Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination
A/N: As always, I'd like to thank everyone who left a review on the previous chapter and also those who follow and favourite this story. Then, as I often tend to do with this story, I apologize for always taking so long to update. I don't always have ideas and since I write so much, it's not always easy but thank you for keeping up with me anyways.
Antonio's cell rang on the night stand and Sylvie turned around in his arms with a groan.
"Baby, your phone is ringing." She mumbled against his chest.
"Let it ring, it's Christmas morning." He said just as it stopped ringing.
"Good, they got the message." She slipped a leg between his and she settled herself more comfortably. She had woken up alone for the past week and a half and gone to bed alone most of the night's she wasn't on shift because Antonio had been called for high profile cases. It was Christmas day and she was hoping to spend some quality time with him. Mere seconds later, it started ringing again.
"Damn it." He growled, turning slightly, keeping Sylvie close but reaching for his phone on the night stand. "Dawson." He growled into the phone. He was really looking forward to waking up late and spending a quiet Christmas with his wife and kids.
"Yeah I'll be right there." She could hear the anger in his voice and she felt her own anger rising in her chest.
"He promised to leave you alone on Christmas." Sylvie groaned.
"I'm sorry babe but I can't say no to this one." He sat on the side of the bed and slipped some jeans on. He had made it home way past midnight and had showered on arrival, hoping to get as much sleep in his system as he could to be top shape for the day.
"You can never say no." She turned on her other side, her back to him.
Antonio knew she was pissed by her tone but it couldn't be helped. He finished getting dressed and kneeled on her side of the bed. "I'm really sorry Sylvie but I'll make it up to you I promise."
"I've heard that before." She grumbled, trying her best to ignore him.
"Have I ever come back on my word?" He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, a lazy smile forming on her lips.
"Never detective."
"Promise."
"Stay safe out there." He leaned in closer and kissed her.
"I will." He deepened the kiss. "Get some more sleep." She mumbled a reply and he grabbed his gun in his safe and slipped his holster around his shoulders and he was out the door.
Sylvie waited to hear the door close before she pulled the drawer to her night stand open, pulling the white and blue stick out with a sigh. This was supposed to be a good day and she was spending it alone again.
Antonio climbed the stairs of the 21st and Platt was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a replacement desk Sargent was there, angering him even more. He placed his hand on the palm scanner roughly and grumbled all the way up the stairs only to find the bullpen half empty.
"Where the hell is everyone?"
"We all here Dawson." Atwater came out of the break room followed by the rest of the team, every single one of them with a coffee in hand. "We don't want to be here either." Kevin grumbled. He had been looking forward to this day. Jordan and Vinessa were in town for just this one day and he was stuck here.
"The faster we get this case going the faster everyone get's to go home for Christmas" Voight came out of his office and placed two pictures on the board. "This is Emily Williams and Caroline Everwood and they've been missing for twenty four hours." Everyone gave him their undivided attention but they all knew that they'd be there for the better part of the day not all day.
Sylvie finally woke up and it was eleven. She didn't know she had been that exhausted but only figured that the new life that was growing inside her was the reason for it. She had found out the previous night and wanted Antonio to be the first to know about it before telling the rest of the world. She showered and ate breakfast and while she was tidying the living room, her phone dinged. She walked to it and saw it was a text from Antonio. This case is going to take longer than I thought. I'm really sorry baby. She slammed the phone on the living room table with force and she walked away. She couldn't believe that she was going to spend Christmas of all days alone with the kids. She paced the length of the kitchen a few times and returned to the living room where she picked up her phone and dialled the one person who would understand what she was going through.
Gabby and Matt spent the morning in bed knowing that they'd be busy for the evening. Christie and Violet were supposed to come over for dinner to spend Christmas as a family, Gabby's mom being in Dominican Republic for the holidays.
"Who the hell is calling on Christmas?" Matt grumbled against the skin of Gabby's neck.
"Let me get rid of them." She giggled as his hands ran under her shirt, tickling her sides. "Hello?" Gabby suddenly sat up much to Matt's annoyance when she heard the owner of the voice on the other side. "Yeah, I'll be right there." She hung up.
"Who was that?"
"Sylvie and she's pissed. I'll go talk her down the ledge and I'll be right back." She scrambled to find some clothes and slipped them on, Matt now propped on his elbow.
"Antonio?"
"Yeah." She sighed. "Voight called him in this morning and he just texted her that he most likely won't be there for dinner tonight."
"Shit, that's rough." Matt knew that Antonio hadn't been around these past two weeks due to work and it had put Sylvie on edge at the firehouse. "I'll start working on dinner."
"Thanks babe." She leaned down and kissed him before she left. The drive to Sylvie and Antonio's place wasn't all that long and she climbed the stairs two at a time and knocked on her door.
"Thanks for coming Gabs." Gabby pulled Sylvie in her arms once the door was closed.
"No problem. You okay?"
"I'm so mad at him" She finally came to her senses "Just one day, it's all I ask." She started to rant in the middle of her living room.
"You know it's not that simple with his job Brett." Sylvie was acting a bit erratic compared to her normal composed self. She had always said that she understood Antonio's job and how it was important to him and how she would never take that away from him but now, she was acting the total opposite and Gabby was wondering if there wasn't something else going on with her. "What's going on here?" She eyed Sylvie suspiciously.
"NOTHING!" Brett yelled. "I'm asking for one god damn day Gabby. I had today planned out and now all I want to do is get the hell out of here and let him do Christmas all by his damn self this year."
"Woah, woah, calm down Brett." Gabby stopped Sylvie's tirade. "I know my brother and I know for a fact that he would much prefer being here with you on Christmas than being at the 21st working a case." She ran her hands against Sylvie's arms.
"Sorry!" Sylvie huffed. "I'm better now."
"Good. " Gabby smiled at her best friend and sister-in-law. "Now I'm going to call Matt, see if we can change our plans for tonight and do Christmas here instead. When are the kids supposed to be here?"
"Laura is dropping them off in a couple of hours."
"So we have time to turn things around, that's perfect." She pulled her in for a hug. "Now come on, in the shower you go, I got the rest."
"Thanks Gabs." Sylvie was holding back some tears as she pulled out of the hug.
Gabby let her get out of sight in the bedroom before she called Matt with the change of plans.
Antonio came back up the steps to the bullpen with another dead end and he was trying his hardest not to lose his shit right now. They weren't closer to catching the people who did it and time was running out for the girls too."
"Tell me you got something Dawson." Kevin was starting to lose patience too. The other four in the unit were simply spending a quiet Christmas at home and their plans weren't affecting anyone else.
"Nothing. It's like these people are ghosts." He slammed his pad against his desk. "You got something on there Ruzek?"
"Nah. It's as if nobody saw nothing." Ruzek was still looking at pod footage and he still couldn't find anything that could help them.
"Someone has to have seen something." Voight pointed at the board. "They have to had gone into a store, taken the bus, find me something." Voight was less than pleased with the fact that they still hadn't found anything useful to move the case along.
"Hey Sarge?" Everyone turned to Upton who was just hanging the phone up. "There's a Jacob Sims downstairs that says he saw everything."
"Burgess, you're up." Kim nodded and was down the stairs. Antonio and Kevin looked at each other and only hoped that this time it would pan out.
"Sylvie sweetie, you okay in there?" Gabby knocked on the bedroom door.
"Yeah I'm almost done." Sylvie's mind was still on the blue and white stick in her night stand. "So what's the new plan?" Sylvie finally came out wearing a black pair of skinny jeans and a red backless top, her hair in ringlets around her face.
"You look beautiful."
"Thanks." Sylvie blushed.
"So new plan is that Matt is getting a few dishes ready at home and we are going to bring them over. Christie is going to be there with Violet, I hope that's okay?"
"Yeah that's fine, I'm sure Diego will be happy to have someone around the same age."
"Alright I'm going to get going and get ready. Are you going to be okay by yourself for a little bit?"
"Yeah I'm good." Sylvie smiled at Gabby "Thanks for averting a meltdown."
"Anything for my mermaid." Gabby chuckle. Sylvie walked her to the door. Once Sylvie was alone, she decided to get started on getting the food prepped and once she was satisfied, she decided to wrap whatever presents that were left and she put everything under the tree. She kept her very best one for the end. She originally wanted to share it with Antonio first but now that everyone was coming over, she thought it was the perfect time to announce it to the world. She finished tying the bow and she sent a message to Antonio.
Antonio was on his computer while he waited for Burgess to return when his phone emitted a sound. I'm sorry about this morning, I hope you guys catch the bad guys and get justice for them. He smiled and sent her a reply.
"That Sylvie?" Jay asked from across the room where he was eyeing Antonio.
"Yeah. We had this whole evening planned and I had to leave. Laura is going to have a field day when she drops the kids off."
"I thought things were better with her."
"They are but sometimes she still has her moments." He was playing with his wedding band. "Let's just hope this lead pans out and we can get out of here and spend Christmas as a family."
"We're keeping it quiet tonight." Jay looked over at Hailey and smiled.
"That going okay?"
"More than okay." He smirked. Antonio was happy for Jay. He had gone through a lot between Erin leaving and his PTSD. Hailey Upton had come in and had been a great partner for him and their newly declared relationship had been good for him too.
"Good to know." They exchanged smiles as Kim returned upstairs with Jacob Sims in tow.
"Sarge, you're going to want to hear this." Voight pointed towards the interrogation rooms and he and Kim listened to the witness recount everything he had seen.
Fifteen minutes later they were in the roll-up getting ready to head out. If they were lucky, it would be done in the next few hours.
Sylvie was cleaning up a bit when the doorbell rang. She looked at her watch and knew it was most probably Laura with the kids but she was pleasantly surprised to find Matt and Gabby on the other side. They refused to let her carry anything and she hugged Christie and Violet as they came inside.
"You guys did not have to do all of that." They had more than enough food for everyone now.
"It's the least we could do when we are all eating here."
"Thanks." All three women busied themselves in the kitchen while Matt spent some quality time with Violet. The doorbell rang again and this time Laura was on the other side with Diego and Eva. "Hey, Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Sylvie." Laura seemed to be on a good day today. "Is Antonio around? I'd like to wish him a Merry Christmas too."
"He's wrapping up a last minute case but I think he should be here any minute." She hoped that would be the case.
Antonio was thankful that the sting had gone off without a hitch and the girls were being reunited with their families as they cleared their things to go home.
"I know it wasn't easy to come in today and we cut it really close but everyone go home and enjoy Christmas." Voight smiled at the whole group before he retreated in his office. He was spending a quiet evening alone this year after stopping by Meredith's house. He had gotten into the habit of checking in with her regularly after Lexi's death and now that Al was gone and that she had moved past the anger towards him, he was now welcome in her home.
"Merry Christmas Boss." Adam called from the bullpen, Kim now wrapped in his arms.
"Merry Christmas Sarge." Her smile was wide and Voight smiled back before the pair left to enjoy their own Christmas.
"Merry Christmas Kev." Kim approached her best friend and he pulled her into a tight hug. "Tell Jordan and Vinessa we'll be by later, I have presents for them."
"Ah Burgess, you didn't have too."
"Have I ever done Christmas without giving them something?"
"Don't argue with her Kev, you were never gonna win that one." The three of them went down the stairs under the laughs of everyone else.
Jay and Hailey slipped out quietly after they shared a hug with Antonio. He was the last to go and he looked around one last time before stopping by Voight's office.
"Merry Christmas Sarge."
"Merry Christmas Antonio. Get out of here and go see that wife and kids of yours."
"Don't have to tell me that twice." He smiled and he was out the door. He hurried through the streets of Chicago and he parked behind Sylvie's car. He noticed Laura's car and he cursed under his breath, hoping that she wasn't in a foul mood. He went up the stairs and was surprised to find what was on the other side of the front door. Laura was sitting on the couch in the living room with the kids. "What's going on here?" He pulled his jacket off and put his holster away as Sylvie left the kitchen.
"We were waiting for you." Sylvie smiled and they shared a kiss. "She wanted to talk to you." She whispered to his ear.
"I don't want to stay too long." Laura stood and walked towards Antonio as Sylvie gave them a bit of time alone, pulling all three kids away. "I just wanted to wish you Merry Christmas and to give you this." She pulled out a small rectangle present and gave it to him.
"What is this?" He looked at her curiously.
"Just a little something I found while I was doing some cleaning and I thought you would like it." Antonio unwrapped it and found an old photo of him and the kids sitting around the Christmas tree when Eva was about eight and Diego four.
"I remember that Christmas." He smiled at the picture. "Thank you Laura.
"It's my pleasure." She smiled at him. It had taken her a while to come to her senses after the divorce but she was now trying to at least be civil. "You guys have a good night."
"Merry Christmas." He called just as she opened the door. "Take care."
"You too." Antonio looked at the closed door when Sylvie walked back in.
"Everything okay?" She rubbed his shoulder.
"Yeah." He looked back at her and kissed her lips.
"Dinner's ready."
"Lead the way." They walked in the kitchen, Antonio's hands on her hips. "Sorry I'm." Antonio finally noticed everyone in the room. "Late."
"Surprise." Gabby stood and hugged her big brother. "Merry Christmas." She patted him on the back.
Antonio had expected Sylvie to be so angry with him when he got home but with his ex-wife in the living room, he hadn't known what to expect and everyone was there and then some.
"Alright, dig in." Antonio smiled as he took a seat between the two kids, ruffling Diego's hair and kissing Eva's cheek. Antonio enjoyed having his whole family with him and he exchanged a few glances with Sylvie during the whole time. He refused to have any help from anyone to clear the table and the kids were already gone in the living room to play the guessing game with the presents while he forced Sylvie to go enjoy her time with the rest, no doubt having taking care of everything.
"Need some help?" Sylvie poked her head in the kitchen and found Antonio with his hands in the soapy water.
"No, I'm good, go have some fun."
"I'd rather have some fun with you." She walked farther in and wrapped her arms around his waist, placing a kiss between his shoulder blades.
"You must be tired, getting all of this ready, even though I don't deserve it."
"Yes you do." She moved to his side, her arms still secure around his waist. "I have to admit I was so angry this morning but Gabby came over and she's the one who got everyone here and she and Matt did most of the food, we have an amazing family."
"That we do."
"Leave the dishes and come in the living room for the presents." She coaxed. She was excited to give him hers so she needed to get the ball rolling.
"Getting impatient are we?" He chuckled as she handed him a cloth to dry his hands.
"The kids mostly. Diego and Violet are chomping at the bits to open theirs, Matt is starting to have trouble holding them back."
"Alright let's go." They met up with everyone in the living room. "Alright, who wants to go first?" Both Violet and Diego shot up at the same time and the adults laughed before Christie gave Violet one and Antonio shared a wink with Sylvie as he gave Diego his. It was Sylvie that had suggested it after he had gotten a particularly good report card at school.
"Oh My God, DAD!"
"Open it." Antonio laughed because the look on Diego's face said he didn't believe his dad.
"Thanks." Diego was in a hug with Antonio faster than he could prepare for the impact.
"It was Sylvie's idea."
"You did all the hard work, you deserve it." She pulled him into a hug. Then Sylvie gave Eva her present. "This is from your dad and me, well mostly me." Sylvie couldn't contain her excitement, waiting to see the excited look on Eva's face when she opened it.
"A spa day?" Her eyes were wide and she couldn't believe her eyes.
"And some shopping." Sylvie looked at Antonio only to have him roll his eyes at her excitement.
"Thank you Sylvie." She hugged Sylvie first and went on to her dad. "Thank you dad."
"It's my pleasure." He smiled at her and kissed the top of her head.
Violet had received a brand new iPod touch from her mom and she was busy exploring it. Then Gabby and Matt gave Violet, Diego and Eva their present and waited to see their reaction. Matt had checked with Chris for Violet and he had gotten her iTunes Store cards with a new Blackhawks jersey and baseball cap while Eva got make-up from Sephora she had been asking Gabby for months now and Diego had been hounding them for a new skateboard and that's exactly what he got. Matt handed Christie an envelope and she groaned.
"We said no presents, I didn't get you anything."
"You said no presents." He smiled back at her. She opened it and her eyes grew an extra size.
"Matt, that's way too much." In it was a day of pampering with a babysitting card with Violet, with an invite in the form of a ticket to see a game.
"You deserve every bit of it." He knew his sister worked hard with her job and taking care of Violet full time. She held him in her arms for extra long hug.
"Thanks." She whispered in his ear and kissed his cheek.
"No presents for you two?" Antonio nudged Gabby with his foot.
"We already exchanged them this morning." She showed her hand to him, leaving him perplexed.
"I already know what your wedding ring looks like." He chuckled.
"We renewed our vows last night." Sylvie's ear piercing squeal scared the kids who were busy with their presents. She crushed Gabby in a hug. "And we decided to try again for a baby, that's my present to him." She was blushing for a reason she didn't know.
"That's wonderful Matt." Christie hugged him.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed." He smiled shaking Antonio's hand.
"Who's left?" Diego's voice finally cut through the adult chatter.
"I'll be right back." Antonio stood and went to his jacket that was hanging in the front room. "I'm sorry it's not wrapped." He gave it to Sylvie and took a seat next to her, his hand on her thigh.
"Babe, you didn't have to." Her eyes were watering and she couldn't stop it.
"It's nothing." He really hoped she'd like it. He had stumbled on it online and he thought it would be perfect for her. She opened it with slightly shaking hands and gasped when she saw what was in it. Her fingers ran across the chain of the necklace and stopped on the main, round pendant. It was rose gold and there was a heart engraved on it. "Turn it around." He exchanged looks with both kids because they had helped him find it. She did as she was told and on the other side was the infinity symbol.
"I love it." She fingered the four smaller medallions representing the first letter of their names, all four of them. "Help me put it on?" Antonio lifted it from the box and put it around her neck, placing a soft kiss as he settled it against the back of her neck.
"It's beautiful." Gabby and Christie gushed.
"You did good big brother."
"I had some help from the kids."
"Thank you it's perfect." It was sitting perfectly between her breasts, close to her heart. "And I wanted to save your present for last." She kissed him and got up, taking the golden box.
"When did you have time to do that?" She had been so busy these past few weeks between the firehouse and the kids while he was working crazy hours.
"It's my secret." Her eyes were now twinkling and her smile was like a hundred watt bulb. Everyone's eyes were now on Antonio as he carefully opened the lid of the box. Inside was some white silk paper and he carefully unfolded it in case something fragile was sitting in it. As soon as his eyes landed on the blue and white stick, he was at a loss for words. Minutes passed and still nothing had come out of his mouth.
"Tonio, what is it?" Gabby was growing increasingly impatient.
"Are we really?" He looked to Sylvie and she simply nodded, no longer able to contain the tears that were threatening to spill. "I'm going to be a dad again." He lifted the stick out of the box and everybody started to cheer. His hands were now cupping Sylvie's cheeks and his lips were on hers in a second, his heart thundering in his chest with excitement.
The kids were the first in to give their dad and Sylvie a hug, Eva already planning the nursery and preparing the arrival of the new baby. Violet and Christie were next and the kids eventually went into plotting for the baby's arrival, leaving Matt and Gabby for last.
"I didn't even know you guys were trying." She pulled Sylvie in her arms.
"We didn't want to put a time stamp on it." Sylvie laughed in her embrace.
"Well this just became the best Christmas. I'm going to be an aunt again." Gabby was over the moon for her best friend and her brother and maybe if they were lucky, they'd have kids close in age.
"Didn't know you still had it in you old man." Matt laughed and pulled Antonio in for a hug. "This is great news man."
"I'll be the best old man this kid is going to have." His heart was threatening to explode with the joy of this news.
"The best." Gabby echoed. "Alright, let's clear out and let these four celebrate."
"Come on Vi, Sylvie must be tired." Violent groaned but did as she was told and she hugged Antonio and Sylvie again.
"Thanks for the invitation Sylvie."
"It's my pleasure sweetie." She kissed the top of her head.
"Congratulations again." Christie hugged them both. Matt and Gabby were next and Gabby held Antonio in her arms a little longer.
"You're are a great dad, this kid is lucky to have you."
"Thanks sis. And I hope you have some good news soon because I'm dying for a niece or a nephew."
"From your lips." She trailed off. "Night Tonio."
"Night sis, Matt." They shook hands and got ready to leave, Antonio watching with an arm around Sylvie's shoulder.
"Night guys." Everyone ushered out the door, finally leaving the soon to be family of five alone.
"Is it okay if I connect my game in my room and play a bit?" Diego was piling up the console and the games, ready to put them away.
"Knock yourself out, we don't have plans in the morning."
"I'm going to call Angie, she's going to be so jealous." Eva took her presents in her room with her.
"So it's just you and me." Antonio pulled Sylvie by the waist.
"And baby."
"I can't believe we're going to be parents."
"I never thought I'd get to experience it when I came here from Indiana but I found the perfect partner and it's going to be the best."
"And I promise I'll try not to hover." He knew she was very much capable and knew her work was physical but he also knew she knew her own physical limits. "How about we relax on the couch?"
"I can get behind that?" She kissed him. "You want a beer?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Don't do it on my account, I'm going to pour myself a small glass of wine." She knew enough about pregnancies to know that it didn't hurt to take one every once in a while. "We have some celebrating to do." She smirked.
"Sure." She pulled herself away from him and went into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge and she poured herself half a glass of white wine. She plopped herself on the couch next to Antonio and handed him his beer. "Merry Christmas baby." He raised his bottle and she pushed her glass gently against it.
"Merry Christmas." She smiled, taking a sip of her wine. They spend the rest of the evening on the couch with the Christmas tree lit and some peace and quiet ahead of the chaos the next nine months would bring.
A/N: I finally made it to the finish line. This chapter was super long to write because I haven't been able to find as much time to write this week as I usually do but I really hope that you guys liked it. The link for Sylvie's necklace is below and please take a few seconds to review before you go, it always means the world to me.-Sarra
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