The apartment was small, but big enough for him to life in, he was sure of that. For a moment he doubted if he was able to pay the rent, but he was looking for a job anyway. Matthew looked through the living room, bright by all of the windows looking out over the street under the apartment.
''I will take it.''
After he made a deal with the estate agent, he called Dawson.
''I took it, the apartment. It is adapted so well I will be able to move in without adjusting.'' He said, into her voicemail since she was on shift. She would hear it afterward and hopefully they would be celebrating tonight. They had made no plans for living together or being open about their relationship, because neither of them wanted to hurry it. They first wanted to get to know each other a little bit better, even if that meant that they also would get to know each other less pleasant sides. Not more than three days and he would be here, ready to life on his own, but also doubt came to his mind, was he actually capable of living alone again?
He had just arrived at the centre when his phone rang, knowing Dawson was ready with her shift. A week ago, he had visited her and they had told each other their feelings about each other. Now they tried to spend every moment together.
''Hey Matt, really great about the apartment.''
''I know, happy when I get to actually move in there.''
''So…are we celebrating tonight?'' She asked, as if she could read his mind.
''Will you go out for dinner with me?''
''if you drive, yes.'' She chuckled over the phone.
''Fine, I pick you up at seven.'' He said, looking at the clock, seeing he had another hour left.
As fast as he could, he went to the shower, showering very quick, putting on a plain white shirt and one of the jackets that didn't look too folded. Struggling with his jeans, but he didn't want to ask somebody for help at the centre, knowing he had to do it himself soon, as he moved to the new apartment. Only five minutes past seven, he parked at the parking lot by Dawson's place. Before he was shot, he could dress up In less than half an hour, now it took him at least an hour.
''Your taxi has arrived, madam.'' He said, reaching out to open her door.
''Oh, what a gentleman you are, arriving too late.'' She sighed with a smile.
''My pants were so jealous that I was taking you out instead of them that they didn't want to agree with me. '' He said, driving away from the parking lot.
''So, what food do you like?''
''I like nearly everything.'' She shrugged.
''Do you like sushi?''
She smiled; ''That is my favorite food.''
''Great, I was thinking about eating some sushi.'' He smiled, parking at the parking lot not so far form her house.
''Do you know this restaurant?'' She nodded; ''I take a lot of take-away sushi here. At least twice a month.''
''Glad you like it.'' He smiled, lifting the wheelchair out of the car and getting in.
''You look great, by the way.'' He smiled, blushing when he saw her pretty dress.
''it is pretty hot outside, why are aren't you clothed more the temperature? You look like we are out of Christmas dinner, although it does look good on you. I could take you to my parents like this.''
''When am I going to meet your parents?'' He smiled.
''They life about an hour away, so I have no idea.''
''I am not wearing shorts because I don't want too and I would like to meet your parents if you want to be serious with me.''
She nodded. ''I am sure we will meet them soon. We could have a weekend out, since there is a large holiday park with little cabins close to them. Very cozy.'''
''Sounds good.'' He smiled, as they finally entered the restaurant.
''I will see if I can book there for next weekend. I haven't used days off in such a long while that Boden just has to give me off.''
''I will check if I can get a weekend off in the centre, they don't like it when I am gone, so it might be a little bit of struggle, but I will call you tomorrow about it.''
A few minutes later, they were sitting at their table, candle in the middle. Matthew was glad that the table was high enough for him to sit without any problem.
''How are your parents acting to your boyfriends?'' He asked, finally daring to ask the question that he hadn't dared to ask since he had started the subject of the in-laws.
''I am sure they will like you and if they like you, they are very nice and welcoming. But tell me something more about my in-laws.''
''My dad is dead and my mom is kind of eccentric, but she is not a wrong person.'' She kind of was, but he was not going to tell Dawson without meeting his mother first. As she was still being together with Vaughn, as she wrote in the last mail, she deserve red Dawson meeting her before she knew what had actually happened to his dad.
''I am sorry about your dad. Was he sick?''
Matthew just nodded, not wanting to make the situation more complicated with telling what his mother had done. They ordered their drinks and food as the waiter came by and continued the conversation about the apartment, Matthew telling everything that he was thinking about doing, about the furnishing and was watching if he approved, since they had kind of the same taste, she did.
''I really hope we can go out next weekend.''
She was moving her glass over the table. ''I hope so and if we do and our relation is still as it was before we went there, maybe we can tell the rest. It is getting annoying, hiding that I am seeing you for the rest of the station and I am pretty sure that they will be supporting us.''
''let's go first before thinking about making it public, what if it goes wrong?''
''Why are you so afraid it will go wrong?'' She said, puzzled.
''I am not, I just want to make sure that our relation is strong enough before making it public.''
She nodded. ''Fine, I just hope that we don't have to try forever, but that we can make it official one day.''
''I am sure we can.'' He smiled as the food was served.
They ate in silence, enjoying the meal.
''So, our first holiday is coming up.'' He smiled.
''I would be more worried to see the in-laws than I would be excited for the holiday'' She mumbled, with a small smile.
''I hope they will like me, if not, then I hope you still like me, since you are the one who is together with me, not your parents.''
She smiled. ''They will like you, you are a gentleman compared to the tug I have dragged to them before.''
''I am a gentleman?'' He laughed. ''I can't even open a door for you without blocking the way.'' He added, serious now.
''I didn't just mean opening doors . I meant that they will like your personality. Especially the no-bullshit attitude. Also, you are very sweet.''
He smiled, picking up a salmon maki with his chopsticks. ''I guess we will be eating sushi a lot if it is both our favorite food.'' She said, pointing at the portion he had already eaten.
''I really love it, but it is so expensive I don't think we could eat it every week.''
He confessed.
''I know, but we will manage. If we are really really really serious we could move in together, would safe double rent.''
''I – I am not ready for that, sorry.''
''I know, I was meaning in a few months. Not now, not at all. Is it because of Hallie?''
''Maybe.'' He shrugged. But it was about Hallie, for sure. She kept popping up in his mind and made him feel awful for dating Dawson. He knew he shouldn't have nightmares but the image of her being carried outside by Severide kept replaying gin his head, even though he hadn't been there. His dreams also made him see the accident trough his own eyes, going through all the scenarios in which he could have saved her, but the truth was that he never could have. Even if he had still been a fire fighter, Hallie probably had really passed away due to the smoke before they even arrived.
He brought himself back to now, now that he was sitting in a restaurant with Dawson.
''I need to go to the bathroom.'' He said a little awkward, after looking at his watch. He didn't even feel when he had to go the toilet, he just needed to keep watching when he should catheter again. He left for the bathroom, knowing Dawson didn't mind, but still it felt awkward. At least he didn't have to explain it to her and she was very supportive. After he came back, they finished their sushi and left for home.
''I just have to pick up something really quick.'' Matthew stopped at the centre, getting out of the car and leaving a puzzled Dawson behind. After a few minutes he returned with a large bunch of flowers, opening the door on her side and handing the flowers.
''That is so sweet.'' She sighed, kissing him on the forehead. ''You shouldn't ha-''
''I am not taking them back.'' He said with a wink, getting into the car on the other side again.
She kept smelling them the whole way, until he parked on the parking lot.
''Do you think you could be my date for the firehouse BBQ in three weeks?'' She asked, knowing he was probably going there anyway, because a lot of people were coming, even though he wasn't a fire fighter anymore, but having belonged to the 51 family was enough to be welcomed.
''Sure, I think so.'' But he could hear the doubt in his voice. He wanted to, but he was still afraid to ruin it, suddenly thinking about something they hadn't done.
''So, goodnight.'' They kissed, he leaned into her. He hoped she would ask him to sleep over, but he didn't dare to ask. ''I will go the building with you. It still very far away and late.'' He said, than, getting out of the car again. Usually he parked on her spot, as her car was usually at the station and she ran or walked home, but this time it was there. Close to the building, Dawson breathing got hastily as she saw the shadow again, watching them from one the streetlights, closer than the one she had been seeing him under before.
''He is following me.'' She said, panicked.
''Wait.'' He got up the stairs, as the person was walking towards the building. Before he could reach them, Matthew got inside and closed the apartmentbuildings door, knowing it wasn't possible to enter it without a key. They went up to her apartment, while she softly started to cry. '' I have no idea who it is. but he has been following me for some time now.'' She confessed.
''it is okay, I will keep you safe tonight.'' His heart pounding in his chest as if it was going to explode, this wasn't what he had meant at all when he had thought that he would have liked to sleep over.
Now it is my turn to protect her…. He slowly thought as he was comforting her.
…
NOTE: THIS is what happens when you sleep above a café. Well, let's see it as an advantage, I have more time to write. Although it is short, but I am dozing off right now, hopefully to fall asleep soon.
So, who do you think the person is who is following them? Also, how will there weekend go and will the in-laws like Matthew?
I hope you like this chapter although not much has happened! Some news about the updating too, I was supposed to go away with a friend this weekend, but we moved it to next weekend, so this weekend the story will be updated anyway. No idea when though. I want to write a longer chapter after this short one.
So, goodnight/morning, I hope you can leave a review about what you think and if the characters are OOC. Hope to wake up with a mailbox full!
Thanks for reading!
x
