Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all, I hope you enjoy it and I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Part of this chapter is M Rated, just so you all know.

Thanks for reading!

SIXTY FOUR

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

Gabby's breath caught in her throat as the words left his lips, the woman unsure of if she'd heard him correctly as her eyebrows furrowed tightly, her previous look of hurt long gone as confusion settled across her features.

There was a thick silence between them, Matt keeping his eyes on his girlfriend as hers darted around, Gabby having to force herself to take a breath as she tried to grasp what he'd just said. But she still wasn't entirely sure she'd heard him correctly, Gabby finally meeting his gaze once more as neither of them said a word.

It wasn't until Gabby finally found her voice that they broke the quiet they were in, though her thoughts were still a little jumbled.

"I- Your mom… She what?" She stuttered out, Gabby clearly needing another moment to wrap her mind around he'd just confessed to her, Matt wincing slightly before she shook her head. "Sorry, I'm sorry-" She quickly spoke, the fog her mind was in beginning to clear as she saw his reaction to her words, Dawson knowing she needed to be careful about how she handled this. "I'm sorry, I just… Wasn't expecting that." She apologized once more, Matt shaking his head before giving her a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"It's okay… I know I just sprung this on you, and I- this is a lot to drop on you, and I'm sorry. But I didn't want to keep this from you anymore…" He told her, Gabby nodding understandingly as her sad gaze focused on him. "I want to be honest with you about this, especially after all of this with my mom has come up, but I-" He cut himself off, Matt tearing his eyes away from her before hanging in his head down in his hands, a deep frown soon forming over her face when she felt his back tense underneath her hand, Gabby hating to see him looking so hurt.

She remained quiet as he took a few deep breaths, Gabby letting him work through whatever he needed to as she continued to rub his back. Her focus shifted solely to comforting him, the woman pushing aside her confusion and shock the best she could, all rational thought telling her there had to be a story there, for Nancy to have done what she did, as she kept her eyes on her boyfriend while he sat hunched forward.

With her hand still pressed firmly on his back, she felt him take a deep breath, her worried eyes tracing over his form as he ran his hand over his face, the man taking a few more breaths before he spoke up, her voice a little hard to hear as he was still facing the ground.

"That's why she was in prison." He murmured, Gabby nodding softly despite the fact he had yet to look at her. "She killed him, when I was in high school."

He finally lifted his head up to look at her, Gabby immediately seeing the hesitation mixed with pain shining in his eyes, the woman placing her other hand on his leg before squeezing his thigh gently, trying to give him all the reassurance she could.

"What happened, baby?" She questioned, figuring that was the easiest place for him to start, as her question gave him a out. It gave him the chance to share as much, or as little, with her as he wanted to, Matt drawing in a shallow, shaky breath as he clenched his hands together in front of him.

"My dad, uh… I've told you he wasn't a good guy. But he really wasn't a good guy. He was-" He cut himself off once more, Matt wincing at the words that he knew he needed to say, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing as she noticed how much more tense he'd become.

"What is it?" She asked softly, giving his thigh another squeeze as Matt looked to her.

"...He was abusive." He spoke unsteadily, Matt watching as she processed the words he'd said. He saw the way her body immediately tensed, the word alone getting a reaction out of her, one that he hated to see, before she quickly masked it, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded. After the initial shock wore off, a deep look of sadness covered her features, Matt feeling as if he could see her heart breaking in her chest. "He, uh… He used to hit my mom. For as long as I can remember, he was always abusive."

Gabby nodded once more, the woman swallowing the thick lump in her throat before she spoke up. "Did he ever… Did he hurt you?" She questioned, like she was afraid of the answer, Gabby wishing more than anything that this hadn't happened to him as a child.

"No." He told her, Gabby releasing an immediate breath of relief, Matt nodding sadly. "Not physically, at least. He only ever hit my mom." He elaborated quietly, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded once more.

"I'm so sorry, Matt." She murmured as they locked gazes once more, Matt breathing shakily as he nodded once more.

"Yeah, it had just… It had been going on for a long time, and I- I don't know how she put up for it as long as she did. And I… I know she tried. She tried to deal with it, and they had separated. She was trying to start over, but he still just… He managed to always get back into her life, into our lives. And some of the things he'd say to me, and to Christie- I think that pushed her over the edge more than what he did to her. The way he treated us, she couldn't stand it and she just… Snapped." He rambled out, Matt's mouth moving faster than his head as he laid it all out there, Gabby listening to every word. "My mom, she's not a violent person. She never has been. But everyone has their limits, and the day she did it, my dad, he'd… He'd been awful to me, and my mom heard it and everything just… It blew up. And she killed him."

Gabby drew in a deep breath as she tried to digest everything he'd just told her, Matt turning forward as his admission hung in the air around them.

"I…" She stuttered, unsure of what to say as she was still trying to process everything, Matt glancing back towards her before giving her an understanding look.

"I know… It's a lot… And that's part of why I never said anything, because I… I don't like getting into it, and reliving all of it." He continued, Gabby nodding slowly as she figured it best to just let him talk. "Because... if I'm being honest, I don't blame her for what she did." He said, those words causing her back to straighten as their eyes stayed locked on one another. "I don't… And part of me even understands it. But what she did, it tore our family apart. My dad was gone, and my sister hated my mom for what happened… And that drove a wedge between Christie and I, because she couldn't understand how I didn't completely blame her for what she did, and it was like one day, I had two parents and my sister, and then the next day I had no one." He breathed out, his words getting more and more unsteady as tears filled Gabby's eyes, the woman continuing to rub his back as her desire to comfort him took over.

"I'm sorry, baby." She repeated again, Gabby not knowing what else there was she could say as Matt heard the pain in her voice, the man giving her yet another weak smile as tears filled his own eyes, as well.

"It's okay… But after that happened, it just… didn't really feel like I had a family anymore. I was alone, and kind of always was, until Hallie… But even that, I never told her the whole story and it just-" He cut himself off, Gabby wincing as Matt drew in a deep breath, both of them knowing just how terribly that all ended. "Nothing was ever the same after my mom killed him, especially not with my family, and I think I started to resent her because of that… Her and I, we were never super close. Even before all of this, we never had a strong relationship, but her doing what she did, it completely tore us apart, and that's why things between her and I are so tense, because while I understand why she did it, the fallout from it…" He trailed off yet again, Matt shaking his head as his thoughts became jumbled in his mind, Gabby leaning forward to rest her chin on his shoulder as she did what she could to give him any source of comfort.

"You were a kid, Matt… A kid who's entire life got turned upside down. You don't have to explain why you felt the way you did, or why you still hold onto those feelings towards your mom." She told him, Matt drawing in a deep breath as he listened to her words. "Because even if you can see why she did it, it doesn't change the fact that her choices still affected you… And that's more than any person should ever have to deal with, especially on their own." She continued sadly, Matt reaching out to grab onto her hand that was resting on his leg, the man giving it a firm squeeze.

"And I… I wasn't there, to know what all happened to your mom, but I can see why you'd understand why she did it." She continued, her words gaining his attention as he ran his thumb along the back of her hand. "As, um… As someone who's been there, in that position," She started, Matt's eyes falling closed for a split second as he instinctively tightened his grip on her hand, "I can understand the impulse, to just want it all to stop. And how you'd be willing to do anything to get it to stop… I'm not saying I'd do what she did, but I can understand it. So I know why you feel that way." She told him, Gabby wanting to make sure he knew he wasn't alone in how he felt about this entire thing, though she knew she could only do so much to help him. "And I'm sorry it caused problems between you and your sister, but you're not wrong for how you feel. You're allowed to understand it, while also hating what it did to you, baby."

Nodding slowly, Matt gave her hand another squeeze, the man taking a few more breaths as she ran her hand along his shoulder, Gabby trying to be as supportive as she could be given the situation.

"Thank you." He murmured, Gabby giving him another nod as her fingers played with the hairs on the base of his neck, knowing how that usually calmed him, her mind going back to a few words he'd said earlier. And while she wasn't sure if now was the time to press him on it, she couldn't help but want to make sure he wasn't holding anything back, not from her.

"What, uh… what was the other reason?" She questioned after a break in the conversation, a blank look covering his face as she spoke. "Why you didn't say anything sooner? You said it being hard was part of it, I didn't know if there was anything else…" She said softly, Matt pursing his lips together as his back tightened, Casey not realizing his own words until she'd commented on them.

Gabby felt the shift in his demeanor instantly, a wave of confusion rushing through her, but she stayed quiet nonetheless, Dawson not wanting to force anything as she waited for him to feel comfortable saying whatever it was.

"I, uh… I wanted to tell you, but I was a little nervous to." He started slowly, Gabby nodding slightly as she pulled her head back so she could get a better look at him. "Just cause I didn't know how you'd react, or feel about what she did," He told her, Matt knowing he couldn't continue to tiptoe around the subject, the man breathing in slowly before he locked eyes with her, "...After everything you went through with Walker."

He heard her breath catch in her throat slightly, Matt sure the action was involuntary as he tightened his grip on her hand, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing together slightly before she took a slow, deep breath.

"My mom being in a similar situation as you had been, I didn't know if that would bring up bad memories for you, or be hard to hear about after everything you went through. And the last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you, so I kind of put it off." He admitted, Gabby running her tongue along the inside of her cheek as she tried to figure out how to best respond to him.

"I… Matt, I don't want you feeling like you can't come to me about stuff, especially something like this, just because of what Bryan did." She told him softly as she worked on gathering her thoughts, Matt nodding immediately. "No matter what's happened with me, you can always talk to me."

"I know." He murmured, Matt lifting her hand up off his leg so he could lace their fingers together, as Gabby never took her eyes off of him. "And I knew you probably felt that way, even Antonio said so, I just- I was so afraid of upsetting you, that's the last thing I ever want." He continued, Gabby's eyebrows raising as she got hung up on one word in particular.

"Wait, Antonio- My brother knows?" She questioned, confusion laced in her voice as Matt released a soft sigh, the man nodding before he spoke up.

"He does… He's known for a long time, though I didn't know that." He responded, Casey sensing his girlfriend was no less confused than she'd been seconds prior. "He, uh- He found out when he looked into me, after the rumors about Hallie…" Matt explained, an understanding look soon covering her face. "He found out then, but I didn't know until recently that he'd known all this time… But he said the same thing, that you wouldn't want me keeping this from you, and I didn't want to either, it's all just- A lot to deal with." He breathed out, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded. "And then there was a part of me…"

"What?" She questioned when he had yet to continue, Matt lifting his free hand up to run along the side of his face before he spoke up.

"I guess there was a part of me that was worried that once you found out about my dad, after everything you went through with Bryan… that you'd worry I was like them." His words were barely audible, Matt almost afraid to say them as he forced himself to look at her, the man seeing different emotions play out across her face before she landed on one, his heart sinking into his stomach when he saw the look of complete devastation cover her face. "I know we talked about this after everything with Hallie, but I was afraid that once you knew about my dad, that you'd-... I just didn't want to give you any reason to think I might turn into him, because I won't."

"Matt-"

"I'd never hurt you." He cut her off, Matt needing to get this all out as more tears welled in both their eyes. "But I knew when I told you, you'd have every right to be worried. But I-"

"Baby." She was the one to cut him off this time, Casey drawing in a shaky breath before looking towards her, Gabby gripping his hand tightly in hers. "Listen to me… That is not something I'm worried about, okay?" She told him, and she could practically feel his entire body relax as a look of relief flashed in his eyes. "I know what kind of man you are, and I know you'd never do anything to hurt me… You're not your father."

The second she said those words, a few tears escaped down his cheeks, Gabby soon understanding just how badly he needed to hear that from her. And it broke her heart.

"You're not him. And that is not something I'd ever worry about, okay?" She reassured him once more, Gabby moving her hand off his neck to reach up and wipe away some of his tears, the man nodding slowly as a soft frown formed over her face. "Come here." She murmured, her words all the invitation he needed as he leaned towards her, his head resting against her chest as she adjusted them to sit back against the couch, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as he held onto her with everything he had.

Sitting there in the heavy silence, Gabby couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her gut at what all Matt had gone through, her boyfriend having dealt with more in his life than she could've ever imagined, and it felt like a knife to the heart at how this had all so clearly affected him. Not even just his father being abusive, or what his mother did to make it stop, but how he'd been carrying it around for his entire life. How he was worried about turning into the man his dad was; she couldn't imagine what that had been like for him, especially when people made up those rumors about him and Hallie.

And that thought alone nearly shattered her heart, his reaction to everything that had transpired from the house being told those lies all those months ago suddenly making even more sense, though she hated that it had even happened in the first place. She just hated all of it, as she felt his body trembling underneath her grasp, Gabby tightening her grip on him as she pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head.

As they continued to sit here, all she wanted in this moment was to take his pain away. She would give anything to be able to do that, but she couldn't. All she could do was hold him, and let him know she wasn't going anywhere. That she would always be there for him.

So that's exactly what she did.

Casey released a soft groan as he slowly came into consciousness, the man gradually becoming more and more aware as he was pulled from his peaceful rest, Matt stretching out his back as he opened his eyes. He had to blink a few times to adjust to the light, the amount of brightness in the room telling him it was pretty late in the morning as he blew out a soft sigh, Casey surprised at just how at ease he felt in this moment, especially after the heavy conversation from last night, Matt not really even remembering them coming to bed. But he knew his relaxed state was for one reason, and one reason alone, and that was because of the woman lying next to him.

Turning his head over, an immediate smile formed over his face as he took in the state of his girlfriend still sleeping soundly on the pillow beside him. She was lying on her back, but angled towards him slightly as her hands were curled up against her chest, her hair all over the place indicating she'd had a good night's rest, his smile only growing as he watched her sleep.

It was something he'd done before, Matt never hesitating to watch her while she rested, the man knowing she'd done the same thing to him before, but there was just something about how calm she looked. How she was completely at ease; there was something about it that filled him with a warmth he couldn't explain, Matt wishing more than anything she could be this content all the time. Though with everything they had going on, he knew that was nearly impossible.

So he relished in these moments whenever he got them, Matt releasing a soft breath as he reached over to brush some of her hair from her face, Gabby turning into his hand slightly in her sleep, the action causing his grin to widen before he stroked his hand along her cheek, his eyes tracing over the face of the woman he loved more than anything else in this world, that fact only solidified by what happened the night before.

She taken finding out about his family better than he could've ever hoped for, especially after all she'd been through, and he couldn't help but feel like he didn't know what he'd done to deserve her. To deserve someone so caring, and kind; someone who loved him unconditionally. Who stood by his side no matter what. In all the time they'd known each other, in the time they'd been together, he still had no idea what he'd done to be worthy of someone like her. But all he did know was that he never wanted to take what they had for granted, he never wanted to take her for granted. Because she was the most amazing woman he'd ever known, and he never wanted her to forget it.

Blowing out another content breath, Matt turned to lay on his side so he was facing her completely, the man reaching out to place his hand on her stomach, her body covered by his t-shirt as he gently ran his palm back and forth over her, her chest rising and falling steadily with each breath she took. But his touch alone wasn't enough to pull her from her sleep, Matt smiling softly as he slid his hand over to her side, gently pulling her a little closer to him, the man biting back a chuckle as he heard her groan, Gabby clearly not liking being pulled from her restful sleep.

She instinctively turned towards him, Gabby seeking out his warmth as he slid his arm around to her back, his hand sliding up underneath her shirt to rest against her bare skin as she dug her head into his chest, Gabby groaning once more as she ran her leg against his underneath the comforter.

"Good morning." She murmured, Matt feeling her warm breath hitting his bare chest before she pressed a kiss against his skin while he ran his hand over her back, the feeling of his skin on hers sending a slight shiver through her spine.

"Morning." He responded, his voice a little groggy as he had yet to speak since waking up minutes ago.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, the tenderness to her words filling his chest with warmth while she curled her arms in between them, their bodies molding together perfectly as they laid on his side of the bed.

"I'm okay." He responded after releasing a heavy breath, Matt keeping his voice low to not disturb the peaceful feeling around them, Gabby pressing another kiss to his collarbone before she pulled back slightly, Casey loosening his grip to give her room to move.

Before saying a word, her eyes traced over his face, Matt seeing the slight look of worry etched into her features before her gaze locked with his. "Yeah?" She questioned, Matt nodding with a soft smile.

"Yeah." He replied quietly, his response bringing a small smile to her face as she brought her hand up to cup his cheek, Gabby rubbing her thumb across his cheekbone slowly. "I'm alright, babe." He added, Matt turning his head to the side to press a lingering kiss against her palm before facing her once more.

"Good." She spoke, Gabby rubbing her hand along his cheek once more before she leaned forward to capture his lips in a gentle kiss, Matt smiling against her before he reciprocated her movements. He used the hand on her back to pull her closer, her chest pressed against his as their legs tangled together, the two gradually deepening their movements as Matt felt that familiar feeling of desire build within him. And based on their close proximity, he was sure Gabby could feel it, too.

Without breaking their kiss, Matt rolled them over, the man effectively pinning Gabby underneath him as a low moan escaped the back of her throat, the two beginning to lose more and more of themselves. Gabby's hands moved around to rest on his lower back, her nails lightly digging into his skin as his kisses trailed across her jaw down to her neck, Dawson gasping for air as he surely left his marks along her body.

But it soon became clear he was not happy with the amount of clothing still in between them, Gabby teasing the waistband of his boxers before he suddenly pulled back, the woman seeing a hunger in his eyes that she knew well, the sight alone causing heat to pool in her stomach. Huffing out a heavy breath, Matt made quick work of his shirt on her body, the man being careful with her while simultaneously yanking the material from her, leaving her in nothing but a pair of underwear as he guided her back down onto the mattress.

The second he could, his hands were on her, his warm palms moving over her sides up towards her chest, Gabby biting down on her lip as he teased her sensitive skin before gripping her breasts in his hands, his gaze locked solely on her body while she watched him take a moment to admire her. And this was a view he'd never get tired of as he hovered above her, Matt moving his hands back down her sides to give him an unobstructed view of her before his eyes found hers, Gabby seeing nothing but pure love and admiration shining back at her.

Silently, she smiled up at him, Matt reciprocating the gesture before he leaned back down towards her, the man capturing her lips in a slow, sensual kiss before he began trailing his lips back down her body. He made sure to leave no part of her untouched as he gave her the appreciation she deserved, Gabby's low moans and heavy breaths filling the thick air around them as he focused his attention on her chest. He moved slowly, Matt taking his time as his mouth switched back and forth between breasts, Gabby running her hands through his hair as she let him work.

While his lips stayed focused on her chest, his hand slid down her stomach, Matt pausing momentarily as a smirk formed across his face when he felt her muscles tighten underneath his touch, the man clearly proud of the reaction he elicited from her before he continued on. Gabby's breath caught in her throat when she felt him toying with the edge of her underwear, before his hand slowly disappeared underneath the material, Dawson biting down roughly on the inside of her cheek as he moved his hand lightly over her.

He continued teasing her for a few moments, but it wasn't until he slid a lone finger inside of her that a deep moan escaped her lips, Matt moving slowly while peppering her chest with kisses, his steady pace slowly increasing the heat building in the pit of her stomach as she pushed her hips down the bed, clearly trying to help his movements. But he continued on at the same near tortuous pace as he slid another finger inside of her, Gabby breathing deeply as she focused on the desire he was stirring within her.

But still, it wasn't enough to get her to where she wanted to be, and he knew it, Gabby scratching her fingers along the back of his neck as she felt him slowly speed up, though it still wasn't enough.

"Matt…" She murmured, the desperation in her voice evident as Matt released his grip on her chest with a soft pop before looking up at her, sending that overwhelming sense of need burning in her eyes. His hand continued to move methodically as they stared at one another, Gabby only breaking eye contact when he changed his angle and brushed against that spot inside of her, the action causing her eyes to close as her head fell back against the pillows.

But after a few moments, he stopped, Matt going back to his slow, rhythmic movements as a frustrated pant escaped her lips, Gabby pushing her hips up against him as Casey looked towards her.

"Baby." She pleaded, Matt smirking softly before he withdrew his hand completely, the man knowing he'd teased her enough as he pressed a gentle kiss over her breastbone before adjusting his positioning on the bed. Within moments, he'd removed his boxers, as well as her underwear, before settling his body in between her legs, the two finding that familiar position together as his chest pressed into hers, Matt reaching down in between them to slowly guide himself into her.

He gave her a moment to adjust as she drew in a sharp breath, Matt pressing a soft, open mouthed kiss against her neck as he reached out to grab her hand, Casey lacing his fingers through hers as their conjoined hands rested on the bed up by her head. Lifting his head up slightly, Matt met her eyes, Gabby giving him a nod of assurance before she kissed him slowly, Casey taking that as all the confirmation he needed before he began to slowly thrust in and out of her.

There was nothing rough or frantic about their movements, Gabby's legs hooked up around his waist to keep him close as they moved together, her free hand coming up to rest on his back as he gave her other hand a squeeze. And in this moment, they were focused on nothing but each other, Matt and Gabby doing everything in their power to show the other just how loved and appreciated they were, both of them wanting this time together to last as long as possible.

Matt listened to the soft sound of music coming from Gabby's phone as he took another bite of the sandwich he'd prepared before leaving the cabin, the warm sun beating down on them as they sat in the boat out on the lake. It was a peaceful afternoon, the water not too busy as their secluded cabin in the sparsely populated area gave them the quiet they were looking for, the couple not having seen too many people drive by since they ventured out into the water a few hours ago.

After their long, and much needed, morning in bed together, Matt and Gabby quickly decided that today would be the perfect day to spend out on the boat, the warm weather not too unbearable to be out in the sun all day. So once they'd finally drug themselves out of bed, they decided to wash up and get a quick breakfast before leaving, though that task ended up getting interrupted by Matt and his apparent need for her, which admittedly had taken Gabby a little bit by surprise.

With their prolonged morning in bed together, and even more time spent teasing one another in the shower, the last thing she expected was for Matt to be ready to go yet again while they were getting ready to leave. But she quickly found out just how wrong she'd been as she was out in the kitchen in her bathing suit for all of five minutes before she ended up leaned over the counter as Matt stood behind her, part of her swimsuit on the ground as he reminded her yet again just how much love he had for her.

And while that wasn't really how either of them entirely expected their morning to go, you wouldn't hear either of them complaining as they made great use of all this time just for the two of them, which was exactly what this trip was for.

And now sitting here out on the boat, he couldn't help but feel even more grateful they'd found the time to do this, Matt's eyes trailing over Gabby's bikini-glad form as she laid out along the back of the boat, his girl soaking in as much of the sun as she could. And he was all for it, Matt not minding the view one bit as she laid only a few feet from him.

Taking another bite of his mid-afternoon lunch, Matt's gaze moved up from her body back to her face, a sheepish grin covering his features when he saw her staring at him. Her eyebrows were raised in question, Gabby clearly having seen his watchful eye on her while he ate, the man's grin morphing into a proud one as he relaxed back into his seat.

"Hi beautiful." He spoke before she could say anything, Matt wiping off the mustard he felt on the side of his mouth as Gabby released a light scoff, the woman shaking her head as she lifted herself up to rest on her elbows, her sunglasses partially blocking her face from view.

"You wanna take a picture?" She questioned as she cocked her head to the side challengingly, Matt running his tongue along his bottom lip as he raised his eyebrows. "It'll last longer."

"Oh, I absolutely want a picture of this." He spoke without hesitation, Gabby shaking her head in amusement before pushing herself up, Matt's eyes never leaving her form. "In fact, I'll take a few pictures right now, if you'll let me."

Chuckling softly, Gabby swung her legs around to rest on the bench seat across the back of the boat, the woman pulling her sunglasses down slightly so he could see her.

"Put your tongue back in your mouth, Casey." She taunted him, Matt drawing in a deep breath before clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"I was just answering your question, babe." He replied gently, Gabby unable to stop the slight smile that tugged at her lips. "And also that wasn't a no." He added proudly, Gabby grazing her teeth over her bottom lip before she pushed herself up and walked over towards the driver's seat where he was sitting, Matt immediately reaching out to rest his free hand over her bare side once she was close enough.

"No, it wasn't a no." She replied knowingly, Matt feeling his mouth go dry before he swallowed the thick lump in his throat, Gabby reaching over to grab his beer before picking it up and taking a long sip. "And maybe later we can do that, but you'll have to wait until we get back to the cabin… I'm not trying to get arrested." She added with a light laugh, Matt trying to push down his excitement at the thought of getting back to their temporary home as he nodded.

"Fair enough… cause if we get arrested for public indecency, the house will never let us live it down. Especially not Shay." He responded with a chuckle, Gabby nodding in agreement before taking another sip.

"Yeah, we're not tempting that." She spoke, taking one last drink before placing his beer back down, Matt reaching down into the cooler for her sandwich.

"You hungry?" He asked, Gabby thinking over his question before she nodded, Matt handing her the food before she sat down on the seat directly across from him, the man reaching down to grab another beer from the cooler and taking the cap off before handing it to her, earning a thankful nod from his girlfriend before they both continued eating.

But as they ate, it wasn't hard for Gabby to notice how quiet Matt had gotten within the last few minutes, the man staring off into the distance as he slowly ate his late lunch, the woman trying to decide whether or not to question it. This had happened a few times since last night; Matt seemingly going off into his own little world. She noticed it this morning before their shower, and again when they were getting ready to leave, as well as a few times since they'd been out on the lake. She wasn't even sure if he realized he was doing it, but she couldn't help but worry a little bit. But before she could say anything, he seemingly snapped out of it.

"So, I was thinking that maybe tomorrow we could venture into town a little bit," He spoke up, Matt meeting her eyes as she took another bite of her lunch, Gabby nodding in agreement. "I know we talked about just staying at the cabin, but I saw a few restaurants during the drive that looked interesting, maybe we could go check one of those out if you want."

"Sounds good." She responded, Matt smiling softly before he gave her a nod of his own, the man returning his attention back towards his food. But Gabby still was hung up on his prolonged silence earlier, the woman drawing in a deep breath before she spoke up. "You doing okay, baby?" She questioned, her words gaining his attention once more as he raised his eyebrows. "You just seem a little quiet."

"I'm fine... Just thinking." He told her, Gabby waiting for more of an explanation as he took a second to gather his thoughts. "Or trying not to think, I guess... About this stuff with my dad." He admitted, not missing the sad look that covered his girlfriend's face, but he continued on, Matt knowing he could be honest with her. "This time of year is always a little hard, and with my mom around again- I don't know, I'm just trying not to focus on it." He breathed out, Gabby nodding understandingly before placing her food down on the seat beside her.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" She asked, Matt thinking over her words before he shook his head.

"Honestly? I just wanna enjoy our time together, and not focus on stuff with my family." He replied, Gabby giving him an immediate nod.

"Then that's what we'll do." She told him, the woman pushing herself up from her seat to walk over to him, Matt placing his food down before she sat down in his lap, her arm wrapping around his neck as his circled around her waist to keep her close, Casey a little surprised by her action, though he'd never complain about it. "But you know I'm here, if you need to talk."

"I know you are." He replied, Matt leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against her lips, his nose scrunching up slightly as her usual scent was masked by a thick layer of sunscreen. "I love you." He murmured against her, Gabby smiling softly before she kissed him again quickly.

"I love you, too." She told him, Gabby running her hand along his back as she saw his smile widen slightly, his hand rubbing gently along her tender side before she spoke up once more. "So, what do you say we finish up our food, then we can get back out in the water?" She suggested.

"Sounds good, babe." He replied, Gabby soon seeing that familiar smug look return to his face, along with the recognizable gleam in his eye before he spoke up once more. "And then when we get back, we can see about getting some of those pictures I was promised." He added with a slight smirk, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip before shaking her head, her reaction getting a laugh out of him before he went back to his food, the woman just glad to see him acting a little more like himself despite the heaviness around them, even if it was at her expense.

Their heavy pants and moans could be heard throughout the room as Gabby rolled off of Matt, her body still trembling slightly from euphoric sensations that had just coursed through her body, Casey immediately pulling her into his side as her head rested on his chest, both of them working on steadying their sporadic breathing. Matt was running his hand lazily up and down her bare side, Gabby tracing her fingers along his stomach as heat radiated off of both of them, Matt pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head as he felt himself slowly start to calm down.

"I think that's gonna have to be it for today." He breathed out after a few minutes of silence, Gabby chuckling in amusement as he lifted his hand up to scratch her head, the woman nuzzling further into his chest as she tightened her grip around his waist.

"What? You finally tire yourself out?" She questioned from the security of his hold, Matt smiling as he continued running his hand through her hair, the man scratching her scalp gently. "Because you seemed fine when I was trying to enjoy some time to myself in the hot tub earlier," She started, Matt smirking shamelessly as memories of only two hours ago flashing through his head as he recalled himself joining her in the hot tub. While Gabby had planned on having a nice, relaxing evening outside after dinner, when Matt decided to join her it soon became the opposite, the man wanting to make good on those pictures of her he was promised. And what started out as some relatively harmless fun ended with Gabby's bathing suit on the deck beside the hot tub, Matt's own suit soon following before they headed inside to finish what they'd started. "And again on the couch." She added, Gabby clearly enjoying teasing him as he raised his eyebrows, Matt releasing a soft scoff before responding.

"And here I was thinking you would've been more impressed by my stamina." He replied, Gabby grinning against him before she ran her hand along his side.

"Oh trust me, I am." She responded, Matt smiling as he scratched her head once more.

"Just give me until tomorrow, and I'll be back into fighting shape… Well, maybe tomorrow night." He told her, Gabby laughing once more before she nodded against him, the woman pressing one last kiss to his chest before she disentangled her body from his, Gabby making her way to the bathroom while Matt stayed in bed.

She wasn't gone too long, but while he had a moment alone, it was impossible for his mind not to wander, a seemingly permanent smile covering his face as his head was full of nothing but thoughts of his girlfriend. And he'd have it no other way.

In the day and a half they'd been away on this trip, Matt already felt like this had done wonders for them. Even with all the talk about his family last night and today, and Matt finally getting that out in the open, it hadn't ruined anything between them. Gabby had taken it in stride, his girlfriend being more understanding than he himself even realized he needed, just further showing him why he was so in love with this woman. And with this trip away, he couldn't help but feel like they were closer than they'd ever been.

The sound of her footsteps against the floor pulled him from his thoughts, Matt looking towards the bathroom door just as she walked through it, his eyes instinctively trailing over her bare form as a shy smile covered her face, Gabby walking back towards him and crawling into bed, Casey immediately pulling her back towards him. Reclaiming her spot against his side, Gabby cuddled herself into him, regaining some of the warmth she'd lost when she got up, Matt reaching down to grab the sheet and lifting it up over them to cover her, Gabby's hand wrapping around his side as they relaxed into the mattress.

There was a sense of calmness that washed over them, the man rubbing his hand along her arm as they laid together, Matt focusing on the feeling of her chest rising and falling against his side while he stared up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure how much time had passed with them saying nothing, Matt not even entirely sure she was still awake as the late hour, combined with their eventful day left them both a little exhausted. But when he felt her shift against him, Gabby tightening her hold on his waist, he knew she was still awake, Matt smiling softly as he continued stroking her arm, the man eventually saying the first words that came into his mind.

"Do you ever think about it?"

His seemingly random question caused her to furrow her eyebrows, Gabby tilting her head up slightly to look at him. "Think about what?" She asked softly, Matt grinning down at her before she pushed herself up to get a better look at him, the man reaching out to squeeze her arm gently.

"How if one thing from that night had been any different, we might not be where we are right now." He told her, his words only confusing her further as she was having a hard time following him, Matt's smile widening before he continued. "The night we met… How we met, and how everything went after." He elaborated, Gabby gnawing on her bottom lip before she eventually spoke up.

"Where is this coming from?" She asked, Matt shrugging slightly before he released a soft breath.

"It's just been on my mind a lot these last few weeks… Or months, really. But especially since all this stuff with my mom started, and how you've been there for me through all of it… I don't know if I could've gotten through that without you. And it's just got me thinking about how I can't imagine not having you in my life at all." He told her, Matt doing his best to explain where his head was at as she listened to his every word. "But if things had been any different… if we hadn't met the night we did, if we didn't meet until I started working at 51, we might not have gotten here."

He paused for a moment, his silence giving Gabby the chance to really think over his words as he continued rubbing her arm, his eyes locked on her as she rested her hand over his chest, Matt offering him another smile before he spoke again.

"I don't know, I've just been thinking about us a lot lately… About how damn grateful I am for you, and all you've done for me. And it's just made me appreciate everything that happened for us to get where we are… Because while I know we hurt each other, and I wish some things had been easier, I'm just thankful we're here now. And that I get to love the most incredible woman in the world, and that she loves me back." He finished, Gabby feeling her heart swell in her chest as his words washed over her.

It took her a moment to gather her thoughts, Matt having taken her by surprise with his genuine and heartfelt words, the man continuing to watch her as she leaned forward, pressing a firm, heated kiss to his lips. Matt matched her passion immediately as his hand slid around to her back, holding her close to him while his other brushed some stray hair behind her ear.

When air became an issue, they pulled back, Matt stroking his thumb along her cheek as they caught their breath, Gabby smiling softly as their eyes locked on one another.

"I feel the same way, baby." She spoke in between breaths, her words causing a warm grin to form over his face. "Everything you said, I feel the same… If we'd met any differently, I don't know if we'd be where we are right now. But I'm so glad we are." She told him, her words not coming as easily as his, but she did her best, Matt nodding softly. "And how you said you didn't know if you could've gotten through everything with your mother without me… that's how I feel with you. Everything with Bryan, I-" She cut herself off, Matt drawing in a deep breath as he ran his hand comfortingly along her back. "I've told you this before, but there's not a doubt in my mind that the only reason I was able to get past all of that was because of you." She told him, Matt smiling sadly before he nodded. "So I'm with you, babe… No matter what happened between us when we first met, I'm thankful it all happened the way it did."

She was barely able to get the words out before he crashed his lips into hers yet again, Matt pulling her down towards him as her weight partially rested on top of him, Gabby sliding her hand up to his neck as his arm held her tightly around her back, the two holding onto one another like their lives depended on it as he deepened the kiss. It had stunned her for a moment, but she was quickly able to recover as they moved together, Gabby feeling every ounce of love he had for her in just this one kiss.

"I love you so much." He whispered against her lips once they'd finally pulled back, Gabby smiling softly as she moved back enough to get a look at him, Matt's eyes shining up at her. "More than you'll ever know."

"I love you, too." She responded, their bright smiles matching one another's before Gabby leaned down to kiss him once more, the couple relaxing into the bed as they held onto one another, the world around slowly them fading away.