Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.
a/n: First of all, OMG! I got 18 reviews on the last chapter only so thanks for all the love, you guys are THE BEST. Tell you what? If this next chapter brings the reviews up to 200 (a first EVER for me) I'll update again tomorrow before updating another one of my stories so I hope you enjoy Matt and Gabby's first date together.
Matt spent the next few days with Grace and Emma at home, shutting the outside world from them. They watched movies snuggled together on the couch, Grace often putting her head on his lap since she was still tired from her hospital stay and Emma getting as close as humanly possible to her father on the other side. They also played kid games together, often laughing when they all became competitive with each other. He would exchange occasionnal texts with Gabby, often centering on how Grace was doing now that she was home but they also texted about when they would be going on their date. Gabby had a hectic schedule at the hospital but they decided on the Friday evening to spend some time together.
Matt was starting shift on thursday and finishing on the friday before taking a nap and getting ready for some alone adult time with Gabby.
Gabby spent most of the next few days in peds except on one shift where the E.R. was overbooked and a nurse had called in sick at the last minute. She had walked up the stairs to be greeted by Nathalie with the news but she had gone down without another question asked to give a hand to the E.R. staff. She got home exhausted that same evening, making the kids some quickly made spaghetti for dinner, Leslie popping by right before she started making it, bringing a bottle of wine with her. Gabby had seen her at the E.R. when she brought in a factory worker with a few missing fingers, needing to be stitched up in the O.R and when she had seen her friend's face, Shay had offered to come by to help her unwind.
"God I needed this." Gabby drank a large gulp of wine before putting it back down on the table and taking a bite to eat.
"I know. It has been a crazy day, even for us." Shay drank some of her wine too. The kids were eating quietly which gave the girls the opportunity to talk but at some point, Luis and Filippe had started arguying with each other for a reason none of the adults knew about but Gabby put a stop to it rather quickly.
"Stop it right NOW." She scolded them. "Mommy had a long and hard day today so I don't want to hear the two of you bickering. Please behave or you'll be going to your room do I make myself clear?"
"Yes mom." They both said at the same time.
"Thank you." She ate a small bite and took some more wine. "I can't wait to be Friday so I can go out." She huffed, suddenly realizing she hadn't told Shay about her date with Matt.
"Who's the mystery man?" Shay smirked.
"I'm going out with Matt." Gabby blushed, talking just loud enough for Leslie to hear.
"I KNEW IT." She yelled, surprising the boys and recieving a hand on her mouth from Gabby to keep it down.
"He asked me out a little while ago but Grace got sick and it just wasn't the right time but he wants us to go out on Friday."
"Are you going to see a friend on Friday mamma?" Luis asked, he had heard it all. Gabby wasn't expecting him to ask that out right but he could hear and see things others didn't.
"Actually I am."
"A boy friend?" Filippe asked, his mouth full of pasta.
"First of all, you don't talk with your mouth full mister." Shay giggled, recieving a glare from Gabby, instantly quieting her. "And second, yes it's a boy friend." She made sure to say the two words apart so they would understand.
"Is it Mr. Casey?" Filippe asked again, this time his mouth completely empty.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Are you guys ok with that?" Shay sat quietly next to her friend, listening closely to this important conversation between her and her kids. Gabby hadn't intended to talk to them so soon about her and Matt seeing each other but since the question was now on the table, she wasn't going to shy away from that particular conversation.
"He makes you smile mommy." Luis stated, making her eyes well.
"You stopped smiling when daddy went to heaven." Filippe added, making a tear run down her cheek, her finger stoping it in its descend. "We like it when you smile better mamma."
"I like smiling better too." She smiled through her tears, Shay rubbing her back to tell her she was there for her. "Mrs Martinez next door said she'd come stay with you while I went out. Is that ok?"
"Yes mamma." They liked the older lady next door and they'd go spend some time with her when Abuela stayed with them while Gabby was at work.
They spent the rest of dinner laughing with the kids and Gabby excused herself to go wash up the kids to put them to bed and Shay took it upon herself to pick the table up, feeling Gabby had enough on her plate at the moment.
"Thanks for picking everything up Shay, you didn't have to."
"Nah, it's nothing. Thanks for the dinner. The kids in bed ok?"
"Yeah." She sat down and Shay handed her a filled up glass of wine as she took a seat on the couch.
"Sooo, a date with Matt on Friday?"
"Yeah." Gabby blushed. "He said to dress casually, he didn't want to tell me just yet where we're going. Did he tell you anything?"
"No, I still haven't gone to see him since Grace has been back home. So if you're going on a date with Matt, I'm guessing you told him the truth?" Shay asked taking a sip of her wine.
"Yeah. The other day, when we went out at the pier and it was late, Matt started freaking out about bringing me back home, something about not wanting my husband to be mad at him for keeping me out so late. I couldn't keep the truth from him anymore, I owed him the truth so I sort of just blurted it out."
"How did he react?"
"I guess he always knew I was hiding something and he never pushed to find out about it."
"Matt is one of the good guys Gabs. He's been through so much himself and always puts the girls first. Don't be afraid to let him in sweetie."
"We kissed." Gabby said quickly and finished the rest of her glass in one shot before Shay became all giggly. "Twice." Gabby admitted, getting a friendly shove from Shay.
"You total skank." Shay laughed, Gabby laughing with her, alcohol well into her system.
"The first one lasted a few seconds only the morning after I told him the truth."
"He spent the night?" Shay was starting to get excited.
"We fell asleep on the couch after he told me about Hallie and we talked some more."
"That's so sweet. What happened after that?"
"He kissed me again at the hospital, we were in the cafeteria. Am I being a total bad person by telling you I want him to do it again on Friday?" A light blush crept up her cheeks as she drank some more wine.
"I don't think so. I can't pretend to know what it's like to lose a spouce, hell I can't even keep a girl but I think that your husband would want you to be happy. He'd want you to smile again." Shay reused Luis's words, smiling at Gabby.
"Thanks Shay, you're a great friend." Shay moved in close to Gabby and pulled her in a hug.
"Anytime." Shay left another hour before leaving, both having shift in the morning.
Matt woke up the next morning, happy to be able to get back on shift, life going back to normal. He walked in and greeted everyone before asking Herrmann to his office to get him caught up.
"How's Grace?" He asked as he closed the door to the little office space.
"A lot better. She says her head still hurts but the doc said it'll stop on it's own."
"That's great to know. So word around the house tells me you have a date tomorrow evening lieutenant?"
"Shay and her big mouth. Yeah I do. I'm a little bit nervous though."
"Oh come on Lieutenant, you'll be fine. You'll charm her socks off."
"Thanks Christopher." They caught up before Herrmann left Matt to his thoughts.
"I hear you've been kissing a girl?" Severide's voice took him out of those thoughts.
"I'm going to kill Shay." He chuckled. "I'm going on a date with her tomorrow evening."
"Where are you taking her?" Shay peeked her head through the door.
"I'm not even sure I'll tell you. If you're ready to talk about me kissing Gabby and telling the house I have a date, I'm not sure I trust you to keep your mouth shut on where I'm taking her." He laughed, Kelly joining him on the fun.
"You are no fun." Shay left pouting.
"I love you too Shay." Matt yelled after her.
"So where are you taking her?" Kelly asked.
"To that mexican restaurant close to Lakeshore and then there's an outdoor show with fun stuff at the park close to my place. I though it could be cool, nothing too flashy."
"Taking it slow."
"Yeah. I don't want to rush her into a relationship even if all I want to do is be around her and kiss her. I swear Sev, she's something else." Matt smiled. He hadn't felt like that in over five years and it felt great.
"I believe you man. I'm happy for you, hope it goes well."
"Thanks man." Both looked up at the ceiling as they heard the bell calling them to a structure fire. Matt ended up having to go to Lakeshore with a patient in a ride along with Shay and Chilli. As he was about to leave, he bumped into Gabby who was in the E.R. He held onto her arms to prevent her from falling. "Hey, I thought working in the E.R. was done?"
"It is, I'm just coming for the little girl you just brought in." She smiled at him as he let go of her. "By the way, you never told me where we're going tomorrow. I don't even know what I should wear."
"You'll look nice in anything." He smiled. It wasn't the answer she was looking for but she'd have to work with that. "See you tomorrow." He winked at her before leaving. He wasn't about to have rumours start before they even went on their first date so he went to see Shay and waited for her to finish the paperwork to go back to the house.
"I saw that lover boy." She smiled, not even looking up from her papers. "You so have the hots for her."
"Wouldn't you." He looked at Gabby move around the E.R. to bring the little girl up to peds.
"Oh absolutely." She finally looked up from what she was doing.
Both Matt and Gabby went on with their shift, looking forward to the next evening. Matt had a big shift, crashing as soon as he got home, Christie would come by with the girls mid afternoon to pick up some of their things for the sleepover at her place. Gabby went on the next morning with her next shift, nerves starting after lunch was done with. Thank god for her she didn't have any emergency that would make her have to stay later than her shift ended. She drove home and took a shower, wanting to get ready before her mother left.
"So where is he taking you?" Her mom asked from the living room as Gabby walked out of the shower.
"I don't know mom, he didn't want to tell me."
"And how do you know what you have to wear?"
"He said I'd look nice in anything."
"Quite the charmer is he?"
"Mom, I'm sure he's only taking me to like dinner and a movie, it's nothing big."
"It doesn't matter. If he treats you right that's what's important."
"Thanks mom." She walked out of her room with a black form fitting cotton dress, her hair still wrapped in a towel. "How does that look?"
"It looks great, what will you do with your hair and make up?"
"Straight hair, minimum make-up. I think it should be good with my red beaded sandals."
"That's perfect. You'll look beautiful dear."
"Thanks mom but you better go if you don't want to be late for dinner with daddy."
"Tell me how it went? I'll want to meet this man too."
"It's only our first date mom." Gabby complained, returning to her room to finish getting ready.
"I know but if everything goes well, you know your father will want to meet him."
"Yes mom I know but we're taking it slowly. I promise I'll bring him home if it leads somewhere."
"Alright. Have fun tonight dear. I love you." She kissed her daughter's cheek before she left. Mrs Martinez was due to arrive at 6 so Gabby needed to hurry up if she wanted to be ready in time.
"How does mommy look?" She asked the kids as she stepped out of her room fully ready.
"Pretty mamma." Luis smiled from the couch where they were watching a movie.
"Do you think Mr. Casey will like it?" She asked, biting her cheek inside her mouth because she was so nervous.
"He'll think your pretty too mom." Filippe added, looking at her for the first time too. The first knock was Mrs. Martinez that was arriving and when the second came, Gabby's nervousness went to a whole new level. She opened the door to Matt, standing on the other side with black dress pants and shoes and a white button shirt with his sleeves rolled up and the first two buttons open, he looked absolutely handsome.
"Matt." She smiled, letting him come in. "You look handsome."She complimented.
"You look absolutely beautiful." He smiled back at her before he leaned down, his left hand coming to rest against her cheek and lips pressing on her right cheek.
"Thank you." She blushed. "Is it ok for where we're going?"
"It's perfect." He smiled again, seemingly not able to stop. Her blush became a darker shade of red before she recovered and went to see the kids in the living room. They greeted Matt with a hello and a smile before Gabby gave them the instructions for the evening.
"I want you to be nice to Mrs. Martinez, no funny business. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes mom." They both said and Valentina repeated the yes as well before Gabby kissed them on the cheek and told them goodnight before she left with Matt.
"Where's your truck?" She looked at him, clearly not knowing about tonight's agenda.
"We are going for a little walk." He smirked as they started walking in the restaurant's general direction. It was about fifteen minutes away from Gabby's place and close to Lakeshore hospital. Once it came into view, Gabby looked up at Matt and smiled.
"Carlos and Pepe's, I love that restaurant."
"I never went before, I thought it would be fun to try it."
"You won't be disappointed." She smiled as Matt opened the door for her and led her in. They were seating in the far corner of the restaurant so they could have more privacy during the evening at Matt's request. He helped her sit down and he took the seat in front of her as the waiter came to get their drink order and give them the menu's. Gabby opted for a glass of sangria while Matt had a beer and they ordered their main courses. Gabby went for a salad in a hard tacos bowl and Matt went for the enchiladas. They spent dinner getting to know more about each other, telling kid stories and funny work anecdotes.
"I can't believe Otis did something like that to them, poor guys." She was laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach.
"I swear he did but they got him back pretty good too, it was priceless."
"You'll have to bring the kids around the firehouse someday, I could show them around."
"I'm sure they'd love that, thanks Matt." They arrived at Matt's parked truck and he helped her inside. They drove towards his place and parked the truck in front of his house.
"You have a nice house." She complimented even though she hadn't seen the inside yet.
"That will be for another day." The truth was, he wasn't sure if he'd be coming out of it at all tonight if they went in so he helped her out of the truck and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hers coming to rest against his waist as they walked towards the park where music could be heard from afar. They walked in to lights and lanterns placed around the park, live bands and merchants everywhere along the way. Gabby pulled a laughing Matt pretty much everywhere, enjoying everything around her. She hadn't had this much fun in a long time and she was like a kid in the candy store. Matt bought her a few bracelets that she really liked under her constant complaint, claiming he didn't have to and that it was way too much. They stopped along the way to listen to some of the bands, both arms wrapped around each other. Some of them were really good and they stayed to listen longer than some others before they kept going.
The sun had set a little while ago but they weren't really taking a look at the time having too much fun. Matt stopped Gabby in her tracks when they made it to a flower stand and he smiled at her before going to the vendor and buying a yellow rose for her.
"Here." He gave her the flower and leaned down to press his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.
"Matt, you have to stop it. You paid for dinner, and the bracelets and now the flower. That's way too much."
"No it's not. I'm having fun and I'm hoping that you are too." He wrapped his arms around her waist, both looking in each other's eyes.
"I haven't had fun like that in a very long time. Thank you Matt."
"You're welcome. Now let's get you back home to the kids." They walked back towards Matt's house, their fingers linked together. They had to part so they could get into his truck but their fingers linked back up immediately, Gabby was sitting with her body facing Matt as he drove. They drove back to her house in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company and the quiet music that was playing in his truck. Once they got back to her apartment, he helped her out one last time out of his truck and they walked back up to her level, their hands never leaving each other.
"I had a lot of fun tonight, thank you." She placed her key in the door and turned around to look at Matt with a smile.
"You are welcome, I had a lot of fun too." They were standing mere inches apart, Gabby's heart racing at the closeness and Matt's at how beautiful the girl in front of him was. Her black dress was hugging every curve of her body, her minimal make-up radiated natural beauty and her mocha skin was taunting him. He wondered how it would feel like under his fingers. He stopped resisting the temptation and placed his hands on her hips, pushing her against the door of her apartment. Her breath was faster and their eyes were locked on each other. Gabby's arms came to rest around his neck, the rose still in her hands and they met in the middle, their lips crashing against each other, fighting for control. Gabby caved in first, Matt's tongue exploring every inch of her mouth, his body pushing hers into the door, their want for each other more than evident. They parted when air became an issue and he kissed her again, softly this time. Their breathing had steadied but their hearts were still pumping fast.
"Good night." He whispered.
"Good night." She whispered back. He kissed her one last time before she went into her place and closed the door behind her, her back resting against it, her heart pounding in her chest and a smile on her face. Matt went back down the stairs with a bounce in their step, his heart pounding in his chest.
They both went to bed, their night filled with dreams of each other, looking forward to their next meeting.
Ta Dah! Another chapter done and finally Matt and Gabby have a great evening together, just the two. Matt couldn't stop himself before the night ended, giving them an extra reason to see each other again.
I really hope you liked this chapter. The evening's ending idea was given to me by Just Nevine (while trying to guess what my idea for next chapter is) so thank you to her for that ;) Please leave a review before you leave so I know what you guys thought of this latest instalment and who knows, see you MAYBE tomorrow for another update, that'll be up to you guys - Sarra
