Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.

a/n: Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter and welcome to the new readers, hope you guys like it so far. Crazy life means less writing so sorry but I hope you guys enjoy this little piece of girly heaven.


Matt and Gabby had talked a lot about her answer to his proposal but each time, they had ended with the same conclusion. Neither her place nor his had enough space to house all seven people and they would have to look for a new place. They had decided to wait a little bit before talking to the kids about the big change because Valentina was turning two soon and Gabby wanted to be able to have a party without all the chaos a move would bring.

Gabby was browsing the internet for little girl party ideas on her day off, wanting that day to be perfect even though it would be the first birthday to be celebrated since Alberto's death.

"Did you find anything?" Matt asked from the kitchen where he was preparing some lunch for them.

"Nothing yet. This is getting very frustrating."

"What was your theme for her first birthday? Maybe you can go from there."

"Butterflies. There was a lot of pink and purple."

"What about princesses? You could dress her up and have balloons and tiaras and stuff." She hadn't thought about going to Matt about this but he had a great idea.

"What year was that theme for?" She giggled from the spot in the living room.

"Three. The girls were so excited to be dressed up and sparkly."

"I don't know how you managed all by yourself. This is hard."

"I had a lot of help. Firsts are always tough." He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I didn't think it would affect me like that." She chocked up.

"It's perfectly normal to feel like that. I remember the first time I went through a milestone without Hallie. I put on a smile for the girls but inside I was a mess. I don't remember a time when I was at such a loss. I sat in the kitchen that night and I cried for hours until there was nothing left to cry. That was one of the turning points for me, that I needed to be strong for the three of us but I promise it gets better." He kissed the top of her hair.

"Thanks, I don't know what I would do if you weren't there." She turned her chair to face him.

"You'd be just fine I promise. Lunch is ready." He helped her up and they kissed. "I can't wait for us to move in together."

"You do know it's going to be complete chaos don't you?"

"I think we can handle that chaos together, don't you think?"

"I really like the sound of that. How do you think the kids will react?"

"I don't know but we'll find out soon enough." Valentin'a birthday was on Friday so they were having some friends over to celebrate it, nothing too fancy and then they'd sit the kids down and tell them about the big change that was about to come. "So princesses on Friday?"

"Yeah, Princesses on Friday. That sounds like a good plan."

"Good. The girls and Shay will love to help out.2

"No, I can't ask them that."

"Trust me, they'll jump at the opportunity." He laughed. He knew the girls would be extra excited to put up décorations and dress up themselves.

"Ok. Alright, I'm starving. What's for lunch?"

"Chicken Cesar Salad." They ate lunch and then went on a princess mission.

Friday came by quickly and the girls had come on the Thursday under special autorization from Matt to go to bed much later than normal on a school day to put everything up so Valentina could Wake up to a princess theme.

Matt had asked Gabby to film her reaction to all the decoration and when he had received the video, he had smiled at her reaction of Wonder, Gabby telling her that friends would come over for some fun after daycare. Matt had used this last day to make the final touch ups to her present, a surprise to both Valentina and Gabby. Christie had picked the girls up from school to give Matt some time to finish everything without interruptions and when they arrived at Gabby's house, they were already dressed in princess costumes, a small one for the birthday girl as well.

When Matt made it to Gabby's place, most of her family was already there and since his present was really big, he decided to give it to her right away.

"I have a special delivery for princess Valentina." The little girl looking at up him with a big smile. Gabby sat on the floor with her while Matt took the house in, Valentina jumping up from the ground with a squeal and running over to Matt. The smile on Gabby's face was priceless also when she saw the dollhouse.

"Matt, it's beautiful." She came to see him as he put the house in a corner where Valentina could play with it without too much interruptions.

"Thanks. I didn't see one so I figured that she'd like that."

"Well I'm pretty sure I'll have more time on my hands thanks to you."

"Glad I can help." He laughed. All the adults mingled while the kids were playing loudly in the living room, sometimes making it hard to understand each other but Matt and Gabby navigated through it was if it was the most normal thing for them. Matt was talking with Severide when Gabby's dad came to talk to him.

"Now I see first hand how much you care about my daughter and her kids. That's a beautiful doll house Matt.2

"Thank you. I figured she'd like that. Grace and Emma loved thaying with theirs."

"Well I'm glad my daughter had found you."

"Thanks Edouardo." Matt didn't dare talk about them moving in together, not knowing if she had told her parents or not. They talked a bit more before he excused himself and patted Matt on the back.

"So, did you guys tell the kids you were moving in together?"

"No. We wanted to take care of doing the birthday party for Valentina first before telling the kids. I don't even know if her parents know we're moving in together."

"Dad might not be so happy about that though." Kelly snickered, slapping Matt on the shoulder.

"Don't hurt my man, I like him in one piece." Gabby wrapped an arm around Matt's waist.

"I'll try to keep that in mind." Kalley left them together for a little bit.

"Do you need help with anything?" He pulled her to him.

"No but we'll probably be giving the cake and présents soon."

"Alright, let's go do this." They walked back to the kitchen where Matt helped her get all the food off the table so there was enough space for the cake, plates and cutlery already in place with the help of the four kids. Gabby took Valentina on her lap as Antonio and Laura got the cake ready. The lit up the candle and everybody started singing happy birthday, Valentina clapping along to the song.

Gabby kissed her little chubby cheek as tears pooled in her eyes, emotions getting the better of her but she kept them from falling. Her eyes met Matt's and she smiled at him, glad that he was by her side for this. With Gabby's help, the candle was blown and they passed some cake around along with some coffee and some milk for the kids. Valentina stuffed her face with two slices of cake, Gabby wondering if she'd ever be able to put her down for bed later. Once she managed to get her cleaned up enough, Gabby sat back down again with her so they could start with the opening of the présents. She almost had more fun tearing the paper than what was given to her. She got everything from clothes to toys and Matt put all the wrapping in a bag to keep the the appartment from being littered with it.

Surprisingly, Valentina started falling asleep in Matt's arms a little later in the evening when people started to leave so Matt took her to her room and laid her down in her bed, still dressed as a princess. He kissed her forehead and closed her door before he made it to Gabby again as she was saying bye to Antonio and Laura, her parents being the last ones standing. They stayed a little while longer while Gabby and Matt put the four other kids to bed in the boys room, the girls all rolled up in their sleeping bags before they went to sit with her parents for a cup of coffee.

"You did a wonderful party sweetie."

"Thanks mom." They smiled at each other as Matt sat down with them.

"And that doll house is beautiful Matt. Did you make all of it?"

"The house and the inside of it yes but I bought the furniture for the rooms."

"Well she'll have a lot of fun. I remember how Gabby was with her dollhouse."

"Momm." Gabby didn't want her to start up that story because she had played with that house longer than she cared to admit to anyone.

"What? You loved that house. It's the best present we ever gave you."

"It's the toy the twins play with the most as well." Matt gave Gabby a look and she understood what it meant.

"Speaking of houses. There's something I want to tell you."

"The two of you are moving in together." Edouardo said, both Gabby and Matt looking at each other, trying to figure out who had said what, Laura being one of the only ones who knew she had said yes. "No one told me honey, I figured it out all by myself."

"Did you tell the boys?" Esmeralda asked in turn.

"Not yet." Gabby confessed.

"We wanted to have a chaos free birthday for Valentina so we decided to wait before telling the kids. It's going to be a big change for all of them."

"But I think it will be a good thing, for everyone." Both Edouardo and Esmeralda liked Matt and had seen the change in their daughter from being with him since her husband had died and they only wanted her to be happy.

"I have next week-end off. I think it'll be the best time to tell them." Matt said. They hadn't set a definite time to tell them about it but they didn't want to just drop the news on them and move on with our lives.

"I think it's a good decision. You don't want to just drop a bomb on them." Edouardo put in.

"That's exactly what we thought. And we'll have to find a new place because we don't fit in either one place.

"I agree. We'll help you as much as we can."

"Thanks mom."

"My daughter's happiness and my granskids is all I want and I have a feeling that you will give that to them."

"That's the plan." He looked at Gabby with a smile. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be and when you find the one, you don't let her go." Gabby blushed deeply.

"No you don't." Edouardo looked at his wife as she smiled back at him. "Alright, we'll let you two kids alone, you've had a long day."

"Thanks dad and thank you for the presents."

"It's nothing." Esmeralda insisted. They all hugged and finally Matt and Gabby were all alone.

"Finally, it's just us." She exhaled, picking up some plates that were sitting around.

"Well just us can pick the rest of the things up later." He tried taking the plates from her.

"Later I won't want to move. It'll take five minutes."

"I know not to argue with a Dawson woman." He let go of the plates and helped pick the rest of the things up and put them away in the dishwasher, only taking the five minutes Gabby had said.

"See, five minutes."

"I really should stop going against you."

"You'll never learn." She giggled as he tickeled her.

"And I'll never get tired of it." He pulled her down with him on the couch and they cuddled, silence between the two until Gabby broke it.

"Do you think they'll be ok with it?"

"I don't know but what I do know is that we'll be there for them, and for each other, no matter what."

"I like the sound of that." They spent the rest of the evening like that until it was time for bed, both content in just laying in each other's arms.


a/n:Valentina turned two and Matt and Gabby wanted her to have the perfect day. Almost everyone knows they'll be moving in together except for the kids. Next chapter will jump to the next week end where Gabby and Matt will tell the kids about their plans to move in. Will it go smoothely or will one or more kids be against it?

Please take a few minutes to review before you go, I always love to find out what you guys think of it - Sarra