A/N: I just wanted to say sorry for the delay in this chapter. I hit a writer's roadblock, along with studying for the most important exam of my career: The National Registry for EMTs. So, I hope you enjoy!

February 2014

The past month had been great for Gabby. Being with friends had grounded her when it came to being with Casey, which left her up in the clouds. Her, Kelly, Shay, and a few others from the firehouse would regularly go out - along with Casey. But she enjoyed their company, enjoyed the stories and the fun they all shared.

Behind closed doors, she enjoyed Casey even more, but they weren't out to everyone else. She liked keeping him to herself, not having to share details with anyone. Behind closed doors, they were like every other new couple still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. No arguments, no problems, just all the fun stuff. And she wished that it would last, but she knew it only lasted so long.

Their first big argument was February 10th. After a long shift the day before, they'd spent some time apart and then came back together the next day. They both vented about the runs, about the problems - the usual thing for them. Towards the beginning they'd decided to not keep everything in, to talk through the rough parts of their everyday life to avoid accumulating stress. And then he'd said it, "Why can't we tell anyone?" A harmless question.

"Because once people know, it's not going to be the same," she'd responded, wondering why he'd brought it up in the first place. The decision not to tell anyone was mutual - at least she thought it was. Or maybe they'd run out of time during that grace-period of ignorant bliss.

"How? I want to shout from rooftops that you're my girl. What's so wrong with that?" She looked at him, puzzled. What was wrong with it? Everything was wrong with it. Once they'd told people, she thought things would go south. Boundaries and rules that shouldn't be in place would then be there. There wouldn't be spontaneity because people would expect them to be together all the time, to go to all the same events. She felt like it would ruin what they had.

But she knew he wouldn't understand that. He was the type of guy who would shout it from rooftops. He was a fast pace type of guy, and she wasn't the type of person who rushed into serious things. And this relationship, what they had, she saw as serious. She saw what it could be, and it scared her more than anything. She was trusting someone with everything, and she knew they could overturn everything she had if things went south.

"It's just not the right time," she told him, hoping he wouldn't push it further. He let out a sigh and stood. She looked at him, straight face and serious.

"Let me know when it's the right time," he told her before walking out. She shook her head, thinking he was acting childish. It had been a month of wonderful bliss, but the bliss only lasted for so long.

She'd had Shay over the next day, had told her everything. About her and Casey, about the fears and the wants, about the argument, about her insecurities when it came down to it. Shay'd been quiet the entire time, waiting until Gabby was done to reply.

"One, you two make a great couple, and I called it pretty much as soon as you opened up to me in the diner. Two, you're fears are valid. Relationships are scary, but you have to work through the problems and be completely open when it comes to those fears. Have a complete discussion, not just saying no. Now, it's time to drink." Gabby nodded and chuckled, getting up and grabbing the wine from the cabinet.

The next day she spent thinking about what Shay had said. She knew relationships were tough, that they required work, but it was hard to talk about those feelings. She guarded them with everything she had, not wanting to show signs of weakness. That was another thing Antonio had taught her growing up. Never let someone in, even if they were family. The only person she could ever let it was Antonio. She knew how to let Casey in, and it started with home.

She picked up the phone, texting him to come over and then got ready. It was going to take a lot of explaining to even try to cover the insecurities she had. When he got there, she didn't talk, just led him to the couch and sat next to him.

"I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit," she'd started. "With an alcoholic father and a mother who prostituted herself, divorced. It was pretty much just me and Antonio."

The first time she understood her situation was when she was six, She'd had a thin jacket, gloves with missing fingers, and shoes with holes in the soles. She didn't understand her teacher's concern at school, until she'd talked to Antonio, who was ten at the time.

"It's because we're poor, Gabby. We can't afford good stuff." She didn't realize it was because her father spent his money on alcohol, or that her mother did drugs. When she was seven was the first time her father hit her, and when she was nine her mother died from an overdose. After that, she really understood that all she had was Antonio. When Detroit Child Protective Services caught wind of their situation from another teacher at their school, they'd been moved to a foster family.

When the first foster family didn't work out, they were bounced to another, then another, and the cycle continued until Antonio turned eighteen and moved to Chicago with Gabby. She had her problems, they both did. But authority was something Gabby never listened to, which led to a couple weeks in juvie. Nothing major, just because of behavioral problems and acting out.

So, when she turned eighteen, she'd moved out, gotten a job, and found a real nice guy. Until he treated her like her father did, and she kicked his ass to the curb and spent the next week crying at Antonio's apartment. Twenty-one years old, she'd sworn growing up she'd never drink, but that night she got so hammered that Antonio had to scrape her off the floor. She'd had a minor problem when it came to impulse control and when to stop drinking when she and her friends when out partying. Then, at twenty-four, she'd joined the army, and Casey knew the rest.

"The only other person who knows any of that is Antonio," she finished. "And that's why I have problems letting people in, and that's also why Antonio goes with us to the bars," she'd added a bit more lightheartedly.

"I promise you that you can trust me," he said, holding her hands. "And that I would never do anything to hurt you purposefully." She nodded, actually believing him. "And I won't pressure you into telling anybody about us, I'll make sure you're one-hundred percent ready."

"I kinda told Shay," she said with a smile, knowing it was progress, but also knowing that the entire house would know within a week because she can blab. He smiled back, leaning in and kissing her. She was glad to have this all sorted out and for things to be back on track.