36 - Meetings (final chapter)

"Lieutenant, can we have a word?" Herrmann approached Matt when he was about to walk into his office.

Matt nodded quietly... They entered the office and Herrmann closed the door behind them.

"What did happen to you? I'm sorry, but the way you talked to Otis wasn't nice," Hermmann stated sincerely.

Matt's head was down while he was listening to Herrmann.

"I'm not on a good day, Herrmann," Matt answered as he wrote something in a report.

"Okay, I understand that, but he was trying his best there..." Herrmann was referring to their last call.

Otis went back into the building in fire because he thought he had seen someone through the window. Matt called him out for that, he had asked his men to walk out of the building, and against Matt's orders, Otis walked in while Matt was helping a victim. Matt yelled to Otis before his co-workers and threatened to not give him a second chance if it happened again. Otis didn't say anything, he put himself together and went back to work, all the ride back to Firehouse 51 was made in silence.

Matt shifted in the chair and faced Herrmann. "I- I had three arguments with Gabby in less than 24 hours..."

"Go on..." Herrmann encouraged him to continue.

"Gabby believes... my client... Gabby believes...," Matt was struggling to say it.

"Your client is interested in you," Herrmann completed for him. Matt blushed, everyone noticed that he asked himself.

"Yeah, and Gabby asked if we had sex... You know, I've been avoiding sex with Gabby... Look, I was trying to help her, that doctor recommended slow down our activities... cause Gabby complained about cramps, the problem was she wasn't expecting have no sex, that was our second argument..."

"Matt, women know women... and every one of 51 noticed your client has a thing for you," Herrmann stated the obvious.

"I'm not blind, Herrmann... however I'm not making this a big deal... I love Gabby, just her, she owns me... and we have a baby coming, we need the money from this construction job," Matt said explaining his point of view.

"I don't doubt that you love Gabby... Although don't get me wrong another woman between you two is not a good thing... and money... oh it's terrible..."

"I get it... You are right my family is my priority, they come first. I don't like when I can't kiss, hug or cuddle with Gabby... and that's what happened last night and as a result, I threw my frustration on Otis, I'm sorry..."

"You have time, you can talk to him later..." Matt nodded. "And what was the third argument?" Herrmann asked as he sat on Matt's bed.

"I disagree with her about a trip to Wisconsin without me, she would go with her yoga class and would take Anna. She is advanced in her pregnancy, she needs to be more careful when I told her it, but she understood everything wrong. That I called her irresponsible..."

"I'll be worried too... maybe it was just a problem of communication..."

"I'll talk to Chief Boden and try to change my shift to go with her and Anna, of course, if she accepts it."

"It'd be a good alternative...," Herrmann said supporting his decision.

"Thanks... if there is one thing that I can't negotiate is the safety of my family, I know Gabby loves Anna, but this baby means so much to her, it's her miracle like she likes to say. It's my mission that our little bundle of joy will be in her arms when the time comes," Matt had tears rolling down.

"Wow... this baby has very lucky for having you as her father," Herrmann got up and pulled Matt for a hug.

"Thank you Herrmann... thank you..."

During the day Matt called Gabby several times, though she didn't answer any one of her calls.

Gabby called sick and stayed home, she distracted herself while organizing the baby's stuff, for now, the baby would stay in Gabby and Matt's bedroom, they were still discussing buying a new house soon. When she got tired of her activities, she slept the rest of the morning. Christie was on duty to take Anna home from school.

Later in the afternoon, she received some flowers and a box. There was a card with Matt's name. She was still angry with him, so she didn't read the card, just put the flowers on the water and the box she kept in one of her drawers.

Matt called Christie that day and asked her a favor when she was at his home.

"Gabby... there is someone that wants to talk to you..." Christie said giving her the telephone.

"Christie, no..." she knew that was Matt.

"Just listen to him for one minute, please..." Christie insisted.

"Okay... one minute.". Christie left her alone and joined Anna and Violet in the kitchen.

"Hey, baby" he greeted her.

"Hey," she replied unbothered.

"I supposed you received my flowers and the box... I want you to apologize to me... I never intended to hurt you..."

"Matt, please..."

"Gabby, I love you... there is no one else... you and the girls are everything to me... so I talked to Mrs. Anderson-" Gabby cut him off.

"Look, I don't hear anything about this woman..." she run her fingers on her hair as she sat on the couch.

"I quit the job, I quit...," he told her quickly.

"You what?" she was in shock.

"I called her and said that I couldn't continue the renovation in her house. I asked a friend to take the job. He needs it more than me right now, the money was good but not worth it."

"How did your client take it?"

"Badly, but she didn't have a choice..."

"Wow, Matt..." she didn't know what to say.

"Now I need to know about my delivery... I imagine that you didn't open the box," he smiled.

"No, I was... I'm upset with this whole situation," she sighed.

"Please open it in the morning before I arrive at home at least... I have some plans for us."

"Plans? What are you talking about?" she was curious.

"Open it and you will get an idea and make sure to do that alone..."

"You are scaring me, babe..."

"I love when you call me babe, babe..." she smiled this time.

"You need to know our girl gave me a break today and let me take a good nap...," Gabby caressed her belly.

"She is a daddy girl, she is listening to me when I ask her to not kick your ribs... when you are asleep we have our best conversation...," Gabby laughed at him.

"I bet you are right..."

"I have to go... please say Anna I love her and I love you Gabby and our little bundle..."

"I love you, Matt, and stay safe, baby..."

Later the night, Gabby was on the bed and with the box in her hands, slowly she opened it... she didn't believe what she was seeing... she laughed so hard and at the same time got really excited... she couldn't wait to see Matt next morning...

Next day...

Matt opened the bedroom door calmly, whether Gabby was awake or not, he didn't know yet... First hand he saw Gabby laying on her side, one hand resting over her belly... Kneeling before the bed, Matt looked her over for a few minutes... She was stunning as always.

Marrying her has been on his mind for a while, but he wanted to give her a nice wedding, right now wasn't the perfect time, there had some much on their plate, and planning a wedding could stress themselves out. Gabby didn't need that in her last few weeks of pregnancy.

Mat watched Gabby stirring, then she blinked a few times...

"Hey..." she whispered making eye contact with her boyfriend.

"Hey, sleeping beauty..." they smiled at each other. Matt got closer and kissed her on the lips. "I love you...," he caressed her face.

"Someone doesn't mind my morning brave..." she said shyly.

"You know I don't..." Matt dropped his head to kiss her a couple of times as he rested a hand over her belly.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you..." Gabby intertwined their hands over her belly.

"It's okay... I'm over it now, but you were right about my client, it seems she was interested in me." Gabby listened to him carefully. "Although, I stayed all this time because of the money..."

"I never liked her, I said it to you since the first time...," Gabby stated upset.

"Yeah, I should have listened to you, like I said I kept the job 'cause we have a baby on the way."

Gabby gave him a half smile. "I want to provide for you three..." Gabby put a hand on his cheek.

"I love you for that, however, it's not worth it if it means losing our family in the process... We need you more than anything..."

They locked eyes and Matt kissed her sweetly. Slowly Gabby made more room for him next to her on the bed. While they kept kissing, Matt pulled back the sheets that covered Gabby's body.

"Take... off... your t-shirt..." she asked between their kisses. Matt got up and undressed swiftly. " Get rid of your boxer...," Gabby asked him as she got rid of her underwear.

"Wait...," Matt stopped what he was doing. Gabby's smile dropped.

"What is it, Matt?"

"My present...," he pointed out at it on the surface of the dresser. "I'd like to see it...," he prompted.

"Not now, please...," Gabby sat slowly.

"Gabby...," he smiled seductively. "Baby... why are you so shy?" He leaned down and kissed her neck... and grabbed the pillow from her hands.

"You serious? Matt looked at me...," she folded her arms, "I'm not in good shape... to- to you know..."

"Okay...," he nodded his head and turned to grab his t-shirt from the floor.

"What are you doing?" Gabby asked anxiously. "Don't you dare to put on your clothes, Matthew Casey."

"First, my present..."

"Are you sure, Matt? Because if you laughed at me..." she pointed a finger at him.

"I won't, I promise..."

30 minutes later

Gabby walked out of the bathroom as Matt had his eyes closed... When he heard her footsteps...

"May I open my eyes?"

Gabby noticed he had the duvet cover laying on his lower part. Wearing a mischievous grin...

"I'm ready for you..." he smiled with his eyes still shut.

"Please, open your eyes..."

"Wow... you are amazing," he said as pulled her closer to him.

"You think so?" Gabby was wearing red tiny lingerie.

"Yes... I love you..." he said.

"I love you too..." They kissed a couple of times.

"There is something I need to tell you, I've talked to Chief Boden, I am going to go with you and Anna to Wisconsin..."

"Matt-" he cut her off.

"Look, I'll try to be easy on my worries, sometimes I can be overprotective, and annoying, but I feel that's my job taking care of my girls, it's natural for me..."

"It's okay, we love you for that, baby... So we would love having you with us..." she kissed him.

"When are we saying to our friends and family the baby's name?" Matt asked excitedly.

"I have an idea. When we have her in our arms, we're gonna take a picture of her and send it to our friends with her name on it?

"It's great... I can't wait to have her here..."

"Me too... " she yawned. Matt kissed her cheek.

Three months later

Two months ago baby Alexa made her entrance into this world, Casey's family couldn't be happier. She had Gabby's features and skin color, though her color eyes were Matt's.

Matt asked Gabby to marry him on the same day Alexa was born and she said yes. They haven't chosen a date yet. Although they had bought a new home together.

Matt stayed at home for three weeks. He was so grateful that Alexa was a good baby, she loved to wake up her parents in the middle of the night.

Matt would take any chance to hold Alexa and give Gabby a few more hours to sleep in.

Gabby stirred in her sleep, Matt wasn't on her side... One minute later she got up and walked up to Alexa's bedroom.

Gabby leaned against the door frame and observed Casey and Alexa together, Matt was pacing slowly around her room. Her heart melted looking at them. Alexa was resting against Matt's chest, his head was leaning to hers, with closed eyes he was mumbling something to her as his hand caressed Alexa's back.

Matt smiled when he noticed Gabby watching them...

"Can I join you, guys?" she whispered to not wake up Alexa. Matt nodded. Then he shifted Alexa on his chest and wrapped Gabby's waist. Gabby rested her head on his shoulder as he kissed her head.

"Love you, he whispered. "I've been thinking about the day we met.. at the park... you were dancing..."

"I am so happy for finding you," she said softly. "You gave me a family..."

Matt kissed her on the lips, and that's when Alexa stirred on Matt's arm. Matt and Gabby smiled at each other.

"Momy..." Anna whispered standing at the door.

"You are awake..." Gabby uttered. "You had a bad dream?"

"Yeah..." she said weeping softly.

"It's okay... mom's here..."

"Baby, hold Alexa, please, I'll take Anna..." Matt offered.

"Okay..." Gabby took Alexa in her arms.

"Come here..." Matt talked to Anna.

"Daddy..." she said still crying. Anna wrapped her legs around his waist as she hugged him. Matt caressed her back.

"We're here with you. Everything is okay..." With one arm Matt held Anna supporting her on his hip and with the other, he pulled Gabby to his side. "We love you..."

THE END