Ringing pulled him sharply out of his slumber, Matt fumbling around blindly at the bedside cabinet in search of the phone blaring out loudly beside him, desperately trying to silence it before it woke the exhausted woman lying next to him. His head still tender from the amount of alcohol consumed the night previously, the couple having fallen into bed soon after their friends had left a few short hours ago, both exhausted from the restless night.
"Casey" he spoke roughly, the sleepiness evident in his voice.
"Mr Casey, it's Doctor Manning from Chicago med."
Matt sitting upright at the sound of the doctors voice "hi" he said a bit more clearly.
"I'm sorry did I disturb you?" She asked.
"No, no we were just resting. Have you got Gabby's results?"
"I do, she is anemic but it's not to bad, she needs to start taking some extra iron tablets alongside her vitamins and she should be feeling much better soon. I've left a prescription for her at the reception desk so you can collect it whenever. The sooner she starts taking them the better."
"Ok thank you, Doctor we will collect it later today."
"No worries, see you soon."
Matt hung up and looked over to his half asleep wife, the exhaustion still clearly etched across her face. "You've got to start taking iron tablets" he said softly, Gabby nodding gently at him. She'd expected as much before he'd even put the phone down. As much as she disliked the idea of having to take daily medication it had got to be better than feeling like she was permanently sucked of all energy. She just hoped they kicked in quickly and she'd be feeling better soon, hopefully before their new year meal with he parents the week after next. Gabby worrying that if her dad especially saw her like this that's he'd force her to step down earlier than they'd agreed. Curling herself back into her husbands chest and snuggling into his warmth, her eyes falling closed again as her body slipped back into a contented sleep.
"Babe can you zip me up please?" Gabby shouted from the bathroom.
"Be there in a second" Matt called back fixing his tie.
They were going out for dinner with Gabriela's family at a posh restaurant across town for a quiet new year celebration, it was somewhere chosen by her parents and a place they would have never chosen for themselves. The dinner alone was more money than a weeks pay, let alone drinks and dessert on top.
Walking into the bathroom Matt's jaw dropped, "WOW" he said, his eyes tracing up and down her body. "Is that new?"
"Yea, I brought it while shopping with the girls last weekend." She said twirling round, "Do you like it?"
"If we wouldn't be late I show you how much!" He said kissing her passionately grabbing her butt firmly as he wrapped his arms around her, Gabby smirking against his lips as she kissed back, smug in the knowledge that if he liked the dress he'd like what was underneath it even better. His hands wandering towards the bottom of the material covering the new suspender belt she'd brought at the same time. Slapping his hand away and smirking at him as she pulled away turning round in his arms.
"Now if you can zip me up" she said smirking over her shoulder at him, pulling her hair to the side as they locked eyes, Matt's burning with desire for her. The intense stare causing a pool of dampness to form in between her legs.
Her dress was a simple one shoulder piece, the deep purple materiel tightly fitting across her hips and low cut around her bust showing a little more cleavage than absolutely necessary but he wasn't complaining, with it she wore black stockings that he knew would be attached to a suspender belt as always. Swallowing thickly he tried to calm his heart rate as he began to zip her up, kissing her neck gently, "Tonight" he whispered in her ear his breath causing an involuntary shiver to run down her spine, "This little dress is going to find it's way up around your waist, right here." he traced his hand up her body, resting it on one side of her hips, his other hand reaching across the top of her chest as he played with the strap, "And this bit is going to be rolled down to here" his hand tracing back down to resting on the other side. "Then I'm going to show you just how much I love you in it." Gabby groaned at his low voice, her panties dampening more as her moisture surged, his warm breath causing the hairs to stand up on the back of her neck.
"Then when I've finished showing you how much I like it, I'm going to show you again just to make sure you got the message the first time." Slapping her ass he walked away smirking at the reaction he'd caused her to have. Well aware that he'd got her in the mood with his words alone. Her eyes closed tightly shut as she imagined everything he was alluding to. A small groan leaving her lips as she felt his touch withdraw from her.
"Matt" she whimpered into the air, his sniggers lingering as he left the room.
An hour later they were seated in the busy restaurant with Camile, Ramon, Antonio and his new girlfriend chatting happily while they all scanned over the menu, it seemed like it was a popular choice with people enjoying a late dinner before the new year arrived. The restaurant hosting a quiz night at the bar to help people quietly celebrate. The waiter being the only interruption to their pleasant conversation as he came to take their order. Gabby ordering for both her and Matt when he said he couldn't decide what to have. They didn't have to wait long for the starters to arrive, dishes of Espinacas con Garbanzos, Clams, and Titaina sat in the middle of the table as they all helped themselves, the conversation quickly turning to Diego and Eva.
"How are they doing?" Matt asked Antonio in between bites of his food. "Is Eva still giving you grief?"
Antonio nodded his head, "Teenage girls are like a different minefield" he sighed.
"I've told you Antonio that girl needs a firm hand" Ramon said, eyeing the older Dawson sibling with a strong stare.
"I know your feeling on it dad" he sighed. Matt sensing it was obviously a conversation that they had, had before and what ever the older Dawson had suggested as a solution hadn't gone down to well.
Ramon scoffing at his sons tone, "I brought you both up that way and you've turned out ok."
Antonio raised his arms in the air, puffing out a frustrated breath before turning to the older man again, "We remember your methods dad. Don't we Gabs?"
Gabby looked up from her plate, "Don't involve me, I got in enough trouble as a teenager" she said holding her hands up her cheeks turning slightly pink. Matt chuckling at the action, recalling the conversation about her running away and knowing exactly what the pair were alluding to.
"So what's been going on?" Matt asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkward direction it was heading trying his hardest to save his wife and brother in law any more embarrassment, the pink tinge to both their faces telling him everything he needed to know about how they were feeling discussing this topic in front of Antonio's new girlfriend and a restaurant full of strangers.
"Her grades are dropping again" he sighed, "she got benched from the team because of it. And then last week I got called in because she was fighting!"
"She got benched?" Gabby repeated, shocked. Eva had tried for a long time to make the cheer team and was so happy when she finally made the team at the start of the school year, she thought for sure she would have kept her grades up.
"Yea, she dropped to a D average, and they have to be C average to play on any sports teams." He said glancing towards his baby sister, "And then she goes and beats on some poor girl and won't tell anyone why."
"I'm shocked, I must say. She was so happy she made the team, do you think something else is going on. I mean it's not like her to be fighting?" Gabby asked, "Especially if she won't tell you why?" Matt nodding in agreement, glancing towards his in laws and seeing their glances towards each other, Matt getting the feeling they knew no more about what had been happening with their sons eldest anymore than they did. Matt feeling guilty at the lack of time they had spent with their nieces and nephew lately, making a silent promise to himself that he would rectify that immediately. Eva was a sweet kid, sure she got herself in trouble from time to time but her grades had always stayed up apart from the incident with the boyfriend and she had never gotten into a fight before. Overall she was a straight A student, hearing she'd dropped to a D average had shocked him, and looking around the table he could see it had done the same to everyone else.
"I was too" Antonio agreed, "I haven't even decided how to deal with it yet."
"So you haven't even spoken to her about it?" Gabby asked.
"Not really, I took her phone and told her she was grounded but I haven't dealt with it yet. I'm not sure how. If it were Diego I'd get it, that boys always in scrapes, but Eva has always been such a good girl, boyfriend incident none withstanding. I'm not really sure what to do" he had a sadness in his eyes Gabby had never seen before, it felt to her like her big brother was completely lost into what had happened to the sweet little girl he and his ex wife had raised.
"If that had been either of you" Ramon interrupted again pointing between the siblings "You wouldn't have sat down for a month. And you defiantly wouldn't have been socializing for a long time."
Both Gabby and Antonio faces turning bright red at the memory being brought up in front of their partners. "Dad" Gabby breathed, "do you have to."
"I'm just saying, the threat of a spanking kept you two in line. And if you had acted out the way she is you'd have felt more than my hand that's for sure. He says she's grounded but do you know where she is right now?"
"Dad" Gabby groaned, "It's different now" choosing to ignore his question.
"Yes and that's exactly why kids these days think they can get away with so much." He said straightening his back against his chair, "Neither of you would have refused me an answer when I asked why you'd done something. I don't understand why you're letting her run the house, she's thirteen!" He near shouted.
"I'm not Dad" he tried but was cut off by a now furious looking Ramon.
"You are the parent Antonio, and she came crying to you about missing the new year's eve sleepover and what did you do?" He didn't even wait for a response as he saw his son shake his head, "You let her go! You've got to stomp this out before she starts going down the wrong path. Look at your sister at that age" his gaze moved to his daughter, Gabby wavering under the intense scowl he now wore, the look reminding him of one she'd seen often as a teenager. "She lied and disobeyed me once and she never dared do it again, did you Gabriela?" Her face flushing deeply as she turned her gaze down to her hands.
"Can we change the subject please?" Antonio said, glancing towards his new girlfriend, the young red head staring opened mouthed at the family, Gabby guessing she was probably just as embarrassed as he was about the topic. Puffing out a frustrated breath he turned to his baby sister again, seeing her gaze focused in her lap, her dad's ranting having embarrassed the younger Dawson immensely, "How are you feeling Gabs?"
"Loads better actually." She smiled at him weakly grateful for the shift in conversation, "the morning sickness seems to have stopped and I actually have more energy at the moment. But I'm assuming that's down to the extra iron tablets I'm now on." She glanced at her mothers face making sure she wasn't going to say anything about the need of the tablets. When she didn't say anything Gabby continued, "it was a bit rough over Christmas, but I'm feeling loads better now and I'm sleeping better too."
"That's good. And how's work?"
"Busy. But less bloody thankfully. I mean I like seeing the intelligence team regularly but it was getting to the point that you were at every scene." She said running her hand through her hair.
"Yea the cartels have caused the streets to be a bloodbath recently, we're hoping we've seen the last of it for now." Turning to Matt he said, "I almost forgot, congratulations on the promotion."
"Thanks" Matt smiled, he'd just had his promotion ceremony a few days previously and was still getting used to being a Captain and wearing the white shirt, something he'd noticed Gabby liked him in immensely and hadn't been shy about letting him know. The only negative thing he had noticed was there was far more paperwork involved the higher up you got, chief having landed him with the job of furlough requests, the guys piling on the requests before the end of his first shift as Captain much to his annoyance and the chiefs amusement.
The rest of dinner played by smoothly the conversation remaining on work for a while, before Camile changed it back to babies.
"When's your scan" she asked.
"We see the doctor the day after tomorrow" Gabby said, "I'll be fourteen weeks exactly."
"That's good, and are you going to find out what you're having?" She asked glancing between the couple.
"We will, but the doctor said we won't be able to find out for another four weeks yet."
"Well I hope that hasn't stopped you talking about names and deciding on a house." Ramon said eyeing them suspiciously.
"No papa, we like two houses we just can't decide which one we like the best." She glanced towards her husband "someone wants the house that's got work needing doing in it, and it's not a small job." Matt chuckling next to her.
"Gabriela forgets that she too loved that house before she realized that it would take a few weeks to make it livable." He said resting his hand over hers. "Honestly both houses are great, I just think the location and garden in this one are better."
"They are around the corner from each other." Gabby said rolling her eyes, Matt raising an eyebrow at the gesture. She gave him a cheeky grin knowing he wouldn't like her rolling her eyes but couldn't do anything about it in front of her parents.
"We'll agree sooner or later." Matt said laughing, "our retailer said that there's no rush as people just don't want houses that big at the moment. We just haven't had a chance to weigh up the pros and cons."
Ramon nodding at him "that and my daughter is as stubborn as they come." He said knowingly, Matt nodding in agreement choking back another chuckle when he saw Gabby's face.
Before she could say anything they were interrupted by the waiter offering them dessert menus, everyone saying they were too full for any but they would take some coffee's. The evening passing by quickly, Camile managing to convince them to join the quiz happening at the bar after they'd finished up, the older woman running off quickly to secure them a table. Gabby had to admit it was a fun night, and it was good to see the family coming together to work their way to a second place victory.
Gabby glanced at the clock above the kitchen area smiling when she saw it was just before midnight, "looks like we finished that one just in time." Everyone else round the table following her nod towards the clock.
"Happy new year guys" she said holding her soda up and toasting the table. "Let's hope this one is better than last."
"That it will be" Matt smiles, kissing her deeply, Gabby melting into his lips as she allowed herself to be lost in him for a few moments, the world around them completely blocked out. Coughing from her left brought her to as Antonio raised his eyebrows at her.
"Enjoying yourself are we?" he asked chuckling at her red face when she noticed all their eyes turned on her and Matt. The youngest Dawson flipping him off as she returned her gaze to her now smug looking husband.
Gabby's leg bobbed nervously while they sat in the waiting room. Matt holding her hand tightly, stroking his thumb gently over her knuckles. "You ok?"
"Yea yea I'm fine" she said unconvincingly.
"You sure, you seem pretty nervous."
Gabby smiled weakly at him, "I'm ok, I'll be better when we see these two on the screen."
"I know the feeling" Matt agreed.
The two falling silent as they waited to be called through. As their appointment time went by Gabby's nervousness increased, "They must be running behind." she said, glancing around the full waiting area.
"Do you want me to go see what's taking so long?" Matt asked.
"Do you mind?"
"No of course not, I'll be right back," he kissed her head before walking away towards the front desk.
"Excuse me?" He said gaining the attention of one of the nurses. "Do you know how long it'll be before our turn?"
"Erm, Casey right?" The nurse asked checking her screen.
"Yea."
"You're in next, sorry for the delay the doctor had to deliver some bad news and it's taken a little while."
"Oh no worries," Matt said his heart breaking for the family without even knowing the details.
Walking back to Gabby he wore a sad smile, "We're next" he said resuming his position next to her and taking her hand.
Seeing the sad look in her husbands eye filled her with fear, "what is it?" She asked softly.
"Nothing, the nurse just said the doctor had had to deliver some bad news"
Gabby's face falling at the thought of how hard that must have been. Squeezing his knee firmly she flashed him a reassuring smile opening her mouth to say something comforting but falling empty as what words to use, instead she just kept a firm grip on him, leaning in and wrapping her arm around him. The two sitting in a peaceful quiet until the doctor called them through.
"Sorry for the delay" Dr Manning said when they entered the room.
"No worries" Matt said, helping Gabby up onto the bed, the brunette pulling her shirt up and reaching for his hand, while the Doctor placed the cold jelly on her belly. Both of them watching the screen as two bouncing little images popped into view.
"Ok then" the doctor said moving around slightly, "so baby one seems good, let's try and get some measurements shall we." She said the couple nodding silently as she took pictures and made notes, printing off some pictures for them before moving on to twin two. It took a little while to get all the measurements needed, the silence in which they sat being one of anticipation and nervousness. Gabby's mind playing through everything that could potentially go wrong in the pregnancy, her brain not allowing her to completely relax until she got confirmation that everything was good. And then she'd only relax for a short while, the few days before a scan always making her extra nervous.
"Everything is looking good with both babies." Dr Manning finally said after a few more tense minutes, Gabby puffing our a breath of relief, squeezing Matt's hand gently. "So how are you feeling Gabriela? Are the tablets helping?"
"Yes they are" Gabby said smiling, "I've got loads more energy, I even managed to stay up to see the new year in last night."
Matt agreed "she definitely has more energy, sometimes too much." He said winking at his wife, a soft smile falling on both of their faces.
"Ok then, well as long as you're not doing too much then I'm happy. I'll see you in another two weeks time and I'm only a call away if you need anything." The doctor said handing the couple the scan pictures, "just make an appointment at the front desk on your way out."
Both Gabby and Matt thanked the doctor before heading towards the reception, Gabby's gaze focused solely on the pictures in her hand.
"So what do you want to do?" Matt asked as they stepped out in to the car park.
"You know I'd quite like to go for a walk down at the waterfront" Gabby said, eyeing her husband shyly.
"Gabby it's freezing and snowing?" he said raising his eyebrow at her, "We aren't really dressed for it."
"Just a little bit" she said her eyes pleading at him. "Plllleeeeaaassseee."
"Ok, but not long ok?"
She nodded her head, smiling at him as she climbed into the truck.
The cold air surrounded them as they walked quietly across the icy pavements in front of the waters front, Gabby shivering slightly as the air got under her coat, the paramedic pulling it closer to her body, taking a step sideways towards her husband to try and help warm herself up slightly. Matt noticing her movements from the corner of his eye, opened his arm up for her to snuggle into his side, wrapping it securely around her shoulders as she moved into his embrace.
"You ok?" Matt asked.
"Huh?" Gabby said his voice seemingly bringing her back to earth, the paramedic having been lost in her own thoughts ever since they had left the hospital half an hour previously.
"I said are you ok?" he repeated, "You seem a little off."
Gabby gulped, "Erm yea I'm good. It was just something my dad said the other night" she said seeing his eyebrows raising slightly at her mention of things her dad had said, the blonde knowing how uncomfortable the conversations at dinner had made her. "It's nothing don't worry about it."
Matt slowed his steps, withdrawing his arm and stepping in front of her. "Gabby speak to me what's bothering you?"
With Matt blocking her way with his body she had no choice but to speak to him, as his warm blue eyes pierced through her she gulped again thinking over how to broach the subject, "I'm just..." she paused, "We won't be spanking our children" she said firmly. Matt taken aback by her words and tone, shaking his head as he looked over her dead pan face. Where had that come from? Was she worried she'd think because of the arrangement they had he'd wail on their children, that was something he was completely certain about not doing. He was never spanked as a kid, not because he didn't deserve a good back hand once in a while but because his parents just weren't bothered by anything him or his sister did, the older man pretty much raising his baby sister for the most part. It surprised him slightly that Gabby had the same view considering how she was brought up, he'd just always assumed she was ok with it and it was something they'd discuss when the time came. But he had already made the decision that he wasn't happy about using his hand to discipline them as a normal everyday thing, his belief being that children didn't need so much of a firm hand but an understanding one. He wasn't sure if he'd done or said something to make her think otherwise but he knew he had to be very clear and careful about how he worded his next response. Aware that if there was even a doubt in her mind that he wouldn't respect her wishes that this conversation could go bad very fast and they would both end up being angry with each other.
"Gabby, yeah of course not. Why would you even think that was a question?"
Gabby sighed, "Just because I let you wail on me, I didn't want you thinking I was ok with it for the kids." She tried to explain not really clearing anything up, as she studied his face, waiting to see his reaction, being met only with a warm gaze upon her, her features softening slightly as she realized he was on the same page as her. "Look, I know what my dad said and part of me agrees with him" Matt's eyebrow raising at her somewhat conflicting words, "But I don't think spanking them is a route I want to take, and I mean we may change our mind as they get older, they may do something that absolutely warrants a trip over either one of our knees but as a rule I don't want to use that as a form of discipline."
"Ok" Matt said, watching her closely, remembering the reason she got into this type of a relationship in the first place and the conversation they'd had about how she knew her dad loved her deeply to be able to take her over his knee and spank her when she stepped out. His confusion only raising as he remembered her clear words about why she needed him to spank her and how it filled her with a sense of security. "Can I ask why?"
"Because I don't want to" she said firmly her eyes narrowing in on him.
"Ok, I get that and I respect it. Truthfully I don't want to use that form of discipline either but I have to say I am little confused."
"About?" she asked folding her arms across her front, Matt sensing that this conversation wasn't going at all like she'd planned, her frustrated tone and stance putting him on edge.
"Well you once told me that you felt safe and secure as a child because of your dad's spankings and that it made you realize just how much he loved you. I guess I'm wondering if something has changed?" He spoke carefully, slowly choosing his words as he let his thoughts out, careful not to put any words in her mouth or cause her any more frustration towards him. Aware that she could shut down if she felt he was trying to get her to talk about things before she was ready. But this had come from somewhere and he needed to know where, he needed to understand why she suddenly wasn't ok with the upbringing she'd had.
"No not really" she started before sighing deeply, "Well actually yes." A sad look spread across her face, her eyes welling slightly. Matt's breath catching in his throat as he reached out for her hand, offering her the comfort she needed at the same time as holding her eye contact, his reassuring gaze upon her.
Matt frowned slightly as the clear distress formed on her face as she battled with herself and her thoughts. Gabby trying to clear her head enough to get out what she was thinking. Taking a deep breath she said "I do still respect my dad for everything he did when I was younger and I certainly know how much he loves me and how much he loved me then too. But the way he was at dinner the other night that embarrassed me and I never want to put our kids in that position. I mean you know all about my up bringing, I've told you things not even Antonio knows but the way dad was at dinner, the way he was lording it over us. That worries me. You and I have this arrangement and it works for us, we work because I know that for every action I take I'll be held responsible and I know that once that's all said and done it's forgotten and we don't bring it up again. You certainly never throw it at me when I act up or don't agree with you. But dad well he truly believes it's the only way to get across to kids and I don't agree. My mum never ever raised a hand to us and I could always speak to her, I still can. But with my dad it's different, I'm not saying I resent him or anything because I don't and I wouldn't change my childhood." She wiped her hand across her face, watching Matt's face soften the more she spoke. "Maybe I'd change the way I was but I wouldn't change how my parents handled it, and I'm thankful for him doing that I really am. But I don't think it's the only way and I'd rather try everything else before ever resorting to it with my own children. Like I said though maybe there will be sometimes where we have no other choice but just promise me we won't just swat them at first sign of trouble. We'll try time outs and talking first and only if necessary will they ever feel our hands across their tushes."
Matt stood facing her stunned by the seemingly in depth reason she had formed, something he was sure she'd been doing ever since the topic had been brought up by her father. He agreed with everything she had said, he too had felt very uncomfortable at the conversation at dinner, the older Dawson seeming to happy about causing his granddaughter embarrassment and pain to try and teach her to bend to her fathers will. And as shocked as Matt had been at Eva's behavior he didn't think it warranted a spanking when Antonio was already dealing with it in his own way. Their dad being far to keen on putting it out there that he had lit both the siblings bottoms up on a regularly basis in front of him and Antonio's new girlfriend, let alone the conversation being had in front of a number of restaurant patrons and staff. There was something else bothering Matt though and he knew he had to be extra cautious as he approached the next topic on his mind.
"Gabby, that's exactly how I feel to. As you know I wasn't spanked as a kid, not because I didn't deserve it because believe me there was more than one occasion where it would have been totally acceptable for my parents to have done so, but they didn't seem to care about what we did and as a result there were no consequences apart from those of a natural nature and from those people in an authoritative position. So while I want our children to have a structure to there lives and for there to be consequences for their actions I won't spank them unless like you say everything else fails and even then I wouldn't be comfortable using anything more than my hand. And I'm sure you'll agree that I defiantly can get a message heard with just that." Matt watched as she nodded her head in agreement, smirking as he noticed her face flinch slightly, he guessed from the memory of just the kind of impression it could indeed make. "So trust me" he continued when she hadn't said anything, "we are completely on the same page there ok?"
"Ok" she smiled, reaching out her arms, wrapping her body into his as she pulled him forwards, relaxing into his tight hold as he wrapped his arms around her back, their shared body temperatures a welcome break from the harsh cold.
"There is something I need to ask though" he spoke into her head, Gabby glancing upwards slightly from her position under his chin. "Are you still ok with our arrangement?"
Gabby was almost as taken a back by his question as he had been about hers, the woman pulling back slightly so she could see his face properly, her body tensing as she saw the concerned look spreading across his face. Her husband obviously deeply worried about her and her mental state when it came to the way they had chosen to live their lives. "Completely" she said firmly, holding his eye contact at all times, trying to convey to him just ok she was with their continued agreement. "I know things will have to change slightly when these two are here but we've adjusted already and as long as they don't witness it then I'm good."
Matt studied her face carefully, looking for any sign of deception or contradiction to the assurances as she spoke. "Ok then, well we can always adjust things as we go. But as they get older I'm sure their going to realize there is something different about our relationship to that of their friends parents."
"We will cross that bridge when we get to it" she smiled leaning in for a kiss. "Now could we erm head home maybe?" she said pulling her lip between her teeth, her body a lot less tense than it had been when they first started walking. Matt sensing that the fresh air had been just what she had needed to sort through her own thoughts and bring up the topic she clearly needed to discuss.