''We should get married at the park, in the summer. It would be so great to have a wedding outside.'' Gabby said to Matt as their shift was almost over and he nodded.
''I like t-that.'' He smiled and Gabby smiled as she wrote it down on their list with ideas for the wedding.
''The bachelor party is on me.'' Severide said as he passed them by on his way to the coffee machine.
''I demand Vegas.''
''You can demand all you want, doesn't mean you are getting what you want.'' Severide grinned. Casey started to laugh as well as he knew they wouldn't go Vegas, but it was a gag they always made...no actually one they had always made with Andy. They had promised they would go to Vegas with the three of them when Heather and Andy celebrated their ten year anniversary.
They never made it to eight.
''What are you thinking about?'' Gabby asked as she poked with the pencil his cheek.
''Nothing, just thinking for a m-minute.'' He smiled and they started brainstorming about the wedding again. Ever since he had started working again two weeks ago they had also been planning on the wedding this summer. Things were finally looking up again.
''We should let Laura make the cake.'' Gabby said and Matt nodded.
''That would be g-great, she knows best what we like and she makes awesome cakes.''
''Did I hear cake?'' Otis said as he butted into their conversation.
''Oh what a s-shame, shift's over, guess you will never know.'' Matt shrugged and smiled as they walked away to get changed.
''Just, be careful with me. I need to get married next week.' Andy said as Severide and Casey lead him to the car for his bachelor party. The other firemen were in the back of the van, grinning and Andy seemed really scared as he sat down.
''Can the blindfold go off now?''
''Nope.'' Mouch grinned in the back of the van.
Matt sat down next to him while Severide sat down behind the wheel and drove away.
Driving through downtown Chicago Matt grinned as he knew where they were going. The men in the back were grinning even harder as they stopped by the strip club.
They got out and removed Andy's blindfold.
''You know I am getting married?'' He frowned, not really enthusiastic.
''Yeah...but...bachelor party.'' Severide said but Andy shook his head.
''I don't want to get some lap dance while I am marrying Heather next week, that's disrespectful.'' Andy said and he pointed at the bar across the street.
''Can't we go there?''
''Andy, strippers, in firefighters suits.'' The candidate, Winston, said and Andy shrugged.
''Well...I mean you arranged it all, so I guess it is going to be okay.'' Andy said then as the group walked inside. Later that night he hung against Casey, shit faced and he laughed.
''You...me...Kelly...we are going to Vegas when I am married with Heather for ten years.'' He said, laughing until he suddenly ran away to the bathroom but Matt and Kelly smacked their fists: ''Deal''
Matt was dozing off on the couch after shift when Gabby opened the mail.
''Babe we got an inventation for a birthday!'' She said as she looked at the colourful card and smiled. Matt looked up from the couch surprised and walked to her, took the colourful card. He started to chuckle. ''I can't believe t-they thought about us.'' Matt smiled and Gabby laid her arm around him.
''Well you are the reason they are able to celebrate her birthday this year.'' She said as she kissed him on his cheek and rubbed over his back as they looked at the inventation for Daisy Winters birthday. With a curly handwriting there was another note in it that said the mother was sorry the inventation to them so late - she hadn't had their address as Matt had moved in with Gabby and they had been very careful with giving their address at the CFD. But she hoped they would come and they were would be able to make it tonight at a certain time.
''We should buy a present.'' Matt said as he put the card back on the kitchen counter.
''Do you want to go tonight?''
''Well they made a l-lot of effort to send the card. Least thing we could d-do is show up.'' He smiled and Gabby nodded and they got changed.
About an hour later they walked through the shop.
''These are so cute.'' Gabby said as she pointed and the stuffed dogs and he nodded. Honestly he had no idea what to buy the little girl. But all the infant stuff made him smile and blush as he looked at Gabby.
''It's contagious...makes me wish for a baby.'' Gabby smiled and Matt nodded. They choose a stuffed dog that was wearing a firefighters helmet.
''Me too.'' Matt said as they walked to the counter and he took her hand.
''I r-really want to build a family with you.'' He said and she smiled gratefully, kissed him on his temple and they payed and went back to the car.
They drove to the address on the card and rang at the door. Matt felt a little nervous as he wasn't very close to the people but a little girl having a birthday was always a celebration, especially after such a close call. Mrs winters opened the door.
''Hi, I am so glad you could make it.'' She smiled friendly and she nodded at Gabby.
''You were the paramedic that patched me up right?'' She said as she introduced herself to Gabby and Gabby confirmed that.
''It's really sweet you are a couple.'' She smiled as she let them in and they stood by one of the standing tables as she brought them a drink and piece of cake. A man Matt's age approached them.
''You must be Matthew Casey.'' He smiled and Matt nodded.
''I am.''
The man shook his hand. ''I am Stan Winters.''
''Are you a s-soldier?'' Matt asked respectful as he looked at the medals on the wall and he nodded and laid his hand on Matt's arm. ''I don't know how to thank you for saving my wife and daughter. Without you I would have returned from Iraq without a family.''
''I am glad I c-could.'' Matt smiled back and the man nodded.
''But there is no way I can thank you enough. As soon as I heard what happened I wanted to return and be with my family, but also the man that made it able to return to them after my deployment. Like I said, there is no way we can thank you enough for what you have sacrificed to save our daughter.''
''No need to, like I s-said I am glad I could.'' Matt said and suddenly a small girl looked from aside her dad's leg up at Matt.
''Hey Daisy.'' Gabby said as she kneeled down and handed her the present. ''Congratulations on your birthday.'' She smiled as she kneeled down and handed the little girl her gift. She sat down on the floor and Mrs. Winters kneeled down and helped her unwrap the gift.
''You shouldn't have.'' She smiled but Gabby laughed.
''it's a birthday.'' Gabby said as she looked at the girl looking at the stuffed dog.
''Thank you.'' Mrs Winters smiled and Daisy gave Gabby and Matt a big smile as she took the stuffed dog in her arms.
''Mr. Casey, can I get you a beer?'' Stan offered as Matt had finished his cola and Matt nodded.
''You can say Matt.'' He said to mr. Winters and he nodded and looked at Gabby. ''A glass of wine maybe?''
Gabby shook her head as she raised her half-full glass. Beside, she was driving.
''Thank you for inviting us, it m-means a lot.'' Matt said as mr. Winters handed him the beer and they looked at Daisy playing with the plushie on the floor.
''Oh babe, sorry, what do you want to drink?'' He asked then to his wife and she shrugged.
''Just water is fine.'' She smiled and the man walked away.
Matt looked around for a second and he guessed the family had just moved in here and he was somewhat glad they had moved after the fire because he was not sure if Gabby could stand being in the house where he almost died.
''We uhm...are expecting our second child.'' Mrs Winters started then and Matthew and Gabby wanted to congratulate them but she kept on talking; ''We found it is going to be boy about a week ago and we want to call him Matthew, after the man who saved our family.''
''And I am a soldier, I have been deployed several times and I know how it is to put your life on the line for others...but that doesn't mean it's less brave. You are a hero, you are our hero.'' Her husband joined her and Matt nodded gratefully.
''Thank you, that m-means a lot.'' He said as tears filled his eyes. Looking at the girl playing with the little stuffed dog, he knew he would never have done it any different.
Note: How did this story end up at the most-likely-never-going-to-get-completed stash? no idea, honestly. I just forgot about it after I didn't know a storyline but hereby I promise that it will be finished! So, what is Kelly planning for Matt's bachelor party?
Thank you so much for still reading the story and please leave a review with what you thought of this chapter. Profanity at me is allowed too. I deserve it ;)