Matt woke up, tired as it was still early, but excited as he was going out today with Gabby, his mom, sister and niece. They had managed to pick a day everybody was available and going to do the zoo today.
Sitting up, pushing himself up, he pulled his chair closer and managed to lift himself in, sighing for a bit. It was still early, but he needed all this time to get ready.
It took a lot longer than before, but he was able to do it himself so that he could go home next week. Getting dressed, he was glad he had got up so early as it took so long. But months ago he had not been able to get dressed himself, and even though it took longer now, he was glad he could do it himself now.
As he was struggling with his shoes, Gabby came in.
''Hey, need a hand?''
''Probably, which is really annoying cause I don't even walk on these shoes.'' Matt rolled his eyes. She kissed him and sat down on the bed across from him, helping him get his shoes on.
''Anything else you need or are you good to go?''
''Yeah, I am all good to go.'' Matt smiled. Next week he was finally going home and he was very excited for it. But today would be a fun day too.
''Your mom should be here any minute. Do you think I got everything?'' Gabby said a bit worried as she was rummaging through the backpack.
''I think so. We will be fine.'' He assured her. She zipped up his jacket and they made their way towards the exit of the center.
Nancy was coming to pick them up as Christie and Violet were going separately. They would meet at the entrance of the zoo.
His mom's car pulled up in front of them, Nancy getting out.
''Hey! So glad to see you again!''
''Glad to see you mom.'' Matt hugged his mom. With some help from Gabby, he got in the car and they started driving to the zoo.
''I am really glad we can finally be together like a family again.'' Matt admitted. Even though he knew some issues would never be resolved, he was just glad that his family had come together this far. Even though there was not a lot of positive things about his accident, this was the sole positive thing, that I had brought his mom and sister together.
At the zoo, they made their way to the entry where Christie and Violet were waiting.
''Hey!'' Violet said excited to see them.
''hey Violet, glad to see you again!'' Gabby said excited.
''Hey Gabby and Matt!'' Violet said excited and Gabby looked as she turned away as Christie was talking to Matt.
Violet was looking at her phone and Christie took it then, putting it in her bed. Pouting for a second she met Gabby's eyes with hers, looking away then.
They made their way into the zoo and went around for a few hours. When they were at the polar bears, there were stairs up for a better view.
''You should go up there to have a look.'' Matt told Violet.
''But you can't come.''
''Don't worry, I am fine.'' Matt said and his sister sat down beside him, Nancy and Gabby walking with Violet.
''Has mom been over to your house?'' Matt asked Christie as they were alone now.
''Yeah, we talked some things out, I mean, some things are so long ago we should leave it behind, I guess.'' Christie admitted and Matt nodded.
''Looking at what you and Gabby are going through, I also realized that some things just aren't worth the negativity over.''
''I am really glad you make up with her.'' Matt smiled. ''Violet and her seem to really like each other and spending time with each other.''
''It is nice she finally has a grandmother, especially with how Jim's family has been.''
''It is nice to finally have the family together.'' Matt agreed.
''Do you already know what you are going to do when you get home?'' Christie asked.
''Not really, I have a lot more rehabilitation to do so I have some more time to look at those prospects. I want to stay in the CFD but with my hands still not working well, I have no idea what would be suitable.''
''You have time enough, getting better really should be the most important.''
The others joined them again and they went around a while longer. Matt's hands and arms started to get sore and he looked at Gabby.
''My arms are really tired, I think we might just get a coffee over there. You should keep going.'' Matt said as he stopped.
''We can come with you.'' His mom offered.
''I am fine, you just go and enjoy.'' Matt assured her and Nancy made her way to the other animals with her daughter and granddaughter.
''You okay?''
''Ofcourse, Gabby, please don't feel like you need to walk on egg shells around me.'' He assured her with a smile.
''I just wanted to check.'' She kissed his temple and pushed the wheelchair towards the restaurant nearby. They got to a table and Matt waited by the table to keep it free for his family as Gabby was getting coffee.
''Sorry, my arms and hands are just a bit tired.'' Matt said as she sat down with him again.
''That is fine, I am sure they understand.'' Gabby caressed over his shoulder.
They sat together, chatting about his homecoming in a week. Sitting close to him, she loved being here with him. With what had happened 7 months ago, both had been scared for the future. Even though everything had changed, they still had each other, and they had grown stronger over this.
''Nancy and Christie seem to be fine again together.''
''Violet told me they bonded over what happened to me, so I think that brought them closer.''
''That is nice, I know you always wanted them to get along.'' Gabby said.
''Yeah, a building falling on me at least brought something positive.'' He said with a wry smile, but he was really happy about it, although he wished things could have been different.
Violet, Nancy and Christie soon came walking their way and joined the table.
''How was it?'' Matt asked, not minding at all.
''It was cool, we got to see them really well.'' Violet smiled. Gabby handed her a cup of hot chocolate and sat down as well.
''Are you excited to go home next week?'' Christie asked.
''Definitely, it is about time.'' Matt answered and Gabby was holding his hand, pinching it. After all these months he was just so glad to go home, finally. She was so glad to have him home as well, it had been heard to miss him all these months. Even though she knew that he still had a long way to go, they were glad they could at least do it from their home together.
The last few months, everybody had helped them to change the apartment so much that Matt could manage himself around the house as well.
''Please just call us if you need anything.'' Christie said and Matt nodded, thankful, even though he knew he could manage himself and he had Gabby by his side, he was grateful how his family wanted to help him.
''You still get tired all the time this quick?'' Christie asked concerned after he had just had to stop coming with them.
''It is a strain on my arms and hands yeah, because not all the muscles work well.'' Matt explained.
''Are you hungry, I am.'' Nancy admitted, wanting to change the subject.
''I could go for something.'' Christie said as they looked at the menus.
Looking over the table, Gabby noticed Violet trying to sneak her phone from her mom's bag. She managed to get it in her pocket and Gabby couldn't help but smile a little.
''Hey, let's get some lunch together.'' Gabby winked at Violet, and she and Violet got in line.
''You are having a good time too?''
''Yeah.'' Violet smiled, sneaking a look on her phone then.
''Ooh, waiting for the text of a boy?'' Gabby joked but Violet's face turned into a bright red.
''Please don't tell my mom.''
''Don't worry, I won't!'' Gabby laughed, ''So…who is mystery boy?''
''He is in my class. He is really nice.'' Violet blushed even more.
''You should tell your mom, I am sure she would be happy for you.''
''She has had a lot on her mind with what happened to uncle Matt…and now grandma Nancy is back in the family…and I don't want to give her even more to worry about.'' Violet admitted, putting her phone away.
''You are a very smart young woman, but please know your mom cares…and I do to, if there is anything I can help you with, or you want to talk about, just let me know.''
''Thank you.'' Violet smiled.
''You are excited for Matt coming home next week.''
''Definitely! It has been so long.'' Gabby smiled. Just thinking about him coming home made her feel so good. It had been almost 7 months now.
It was almost their turn.
''Can you please not tell uncle Matt about the boy either? I am sure he would lose it.'' Violet said then, very serious. Gabby couldn't help but laugh.
''Don't worry, I won't tell him. Yeah, I think he would want to give mystery boy a talking.''
Violet started to laugh now as well.
They ordered the lunches and made their way back to the table. Christie was talking about a case on her job and Gabby was so glad to see Nancy and Christie getting along again. Although she knew there was a lot more that needed to happen before the two women had set all their differences aside, she was happy for now as she knew it also meant a lot to Matt.
''Oh, what did you get me?'' Matt smiled at Violet a she put the tray down in front of him.
''Gabby picked out a sandwich.'' She said and Gabby jokingly told her not to blame her.
Matt laughed as well. They all chatted over lunch and all oft hem were just happy that the family was back together again.
At the end of the afternoon, they went back to the car, saying their goodbyes after a godo day in the zoo. Gabby helped Matt get in the car, glad it had bene a day like old times, but as they were near the waterfront, she suddenly got another idea.
''Hey, can you drop us off somewhere else?'' Gabby asked then and Nancy nodded.
''What are you planning?''
''Just, was thinking about something.'' Gabby smiled. ''Can you drop us off at the pier?''
''Sounds good.'' Nancy said and she dropped them off by the Riverwalk.
''What were you thinking about?''
''That I want to have a Friday night at one of the restaurants here at the pier, like we used to do often.''
''Sounds good to me.'' Matt smiled and they made their way over the pier. They came by their favorite Italian restaurant and they picked it as the restaurant to eat for the night.
They went inside the restaurant and got a table by the window. It was a table they had sat very often, but Matt felt so good being back here, so much had changed and even though he knew some stuff would stay different, he was glad Gabby had resurrected this habit for now.
''Going to get the carbonara?'' Gabby smiled as he usually went for that one.
''No, would a bit hard to eat…think I am going to get a pizza, bit easier.'' He explained.
''That makes sense.'' Gabby said, looking down.
After ordering they looked out over the pier. She was caressing his hand on the table.
''Thanks so much for today.''
''It was not just me, I had a great day too, and it is not even done.'' She smiled.
Their food got served and Matt was struggling to eat it, but enjoyed being back in his favorite restaurant.
Still clumsy, Matt was eating. She smiled, glad to see him having a good time, even though he was still struggling, he had improved a lot, and he was just glad to be here with his wife. It made a good day an even better day and after dinner they made their way by the waterfront, looking at the water and the sunset. Gabby laid her hands on his shoulders then and kissed him on his head.
''Had a good day today?''
''I really did, I hope you did too.''
''I did. It's so good you are finally going to be home soon.'' He said.
''You can't imagine how good it feels.'' He smiled. Kissing him on his head, they made their way to the taxi stand then to get a taxi back to the center.
''Pff, I am exhausted.'' Gabby fell down onto one of the chairs.
Matt laughed a bit, Gabby clearly wiped by the busy day.
''I had a great day, thanks so much.'' She smiled then and he made his way towards her, kissing his wife.
''I had a fantastic day, and I can not wait to go home.'' He smiled and they kissed again, only seven more days keeping them apart.
Sorry there has not been an update for a while, I have been very busy. The next chapter is already in the works so that shouldn't be too long. Please let me know what you thought about this chapter and what you hope to see in the future! Thanks for reading!