Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all. We've got kind of a rollercoaster with this one, and this is my longest chapter in awhile, but I hope you all like it! And if you have the time, I'd really appreciate it if you could leave me a review, and let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading, stay safe everyone xx
SIXTY SEVEN
Drawing in a deep breath, Gabby put in her earring to match the other one she was already wearing before giving herself a once over in the mirror, her hands running along her sides as she checked her appearance. Though tonight wasn't anything fancy, nothing that required her to get too dressed up as it would just be them, Nancy, and her parents, she still wanted to look nice for the occasion, Gabby's eyes moving over fitted burgundy top and dark washed jeans, her hair falling down in soft waves over her shoulders.
When she decided she was happy with what she saw, Gabby reached out towards her jewelry box, looking over her options before deciding on the simple, silver bracelet that Matt had gotten her a while back. It was nearly impossible for her not to smile when she saw it, the jewelry having been somewhat of a surprise gift to her. It wasn't for any special occasion, or event, it had been nothing but a sweet gesture from her boyfriend, Matt having gotten it for her simply because he wanted to.
She still remembered the day fondly, the memory of him coming home, telling her he had something for her one that still made her smile. It was something that was completely unexpected, and it had nearly brought her to tears at the time as Gabby was certainly not used to that kind of gesture. Most surprise gifts given to her in the past were solely to make up for things that had been said or done to her, not just because. So it was certainly a foreign concept to her, as even before Walker her taste in men hadn't been stellar, and when Matt came home with this surprise, it had definitely thrown her a bit, but in the best way possible.
As she fastened the bracelet on her wrist, a soft smile formed across her lips when she felt a familiar set of hands slid across her hips, Gabby not having heard him come into the room as she looked up into the mirror, being met by the sight of her boyfriend standing behind her with a charming grin on his face.
Even though he was mostly blocked by her body, she could still see part of his deep blue button down shirt, the clothing bringing out the color of his eyes as he moved one hand around to rest over her stomach, effectively pulling her back into him. "Hi." He murmured as his free hand moved up towards her neck, Matt gently moving her hair around to one side, letting it fall over her shoulder.
"Hi." She repeated just as his lips pressed into her skin, Matt placing gentle kisses over any exposed area he could find, the action calming as she relaxed back into him.
He pressed a soft kiss against the nape of her neck, before moving up towards her ear, Gabby's eyes falling closed for a split second as he gently tapped his thumb against her stomach. "You look beautiful." He all but whispered into her ear, his words bringing a small smile to her face as she slowly opened her eyes, finding him watching her through the mirror.
"You don't look so bad, yourself." She replied, watching as he grinned at her before returning his lips to her neck, the feeling of being pressed into his warm body too inviting to pass up as she let herself relish in this for a moment.
"You know…" He started after nearly a minute, Gabby raising her eyebrows as she waited for him to continue, the feeling of his warm breath hitting her skin nearly sending shivers down her spine. "I think we probably have some time before everyone gets here." He finished suggestively, Matt not needing to say any more as she knew exactly what he was wanting.
Smirking slightly, Gabby cocked her head to the side, the movement inadvertently giving his mouth more room to roam as he latched onto her skin. "Oh, do we?" She countered, feeling him hum against her neck. "I don't know, we barely got the place cleaned up from earlier, I don't think we should chance it." She continued softly, hearing a slight groan of displeasure come from the man behind her before his grip on her body tightened.
"What? It's not like I'm suggesting we go back out into the kitchen," He told her, Gabby feeling heat rise within her chest at the mention of their activities earlier in the day, the memories of a few hours ago flooding back as she thought back to when he'd interrupted her before she could start preparing dinner, any plans to focus on their meal being set aside for a bit as they made great use of their kitchen counter. And though their time together this afternoon was almost enough to make her want to do a repeat of that moment right here on their dresser, she knew they couldn't. "But I think we have enough time," He continued, Gabby well aware they both knew he was lying as they were already pressed for time as it was. "Maybe we could make some great use out of that guest room that never gets used."
A soft scoff escaped her lips, Gabby doing all she could to not focus too strongly on the feelings he was eliciting from deep within her. "I don't think so." She replied, hearing him sigh softly before lifting his head, Matt wearing a small pout across his face. "Oh, don't give me that, are you really upset that we can't have sex, again, when our parents will be here any minute?" She questioned with raised brows, Matt pausing for a moment as he mulled over her words, his head tilting to the side as his tongue poked out between his teeth slightly.
"...Well, when you put it like that." He huffed out, running his hand over her stomach while his other cradled her hip as Gabby laughed, Matt feeling the vibrations from her movements against his chest.
Shaking her head, Gabby released a soft breath before turning around in his arms, Matt loosening his grip enough for her to move, before all but pinning her body against the dresser. His hands gripped her sides, Gabby resting her palms on his chest as she met his gaze, seeing nothing but love and desire shining back at her. Though she knew her next words might make the latter disappear. "We'll have plenty of time for that later tonight." She told him, seeing a knowing look fall over his face. "And I'll make sure to make the wait worth your while-"
"You always do." He cut in before she could even finish the thought, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip before grinning softly.
"Smooth." She murmured, Matt matching her proud smile as he gave her hips a squeeze. "But for now, let's just wait, alright? Our parents will be here any minute, and though we haven't christened the guest room yet, we have to give your mom a tour," She reminded him, Matt pursing his lips together before he nodded, knowing she had a point. "So, it's probably best we don't."
"Fair enough." He conceded as he leaned towards her, Gabby's smile widening just as he pressed his lips into hers, both of them relaxing into one another as her weight rested against the furniture, their slow kisses filling them both with a sense of complete safety.
But that moment was soon interrupted when they heard the doorbell ring, Matt releasing another groan before pulling back slightly. "...We will continue this later." He told her, pressing another quick kiss to her lips before stepping away, Gabby shoving his chest lightly as she nodded towards the door.
"Go get the door so I can finish getting ready." She instructed, Matt giving her that signature Casey grin before nodding.
"I can do that." He replied lightly, Matt hearing nothing but a soft laugh come from her before he stepped into the hallway. The sound of his steps were all that could be heard throughout the apartment, Matt making his way to the front door as quickly as he could, not wanting to leave whichever parents had arrived first waiting.
When he got to the front door, he quickly undid the lock, Casey pulling the door open to be met by the sight of Gabby's parents, their wide smiles causing one to form across his face as well. "Hi Ramon, Camila." He greeted, stepping aside to give them room to come in, Camila stopping to give him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, while Ramon shook his hand.
"Hi Matthew." Ramon told him, Casey shutting the door behind them before walking further inside their home.
"It's great to see you again, sweetheart." Camila told him, Matt smiling softly as they all made their way through the entryway.
"You too… I'm glad you all could make it." He replied as they came to a stop at the island in the kitchen, the smell of the dinner they'd prepared wafting through the room as it finished cooking in the oven. "And, uh, thank you… For doing this." He continued, seeing the slightly confused looks that appeared over their faces. "I'm glad we were able to get you guys and my mom together."
Camila's face softened, the woman only grinning as she came to realize just how important this night was for the man that had stolen her daughter's heart. "Oh Matthew, there's no need to thank us, we're always happy to spend time with you and Gabriela." Camila reminded him gently. "And I can't wait to see your mother again, to officially meet her… I'm assuming she's not here yet."
"No, she's not, but she should be soon." He replied as he heard footsteps behind him, Matt turning back to see Gabby emerging from the bedroom, his girlfriend walking up towards them.
"My sweet Gabriela, there you are."
"Hi Papa." She murmured, coming up to give him a hug and a quick kiss, before giving her mother a similar greeting. "It's great to see you."
"You too, honey." Camila replied, Matt smiling at the family in front of him before glancing towards the kitchen.
"Can I get you two anything to drink?" He offered, but as the words left his lips, the doorbell rang once more, Matt glancing over towards the door before looking to Gabby.
"I'll get the drinks, you go." She told him, Matt nodding softly before he slid past her, his hand running along her lower back until she was out of his reach, Gabby leading her parents further into their home while Casey got the door.
With his smile never fading, Matt pulled the door open, soon being met by the sight of his mother standing across from him, Nancy looking a little more tense than Ramon and Camila had. But when she saw her son, she relaxed a bit, the woman smiling softly before taking a step forward.
"Hi mom."
"Hi sweetheart." She greeted, giving him a quick hug before stepping inside, the two going through a similar routine as he had just done with the Dawsons. "I'm sorry if I'm a little late."
"Oh, you're fine, don't worry about it. Gabby's parents just got here." He informed her, Nancy nodding softly as they continued into the apartment, Nancy taking in her new surroundings as a few familiar faces came into view.
"Gabby." Matt spoke softly to gain her attention, all three of the Dawson's looking up at the sound of his voice, a hesitant grin appearing over Gabby's face as she placed the wine glass in her hand down before walking towards them.
"Hi Nancy." She greeted as she came to a stop beside her boyfriend, the older Casey giving her a warm grin.
"Hi Gabby… It's nice to see you again."
"You too." She replied, movement out of the corner of her eye gaining her attention as she saw her parents walking towards them. "Uh, Nancy, this is Ramon, and Camila, my parents." She continued warily, a little unsure of how to introduce the two, especially as they'd already met under some strange circumstances.
"Yes, of course I remember." Camila spoke warmly, extending her arm out to shake Nancy's hand. "It's so nice to see you again, and to officially meet you."
Nancy paused for a moment before smiling as well, the older Casey shaking her hand. "Yeah, I'm glad we were able to get together." She replied, the welcoming grin never leaving Camila's face.
"And I know Gabby introduced him, but you never got the chance to really meet Ramon." Camila continued, Gabby and Matt exchanging silent looks while their parents interacted, a proud smirk forming across Casey's lips as Gabby shot him a playful glare, both of them just happy to see everything was going well so far.
"Yeah, it's nice to finally meet the woman who raised such a wonderful son." Ramon told her, Gabby unable to stop the smile that formed across her face as her dad spoke of Matt, her boyfriend immediately turning pink as all eyes moved to him.
"I don't know about wonderful." He spoke up as his eyes locked on Gabby, his words earning a few laughs before turning back towards the group. "But mom, we were just about to get everyone drinks… And then I figured you'd like a tour, since you haven't really seen the place yet."
"That sounds great." She replied as Gabby moved towards the kitchen to continue preparing everyone's drinks.
"And Ramon, Camila, I know you two already know your way around, but you're more than welcome to join." He told them with a bright grin, the older Dawson's nodding in agreement.
Once all their drinks had been made, Matt began the tour of their apartment, the man sparing no detail as he walked his mom, and the Dawson's, through all the rooms, as well as stopping to give an anecdote or two every once in a while, his warm presence captivating all of them. And though Gabby had to leave about halfway through to finish up dinner, his voice was able to flood through the open layout of their home, giving her the perfect thing to listen to while she finished up dinner. The tour itself had taken all of ten minutes, maybe, there only being so many rooms in their apartment, but it had been a fun little start to the evening nonetheless, Nancy glad to finally get the chance to see where her son had been living since moving in with his girlfriend.
When they'd finished, Nancy broke apart from the group while Camila went to check on Gabby in the kitchen, and Ramon and Matt had gone to stand over by the TV, the older man repeating the story Casey had heard a handful of times already, about how challenging it had been to mount the television as Antonio had been little help. Though, to his credit, Matt listened as if he'd never heard it before, the two men laughing while they spent some time together before dinner.
As Nancy moved around on her own, she took in some of the smaller touches placed around their home, things that didn't really warrant an explanation as she stopped by the small bookcase in between their foyer and the bay windows, the furniture resting against one of the few walls inside their home. And as she stood there, she couldn't help but smile as she took in the photos they had lining the shelf.
There weren't too many, only a handful or so of photos in front of her, but she could only assume each of them held some level of importance to her son and his girlfriend, Nancy's eyes moving on each of them. Most were with other people, the older Casey seeing different people in the pictures she didn't recognize, though there was a blonde woman that looked quite familiar, Nancy recognizing her from the day she'd taken that ill-advised trip to the firehouse. But other than that, she couldn't really place anyone, that fact just another reminder of how she really didn't know much of what all went on in her son's life.
But she was hoping to fix that, this dinner being just another step in the right direction towards mending all those old wounds.
As she continued looking over the images, she couldn't help but focus on one particular, her eyes going to the picture of just the two of them, the only one of just the two of them, the couple seemingly unaware the photo was even being taken. They were somewhere outside, Nancy wasn't sure where, but they were holding onto one another, Matt's arm wrapped around her shoulders to keep her close, while Gabby was tucked into his side, her hand lifted up to hold onto his while they smiled at one another.
A soft grin formed over her face as she reached out to pick up the photo, Nancy seeing a happiness radiating off her son that she was sure she'd never seen before. Even in his best moments, she was sure she'd never seen him with that much joy. Not until he met Gabby, the thought filling Nancy with a comforting warmth as she was beyond glad to see her son so content.
"They're so sweet, aren't they?"
The sound of Camila's voice hit her ears as she looked up from the photo, finding the woman standing a foot or two away from her with a soft grin on her face, her eyes focusing on the image before looking back up at Nancy.
"That was taken at my grandson's birthday party… Matthew and Gabriela, they were just kind of off in their own little world while all the kids were playing." She continued as she took a step closer, Nancy returning the framed photo to where she'd found it before giving Camila her complete attention. "And it was just too nice of a moment to pass up, so I took a photo… I think Gabriela was a little annoyed at me at first, but I knew the second she saw it, she loved it." Camila finished with a smile, Nancy matching her look.
"It's a great photo… They really are adorable together." She mused, her eyes catching the image one last time before she turned back to Camila, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she spoke up once more. "So, you said your grandson's birthday?" She questioned, earning a curious look from the other woman. "Matthew's met more of your family?"
Her intrigued look soon morphed into a content one, Camila nodding softly as she glanced back towards Matt and Ramon, the men still standing over in the living room, both smiling wide as they talked, Nancy following her gaze. "Oh yes, he has. A lot of them- well, most of them, actually, God bless him." She responded before releasing a soft breath, Nancy focusing on her son for a split second longer before looking back to Camila. "There's a lot of us, but Matthew's met them a few times, everyone loves him."
Nancy couldn't help but smile at her words, the older Casey nodding softly in response. "I didn't realize he'd met your extended family, but that's great… I'm glad he has that." She murmured, Camila running her tongue along her bottom lip as Nancy spoke. "I'm glad he has you all." She continued, swallowing thickly as she met her gaze. "Matthew, he's… He's been on his own, for a lot of his life." The sad words left her lips quietly, Camila watching as Nancy looked back towards her son. "Which I'm sure you already knew, but really, I just- I want to thank you, for welcoming him into your family. Cause I can tell you have, and I can see how much you care for him. And the way he speaks of you all… I'm just glad to know he has that." She finished, her words somewhat jumbled as she tried to get across what she was thinking, Camila nodding with a compassionate look on her face.
"Of course, Nancy… But you don't need to thank us for anything." Camila was quick to respond with a small grin. "Matthew, he's an amazing man, and he feels like he's a part of our family… You raised an amazing son."
"Well, I wish I could take any of the credit for that," Nancy was quick to interject, "but that really is just all him."
"I'm sure that's not true." Camila replied with a comforting look. "I'm sure you have a lot to do with it, more than you realize… But whatever the case may be, you have an incredible son. A type of man I didn't even know existed anymore, if I'm being quite honest, but he… He's wonderful. How much he's helped my Gabriela, he truly came into her life when she needed him, and I couldn't ask for anyone better for her." She spoke confidently, Nancy smiling softly as she took in her words.
"They do seem great together." She replied softly, Camila giving her an immediate nod.
"They are… I'm not sure how much you've seen of them together," She started, Nancy pursing her lips together before she nodded.
"I met Gabby pretty earlier on in their relationship," She began to explain, Camila listening intently. "They had only been together for a couple of months at that point, I think is what Gabby said, back when Matt still lived at his old place. But, admittedly, I haven't been around much until recently." She continued, her words gaining a soft smile from the woman across from her. "But from what I've seen, and what I know of Gabby… How fiercely she loves him, and protects him, I feel the same way with Matthew… They belong together."
"They absolutely do." Camila agreed without hesitation, their conversation getting cut short as they heard Gabby call for Matt's help from the kitchen, her voice causing all of them to break from their small groups as they all went to assist the youngest Dawson with getting the table set, despite her protests.
Gabby stood at the counter in the kitchen as she worked on dishing out their dessert, her mother standing beside her putting the last of their dishes from dinner on the drying rack, while Matt was standing just around the corner on the other side of the island, waiting for instruction as he was tasked with taking the plates to the living room.
"Alright, can you give this one to your mom, and this one to my dad… And can you see if they want some coffee?" She asked as she handed him the second plate, Matt smiling softly as he picked up two forks.
"Of course." He replied as he caught her eyeline, Camila watching on as they stared at each other for a few seconds before Matt eventually forced himself away from the counter, Gabby never losing the smile on her face as she continued cutting up their dessert.
As she dished up dessert for the rest of them, Gabby couldn't help but think over their evening so far, the night having gone better than she could've ever imagined as Nancy and her parents got to know each other better. And despite her initial reservations, she was glad Matt had pushed so hard for them to do this, Gabby grateful to get this time with everyone together. For Nancy to not only get more time with her son, but herself and her family as well, Nancy and Camila having hit it off more than Gabby ever would've thought.
But for as happy as she was at how well the night had gone up to this point, she knew her boyfriend was even more excited, Matt having been thrilled the entire evening as it became more and more clear how well their families got along. And she knew that was exactly what Matt had been hoping for, Gabby knowing how important this entire thing was for him.
"Alright, that's the last of it." Camila spoke up, pulling Gabby from her thoughts as she glanced towards her mom, seeing her place the last pan on the rack as she gave her a soft smile.
"Thank you… Although you really didn't have to do that, Matt and I could've handled it." She reminded her, Camila waving her off before hanging the rag back up in it's rightful place over the handle to the oven.
"Oh, you know I don't mind, honey. You went through all this trouble for dinner, the least I could do is help clean up." She replied, Gabby giving her a soft smile just as Matt came back towards them. "Either of them want coffee?" Camila asked him, Gabby knowing her mother was about to jump at the chance to prepare it so they wouldn't have to, Matt shaking his head.
"No, they don't." He responded with a soft smile as he came to a stop in his previous place beside Gabby. "This mine?" He asked, glancing down towards the plate closest towards him, Gabby nodding just before he swiped his finger through the whipped cream and ate it, a satisfied smirk forming over his face. "Tastes amazing, babe." Matt added, Gabby suppressing a laugh as she shook her head.
"Maybe actually try it first." She countered, Matt giving her a shrug before he picked up his plate, along with the one he presumed to be Gabby's, along with two forks.
"Want me to get yours, Camila?" He questioned with raised brows, the woman immediately shaking her head.
"No, no I'm fine sweetheart." She replied, Matt giving her a nod before he headed for the living room, leaving the two Dawson women alone in the kitchen as Gabby slid her mother's plate towards her. "Thank you." She murmured, Gabby nodding softly, Camila's eyes moving back to the other room, watching as Matt placed both his and Gabby's plates down before he sat down in the chair, the bright smile never leaving his face. "...He looks happy."
Gabby looked towards her as the words left her lips, seeing the small smile resting over her mother's face. "Hmm?"
"Matt… He looks happy."
She turned to look in that direction, a complete sense of contentment flooding her body when she saw what her mother was referring to, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip gently. "Yeah, he does." She spoke in response, her words barely audible as Camila looked back at her.
"And you do, too." She added, Gabby opening her mouth to respond but then she paused for a moment, picking up on something in her mom's voice that she couldn't quite read. Meeting her gaze, Camila gave her soft nod, Gabby furrowing her eyebrows. "Which I'm glad to see..." She continued carefully with a knowing look.
"What do you mean, Mama?" She asked, Gabby still unsure of where her mother was going with this as she, more than most, knew just how happy the two of them were in their relationship. But the longer she remained quiet, the more Gabby came to realize her mother wasn't talking about her and Matt, she was only talking about her, it not being lost on any of them as to what was coming up. "...Mama." She sighed softly, Camila shaking her head.
"I'm sorry, mija, but I just want to know how you are." She continued quietly, knowing they weren't exactly alone. "We haven't talked about it much, at least not here lately, about how you're holding up." She pushed, Gabby's eyes falling closed as she took a deep breath.
"I'm fine." She replied as quickly as she could, her demeanor alone telling Camila there was more to the story as her daughter's entire body was tense.
"Okay… But sweetheart, it's okay if you're not. I mean, here in a few days, he'll-"
"Mama, I don't want to talk about this right now." She cut her off once more, Camila stopping herself for a moment as she thought over whether to continue the conversation or drop it, the mother not wanting to hurt her daughter. But based on her body language right now, if her immediate visceral reaction to just the thought of Bryan was any indication, Camila knew her daughter wasn't as okay as she was saying.
"I know you don't, Gabriela." She continued, Gabby slowly meeting her eyes as Camila noticed how unsure her daughter looked, both women too caught up in their own conversation to notice the other person approaching the counter. "But I just want to make sure you know you don't have to be okay. That it's alright if you're not. You're always trying to be the strong one, but with what he did-" She cut herself off when she saw her daughter shy away at her words, Camila changing her train of thought immediately. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just… I worry about you honey, with him getting out of prison..."
A slight hitch of breath caught their attention, both Gabby and Camila snapping out of their conversation and looking up to see Nancy just on the other side of the counter, the look on her face telling them both that she'd at least heard some of their conversation.
With her eyes locked on Gabby, Nancy saw the heavy look in her gaze, and the way her entire body was tense, the older woman unsure of exactly what she'd just walked into. Though she knew one thing for sure, that being she certainly wasn't supposed to hear any part of what had just been said. "I'm- I'm sorry, I just was coming to get more water." She apologized, Gabby plastering a fake smile on her face before pushing herself away from the counter.
"I can get that for you." She responded, Nancy pausing for a moment before she nodded, the woman coming around to hand Gabby the glass before she went to fill it up, neither Nancy nor Camila missing how her hands were trembling slightly before she got herself under control, Gabby wanting to go on as if nothing had happened. "Here you go, Nancy." Gabby replied as she turned back around, that wide smile that didn't quite reach her eyes still covering her face, Nancy graciously accepting the drink before she made herself scarce, not wanting to intrude on the very personal conversation any more than she already had.
When it was just the two of them, Camila drew in a deep breath, Gabby gradually losing her fake grin as she grabbed her drink, clearly intent on heading back into the living room to join everyone else. But her mother's voice stopped her, Camila reaching out to gently hold onto her arm.
"Gabriela," She started, Gabby pursing her lips together before meeting her eyes, Camila seeing them holding a lot less life than they had moments ago. "I'm sorry, baby. I shouldn't have said anything." Camila apologized, coming to realize she truly had picked the absolute wrong time to bring this up. Though, knowing her daughter, there likely wouldn't have been a right time, either.
"It's okay, Mama. I'm fine." She replied without hesitation, Gabby flashing her another forced smile before she headed for the living room, Camila keeping her eyes on her as she walked straight towards Matt.
Though they said nothing, Camila could sense that the second Matthew saw her, he knew something was wrong, his face softening as she came to sit on the armrest of his chair. His arm wrapped around her waist, Gabby resting hers along his shoulders as he kept his eyes on her. And while she couldn't hear what was being said, Camila knew he'd asked her something as Gabby gave what appeared to be a rather unconvincing nod, Matt pausing for a moment before he nodded as well, the woman's eyes never leaving the couple as she watched him rub his hand over her side, Camila figuring he was doing that as some sort of comfort without knowing what was wrong.
And as she stood here in the kitchen, she couldn't help but wish she'd left it alone, at least until there were less people around, Camila knowing she'd upset her daughter more than she'd ever want to. But there was nothing she could do to change it now, Camila releasing a heavy breath before reaching for her plate and heading for the living room, not wanting to damage any more of what had overall been a wonderful evening.
"Thank you for inviting me, sweetheart. I had a great time." Nancy spoke as the four of them stood at the door, Matt smiling warmly before leaning in to give her a hug.
"Me too, I'm glad you could make it." He replied, rubbing her back before they separated, Matt glancing towards his girlfriend's parents as Nancy looked past him back into their apartment.
"And I was hoping to say goodbye to Gabby, but I'm guessing she's still not feeling well." Nancy continued with a slight grimace, Matt drawing in a deep breath as his mother referenced his girlfriend's quick exit from their dinner maybe ten minutes ago, Gabby having left to go to their bedroom shortly after they'd finished dessert, excusing herself rather quickly as she clearly didn't feel well. Though for what reasons, Matt still wasn't sure. "I hate that she's feeling sick."
"Me too, but I know she had a good time, as well. And I'll tell her you said bye… Maybe she can come with us to lunch next week." He told her, Nancy giving him a nod before turning her attention to the Dawson's, Matt stepping out of the way to let them say their goodbyes. And while he was glad to see his mom and Gabby's parents getting along as well as they were, it was hard for Matt to completely focus as his curiosity and worry as to what was going on with Gabby was overtaking his thoughts.
He knew something was wrong, that much was obvious. As soon as she'd come into the living room earlier, he saw it written across her face that she was upset, or at the very least she didn't feel well, and she'd only continued to become more and more withdrawn as the night went on. She'd been quiet, and every time he'd look her way, it was either like she wasn't even there, or like she was about to cry. But with their company, he hadn't been able to get to the bottom of it, Matt knowing the absolute last thing Gabby would want was him drawing attention to whatever it was when they had guests over. So he didn't put up any resistance when she told everyone she was feeling a bit nauseous and was going to lay down, Matt figuring that maybe she just didn't feel well and needed to rest, but that didn't mean he wasn't somewhat anxious to get everyone out of here so he could go figure out exactly what was going on with her.
"Yeah, we'll definitely have to do something soon." Camila spoke, pulling Matt from his thoughts as he saw his mother and Gabby's making plans, the women having exchanged numbers earlier in the evening, as well. "And maybe we can talk the kids into doing family dinners like this more often."
"I'd love that." Nancy replied genuinely, Matt giving them both a soft smile before his mother focused on him once more. "Well, I've gotta get going, but I'll call you in a few days?"
"Sounds good, mom." He responded, giving her a quick kiss goodbye before opening the door and letting her out, Matt watching as she walked down the steps and headed towards her car, Casey not stepping back inside until he saw she got safely into her vehicle.
Releasing a soft sigh, he walked back in, finding Ramon and Camila both watching him, one looking far more concerned than the other as the three of them stood in the foyer.
"It was great getting to meet your mother, son." Ramon spoke up first, Matt looking towards him with a soft smile.
"Yeah, yeah it was fun. I'm glad you all had a good time."
"We did, though poor Gabriela." He muttered, Ramon obviously worried for his daughter. "Whatever's got her not feeling well, it seemed to hit her out of nowhere." He continued, Matt nodding in agreement with a grimace covering his face.
"Yeah, it did… But I'm sure she'll start to feel better here soon. I can call you all tomorrow, or the day after, to let you know how she's feeling… Hopefully she just needs to sleep off whatever it was-"
"This is my fault." Camila cut in unexpectedly, Matt's eyebrows furrowing as both he and Ramon turned towards her, the woman releasing a heavy breath as she shook her head. "I… I think this is on me."
"What do you mean?" Ramon pressed, Camila pursing her lips together before she reluctantly continued.
"After dinner, when Gabriela and I were in the kitchen, I asked her how she was- with Bryan's release coming up." She explained, both men immediately tensing at the name, Matt glancing back into their apartment. "And that upset her, more than I realized it would… I wasn't thinking, I shouldn't have said anything." She finished, Ramon releasing a heavy breath as his neck clenched. "But I'm just so worried about her… I don't know how much she's actually dealt with what happened to her, or at least what Bryan being released means for her, and I wanted to know how she was."
"I know you do honey, but did you have to bring it up during dinner?" Ramon questioned with a sigh, Camila breathing deeply as she looked towards her husband.
"I know I shouldn't have said anything about it, but you can't blame me for being worried about my daughter after the man who abused her is getting out of prison." She all but snapped, Matt keeping his breathing as steady as he looked between them, Camila's face softening as she glanced back to Casey. "I'm sorry, I just-"
"I know, I feel the same way." He told them softly, both parents watching him closely as Matt gave them a reassuring nod. "But I've got her." He repeated the same words he told Shay just yesterday, the same words he'd told himself over and over since this all first started, Ramon and Camila both nodding as he looked back and forth between them. "I know we're all worried, this thing with Walker, a lot of it's up and down for her," He spoke carefully, not wanting to divulge too much of how Gabby had been handling this, Matt knowing it wasn't his information to share. Even if it was to her parents. "And I know it's pointless for me to tell you to not worry, but I've got her."
"We know you do." Ramon spoke, the man obviously still a bit agitated at his wife for her timing, but he knew it wasn't the moment to get into it. "We'll get out of here, give you two some space… But don't hesitate to call us if you need anything."
"I won't. Thanks Ramon." He replied, the man nodding before he walked outside, Camila moving to head after him, but she stopped halfway out the door, Matt watching her every move as she turned back towards him.
"Can you… Will you tell her I'm sorry?" Camila requested, Matt hearing just how terrible she felt for causing her daughter any distress, Matt immediately nodding.
"I will." He promised, Camila drawing in a deep breath before she nodded. "But she knows you didn't mean to upset her."
Pursing her lips togethers, Camila gave him one last nod before she headed out of the apartment, Matt waiting for a moment as they walked towards their car before he shut the door, the sound of the lock sliding into place the only thing he could hear throughout their home. Unsure of exactly what he was dealing with, Matt quickly went through his routine of settling in for the night, the man closing all the blinds, getting them a glass of water, and turning off the lights before heading for the bedroom, Casey trying to ignore the overwhelming sense of heaviness he felt from this evening taking a turn he hadn't expected. And while he didn't fault Camila for wanting to know how her daughter was, he found himself feeling much like Ramon did; like he wished she would've waited.
But that didn't matter now, Matt getting to their closed bedroom door before quietly pushing it open, his movements slow in case she was already asleep. But when he stepped inside, he was met by nothing but an empty room, the lamp on his nightstand and the light flowing in from the bathroom the only source of light in the room as his eyes moved over their made bed. It was apparent from first glance that despite Gabby saying she was coming to lay down, she hadn't actually made it that far, the man assuming she was in the bathroom right now. Not wanting to overcrowd her, he decided to stay put, Matt placing the glass of water and his phone down on the nightstand before walking towards the dresser, intent on getting himself ready for bed. But just as he was about to open the drawer, he heard an abrupt noise come from the bathroom, it almost sounding like things had fallen off the counter, before it was quickly followed by the sound of loud gagging, Matt moving as fast as he could towards the bathroom as the sound of her vomiting hit his ears.
The second he stepped inside, he saw his girlfriend on the ground hunched over the toilet, her body shaking almost violently as she expelled the contents of her stomach, Matt rushing towards her and quickly pulling her hair away from her face, his free hand running along her back as she continued to get sick. It went on for a few minutes, Gabby hacking while Matt did what he could to comfort her, the man coming to understand that in her obvious rush to the toilet, she hadn't quite made it before she'd gotten sick, as he saw vomit not only on the tile floor beside her, but also some on the toilet seat.
Sighing softly, he shook his head as he kept close, Matt not entirely sure if she even completely realized he was here, her body practically laid across the toilet bowl as she continued coughing every few seconds. Though he wasn't even sure if she had anything left to throw up at this point, Gabby having worked herself up enough to the point of making herself sick over and over again, Casey hating to see her like this as he stayed as close behind her as he could, his feet planted on either side of her body.
"I'm sorry." He heard her quiet voice, Matt shaking his head despite the fact that she couldn't see him as he continued rubbing her back.
"It's okay, baby… It's not your fault." He responded softly, keeping the light grip on her hair as she stayed hunched over the toilet.
They stayed in this position for a few moments, Matt letting her take the lead as she slowly sat up, Casey reaching around her to grab her a piece of toilet paper to clean herself up, before grabbing another one for himself to quickly wipe off the toilet seat. He knew he'd need to come back and clean that, along with the floor, at some point, though that wasn't his highest priority right now as he flushed the toilet, his eyes refocusing on his girlfriend as she slid back to the wall, her chest heaving as she sucked in heavy breaths. He could see a layer of swear over her forehead, Matt's frown deepening as he took her in, her body clearly exhausted as her eyes fell closed, the man soon noticing she'd also thrown up on her shirt, as well. Or his shirt, rather, Casey seeing at some point she'd changed into what she likely intended to be her pajamas as she was wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of his boxers, Matt sighing softly before he took a step backwards.
Without saying a word, he walked the few steps out of the bathroom and towards their dresser, Matt quickly pulling out a fresh t-shirt and then stopping to grab the glass of water he'd gotten for them before walking back into the other room, Gabby looking up when she heard him. The second they locked eyes, he gave her a small, comforting smile as he came to a stop in front of her. "You wanna change out of that shirt real quick?" He asked, Gabby looking at him questioningly before she glanced down towards her shirt, wincing immediately as the smell of her own vomit hit her nostrils, the woman nodding before she leaned up off the wall.
Staying back out of the way, Matt gave her room to remove her t-shirt before handing her the new one, Gabby feeling her stomach still a bit unsettled as she covered up her bare chest once more, Casey placing the dirty piece of clothing on the sink, making a mental note to throw it in the wash before bed.
With her new shirt on, he handed her the glass of water, Gabby murmuring a quick thank you before she took a sip and swooshed the liquid around her mouth, before spitting it back out into the toilet. She did this a few times, Matt knowing she was likely trying to get the taste out of her mouth before she handed him the half empty glass back, Casey soon placing it on the counter.
Keeping his eyes on her, Matt watched as she leaned herself back against the wall once more, Gabby sliding her legs up towards herself as she rested her arms over her knees, her deep breaths filling the room as she tried to steady herself. Unsure of what he could do, Matt walked the rest of the way towards her, the man sitting down on the ground beside her, pressing himself up against the wall as his shoulder touched hers, Gabby immediately leaning her head down against him as they sat in silence.
Neither of them said anything for well over five minutes, Gabby finding the quiet oddly comforting, while Matt found it best to let her take the lead, as he so often did when it came to Bryan Walker.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice was hoarse as she repeated the same words she'd said earlier, Matt's eyebrows furrowing before he looked down towards her, though all he could see was the top of her head.
"Gabby…"
"I didn't mean to get sick, it just- It hit me and I couldn't stop it." She continued, Matt releasing a soft breath as he hated that she felt like she even needed to apologize for this, let alone twice. "And then leaving dinner… I shouldn't have left like that, not with your mom still here, but… My mom-"
"She told me." He responded quietly when she cut herself off, Gabby taking a slow breath before she nodded against him, Matt pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "And it's okay."
"No, it's not." She fought back immediately, her tone taking him by surprise. But within seconds, he realized her frustration wasn't so much aimed towards him, but herself. "It's so stupid, I shouldn't get upset at just the mention of his name, and her wanting to talk about it. It's not even like I saw him or something, it was just his stupid name." He could tell she was angry at herself, Matt overcome with sadness as he listened to her talk. "But when she brought it up, I just- I don't even know what happened. But I felt so sick after that, and it never really passed. I tried to ignore it, but it just kept getting worse, so I came in here, and… well you know the rest." She rambled out, her voice still a bit scratchy as Matt nodded, before he reached out to place his hand over her bare thigh.
"It's not stupid, baby." He assured her, squeezing her leg gently as she nuzzled herself deeper into his side. "Not at all. And you don't need to apologize for any of this." He repeated, hoping she'd believe him.
"But he shouldn't be able to affect me, not anymore." She told him quickly, her voice unsteady as he felt her starting to get worked up once more. "I shouldn't be upset about this, he doesn't matter."
Her breath caught in her throat as she finished her sentence, Matt's frown deepening when he felt her body begin to tremble beside him, his concern only growing as he rubbed his thumb along the outside of her thigh before dropping his grip on her.
"Hey, hey it's okay." He murmured, Matt moving away enough to give him room to lift his arm from between them before wrapping it around her shoulders, effectively pulling her closer as tears continued sliding down her skin. "You're right, he doesn't matter, but you do… And you have every right to be upset about this, about him getting out." He told her, hating to see her beat herself up over this. Especially when none of it was her fault.
"But I want to be past it." She nearly cried, her vulnerable words going straight to his heart as he instinctively tightened his grip on her. He knew she was struggling with this, that not only had the mention of Bryan affected her, but the way she reacted to it had messed with her head as well, Matt blinking back the tears forming in his own eyes as she continued. "I know I've been avoiding this, but this is why I haven't wanted to talk about it, because it's just… I feel so stupid, cause he still has this control over me. And sometimes I'm alright, I can talk about it without it being like this," She explained, waving her hand around in the air to show what she couldn't voice. "But then other times, it will all just hit me and I… I can't think of him without being debilitated by the fear that he'll come back, and do something. And with him getting out… It was supposed to be over, I just want this all to be over."
"I know you do." He was quick to respond, Matt ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach that only continued to get worse, knowing he was the last thing that mattered in all this. "But you shouldn't feel bad for still being affected by someone who's hurt you… There is nothing wrong with you still feeling this way." He told her as his free hand wrapped around her to rest over her hip, Gabby sniffling softly before she nodded. "What he did, that's not just something you can get over. And sometimes it might be easier than others, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with this still affecting you. It doesn't make you stupid, or weak, or anything like that… I promise. You're allowed to be upset about this. However this makes you feel, it's okay." He spoke as strongly as he could, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded once more, Matt smiling sadly before kissing her head once more. "But I love you, and I'm here for you… I'm not going anywhere."
As they sat here, he kept repeating comforting words over and over as he knew how badly she needed to hear them, Gabby doing what she could to focus on Matt instead of the heavy thoughts weighing her mind down as she was finally starting to be confronted with everything she'd avoided for weeks, the sound of his steady heartbeat keeping her grounded as he rubbed his hand over her arm.
"Thank you..." Gabby murmured after he'd gone quiet for a moment, her voice barely audible as a small, sad smile formed over his face, Matt giving the top of her head another kiss before resting his chin there. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He told her again, Matt willing to say those words as often as she needed to hear them. "And everything's alright, okay? I promise, I'm right here… I won't let anything happen to you." He told her strongly, feeling her draw in a deep breath as he ran his hand comfortingly over her arm, Matt knowing all he could do right now was hold her, and make sure she knew everything would be okay.
"Alright, that's it for this morning… Let's have a good shift everyone." Boden spoke from his position in the front of the room, though Matt was barely focused on his words as his attention was on the woman sitting across the room from him, Gabby's back to him as she sat at her normal table with Shay. But even with his obstructed angle, he could tell she was stuck in her own head, Matt unable to stop himself from keeping an eye on her since they showed up to shift this morning.
When the Chief had stopped talking, the first responders in the room began to disperse, everyone getting up and moving around as they'd been dismissed; everyone except for Gabby, Matt noticing she had yet to move from her seat despite everyone else getting up around her. It wasn't until Shay gained her attention that she snapped out of her haze, the paramedics exchanging a few words before they both stood up, Matt noticing Boden's eyes on Gabby as well as her and Shay pushed their chairs in.
"I say we go do inventory, then we can go and get some of those bagels from the shop down the street… I think it's well deserved after first shift left the rig a mess." The blonde spoke to her friend, like nothing was different about today, Matt flooded with gratitude as Shay treated her like she always would, both of them knowing that's exactly what Gabby needed right now.
"Sounds good to me." Dawson replied, her eyes soon finding Matt's as they walked through the room. And the second he registered her gaze, a wide smile formed across his face, the firefighter giving her a quick wink before her and Shay continued out of the room, Casey hearing the blonde paramedic make some comment about 'getting one for lover boy, too' before they disappeared.
Blowing out a sigh, Matt brought his hand up towards his face, the man rubbing his hand along his temple before he lifted his head back up, Casey slightly startled when he saw multiple pairs of eyes on her. Aside from Severide watching him, Boden and Herrmann had stayed in the room as well, all three of them watching him as they were the last ones in the briefing room. Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Matt knew exactly what this was about, his gaze finding Boden's as the older man gave him a look.
"...Is she okay to be here?" He asked simply, his one question encompassing everything the Chief would need to know, as Matt gave him a quick nod.
"She said she is, so she is." He assured Boden, the man nodding strongly.
"Alright… But you'll keep me updated through the day?" He requested, Matt running his tongue along the inside of his cheek. "If anything changes."
"I will, Chief." Matt responded, his words seemingly enough to satisfy both Boden and Herrmann as they nodded before leaving the room, Matt huffing out a breath before he began moving for the hallway, Severide following after him.
"So, really… Without the bullshit, how is she doing?" Severide asked as they walked through the hallway, Matt's body tightening as their steps slowed down, the look on his face telling Kelly all he needed to know as the squad Lieutenant blew out a sharp breath between his teeth. "...Is it really that bad?" He asked, concern shining in his words as Matt ran his hand along his mouth.
"She's struggling… More than I think she thought she would." Casey spoke as honestly as he could as he thought over how Gabby had been the last couple of days, Kelly giving him an understanding look. "She spent so long ignoring it, but now that she can't… And it just kind of comes in waves, but it's hard on her, man."
"Well, no one can blame her." Severide responded softly, Matt nodding in agreement. "That asshole abused her for God knows how long, and all he got was a slap on the wrist for it." He replied bitterly, shaking his head in disgust. "I mean, he's about to be a free man after he made her suffer for years, I wouldn't be handling that well, either, if I were her."
"I know… The whole thing just- It fucking sucks. I don't even know how else to describe it." Matt breathed out frustratedly. "But we've got that restraining order, he knows he can't see her, so all I can do is just be there for her, and help her through it." He replied, Kelly nodding once more as they came to a stop at the end of the hallway.
"Do you, uh… Do you think he'll follow that?" Severide questioned, Matt raising his eyebrows. "The restraining order, do you think he'll actually follow it? Cause didn't he want to see her awhile back? And, as far as I know, she never went-"
"She didn't." Matt was quick to interject, Kelly giving him a strong nod.
"Yeah, so he wanted to see her, and she never did… Do you think he'll try anything now?" Kelly asked, Matt swallowing the heavy lump that had formed in his throat as his back tightened, Severide keeping his eyes on him as he waited for a response, not missing the way Casey's eyes darkened before he shook his head.
"Only if it's the last thing he wants to do."
The moment those words left his lips, Kelly thought he was kidding. But as the seconds passed, it became more and more clear that he wasn't joking at all, Severide's eyes widening slightly as he rested his hands on his hips. "...Casey."
"If he comes near her, Sev-" Matt cut him off, shaking his head as he clenched his jaw, Kelly seeing an anger in his friend he hadn't seen in a long time. "I won't let him hurt her." He spoke truthfully, Severide drawing in a deep breath before he nodded. While Kelly knew Matt would never actually go that far, he also knew that was about the only thing he wouldn't do to protect Gabby, and that if Walker was stupid enough to come around again, Casey would make sure he regretted it, likely for the rest of his life, Matt taking a step towards the door before pausing for a split second as their eyes locked one last time, Severide giving him a slight nod.
"He can't hurt her again… Whatever I have to do to keep her safe, I'll do it."
The sound of the loud buzzing signaling the opening of the heavy gates was like music to his ears as he looked around, the man smiling ear to ear as he walked up towards the wide open gate, his steps pausing for a moment before he finally walked through. Drawing in a deep breath, he smiled even wider, his grin permanently etched into his skin as he took his first few breaths as a free man, Bryan looking around at the world around him, the world he hadn't seen from outside these bars in three months, the days moving by slowly as he served his time.
Time he never should've been serving, if you'd ask him. Time that was wasted with him being wrongfully put behind bars, as he'd done nothing to deserve being in there. But there was nothing to be done about that now, Bryan knowing there was no use focusing on the past, at least not when it came to his time on the inside. Because now, he was out. He was out and he finally had the freedom to do whatever he pleased, which was something he certainly wasn't going to take for granted after wasting so much of his time inside that prison.
And part of him not taking things for granted anymore included him finding a way to see the one person he'd wanted to see since the day he walked into that prison, the person he'd thought of every single moment since the last time he saw her. The person who was at fault for him being locked up in the first place.
Though he didn't hold that against her, not anymore. Not when there'd been so much wasted time already, when he wanted nothing more than to see her, and to talk to her. And that was part of why he wanted to see her, to tell her that he wasn't mad at her over what happened, though he most certainly could be. But he wasn't, and he needed to see her to tell her that... And deep down, he knew she wanted to see him, too. Though he knew with that damn, and unnecessary, restraining order, the one he had a feeling Antonio and Casey both forced her to get, it would be more challenging, Bryan knowing he needed to play this carefully.
But if he could find a way around that, he knew it'd be worth it, the smile never leaving his face as he walked further out into the world that had been withheld from him for so long.