Matt had sold the Darden house. Herman and Cindy snapping it up.

They were a week into the summer vacation. Matt was off next week he had some time saved up and was planning on taking the boys fishing with Kelly.

Gabby was at the apartment with the boys, the fire House was very quiet. Matt was in his office when he called to see how the boys were doing. When Griffin answered the phone, he was surprised.

"Hey Griffin, everything OK?"

"err no!"

"what's going on? Where's Gabby" Matt had his keys and was walking to Bodens office "who's crying Griffin answer me?"

Everyone in the common room heard the panic and were up and walking towards the truck when a call came in for the ambulance to Matt's address.

"Its Chianna she won't stop shaking Gabby's on the phone Matt help!" the truck and ambulance where on their way.

As the door swung open Matt ran in to the bathroom Gabby was wetting Chianna with cool water,

"I can't get her temperature down and she keeps fitting!" Matt, picked Gabby up and moved her to let Brett and Shay in. Ben and Griffin where outside with the rest of the fire House.

As Shay got them into the ambulance, Cindy pulled up and took the boys home with her. Matt looking up and agreeing to meet everyone at the hospital he jumped in the rig with Gabby and Shay.

"I told you I couldn't get her temperature down! I tried everything she's had 10ml of paracetamol I've kept her cool and she just went floppy and started fitting!"

With his hand on her shoulder and his arm round her neck Matt kept whispering to her. "it's OK we are going to sort her out, she has the best team looking after her look."

The toddler having stopped seizing as they arrived at the hospital.

The next hour was a blur of Dr's and nurses in and out of the hospital room. When Dr Manning returned, she was happy that her temperature was under control and wanted to watch the little girl for a few more hours. As Chianna had come too Matt was leaving to speak to the fire fighters in the waiting room. She cried until he took her from her mother and took her for a walk to see the crowd that had gathered. She clung to him for dear life, walking back into the room he found Gabby sobbing into Shay's shoulder. Not making any sense. They Swapped and he tried to calm her down. When Gabby was able to speak, she told them that Chianna was hot the day before, but because of the sun and been at the park all day Gabby assumed it was sun stroke. When she was no better by dinner time and she started fitting she started panicking and called 911.

Antonio was away and had been for two days, her parents where on a cruise and Cindy was heavily pregnant with number 5. Gabby didn't want to bother anyone at Firehouse 51 and so tried to struggle through alone. Matt holding her tighter. As he tried to calm her and tell her that it's not a bother, she is family.

The firehouse had been called away. Matt had stayed the whole-time comforting Gabby and Chianna as they needed him too. When it was time to be discharged, he took the girls back to his place and Cindy kept the boys with her until the next day. It was early evening and he was staying off work to be with Gabby. Shay kept texting him checking in on them, the whole house being worried about the little girl who had stolen their hearts and the TV remote whenever she visited.

Gabby had showered and was sat on the floor in the living room Chainna was asleep on the sofa. They had decided that coffee would be best to drink, in case they needed the emergency department again. As Matt sat next to Gabby she lay her head on his shoulder and took in a deep breath.

"I'm not sure if I have told you lately how much I appreciate your support. I know I'm just your nanny and you all treat us like we are family and I see you all as family. I just really want you to know that I am so happy right now. I feel relaxed and even though I am not really family." Matt could tell she was getting wound up. The only thing he could think to do was kiss her, placing his hand gently on the side of her face he slowly moved her to face him. Their eyes meeting and her head leaning into his hand. Tears streaming down her face as quite as a whisper she thanked him again. He felt the spark and before the static was lost, he touched his lips to hers. Slowly he moved back to gauge her reaction, when her eyes stayed shut mouth barely open, his mouth on hers again and they both kissed each other Gabby's hand moving to the back of his neck, their kiss becoming slower and more at ease. A moan from Gabby's throat, spurring Matt on, pulling her on to his knee, her knees either side of his thighs. Matts kisses moving from her lips down her cheek, past her jaw and down to her neck, where his lips and tongue danced over her pulse. Soft moans and quick breaths escaping Gabby's mouth. Her hands raking through his hair as she rocked against his hardening member. As Matts hands snaked up into Gabby's t shirt, the phone pulled them back to the living room. Gabby putting her hand over her mouth in shock. Standing up she answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, are you OK?" Shay's voice came down the phone.

"Yeah, Yeah I'm fine. What's up Shay?"

"Nothing I'm just checking in, I wish we could be there with you."

"Really Shay I am fine, Chianna is asleep, I'm just getting ready to go to bed."

"Wait was I interrupting something?"

"No, just drinking a coffee and getting ready for bed, listen how about you call for breakfast in the morning and bring us some to. By the morning I'm going to need a large coffee and some banana pancakes!"

"OK, you sure u OK?"

"Yes, we are I promise you we're perfect." A smile crossed her face as Matt stood across from her.

He leaned against the counter and she crossed the kitchen to him. He smiled. They stood not touching just toe to toe, both smiling, both unsure of what to do next. Matt waiting for her to make the decision to take the next step. Her hands wrapping round his side and leaning in to him.

"I put Chianna in her bed. I'm not asking you to go any further with me tonight, but come to bed with me. No funny business, I promise!"

"Matt, are u sure about this, I mean us been together. I have Chianna and my ex is a whole lot of baggage!"

"I have baggage too, and I think we can handle this together. Share the baggage and have some fun doing it." Smiling he pressed his lips to Gabby's, her opening up to him and them moving towards the bedroom.

"just I can't, you know, not tonight whilst she is poorly. But when she is better, we could go out together go on a date maybe x if you want to, sorry I know I'm been difficult I just want to go slow."

Smiling Matt continues to place kisses on her neck and lips,

"you are too cute when you get flustered. I am in this for the long haul, we can go as slow as you want to."

Smiling they climbed under the covers and held each other close.

At some point in the night Chianna had woke up and had been put between Gabby and himself. He didn't sleep again till 4am. He sat looking at the girls in his life. Smiling about how happy he was and how he was looking forward to Gabby opening up and letting him in.

Gabby was still asleep when Shay got to the apartment. As she came too she could hear Matt and Shay talking trying to encourage Chianna to drink something. Stretching out and smelling Matt on the sheets, Gabby smiled at the previous nights conversation. Climbing out of bed she slipped on a hoodie and tied her hair back in a bun. Butterflies danced around her belly as she walked towards the living after using the bathroom and washing her hands. Grabbing a coffee she walked into the living room, her daughter sitting on Matts knee still very sleepy and unwell. Shay pulling Gabby close into a hug.

"what is her temperature?" gabby asked.

"It's lower than last night she just needs more juice and she will be fighting fit." Shay answered.

"why did you let me sleep so late? Where's my pancakes Shay?" sitting on the sofa next to Matt his hand rubbing her back as tears ran down her face.

"Hey don't cry she's ok. I promise you that she is fine. We can talk later when Shay has gone he whispered, but are you OK? Second thoughts?" Gabby turned round to face Matt, her eyes locked on his lips, kneeling up she kissed him slowly at first and then with passion and desire their tongues battling in their mouths. Shay walking back in from the kitchen, stopping and turning round to leave them too it.

"Gabby" Matt said as he looked at her when they had stopped for air. "I meant everything that I said, I'm in this for the long run. A new house, marriage, more kids and maybe a dog. We can go as slow as u like but I love you so much."

"I feel the same, but I'm just so worried. Worried about what people will say. That Pete will get out and spoil things. We just need to go slowly. I love you too."

They both smiled as Shay walked back in with pancakes for Gabby.

"Shay, can you keep a secret?" "Mathew Casey you can trust me! What's wrong are u sick?" pretending not to know anything.

"No, its just Gabby will want to tell someone and so will I but we want to keep things quiet for now."

"OK well if its about you two finally getting together, then yeah I suppose" Shay smiled and side hugged Gabby.

As Chianna started to feel better, the apartment started filling up. The boys returning from Herman's Kelly turning up with food at dinner time. The time being spent ensuring everyone was safe and happy.