Hello there everyone! I hope you all are doing well, and had a great weekend. I'm back with the next chapter for you all, and I hope you like it.
But before we get into it, I just wanted to clarify something that I don't think I did a very good job of explaining, and someone had asked me about it so I'm sure more of you were curious, but yes, Gabby is going to be the PIC now that Brett is gone. She's had more years on the job, and more experience at 51 directly, so she'll be running the rig when she's fully back to work. Jemma is just temporarily doing the job until Gabby's ready. I should've done a better job of explaining that in the story, I'm sorry for any confusion. But hopefully that clears that up.
And also, so you all are aware, there won't be an update for this story next week. I'm going on vacation with my family, and I won't have time to get another chapter done while I'm there, so none of my other stories will be updated next week either. But I should be back the week after, I just wanted to let you all know ahead of time!
But other than that, that's all I've got. Thank you all so much for reading!
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Two
"Here you go, babe." Casey spoke as he placed the plate full of pancakes, bacon, and eggs down in front of his wife, Gabby looking away from her phone to the food just as he set a glass of juice down beside it.
"Thanks Matt." She responded softly just as she looked up at him, the man smiling before pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head, the couple zoning out from all the movement of the firehouse around them for a few lingering seconds. The other first responders in the house were gathered throughout the room, hoping to get a meal in before being called out, while Casey took to enjoying this moment with his wife. But eventually he pulled back after placing another kiss against her head, Matt rubbing his hand over her shoulder before silently heading back towards the counter to get his own breakfast while Gabby took a bite of the food he'd brought her, the couple continuing to get settled back into their routine here at 51.
It was the start of their second shift back at the firehouse, and while Matt and Gabby were still slowly working on getting themselves adjusted to the pace and demands of their job, they'd say that things were going well for them so far. Though they hadn't been back long enough for everything to be the same as it had been, their first shift back went relatively well, despite a few hard moments here and there.
There had been a hiccup or two, as those nerves hadn't completely gone away, that being something that would take more than one shift. But overall they were doing okay with the mental aspect of it, or as okay as they could be. What was more troublesome, for Casey at least, was the way Gabby's body was responding to being back at work. He'd had his worries about it since their first day back, though she'd tried to brush it off and tell him she was fine, but he knew after last shift she was feeling pretty worn down; so much so that she'd spent nearly the entire next day either in bed or on the couch. And her exhaustion hadn't gotten much better yesterday either, as physically, this was a lot on her, and she still needed time to get back to where she was.
Though, from Dr. Jennings' words, they both knew this might be her new normal. That because of the extreme trauma her body went through, this tiredness and lingering soreness she felt while doing her job might not ever go away, and it would just be something she'd have to live with for as long as she wanted to continue her career. But they weren't there yet, as they both needed a few more shifts under their belt to fully see how they were feeling being back. So for now they were trying not to focus on it too much, Matt just being a bit more mindful and helping her out whenever and wherever he could, which Gabby was sure is what prompted him getting her breakfast.
But Gabby's limitations weren't the only thing they were worried about, as both of them were still concerned about their girls and how they were handling this change. Caitlyn especially, Matt and Gabby had made sure to give her all the assurance and support she needed, as they knew she was having a harder time with this than her sister. Given the age difference, and Sofia only understanding so much that went on around her, that wasn't surprising, but still, both parents just wanted to make sure their little girl was doing okay with them being back at work. That both of them were okay.
And luckily, they seemed to be doing a bit better, as even with this only being their second day back, the girls had handled their departure this morning much better than they had a few days ago. Whether it be because they'd kept their promise of everything being okay after their first shift, or because the children had been able to come here and see for themselves that everything was fine, neither parent knew the exact reason. All they knew is that it seemed like their babies were doing okay with all of this.
They still had their moments, just like Gabby and Matt did, as Caitlyn wasn't able to shake all her worry about this, her slight bit of hesitation this morning before they left just one giveaway to some of those lingering nerves. Then with Sofia, they knew she just didn't like being away from them after spending these last few weeks all together, and it was clear Caitlyn was trying to adjust to that as well. There were still those times where they needed extra love and assurance, and promises that everything was okay. But they were trying to come to terms with this and move past it, all of them were. And aside from a few challenges here and there, they were all adapting well to them being back on the job, which was something Matt and Gabby were extremely grateful for.
And it gave them the room to be glad about being back at work, too. With their girls doing better, and they themselves feeling a little more steady, they were able to really focus on the job, and being back at the firehouse with their friends who felt more like family. And even though they still had a long way to go, Dawson and Casey were feeling better about being here than they had in a long time, as this place was finally starting to feel like their home again.
"Yeah, I think you definitely made too much food, Jemma." Otis commented back from the counter as the sound of his voice pulled Dawson from her thoughts, the paramedic taking another bite of her eggs before she picked up her phone and continued scrolling through the information she'd been looking at earlier.
"Knowing this crowd, I don't think it'll be a problem Otis." She responded from her spot across from Dawson, the temporary PIC wearing a proud smirk on her face before taking a bite of her toast.
"Just be grateful we have someone cooking for us at all, man." Joe replied as Matt came to sit down beside his wife, though Gabby was too preoccupied by what she was looking at to notice.
"Yeah, really." Severide chimed in from across the room in his seat at the smaller table next to Kidd. "And at least it's someone who can actually cook, unlike when you two are in the kitchen."
"Hey, I'm not that bad." Cruz defended, Severide merely shooting him a look before everyone continued on with their meal, the chatter breaking off into smaller groups as they were just grateful to eat uninterrupted.
But as the minutes went on, it was hard for Casey to miss how Gabby had hardly eaten anything, her focus still on her phone while, aside from a few bites, her breakfast was untouched. And by the look on Norris' face, she'd noticed it, too.
"You alright, Gabby?" She asked first after her and Casey had shared a look, the question managing to get her attention rather easily.
"Hmm?" She hummed in response as she looked up, finding two pairs of eyes on her.
"I was asking if you were alright… You seem pretty glued to that phone, there." She repeated, her words gaining the attention of some others in the room as Gabby placed her cell phone back down on the table.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine." She replied easily, Gabby taking a sip of her drink before continuing on. "I'm just trying to get a few last things in order for Caity's birthday tomorrow." She explained, Jemma smiling softly before she nodded.
"I'm guessing she's still just as excited as she was yesterday when I saw her?"
"Even more, I think." Casey piped in, both women laughing softly as Gabby caught his gaze. "She was practically bouncing off the walls this morning… It's a good thing she doesn't have school today, I'm not sure she'd be able to calm down enough to sit in a classroom."
"I don't doubt that for a second." Norris agreed with a smirk.
"Yeah, she's really looking forward to it, and so are we. I just hope we can get home in time tomorrow before she wakes up." Gabby told her, Jemma's eyebrows raising slightly in question before her friend started to elaborate. "Since it's her first birthday with us, we want the whole day to be special… And Matt and I have a few things planned that we want to do when she first wakes up, but that's only if we can get there." She explained, seeing the understanding look that covered her friend's face.
"I'm sure it'll be fine… That kid can sleep when she wants to." She responded with a smile, Gabby and Matt both nodding as they knew how true her words could be. "But I'm sure Boden wouldn't mind you all leaving a little bit earlier, if you feel like you need to… I mean, we're not you all, but I think Herrmann and I could handle things solo for the last hour or so of shift."
"What's this?" Herrmann asked from across the room, the older man having clearly heard his name as Dawson did her best to stifle her laughter.
"Just say yes, Herrmann." Jemma called back, the firefighter narrowing his eyes slightly before he shrugged.
"Alright, sure." He gave in, a proud look flashing in Norris' eyes.
"See? We'd be fine." She replied brightly, Matt releasing a soft scoff as he looked between his friend and his wife.
"Well, we appreciate that, but we'll just see how things go." He replied, Jemma mulling over his words for a moment before she nodded back at him.
But none of them were able to get another word in before the bells went off, calling 61 out to a house a few blocks from here, Matt's focus shifting when he registered all the food still on Gabby's plate.
"Here, take this." He said as Gabby pushed her chair back, Matt handing her the apple he'd gotten for himself to eat with his breakfast. "Just in case." He pressed, his words being met with a small smile before she took the food from him.
"Thank you." She responded, Gabby running her hand along his back as she passed him, Matt uttering a soft 'be safe' before they headed off towards their call.
With their three paramedics gone, the room was a little emptier, everyone continuing to eat their food while they had the chance, as Casey could hear multiple conversations going on around him. But he didn't really have an interest in any of them, the Captain finishing up his food before he pushed the plate aside and pulled out his own phone, as he himself had a few things he'd been wanting to look at too.
Though this had nothing to do with Caitlyn's birthday, like Gabby had been focused on earlier, but instead this was something else entirely. Something he didn't really want Gabby to know about just yet.
But with him being so consumed by the screen in front of him, he didn't notice any of the movement behind him, as Severide had left his seat at the other table and come over to him, as Casey had been on his own since the girls left. But when he got up behind him, Kelly's eyebrows furrowed as he looked over whatever Matt had been so focused on, the firefighter's curiosity getting the best of him.
"Are you doing party stuff, too?" He asked, Casey tensing slightly at the sudden voice behind him, as he'd been so caught up in his thoughts he hadn't heard him.
"Jesus Kelly." He muttered under his breath, missing the sheepish look that fell over Severide's face as he continued to stand behind him, Matt moving his phone down to rest on the table.
"Sorry." He replied with a slight grin, his eyes flashing towards the phone before looking back towards his friend, Severide moving to stand by his side before he spoke up. "But really, what were you doing?" He asked, Matt's spine straightening for a moment before he shook his head.
"Oh, uh… It's nothing." He answered lamely, Severide's eyebrows raising out of sheer curiosity as it was clear Casey was lying. But he didn't bother pushing him on it, as he merely grabbed his phone instead, the Lieutenant getting it before Matt could stop him.
"Kelly-"
"The Peninsula Spa." He read off the words in front of him, Matt not bothering to hide his glare before he ripped his phone out of his friend's hands. "...What's that?"
"Nothing." He responded, their conversation having gained the room's attention as Kelly crossed his arms over his chest.
"Are you taking a trip?" He continued to prod, Matt huffing out a breath before he shook his head. "Well, you're obviously doing something…"
Releasing another deep breath, Matt moved his chair back before nodding out towards the hallway, the man heading in that direction first before Severide followed after them, both of them ignoring the stares they were surely getting from their friends.
"What's with all the secrecy?" Severide asked with a curious look once they had some separation from the common room, Matt rolling his eyes as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.
"It's not a secret, really, just not something that needs to be broadcasted to the firehouse." He told him, Kelly's head tilting to the side as he waited for more of an explanation. "Not to mention Gabby doesn't even know yet, and I'd rather her find out from me than Herrmann or Capp."
"Find out what?" He questioned, Kelly's eyes moving down towards the pocket where Matt had put his phone before he looked back to his friend. "Are you taking her to a spa or something?"
"I am, or I'm trying to." He replied, Severide nodding understandingly as he waited for him to go on, Matt rolling out his neck before releasing a soft sigh. "It's just… things have been so hectic for us, and hard. Really hard. Between the accident, and dealing with that… and everything with the girls, it's just been really difficult on all of us. Gabby particularly." He spoke, Kelly nodding once more as he'd seen first hand just how true Casey's words were.
"But now that Gabby's feeling a little better, I thought it would be a good time for this. Especially with some of that pain she's been having." He continued to explain, as he knew Kelly had been around for some of those conversations. "I think something like this could help with that."
"You're such a good husband." He cut in teasingly, Matt scoffing lightly before he shook his head.
"Anyway, the point of all this was that I think Gabby deserves to have a bit of a break. Just a nice day for herself, and me I guess, away from everything else." Casey said, Severide nodding in agreement as a soft smile covered his face. "Some time for her to relax, and not have to worry about anything for a little while. And something that'll, hopefully, make it a little easier on her to be working again."
"I think that sounds great, man." Kelly responded.
"Yeah?"
"Of course. And Dawson will love it." He told him, his words causing Matt's smile to grow before he nodded.
"I think she will, yeah." He agreed. "I mean, it's not gonna be anything too crazy… Just an overnight thing, as long as both of the girls are okay."
"I can help with them, if you need me to."
"I'll probably take you up on that… They're doing better, being away from us, so I don't think it'll be an issue. We'll just need people to stay with them. So I figured between you, Jemma, and Ramon…"
"We'll figure it out, you don't worry about that part." Severide assured him, Matt drawing in a slow breath before he nodded.
"But yeah, as long as the girls are taken care of and okay, I was thinking about doing it next week… After Caitlyn's birthday, but before her adoption." He explained, Casey unable to stop the way his face lit up at the sheer mention of that upcoming day, his own excitement causing Severide to grin as well. "I thought it would be nice to do something for me and Gabby before that happens- not that anything will really change for us, at least not in our day to day lives. But it's still a big thing, one of the biggest things that's ever happened to us, so I figured a little one on one time with Gabby before then couldn't hurt." He explained, Severide understanding exactly what he meant.
Though that didn't stop Casey from continuing on.
"I mean, don't get me wrong, I love our girls and I wouldn't change a thing, but-"
"You want some time with your wife." He cut him off, Matt pursing his lips together before he nodded.
"Yeah." He huffed out, Severide chuckling dryly before he clasped his hand over his shoulder.
"I get it, man." He responded with a smile. "You and Gabby are like, the best parents in the world. Really, Sof and Caitlyn are some lucky kids. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve some time for the two of you. And you don't need to feel bad about wanting that with your wife." Kelly told him, his words helping to alleviate some of the small doubts in the back of Matt's mind. "You two do everything for those girls, it can't hurt to do something for yourselves, too. And, like you said, after what you two have gone through… You all deserve this." He finished, Matt offering him a small smile in return before he spoke up.
"Thanks Sev." He responded softly, the man nodding before he blew out a heavy breath. "And that's exactly why I want to do this for us, because I don't want Gabby and I to get lost in all this." He spoke honestly, Kelly hanging on his every word. "Not more than we already have. Cause there's so much going on in our lives right now- some amazing stuff, and some that's not as great, but it's still a lot. So I want a chance for us to just be us… For her and I have some time for the two of us, and I feel like Gabby needs it, too." He finished quietly, as he was aware they weren't completely alone in the firehouse.
"I'm sure she does. And it's been a long time since you've done anything for just the two of you, so I think it's a great idea." Severide assured him, Matt taking another deep breath before he nodded, Kelly not missing the small smile that returned to his face. "You and Dawson should definitely do it. And like I told you, we'll make sure the girls are good."
"Thanks, Kelly." He told him once more, Severide waving him off before he took a slight step backwards.
"Nothing to thank me for." He replied, as he continued back towards the common room. "Just give me the day and Stella and I will plan something nice, and hopefully tiring, for the girls."
Casey chuckled softly at his friend's words just as he disappeared through the doorway, the Captain shaking his head lightly before he followed in that same direction, Matt silently hoping that they'd have a bit of an easy morning at the firehouse so he could finish getting the plans in order for Gabby's surprise.
"You think she's still asleep?" Gabby asked eagerly as Matt pulled up to the curb in front of their home, the warm air blowing through the vents protecting them from the cool chill in the air outside as Casey put his truck in park.
Checking the time on his watch, Matt smiled softly before he nodded, Gabby undoing her seatbelt before they began to get out of the vehicle. "I'm sure she is, it's still early… And when you texted Becca five minutes ago, she was. So I doubt she's woken up yet." He reminded her, a sheepish look covering her face as he grabbed their shift bags out of the back.
"Yeah, you're right… I'm just excited for today, I want it all to go perfectly." Gabby breathed out as he came around to stand next to her on the sidewalk, Matt matching her grin before he leaned in for a quick kiss.
"I know you do, but she's gonna have a great birthday regardless." He spoke softly, Gabby nodding in agreement before the couple headed for their front door, both hoping to be met by a quiet home when they got inside.
It definitely was still early, earlier than it typically would've been for them to be home as they ended up taking Jemma's advice yesterday and leaving shift a little early, Boden agreeing to their request without issue as he knew how important of a day this was. Even though both of them felt a little weird about it, given how much time they'd missed already, now that they were home, they were so glad they'd done it. And considering how light their shift had been anyway, the first responders couldn't imagine they'd missed much during the last hour of work.
Though 61 had been called out pretty early into shift, Casey had been right in his hopes for an easy day, as most companies spent a large majority of shift at the firehouse. For whatever reason, it had been a slow day, making it an easy one for the couple still trying to find their footing back at work, as neither of them had really been given much to do aside from a call here or there.
But now their time at the firehouse was over, and they were able to completely focus on what was really important today; and that was their little girl's birthday, as the parents were just so glad to be home, both of them ready to soak up this entire day with their daughters.
After getting their front door unlocked, Matt pushed it open before stepping aside so his wife could walk in, Gabby giving him a thankful smile before she moved into their home. While dropping their things by the door, it wasn't lost on either of them how it was exactly as quiet as they'd hoped it would be, as they walked further inside to find Becca sitting on the couch.
"Hey guys." She greeted, shifting her weight to the edge of her seat as the parents moved towards her.
"Hey, are the girls still asleep?" Gabby asked, Becca immediately nodding before holding out the baby monitor towards her.
"They are, they're both out." She responded softly, the smile on Dawson's face growing when she saw her girls sleeping soundly in their beds.
"So things went well yesterday?" Casey asked as the nanny stood up, small grins covering all of their faces as, from the many updates the parents got yesterday, they knew how good of a day it had been for their girls.
Though everything at the firehouse had been pretty typical for them, the same couldn't be said for the day their daughter had, as Becca had planned a special afternoon for Caitlyn's birthday. With today being the big day, Becca had set it up for her and Caity to have a nice day yesterday with just the two of them, the girl and her nanny going out to eat as well as going to the movies, while Sofia spent that time with her grandfather, both girls absolutely loving the one on one time they'd gotten as the attention was able to solely be on them.
"Yeah it went well, Caity had a great time." Becca replied with a firm nod. "She was so excited, and she kept saying how she felt like such a big girl, getting to go out with just the two of us." She added on, the parents sharing a laugh before they nodded back at her. "I know I sent you pictures, but I have a few more I can send later, cause she had a great time. And everything I heard from Ramon, Sofia did great, too."
"Yeah, that's what my dad said." Gabby spoke as he glanced up towards her husband, Matt soon nodding in agreement.
"She had a great time with him. But then he brought her back around six last night, and it was a pretty early night after that. They both ate dinner, and had baths, and they went to sleep soon after… Though Caity was a little harder, cause she was so excited about today." She filled them in on everything they'd missed in their absence, both parents listening intently as they always loved to hear about the girls' day. "But yeah, it's been pretty quiet since they went to bed. They both slept through the night."
"Good, that's good." Matt told her as he rubbed his hand over Gabby's back, Becca nodding in agreement before she looked around.
"Well, if you all don't need me for anything else, I think I'm gonna head out." She told them, as an understanding look crossed the couple's faces. "But I'll be back for her birthday party."
"Yeah, of course, you can get out of here. Thanks for watching them."
"Absolutely." She replied before moving around to grab her things, Matt walking with her to the door to let her out, while Gabby headed for the kitchen. "I'll see you all this afternoon." She added, both parents saying their goodbyes before she left.
And once they were alone, they immediately started to get things ready for when Caitlyn woke up, Matt going to grab the balloons and presents they'd stashed away in the laundry room, while Gabby got all the cupcakes set out on a plate. Though it was definitely earlier than they'd allow this type of food on any normal day, today was different, and cupcakes with their breakfast seemed essential for the celebrations.
Soon enough, everything was all set up, the counter in their kitchen holding on her birthday balloons, cupcakes, and some of the decorations they'd gotten. But what they knew Caitlyn would be most excited for was the presents, as most of those set up on the island with everything else. And even though they were saving her biggest present for later at her party, the parents wanted her to have some things to open this morning, Gabby sparing another glance at the clock before looking towards Matt.
But before either of them could say a word, they heard soft cries through the baby monitor, a small smile forming over Casey's face before he looked down towards the screen.
"Looks like Sof's awake… Guess we should head up there." He told her, Gabby nodding in agreement before they started heading towards the stairs, Matt following his wife up to their second floor after he'd stopped to get her a sippy cup. And the closer they got, the more they were able to hear their youngest daughter's whines, as the parents headed for her room first.
Trying to be mindful of their oldest still sleeping nearby, they were both quiet as they walked into Sofia's room, the baby now standing up in her crib with her pacifier nearly hanging out of her mouth, one hand latched onto her bed while the other was holding onto one of her beloved stuffed animals. But the second she saw them, the cries stopped, a wide toothy grin spreading over her face causing the pacifier to fall down into her crib, Sofia dropping the toy as well as she immediately reached out for her parents.
"Good morning, baby." Gabby murmured as she walked over to her, the mother using her hand to try and smooth out some of her unruly curls, as it was pretty clear their little girl had a good night's rest.
"Mama, up!" She requested, her eyes widening as Matt came into her view when he came to a stop beside his wife. "Up! Up!" She continued on, Casey chuckling softly before he reached out to wipe away some of the drool covering her chin, Matt pinching her cheeks gently before he moved to pick her up.
"I've got you, baby." He spoke softly as he settled her on his hip, before handing her the cup full of milk, Sofia eagerly accepting the drink as Casey pressed a few kisses to her head. "Momma and I missed you, sweet girl." He whispered into her hair, Gabby unable to fight off her smile as she rubbed their daughter's back. "But we heard you had a great day with your Abeulo." He continued talking to her, though Sofia wasn't so much concerned with what he was saying, as she was just happy to be with her parents, the little girl nuzzling her head down against her father.
"We should probably go get Caity up." Gabby spoke up after a moment, Matt nodding in agreement before he took a slight step backwards towards the dresser.
"Yeah, we should… Just let me change her real quick and we can go." He replied, Gabby nodding understandingly before Matt moved across the room to begin the process of changing Sofia's diaper. Luckily, as they'd had a lot of practice, the task was completed rather quickly, Sofia zipped back up comfortably in her onesie before Casey held her in his arms once more, Gabby disposing of everything before they headed out of the nursery and over to Caitlyn's room.
With each step, the parents were getting more and more excited, as they couldn't wait to share this first birthday with their daughter. And they knew Caitlyn was feeling the exact same way, which made this all the better for them, as Gabby slowly opened the door to their now six year old's bedroom.
And the sight they were met with brought a huge smile to both their faces, as they saw Caitlyn sitting up in bed, a wide grin resting over her lips as they could already see how happy she was. She seemed more alert than either of them would've expected, given that she'd just been sleeping moments earlier, but regardless it was clear she was wide awake now. And she looked about as ecstatic as they had ever seen her.
"Happy birthday, Caity!" Gabby said first before any other words could be said.
"Happy birthday, baby." Matt echoed happily, their words causing her smile to widen, which was something they didn't think was possible as she threw the covers off of her little body, Caitlyn scrambling to get out of bed.
"Thank you! It's my birthday!" She cheered happily as she ran over to them, the child colliding with Gabby first as she held onto her mom as tight as she could, Dawson returning the favor while pressing multiple kisses to the top of her head.
"It is your birthday, happy birthday sweetheart." She said again, giving her one last hug before she moved to her dad.
"Daddy! It's my birthday!" She repeated, Caitlyn too excited for her own good as her body was nearly shaking with enthusiasm, Matt and Gabby both laughing softly before he nodded, the father reaching down to pick her up with his free arm as he balanced both girls in his arms.
"I know it is, honey. Happy birthday." He told her before peppering her face with kisses, her loud laughs causing Sofia to giggle as well as the one year old was just happy to be around everyone, Caitlyn wrapping her arms around her dad's neck as Casey kept a secure grip on the both of them. "Can you say happy birthday, Sof? It's Caity's birthday." Matt prompted softly as he adjusted the girl in his arm, Sofia smiling wide as she looked towards her sister.
"Kay Kay!" She repeated, her few words earning a laugh from the parents as Caitlyn's own smile grew. "Kay Kay." She continued on, her pronunciation of her sister's name followed by a few unintelligible sounds, as it was clear the little girl was trying to repeat what her dad had said.
But it was close enough for them all to understand her, Caitlyn leaning forward to give her sister a quick hug and a kiss, despite the awkward angle, before she pulled back. "Thank you Sof, I love you." She told her, both parents watching on at the heartwarming scene as there was nothing quite like seeing their girls together.
"So are you excited for today, honey?" Casey asked after a moment, all of the little girl's enthusiasm rushing back as she nodded frantically.
"Yeah!" She replied as she gently bounced in his arms, Gabby reaching out to place her hand over Caity's back to keep her steady. "I have my party, and I turn six!" She told them, her words kind of all over the place as it was clear her little mind was trying to keep up with her own excitement, Gabby and Matt both sharing a laugh before they nodded. "And I'm with my family on my birthday! This is the best day ever!"
Though her words were full of joy, they hit both the parents harder than expected, as it was just another reminder of how much their daughter had gone through in her short life. How last year she had been God knows where on her birthday, likely not getting the love she deserved, as she'd been bounced around from place to place.
But that wasn't her life anymore, and she'd never had to worry about being without her family ever again, none of them wanting to linger on that feeling as a water smile covered Gabby's face.
"Yeah baby, you're with your family." She replied softly, Caitlyn grinning proudly as she looked between her parents. "And we love you so much."
"I love you, too." She responded happily, Gabby blinking back the few tears in her eyes before glancing towards her husband, seeing a similar look shining over his face, as well. "So much." She repeated, Gabby nodding as she looked back towards her before rubbing her hand over her stomach. "And I love my birthday." She added on, Matt stifling a laugh before he shook his head, their daughter's lively antics sending a rush of warmth through them both as they knew how special today was for her.
"We know you do, baby… So what do you say we go downstairs and get your birthday started, yeah?" Gabby suggested, Caitlyn's eyes growing wide before she nodded quickly, her gaze flashing between her parents.
"Yeah! Yeah, I wanna go downstairs." She spoke eagerly, Gabby laughing softly before looking back towards Matt.
"Alright, well then let's go." She prompted before she began walking out of the room, Casey following behind her with both girls still in his arms.
He was careful as he went down the steps, as he had part of his entire world in his arms, but the second they got down to the first floor, Caitlyn was desperate to be put down once she saw what had been set up for her, a surprised gasp leaving her lips just as he placed her on the ground. Hurrying towards the counter, she looked over everything she could see, all the presents and balloons and everything made just for her, as Sofia waddled after her.
"Well, what do you think, Caity?" Gabby asked as she stood behind her, running her fingers through the young girl's hair while they both waited for a response.
But the one they got wasn't what they were expecting, as Caitlyn's jaw began to tremble, before heavy tears filled her eyes, the girl soon crying before either parent could realize what was happening. Though it took them no time to react at all, as Gabby had crouched down and wrapped her up in her arms within seconds.
"Honey, it's okay." She soothed, the parents sharing a concerned look as they weren't sure what had caused her intense reaction. Though they both had a few ideas, as they were sure that she was a little overwhelmed. And given how they could tell her cries weren't unhappy ones, they knew she was still excited about today, just that it was all a little too much for her at once. "It's okay." She repeated, the little girl hugging her tightly before she pulled back, Matt standing behind Gabby while the both of them watched her intently.
"This is for me." She stated, a sad smile covering Gabby's face before she nodded.
"It is, baby." Dawson replied as she wiped away some of her tears. "This is all for you, because today's your big day." She continued on with a gentle look, Caitlyn sniffling softly before she nodded. "You don't need to cry Caity, it's okay." She told her, her warm voice soothing the little girl as she nodded once more.
"I'm not sad." She replied a little shakily, a weak smile forming across Casey's face as he knew their daughter was trying her best to communicate with them in ways she knew how.
"We know, honey. It's okay." Gabby reassured her before pulling her in for another hug, Caitlyn holding onto her tightly before moving to give her dad a hug, as well.
"I love you." She murmured, Matt giving her a little extra squeeze before he repeated her words, Gabby watching on at the two of them as Caitlyn's next words caused more tears to fill both their eyes, the parents knowing just how grateful their little girl was to have them in her life.
"...You're the best Mommy and Daddy in the whole world."
"Caitlyn, slow down honey… You too, Matt." Gabby warned from her spot over by the table, a shy grin covering her husband's face before he continued to run around the obstacle course with their oldest daughter, Dawson shaking her head in amusement as Caitlyn's birthday party continued on.
They'd been here for a little over three hours already, as the indoor gym they'd booked for the day was beaming with all of Caitlyn's friends from school and their families, as well as everyone from the firehouse and their loved ones. They'd even invited a few of their friends from other firehouses, like Gabby's paramedic friend James, from when she'd been bouncing around to help at different houses, as he'd brought his wife and son for the celebration. And a few other people Gabby was sure she couldn't remember right now, as they really had gone all out for Caitlyn's first birthday with them. But seeing just how thankful their daughter was made it all worth it, as little Caitlyn was having the time of her life.
But the children weren't the only ones having a good time, as all the adults were enjoying the party just as much.
When trying to decide on what to do for her birthday, they had limited options, as April weather in Chicago was always unpredictable, and they couldn't rely on doing anything outdoors. So with them being stuck with more inside types of activities, Gabby and Matt had to get creative on what to do for their little girl, and after a while of searching they'd come across this place online.
Neither parent was sure what to make of it at first, but it had been better than either of them thought as the indoor playground had as much to entertain the kids as it did the adults. Between the child-sized slides, bounce houses, and obstacle courses, as well as the adult-sized version of those too, everyone had been thoroughly entertained the entire day. And even though Gabby was still taking it easy, the mother opting to stay sidelined on the more physically intensive games and let Matt do those with Caitlyn, while she stayed and played with Sofia in the area geared more for her age group, they'd all had an incredible time.
And Caitlyn had been sure to let both her parents know it every change she got.
Whether it was when they arrived, or when they were eating their food. When they'd brought out her cake and everyone sang happy birthday, or when they opened presents and Caitlyn had been surprised with the bike she'd been wanting since Christmas- no matter what it was, or what she was doing, Caitlyn took every opportunity to express how grateful she was, and how much she loved her parents. And it had made all of this worth it.
Seeing her little girl having the time of her life, with her friends and her family, it filled Gabby with a sense of peace that didn't happen all too often. But it was a feeling that only Matt and her girls had ever been able to provide her with.
"The party seems to be going well."
Gabby looked up when she heard the familiar voice, a soft smile forming across her face as she saw her dad come to a stop beside her, Ramon crossing his arms over his chest as he looked out towards the room where all the children, and adults, were playing.
"Yeah, everyone's having a great time… Though we might've gone a little overboard." Gabby admitted with a slight look of embarrassment in her eyes, Ramon clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth to stop the soft laugh from escaping.
"Possibly… But Caitlyn deserves it." He told her, Gabby nodding in agreement as her eyes moved back out to find her oldest daughter, it being pretty easy to locate her with her father as Matt was far too tall for all the child-sized toys he was around.
"Yeah, she does. We just wanted her to have a nice day."
"I think it's safe to say she's having an incredible day." He corrected her, Gabby ducking her head for a quick moment as Ramon reached out to rub his hand over her back. "Both your girls are, they're having a great time." He added on, Gabby lifting her head before her gaze instinctively moved around the room, trying to find her youngest daughter. And soon enough she located her, Sofia playing over on the small slide with James' son Patrick, while Jemma was supervising her. "From what I can tell, Caitlyn's had a great birthday."
"She has, which is all we wanted." Gabby breathed out, an understanding look covering Ramon's face as his daughter had confided in him more than once about why he wanted to make sure this day was so special for Caitlyn. And, as a father, it was something he understood completely, Ramon knowing how much Gabby worried about what all Caity had experienced before coming into their home.
And that was just part of why she wanted to make today so special. Though, from what he could tell, she had done all that and more.
"I know, Gabriela." He murmured softly as he patted her back, Gabby responding with a small smile before he continued on. "I know you just want this to be a special day for her, but I hope you realize how you've done that for her every day since you met her." He told her, the younger Dawson looking towards him with furrowed brows, as she waited for what he was going to say next. "You and Matthew, you've done everything for that girl… You've given her so much love and kindness, so much stability. You've given her a family." He spoke honestly, Ramon nodding slowly when he saw the look in her eye. "You completely changed her life, you've given her a chance to have a great life, and I hope you see that, mija."
Gabby swallowed the thick lump that had formed in the back of her throat as a few tears sat in her eyes, Ramon giving her a warm smile before he continued.
"As far as I'm concerned, from what I know about how things were before she met you, you and Matt saved her life."
"Papa…"
"I know, I know, I'm not trying to make you cry." He apologized as he pulled her in for a side hug, Gabby wiping away a few of the tears that had fallen, as her dad's words really resonated with her. And, given the high emotions of the day already, she was a little more all over the place than usual. "I just wanted to let you know how proud of you I am, of you and Matthew, and the life you've created for yourselves… And I'm so thankful for the two beautiful, and wonderful grandbabies you've given me."
A soft smile formed over her lips, Gabby wiping under her eyes one last time before she leaned into her dad's side, Ramon kissing the top of her head gently. "Thank you, Papa." She all but whispered, Ramon smiling against her as the father and daughter stood here for a few more moments before they went their separate ways, Gabby wanting to spend as much time with her girls today as she could.
"You need any help getting her to bed?" Gabby asked as they stepped into their quiet home, the family of four coming in through the garage as Caitlyn walked in first, followed by Gabby and then Matt, who was holding a sleeping Sofia.
Shaking his head lightly, the three of them continued inside, Casey not bothering to shut the door to the garage as he knew they'd be going in and out to bring in all of Caitlyn's presents, and given how he'd already made sure the garage door was all the way down before even getting his family out of the car, he knew they were all safe inside their home. "No, it's okay, I've got her." He replied quietly as his hand cradled the back of Sofia's head, the child still deep asleep as she hadn't even woken up when Casey took her from her carseat. "I'll be back in a minute." He told her, Gabby nodding before she walked further inside, seeing Caitlyn already sitting up on the couch, the six year old focused on the new toy she'd gotten tonight that was currently in her hands.
Seeing her so content, Gabby decided to let her be as she headed back out into the garage to begin bringing in some of her presents, as well as the leftover food they had from the party, the Casey's coming home with much more than they've left the house with. But the day had absolutely been worth it, as Caitlyn's birthday was one they'd all remember for a very long time, Gabby not able to lose the content smile on her face while she worked on getting things inside.
She was careful, Dawson leaving the heavier gifts, like her bike, to Matt, as the last thing she needed to do was overexert herself, but by the time her husband came back downstairs, she'd gotten the car almost completely emptied, with Caitlyn's mound of toys by the door while the food and cake was put in the fridge.
"Well, it looks like you didn't even need my help." Casey spoke softly before he began to pull her bike out of the back, Gabby shaking her head lightly as he lifted the gift with ease, placing the bright purple bike with training wheels down on the ground and out of the way.
"You realize we're gonna have to teach her how to ride that thing now, don't you?" She asked, Matt shrugging softly as he shut the trunk door.
"We can handle it." He replied simply, Casey stopping to give his wife a kiss before he reached for her hand and led her inside, the man switching off the light in the garage before shutting and locking the door.
"Sofia get down okay?" Gabby asked as they shed their shoes and jackets, Casey nodding in response just as they finished their easy task.
"She did… Didn't move a muscle even when I changed her, she really was tired."
"Well, running around with the big kids all day will do that." Dawson quipped, Matt smiling softly before he followed his wife back into their home, the couple soon seeing their oldest daughter still seated comfortably on the couch, keeping herself entertained while she waited for her parents to get back.
But before they went any further into the room, the parents shared a knowing look, as they couldn't help but think now was the time for the conversation they'd been waiting all night to have.
After her emotional conversation with her father earlier at the party, Gabby wasn't able to shake the thought that maybe now was finally the right time to talk to Caitlyn about her adoption. It was something they'd wanted to tell her ever since they found out, and it had been so hard to keep this from her for this long, but after how incredible today had been, Gabby couldn't help but think this was the perfect day to tell her. So after pulling Matt aside at the party, and the parents talked it over for a few minutes, they'd decided to tell her about her adoption tonight once they got home. To give their little girl one last birthday present.
For a brief moment, they thought about telling her at the party, but both parents quickly decided that maybe wasn't the best idea to tell her in front of everyone. This was a big deal for the small family, and Gabby and Matt decided it would be better for Caitlyn to find out with just them, as not only was this a special moment for them, but they also knew how their daughter tended to react in these situations. She was an expressive, emotional kid, and they didn't want her surrounded by a bunch of people as she needed that time to feel whatever it was she was going to feel. Especially after how she'd reacted this morning, at the simple gesture of cupcakes and balloons, they knew there were bound to be a lot of happy tears.
And while they wanted to share this with all their closest friends and family, they couldn't help but feel like this particular moment needed to be with just the three of them, as this was one of the most important things that had ever happened in their lives.
"Hey Caity?" Casey spoke up first after his and Gabby's silent conversation, the little girl looking up from her toy with a bright smile on her face. "Do you mind if your Momma and I talk to you for a minute?" He asked, Caitlyn soon shaking her head before they walked over to her, the parents sitting down on either side of her as her small legs swung off the edge of the couch.
"Are we gonna talk about my party? Cause it was really fun." She spoke brightly, her innocent words bringing soft smiles to their faces, as they knew Caitlyn had had one of the best days ever, the little girl having yet to stop talking about it. "Thank you for my birthday." She added, as her eyes moved back and forth between them.
"Oh honey, you're welcome." Gabby murmured before she leaned down to kiss her head, Matt rubbing over her back gently. "We're just glad you had a nice day."
"Yeah, we are… But that's not what we want to talk to you about, although it is pretty exciting."
"As exciting as a birthday?" She questioned back, Dawson biting back a laugh as Matt pursed his lips together.
"Well, I think it is, and so does your Momma." He prefaced, Caity nodding before she gave him her complete attention, her warm brown eyes focused on him as she waited for him to continue. "But this is actually something about all three of us, and Sofia; something really good… Do you remember when we told you how we were adopting you?" He asked her, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Do you remember what that means, baby?" Dawson cut in, Caitlyn looking back towards her before she nodded.
"You becoming my Mommy and Daddy." She answered simply, both parents nodding before Matt spoke up once more.
"Yeah, that's right sweetheart. And, when all that happened- and I know it was a while ago, so it's okay if you don't remember, but do you remember how we talked about that you'd be staying with us, and we were your parents, but it would take some time before we officially became your parents… That we'd have to wait for a while and sign some papers before it became official. I know this is kind of confusing, but do you remember us talking about that?" He asked her, Caitlyn mulling over his words for a moment before she nodded.
"Kind of." She replied, Gabby and Matt giving her understanding looks as she continued. "You are my Mommy and Daddy, but we had to wait for you to really be my Mommy and Daddy… That's why my last name isn't Casey yet, but it will be. Just like Mommy's name will be Casey, too."
"Yeah baby, that's exactly right." Gabby encouraged her, Caitlyn flashing her a wide smile before looking back to her dad.
"You're right Caity, but that's what your mom and I want to talk to you about… We heard from Miss Tina a little while ago, and we found out that here soon, we're gonna be able to go and adopt you." He told her, Matt and Gabby both watching as his words slowly washed over her, like she needed a second to process them. "We get to go to the courthouse, and sign those papers, and officially become your parents, baby." He added on when she had yet to respond.
"We're gonna be your mom and dad, forever." Gabby told her as a look of what they could only describe as amazement filled her features, Caitlyn almost stunned by what she was hearing.
But that only lasted for a few seconds, before pure elation covered her face, happy tears filling her eyes as she looked between them.
"...You're gonna be my Mommy and Daddy, forever and ever." She almost whispered as she repeated her mom's words, Gabby blinking back her own tears before she nodded.
"We are, honey." She assured her, a wide grin breaking out across Caitlyn's face.
And before any more words could be said, Caitlyn launched herself into her father's arms, Matt falling back against the couch to steady himself as a watery chuckle left the back of his throat, Casey holding onto his daughter as tightly as he could while she latched onto him with just as much strength.
"You're my family." She spoke as she rested her head on his shoulder, Casey's eyes falling closed before he nodded, the father rubbing up and down her back gently.
"We are… We always were, but now we get to make it official." He reminded her, Caitlyn nodding against him before she pulled back and hurried over to Gabby, the child holding her equally as tight as she celebrated the great news.
"And I'm always gonna be here, cause you're adopting me." She continued on, like she herself was trying to understand the magnitude of what this meant, her little brain working in overdrive as a few stray tears slid down Gabby's cheeks. Because even though she knew she would never be anywhere else, for this day to finally come was a lot to process.
"We are, sweetheart. This will always be your home." She promised her before kissing the side of her head. "Like your dad said, we just have to make it official."
"And then I'll be a Casey." She continued on as she pulled back, Caitlyn looking between them as she sat in her mom's lap. "And you're always my Mommy and Daddy."
As the seconds ticked by, it's like they could both see her finally realizing what all this meant. That even though she had been a part of their family for a long time, now it was official. She was their daughter, and once her adoption day came, nothing could ever change that.
And the second that hit her was when the tears started, Caitlyn unable to stop herself from crying as she fell down against her mom, her happiness and joy boiling over to the point where she didn't know how else to react. But they knew her cries came from a good place, a place of relief and elation, where she'd never have to ever worry about not being with her parents anymore. And all of that had turned into this, as Matt scooted over to wrap his arm around his daughter while she cried.
"I love you." She whimpered as she clutched on Gabby's shirt a little tighter, the mother resting her head down against her as she cradled her hand against the back of her head, Matt rubbing over her back soothingly while they gave her time to work through all of this.
"We love you too, Caity. And we always will."