Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination.
a/n: Thank you to everyone that read and reviewed last chapter, you guys are amazing. Sorry for not posting this story in a while but the words were flowing so I went with it. Fair warning, the last part of the chapter is rated M, hope you like it.
Matt suddenly felt nervous. After hitting Kelly with his genius plan to ask Gabby to marry him, he realized that he was missing one key thing. He knew how close Gabby was to her brother Antonio and he also knew that their parents spent most of their time in the Dominican Republic so if he wanted to do this right, he needed to ask permission. And since her parents were out of town, the next best thing was sitting in the building in front of me with no clue of what he was about to do. He took a deep breathe and moved up the stairs one at a time, his heart beating faster as he did.
Another thing that scared the living crap out of him was the desk sargent that was running the 21st, Trudy Platt. He knew that if he wanted to make it to Antonio, that he would have to go through her so that's where he walked.
"Morning sargent Platt." He offered her his best smile.
"Lieutenant Matt Casey." She grinned widely. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I could see Antonio Dawson? If he's not too busy I mean."
"Let me give him a call, see if they haven't started a case." She took the phone and placed it to her ear. It took a few seconds before she started talking again. "Can you tell Dawson that Matt Casey is there to see him?" She smiled at the answer she was given and she hung up. "You can wait for him on that bench." She pointed to the bench that was next to the first office on the right when you came up the stairs from the outside and he waited. It took a few minutes before Antonio made an appearance.
"Matt." He extended his hand and the fire lieutenant shook it firmly. "Is everything ok?" Antonio tried to gauge Matt, trying to figure out what he could possibly be doing here.
"Uh yeah, everything is fine. Do you have a few minutes? I need to run something by you."
"Sure." He gestured towards the empty office and he closed the door behind him. "What can I do for you Matt?"
"Actually, I wanted to ask you the most important question." Antonio took a step towards Matt to which he took one back, slightly intimidated by the older detective.
"What's that question that's got you acting like you got your panties in a bunch?" Matt looked at Antonio funny but decided now wasn't the time for that kind of humour. "I'm listening." Antonio gave him all of his attention.
"I know that I haven't been dating your sister very long." He started, half expecting Antonio to interrupt him but he simply let him continue. "But in all of my adult life, I have never loved someone the way I love Gabby and I don't want that feeling to go away."
"What is it that you think I can give you Matt?
"I want to ask your sister to marry me." He blurted out, words half jumbled together.
"Say that again?" Antonio took another step forward.
"Antonio, I want to ask Gabby to marry me but I know that having your blessing is important and I want to do this the right way". Antonio made sure to let him sweat a little bit more while he waited to get an answer.
"And you think the right way is asking my sister to marry you after only four months?"
"I know our relationship has been nothing except out of the ordinary but I just know that she's it for me and I don't want to let her get away." Antonio could see that his sister's boyfriend was speaking from the heart so he pulled him in for a hug.
"I'm messging with you Matt." Antonio chuckled, Matt looking like someone had died, most likely him from fear. "You're a stand-up guy Matt and if I know my sister like I think I do, this is the best thing that'll happen to her." Matt released the breath he was holding.
"You have no idea how much it means to me too. I promise that I won't make you regret this."
"You better not because you know what's coming if you do anything to hurt her."
"You have my word." They exchanged a handshake and another hug before they both parted ways, Antonio needed upstairs. Matt left the 21st with a weight off of his shoulders. He decided to start looking right away since Gabby was out to brunch with the girls so he knew that he'd have more than enough time to look.
The first two stores that he had gone in had been a bust and then he remembered of a store Christie had told him about when she had had to get her old ring resized so he drove towards the adress, hoping to find what he was looking for there. The bell chimed as he stepped foot into the door and there were a few people so he aimlessly looked through the many displays in the store and suddenly one stood out to him so he simply waited for a clerk to be able to show it to him.
"Can I help you sir?" He was pulled out of his thoughts by a small woman that looked to be in her mid fifties.
"Actually I found what I was looking for." He smiled up at her. "But I'd like to see it." The woman pulled it out from inside the display and put it on top of the glass.
"It's perfect, I'll take it."
"What size are you looking for?" Matt suddenly realized that he didn't know the answer to that question.
"Actually, I don't know." He looked at the woman's own hands. "Well she looks to have the same kind of hands as you."
"Ok, I can work with that." She put the ring back in it's original display and disappeared in the back of the store. Matt nervously drummed his fingers against the glass while he waited. She returned a few minutes later with a black velvet box that she opened just to show it to him.
"It's perfect."
"If there's anything concerning the size, all you have to do is come back."
"Thank you." He paid for his purchase and secured the box in his pocket before heading back home. Now all he had to do was plan the way he wanted to pop the question to her.
Matt sat at the head of the table in the firehouse as he usually did, his head in the newspaper and his mind on proposing to Gabby.
"Everything ok Matt?" Shay sat down next to him. She had watched him move around since arriving and she knew that something was on his mind.
"No." He looked up miserably at her. " I have Antonio's blessing and I found the ring but I need to get Gabby out of the house so I can arrange the apartment."
"I can help you with that. When do yo want to pop the question?"
"I don't want to wait Shay. I was thinking about doing it during our next shift off."
"I have a solution for that." Matt watched her pick her phone out of her pocket and pressing on a button before putting it to her ear, s large smirk on her face. "Gabby, I have a fashion emergendy, I need your help when we get off shift. Can you meet me at the store after lunch? You're a life saver Gabs." She said in the receiver before hanging up. "You're all set."
"You're a life saver, thanks Shay." He raised from his spot and went to get some quiet in his office so he could plan what he'd do to surprise her and the idea came to him as the bells called all companies to a traffic accident.
Both Gabby and Matt arrived home at the same time the next morning. "How was shift?" He questionned her as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Hell. Ambo got calls all night night long." She sighed.
"How about I run you a bath?"
"I just want to go to bed." She put her head against his chest.
"Bed it is." They snuggled under the covers and Gabby instantly fell asleep. Matt watched her sleep for a few minutes before he wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep too. Not having been busy most of the night, Matt had slept only a couple of hours and when he woke up, Gabby was still comfortably snuggled into him. The dark circles under her eyes had mostly disappeared already but he knew that she needed the rest so he quietly pulled himself away from her and closed the door while he took care of making what looked like would be lunch for them. He made a list of what he needed for the evening and tucked it in his pocket for the errands he'd have to do once Gabby was gone with Shay for the so-called fashion emergency.
Gabby woke up to an empty bed and she stretched before getting up and shuffling towards the living area where she scanned for Matt, finding him in the kitchen. "Morning." Her voice was still laced with sleep and Matt smiled, kissing her temple.
"How did you sleep?"
"Good. Fells good."
"Good. I made lunch." He made sandwiches because he knew that they'd be eating a bigger meal tonight.
"Thanks, I'm starving." They grabbed some couch and ate there, Gabby's legs tucked under her.
"So when are you meeting up with Shay?" She looked at the clock in the living room.
"An hour. She must haver a date tonight." She chuckled. Matt took both plates and put them in the sink while Gabby went to get ready.
"So I'll see you later?"
"Yeah, I'll keep you posted if I run late."
"Take your time." They kissed before she left. Matt watched her go through the living room window and waited a few extra minutes before he stepped out, hoping not to hit any snags in his plan.
Gabby drove through the familiar streets and parked in front of the store, spotting Shay's car that was already there. She stepped out and was practically swarmed as soon as she stepped foot into the store. "I need your help."
"Calm down Shay, we'll find you something to wear tonight." They started to browse through the store and grabbed a few things before they went to try sevral pieces. Shay discarted about half of what they had picked out, Gabby waiting patiently on the outside to see each combination. Shay stepped out of her booth a few minutes after she had tried on the last ensemble, moving past Gabby to go look for something else.
Time was moving forward and Shay looked at her phone, waiting for a text from Matt saying that everything was ready. When she thought she wouldn't find anything for Gabby, she stumbled on a purple dress. She grabbed it along with some sexy lingery and returned to the changing rooms.
"Here, try this on." Shay pulled Gabby in a standing position.
"Shay, we're not shopping for me." She protested.
"Actually, we kind of are. Come on, go try that on." She pushed her in the direction of the changing booth and went in search of a pair of shoes that could go with the dress, ignoring Gabby's protests. When she found what she was looking for, she returned to see if Gabby was ready to come out to show her how it looked. "Come on Gabby, shoe me what it looks like."
"Just a sec." She called from the inside, having a bit of trouble with the zipper. She stepped out a minute later and Shay's jaw dropped.
"That's perfect, you look hot. Try those on." She handed her the shoes and let her try them on before she made her do a 360 to look at the final product.
"What's this about Shay? You don't have a fashion emergency do you?"
"Sorry." She shrugged.
"What's going on?"
"It's a surprise." She took a look at her phone and found a text from Matt saying everything was in place. Shay found the clerk and asked her to pay for the purchases, including Gabby's
"Shay, I can't accept that."
"You can, it's my gift to you." Once that was paid for, they stepped out of the store, Shay with her new clothes in bags and Gabby with her old ones in there, the new dress on her. "Matt is waiting for you at your place." They hugged.
"Thanks Shay."
"You'll have to tell me everything." She winked, making Gabby blush without even knowing what was waiting for her at home. She drove back to their place and carefully opened the door, stepping into a dimmed apartment.
"Matt?" She called as he stepped out of their bedroom, closing the door behind him.
"Hey. You look beautiful." He greeted her with a tender kiss.
"What's going on Matt?"
"It's a surprise." He took her by the hand and they walked towards the kitchen table. "Now I didn't have time to cook so I picked up your favourite dish from Vinnie's but I promise, the rest is all me."
"Matt." Her smile was wide as he helped her sit down and pushed her chair closer. The lights were dimmed in the whole apartment and a candle was giving a soft glow to the table that was set for two. Matt went to grab their plates from the kitchen and they sat down. Gabby tried to pull some information out of Matt but he only chuckled and said it was just another surprise and that she needed to wait just a little bit longer.
Once Matt took care of putting the dishes in the sink, he helped Gabby to her feet and leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss. "Are you ready for the last surprise?"
"You're torturing me Matt, of course I'm ready for the last surprise."
"Ok, follow me." He pulled her by the hand and guided her towards their room. "Ready?" He heard the hum of her response. "Open the door." He put his hands on her hips and watched her open the door with trembling hands. She pushed the door open to reveal their bedroom basking in candlelight glow. Gabby was rooted in her spot as she took in the sight in front of her. There were candles everywhere and rose petals scattered all over the room and on the bed, a single velvet box sitting in the middle of the comforter.
"Matt?" She couldn't tear her eyes from what her eyes were looking at.
"It won't open itself." He watched her walk towards their bed and lean down to take the box in her hands. She carefully flipped the top of the box in her fingers, revealing a beautiful engagement ring.
"Matt?" She turned to face him but he was now closer and on one knee.
"Gabby. These past four months have showed me that love can come when you least expect it and that no matter how we met, my heart's been telling me that I'd be a fool to let you get away. You are the most strong willed, caring woman I know. Will you marry me?"
"Yes." She laughed, tears threatening to fall. "Yes I'll marry you." Matt took the ring out of its box and slipped it on her finger, the fit perfect before he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her.
"I love you baby."
"I love you too." Their lips crashed together in a searing kiss, Matt's hands pressing her closer to him. Gabby wrapped her arms around Matt's neck as he lowered them onto the bed. He trailed kissed down her neck and shoulder, pushing the strap of her dress off to give him better access. Matt's moved his leg between Gabby's, causing her to moan at the friction he was creating.
"Matt." She panted, desperate to have him. He ran his hand against her arm all the way down to her thigh, slipping it under her dress to feel her skin. She arched her body into his as he pushed her dress higher up her legs, looping his fingers into the material of her panties and pulling them down as far as he could. He kissed his way down her chest until he could fully remove the only real barrier between them.
Once he managed to do so, he kissed his way back up to her lips where she used all her strength to flip them around, putting her in control of the situation. She straddled his hips while playing with the buttons of his shirt, opening them one by one. He put his hands on her hips and let her set the pace. Her cheeks were already a soft shade of pink as they stared at each other, both breathless. She dipped down and kissed him while she removed his shirt, his own hands working on the zipper of her dress. He was surprised to find her wearing nothing under as he slipped both straps down her arms.
"You're beautiful." He kissed her, capturing a moan as their lips kept moving together. Her dress was pooling at her hips but Matt still had his pants so she kissed her way down his chest, running her fingers against every muscle until her fingers undid his belt buckle, opening his pants in the same motion. Their movements were already frantic as they finished undressing each other, removing every piece of clothing that was now separating their bodies. Matt pulled her down to him and kissed her while they rolled into bed, Gabby at the bottom. "I can't wait to start forever with you." He rubbed his nose against hers as he kissed her, entering her as he did, Gabby moaning in his mouth.
"Forever." Those were the last words that slipped through Gabby's lips that night as they made love to celebrate being engaged.
a/n: Finally Matt decides to pop the question, even though they haven't been dating very long but that only reflects their relationship from the beginning. Ok so I didn't go into all the details concerning Gabby's engagement ring or the dress that she's wearing because in my mind, Gabby's ring will always be the one that Matt gives her at the top of the Fire Academy in seaon 3 and the purple dress is the same one she wears at Mouch's and Platt's wedding in season 4. Please take a few seconds to review before you go, I love to know what you guys think - Sarra