Hello there everyone! I'm here with the next chapter for you all, and in this one we're gonna see a lot with the Casey family. So I hope you enjoy it and I'll see you next time!
Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Three
Casey let out a heavy sigh as he pulled up outside the familiar building, his hand moving to put his truck in park before letting himself relax back into his seat. There was some heavy snow falling down on top of them, the sound of the flakes hitting the windshield all that could really be heard as his and Gabby's drive from the firehouse had been done in relative silence, both of them too lost in thought to really carry on a conversation. But that wasn't so unusual after the draining last twenty four hours they'd had.
Him and Gabby hadn't spoken much more about it, not since their conversation in the hospital yesterday afternoon. But he knew she was still having a hard time moving past everything. Call it a husband's intuition, or the fact that he himself wasn't able to let this go, whatever the reason he knew Gabby wasn't able to put that call yesterday behind her. And truthfully, he knew it would probably be a while before she could.
Before either of them could.
Drawing in another slow, steadying breath, Casey adjusted his positioning in his seat before reaching across the bench towards his wife and grabbing ahold of her hand. He could tell she hadn't been expecting the contact at first, but she soon relaxed and turned to glance at him, the tired look in her eyes telling of how she was feeling before she gave him a weak smile.
"Hey… I didn't even realize we were here." She spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse from lack of use as she continued to get a hold on her surroundings, Gabby evidently having zoned out on the drive when she'd been staring out the window.
"Yeah, we just got here." He responded just as quietly, while squeezing her hand. "I figured we should go ahead and get inside, I know the girls are waiting for us," He told her, earning a knowing nod from her before she reached her free hand around her front to undo the seatbelt. "But before we head in, I did, uh- want to tell you that I called Maggie this morning."
Her spine straightened in her seat while holding his gaze, the expectant look in her eyes telling him she knew exactly where this conversation was headed.
"I meant to tell you on shift, but this morning was so hectic with you all getting called out. And then at shift change, we were both just ready to get out of there and I forgot to mention it, but I did call over to med and check in on the girls.. On Morgan and Macy," He explained, feeling Gabby's hand begin to tighten around his.
"What did they say?"
"Well, Maggie couldn't tell me too much.. For obvious reasons. But she did say that they seemed to be doing alright." He relayed to her, his mind partially on Gabby while also recalling back to his earlier discussion with the nurse. "They woke up sometime in the middle of the night, and they were definitely scared. Which, given everything they went through is understandable… But she said they were doing okay under the circumstances. And they've got their parents with them, they should make a full recovery."
"Good, that's good." She murmured with a small nod, before she took a deep breath. "Did she say anything about how long they'll be in the hospital for?"
"She wasn't sure… I guess there's more tests and exams they need to do. One's they need them conscious for, and I'd imagine there's going to be a lot of things that need to happen to determine where they are mentally. Psychological exams and everything." He told her, seeing her wince before she mimicked her previous nod. "But it didn't sound like they'd be able to get out of there anytime soon."
Things went quiet between them while Gabby took in everything he had told her, her thumb absentmindedly rubbing along the side of his hand before she eventually spoke up.
"Well… I'm glad to hear that they're doing alright." She started, Matt nodding in agreement as he noticed her move a few inches closer to him. "Or as alright as they can be, I guess. But they're safe now, and they've got their parents… They'll be okay."
Casey offered her a soft smile before he nodded. "Yeah, they will be. They're strong girls." He reminded her, knowing she likely needed to hear those words from him while she nodded slowly, before she glanced back down to their conjoined hands. Her mind was racing, that much he could tell from just looking at her, Casey then pursing his lips together before giving her hand another loving squeeze. "...You doing alright, baby?" He asked her, watching as his wife lifted her head before shrugging ever so slightly.
"I don't know, I want to be. I just can't stop thinking about what happened to them, and what they might've gone through… I'm trying to forget about it, or at least ignore it for a little while and I can't." She breathed out, shaking her head back and forth while her eyes fell closed. "So I guess I'm pretty much still in the same place as I was yesterday… Just wishing this never happened to them, and wishing I could do more to change it." She replied honestly, Matt frowning for a split second before he leaned across the bench and pressed a kiss against her hair. "What about you?" She asked once he pulled back, his body much closer to her than it had been moments ago as their eyes locked on one another.
"I'm feeling about the same way you are." He breathed out, her face falling as the weight of what those girls had experienced hit them all over again. "Yesterday was a nightmare, and it's easy to say that we should just put it behind us, but it's not that simple.. Especially not for Morgan, and Macy. And their parents. So yeah, I'm with you… I want to forget it, but I can't."
Gabby nodded with a sad look in her eye before she leaned towards him until her head was resting on his shoulder. The position was a bit awkward, especially with their hands still intertwined, but Matt didn't shy away from the contact as he brought his other arm up to wrap around her, effectively pulling her closer while her forehead pressed against his neck.
That was where they stayed for a few long moments, neither one of them making any effort to move as they both needed this moment together. It wasn't until Matt finally spoke up that they made any effort to separate at all.
"..How about we go inside and see our girls?" He offered after rubbing deeply into her arm, Gabby pulling back slowly to find his gaze before she began to nod. "I think that might help."
"Yeah, it would." She answered, Matt offering her one last smile and kiss to the head before they gathered their things and got out of the truck.
The brutal winter weather assaulted them as soon as they opened their doors, Matt and Gabby making quit work of exiting the truck and hurrying up to Ramon's front door, Casey letting his wife get underneath the cover of the porch first before following behind her.
"God, it's freezing." She muttered to herself after pressing the doorbell, Matt nodding in agreement while he brushed as much of the excess snow off her head and shoulders as he could, the husband not getting the chance to respond to her as within seconds the door was opened.
"Mommy!" Caity shrieked excitedly as she stood there with Ramon behind her, their little girl still in her nightgown when she hurried towards her parents. But Ramon soon stopped her as a rush of cold came into the house.
"Caity, honey, let them come inside. It's too cold out there and you don't have shoes on." He scolded gently, the girl nodding while taking a slight step back.
"Come in, Mommy. It's cold!" She said with a giggle, the sound of her laughter lifting some of the heaviness off of Gabby's and Matt's chests as they stepped inside. "Daddy!" She then greeted once she noticed him, Caitlyn equally as happy to see both her parents while they got off their coats.
"Hi princess." He told her, grabbing Gabby's coat and hanging it up with his while Dawson turned her attention to their daughter.
"Come here baby, Momma's missed you." Gabby spoke, crouching down to the ground and holding her arms out before Caitlyn tackled her in a big hug.
"I missed you too, Mommy." She responded with her cheery voice, her little arms wrapping tightly around Gabby's neck while the mother held onto her daughter around her back, Dawson's hand patting over her hip as they slowly rocked back and forth.
"Did you have fun with your Abuelo? And Abuela?" Gabby asked her, feeling Caitlyn slowly start to pull back. But she didn't loosen her grip, Dawson needing to hold onto her daughter for just a few more seconds. And unsurprisingly, Caitlyn obliged, the six year old merely smiling before she locked her arms around her neck.
"Yeah!" She responded, while smiling up at her father from the security of Gabby's embrace. "We had so much fun."
"That's great honey, I'm so glad." Gabby told her, lifting her hand up to cradle the back of her head while breathing her in, before she moved back enough to place a few kisses against her temple.
"Wow, Mommy really missed me." Caitlyn boasted with another giggle, Gabby's smile growing a bit before she gave her a kiss.
"Of course I missed you, I always miss you."
Gabby continued hugging her daughter, it not lost on Casey, or Ramon, how she was holding onto Caity a little longer than she typically would've. But for Matt, he understood why.
"Alright baby, why don't you go and say hi to your Daddy." Gabby prompted after she reluctantly pulled back, Caity nodding brightly and giving her one last kiss before she stepped around Gabby and went to her father.
"Daddy!" She repeated before running into his arms, Matt squatting down similarly to his wife and wrapping Caitlyn up in a tight hug after she lunged towards him.
"Hi sweetheart." He told her, Matt feeling himself already relaxing now that he was with one of his girls, the previous day starting to melt away while he pressed soft kisses to Caitlyn's head.
While Matt got some time with their oldest daughter, Gabby pushed herself up from the ground and turned towards her dad, finding a somewhat curious look waiting for her. But she didn't question it.
"Where's Sof?" She asked softly, Ramon pursing his lips together while glancing over his daughter, seeing the heavy, almost distant look in her eyes before he nodded back into his home.
"In the living room with Camila." He answered after a moment, Gabby letting out a soft breath before she nodded gratefully.
"Alright, thank you Papa." She spoke quickly, giving him no time to press her on her somewhat strange behavior as she only stayed in the foyer longer enough to place a kiss to his cheek before she headed off down the hallway.
"Daddy, you're hugging me too tight." Ramon heard Caitlyn's voice, the grandfather looking towards the door just as Matt slowly started to pull back.
"I'm sorry angel." He said, Caitlyn shaking her head a bit while reaching her arm around his neck.
"It's okay, it just means you missed me lots." She responded, Matt smiling at her innocence before he kissed her forehead.
"You're right, it does." He agreed, securing her in his arms as he stood up straight, Casey offering Ramon nothing more than a weak smile before they all three continued towards the living room just a few steps behind Gabby.
"Mama!" Sofia squealed when Gabby came into view, a soft laugh leaving Dawson's lips as she saw her youngest daughter run from her spot over by the coffee table towards her, wearing nothing but a pull-up.
"Well hello my sweet girl." Dawson cooed, catching Sofia right when she got to her and lifting her up into her arms. "What happened to your clothes?" She asked lightly, the two year old merely smiling and loving on her mom, before Camila spoke up.
"Breakfast got a little messy." The grandmother answered, earning an understanding look from Gabby while she ran her hand lightly over Sof's stomach. "I was gonna give her a bath, but then I saw the time and knew you'd be getting here. And I figured her leaving the bath to see you two would've caused even more of a mess, so I just left it." She explained with a chuckle, Gabby smiling back at her.
"Yeah, you're right about that. But that's fine, I can give her a bath here in a minute." She responded, Camila nodding as she stood up from the couch, while Matt, Caitlyn, and Ramon stepped into the large living room.
"There's my other girl." Matt spoke with Caitlyn still clinging to him, Sofia giggling loudly in excitement when she registered her father's presence next to her mom.
"Dada! Dada Dada!"
"Hi princess." He repeated his earlier greeting, Sofia reaching her hand out towards him while clutching onto Gabby's jacket collar with her other one. "Your Momma and I missed you." He added, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
"Thanks again for watching them." Gabby spoke up while Matt continued to greet their girls, Camila and Ramon both nodding as they stood a few feet from their daughter. "I hope they weren't too much trouble."
"They never are." Ramon reminded her, Gabby noticing how his uncertain gaze lingered on her for a split second before Camila spoke up.
"Your father's right, we had a great time… It was so nice to get this time with them, and I think they had fun."
"We did!" Caity echoed, Matt and Gabby both laughing softly at her words.
But while they did, it was impossible for Ramon to miss that despite his daughter laughing and smiling, it wasn't quite reaching her eyes. She just seemed far away, like her mind was elsewhere even if it was trying not to be. There was something off with her, and Matthew was no better.
It didn't take a genius to see that something had happened. Something was wrong with them.
And with one glance towards his former wife, Ramon could tell she sensed it too.
"I'm glad you all had a nice time." Gabby replied after Caitlyn finished recanting the day and night they'd had with Ramon and Camila, regaining her parent's attention while Matt adjusted Caitlyn's weight in his arms.
"Me too! And Abuela said we could go see Santa!"
Gabby's eyebrows raised slightly before she glanced over towards her parents, where they were already watching her.
"Oh, is that so?" Matt asked softly, while Caitlyn gave a quick, enthusiastic nod.
"Mhmm, her and Abuelo wanna take us." Caity told them with a bright smile.
"We thought it might be nice for us all to go." Camila soon explained, catching her daughter's tired gaze. "Since it's the middle of December already, and we know how much the girls want to see him… Ramon and I talked about discussing it with you two once you got here, and Caity overheard us." She finished, Matt letting out a soft chuckle while Gabby nodded knowingly.
"Yeah, she's always listening, huh?" Matt asked before reaching over to lightly tickle her stomach, prompting Caitlyn to laugh loudly while she leaned back away from his hand, the father making sure to keep a tight grip on her so she didn't fall.
"She really is." Ramon agreed with a chuckle of his own. "But yes, it was just something we were thinking about.. We weren't sure what your alls plans were for that." He said, earning a soft shrug from Gabby.
"We want to go, we just never found a good time. But I know we probably need to go soon."
"We do!" Caitlyn chimed in once more. "Or our presents from Santa might not get here in time."
"Oh no, we can't have that." Matt played along, Caitlyn nodding in agreement before she looked between her parents.
"So can we go?" She asked, giving her best pouty face as Gabby released a soft breath.
"Well, who can say no to that?" She questioned rhetorically, prompting Caitlyn's lips to turn up into a grin. "We can take you and Sof to see Santa tonight."
"Yay!" She cheered, wrapping her arms around her father's neck in a quick hug before leaning across him to give Gabby a kiss. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, baby." Dawson said, kissing her once more before Caitlyn returned upright in her father's arms.
"Sof! We get to see Santa tonight!" Caitlyn said elatedly, her enthusiasm alone causing Sofia to smile before she started squealing happily, the sounds of their daughters' excitement helping even more in alleviating some of the heaviness from the past day.
"Do you all want to come with us?" Casey offered towards Ramon and Camila, who both immediately nodded.
"We'd love to."
"Yes, of course we'll come." Camila started, her lips then pursing together as she glanced between Gabby and Matt, those previous concerns never fully going away while she saw the emotions hiding in their eyes. "...As long as you guys are sure you're up for it tonight."
Her words, along with the unsure tone in her voice caused Gabby's head to tilt to the side a bit, while Matt drew in a slow breath.
"What do you mean?" Gabby was the one to ask, Camila looking over towards Ramon and waiting for his nod before continuing.
"You both just seem… tired." She spoke carefully, though she could see there was more to it than that. "A little out of it, maybe."
Gabby winced at her mother's words, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before she responded. "Yeah, it was just… a long shift." She settled on, the look in her eyes completely giving her away as the concern Ramon and Camila were feeling only grew. But Gabby kept on before they could push it. "I think I'm gonna go ahead and give Sofia a bath."
"Alright babe." Matt told her, Ramon hesitating before he nodded as well, him and Camila both able to see how this wasn't something Gabby was wanting to talk about. And from the lost look Ramon caught in Casey's eyes, his son-in-law didn't necessarily want to, either.
"Okay mija.. Do you need any help?" Ramon offered, even though he knew she didn't.
"We're alright, thank you though." She told them, giving them one last smile before she started walking away with Sofia. "Yeah, you're ready for a bath, huh?" She asked her youngest, the group seeing Sof giving her mom a toothy smile before the two of them disappeared down the hallway towards the bathroom.
Ramon waited until he heard the door shut behind Gabby before he turned his full attention towards Casey, who was still staring off in the direction his wife had gone.
"Matthew…" Ramon prompted, quickly earning Matt's gaze as well as Camila's, the parents seeing the equally worried and exhausted look etched into Casey's face. "What happened, son?"
Matt swallowed hard as Ramon's words hung in the air, the feeling in the room shifting almost instantly while he looked between them, finding their expecting eyes focused on him.
Knowing he really had no way out of this conversation, Casey let out a slow breath before he turned towards Caitlyn, who was already watching him closely with a somewhat unsure look on her face.
"Caity, baby, can you go play for a bit while I talk to your grandparents?" He requested, earning an immediate nod from his little girl.
"Okay Daddy." She replied, giving him one last hug before she slid down out of his arms and out the ground, Matt making sure to smooth out her nightgown before she hurried over to a few of her toys that were sitting underneath the window by the Christmas tree.
With Caitlyn now preoccupied a few feet away from them, Matt turned back to Ramon and Camila and held his arm around towards the couch, prompting them to sit down while he sat in the chair beside them.
"Are you two alright?" Camila asked before she could stop herself, Casey forcing down another breath before he responded.
"...Not really, if I'm being honest." He replied weakly, the frown over Camila's face deepening while Ramon's features stayed blank.
"Did something happen between you two?" She pushed, both her and Ramon seeing Matt's eyebrows furrow before he quickly began to shake his head.
"No, no it wasn't like that. Gabby and I are fine, we didn't have a fight or anything… It was work." He explained, Ramon's face then softening while Camila nodded regretfully.
"Was it a call?" Ramon asked, before Casey nodded.
"It was, and it… It was really bad." Matt began to explain, the defeated look in his eyes only becoming more and more apparent while he spoke. "There were these two little girls…"
A heavy rush of understanding soon went through both of the grandparents, as even before knowing what exactly had gone on, anything with children was bound to leave a mark on them. Especially when it involved kids around the age of your own daughters.
"These two girls, Morgan and Macy, we found them locked up in a shed." He told them, choosing to spare some details for the sake of those girls as Ramon felt an intense anger race through his body, while Camila grimaced deeply. "They had been kidnapped from their home five months ago."
"Oh my God." Camila breathed out in horror.
"Yeah, it was bad. They were in really rough shape… We were able to get them out and to the hospital, but seeing children like that, it-" He had to cut himself off, Matt letting his eyes fall closed for a moment while he cleared his throat. "It was heartbreaking, and Gabby and I are trying to deal with that. But their parents were found and they're with them now… The girls should make a full recovery, which is good. The whole thing just sort of hit us both really hard yesterday, but with Gabby, I think… I think it's all finally settling in for her. This call really shook us, so now we've got to work on getting past it, I guess."
"I can't even imagine, son. I'm so sorry." Ramon told him, Matt nodding appreciatively while Camila reached out to rest her hand over his arm.
"I'm sorry, Matthew." She repeated Ramon's words. "But the girls are okay now?"
"They are, or they will be… Physically at least, they'll be okay." He said as best he could. "They're safe, and with their parents. They'll have to stay in the hospital for a while, but they're in the best place for them right now, so hopefully they'll be alright." He breathed out, feeling Camila rub his arm comfortingly before she spoke up.
"That's good, at least. How old are they?" She questioned, but by the immediate anger she saw flash through Matt's eyes she almost wished she hadn't asked.
"Morgan is seven, Macy is three."
"Oh my God." Ramon said again, shaking his head in disgust while Camila's head hung down towards her lap. "That's… Those girls are just babies, and someone did that to them?" He said while Matt slowly nodded. "At least tell me the man who did this is locked up."
"He's in custody, yeah. I can't imagine he'll go anywhere other than prison."
"Good." Ramon huffed out, the sense of rage he felt for those innocent children never leaving his system even while he forced himself to take steadying breaths. "That's where an animal like that belongs… Doing that to children is inexcusable, I'm so sorry that happened to them. And that you all saw it."
"Yeah, I am too." Matt spoke sadly. "I wish there was a way for us to undo what happened to them, and I really wish we- Gabby, really- hadn't had to see what we did… But on the other hand, I'm glad it was us on that call, because Gabby is the only reason we found those girls." He told them, his voice soft while he thought over the events from yesterday, Camila shaking her head sadly before she glanced back towards the hallway where Gabby had gone.
Things went quiet between them for a few seconds, Ramon and Camila both needing some time to take in what all he had said, while Matt was just trying to control the emotions he felt swelling within him. Though that task was easier said than done.
"Well…" Camila finally started, earning Matt's attention once more as she gave him as supportive of a smile as she could muster. "At least those girls are safe now, and you and Gabriela can try to move past this."
Casey thought over her words for a moment before he nodded, the small smile then appearing over his features not reaching his eyes. "Yeah… we can." He finished, Camila squeezing his arm one last time before she relaxed back into the couch, Matt mimicking her movement as they fell back into that noticeable quiet now that Ramon and Camila knew about what had their daughter and her husband so out of sorts.
But what they hadn't noticed while they sat there, was that Caitlyn had been watching them the entire time.
"Daddy! Look!" Caitlyn shouted in pure excitement as they stood inside the crowded mall. "It's Santa!"
Matt let out a soft laugh before giving her little hand that was clasped in his a squeeze, the man making a point of keeping Caitlyn close to him at all times given how many people were around. "It is Santa, honey. We're here to see him."
"And tell him what presents I want." She added on with a sly smile, Matt chuckling once more while he nodded.
"Yes, we're gonna tell him what presents you want.. You and your sister." He reminded her, Caitlyn nodding back at him knowingly before holding up the piece of paper in her grasp. The same one she'd been determined to carry, while promising not to lose it.
"I remember! I have our list." She assured him, Matt smiling down at her before he glanced over towards his wife, who was pushing Sofia in the stroller beside them.
"You hear that, babe? She still has the list." He told her, Gabby smirking a bit while she glanced around Matt towards their oldest daughter.
"I'm proud of you baby, good job holding onto it."
"Thank you, Mommy! Now let's see Santa!" She requested, the parents, along with Ramon and Camila who were following close behind them, all let out soft laughs before letting Caitlyn lead the way towards the line for Santa, the six year olds excitement growing more and more by the second.
She'd been looking forward to this all day since Matt and Gabby agreed to take her, to the point where she hadn't stopped talking about it. All throughout their peaceful day as a family, where they'd spent the rest of their morning with Ramon and Camila, before the Casey's headed back to their place so Matt and Gabby could get more one on one time with their girls, until they met back up with her parents later this evening; through all that time, Caitlyn hadn't stopped talking about how excited she was for tonight. And that was never more true than it was right now.
"This line is long." Caitlyn spoke while they stood there, both of her hands holding on Matt's while she started to lean back towards the ground, knowing her dad wouldn't let her fall.
"Yeah, it is honey."
"I think Sof is gonna fall asleep." Caity added with a giggle, Matt grinning slightly before he looked down to the stroller where Sofia was indeed fighting off her exhaustion. To the point where he knew she wouldn't win out much longer. "What if she misses Santa?" She asked, Gabby and Matt seeing how their daughter was genuinely worried about Sofia missing this, her reaction endearing to the both of them as Matt gave her hand a squeeze.
"If she wakes up, she can see him… But you've got everything she wants on your list, right?" Gabby said to her, earning a swift nod from Caitlyn. "Well, then you can make sure Santa knows everything Sofia wants, does that sound okay?"
"Yeah! I can help, I'll make sure Santa knows so sissy can sleep." She promised, Ramon and Camila watching on at the sweet scene while Matt leaned down to place a kiss against the top of Caitlyn's head.
"You're such a sweet big sister, thank you baby." Casey told her, the proud smile over Caitlyn's face growing even wider before they returned their attention to the line in front of them.
Caity was right, there were a lot of people here, but everything seemed to be moving faster than they would've expected. And after maybe only forty five minutes, they were getting close to the front of the line, Caitlyn bouncing on the balls of her feet while Ramon was currently holding a somewhat cranky Sofia, who had been disturbed from her nap by a few screaming children.
"We're almost there!"
"We are, sweetheart." Gabby replied, while Caitlyn stood in between her and Matt.
"Here Ramon, let me take her." Casey spoke softly as he reached out for Sofia, the toddler still not loving how her rest had been interrupted. But once she was in her dad's arms, she seemed to settle down somewhat as she gripped onto his shirt tightly before slowly starting to look around. "Yeah, look at all the lights and everything Sof… isn't it pretty?" He spoke to her while rubbing over her back, the two year old continuing to take in her surroundings until she looked back at her dad with a smile on her face. "There's my happy girl, I knew you were in there somewhere." He told her before pressing kisses against her cheek, the action causing her to giggle happily while she slowly became more and more awake.
"Is Sof awake to meet Santa, Daddy?" Caitlyn asked while watching her sister and her father.
"I think she is."
"Yay!" Caitlyn cheered one last time, Matt and Gabby sharing a small smile as the line ahead of them moved.
It was only a couple more minutes before it was their turn, Caitlyn beaming with excitement as her wide eyes stayed focused on Santa.
"Hello there Miss Caitlyn." The man spoke after the woman dressed as an elf beside him had spoken in his ear, no doubt telling him the girls' names. But Caitlyn didn't need to know that.
"You remember me!" She said brightly, her face lighting up with pure elation while the older man let out a hearty chuckle. One that suited his costume well. "I met you last Christmas, I didn't know if you'd remember!"
"Of course I remember you, you were one of my very best children last year. And I take it you've been good this year, as well." He played along, the wonder in Caity's eyes almost bringing Gabby to tears as she knew how special of a moment this was for their oldest daughter.
"I have been! I try my bestest."
"Well, trying is all you can do Miss Caitlyn. I'm just so glad you came back again to visit, and that you brought your sister with you… Hi Miss Sofia." He greeted the toddler who was still being held by her father, Sofia clearly weary of the unfamiliar man. Just like she had been last year.
But from her demeanor, she seemed more open to meeting him now than she had been when she was younger.
"You know Sof, too?"
"Absolutely." He responded with another laugh while Caitlyn continued towards him, Matt following closely behind with the younger Casey girl in his arms. "Now, how would you like to come up here and tell me all about what you'd like for Christmas?" He suggested, Caitlyn's eyes widening even more before she nodded enthusiastically.
Gabby helped lead her up to him, then over the next few minutes or so Caitlyn went through every single thing on her list, and Sofia's, telling Santa all they wanted for Christmas. She needed Gabby's help with a few of the words written down, but overall she was able to communicate to him everything the girls' wanted for their presents, and that in and of itself was such a positive thing for the parents to see.
"Well, you certainly came prepared now didn't you." The man said once she was done, Caitlyn nodding happily in response.
"I didn't want to forget anything. And we had to get Sof's presents, too."
"That's very sweet of you, Caitlyn. Thinking of your sister… When I get back to the North Pole, I'll see what all we can do."
"Thank you, Santa!"
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
"The Casey family, if you'd all like to get together we'll take a picture." The woman at the back of the booth said, the parents nodding before they moved around the large chair, with Ramon and Camila following as well.
Gabby was standing behind Caitlyn, while Matt went to the other side with Sofia before cautiously setting her down next to her sister. Sof was unsure at first, as she couldn't help but look up at this unfamiliar man with a questioning expression. But to her credit she didn't start crying, and Matt could only assume that was because she saw her big sister right next to her.
"Hi Miss Sofia." The Santa greeted, the use of her name prompting the little girl to look up at him once more, before she turned to Caitlyn.
"He's nice, Sof! It's okay." She promised, reaching across the grab ahold of her hand while the rest of the family got situated.
They quickly got a few family photos before it was time for them to leave, Caitlyn getting in one last goodbye to Santa as they walked away.
"That was so much fun!" Caitlyn beamed, Gabby holding onto her hand while Matt walked with Sofia, one arm holding onto her while the other pushed her empty stroller.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, baby." Gabby told her, Caity smiling up at her mother before they continued through the mall.
"Thank you both for coming." Matt spoke up towards Ramon and Camila, who were walking by his side. "The girls loved having you here."
The grandparents shared a knowing look, both of them having been keeping a closer eye on the entire Casey family this evening, as they wanted to make sure Gabby and Matt were still doing alright. Which, from what they could tell, they were.
"Of course, we had a great time." Camila answered after a moment.
"Yes, and we'll have an even better time once we get some food." Ramon added on lightheartedly, earning a few laughs from the adults while Camila rolled her eyes.
"Can't say you're wrong there, how about we get out of here and go find something to eat?" Casey suggested, Ramon clasping him on the shoulder while they made their way towards the exit of the mall.
"Now you're talking, son.. Let's head out."
Gabby drew in a deep breath as she sat on Caitlyn's bed, the six year old standing in front of her while she worked on braiding her beautiful blonde hair, both of them surprisingly quiet as they decompressed after the long night out they'd had.
Once they left Santa at the mall earlier this evening, they'd gone out to eat at a place a few blocks away. And while the food was great, and they'd had a nice time with her parents, it was awfully late by the time they finally got home, the parents doing well enough to get the girls into their baths and then their pajamas before Sofia passed out in her father's arms. Which is where Matt was now, as he worked on putting their youngest to be while Gabby took care of Caitlyn.
But regardless of their exhaustion, that didn't take away from how incredible of a night the family had together. One that Matt and Gabby were extremely grateful for, as getting able to spend this much time with their daughters had helped them more than anything else could've.
All of this was still hard, it wasn't something they'd just put behind them immediately. But today was a start, and after just one day with their daughters they were both already feeling better. Which was all they could ask for.
"Alright, you're all done baby." Gabby told her after securing the hair tie, Caitlyn soon turning around with a soft smile on her face.
"Thank you, Mommy."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." She replied, bringing her hand up to stroke over her cheek while Caity continued to smile at her. "So you had a nice time tonight?" She checked once more, earning an almost immediate nod from daughter while she rested her hands over her mother's knees.
"It was so fun, Santa was nice." She said, Gabby's smile widening before she nodded. "Did you and Daddy have fun?"
Dawson sighed softly before she nodded, her mind quickly glossing back over their night at the mall. It had been fun for all of them, even if Gabby found herself being a little more nervous in such a crowded place with their girls. And she knew her husband had felt some of the same as well, as after what happened they were more on edge about the safety of their girls. But it hadn't stopped them from having a nice time out as a family, and Dawson was glad they went.
"I did, I had a lot of fun.. I'm so glad you and Sof got to meet Santa, and tell him what you wanted for Christmas. It was so, so fun." She repeated brightly, Caitlyn eagerly nodding before she leaned forward to give her a hug.
"I'm glad you had fun, Mommy." Caitlyn spoke while holding her, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing a bit as she wasn't sure what prompted Caity's actions. But she wasn't going to complain about a hug from her daughter, as she held onto Caitlyn a little tighter before the little girl slowly started to pull away.
"You okay, baby?" Gabby asked her, seeing her daughter nod back at her.
"I'm okay, I wanted you to be okay." She replied, Gabby no less confused as Caitlyn reached down to grab hold of her hand. "...You were sad earlier." She stated, Gabby's jaw clenching for a moment as her lips pursed together. "You and Daddy both seemed sad, when you came to get me and Sof."
"Caitlyn…"
"I heard Daddy talking." She continued on, a deep wince appearing over Dawson's face as she had a strong feeling of what this was about. And she hated it, because the last thing she wanted was for Caitlyn to know what happened yesterday. "He was telling Abuelo and Abuela that work was scary, and sad… That there were two kids, like me." She spoke in the easiest way she knew how, Gabby sure she could feel her heart beginning to break in her chest. "And Daddy said they were hurt and at the hospital." She finished, slightly mispronouncing that last word as she continued to hold onto Gabby's hand.
Unsure of what to say, Gabby stayed quiet for a moment while Caitlyn's words washed over her, the mother knowing there was no sense in lying to her now that she knew what was going on. Or at least knew enough.
"Is that why you were sad?" Caitlyn pressed on when she had yet to get an answer.
"It is." Gabby responded after a beat of silence, seeing her daughter frown before she started to nod. "There was a scary call yesterday, like your Daddy said, and there were two little girls there… It was really hard for everyone, but they're okay now. They're in the hospital, with their parents.. Everything's gonna be okay." She explained to her, but Caitlyn didn't seem so sure.
"...So you and Daddy aren't sad anymore?" She questioned, Gabby pausing before she answered her.
"We're still a little sad right now, but in a while we won't be… We're okay, though." Gabby explained, not liking the concerned look she was getting from her six year old.
"Are you sad cause they're in the hospital?" She kept on while just trying to understand.
"Yeah, it's something like that baby." Gabby agreed, knowing that was simplest.
"Will they be there for a long time? For Christmas?" Caitlyn questioned, prompting Gabby to bite down on the inside of her mouth.
"It looks like they will be…" She told her, causing the frown on Caity's face to deepen.
"Will Santa be able to find them?" Caitlyn's concern was genuine, and that caused Gabby's heart to break even more.
"I… I'm not sure, honey. But everything will be fine, okay? I don't want you to worry." She told her, hoping to direct the conversation elsewhere as Caitlyn was too young to have to deal with any of this. "The girls are fine, and Mommy and Daddy are fine, okay? Everything's alright."
Caitlyn paused for a moment or two before she slowly nodded, like she wanted to say more but didn't. "Okay, Mommy." She agreed, Gabby taking in a slow breath before she brought Caitlyn in for another hug, one the child clearly wanted as she held onto her mother tightly.
And that was where they stayed for the next few minutes, the mother and daughter holding onto each other with as much strength as they had, both of them needing this moment much more than they even realized.