''Hey, see you tomorrow.'' Gabby kissed him on his head while he turned around again, trying to get some more sleep. Lately he had been just as tired as after the first surgery and he hoped it would pass, just like the headache, but it hadn't gotten any better over the best few days. When he heard the front door he opened the drawer of his nightstand and took one of the pills he kept in there. Now, he had spread the stash of pills through the house. he had hidden every bottle apart, because Gabriela wanted to unpack his bag and he felt guilty for keeping it a second but the last thing he wanted was for her to feel guilty.

The pain got a little less and he closed his eyes again, hoping to catch some more sleep to pass the day but about thirty minutes later, he gave up and stood up, walking to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, grabbing the yoghurt and sat down on the couch with a bowl of yoghurt. Today was the first time Gabby went back to work after his second stroke and he knew it was going to be long day. He was too weak to go out on his own and besides, with his pounding head he didn't feel like going anywhere. He walked back to clean the bowl when his eye fell on the calendar hanging on the fridge and he saw it the birthday of the twins tomorrow. Hopefully she would take him there.

Walking back to the bathroom he turned sideways in front of the mirror. The second scar was losing its red colour and Matt hoped it would be gone soon. He opened the cabinet behind the mirror and grabbed the medicines out he had to take every day and took them. For a second he doubted if he should get another morphine pill from the bottle behind the towels but he knew it would be too much. Matt Laid down on the couch after showering, not knowing what to do anymore.

The day bored him as Gabby wasn't there and he watched some tv between napping. At least, at the moments he could get some sleep between the fits of pain he was enduring. The most enjoyable part of the evening was the bears game he watched as Gabriela had recorded it for him and after that he fell asleep again, to wake up right before dinner time and with his head pounding worse than it had been before.

At night he took the double amount of the pulls, knowing sleep well after nights of bad sleep. He eased his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. With Gabriela next to him he hadn't dared to take the pills, but now he could finally had a good nights rest and he slept untill the alarm woke him next morning. Sleepy he walked to the bathroom. When he was ready he walked to the kitchen and leaned on his toes, his hand hovering over the top of the small cabinet as he was looking for the bottle he put there, he knew Gabriela was too small to get it there and he grabbed the bottle, popping a pill as he started frying some eggs. A few minutes later the door opened.

''Matt?'' She whispered to make sure if he was asleep but he walked to the door, pulling her in his arms; ''Goodmorning sunshine.''

''Why are you so happy?'' She said with a teasing smile.

''Oh, just that you are home.''

''Your eggs are smoking.''

Matt ran back to the furnace and let the eggs slid ont he toast, hoping they weren't too heavily burned. He took some of the orange juice and placed the glass in front of her.

''What did I do to deserve this?''

''Well, I owed it to you.'' He smiled as he sat down next to her. They ate their breakfast as she told about her shift and Matt nodded, laughing at the gags in the firehouse and he liked to hear the stories,but he was also realizing he missed out a lot. Hopefully he would be able to go back soon.

''So it's the twins birthday today.'' He smiled.

''Yeah, I am going to them this afternoon.''

''Can I come with you.''

She looked surprised; ''Aren't you tired?''

''Oh except for having fun with three strippers and some skydiving I didn't do much yesterday.'' He joked and she smiled back.

''I am sure my family would like to meet you, but don't feel obligatory to go just because I am going, I can understand if you want to rest today.''

''I am fine.'' He said. ''I promise.'' he added as she seemed a little suspicious.

''Okay.'' She smiled then.

''Showering together?'' He said with a smile. ''Just kidding.'' he added as she looked a little scared.

''You already showered anyway.'' Gabriela shook her head as she walked to the bathroom and Matt sat down on the couch, watching a little bit more TV before they left to the twins. Matt held the present for Diego and Gabriela held the present for Eva as they walked over the driveway and Gabriela pressed the doorbell. Matt straightened his shirt a bit and the door opened and two children were looking at them. Eva immediately looked at him: ''Aunt Gabby, who is he?''

''He is my boyfriend, Matt.'' She smiled and Eva introduced herself to Matt and Diego did the same. Matt and Gabby entered and Matt also introduced himself to Laura. Antonio greeted him and Matt almost gasped as he saw her parents sitting there as well and he introduced himself.

''Well, you caught the whole family at once now.'' Gabby's father laughed and Matt laughed back. At least he knew them all in once now and they seemed really friendly.

''Thank you very much Gabby and Matthew.'' Eva said as she held up the doll, dressed up like ballerina.

''Why do you still want to have a doll when you are 12?'' Diego rolled his eyes.

''It's a special edition and it's not playing but for display. You wouldn't understand.'' Eva rolled her eyes back at him and she smiled at the doll.

''I am really glad you like it sweety.'' Gabby smiled at her niece and proud Eva showed the doll to her grandma. Diego also thanked them for the game and Matt really liked the family. He was glad his headache seemed to have lessened a little bit and he really enjoyed being here after the boring day yesterday.

''How are you doing now, Matt?'' Antonio asked as he sat down next to Matt when his wife was talking with Gabby and their parents. ''I heard from Gabby you had a second stroke but since you are here, I guess you are doing well.''

''I am, I feel fine. Just get tired very easily so I guess you have to play football with him.'' Matt said as Antonio approached them with a football.

''Can we play together?''

''Sorry bud, tomorrow or maybe later. I am not going to throw football with you now.''

''Beat me.'' Matt grabbed the football from his hands, knowing he was going to regret this as he ran to the garden, but his head was hurting anyway and a little bit of football wasn't going to change that.

''You are unfair!'' Diego yelled as he also ran into the backyard and Matt threw the football at him. He caught without any effort and threw it back at Matt. Matt caught it and threw it back.

''Not bad.'' Diego stated and Matt smiled, but his head was getting worse. He threw the ball a couple of more times and sat down at the bench.

''Tired already?''

Matt nodded. ''Sorry, I am still recovering, can't rig myself too much.''

Diego nodded understanding and sat down next to Matt.

''I really like that you and aunt Gabby are together and that I finally have an uncle.''

''We are not married yet.''

''Well you are the first boyfriend she actually brought to the family.''

''I can't imagine, she has a really great family.'' Matt said but honestly he couldn't realize she never took Mills. They went inside again and Laura made soup and they had dinner together. Matt's head started to kill him and it became harder and harder to cover his pain up for the family. Luckily Gabriela offered to go home as she had a shift tomorrow and they stood up and went home.

''Your family is really great.'' Matt said in the car.

''You look like you could use a bed.'' She said, rubbing over his hand for a second after changing gear.

Well, even more than a bed he could use his pills now.

The day had been long, but good and with a smile Matt closed his eyes. In the bathroom he could hear Gabby also brushing her teeth. He tried to stay awake so he could kiss her goodnight when he suddenly heard something falling. It sounded like a bottle with smaller things rolling out and his eyes fluttered open again.

''Matt? Why are your meds between the old towels?''

He could hear her cursing as she grabbed the bottle and her footsteps as she walked back to the bedroom. For a second he thought about closing his eyes and acting like he was asleep but he knew she would know. He knew that even if he didn't want to face it tonight he would have to face it tomorrow and he opened his eyes again.

''Since when are you using these pills again? I thought you had no pain.'' She asked as she stood at the end of the bed, the empty bottle in her shaking hand. In her other hand she held out of the morphine pills.

''Why Matt, why?''

NOTE: Will Matt finally be honest go Gabby or will he only lie himself deeper into lies? Or will he tell her and will they finally go look for a solution for his headache.

I hope you liked this chapter! At least Matt met her family and he bonded a little with her niece and nephew.

Thank you for reading and please leave a review.