Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.
a/n: Thanks to everyone who left reviews on the last chapter (including the ones I got today). I'm really sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. I actually picked up a BOOK, a real one and have been reading for the past few days but I'm back now. For every author I follow...I PROMISE to get back to reading SOON because I'm so far behind on everyone's stories. I hope you guys will like this chapter
Matt spent the week on shift, thinking of the best way to break the news to the girls that they'd be moving in with Gabby and her kids. He sat in his office in front of yet another incident report but wasn't able to commit to it, throwing his pen across his desk.
"Woah. Why so angry?" Matt smiled as he looked at the intruder at his door.
"What are you doing here?" He got up and kissed Gabby.
"I came bearing lunch." She raised a bag from the deli down the street. "And to see if you were having as much trouble as I am."
"What's wrong?"
"Trying to go over how I'm going to tell the kids about all of us moving in together."
"Tell me about it. I can't concentrate on that stupid report."
"So you too huh?"
"Yeah. When I think I know how to handle it, all I do is doubt myself."
"Maybe we can break the news to them together." They moved inside of his office and they both sat down on the bed, Gabby handing him a sandwich.
"That's an idea I hadn't thought about before. I think it could be work."
"It's settled then. I was thinking since it's supposed to be nice outside this week end that we could have a little pic nic in your yard and we can talk to them about it."
"That sounds like a good plan. How long are you staying?" He groaned as the overhead paging system interrupted them.
"I'll see myself out, go save lives." She smiled at him as he ran out to his truck. She stayed behind a few minutes to pack his lunch away and store it into the fridge before she left, a few more errands to do in the afternoon.
Matt returned to the firehouse about an hour later, the only sound coming from the tv that had stayed on as they rushed out to the scene so he returned to his office to do the incident report he had failed to write up earlier, adding this last call to the list. He always hated being behind on paperwork, it being the part of the lieutenant job he disliked the most. He picked up the note that Gabby left and read it, a smile lingering on his lips.
I put your lunch in the fridge for when you come back. Call me later tonight.
I love you - Gabby xx
"You are so whipped." Shay laughed from the door.
"Not that I'm complaining." He sat back down at his desk.
"So how's it going with talking with the kids about the move?"
"Picnic this week end at my place. We decided to tell them all together. I think we'll need each other."
"I think so too but you do know that they'll be fine. I'm there if you need us, Kelly too."
"Thanks Shay." They smiled at each other before she turned around to leave him to his reports, knowing that's the part of his job he hated being behind on. Shay came back a few minutes later just to drop off his lunch before she went to grab some food for herself.
Matt pushed through the reports even though he wasn't up to it and he managed to finish them before a new call came in, all hands on deck this time. He laid down on his bunk later at night, sleep evading him as his thoughts kept going a mile minute so he decided to send Gabby a text, afraid she'd already be asleep. When he was about to close his eyes to sleep, no answer from Gabby, his phone rang.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up baby."
"I wasn't asleep, too many thoughts going through my mind." He didn't quite believe her, her voice slightly groggy but he was happy that she had called, her soft voice calming his own nerves a bit.
"Great minds think alike then. Everything ok with the kids?" He wondered.
"Everything is fine, they're all sleeping."
"That's good. Still thinking about the talk we have to have with them?"
"Yeah. I'm just a little scared about how they'll react, this is a big step for them."
"And for you too. We can push it back if you want." He said gently into his phone.
"No." Her voice was sure and stronger now. "We are not pushing anything back. I know it's a big decision but I know it's the right one."
"God I love you."
"I love you too. Now you better get some sleep before a call comes."
"Don't jinx." He started only to be interrupted by the overhead paging system calling them to a house fire.
"Sorryyy." He said apologetically as Matt stood up from the bed to put his boots on, the phone still tucked between his ear and shoulder.
"Call me in the morning when you're on shift."
"I will but you need to keep your badge off the wall."
"Yes ma'am." He laughed as he made it to his gear that was waiting for him by the front of the truck and hung up.
It was a short call that brought them back to the house barely thirty minutes later, Matt going directly to his office and to Hell with the report, he'd just have to write it up when he woke up the next morning.
Gabby arrived early with the kids on saturday, the sun already shinning high even though it was still fairly early in the morning. All three kids ran past Matt, a hello screamed in the air, making both adults laugh candidly.
"Someone's eager." He kissed her as he took the bags full of food she had in her hands.
"When I told them we were having a picnic at your place, they went crazy, even Valentina."
"Maybe luck will be on our side."
"Let's hope so." They walked into the kitchen together and cleared away the food before Matt pulled her to him for a proper kiss. "What was that for?" She asked in a low whisper, her breathing erratic fromit.
"Because you're amazing." He kissed her again, this time a little voice coming from the kitchen doorway.
"EEEWWWWWWW." Valentina pouted, making the adults laugh at how adorable it was. They let the kids play together in the basement while they prepared everything for the picnic, Valentina taking every slice of apple Gabby was giving her as a snack.
"Boys have cooties."
"Is that so?" Matt bent down at her level.
"Uh huh." She smiled at him.
"You asked for it." He lifted her up in his arms, fingers tickling at her sides as he blew kisses on her cheeks while she giggled happily. Gabby looked at them with a loving smile, making her more convinced than ever that she was doing the right decision. Matt put Valentina back down as she caught her breath and he helped Gabby finish the food. Lunch was looming and the basement was souding a little bit too quiet quiet for their taste so Gabby went downstairs and found all four kids building houses out of legos.
"I think I'll need to buy you some of those." All four looked up at her from what they were building.
"How come?" Filippe asked, not getting why his mother was saying that.
"I've never heard you guys so quiet before." She mused. "It's time for lunch." All four of them cheered loudly and went upstairs to find Matt who was waiting for the with all the food in containers.
"Who's ready for a picnic?"
"We are." All five of the kids were jumping around. Matt looked at Gabby with a smile and a wink, making her blush.
"Alright so I need everyone's help." Matt handed them each a little something, even Valentina and Gabby grabbed the biggest container while Matt took the blanket and wrapped his arm around her waist. "It's going to be fine." He whispered to her ear, sensing her aprehension for the conversation they were going to have in the next hour with the kids.
Matt put the blanket on the grass and the kids put everything on it and everyone sat down. The kids ran around the yard in between bites, chasing each other and laughing.
"Are you ok?" Gabby seemed so far away.
"Yeah, why?"
"You look so far away."
"Sorry. Weird feiling."
"It'll be fine, I promise." He kissed her temple
"You better keep that promise Matt Casey."
"I will." He smiled. "Hey kids, time for desert." He smiled at Gabby. This was it! They were going to tell the kids and there was no turning back. They had cut some fruit up because they knew all five kids loved them.
"Are we doing something fun tonight dad?" Grace questionned as she stuffed some melon in her mouth.
"Actually, Gabby and I have something we want to tell you guys."
"Are you guys breaking up?" Emma, sad features on her face.
"No. Actually it was happy news we wanted to tell you guys."
"What is it?" Luis asked cautiously. Of all the kids, both Matt and Gabby were sure that Luis would be the one who wouldn't welcome the news very well because they knew he always felt like they were trying to fill the spot his father used to have in his life.
"You know that I love your mother very much."
"And I love Matt too and we know that it hasn't always been easy in the past year but we're really happy and Matt asked me, asked us to live with him." The girls were already starting to get excited of the idea of sharing their life with them but Luis finally stood up.
"NOOO!" He screamed, running towards the house where he ran straight into Kelly who picked him up.
"Hey buddy, what's wrong?"
"Put me down." He screamed. "Don't touch me Kelly." Gabby was already on her feet and on the Luis's heals. Kelly put him down so Gabby could talk to him. She gave him a silent thank you as he passed them along with Shay who gave Gabby's shoulder a reassuring squeeze and she passed, both Grace and Emma jumping at her as she made it to them.
Matt looked from afar, Filippe sitting next to him, in deep conversation.
"Hey, Luis, talk to me." She held onto both his arms trying to make him look at her.
"No." He whispered.
"Luis, you have to talk to me."
"You don't even care." He finally exploded, trying to get out of his mother's grasp.
"No. You don't get to say that and try to run away from me." She felt just as if he had hit her in the face.
"You don't even care about us. You didn't even ask if we wanted to live with Matt or not."
"Don't you like Matt? And the girls?"
"Yes but I miss dad."
"Aww baby." She pulled him into a tight hug. "I miss daddy too but daddy would want us to be happy." She pulled away and looked at him with a smile. "Think of it as a fun new adventure."
"Promise you won't let go?"
"I know it's new and scary but I won't let go of you guys, I promise." They looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds.
"Secret handshake?"
"Secret handshake." She laughed as they did they're little hand moves they had done for the past two years, just Gabby and Luis. "Let's go see how your brother's doing." She picked him up and went to join everyone else where all the kids were swarming Kelly, Filippe on his back.
She put Luis down, who went directly into the pile-up and she snuck towards Matt and wrapped her arm around her waist.
"Everything ok?" He looked down at her.
"Perfect." She smiled.
"Hey everyone." Shay grabbed everyone's attention. "Kelly and I actually came for a specific reason."
"What is it aunt Leslie?"
"What do you guys think if we had a sleepover at mine and Kelly's place?"
"Us too?" Luis asked hopefulle, the same smile reflecting on Filippe's face.
"Even you too bug." Kelly confirmed.
"And Valentina." Shay smiled.
"YAY!" The little girl squealed.
"Alright. Why don't you guys grab your things and then we can go buy some candies and popcorn on the way." All four kids ran inside and Shay picked Valentina up and went into the house.
"Thanks for this guys." Matt said as they walked inside.
"We're going to have so much fun." Shay laughed. She had planned a girly night in the bags with nail polish and candies and chick flicks and Kelly was going to order pizza for everyone, giving Matt and Gabby a small break from all the day to day action. Matt helped put all the seats in both cars and then they helped everybody in the car and they gave their hugs and kisses before Matt and Gabby hugged Kelly and Leslie in turn.
Matt and Gabby walked back inside, their hand linked together and they sat on the couch, Gabby cuddled into his side.
"How did it go with Luis?"
"He misses Alberto a lot." She put her head on his shoulder.
"What about you?" He whispered in her hair.
"I miss him too, a lot." She started and paused a few seconds, Matt giving her all the time she needed. "But being with you, the sadness is not as strong as it probably would be worst without you." She finished. Matt ran a gentle hand on her leg.
"I'd give all of this up in a second if I could give him back to you."
"He would have liked you." She mused.
"So what next?" He asked after a few seconds.
"We spend a quiet night, just the two of us and tomorrow, we get to start on a new adventure."
"Do I get to have a secret handshake?" She could hear the smile in his voice.
"You can have anything you want." She looked up at him with a smile.
"I'll just settle for having you then." He leaned down and kissed her.
They spent a quiet evening together, ordering thai for dinner and watching movies, something they hadn't done in a long time. They both knew that it would be one of their last quiet time together in a little while so they simply enjoyed it.
a/n: So finally they had the talk with the kids about them moving in. It wasn't really a surprise that Luis would feel so strongly about the whole thing since he's the one of Gabby's kids who misses his dad the most and is the most vocal about it.
Next up: The kids have a slumber party at Shay and Kelly's place.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and please take a few seconds to leave a review before you go - Sarra
