Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and Abbey.
a/n: Thank you to everyone who has been reading this story since the beginning and follow/favourite it, it means the world to me. So this is the last chapter before the epilogue and I hope you guys enjoy it.
Matt's POV
As promised, we went to the cabin two weeks after Abbey had told me about it. It was a small log cabin with a small kitchen and a cozy fireplace. We enjoyed the lake and fishing but mostly the fireplace for the whole three days. We moved as one through the cabin, finally the stress of work and the busy Chicago lifestyle out of our mind. We enjoyed every minute of everyday and each other before we had to go back home, in time to see Gabby at the very end of her pregnancy. When she gave birth to Lily, she named Abbey and I her Godparents and we were honoured to play that role. It was a sunday and we were on our 48 hours off but Abbey was helping her mom out at the diner so I decided to pay Pete and Gabby a visit and spend some time with my beautiful Goddaughter.
She had just woken up from a nap and Gabby had nursed her before she gave her to me and I rocked her in my arms, a smile on my face. "She's beautiful." I moved my fingers through her already thick curls and she was smiling.
"I think she likes you." Gabby was leaning against the wall, smiling at us.
"I like her too. Thanks for letting me be her godfather."
"We couldn't think of someone better to guide her." Pete appeared and wrapped Gabby in an embrace. I only had eyes for the little girl in my arms and I was longing to be able to have that with Abbey.
"You want that too don't you?" Pete's voice pulled me out of my own thoughts.
"Someday, yeah." I looked up at them both. Pete looked at me and it's as if he could read me like an open book.
"You're thinking about asking her to marry you." Clearly he knew his best friend and knew me enough to know that I loved her more than anything.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it since we went to the cabin. I was hoping of getting her mother's blessing first."
"Well you certainly have mine. I've never seen her more happy than since she's been with you and she told me about the dreams she keeps having." I was surprised by this. It had been a while since we talked about her having dreams of a little boy so I figured that she had stopped having them but Pete was standing here, telling me they hadn't.
"I didn't know she still had them."
"She didn't want to freak you out. She told me about them a few months back."
"I told her that I wanted it all with her, why is she still doubting it now?"
"She isn't. You're it for her but she doesn't want to rush anything so you should ask her to marry you, make an honest girl out of her." He chuckled, Gabby laughing softly next to him.
"Thanks for the talk Pete."
"Anytime." I stayed a while longer before leaving, Lily already asleep again in her crib. I knew I still needed to get Abbey's mom's approuval but today wasn't that day just yet but I dialed up the one person that could help me out, Shay. She met up with me at the store and hugged me before we went in.
"It's about time you asked that girl to marry you."
"I know." Abbey and I had dated a little over two years and I was ready to take that next step with her. We looked at different kind of rings, one more beautiful than the other but I wanted something simple for her. She was never the flashy type and I wanted the ring to reflect that.
"What about this one?" She pointed to one in the counter on our left. I went to stand next to her and looked at the one she was pointing. It was a simple diamond in a flower like setting with smaller ones on the band.
"It's perfect."
"What size does she wear?" There was the question. I had no idea what ring size she wore because she didn't wear any rings.
"You don't know what size rings she wears?" Shay said dramatically.
"She doesn't wear any Shay." I looked down at her hands and took her slender fingers in mine. "Try it on Shay."
"Are you out of your mind?" The clerk was getting utterly confused.
"No, try it on. She has small hands like you." The clerk took it out from under the counter and gave it to Shay to try it on. It fit there perfectly. "See, that's perfect."
"But I will NOT marry you Matthew." She giggled, taking it off and giving it back to the woman so she could put it in a box.
"Thanks for doing this Shay."
"She'll love it. When are you going to propose?"
"I'm not sure yet. No one knows about this except you, Gabby and Pete." I paid for the ring and Shay and I went for lunch.
"So what's your plan? Any ideas at all?"
"I know that this isn't how this would normally be done but I wanted to have her mother's blessing first. I think it would mean a lot to her."
"That's sweet Matt and what about when you propose?"
"I really don't know. I was thinking about going to the restaurant but it wouldn't mean much with strangers around us but then I thought about the CFD bbq but there's too many people there. I really don't know Shay." The waitress placed our orders in front of us.
"How about you organise an end of summer bash at your place with family and friends from 51 and ask her then. Your yard looks amazing, it could be all romantic."
"I like that. I was thinking of inviting the Darden's too. I haven't seen the boys in a while now and I know she misses them too. I think that would be great."
"That would be perfect. What did you tell her you were doing today."
"I didn't tell her anything. She's helping her mom out at the diner."
"Oh, I figured you could ask her mom today because I doubt that she'd be happy to be the last to know about it."
"Maybe I can get her away from the diner later and ask her to come over while Abbey is still over there." I saw my phone screen light up and looked at a message from Abbey. Grace called in sick, I told my mom I'd cover her. See you tonight for dinner? :( "Look who just texted me she needs to stay longer." I showed the text to Shay who smiled and I replied that I'd be waiting for her at home when she got off shift before I dialed Michelle's familiar cell phone number and she picked up on the first ring.
"Matt, what a wonderful surprise. Is everything ok?" I just hoped that Abbey wasn't in hearing distance from her mom at that exact moment. "I know that Abbey is there with you but I was wondering if you could come over our place, there's something I would like to ask you in private." "I'm in the office but I can tell her that I need to run an errand. I'll meet you at your place in twenty minutes." "That's perfect, thank you." I hung up the phone and smiled at Shay. "Twenty minutes."
"Get out of here, I got this." She shooed me away.
"Thanks Shay, for everything." I kissed her cheek and left to go back home. I got there first and felt the small box that was in my pocket, nerves finally getting the best of me and I started pacing the living room. The doorbell made me jump and I quickly went to open it. "Michelle, come on it. Thanks for coming by."
"It sounded important." She removed her light jacket and hung it in the entryway before following me in the kitchen.
"Do you want some coffee?"
"I'm fine thank you. You look nervous Matt, is something wrong?" She sat down and I took a seat across from her.
"Nothing's wrong but I wanted to do this properly." She looked a little confused, the nerves making me stutter slightly. "I love Abbey more than anything and she's made me a better man since I met her."
"Out with it Matthew." She seemed to catch on faster than I was able to get the words out.
"I wanted to ask your permission to ask her to marry me." She moved her hand across the table and took mine in hers.
"That's the best news I've heard all day." She smiled. "You're already part of this family and Frank would have loved you."
"Thanks." I smiled, the nerves finally leaving my body.
"I have a feeling you already have a ring." I chuckled nervously and pulled the box out of my pant pocket.
"Shay helped me pick it out before lunch." I placed the box on the table and let her look at it.
"It's beautiful Matt, she'll love it."
"I hope so."
"She will. Now I have to go back so she doesn't get worried but keep me in the loop." We got up and she hugged me. "Thank you for making my daughter happy, she's very lucky to have you."
"I'm the lucky one, thank you." I walked her to the door and we hugged one more time before she left. I figured I'd keep myself busy in the kitchen until Abbey got back home. I made sure to hide the ring box somewhere she wouldn't be able to stumble on and went back to the kitchen to start dinner.
Abbey's POV
Grace called about an hour before lunch saying she wouldn't make it for her shift because she had been sick all day so I offered my mom to take over for her until the evening shift where someone else was scheduled to come in. I texted Matt telling him I was sorry and that I'd be there for dinner and he replied that he'd be waiting for me. My mother went to hide in the office once the lunch break was over, claiming she was behind on her paperwork. She returned about tenty minutes later.
"I have an errand to run. Do you think you'll be ok here for an hour?"
"Yeah mom, it's pretty quiet, I should be good." She smiled at me before leaving.
About twenty minutes later, all hell broke loose. It didn't happen often that groups of people flocked in after lunch but it's as if they had sensed my being alone to come in and fill up the place, leaving me breathless. She came back an hour later to an empty diner.
"Manage ok without me?" I shot her a death look.
"It got crazy twenty minutes after you left. What took you so long?"
"I forgot I had yesterday's deposit and the line at the bank was huge, I'm sorry sweetie." Something seemed off about this statement because my mom never forgot to do a bank run but I put it on my current state.
"I haven't run like this in the longest time." I looked at my watch, two more hours to go.
"Why don't you get out of here. I think I can handle the next two hours before the guys come in for the evening shift."
"I promised you I'd stay until they got here."
"You've done more than enough sweetie. Go home and spend some time with Matt."
"Are you sure mom? I can stay until they get here."
"I'm sure. Get out of here." I didn't want to leave her alone but at the same time I was thankful for the early release.
"Thanks mom." I put my apron behind the counter and grabbed my bag before heading out the door. I sat down in my truck and my body let me feel the full extent of the last rush. I drove back home and walked in, dad's pasta sauce's aroma filling my nostrils. I walked towards the kitchen where Matt was busying himself with the recipe.
"Hey baby, you're home early." He kissed me.
"Yeah, mom let me leave early on the account that she abandonned me for a whole hour and all hell broke loose at the diner while she was out."
"Sorry to hear that. Why don't you take a shower and dinner will be ready when you get down."
"This smells amazing." I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and took in the smell of his cologne.
"I was taught by the best."
"Smoothe talker."
"I learned from the best too." I giggled against him, knowing he was talking about Severide.
After spending twenty long minutes under the mist, I got out and changed into shorts and a tank top. Summer was slowly coming to an end but the heat was still there. I let my feet bare and met Matt in the dining room where he was setting the table.
"I could have done it."
"You had a long day. Just sit down and enjoy supper."
"Actually I'm starving. I haven't had the time to eat any lunch."
"That's not good for you. You know I don't like it when you don't eat."
"This smells great." I opened the pot and took a big portion.
"Nice save." He chuckled and we sat down to eat. Music was playing in the living room and we enjoyed light conversation. We did the dishes together and went to enjoy the rest of the evening in the back yard. We were sitting together on the swing, my body resting against his chest, enjoying the view and the silence between us.
"I'm glad we did the yard. It's beautiful out here."
"It is. I was thinking that we could do something here with everyone from 51 and your mom before the summer is over."
"That would be great. And we could invite the Darden's too, I miss them."
"I miss them too. Griffin and Ben must have gotten so big."
"Yeah. I wish we could see them more often though."
"Me too. Oh, it reminds me. I have a construction gig lined up in Milwaukee next week end. I figured I could ask them then to come down for our little party."
"I wish I could go with you but I told my mom I'd help out again."
"You've been working there a lot, everything ok?"
"Yeah. They're looking for a new hire but they aren't having any luck so I've been patching in a lot on my days off."
"I'm sure they'll find someone soon." I turned in his arms and kissed him. "I miss you though."
"I miss you too but we can spend tonight and the whole day tomorrow together before shift, recharge our batteries." His lips touched mine so gently, making me close my eyes.
"I don't think your idea of spending the day together will recharge our batteries." I giggled.
"Don't worry, it will." He pulled me closer and this time, his kiss was everything except gentle. It was hungry and messy and made my insides fill with butterflies. We made out out here for a while before we got up and Matt pulled me up the stairs, pressing his lips to mine as soon as he laid me down on the bed. We quickly ended naked between the sheets, making love. As promised, we stayed in bed all day the following day, physically exhausted but emotionally recharged.
Next week-end, Matt's POV
"I'm going to miss you." She pouted, leaning her body against the doorframe as I put my work boots on.
"I'll miss you too baby but I'll be back later tonight." I kissed her.
"I just wish I could go with you."
"We can go another time together, spend a week-end with the boys. That sound good to you?"
"That would be perfect. Be careful out there."
"It's only a small job, nothing's going to happen." I smiled at her.
"Still. I don't need you losing a thumb."
"I'll be careful, promise." I pulled her close to me and kissed her one last time before I left. I hated lying to her about this but I just wanted to make sure that the boys and Heather could make it in two weeks. I drove to the closest coffee shop and grabbed one to go with some breakfast before taking the road again. The drive to Milwaukee was uneventful but I called ahead to make sure they were home so I didn't do the trip for nothing. Heather was keeping this from the boys so it would be a total surprise for them. I parked the next street over to keep the surprise and walked the short distance to their new house, knocking on the door, waiting for someone to answer.
"Uncle Matt!" Ben charged at me when he swung the door open.
"Wow, you must have grown five inches since the last time I saw you." His head was now at level with my chest.
"Six." He laughed. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to see you guys." He moved aside to let me come in.
"Is Abbey with you?" He asked hopefully.
"Sorry buddy she isn't but she says hi and she misses you guys." He immediatly started sulking.
"Mom, uncle Matt is here." He screamed, Heather coming down from the stairs and he disappeared at the top of them.
"Matt, I didn't expect you so soon." She took in my appearance. "You got a job lined up here?" she hugged me.
"No, that's just a cover. I told Abbey I had a job here but I told her I was only stopping by.
"Uncle Matt." Griffin came walking through the back door.
"Hey Griff." He too had grown a lot since the last time. "What has your mom been feeding you?" I held him at arms length and looked him over.
"They just grew like weeds over the summer. I have to buy them some new clothes for the fall." I let go of him so I could hug her.
"I wish Andy was there to see this."
"Me too. You're staying for lunch right?"
"Yeah, thought I'd take the boys to the park for some football after."
"Sweet." Griffin grinning. "I'll go get Ben and I ready so we can be ready to go as soon as lunch is done." Griffin turned around and bounded back upstairs to get ready.
"So, how are you doing? And how's Abbey?" We walked towards the kitchen where I leaned against the counter as Heather was getting lunch ready.
"I'm good thanks, and Abbey too. She disapointed about not coming down to see you guys."
"Why didn't she come then?" She looked up from what she was doing.
"Her mom is having trouble staffing the diner and Abbey is helping out a lot." I plucked some pepper out of the salad Heather was making, recieving a slap on the hand for it. I laughed and then silence was all that could be heard.
"What's on your mind?" Her words pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I actually came by to ask you guys to a end of the summer party we're hosting in two weeks."
"There's something else Matt, I know you."
"I'm going to ask Abbey to marry me in front of all of our friends and family." I smiled broadly thinking about getting our forever.
"Get out!" We both looked as Griffin spoke from the end of the kitchen, Ben at his side.
"That's so cool uncle Matt." Ben esclaimed, smiling as he came to get a hug.
"Thanks bud and you're right, it is pretty cool."
"I'm happy for you Matt." Heather genuenly smiled.
"I wanted to tell you before the party."
"You're having a party?" Ben asked, the idea of a party very alluring to him.
"Yes we are, in two weeks. Sort of an end of summer bach."
"Can we come? Please?" It was sweet how excited he was about having a party.
"Of course you can come, that's why I came by today." I laughed at his exhuberance.
Heather put everything on the table and we all sat down to eat. When the boys were done clearing out the table, the three of us left to go to the park, spending the whole afternoon there just playing ball and having fun. We came back home to Heather getting dinner ready.
"Are you staying for dinner too?" She looked up from the food as we walked into the kitchen.
"Come on uncle Matt, stay for dinner." Griffin smiled and I didn't want to disappoint him but I couldn't stay.
"Sorry bud. I promised Abbey I'd be back home for dinner but we'll see each other soon, time will fly by." I could see both Ben and Griffin were sad about me leaving but we'd see each other again very soon. "Pomise me though that if you talk to her in the next week or so that you won't spoil my surprise?"
"Promise uncle Matt." Griffin hugged me tightly. I hugged Ben after and Heather last as she walked me to the door.
"I'm really happy for you Matt and trust me when I say it'll be yes."
"Thanks Heather and I'll see you in two weeks."
"Text me the details."
"I will." She hugged me one last time and I left. I drove back to Chicago without stopping, just wanting to get back home already.
I walked in and could hear music coming out of the kitchen. I left all my things in the front closet and made my way to the kitchen. I leaned against the doorframe and just watched her. Pots and pans were on the stove top and Abbey was dancing around while getting everything ready and just that simple thing made me fall even more in love with her. I let her do her thing for about five minutes before I made my way farther in and wrapped my arms around her waist when she stopped her swaying movement.
"Hey baby I'm home." I whispered to her ear
"Hey, I missed you. How did the job go?" She leaned into me.
"It was actually faster than i expected. Went to Heather's and took the guys to the park to play some football."
"How are they?" She turned around and wrapper her arms around my neck, pressing her lips to mine.
"They've grown a lot."
"I can't wait to see them. They're coming right?"
"Yeah, they said they wouldn't miss it."
"I can't wait. Come on, dinner is ready." I helped her bring the food to the table and we ate, talking about our day. I helped her with the dishes and we cuddled on the couch, a football game on at low volume.
"I'm glad you had fun with the boys."
"I'm sorry you missed them. They miss you a lot."
"I miss them too but I'll see them again in two weeks. She smiled as she stretched her legs on the coffee table and I raised the volume slightly." I felt an extra weight against me after the third quarter, Abbey having fallen asleep there, her head on my shoulder. The game was long forgotten and all I could do was look at her. She had come unexpectedly in my life and I couldn't wait to ask her to marry me two weeks from now. I watched the rest of the game and reluctantly had to wake her up to go to bed upstairs.
"Did I miss the game?" She asked grogilly.
"Pretty much." I chuckled. "Come on, let's go to bed." She rose from the couch slowly and we headed upstairs where we got ready for bed and fell asleep, our legs tangled together.
Two weeks later, end of summer bash at the Casey/Mitchell house, Abbey's POV
I woke up early on saturday, still so many things to get done before everyone got there in the afternoon. I slipped out of bed quietly so I wouldn't wake Matt up. He had picked up an extra shift at the firehouse and I figured I'd let him sleep for a while longer. There was a knock on the door as I finished eating my breakfast, wondering who could be coming here so early in the morning. I opened thye door to find Brett, Shay and Dawson, all three of them smiling.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We thought we'd come give you a hand."
"Thanks." I let them in and we went to work, getting all the food ready, just having fun in the kitchen.
"Looks like you ladies are having some fun." Matt came walking in the kitchen already dressed, a smile on his face.
"Loads." Shay still laughing from the joke she was telling before Matt showed up.
"What can I do babe?" He kissed my cheek and leaned against the island.
"Can you just make sure that everything is working outside? We're almost done here." We were interrupted again by another knock on the door. I wiped my hands down and headed towards the front of the house to greet whoever was on the other side.
"Pete." I smiled, hugging him tightly. "There's my favourite goddaughter." I picked Lily up from Pete's arms and she snuggled into me. "We are going to have so much fun at the party baby girl." I cooed as I took the little girl with me into the kitchen where the girls were.
"Hey princess." Gabby kissed her cheek. "Doesn't auntie Abbey look good holding a baby?" She said playfully to her daughter, making me blush. I knew what she was trying to do.
"Stop it Gabby." I said embarassed.
"I thought you wanted kids." Sylvie said.
"Someday I'd love too. I'm just not sure Matt and I are on the same page about it."
"Did you guys have the talk?" Shay put some wrapper around the bowl she had just finished preparing as she questionned me.
"We haven't talked about it since I told him about the dream. I think I freaked him out." Shay took Lily from me and I sat down on a stool.
"Aww sweetie. Matt loves you and I'm sure he wants it all with you." Brett came and engulfed me in a hug. What they didn't know was that I had taken a pregnancy test a few days ago, finding out I was late. No one knew about it and it scared me to know what reaction Matt would have.
"I don't know. I guess we'll just wait and see." I smiled and got up to do something else. I went outside to see if Matt needed any help, the girls able to finish up in the kitchen. Mills had gone in the yard after putting all of Lily's things in the house but I was surprised to see Kelly there as well.
"Hey Kelly. I didn't hear you come in."
"I thought I'd bring the coolers of ice in the back."
"Thanks, I'll go get some drinks." I turned around and went into the house, Matt following closely behind.
"Hey, are you ok?" He grabbed me by the hand and I gave him my best smile.
"Yeah I'm good. I just want to make sure everything is ready and that no one misses of anything."
"Are you sure?" He looked at me, puzzled, debating if he believed me or not.
"I promise." I smiled again and kissed him. "Help me bring the drinks outside?"
"Sure." He smiled at me and we went and grabbed juices, beers and sodas to put in the coolers. We ordered some pizza for lunch and we all ate in the backyard, envoying each other's compagny before people started coming in. We were all laughing at CFD bbq stories when our first guests arrived. Some large hands covered my eyes.
"Guess who." The voice was different from the last time I had heard it but I recognised it right away.
"Griffin." I got up and turned around, hugging a boy that was now almost as tall as me. "Let me look at you. When did you get so tall?"
"He eats like a pig." Ben smirked, appearing next to his brother.
"Look who's talking, come here." I pulled him into a hug as well, he was too tall now to even attempt taking him in my arms. "You guys look even more handsome than the last time I saw you."
"Don't they?" Heather smiled from behind the boys, Matt's arms wrapped around her shoulder.
We talked a bit while the guys were having fun in the yard before people really started coming in. My mom and Ingrid were next followed be most of 51, Boden coming in last with Donna. We all mingled together before it was time to start the grill. We had burgers and hot-dogs for everyone, Matt and Mills maning the grill while I got the salads and side dishes with both my mom and Ingrid, they were insisting the girls shouldn't be doing anything other than having fun. We all ate and laughed, music playing n the background. When it started being darker, Matt went to turn the lights on so we could continue having fun. Everyone was off the next morning so we could keep this going well into the night. Once we managed to get everything cleared out after dinner, Matt and I were gravitating around each other, finally finding a bit of time to be together.
"Having fun?" He kissed me.
"Absolutely." I kissed him back. "I'm glad we decided to have all our friends and family here with us. I'm happy Heather and the boys could be part of it too." I smiled at him.
"The evening is not over yet. Go have fun with the girls, I have to go talk to Kelly."
"Have fun." I smiled and kissed him before going to join the girls who were dancing to the music in the middle of the yard. I joined them and we continued to have fun together, sometimes dragging Heather too.
"I would like to have your attention please." Matt spoke loudly from the balcony. He came down the stairs and walked in my direction as everyone had their eyes on him.
"Matt, what are you doing?" I questionned, not really sure what was going on.
"Abbey." He started, slowly bending down on one knee, my hand flying to my mouth, my breath catching in my throat. "Before you came into my life, it had lost some of its meaning and yet, when I met you and without even knowing it, you brought the meaning back to it. We've been through more things than most couples do but I want to be able to share the rest of forever with you. Abbey Mitchell, will you marry me?" I could feel hot tears burning my eyes as Matt held my hand in his, waiting for my answer. My lips slowly curled in the form of a smile and I pressed my thumb to both eyes, brushing my tears aside and nodding.
"YES! Yes Matthew Casey I'll marry you." I finally managed to laugh as he slipped the ring on my finger and got up to crush me in a hug, pressing his lips to mine in a sweet but searing kiss under the hoots, hollers and clappings of our guests. When Matt finally managed to let go of me, both Ben and Griffin were the first to come in for a hug and then everyone was there to congratulate us. The party lasted well into the night and it was almost three when the last stragglers were gone.
Matt was in our bedroom while I was getting ready for bed in the master bathroom. I washed my face and teeth before going back to the room and settling into bed, Matt following.
"Did you have fun?" He propped himself on his arm while I was applying some moisturizing cream.
"I don't know." I smirked. "This hot and totally amazing guy proposed to me tonight in front of all of our friends and family and I said yes."
"Is that so? He must be one lucky man."
"I'm the lucky one." I leaned down and gently kissed his lips. My stomach instantly filled with butterflies and my body leaned out of his, the secret I was keeping hanging over my head, my eyes filling with tears.
"Hey baby, what's wrong?" He wiped my tears away with the pad of his thumb, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.
"There's something I've been trying to tell you for the past week but I've been so afraid of what you would say, what you would think."
"When I gave you this ring, it was to have forever with you and no matter what you tell me, nothing is going to change that."
"I'm pregnant." The seconds of silence that followed were the longest I had ever experienced in my life but the smile that graced Matt's features stopped time completely.
"You're pregnant?" It was as if he needed extra confirmation for what I had just told him.
"You're going to be a dad." I laughed, confirming it again before his laugh resonated in my ears like music and he was pulling my body to his for a kiss.
"I love you."
"I love you too." We showed our love for each other well into the morning, our happy forever waiting for us.
a/n: Alright so it has literally taken me FOREVER to write this chapter up. Back to works means little to no time to myself and i'm really trying to balance it all but its taking me longer than I would like. I really hope you guys liked this chapter and how it turned out but stay tuned, the next one is the epiligue to the story AND it's already written so it won't take a lot of time for me to post it. Please take a few minutes to leave a review to tell me what you guys thought of this chapter, I love reading your thoughts. See ya soon. - Sarra