They made their way to the CPS office where they had spend a lot of time the last few weeks to finalize the adoption. All the papers were signed and today was finally going to be the day that they would take Daniela into their care.
This morning, they had moved into an aparthotel where they had rented a suite for the last few weeks until they could take Daniela home. The suite had a nursery as well and since they didn't want to buy a lot of stuff here to leave behind, it was a welcome solution. Plus, it meant they had finally been able to give up Gabby's house, rental stopping the next month.
They were in the waiting room, Matt holding Gabby's hand on his lap.
''I am going to cry,'' Matt admitted as they were waiting for her to be handed over to him. The CPS lady and the person that had finalized the adoption the agency where there as well.
They were taken into a small office. It wasn't long before the lady from the adoption agency came in with Daniela. Stretching out her arms, Gabby took her into her arms. The only thing in the world for her were the little girl in her arms and Matt sobbing beside her, pressing his face against hers as he started to cry.
Seeing the little girl in Gabby's arm, knowing that she was now their daughter and they would never have to give her up, he was not able to stop crying.
''I love you Matt, I love her, I love our little family,'' Gabby managed to say through the tears.
He wasn't able to say anything as tears streaming down his cheeks.
Everything was so perfect in his moment, he just wanted it to last forever.
They sat in the room for an hour, not being able to move as they let it sink in that she was theirs, forever.
Only after an hour, they dared to put her in the car seat and started to make their to a taxi. They would still come here to finalize the documents for Daniela, but for now, she was all theirs.
Gabby kissed Matt on his head as they waited for the taxi, Daniela in his arms as she held the car seat and the bag with the little belongings she had and they had gotten.
They struggled to get the car seat into the taxi, but neither of them could stop smiling. As soon they sat in the car, both of them in the back as they didn't want to leave Daniela's side.
''We are parents,'' Matt said softly, still in disbelief.
''We are,'' Gabby smiled, not being able to put into words all they felt as they looked at the little girl in the car seat between them.
Gabby walked into the hotel room, softly as she heard Matt snoring. Putting the groceries down, she smiled as she saw him asleep on the bed, Daniela on his chest and his arms wrapped around her. Gabby couldn't help but smile as she walked to the bed.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he groaned as he woke up.
''She was tired, huh,'' Gabby winked.
''I think I was more tired than her,'' he admitted as he held her close to him, kissing her on top of her head. After his physical therapy, he had felt exhausted and when Gabby had left to go do groceries, he had soon fallen asleep with her on his chest. But as he had woken, she still remained asleep, peaceful.
''I never want to let go of her again,'' he mumbled as he looked at her, the little girl so perfect in every single way he could still barely believe that they were really lucky enough to be her parents.
''Don't get greedy now,'' she teased him as she laid down beside him.
Every moment here with their little family seemed like a blessing. Ever since Matt's accident, she had realized that being with him was much more important, even if things weren't always easy between them . But it was something they had to leave in the past. It didn't matter anymore, everything was perfect now.
It was four weeks after they had gotten the green light for the adoption and two weeks after she had been officially surrendered into their care. They had spent the rest of their time here in the appartement they had rented as they waited for the final paperwork to go through and for her to receive her papers, so they could travel.
Gabby had officially given up the lease of her place here and now all that was left was their flight home. With Daniela with them now, it was an easy choice to finally leave everything behind.
Taking their rental car to the airport and checked into their flights.
Even now, as they handed over Daniela's papers, they were nervous. They knew everything had been settled, but still they worried that things might go wrong. But soon they were behind security, waiting for their flight.
At a little café, he took the car seat from his lap onto the table, Daniela holding the little bear they had bought her when she was still in the hospital.
Gabby got them some coffee and sitting down again across from Matt. Looking at him and the little girl in the car seat, she felt like the luckiest woman on earth.
''I am happy to go back to Chicago,'' Gabby said. Although when she had left here before she had not been sure about her life in Chicago, but after Matt's accident she had realized what was important. Especially now that that had lead them to a family together.
''Just can't wait to take her to the pier when she is old enough, she is going to love it, I am sure,'' Matt smiled proud and as much as Gabby had enjoyed her time here, she knew there were so many beautiful memories they were going to make in Chicago.
Seven hours later, they set foot on Chicagoan soil. Kelly would be waiting for them at arrivals to take them home. As Matt couldn't walk these far distances, he had Daniela in the car seat on his lap as Gabby struggled with the suitcase and all their other stuff, quickly aided by somebody from the airport that rushed out to help her.
''Our friend is waiting for us at arrivals,'' Gabby said, Matt looking guilty but she shook his head. It wasn't long before they met up with Kelly there.
''Oh look at her,'' Kelly smiled, feeling his throat close up a little as he felt so happy for his friends. He got on his knees, sitting down by Matt as he looked at the little girl in the car seat.
''Welcome to Chicago, little one,'' Kelly smiled, looking at the little girl fast asleep in the car seat. Matt still had his arms around the car seat. He knew it made no sense, but he was still worried about her being taken away by somebody.
''She is gorgeous,'' Kelly smiled, so in awe at the little girl fast asleep in the baby carrier. Gabby and Matt had been trying to start a family for so long and now it had finally happened for him.
''She doesn't look like me, so that is pro,'' Matt joked, but looking at Daniela then with the proud look he hadn't been able to get of his face.
They made their way towards the car, Gabby grateful that Kelly could help with all the stuff they had taken back from Puerto Rico. As Matt still couldn't lift too much heavy stuff and made sure everything was alright with Daniela, it had been hard getting everything sorted in San Juan.
Kelly looked as Matt and Gabby bickered about the car seat. It made him smile a little, the couple finally together as parents. As he loaded the rest of their luggage into the car, he couldn't be happier for them. He knew that it had been a long road for them. After losing their baby, Louie, their near divorce and Matt's accident, there was no other couple in the world that he felt as was deserving.
Besides that, he knew no people better suited than to take care of Daniela
Soon, Matt in front of with him, Gabby and Daniela in the back as he drove them home, so happy for them and their little family.
Helping them take all their stuff inside, the wanted to leave them alone as soon as possible. He could only imagine how special it was to finally take their daughter home and he didn't want to infringe on that for too long.
Gabby looked surprised as she saw the massive stack of presents that was on their kitchen table.
''We figured you might be tired after the flight, so we figured we would leave you alone in this very special moment – just wanted to shower you with some love as well,'' Kelly smiled as they looked at the large pile of presents on the kitchen table.
As they put Daniela to bed, grateful that things had gone well on the flight, they started unwrapping the presents. Daniela had been so easy today on the flight and had been asleep for most of the journey home. They hoped she would sleep a little longer before they would feed her again. Matt settled on the couch as well. Although things were getting easier on his body, he still tired easily and the journey had taken its toll on him as well.
Daniela started crying as they had unpacked half of the presents, so grateful for all the toys, clothes and even furniture they had still needed.
As Gabby took Daniela, Matt went to prepare the formula and bottle.
''Are you okay?'' she asked concerned as he came walking back from the kitchen.
''All good, don't worry,'' he smiled as he handed the bottle over to her, sitting down beside her. His arm around her, he couldn't take his eyes of Daniela as the little girl kept going for the bottle. She had gained the weight she needed and although they would be careful making sure she didn't lose any more weight, they were so grateful how well she was doing. It was in no time she finished the bottle.
Gabby held her in her arms, rocking her as they watched the TV. She had been so easy going the last few weeks they felt even more blessed to welcome her into their lives.
''Let's get her to bed,'' Gabby said as she wanted to hand Daniela to Matt, knew that she had been holding her since they had fed her.
''I am tired Gabby, I shouldn't carry her,'' Matt admitted.
''Tomorrow is another day, huh.'' Gabby said concerned as she held him in one arm, Daniela in the other. Matt nodded, walking with them as they walked to the nursery and he sat down on the chair in the room. He was tired, but seeing Gabby change Daniela's diapers and get her ready to bed. Everything made him melt almost, just happy to finally have the family they wanted so much.
''I love you so much, welcome to Chicago, goodnight,'' Matt spoke gently as he kissed Daniela on her forehead, Gabby holding her and wanting to lay her in the crib.
''Goodnight Guapa. l love you to the moon and back, just like your dad'' Gabby said softly as she kissed her on the forehead, laying her in the crib as Matt had his arm around her, kissing her on her cheek as he had tears in his eyes.
It was so special to see Gabby with Daniela, finally having the family they had wanted so much for so long. They sat by the crib, looking as Daniela was falling asleep in front of them. Only when she was fast asleep, they left towards the living room.
As they sat on the couch together, looking through all the cards that had been on the table. Only now, after letting things settle for a few hours, they felt up for reading what all their friends had written.
Matt took a card that had his name written on the envelope and recognized the handwriting to be Boden's.
''I don't know, I have just been a bit more emotional since the accident,'' he admitted as he wiped his tears away.
''Hey, that's okay,''
''Just taking Daniela home…finally being parents…not having to worry about losing you, these are happy tears,'' he admitted. Although she had always admired him for not being a man to hide his emotions, it touched her even more now.
''How close we have been to not having all of this,''
''You can't think about that Matt,''
''I know – it just happens,'' he admitted, ''Boden can never tell me again I am going to be a great father cause apparently it turns me to mush,''
Gabby chuckled, caressing his hand.
''I just want to be a good dad for her, not like my own dad,'' he admitted as he looked at the card. Boden, the one man he had always seen as the closest thing he had ever ha dad, had written all these words down that touched him. He just wanted to do better for Daniela than his own family had ever done for him.
''You are going to be a good dad,''
''And you are going to be the best mom,'' Matt smiled as he caressed his hand. Wrapping his arm around her as they shared a kiss, neither could have imagined this happening half a year ago. But yet, here they were, the perfect family.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter and hopefully till next chapter!