Hi everyone hope you are all enjoying this still xx leave me a message if you are xx Hannah
"Hey lieutenant, Shay said you wanted to see me?" Herman asked as he knocked on Casey's door.
"Hey yeah, did you speak to Cindy? I was thinking last night even if you don't want to buy you could always rent it from Heather. She is away for 15 years but it's going into a bank. If the boys need anything then I'll use it but otherwise it will be there when Heather's home."
"We did, can we come by and look around one day? I'll talk to Cindy about both options, so thanks again Casey. Just before I go erm how's Gabby doing? She seems really happy at the BBQ and Chianna loves you right?"
"yes, Herman she is settling in. looking for apartments. Chianna loves been with the boys. Look I know about the pool you have going and I hope you have put an extended date on because nothing is going on between us!"
"yet!" Herman chuckles as he walked away.
Shaking his head Matt got up and went for a coffee. Shay and Otis were arguing. Much was watching the TV. Mills was cooking and Kelly was reading. He sat by Kelly to listen in on the argument Shay was currently winning. It being about whether they should have Ladies nights at Molly's. Shay saying no as it was degrading and Otis saying it was a good way to bring money in.
Matt had messaged Gabby when he got into the firehouse, apologising for rushing off this morning and for the fact there was no bedding on the beds. He had pulled them all of this morning after realising he wasn't sure where Gabby slept. When he ordered the wood for the boys' bed, he had ordered extra to make a bed for Chianna, the toddler not enjoying sleeping in the travel cot anymore. He could see why it wasn't comfy. His phone buzzing in his pocket pulling him from designing the beds in his head.
"Hey Matt. Hope you are staying safe. Found Antonio he is undercover. Don't worry will sort bedding out when I get back. Found two apartments I am going to view next week. Antonio isn't happy with me; says he will talk when he gets home. Chianna is asleep so am sorting school holiday dates out, can't believe that we have like 2 weeks till the boy's finish! Anyways don't forget about my mom's birthday I will be out all day with the kids. Sorry I've rambled on. Too much coffee I think lol, anyways take care xx"
A smile flashed across Matt's face Kelly noticing it and nudging Casey under the table. The Lutenant looked up at Kelly with a questioning glance.
"Only one person that smile comes out for! Is she OK?"
"What? Who?" Matt tried to pretend that he wasn't smiling.
"Nothing, I mean nobody makes you smile like that ever, at all!"
"Matt, he means Gabby!" Shay quipped smiling at Kelly.
"Not you too Shay? How long do you have on the pool?"
"I haven't bet on it! Honestly I didn't even know about it till this morning!" she protested.
"Well, I'd bet long term cause she is not ready for another relationship yet, and I'm not going to push her."
"So that's not a, 'it's not going to happen'' Herman shouted the whole fire House joining in with the ribbing Casey was getting. The bells calling for the entire company saving him temporarily.
As Gabby sat down after cooking tea, making the beds and bathing the kids, she noticed her phone had some messages she must have missed. One from her Mom reminding her about meeting the next day. One from Shay wanting a girly night the following night and one from Matt asking how the kids were doing. When he rang and asked about the kids, she had quickly realised that he meant Chianna too. Texting back she smiled as her phone began to ring.
"Hey, you OK?"
"Yeah, the kids are all in bed asleep. I'm watching some really odd program about murderers. Think I will sleep with the lights on and a knife under my pillow and find an apartment that's on the top floor. Oh, and get a dog." Her laugh making him smile as she carried on talking. "So, how's the fire House. I won't ask if you are... You know..." "No don't say it" they both laughed as she replied. "No I wasn't even dreaming of saying it!"
"good as I'm going to sleep."
"yeah same, night Matt"
"Night Gabby! Meet me for breakfast tomorrow?" He'd asked before he realised, "if you are not busy, I mean. It's OK if you are."
"OK, usual place after I've dropped the boys off?"
"yeah OK. Night."
Matt smiled as he lay down. He could imagine her in his bed. Sleep shorts tank top. Messy hair. He was falling further everyday he just hoped he didn't mess things up with her.
Gabby sat in the booth waiting for Matt, her Mom had called and cancelled their meeting. Chianna seeing Matt before Gabby.
"dadad here momma!" Gabby freezing u till she realised she ment Matt "Dadad!" she shouted again as Matt walked too them. Her arms flying up to be lifted up in to a hug. The firefighter complied, sitting her next to him on the bench.
"I'm so sorry I..!" Gabby tried to apologise for the girl who was clinging to him.
"What for? Oh, it's OK! I'd be honoured to be her Dad, I've had a rubbish night, you jinxed us so breakfast is on you by the way. And it's nice to be hugged and I'm not going to complain."
"omg I'm sorry do you want to talk about it?"
"Not right now but a hug from this one is what I needed. If we hadn't of been meeting, I would have come and found you guys to pinch one." A sadness in his voice and a sad smile, made Gabby reach across for his hand. A tear ran down his cheek as the girl he was focusing on wiped it away. Hugging him again like she knew he needed holding closely. The rest of breakfast went by with gentle chatter and laughter from the three. They left each other to return home and Gabby rang Shay.
"Hey, so my Mom bailed on me want to meet me at mine in half an hour?" "yes please!" Shay replying without taking a breath.
As Shay came in Chianna ran to her hugging her legs.
"Hey baby girl. Aunty Shay needed this hug today thank you."
"Hey!" Gabby hugged her friend "you OK?"
"I am now, it was a tough one! Did Casey find you?"
"yeah, he did, we had breakfast this morning! You had a rough night I take it."
"awful. That poor kid. Her parents got the dog out and left the kid in her crib! She was 3. I tried everything, we all tried so hard!"
Gabby grabbing shay in to a hug holding her as the tears fell from both their eyes. It's always worse when it's a kid but when you have a kid you know who's the same age, it breaks your heart. The rest of the day was spent playing and eating Chinese. Still no sign of Antonio, Gabby was beginning to worry. The topic of the birthday party came up, Shay been upset she was working. Thankfully shay, never mentioning anything about her and Matt getting together. When Shay left Gabby cleared up and went to bed. Texting Matt to make sure he was OK turning into a two-hour conversation. Maybe, she thought they should go on a date. She decided to ask him next time she saw him.
The last week of the school term was uneventful. Gabby and Matt not spending time together due to Matt working on a big construction job. The day of the party came and Gabby was excited to see her family but not for the questions about why she was here and what had happened. The boys were excited when Matt dropped them off. It was early so Gabby was on her first coffee. Antonio having returned last week and disappearing to Sylvie's. Meeting her at the venue with Eva and Diego. It was going to be fun.
Gabby sat down watching the boys play, Chainna was following them as usual. Camila was cleaning up the food that was left, ready for Gabby to take to the firehouse. "Are you sure that you will be OK taking this Gabby. I can come with you if you need too" Antonio asking Gabby again.
"we will manage. As soon as I pull up there will be enough firemen to carry it in."
"OK, if u are sure?"
"Antonio what's wrong? You want to come then come but you are acting like you have a stick up you ass about something?" she questioned her big brother.
"It's nothing I just wanted to make sure you are OK. You seem different."
"Good or bad, different?"
"Good very good, you seem relaxed and happy less jumpy and you have that spark coming back. That's all!"
"I'm good, thank you so much for your help with everything." Pulling her big brother in for a hug.
"anything for you sis"
Smiling she got the kids in the car and drove to 51.
Ben opened the door for Chianna, taking her hand as he had done so many times before, he led her into the command room Griffin and Gabby carrying food. As soon as the guys saw food she had her keys taken from her and they were helping take it in.
"Did nobody turn up?" Otis asked
Shay and Gabby laughing
"yep, trust us this is left overs!" Shay replied. The cake being placed next to her on the side. "And this is probably a second one Momma Dawson made especially for the firehouse."
"very true, and she needs her plates back guys" Gabby stated as she looked around for the kids who had disappeared.
"They went to see Matt in his office" Kelly told her, seeing the panic in her eyes.
"we are here, someone said cake!" Matt replied as he carried Chianna in. "Hey, did they behave for you?"
"Hey, yes they did. Didn't know they were there. Played football and ran round with the other kids. My Mom sent some food" she moved showing him the side that was full. "and cake!"
" wow, this is great Mills can wash up instead of cook" he smiled at Mills the candidate cheering.
"Are you staying for a while?" he asked Gabby quietly.
"sure, if its OK. These shouldn't need to eat and well there is plenty if they do!" she laughed.
The room was a hum with groups sitting eating laughter all around them Chianna not wanting to leave Matt's side. The whole firehouse eating till their bellys were full and content.
At 8pm, the kids were in the car and Shay and Matt were waving them off.
"Will you just tell her already that you like her please?" Shay begged him.
"she's not ready Shay, I think it won't be long but I can't rush her. She needs to be fully ready or it will ruin what we have. I can't lose her not now."
"OK, let me help when you are ready, I'll have the kids or just make sure she is were you need her, tonight watching you guys, was just amazing. You both looked happy relaxed and the way you look at each other is magical. Your like magnets you both seem to move in sync. You knew exactly where she was all evening and what she needed. Chianna has you hook line and sinker. It's amazing."
"I know Shay, I always thought Hallie was the one but she wasn't Gabby is." Smiling they made their way into the common room just as the bells rang out for a job.