Hello everyone! Here's the next update for you all- we've got Caitlyn's first day of kindergarten coming up, so I hope you enjoy this one! Thank you so much for reading, I'm so grateful to have you all still reading and wanting this story, even after all this time.
I can't wait to hear what you think, thank you for all the support.
Stay safe everyone xx
Chapter One Hundred and Eight
"Alright, hold your arms out, baby." Gabby instructed the freshly bathed five year old standing in front of her, Caitlyn complying with ease before the mother began lathering lotion across her skin, continuing their nighttime routine while the younger girl waited patiently for her to be done. Making sure to avoid her damp hair that was resting over her shoulders, Gabby finished up with the lotion before leaning back on her heels and wiping the excess off on her own legs, Caitlyn dropping her arms down to her sides before turning around to grab the nightgown that was sitting on the bed behind her.
As she was able to complete this task efficiently on her own, Gabby sat back while Caitlyn slid her head through the nightgown, before putting her arms through as well, the material falling down effortlessly to her knees as she met Gabby's gaze with a bright smile.
"I'm all ready for bed, it's time to say goodnight to Sof!" She replied happily, Gabby shaking her head slightly as Caitlyn tilted her head to the side.
"Not so fast… We forgot one thing." Dawson prompted, waiting to let the girl figure it out on her own, which she soon did as realization covered her face.
"I gotta brush my teeth." She spoke up, Gabby immediately nodding as she ran her hand along the girl's arm.
"Yeah, you do… Let's go do that, and I can brush out your hair. And then we can go say goodnight, okay?" She told her, Caitlyn nodding in agreement before Gabby pushed herself up from the ground.
"Okay Gabby." She replied before hurrying out of her room to the bathroom, Dawson stopping to toss her dirty clothes from before her bath into the hamper before following after her. Stepping into the small room, she immediately saw the remains of the girls' bath this evening, Gabby knowing she'd need to come back and clean up everything once the kids were asleep, her eyes focusing on Caitlyn as the five year old stood on her step stool. She had already gotten the water turned on and was reaching for her toothbrush as Gabby came up behind her, the older woman making sure she didn't get too much toothpaste before Caitlyn began brushing her teeth.
Once she was situated, Gabby began the process of brushing and braiding the girl's hair, Caitlyn staying as still as she could while Gabby worked, the mother finishing the quick braid just as Caitlyn was ready to rinse her mouth out. The entire thing had gone smoothly, Gabby and Caitlyn falling into their rhythm together seamlessly as the little girl put her toothbrush back in it's rightful spot, before Gabby helped her floss.
And a few minutes later, they were done, Caitlyn hopping down off her stool while Gabby tossed the trash into the trash can, the young girl leading her out of the bathroom and straight towards Sof's room.
With the light in the hallway on, they could see just how dark it was in the one year old's bedroom through the ajar door, Caitlyn knowing she needed to enter quietly as Gabby slowly pushed the door open. From the small night light close to Sofia's crib, they could see Matt sitting in the chair in the corner, gently rocking his baby girl while holding her bottle, the sight bringing a soft smile to Gabby's face as he looked up from Sofia towards the noise.
"Hi." He murmured to Gabby as Caitlyn began to walk towards him, Dawson staying back by the doorway as she leaned into the frame, Matt's gaze moving to Caitlyn when she got closer. "Hey sweetheart."
"Hi." She whispered back as she came to a stop beside her foster dad, giving him a smile before her eyes moved down to look at Sofia. The baby was nearly asleep in her dad's arms, Sofia not really drinking much anymore as the combination of her dad's rocking and her sound machine were slowly lulling her to sleep, Caitlyn leaning her cheek down to rest against Matt's shoulder as they both watched the one year old. "I wanted to say night night to Sof." She murmured after a few seconds, Matt smiling softly as she used the terminology they so often used when it was time for the kids to go to sleep.
"I think that's just what she needs before she goes to bed," Matt responded as the child's smile widened. "I'm sure it'll help her sleep." He added, Caitlyn nodding before she leaned down to press a sweet kiss to the top of Sofia's head.
"Night night, Sof." She spoke quietly, the baby nuzzling further into Matt's chest as the bottle fell from her lips, Casey pulling it away as Caitlyn kissed her head once more. "I love you lots and lots, and forever." She reminded her, her gentle words bringing smiles to both Matt's and Gabby's faces as they watched Caitlyn with the younger girl. "Have sweet dreams."
After a few more kisses, Caitlyn pulled back, Sofia having fallen asleep during the five year old's goodnights, the baby curled up in her father's arms comfortably as Matt slowly moved back and forth.
"Alright Caity, it's time for bed." Gabby prompted from the doorway once she was sure Caitlyn had had enough time to say goodnight, the girl nodding before she looked up at Matt.
"Will you come say goodnight?" She asked him, still managing to keep her voice soft as she knew not to wake Sofia, Matt giving her a soft nod.
"When I'm done putting Sof to bed, I will." He responded, Caitlyn clearly satisfied with that answer as she gave him a nod. "Make sure you save a story for me."
His words caused her smile to brighten before she nodded once more, Caitlyn stopping to press one last kiss to Sofia's curly-haired head before he hurried back over to Gabby, Matt giving his wife a wink just as she was walking out the door back towards the other girl's bedroom.
While Matt finished up with Sofia, Gabby and Caitlyn hung out in her bedroom, the five year old getting in a little bit more playtime with her dolls while Dawson sat in the chair in the corner of her room, keeping an eye on the young girl while she played. It was how their evenings usually went when Matt and Gabby weren't on shift, one adult sitting and playing with young Caitlyn, while the other took care of Sofia, the parents usually switching off every night or so, so they could each get equal amounts of time with the kids.
Barely five minutes had passed with Matt appeared in the doorway, the man taking in the scene in front of him before either of them noticed his presence, Caitlyn's back to him while she sat on her shins on the carpet, while his tired wife was too focused on the little girl to see him standing there. But soon enough she saw him, Gabby giving him a soft smile before she leaned forward in her seat, the movement gaining Caitlyn's attention.
"Alright honey, playtimes up. It's time to get you to bed." She spoke, Caitlyn pouting softly before looking down to her dolls.
"Can I have five more minutes?" She asked with her big, brown puppy dog eyes, Gabby raising her eyebrows in amusement. "Matt's not here yet, he has to tuck me in, too."
"I'm right here, baby." He spoke up from behind her, Caitlyn quickly turning around at the sound of his voice. And while her gut reaction was to smile when she saw him, the small faltered slightly when she eventually realized his presence meant she had no more excuses to put off her bedtime. "And Gabby's right, it's time for bed… You've got a big day tomorrow." He reminded her as he stepped further into the room, Caitlyn only continuing to pout before she began putting her toys away, knowing that even though she didn't want to go to bed yet, she needed to listen to them.
In less than a minute, Caitlyn had gotten her toys cleaned up, Matt pulling back her covers while Gabby and Caitlyn looked over which books she wanted them to read, before eventually deciding on a few, all of them ready to get Caitlyn into bed. And though the task was prolonged by a quick trip to the bathroom with Gabby, Caitlyn telling them she needed to go potty before bed, they had finally managed to get her tucked in, Gabby laying down on the mattress beside her while Matt sat a little further down the bed. Her night light and the light filtering in from the hallway was enough to illuminate the room so they could read her stories, though the parents practically knew them by heart already as Caitlyn curled into Gabby's chest while they took turns reading books and pages. The calm feeling in the air helped the young girl begin to settle, Caitlyn relaxing more and more by the minute as they got to the last book, her eyes barely staying open while Matt read in the different voices for each character.
By the time they'd finished her last book, Caitlyn was hardly awake, the little girl clearly ready to go to sleep as Matt got up to return the books to their rightful place on the shelf, while Caitlyn cuddled deeper into Gabby's chest, the mother running her hand over her head soothingly.
"We hope you sleep well baby, and have sweet dreams." Gabby murmured before pressing a kiss to the top of her head, Caitlyn smiling sleepily before she nodded against her. "And then when you wake up, it'll be an exciting day… You'll have your first day of school. And it's gonna be so much fun." She reminded her, her voice light and comforting as Caitlyn nodded once more.
"First day at my new school." She repeated the words that had been told to her on many different occasions, Matt smiling as he walked back towards the bed, Caitlyn stifling a yawn before continuing. "And it's not scary, just happy and fun." She added, Matt and Gabby both chuckling softly before nodding, Casey returning to his seat on the edge of the bed.
"That's right baby, there's nothing to be scared of." Gabby agreed with a gentle smile, rubbing the little girl's head once more. "You're gonna have so much fun, and make so many new friends. You'll love it."
"Mhmm." Caitlyn hummed, though neither parent were sure of how much of their conversation she was actually registering, the five year old practically asleep as she cuddled underneath her blanket.
Knowing it was time to get out of here and let her be, Gabby brushed her hair back before leaning down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead, Caitlyn's breaths evening out as her mom pulled up the comforter to rest just under her chin. "Goodnight, baby girl." She murmured against her, kissing her once more before she moved to get up. With her husband's help, she was able to carefully get up off the bed, Matt making sure she was planted firmly on the ground before he left go of her arm, Gabby stepping aside to give him room to say goodnight, Caitlyn missing the warmth of Gabby's presence instantly as she snuggled deeper into the mattress.
"Goodnight princess." Matt spoke as he leaned down to kiss her head, the man rubbing along her back as she laid on her side, Caitlyn grinning as she turned her head to press a kiss against his cheek.
"Night night." She whispered, Matt matching her smile before kissing her temple once more. "I love you."
"We love you too, baby."
"Forever and ever?" She asked quietly, Matt smiling softly before he looked back towards Gabby, the woman nodding instantly as she took a step closer to the twin sized bed.
"Forever and ever." Gabby repeated, Caitlyn grinning happily before she closed her eyes once more, the five year old barely able to stay awake as Matt stood up straight. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart." She told her once more before they headed for the door, Caitlyn nearly asleep by the time they got out of the room, Matt pausing in the doorway for a few seconds as he watched her rest, the soft smile never leaving his face while he slowly closed the door, leaving it partially open against it's frame before turning to look at his wife.
Without a word, Matt stepped forward and pressed a soft kiss against her head, Gabby leaning into him momentarily before they broke apart, both parents having gone through this routine enough to know they both had things to do before going to bed, Casey moving towards the steps to start working on cleaning up the living room and kitchen, while Gabby headed back towards the bathroom to tidy up before she could join her husband downstairs.
"Alright honey, you ready?" Gabby asked as she stood by the back door to their car, Caitlyn looking around anxiously before she hesitantly nodded and began unbuckling herself from her seat, Gabby reaching out to help her down as Caitlyn climbed out of the vehicle. While Matt got Sofia out of her carseat and into his arms, Gabby grabbed the girl's backpack from the floor of the car, the bright pink and purple princess bag one that Caitlyn had picked out when they'd taken her school shopping, the mother making sure it was on properly before she moved the five year old to the sidewalk and shut the door.
It was a big day for the newest addition to the Casey family, as it was Caitlyn's first day of kindergarten, the blonde girl standing with her hands clasped together in front of herself as she waited, her nervous energy apparent as Gabby came to stand beside her, Matt locking up the car before walking towards them as he carried Sofia.
When they woke up this morning, it was clear to both parents that despite how excited and assured Caitlyn felt the night before about going to school, now that the day was here, she had some reservations. She'd been a bit anxious all morning, Caitlyn not eating much of her breakfast, while also asking them a few times if she still had to go, as well as wondering if Matt and Gabby could stay with her during the day. And despite the fact that both of them wished they could, they knew their little girl would be fine, and they'd reminded her of that often this morning, any time Caitlyn was feeling a little hesitant about going to school. They knew that this would be good for her, and she'd made enough progress for them to feel comfortable sending her to school, but that didn't mean it would be easy to let her go for the first time, Gabby and Matt both unsure of what to expect from their soon-to-be daughter as Dawson held onto her hand tightly.
"Is it time to go?" Caitlyn asked as her eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings, the girl not remembering much of their visit to this school the week before last, Gabby nodding softly as she gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Almost, but Matt and I are gonna take you inside." She told her, Caitlyn giving a nod of her own before she reached out for Casey as well, the father complying instantly as he came to stand beside her and gave her his free hand, the five year old holding onto his index and middle finger tightly while he secured Sofia against his body in his other arm.
With Caitlyn feeling a bit more secure now standing in between them, the parents shared a look before they began heading for the school. They could both tell her nerves hadn't gone anywhere, Caitlyn holding onto them as tight as ever as they went across the crosswalk, the new student continuing to look around.
When they got up to the school, they were quickly directed towards her classroom, Gabby instantly being reminded of why she and Matt had decided to go with this school. Not only did they like that this was the same school where she'd been going all through elementary school, but the place itself was very nice. From what they'd seen, during their prior visits and then again today, it was a great school, and they hoped Caitlyn would do well here.
And another added bonus was for them that along with the small class sizes, at least for her grade, the kindergarten classrooms were separated from the rest of the school, the parents knowing that meant there would be less people around, which they couldn't help but feel was for the best for their little girl. Because while she was doing okay, they also knew it didn't take much for her to get overwhelmed and start to shut down, so with her classroom being so isolated from the rest of the school, they knew that would only help her.
When they got closer to her classroom, they saw a few other children being escorted into the classroom by adults from the school, Matt and Gabby seemingly the only parents in sight. But with it being nearly two months into the school year, that wasn't exactly surprising as she remembered being told that usually children would be dropped off outside and then be guided in by the teacher's aids. And while they knew they would eventually get to that point with Caitlyn, with it being her first day Matt and Gabby both wanted to be here to take her to her class, and they knew they probably would continue to do so until they were sure she was comfortable. Releasing a soft breath, Gabby slowed down her steps when they were a few feet from the room, the action causing Caitlyn and Matt to stop as well, both of them looking at her as her eyes were on the five year old.
"How are you feeling, baby?" She asked, giving her hand a squeeze as Caitlyn bit down on her bottom lip, her eyes darting around once more, landing on the woman standing outside the classroom. It took her a few seconds to remember, but Caitlyn was pretty sure that woman was her teacher, though she wasn't entirely sure as she hadn't spent that much time with her, the five year old quickly looking back up at Gabby.
"Okay." She murmured, though her single word sounded a little uncertain, Gabby giving her an understanding nod before she dropped her hand and squatted down to the ground, wanting to be eye level with her.
"Are you still feeling a little nervous?" She asked, wanting Caitlyn to know it was alright to voice how she was feeling, the little girl pausing for a moment before she nodded. "Okay, well you know that's alright, yeah? It's okay to be nervous… I know this is all new to you." She continued, knowing just how badly Caitlyn needed to hear those words. "There's nothing wrong with being nervous, you know how I told you I get nervous sometimes?" She asked, waiting for a nod from Caitlyn before speaking up once more. "Yeah, and that's okay. But I know you're gonna have so much fun today, baby… You're gonna have a great day, and meet so many new friends… Matt and I are so excited to hear all about it when you get done. And you remember meeting your teacher, yeah? And how much you liked her?"
"Yeah." Caitlyn replied softly, glancing towards the woman once more with more certainty as those memories started coming back, Matt smiling softly at the scene in front of him as he held onto their daughter, Sofia more preoccupied with all the kids she saw walking around than anything else. "She was nice."
"Yeah, yeah she is… So there's no reason to be worried, okay? Everything will be fine." Gabby assured her, Caitlyn giving her a small smile before she nodded.
"Okay." She replied, Gabby matching her smile before she pressed a soft kiss to her head, Caitlyn leaning into her for a moment before she stood up. Breathing deeply, Caitlyn looked between Gabby and Matt, before looking towards her classroom, seeing her teacher's eyes on her, before Caitlyn returned her gaze towards Matt. "...I'm ready."
"Yeah?" He asked, Caitlyn giving him a somewhat hesitant nod, both parents knowing she likely wouldn't entirely lose her nerves until she got settled into her classroom.
"Yeah… I don't need to be scared." She repeated once more, Matt and Gabby both nodding before they grabbed her hands once more and continued towards the door.
As they got closer, they saw artwork lining the walls, as well as a litter of pieces of paper with different handprints covering the door, each piece having a child's name on it, the names likely representing the members of Caitlyn's new class, Gabby silently hoping her teacher would let Caitlyn make one as well.
"Hi Caitlyn." The teacher, Miss Brooke Clafin, spoke brightly as they approached, the woman smiling wide as she greeted them. "And hello Casey family, it's great to see you again." She continued, the woman, who they were sure wasn't much older than Becca, looking around at them before her attention focused on the five year old. "And I'm so glad to see you, Caitlyn."
"You too." She replied shyly, tucking herself into Matt's side as she partially hid behind his arm.
"And this must be Sofia." Brooke spoke, looking towards the daughter the parents had told her about, though she'd never met, both Matt and Gabby silently impressed with her recall as they only mentioned her once or twice in the few times they'd met.
"Yes, this is Sofia." Matt replied, bouncing the baby in his arms gently, the little girl looking towards him as he spoke, Casey smiling at her before he nodded. "Yeah, I said your name baby." He spoke to her, pressing a quick kiss to her head before returning his attention back to the teacher.
"Well, I'm glad to finally meet her." Brooke responded, looking between the two young girls, the teacher having been filled in on the situation with the Casey family. While they hadn't disclosed the extent of it, she knew that Caitlyn was currently being fostered by Matt and Gabby, and that she'd be with them for the foreseeable future. "We're doing a lot of fun things today, and I'm sure Sofia will be excited to hear all about it when we're done."
Her words caused Caitlyn's smile to widen, the girl looking up towards her foster sister, who was currently preoccupied by the collar on her father's shirt. "Sof loves when I talk to her." Caitlyn replied, Gabby smiling softly as she felt the five year old squeeze her hand.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah! She always smiles and claps, and tries to talk back." Caitlyn responded proudly, Brooke never losing her bright smile as she nodded.
"Wow! So I bet she'll be really excited to see you after school." Miss Clafin continued, earning an agreeing nod from Caitlyn. "Well, what do you say we go ahead and get inside, Caitlyn?" She suggested, the five year old looking over as another woman came out through the door, coming to a stop beside Miss Brooke. "Everyone's really excited to meet you, and I'm sure you wanna see your desk. It has your name on it and everything." She continued, Caitlyn swallowing the thick lump in her throat before she nodded slowly, Brooke looking towards the woman beside her.
Gabby and Matt both recognized her instantly as Macy Reynolds, the teacher's aid that they'd met a couple of times. And though Caitlyn had met her, as well, it was only in passing, the five year old moving a little closer to Matt's side.
"Caitlyn, do you remember Miss Macy?" Brooke asked, Caitlyn tightening her grip on Gabby's hand as her eyes darted around, clearly trying to place the young woman, before she looked up towards her foster mom with a near pleading look in her eye, Gabby immediately shaking her head with a soft smile.
"It's okay, baby." Gabby told her when she sensed her worry, Brooke and Macy both nodding.
"Oh, it's completely fine, I know there's been a lot going on right now, huh?" Brooke assured her, Caitlyn slowly looking back towards them. "But this is Miss Macy, she helps me out in the classroom, and she'll help you too."
"Hi." Caitlyn greeted quietly, Macy giving her a wide smile.
"Hi Caitlyn, it's nice to meet you." She replied, Gabby assuming that greeting was simpler since Caitlyn didn't remember meeting her last time. "You wanna come inside with me? And we can get you all settled, like Miss Brooke said."
Caitlyn instinctively tightened her hold on Gabby's hand once more before she looked up to her, Dawson giving her a gentle nod. "It's time for you to go with Miss Brooke and Miss Macy, baby. But we'll be back in a few hours, okay?" She promised, knowing they'd be back here shortly as Caitlyn's class only was during the morning, her day starting at 8:30 and ending at 12:30, the parents figuring she'd do better with the shorter schedule. "Now give me a hug." She prompted with a soft smile, Gabby dropping her hand before she once again crouched down to her level.
And the second she was within reach, Caitlyn wrapped her arms around her foster mom's neck, Gabby holding onto her tightly despite the backpack getting in their way, the five year old digging her face into her neck as she tightened her grip around her. It was clear that now that it was time to part ways, Caitlyn was maybe the most nervous she'd been this entire time as it was sinking in that they'd be apart for a little while. And though Gabby found herself becoming emotional at the idea as well, she did what she could to hide it, Matt carefully squatting down to the ground as well, the man balancing Sofia on his hip while he knee rested on the tile floor.
"We love you, baby girl… I hope you have a great day." Gabby murmured, kissing the side of her head lovingly before they slowly pulled back, Caitlyn wasting no time in turning towards Matt and immediately hugging him, as well. She was mindful of how tightly she held onto him, with Sofia in his arms, but she still hugged him around his neck as securely as she could, Matt pressing repeated kisses against her head while she held herself against him.
"I'm gonna miss you." She whispered, though everyone could hear her as Matt smiled softly, his arm wrapped all the way around her back, his hand holding her side as he squeezed her gently.
"I'm gonna miss you too, Caity. We all will. But like Gabby said, you're gonna have so much fun. And when you're done, we can go and get lunch, and hear all about your class, yeah?"
"Okay." She agreed, Caitlyn pulling back just enough to press a kiss to his cheek, Matt smiling softly at the gesture. "I love you."
"Love you too, my sweet girl." He replied, Matt giving her a kiss as well before she stepped out of his hold and turned her attention to Sofia, the baby watching her with wide eyes.
"Hi Sof." She greeted, reaching out to place her small hand on the girl's back. "I'm sad I won't be with you today, but we can play when I get home." She told her, having Sofia's complete focus as the baby smiled happily. "I'm gonna miss you." She said before leaning down to give her a hug, Sofia squealing in delight as she grabbed onto Caitlyn.
"Give her a kiss goodbye, baby." Matt prompted Sofia once they'd separated, Caitlyn smiling wide as he gently tapped her cheek with his index finger, guiding Sofia to her cheek before the one year old pressed a sloppy, open-mouthed kiss to her skin.
"I love you, Sof." She replied with a happy giggle before she kissed her back, the one year old holding on her father's shirt with one hand, while her other kept a hold on Caitlyn, Gabby having to distract her to get her to let go.
"Alright Caitlyn, are you ready?" Miss Macy prompted gently, the parents knowing they'd spent more than enough time saying their goodbyes, though that didn't make it any easier to leave her here, especially on Gabby.
Pursing her lips together, Caitlyn thought over her words before she looked back towards Gabby, seeing a reassuring smile waiting for her. "It's time to go, honey." She repeated, Caitlyn breathing slowly before she nodded.
"...You're coming back?" She questioned, the innocence in her voice nearly breaking Gabby's heart, knowing that worry went deeper than just her going to school.
But Gabby immediately nodded, giving her a bright smile as she ran her hand along her arm. "We are." She promised without hesitation. "We'll both be here to get you."
"Okay." She agreed, Caitlyn leaning forward to give Gabby one last hug, as Matt pushed himself and Sofia up off the ground. "I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart." She told her, before Cailtyn pulled back for the last time, the girl stepping towards the teachers and letting herself be led into the classroom. Though before she disappeared completely, she looked back one last time, finding both Matt and Gabby watching her with soft smiles, the latter blinking back her own tears as she gave her a small wave.
"Have a great day, baby." Matt called, watching as Caitlyn gave one last nod before she continued into the classroom, both parents keeping their gaze on her until she was out of sight.
The whole process had been relatively painless, at least for Caitlyn, as Gabby was definitely taking it harder than the five year old. But even despite her own worries for her little girl, she felt a sense of pride at how well Caitlyn had handled today, and she was sure Matt did too, as it was just another shining reminder of how far she'd come. Six weeks ago, when Caitlyn had wound up back in their care, they knew there was no way then that she ever would've been able to willingly leave them for this long, so her ability to go to school as calmly as she did was something that Gabby couldn't help but be happy about, even though she was feeling a bit anxious herself.
"We'll call if there's any problems." Brooke spoke up, snapping Gabby out of her headspace before she gave her a nod, feeling Matt reach out to rest his hand over her back. "But I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Yeah, I'm sure she will be." Casey responded, his eyes flashing back towards the classroom before looking to the teacher. "And thank you again, for helping get this all sorted out, and welcoming Caitlyn into your class."
"Of course, Mr. Casey." She waved him off. "She's an amazing little girl, and we're all happy to have her." She assured them, the parents nodding as Matt adjusted the little girl on his hip.
With a few more pleasantries, and a quick goodbye, Matt and Gabby began to walk away from the classroom and head back out to their car, it not lost on Casey how quiet his wife had been. Though, from her reaction alone, he knew she was a bit more emotional about dropping their girl off at school than she figured she would be, the husband continuing to rub her back as they left the school.
"You okay?" He finally questioned once they'd gotten back outside, Gabby lifting her head to look at him, Matt seeing a varying amount of emotions shining in her gaze before she nodded with a small smile.
"I'm good… It's just a lot, sending her off to school for the first time." She replied, Matt nodding understandingly as they continued walking towards their car. "And I hope she'll be okay, being in a new place with new people… This is a lot for her, and I want her to be alright."
"I know you do, me too." He responded, rubbing his hand along her shoulders. "But she'll be fine, baby… This is a good thing for her." He reminded her.
And Gabby knew he was right, the woman nodding softly before she moved into his side, the two walking in step towards their car while Casey held onto their daughter, the parents not entirely sure what to do with themselves now that Caitlyn wasn't with them.
Dawson moved around their bedroom with a stack of freshly folded laundry in her hands, the quiet of the house not what she was used to as she worked on catching up on putting away their clean clothes. It was just one of the many things that usually fell by the wayside, her and Matt's laundry being put away not something that was very high on the list of priorities for either parent. But with their child-free morning, her and Casey both had taken the time to catch up on some household chores that needed to be done, Gabby wanting to take advantage of this time as much as she could before her and Matt would need to leave to pick up their kids.
Though their morning without Caitlyn was something they'd planned on, a morning without Sofia wasn't one they were expecting. But when Ramon had called shortly after they'd dropped Caitlyn off, her father wanting to hear about how it had gone, and then quickly offered to take Sofia for the morning, it was something both Gabby and Matt agreed to rather quickly, knowing it would be good for all of them. Selfishly, the parents wanted some time to be able to get a few things done, but more than that, they knew how much Sofia loved her abuelo, and how happy she'd be to spend some time with him, Gabby more than thankful for the bond the two of them shared.
So after a quick detour to her father's home, and some rather easy goodbyes with their baby, the couple had made their way home and immediately gotten to work. They'd only been back for about an hour, but in that time they'd been able to get caught up on a few of the things that had been piling up as of late, and Gabby was confident that they'd be able to finish most everything before they'd need to leave to go get Caitlyn. Especially with them not needing to keep an eye on Sofia, it made all the difference in allowing them time to get some work done.
"Alright, the backseat has officially been cleaned and vacuumed," Matt's voice filtered into the room, Gabby turning around from her spot in front of the dresser just as he stepped inside, a slight grin forming over her face when she saw how dirty his shirt had gotten. Luckily, before working on this task, he'd changed out of his nice button down and into a t-shirt, his forward thinking definitely coming in handy as his shirt would surely need washed, Matt meeting her eyes as he continued towards her. "And there's no longer any evidence of that unfortunate goldfish and apple juice incident." He added, Gabby scrunching up her nose at the mention of Sofia's mishap in the backseat a couple of days ago, the parents not having had the time to thoroughly clean everything until now.
"Yeah?" She asked as she put the last of the clothes into the dresser before she pushed it shut, Gabby turning around completely to face him as he came to a stop a few feet from her.
"Yeah, it's as good as new… Or as good as it can be with two kids." He spoke knowingly, his words earning a nod from his wife. "And her car seat has been cleaned too, so we're all good."
"Good… Thank you for doing that." She replied, Matt nodding in response as he reached for the hem of his shirt and quickly pulled it over his head, Gabby unable to stop her eyes from trailing over his bare chest before he moved towards the closet, clearly not noticing her stares as he turned around. Though if you were to ask Gabby, the view from the back was just as good as from the front, her eyes involuntarily darkening as he disappeared from view for a split second before he reappeared once more, his shirt no longer in his hands.
"So, I was thinking while we have some time, we can get to work on that thing in the garage- What?" He cut himself off when he finally noticed her staring at him, Matt almost immediately recognizing the look in her eye as she bit down on her bottom lip, her eyes still trailing shamelessly over his chest before eventually finding their way back to his gaze. "...Yes?" He questioned once more, though he had a feeling he knew exactly what was going on in her head as he took a slow step towards her.
"You know… We don't usually have this much time with just us these days." She spoke as they locked eyes, Matt raising his eyebrows slightly before he nodded, knowing just how true her words were.
"Uh huh." He agreed softly, Gabby taking another step towards him, the two coming to meet a few feet from their bed. "It's definitely crazy around here." He continued, his hand coming up to cradle her arm, while Gabby placed her palms on his bare chest.
"Mhmm… Makes me think we should take advantage of having some time alone." She continued with a gleam in her eye, Matt cocking his head to the side as their eyes never left one another.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah…" She replied softly, her voice barely audible as he rubbed her hand along his skin.
"And what exactly do you have in mind?" He feigned innocence, but Gabby was having no part of it as she quickly moved her hands down to his waist, undoing his belt with lightning fast speed, before grabbing a hold of either side of the object, using it to pull him towards the bed. And before saying a word, she yanked the belt off of him and threw it to the ground, Matt swallowing the thick lump that had formed in his throat as she roughly pushed him down onto the mattress.
He landed with a soft thud, his arms moving back to steady himself, his palms resting on top of the comforter as she came to stand in front of him in between his legs, Gabby giving him a soft smirk before she quickly removed her shirt and let the clothing fall to the ground.
His eyes focused on her body instantly, Matt already noticing the effect she had on him as he took a slow breath, the sight of her bra-covered chest something he never wanted to take for granted as, even to this day, he found himself feeling incredibly grateful to be with the wonderful woman standing in front of him.
Finding her gaze once more, he smiled softly as she took another step closer, her body stopping against the edge of the bed as she reached out to place her hands on the top of his shoulders, Matt's palms instinctively coming up to rest of her hips as he made sure she stayed as close as possible, the differences in their height as he was sitting down giving him the perfect view of her before she leaned down to capture his lips in a firm, sweet kiss.
Her movements were slow, and passionate, reminding Matt of just how badly he missed his wife as his hands ran along her bare sides. But it felt like as quickly as she'd started kissing him, she was already pulling away, Gabby trailing her lips along his jaw back towards his ear, Casey tightening his grip on her as he heard her heavy breaths.
A low moan escaped his lips when he felt her carefully bite down on his ear, his fingers digging into her hips as she smiled softly. "...I can think of a few things." She breathed out, her voice sending chills through his spine as she finally had answered his question.
His mouth began to feel somewhat dry, Gabby pressing a kiss just beside his ear before she moved back towards his lips, the woman pressing against his chest to make him collapse down on the bed, Matt pulling her down with him.
With her body resting on top of his, they continued on, the couple taking their time with one another while they had it, knowing there was no way to know when they'd have this type of alone time together again. Because while these moments together weren't impossible, their girls made it more challenging, and rarely did they ever have time like this; where there was no chance of being interrupted by any kids, or having to do things quickly during naps, or times when they were exhausted after a long day. Moments where there was no reason to rush, where they had nothing to worry about except each other as Matt rolled them over, pinning her body beneath his as he peppered her skin with kisses, the husband quickly getting rid of her bra before he continued to show her his appreciation for her.
"God, you're beautiful." He whispered against her, heat rising within her entire body as his mouth moved over her, her breaths getting heavier as he focused on her skin, Matt knowing which places to spend his time on, while also knowing which others to avoid as his hands slid down to the waistband of her jeans. His fingers quickly worked on undoing the button before he moved to the zipper, his lips never leaving her skin as he started removing her pants, Gabby's chest heaving as she felt that all too familiar warmth pooling in her stomach.
And with every passing moment, they continued to get more and more lost in one another, Gabby helping him out of his jeans and boxers, while he rid her of the rest of her clothes, the two only disconnecting from one another when absolutely necessary as a heavy desperation hung in the air around them.
When there was nothing left in between them, Gabby made herself comfortable in the middle of the bed, Matt crawling on top of her, his body hovering over hers as he captured her lips in his once more, his body settled comfortably between her legs while hers hook up over his waist, effectively keeping him close. The pace of their movements began to pick up and Gabby and Matt continued to enjoy their time together, both of them flooded with an overwhelming sense of peace as they basked in this moment, the couple wanting to make the most out of this morning that they possibly could.
And that was exactly what they did.
"You think she's alright?" Gabby asked as they stood outside the classroom as they waited for Caitlyn to finish up, her hand clasped comfortably in her husband's as they both leaned against the wall, Matt and Gabby staying a little ways down the hallway as the minutes ticked by slowly.
Before they even left the house, Matt knew they'd be early; almost obnoxiously so if you were to ask him, but he didn't comment on it as he could tell Gabby was anxious to go pick up their girl. Because even though he would've preferred to spend a little more time at home, and finish up a few of the tasks they hadn't been able to get to as they spent most of the morning in bed, and then in the shower, he didn't want to make Gabby wait any longer either, knowing she just wanted to get here so they wouldn't risk being late and make Caitlyn worry.
"I'm sure she's fine, baby." He replied as he gave her hand a squeeze, Gabby looking up at him, finding a small smile waiting for her. "And you heard her teacher, she said she would've called if something was wrong."
"I know, I know… I just wanna see her, make sure she had a good day." She responded, Matt nodding as he completely understood the feeling. "Yeah, she seemed okay when we left, but you know how she is…"
"I know." He repeated, squeezing her hand once more. "But let's not worry until we know if there's even anything to worry about, yeah?" He prompted, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before giving him a nod.
"Yeah, you're right- Oh, don't get used to it." She cut herself off when she saw the proud look on his face, Gabby shaking her head before she gently nudged his side with her elbow. "It'll never happen again."
"Oh, I'm sure it will… And I think I was doing things very right, earlier." He added suggestively, his voice lowered as Gabby feeling heat rise in her chest, the woman immediately shaking her head.
"Matthew Casey, you better stop it right now." She warned him quietly, Matt loving to see how flustered she was getting from his words, though he knew she was right; this definitely wasn't the place for this conversation. Though he did wish he could continue his fun. "We are at our daughter's school, now is not the time for this."
Casey bit his tongue as her words washed over him, it not lost on the husband as to how Gabby had referred to Caitlyn, but he decided not to bring attention to it, the man just simply nodding before resting his weight back into the wall. "Yes dear."
His reply earned him a playful glare, as his joking tone definitely didn't help his case. But Gabby didn't have time to call him on it as the door to the classroom opened, and a few kids began to filter out with Macy, as well as another woman they remembered meeting, but her name escaped them. But in the group of small kids, Caitlyn was nowhere to be seen, the parents assuming these kids were being taken out to their parents outside.
Since the kindergartners' day was over, they figured it safe to walk a little closer to the classroom, Gabby leading the way as Matt followed beside her, the parents stopping across from the room as they waited once more. But they weren't left waiting too long as soon Caitlyn was escorted out of the room, their little girl holding onto Brooke's hand as she stepped through the doorway, looking exactly the same as she had when they dropped her off.
The second she saw them, her eyes widened in excitement, a bright smile forming over her face as she let go of Brooke's hand and rushed towards them. "Gabby! Matt!" She spoke loudly, Gabby crouching to the ground just as Caitlyn launched herself into her arms, Miss Brooke walking towards them as the little girl greeted her family. "I missed you!"
"We missed you too, baby girl." Gabby replied immediately, giving her a gentle squeeze before letting her go and giving Matt a chance to greet her, her husband immediately lifting her up into his arms just as she hugged him tightly. "Did you have fun today?" She asked once Caitlyn had pulled back, Gabby maneuvering the little girl's backpack off of her back while she stayed in Matt's grasp, her husband now able to hold her tighter as he ran his hand over her back.
"Yeah! It was lots of fun, everyone was nice." She told them, the smile never leaving her face as she kept her arms around Matt's neck. "And I made a friend!"
"Oh you did?" Casey spoke up first, Caitlyn nodding ecstatically.
"Yeah! Her name is Michelle, she sits next to me! And gave me her crayons."
"Wow, she sounds really nice." Gabby replied, Caitlyn nodding once more, her body involuntarily bouncing gently in Matt's arms as she was so excited to tell them about her day. "What else did you do, baby?" She questioned, Caitlyn's eyebrows furrowing for a moment as she tried to think over what she'd done today, before her face lit up, her mouth moving quickly.
"I got drawings!" She nearly yelled, Gabby mimicking the elation her little girl was feeling as her eyes widened.
"You did?"
"Yeah! In my folder! I maded pictures for you and Matt, and Sof!" She told them brightly, though her mood changed abruptly as she looked around, the five year old seemingly just now noticing they were a Casey short. "...Where's Sof?" She questioned curiously, Matt tapping her back gently as her weight rested against his forearm.
"She's with Ramon right now." Matt told her, Caitlyn giving him a soft nod. "She spent the morning with him while you were at school, but we're gonna go and pick her up when we leave, and then the four of us are gonna go get some lunch." He reminded her, Caitlyn perking up before she nodded.
"Like you said." She recalled their conversation from earlier, Matt nodding in response.
"Yeah, like I said." He replied, Caitlyn smiling softly. "...So, you drew some pictures?" He went back to their previous conversation, hoping to get her focused back on how her day went, Caitlyn's grin only growing. "Something for Sofia?"
"Mhmm! It's me and her, we're playing!" She explained, looking down towards her backpack and pointing to it, Gabby and Matt both nodding.
"We'll have to look at them when we get into the car, but I'm sure they're beautiful, baby." Gabby responded, Caitlyn seemingly satisfied with her answer. "And I know Sof will love it. We'll have to put some of them up on the fridge." She told her, Caitlyn nodding with a bright smile.
"Okay! It was fun. It was like coloring at home, but with lots of different stuff. And we had snacks, too!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yup!" She replied, popping the word as it left her mouth. "I got a juice box, and some cheese and crackers."
"That sounds so yummy." Gabby told her, the mother just glad to see Caitlyn so excited after her first day of school.
"Mhmm, it was- Oh! Guess what!" Caitlyn spoke suddenly, her body practically shaking in excitement as Matt and Gabby shared an amused look before returning their focus to her. "Guess what! Guess what!"
"What, baby?"
"My names on the door!" She told them excitedly, Gabby's own smile widening before she glanced towards the door to her classroom, being met by the sight of the different handprints she'd noticed when they were here this morning. But even from across the hallway, she could tell there was one she hadn't seen earlier, her eyes noticing the new, small purple handprint on the piece of paper, with Caitlyn's name written underneath it.
"Oh my gosh, you did?" Matt replied with just as much enthusiasm, Caitlyn nodding happily before she pointed to it, her gesture causing Casey to walk closer to the door, as Gabby and Brooke stayed in the hallway.
"Yeah! I put paint on my hand!" She continued to explain, Gabby hearing as Caitlyn began to go through telling Matt the process of her painting her hand, Dawson unable to stop herself from smiling as she watched the two of them.
"...She did great today."
Gabby looked over when she heard the teacher's voice, a hopeful look flashing in her eyes as Brooke gave her a nod.
"It took her some time to get comfortable, she was definitely a little nervous, but she eventually warmed up to everyone, and she had a great time… she's a very bright little girl." Miss Clafin explained, Gabby feeling her body flood with relief as the woman's words sunk in, before she slowly nodded.
"Good… That's great. I'm so glad she did well."
"Yeah, I could tell you were kind of nervous before you left, but that's normal for everyone." She assured her, Gabby giving her another nod. "But Caitlyn did great. And even with her coming in a little late, I think she'll be fine… She really enjoyed today."
"That's great… I can already tell she's gonna be excited to come back tomorrow." Gabby replied with a soft laugh, Brooke mimicking her action.
"Oh, I think she is, especially when I told her we're doing an activity that involves pasta." She responded lightly, Gabby shaking her head in amusement before focusing on her little girl, watching as she continued talking Matt's ear off about her day. And that was something Gabby certainly didn't want to miss out on, the mother giving a last thank you to her teacher before walking over to her family, coming up behind them and placing her hand over Caitlyn's back, the little girl looking towards her excitedly before she continued her story.
And though they knew they needed to leave, and go get Sofia, they hung around for a few moments longer, not wanting to interrupt Caitlyn as she recanted more and more of her day to them, both parents beyond ecstatic to see their girl so happy and enjoying school, as that was exactly what they wanted for her.