Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all, I really hope you enjoy this one. Thanks for reading!

FIFTY FIVE

"So, how was that rowdy Dawson bunch the other night?"

Matt looked up from his phone when he heard Shay's voice, the Lieutenant placing his spoon back down in his bowl full of cereal as he saw his girlfriend and her partner walking into the full common room, the women having just returned from the call they'd gotten at the very start of shift, everyone turning to look towards the paramedics as Shay spoke to her friend.

"Oh, they were in fine form." Gabby replied with a chuckle, her eyes immediately finding the gaze of her boyfriend as they walked further into the room, Dawson making her way towards him while Shay headed for the coffee pot.

"I'm sure… Anything to add to that, Casey?" Shay questioned as she grabbed a coffee mug, Gabby running her hand along Matt's back while she walked behind him around the table, the PIC stopping to press a soft kiss to the top of his head before she claimed her normal seat beside him.

"Yeah, I'm sure that was fun." Severide chimed in from the smaller table across the room, all the first responders around them focused on their conversation as Gabby slowly reached for Matt's cereal bowl. Seeing her movements out of the corner of his eye, Casey turned towards her just as she was trying to sneak a bite, the firefighter shaking his head in amusement before sliding the bowl the rest of the way towards her, his gesture earning a thankful smile before she started to eat. "Being in a room full of your future family." He teased as Casey shot him a narrow glare, Gabby following suit as well before taking another bite of Matt's breakfast.

"Wait a second-"

"No." Casey cut Herrmann off, the older firefighter watching him with wide eyes, as was everyone else in the room, aside from Shay and Kelly as the best friends were trying to hide their laughter. "Severide's not- no." Matt clarified, Gabby shaking her head as she swallowed the bite of food in her mouth.

"He's being an ass, we're not engaged." Dawson added, her words causing Severide's laughs to get louder, Shay giving the squad Lieutenant a high five before she joined him at the table. "But it was good, everyone loved him." She continued, trying to steer the conversation away from Kelly's words.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah… Matt here was the talk of the party." She spoke, smiling softly at her boyfriend as they locked eyes, both of them knowing her worlds held some truth.

While Gabby's situation with Bryan had more accurately been the talk of the entire night, it wasn't a stretch to say Casey had been as well. The evening had started out a little rough, Matt having to steer Gabby away from prying questions from different members of her family more than once. But aside from all that, the night had ended up going rather well. Once it was clear Gabby wouldn't be talking about what happened, her family members got the hint, and their focus shifted more so to him than Gabby's previous fiancé.

And everyone had fallen in love with him.

There was some hesitation at first, especially with how Matt was so obviously protective over Gabby, and stopped any and all conversation about Bryan. And no one really knew what to think of him, her family not having the most assurance with Gabby's taste in men after how terribly her last relationship had ended, but once they began to get to know him, they absolutely loved him. Anyone that hadn't met him at Diego's birthday party were eager to get to know him, and those who had were happy to get to know him better.

Overall, the night with her family had gone incredibly well, and that made both Gabby and her parents so happy that she came.

"In fact, I think he's still a little hungover." Dawson continued, her teasing words causing a few surprised looks to cover the faces of their coworkers as Casey raised his eyebrows challengingly towards his girlfriend.

"Really?" Shay questioned with a laugh.

"Is that true, Lieutenant?" Herrmann added, all eyes falling on Casey as he replied with a slight shrug, his hand moving down off the table to rest over Gabby's knee.

"...I had a great time." He said, the bright grin covering his face earning a few laughs from their friends before he turned to look back at his girlfriend, seeing the knowing look in her eye.

They had in fact had a very good time, Matt especially, and while most of that fun had been spent with various members of Gabby's family, the best part of the evening, at least for Casey, would've been their night together after the party.

It was safe to say that by the time the night was winding down, both Matt and Gabby had their fair share to drink, both of them a little too tipsy to feel comfortable driving back to his place, which led to a quick decision to just get a room at the hotel for the evening. That it would be smarter to sleep at the hotel, and get back home tomorrow. And while it was a good idea in theory, there hadn't been a lot of actual sleeping going on that night. It took mere seconds of them being in the hotel room before Gabby began ripping his clothes off, Matt having wasted no time getting her out of that dress before they took advantage of the king sized bed in the middle of the room.

But the bed hadn't been the only place they spent their time, Matt and Gabby having spent a good chunk of the late evening and early morning making great use of the couch, as well as spending the morning together in the shower while they were getting ready to go home. Needless to say, sleep wasn't something they'd gotten enough of, but it had been an amazing night. One neither of them would be forgetting any time soon.

"So the family's not too intimidating, huh?" Herrmann's voice pulled Casey from his less than moral thoughts of the woman sitting beside him, the Lieutenant shaking his head slightly before focusing on the other firefighter. "They didn't scare you off?"

"Nah, not at all." Matt replied without hesitation, his words bringing a soft smile to Gabby's face, though he missed it as he was still looking at Herrmann. "We had a nice time, everyone was great… The Dawson's are pretty lively, which isn't really what I'm used to. They definitely know how to throw a party, but it was fun." He spoke, his genine words earning a nod from the older man across the room.

"Good, that's good."

"So I take it your family isn't much like that, Lieutenant?" Cruz asked, Gabby lifting her head up as Matt turned to the firefighter, the paramedic seeing how his jaw clenched slightly. She almost missed it, Matt relaxing as quickly as he'd tensed up, but she saw it. "Not big into the parties?" He continued with a smile, Matt forcing a smile before shaking his head.

"No, not really…" He responded lightly, Gabby feeling his hand fall off her leg as a few pairs of eyes from around the room looked at them, like they were hanging on his words to see if he would say more about his family. But, knowing him, he wasn't going to.

It wasn't a secret that Matt was a private person. No one in the house knew anything really about his family or his life outside of the firehouse; nothing more than the mess that went down with Hallie, and that he and Gabby were together. But other than that, no one knew much of anything about his life. And now that she was sitting here thinking about it, she didn't really, either.

She'd met his mother back before they were together, knew he had a sister, and she knew that his dad died when he was younger, but other than that, it wasn't a topic that had ever really been discussed. Just one that she knew made him uncomfortable.

In the short time she'd spent with him and his mom, she knew he didn't like talking about his family. For whatever reason, it didn't appear to be anything he liked to dwell on. It hadn't been back when his mother had showed up unexpectedly, and if the way he involuntarily tensed just moments again was any indication, his feelings about the subject hadn't changed.

Drawing in a deep breath, Gabby reached her hand out to rest along the back of his neck, the movement causing Matt to look at her, the soft smile on her face relaxing him instantly as they locked eyes, her fingers slowly tracing along his hairline as they exchanged silent looks. But their moment was interrupted by the sounds of the bells going off, calling 61 and truck 81 out to a car accident, Gabby dropping her hand from the back of his neck before they both stood up, the needed members of house 51 hurrying out towards the garage.

Matt rolled out his neck as he walked through the hallways of the firehouse, the tired man making his way to the bathrooms after the long morning they'd had out on call. It was already a little after noon, truck 81 having finished up at the car accident this morning rather quickly, but just as 61 had taken off with the victim, truck got called to assist with a house fire. And while it had been kind of a rough one, and there had been some serious injuries to the family trapped inside, thankfully everyone had made it out alive.

Blowing out a heavy sigh, Matt pushed the door open into the bathroom, his steps slowing down when he saw his girlfriend standing at the sink, Gabby bent over washing her hands. At the sound of his entrance, she looked up, their eyes immediately locking through the mirror before she stood up a little straighter, Matt matching the smile that formed over her face as he continued walking towards her.

Without a word, he came up behind her, Matt wrapping his arms around her waist as his chin rested down against her shoulder, his head pressed up against hers while she dried her hands.

"Hi." He murmured, sliding his hands along her stomach before settling his arms around her, Gabby feeling his body relax into hers as he released a slow breath, the air tickling her skin as she supported both their weight.

"Hey baby." She replied just as softly, seeing as her simple greeting had brought a small smile to his face, Matt lifting his head just enough to press gentle kisses against her neck. "How was the fire?" She asked, Matt giving her skin one last kiss before returning his head to its previous position, their eyes locking through the mirror once more as Gabby took in all the soot that covered the face she loved so much. "I heard it over the radio." She continued when she saw the questioning look in his gaze, Matt nodding as he gave her body a gentle squeeze.

"It was pretty rough," He replied, seeing the slight frown that tugged on her lips. "But everyone's okay- or alive, I guess." Casey corrected himself, Gabby's tongue poking out to run along her bottom lip as she gave him a nod, the paramedic lifting her arm up and placing her hand on the side of his head before she began running her fingers through his hair.

"You wanna talk about it?" She asked softly, Matt giving her a gentle shrug as he focused on the feeling of her fingers massaging his head, her light touch calming him just as it always had.

"The mom and dad were burned pretty bad… They have three kids, and all of them had some injuries, too. But everyone was alive when we got them out of there." He breathed out, his voice low as his lips were right next to her ear. "I think they'll be okay."

"I'm sure they will be." She agreed, Matt nodding before she began turning around in his arms, Casey loosening his grip enough for her to be able to move as she faced him, her body resting up against the counter. "You all got them out of there, that's all you can do." She reminded him, Gabby getting the feeling he was holding onto this call a little bit more than he usually did. And as she stood mere inches away from him, and saw the exhausted look in his eye, she couldn't help but wish she'd been there on that call with him, so she could better understand what all he'd seen.

"I know." He replied as her eyes began trailing over his marked skin, the black soot covering his face causing her eyebrows to furrow, Gabby stroking her hand along his cheek as his hands settled back on her waist. "And I'm fine." He told her, seeing the worry etched into her skin, his words causing her eyes to snap back to his. "Really, I am… I won't lie and say the call wasn't a little hard, because it was. But those happen. I'm okay." He promised, Gabby's eyes moving over his face once more before she nodded.

"Okay." She responded, leaning forward to close what little distance there was between them as her lips connected with his, the slow movement bringing a smile to his face before he reciprocated the gesture, Matt tightening his hold around her waist as they moved together. It was soft, and gentle, the two reluctantly pulling back after a few fleeting moments, Gabby catching the gleam in his eye as a slight smirk pulled on his lips.

"Now I'm feeling even better." He spoke softly, Gabby releasing a light scoff before she shook her head. "I'm sure a few more of those, and I'll be feeling as good as new."

"Mhmm." She hummed, the look on her face telling him she wasn't too impressed, though she'd be lying if she said it wasn't nice to see him like this. She knew it came with the job, but she didn't like the idea of seeing him torn up over a call, so to see him acting like himself was refreshing. "Maybe later, buddy." She spoke as she released another scoff, Matt raising his eyebrows before an amused look covered his face, Gabby slowly slipping out of his grasp. "For now, let's just get you cleaned up a bit." She added, catching a glimpse of the smirk that immediately covered his face.

"Oh, I think I like where this is headed…"

"I bet you don't, since our clothes are staying on." She replied without missing a beat, her body turning to face the counter before she reached for a washcloth, Gabby not missing the look of defeat that flashed in his eyes. Laughing lightly, Gabby shook her head before dampening the towel underneath some warm water, the paramedic making sure it was wet enough before she turned back to face her boyfriend, Gabby placing one hand on the top of his head before she began gently wiping the soot off his face.

"You know I can do this myself, yeah?" He asked, although by the way his body relaxed into the counter, she knew he had no real objections to her help.

"Yup, I know you can… I can leave, if you'd like."

She couldn't even finish getting the words out before Matt had returned his hand to her waist, the firefighter wrapping his arm around her to keep her from moving very far, Gabby raising her eyebrows as she halted her movements for a moment, finding a soft grin waiting for her when she looked at her boyfriend.

"You're not going anywhere." He replied, Gabby feeling his hold around her hips tighten. "...Unless where you're wanting to go is back to the showers, then I'll definitely be going with you." He added quietly, Gabby unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes, the woman missing the proud look that flashed across his face.

"That's not very professional, Lieutenant." She murmured, watching as a knowing look shined in his eyes, Matt's gaze flickering behind her before he responded.

"Yeah, and when has that stopped us before?" He asked with a chuckle, Gabby gnawing on her bottom lip before she continued to clean off his face.

"Fair point." She conceded, ignoring the smug grin plastered over his face as she wiped away what was left of the soot. "...Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky later." She added, her eyes focused on his cheek while he stared at her.

"I sure hope so." He replied, Gabby biting down on the inside of her lip before finding his gaze, the two locking eyes for a few extra moments before she stepped away from him, the paramedic feeling heat rise to her cheeks from just having his eyes on her. Seeing the effect he had on her, a slight smile formed over his lips, Matt taking the moment to focus on just how cute his girl was before he turned his body towards her, Gabby meeting his eyes once more. "Although if today continues anything like this morning, I won't be doing anything but taking a nap later." He told her, Gabby chuckling softly before she matched his stance, the two facing one another as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, you do look pretty exhausted, babe." She responded, Matt nodding in agreement. "I wasn't kidding when I told the guys you might still be a little hungover… But you don't have any construction jobs tomorrow, do you?" She questioned, ignoring the playful glare she was receiving from her boyfriend before he shook his head.

"Nope, I'm free all day."

"Good… Maybe we can just have a lazy day around the apartment tomorrow." She suggested, Matt immediately nodding in agreement. "I think its warranted after the busy few days we've had."

"Sounds like the perfect day to me." He told her, Matt leaning forward to capture her lips in a quick kiss before he pushed himself away from the counter. "But right now, I think I could use some food before we get called out again… since someone stole my breakfast." He added with a pointed look, Gabby biting back a smirk before shrugging softly.

"Yeah, I wonder who did that." She replied, Matt shaking his head before he turned away from her, the man reaching out to push the door open. "But, uh, there is something I wanna run by you real quick, if you don't mind."

Her words stopped his path, Casey turning back around to give her his complete attention as a soft smile covered his lips. "Shoot." He told her, Gabby stepping away from the counter and walking towards him, leaving a little bit of space between them as she began talking.

"I know we just had that, uh, fun night out for my grandparent's anniversary," She started, ignoring the proud grin plastered over his face. "And as nice as that was, I was thinking maybe we could have a date night here soon, just us?" She suggested, Matt immediately giving her a nod as he took a step closer to her. "It's been awhile since we've had a night out, without my family, or Shay and Kelly, so I was thinking it'd be good to spend some time together, just the two of us."

"I'd love that." He replied without hesitation, Gabby nodding with a small grin. "...What did you have in mind?"

The second he asked the question, he saw a knowing look cover her face, Matt's body flooding with confusion before she spoke up. "Oh, I don't know… I figured we could do something next Thursday." She responded with raised eyebrows, Matt clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth as realization washed over him.

"...How did you- Antonio." He cut himself off, Gabby nodding sharply as Casey remembered how the detective had looked into him once news of his and Hallie's divorce broke. "He told you."

"That your birthday's coming up? Yes, he did." She replied, Matt drawing in a deep breath before meeting her gaze once more, the man unable to stop the slight smile tugging on his lips.

"That was smooth, I'll give you that." He told her, Gabby biting back a smile before shaking her head, a light scoff escaping her lips. "I'm guessing he told you when he stopped by last night?"

"It came up, yeah. He wanted to know if I was planning anything that he was supposed to be a part of." She explained, Matt giving her a nod. "I just told him I wasn't sure what we were doing yet... But I'm more interested to know why I found out from my brother instead of you." She responded, her eyebrows raised expectantly as she reached out to poke his stomach, keeping the air around them light as she waited for him to speak up.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't tell you… birthdays just aren't something that are usually a big deal for me, so I didn't mention it." He told her, Gabby nodding in understanding.

"I get that, but I still would've liked to know." She replied, Matt giving her a quick nod.

"I know, I'm sorry." He repeated, Gabby shaking her head as she took another step closer to him.

"It's fine, at least I know now." Dawson said, lifting her hand up to rest on his shoulder. "But, since you didn't mention it, I'm guessing that means you don't want to celebrate yours?" She questioned, Matt tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Well, I guess it depends on what you're planning." He responded, the faintly suggestive tone to his voice causing her to roll her eyes once more, Gabby shaking her head before she shook his shoulder gently.

"Matt…"

"I don't mind celebrating them, babe." He gave her a real answer, the paramedic nodding as she waited for him to continue. "I just usually didn't have many people to celebrate them with, so they were never a big deal- Oh come on, don't give me that." He cut himself off when he saw the sad look that covered her face, Matt placing his hand on her side before tapping her body gently. "Don't get all upset on me, now." He told her lightly, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as her eyes flashed over her face.

"I'm sorry, but that just sounded really sad." She responded, Matt nodding as he gave her side a squeeze.

"I didn't mean it to be as depressing as it sounded." He joked, Matt leaning forward to kiss the frown off her lips. "I just meant it was never a big deal… You know I'm not all that close with my family, and with Hallie, all I ever really had was her, and they were just never a big thing." He tried to explain, though based on the look covering her face, he knew he wasn't doing much of anything to help her feel better about the situation. "I'm not as pathetic as I sound, I promise." He teased, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly before she shook her head.

"You're not pathetic, babe… I'm just sorry you never had people to celebrate with." She replied, stroking her thumb over his collarbone before meeting his gaze. "But that'll change now… The Dawson's, we… well as you've seen, we know how to throw a party." She spoke brightly, Matt releasing a heavy chuckle before nodding.

"Yeah, I definitely know that… But seriously, you don't have to do anything crazy. I'd be fine just doing what you said, it being just the two of us." He told her, Gabby nodding slightly as she moved her hand towards his neck, stroking her fingers along his skin gently.

"I know, but we're gonna do something for you… Maybe on your actual birthday it can just be us, but I still wanna have a little party, with everyone here, and maybe my parents. We could all get together at Molly's… Just something to celebrate you." She spoke softly, her chest filling with warmth when she saw the content smile that formed over his face, Matt pausing for a moment before giving her a few slight nods.

"I'd like that." He replied, Gabby matching his smile before she leaned forward, capturing his lips in a sweet kiss, the two keeping things relatively tame as they knew they were still out in the open, Matt being the first one to pull back after a few moments. "Thank you."

"Of course… It's gonna be a lot of fun. Nothing like a day to let my man know how much he's appreciated." She murmured, Casey biting back his grin as he shook his head.

"I love you." He told her, kissing her one last time before he stepped back, knowing he'd stay here forever with her if he didn't leave soon.

"I love you, too." She replied, Matt shooting her one last smile before he turned to leave once more, Gabby wincing as she internally debated whether or not to say the words sitting on the tip of her tongue. But seeing her window was closing, she didn't have much time to talk herself out of it as she opened her mouth once more. "And, for your party, do you, uh-" She hesitated when Matt glanced back towards her, Gabby knowing she was treading into uncertain waters as he raised his eyebrows expectantly. "Do you want me to invite your mom? Or your sister?" She questioned, Matt giving her next to nothing in the form of a reaction. "...I wasn't sure if your mom was still in town, if you wanted to maybe see them for your birthday. Or if you'd heard from her at all." She continued carefully, watching as her boyfriend drew in a deep breath, Gabby not missing the way he had tensed up slightly, similarly to how he had earlier today. "I'm sorry, I know- I know this isn't something we really talk about, but I saw the look on your face when Cruz mentioned you family… And I wasn't sure if you'd seen her again, or talked to her, since we last saw her." She finished, knowing she just needed to wait for him to say something, which he did mere seconds later.

"I haven't." He replied simply, Gabby giving him a nod. "I haven't heard from her, or seen her, since you told me she stopped by again that day you were at my place. Though that isn't very surprising." He breathed out, missing the look of sadness that flashed in her eyes. "But I'm good… I'm fine with just you, me, and our friends. I'd rather it just be us." He told her, Gabby pausing for a split second before she ultimately nodded.

"Okay… then it'll just be us." She assured him, Matt smiling softly before he gave her a nod. "But you know you can always talk to me about it if you need to, right? About your family..." She questioned as they locked gazes. "I know since we got together, a lot of this," She paused, Gabby gesturing back and forth between them before she continued, "a lot of it has been about stuff going on with me, and you helping me. But I'm here for you, too… With anything." She assured him, Matt's face softening as she flashed him a gentle smile. "If there's ever anything you wanna talk about, or need to talk about, I'm here."

"I know you are." He replied almost instantly, waiting for her nod before he continued. "You always have been." Matt spoke softly, taking the few steps back towards her before wrapping her up in a tight hug, Gabby reciprocating immediately as she wrapped her arms tightly around his back.

As they were enjoying the comforting quiet of holding onto one another, they were interrupted by the sound of the bells going off, Dawson groaning loudly against his chest when she heard ambo get called out, the paramedic feeling Matt chuckle before she pulled back.

"God, what is with today." She huffed out, Matt suppressing a chuckle as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

"Be safe out there." He told her, Gabby nodding before she pulled out of his embrace.

"I will." She promised, flashing him one last smile before she was out of the room, leaving Casey alone in the bathroom as she went out to help the citizens of Chicago.

"Hey Papa." Gabby greeted as she walked into her parent's living room, her dad lifting his head up when he heard the unexpected greeting, Ramon instantly placing his book down on the table beside him as Gabby continued into the room.

"Mija, what are you doing here?" He asked, the bright smile on his face telling Gabby that her visit was more than welcome, Ramon pushing himself up from his seat to come greet his daughter. "Were we expecting you?" He questioned before giving her a quick side hug, Ramon being mindful of the box she was carrying.

"Mama was." She replied, Ramon nodding before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I was just coming to drop some photo albums off for her, I'm not sure where-"

"Is that Gabriela?" Camila's voice filtered into the room, Gabby turning to see her mom walk in, a wide smile forming over her face when she saw her daughter the woman coming over to welcome her daughter similarly to how her father did, Ramon grabbing the box from Gabby so she could hug her mother. "Hi honey, thank you for dropping that stuff off, I really appreciate it."

"Of course, it was no problem." She responded as they separated.

"Can you stay for a bit? Or do you need to get going?" Camila questioned, Gabby's eyes moving back and forth between her parents before she gave them a soft smile.

"I can stay." She responded, seeing the ecstatic look in her mother's eyes before she nodded, Camila leading her to the couch while her father took up his previous seat in the chair, the man stopping to place the rather heavy box on the coffee table before sitting down.

"How are you doing, mija? How's work?" Camila questioned, Gabby giving her a nod as she crossed her legs.

"I'm doing alright, work's keeping me busy… We've had some busier shifts lately, more than usual, but it's nothing too bad. And the bar is doing well. Everything's good." She replied, her parents giving her soft smiles before Ramon spoke up.

"And how's Matthew? His birthday is coming here soon, right?" Ramon questioned, though it was more rhetorical than anything else, Gabby giving her father a nod.

It had been about a week since Gabby had found out about Matt's birthday, and in that time she'd done a lot of planning for not only his actual birthday, but for the little party they'd be having at Molly's. After what he'd confided to her about his past birthday's, she wanted this day to be special, she wanted him to have a great time, and for him to feel just how loved he was by not only her, but by all their friends and her family.

"It is, on Thursday. And he's doing well… His construction jobs are keeping him busy, but after today, he's taking some time off, a few days, so we can celebrate and so he can take it easy."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that." Camila said. "That boy, he works so hard, he deserves a break."

"Yeah, he does." Gabby agreed with a soft smile. "He needs it. I kind of had to force him to do it, but I said because of his birthday, it was the perfect time to slow down a little bit." She explained, earning agreeing nods from both her parents.

"And everything's still the same for this weekend? Saturday night at Molly's?" She asked, Gabby giving her mother a nod.

"Mhmm.. 7PM."

"And who all is coming?"

"Pretty much everyone from the firehouse, then Antonio, and you all." She replied, missing the shared look between her parents before Camila spoke up.

"...So no one else?" She pushed, Gabby looking towards her mom. "None of his other friends? Or his family?"

Gabby drew in a deep breath, her lips parting slightly before she closed them and shook her head. "No, it'll just be us… Matt didn't really-" She cut herself off, unsure of how to say the words out loud. "After what happened at his old house, then him being bounced around, he didn't really have anyone. At least not anyone he's still close to… And his family, they're not- they won't be coming." She said, Camila furrowing her eyebrows as she spared another glance to her husband.

"They won't be coming into town for his birthday?" She questioned, remembering how Matt had told them it was just him in Chicago, Gabby sighing softly before she shook her head.

"No, they won't… He's not really that close to his family." She responded, seeing a look of understanding cover her mother's face.

"Oh…"

"Yeah. I asked him if he wanted me to invite his mom, or his sister, but he said no. He said he'd rather it just be us, so that's what we're gonna do." Gabby explained, Ramon releasing a heavy breath as Camila thought over her daughter's words.

"And his father passed away when he was younger, yeah?" Ramon questioned after a few minutes, Gabby nodding with a sad smile as she thought back to the dinner they'd had in this very house where Matt had given them a little insight into his family.

"Yeah, he did." She confirmed, drawing in a deep breath before she continued. "I don't know much about it, Matt doesn't really like talking about his family, so I don't really…" She trailed off, waving her hand around in the air to try and explain something she wasn't sure how to voice, Gabby seeing the concerned looks her parents were giving her before they looked to one another.

"...Is everything okay, Gabriela?" Ramon asked, both her father and mother clearly a little worried, Gabby giving him a quick nod.

"Yeah, I'm fine… I just really want Matt's birthday to go well." She breathed out, Camila tilting her head to the side slightly as she heard the near anxiousness in her daughter's voice.

"It sounds like everything will be great, mija… From what you've told me, you're really gonna be spoiling this boy." Camila replied softly, Ramon nodding in agreement. "And if I know anything about Matthew, it's that he'll love whatever you do for him… I don't think he cares so much about what it is you do, just that he's with you, and his friends."

"No, I know that," She agreed, unable to stop herself from saying the next words that had been weighing on her mind since last week. "That's exactly why I want everything to go well…"

"What do you mean?" Ramon pressed, both of her parents sensing there was something she wasn't saying, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before answering him.

"...Matt told me that he's never really celebrated his birthday much before, at least not much recently." She spoke softly, fiddling her fingers together in her lap. "Because he didn't really have many people to celebrate with…" She continued, catching the glimpse of sadness that flickered in both her parents' eyes. "I guess even when he and Hallie, his ex, were together, it wasn't a big deal… So I just want him to have a good day, you know? I want everything to go well for him."

Pursing her lips together, Camila gave her daughter an understanding nod, the older Dawson woman rubbing her hand along Gabby's arm as she thought over her next words, Camila catching her husband's gaze before speaking up.

"Well… how about we make sure it's a birthday he'll remember, then."

Gabby collapsed down against his Matt's chest, both of them panting as he slowed his movements, their bodies still connected as she laid on top of him, the sound of them sucking in air being the only noise around them as they came down from their high. His hands were running up and down her warm back, the air around them thick as a thin layer of sweat had collected on her forehead, Matt smirking at the low whine he heard escape her lips when he slipped out of her, the man basking in the feeling of her skin against his while they continued to catch their breath.

"That was…" She trailed off, Matt's smug grin growing when he felt her legs still trembling slightly, both of them knowing by her body's reactions alone, she'd definitely enjoyed herself.

"A perfect birthday present." He supplemented when she had yet to say anything, Gabby scoffing lightly before pressing a kiss against his bare chest, the woman too exhausted from their afternoon in bed together to do much more than that.

"Your birthday isn't until tomorrow." She murmured, Matt continuing to move his hand along her back before he trailed further down, Gabby squeaking softly when she felt him grab ahold of her ass.

"Well, then I can't wait to see what else you have in store for me then." He breathed out, giving her a quick squeeze before letting go of her, Matt smacking her skin gently before sliding his hand back up to her waist.

The action caused her to raise her eyebrows, Gabby finally having enough energy to lift her head as she turned to face him, resting her chin against his chest as she found his bright blue eyes already on her. "What has gotten into you?" She asked with a laugh, Matt matching her look as he tapped his fingers against her lower back.

"What? You didn't like that?" He questioned, his lips turning upwards into a proud smirk. "Because, if I recall, about five minutes ago, you were loving it." He added, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively as Gabby felt heat rush to her cheeks, her clear embarrassment causing him to laugh, the happy sound bringing a small smile to her face. "God, you're adorable." He replied, Matt shaking his head before continuing. "But, to answer your question… I don't know. I'm just happy, I guess." He told her truthfully, Gabby's smile growing before she propped herself up on his chest, her chin resting in her palm as his hands ran up and down her bare sides.

"Oh yeah?" She questioned, her nose scrunching up slightly as Matt gave her a strong nod.

"Yeah." He replied, Gabby using her free hand to rub her fingers lightly over his chest, Matt drawing in a deep breath before continuing. "I never thought I'd have anything like this… like you. My life was a mess when we met." He continued, his vulnerable words going straight to her heart as she stayed quiet, letting him continue. "Everything with Hallie, and with work… How I was living my life, I was a wreck. But then I met you, and everything just… felt like it finally fell into place." He continued, the honesty shining in his eyes causing her chest to tighten. "And I know things weren't always easy between us, we definitely hurt each other, more than I ever wish we did. And then everything you've gone through, since before I met you and then again recently… There's been a lot of hard times. For both of us. But, I don't know, right now… I'm just so happy." He breathed out, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek. "And it's all because of you."

She blinked back the tears in her eyes as his words rang in her ears, Matt smiling softly as he continued running his hand gently along her back, Gabby stunned to silence as she tried to figure out what she could possibly say to him.

"I just wanted you to know that." He finished, Gabby shaking her head slightly before she pushed herself up closer to him, capturing his lips in a heated kiss, full of nothing but love.

Their movements were passionate, and forceful, but with a care behind them that made Gabby nearly melt in his arms, the grip he had on her comforting as she slid her hand up to cup his neck. It felt like time was standing still, both of them completely committed to this moment together as his hands moved over her skin, neither of them quite ready to pull back just yet, but they had to when air became a priority.

"God, I love you." He whispered against her lips when they finally separated, Matt's eyes staying closed as he took short breaths, Gabby opening hers to find a goofy grin resting over his face. Moving her hand up, she traced her finger over his swollen lips, the action causing his smile to widen before he slowly opened his eyes, Matt turning his head slightly to press a kiss against her fingers.

"I love you, too." She murmured, those simple words causing his smile to completely light up, Gabby feeling warmth spread through her entire body, like she was falling love with him all over again. "And everything you said… I need you to know that I feel the exact same way about you." She spoke, her voice barely above a whisper as they bared their souls to one another. "After everything- after Bryan…" She stopped to take a breath, Matt holding onto her a little tighter as he waited for her to be able to continue. "I just never thought a relationship like this was something I'd have, especially not with someone like you… You are an incredible man, Matt Casey." She told him, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his lips, Gabby pulling away far too quickly for his liking. "And I can never thank you enough for everything you've done for me."

Before she could get another word out, Matt flipped them over, the action taking her by surprise as he hovered over her, her back pressed into the mattress as a sense of security filled her entire body, the feeling of his body weight on top of her helping her feel completely safe.

"You don't need to thank me for that." He replied gently, his face mere inches away from hers as their eyes were locked on each other. "Ever."

She didn't have a chance to respond as he captured her lips in his again, Matt sliding his hand into her hair, gripping the top of her head as their movements became more and more intense, his body settling in between her legs as they fought for dominance. They went back and forth for what could've been hours, Gabby having no real sense of time as she was focused on nothing but the man on top of her. But they were soon pulled back into reality, the sound of Gabby's phone alarm going off gaining both their attention as Matt groaned loudly, the man quickly leaning over to turn it off. It was something she'd set to make sure she woke up in time to leave the apartment, back when Gabby had expected to actually get some sleep, before Matt had decided to join her, but clearly she never got that rest she was after, though she'd never complain about that.

"I guess that's our cue to get up." She spoke as she ran her fingers through his short hair, Matt groaning again as he placed her phone back down on the nightstand, the man tucking his head into her neck as she continued massaging his scalp.

"How about we just stay here?" His words were muffled by her skin, Gabby smiling softly as she scratched the back of his head.

"As much as I'd love that, we can't…"

"Why are we going so early?" He nearly whined, Gabby scoffing lightly at his childlike antics as he cuddled himself further into her body.

"Herrmann needs me there at 6 to help with a shipment, I told you that." She reminded him, Matt releasing yet another displeased groan as he made no effort to get up. "Which, if I remember correctly, I told you that you didn't have to come with me so early… That you could just meet up with me later once Shay and Severide got there."

"But I'd rather be with you." He spoke, his head still tucked tightly into her neck, Gabby unable to stop the smile that formed over her face as she released a soft breath.

"Okay, well you're gonna have to be with me at the bar, then. We need to get cleaned up." She tried again, but her boyfriend still wouldn't budge. "Come on, babe, we don't have that much time. We gotta get to Molly's, and plus we gotta stop by my parent's place first." She told him, those words finally causing Matt to get up as he lifted his head from against her neck, Gabby seeing the confused look on his face as he hovered above her. "I left my wallet over there this afternoon when I went to go see them and Antonio." She explained sheepishly, Matt cocking his head to the side.

"You drove all the way home without your wallet?"

"I know, I know, it was an accident." She replied, her words earning a few chuckles from her boyfriend. "I didn't realize until after I left, but please?" She all but pouted. "You can't be paying for your own drinks tonight, not when we're gonna be celebrating you…"

"I thought my party was this weekend?" He questioned, Gabby playfully narrowing her eyes.

"It is, but you know what I mean… Come on, babe, it'll take two seconds. My parents aren't even home, they're out with their friends, so we won't be staying and talking… Please?"

Releasing another soft chuckle, Matt nodded his head before leaning forward to kiss the pout off her lips. "Fine… But only because you're so cute." He gave in, Gabby smiling proudly before she gave him another kiss.

"Thank you… Now we really do need to get going, or we're gonna be late." She told him, nudging his stomach gently to get him off of her, Matt reluctantly rolling down onto the mattress so she could get up, his eyes staying locked on her bare form as she climbed out of bed. "...And if you're thinking of joining me in the shower," She started as she began walking towards the bathroom, Matt's ears perking up as she glanced back at him, "you better keep those hands to yourself."

She continued into the bathroom without another word, Matt nearly tripping as he stumbled out of bed, his feet getting tangled in the sheets before he all but ran after her, the man wanting to enjoy what little time they had left before they had to leave the privacy of this apartment.

Gabby waited for Matt on the sidewalk as they stood outside her parent's home, her boyfriend locking up his truck before coming to her side, the couple beginning the walk up to the front door. She'd offered to just run in alone, considering the task wasn't anything difficult, but, Matt being Matt, said he'd come with her, Gabby twirling her parent's house key around her finger as they walked up the steps.

"So, how long do you think helping Herrmann will take?" He asked as Gabby shoved the key into the lock, pushing the door open before they were met with a quiet home.

"Why? You got somewhere to be?" She asked as they stepped inside, Matt closing the door behind him as they walked through the foyer towards the living room.

"No, I'm just wondering, because we know I'm gonna be the one doing most of the-"

"Surprise!"

Casey nearly jumped as the loud chorus of voices came out of nowhere, all the lights being turned on around them as he was met by a room full of people. His mouth was parted in shock, his eyes taking in his surroundings as he saw the Happy Birthday banner in the back of the room, along with balloons, and everyone from 51 crowded together in Camila and Ramon's living room, Matt shaking his head as he slowly regained his senses.

"Happy birthday, Matthew!" Camila was the first to break away from the group, the woman walking towards him and wrapping him up in a tight hug, Matt holding onto her tightly before Ramon came in to get a hug as well.

"Happy birthday, son."

"I… Thank you, I don't even know what to say." He breathed out, his eyes moving towards Gabby, watching as his girlfriend held up her hands, shaking her head.

"It wasn't me, this was all her." Gabby responded, nodding towards her mom as Matt's eyes moved back towards Camila. "She wanted to do this for you."

Drawing in a deep breath, Matt took a step back towards the woman, wrapping her up in another hug, Camila feeling how his grip had tightened from the last one. "Thank you." He told her softly, Camila smiling before she gave his body a tight squeeze.

"Of course, honey… We just wanted you to have a great birthday." She murmured, Matt rubbing over her back before the separated, Casey giving the Dawson's a few more words of gratitude before he was pulled over towards Shay and some of the guys from 51, Gabby staying in the entryway with her parents as they watched Matt interact with their friends.

"So, if the look on his face was any indication, I take it he didn't know?" Ramon asked as he pulled his daughter into his side for a hug, Gabby shaking her head.

"No, he had no idea." She breathed out, Gabby letting go of her dad before turning back towards her mom and wrapping her up in a tight hug. "Thank you for doing this for him."

Camila's face softened as she held onto her daughter, the woman nodding while her hand moved up and down Gabby's back. "Of course, sweetheart." She murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of her head before she pulled back, the Dawsons ready to enjoy Matt's party with him and all their friends.

The evening wore on steadily, everyone getting some time with Casey as they sat around and ate, Camila having been forced into buying pizzas instead of cooking for everyone, though she definitely tried. But everyone had been having a great time, Gabby staying close to her boyfriend's side for most of the night while they celebrated him, Dawson seeing with her own eyes just how happy tonight had made him, the permanent smile etched into his face enough to fill her chest with warmth.

But despite her desire to be near her boyfriend, at some point during the evening they'd split up, Gabby having been chatting with Shay and Severide while Matt continued making the rounds, though during her last once over of the room, she hadn't been able to find him anywhere.

Across the room over on the couch, Camila sat with Ramon as her husband chatted away with Boden and Herrmann, the woman having tuned out most of what they were talking about before she slipped away to freshen up her drink. But as she walked into the kitchen, her steps slowed when she saw Matt leaning up against the counter, the man clearly deep in thought as his eyes were towards the ground. She wasn't sure how long he'd been here, Camila not remembering the last time she saw him out in the crowd, but if the look on his face was any indication, something was weighing on his mind.

"Matthew…" She gained his attention, her soft voice causing his head to lift up as she continued towards him. "Everything alright, dear?" She questioned, seeing the immediate nod he gave her before he smiled softly.

"Yeah, I'm good." He replied, Camila coming to stand beside him at the counter. "Just was getting a drink." He continued, gesturing to the beer in his hands as the woman gave him a nod.

"Alright." She responded slowly, though she wasn't sure she believed him.

"And, uh, thank you, again… For doing all this." He spoke, Camila hearing the sincerity in his voice. "I wasn't expecting this at all, you really didn't have to go to all this trouble."

"Oh, nonsense." She waved him off before reaching out to place her hand on his arm. "I know you and Gabriela haven't been together all that long, but you're practically family… We wanted you to have a nice birthday." She told him, her words bringing a genuine smile to his face. "Gabriela, she, uh- she mentioned how you don't really see your family," Camila started, watching as Matt took a deep breath, "and how you wouldn't be seeing them tomorrow, either. So we just wanted to do what we could to make sure you had a good day."

Nodding slowly, Matt gave her another smile, Camila noticing this one seemed to be a bit weaker than the last. "Thank you, Camila… That means a lot to me." He told her, the woman giving him another nod.

The sound of footsteps approaching pulled them from their conversation, Matt looking behind Camila to see Antonio step into the kitchen, the man's eyes immediately on him.

"Hey man." Casey greeted, Antonio giving him a nod as Camila turned back to look at him. As the woman moved to speak with her son, Matt couldn't help but look him over, the firefighter having noticed Antonio's somewhat strange demeanor since they got here. He'd been kind of distant, mostly from Gabby, since the party began, and Casey didn't really know what to make of it. Matt knew the older brother had been struggling recently with what happened to Gabby, the conversation he and Camila had in this very kitchen a couple weeks ago ringing in his head, though the firefighter wasn't sure if that was the cause for his weird behavior or not. But with so many people around, he hadn't had a chance to focus on it, not until now.

"Well, I'm gonna get back out there." Camila spoke, Casey tuning back into their conversation as the woman stepped past her son. "Try not to hide away in here too much longer, okay?" She warned them, Antonio and Matt both giving her a nod in understanding before they were left alone in the kitchen.

"So, you enjoying the party?" Antonio asked as he came up to stand where his mother had just been, Matt chuckling softly before giving him a nod.

"It's been great… Your mom really loves to go all out, I've noticed."

"She absolutely does." Antonio agreed as he leaned his weight into the counter, Matt watching as he crossed his arms over his chest, seeing the pensive look that covered his face. "But just wait until next year, when she has more than a few days notice… She'll have an entire hall rented out." He joked, Matt raising his eyebrows before taking another sip of his beer.

"Yeah, I don't doubt that." He agreed, Matt taking another breath as he watched the man for a moment. "Is, uh… is everything alright?" Matt finally asked, his words causing Antonio to look at him with a blank stare. "You just seem a little off, I wasn't sure if something was going on." He continued, his confusion only growing when he saw Antonio's body tense slightly, the detective glancing towards the door before looking back to Casey.

"I, um-" He stopped himself, Antonio clearing his throat as Matt waited for him to continue. "I need to talk to you about something."

Out in the living room, Gabby was half listening to Shay and Severide bickering about something that had happened on a call yesterday, but her focus was barely on them as she continued looking around the room, the woman trying to find her boyfriend. But still, she couldn't seem to locate him. A few people had come and gone from the room, Gabby seeing her mom leave then come back moments later, as well as Antonio having left, but as far as she knew, Matt hadn't been around for a while.

Knowing she wasn't really needed for the arguing Shay and Kelly were doing, Dawson slipped away from them, the woman going in search of her boyfriend, Gabby wanting to make sure he was still doing alright. And since there were only so many places he could be, she decided to start with the kitchen, Gabby taking another sip of her wine before heading that direction, the woman weaving her way through the mass of people before she got to her destination.

Just as she stepped inside, she immediately found Matt, her eyebrows furrowing when she saw him whispering with her brother. She wasn't sure what they were talking about, but from her vantage point across the room, Matt looked angry, and she wasn't sure why. But the last thing she wanted was for him to be upset, not when today was about him, Gabby immediately clearing her throat to try and get them to stop talking about whatever had them so on edge.

The second they heard her, they stopped talking, Matt's eyes widening in surprise slightly when he saw her standing in the doorway, Antonio turning around to look at his sister.

"What are you two talking about?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she continued towards them, her eyes flickering between the two men, seeing the anger that was still held in Matt's eyes. Though she could tell he was trying to mask it, but she could also see the worry her brother seemed to be holding onto, the reactions leaving her a little unsure as to what she was walking into. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, it's nothing." Antonio was quick to cover, Gabby's eyes narrowing on her brother. "Just talking about work."

"You're a terrible liar." She replied without hesitation, her eyes moving towards Matt, their gazes locked on one another before she spoke up again. "What is it?"

Drawing in a deep breath, Antonio looked to Casey, seeing the firefighter's eyes still focused solely on his sister, Matt's tense demeanor evident.

"Antonio?" She asked again, Antonio sensing her frustration at him before he took a deep breath, the man clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before he spoke up.

"Bryan wants to see you."