Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for you guys. It's kind of an extra long one today for you all, figured I'd make up a little bit for not having an update on Monday.
Before we get into it, I just wanna say that I hope each and every one of you had an amazing holiday. Whether you celebrate this time of year or not, I hope you all had a nice and relaxing few days.
I don't have much else to say, except to everyone who's still here and still interested in this story, thank you for reading. We have some nice and cute Dawsey-goodness in this one, I hope you enjoy. I'm so excited to hear what you think.
THIRTY EIGHT
Gabby laid wide awake in her bed, her eyes staring straight ahead as her bedroom was blanketed in darkness, the only source of light coming from the street lights peeking through her partially closed curtains. Her chest moved up and down steadily as she took slow breaths, the weight around her chest keeping her grounded as she felt her boyfriend behind her, his warm body pressed against her. They had fallen asleep like this, Matt's bare chest pressed into her tank top covered back, his arm wrapped around her side, his hand resting against her chest, effectively keeping her close. At some point during the night, Gabby had grabbed ahold of his hand, hers clutching onto the back of his own, her fingers laced through his as he cradled her, the position comforting as they slept peacefully.
Well, as he slept peacefully.
Gabby hadn't been able to get much rest, her nerves and excitement keeping her up most of the night as she thought about what was happening here in a few hours. Here soon, she'd be back at work, and she couldn't be happier.
She'd gotten cleared a few days ago to return to the firehouse today, Gabby having gotten the okay from her doctor that it was safe for her to get back on the job, and get back to her life. Admittedly, the over three weeks off of work had been hard, and she couldn't wait to not be stuck at home anymore. The first two hadn't been so bad; with Matt here with her, those two weeks went by relatively quickly. But that last week, that had been the most challenging part of her recovery. She didn't want to over exaggerate, or have anyone's pity, but she had definitely felt a little down these last seven days. To go from having someone she could pass the time with, to being by herself most days, it had been hard, especially when she had limitations. Depressed wasn't a word she felt comfortable using to describe how she'd been feeling, but some days definitely had been hard on her mentally.
And it hadn't helped that she'd barely seen Matt.
This last week since he'd been back on shift had been very busy for him, and they hadn't really been able to see each other as much as she would've liked. Aside from that night he came over after his first shift back, most of their communication had been through text or phone calls, their schedules not lining up to be able to see one another. Despite how his body suffered for him picking up that construction job, he'd ended up taking on another one, the client supposedly desperate and in need of someone to get the job done quickly. So Matt had agreed, even though Gabby didn't think it was the best idea. And she had been busy these last couple of days, as well. Since she was starting to feel better, Gabby had done whatever she could to get herself out of the house, even though it hadn't happened happened as much as she would've liked; whether it be spending time with her parents, and she had picked up her first shift at Molly's in nearly a month the night before last. But even then, she felt like she'd barely seen anyone. And it had been hard on her.
But luckily, she was finally able to get back into her life. After that terrible accident, she was now able to work again, and that gave her back a sense of normalcy that she'd lost. There'd be no more sitting at home while all her friends were on shift, no more wondering what they were doing and if they were alright. She was finally allowed to be there with them, and that had already lifted her spirits considerably.
But there were also a few nerves that went along with that, which is what Gabby assumed had been keeping her up. This would be the first time her and Matt would be working together since they became a couple, and she knew that changed things. Even though no one, aside from Shay or Severide, knew anything, it still was different. Although her and Matt's dynamic hadn't changed too much from what they were used to before they got together, some things with them were different. They were much more affectionate, for starters, the two always wanting to be close to one another, and that was something she knew they wouldn't be able to do once at work. Granted, even if people knew about them, it's not like they'd be all over one another at the firehouse, but still, it was an adjustment. For the last three weeks, they hadn't had to worry about how they acted around one another, they didn't have to second guess if a touch or a kiss was too much, they just did it. Everything with them was natural and it felt right, but she knew they'd have to hold back at work. The small, affectionate touches that had become second nature to them as of late, they wouldn't be able to do that at the firehouse. It was just something they'd need to mindful of, but she wasn't too worried about that. She knew they'd be able to adjust.
But there was something else entirely that did have her a little worried, and that was Bryan, even though she hadn't shared that worry with anyone else.
Gabby was a little nervous to be around him again, though she hated to admit it. Despite Walker not knowing about her relationship with Casey, she feared Shay had been right; that Bryan knew she was with someone. And his attitude towards her had definitely changed because of it. Not only had he kept asking about her since her accident, he'd tried to contact her more than once. He'd been texting her, all of which were ignored and deleted, and he also came to Molly's the night she was working. She wasn't sure if he'd come there because of her, or if it had just been a coincidence, but either way, he'd spent the better part of an hour trying to talk to her. And it had made her uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, he had showed up on a night where Shay wasn't working, which had left her a little stranded. She was polite, she told him she was doing fine and that she'd be back to work soon, but other than that, Gabby did what she could to try and make it clear she wasn't interested in talking to him. That the last thing she wanted to do was stand there and speak with him. But he either didn't grasp that fact, or he ignored it, Bryan doing all he could to keep the conversation going. He was trying to insert himself into her life again, just as Shay had said he would, but Gabby wasn't giving him any way in.
Eventually Herrmann stepped in, the man not having seen the start of their interaction. But once he realized what was going on, he soon called Dawson to come help him further down the bar, even though he didn't really need it.
The rest of that night, Herrmann had intervened every time Walker tried to talk to her, which was something Gabby was grateful for, even though she hated that it had come to this. Although the house was never told the reasoning, Herrmann had come to understand that Walker was supposed to be leaving her alone, even though he clearly wasn't abiding by that outside of work. So the older man had kept an eye on her all night, doing what he could to keep her busy and away from Walker.
She never told Matt about Bryan trying to talk to her, Gabby not really seeing it as anything worth sharing. Despite his attempts, Gabby had barely said ten words to Walker, and there just wasn't much to tell. So she never mentioned it. But now that they'd all be working together again, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, because now her and Bryan would be stuck together for twenty four hours, and she knew he'd continue trying to talk to her. It wasn't something she was especially looking forward to, but at least at the firehouse she knew there'd always be a distraction. And even though she knew her and Matt couldn't act the same as they had been these last three weeks, it wasn't like they couldn't still be around one another.
They were friends, everyone in the house knew that. Even though there had been some tension between them before the warehouse fire, which Gabby was sure people had picked up on, there was nothing wrong with them continuing to act like the same friends they had always been.
They'd just have to be careful, and make sure they didn't give anyone any reason to suspect their relationship was more than just friends.
Especially Bryan.
Even though Gabby was sure he didn't know that she was seeing Matt, she knew her and Casey's friendship had been the source of some of Bryan's anger in the past. He had mentioned her and Casey on more than one occasion, it being an obvious source of jealousy for him, even though she didn't really understand why. She still didn't know why he cared about who all was in her life, but she didn't want to give him any reason to think he'd been right about her and Matt all along. Not until she was ready to tell him.
Gabby just didn't know when that would be.
She wanted to tell people, she wanted to march into that firehouse and tell everyone about their relationship. The idea of hiding how she felt about Matt, of hiding him, it felt wrong. Part of her felt like they were lying to everyone, and she didn't like it. Before when they were just sleeping together, there was no reason for her to feel this way; they weren't a couple, there was nothing to tell. But now, they were a couple. An actual, serious couple, and she didn't want to hide that.
But she had no idea what to tell Bryan. And she knew exactly how he'd react. He would be furious, and she wasn't sure what that anger would lead to. When he so much as briefly thought her and Matt were together, she hadn't seen him that angry in a long time, but if he were to find out they were actually dating… she couldn't imagine the kind reaction he'd have. Regardless of how nice and considerate he was trying to be to her right now, she knew it was an act. It was the same act that gotten her to fall for him in the first place, and he was trying to get it to work again. But she knew once Bryan found exactly who she was seeing, that would all fade away, and there'd be nothing left but anger. And with Gabby having seen his moments of intense rage in the past, she wasn't sure how he'd handle finding out about her relationship with Matt.
And that's what kept stopping her. She was scared of him knowing, of what he'd do once he knew that her and Matt were together. Because she knew it wouldn't be pretty.
But she also knew she couldn't live like that. She couldn't hide her relationship because of one man, because of a man who means nothing to her anymore. It wasn't fair to Matt, and it definitely wasn't fair to herself. Regardless of Bryan's reaction, she couldn't let it affect her. She would tell him, and then be done with him. She just had to find the courage to talk to him first.
But she wouldn't do it today, not with it being her first day back in over three weeks. She wanted today to be nice and simple, she needed it to be. Once she was back, once she found her footing again, she'd work on figuring out how to tell him. But today, all she wanted was some normalcy. She wanted to get back to work without any issues, that's what she needed.
"You wanna think a little louder there, babe?"
A small smile tugged at her lips when she heard Matt's tired voice behind her, quickly followed by him tightening his grip around her body, Matt's hand pressing against her upper chest as he gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Good morning." She murmured, her smile growing when she felt him place a kiss to her neck, Matt pulling her closer to him. "I didn't know you were awake."
"I haven't been for very long, although it seems like you have…" He replied softly, Gabby gripping his hand. "Everything okay?" He asked after clearing his throat, Matt trying to get rid of the exhaustion present in his voice.
"I'm fine… Just too wired to sleep, I guess." She answered, keeping her words soft, not wanting to disturb the peaceful quiet surrounding them.
"Ah yes, the big day." He replied, Gabby knowing there was a wide grin on his face even though she couldn't see him, the paramedic able to hear it in his voice. "You excited?"
"Mhmm… A little nervous, too." The second those words left her lips, Matt gave her body another squeeze, his silent reassurance bringing a smile to her face. "But I'm good, I'm ready to be back."
"I know you are. You're gonna kick ass today." He spoke encouragingly, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "And everyone is so excited to have you back, I swear Shay was bouncing off the walls last shift knowing you'd be back today. It's gonna be a great day."
"Yeah, I think you're right." She murmured, Matt giving her body another squeeze, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Of course I am." He replied without missing a beat, Gabby grinning as he rubbed his hand against her upper chest, her warm palm comforting as he held onto her.
"And, uh, I want to thank you… for coming and staying the night with me." She added, his eyebrows furrowing as he felt her grip on the back of his hand tighten, Matt not sure why this was something he was being thanked for. "I know you worked late last night, but I'm glad you came over."
"I was happy to, I wanted to see you." Matt responded softly, giving her shoulder another kiss before he pulled away from her, using his leverage around her waist to turn her body to face him, Casey wanting to get a good look at her.
Matt knew Gabby had been holding onto some nervous energy about going back to work, the firefighter noticing it start to appear after she'd gotten the all clear. And while he knew most of it was because she had just been away for so long and she was anxious to get back, he had an inkling that part of it was because of them, and how their relationship had changed since the last time they were at the firehouse together. So even though they hadn't planned on seeing one another last night, with Casey having another late night on a construction job, he decided to come by and spend the night with her, hoping his presence would help distract her from the nerves she was feeling. He knew his presence would help keep her calm, and keep her from getting herself worked up, because she had the same effect on him.
And, aside from all of that, he just missed her.
With Gabby not working, and him working maybe too much, their schedules had conflicted more often than not this last week, and it had been kind of challenging to spend any real time together, so even though it was later than he would've liked when he showed up last night, he was glad to get to spend some quality time with her, even if they had been asleep for most of it. And he knew Gabby felt the same way, too.
It was hard for him to see much in the dark, but with her now facing him, he could see the exhaustion in her eyes, Gabby's features giving her away instantly as to how tired she was, Matt realizing she must've been awake for awhile.
"You wanna try and sleep some more?" He asked softly, rubbing his hand along her hip under the covers. "We have time."
"Yeah, it couldn't hurt." She murmured, slowly reaching out for him, wrapping her arm around his waist, effectively pulling her body closer to his, the two ending up in the middle of the bed as her head found its home against his chest. Matt shifted to lay on his back, pulling her with him as his arms wrapped around her body, Gabby partially on top of him as she hitched her leg up over his waist, a soft smile gracing his lips at her movement, Matt knowing she was always the most comfortable in this position. He'd asked her about it a few times, Matt sometimes teasing her because of it when she'd get flustered and wouldn't give him a straight answer. He still wasn't even exactly sure why she liked laying on him like this, but it wasn't anything he'd ever complain about, even though he did find it somewhat amusing how she'd attach herself to him like a koala.
"Try and get some rest." He whispered, Gabby nodding as she listened to the sound of his steady heartbeat underneath her ear, Matt running his hand up and down her back methodically, slowly lulling her back to sleep.
It didn't take very long for Gabby to succumb to her exhaustion, Matt forcing himself to stay awake until he was sure she'd fallen asleep. He knew today was going to be a long day for both of them, as days on shift always were, and she needed all the rest she could get. He was already a little worried about her returning to work, he didn't need her lack of sleep being another issue that would feed into that. After everything they went through on that call that had left them both so badly injured, and with everything he witnessed her go through since then, he wasn't surprised to feel a little lingering worry for his girlfriend. Her body had taken a severe beating, and even though she now had a clean bill of health, his concern for her wouldn't just disappear. He knew it would probably take a few shifts before he really stopped worrying, although there was a nagging thought in the back of his mind that told him he'd never completely stop worrying about her.
When he was sure she'd fallen asleep, Matt let himself drift off, his movements across her back gradually slowing, the firefighter only lasting a few more moments before he joined his girlfriend in her current state of unconsciousness, both of them completely content in one another's arms as they slept.
"Aye, there she is!" Herrmann cheered the second Dawson walked into the briefing room, Shay following behind her as Gabby ducked her head in embarrassment, loud claps and yells being heard throughout the room.
"Welcome back, Dawson!"
"It's good to have you back!"
From his spot perched against the back wall, Matt grinned widely as he watched everyone give Gabby a warm greeting, his girlfriend being passed around from person to person as they welcomed her back. Casey patiently waited for his turn to greet her, the Lieutenant in no rush as he'd spent the entire morning with her up until about half an hour ago.
After they'd fallen back asleep earlier in the morning, the couple managed to get about another two hours of sleep before their alarm went off, telling them they had to get up and get ready for the day, which Gabby was a little reluctant to do, Matt smirking at the memory of how grumpy she was when he practically had to drag her out of bed. Ultimately, Matt's offer of her joining him in the shower had done the trick to get her moving. It took a few extra moments, Casey having already gotten in and began showering when she joined him about ten minutes later, Matt spending some extra time with her in there, helping her relax before her big day.
It had been a nice, easy morning for the both of them, Matt glad to see her as happy as she was right now. He knew she missed being here, being able to work and be here with all her friends, so to see her finally back after these mentally and physically exhausting three weeks since their accident made his heart swell in his chest.
This felt like this was the next step for not only her, but for them. This was the first time they were working together since becoming a couple, and even though no one really knew yet, it still felt like they were beginning that next step into their lives together. He couldn't really explain it, but considering the state of their relationship, or lack of one, the last time they were both in this building together, to know how far they've come in just a short amount of time made his chest fill with warmth.
It was like everything was finally back to normal, or what was now their new normal, with Gabby finally being back to work. And he couldn't wait to discover more of what their new normal looked liked.
"We definitely missed you around here." Cruz spoke as Dawson pulled out of Otis' embrace, Gabby flashing them all a smile before she moved back towards Shay's side, her arms crossing over her chest.
"I missed you guys, too. It's good to be back." She replied, her gaze moving around the room until she found Matt, the soft smile on her face widening when they locked eyes, Casey giving her a quick wink.
"And you're all healed up? You sure you're ready to be back?" Herrmann questioned, his words bringing Gabby's attention back to the group, the PIC raising her eyebrows. "Don't give me that look, kid. We asked Casey the same thing." He added with a chuckle, Gabby shaking her head in amusement before glancing back towards Matt, the firefighter shrugging his shoulders.
"They did, Dawson." He replied with a grin, Gabby running her tongue along the inside of her lip before looking back towards Herrmann.
"Well, to answer your question, yes Herrmann, I'm good to go." She responded with a bright grin, the older firefighter nodding with a similar smile.
"That's great to hear, it hasn't been the same without you." He replied.
"It definitely hasn't." Walker interjected, Gabby's eyebrows raising slightly as he walked towards her with a soft smile. Shay's eyes narrowed at the man approaching her partner, the blonde looking behind him to see both Matt and Severide watching the scene closely.
Before Gabby could even register what was happening, Bryan pulled her in for a hug, her body tensing immediately as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Welcome back, Dawson." He greeted, but Gabby didn't reciprocate his gesture, the paramedic seemingly frozen as Walker hugged her.
The entire room was silent, everyone knowing there had been a weird tension between the ex-fiancés as of late, especially since Walker had been suspended for reasons they still didn't know. But he soon pulled away, Gabby taking a quick step back, nearly running into Shay as she forced a weak smile onto her face, not wanting to make things weirder than he already had.
"Uh, yeah. It's good to be back." She replied quietly, her eyes darting back to Matt, seeing a worried look shining in his eyes. Gabby was expecting him to look angry, for him to be mad at Walker coming near her, but he didn't; he just looked concerned. Concerned about her.
"Alright come on, there's more people to greet. I think Severide wants a hug." Shay spoke lightly, trying to diffuse some of the thick tension in the room, gently grabbing ahold of Gabby's arms and leading her towards the Lieutenant's, Shay shooting Walker an intense glare as they passed him.
"There she is!" Severide spoke with a grin, doing what he could to lighten the mood as Gabby walked towards him, Dawson's body relaxing as Kelly brought her in for a tight hug. "Thank God you're finally back, I was getting sick of your bitching." He added, Gabby rolling her eyes playfully as chuckles were heard around the room.
"A pleasure, as always, Sev." She responded sarcastically, Kelly giving her one last squeeze before they separated, Gabby swallowing the lump in her throat before she turned to Matt.
She didn't want to make this weird, or raise anyone's suspicions, but seeing as how she'd just gotten passed around from person to person, there was no reason anyone would think anything of her hugging Matt. In fact, it would probably be weirder if they didn't, considering how everyone knew they'd become good friends, even if there had been some tension between them before the warehouse accident.
But for all the overthinking Gabby was doing because of a simple gesture, Matt clearly didn't have the same reservations as he pulled her into a tight hug without any hesitation, wrapping his arms around her back as his chin rested on her shoulder. She nearly melted into the contact, Gabby doing all she could to keep herself from nuzzling into him as she'd done many times over the last few weeks, like she'd done many times in the months even before they officially got together. His embrace was warm, and comforting, providing her with that familiar sense of safety he'd given her a lot recently, Matt squeezing his fingers against her back.
"It's good to see you back, Dawson." He spoke, Gabby smiling as she tightened her grip.
"It's good to be back." She responded, breathing in his scent before she slowly started to pull away.
"You okay?" He whispered just as his lips crossed paths with her ear, Gabby knowing exactly what he was referring to.
Her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth, Gabby taking a step back as she nodded slightly, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm fine." She murmured, the two locking eyes momentarily before he gave her a slight nod.
"Good." He replied, pursing his lips together before looking past her back towards the rest of the room, seeing most of the other firefighters had gone back to their own conversations, all except one.
Walker's eyes were practically boring into the back of Gabby's skull, his intense gaze moving from Dawson to Casey, the Lieutenant staring back just as harshly. While he hadn't been paying attention at the time, Casey was sure Walker had been watching them since Gabby came over to him, and Matt couldn't help but notice how tense his firefighter seemed, how his face was hard with a look of something that could pass as anger.
But as quickly as Casey noticed his stares, Walker looked away, the firefighter sitting down at a table across the room, Matt noticing how he collapsed down into his chair, his fists clenched tightly as they rested on top of the table. Clearly, Walker wasn't too happy seeing him and Gabby greet one another.
Casey knew Walker had always had an issue with his and Gabby's friendship. Between what the firefighter had bluntly said to him about it, and what he knew had been said to Gabby, Casey was aware that Bryan didn't particularly like that him and Gabby were close.
Which is why Matt had no issues with Gabby some needing time before they told the house of their relationship.
With as angry as Bryan had been at even the thought of them being more than just friends, when the firefighter found out they were actually together, Matt knew Walker would most likely cause some problems. And while he personally didn't care about Walker's reaction, he knew Gabby would be the one to deal with whatever fallout came from it. And he didn't want her worrying about that, not when she was just getting back to work.
So he was more than okay taking things at her pace, even though all he wanted to do right now was properly welcome her back to work, which included more than just a quick hug.
"Good morning everyone."
Boden's voice broke through the chatter as he walked into the room, Gabby turning around to face him as she stood in front of Matt, Shay to her right as they all stood and waited for the morning announcements.
A chorus of responses filled the room, Chief's eyes moving around until he landed on Gabby, Boden smiling widely before he continued speaking.
"Now, I've got a few things to share with you all, but first, it's nice to see that our firehouse family is finally back together again." Boden spoke, more cheers and claps being heard in the small space, Gabby smiling widely. "It's nice to see you back and ready to go, Dawson."
"It's good to be here." She responded, her cheeks filling with warmth when she felt Matt's hand rest on her lower back. From her positioning, and how Shay was blocking them, she was sure no one could see what he was doing, except for Severide, but that didn't stop the soft smile from forming over her face, Gabby relaxing into the warmth his palm gave her resting along her back.
Before Boden could continue on with their meeting, the bells rung out around the firehouse, instructing ambulance 61 to call a few blocks away, Gabby feeling Matt rub across her back comfortingly before he dropped his hand, Boden nodding towards his paramedics.
"Go get em, Dawson." Herrmann encouraged, Gabby chuckling as Shay narrowed her eyes, both paramedics moving towards the exit. "Oh, you too, Shay."
"Mhmm." The blonde replied, Casey smiling as he kept his eyes on Gabby.
"Dawson, when you get back, come see me in my office." Boden told her, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing slightly before she nodded, knowing she didn't have time to dwell on what he was wanting to talk to her about.
"Got it, Chief." She responded before disappearing through the door, Shay following close behind her.
"Well, I sure hope you're ready to be back, Dawson." Shay spoke, smacking her ass as they walked through the double doors, Gabby shooting her a playful glare as they continued towards the rig. "What? I knew now was my chance since Casey's not here to claim his territory… I mean, we all know he would've grabbed a fist full of Dawson when he hugged you earlier if he could've." She replied, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I'm barely back to work and you're already starting." She responded with a light scoff, Shay shrugging as they went to their sides of the rig, Shay climbing in while Gabby got around to her door.
"Oh, don't act so surprised. I mean, I was looking forward to teasing you guys publicly, but since you're not telling anyone," She spoke pointedly, Gabby rolling her eyes, "the best I can do is harass you both in private… Although I think it'll be fun for awhile, at least. I mean, this last week with Casey here has been pretty amusing."
"Yeah, I heard all of you almost let it slip a few times." Gabby replied as Shay pulled out into the driveway, the blonde smacking her lips together as she slowed down to pull out into the street, watching for oncoming traffic.
"Well, can you blame us? I mean, Sev and I have gotten pretty used to just thinking of you two as a couple, and Matt has especially, so when the three of us are just talking, we sometimes forget." She responded simply, Gabby running her tongue along the inside of her cheek as she watched the road.
"We're gonna tell people, Shay." She responded quietly, the blonde giving her a nod. "We are, and I want to… I just want to get back in the swing of things first."
"I get it, and honestly it doesn't really matter what I think. As long as Casey's okay with it, then you two do what you need to do… All I'm saying is I want some warning before you all decide to tell everyone." She spoke with a smile, Gabby shaking her head in amusement as she glanced towards her friend.
"Deal." Dawson replied, Shay giving her a nod before they both began to prepare themselves for the task ahead, knowing they weren't very far from their call.
Dawson followed Shay into the firehouse, her hands shoved into her jacket pockets as she saw most of 51 sitting in the common room, all of them keeping themselves busy.
"Hey, how was the first call back?" Severide asked when he caught a glimpse of the paramedics, Gabby and Shay both responding with a slight shrug.
"It was fine, nothing too crazy." Dawson replied, her eyes bouncing around the room, looking for one person in particular, but he was nowhere in sight. Blowing out a sigh, she nudged Shay's arm gently, the blonde glancing to her. "I'm gonna go see what Boden wants to talk about." She told her, Shay giving her a nod.
"Alright, well let's hope you didn't somehow manage to get fired before you even started working again." She joked, her words earning an eye roll from Dawson.
"Hilarious." She replied dryly, the blonde chuckling as they went separate ways; Shay continuing into the common room while Gabby began moving through the hallways of 51, heading for Boden's office.
When she got there, she found the door already shut, Dawson's steps slowing when she saw he was currently busy speaking to someone. And after a few seconds it was clear as to who it was, Gabby recognizing the man across from Boden to be Walker.
Not wanting to interrupt, she stayed back a few feet from the door, waiting patiently until they were done. She wasn't sure what was being discussed, but when Walker ripped the door open a few minutes later, he looked angry, the firefighter brushing past her without a word.
"You can come in, Dawson." Boden called, Gabby running her teeth along her bottom lip as she stepped into the doorway, Chief waving her in. "Shut the door."
"Is everything alright, Chief?" She asked as she followed his directions, her head turning back to look out into the bullpen where Walker had just stomped off seconds earlier, Boden soon realizing what she was referring to.
"Everything's fine Dawson. Have a seat." He replied, Gabby nodding before coming to sit across from him. "I just wanted to check in with you, see how you're feeling about being back." He spoke, Gabby's body relaxing into the seat as a soft smile appeared over her face.
"Oh. Well, I'm feeling great, I'm all healed up and everything. I'm excited to be back." She responded, clasping her hands together in her lap.
"Yes, I saw where you had a clean bill of health. I'm happy to see that. I know your recovery couldn't have been easy." He replied with a sympathetic look, Gabby nodding slowly.
"It wasn't, but I had a lot of people looking out for me…" She spoke, seeing a look flash in Boden's eyes that she couldn't quite read. "But I'm just glad to be done with it. I'm good to go."
"That's great to hear, Dawson. Truly, I'm so glad you're doing better. What you and Casey went through, that was a rough one." He spoke, his eyes flashing back behind her, Gabby seeing him wave his hand, clearly signaling someone else in. Turning around, she saw Matt open the door, seeing the questioning look on his face as he looked between both Gabby and Boden.
"You wanted to see me Chief?" He asked apprehensively, clearly unsure of what he was walking in on.
"Yes, I do, come in Lieutenant. Close the door." He gave Casey similar orders, Matt nodding as he stepped inside, placing the door back against its frame before walking over and taking a seat next to Gabby. He flashed her a small smile, Gabby returning the gesture before they both looked to Boden, neither of them sure of what was going on.
"Is, uh, something wrong, Chief?" Casey asked after a few seconds, Boden shaking his head as he leaned back in his seat, looking back and forth between the two of them.
"No, nothing's wrong… But I do hear that congratulations are in order." He spoke with a knowing look, Gabby's eyebrows raising slightly as she felt Matt tense by her side.
Everyone in the room knew what he was talking about, Gabby feeling a lump form in her throat as she glanced to Matt, seeing him equally unsure.
"Chief, I-..."
"I know you two are together, you don't need to pretend you're not." He replied with a soft smile, Gabby wetting her lips as she gave her boyfriend a pointed stare.
"Hey, it wasn't me!" Matt defended, Boden chuckling as he tapped his fingers against his desk.
"It wasn't anyone… Well, it was a little bit Severide."
"Of course." Matt muttered, rubbing his hands along the top of his thighs.
"In his defense, it wasn't so much that he told me, but I did ask and his face kind of gave it away." Boden clarified, Matt sighing before he looked towards Gabby for a split second, seeing her a little tense.
"Does everyone know?" Casey asked, Boden shaking his head.
"No. At least not from me, they don't." Chief answered.
"Bryan-..." Gabby spoke up quietly, both Boden and Casey glancing towards her. "Does he know? He seemed angry, when he left your office."
"I didn't say anything." Boden assured her, Dawson giving him a nod. "But you did come up while he was in here…" He told her, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing, Matt glancing back and forth between Gabby and Boden.
"Why?" She asked, clearing her throat after she spoke, Boden clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, both Casey and Dawson eagerly waiting for his response.
"You weren't why he was brought in, but during our talk I found it necessary to remind him he was to leave you alone." Boden responded vaguely, Gabby running her tongue along her bottom lip. Whatever the reason for Boden wanting to speak to Walker, it was clear he wasn't about to disclose that to them. "I made sure he remembered that hasn't changed, especially now considering you two." He added, Matt sighing softly, reaching out and placing his hand over Gabby's knee, figuring that since Boden knew, there was no reason for him to shy away from comforting her. "I'm not sure how you're wanting to tell everyone, or when, but that's none of my business. That's obviously up to you two, I know this is a… delicate situation." He finished, Casey nodding slowly as Gabby looked down to her lap.
"Thank you Chief." Matt spoke, squeezing her knee gently. "We haven't really figured out exactly when we're gonna tell everyone… We're still kind of finding our footing with everything."
"That's fine. Like I said, how or when you tell people doesn't concern me… But what does is that I don't need to worry about your new relationship affecting your work here." He spoke firmly, Gabby and Matt both looking at him. "Although, I have known for awhile that there was something going on between you two, and it hasn't been an issue so far. But I trust you two can remain professional on calls."
"Of course, Chief." Casey responded, Gabby nodding in agreement, despite the slight look of confusion on her face.
"What do you mean for awhile?" Dawson asked softly, Boden glancing towards her. "How long have you known?"
"For a few months." He responded, both Dawson and Casey's eyes widening at his simple answer. Even though they weren't actually together all that time, clearly they acted like it if Boden suspected they were a couple.
"How?" Matt asked, being the first one out of the two to find his voice.
"Neither of you are exactly subtle." Boden responded with a slight grin, Matt smiling sheepishly as Gabby gnawed on her bottom lip. "I mean, I'll give you credit, for awhile I just thought you two had become good friends, but I quickly realized there was more going on there… I had a feeling for awhile, but then after the warehouse accident, I knew for sure." He continued, Matt's eyes narrowing slightly as he thought back to that day, trying to remember what might've caused Boden to know for sure, but most of his memories from that day are hazy, at best. Aside from remembering Gabby's screams of pain, and remembering the hopelessness he felt when they were trapped, most of the little things come and go.
Seeing the confused looks on their faces, Boden cleared his throat, preparing to speak up again. "I'm not sure how much you remember of being stuck down there." He prompted, Gabby giving a slight shrug, telling him to continue. "Casey's radio was live while we were trying to get you two out, and the way he was talking to you…" He spoke, Gabby's gaze moving towards Matt. "I just knew there was something more there than you two being friends. And then I asked Severide about it a few shifts later."
The couple nodded, slowly digesting what was being said to them, Boden flashing them both supportive smiles, trying to get a read on what they were thinking. From what he could tell, Casey didn't seem to care so much. But Gabby had been awful quiet, and he wasn't sure to make of that.
"I am happy for you two, I want you to know that." Boden spoke up again when nothing had been said for a few moments, Gabby and Matt both looking up at him. "I noticed a change in you two awhile ago, which at the time I didn't realize the cause, but you two seem happy together." He continued, Gabby's eyes moving towards Matt, flashing him a soft smile. "I know neither of you have had an easy go of it lately, so as long as you two are happy, that's all that matters."
"We are." Matt responded almost instantly, Gabby's heart clenching in her chest when she saw the bright smile form over his face, Dawson nodding in agreement. "And we promise, this won't interfere with work or anything."
"I know. I really only brought it up because I have to, but we haven't had any issues so far, so I don't foresee there being any in the future. Obviously, I know the nature of this job. We have some close calls out there, you both know that very well. There are moments when you won't be able to remain professional one hundred percent of the time… I understand that. But you two know where the line is. As long as out there, the job is your focus, everything will be fine."
"Understood, Chief." Gabby responded, Matt nodding as well.
"Alright, well that's all I wanted you two for, you can go." He prompted, earning nods from the couple before they stood up, Matt waiting for her to start walking before he followed behind her. "Congratulations, again."
Gabby stopped as Matt pulled the door open, Boden seeing a genuine smile form over her face, one he, admittedly, hadn't seen much of when she was with Walker.
"Thank you, Chief." She murmured, Boden giving her a nod before she walked out, Matt following after her.
The couple walked in relative silence as they made their way down the hallway, keeping a safe distance from one another as the common room came into view. From where they stood beside it, no one had really noticed them, the hallway otherwise deserted.
"So… that wasn't what I was expecting." He spoke with a soft chuckle, Gabby shaking her head as they continued walking, the paramedic leading them towards the side exit, wanting to make sure they had complete privacy before they went into any more detail.
"Yeah, definitely not." She breathed out, Gabby stepping out through the door, holding it open until Casey followed behind her, the two shut off from the inside of the firehouse as she leaned her body against the side of the building, feeling the firm brick press into her back.
"Are you okay with him knowing?" Matt asked, taking a step towards her, reaching his hand out to rest over her arm. "You were a little quiet in there… I mean, obviously there's no changing it now, but are you alright? I know you didn't want people to find out-"
"I just didn't want one person knowing." She reminded him, Matt giving her a slight nod. "I'm good, I was just a little caught off guard, that's all." Gabby told him, Matt giving her an understanding nod. "Boden knowing… it felt good not having to feel like we were hiding from him. I do wish we could tell everyone else, and maybe it would be fine, but I-" She cut herself off, Matt rubbing her arm comfortingly. "The thought of having to tell Bryan... that makes me really anxious and I'm not sure I'm ready for him to know yet. But the second I am, I'll tell him."
"I told you, however long you need is fine. I don't want you stressing out over this, not because of me." He told her, Gabby nodding slowly.
"I know, I just… I don't want you to feel like I'm stringing you along or something." She spoke, dropping her gaze to his chest, missing the look of confusion that flashed in his eyes. "This… You and me, it's really important to me, and I don't want you thinking it's not."
"I know it is." He replied instantly, not liking how she was refusing to look him in the eye. He couldn't help but feel like she was almost nervous to be having this conversation with him, and he wasn't sure why. But it left an uneasy feeling in his stomach. "Gabby… look at me." He prompted gently, but she still wouldn't look up, Matt sighing softly. "Baby." He tried again, Gabby slowly lifting her head, finding a warm smile waiting for her. "I know you wanting to wait, I know that it's not about me, or about us. I understand, okay? You don't need to keep explaining yourself… We talked about this, I told you I was fine, and I meant it." He assured her, stroking his thumb over her arm, Gabby blinking quickly a few times before nodding.
"I know you did, I'm sorry… I'm just- I'm not used to this." She responded quietly, Matt's head tilting to the side slightly.
"Used to what?"
"Used to… God, this is gonna sound pathetic." She groaned, bringing her hand up to run across the side of her face, Matt's confusion only growing.
"It's not pathetic, what is it, Gabby?" He asked, taking another step closer to her, seeing her take a deep breath before she responded.
"I'm just not… I'm not used to a relationship like this." She started, refocusing her attention on his chest, Gabby messing with the buttons at the top of his shirt to distract herself, Matt not questioning it this time. It was a habit he had come to realize she did when she was nervous or anxious, and considering the topic they were tiptoeing around, he assumed it to be a little of both. He knew talking about emotional stuff was sometimes harder for her, especially where Walker was concerned, and he could only assume that's what this was about. "I'm not used to someone just trusting what I tell them… Of not having to constantly repeat myself over and over, hoping they believe me… I guess I just got into the habit of that, I'm sorry."
Matt shook his head, his stomach settling like a rock in his gut as he rubbed over her arms. "Don't apologize." He replied quickly, Gabby looking back up at him.
Admittedly, when he really took a moment to think about it, Matt didn't know much about Gabby's relationship with Walker. He knew bits and pieces, he knew she'd been cheated on, but he didn't really know a lot about what else had actually gone on between them. Casey had his suspicions, he had some idea of what Walker might've done, but from what he'd actually heard from Gabby herself, he didn't know all that much.
And every time him and Gabby ever got close to discussing Walker, Matt was realizing more and more just how much he didn't know about what Gabby had gone through in that relationship. He just knew it wasn't good, and that it had left her with more emotional scars than he would probably ever fully understand.
"You don't need to apologize." He repeated, darting his tongue out to wet his lips before he continued. "If us talking things through more than once sometimes is what you need, that's fine. You don't need to feel weird about that, Gabby. If you ever need to talk about anything, whether we've had the conversation ten times already or not, you can come to me. I don't want you feeling like you can't." He told her, even though he knew his words could only do so much right now. This wasn't something she'd just be able to get past with one promise from him, this was something that had been ingrained in her. It was a habit, her constantly having to check and make sure she hadn't done something to upset him; it was a habit that was a direct result of the way Walker had treated her, one that made his heart sink to his stomach. And it was a habit he couldn't wait for them to break.
But he knew it would take time. All of it would. The last relationship she had been in completely broke her. Walker had broken her, and Matt knew she was bound to have some lingering scars from that. But he wasn't going anywhere, and he would constantly make sure Gabby remembered that, too.
"This is all new to us, you and me…" He continued, Gabby nodding slowly. "And I know we both were in some pretty awful relationships before this, and all of that isn't easy to forget and move past. But I want you to know that I'm in this. Completely." His voice was soft, yet firm, Gabby biting back a smile as she moved her hands to his waist, wrapping her arms around him, effectively pulling him closer. "We're both just kind of figuring this out as we go, I know that, but I'm right here... I'm not going anywhere. You and I are equals in this relationship, Gabby. So whatever's going on with you, I don't want you ever thinking you can't talk to me about it."
He knew he had just made this promise to her before, when they had discussed all this the first time, but he couldn't help but feel like she needed to hear it again. And based on the way her body relaxed against his as his words sunk in, he knew he'd been right.
"Thank you." She murmured, Matt nodding before she leaned forward, kissing him softly. Their movements were gentle, and slow, the two cherishing this quiet moment together before Gabby pulled back, her smile widening when she saw the goofy grin on his face.
"You don't need to thank me for anything… But if your thank yous are always like that, I will gladly accept them." He spoke with a gleam in his eye, Gabby chuckling softly before kissing him again, her movements having a little more force behind them this time before she pulled back, the two catching their breath for a moment. Locking eyes with her, Matt slid his hand up her arm towards her head, cradling his hand over her face gently. "Are you good?" He asked softly, needing to know she was okay before they went back inside.
"I'm good." She assured him, Matt nodding before he went in for one more quick kiss, the firefighter feeling her smile against him before he pulled away, Casey putting some distance between them now, knowing if he didn't, he'd never go back inside. "But, uh, while I have you here, I've been meaning to ask… Diego's birthday party is in a few days," She started, Matt's smile widening, "and I know my parents invited you, and I'd love for you to be there, but I don't want you to feel like you have to-"
"I'll be there." He responded simply, Gabby raising her eyebrows.
"Really?"
"Mhmm." He hummed, her head tilting to the side slightly.
"You're sure about this? I mean, it's gonna be a lot of people… Practically all of my family, at least the ones in Chicago anyway… I don't want you to feel like you're being thrown to the wolves." She spoke lightly, Matt shaking his head in amusement.
"I'm sure, I think it'll be fun. I'm excited to go, and meet more of your family." He spoke lightly, Gabby feeling a warmth spread through her chest as those words left his lips. "Plus, your parents already love me." He added with a proud grin, Gabby rolling her eyes. "I'm sure the rest of your family will as well."
"Uh huh, I'm sure." She replied jokingly, Matt laughing just as the bells went off, calling truck to an apartment fire. "You better get to work, Lieutenant." Gabby spoke, her eyebrows raising challenging as Matt grinned.
"Yes ma'am." He responded, leaning in to give her one last kiss before heading for the door, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek as she watched him go, her entire body filled with a sense of contentment that she was coming to realize only Matt could provide.
Matt stood by one of the many tables set up in the backyard, occasionally sipping on the beer in his hands as he watched the young children run around the yard, the firefighter standing off on his own while the other adults huddled together in a bunch of smaller groups.
When he and Gabby had shown up to her parents home over an hour ago, it soon became clear to Matt that the Dawsons were in no way kidding when they said they had a large family. He believed them when they said they had a lot of family, but he hadn't been expecting this many people when it was only their family around Chicago, Matt figuring there had to be at least fifty people here, if not more. Had the thought not made him feel a bit pathetic, and kind of creepy, he might've actually spent some of his time counting, but he soon decided better of it.
Matt knew Gabby hadn't intended to leave him on his own for the majority of the party, but it had taken all of ten minutes of them being out here before she got whisked away by a few of her cousins, Gabby shooting him an apologetic look as she got dragged off. While he did feel a little out of place here with a bunch of people he didn't know, he didn't mind it so much, not when he'd catch a glimpse of Gabby and see how happy and carefree she seemed.
A few of her different family members had come up to chat with him momentarily, intrigued by the man who was obviously out of place, Matt introducing himself as Gabby's boyfriend every time anyone asked who he was here with. And each time he did, he'd see an immediate look of surprise on their face. At first he wasn't sure why, Matt not understanding why Gabby bringing her boyfriend to her nephews birthday party would elicit such a reaction, but after the third or fourth time it happened, he started the realize the reason; because the last time Gabby would've brought someone to one of these family gatherings, it definitely wasn't him. It didn't take him too long to put together that some of her family, at least the more distant ones, probably didn't know of her broken engagement, or they at least didn't realize she was in another relationship.
But whatever thoughts they had about him, they kept to themselves, everyone greeting him warmly, chatting with him for a bit before they'd get pulled off elsewhere. But, even though they were all polite, he could tell he'd been the topic of conversation in some of the groups formed around him, Matt catching glances that lasted a few seconds too long, glances that happened too frequently to just be people casually looking around. He knew he was being talked about, but he assumed it was more out of curiosity than anything else, so he figured it best to just ignore it, Matt fine with standing back out of the way while he waited for Gabby to come back.
"Oh, my sweet Matthew." Matt glanced up when he heard the familiar voice, smiling softly as he saw Camila walking towards him, followed by a few of Gabby's family members he hadn't met yet. When he and Gabby first arrived, her parents were well into entertaining mode, meaning Casey hadn't gotten more than a quick hug from Camila and a handshake from Ramon before they were pulled off in another direction, which he understood, considering the mass of people in their house. "Please don't tell me Gabriela left you here alone." She continued, pursing her lips together as she came to a stop beside him, resting her hand out on his arm.
"She did, but I'm fine." He replied with a smile, Camila shaking her head lightly.
"Are you doing alright? Do you need anything?" She offered, Matt quickly shaking his head.
"No, no I'm fine, Camila. Thank you, though."
Their conversation was cut short when one of the women behind Camila cleared her throat, Matt glancing to her as Gabby's mother turned around, Camila sighing softly before stepping to the side.
"Oh right, right… Matthew, these are two of my sisters, Sara and Andrea." She spoke, Matt shooting them both soft smiles before shaking their hands.
"Matt Casey," He introduced himself, "It's nice to meet you."
"You're Gabriela's new boyfriend, yes?" One of them, Sara, asked, Matt giving her a nod. "And you're a firefighter? Like the other one?" She prodded, Casey's eyebrows raising slightly before he nodded again, seeing Camila narrow her eyes towards her sister.
"Sara…"
"I'm just inquiring about Gabriela's boyfriend is all, Camila." She replied pointedly, flashing her sister a glare of her own before looking back towards Casey, Matt still a little wide-eyed. "Her last choice of a partner seemed to backfire and I want to know she hasn't chosen poorly again. You don't have any plans of dragging her along for years, do you, Matt?"
"Oh, Sara stop it." Camila chastised, rubbing Matt's arm, an action he could only assume was to help him feel a little less uncomfortable, although it didn't really work. "Leave the poor boy alone, we've already had this discussion." She spoke quickly, Matt standing there awkwardly, glancing back and forth between the sisters. "Matt, honey, I'm sorry-"
"You all are fine, I know you're just looking out for Gabby." He replied softly, Camila squeezing his arm as both Sara and Andrea glanced towards him. "And I understand the impulse, believe me I feel the same, even though sometimes it really annoys her." He added lightly, his body relaxing a bit when he saw both sisters laugh.
"I like him." Andrea spoke up for the first time, Matt biting back a smile as he glanced towards Camila, the woman raising her eyebrows.
"I told you, Matthew here is a sweetheart." She replied, moving her hand to rub along his back. He felt a little uncomfortable at being talked about like he wasn't here, but it was preferable to the conversation that happened moments prior, Camila flashing him a grin. "But enough of pestering the boy. Matthew, I just wanted to come check on you, make sure you were doing alright."
"I'm fine, Camila. Thank you, though." He responded, earning a nod from the woman before she pulled him into a quick hug.
"Thank you for coming, I know it means a lot to Gabriela… and us, too." She spoke softly, rubbing his back before she pulled away, Matt nodding slowly.
"I was happy to." He replied, Camila giving him one last grin before she ushered her sisters away, leaving Matt on his own again.
But he wasn't by himself for long as Antonio came up beside him, Matt raising his eyebrows as the older Dawson gave him a nod.
"My father instructed me to come check in on you." He spoke with a grin, Casey chuckling as he shook his head.
"I'm fine, your mother was just here, actually." He replied, Antonio nodding as he took a sip of his drink, glancing around the busy backyard.
"So, first Dawson family get together, how do you like it?" Antonio questioned, Matt scoffing lightly as he looked around.
"It's, uh… It's a little overwhelming, but everyone's been nice. Although I have a feeling I'm being talked about quite a lot." He responded, keeping his voice soft, his words earning a laugh from the detective.
"Oh, you definitely are." He chuckled, Matt shaking his head in amusement. "I guess half my family didn't even know Gabby and Walker split, which is surprising considering no one in this family can ever keep their mouths shut." He spoke, earning a nod from the firefighter. "But everyone in my family, my aunts and uncles especially, they've always been really protective over Gabby. I'm not even sure why, maybe because she's the youngest of us, I don't really know, but they've always been like this when it comes to her.. And you showing up, you were a bit of a surprise."
"I figured… Everyone's been nice, though. Well, to my face at least." He added lightly, Antonio nodding with a slight grin.
"Yeah, the Dawson's aren't the most subtle bunch, if you hadn't noticed." Antonio spoke with a laugh, Casey nodding before looking back to the detective.
"I definitely noticed, but it's fine, I don't mind." He replied, his eyebrows raising when he felt arms wrap around his waist, Matt turning to see Gabby now standing beside him, hugging herself to him. His arm instinctively went around here back, Matt pressing a kiss to the top of her head before continuing his conversation. "Although I definitely think I need to brush up on my Spanish before the next one of these things, that way I can at least know what's being said about me." He responded jokingly, Antonio shaking his head in amusement as Matt felt Gabby squeeze his waist.
"You picked up on that, huh?" She asked, Matt looking back towards his girlfriend, giving her a slight nod.
"My Spanish is a little rusty, but I heard a few things… And plus the stares are kind of obvious." He added with a smile, Gabby blowing out a heavy breath.
"I'm sorry… But you have been making quite the impression." She spoke, Matt raising his eyebrows as a small smile tugged on his lips.
"Oh have I?"
"Mhmm… I've been getting a lot of questions about my new boyfriend. People seem to like you." Gabby replied, Matt clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
"I'm glad… That'll definitely help for the next birthday or family party." He spoke, Gabby lifting her head slightly, her eyebrows raising.
"You want to come to more of these?" She asked, Matt giving her a slight nod.
"If you'll have me." He responded, Gabby's smile growing across her face as she nodded.
"Gabriela!"
Both Matt and Gabby looked up to her name being called, Matt hearing her release a heavy sigh beside him as she dropped her arm from around the front of his waist, keeping her other one around his back as she turned to the woman walking towards them.
"Oh jeez." She muttered under her breath, Matt raising his eyebrows in amusement before rubbing his hand along her side. "Hi Marisa." Gabby greeted her cousin when the woman got closer, stepping away from Matt to hug her briefly before falling back into his side, his hand soon finding its place back on her hip.
"Hi Gabby, it's been awhile." She responded, Gabby nodding as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nice to see you again, although I'll be honest I wasn't expecting you to be the talk of the party when I got here." She added pointedly, her gaze moving to Matt, Casey glancing towards Antonio, seeing the detective standing there with an entertained look on his face.
"Well, I wasn't really either, to be honest… but Marisa, this is my boyfriend Matt. Matt, this is my cousin, Marisa."
"It's nice to meet you." He greeted, reaching out to shake her hand, Marisa flashing him a warm smile.
"You as well… I heard you're a firefighter?" She asked, Matt nodding as he felt Gabby wrap her arm around his back, pulling him closer to her.
"I am, yeah. I work with Gabby at 51." He replied, Marisa's eyes widening slightly.
"Does your ex still work there?" She asked, Gabby giving a tight nod.
"He does." Dawson replied quickly, Marisa smiling as she shook her head.
"Well, that must be kind of awkward, but hopefully this one works out." She responded with a laugh, Gabby narrowing her eyes as Casey and Antonio both stood there uncomfortably, Marisa not dwelling on her own words before she spoke up again. "So Matt, I also heard you do construction?"
"Wow, the Dawson's really need more to talk about." Gabby breathed out quickly, Marisa chuckling before returning her attention to Casey, clearly waiting for an answer.
"Um, yeah I do. It's more of just a side business, something I do in my spare time, but I enjoy it." He replied, Marisa nodding as a slight smirk pulled at her lips, her eyes trailing over Casey, something neither Matt nor Gabby missed.
"Well, that explains the grip… You've got strong hands. Gabby's a lucky girl.." She spoke with a grin, Matt nearly choking on his saliva as Gabby narrowed her eyes at her cousin.
"I don't need to hear this." Antonio spoke up quickly, his face showing the disgust he felt as he turned and walked away, Matt wishing he could follow him.
"Oh, I'm just having fun. You bringing your new boyfriend is the most entertainment there's been at one of these things in awhile, especially considering no one really knew you weren't engaged anymore."
"Well, I'm not. Now you all know." Gabby replied sharply, taking a deep breath before turning to Matt, wincing when she saw how uncomfortable he was. "I'm gonna get a drink, you want one?"
"Yeah, I'll come with you." He responded quickly, knowing Gabby was giving them both an out to this conversation, Matt sparing at quick glance towards her cousin. "It was, uh, nice to meet you." He told her, Marisa nodding with a grin before Gabby all but yanked him away, the two not saying a word as they maneuvered their way through Gabby's family.
"I'm sorry about that." Gabby breathed out once they got inside, Matt shaking his head, flashing her a warm smile.
"It's okay… I mean, yeah, that was a little weird, but overall your family's been great. They're all really nice." He responded, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "And that wasn't even the only awkward conversation I've had today, it's fine, I'm sure they all mean well." Matt added with a chuckle, Gabby shaking her head as a slight smile formed over her lips.
"I'm not sure if they mean well, or they're just nosy… Although you do know that if you agree to come to more of these things, there are definitely many more invasive conversations in your future." She warned him, Matt shrugging softly as he took a step towards her, placing his free hand on her arm, Gabby feeling goosebumps rise along her skin as felt his warm palm.
"That's alright." He responded casually, Gabby tilting her head to the side.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He replied without missing a beat, squeezing her arm gently. "I've liked getting to know your family, even if they do struggle a bit with boundaries." He spoke jokingly.
"Yeah, we don't really know what those are." Gabby responded, her nose scrunching up as she spoke.
"I've noticed." He chuckled, shaking his head. "But no, I really don't mind. It's been nice seeing you with your family. I'm glad you have all these people who care so much about you."
The smile that lit up his girlfriend's face was enough to send shivers down his spine, Matt matching her grin as she wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer to her, Gabby clasping her hands together around his back.
"Thank you, for being here with me." She murmured, Matt nodding before he leaned in, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.
Knowing where they were, Matt pulled away almost as quickly as he started, not wanting to get caught by any of her family, assuming that was bound to bring on another round of conversations he was sure he didn't want to be apart of. But as soon as he pulled away, Gabby tucked her head into his chest, hugging herself to him as they stood in her parents kitchen, wanting to enjoy this quiet moment for the two of them for just a little bit longer.