Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.
a/n: Ok so I KNOW I said that I was taking a small break from writing this story because I needed to update some other ones BUT after the season premiere and all the Dawsey feelings I've been having, I thought I'd write them a little bit of fluff together post Hallie drama.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed (19 + twitter reviews) WOW that's AMAZING! And welcome to the new followers, I really hope you're enjoying it so far. Enjoy this next chapter.
Matt and Gabby had planned a quiet evening together now that Hallie was out of town. All three of Gabby's kids were sleeping over at her mom's and Matt's girls were at Christie's as usual.
"So what are the kids up to tonight?" Matt placed his hands in Gabby's hips as she cooked dinner.
"Dad's hosting a game night." She chuckled.
"I take it they're fun."
"They usually end up being a huge restling match in the living room, pillows flying everywhere."
"We just might have pillows flying everywhere later too." He kissed her neck, a giggle escaping her lips as Matt's arms snaked their way around her waist.
"You are terrible Matt Casey." She giggled again. They had been playful around each other since the day at the courtroom, a weight had disapeared from their shoulders.
"I know." He placed his chin in the crook of her neck and breathed her in. It amazed him how without even trying and withought artificial things, Gabby smelled amazing. She was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans with a plaid shirt, her hair down in her natural curls and she was barefoot and yet she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. "Food smells amazing baby."
"Enough with the sweet talking, dinner is ready." She moved the food off the hot stove top and turned in Matt's arms so she could face him.
"You look beautiful." He whispered as he dipped down and pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Gabby's lips curled into a smile, her eyes still closed as Matt pulled away slightly. "The food will be cold." He kissed her forehead as she opened her eyes.
They settled at the table and ate in light conversation, the subject often coming back to their kids, both Matt and Gabby telling about the funny things the kids had done all week. They picked up the table and cleaned the dishes together like they often did when they were together and then they settled with a glass of wine and a bottle on beer on the couch, Gabby's legs propped up on Matt's lap.
"How was your week at the firehouse?" She asked casually as she drank some wine.
"Eventful." He sighed. It had been a crazy week like he'd rarely seen.
"You're be careful I hope."
"Always." He smiled at her reassuringly. "What about you? A lot of sick kids?"
"Actually, it's been quiet lately, which my mommy heart doesn't mind so much."
"I can't even imagine how it must be to see kids sick all the time."
"It doesn't get easier I'll tell you that."
A comfortable silence settled in for a few moments, Matt's mind suddenly going so far away that he didn't hear Gabby calling out his name.
"Matt?" She asked again, this time getting through to him.
"Yeah sorry."
"Don't be sorry, I just worry, is everything ok?"
"Yeah, everything is fine." He lied, clearly not convincing Gabby.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"It's fine, really."
"You know you can talk to me right?" Matt didn't really miss a beat when she said that.
"I could have lost the girls last week and I don't know what I would have done if that would have happened."
"Hey. That judge saw right through her act and there's no way in hell he would have given her any kind of custody rights."
"I was so nervous in there Gabby."
"We never talked about what happened in that room."
"Mr Casey, Please tell me what happened in the past five years." It was a simple enough question in Matt's mind but not so easy or a short story to tell.
"When the girls were born, I thought it was a new beginning, with a girl I loved and two girls that instantly became the best part of me. Maybe it's my fault for not seeing the signs but Hallie changed in the following months. I had read about post-partum depression but I never imagined it was that bad until one morning, she was gone, leaving a simple note behind, my heart in pieces." Matt was trying to keep his tears from falling as his mind brought him back to that very day.
"And what happened after that?"
"I made it my mission to be everything Grace and Emma needed, even if that meant mine would become on the back burner. A few weeks later, I recieved papers in the mail."
"What did they say?" The judge knew what was written on those pages but he wanted the father in front of him to tell him.
"They were legal documents, saying Hallie was giving up her rights and that the girls were all mine."
"And how did life change from then on?"
"I would have the girls with me every day off I had from the firehouse and on the days I would work, they would be at daycare and my sister Christie or my family at 51 supported me so I could give the best to my daughters."
"I felt as though my heart was breaking all over again."
"I'm proud of you Matt." She pulled her legs off of his lap and took his beer with her wine and placed them on the side table before straddled him. "You gave these girls all the love they could ever hope for and you've raised them to become very lovely young ladies. You should be proud of that too." Matt placed a strand of hair that had fallen in her eyes and kissed her gently.
"Thank you." He kissed her softly first before she leaned her body into his, his hands resting on her hips and hers against his chest as he deepened it. They made out until air became an issue, both staring into each other's eyes.
"Matt." She whispered as she closed her eyes, her breathing shallow and her heart beating a mile a minute in her chest.
"Hhumm?" He kissed her again as she opened her eyes.
"Feel this." She took his hand and held it to her chest, Matt feeling the rapid heartbeat under his fingers. "My heart hasn't felt this alive in a long while and it's has nothing to do with chance. Since I met you, I've gotten to know this amazing father and an increadible man and what I'm saying is that I've fallen in love with you." She knew it was soon and it was a bold move but it was the truth and she was tired of hiding it. Matt stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity before his lips formed a smile and he kissed her again.
"I've been wanting to say these words to you but I was scared you'd run because it was so soon."
"I'm tired of denying it to myself. I love you, I'm in love with you Matt." She smiled back at him.
"I love you too." Matt pulled her to him and crashed his lips on hers. Her hands tangled in his hair as she deepened it, the love and the lust taking over them. Matt managed to get them up, Gabby wrapping her legs around his waist, a giggle escaping her lips.
"You're crazy." She laughed as Matt attacked her neck with his lips.
"Uh huh." His lips finding the spot on her shoulder that made her moan each time. He walked through the threshold of Gabby's room and slowly lowered her down onto the bed, keeping just enough weight off of her, his lips claiming hers once again.
He slowly started unbuttoning her shirt, his lips following his fingers movement, placing feather light kisses along the way. Her breathing began to be more laboured as Matt finished undoing her shirt. Gabby lifted her body so he could push it off her shoulders, leaving in in just her blue lace bra.
"God you're beautiful." It only resulted in her whole body blushing lightly. She helped pull his shirt over his head before they fell back again, their lips finding each other once again. As their movements quickened and clothes becoming a too big of a barrier, they were quick of geting each other out of them, Gabby pulling Matt's body higher up in the bed as they made out, the pillows suddenly in the way. Gabby tried to pull them out from under her but Matt's body pressing against her want for him was making it very hard on her. Matt suddenly stopped what he was doing and smiled down at Gabby.
"Having a little bit of trouble?"
"You are NOT helping." She panted, obviously out of breath from all the making out they were doing.
"I don't hear you complaining." He kissed her neck again and grabbed one of the pillows under Gabby, throwing it on the floor. "I told you pillows would be flying here too tonight." He took the second one and threw it on the ground, making Gabby laugh.
"How about we make some sparks fly?" She whispered huskily, a low growl escaping Matt's lips as he kissed her again and entered her, her body rising up to meet his as he did. Their bodies moved as one as they made love, a new found energy coursing through them as light sheets of sweat covered their bodies. They explored what excited the other, not being able to get enough of each other as they made love over and over again into the night, finally falling exhausted around one in the morning.
"The things you make me feel Gabriella Dawson." He tried catching his breath as she snuggled closer into him, her fingers drawing patterns on his chest.
"It's as if I feel things for the first time all over again." She closed her eyes as Matt ran his fingers through her hair, enjoying the feeling of stillness that was enveloping her.
"I love you." He pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Say it again." She whispered, her voice catching in her throat.
"I love you Gabriella Dawson." She looked up at him with a smile and they kissed one last time before they fell asleep, all snuggled up together.
A vibrating phone is what woke Gabby up first. "Who on earth is calling at this ungodly hour?" She complained as Matt pulled her closer to him.
"Let it ring babe." He settled his chin into the crook of her neck.
"It might be important." She reluctantly pulled awy from him to find out if it was hers or his that was ringing. When she found out it was his, she rolled back towards him and gave him his phone. "It's yours." She simply said as he saw Christie's name flashing on his screen.
"Hey Chris, is everything is ok?" Worry suddenly filled him as his mind took him to the worst place. "Everything is fine but Grace wants to talk to you."
"Hey baby girl, is something wrong?" "I miss you daddy, when are you coming to pick us up?" The girls were usually very independant and it didn't happen very often but sometimes, the girls would get home sick. "I'll come pick you in in two hours, is that ok?" "Yeah it's ok. Em wants to talk to you." Matt could hear the phone being transfered from one hand to the other and he waited patiently for Emma to start talking. "Hey daddy. I miss you too." "I know baby girl I'll be there to come pick you up in a couple of hours. How about we spend some time on the couch in front of the tv tonight with some pop corn and you girls pick the movie, that sound good?" "Yes daddy. I love you." " I love you too princess, and your sister. I'll see you soon, bye." "Bye dad."
Matt hung up up the phone and sighed. He hated when the girls felt that way.
"See, they miss their daddy. You're a great dad Matt, never forget that." Gabby sat up in bed as Matt propped himself up on his elbow. "Breakfast?" She looked back at him and smiled.
"I'm starving." He pulled a squealing Gabby back down to him and kissed her. They made out until air became an issue and reluctantly pulled away. Gabby gently swung her legs over the bed and got up, Matt's eyes following her as she moved around her room, getting dressed. He got up once she was done and changed into some new clothes, joining Gabby in the kitchen. She was frying up some eggs and he could already smell the bacon sizzling in the frying pan.
"Hey, I was thinking." He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Uh oh, that's never good." She chuckled, Matt's finger poking her, making her laugh.
"How about we invite your parents over at my place soon?" She took her eyes off the food for one second and looked at him with a surprised expression.
"You've already met my parents." Clearly she didn't want the last time to repeat itself because she felt Matt didn't need another interrogation.
"I haven't officially met them. I was thinking you could come over with the kids on a friday and they can play together while we have a nice grown up evening with your parents."
"Wasn't that interrogation enough?"
"Gabby, I love you and that means that I also have to get to know your family so they can get to know me too." She searched his eyes for any sign or hesitation and found none. "Think about it?"
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"Yeah, I'll check everyone's schedule and get back to you, is that ok?"
"Perfect. Are those eggs done because I'm starving." He smiled sheepishly as his stomach grumbled.
"Yes they are." Gabby chuckled. "Grab a seat." He helped her with the pile of dishes on the counter and set the table so she could fix the plates for them to eat.
They spent some more time talking about the kids while they ate and they cleared out all the dishes before Matt got all of his things together to leave.
"Have fun with the girls tonight." She leaned against her open front door.
"I will. Say hi to the kids for me." He kissed her gently.
"I will. I love you." It was all so new but already, she couldn't stop saying those words to him."
"I love you too." He kissed her one more time and walked down the stairs. She waited for the door downstairs to close before she closed hers so she could get ready to pick up her own kids.
a/n: Finally I'm on vacation (since saturday 3:30pm) and I can finally write a bit more. Hopefully when I get back from break, I can start finding a footing and updating regularily.
So after Gabby got Matt to talk a little bit about what happened in the courtroom while he gave his testimony they finally got some adult time in and admitted their feelings for each other. I wanted Gabby to be the one to say it first because it meant she was ready for that step with Matt.
Next up: Matt meets the Dawsons for the first, unambushed time.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please take a few seconds to leave a review so I know if you guys liked it and HOPEFULLY, I'll post the next chapter before the end of the week - Sarra
