Hello there everyone! Hope you all are doing well and having a great start to your week. I've got the next chapter for you all, you're gonna get to see a little bit of how Gabby's recovery at home is going. I'm a little unsure about it, but I think I like where it ended up so I hope you all like it as well.

Thank you so much for reading, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one!

And I hope you all have a great week everyone, I'll see you next time!

***UPDATE 4/26: Just so you all know, there won't be an update posted today. There's been a lot going on this past week, and even though I tried my best to finish the next chapter, I wasn't able to, and I only managed to get about half of it done. I'm really sorry about that, but the update should be up next week. Thanks for understanding!

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Four

Gabby's eyebrows furrowed as she came into consciousness, the woman slowly stretching her arms above her head while she gradually became more and more awake. But the second she did, she felt a quick shot of discomfort move through her arm down to her fingertips, Gabby momentarily forgetting her limitations as she was still waking up. But that feeling was enough to remind her very quickly, a slight grimace covering her face as she brought her left arm back down towards her side. Her limb continued to tingle for a few moments, but the feeling started to go away as she became more aware of her surroundings.

She wasn't sure what time it was, but she knew she felt a little more refreshed after the nap she took this morning as her body was still trying to bounce back from the accident. It had been a challenge, there was no doubt about it. And there were still a lot of things she wasn't able to do quite yet, but she could feel herself getting better each day; physically and mentally. And her being home for the past few days had certainly helped with the latter, Gabby feeling much more ready to get through the rest of her recovery now that she was in the comfort of her own home.

While continuing to lay there, a heavy yawn escaped her lips as she slowly opened her eyes, Gabby blinking a few times before her vision started to become more clear, her quiet room coming into focus as light filtered in through the partially open curtains. She stayed put for a few more moments, the warm comfort of her large bed too much to pass up as being trapped in that hospital room for nearly three weeks had her missing home more than she could've ever realized. But the longer she sat here, the more Gabby realized there was something she wanted more than to stay in bed all day, something she hadn't had the chance to do since she came home.

And that was to take a bath.

Drawing in a deep breath, Gabby slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position, all while being mindful to not put too much weight on her healing arm, before she tossed the covers off herself. A chill coursed through her body when the cool air hit her bare legs, Gabby involuntarily shivering before swinging her legs off the side of the bed.

As she moved, she could vaguely hear the sounds of a familiar cartoon filtering in from the living room, that alone telling the mother that her girls were likely out in the main part of their home enjoying her show. Before moving much further, she glanced back towards the door, Gabby finding the door she knew to be closed before she fell asleep now partially open. And that had her husband written all over it, as Gabby was sure he'd come in to check on her probably multiple times while she was resting. But for however many times he might've come in and out of their room, she hadn't heard him once, Matt obviously having been quiet anytime he checked on here.

After giving herself a few more moments to gather herself, Gabby slowly stood up, the woman careful of how much weight she placed on her leg before she slowly started moving towards the bathroom. Though the gash that used to cover her leg was now healing well, and she'd gotten her stitches removed before leaving the hospital, she knew she needed to be careful. With all the progress she'd made, and the fact that she'd been doing so well at home, the last thing she wanted to do was push herself too hard and do something to end up back in the hospital. So even though her limitations were aggravating, and her constantly needing people around for help wasn't the most fun thing in the world, a part of her knew it was necessary.

But that didn't mean she had to like it. And just because she was trying to come to terms with the fact that she needed a little extra help, she wasn't entirely incapable of doing things on her own. Meaning she had every intention of drawing this bath up for herself.

As she got to the bathroom, Gabby stepped inside the dim room before flicking on the lights and heading towards the tub, her slow moving body getting her there eventually as she carefully sat down on the edge of the bathtub. Once she was seated, Gabby leaned over to turn the water on, another grimace covering her face as she twisted a bit awkwardly. But despite her discomfort she was able to complete her task, Gabby sitting back up straight while she waited for the tub to fill up, the woman stretching out her muscles as the time ticked by slowly.

"...Now what do you think you're doing?"

Gabby wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting here, but clearly her desire to take a bath had drawn the attention of her husband as she heard the voice she'd recognize anywhere, a soft groan escaping her lips before she looked back towards him. Her eyes immediately found him as Matt stood there with his weight resting against the door frame, a soft smile on his face while giving her a questioning look.

She should've expected him to come in here, as Matt hadn't let her out of his sight from the moment they got home, which included helping her do almost everything. And while some things she understood, this she didn't see as necessary.

"Taking a bath." She answered simply, Matt clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before he continued into the room.

"Why didn't you call me?" He asked once he got to her, Gabby glancing up at him with a tight look on her face.

"Because I'm not a child." She shot back quickly, Matt's head cocking to the side as he noticed the slight edge to her tone. And he'd be lying if he said this was the first time it had happened since they came home, as Matt had been on the receiving end of a few of her bursts of frustration. But he took everything in stride, as Casey knew better than anyone how hard this was for his independent wife.

As he stood beside her with his eyebrows raised slightly, he saw the moment she registered her own words, Gabby huffing out a breath before shaking her head lightly. "I'm sorry, I just meant… I know there's some things I can't do on my own, but I'm not completely helpless." She spoke once more, Matt giving her a sympathetic smile as he reached out to rest his hand over her shoulder. "And I can do a few things for myself."

"I know you can." Matt answered without an ounce of hesitation, the soft, loving look in his eyes causing her frustration to start to melt away. "But you probably shouldn't be getting in and out of the tub by yourself."

Gabby drew in a deep breath as she thought over his words, the soreness still present in her body telling her that he had a point. While she was sure she could've gotten in, getting out was a different story, Gabby simply giving him a nod before he moved around her towards the tub. Before she could question what he was doing, Matt reached down to check the temperature, her husband no doubt adjusting the water to be more how she liked it before waving the excess off his hand.

"...Do you not need to be out there with the girls?" She questioned, her voice soft as she'd all but given in to Matt's reasoning that she needed assistance with this, her husband shaking his head as he began to put in her favorite bubble bath.

"Sof is passed out on the couch, she's been asleep for about an hour. She naps just as hard as her Momma." He answered with a goofy grin, Gabby unable to stop her own smile from forming over her face as Matt spoke. "But she's surrounded by pillows, she couldn't roll off even if she wanted to. And Caity's still at school." He continued to explain as he checked the water once more, Matt knowing it was just how she wanted before he turned the faucet off.

"I didn't realize it was still that early." Gabby murmured, Matt nodding in response as he took a slight step away from her.

"Yeah, it's only a little after 11… So she'll be done soon, your dad already went to go pick her up." Casey finished explaining as Gabby slowly stood up, Matt staying back while she began to get undressed. With just his t-shirt and a pair of shorts covering her body, it didn't take her long to complete the process, Matt making a mental note to put her clothes in the hamper later so she wouldn't have to do it.

"So, is my dad who you have helping babysit me today?" She asked him as she grabbed onto his arm, Matt's eyebrows raising before he helped her into the bathtub. "...It's always someone here with you. My first day home it was everyone, but every day since you've had at least one person here with us… whether it's my dad, or Kelly and Jemma. And Antonio's been around some." She elaborated as Matt helped her sit down, his arms holding most of her weight as she got situated in the warm water.

The smug look on his face didn't go unnoticed by Gabby as she leaned her head back to get comfortable, her body already feeling more relaxed than it had seconds prior as Matt gave her a soft shrug. "I just figured having an extra set of hands around couldn't hurt… make sure all my girls are taken care of." He replied with a gentle grin, Gabby shooting him a playful look of her own before shaking her head lightly, Matt giving her one last glance before speaking up.

"Alright, well I'm gonna go back out there with Sof as long as you don't need anything." He told her, Gabby looking up at him before shaking her head once more.

"I'm good, thank you though." She responded, her words earning another nod from her husband as he leaned down towards her.

"Okay… Well just call for me when you're done." Matt gave her a quick kiss after he finished speaking, Gabby reciprocating the gesture before he pulled back after a moment, the two watching each other out of habit as he slowly pushed himself up.

But when he did, he noticed a look of something he couldn't quite read flicker in her eyes, it taking him a few seconds to realize what was going on in her head before a soft breath escaped his lips, Matt well aware her hesitation stemmed from her need for assistance.

Before he said a word, Casey slowly reached out to cup the side of her head, Gabby instinctively leaning into his palm as their eyes stayed locked on one another. "...I know you're frustrated with all this." He murmured, Gabby's face softening as his thumb stroked over her cheek. "And maybe a little with me."

"Matt…"

"I'm not trying to be overbearing, but I just don't want you pushing yourself too much." He continued on before she could, Gabby breathing in deeply before she nodded. "And I know you're fine, and you wouldn't over-do it on purpose, but I also know sometimes you get a little ahead of yourself." He added, a sheepish look forming across her face as she knew her husband had a point. "So I'm just trying to make sure you're okay."

"I know you are." She replied, Matt giving her a soft smile as she reached out to hold onto his arm, Gabby hoping he didn't mind that she was getting him a little wet. "And I do appreciate it, even if I don't say it." Dawson added, her words earning a quick chuckle from him as he shook his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm not always the easiest patient."

Another laugh escaped the back of his throat, Matt's smile widening as he rubbed the side of her head. "Well, you're not my patient, you're just my beautiful wife who has made so much progress, and who will be back on her feet here in no time." He told her, her own smile growing before she turned her head to press a soft kiss against his palm. "...But until then, you're gonna need some extra help. And I'm here to help you, baby."

Gabby paused for a moment to take in his words before she nodded slowly, the woman knowing that everything he was saying was true, even though it was hard for her to accept some days.

When they were in the hospital, it almost felt easier to let him help her, as there was a vulnerability and a need for him to be around that made those moments not so difficult for her. But when she came home, it was a completely different story. She wasn't sure why, but it was like something in her brain had switched, and she felt compelled to do things on her own. It had nothing to do with Matt, as she knew her husband would drop any and everything to do whatever she needed. But there was something in her gut telling her that now that she was home, she shouldn't need help with those simple tasks anymore. Even when she knew there were things she shouldn't do on her own, and she'd tried to ask for help when she needed it, it had been a struggle for her.

She was getting better, her and Matt both knew she was. But she still had limitations. And she was still struggling with coming to terms with that.

But luckily, her husband was one of the most patient and understanding people in the world, and he'd been right by her side while she dealt with the ups and downs of her recovery.

"I know." She whispered after a moment, Matt smiling softly before he leaned down to capture her lips in a gentle kiss, this one lasting a bit longer than the first. But it was more than welcome as Gabby smiled against him, all her previous frustrations now long gone as her hand moved up to grip his neck.

They stayed in this position for a few moments, until Matt eventually pulled back, his hands resting on the edge of the tub as his eyes moved over her, finding a shy smile waiting for him as she rubbed her hand over his arm. "You good?" He asked, Gabby's bottom lip falling between her teeth before she nodded, Matt giving her a similar look before he pushed himself up. "Alright, well I'm gonna go back out there with Sof."

"Okay… I'll call you when I'm done." She replied, Matt giving her a grateful smile before he headed for the door, but not before he stopped to pick up her clothes that were left on the ground.

Though he wasn't able to get very far before he heard his wife's voice once more.

"...Hey Matt?"

Casey turned back around just as he got to the door, the small smile returning to his face while he raised his eyebrows slightly. "Hmm?"

"I love you, you know."

Her simple words brought the widest smile to his face, Gabby feeling warmth rush through her chest as the sight of him so happy, his look causing her to wear a similarly big grin as he gave her a soft nod.

"I know… and I love you, too." He told her, Gabby nodding back at him before he slipped out of the room to get back to their youngest daughter, leaving the tired wife alone to enjoy her much needed time for herself.

"Is Mommy still sleeping?"

Gabby grimaced slightly as she was slowly woken up from her second nap of the day, the not-so-quiet sound of her daughter's voice hitting her ears as she turned towards the sound slightly.

"Caity, come here… Let your Momma rest, you can see her when she wakes up."

Even in her tired state, she was able to register her husband's voice, Matt no doubt ushering Caitlyn away from their room and taking her back out to the living room. And even though she knew he'd done that so she could get some more sleep, she was sure she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep now as a yawn escaped her lips.

Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself in the same position she'd been in earlier today as she woke up alone in her bedroom. Although now things were a little different, as it was clear Caity was home, which hadn't been the case earlier.

After her bath this morning, Gabby had gotten out, with Matt's help, and gotten ready for the day; or as ready as she got these days, Gabby having just traded out her old pajamas for new ones. But once she'd gotten ready, she had gone out into the living room to get some much needed time with her baby, along with waiting for Caitlyn and her dad to get home. But after a quick call from Ramon, they soon found out it would be a little longer until her oldest baby got home as her grandfather wanted to take her to one of their favorite bakery's for a little after school treat, along with bringing home some goodies for the rest of the family.

And while Gabby and Matt both were all for Ramon getting some one on one time with his grandkids, as they were waiting for them to get home, Gabby had suddenly been hit with a wave of exhaustion; one she wasn't really able to shake off.

It was something that had happened a lot since she woke up from the accident, there would just be moments where she was fine, and then out of nowhere she could barely keep her eyes open. And while they'd learned from her doctor that it was all just part of her recovery, it seemed to happen at the most inconvenient times as Gabby was looking forward to seeing Caity when she got home from school.

But she wasn't able to make it that long, as the last thing she remembered before falling asleep was Matt all but making her come back in here to rest, Gabby not able to place much of what happened after that as she was sure she'd likely fallen asleep once her head hit the pillow.

Though for as reluctant as she'd been to take her second nap that day, as she laid here in her bedroom she couldn't help but notice how much better she felt, Gabby much more refreshed and ready for the day as she slowly got up.

But as she sat on the edge of the bed and glanced towards the clock on her bedside table, she was surprised to see there wasn't much of the day left, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing when she saw it was already after five in the evening. Though she couldn't be sure of exactly what time she fell asleep, she knew she had to have been asleep for hours, Gabby shaking her head slightly before she got up and slowly headed for the door.

As she got closer to the door resting against its frame, she could hear the TV in the other room, playing what sounded like one of the girls' favorite movies as she slowly pulled the door open and headed out into the living room. But the second she stepped through the doorway, she was met by a sight she wasn't at all expecting, Gabby biting back a laugh as she saw what appeared to be a fort made out of blankets in the middle of their living room. Something that was clearly Matt's handiwork, as Gabby could only imagine what had led to them deciding to do this tonight. But if she had to guess, she'd say it was Caity's idea.

Once the initial surprise wore off, Gabby continued into the room, her slow steps hardly making any noise as she was sure her family had no idea she was awake, as she was hidden from their view while they were inside the fort. When she came around to what had to be the entrance to get inside, a small smile covered her face as she saw her husband's legs sticking out underneath the blanket that was propped up a few feet in the air. Though the fort might've been a good size for their girls, clearly Matt was a little too big for it, but that hadn't stopped him from joining in the fun while Gabby carefully swatted down so she could see them.

She had to move slowly, her body still not able to do all she wished it could as she felt a few different aches of discomfort while she moved. But it was nothing she couldn't handle, Gabby slowly sitting down on the ground just as her family came into view.

"Mommy! You're up!" Caitlyn spoke excitedly, Gabby's grin widening as she took in the sight of her entire world all cuddled together underneath their fort. Matt was in the middle, his head propped up with a pillow against the couch, with both their girls on either side of him. But maybe the best part was how all three of them smiled brightly when they saw her, Gabby reciprocating the look as she stretched her legs out in front of her.

"There you guys are."

"Mommy, look at the fort Daddy made for us!" Caitlyn continued on excitedly. "Come in! It's fun. You can sit next to me." She said happily, Gabby's smile never faltering as she looked at her oldest daughter.

"I don't think Momma needs to be crawling around a lot, baby." Matt spoke up first, Caity tearing her eyes away from Gabby to look towards her dad. "Remember, she's still healing, she needs to be careful." He reminded her, a look of realization covering the little girl's face as her excitement had caused her to forget her mother's inability to do certain things. And while Gabby would've loved to join them, she knew her husband had a point.

"I'm sorry, Mommy." Caitlyn told her after a moment, Gabby immediately shaking her head with that same bright smile on her face.

"It's okay sweetheart, I'm fine right here. I'm just glad you're having fun." Gabby told her, the child soon perking up once more before nodding enthusiastically. "Looks like Daddy built a great fort."

"He did! It's so fun!" She added, Gabby nodding as she looked towards her husband, finding a proud smile resting on his face. But that look soon fell when their youngest daughter spoke up.

"Mama!" Sofia shrieked out of excitement, Matt wincing as his youngest daughter's head was right next to his, Gabby suppressing a laugh as the little girl started crawling her way towards her, Sofia climbing over her dad's stomach and legs to get to her. "Mama!"

"Hi sweet girl." She murmured as Sofia got to her, the one year old instantly climbing into her mother's lap and latching onto her, Gabby ignoring the few aches she felt with her daughter's weight on her.

"Hi!" Sofia repeated, Gabby's smile widening before pressing a soft kiss to her daughter's head, Sofia's damp curls combined with her girls' lack of clothes telling Dawson that Matt had likely already gotten them ready for bed.

"Did you give the girls' baths already?" She asked as she ran her hand over Sofia's uncovered back, the little girl in nothing but her diaper, while Caitlyn was just wearing a pair of underwear and her favorite CFD shirt that they always had a hard time getting her out of. Which, as Gabby knew well, was typically how they preferred to dress after their baths, as both of their daughters were currently in a phase where they hated wearing clothes.

"I did, yeah." He answered with a soft smile as Caitlyn sat up beside him. "We were playing outside for a bit, and between some of the snow that's still out there, and all the water, they were a mess. So I just went ahead and gave them a bath." He explained, Gabby nodding with a soft smile as Sofia continued to cuddle into her chest, Matt watching the two of them for a moment before speaking up once more. "I'm sorry we woke you up." He added knowingly, Gabby waving him off as Caitlyn began to crawl towards her.

"It's okay… I didn't mean to sleep that long anyway, you could've woken me up earlier." She told him, Matt shaking his head in response. "Hi baby." Gabby greeted as Caity got to her, the five year old smiling wide as she reached out to give her a hug, the mother reciprocating as much as she could.

"You need the rest Gabby, I wasn't gonna wake you." Matt countered, his words earning a look from his wife before she kissed the side of Caitlyn's head, both of her girls clinging to her as it was clear they'd missed their mom. "How are you feeling?" Casey spoke up once more, Gabby looking up from her babies to find her husband's warm eyes focused on her. "Are you doing okay?"

"I'm a little sore, but alright." She answered honestly, Matt nodding with an understanding smile on his face. "I know I need to take some of my medication here soon."

"I can get it for you." He told her, Gabby barely having a moment to process his words before he was already making his way out of the fort.

"You don't have to, I can get them in a second."

"I don't mind." Matt replied, Gabby watching on in slight amusement as her large husband maneuvered his way out of the small space, the man huffing out a few breaths before he was free from underneath the blanket. "Besides, I don't think Caity and Sof want you going anywhere." He added once he was upright, Matt resting on his shins as he sat across from her. Though his eyes were more focused on their girls, as both kids were still snuggled up against their mom.

"Yeah, I guess they don't." She responded, the sound of her voice causing Caitlyn to look up while Gabby was running her hand through Sofia's hair, Matt pausing for one more second to admire the view in front of him before he pushed himself up off the ground.

"Do you want water or something else?" He asked as he walked past her towards the kitchen.

"Uh… some juice would be good." Gabby answered him, Matt giving her a nod even though she couldn't see him as he continued towards his destination.

"What's Daddy doing?" Caity asked as she pulled away from her mom slightly.

"I'm getting your Momma her medicine, and a drink." Matt answered as the father had heard her question, Caitlyn's eyes widening slightly before she quickly scrambled to her feet.

"I wanna help Mommy." She called before hurrying over towards her dad, Gabby chuckling softly before adjusting her body on the ground so she could see into the kitchen, the mom watching just as Caitlyn got to Matt. Clearly, for as much as she wanted to be with Gabby, the idea of getting to help her mom was much more appealing as Matt reached out to rub over the top of Caitlyn's head. "I'm a good helper."

"You are, I'm sure Mommy would love your help." Matt told her, Gabby nodding in agreement as she leaned her body weight back against the side of the chair in their living room, this position helping to relieve some of the tension she was holding onto from sitting up on her own.

With Matt and Caitlyn in the kitchen, this gave Gabby a moment alone with her youngest daughter, little Sofia still holding onto her shirt with a death grip as it was obvious she'd missed her mom. And with everything that had been going on as of late, Gabby wasn't entirely surprised by that, the mother knowing she missed the one on one time with her girls just as much as they did.

But the longer she sat here, it was then she realized there was one less person here than she was expecting, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing as she glanced around the room before finding her way back to Casey, the mother seeing Caitlyn now sitting up on the counter while she helped Matt pour the juice

"Did my dad leave?" She asked once they finished their task, Matt placing the carton back down before glancing her way.

"He did, a little bit ago." Matt answered softly before helping Caitlyn down off the counter, the father giving her a quick reminder to walk slow before handing her Gabby's drink. With Caitlyn following his directions and moving slowly from around the counter towards her mom, Matt came up behind her with the medication in hand, Gabby watching on as Caitlyn came to her with a determined look on her face.

"Here you go, Mommy." She spoke brightly, Gabby nodding thankfully before taking the cup from her.

"Thank you, baby… Thanks Matt." She spoke as she took the pills her husband handed to her, Gabby quickly swallowing them before taking a few extra sips of her drink.

"You're welcome. But yeah, he was here for a while, he stayed for a few hours to help with the girls. And he watched them while I ran out to get some diapers, because apparently Sof was almost out." He informed her, Gabby raising her eyebrows slightly while he spoke, as them running low on that type of thing was something they usually tried to avoid. Though with everything going on as of late, she supposed it wasn't surprising that things weren't running as smoothly as they used to. "And we can't have that." He added lightly, Gabby shaking her head before taking another sip of her drink.

"Definitely not." She agreed as Caitlyn sat down on the ground beside her, Matt smiling softly as he watched his girls.

"Yeah, so he stayed with the girls while I did that, and hung around for a bit, but he said he had to get going." Casey explained, Gabby giving him a nod just as Sofia pulled back from her mom, the baby now intrigued by the drink in her hands as she reached out towards the cup. "He also brought you a few of your favorite scones from that bakery, too." He added, Gabby giving him a nod while her focus was on Sofia as she helped her get a drink from the glass.

Since the cup was too big for her, Gabby held onto it while bringing it up to Sofia's lips, the baby's little hands reaching out to hold the sides while her mom slowly tilted it up so she could get a drink. And with Gabby's assistance, Sof managed not to get any on her, the little girl enjoying more of the juice than her mom.

"He even let Caity help pick them out." Casey added, Gabby's smile widening before she glanced towards her oldest daughter.

"Oh you did?"

"Yeah!" The five year old answered happily. "Abuelo got me a muffin, and before we came home he got stuff for everyone. And I got yours." Caitlyn finished, very clearly proud of herself as Gabby reached her free hand out to rub over her arm. "They look yummy!"

"Well, maybe I'll try some tonight after dinner… Though I'll probably need some help eating them." She added, Matt giving her a knowing look as Caity's smile widened. "If you'd like to share with me." Gabby could hardly get her words out before Caitlyn started nodding enthusiastically, clearly happy with the idea as the mother gave her arm a squeeze. "Alright well, at least we have dessert planned… though I'm not so sure about dinner." She finished, Gabby glancing up towards her husband to find him shaking her head.

"We're good there, too… I ordered pizza." He told her, Gabby giving him a slight nod before helping Sofia take another sip of juice. "I figured it would be easy, and the girls love it… It should be here any minute." Casey spoke as Sofia finished the last of Gabby's drink. "I got enough for all of us, but I wasn't sure if you'd be up for it so if not, I can heat up some of that soup in the fridge. Or maybe make you a grilled cheese or something, something that'll be a little easier on your stomach."

"Pizza is fine, babe. It sounds good." She spoke, just as the doorbell rang as if on cue, Matt cocking his head to the side before taking a few steps backwards.

"Must be dinner." Casey said as he stopped to grab his wallet before heading towards the door.

While he got the food, Gabby made sure to keep the girls close so they wouldn't get in the way of her husband trying to bring their dinner inside. Which, after paying for the food and some quick conversation, Matt stepped back into their home with dinner, the man closing and locking the door before turning around and heading for the table. But as he passed by, Gabby couldn't help but notice a few extra boxes, her head tilting to the side while Casey put the food down on the table.

"That looks like a little more than pizza." She commented, Matt looking up with a sheepish grin on his face before he started spreading the boxes out.

"I wanted wings." He answered, earning a knowing look from his wife as Caitlyn hurried over towards the table. "And I figured we could take off some of the chicken for the girls, too." He added, Sofia soon moving his way as well once she smelled the food in the house, Gabby following their lead as she carefully got herself up off the ground before walking to the dining table, Matt offering her a smile before he continued. "And so this meal isn't a completely unhealthy one, I was gonna cook up some of that broccoli in the freezer real quick."

"Well, it looks like you've thought of everything." She teased him lightly, Casey giving her a quick wink before he reached down to pick up Sofia and placed her in her high chair, the father securing her in her seat while Caitlyn climbed up into her own chair.

"I try my best." He replied back, Matt offering her another quick smile before he made his way over to the kitchen, Gabby looking over the food as he went. From first glance, she could tell he'd gotten her favorite pizza despite not knowing if she was eating or not, along with another one that was half what he liked, and half cheese, which Gabby was sure was for the girls. But all of the food looked great, and after sleeping for most of the day Gabby was much hungrier than she realized, her stomach growling at just the sight of all this food in front of her.

"Daddy, can I have milk?" Caitlyn called from her seat, Gabby snapping out of her thoughts as she stood beside her chair, while Matt headed back over to the table with plates and two cups in hand.

"Already got it, baby." He told her, Matt placing the half-full glass of milk down in front of Caitlyn, while putting the sippy cup with the same drink on Sofia's high chair, before he set all the plates out in the appropriate place.

"Thank you." Caitlyn replied before taking a careful sip.

"You need any help?" Gabby asked, Matt immediately shaking his head just as the microwave went off, signaling that the broccoli was done.

"I got it, you go ahead and sit." He told her, Gabby pausing for a moment before she reluctantly sat in her chair beside Caitlyn, the family ready to enjoy their meal together.

And a great meal it had been.

While Gabby and Matt both thoroughly enjoyed the food they had gotten, Sofia and Caitlyn had as well, even though they mostly only ate the toppings off the pizza, along with some of the chicken and the broccoli Matt had made. But it was a nice meal nonetheless, Matt even letting Caitlyn sneak a few bites of his own pizza as both parents knew she ate better when they shared their food with her.

They weren't entirely sure why, but it was something they'd come to notice early on, that Caitlyn just did better eating when they shared their food. While they were sure it was something she'd grow out of, for now they didn't mind at all as long as it meant she was eating. And it also didn't hurt that Matt sneaked a few bites of her pizza too, the entire family sharing their food as Casey helped the most with making sure little Sofia ate as well.

And as the night wore on, and the family finished up their meal, it was nice to just get this time together, Matt and Gabby both watching on with smiles on their faces as Caitlyn was currently moving around the room, the energetic little girl going back and forth between her parents while Casey finished up helping Sofia with her food.

"Caity, did you get enough to eat?" Gabby asked as she glanced down at her oldest daughter's plate, seeing a few bites of her pizza left, along with some broccoli.

"Mhmm!" She hummed as she skipped around the table, Gabby raising her eyebrows just as Matt put another small piece of chicken in Sofia's mouth. "I'm full."

"Okay… Just be careful please." Gabby warned her, the mother knowing Caitlyn didn't have the best track record when it came to running around the table.

"Okay Mommy."

Just as she spoke up, they heard the doorbell ring, Gabby and Matt both eyeing each other with unsure looks as they weren't expecting any more company tonight. But whoever it was they didn't want to keep them waiting, Matt giving Sofia one last bite before he stood up, the man wiping his hands on his pants as he headed for the door.

When he got there, he checked through the peephole quickly, a soft smile forming over his face when he saw who was here before he pulled the door open, Matt coming face to face with their friend as she stood just outside their home.

"Jemma, hey." He spoke, Gabby turning around just as Matt stepped to the side. "Come on in."

"Thank you… I'm sorry for just dropping by."

"Oh please, you know you're always welcome-"

"Aunt Jemma!" Caitlyn practically shrieked, her words cutting Matt off as the five year old ran over to her godmother, laughs being heard around the room as Caity came up and wrapped her arms around her thighs.

"Clearly, you're always welcome." Casey repeated with a chuckle, Jemma nodding with a smile of her own before looking down to Caitlyn.

While the two of them had their moment, Matt looked over to see Sofia struggling to get out of her high chair, the baby desperately wanting to greet her godmother as well. So after a few quick steps towards her, he unclasped her from her seat and placed her on the ground, the baby all but charging towards Jemma and hugging her as tightly as she could, both Casey children giving her plenty of hugs and kisses while Gabby stood up from her seat.

"Sorry if they're a little messy, we just ate." Dawson said as she walked towards her friend, Jemma immediately shaking her head once she looked up from the girls.

"Oh, they're fine." She answered, clearly not fazed by the messy hands grabbing at her.

"Aunt Jemma! Aunt Jemma!" Caitlyn spoke up, her excited voice grabbing the woman's attention.

"Yeah honey?"

"Look at our fort!" Caity said brightly, pointing to the mound of blankets that was too obvious to miss, though the five year old showed it to her anyway. "Daddy made it!"

"Wow! That looks so cool." She played along, her enthusiasm only making Caitlyn more excited as she held onto Jemma's hand.

"Yeah, that was Matt's little project before dinner." Gabby added, Jemma laughing softly before speaking up once more.

"Well, it looks great." She joked, Gabby smirking before she lightly nudged Matt's side, the man playfully glaring back and forth between the two of them.

"Hey, it's a nice fort." He defended himself, feigning hurt as Gabby rolled her eyes. "You didn't see all the effort it took to build that thing, especially with a one year old crawling all over me."

"It's very impressive, Matt." Jemma told him, Gabby biting back a grin as she knew her best friend was just placating her husband, Matt shooting her a knowing look before Caitlyn spoke up.

"You wanna come in with me?" Caitlyn asked, Jemma returning her softened gaze down to the five year old, while Sofia had already grabbed her favorite toy and was now playing around with the blankets.

"I would love to sweetheart, but I actually came by because I need to talk to your Momma, so maybe I can once we're done?" She told her, Caitlyn seemingly content with her answer as she gave her an agreeing nod.

"Okay." She replied simply, Jemma giving her one last smile before she looked back up at the other adults in the room, finding curious stares on both of their faces.

"Everything alright?" Matt asked first, Norris nodding in response as she placed her bag down on the chair.

"Yeah, everything's fine. Great, even… There's just something I want to talk to you all about, if you've got a minute." She told him, Gabby and Matt both nodding.

"Of course, yeah."

It took them a few moments for everyone to get situated, as they also had the girls to worry about, but soon enough Matt, Gabby, and Jemma were all seated at the table that Casey had quickly cleared off and wiped down, while the girls were nestled up inside their fort, with their iPad that was playing one of their favorite shows. And with them distracted, they knew they should be able to get through this conversation with Jemma uninterrupted, even though they weren't sure what she was wanting to tell them.

"So, you're sure nothing's wrong?" Gabby asked lightly as she sat next to her husband, Jemma releasing a soft laugh before shaking her head.

"Nothing's wrong, I promise… I, uh, I actually just wanted to stop by because I had an interesting conversation today… with Chief Boden."

Gabby's eyebrows raised slightly as she hadn't expected those words to come from her friend, Matt wearing an equally surprised look as they waited for her to continue.

"And what we talked about, I honestly wasn't sure if this was something you'd want to talk about right now- work, and everything. I know all of this has been super hard since the accident, and I didn't want to make any of that worse, but I wanted you to know," She rambled out, Gabby glancing towards Matt as neither of them were sure where Jemma was going with this. "But when I spoke with him, we were talking about everything that's happened, and how things at the house have been since the accident… But with, uh- what happened to Foster, and then with Brett," Jemma spoke carefully, as she knew how sensitive a subject his was, "how no one knows when, or if, she'll be able to work again, Boden said they'd just had floaters coming in and out on the ambo, and he's been looking for something more stable... So he asked me if I'd like to switch over to 61… Permanently."

The second she said those last words, a huge grin formed over Gaby's face, her look immediately relaxing the younger woman as Matt smiled wide as well, the couple quite happy with what she'd come here to tell them.

"Really?" Gabby asked almost in disbelief as she was clearly a little stunned by the news, Jemma matching her smile before she nodded. "Oh my God, that's amazing!"

"Yeah, yeah it is… He asked me today. And I told him I'd love to, that it sounded great, but that I wanted to ask you first." She added, Dawson's face faltering slightly as she was unsure of why her friend hadn't just agreed on the spot.

"Wait, why?"

"I just… I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to replace anyone." She answered honestly, Matt's face softening as he listened to his friend. "What happened to you all, losing Foster and Brett being sidelined, it was awful. And, I don't know, I just wanted to make sure you were okay with it before I gave him a definite answer."

"I'm more than okay with it." Gabby told her without an ounce of hesitation, her words causing that familiar smile to reappear over Jemma's face. "I appreciate it, that you wanted to check first, but you really didn't have to. 51 is gonna be so lucky to have you, and now with you there I'm even more excited to get back on that ambo… This is so great, I'm so happy you're gonna be on 61."

Jemma gave her an enthusiastic nod, all of her nerves now long gone as she was glad to hear how excited her former partner was at the idea of being able to work together again, even if it wouldn't happen right away.

"Yeah, we'd be able to work together again." Jemma spoke softly, Gabby nodding happily as Matt reached out to rub over his wife's back. "Whenever you're ready to get back, that is… And I hate how it all happened, I wish it never did, but… When Boden asked me, I was excited. Because I've missed working with you so much." She told her, Gabby immediately nodding as she felt the same exact way. She would give anything for that day to never have happened, but that's not how life worked. They couldn't go back and undo any of it, all they could do now was move on from it. And part of moving on was finding the bright spots in the hard times they'd had.

And getting her old partner back was certainly a bright spot.

"I've missed it, too." Gabby told her, the two sharing soft smiles before she continued. "I'm so glad Boden wants you on 61, and I know the house will be happy, too… Everyone loves you there, Jemma."

The younger woman nodded, the content look on her face never going away as Gabby slowly got up from her seat.

"This is… God, this is great." Gabby breathed out, Jemma standing up just as her friend got to her, the two connecting in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're gonna be there."

"Me too." She murmured as they held onto each other for a few more moments, before the two best friends finally separated. "I can't wait to get back there, and for us to be able to work together… It's gonna be just like old times. Except so much better." Jemma added with a laugh, Gabby nodding in agreement before she glanced across the table towards her husband. And when she did, she saw nothing but a bright look in his eyes, Matt just as excited by the news as she was.

"Yeah, it'll be so much better." Gabby echoed, the women hugging once more out of pure joy, before Matt came over to give his friend a hug as well.

"This is so great, Jemma." He told her, Matt giving her a quick squeeze before they separated. "51 is gonna be lucky to have you." His words brought smiles to both Gabby's and Jemma's faces, the latter giving him a nod before the two paramedics continued to talk with one another.

And though Jemma wasn't able to stay for very long, it had been great for Gabby to get some time with her friend, especially now that they knew they'd be able to work with one another again. And the girls loved the attention as well, as Jemma made a point to get into their fort and spend some time with them. But soon enough it was time for her to go, as not only were the girls, and Gabby, getting tired, but Jemma needed to get home. So after a few long goodbyes, and assurances to the babies that she'd be back soon, Matt was walking Jemma towards the door, the woman putting her jacket back on while they stood in the entryway.

"Thanks for stopping by." He spoke, Jemma looking towards him before she nodded.

"Of course… After talking to Boden, I wanted to tell you all about this. For Gabby to be the first to know." She responded, earning an understanding look from her friend. "And, obviously, I wanted to see my goddaughters." She added with a laugh, Matt chuckling as well as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well, I can't blame you for that." He said, Jemma scrunching up her nose before she continued to get ready to face the intense cold she knew was waiting for her outside. But while she did, she couldn't help but notice Matt's attention move elsewhere, Jemma eventually following his line of sight only to land on Gabby. The woman was sitting on the end of the couch with a tired Sofia in her arms, Gabby too focused on cuddling her baby to notice their stares as Matt watched her intensely. But Jemma never got a chance to question it before he spoke up. "...I think you being there will help her."

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as Casey finally tore his eyes away from his wife to look back at her, the man nodding once he saw the uncertain look waiting for him.

"Gabby, she- she still has some time before she can even think about working again, but when she goes back… it's gonna be hard for her." He murmured, his gaze going back to Gabby as a bit of sadness flickered in Jemma's eyes. "It's gonna be really hard, but having you there will help… It'll help her so much."

Casey glanced back towards her, Jemma offering him a small smile before she nodded. "I hope so." She answered him quietly, her eyes moving back to Gabby for a split second. "I've been so worried about her, with all of this... I'm glad I'll be able to be close by, even more than I already am, I guess."

"Me too." He agreed with a soft smile. "Selfishly, I feel better knowing it'll be you back on that ambulance with her when she's ready to work… I know she's safe with you." He told her, Jemma unable to put into words just how much that meant to her. "As her husband, I'm just glad you're gonna be her partner again… And as a firefighter, I know how lucky we are to get such a great paramedic on our rig."

"Thanks Matt… I'm so excited to be there." She replied, the two sharing a quick hug before he walked her out, the friends saying a few quick last goodbyes before she headed towards her vehicle.

Casey stayed long enough to make sure she got into her car, the man waiting until she pulled away before he headed back into his home, Matt closing and locking their front door once he was securely inside.

"Everything okay?"

Matt turned around at the sound of his wife's voice, a small smile resting over his face when he saw her sitting on the couch with both of their babies now, as Caitlyn had come to join her at some point while he was outside.

"Everything's perfect." He answered, his words causing her own smile to grow before she gave him a nod, Matt wasting no more time in walking across the room towards his family, as all he wanted right now was to spend as much time with them as he could before the day was over.