Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter for you guys, I hope you all enjoy! If you can, it'd mean a lot to me if you could leave me a review and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!

SIXTY THREE

Casey walked through the halls of firehouse 51 with a huge grin on his face, his content demeanor apparent to anyone who might see him as he made his way to his destination, his quick chat with Boden having left him quite excited as he got the common room, the Lieutenant hearing the voices of his friends before he even stepped inside. As he walked through the side door, his eyes moved around the room, seeing nearly everyone right where they'd been when he left not even ten minutes ago, aside from one person. When he glanced down at the table where he and Gabby had been sitting, he found both their seats empty, his gaze jumping around until he soon found her, his girlfriend standing behind the counter.

Changing his path, Matt walked in that direction, Gabby's back facing him as she spoke with her partner, the blonde paramedic smiling softly when she saw Casey approaching him, Shay cutting off their conversation to speak up.

"There's lover boy." She said with a proud grin, Gabby turning to look just as he came up beside her, Matt's hand instinctively moving to her waist as a grin formed across her face, Dawson leaning slightly into his side as Shay watched them. "We were wondering where you ran off to."

"I was talking to Boden," He replied, Shay nodding knowingly before Matt focused his attention solely on Gabby, the gentle look on her face causing his own smile to grow. "And I double checked with him, we're all good to have next shift off." He told her, her bright grin staying on her face as he leaned forward to press a kiss to the side of her head, Matt feeling Gabby relax into him as he ran his hand along her side.

"Oh yes, the magical weekend getaway." Shay spoke up once more, Gabby stifling a laugh as Matt released a soft sigh, the man pulling his head back to look towards their friend. "I know Dawson here is quite excited for that." She teased, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly as it was Matt's time to chuckle, the man rubbing his girlfriend's side as Dawson shook her head slightly, the PIC knowing that whatever else her friend was wanting to say, it was nowhere near appropriate. "I mean, just this morning she was telling me all about how she was looking forward to you two spending all your time together, doing nothing but having-"

Gabby stuck her foot out, stomping her boot down on top of Shay's to cut her off, the action not strong enough to physically hurt her, but enough to leave a sting as the blonde groaned in response.

"Ow! Jesus, Dawson-"

"That's what you get for lying." Gabby replied, Matt shaking his head in amusement as Shay took a slight step back, the woman wanting to be far enough away to where Dawson couldn't stomp on her foot again.

"I don't know, I think I'd like to hear more about this conversation from this morning." Matt interjected, his words earning a chuckle from Shay as Gabby zeroed in her slight glare on him. "What exactly do you have planned for us?" He continued to tease her, knowing just how easy it was to get her embarrassed, especially about him.

"Quit drooling, Casey," Gabby fired back, her feisty attitude causing his smile to widen as he tightened his grip around her waist. "All I told Shay was that I was excited for us to get away from everything, that's all." She spoke, sending her partner a pointed look as Shay laughed once more, Casey coming to realize that Shay had in fact been exaggerating as Gabby focused her attention back on him. "Though the few things I do have planned won't be happening if you don't stop."

"Yes ma'am." He was quick to respond, Shay shaking her head as a smile formed over her face while she watched the two of them, Gabby unable to keep the straight look covering her features as she leaned back into his side.

"Oh, you two are adorable." Shay spoke up, both Gabby and Matt looking towards her. "Disgusting, but adorable." She breathed out as Casey cocked his head to the side. "And I hope you all have fun on your little trip."

"Thank you, Shay." Gabby replied sincerely, Matt nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, thanks… That was almost nice." Casey joked, the other blonde narrowing her eyes before lightly punching his arm, Matt laughing as Shay walked away from them, the paramedic flipping him off before leaving the couple by themselves at the counter. Shaking her head, Gabby turned to face her boyfriend, Matt's proud smile still prominent as he was watching Shay walk away, before his eyes moved towards her, his smile growing when they locked eyes with one another.

Before either said a word, Matt took a slight step closer to her, the man not caring that they were in a room full of their friends as he returned his hand to her side, Gabby leaning her body weight back into the counter.

"So, everything with Boden went well?" She questioned, Matt giving her a nod as his eyes flickered behind her towards the house, seeing that they all were preoccupied with their own things, and weren't paying any attention to them as they displayed a little more affection than they normally would.

"It did." He responded softly, Matt not missing the way her eyes lit up, the obvious look of joy on her face flooding him with a warmth he'd never be able to fully explain, the man knowing just how needed this weekend away was.

It had been a few weeks since he'd first brought up the idea to her; since everything with his mother had happened, and the mess that had become. In having to deal with everything surrounding his mother, and feeling like they had a sword hanging over their heads while they just waited for something bad to happen after Matt lied for his mother, it had taken some time to sit down and work out their little trip. Though, thankfully, nothing had ever come of his lie, and Nancy seemed to be in the clear. But between that, and getting everything with the house squared away, Matt's simple suggestion of a weekend away together had quickly become more of a task to plan than originally anticipated. But they'd done it, or rather Matt had done it, and by this time tomorrow, they'd be well on their way out of the city and up to the cabin Casey had rented out for them, the firefighter and paramedic both desperate to get this time together.

Though things had calmed down considerably in the weeks that had passed since Nancy showed back up, and the couple had managed to work through the disruption she'd caused, they were both still exhausted. Physically, and mentally, they were worn out, and not only did they feel like they needed this time away for them as a couple, they definitely knew they needed it just for themselves as well.

They needed a few days to recharge, and have nothing to focus on but one another, because between Nancy's sudden reappearance in Matt's, and now Gabby's, life, along with the looming knowledge that here soon Bryan would be finish up his sentencing, there were some moments where it felt like they barely had a second to breathe. And they'd both be lying if they said there hadn't been some harder moments, as well. Whether it was Matt worried about things with his mom, or Gabby feeling a bit anxious about everything with Walker, they'd had a lot on their plates recently. And this little getaway was something they hoped could help alleviate some of that stress, even if only for a couple of days.

"Herrmann's filling in for me on truck, and he's already got a relief PIC lined up for 61." He continued once he'd pulled himself from his thoughts, Gabby nodding with a soft smile as he ran his hand along her side. "You and I are good to go."

"Good." She responded quietly as she lifted her hand up to rest over his chest. "I'm so excited." She murmured, the soft tone in her voice not deterring her enthusiasm.

Matching her genuine smile, Matt nodded before he leaned forward to press a gentle kiss against her forehead. "So am I." He whispered against her skin, Matt giving her another quick kiss before he pulled back to meet her eyes. "You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to this."

Her head tilted to the side slightly, Gabby rubbing her hand over the grey material covering his chest, her nose scrunching up slightly before she responded. "Oh, I think I have some idea." She replied with an amused tone, Matt smirking before he nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, yeah, you're right." He replied without hesitation, Gabby's smug grin growing before she tapped her fingers against his chest just over his heart. "But regardless, this weekend is gonna be amazing."

"I think so, too." She agreed just as the bells rang out above their heads, everyone hearing 61 being called out, Matt instantly taking a slight step back when he realized her services were needed.

Shay got up immediately and began heading towards the garage, Gabby stepping out of Matt's hold as he offered her a small smile. "Be safe out there." He told her, Dawson nodding in response.

"I will."

"Casey!" Shay called, her loud voice gaining the entire room's attention as the woman stood just outside the common room, her hands resting defiantly on her hips. "Stop feeling Dawson up, we gotta go."

Her words caused the room to immediately burst into laughter, Matt shooting her a deep glare as Gabby scoffed heavily, the PIC shaking her head while she walked towards her partner, Dawson shoving her shoulder before they headed for the door. Casey, on the other hand, was left to deal with the snickers from his firefighters, the Lieutenant not hesitating to shoot daggers towards his men who were a little too amused as he willed away the slight hint of embarrassment he felt from Shay's constant teasing.

"So," Shay spoke up as she drove through the streets of Chicago, their sirens blaring while they made their way to their patient, Dawson turning to look at her partner, "I know I was kind of giving you two a hard time back there."

"Kind of?" Dawson asked with raised brows, Shay biting back a laugh before she shrugged, the blonde keeping her eyes on the road.

"Well, it's too easy, I'm sorry… But, in all seriousness, you and Casey seem to be doing well." She said, Gabby furrowing her eyebrows slightly before she nodded.

"Yeah, we are." She responded, Shay sparing a quick glance to her before refocusing her gaze on the road. "We're fine."

"And, uh- you're doing well, too?" She questioned, Dawson no less confused as her head tilted to the side. "I mean, not just with Matt, but you in general?" She prompted as Gabby ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek, the PIC unsure of where this conversation was headed.

And apparently Shay had picked up on her confusion as well, the paramedic speaking up before Dawson could question her.

"It's just that-" She cut herself off, pursing her lips together before she reluctantly continued, "everyone's kind of been worried about you." She told her, her words doing nothing to clear anything up.

"About me?" Dawson asked, her uncertain tone hitting Shay's ears.

"Well, about Casey, too, but yeah, you…"

"Why?" Gabby was quick to ask, Shay releasing a soft sigh as she made her way through the intersection, Dawson waiting patiently for her friend to answer.

"We've all just been a little concerned, because we're getting close to…" She trailed off, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as she came to realize what her friend was talking about, Shay shaking her head slightly before she continued. "We all know it's coming up, but no one's wanted to say anything."

"Shay, I'm fine." She said quickly after her partner finished, the blonde shooting her a quick, knowing look.

"Dawson-"

"I'm serious, I'm okay… I appreciate you all being worried, but I'm fine."

"Don't give me that, Gabby." Shay replied, shaking her head slightly. "Your asshole of an ex is about to get out of prison, you don't need to pretend that doesn't affect you."

Gabby's lips parted slightly as she was somewhat surprised by Shay's bluntness, the blonde soon realizing how her words must've sounded before she shook her head quickly, Shay shooting her a remorseful look before speaking up once more.

"Sorry, I'm sorry." She added quickly, regret laced in her tone. "I shouldn't have said that, but I'm just worried about you… This whole Walker thing, I can't pretend to know what that was like for you, but I just- I wanna know you're alright." She told her, Gabby rubbing her hand along the side of her head as her eyes fell closed, the woman taking a few steadying breaths before responding.

"I appreciate that, Shay, I do… But I'm not lying when I say I'm okay. At least right now, I'm fine… It's not like he's getting out tomorrow, and with everything else that's been going on, I haven't focused on it too much." She told her, though her words weren't entirely honest. "But I'm honestly more worried about Matt right now than anything else." She admitted, those last words leaving her lips before she could really even register them, Shay picking up on them instantly.

"Yeah, I know you are… All that mom stuff he's been dealing with." Shay spoke, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded.

Though Shay, or no one in the house, knew any details after Nancy's parole officer had shown up to the firehouse a few weeks ago, it was clear that Casey was dealing with family issues. And while Gabby knew everyone wanted to know what was going on, they hadn't asked him about it, the entire thing becoming some unspoken thing within the firehouse more or less. Everyone was curious, and they all wanted to help, but they also knew better than to ask him or Gabby for any details, even Shay not pressing for information as she realized this wasn't something they'd be sharing with anyone.

"Though he seems to be doing alright." She continued, Gabby giving her a soft nod. "But really, you two have had a lot going on, so you can't blame us for being worried babe. About the both of you." She continued, the blonde repeating her earlier words as Gabby ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek. "It's just because we care, and we love you."

"I know." Gabby responded as Shay pulled up to the scene, the paramedics knowing they wouldn't be able to talk about this for much longer. "And we appreciate it, we do… But we're good."

"Good." Shay replied before they climbed down out of the rig, the paramedics focusing their attention on the task at hand as they knew there was someone in need of their help.

Shay watched on with worried eyes as Gabby walked around the back of the rig, the PIC grimacing slightly as she moved, her gaze focused a few feet in front of her as she had her hand resting lightly over her side. Keeping her eyes on her friend, Shay looked her over once more, just as she had done multiple times over the last hour, her concern only growing as she saw her friend in more and more discomfort.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to the hospital?" Shay asked, her words causing Dawson to look up, the blonde wincing when she saw the slight redness already forming over Gabby's arm, Shay knowing the mark was only bound to get worse as Dawson shot her a tense look.

"Like I told you already, I'm fine."

"But we really should've had someone at Lakeshore at least look at you while you were there, I know that had to have hurt-"

"I'm fine." She cut in, Shay sensing her friend's annoyance at the constant questioning, but the paramedic didn't care. Not when her partner had been hurt.

"No, I don't think you are. And even if you were, when Matt finds out, he'll make us go back to the hospital anyway." Shay didn't miss the way Gabby paused when she said Casey's name, before Dawson shook her head and kept walking, the blonde watching her curiously before Gabby finally spoke up.

"I'm fine, Shay. It was nothing." She repeated, Shay's eyes narrowing in confusion as they walked towards the firehouse.

"Wait, Gabby- You're not gonna tell him?" The blonde questioned, stopping their path in the middle of the garage, Gabby releasing a heavy sigh before turning towards her, Shay seeing the almost indignant look on her face. "You need to tell him."

"Tell him what?" She asked rhetorically, Shay shooting her a knowing glare.

"Dawson-"

"It was nothing. We were just helping a patient."

"Yeah, and you got knocked to the ground." She fired back, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before shaking her head.

"I'm fine, Shay. It's just part of the job, this isn't a big deal." She spoke, leaving no room for argument as she continued walking inside, the blonde reluctantly following after her.

When they got inside the firehouse, they saw most of 51 sitting in the common room, Shay's eyes immediately going to Casey as he sat in his usual seat at the head of the table, his head lifting up the second he registered their presence. A bright smile formed over his face, Shay watching as he and Gabby looked at one another, the paramedic seeing his smile grow as they had some sort of silent greeting before Gabby headed off down the hallway.

Based on the look on Casey's face alone, it was clear Gabby hadn't given him any reason to worry, the man looking just as content as he had been before they left for their call, Shay turning to watch Dawson disappear down the hallway before the blonde walked into the common room. Shay earned a few greetings from her friends, the woman reciprocating the gesture as she headed straight for Casey, because despite what Dawson said, she couldn't help but feel like Matt needed to know.

"Hey Shay." Matt spoke when she got to him, Shay pursing her lips together as she stopped beside him, the man's smile faltering slightly when he saw the focused look on her face. "How was the call?"

"You, uh… You should go talk to Dawson." She told him, Shay keeping her voice low as Matt's eyebrows furrowed, his back straightening as uncertainty immediately consumed him.

"What happened?" He pressed, pushing his seat back slightly as the combination of his words and movement gained the attention of some of the firefighters around him.

"I think she might've gotten hurt on our last call, our patient-"

"She's hurt?" He cut her off, his voice a little louder than before as he stood up quickly, everyone in the room turning to look at the two of them as Matt's eyes focused on his friend. "What happened?" He questioned again, Shay drawing in a deep breath before she continued.

"Our patient had a seizure when we were trying to help him… He hit her on accident, and she got pushed to the ground." She explained, Matt pursing his lips together as his eyes moved towards the hallway where Gabby had just been. "And it took her a few seconds to really shake it off, she seems to be hurting a little bit."

"Did she get checked out?" He asked as he took a step past her, Matt already heading in the direction she went as Shay turned to face him.

"No, she didn't… She said she didn't need to." She explained, Matt giving her a slight nod before he hurried out to the hallway, the man walking with a purpose as he left his confused friends in the common room, all of them turning to look at Shay as the woman released a heavy sigh, Severide finally being the first one to speak up.

"Wait- What happened to Dawson?"

Out in the hallway, Matt was unsure of where Gabby went, but he knew there were only a few places she could've been as he tried to keep his worry under control. Stopping by the side door into the bunk room, Matt popped his head into the room, looking around quickly to find it empty before he continued towards the bathroom.

When he stepped inside, he soon found his girlfriend, Matt seeing the first stall door closed as he released a soft breath, the man moving towards the sink to wait for her to finish as he leaned his body weight into the counter. Crossing his arms over his chest, he had a few moments to steady himself, the man knowing he'd definitely gotten a little worked up after what Shay said.

He'd just seen her minutes ago, he knew she couldn't have been too badly hurt. But regardless, he hated the thought of her being in that position at all, the idea of her being hurt by a patient and him not being there leaving a bad feeling in his gut.

It was barely a minute later when Gabby stepped out of the bathroom stall, the woman adjusting her belt before she looked up towards him, Dawson clearly not surprised to see him standing there as she walked up to the counter. Before saying a word, Gabby turned the water on, the paramedic beginning to wash her hands as Matt angled his body towards her, the man trailing his eyes over her form, looking for any sign of injury he could find.

"Based on the look on your face, I'm guessing Shay told you." She finally spoke up as she ran her soapy hands underneath the water, Matt drawing in a deep breath before he reached out to grip her shoulder.

"She said your patient hit you?" He replied, Gabby furrowing her eyebrows slightly as she looked at him. "And that you fell, and seemed a bit hurt."

"He didn't hit me, he just knocked into me when he was seizing." She clarified, Matt nodding slightly.

"But you're hurt?"

"Just sore." She told him as she turned the water off and began to dry her hands. "When I fell, I landed on the curb, so my side is a little sore," She explained, not missing the wince that covered his face, "but I'm fine."

"What about that?" He questioned after she'd turned to face him, Matt nodding towards the red mark on her arm that he was seeing for the first time.

"It's from where I hit the ground." She responded, seeing the worry lines creased over his forehead, Matt's eyes focused on discoloration covering her skin. "...Matt." She spoke, trying to gain his attention, but he had yet to tear his eyes away from her arm. "Babe."

He finally met her gaze, Casey seeing her deep brown eyes watching him as she shook her head slightly.

"I promise you, I'm fine. I would tell you if I wasn't." She said, her voice soft as she reached out to grab his free hand. "This is just a part of the job, it's happened before and it'll happen again. If something were seriously wrong, you'd be the first to know, but I'm fine. Just a little sore." She continued, watching as her boyfriend's face softened before he reluctantly nodded, Gabby tilting her head to the side slightly as a small grin formed over her face. "Nothing that a weekend away with my boyfriend can't fix."

The words left her mouth slowly, Matt releasing a sigh before a slight smile tugged at his lips, Gabby's own grin widening before she stepped closer to him.

"Is that right?" He played along, Gabby nodding as she gave his hand a firm squeeze.

"Mhmm… That'll fix me right up." She continued, Matt pursing his lips together before he nodded, the man sliding his hand on her shoulder down to rub lightly over her arm, Casey being gentle as he grazed the red area along her skin.

"Well, I guess I can't argue with that." He replied, Gabby smiling softly before she lifted up slightly to press a light kiss against his lips, the woman taking advantage of their moment alone as she felt him smile against her before kissing her back.

"Yeah, I didn't think you would." She murmured against him, Gabby kissing him quickly once more before pulling away, finding Matt's eyes focused on her face, the man wearing a look she couldn't read as her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

But before she could question him, the bells rang out once more, calling the entire house to an apartment fire a few blocks away from them, the paramedic blowing out a heavy breath before her and Matt moved towards the door.

"You sure you're up for this?" He asked as they stepped out into the hallway, Gabby giving him a reassuring nod as they headed for the garage.

"I'm good… Promise." She told him, Matt nodding in response as he knew there was no more than needed to be said between them right now as they had to focus their attention on their jobs, though Matt knew he'd be keeping an eye on his girl throughout the rest of their shift, the firefighter needing the extra reassurance that she was in fact okay.

"How are you feeling?"

Gabby turned her head towards her boyfriend as they sat in his truck, the woman having to look away from the beautiful scenery around them as she registered his question; the same question he'd asked her multiple times since yesterday, Gabby knowing she'd be much more annoyed if it wasn't so obvious he was just worried.

Since she told him of the unfortunate incident on call yesterday, Matt hadn't stopped checking in with her, needing to know she was alright. Especially after this morning, when they were leaving shift and Matt noticed she was a little sore, Gabby having been unable to hide it from him, he hadn't stopped checking in on her, her usually attentive boyfriend even more thoughtful than normal.

"I'm fine, babe." She replied softly, Matt tearing his eyes away from the nearly deserted road for a split second before looking back.

"You sure? You're not too uncomfortable or anything? Cause we can pull over for a few minutes, if you need to." He offered, Matt sensing her amused look despite the fact he couldn't see her, the man quick to speak up before she could say anything. "It's just I know your side is still sore," He defended, Gabby smiling softly as she kept her eyes on him, "so if you need to get up and move around a bit, I don't mind to stop." He elaborated, Gabby biting back her slight scoff before shaking her head.

"Aren't we only like ten minutes away?" She questioned back as her nose scrunched up slightly, Matt clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before he responded.

"Still." He deflected, Gabby unable to stop her laugh as Matt glanced to her, both of them smiling wide. "Do you want me to stop?"

"I'm good, Matt. I promise." She told him, Casey nodding before returning his complete attention to the road ahead of him, the man removing one of his hands from the steering wheel and placing it on her thigh, giving her leg a firm squeeze.

The rest of their drive was done in relative silence, Gabby taking in the trees and woods around them while her hand rested on top of Matt's, the woman feeling more and more relaxed as she looked out on their peaceful surroundings. And soon enough, they'd arrived at the cabin Matt had rented for them, the man pulling up the gravel driveway and coming to a stop beside the building, Gabby's smile widening when she took in the cozy, serene cabin in front of them.

From first glance, she could already tell this place was much more than what she ever expected, Gabby continuing to take in her surroundings while Matt killed the engine of his truck.

"You ready to go see the place?" He asked, Gabby nodding before they got out of the vehicle. Matt was quick to grab the suitcase he'd put in the back, the bag holding everything they'd need for the next five days as Gabby held onto her purse. Once they had all their stuff, Matt locked up the truck before they walked on the path up to front steps, Gabby staying a slight step behind her boyfriend as she took in everything around her, the view they had of the lake from the front porch nothing short of incredible as they walked up the steps towards the door.

The porch held a swing, and a few chairs on the opposite side, giving plenty of seating for the two of them to sit out and enjoy the view they had, Gabby breathing in the fresh air as Matt got the door open. Stepping aside, he let her go in first, Gabby stepping up into the cabin before Casey followed behind her.

It was hard for her to hide her surprise as she walked into the spacious cabin, the outside of the building deceiving for just how large this home was as you could see everything from their vantage point.

"Wow." Gabby breathed out as she stepped further in, Matt putting their suitcase down before shutting the door behind them, both of them taking in the beautiful home they'd be staying in the next few days.

The open layout of the cabin gave them the perfect view of the living room, dining room, and kitchen, the huge windows in the living room giving them another fantastic view of the lake, while the up to date home gave them a warm, cozy vibe the second they walked in. But it was hard to appreciate just how nice this cabin was from their spot in the doorway, Gabby adventuring further inside as her and Matt decided to take a little tour.

From the main area of the home, to the huge master bedroom, which also had great views of the lake, along with the incredible bathroom in their room, to the smaller rooms throughout the cabin, it seemed as if this place just kept getting better and better, Gabby more than ready to spend time with her boyfriend here while they took some time just for themselves.

But as they were walking around, Gabby couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt in her gut, the woman knowing this couldn't have been a cheap rental for Matt, even though they were only staying a few days, Dawson suddenly wishing she'd been a little more involved in the process before he paid for this entire thing by himself.

"And there's a hot tub outside in the back." Matt spoke up, Gabby tuning back into their previous conversation about the home as they walked out towards the kitchen.

"Oh yeah?" She asked, Matt turning to face her with a proud grin on his face.

"Yeah… I figured we'd definitely get some use out of that." He spoke shamelessly, Gabby scoffing heavily as they stopped by the counter.

"Maybe if you're lucky." She replied quickly, Matt chuckling before shaking his head slightly, the man running his tongue along the inside of his cheek as Gabby met his gaze.

"Well, let's hope I do… But yeah, there's the hot tub," He repeated, Matt clearly needing to keep the subject moving as Gabby suppressed a laugh, "and I don't know if you saw the dock outside, but they've got a boat." He continued with a soft smile. "I talked to the owners, and it's fine if we take it out, so I figured one or two of these days we could spend the day out on the lake."

"That sounds great, baby." She replied, Matt nodding with a bright, genuine smile.

"Yeah, I thought it would be fun… I'm really looking forward to this, I think it'll be good for us-"

Casey was cut off by Gabby closing the distance between them and grabbing his face with her hands, the woman slamming her lips into his in a heated kiss. She could tell she'd stunned him, Matt taking a few moments to kiss her back, but within seconds he did, his hands moving gingerly towards her waist as he deepened the movements between them, Casey moaning into her mouth as she held onto his face.

They moved together for a few comforting moments, Matt careful to not hold onto her side too tightly as she pressed her body into his, Casey sensing a heaviness behind her actions that he didn't necessarily understand. But the two pulled away when air became a necessity, their chests heaving as Matt raised his eyebrows slightly, clearly unsure as to what he'd done to deserve that.

"You didn't have to do all this." She spoke in between breaths, Matt's face softening before he ran his hand along her hip, the man tilting his head to the side as Gabby stroked her thumb along his cheek.

"I know… But I wanted to." He replied simply, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip. "Things have been hectic for us lately, and then with everything you've been dealing with, everything you've gone through… I just wanted this to be nice for us, and for you." He told her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before sliding her hands down to his chest. "You deserve a break, and a nice weekend like this… I wanted to make sure everything was perfect."

He could barely get the words out before she kissed him again, Matt smiling softly before kissing her as well, their movements much more gentle and tame than seconds before, Gabby nearly melting into him before reluctantly pulling back.

"I love you." She murmured, her words causing Matt's smile to widen as his hands slid around to her back, effectively pulling her closer before he kissed her once more.

"I love you, too."

Matt and Gabby stood together in the kitchen, the couple working on loading up the dishwasher as they'd finished their dinner barely ten minutes ago now, Dawson rinsing off the last plate before handing it to her boyfriend, the man placing it in its rightful spot before closing the dishwasher. It was a little past seven in the evening, Matt blowing out a heavy breath as Gabby grabbed her glass of wine off the counter, the two silently deciding to go sit out in the living room as they continued to wind down for the night.

They'd had a relatively easy first day here, Matt and Gabby having not done much beside settle into the place they were calling home for the next few days. After they'd finished their makeshift tour of the cabin and property earlier in the afternoon, they'd quickly got to work on putting all their things away before they did anything else, Gabby not wanting to live out of their suitcase while they were here. Then once they'd finished that task, they decided to venture out into the small town where they were staying, the two soon ending up at a nice little grocery store only about fifteen minutes from them. They knew they'd need food, and since neither Matt or Gabby had any desire to leave while they were here, they decided to go ahead and get all they'd need during their stay. Then once they'd returned home, they hung out for a little while before starting on dinner, Matt cooking steaks out on the grill while Gabby prepared their other food in the kitchen.

And now that they were done, they were looking forward to having an equally as relaxing evening, Gabby waiting for Matt to sit down in the middle of the couch before she sat down beside him, the woman tucking her body into his while keeping her drink steady in her hand, Matt resting his beer on his leg while wrapping his other arm around her body. Releasing a soft sigh, Gabby took a long sip of her drink before resting her head down against his shoulder, the woman settling into him as the soft music they had playing on the TV surrounded the air around them.

They went minutes without saying a word, the two content to just sit in the comfortable silence together for a little while longer, Matt stroking his thumb along her bare arm as he pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead, the action causing a soft smile to form over her face.

But despite the contentment they felt in this moment, it was soon cut short when Matt's phone began ringing as it sat on the coffee table in front of them, the man releasing a heavy groan before he reluctantly leaned forward, the movement causing him to have to unwrap his arm from around his girlfriend, while Gabby lifted herself up off of him. Placing his drink down on the table, Matt picked up his phone, the man blowing out a soft sigh before glancing back towards Gabby.

"It's my mom." He told her, Gabby nodding in understanding.

This had become somewhat of a common occurrence over the last few weeks, Nancy and Matt speaking to one another a few times during phone calls since he'd covered for her, the mother and son having had more contact recently than they'd had in a long time. And despite Gabby's own apprehension, she'd been supportive of him the entire time. Though her and Nancy hadn't spoken since their fight, if you could call it that, and Gabby still felt a little unsure about the whole thing, and she knew Matt did as well, she'd done all she could to support him reconnecting with his mother, Dawson smiling softly before she gave him a nod.

"You should answer it." She told him, Matt smiling softly before he answered the call, the man putting the phone up to his ear.

"Hey Mom." He spoke, Gabby leaning back against the couch as she reached out to place her hand on his back, the woman rubbing along the back of his shirt gently as he spoke with her. "Yeah, Gabby and I got here fine-... Yeah, we're excited." He answered questions Gabby couldn't really make out, the woman's voice sounding muffled. "Oh, it's okay, we just finished up dinner, but you're fine [...] Yeah, uh-" He cut himself off, Matt glancing back towards Gabby, the woman slightly surprised by the uncertain look on his face, Dawson suddenly feeling like she was intruding on his conversation with his mother as the feeling in the air shifted. "Yeah, no I know what day it is…" He spoke as he turned to face forward, "No, it's fine. But I think I'm working that day, but uh- No, I don't see her. I haven't spoken to her in awhile." He breathed out, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as she continued rubbing her hand over his back as Matt hunched forward, rubbing his hand along the side of his face. "It's okay- No, it's fine. I, uh, I'll call you when I get back to Chicago? [...] Yeah, I will. Alright… Bye Mom."

Matt hung up the phone, the man releasing a heavy sigh as he hung up the call, Casey having yet to look her way again as he placed the device down on the coffee table beside his beer, Gabby not missing how he still seemed to be a little more tense than he had been before he spoke with his mother. But she waited a few minutes before saying anything, Gabby running her tongue along her bottom lip as Matt pressed his hand against his eyes, trying to fend off the headache he felt building in his head.

"Everything okay?" She asked softly, Gabby sliding her hand up to massage the back of his neck, hoping to help alleviate some of the pressure he felt in his body.

Blowing out a heavy sigh, Matt nodded before he sat up a little straighter, the man turning to look at her as he wore a small, weak smile on his face. "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine, babe." He replied, Gabby nodding as she leaned forward to place her drink on the table.

"You sure?" She pressed, her concern evident. She didn't want to push too hard, Gabby well aware that everything with his family, and his mom especially, was a touchy subject for him, but she wanted to know he was alright.

"Yeah, I'm okay… My mom, uh- She was just wanted to see if we could see each other next week, because-" He cut himself off, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing slightly as she shuffled closer towards him, Matt releasing a soft breath before he looked at her. "It's just that it's the anniversary of when my dad…" He trailed off again, an immediate frown forming over her face as she soon understood what he was trying to say. "Of when he died." He finished getting the words out, Gabby's frown deepening as she ran her hand along the back of his neck.

"Baby, I'm so sorry." She spoke softly, her voice settling him as the weak smile returned to his face, Matt waving his hand in the air in front of him before he returned.

"It's okay." He responded, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing in worry as he continued, Matt offering her a slight nod. "I'm fine. I remembered it was coming up soon, and my mom said she meant to ask me earlier, before we left…" He was rambling a bit, Matt clearly trying to gather his thoughts as his mom had brought this up when he wasn't expecting it. "But I guess she's wanting to do something next week, see me or something, on that day- I don't know." He finished, sadness shining in Gabby's gaze as she saw him slowly retreating into that lost man she'd seen when the topic first came up weeks ago. "I'm just sorry she called, and this is..." He cut himself off yet again, Gabby becoming more concerned as he was seemingly more and more unsure. "I know this kind of ruined our little bubble, I didn't mean-"

"Hey, hey, it's fine." Gabby interjected, the woman keeping her voice soft as Matt glanced back up at her. "Don't apologize for this, I know this has to be hard on you. But you never have to be sorry for anything like this." She told him, Matt breathing deeply before he nodded. "I'm just so sorry, Matt. I didn't realize that day was coming up…" She told him, the man shaking his head slightly, knowing she had nothing to apologize for. She didn't know when his dad died, let alone how he died, or that his death wasn't something Matt necessarily mourned.

She didn't know any of that, she barely knew anything about his family, and there was a part of him that hated it, because he felt like he was lying to her. Even though that wasn't entirely the case, he still felt like he was keeping things from her, especially since Antonio knew of his past when she didn't. And though that wasn't his fault, he still felt like it wasn't fair to her. Not when she'd let him in and trusted him with the deepest, most personal and painful aspects of her life, he didn't feel right leaving her in the dark about this.

He just hated that this was a conversation he had to have with her at all.

"Matt."

Gabby's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts, Casey's vision coming into focus as he met her eyes, Matt seeing the obviously worried look coming from his girlfriend as she scratched the back of his neck, the man sensing this wasn't the first time she'd tried to get his attention.

"Yeah, sorry, I just- Got lost in my head, I guess." He admitted, his words doing nothing to relieve her worry as he drew in another breath. "But really, you don't need to feel bad about this, I'm fine."

"Baby, it's okay if you're not fine… This is your dad-"

"Yeah, my dad who was an asshole." He breathed out before he could stop himself, Gabby hearing the anger in his voice as his body tensed up again. Though she immediately knew that anger wasn't directed towards her, Matt's face softening before he ran his hand along his face again. "I'm sorry, it's just- it's the truth, he wasn't a good guy." He continued, Gabby nodding understandingly as she moved as close to him as she could, the woman sensing that they might just finally be getting into whatever it was from his past that left him with such a disdain for his own family.

"Okay." She murmured, Gabby placing her free hand on his thigh, wanting to keep as much contact with him as she could, knowing how much that always helped her in the past when he'd help her through moments like this. "I'm sorry things weren't good with your father." She continued, knowing she needed to handle this carefully, Matt shaking his head slightly before giving her a small smile.

"It's fine. Really, it is… He never- He never was a good guy. From what I remember, he was always an ass." He told her, Matt's voice a little unsteady as he spoke. "He was… just awful, to all of us. But to my mom especially. He was terrible to her, and I- I don't really miss him. If I'm being honest, I don't miss him at all." He spoke, trying to convey what he was feeling as Gabby gave him a compassionate nod. "So him dying, it didn't really affect me that much… But everything that happened because of it-... There's a reason I don't talk about this, and why things with my mom aren't good, and it's all..."

He was barely getting any coherent words out, his mind clearly all over the place as Gabby continued rubbing the back of his neck, Matt leaning into her touch as he took a few steady breaths. "You can talk to me." She nearly whispered, gaining his attention once more. "If you want to talk about this, I'm here." She promised him, Matt sighing softly before his eyes moved forward.

He knew he could talk to her, about anything. He didn't doubt that for a second. And he also knew he couldn't keep putting this conversation off; he didn't want to keep anything from her, he wanted her to know what had happened. For the first time, he had someone he knew he could completely trust with this, someone who he could be open and honest with. But even though he knew that, he was still a little scared. Because, his own issues aside, he knew this would hit close to home for Gabby, and the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her.

But he also knew she wouldn't want him keeping this from her because of her. She wouldn't want him to feel like he couldn't come to her, and that knowledge is what made him open his mouth once more, Matt looking back towards her before he spoke up.

"My dad… he didn't just die." He started, Gabby's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she waited for him to continue. "He was killed."

Matt saw the initial look of shock that covered her face before it soon morphed into devastation, Gabby's emotions shining in her eyes as she shook her head sadly, Casey knowing she was about to start apologizing for what happened to his father. But he continued before she could, Matt knowing he just needed to get the words out, his voice stunning her to completely silence as the few words left his lips.

"...He was killed by my mom."

Well, we're finally getting into Matt's history with his mom, and, what I think you all are more interested in, is how Gabby will react to it. I know a lot of you figured Matt's family background was similar to how it was on the show, so next chapter we'll be seeing how Gabby handles it. But I hope you all enjoyed this one, and are looking forward to their time away together, thank you so much for reading! It means everything to me that you all are still interested in this story, so thank you, for still supporting me. I'm so, so, grateful to you all for that.

I'll see you all next time. Stay safe, everyone.