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

a/n: Thanks for everyone who showed so much love to the last chapter and welcome to the new readers. So I figured I'd give you guys an update before Christmas so enjoy the read.


Gabby stood there, ghost white, not a single word coming out of her mouth. She had no idea that Alberto's parents were in town and most importantly, the last time they had spoken, she had failed to mention her new relationship with Matt. For one, the subject hadn't come up and second, they were only short phone calls, mainly to know how the kids were doing.

"Carlos, Isabel." She finally stuttered. "I didn't know you guys were coming." She was slowly starting to find her voice.

"It was meant to be a surprise." Carlos smiled tightly. The two boys were flanking their grand-parents while Valentina came to stand behind Matt's legs. The little girl hadn't seen her grand-parents in a long time and she was suddenly shy, as if they were strangers.

"Hey sweetie, you remember your Abuelo and Abuela." Matt had picked her up but her face was hiding in his neck. "Say hi." He poked her side, Valentina hiding even more in his neck.

"It's ok." Isabel said. "She hasn't seen us in a long time."

"Matthew." Matt looked at Esmeralda. "How about you settle Valentina in her high chair, dinner is ready." Anyone could see that Esmeralda was trying to get the evening moving past this uncomfortable situation.

"Sure. Do you need any help in the kitchen?" He offered as Valentina was settled in her chair safely.

"How about you help Gabby get the dishes?" She knew that Gabby needed to take some air right now because the colour hadn't all returned to her face. Matt gently guided her towards the kitchen for some more quiet time with her so he could get her stress levels down a bit.

"Hey, are you ok?" His hands were on her hips and he could feell her shake lightly. When she didn't answer, he placed a kiss to her temple. "Gabby, baby. Talk to me." He whispered to her ear. She suddenly turned to face him.

"What the hell are they doing here?" She hissed, her anger suddenly bubbling at the surface.

"You heard Carlos, they wanted to surprise you and the kids for a visit."

"I'm surprised all right." Her anger was coming out of her pores but suddenly Matt understood why she was so angry.

"I take it that you haven't told them that we're engaged." But one look on Gabby's face and he understood that it was more than that. "They didn't even know that you were dating." One look at Matt's face and Gabby knew that she had hurt him.

"I tried to tell them Matt, I really did. But everytime I decided I was going to tell them, I knew that I'd break their heart and I couldn't bring myself to do that to them, not so soon after their son died." She sighed, her anger now gone.

"I get it." He tried to choose his words. "It hurts but I get it."

"That's not what I was trying to do Matt." She pressed her palm to his cheek and leaned up on her toes to kiss him. "I love you and nothing that they say is going to change that ok?"

"I love you too." He whispered against her lips as they parted. "Come on, let's get this food out before we get a riot on our hands." Matt kissed her forehead and they both got as many dishes out as they could, Antonio and Laura helping with the other ones as all four older adults sat at the table drinking wine under the kids chatter.

"So Matt, Edouardo tells me your a firefighter." Carlos was trying to engage his daughter in-law's boyfriend, trying to get a reading on him.

While Gabby and Matt had been in the kitchen, Edouardo and Esmeralda had told Isabel and Carlos a little bit more about the man their daughter was dating and how he had been good to her since they had met.

"Yes sir." Matt squeezed Gabby's hand under the table as he felt her become more agitated from this new interrogation session. "I'm lieutenant of my company and I'm a general contractor when I don't run into burning buildings."

"That must not leave you a lot of time to spend with Gabriella and the kids."

"Carlos." Both Gabby and Isabel hissed. Even though it had stung Isabel's heart when she had heard of Matt's proposal and Gabby's positive answer but she also knew that her beautiful daughter in-law couldn't stay alone to raise three kids forever.

"It's ok." He assured the both of them. He understood completely, the same way he had understood it when Edouardo had questionned him in the begining of their relationship. "I've cut down on my contracting hours ever since the girls were born but I did all the renovations on our house. How about you come for breakfast tomorrow?" Gabby's head whipped to the side and looked at Matt with her mouth slightly opened.

"That would be lovely Matt." Isabel smiled at him. Gabby put some food in her mouth to prevent from saying anything she'd regret. Matt hadn't missed the look she had given him though but for now, he'd ignore it. He knew they'd have plenty of time to talk about it later. They all small talk during dinner and as soon as the kids were done eating, they were excused so the adults could talk some more.

Both Matt and Gabby were happy though when the subject moved away from them and onto Antonio and Laura. "How about you kids go relax with the children and we'll cleaning up the table." Esmeralda suggested.

"Let me help you mom." Gabby protested.

"Oh shush, go on." Her mother wanted nothing of it.

"The food was great as always Esmeralda." Matt commented as they got up.

"It's always a pleasure Matthew." They smiled at each other before all four of them went towards the living room.

As soon as they passed the threshold, Gabby pulled Matt to the side. "What are you doing?" She hissed at him.

"It's only breakfast baby. They deserve to know about your life and make sure you're in good hands."

"I am in good hands."

"We both know that but if this is all it takes to ease their worries, I say why not."

"I swear Matt, you're too good for me." She leaned her head against his chest.

"Get used to it because that's how it's going to be from now on." He gently cupped her cheeks and forced her to look at him before he leaned down and pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. She mellowed into the kiss and then they went to settle in the living room where Antonio was waiting for them with a beer, Laura on the ground with Valentina doing a puzzle. They accepted the beer and Matt pulled Gabby next to him and settled her legs on his lap, his hand absentmindedly rubbing her leg.

"Why didn't you tell me they were in town?" Gabby accused her brother.

"I found out when I came over today sis. I would have given you a head's up if I knew before that." Gabby could see in his face that he was telling the truth.

"What do you think they're talking about in there?" Gabby craned her neck to try to see or overhear something.

"Stop worrying about this baby." Matt patted her leg.

"It's not good for you." Antonio added. "They can't expect you to stay widowed forever and Matt is a great guy, they'll see that." Gabby dropped the subject altogether, letting the four adults enjoy an evening.

Isabel and Carlos helped clear the table while they did small talk with both Esmeralda and Edouardo but Gabby's parents soon retreated to the kitchen, they two washing the dishes, coffee already on the pot.

"Stop spying on them Carlos." Isabel pulled him away.

"But look at them Isabel."

"All I see, Carlos Ramirez, are two young people in love."Gabby had her head back in laughter and her legs were still drapped across Matt's lap while Antonio was telling them something.

"It's as if it never happened." This scene was hurting him far more than it was hurting his wife.

"Carlos." Isabel sighed. "I know it hurts but Gabriella is a beautiful young woman and you cannot expect her to stay alone forever."

"I know but so soon?"

"Don't do this to yourself Carlos." She ran her hand against his chest. "Matt seems like a wonderful young man if you ask me and I know that Alberto would want her to be happy." She made him look at them, really look at them. .You have to admit that she looks happy." Isabel heard the low grunt coming from her husband but she only chuckled. "Come on. Let's go help Esmeralda with the coffee and tomorrow we'll spend some nice time with our grand kids and our daughter in-law."

"Fine." He said defeated and they helped with desert and coffee. Valentina had fallen asleep on the couch but all the other kids came barelling in at the mention of chicolate cake. Even though Gabby and Matt knew that it would spell trouble for them later but tonight was a spacial occasion and they were aloud to have two small pieces each.

Matt and Gabby were the first to leave after desert. The boys were fighting off sleep to be able to spend more time with their grand-parents and Matt already had a sleeping Emma in his arms. "We're looking forward to having you over tomorrow." Matt extended his hand to Carlos, Emma easily held in his other arm. They shook hands firmly before Matt offered Edouardo his hand and Esmeralda a kiss.

"What time would be better for the two of you?" Isabel knew what it was like to have small children but it was only polite to ask.

"The kids will be up early so around 9 is fine." Gabby smiled at her mother in-law.

"We'll see you in the morning then." The both women hugged and Antonio helped the couple get the kids to the car and it didn't take long before everyone was in bed, tomorrow being another big day.

"I think it went well." Matt pulled Gabby to him under the sheets.

"I think Carlos isn't happy." She mumbled.

"It's going to be fine." He turned on his side to face her. "Antonio is right, worrying isn't good for you." He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I know I just can't help this feeling of tightness inside my chest, like I'm letting someone down." She sighed, looking down.

"Baby, look at me." Matt had to hook his fingers under her chin to make her look at him. "You are letting no one down. You are the most caring and generous person I know and you deserve every bit of happiness you're getting, don't ever doubt that. And I can only guess what's going through your in-laws head right now but I know that deep down, they want your happiness too." The kiss he gave her was feather light and he pulled her tighter in his embrace.

Matt knew what is was like to lose someone but he knew nothing of what Gabby was going through. All he knew is that he was going to stand by her side through all of it and show everyone that they were meant to be together and that he was able to take care of them. He made sure that Gabby was sleeping soundly in his arms before he let sleep consume him, tomorrow another big day for the Casey-Dawson household.


a/n: So here it is. I wanted the first meeting to be awkward and Alberto's parents don't quite see eye to eye about Gabby dating, let alone being engaged again. Will breakfast with Gabby, Matt and the kids sway Carlos shaky feelings towards the situation or will the pang in his heart stop him from being happy for his daughter in-law?.

Please take a few seconds to review before you leave, I really want to know what you guys think and if I don't update another story before this week-end and the next one, I want to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love - Sarra