Author's note: Hi people! Thanks for playing along with the reviews about the last chapter! I can say you're waiting for this chapter so here's Chapter 10 which could be the last one.

I apologize for some grammatical errors or conjugations, I do my best.

Have a good read!

Don't forget to review!

Gaëlle

GABBY'S POV

I always wanted to believe that this day shall never arrive, or at least, that I had time in front of me to prepare for it. Today, I am there, standing up in front of my closet, to look for the adequate dress to say goodbye to one of the people that I love the most in the whole world.

I look at my dresses one by one, not knowing at all what to wear, until I fall on this famous little black dress: The little black dress which has so many meanings for me; the little black dress which is the sign of some memorable evenings; the little black dress which is a sign of enjoyment and happiness for me, for us. I take the dress in my hands and looks at it. I sit on the edge of the bed and I'm just staring into space, too lost in my dark thoughts. I squeeze the dress very hardly against me and I wonder how we have been able to arrive to a day like today in such a short time.

Even if this dress is the symbol of some of the best moments of my life, I decide to wear it today to honor this man who I love, I loved and I will love all my life. I undress of this pitiful holding which I wear since I just stay home moping around, and leave the bedroom to take a very hot shower to help me relax.

Once I take my shower, I roll up a towel around my breasts and lean on the wash basin. I look in the mirror which is fixed just above.

I have puffy and red eyes due to crying.

I have big rings and bags under the eyes due to the lack of sleep and the black thoughts during nights.

I have a dug face, the appetite having left me since this day.

I don't recognize myself.

I'm afraid of myself.

In a desperate and regrettable act, I punch the mirror. I don't even shout in pain. Everything in me is empty. I feel empty. So empty.

"Everything's ok?" I heard a man's voice asks in the other side of the bathroom's door while knocking on it.

"Yeah… Yeah… I'm fine!" I simply answer between sobs. "I… Uh… I'm just getting ready" I complete not to worry him.

I try to cool off. I take care of my hand quickly and I take long and deep breaths. I put my black and lacy underwear before putting the little black dress and I just watch at myself in the mirror again. I'm really pale, I haven't fixed my hair really well and I'm not wearing any makeup. What's the purpose?

"Gabby, are you ready?" the voice's man asks me. "We're going to be late to the funeral!" he remembers me this horrible day.

"No, I'm not ready… I… Uh…" I answer him. "Not ready for this day at all!" I then whisper to myself.

"Do you need help with something?" he asks again.

"No, no… I haven't fixed my hair yet… I'm… Uh… I'm coming…" I lie with a little and sad voice.

"Gabby, come on, let me come in!" he begs me, still on the other side of the door.

I go to the door and unlock it, and I face him. He looks at me with sad and worried eyes, but he can't contain his little smile when he sees the dress I'm wearing.

"You've chosen this dress… You always look so magnificent in it…" he tells me, caressing my cheeks and wiping my tears away. "We will get through this day together, I promise!" he whispers before taking me in his strong and comforting arms.

My feelings are mixed. On one side he's always there because he sacrificed himself for him, for me, for us, for our life together, for having a chance to be happy and live the life of our dreams.

But in the other side a part of me has gone forever because of me, because of him, because of us. Should I be grateful that he saved my life and his life? Should I feel guilty that he died because he just wanted to save me, to save him, to save us?

Some steps into the room make me escape from these horrible thoughts: "Guys, sorry to interrupt. Are you ready? We need to go!" Kelly says softly. He's wearing a black suit with a touch of white like we said.

I take my black flats, not having the force to walk with big heels, and my white cardigan. The tears are still running on my face, they have never really stopped since this day.

He cups my face into his hands and looks at me straight in the eyes: "It will okay. I promise".

The Church

MATT'S POV

We arrive at the church one hour later. The church is full; it was a very appreciated and estimated man. His colleagues of the District 21 are present; the members of the Firehouse 51 are also present to show us their support after the events of the last weeks, his friends, our family, and of course his wife and their children...

I never leave Gabby's side; I don't release her hand, even for one second. I want to be there for her, always.

We sit down in the first row, which is reserved for the family of the deceased. The coffin enters the church in the sound of the applauses to pay a last and well deserved tribute to the one who saved our lives, to the one who sacrificed his life for us.

Then this is the time of the rite of the light; during which two close people to the deceased light two wax candles, one on each side of the coffin. Eva and Diego, both dressed in white, get up and light the wax candles in a moment full of emotion. Then, they return into the arms of their mother, who is devastated too.

The ceremony takes place quite in sobriety, and comes the moment of the speech of Gabby. She did not release my hand a single moment during the ceremony and her head is still put on my shoulder. I try to comfort her in the best way I can, but it's not easy for me either. I really appreciated Antonio; he was like a brother for me.

When the Priest announces that's the moment of her speech, I feel Gabby recovering and I feel her frantic. I squeeze her hand hardly in mine and murmur in her ear: "Everything is going to be okay, baby. Just speak with your heart. Don't worry; what you have written is magnificent."

I kiss her on the temple and encourage her to get up with a simple movement of the head. She gets up and leaves my hand at the very last moment, when she doesn't have the choice anymore.

GABBY'S POV

In passing, I touch the coffin in which Antonio rests. I go up some stairs which separates me from the writing desk reserved for the speeches and install my paper in front of me. With eyes full of tears, I observe the persons present in the church. They all fix me with a sad look. Numerous tears are visible. Those of my parents break my heart. They lose their son while he tried to save their daughter. Which sad history, which sad reality.

With a trembling voice, I start my eulogy to my big brother.

"Friends, loved ones and family" I start to speak, feeling really emotional.

"It's an honor and a privilege for me to pay tribute today… to a very… to a very, very special person for me and… and uh… for you too… My… My brother… My big brother Antonio." I say before breaking into tears and searching Matt's eyes for comfort and encouragement. He looks at me with a small smile and brilliant eyes, and nods at me.

"My name is Gabriela Dawson, best known as Gabby, and I am Tonio's younger sister or his "sis" like he used to say." I break a little smile, remembering all the time he has called me like this. I take long and deep breaths to be able to continue my speech without interrupting myself every three words.

"He was remarkable in so many ways. He lived his life to the fullest and touched so many people during his time here with us, as evident by so many of you here today. That being say, I want to thank every single of you for being here today to honor him and support us." I thank everyone for their presence.

"As I began to reach out for the right words to express my thoughts about my adorable big brother, I remembered the many valued and meaningful roles that Antonio has played throughout his life.

First and foremost, I see him as THE family man. He loved his family profoundly and more than anything. He was a devoted son, a devoted father, a devoted brother, a devoted husband and an amazing friend. Looking back, he was always a family man. He was a comfort for our parents when they were still living in town. He was so devoted to them that I always felt it was OK to run away from home, yeah… I know, it was one of my specialties." I say almost laughing and many little smiles across the faces of the audience. "I always knew he was there watching over them. He was a very respectful and caring man." I say, tears running down my cheeks. I take a tissue and try to wipe away my tears.

"Antonio took all of the roles in his life to heart and he strove to honor, support, and guide and most importantly, protects his family. He was at his happiest when he was surrounded by his family and his two beautiful children- even during those inevitable tough times that life has a way of throwing at you…" I say, looking at Laura and giving her a small smile. "His devotion to his family was the foundation of his actions - the anchor that defined and shaped his life. He was ALWAYS, ALWAYS here for his family. For me. For his children. For his parents. For his friends and even for mine." I smile, looking at the Family from Firehouse 51 and remembering all he has done to help us.

"As I turn the next page of Tonio's life, I see the friend. He was a good friend to so many people! He could be counted on and depended on always. Whether you needed simple advice, an empathetic ear, a shoulder to lean on, a listener, a pass the time, a sport buddy or the one who gives you his blessing to marry his little sister…" I say looking at Matt who is really touched but still smiling at me at the mention of our engagement and the way he asks the man of the family. "He was YOUR man!" I look at the picture of him smiling.

"As I look out at the faces in this church, I see many family members and friends and I know that you too will miss the friendship that Antonio brought into your lives. I'm sure you all will remember him in your very own special way."

"My brother may have meant something to each and every one of you… personally… he… he… uh… he was my… my guardian angel. As you all know... If... If... Uh... If we are gathered here today... It's because he saved my life..." I say, sobbing. "He sacrificed his life for mine… He… He also saved the life of my fiancé, the life of the man of my life... He sacrificed his life for us… He sacrificed his life so that we can live ours... My guardian angel, I shall be grateful for you FOREVER! I promise you we'll enjoy our lives, we'll enjoy this second chance you gave us." I cry really hard.

I come to my senses and continue: "Antonio, my brother, it's very hard to say goodbye so we will just say so-long. The pages of your book will never be closed, I can promise you that."

"We will remember you through the many people still left behind whose lives you touched so positively. You may not realize it, but you leave an amazing legacy behind, two beautiful, handsome and brilliant children. They are your legacy! Through them you leave this world a better place than when you found it and for that you have to be very proud." I say, looking at my beautiful niece and nephew in their mother's arms.

"Antonio, we will miss you, but we will always remember you with respect, admiration and love, always, always, always!" I finish my speech with this infinity words.

I walk back to the coffin and put a white rose on it. Then, I put my hand on the top and say softly: "I loved you, I love you and I will always love you."

As I have held back the tears during the end of the speech, once I'm back on my seat, I just burst into tears in Matt's arms.

Graceland Cemetery – Chicago

MATT'S POV

We end the day in the Graceland Cemetery in the family intimacy. I let Gabby collect herself some moments with her family and I join Kelly in the car.

"Wow, that was a really emotional ceremony… Gabby's speech was… Just Wow!" Kelly says as we lean against my truck.

"I know she has spent a lot of time, writing it… I'm really proud of her, but I know that it will be hard… She feels guilty, I feel guilty… It's going to be hard…" I tell him with teary eyes.

"Matt… Look at me. You're NOTHING to be guilty for! We all know the circumstances." He says, putting an arm around my shoulders. "All you have to do is to be strong and be there for Gabby, she truly needs you right now!" he continues.

"I know, man… I know…" I say, looking at him.

Gabby joins us a few minutes later, after having embraced her family. She collapses into my arms and I squeeze her very very hardly and tightly against me. Kelly always has his arm around me and surrounds Gabby with his other one.

The Apartment

Gabby has fallen asleep in the car on our way back. Once arrived at our apartment, I take her in my arms slowly, by watching not to wake her, and carry her up to our bedroom. I lay her down in our bed and I sit beside her. I caress her face and her hair and she slowly wakes up.

"Hey, we're home…" I tell her softly, before kissing her forehead.

"I'm exhausted… My god, Matt, I feel so empty without my brother…" she admits to me, starting to cry again.

I pull her up to my chest and hug her. That's all I can do for now.

"Come on, I will help you undress so that you can sleep…" I tell her. She stands up and I start to unzip this dress. It's not the first time I unzip this dress, but the first time in such circumstances.

"I don't want to wear that dress… Ever again…" she tells me. "And god knows how many meanings it has for me, but I just can't… It used to remember me some amazing memories, but now the last memory I will have is this day, this awful day…" she says, pulling the dress off of her body and climbing in bed in her underwear.

Author's note: So, what did you think of this chapter? It was really emotional, right? I have to admit I cried a little writing it.

I helped myself with some eulogy models found on the web.

I think that this chapter would make a good end to this story with the reminder of the famous little black dress. What do you think? Tell me if you want this story to continue or if it's a good end. I have other Dawsey story ideas in my mind, just to let you know!