Hello there everyone! I'm finally back with an update for you all, I'm sorry it took a month. As I'm sure you all know, I had been working on a oneshot about the end of season 9, and then I wanted to make sure I got If We Never Say Goodbye updated before working on anything else. But now that those are completed, I'm doing my best to get back into this story and Whatever Comes Next. Slowly and surely, I think I'm finally getting back into my rhythm with all this writing stuff.

But before we get into it, I do wanna say that I know this chapter is a little shorter than most, but this one is needed to just get us into the next part of this story. We have a lot of important storylines coming up, which I'm super excited to get to write, but before we get there we needed a little stepping stone chapter, and that's what this is. But I hope you all enjoy it nonetheless.

It felt great for me to get back into writing this version of Dawsey, and I know some of you missed it just as I did. But enough of my rambling, here's the next chapter for you all. I really hope you like it, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Thanks again for all your patience with me over these last few months. Enjoy.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Nine

Matt laid quietly in bed as he rested on his side, his head propped up in his palm while his other arm was reached out to hold onto the body of the woman next to him. His hand was resting lightly over her stomach so he could feel her steady breathing, the movement calming to him as he liked the simple reminder that his wife was alright, though Gabby was completely unaware as she slept peacefully beside him.

It was early, far too early for him to be awake, especially given how late they'd gotten in last night from their trip to the cabin. But for whatever reason, he couldn't sleep, as his mind seemed unable to shut off ever since he'd woken up maybe fifteen minutes ago. Nothing had happened to wake him up, at least not that he remembered; there had been no bad dream, Gabby hadn't moved at all beside him, and from his occasional glances back at the baby monitor, he knew both of his little girls were sleeping soundly in their beds. There was nothing specifically that had woken him up at this early hour, his body just decided it was time to wake up.

And while it was rather annoying, and he certainly would've preferred to have been asleep right now along with the rest of his family, Casey was just glad that his girls were getting the rest they needed. All three of them were beyond exhausted after their little weekend getaway up at Severide's cabin, and by the time they got in last night, it was well past everyone's bedtimes. Both girls had slept nearly all the way home, and he did well enough to get them both into bed, Matt figuring it best to deal with their bags in the morning as after he'd transferred his daughters' into their beds, he'd come back downstairs to find his wife already half asleep.

And she'd hardly moved a muscle since, Gabby still sleeping peacefully beside him as her head leaned towards him, her entire body completely relaxed as he continued to focus on her breathing. It was steady, just like it had been ever since he woke up, her soft snores bringing a small smile to his face as he took to just basking in the quiet that bathed their home, Matt feeling a sense of contentment getting to lay here with her as his mind began to wander back to their weekend.

It had been great for them to get away together, for the family of four to have a chance to spend some quality time together with no interruptions. And the girls had absolutely loved it, as having their parents complete and undivided attention was all they ever wanted. Over the past three days, they hadn't spent a moment apart, the fun little getaway doing wonders for all of them as their trip had given them a sense of normalcy that had been robbed of them for so long. Just being able to be together, away from all the stress of what had been going on, had helped them more than anything else could. And for Caitlyn especially, both parents noticed how much their family time had helped her start to feel a little better after what all her mom went through.

The trip had originally been for Matt, for a chance to work on getting his head back on straight after everything they'd gone through in the last couple of months. But it wasn't lost on either him nor Gabby that while Matt needed this break from reality, Caitlyn arguably needed this time together more, as the soon-to-be six year old was still struggling with what happened to her mom. But with every passing day, she seemed to be feeling better, as all that time with her family had helped calm her nerves a bit, and made her begin to worry less about Gabby.

And it had done the same for Casey.

He was still struggling, he'd never deny that, as doing so last time nearly got him killed. But after this weekend, he could feel himself starting to let go of some of that worry and fear that had been almost suffocating him since Gabby's accident back in February. That he wasn't as anxious, and concerned that something might go wrong, as he was slowly beginning to accept what had happened to her.

It wasn't immediate, given there was no quick fix that would just let him forget that he'd watched his wife die in front of him, multiple times. There was no way for him to forget that sense of hopelessness he felt every single day inside that hospital, where it was like he was just waiting for the worst to happen. Those feelings wouldn't just go away in an instant, and he was still having a bit of a rough time with some of it, but slowly, he was starting to let it all go.

Because every day he felt himself getting a little better, Casey feeling a little more secure in the knowledge that Gabby was alright. That he wasn't going to lose her, despite the fact that he almost did. That more and more, he felt like it was becoming a little easier to breathe. He could feel himself gradually beginning to accept all of it, and their much needed family time had helped more than anything, as it gave him a sense of perspective that he'd lost during Gabby's time in the hospital.

And that was to try and just focus on all the good things going on in his life right now.

During Gabby's accident, that mindset was nearly impossible, as he'd spent every waking moment just hoping to not lose her, and then putting all of his energy into helping her get better. But during that time, he'd been unable to look at the bright side of anything, as he'd spent so many moments terrified of what might happen. But now that the storm had passed, and Gabby was well on her way to a full recovery, he was doing all he could to try and let go of that pain and worry, and focus on what was right in front of him.

And that was his family.

His perfect, incredible family. His family that meant the world to him, that gave him a sense of purpose. His family that he strived every day to be a better man for, that is what he was choosing to focus on. He wanted to focus on them, and all the wonderful things they had going on in their lives right now, instead of lingering on the past.

Wonderful things like Caitlyn's birthday coming up, and how she was beyond excited to celebrate that special day with them. And how, any day now, they'd be hearing from Tina about finalizing her adoption, both parents well aware of how they were inching closer and closer to the six month mark. And once they'd passed it, they'd be able to officially adopt her and make her a Casey, even though to them, she already was. She had been from the moment she came back into their home. But now all they needed was the paperwork to make it official.

And that's what they were waiting on Tina for, was to hear exactly when this would all be happening. They knew last walk throughs and checks had to be done, to ensure to the court and to everyone involved that Caitlyn was where she needed to be. But Matt wasn't worried about that one bit, as he and Gabby both were just eager to hear when they'd be going to the courthouse to officially adopt their little girl. It was something they'd been looking forward to ever since they started this process, something they knew Caity was excited about as well, despite the fact they hadn't reminded her of that special day quite yet.

They had talked about it a few times, though with the accident it hadn't been high on the list of topics around the Casey household, but explaining the legal process of adoption to a five year old wasn't the easiest task in the world. She understood the basics, and knew what adoption meant and that it was something that took some time. That this wasn't an immediate thing. But she was also still a little girl, and some of this process was still hard for her to grasp, as all she knew was that she already saw herself as a Casey. This was her family, and they were her parents, and to her, that would never change.

And now they were just waiting on the judge, to ensure that it couldn't ever change.

But everything with Caitlyn, Matt was putting a lot of his energy into that, as he knew how important these next few weeks would be for her. And he was doing the same with Sofia, as even though there was nothing quite like what Caitlyn had going on coming up for her, his youngest baby was still learning and growing every day. Which was something he was very proud of, as he couldn't believe just how smart his little girl was. How smart both of them were, as they were just constantly amazing him.

So that's what he was choosing to focus on. How there were so many great things happening in his life right now. These moments now with his girls, with all of his girls, this was time he'd never be able to get back. So he was making the choice to concentrate on that, and on them, instead of putting his energy into things he couldn't control.

He couldn't change what happened to Gabby, or what he and his girls went through because of it. It happened, and they had to deal with that. But what he could control was how he responded to it. And he knew that for himself, and his family, he needed to move past it. That he couldn't let all of this continue to have such a strong hold on him, not when Gabby was fine. So he was doing what he could to let it go.

And slowly, he felt himself being able to do that.

Casey was broken from his deep thoughts when he heard a few familiar, soft whines start to come through the baby monitor, his eyebrows raising slightly as he recognized Sofia's noises instantly. But he didn't move just yet, as he was waiting to see if she was truly awake, or if she was just moving around in her sleep.

But after a few moments when the whining didn't stop, he knew she was fully awake, and likely in search of some attention, as she was beginning to get a little bit louder.

"Is she okay?" Gabby murmured in her sleep, Matt smiling softly before he rubbed his hand over her stomach, his wife beginning to turn more towards his warmth.

Even when she was half asleep, she was still on alert, ready to do anything for their girls if they needed it. And it was just one of the many reasons he was so deeply in love with the woman lying next to him.

"I think she's okay." He responded back, keeping his voice quiet as Gabby gave him a slow nod, before he leaned forward to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "But I'll go check on her just in case." He added on when Sofia's whines continued to filter in through the monitor, Matt figuring it best to go get her before she got any louder and risked waking up her older sister. "You get some more sleep, baby." He all but whispered against her forehead, Matt pressing another kiss to her skin before rolling over and sitting up on the edge of the bed, the husband not missing the soft 'I love you' from his wife as he stood up.

Before moving too far, he spared a quick glance down at the monitor, Matt seeing Sofia sitting up in her crib, the baby looking around slowly almost like she was waiting for one of her parents to come get her. And Matt would never leave her waiting for longer than he had to as he began to head towards the door, Casey doing his best to be quiet as he was sure Gabby had already fallen back asleep after curling up in the middle of their bed.

Stepping out into their dark home, Matt blindly made his way towards the kitchen, knowing his baby girl would likely need some milk if he had any hopes of getting her back to sleep. But he also knew he needed to move fast, Casey hurriedly filling up one of her sippy cups half way before heading for the steps. His body was moving a little slower than normal, as he was still trying to shake some of his lingering exhaustion, but he managed to get upstairs rather quickly, Matt able to hear his baby the closer he got to the landing.

She wasn't really crying, at least not yet, but she was definitely still waiting for someone to come get her, her whines filtering out into their home as he walked towards her half-open door before stepping inside. He moved quietly so as not to startle her, Matt smiling softly when he saw his little girl still sitting in her crib, her small hand holding onto one of the bars in front of her, while that pacifier she loved so much was still firmly in her mouth.

"There's my baby." He spoke softly, the nightlight they kept on in her room helping to guide his path, as well as help Sofia see him as her head turned towards him as those soft whines continued to leave her lips. "What's wrong, Sof? Everything's okay." He murmured gently, Matt moving towards her as quickly as he could as he just wanted to comfort his daughter.

But as soon as she truly registered his presence, her whines slowly stopped, Sofia reaching her little arms up to him before a small smile covered her face, the action causing her pacifier to fall down into her crib. "Yeah, there's my happy baby, I knew you were in there." He told her, Matt picking her up as soon as he could before letting her settle down into his arms, Sofia immediately reaching for the milk he'd brought up here and beginning to take a few sips. "Why'd you wake up, sweetheart? Are you okay? Were you just missing Daddy?"

His voice was soft, Matt rubbing his hand over her back as she drank a little bit more of her milk before letting go of the cup and letting it rest against his chest between them, her tiny fists coming up to rub over her eyes as it was clear she was still tired. And the yawn that left her lips seconds later only continued to prove that, it becoming evident to Casey that regardless of why she woke up, she didn't really feel like being awake anymore.

"Yeah, you're still tired, aren't you? I bet you are, it's early." He said in hushed tones, his hand continued to rub along her back as Sofia grabbed her sippy cup before resting her head down against his neck. Her body cuddled into him, Matt holding his little girl in his arms as he felt her begin to relax as they seconds ticked by. "You just wanted Daddy, didn't you? It's okay baby, I'm here." He soothed, the smile on his face returning when he felt her free hand grasp onto his t-shirt, the action one she always did whenever she wanted to be close to him. "I'm here… just get some sleep, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

Casey continued to soothe his daughter back to sleep as he took slow steps around her room, his body bouncing slightly as a way to keep her calm while he ran his hand up and down her back. And thankfully, after a few minutes of this, Sofia had fallen back asleep, Matt knowing that all she'd wanted was a few moments of comfort from her dad before getting some more rest.

And that's exactly what he'd given her, Matt continuing to move around the room as he let her sleep. He knew he himself needed to get more rest, that he needed to put Sofia back in her crib and let her sleep. But he also found himself wanting to hold onto her for a few more moments, Matt content to just stay here for a little while longer as he pressed the occasional kiss to the side of her head, the father doing all he could to help her rest as the Casey household was once again back to its complete silence.

Gabby's eyebrows furrowed as she slowly came into consciousness, a heavy yawn immediately escaping her lips before she stretched her arms out above her head, her eyes staying closed as she fought off her body trying to wake itself up. She wasn't sure how early it was, though from the exhaustion she could feel in her system, she could only imagine it wasn't quite time for her to get up yet. But she slowly opened her eyes anyway, as she at least needed to check the time before continuing to rest anymore, Gabby not wanting to risk oversleeping as they'd need to make sure Caity got to school on time.

But once her vision came into focus, Gabby having to blink a few times before she could really make out her surroundings, it was then she realized she was in bed alone. A wave of confusion flooded through her body as she slowly pushed herself up to rest on her elbows, Gabby looking around their bedroom to find her husband nowhere in sight.

"Matt?" She called out, though her voice was only so loud before she cleared her throat, Gabby sitting up all the way as she paused for a moment to see if she'd get any response. "...Matt?"

Dawson waited a few more moments, but when she was met with nothing but quiet in return, the woman tossed the comforter off herself before sitting up on the edge of the bed, her feet planted firmly on the ground as her eyes moved towards the clock sitting on their nightstand. Once she checked the time, it was clear she'd been right in her suspicions that she'd woken up earlier than necessary, but it wasn't as early as she thought, Gabby knowing that here soon she'd need to go get Caity up and out of bed to get ready for school.

Blowing out a soft sigh, she slowly pushed herself up out of bed, Gabby grimacing slightly at the movement as there was still some residual soreness in her body. Soreness she'd hoped would eventually go away, as she'd love to put all of this behind her as soon as she could. But for now, it was something she'd have to deal with as she walked out of her room and into the main part of their home, her confusion only deepening when she was met with nothing but an empty room.

Clearly, wherever her husband was, he wasn't on this floor, Gabby making her way towards the steps as she continued on in the search for Matt. She couldn't imagine he'd gone out anywhere this early, the wife knowing the only place left for him to be was upstairs with the girls. But when she eventually got to the landing at the top of the steps, it was just as quiet on this floor as it had been downstairs, her eyebrows knitting together as she hadn't been expecting the silence before she headed towards their rooms.

Stopping by Caitlyn's first, Gabby was careful as she slowly pushed the door open, the mother not wanting to risk waking their oldest when she stuck her head inside the room. And when she caught a glimpse of her daughter, she was glad she'd come in quietly as the girl was sound asleep in her bed. Her little body was sprawled out in the middle of her mattress, Gabby almost unable to see her as she was buried underneath the covers. But the sound of her soft snores assured the mother she was still sleeping, Gabby pausing to watch her for a few more seconds before she slowly backed out of the room.

She knew she'd need to wake her up here shortly, but after their late night Gabby knew an extra bit of rest couldn't hurt as she started taking the few steps towards Sofia's room, the woman not only wanting to check in on her youngest baby, but also find her husband. She vaguely remembered him coming up here a little earlier this morning, that Sof had been a bit fussy, and Gabby could only figure that he'd never made it back downstairs because of their baby. That he likely fell asleep with her in the rocking chair, as that was one of Sofia's favorite ways to get some rest with the comfort of her parents.

But when she stepped into the nursery, she realized that Matt hadn't fell asleep in the chair as she suspected, though he certainly was in this room as Gabby continued towards her daughter's crib, an amused grin forming across her face while she took in the sight in front of her.

Sofia was sleeping peacefully in her bed, just as Gabby had hoped, but she had an unexpected visitor with her as Matt was fast asleep in the crib right next to her.

She'd chastised him for this before, as this wasn't the first time Matt had gotten into Sofia's crib, Gabby afraid he'd be too heavy and break their daughter's very nice crib. But her warnings had never stopped him from getting in there whenever the opportunity arose, Matt defending himself by saying how 'Sofia needed him', and that he could 'always fix it if something broke', Gabby knowing she wasn't able to put up much of a fight against either of those excuses. So it was a battle she'd given up a while ago. But also, as far as she knew, this was something he hadn't done in a while, so it sure was a sight to see this morning, Gabby doing what she could to stifle her laughter as her husband slept in the tiny space.

Gabby could only imagine what had led to him getting into the crib with her, but if she had to guess, she figured Sofia had played the biggest role in it, as the little girl had a knack for getting what she wanted when it came to her father. He was hardly ever able to tell her no, and even at her young age, she knew it. And often used it to her advantage, Gabby well aware that if Sofia had put up any of a fight when he tried to put her back to bed, that it wouldn't have taken much for her cries to get him to lay down with her. And, clearly, it had worked, as they both were still resting peacefully, Gabby's eyes moving over them as she couldn't help the way her smile grew slightly, her gaze focusing for a moment on her husband.

His body was far too big for the bed he was in, but that hadn't stopped him as he was laying on his back on her mattress, his legs propped up over the side of the crib while Sofia was nestled securely into his side. From the position alone, she knew he couldn't have been too comfortable, but it was obvious that Sofia was as she was curled up into the side of his body, fast asleep.

Her head was resting up against the side of his chest while she laid on her back, just like he was, her small hand holding onto his finger while his arm was up around her body, the position keeping her safely secured next to him. And while Gabby didn't necessarily love him doing this, she couldn't deny that it was an endearing sight; a sight that made her chest flood with warmth, as she'd never get tired of being reminded of just how much their dad loved his daughters.

She always knew that Matt was an amazing man, one with an incredible heart. And even before their girls, she knew how much love he had to give, as Gabby was often on the receiving end of just how wonderful he was. But after Sofia was born, and then once Caitlyn had come into their lives, it was like she was seeing another facet of him entirely, Matt loving their daughters more than she even knew was physically possible. And she absolutely loved it, as she'd known what it was like to grow up with an extraordinary father, and that's what she wanted for her girls.

And that's exactly what they had.

They had a father who loved them unconditionally, who would spend his entire life protecting them, and being there for them; there to lift them up when they needed it, and to support them even when they didn't. Someone who would show up for them, no questions asked. A father they could trust, and turn to when things get hard. One who would show them the kind of love they deserved to have. A father who was there.

That was the father they had in Matt, and then some, and Gabby couldn't help but feel so incredibly lucky that they had him. That she had him, as he was the most remarkable man she'd ever known.

She knew things had been hard on him lately, but in that time the one thing that hadn't changed was how incredible of a father Matt was. No matter what was going on with him, he made it a priority to be there for his girls; for all his girls. And that made her fall in love with him even more than she had been before, which was something she was sure wasn't possible. But just when she thought there was no way for her to love him any more than she did already, he'd prove her wrong. And truthfully, it was an incredible feeling.

Gabby took the last few steps towards the crib after her moment of reflection, the smile staying on her face as she reached out to hold onto the edge of the bed, her daughter's soft snores hitting her ears as her eyes moved back and forth between them. She didn't want to disturb them, as it was obvious they were getting some peaceful rest, but it was also time for them to get the day started, and she knew how much Matt loved being involved in helping Caity get ready for school. So slowly, she reached a hand out towards her husband, Gabby resting her palm gently over her chest in hopes to not startle him before she began to softly pat her hand against him.

"Matt…" She whispered, watching as his head moved to the side slightly before his eyebrows furrowed. "Baby, it's time to get up… We've gotta get Caity to school."

It took a few moments for him to fully recognize his surroundings, the father staying still while he began to look around, as even in his tired haze he knew there was a sleeping baby right beside him, and the last thing he wanted to do was disturb her. But soon enough, he began to realize exactly where he was, Gabby continuing to rub her hand over his chest when his eyes met hers, the small grin forming over his lips causing her own smile to widen.

"Good morning, baby." He breathed out, his eyes glancing down at the little girl tucked into his side before his focus moved back to his wife.

"Yeah, good morning to you, too." She spoke lightly, the amused tone in her voice not going unnoticed by her husband. "I see you got a better offer than coming back downstairs with me." She teased, Matt drawing in a deep breath before shaking his head, his hand gently rubbing over the side of Sofia's stomach while she subconsciously pushed her body closer to his.

"Sorry babe, but I just couldn't leave her." He replied, Gabby's smile growing as his free hand came up to hold onto her forearm.

"It's alright, I can't say I blame you for wanting to stay up here… Even though we've talked about you getting in the crib before." She reminded him, the sheepish grin that soon covered his face enough to tell her that he certainly remembered those conversations. He just hadn't listened to them. "But at least Sof is enjoying it."

"She is, and isn't that what's important?" He played along, Gabby narrowing her eyes playfully before she gave a swift, yet gentle, smack to his chest, the movement causing him to laugh softly before he gave her arm a squeeze.

"Mhmm, yeah it is." She answered with a slight shake of her head before glancing towards the clock on the wall. "But really, it's time to get up… We've gotta get Caity up here soon, or she'll be late. And you know how she feels about that."

"Oh, definitely." He spoke after blowing out a soft breath, his eyes moving back towards Sofia for a quick moment he spoke up once more. "But, uh… how about you go wake her up, and I'll get Sofia up." He suggested, Gabby's tongue running along the inside of her cheek before she nodded softly. "That way she can get a few more minutes of sleep."

"Alright babe." She agreed, Gabby rubbing his chest one last time before she took a slight step away, Sofia completely undisturbed by all the noise going on around her, as she was still fast asleep beside her father. "But when I come back, she better be the only one sleeping." She warned him, her teasing tone causing him to smile as she made her way out of the room, Matt staying by Sofia's side for a few more minutes while Gabby went to go help their oldest daughter get ready for the day.

"Mommy! Mommy watch!"

Gabby looked up from her seat on the bench as Caitlyn was running around in the fenced in courtyard outside their home, a soft smile forming over her face as her and Jemma paused their conversation, both women giving the little girl their complete attention as she stood a few yards away from them.

"I can do a cartwheel! Wanna see?" She asked excitedly, Caitlyn tugging on the sleeves of her light jacket that was meant to keep her warm, as the chilly late March air blew around them. "I practiced lots! Nina at school showed me how!" She continued to explain as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, Gabby's smile widening at the mention of one of her school friends.

"Of course baby, let me see." She replied, Caitlyn smiling happily before she prepared herself for the trick, the little girl taking a few deep breaths before she did her cartwheel.

Though, in actuality, it was more her just putting both of her hands on the ground and lifting her legs up in the air for a split second, but regardless she still looked adorable, the wide smile on Caitlyn's face when she stood back up showing Gabby just how proud of herself she was.

"Did you see! Mommy, I did a cartwheel." She boasted, Gabby nodding before giving her a few enthusiastic claps, Jemma mimicking her actions as well as Caitlyn's bright smile only continued to grow.

"I did see honey, you did great. I can tell you've been practicing." She told her, those words of encouragement being exactly what Caitlyn was waiting to hear as she continued bouncing up and down happily.

"Thank you Mommy, I have!" She repeated before she moved back to her original spot. "I wanna practice more, to show Daddy!" She spoke, earning an understanding nod from her mom.

"Oh, I know he'll love it, baby." Dawson told her, Caitlyn nearly giddy with excitement before she continued on with her version of cartwheels, Gabby watching on with a soft smile for a few more moments before she looked away.

Her vision stopped on her youngest daughter for a moment, Gabby seeing Sofia still sitting contently in the grass a few feet away, playing with her toys, the baby preoccupied enough to where she didn't need anyone's attention right now.

"You all should get her into some gymnastics classes." Jemma spoke up softly, her voice gaining Gabby's attention as the older woman looked towards her best friend, only to find Norris still watching her oldest goddaughter. "I mean, the kid's a natural… And with all the energy she has, I feel like she'd do well with something like that." She continued on as she glanced at her friend.

"Yeah, we've thought about it." Gabby told her, Jemma raising her eyebrows slightly as Dawson nodded. "Or doing something like that, for both of the girls… I know Sofia's a little young, but it couldn't hurt. And with Caitlyn, I think it would be good for her, to get her around more kids… Socialize her a bit more." She explained, Jemma nodding in response. "I know she has her friends at school, but as long as she's comfortable, we think it would be good for her. Maybe get her and Sof enrolled in some classes during the summer, see how they like it."

"I'm sure they'll love it."

"Oh, I'm sure they will too." Gabby replied with a nod. "It's something we'd been wanting to do, but with everything that happened, it kind of got put on the backburner for a bit… just like a lot of things." She breathed out, Jemma frowning softly as she reached out to rub her friend's arm.

"That's understandable, though." Jemma chimed in, Gabby giving her a soft smile before she looked back over towards her kids. "You all have been dealing with a lot."

"Yeah, we have…" She spoke, Jemma continuing to rub Gabby's arm comfortingly as she shot her a sympathetic look. "But now that we're through the worst of it, I'd definitely like for things to be a little more normal around here."

"I'm sure." She agreed, patting her forearm softly before returning her hands to her lap. "But, uh, since we're talking about it, how are you feeling?" Jemma asked, that question being a frequent one in the Casey household as of late.

"I'm doing alright." Gabby responded with a slight shrug, her words earning a knowing nod from her friend. "I don't feel one hundred percent, I'm still sore, my chest hurts sometimes and my arm still gives me a little trouble here and there, but honestly I think that just may be how things are for me now." She continued to explain, that small frown returning to Jemma's face. "I don't think I'll ever get back to where I was, that this is my new normal… Which, after what happened, I guess is still a minor miracle."

"It is." Jemma answered her, Gabby offering up a weak smile. "You went through hell, but you're back on your feet. And that alone is incredible."

"Yeah, I guess it is… But overall, I feel good. It's frustrating sometimes, but I'm okay. And I've got my check up here in a few days back with Dr. Jennings, at the end of this week. Which, I'm hoping is when he'll give me the all clear to fully get back into my life." She rambled out, Jemma getting the feeling that she hadn't really had a chance to get all of this off her chest. So she let her speak, the younger paramedic not missing how Gabby would still occasionally look towards her children to make sure they were alright. "Or I'm at least hoping he'll give me more of an idea of when that'll be, when I can work again and just… not worry about any limitations, I guess."

"And you feel ready to do that?" Jemma asked before she could stop herself, the question causing Gabby to look her way once more. "Get back on the job, I mean?" She elaborated, watching her friend draw in a slow, deep breath. "Don't get me wrong, you know I want you back on that rig with me… Getting to work at 51 full time has been great, but the reason I was so excited about it was because of you." She continued on, her words bringing a small smile to Dawson's face. "I've missed my ambo buddy, and I can't wait to work with you again… But I just want to know you're ready for it."

"I feel ready." She answered her without much hesitation, Jemma giving her a small smile in response. "Or at least I think I do. I guess I won't know till I go back and find out if I'm ready, but I think I am." She spoke, Jemma nodding before her head fell to the side slightly.

"...And what about Casey?" She asked the question that had been on the tip of her tongue for a while, Gabby's bottom lip tucking in between her teeth as her spine straightened a bit. "How does he feel about all this… Getting back on the job and everything?" She pressed, her words earning nothing more than a slight shrug from her friend. "I mean, I know it hasn't even been a week since he tried to come back, so I figured you all would still take some time… Though he seemed to be alright when I saw him today. But I know him at home, and him on the job are two different things, so I wasn't sure if you all had really talked about it at all."

"We haven't, no… Not about going back to work." She told her, Jemma nodding understandingly. "He is feeling better, I know he is… Even though it's only been a few days, from what I can tell he's handling all this a little bit better than he was. Though we're still taking things a day at a time, you know? Things are still kind of hard for him, but we're getting through it as best we can… But yeah, with that, I'm not sure what the plan is. Even if I do get cleared, it's something we'll need to talk about." She confided, Jemma reaching out to grip her shoulder gently as a compassionate look shined in her eyes, Gabby ducking her head slightly as she took a few steadying breaths.

It was something they'd need to talk about, but truthfully Gabby wasn't sure how, as the last thing she wanted to do was rush back into this. At this point it was pretty clear to her that Matt had no plans to return to work until she could, and honestly she figured that was for the best. But if she did get the all clear later this week, she wasn't sure how that would go.

He was feeling better; she knew it, she saw it. But she also knew it hadn't been that long since he'd broken down in front of her, telling her that he was terrified of something happening to her. And those fears weren't something that would just disappear after a few conversations. He'd need time to work through all of this, time to truly come to terms with all of it, even if he was feeling better. And that was time she was more than willing to give him, as her main concern was making sure that she didn't rush him back into anything that he wasn't ready for. She had done that once before and it nearly ended terribly, so she refused to do that again. Even after she did get the all clear, she'd never push him to go back before he was ready.

But a part of her couldn't help but wonder that if she were to get cleared, that if everything went okay at her check up, that it would help him feel a little more secure in knowing that she truly was alright. That it might help let go of a few of those lingering doubts, that if she was fine enough to get back to work, that meant she truly was okay.

Or that's what she was hoping at least. But when it came down to it, all of this had to happen in his own time. And she'd be by his side every step of the way.

"But yeah, I guess to answer your question, I'm not sure what we're doing yet… We probably won't know for a while." She spoke after a moment, Jemma nodding once more. "I doubt we'll decide anything until we hear what the doctor says."

"Yeah, that's smart." Jemma replied, though neither woman had a chance to say much else as they heard someone calling out Dawson's name.

"Hey Gabby?"

Both women looked over towards the voice to find Matt standing outside the gate, just behind the entrance, there being an eagerness to his tone that Gabby couldn't quite place. And the look on her face wasn't giving her much more to go on, as she picked up on what almost seemed like excitement, but like he was trying to hide it.

"Can you come here for a second?" He asked, the woman nodding immediately before she stood up.

"Daddy! You're here!" Caitlyn spoke excitedly as she stopped her movements.

"Hi Caity."

"Can I show you something?" She asked eagerly, Matt giving her a soft nod before he responded.

"I need to talk to your Momma for a minute baby, can you show me when we get back?" He compromised, Caitlyn pondering over the request for a moment before she nodded.

"Okay! I can practice more." She replied, Matt giving her a smile in response.

"Thank you sweetheart… Gabby?" He prompted once more, his wife no less confused as to what he was wanting her to talk about. But she complied nonetheless.

"Yeah, I'm coming… Jemma, do you mind keeping an eye on them?" She asked her friend, as her gaze moved between her two girls, seeing both of them still deeply focused on their different games.

She knew there wasn't really anywhere for them to run off to, as there was only one way out of the fenced in courtyard, and there was no entrance from the main street. They were completely secure in here, but still, Gabby liked the reassurance that someone was keeping an eye on her babies.

"Of course, yeah." Jemma agreed, Gabby replying with a quiet 'thank you' before she headed towards her husband, his elation only becoming more and more evident the closer she got.

"Everything okay?" She asked, Matt nodding as he unlatched the gate and pushed it open for her.

"Everything's fine." He replied before he began to walk a bit down the road between the homes, Gabby only becoming more uncertain as she followed his path.

"Matt, what are we-" She tried, but he shook his head before he came to a stop, the parents now out of view from their children as Matt lifted up the phone that Gabby just now noticed in his hand in between them, her head tilting to the side slightly.

"Tina, are you still there?" He asked, Gabby's eyes widening before she looked down at his cell phone, seeing the name of the social worker across the screen.

"I'm here Matt… Did you get Gabby?" She asked, Gabby unable to stop the wide grin that spread across her face, the mother having a pretty good feeling as to what this call was for.

That this was the call they'd been waiting on for six months.

And by the look on Matt's face, he was feeling the exact same way.

"I did, she's here with me."

"Hi Tina." Gabby managed to get the words out, Matt reaching out to rest his free hand over her arm as neither one of them were able to wipe the smiles from their faces.

"Hi Gabby… I'm sorry to bother you all on a Monday, I'm sure you're busy. But this wasn't a call that I wanted to wait on, so let's just get to it… As you all know, there was a six month waiting period, before your all's adoption could officially go through. Where we needed to make sure this was the right fit for you all, and for Caitlyn. Which, we all know that little girl is exactly where she needs to be. But now that that time is almost up, that means we can finally get your all's adoption finalized. And Caitlyn will officially become your daughter."

The two parents shared knowing smiles, Matt giving her a strong nod as they couldn't contain their excitement.

"That's great, Tina." Casey breathed out, both parents a bit overwhelmed as it was one thing to know this day was coming. But for it to finally be here was something else entirely, Gabby's smile widening as she reached out for her husband. "That's… really, we're so excited."

"I know you are, and I know you've been waiting for this for a long time. But the day is finally here… And actually, I have the date for you all, the day when you'll finalize her adoption."

"You do?" Gabby asked in near disbelief.

"I do… It's April 22nd." She told him, tears gathering in Gabby's eyes as she looked up at her husband, Matt smiling wide before he gave her a quick nod. "April 22nd, is when you all are set to get in front of the judge, and have him sign off on the adoption… Then she'll legally be your daughter."

It was nearly impossible for Gabby to keep herself together, the sudden rush of emotions coursing through her too much handle as neither parent had been expecting this call today. They knew it was happening soon, but they hadn't anticipated it happening now.

But it was, and they couldn't be happier.

"I… Thank you, Tina." Matt spoke, his voice unsteady as he was fighting off his own tears, Gabby unable to keep hers at bay as they freely fell down her cheeks, her smile never faltering as he reached out to wipe away some of the water on her skin. "Really, thank you… For everything. This never would've happened without you."

"You don't need to thank me for anything, you and Gabby are the ones who put in the work here. Everything you've done for Caitlyn, what you're doing for her… You have changed her life. You all are the ones who have done the hard part, I just helped out along the way." She reminded them, Gabby swallowing thickly as her eyes fell closed, Matt's hand cupping her cheek as she moved a few inches towards him. "But we can talk about all of this more later… I'll have one more check in I'll have to do, before the court date. And there will be a few more legality things that need to get done, but we don't need to worry about that right now… Right now, just go and enjoy this time with your girls."

"Thank you." Matt replied, as Gabby was able to get many words out at the moment, the social worker and firefighter exchanging a few more pleasantries before he hung up the phone, Casey sliding it back into his pocket as he moved to stand in front of his wife.

"I… I don't know what to say." She breathed out, Gabby still clearly in a bit of shock from this unexpected phone call. But that feeling hadn't taken away from her excitement at all, as Matt stroked his thumb along her cheek. "...We have a date." She spoke softly, fresh tears flooding her eyes as she smiled up at him, Casey nodding quickly as both of their smiles grew. "We- We have a date, we know when she's gonna be ours…"

"We have a date." He repeated, Matt barely able to get the words out before she crashed into him, Gabby holding onto him as tightly as she could with her arms around his waist, the husband holding on just as tight as they soaked in this moment between the two of them.

It was finally here, what they'd been waiting on for months. The end of this long, and sometimes challenging road was in their sights, and within less than a month, Caitlyn would finally and forever be a part of their family. She'd be a Casey.

Here soon, their family would officially be complete. And they wouldn't have it any other way.