Chapter edited by amazingdawsey : )

Matt lay on the bed watching Gabby sleep, it was still early in the morning when he woke up out of nowhere and couldn't go back to sleep, not because he didn't want to, but what Gabby said last night had him thinking over her words...

They were snuggled as they drank some wine in front of the fireplace...

"Babe, I-I meant to ask you this afternoon... you told me what happened to your mother a couple of days ago, but you didn't say anything about your dad. Have you two been in touch?"

Gabby blinked a few times, shifting a bit in Casey's arms.

"I don't want to talk about him, Matt, or to even think about him, please don't make me go back-," she stopped herself for a second, "...he ruined our life, because of him, I had to go to a foster home-"

"I didn't know that," Matt kissed her head, and turned her in his arms to look at him, "I'm sorry, okay, I shouldn't have said anything, I apologize for that-" Gabby cut in.

"You did nothing wrong, it's me, I am not ready to talk about him or much of anything that happened after my mother died, it's something I need you to give me some time on... One day we can talk about it if you really want to-" Matt cut her off.

"If you never speak about your previous life, it's alright, baby... We've just started to build our relationship, whatever has happened before wouldn't change my feelings for you, you are the one that matters to me..."

Gabby's eyes wandered over his face, his words seemed to be sincere and genuine, she thought, however, her inner feelings were telling her he would never take her past easily. Struggling to accept he could continue to love her despite her past, for a split second she considered telling him everything, but breaking his heart right now without a warning didn't feel right as well.

I have to tell him, she told herself, not today, though... "You are one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time...," her eyes shining with tears... "I love you, Matthew Casey..."

"I love you too... I'll be here, I'm not going anywhere, believe me...," he wiped a few tears that had rolled down on her face.

Gabby cradled his face and pulled him in for a sweet kiss ... a few minutes later that turned into something more... two people madly in love making love on the floor in front of the fireplace, protected from the ugliness of the world...

Despite Matt sharing his past with Gabby, he had noticed Gabby barely had mentioned her life when she left Chicago with her mother, now he knows the reason or part of it...

Clearly Gabby was trying to keep it from him, which worried him ... It pained him seeing her so fragile and hurt by her dad and whoever else has done something to her..., he was not sure, but he guessed that her life only got harder when her mother died in that car accident...

Matt decided that his mission was to protect her from anyone that could hurt her feelings, and he would never forgive himself if he was one of them... Talking to Brett and ending things with her had turned into an urgent issue for him, he wasn't the kind of guy who sleeps around. Both girls deserve respect, since the beginning he should have been honest with both...

Absently Gabby reached for him, breaking his line of thoughts... A smile came over his face...

Matt came closer to her, wrapping an arm around her back, he kissed her forehead...

"Why are you awake?" she asked, eyes closed.

"Just enjoying the view...," he said as looking her from toe to head... a thin sheet covering her body...

"Hmmm," was her response, then she murmured, "... you... should... sleep..."

Matt kissed her head a few times, enjoying the scent of her shampoo... "I love you..."

Several days later...

Matt locked his car and walked up to the other side to meet Gabby wearing a tense expression.

"I'm so nervous," Gabby said as she wiped her hands on her jeans.

"Don't be, babe," he kissed her cheek, then intertwined their fingers. They started to walk towards the Annual Firefighter's Barbecue, "Firehouse 51 is like a family, you'll see. They are all nice, moreover, they know better than mess with the lieutenant's girlfriend," Matt winked at her.

Gabby chuckled, "don't be silly, lieutenant," smiling at him sweetly.

Matt squeezed her hand, "Really, you shouldn't be worried-," Gabby stopped all of sudden...

"Look, are you sure my clothes are alright and my makeup, I know people don't like my style... short jeans, high heels, large earrings, lipstick, if you want I can go back home and change, it's okay-," Matt interjected.

Matt rested his hands on her hips, pulling her closer, "Hey, we are not going back, you look just fine, I mean you look great, there is nothing I would change, okay?"

Gabby looked over his shoulder, then back at him, and nodded slowly. "I want you to be proud of me, I meant to tell you: I'm not saying what I do for a living, to your friends I'm a waitress-," Matt cut her off.

"You are not lying, we are not lying to make anyone comfortable, or because a few are prejudiced, Gabby. You are my girl," he put his around her, "if you don't want to say you are a dancer, it's okay, but I don't want you to feel any less than anyone here..."

Gabby was astonished by his assertion, "Thank you for loving me as I am...," she voiced staring at him deeply. "Sometimes, I feel that I am dreaming all of it, you know... You are too good, Matthew Casey..."

"I feel so lucky to have you in my life again, Gabby, I love every bit of you... I love when you all go Gabby Dawson on me. You know that I wouldn't change a thing about you..."

Matt kissed her lips, seconds later as their kisses deepened...

"Morning, lovebirds...," Herrmann said as passed by them, with a big grin on his face...

They abruptly stopped kissing, and Gabby was shocked, Matt was smiling like a fool.

"Great way to meet your friends," she wiped Matt's lips, trying to get rid of her lipstick.

"Come on...," he held her hand, "we are late...".

...

A few hours later...

While Gabby was chatting with Cindy and Herrmann, Matt was talking to Stella about Brett. He never had a chance to end their relationship personally and nobody could say he didn't try to reach her to explain everything that had happened, how his feelings had changed towards her...

He had gone to her Firehouse, where he was informed that she was sick, from there he went to her apartment, and he got no response after knocking at her door a couple of times...

Many times he had asked Stella if she knew why Brett wasn't taking any of his calls, and every time Stella couldn't give a good answer, both of them feeling frustrated by the situation.

"Yesterday I sent her one last message, I didn't want to break up with her like that, but I couldn't bring Gabby here without doing something about it..."

"I got it, by the way, I'm happy for you... I mean I thought you and Brett would have worked out, however, a relationship works better when the two of you are totally invested in each other, and since that wasn't your case-," Stella looked over his shoulder to peer at Gabby, "you are a lucky bastard, she is beautiful."

"Gabby is amazing, and thank you for supporting my decision, I'm happy, Stella, she is the one responsible for my heart being at peace...," he smiled warmly at Stella.

"I can see... really, I'm glad you found each other..."

...

Gabby and Matt were watching the kids sack race while nursing their beers...

"Oh, poor little thing..." Gabby exclaimed when one of them fell. "Yeah, that's my boy," she cheered when he got up swiftly.

Matt had one arm around Gabby, "The one wearing a blue t-shirt, he is good at it, I bet he will win again..."

"Sorry, babe, this time the girl with a ponytail will be the winner...," Gabby sipped her beer.

"If the ponytail girl wins I-," Brett interrupted him.

"Hi, Matt..."

Gabby and Matt turned their head around to look at her.

"Brett, I-I sent you a message-"

"Yeah, I listened to it a couple of times. May I talk to you privately? I promise I won't take much of your time."

Matt looked at Gabby, she nodded her head. "I'll be here when you two are done..."

"Okay," Matt pecked her lips.

Brett lowered her head... When she had decided to come she knew there was a good chance of seeing Matt and his new girlfriend together, but she felt ready to explain her absence.

Matt and Brett walked to an empty table a few meters behind Gabby...

A few seconds later Severide joined Gabby... for a while he just stood there, not saying a word...

Gabby stayed quiet... He had been nice earlier, however she felt his eyes on her a few times during the event, and she didn't like it...

Looking straight ahead, Severide started, "So, when do you plan to tell Matt you have been in the jail because you stole from one of your clients?"

Gabby peered at him, "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"I know you used to be a hooker, or maybe you still are if my source is wrong," Severide lifted his eyebrows at her.

"Who do you think you are? You know nothing about me-" Severide interjected.

"I know enough, here is the thing: either you tell Matt or I will," then he left before she could argue with him.

Gabby watched him until her eyes started searching for Matt, whose eyes fell upon her...