15 days later...
Severide and Casey were on the apparatus floor chatting while they smoked.
"How kids have been dealing with her absence? They are in their best behaviors?" Severide asked.
"Yeah, it depends on their mood, you know... They miss her a lot...they have this calendar where they mark the days that she has been away...", Casey smiled.
"Own... they are anxious to have her back home...", Severide puffed his cigar. "How about you? How have you been dealing... not dealing?" Severide stared at him.
Casey exhaled smoke out of his mouth, looking straight ahead, quiet as listening to his friend.
"Matt... what are you thinking?" he insisted.
Casey shook his head, "I-I'm kind lost, that's how I feel... but I have to put a smile on my face for my kids...," his voice failing, "I pretend to be fine with my wife 2.000 miles away...", Matt chuckled.
"You two are gonna back stronger from it, man...", Severide patted his shoulder.
"Do you think? I am quite sure it will be the opposite... I-I've thought over and over about this since she left, and my mind hasn't changed, she shouldn't have left her place is here...", Casey looked at his friend.
Severide filled his mouth with smoke and blew it out gently, "... I do believe you two need your own time to mourn your daughter together and separately, man... It doesn't mean you two do not love each other... It's Gabby, it's the same woman you fell in love years ago, what you two have is special...".
Casey nodded slightly.
"You are the proof of love can conquer all, okay?"
"Thank you, Sev... I don't like complaining, it's hard... that's it...".
"I understand, Shay and I... we are not together as a couple", he shrugged, "...we have our disagreements, yet at the end of the day I want her by my side as my friend and the mother of our kid...".
Casey sucked the air, filling his mouth with tasty smoke, blowing out it after a few seconds.
"Sean is a great kid, I can easily see both of you in him...", Casey smirked.
"Yeah... he is amazing, being a parent is the best thing in the world and when it is with the right person, you are lucky...", Severide pointed out.
"I'm lucky, Sev... I'm... Maya, Antony, and Jacob have the best mother anyone could ever ask... and Elizabeth", Casey lumped in his throat, closing his eyes, "I wished she was here to feel all that love from Gabby... from all of us...".
"Me too, man...", Severide said nodding.
...
"Mama, look at what I did...", Jacob showed Gabby a draw he had done that morning.
"It's beautiful, baby... the colors, you chose perfectly... that's a puppy I see right that?", Gabby asked excitedly.
Every other day Gabby and the kids had a face time call, that was the plan. Although there were days that hadn't been possible for a few reasons, mostly because Gabby had problems with electricity on the site she was located or she was stuck on meetings with the group relief.
"Yeah, can we have one, please?", Jacob brought his hands together, a small gesture that made Gabby smile. "Please?"
"When I back home, your dad and I will talk about it, okay? Can you hang on for a little bit? Can you do that for me?" Gabby tilted her head slightly.
Jacob jumped on his place on the couch, Maya, and Antony to his right and Camila was sat on the left.
"Why is he celebrating? we didn't say yes?!" Gabby asked quietly as smirking.
"You know him," Camila chuckled, "...it's a little victory, the first step...".
"Yeah, so how are you doing, princess? Someone told me you have a presentation next month? Are you excited?"
"I kind of nervous, but I think I can do it", Maya responded happily to her mother.
"Yes, if that's one can do it, it's you... you're gonna do great, I'm happy I'll be there to watch you, I'll take so many pictures... I love you, baby girl...".
"I love you too, mama. I can't wait for to you be home... I miss you every day... we all do...", she expressed.
"I'm counting the days... in 9 days I'll be with you all... What do you think we have a girl's day? Just the two of us, hun?" Gabby was in her tent alone.
"I'd love it, no boys, just the girls, right mama?" Maya wanted to be sure.
"You and me... I can't wait...", it wasn't the first time they would do that. Since Antony was born, they've thought that would be important to have one-one activity with their kids. They wanted to assure that they were important and appreciated.
"Mama, you think you can come earlier home? You missed a lot of my games...", Antony said upset.
"I'm sorry, baby... I would do that if I could... but I'll make up to you, okay?"
"Daddy said the same thing...", his head down.
"He's right... mom has been at your games whereas I am here, and she sent me videos of the last two games, I can't wait to watch them. She told me you made two goals... I'm impressed, kid...".
Looking up at the screen, Antony announced "... coach said he is planning a big game... hopefully you will be here to watch me...", a smile appearing on his face.
"Wow, this is big, hun? We can train together. What do you think?".
"Yeah, dad has thought to buy two soccer goals to put in our back yard...", he declared enthusiastically.
"Wow... can we imagine... a soccer field at our back yard...".
"May I invite my friends if dad really buys them?" he jumped at the opportunity.
"I think so... we would have to ask their parents first if they agree...", Gabby added while she heard the front door of their house be open and closed.
"Hey, daddy... come to say hi to mom...", Maya prompted.
"I talk to her later, baby... Dad is stinky right now...", Matt replied as scrunched his nose.
"She can't smell you, silly...", the kids laughed at him.
Matt mustered a smile as Camila eyed him, "Dad calls your mother later...," Camila looked back at Gabby, her face showing distress by Matt's behavior. "Let's say bye-bye... your mother is tired, she worked all day...".
Matt made his way upstairs as the kids wrapped their chat with Gabby.
...
Matt was heading down the hallway to close the back door, on the first floor when he heard Gabby's voice coming from the laundry room, the door slightly ajar.
"I feel that I've taken his love for granted, mom... that was a huge mistake, you know... ", Gabby sniffed a few times.
"Gabby...", Camila whispered.
Matt didn't intend to listen to their conversation, though he leaned against the wall a few inches from the door, where Camila couldn't see him.
"... I lose my daughter, now I'm about to lose my husband as well...".
Casey closed his eyes and breathed in.
"Maya, Antony, and Jacob were never a reason to take us apart, to destabilize us... Each one of them brought us joy, happiness, with Elizabeth... shouldn't be different, I mean... alive or not, she is our daughter, our baby...".
She is right, Matt thought. They always dreamed of having kids, being parents were their pride. Their love for each other was printed in each one of their kids. All of them.
"All marriage have highs and lows...", Camila reasoned with her.
"It's my fault, it's clearly my fault... Matt has every reason to hate me...", Gabby blew out as Matt opened his eyes when he heard her last words, feeling tense and disturbed.
"He doesn't hate you, Gabby... he's upset. Give him time, he's gonna come around...", Camila tried to ease her of her worries.
"He is gonna ask for a divorce, the signs are there... like we barely talk on the phone... I can't even remember the last time he said he loves me... may-maybe he has someone else already and he doesn't love me anymore...", Gabby confessed her last fear.
Casey was in shock because he realized the distance he put between himself and his wife has damaged his marriage, his wife has thought he has been unfaithful.
"Look, I said before and I say it again: that man loves you, there is no one besides you...", Camila assured her, she had faith in her son-in-law.
"I-I didn't tell you before, because I didn't know if it would work, but I tried to go home a few days ago...".
Casey was surprised and somehow please to hear it.
"What did go wrong?" Camila inquired.
"The flight was canceled due to bad weather...", Gabby deplored. "I felt I needed to do something to fix my marriage... I miss Matt so much, he is my best friend, I miss even the things he does and irritates me...", Gabby smirked.
"I bet you do...", Camila laughed.
"... the kids... I love them so much, so much...", Gabby sobbed.
Hearing his wife crying hurt Matt, he couldn't not long to stay there. He was upset with himself for the way he treated Gabby. So carefully, he made his way to the living room.
"It's not the end, soon you'll be here, with us... okay?"
Gabby nodded slightly.
A few minutes later, Camila saw Matt sat on the couch, head down.
"Hey..."
Matt looked up, tears in his eyes.
"...I locked the back door... you need anything?" she approached him.
"Can we talk, Camila?"
...
Three days later...
"Hi, Noah said you wanted to see me...", Gabby said entering Amanda's improvised office in the site.
"Yeah... please, take a seat... I imagine you've heard they are sending me to Peru...", Amanda was standing behind her desk, looking over some papers.
"Noah himself told me, it's a surprise actually, you are doing a great job here...", Gabby uttered crossing her legs.
"Thank you, I've been here for almost 2 years, never left not even to see my family...", Amanda sat down.
Gabby's eyes widened for a second, "Wow, they miss you for sure...".
"So do I, because of that I asked the coordinator for a few days to go home, then I travel to Peru from there...", Amanda gave Gabby a satisfied smile.
"That's great, I am happy for you...", smiling back to her.
Amanda studied Gabby's face for a moment, Gabby shifted in her place, not being able to read her expression.
"I could see you being my substitute, you have the necessary skills and experience-", Gabby cut her off.
"You know I-I can't, my family... they are-are waiting for me-", her words faltering.
"You've done so much in a short time here, you really made a difference..., and I'm not saying it to change your mind... Like me a lot of people have noticed it, I see the leader in you...", Amanda leaned forward, lacing her own fingers together on the table.
"I've never had an experience like this before, what you guys do here is amazing...", Gabby spoke honestly.
"We have an incredible team... we'd be lucky if you could stay, but I also know you have a team of your own waiting for you home...".
"I can't wait to be reunited with them, Amanda...".
"I see it...", Amanda detected Gabby's eyes filled with tears.
"Maybe, I can help with that...", Amanda started holding a smile.
Gabby raised her eyebrows, not grasping the meaning behind her words.
Amanda stood up and walked around her table., squeezing Gabby's shoulder as passing by her, "Wait here...".
"Okay...", Gabby replied softly, not sure what to expect. A few minutes had passed...
"She is inside, Sir...", Gabby heard calmly behind her, but she didn't turn to see.
"Gabby, baby...", took her a few seconds to register who was, her head whipped around in astonishment.
"Matt...", she jumped from her seat as his arms were already opened waiting for her. "I can't-can't believe you are here".
Gabby had him wrapped in a tight hug as his arms were around her, keeping her close to him.
"I'm here... this is real", he voiced gently.
"I'm sorry, Matt", tears falling down her face, "I'm so sorry...", she kept saying.
"It's okay, babe, don't be sorry...don't be sorry...I am not going anywhere...", rubbing her back up and down. "I love you-".
Gabby pulled back, her eyes roaming his face, not sure if she heard him right.
"I love you...", he looked her down, "... there is no one besides you for me... you hear me?".
Gabby cradled his face, her thumb brushing his cheek softly, "I-I thought for one second-", Matt cut in.
"You are my person", pulling her closer by her hips, their lips brushing together slightly, "... you are mine and I'm yours, doesn't matter the distance... Gabby, my life only makes sense if you are with me...".
Gabby nodded and smiled, "I love you... always...".
Leaning down Matt caressed her lips with his first, pecking her lips two times before kindly inching his tongue towards her lips and parting them, then he slid his tongue into her mouth.
Gabby opened her mouth willfully for him, his tongue swirled around her mouth slowly, using his lips to kiss her. Gradually Gabby sucked his tongue and lips like candy. They didn't rush their kisses because they wanted to enjoy every second of it... until someone interrupted them 10 minutes later.
"To be continued...", Gabby smirked.
"To be continued...", Matt turned around standing beside Gabby.
"Amanda... this is my husband, Matt...".
...
Later at night...
Gabby and Matt were lying on the same cot bed in her tent. With their foreheads pressed together as her body was partially covering his, her right calf was between his legs.
"... I love your smell...", Matt whispered as sniffed, his eyes were shut as hers were opened staring at him.
Smiling Gabby rubbed his chest up and down, "... and I love you...".
Silence fell upon them... minutes later...
"Matt, can-can I say something?"
He opened his eyes, "... of course", squinting his eyes at her.
Gabby looked down and squeezed his upper arm lightly a few times.
"I came here to focus on help people, then in some way not to think on my pain, our pain. I-I thought that it could heal my heart, but I didn't make it rightly... so I got here mourning for our baby and worried about our marriage, making things worse...".
Matt listened to her carefully.
"I-I hurt you-", Matt cut off.
"Gabby-".
"Please let me say this," she locked eyes with him, and Matt nodded.
"I hurt you because once again I went all Gabby Dawson when doing things my way... and-and we've talked about it a million times... That it's something that I need to work out in myself... not jumping in without thinking as you said a long time ago... So... I'm sorry for letting you down and the kids...", her palm was against his neck, rubbing the skin there.
"They took it better than me, you know...", he grinned tenderly as his hand was caressing her cheek. "Often I listened to them to say to your mother I was a little grumpy without you there...".
"Yeah?", Gabby chuckled.
"Yeah... but Gabby, I'm not happy about my reaction to your decision to come here, so I realized I have things to work out as well", pressing lips together, "I am hot-head, it usually shows up when people don't act like that way I expect...".
"You are only a human being, Matt...".
"Yet, I shouldn't have treated you badly... I've regretted I put some space between us, which led you to wonder if I was having an affair... what I am not... I love you more anything...".
"I'm sorry for thinking that way, I-I didn't know what to do with your rejection...".
"Let's start over... I really want to do right by you, by our family...".
"I'd like that, Matt...", her eyes roamed his face before pressing her lips against his. "I love you...".
"I love you... come here", he pulled her to be on top of him. Gabby straddled his waist as his arms wrapped around her, leaving no space between them.
They made out on the tiny bed under the thin sheet for almost a half-hour before once again someone interrupted them. Gabby rolled her eyes as Matt laughed at her, later she accepted that they needed to rest for the days ahead.
"Good night, babe...", Matt kissed her head.
"Good night...", she sighed happily.
...
A week later... Chicago...
"Would be okay if kids skip school tomorrow?" Gabby turned away from the window to look at her husband, "... just one day... I really miss them and I'd love to sleep with them next to us, an extra time snuggling them in the morning..." Gabby and Matt were on the way home, Shay picked them at the airport as Severide was with Sean at home.
Matt tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "... it means we are waking them up when we get home?"
"If that's okay with you...", an expectant look on her face.
Matt pecked her lips, "All good...", smiling softly.
"I can't wait to see their face-", Shay intervened as watched them quickly in the rearview mirror.
"They can't wait to have you back, girl", Shay said turning right into Clark St, where their home was located.
"Thank you, Shay, for the sleepovers, mom told me they loved it, so next time my home...".
"Don't worry about it, you know I love these kids, and I love you, you are my girl. Don't be jealous, Casey, but I love her more than you'll ever love...", Shay teased him.
Matt rolled her eyes, "Don't pout, baby...", Gabby said playfully. "I know how much you love me...".
"See, Shay...", Matt pointed out as Gabby kissed him on the cheek.
They all laughed together.
...
Next morning...
Lying on her side, Gabby had an elbow on the bed, propping up her head as she watched her kids and husband sleeping soundly.
A smile resting on her lips since she had awakened ten minutes ago, her heart was full of the best feelings in the world, being a mother and a wife.
After waking up Maya, Antony, and Jacob last night, they took at least two hours to get everyone on the bed, and some more minutes to shout down any chat, kids were too excited to have their parents at home finally.
Matt stirred in his sleep, the movement caught Gabby's attention. Turning his head to her side of the bed, the kids were in the middle of the bed.
He blinked a few times as murmured. "Why are you up so early?" his hair disheveled.
Gabby grinned as he looked confused, "... just watching my family sleeping".
Matt smiled stupidly at her as he mirrored her position on the bed.
"Can we try again?"
"What do you mean?" Casey asked her.
Breathing in, "... having a baby, in the future... we can try again?" she said unsure of his reaction.
"Gabby, baby... I'd be more than happy to have more of this", he rested a hand on Jacob's back, "... with you... I love you...", Matt stretched his hand towards her.
"Love you too...", Gabby laced their fingers together for a moment.
Getting up from the bed, Gabby made her way to Matt's side, his smile wide. He slid further to welcome her, Gabby spooned him, resting her head on his pillow, then they went back to sleep comfortably at each other arms.
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THE END
Note 1: If you are interested, I wrote an alternative end starting at Next morning section, I added a short M scene, so don't get too excited, it's really short. Anyway, if you want to read it tell me in your review as well.
Note 2: I intend to rewrite my old stories, trying to fix the grammar, it's not gonna get much better, but I think it would be good since some of you like to reread my stories.
Bye.
Merry Christmas : )