It was a chilly autumn day in Portland, Oregon. The sun was shining and there was a heavy breeze, yet it was a typical day in the Casey- Dawson household. Ben was at school and both Gabby and Griffin were at home. Matt's construction business traveled to Oregon with him after some back and forth debate on if he should move on from it or pick it back up in Oregon. He decided it kept him busy on his off days, it was a great money maker, he was good at it and most of all he loved it. He had been living in Oregon for almost a year now and it had honestly been a journey. A couple months in he really found a great rhythm with work and the boys back at home. They're both teenagers so they were obviously independent and kept themselves busy, but they never really had much consistency in their lives or time to adjust with their mom moving them from state to state more times then they could count ever since they moved away from Chicago almost 9 years earlier. The last time they knew consistency was honestly when Matt and Gabby took care of them for a brief time after Heather had landed in jail the first time for a DUI. Matt really could not of done it without Gabby helping him as much as she did. The boys really loved her as much as she loved them and if it weren't for her and Casey they wouldn't have gotten through that difficult time. Ever since Andy died Heather was dealing but she wasn't necessarily all there and that started to really show once she landed in jail.

Gabby was sitting on their back porch with some coffee and a blanket to stay warm while taking in the breezy weather before it was too cold to sit outside for too long. She was sipping her coffee and reading a book when her phone chimed with a call from her boyfriend. "Hey babe." Gabby heard her boyfriend on the other end of the phone greet her. "Hey how's work?" Gabby answered back. "It's alright, I'm ready to be home though." "Yeah, I bet." "Ben get to class okay? I know this is Griffin's day off too." "Yeah he left about 30 minutes ago or so and Griffin is still sleeping, seems like he got back from Layla's pretty late last night." Layla is Griffin's girlfriend from high school that he's been going out with for a few months. He was a freshman in college, but they ended up going to the same school by chance so that's how they're able to hang out a lot more than if she was away for college or moved somewhere else. "Well that's never a bad thing." Casey told his girlfriend. "No it isn't, I'm glad they get to see each other as often as they do with them both being home and having a class together where they can drive in with each other." "I hear you, I'm so happy for him." Casey answered back. "I'll let you go, see you in a few hours?" "See you then, I love you." "Bye." When Casey hung up with his girlfriend, he once again noted in his mind how when he told her he loved her, she didn't say it back and he knew exactly why. It had been about four months since his break up with Sylvie and about the same amount of time since Gabby found out considering he broke it off about a week after Gabby had given him a call. She heard from Stella about his move to help out with the boys after Heather landed herself in jail, again. Stella felt that Brett and Casey being together was something she deserved to hear from Casey, nobody else. He thought back to when Stella had called him about her conversation with Gabby and that's when he knew he needed to tell Gabby as soon as he got the chance before she talked to anyone else from Chicago. This was just incase they weren't as sympathetic of the situation or if they let it slip somehow. Right after Stella called, he had to get to work so it got lost in his thoughts to call Gabby during all that. He had unintentionally forgotten about it until she called him herself. He will never forget that conversation and how shitty he felt for the pain he caused her by his actions. He never meant to hurt her, he didn't even mean for things to go as far as they did regarding Sylvie. He knew he hurt Gabby and he knew he fucked up, he would do literally anything to show Gabby that he still loved and cared for her deeply and that no matter who came into his dating life after her he would never love them like he loved and still loves Gabriela Dawson. Gabby handled it well at first, but as their conversation continued on the more it all hit her, her best friend dated her ex husband and that was the worst betrayal of all. Matt had just as much of a role in betraying Gabby as Brett did yet she couldn't be as upset with him as she was with her now former best friend. Their phone conversation was cut short when Gabby ended up losing it and quite literally broke down through the phone and that absolutely broke Matt's heart. He always hated when she was upset or hurting, but the fact he was half of the reason made everything so much worse. After they hung up Casey decided to give her some space and knew that when Gabby was ready she would reach out, on her own time.

It took Gabby about a month and then one night when Casey was doing the dishes while both Griffin and Ben were at friend's places for the night, he heard a knock at the door. He stopped what he was doing and made his way to the door. When Casey opened the door he was shocked at who was standing in his doorway, it was Gabby. They were just staring at each other not really knowing what to say to each other and just as Matt was about to open his mouth nothing came out as Gabby's lips crashed right into his, the action shocking them both. The next thing they both knew, still not being able to get out any words, their lips were back together this time initiated by Matt. Before they knew it they were in his bedroom falling back into old habits like the last time they were in bed together was just yesterday.

Gabby had gone back inside, the chilly Autumn weather getting to be too much for her. She decided to get some busy work done so she did some laundry and cleaned her and Matt's room. Just as she was finishing up the laundry and getting ready for a break she heard the door open. When she looked to see who it was, she saw Matt walking in the door and he flashed her a soft smile as he noticed her staring back at him. "Hey, how was work?" Gabby greeted her boyfriend. "It was good, how has your day been?" It's been okay, got some laundry and cleaning done." She replied rather unenthusiastically. "Gabby…" He responded softly. "What?" Gabby replied back in a harsh yet confused tone. "We should talk."

I hope ya'll enjoyed Chapter 1. I know there wasn't much happy Dawsey, but for them both to truly move past brettsey, they need to actually talk about it and be able to work it out. I promise you in due time they will. These first two maybe 3 chapters will be about reconnecting and dealing with what went on in the years they had in between their divorce and them gettting back together. Beyond that you'll just have to see what I have in store for them. Before you know it they will truly start the life and new chance in Oregon! Thanks again!