Hello there. I'm here one last time to give you all the epilogue to this story and close out this version of Matt and Gabby, and the life they built together. I hope it doesn't disappoint, and that you all like getting to read this Dawsey one more time.
Happy reading, everyone!
epilogue
Eight Years Later
Casey stepped out of his home office with a content smile on his face as he started making his way down to their kitchen, the sounds of his family downstairs prompting him to move a bit quicker while he skilly navigated his way around the little shoes, clothes, and random toys strewn across the hallway, the man making a mental note that he and Gabby needed to pick up a bit before he continued on the familiar path through their home.
They had moved out of their apartment and into this townhouse a few years back, almost four now if his memory served correct, as time had shown them they wouldn't be able to comfortably live in that two bedroom place forever, the Casey's growing out of it a little sooner than expected. But even though it had been years since they'd been there, that apartment would always hold a special place in their hearts, as they'd experienced so many milestone moments together in that home.
Moments that started with the two of them getting remarried.
The memory still brought a smile to his face, at how after less than a year of being back in Chicago the two of them had gotten married again, neither Matt nor Gabby wanting to wait any longer at fixing what they had so horribly broken. In their minds, neither of them ever wanted the divorce to happen. It never should've happened, so while they hadn't technically been back together all that long, getting married felt more like fixing what had been lost, instead of rushing into something headfirst.
And it proved to be one of the best decisions they had ever made, as not only did they relish in the feeling of being husband and wife again, but getting remarried prompted the beginning of them continuing on with those big life decisions.
Like how they wanted to start their family.
While the decision to get remarried was an easy one, figuring out how to have kids hadn't gone as smoothly. They were determined to figure it out together, and not make the same mistakes they did last time, but there had been a lot they had to decide. Many factors at play, that would influence the choice they made. Like if it truly was safe for Gabby to try and carry their child, or if surrogacy would be a better option for them. Or if adoption was something Gabby might be open to. It was just a lot to try and work through, especially with the lingering pain and hurt from what had happened the last time they tried to have a child.
But after working through all of that they ultimately came to a decision together, and that was to get a second opinion on Gabby's diagnosis. With as important as this was, they knew that was the best place for them to start. So a couple months after their wedding, they had found Gabby a new doctor and went to go see what he could tell them.
And, even though neither of them knew it at the time, that one visit changed their lives forever.
At first it had been terrifying, Casey remembering that feeling clearly as Gabby's doctor had laid out their options. How Gabby could try to go ahead and conceive and they'd take their chances, or they could look into other options for having a child. He had explained all of that to them, the man not saying anything much different from what Gabby's first doctor had told them. But it was his last statement that caught them both off guard, as he presented them with an option they didn't even realize was on the table.
Which was to remove the aneurysm completely.
That choice had definitely shocked and worried them, at least at first, as her doctor had been very direct with them in explaining what it would mean to go in and try to take out the aneurysm that had been hanging over their heads for years. How, given the size and location of her aneurysm, her doctor felt the best course of action was to remove it instead of repair it, before laying out all the risks and possible complications that came along with a surgery like that. Which certainly proved to be daunting to them, Casey feeling his fair share of hesitation at the idea of his wife going through a procedure like this, where no guarantees could be made. In fact they were told the opposite, their doctor making it clear to them that there was a chance something could go wrong, and that terrified him. Because it felt like they were right back where they had started when they first found out about Gabby's aneurysm, and how there was a chance he could lose her.
But after some lengthy discussions with the doctor, as well as him and Gabby talking through the pros and cons of every single option they had, despite their fears they ultimately decided for her to have the surgery. Given everything they knew, they found it to be the best option for them to not only start their family, but for Gabby's health overall. Because, as it had been so bluntly pointed out to them during one of their appointments, this wasn't just a matter of whether or not she would be able to carry a child. It was a matter of Gabby's life as well.
Pregnancy wasn't the only reason her aneurysm could rupture. It was anything. She could've been at work, or out on a walk. She could've been at the grocery store, or the gym- it didn't matter. That aneurysm was like a bomb waiting to go off, one that could likely have fatal consquences if left untreated. And that wasn't something either of them were okay with, the couple coming to the decision that the best thing for them to do was take their doctor's advice and remove the aneurysm.
It had been a long, and stressful surgery. One that had Matt pacing the confines of the waiting room for hours on end. But by the time it was all said and done, her aneurysm was now a thing of the past as Gabby had come through the procedure better than expected.
Then fifteen months later, after a smooth pregnancy and relatively easy delivery, they welcomed their first child into this world. Their beautiful and healthy son, Spencer Alexander Casey.
Spencer was the perfect mixture of both his parents. He had been from the day he was born, his more noticeable traits taking after Gabby while combined with some of those distinct Casey features. But he was absolutely perfect, their little boy everything they wanted and more as from the moment he arrived, Matt and Gabby had felt a sense of purpose they didn't know existed. It was almost hard to explain, as no one could understand exactly how they felt without experiencing everything they had. But they were both just so incredibly grateful for their son, and to have him be a part of their lives.
And those feelings only grew when just a few years later, their daughter was born.
Their second child had been a bit of a surprise, as they certainly weren't trying for another baby. But Natalia- Tali for short, was just as loved and cherished as her older brother, Tali making her mark in their lives from the moment she was born.
Pregnancy had been a little more rough with her, and the delivery was harder as well, as their daughter's stubborn personality came through before she even took her first breath. But after some long, and painful hours, Natalia Elizabeth Casey was officially welcomed into their lives. Their little girl, with her mom's complexion and her dad's striking blue eyes, along with those signature Casey dimples, came into this world crying and wanting for her parents.
And their family had felt complete ever since.
With that wide smile still covering his face, Casey hopped down off the last step after making his way to the first floor, his eyes bouncing around the open floor plan of their loved home, while looking for the three people who meant more to him than anyone.
It took him no time at all to find them, or at least some of them, as within seconds he saw his two kids sitting in the middle of the living room playing with their toys. As he got closer he could see that his five year old son was in the middle of playing with his firetrucks, those toys being a recent favorite of Spencer's as the little boy was able to understand more of what his parents did now that he was older.
And Natalia appeared to be playing right alongside him, the near three year old toddler pushing around a few of his trucks while Spencer pretended to put out a fire, the scene in front of him leaving Matt a little perplexed while he continued to glance around.
It wasn't his children playing so well together that surprised him, as they'd been like this ever since Natalia was old enough to really play games with Spencer, the older brother just so in love with his baby sister that he never minded sharing things with her. But what had thrown him was the fact that for as well behaved as their children were being, Gabby was nowhere in sight, his wife evidently somewhere else in their home while the Casey siblings continued to play.
"Daddy!"
Tali's little voice squealed in excitement when she registered her father's presence, Matt's own smile widening as he walked the last few steps towards his kids, Natalia pushing herself up off the ground before hurrying towards her father. Her movements were a bit uncoordinated as she was still getting used to navigating her almost three year old sized body, but soon enough she crashed into him, her arms wrapping as much as they could around his legs while she tucked her head against him.
"Hi baby." He greeted softly, his hand rubbing over the back of her head while his eyes moved towards his son. "Hi Spence."
"Hi Daddy." He replied easily, while continuing to play with his firetrucks. "Look! I'm being you and helping people." He added proudly, Matt watching him with a shining look in his eyes before he reached down to pick up Tali.
"I can see that, you're doing a great job buddy." He encouraged, perching the toddler on his hip and pressing a kiss to her head while Spencer continued to play on the floor. "Thanks for playing so well with your sister."
Spencer nodded back at him, offering his dad a bright smile that resembled Matt's. "We had fun." He responded simply, Casey matching his grin while supporting Natalia's weight on his arm.
"I'm glad… But while you and Tali were playing, did you see where your Momma went?" Matt asked, it not lost on the husband how he'd still seen no trace of her anywhere since he came downstairs.
"She's over there." He answered, before pointing back in the direction of the hallway that led to their master bedroom. "She didn't feel good." Spencer added on, Matt's eyebrows furrowing in worry before he glanced back that way.
Casey knew his wife was still getting over a bug she'd picked up last week, but as far as she'd told him she was feeling better. Enough to where they both assumed it had passed. But apparently that wasn't the case, Matt breathing in deeply as he knew he needed to go and check on Gabby, and get a feel for how she was. Because if she truly wasn't feeling well, they'd likely need to bow out of their commitment of heading out to the CFD picnic this afternoon.
"Alright, thank you little man." Matt replied after a moment, Spencer offering him a proud smile before returning his attention to his toys, Casey running his hand along Tali's back before he slowly started to put her back down onto the ground.
"Can I take my trucks to the park?" Spencer asked while Natalia settled on the ground, Matt then meeting his son's eyes.
"Uh, I'm not sure Spence… I'm gonna check on your Mom and make sure she's okay, then I'll see if we're still going." He explained, Spencer mulling over his words before ultimately nodding.
"Okay." He answered easily, Matt reaching down to ruffle his curly hair a bit before standing up straight.
After making sure his children were settled Casey turned and began to make his way towards their bedroom, his pace a bit fast as he couldn't help the need he felt to check on Gabby. But just as he got to their bedroom door, she walked through the doorway, the couple nearly running into one another before his hands came out to steady her.
"Whoa- I'm sorry." She immediately apologized, her voice soft while she quickly shoved something into her back pocket. "I didn't see you there." Gabby added on before offering him a weak smile.
But Casey wasn't too focused on any of that as his eyes traced on her face and saw the almost flustered look waiting for him, her face a bit flushed and puffy. Like she'd gotten sick recently, his concern growing by the second as he kept his hands firmly over her shoulders.
"It's alright.. Are you okay?" He asked her, Gabby finally meeting his gaze. "Spence said you didn't feel well."
"I'm okay." She told him, her words coming out rather quickly. "Just got a little queasy, but I'm fine… Though I'm pretty sure I made us late for this picnic." She continued on, Matt's face softening a bit before he shook his head.
"It's fine babe, we don't need to worry about that." He tried, seeing that genuine Gabby smile slowly starting to return to her features before she gave him a shrug.
"I don't know, I don't think the department would appreciate 51's beloved Chief skipping out on the picnic." She countered, Casey letting out an amused scoff while his hand rubbed absentmindedly over her shoulder.
"Yeah, well… If their beloved Chief's wife is sick, we're not going to any picnic." He reminded her, Gabby shaking her head a bit before lifting her hand up to cradle the side of his neck.
"Baby, I'm alright." She told him, stroking her thumb along his jaw while leaning towards him. "And besides, Gianna's been texting me wanting to know when we'd be there.. She's already complaining because we're late." She added on with a small smile, while Casey let out a knowing chuckle at the mention of his wife's partner.
Gianna Mackey was the second paramedic on Ambulance 61 working underneath Dawson, the woman having been on the rig for a few years now. She was a childhood friend of Cruz's, Joe giving her his seal of approval before Casey had brought her on board shortly after he became Chief. It had been about four years since she came to the firehouse, and from the moment she joined she'd fit in seamlessly. Especially with Gabby, the two of them had worked as well together as any two paramedics Casey had ever seen.
Not that his wife was hard to get along with, it was the exact opposite. But until you got two people on a rig together, you just never knew how things would go.
Thankfully, in all the years they'd worked together they'd never had a problem, Gabby taking Gianna under her wing and forming a fast friendship with the younger paramedic. And they'd been inseparable ever since.
"That sounds about right." He murmured, Gabby giving him a knowing look before tapping her hand against his neck.
"Yeah, it does… But that's even more reason for us to get going soon." She reminded her, Matt drawing in another breath as he continued to watch her, noticing how the smile on her face didn't reach her eyes.
Those same eyes that were still hiding some unshed tears. And that's what was worrying him.
"I got the kids ready, but we still need to get their bags and get them in the car… Tali will probably want a snack before we leave." She continued to ramble out, Matt shaking his head a bit while rubbing over her arm.
"I can get all that together, don't worry about it." He was quick to assure her, his eyebrows furrowing once more despite trying to give her a supportive smile. "And we can head out of here, as long as you're sure you're okay." He said once more, seeing her almost immediately sigh before taking a small step back.
"Matt, I'm…" She trailed off on her own, like she was unsure of what to say to him as her eyes fell closed, that alone only making him push further.
"What is it, Gabby?" He asked, his gentle tone sending warmth through her entire body before she slowly lifted her head back up to look at him, Matt soon seeing the hundreds of different emotions playing over her face before she gave him a gentle smile.
"I was gonna do this later, once we got home."
She was speaking almost in a whisper, but she looked less rattled now than she did when she'd first come from their bedroom.
"Do what?" He prodded, seeing her take in a few more breaths before she continued.
"...There's something I want to show you."
He was no less confused, but he nodded anyway, Matt watching as she wordlessly reached into her back pocket for whatever she'd hid away earlier, Gabby's hand continuing to conceal it for a moment until she finally held it out in front of her.
It took his brain a moment to register what he was looking at, but he stared down at the pink stick she was holding in her hands, the strong double lines nearly taking his breath away as his mind was beginning to catch up to what she was telling him.
And with every passing second he felt like the luckiest man in the world, the growing smile on his face not able to show even a tenth of what he was feeling right now as the reality of this continued to sink in. Because right here in his grasp was proof that their small family would be expanding pretty soon.
They hadn't been trying, at all. Much like with Natalia, this was a complete surprise. But they hadn't exactly taken any precautions, either, as Matt continued to stare down on the pink lines in front of him, mostly trying to figure out how he hadn't realized it sooner.
It all made sense, given the way his wife had been feeling lately. The nausea and sickness, and bits of exhaustion. She'd been feeling rather run down, and if he would've thought about it at all he should've realized it was more than just a bug. That this was more than picking something up from work, as these clear signs were things that had been so prominent the first two times.
But none of that mattered right now, Matt's smile growing even wider while he took one last long look at the test, before he found Gabby's gaze. And it was then he saw the overwhelming excitement written into her features, his own look apparently questioning as without saying a word she began to nod slowly, while fighting off the tears sitting in her eyes.
Shaking his head in amazement, Casey let out a watery laugh, the sound causing an equally elated smile to form over Gabby's face now that she could tell what he was feeling.
"You're…" He started before cutting himself off as his voice caught in his throat, Matt still doing his best to grasp all of this while he took in just how happy Gabby was in this moment. It was that same look he'd seen two other times in their lives, when they found out they were expecting their first two children.
And this now was no different for either of them, the idea of having another child filling them both with so much joy that neither of them could contain it, continuous tears starting to escape down both their cheeks before Gabby gave him one last nod.
"We're pregnant."
The End
