand around and take a look. Laughter begins to echo throughout the common room as Shay's phone is passed around.
"You did this?" Casey asks, an impressed look in his eyes.
Gabby shrugs nonchalantly. "Of course not, that would be unprofessional, Lieutenant."
The firefighter shakes his head, his grin unmoving. She leans forward, squeezing his hand. "I told you, I'm fine."
"Oh, I know." He says, leaning back and rubbing a hand over her back as he scouts her chair closer with his foot, the wheels making the action easy. "My girl can handle herself."
Dawson raises a brow, her eyes brown orbs meeting his as she leans into his touch. "Damn right I can."
Casey laughs, her words echoing his from earlier, but is quickly cut off by the sound of the bells calling all companies. Everyone is up out of their seats and heading through the doors. The Lieutenant squeezes her hand as they move into the garage.
"No flirting with your patients out there, Dawson." He teases.
She smiles brightly, shaking her head at him as she walks backwards to her side of the ambulance. "Wouldn't dream of it, Casey."
He shakes his head at her once more, the two sharing a knowing smile, one that often passed between them when they went out on calls together, both silently willing the other to stay safe. To come home to them... before they are hopping into their separate rigs and racing off to the scene with the rest of the house.
I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called "Yellow"
Gabby walks through the halls of 51 as quietly as she can, knowing that the majority of the guys were already asleep. It had been a rough and long call for everyone. By the time they had arrived at the fire the structure was fully involved and while most had gotten out, there had been a family with three young children trapped inside.
Truck and Squad had both done everything they could, but by the time they got them out, it was too late for the father and two of the children. Dawson and Shay had transported the child while ambo 83 took the mother and even their outcomes had not looked promising when they dropped them off.
Ambo had gotten another call before the guys returned from the scene and Gabby wanted nothing more than to get back to the house and check on Matt. Her and Shay's two long calls back to back forcing her to wait longer than she would have liked before getting back to the house to see her other half.
She stops in the middle of the hall as Shay continues on heading for her bunk, the blonde turning when she notices her friend is no longer at her side and finds her stopped outside Casey's office. Shay offers a knowing smile before nodding and heading to her own bunk.
Gabby carefully opens the door, expecting to find him already sleeping, not sitting up in bed with a book in his hand and his lamp on. She quickly shuts the door behind her, not wanting to let any light seep out and wake the guys before resting her back against it, his eyes already on her when she looks back to him.
"Hey." She greets softly.
"Hi. You guys get another call?" He asks though she was sure he already knew the answer, she nods her reply. "How uh... how'd the drop off go?" He questions her timidly, and Gabby knows he is wanting to check on the little girl from the apartment fire.
She shrugs, unsure what to say, truthfully, she didn't know much. "She was still stable when we got her there, but I don't know... It'll be a long road."
Casey's eyes move down as he nods and Gabby hates seeing how broken up he is over this call. How broken up the entire house is. Matt had carried out the little girl that they had cared for, one of the two out of five that made it out of the fire with a pulse, no matter how weak it had been.
Gabby clears her throat as she stood still leaned against his door, thankful the blinds were already drawn. "I uh, I expected you to already be asleep."
Casey nods, a soft smile falling on his lips. "I was waiting up for you." He explains simply like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Gabby can't help but smile, her head tilting to the side as she takes in his words and a warmth spreading through her chest. They didn't normally spend the night together on shift, so he had no way of knowing she would also seek him out when she got back... but she was sure he would have come to check in on her at some point, just as she always did for him. Even if they didn't stay the night together in his office as often as she sometimes wished they did, after a rough call they were always at each other's sides, ready to jump in and support the other with whatever they needed.
Which more often than not the only thing either of them ever needed was just each other.
Matt sets his book down, holding his hand out to her as a clear invitation for her to join him. She smiles softly, flipping the lock on his door, knowing neither of them wanted anyone walking in on them, no matter how innocent their actions were.
Gabby kicks her boots off, setting them beside his on the floor and unzipping her jacket, setting it on top of her boots before Matt pulls the covers back for her. He doesn't move from his spot in the middle of the bed and Gabby knows exactly what he is asking for by that. She climbs in, settling between his legs and snuggling into his chest.
Casey holds her tight, pulling the blanket back over them and shutting the light off as he settles down further into the bed with her, running his hand up and down her back, the action enough to comfort them both.
He presses a kiss to the top of her head, before letting his cheek rest there, continuing the pattern on her back and hip as she traces patterns on his chest.
"You okay?" She asks, feeling the sigh he releases as he holds her tighter.
"I'm better now." He tells her honestly.
Gabby looks up, finding his eyes in the darkroom and tracing her hand along his cheek, leaning up to press a meaningful kiss to his lips, holding there for a few moments before pulling back. Matt looks down at her, running a hand through her hair and tucking her bangs back before cradling her cheek. The look in his eyes catches her by surprise, the emotions that rest there taking her breath away.
"Thank you." He says, his voice barely audibly. Gabby's eyebrows furrow and he continues on before she can prompt him further. "For being here. For being you..."
The paramedic is no less confused, but her eyes fill at his words, her throat tightening as she watches the emotions play across her boyfriend's face.
"Before you, I dealt with these things alone. Tough calls. Tough shifts... just everything. Even at home, I just never brought it up, I buried it." He explains, Gabby's gaze softening even further as he speaks. She had known there was trouble in his relationship long before she showed back up in Chicago, but it never hurt her any less to know how much he had struggled. "Some days were harder than others, but... now... with you..." Matt shakes his head, unsure of how to form his thoughts properly.
Gabby remains silent, running her fingers through his hair knowing how much that has always soothed him while he continues to find his words. He meets her eyes once more, his eyes shining, but his voice much stronger than before.
"A day never goes by where I am not completely and utterly grateful for you. For who you are, and for what we have, but on days like today? I'm just so grateful you are in my life." He finally settles on.
Gabby nods, knowing if she opens her mouth her voice will betray her. She presses forward bringing him in for long tender kisses. Matt's grip on her hips tightening as she keeps her close.
"There is nothing in this life that I am more grateful for then you." She finally responds once they have pulled apart, her lips still a breath away from his. Matt smiles, pressing another kiss to her lips.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Gabby settles back down into his arms, snuggling deep into his embrace, the couple falling into a comfortable sleep together.
Both knowing how lucky they were to have each other not only on tough shifts but every day.
So, then I took my turn
Oh, what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow
Gabby moves quickly through the large ballroom, her hand locked in Matt's as he follows along behind her, trying his best to keep up. He was really unsure how she moved so quickly in those heels, the ones she was wearing enough to give her a solid five inches more of height, not to mention he was pretty sure that the heel itself resembled a pencil with how thin it was. There were a lot of things that Gabby did that impressed him... more than he could appropriately reminisce on now while they worked their way through the room to find her parents and brother, but the way she maneuvered in those heels was definitely something he was adding to the top of his list.
They were running late, which was not something Gabby had wanted to be to her parent's 40th Anniversary party. After shift they had decided to go home for a quick nap before heading to the hospital, both of them wanting to check in on the mother and daughter they had rescued at the fire. Gabby and Shay had only been called out once more, right before shift ended, and had dropped the patient off at Lakeshore instead of Med where the family from their apartment fire had been taken, leaving her unable to drop in quickly like the paramedic had wanted to.
They were both surprised to hear that both mother and daughter were still holding stable, even after a touch and go night... they had ended up staying longer than anticipated and by the time they got home and ready, they both were aware they would be showing up after originally scheduled to her parent's party.
Matt apologized to the umpteenth person as he tried his best to keep up with his girlfriend. Her quick pace making it difficult. He nearly ran into her back as she came to an abrupt stop, his free hand resting on her lower back as she stopped. He looked up quickly, finding Camilla and Ramon Dawson's eyes on them before stepping to Gabby's side. She drops his hand, wrapping one around her mother, an apology falling from her lips.
"Gabriella." Her mother starts, an admonishing look already in her eyes.
"Hi. I'm so sorry we are late." She presses a kiss to her mother's cheek before moving to her father, and getting wrapped up in a tight hug, the older Dawson pressing a kiss to his daughter's head.
Casey gives Camilla a quick hug, her admonishing looks soon turning into a smile as she hugs the blond man.
"Where have you been, Mija, we've been waiting?" He hears her father ask just as Gabriella pulls away and Ramon shakes her date's hand. "Good to see you again, Matthew."
"I'm sorry. We were visiting someone at the hospital and lost track of time." Gabby quickly apologizes once more, her parent's eyes grew wide.
"Did someone from shift get hurt?" Her mom's worried voice rings out.
Matt shakes his head, "No, no. Everyone from work is fine."
"Yeah, everyone is okay, Mama. We just had a rough call last night, and stopped in to check on the family." Gabby explains.
Her parent's sharing a quick look before their worried eyes settle back on the couple in front of them. "I'm sorry sweetheart. You sure you two are okay?" Camilla asks, her voice softening as she takes them in.
Gabby nods, reaching back out to squeeze Matt's arm, his head turning to her as they share a soft smile. Their night before in his office and again this afternoon with the family having her say her next words confidently, "We are. It was a rough one, but we are getting through it." The brunette tells her parents, her eyes never leaving the strong blue ones looking back at her. His hand coming up to squeeze the one on his arm. The two of them missing the knowing smile on her parent's faces.
"Good, Mija. We are happy to hear. We worry... about both of you." Ramon clarifies.
Gabby gives her father a reassuring smile, squeezing his arm as Matt's chest fills with warmth, feeling like part of this family more and more with every conversation he had with the Dawson's.
They all share some much lighter conversation before they are being pulled to their table. Gabby and Matt settling in next to her brother and sister-in-law at one of the tables in the front of the room while their parents head to their head table. Settling in for their speeches and greetings now that all their guests had arrived.
"Hey, you made it!" Antonio jokes lightly, greeting the couple and pressing a quick kiss to his sister's cheek before reaching out and shaking Matt's hand, the two became close after a rocky start in the beginning. Antonio needing no more reassurance that the couple was the real deal after the first few times of seeing them together. All his worries erased after a few conversations with the blond man that was very clearly in love with his little sister.
Matt rests a hand on Gabby's back her gaze instantly going to his as she settles closer to him, both of their eyes going to the front of the room as her father starts speaking.
"Well, let me start out by saying thank you to all of you for joining us here once again. 40 years of anything is a long time, but 40 years of marriage really feels like a hell of an accomplishment... and there is no one else I would rather be accomplishing this with." Ramon and looks to his wife, giving her a soft smile as she squeezes his hand beside her. "We've been through it all together. Love and loss. We've had our highs, and we have had our lows, but one thing that has always remained clear is our unwavering love and support for each other..." Matt takes in the older Dawson's words. His eyes once again moving to the woman beside him.
Gabby's eyes were trained on her parents, a look of love and adoration shining in her brown orbs, and Matt found himself getting lost in her once again. Ramon's words settling in the air around him. He wanted that. He wanted this. This is what he wanted with Gabby. He wanted 40 + years. He wanted the decades of memories and the annual anniversary parties, he wanted kids and a family. He wanted it all, and he wanted it all with her.
The brunette squeezes his hand, drawing his attention, as she leans in closer to him. "You okay?" She asks, quietly, meeting his blue eyes.
Matt smiles brightly, rubbing a hand over her back one more before bringing her closer, leaning in to press a firm kiss to her lips. "I'm perfect."
The paramedic pulls back, taking him in, the love shining in his eyes taking her breath away. Matt simply kisses her once more, before looking back up to the head table where her father was still talking and tuning back in, Gabby's eyes staying locked on him curiously for a few moments longer before she also looks up again, catching the last of her father's words.
"...Camilla, thank you, for the past 40 years, they've been the greatest of my life. Here is to another 40 more with the love of my life."
Not long after the speeches, dinner was served, and with the completion of that, the dance floor was opened. Matt pulling Gabby out with him as the second slow song of the night hit.
Matt took her hand in his, the other wrapping around her back to hold her close, the couple swaying to the music comfortably as they settled into each other's arms.
"Well, look at you go." Gabby teases lightly, running her hand back forth over his shoulders. "I would have never taken you for much of a dancer."
Casey smirked, pulling her slightly closer, leaving nothing but a breath of space between them. "What can I say, I am full of surprises." He teases back.
Gabby shakes her head, biting back a grin of her own. "Don't I know it."
The couple continues to move together, letting the melody of the music carry them. Matt runs a soothing pattern over her back looking down at with eyes filled with adoration and love, a warmth spreading through his chest.
"I've uh... I've been wanting to ask you," He starts carefully, Gabby looking to him curiously. "We've haven't mentioned it again, in the past couple weeks, but I just wanted to be sure... that you're ready."
The brunette's eyebrows furrow, confusion setting in as she takes in his words, Matt continuing before she can question him, his near nervous rambling taking her by surprise from his normally cool, calm, and collected demeanor. "...I know when it was originally brought up, it took you by surprise. And I haven't forgotten it, trust me, but I wanted to give you time. I know you said the answer would be yes, but I just..." Matt stops, swallowing thickly. "I just want to make sure you're really ready. I want us to move at whatever pace you want, Gabby."
Warmth spread through her chest as she realizes what he is talking about. A proposal. Marriage.
Their conversation both at her parent's dinner table and again that evening in their home. They hadn't mentioned it again. They had left it at that conversation, and though she hadn't forgotten it, not in the slightest, it hadn't been at the forefront of her mind lately. She knew whenever it came, her answer would be yes. She wanted nothing more than to be his wife, but she also hadn't realized Matt was waiting on her. Waiting to make sure this was truly what she wanted. She loved him for his always prominent worry and concern for her, but she had meant her words. She had meant it when she told him her answer would be yes, and if she was being honest with herself, while she hadn't been thinking of engagement and marriage so soon after they got together, it hadn't fully left her thought process since her mother mentioned it nearly two months ago.
"I'm ready." She tells him, her smile growing when she watches the look of happiness fall over his features. She moves her hand from his shoulder to rest on the side of his neck, stroking the skin she found there. "I love you, Matt. Of course, I'm ready." She assures once more.
He can't help the grin the spreads over his face. The deep warmth that fills his chest at the thought of this woman that he loved more than he could ever fully comprehend one day becoming his wife. He rests his hand on her cheek, stroking his thumb over her smooth skin as he presses a long sweet kiss to her lips.
"I love you, so much," Matt says, barely pulling away enough to get the words out before he is connecting their lips once more.
When they do the part they don't move far, Gabby tucking he head into his neck as they continue to rock gently to the music, Matt's arms completely circling her waist as he presses a kiss to the top of her head.
"This is going to be our kids and their significant others in 30 years at our anniversary party." He tells her, looking down at her. "We're going to have it all, Gabby. You and me."
His words hold so much conviction and she knows he truly believes them. She nods her head, tightening her grip around him and letting that all too familiar feeling of love and warmth flood her system.
She wanted that more than anything.
Your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
You know, you know I love you so
You know I love you so
Matt settles down on to the couch next to Severide, passing him the second beer he had grabbed from the fridge before resting his feet up on the coffee table.
"Thanks, man," Severide tells him, taking a sip from the fresh beer as his eyes settle back on the hockey game the two friends were watching. The brunette Lieutenant letting out a curse as the Blackhawks give up a goal to the Penguins, shaking his head in disappointment.
A commercial comes on, Matt running a hand over his face. "This was not the game I had in mind for guys night." He mutters, clearly just as unimpressed with the way their team was playing tonight.
"Yeah, no kidding," Severide mutters, stealing a glance at his phone before looking back over at his friend. "What were the girls doing tonight?" He asks, not having kept up with Shay and Dawson's plans when Shay he and Shay had shown up nearly 3 hours ago, the two-woman leaving soon after.
"They were going for dinner and drinks at some Sushi place downtown." Matt tells him, checking his own phone, before setting it back on the coffee table, moving his focus back to his friend. "I guess they used to go all the time, been a while since they were last there." He fills in, reciting some of the information he had been given from his girlfriend.
Kelly nods, taking another drink of his beer as he looks around. "How are things going with you two anyway?" He questions, receiving a raised brow from the blond man. "I mean, I've seen you two, so I know they've got to be going pretty well." He teases lightly earning a chuckle.
"Yeah, I mean things are great. We're both really happy."
"And uh... what about that conversation we had a few weeks ago?" Kelly asks, "At Molly's. You still considering that? Proposing?"
Matt smiles, running a hand along the back of his neck. "I uh, I am actually."
Severide's eyes widen, biting back a grin as he watches his friend turn timid. "Yeah?"
The Truck Lieutenant nods once more, taking a sip of his beer. "Mhm. I uh, I bought a ring... a few weeks ago."
"Well, damn. You are serious." Severide chuckles, clasping his friend on the shoulder. "Come on, don't leave me hanging, let's see it."
Matt grins, clasping his hands on his thighs before sitting up and moving into the other room to get the well-hidden ring before returning to the couch, opening up the box and passing it to his friend.
Severide lets out a low whistle taking in the diamond ring with the white gold band. "Damn Case, the CFD paying you a different Lieutenant salary than they are paying me?" He teased, his brows raised as he looks the ring over impressively.
Casey chuckles, shaking his head. "I plead the fifth." He joked back.
"Really, man. Dawson is going to love this."
"Thanks, Sev. I hope so." Casey takes the box back, looking over the ring with a smile on his face. His excitement radiating off him.
"So, how you asking her?" Severide asks, watching as Casey snaps the box closed before meeting his stare.
"I uh, I think I'm going to do it at the firehouse actually." He says, running his tongue along his bottom lip.
Severide's brows furrow, "You're asking her to marry you at the firehouse?"
Matt rolls his eyes, hearing the less than impressed tone to his friend's words. "It's the first place we saw each other again. It's what really started us again. I mean, it's what brought us back together. It's where we spent all our time together. I just... I want it to be meaningful. She deserves that."
Kelly's look softens as he takes in his friend's words. "Alright, I'm on board. So, how we doing this?"
Casey raises a brow, "We?"
"Hell yeah, I'm helping. As best man of the future wedding, it seems like my job." He jokes, Casey, grinning. "So, let's go. How's it happening?"
Matt explains what he had in mind, and within the next hour, the guys have a solid plan and a date set for when Casey would propose.
A key in the lock has them both nearly jumping out of their skin. Casey quickly grabbing the ring off the table, knocking his beer over in the process and leaving Kelly to deal with it as he sprints into the next room, the ring box tucked in his hand as he races to put it back in its hiding spot.
He barely has the ring inside and the drawer slammed shut when he hears the front door open, Shay and Gabby's laughter filling the area.
"What did you do?" He hears Shay ask, and he is sure they are talking about the mess he left in his wake.
"I'll grab a towel." Gabby laughs, and he moves from the dining room into the kitchen grabbing a towel and taking a deep breath, willing his heart rate to slow down before he heads into the living room.
"I've got one babe." He calls, plastering a smile on his face as he heads into the room, pressing a quick kiss to her lips as he moves past her to the coffee table and lays the towel down.
"You two get too rowdy over your game?" Gabby jokes, missing the look the two men share before Matt forces out a laugh.
"Yeah, uh, big play." He offers.
Shay raises a brow, looking to the television. "Big play during Legally Blonde?" She quips, both men's eyes shooting to the screen, neither having realized the channel was changed during their plotting.
Matt stutters, unsure what to say, thankfully Kelly is there to fill in. "Must have hit the remote during our cheering."
Shay looks between the two, still unbelieving, but Gabby seems to be none the wiser as she chuckles, moving back to the door to take her shoes off and hang her purse and keys up. Shay comes to sit on the couch next to Severide, still looking him over curiously, her gaze then shooting to Matt as he comes back into the room with a couple of beers after discarding the damp towel, he had used to clean up his last one.
He settles down into the chair beside the couch now, handing a beer to Shay and Severide both as Gabby moves back around to them, taking the beer that Matt held out to her before settling down into his lap. Her boyfriend smiling brightly at the display of affection and wrapping an arm around her, his hand gripping her hip tightly as her held her to him, her legs resting over the arm of the chair.
"How was dinner?" He asks,
"It was good." Gabby comments, running fingers through the short hairs at the base of his neck.
Shay takes a long drink from the beer bottle. "That place is always amazing. We used to go all the time."
Gabby tenses, Matt felt the moment her body seizes up and watches as she sends her friend a pointed glare.
"Uh oh, is Shay mad I'm stealing all your time again?" Casey teases, Kelly chuckling.
His girlfriend is no less tense from his teasing comment, but he watches her plaster a smile on her face, laughing softly. He looks at Gabby curiously, running his hand over her hip again, bringing her eyes to meet his once more. "What is it?" He asks, not able to let it go.
"Wait where'd you go?" Severide asks curiously, listening as Shay recites the name, a smirk on her face. Something must click in Severide's head because he is chuckling a moment later, Matt looking at the two curiously, "Isn't that where Mike works?" Shay nods, the two continuing to laugh while Matt thinks over the name.
"Mike?" He questions, trying his best to make sense of the name and the reaction it enticed from his two friends. Gabby takes a long drink of her beer, waiting for the moment it clicks in her boyfriend's mind. She isn't left waiting long as realization washes over Casey. "Mike... Mike as in your ex-boyfriend, Mike?" He questions.
Gabby tucks her bottom lip between her teeth, gnawing on the flesh so hard she can feel the coppery taste of blood as she nods timidly.
"God, he was... he was something." Severide laughs, nearly choking on his words as he and Shay double over, remembering fondly of the few times they had met the waiter Gabby had dated well over a year ago. Gabby shoots the two a glare, only barely silencing them before neither was able to hold in their laughter once more. The two getting a front-row seat to the short time Gabby had spent with the dark-haired man that Severide and Shay had nearly immediately labeled as far too innocent and clingy to be with someone like Dawson.
Noticing their blond-haired friend had yet to say anything since the mention of the man his girlfriend had at one point dated, Severide silences, wincing slightly at the unreadable expression on Casey's face. He looks to Shay, her soon silencing as well before he nods to the door. "Maybe we should." He nods once more, Shay quickly agreeing before they both were gulping down the little left in their drinks and bidding the still nearly frozen in place couple goodbye.
I swam across
I jumped across for you
Oh, what a thing to do
'Cause you were all yellow
I drew a line
I drew a line for you
Oh what a thing to do
And it was all yellow
Gabby shifted uncomfortably in her boyfriend's arms, sitting herself up and pulling from his embrace as she moved away from him. Running a hand through her hair before she grabbed the rest of the bottles off the coffee table and headed into the kitchen to discard the remainder of the mess.
She had just finished discarding the glass bottle into the recycling bin when she felt his presence behind her. Gabby finished wiping down the counter before throwing the wipe she had been using away and turning around to face him, a timid look still covering her face.
"So..." Matt started, but she was already cutting him off.
"I'm sorry." She pushed out, Matt's eyes immediately filling with confusion. "I'm sorry, I should have said that was where we were going, or at least made it clear who worked there. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if he still did work there or where he was working. I mean it's been forever and I..."
"Gabby." Matt tried interjecting, but her rambling continued.
"I know you know I dated him. While we were together, and honestly, I had just forgotten about it, it was so long ago, and we were never that serious, I mean he was more a friend, but I just don't want you to think I was being sneaky about it or..."
"Gabby!" Matt interjects again, this time more forcefully, watching as she silences, her eyes snapping to his. "It's okay, Gabby. You don't owe me an apology." He tells her, watching as her brows furrow, his words taking her off guard.
"I.. You're... You're not mad?" She questions her own confusion evident, but her words only causing confusion to settle onto his own face as he moves towards her.
"Of course, I'm not mad." He tells her, resting his hands on her shoulders as he gets within reach. "You dated him over a year ago, before we were ever officially together. I have no reason to be mad at you, baby."
Gabby's expression finally softens, gnawing on her bottom lip again. "You got really quiet... when he was mentioned." She clarifies.
Matt sighs, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "I was a little surprised, yeah. I mean, no, it's not easy thinking of you with anyone else, but mad? No way. Just because we have all this history doesn't mean I'm conceited enough to think your life revolved around me the last decade." He jokes lightly, Gabby unable to stop the roll of her eyes or the smile that comes to her lips.
Casey leans in closer to her, resting his hands firmly on her hips while hers move up to wrap around his neck, letting her hands run through the short blond hair that rests there.
"We have a long history, Gabby, one I wouldn't trade for the world, but I know that our history also included other people, and there is nothing we can do about that." She nods softly, letting his words wash over her as she leans up, Matt meeting her halfway to press a chaste kiss to her lips. Once he pulls back a smile pulling at the ends of his lips as he tucks her hair back behind her ear.
"I don't care about who all there was before me, Gabby. You don't have to walk on eggshells or be scared of my reaction to your past. None of that matter to me... all that matters now is that we are each other's last."
Gabby's chest floods with warmth at his words, her smile widening.
"I like the sound of that."
Matt's brow raises, his own smile matching hers. "Yeah?"
She nods, a hum leaving her as she connects their lips once more, her grip around his shoulders tightening. "Yeah."
Matt smiles against her lips before catching up with her actions, their sweet kisses soon turning feverish as she opens her mouth to him, granting him access, his hands digging into her hips as his grip tightens. The air around them shifting as they got lost in each other, something the couple so often did.
Swallowing the moan that leaves her as his hand ghost over her warm skin, pushing her shirt up and slipping his hands underneath to grip her smooth flesh before grabbing at the ends of the material. The couple only separating long enough for Matt to pull the material over her head and drop it to the floor with a silent thud before they were connecting once again. Matt's hands gripping the back of her neck, spurring on their heated kisses.
Matt's hands are soon roaming down, settling low on her stomach as his kisses move to her neck. "Matt..." She pants out, her boyfriend pressing a deep kiss to her pulse point as he pops the button of her jeans, slowly dragging the zipper down. He presses another kiss right under her ear, the spot he knew was her undoing before sinking his teeth into the skin lightly, feeling her wither against him as her deep moan hit his ears. Matt was soon darting his tongue out to soothe the red skin, his hand slipping into her open jeans to cup her covered center.
Gabby rocks against his hand, wanting more than anything to relieve the pressure pooling in her stomach. "Matt, please..." She begs once more, her plea being cut off as his lips move from her neck back to her lips, connecting them in a deep kiss as he presses her further into the counter behind her, pushing the lace material out of his way he presses against her, his pressure light against the place they both knew she wanted him more than anything. Matt's other hand moves up, wrapping around her back and unclasping her bra, letting the black satin material that he was all too familiar with fall down her arms. Gabby quickly shrugs the material off, doing what she could with the little amount of space Matt was granting her as he kept her pressed to the counter. The black material hits the floor just as Matt ducks his head. His lips covering her left breast earning a whimper from her just as he finally presses his hand further brushing over her bundle of nerves with just enough pressure to have her head spinning.
"God, baby..." Matt knew she was right on the edge, between his mouth on her breasts and the light pattern he was rubbing against her most sensitive area he knew just the slightest bit of pressure would have her tumbling over the edge, his leg pressed firmly between her legs and his hand on her hip about the only thing holding her up... but he wasn't quite ready for the end just yet. He still had more in mind for her.
A low whine escaped his girlfriend's lips as he pulled away abruptly. Removing his hand from her pants and moving his lips back up to her neck. "Matt, what..." Her words are cut off mid-sentence, a gasp of surprise leaving her as he picked her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as her arms hooked back around his neck. Her bare chest rubbing against his still clothed covered one sending shivers through her system.
Her lips soon attached to his once more, Matt blindly leading them to their bedroom, his hands resting firmly on her jean covered bottom to hold her up. Gabby's lips moving to the skin of his neck and collarbone making navigating the apartment that he knew better than the back of his hand nearly impossible. His focus completely on the woman in his arms and her distracting actions. He was never more grateful to see their bedroom, knowing if Gabby kept up her actions, he was sure to drop her, something neither of them wanted.
Matt settled them both onto the bed, reaching his arm out to keep himself from completely crashing down on to her as they hit the mattress. Their lips connecting in another heated kiss almost immediately. Matt wasting no time in letting his hands explore her body once more. His fingers hooking in the sides of her jeans and quickly ridding her of the material, her underwear being pulled from her body right after leaving her completely bare to him. Matt's eyes darkening as he took all of her in sending a delightful shiver through the brunette's body.
He wasted no time, climbing back onto the bed, Gabby's hands reaching out for him immediately as his body settled over hers, their lips connecting in a heated kiss. Gabby's hands moving to the bottom of his shirt and tugging at the material, Casey pulling away with a grin only being met with her challenging brow.
"You gotta give me something here, Casey. This seems hardly fair." She teased lightly, motioning to her completely bare body and his completely covered one. A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as he helped her remove his shirt.
"Well, to keep things fair." He teased back, wiping the grin off her face as his lips devoured hers once again, swallowing the moan that escaped her at the contact.
Keeping their lips connected Gabby moved her hands down, making quick work of the button and zipper of his jeans, pushing them down as much as she could before letting her legs aide in her movements. She only had them about halfway down his thighs before she gave up the action, averting her hands back to his boxers. Her fingers hooking the material that rested low on his hips, before pulling the material out of the way, her hand diving in to grip him firmly, Matt completely tensing as her actions took him by surprise.
Gabby smirked against his lips, swirling her thumb over the tip of his member before continuing her ministration, Matt's head falling to her shoulder as she picked up speed, returning his earlier teasing in full.
"Gabby..." Matt barely stuttered out, her movement's picking up speed nearly sending him over the edge as he pressed light kisses to her shoulder trying to keep some sense of composure, but he was quickly losing that battle. Soon enough Matt was pushing her hand away, gripping them in his own as he tried to control his breathing, the gleam in her eyes letting him know she had thoroughly enjoyed herself and the effect she had over him. Kicking his boxers and jeans off Matt shook his head, determined to wipe the grin off her face as he trailed kisses down her body that were soon stopped by Gabby's hands on his shoulder's pulling him back up to her.
His brows knit in confusion at her action, Gabby never one to stop him from showing his full appreciation of her body, when her words pulled him back to her. "Later," She muttered, her hands moving to his cheeks to pull him up for another kiss. "I just want you." She explained, a warmth filling her boyfriend's chest at her words.
Pulling the blankets over them Matt settled down against her, keeping his lips connected with hers as his hand ran up hers, locking their fingers together on her pillow as he adjusted his position, feeling her legs tighten around his hips as he sunk into her warmth, both of their moans being muffled by the others mouth.
Matt stalled his movements as he came to rest deep inside of her, giving her a moment to adjust. "You have me, always." He murmured, only pulling back enough to get the words out before claiming her lips in a lustful kiss. The rise of her hips spurring on his movements as he began to rock his hips into hers. Her grip on his hand locked in hers tightening as she met his movements with ones of her own, her nails of her other hand biting into the skin of his back as he picked up his pace. Their lips disconnecting for her to catch her breath, her head lulling back into the pillow as he hit that delicate spot inside her, a deep moan leaving her lips. His teasing earlier already having her so close to the edge. Matt's mouth attaching to her neck while his free hand gripped her breast only spurring her on and bringing her closer to that edge once more.
Casey picked up his movements, finding a near frantic pace as they both neared their end, their earlier teasing only proving to make this round much shorter than anticipated, both of them desperate for the release they weren't granted earlier. His hips driving into hers leaving Gabby near breathless, his pace unrelenting.
"Baby." She gasped out just as Matt felt her walls gripping him tighter, pulling him in further as the nails digging into his back pressed harder. Matt's teeth sinking into her shoulder as his grip on her hip tightened had her falling over the edge, a yelp of ecstasy leaving her lips as Matt brought her to her finish, his own end coming a moment later with a deep moan as he emptied into her, riding out the last of his thrusts before they were collapsing together.
Their heavy breaths coming out short and choppy as they both tried to gain some control of their breathing. Matt pressing light kisses to her shoulder and neck, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her sides as he felt her thighs still wrapped around him trembling slightly.
Gabby's hand ghosted lightly over his back, Matt's lips soon trailing to her lips, pressing a light kiss there before pulling back, her hazy eyes meeting his, a small grin falling over his lips as he took her in. Pushing some of the damp hair back from her head and letting his hand remain there. "You good?"
"Perfect." She responds softly, bring her free hand to cup his cheek, the two falling into lazy kisses, letting themselves come down from their intense highs and enjoy the others embrace.
Your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
And you know
For you I'd bleed myself dry
For you I'd bleed myself dry
Matt sat nursing his beer, the crowd at Molly's in full swing as he kept a watchful eye on his girl behind the bar. Shooting her a wink anytime her wandering eyes caught his as she worked; the brunette almost always returning his looks with a blush and a shake of her head.
This had become a regular occurrence for the couple since getting together. Matt taking up a permanent residence at the bar the majority of the nights Gabby had to work, unless he had a construction job of his own to get too. Though, even then, he more often than not found his way to the bar to help the paramedic close it down. The protective side of him coming out and always wanting to assure she made it home safe from a late night at the bar.
Casey took a long sip of the glass in front of him, the one Gabby had just filled a moment prior before heading back down the bar to help a "paying customer" she had joked, before sauntering away. Casey's eyes lingering on her ass the entire time, the extra sway in her hips letting him know she knew he was watching and she was enjoying every minute of the teasing she was doing.
"You ever get tired of throwing bedroom eyes at Dawson, or is this something we will be dealing with even after you propose?" Matt whips around, eyes wide as he watches Severide take a seat next to him, his voice teasing.
"Jesus, Kelly." Matt mutters, looking around quickly to ensure no one else had heard the words leave his best friends' mouth. "Say it a little louder, I don't think Gabby heard you down the bar." He hissed, shooting his friend a less than impressed look.
Severide chuckled lightly. "Please, we've been working out the details on this thing for two weeks now and no one has found out, I think we are fine."
Matt rolls his eyes, taking another drink of his beer, his eyes shooting over to Gabby down the bar one more time before looking down at the bar top in front of him, "Yeah, and we only one day left. So, I'd like to keep it that way."
Kelly slaps him on the back, clasping his shoulder, unable to hold in his own excitement. "How much are you losing your mind right now?" He asks knowingly.
While Matt's excitement had been through the roof, so had his nerves. The reasons for his excitement being the same reasons for his nerves. He just wanted everything to go perfectly. He knew Gabby would say yes, that wasn't as much of his nerves... though for as confident as he was in what her answer would be, he would be lying if he said there still wasn't at least a small part of him that was holding on to some insecurities for what her answer would be. His main nerves being for this to go as smoothly as possible. Gabby deserved for this to be a moment she remembered for the rest of her life. He wanted her to have this. He wanted her to have this amazing memory.
There were a lot of things in their relationship that he knew they would never be able to look back on and share without that little piece of guilt being there. Their first meeting, first kiss, their first date, first time, their first... child. There was not a lot of things they could look back on without also reminiscing about the time in which those first or big events had taken place. As much as they both didn't regret their past, as much as they knew it brought them to where they were today, he wanted more than anything to give Gabby an amazing memory that she deserved to hold forever... without any guilt or ill feelings that would linger under the surface.
That thought process had led him to second-guessing himself the more and more he and Kelly worked to plan his proposal. While originally his idea to propose to her where he first saw her again seemed like a great idea, the more he started thinking the more he thought maybe he shouldn't... because the first time her saw her again, when they started this all over, he had still been married. And that right there seemed like another tie to their past that would have them holding onto that guilt.
Matt had been quick to try and change the venue, and Kelly had to nearly beat the reasoning out of him, but soon enough Matt was sharing his worries with his "soon to be best man." Kelly shaking his head as soon as Matt had finished explaining himself. Kelly's words still lingering in his friend's mind.
"Listen, I get why you want to distance yourself from some of the hurt that happened between you two. It makes sense, but you said yourself that the two of you don't regret your past. Yeah, maybe you wish you had done things differently, but you have said it brought you to where you are now, and you two agree on that. So, maybe quit stressing about whether this brings up too much of the past, and embrace it. You two have loved each other for a really long time, there is no denying the past, Casey. But maybe you can look back and see how far you have come, and how much farther you two will go, together..."
Matt shakes his head once more, a smile falling to his lips as he thinks back on Kelly's words, words that had led him to exactly how he planned to propose to Gabby... and takes in his current question. "I'm definitely anxious... but I'm ready." He says softly, the confidence in his voice not going unnoticed by his friend.
"Yeah?" Kelly asks.
Matt nods, looking down the bar at Gabby once more, his eyes lingering on her form as she threw her head back in laughter with Hermann, the two working the bar tonight. His heart hammering in his chest as he watched her before he looked back down at his drink.
"Yeah. I'm just so ready for her to be my wife." He says softly.
"Your what?"
Matt whips around, the two guys both nearly jumping out of their seats as they turn to find a wide-eyed Leslie Shay stood behind them.
"Did you just say wife?" She asked forcefully, her voice raising an octave.
Kelly nearly throws his hand over her mouth. The two Lieutenants sharing a quick look before grabbing her by the arms and quickly leading her to a corner table at the back of the bar. Away from the prying ears of the rest of the nearby 51 group, and more importantly, Dawson.
Shay practically fights them the entire way and by the time they are settled at the back of the bar, Kelly forcing her down into a stool while he and Matt join her, her wild glare focused in on them.
"Okay, that was uncalled for." She huffs, clearly unimpressed.
"Well, if you weren't so damn loud." Kelly huffs back, shaking his head at her.
Matt is too busy looking around, trying to ensure no one else was paying any attention to the three of them.
"What do you expect from me, Kelly? I walk over and hear blondie over here muttering something about a wife." She bites out shaking her head. "Jesus, what is he talking about? The ex-wife, or is there something I need to know?" She jokes lightly, but when neither of them says anything back, only a brief stare being passed between the two Lieutenant's that has Shay's eyes widening further. "Oh my God!" She nearly cries, Severide shushing her once more while Casey runs his hands through his hair, shaking his head.
"Okay, this is exactly why I did not tell you." Matt tells her, his tone exasperated.
Shay takes a calming breath, trying to relax her racing mind. "Okay, well I am going to let that comment slide, Casey." She says, shooting him a slight glare before continuing. "Are you really proposing?" She asks, doing her best to keep her voice low now.
Casey meets Severide's look, a knowing grin on the brunette's face as he shrugs, leaving the blond man to choose if he was going to tell Shay the news. Matt shakes his head, running his tongue along his bottom lip before nodding, an unmistakable grin filling his features that has the blonde squealing in excitement.
"Oh my God! Really?!" She cries once more, Matt laughing as he nods his confirmation. "This is so exciting, Oh my God. When? How? Where?" She quickly interjects, her mouth working faster than her brain could.
Matt shakes his head at her excitement, chuckling softly. "Well, Kelly and I..."
"Jesus, what has you three huddled in the corner over here?" Matt jumps so quickly, Gabby's words as she approaches and her hand on his back taking him by such surprise that his beer goes tumbling over as his arm knocks into it, the liquid splashing out from the glass and flowing over the table.
"Shit," Matt curses, grabbing napkins from the dispenser quickly, not meeting his girlfriend's eyes as he starts to clean up the mess. Gabby rests her hand on his arm, stopping his movements and pulling the towel she had kept tucked into her back pocket out and wiping down the table. "I've got it, baby." She reassures him.
Gabby cleaning the mess and giving the table a moment to take a calming breath, knowing they were all almost caught. "You good?" Gabby asks softly, her concerned eyes meeting her boyfriend's blue ones. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Matt swallows thickly, plastering a smile on his face. "I'm good, sorry, I just didn't hear you coming."
Gabby looks at him skeptically, clearly seeing through the smile he had plastered on, the tension in his body letting her see clear as day there was more going on, but she knew now wasn't a good time to bring it up.
She rubs a soothing hand over his arm, leaving in to press a quick kiss to his lips. "I'll get you another beer, babe." She says softly, shooting a quick smile to her friends before heading back to the bar. Kelly letting out a low whistle while Matt scrubbed his hands down the side of his face.
"That was close." Kelly muttered.
"Seriously, you didn't want to tell me, but you two about spilled the beans right there?" Shay interjects quickly, Matt shooting her a glare. "Please tell me this is happening soon?" She pleads.
Matt lets out a huff, unsure if it's a good idea to tell the woman who had never been good about keeping secrets the actual plan for his proposal, but decides at this point no more harm could be done.
"Tomorrow, thank God."
Matt heads into the bedroom, finding Gabby already at the mirror to their adjoining bathroom, toothbrush hanging from her mouth and fresh-faced after washing her makeup away. She had on one of his t-shirts, and if Matt had to guess, nothing else, though he couldn't be certain, the shirt hitting her mid-thigh and swallowing her up.
He had to admit, this was by far his favorite look on her. Gabby was undeniably beautiful, whether she was dressed down, or up. While he was fond of her in just about anything, or nothing, he admittedly loved this look on her the most. Her face free of makeup. Her hair in very loose waves that he knew she had likely just gotten done brushing through. His shirt on her swallowing her whole and making her look just as much of the tiny person she truly was.
Matt gets caught up in his thoughts of her, hardly noticing as she flips the bathroom light off and heads into their bedroom.
"You want to talk about what had you so off early?" She asks softly, her concern for him clear.
Matt tenses momentarily, as their earlier interaction is mentioned, but quickly pushes it away, softening at her concern for him is made clear. He shrugs out of his jeans and pulls his shirt over his head, tossing both items into the laundry.
"I told you, I'm fine, Gabs." He offers, looking up to find her with a less than impressed look on her face as she pulls her side of the covers back.
"You jumped a mile, baby." She mutters, clearly not believing his deflection.
He sighs, following her actions and pulling down his own side of the bed, climbing in. "You just startled me, I promise, I'm fine." He offers once more, opening his arms to her as she settles down next to him, snuggling her head into his warm chest.
Matt flips the light off, the two of them coated in darkness as they relax into each other. Gabby lifts her hand, stroking over his cheek and bringing his eyes down to meet hers in the darkness.
"You know I'm here, right? If something was going on?" She offers softly.
Her words and tone alone enough to have Matt almost getting out of bed and grabbing the ring and asking her right then and there. This women's love and care for him never wavering, even in the slightest of times. He shakes his head softly, a smile pulling at his lips as he continues to talk himself out of proposing right here and now. Tomorrow – he continues to repeat to himself.
"You're too good to me, you know that?" He says gently, running the back of his finger down her nose, before cupping her cheek and he pulls her closer with his other arm. "I do know that though, and I love you so much for worrying about me, but I promise you baby, I really am fine."
Gabby nods, still not entirely convinced, but deciding to let it go for the night.
"I love you, too." She whispers back, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips before snuggling into his embrace, letting his warm inviting arms lull her into a peaceful sleep. Matt staying awake a while longer, running his hand up and down her side, taking in the peaceful moment, knowing, or at least hoping, tomorrow night when they fell asleep it would be as an engaged couple.
It's true
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine
"Okay, what's going on with you?" Gabby finally asks her partner, the blonde barely making eye contact the entire time they were out on the call unless it was needed. In fact, she had barely looked Gabby's way all day today, the girls well into their shift at this point and unless it was for a call, Shay was completely avoiding her, Gabby had soon realized. It just wasn't until now, as they were on their way back to the house after a long call and drop off at Chicago Med that the PIC finally decided to confront her about it.
She looked over to her friend, raising a brow in question before turning her gaze back to the road. "Leslie Elizabeth Shay, do not play dumb with me."
Shay rolls her eyes, "Nice. Middle naming me over there, Mom." Shay quipped back, her best friend now rolling her eyes.
"It was warranted." She defends. "Now come on... spill."
Shay takes a deep breath, feeling the tension rise in her as she tries to keep her nerves at bay. This was why she had been avoiding Gabby. She was too afraid to spill Casey's secret, not wanting to take anything away from such a special day for her best friend.
"Shay..." Gabby prompts once more when the blonde remains silent.
"I think Kendra cheated on me..." She blurts out, her own eyes widening at her words, the first thing that came to her mind flying out of her mouth. Though, she and Kendra weren't exclusive by any means, the two had started getting closer, that Gabby was aware of, but she still was taken aback by her best friend's words.
"I... I, uh... didn't realize you two had made it official?" Gabby asks, confusion still painted across her face.
Shay nods quickly, already committed to the lie. "Yeah, uh, just happened a couple days ago. We uh, we decided it was what we both wanted." Shay says and Gabby's eyes are narrowing immediately. As they neared 51, Shay pulling into the garage.
"You're lying." Gabby quickly interjects, looking her friend up and down.
Shay huffs, doing her best to bite back her grin, grateful to finally be back to the house, knowing this was almost over. "I am not." Shay defends, as she opens her door, Gabby getting out of the passenger side and heading her way.
"You are totally lying to me." Gabby pauses, stopping next to Shay as she takes in the empty garage, now noticing that squad and truck had both been pulled out on the hanger. Gabby looks around, confusion setting in. "What's going on?"
Shay shrugs, a bright grin appearing over her face as she starts to head towards the double doors. "Shay?" Gabby is quick on her heels, the blonde slowing once they reached the doors.
"So, I was lying." She says simply, Gabby looking at her pointedly, "But for good reason." She defends quickly, pushing the doors open, Gabby following closely.
"Why would you..." Gabby's words cut off as they enter, the room empty. Shay shrugs heading off down the hall, Gabby going to follow her, until her boyfriend's voice is stopping her.
"Hey, beautiful." Matt stood leaned up against the kitchen counter, Gabby just now noticing him, a small smile falling onto her lips as she took him in.
"Hey... what's going on?" She asks timidly, the empty firehouse leaving her thoroughly confused.
Matt's smile brightens, he shrugs, taking her hand as she nears and pulling her close. "Nothing, I just thought we could take a little trip down memory lane." He says lightly, his words earning a raised brow from his girlfriend, her heart rate picking up.
"Oh yeah?" She questions softly, a lump forming in her throat.
"Yeah." Matt says just as softly, his eyes shining as he looks down at her, pulling her closer into his embrace and tucking her bangs behind her ear. "This seems like a good place to start." He says, looking around the common room, Gabby following his eyes. "This is the first place we had a real conversation after you showed up here. This is where I slowly got to know you again, got to learn things about you I had never known before... even when you weren't talking to me directly." He teases lightly, Gabby biting back a grin. "This is where we started getting our friendship back, maybe stronger than we ever had before. Before anything else ever happened... this is where we got to be us again."
Gabby nods, looking around the common room and taking in his words, feeling her eyes water at the multiple conversations that had taken place for them here. Whether it was right after she got here, or later on after they had gotten together again, at one point this common room housed the only time they were able to speak to each other. They'd come so far from those days, but Matt was correct, this is where they got to know each other again. This is where they laid the foundation down.
Matt pulls lightly on her arm, "Come on." He prompts, keeping his hand locked in hers as he leads them down the hall towards the bunk room, Gabby following him willingly, a heavy feeling settling into her chest as realization hit her.
"You are never going to let me live this down, but there were so many times, back in the early days, where I would just sit in my office, and stare out here, watching you sleep."
"Oh, you are for sure not living that down." Gabby quickly interjects, her voice teasing.
Matt shakes his head, pulling her close to him once again as he leans against the door to his office. "It was nice, getting to see you so peaceful. When you were barely talking to me, when things were rough... whether that was things between us, or things for me personally, I always felt a calm, getting to see you like that and knowing you were safe. There were so many times over the years you were away all I wanted was to know you were safe and happy, and I guess having you here, even in the hard times, it made this sense of calm wash over me."
Gabby turns in his arms, her hand running along the stubble on his cheeks. "You never told me that." She says quietly, a small smile playing on the blond man's face before he leans down, pressing a chaste kiss to her head before pulling back.
"Well, now you know." He whispers, letting them sit a moment longer before turning with her, opening his office door. "Now, there are many fond memories in here." He says lightly, his eyes brows wiggling at her erupting a deep chuckle from her and a playful glare. "...and while I enjoy every single one of those memories, there are so many other's that I hold close to my heart." He tells her sincerely, Gabby squeezing his hand that was still holding hers, the lump in her throat growing as the realness set in.
"For as much as we got to know each other out in the common room, this office is where we really got to know each other. To talk, and catch up, and be ourselves so freely. This was like our little safe haven away from the rest of the world. This was one of the first places I'd find you after a rough call. This was where we had some of our hardest, but some of our most important conversations." Matt squeezes her hand, his blue eyes meeting her brown glassy ones. "This is where you told me you loved me, that you were done hiding that... this is where you told me to pick you, choose you..." He trails off, Gabby swallowing thickly. "...what you didn't realize at the time was I already had, chosen you. There was never much of a choice to make, Gabby. It was always you."
Matt pulls her against him, tucking her into his side and pressing a long kiss to her forehead. "Come on, I have one more stop." He whispers against her hairline, pulling her out of his office and back down the hall, the two walking out on the apparatus floor, Gabby looking up at him carefully as he pulls away from her, leading her to a specific spot, her brows rising in confusion as he rests his hands on her shoulders, stopping her in places as he checks once more before pulling away from her, walking back a few steps.
"What are you doing, Matt Casey?" Gabby asks amused, a light laugh escaping her that has him grinning further.
He takes another couple steps back, a solid couple of feet between them now.
"This right here was the first time I saw you again. After four years." Gabby's eyes water immediately, looking around carefully, remembering that day like it was yesterday, and this was indeed, exactly where she had been standing... "And it was like my entire world had finally snapped back into focus. Seeing you again, I can't fully describe what that meant to me, Gabby... All I know is, there isn't a day that has gone by since then that I have stopped thanking God for bringing you back to me. There isn't a day I don't thank fate for you being placed at 51. For as complicated as our past has been, for as rough as it has been... I wouldn't trade a single thing, because it led us here. It led us to this, and this... what we have? I've never been happier in all of my life than I am with you."
Casey stops, taking slow steps to her, Gabby feeling her heart beating out of her chest, the tears that had settled into her eyes finally freely falling.
"I have played this over and over in my head for weeks... months, actually... and I debated what the right way to do this was because I wanted it to be something we always remembered. Something that meant so much to both of us, because that is what you deserve. I debated whether a stroll down memory lane, memories that were not always easy to go through was the right choice, but I meant every word I said. No matter how hard it was, no matter how long it took us to get here, I am convinced no matter what other hurdles came our way we would've gotten through them, because you and me? This was always meant to be, Gabby. Since the moment I met you, I knew, and not a day goes by where I am not one hundred percent sure that you are my other half."
Matt stepped in front of her, wiping at the tears that had fallen to no avail, fresh ones taking their place as he pulled the ring from his pocket.
"You are... everything, Gabriella Dawson. You are the bravest, most beautiful, strongest, most single-minded woman I have ever met, and I love every single thing about you that makes you that person. I told you, you were like coming up for fresh air. You walked in that day, and I saw you, for the first time in years. It was like everything snapped back into focus for me. You saved me in ways I don't think you'll ever fully understand, because there are some days, I don't even fully understand it. All I know is, that I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side, making sense of it together." Matt slowly got down on one knee, Gabby knowing exactly what was coming and yet still not being able to hold in her gasp as he did so. The ring shining back at her as he finally opened the box. The tears that had settled into his own eyes finally falling down his face.
"I love you so much, Gabriella Dawson. Will you marry me?"
Gabby nodded immediately, words not coming as easy as the frantic movement of her head. "Yes, God baby, yes. Always, yes." Matt let out a watery chuckle, slipping the ring onto her finger as she pulled him up, desperate to have his lips on hers.
The two fused together, Matt kissing her deeply, picking her up, her feet leaving the ground as he held her close. Cheers soon ringing out around them as their 51 family who had been waiting back in the shadows came to congratulate the couple.
Matt finally pulling back, his eyes never leaving the soft brown ones gazing back at him, even as their family surrounded them.
"I love you, Matt Casey. I can't wait to be your wife." Gabby told him softly, her eyes shining. A warmth filling Matt's chest at her words, a warmth he was sure would never leave. He pulled her to him once more, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
Gabriella Dawson was and always would be the love of his life, and soon enough, she would also be his wife.
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do
Wow, it seems like that was forever in the making, but I am so happy to finally be at this point in this story. Dawsey is finally engaged.
Hope you all enjoyed this one, please let me know what you thought.