Hello there everyone! I'm finally back with the next chapter for you all! I want to start off by apologizing that it took me this long to get an update to you all, but I just did not have any time to write while I was out of town. Though luckily I'm back home now, so we should be able to get back to the normal schedule.

With that being said, obviously today is not Thursday, and you all are getting this update a day early. I decided to go ahead and post this one because I'm going to be gone almost all day tomorrow, with basically no way to get online and post this chapter, so I wanted to go ahead and give it to you all now so you weren't left waiting another day. So that's why this update is a little earlier than I typically post. But I promise, after today, things should be getting back to normal around here.

And I mentioned this in my I Won't Let You Go update a couple days ago, but I'm also working on a Dawsey Christmas two-shot, and the first chapter of that should be up at the beginning of next week, so be on the lookout for that as well, if you're interested!

That's pretty much all I've got for you all, I hope you all are having a nice December so far. Thank you so much for coming back to read this chapter, I really hope you all enjoy it and I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

I'll see you again next week!

ONE HUNDRED AND THREE

Darkness covered their bedroom while Gabby laid quietly in the middle of the mattress, her body angled towards her fiancé as she watched him sleep. It was still early enough, the barely rising sun being kept out of their room by their thick curtains over the windows as they still had a little bit of time before needing to get ready for work. Which is exactly why Gabby hadn't made any attempt at getting up out of this bed, not yet at least, as she wanted Matt to be able to get what little more rest he could before they'd need to start their day. They had gone to bed pretty late, the engaged couple taking their time together last night after they'd spent most of the day apart, so she was glad to see him getting some extra rest now, Matt continuing to sleep peacefully beside her like he had all night.

They hadn't fallen asleep this way, the two going to bed cuddled into one another as they normally did, before drifting apart some time during the night. But he never let her get too far from him, as even in his sleep he was holding onto her hand firmly, with their fingers intertwined with one another, the gentle hold he had on her just yet another reminder of how he liked to keep her close whenever he could.

And truthfully, she loved it, Gabby unable to stop the small smile that started to form across her face while she watched her sleeping fiancé.

"Good morning."

Matt's groggy voice hit her ears suddenly, Gabby raising her eyebrows slightly as she came to realize her man wasn't as asleep as she'd previously thought. But her face soon softened when she felt him give her hand a squeeze while his eyes stayed shut.

She continued to watch him for a few moments, waiting to see if he had any intention of looking at her as they laid there. But after a lingering second or two it became clear to her that he had no plans to open his eyes anytime soon, Gabby running her tongue along the inside of her cheek before a coy smile appeared over her face.

"Good morning to you, too." She spoke before shifting her weight towards him to press a soft kiss to his lips, Gabby feeling him smile against her before pulling back.

"Hi beautiful." He murmured as his thumb started to stroke the back of her hand gently, Matt's eyes still firmly closed while Gabby glanced towards him, before a soft scoff left the back of her throat.

"I'm pretty sure I haven't had time to get beautiful yet." Dawson countered, though Matt was shaking his head before she could even finish her statement.

"You're always beautiful." He responded without a thought, his sincere words causing that soft grin to return to her lips before she leaned back towards him to steal another kiss.

"You're being awfully sweet this morning." She whispered against him before he started kissing her once more, the two sharing a few long moments enjoying their morning together before Gabby eventually pulled back when air became an issue.

But even once she was resting back on her pillow, she couldn't help but notice how Matt was laying comfortably in the same spot he'd been in since he woke up, his eyes still completely closed while a content look started to form across his features. And just for a moment, all she wanted to do was bask in that.

In the easy and secure feeling in the air. In how they were both just so relaxed, and happy, the bright grin on his face showing just how at peace he truly was. And it was a feeling she never wanted to take for granted.

But more than that, she also couldn't help but feel a strong sense of pride while she watched him, as it wasn't lost on her that while Matt was the only person who had ever been able to truly make her feel safe and loved, she knew she was also that person for him. That she was the only one who could make him feel the way he did right now, and that she was the only person who could get him to smile the way he was in this moment. With that small, goofy smile that still made her weak in the knees. The one that made her fall in love with him all over again every time she saw it.

That soft, stupidly giddy grin he'd wear that she never got tired of, the same one that made her heart burst inside her chest. The one she only saw when he was just completely and blissfully happy.

It was a look she'd only ever seen him have with her, and that knowledge elicited something within her, Gabby unable to stop her smile from widening as she loved being the only thing in the world that could make him smile like that.

"...You gonna stop staring at me anytime soon there, babe?" He asked after a few more moments, Gabby being pulled from her thoughts as her attention refocused on him, her gentle grin turning into more of a sly smirk while she gave his hand a squeeze.

"You're my fiancé, I think I'm allowed to stare as much as I want." She shot back quickly, Matt letting out a soft chuckle before he finally opened his eyes.

And the second he did, Gabby couldn't help the slight rush of heat she felt creep up her neck as his gorgeous blue eyes focused on her, Matt able to still get that type of reaction out of her even now as a proud gleam began to shine in his eyes.

"I guess you do have a point." He agreed, Gabby regaining a bit of herself before she began to nod back at him, Matt pausing for a moment before he moved their hands back up towards them. Without saying a word, he started to press gentle kisses over her hand, his lips moving slowly across her skin while she watched his every move, before he finished by placing a soft kiss right beside her ring. "...I do love seeing this on you." He spoke, almost like he was talking to himself. But she heard him regardless, Dawson's smile widening as she dropped his hand in order to reach out towards his face.

"I do, too." She agreed, her palm cupping his cheek as their eyes locked on each other once more.

"Though I think I'm even more excited to see that wedding band on your hand." He added on coyly, Gabby having to stifle a laugh as the smile on his face grew. "What? I am." He defended, watching as she shook her head lightly before guiding him in for another kiss.

"I know you are." She spoke against his lips, as both of them were somewhat reluctant to pull away. But Gabby soon did regardless. "And I am, too… I can't wait for our wedding."

Those words caused his face to light up, the sheer mention of their big day enough to make him as happy as she'd ever seen him before Matt nodded in agreement. "I can't, either." He replied soon after, while his hand slid across the bed to rest over her hip, the movement effectively pulling her a few inches closer. "Even though we have no actual plans yet." He added with a chuckle, Gabby raising her eyebrows a bit before her gaze moved down towards his bare chest. "Which, I guess since we're on the subject… we really do need to start actually planning our wedding soon."

She answered with a mere shrug, the movement somewhat difficult because of her position on the bed, but Matt still understood her response before she spoke up. "What all is there to plan?" She questioned with a small smirk, Matt letting out another scoff before shaking his head. "You, me, Shay and Severide, and our families… Just get all of them together, find any old church, and then get the job done." She finished with an almost accomplished look in her gaze, like she was proud of the joke she'd made as Casey rolled his eyes playfully.

"Who knew my girl was such a comedian?" He teased, Gabby laughing softly as she felt his palm cup her side through the material of the thin bed sheet. "But I think you and I both know the rest of the firehouse wouldn't appreciate not getting invited… and Shay pretty much has her heart set on figuring out this wedding with us, so I hate to break it to you but I think we're gonna have to make actual plans." He spoke with a smug grin, before he leaned forward to kiss the proud look off her face.

"I know, I know… and we will." She said as they separated, Gabby shifting closer to him while he adjusted the sheets around them, Matt waiting for her to get comfortable before sliding his hand around to her back. "But right now, I'm enjoying just being your fiancée."

That goofy smile slowly started to reappear over his lips when he registered her words, Gabby feeling her heart tug in her chest as he gradually ran his hand over her lower back.

"Oh really?" He asked softly, their smiles lighting up the dark room as she was close enough to feel the heat coming off his body.

"Yeah... Comes with some perks." She played along, watching as he laughed softly while tightening his hold on her body, before pulling her up on top of him in one swift motion.

It took her by surprise, Gabby's hands coming out to steady herself as she straddled his waist, the sheets now bunched down by their hips when she noticed the cool air in the room against her bare chest, before leaning down to press her skin into his.

"Yeah?" He asked once more as his hands settled on her waist, sensing the slight chill that ran through Gabby's body while she sat on top of him.

"Mhmm." She hummed after she'd regained herself, the two of them sharing a longing look before his eyes slowly started to trail down to the top of her chest.

"...And what perks would those be, that you didn't have before?" He asked her, watching the rise and fall of her chest with each breath before he finally made his way back to her eyes, finding a knowing grin waiting for him as she thought over her answer.

"Hmm… well, the sex is definitely better." She teased, Casey releasing a heavy scoff before pinching her side lightly, the action causing her to laugh while shying away from his touch.

"You're so funny." He responded dryly, Gabby crinkling up her nose in response as he continued running his hand along her back.

"I know." She replied without missing a beat, Casey shaking his head lightly while she continued. "And then maybe it's just the ring, but ever since you put it on my finger, you've seemed hotter." She spoke, her joke causing him to let out a soft laugh once more as he saw that small smile cover her lips.

"Is that so?" He asked her, Gabby nodding up and down without an ounce of hesitation.

"Definitely." She said, her sure words leaving her lips easily before she bit down onto her bottom lip, her brown eyes now shining down at him as she couldn't help but smile when they focused on one another, the look on her face enough to cause his heart rate to quicken as he found himself falling more and more in love with the woman in his arms by the second.

"Alright, well," He started once more after clearing his throat, Matt unsure of how many moments had passed since she answered him as he'd gotten a little lost in her gaze. "Now that we're having this conversation, let me hear the rest of it.." He told her, his hands running along her smooth skin as he saw her smile widen. "What else is better?"

She paused for a moment, taking in his words while he reached up to brush some of the loose hair behind her ear that had fallen in front of her face, Matt keeping his eyes on her as his thumb slowly started to stroke across her cheek.

The air around them had shifted, and they both felt it, that dumb smile that she had fallen in love with long ago never leaving his face once she finally found her answer.

"I'd say the best part is waking up every day knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with you."

Matt's breath caught in his throat as she finished speaking, his eyebrows furrowing slightly as his gaze traced over her features, seeing nothing but love shining back at him before she lifted her hand up from the mattress to brush her fingers through his hair.

"It's that, and knowing that you want to spend the rest of your life with me, too-"

Gabby barely got the words out before his lips were on hers, the action nearly catching her off guard. But she recovered quickly, Gabby starting to give back just as much as he was giving her while his arms tightened around her, his warmth spreading through her body as they pressed into each other.

Their movements were needy, and full of passion, yet there was a tameness to it. Something that had them both feeling nothing but the intense amount of love between them as Matt slid his hand up to run through her hair, before gripping gently onto her.

"God, I love you." He breathed out once they separated, their chests heaving as they fought to catch their breaths, while Gabby leaned down to rest her forehead against his.

"I love you, too." She told him, feeling him smile softly before he adjusted to give her another kiss.

But this time, he had no plans of stopping, their movements getting more and more intense by the second as he kept one hand in her hair, while the other roamed the body he loved so much. Neither of them were entirely sure how much time had passed, as they would've been content to spend the rest of their morning together like this. But they both knew they couldn't, and when Gabby's mind cleared enough she finally found it in her to pull back, her eyes flashing over towards the clock while Matt's kisses began to trail down her neck. And while that, combined with his hand moving over her was almost enough to make her forget that they had somewhere to be this morning, the soft chime of their clock pulled her from the haze she was in as she tried to lift herself up slightly.

"Baby… Baby, we need to get ready." She murmured, her eyes falling closed as she felt his lips manage to find their way to the top of her chest, her resolve weakening more and more when he pushed his hips up into her.

"Just a few minutes.. We work all day today, then I'll hardly get to see you tomorrow." He said quietly in between his kisses, his breath tickling her skin as she forced herself to take a deep breath. "...And besides, we have time." He added on as Gabby continued to get lost in him while he worked over her body, the woman knowing she was completely powerless to what he was doing, though she had no real desire for him to stop either.

But when he never got a response from her, he did, Matt pulling back to meet her gaze with an almost questioning look covering his face, his eyes searching hers for the okay to continue as he didn't want to go any further before he knew she was alright with it. And it was an assurance he soon got, as Gabby nodded slowly, the world continuing to melt away around them when their lips met once more.

From that moment on, it was like nothing else mattered as Matt gently flipped them over on the bed until she was resting underneath him, the two falling into that familiar rhythm with one another as they were eager to enjoy the short amount of time they had to spend together this morning.

"You're awful cheery this morning."

Gabby looked up from the food in her lap towards her friend as they sat in the ambulance, the two paramedics currently parked on the side of the street while they took this rare moment of peace to enjoy some lunch, the short break in their calls something they hadn't experienced all morning as they had been busy since the very start of shift.

"I'm sorry?" She asked while Shay took another bite of her sandwich, Dawson's head cocking to the side while she waited for her partner to finish chewing before she responded.

"You seem to be in a good mood." Shay elaborated after a quick drink, seeing Gabby's eyebrows raise slightly. "Which, after running all over the city this morning, is a little surprising." She added on, Dawson drawing in a deep breath before she nodded.

"Yeah, it's been pretty busy… But the pace is nice, I don't mind it." She replied, seeing a somewhat knowing look begin to appear in Shay's eyes before nodding back at her, the paramedics having an almost silent agreement here lately that they preferred those busier days to the slower ones. Especially since that awful call nearly a month ago now, the faster days were practically a godsend as they had helped tremendously in moving on from everything that happened.

They were both doing fine now, and things had certainly calmed down in the weeks that had passed, as enough time had gone by for them to get past the horror from that day. But still, it wasn't something either of them necessarily liked dwelling on, as it brought up more than enough unpleasant memories. That call would always stick with them, and they'd accepted that, but they had also gotten past it. It was nothing but a distant memory to them now, as both Gabby and Shay had been able to move on from the hurt that day left behind.

But though they'd put it behind them, Gabby still had come to appreciate those fast-paced days on the job, as it gave her the ability to focus on nothing but the people in front of her who needed their help.

"Yeah, it has been nice." Shay murmured in agreement, the women sharing a soft smile before Gabby took another bite of her food, while her friend soon returned to her previous comment. "But still, there's something weird with you… You look happy." She continued on, Gabby shaking her head lightly before she responded.

"It's weird that I'm happy?" She countered.

"Not necessarily, you just seem a little too happy." She clarified, Gabby pursing her lips together while she waited to see where Shay was going with this. Though she had a good feeling already. "...I take it you and the Lieutenant had a good morning." She prodded without shame, Gabby sighing softly before looking back down towards her food.

"I knew that was coming." She muttered under her breath, though she was unable to fight off the smile on her face that gave away how she didn't mind Shay's teasing.

"So I am right." She continued on proudly, Gabby glancing back up at her just as she wiggled her eyebrows. "And based on how relaxed you look even with all these calls, I take it he did a good job." She added on, Dawson scoffing heavily while her head shook side to side. "What? Don't give me that, you know I'm just looking out for you. And making sure Casey and… little Casey are doing their jobs correctly." She spoke, Gabby biting back a laugh at her choice of words before meeting her eye.

"Did you really have to say it like that?" She asked her, though her words were rhetorical as Shay waved her off. "And besides, you've heard about this enough to know you never have to worry about Casey and him… being thorough." She continued on vaguely, Shay chuckling softly with an amused gleam in her eye. "But if you must know, we did have a good morning. A great morning, actually."

Shay gave her friend a grin before picking up her drink, the two women enjoying the light feeling around them before the blonde continued on.

"Well, as your best friend I'm glad to hear it." She responded before taking a sip, Gabby laughing once more.

"What about you?" Dawson questioned after taking another bite of her lunch. "I feel like all we've been talking about lately is me and Matt, how are things going for you in the girlfriend department?" She pressed, Shay wincing slightly before leaning back against the side of the door.

"Eh, about the same as always. Just casual stuff, nothing serious." She explained while picking at her food. "I've seen that Tara girl a few times, you remember the girl I told you about a couple weeks ago?" She asked, Gabby giving her an affirming nod before she continued. "But I can't tell if she's really into it or not, and I don't really see it going anywhere." Shay explained with a shrug. "So that's pretty much it, nothing new to report… But don't worry, I'll make sure to find someone suitable before the wedding."

Her segway was less than subtle as a slight grin tugged on Shay's lips, Gabby merely rolling her eyes despite the smile that formed across her own face. "That's not why I was asking, Shay… Though if anything, you being single at the wedding just means there's an opportunity for slutty wedding sex." Dawson added on with a laugh, Shay's head tilting to the side slightly as her smile widened.

"Oh, I love the sound of that… We need to make sure you invite a lot of hot, single women to this thing." She teased back, the two women sharing a laugh before continuing on with their meal, all while silently hoping they wouldn't be called back out anytime soon. "Though speaking of the wedding, we are still going dress shopping tomorrow with your mom, right?" Shay asked after a moment, Gabby glancing up at her before nodding slowly.

"We are, yeah." She answered with a soft sigh, placing her food back down on the wrapper. "My mom made the appointment weeks ago, and I haven't found a way to get out of it, so we're going." She added on, Shay giving her friend an amused look before shaking her head.

"You don't seem too eager to go and find your perfect dress." She joked lightheartedly, Gabby glaring back slightly before Shay spoke up. "Some women kill for this kind of stuff."

"Oh, I'm sure they do." She said back with a laugh. "But it'll be fine, I know my mom's looking forward to it. And Nancy will be there, too." She added on, seeing the soft smile that appeared over Shay's face.

"I didn't realize she was coming, that'll be nice." She replied genuinely, Dawson nodding back at her.

"It will be, yeah." Gabby responded. "I asked her the week before last, if she wanted to come with us. I thought it would be good to have her be a part of all this, since I am marrying her son. And she's been there for us through so much of everything that happened." She continued on, Shay nodding understandingly. "I wanted her to be there for the good stuff, too. So I invited her, and she said yes… She sounded pretty excited."

"Well, I'm sure she is." Shay told her. "I'm sure it meant a lot to her that you want her to be a part of this. And I'm sure it means a lot to Casey, too." She added on, seeing Dawson duck her head slightly as an unmistakable smile formed over her face.

"It does." She responded, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she looked back to her friend. "He was excited when I told him, too. I know it's important to him, that his mom is involved in his life… Which means she's involved in our lives, so I wanted her to be included in this." She finished, Shay shooting her a knowing grin before she reached over to gently nudge her side.

"You're a good fiancée." She spoke as Dawson swatted her arm away. "...Even if you don't want to go and find a wedding dress." She added on, Gabby huffing out a breath as she looked back down to her food.

"Oh boy." She replied, Shay narrowing her eyes slightly in response.

"Yeah, I didn't just move on from that and your little comments a minute ago… So out with it, why don't you want to go dress shopping?" She pushed, Dawson giving her yet another unimpressed look. "I mean, this is most girls' dream to go and find their perfect dress for their perfect day with their perfect man." She continued on while watching her friend. "And you already have the perfect man part, so why not move onto the dress?" She asked lightly, before the air around them suddenly shifted, Shay's expression falling slightly. "...You're not- this isn't you reconsidering the engagement, is it?"

Gabby's eyebrows immediately furrowed before she shook her head firmly, Shay keeping her watchful eyes on her. "Jesus, Shay- No, it's not that. It's not anything, I'm not reconsidering anything with Matt. I want to marry him." She assured her, the paramedic breathing in deeply before she nodded. "Why would you even think that?"

"I'm just making sure." She replied, holding her hands up in defense. "And I'm checking to make sure all the excitement and everything hasn't worn off, cause I know you Dawson. Which means I know that sometimes when things start to get serious, you get nervous." She continued on, Gabby blowing out a sharp breath before Shay gave her a knowing look. "I'm sorry, but it's true."

"Maybe it used to be, but not with Matt… Not anymore, at least." She countered, Shay mulling over her words before she gave in.

"Fair point." She spoke. "So I take it back. But if it's not that, what is it? Why are you dragging your feet with this?"

"I told you, it's not anything. And I'm not 'dragging my feet'." Dawson repeated herself, seeing Shay's uncertain gaze on her. "I do want to find a dress, in fact I'm really excited to find the right one. I never got to do this before, and now finding that perfect dress for our wedding day is just… it's gonna be so special, and I'm so excited." She spoke softly, Shay grinning slightly before she nodded. "But what I'm not so excited about is doing this right now. And I know it's just to go and look, and try to get a feel for what I might like, but I think it's kind of strange to do this when Matt and I don't even know when the wedding is."

An understanding look appeared over Shay's face before she gave her a nod, the blonde's guard dropping slightly as she was starting to understand more and more of where Gabby's head was at.

"And it just seems sort of soon, I guess. We haven't planned anything yet, and I mean, he only proposed like a month ago."

"It's been five weeks." Shay corrected, earning a slight glare from her partner. "Sorry, continue."

"Uh huh... But anyway, I just- I don't see the point in moving too fast with this, that's all. I want to be able to enjoy my engagement before it becomes solely about figuring out the wedding… And my mom and I even talked about it, about not getting lost in all the planning and just enjoying everything, which I guess is also what caught me off guard a little bit about her planning this dress appointment so soon, but it's fine." She breathed out, Gabby not even realizing she had been rambling until she stopped to take a breath. "Really, all of it's fine. And tomorrow will be fine, it'll be good to at least look at some options and figure some things out. To get a feel for what I like, or don't like… And I know everyone's looking forward to it, so it'll be good."

Shay watched her closely as she continued to get all of this off her mind, the woman nodding occasionally while her friends spoke, before she finally got a word in.

"Yeah, I get it. I do. And it makes sense… You want some time to just enjoy all of this, before it becomes nothing but planning." She assured her, Gabby giving her a weak smile before she nodded. "...Though I am kind of surprised, I guess." She continued on, Dawson's look morphing into one of confusion as her body angled more towards her friend.

"About what?"

"You and Casey wanting to have a longer engagement." She responded, seeing Gabby's eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"What do you mean?" She pressed, Shay shrugging as her eyes flickered out the front windshield, her reaction telling Gabby that she was holding something back. "...What is it?" She continued on, seeing Shay draw in a deep breath before looking back her way.

"Just you talking about not wanting to rush through this, and really soak all of it in… It means it'll be a while before you get married, and I guess I hadn't really thought about it, but I just figured that wasn't something that either of you would want… Especially after everything last time." She said carefully, a knowing look appearing over Gabby's face before she slowly nodded. "I just- I know you two kind of had a longer engagement, where there were never really any actual plans made, so I just assumed it would be the opposite with you and Matt… That you wouldn't want to do the long engagement thing again."

"I don't." Gabby answered quickly, the almost defensive edge to her tone not going unnoticed by Shay. But she said nothing, the paramedic merely nodding as she waited for Dawson to continue. "I don't want to have a long engagement again, but taking some time to enjoy all of this isn't the same as what my engagement with him was… This isn't me and Bryan."

"I know that, sweetie." Shay spoke as she reached out to rub her arm. "I didn't mean to imply otherwise, that wasn't why I brought it up, I was just curious." She continued on, getting a small smile from Gabby before she continued.

"No, I know. But this thing with me and Matt, it couldn't be more different than what my engagement to Bryan was like. Or hell, what my entire relationship with him was like. So this now, it's just… it's different. It's different knowing you're engaged to someone who actually wants to marry you." She said, as a sad look appeared in Shay's eyes. "That's why I don't feel like we have to rush any of this, cause I know Matt. I know he's here, and he's not going anywhere. That he wants this as much, or maybe even more, than I do… And that's not to say I want to wait years to marry him, because I don't. But I also don't want to just rush through this part of our lives together. Neither of us do." She spoke softly, Shay's gaze softening before she nodded.

"So you two have talked about it?" Shay asked her, the two friend's locking eyes. "The wedding, and all of it." She added on, seeing the gentle grin that appeared over Gabby's face.

"We have, yeah. A little bit… We might not have any plans set in stone yet, but we know we want to do it pretty soon, like this year. And we know we don't want anything too big, just something small and nice. For us and our family, and friends… But we also don't want to get too caught up in planning everything just yet." She explained, Shay offering up an understanding nod. "And maybe we're crazy for that, but this is our wedding. It's mine, and it's Matt's, and this is the only wedding I'm planning on having. The only one I want to have, and we want to make sure it's special… That it's us. But that also means we want to have some time to just enjoy our engagement a little."

Shay took in her words for a moment before nodding back at her, Gabby smiling softly in response before glancing back down to her lap.

"So yeah, I guess that kind of answers your question." She finished with a low chuckle after a moment, Shay's grin widening as she matched her friend's laugh.

"Yeah, it does… You two are in a sort of engagement bliss right now and don't wanna pop that little bubble, I get it." She told her, Gabby's laughs getting louder before she nodded.

"Something like that." She responded with a recognizable gleam in her eye, just before their radio came alive as they were needed at a call a few blocks away, both paramedics putting aside their conversation when Shay turned on the lights and began to drive out into the street, as they knew it was time to go help whoever they could.

Dawson huffed out a heavy breath as she stood perched up in front of a bunch of mirrors in the somewhat confined room, her eyes trailing over what had to have been the seventh or eighth wedding dress she'd tried on today as she tried to figure out how she felt about this current one that Shay had picked out. But after so many dresses, it was hard for her to pinpoint how she truly felt, as they were all starting to sort of blend together in her brain.

The first dress of the day had been special. Even though it wasn't her dress, that didn't matter as much as just getting to be here and starting this process. And putting on that first wedding dress had stirred a lot of emotions within her as well, the whole thing becoming one of the best experiences she'd had in a while. Especially with her mom, Nancy, and Shay here, as all of them had teared up that first time she walked out of the dressing room in a white gown.

But with each dress she'd tried on, that magic was starting to fade a little; at least for her it was, as now that some of that initial excitement was beginning to die down, all she was left with was the stress of trying to find the perfect dress for her and Matt's special day.

And so far, she hadn't.

"What do you think, Gabby?" Shay asked her as a few minutes had passed, and Dawson had yet to really say much. Though based on her reaction, the women sitting behind her could tell she wasn't in love with it.

"...It's alright." She finally settled on after a few seconds, Camila frowning slightly when she saw the unsure look that appeared over her daughter's face while Gabby smoothed her hands over the fabric covering her waist. "It's pretty, but I'm not sure it's what I'm looking for." She continued on as the kind woman helping her, Leah, gave her an understanding nod.

"What exactly do you not like about it?" Leah questioned as she came up to stand behind her, the woman adjusting one of the clasps that helped tighten the dress that was a little too big, the movement not even fazing Dawson and she and this woman had gotten quite close in the few hours they'd been here.

Pursing her lips together, Gabby continued to scrutinize her appearance in all the mirrors in front of her, as figured out what it was that was giving her this feeling. "I don't know, I guess I just don't really like the cut of it." She said as she looked over her neckline. "It's kind of a weird shape, and I don't like that there's so much fabric on top, it feels too bulky." She continued to explain, Leah nodding as she made a mental note of everything her client was saying.

"Alright, well that'll definitely help narrow down some of our next choices." She told her with a gentle grin, their eyes meeting through the mirror before Dawson nodded back at her. "But this one is a definite no?" Leah questioned, Gabby almost immediately nodding once more.

"Yeah, it's a no." She replied as she turned around to face the group, seeing all three of them still watching her closely while Leah helped her step down onto the floor.

"Okay, well let's get you out of this one and then we can keep looking around at a few more things." She suggested, her easy demeanor never faltering as Gabby gave her a weak smile.

"Sounds good." Gabby told her before Leah held her hand out towards the hallway, like she was prompting her to start heading back towards their room. But Dawson hardly took a step before she heard her mother's voice hit her ears.

"Mija," She spoke, clearing her throat as Gabby turned around to face her with an inquisitive look on her face. "...I have no doubt that you'll be able to find the right dress for you, but I just want you to remember that my offer still stands." Camila told her, seeing her daughter's face start to soften before she continued. "You're more than welcome to wear my dress, sweetheart."

Gabby gave her a grateful smile, the mother and daughter sharing a quick nod as Shay and Nancy watched on. "I know Mama, and I appreciate it." She started, sparing a short glance towards Leah before looking back to her mom. "But that was your dress, for your big day with Papa, and I want it to stay your dress." She repeated the words she'd told her the last time they had this conversation, Camila drawing in a slow breath before nodding knowingly.

"Okay honey, I just wanted to offer." She told her, Gabby giving her a gracious smile before she nodded.

"I know, and thank you for that. Really." She responded, the two sharing one last look before Leah led Gabby back towards her room, the woman holding onto the back of the gown to keep it from falling until they were in the security of Dawson's dressing room.

Leah let her walk in first before following after her, the sales woman shutting the door behind them before she went to work on helping the bride out of her dress.

"So, your mom's dress." She spoke up while removing the clips, Gabby holding her hair over her shoulder before glancing back towards her. "You don't want to wear it?"

Her question was purely inquisitive, Gabby sensing that the woman helping her find something for the most important day of her life was just trying to get to know her a little better, as the paramedic gave her a soft smile. "Not really, no." She answered honestly, watching as Leah nodded immediately as she placed the large clips down on the shelf, before moving to work on the ties along the back of the dress. "Don't get me wrong, my mother's dress was gorgeous, but it's just not my style… There would have to be so many alterations made, so much that it wouldn't even really be my mom's dress anymore. And I want her to be able to have that, you know?" She breathed out, seeing the understanding smile that covered Leah's face before she nodded.

"I do." She replied, Gabby taking another breath before she continued.

"So yeah, that's part of why I want to keep looking for a dress of my own, even though she keeps bringing it up… Although I think part of her offering again is just because she can tell I'm getting a little frustrated with all this." Gabby spoke honestly, missing the way Leah's features fell slightly despite the knowing look in her eyes, the woman soon giving her a nod while she continued to help her client.

"I understand that, I do." She told her just as she got the dress undone, the woman letting it fall from Gabby's body before prompting her to step out of it, Leah beginning the process of hanging the dress up while Dawson moved to put her robe back on. "Wedding dress shopping can be an incredible thing, but it can also be hard on the bride. And I know it can be tedious at times, even if all the trial and error does help us figure out what you want." She continued on, Gabby glancing her way while securing the plush fabric to her body. "But this is often stressful, especially at first. So believe me, what you're feeling right now is completely normal." She assured her just as she finished with the dress, Gabby giving her a small, yet grateful smile.

"Thank you." She practically murmured in response, Leah nodding back at her just as Dawson's phone started to ring.

Excusing herself for a moment, Gabby turned back around towards the chair in the corner in the room, the woman reaching down into her bag to pull out her phone, only to see an incoming Facetime from the one person she hadn't expected to call her right now.

But she was unable to stop the smile on her face regardless, Gabby biting down softly on her bottom lip before she turned back around to face Leah, the woman surely noticing her abrupt change in demeanor.

"It's my fiancé." Gabby spoke, seeing the way Leah smiled softly at her as she was already taking a step back towards the door. "Could you give me a minute?"

"Of course." She said as she nodded down towards the dress in her hands. "I'll go put this back up, and maybe pull a few more options for you… You take all the time you need."

"Thank you." Dawson responded before she left the room, leaving Gabby to herself to speak with Matt as she sat down in the chair before answering the call.

"There you are." Matt's voice filtered through the phone the second his face came into view, the smile on Gabby's face growing slightly as she looked over her man, it taking her only seconds to realize he was somewhere outside. And, given where she'd left him before coming out today, she had a pretty good feeling that she knew where he was as she soon recognized him to be out in her parent's backyard.

Before leaving to go dress shopping this afternoon, Matt and Gabby had gone to her parents house, as that was where they'd decided to meet up before heading out today. But while Gabby and Camila left to come here, Matt had chosen to stay over at her parent's home to spend some time with Ramon.

He had been fixing a few more things around their house, as her father kept finding more and more stuff that seemed to be broken or in need of repair, which meant they'd spent a lot of time over at their place the last month as Matt had been more than gracious in helping him. Though after a while, Gabby got the sense that it was more than just her father needing some help, as most of the things he'd had Casey do were tasks Ramon could complete on his own. But it had everything to do with her dad just wanting Matt around, as she knew he liked spending time with him more than anything.

And it was something Matt thoroughly enjoyed as well, which made Gabby happier than she could even put into words.

"I was thinking you weren't going to answer me." He continued on when she had yet to say anything, Gabby shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts before refocusing her attention on him.

"Well, I am a little busy." She responded with a soft grin, Gabby watching as he chuckled lightly before moving to sit down on the wooden steps. "So how's your day going? My dad's not overworking you too hard, is he?" Dawson asked as relaxed back into the chair, Matt letting out another laugh before adjusting his phone in his hand.

"No, no nothing like that." He assured her, Gabby pushing back some of her hair behind her ear before she nodded. "Though I haven't been back inside in a while, he might've found something else for me to do." He teased, seeing her scoff softly before she responded.

"You're a good sport." She told him.

"Eh, it's fine. Really, I don't mind." He replied, the two locking eyes through the phone screen for a moment before she nodded. "...But enough about me, what about you? What are you up to?" He questioned with a knowing gleam in his gaze, Gabby having to fight off the urge to let out another scoff as her head tilted to the side slightly.

"Babe, you know exactly what I'm up to." She answered, seeing that same dumb grin cover his lips before she watched his eyes move down a bit, like he was trying to see what she was wearing.

"Find anything you like?" He asked after a beat of silence, his eyebrow raising a bit before meeting her gaze, only to find a somewhat unimpressed look waiting for him.

"Maybe." She responded coyly, though that only encouraged him further as she watched his smile start to widen.

"Can I see?"

She didn't bother to stop her scoff this time, Gabby rolling her eyes before looking back towards him. "I'm pretty sure that goes against every single wedding rule in the book, baby." She said, though he didn't seem fazed by her words as that goofy grin stayed plastered across his face.

"Hey, you and I both know we've never been the traditional type." He countered, watching as a slight smirk started to pull on her lips.

"...Fair enough. But I still think this is one thing I'd like to be kept a surprise." She told him, seeing his features relax slightly as his proud look morphed into a much gentler one, Matt looking over her for a second before he nodded.

"I'm fine with that, babe." He replied, Gabby matching his grin before she gave him a quick kiss through the air. "It'll be worth the wait, I know whatever dress you pick will be absolutely gorgeous." He continued on, seeing her duck her head slightly while she moved the phone down closer to her lap, her movement giving him a much better view of her as that devilish smile returned to his face, Matt seeing how at some point when she'd sat down her robe had opened slightly. "...Although I can't help but notice how it looks like you're in-between dresses right now."

Gabby glanced back up at him to find his eyes moving over her, the woman shaking her head lightly despite the small smile staying over her lips, as even though she'd been enjoying their nice moment, she never got tired of his appreciation towards her.

"Mhmm… I had just finished trying one on when you call." She explained once he met her eyes once more, Matt giving her another nod before he spoke up.

"Maybe I did call at the right time, then." He joked, wiggling his eyebrows up and down suggestively as a heavy laugh left the back of her throat.

"Aren't you with my father?" She reminded him, Matt waving her off after sneaking a peak behind him to make sure they were still alone.

"He's inside." He answered simply, earning another look from his fiancée before he continued on. "But I'm just messing around, baby. I only wanted to call and check in, and see how you all were." He spoke, the tone in his voice shifting to a much more sincere one as she could hear how genuine his words were. "And make sure you're doing alright."

"I am, I'm good." She told him, seeing his smile grow a bit before he nodded. "Everyone's having a nice time, as far as I can tell. And they've all picked out a few dresses for me to try on, just so we can narrow some stuff down… My mom and Nancy seem to agree on a lot of the dresses, so that's good." She added on, Gabby unable to miss the way his face lit up when she mentioned his mom, and how things were going well there, as his reaction just reinforced what she already knew about how important this all was to him.

"That's great, baby, I'm so glad." He murmured, his body leaning forward slightly before he continued. "And what about Shay, how's she doing?" He questioned, Matt having to hold back his laughter as he watched his girl huff out an exasperated breath before she answered.

"She's, well… Shay. She's a little more on the less traditional side of things." She explained with a grin. "And I'm pretty sure she's almost given my mom a heart attack once or twice with a few of the dresses she wanted me to try on. I swear, there was one of them was more like lingerie with a skirt attached." She mused, Matt running his teeth over his bottom lip before smirking slightly.

"Well, you'll have to thank her for me." He joked, Gabby narrowing her eyes playfully.

"Matt…"

"I'm just kidding, babe." He spoke with a laugh, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek before shaking her head. "But you know how Shay is, she's always a bit… out there."

"Yeah, that's one word for it." She responded, before glancing back towards the door when she heard some shuffling outside her room.

And it was something Casey had picked up on, the man smiling softly before he spoke up. "I can let you go, I know you're busy." He told her, Gabby glancing back towards him before matching his grin. "And I don't want to keep you much longer, I just wanted to say hi and see how you were. And tell you that I miss you." He rambled out, Dawson unable to stop her smile from widening when she heard the innocent tone in his voice.

"I miss you too, baby. We'll probably be done in a few hours or so." She replied, seeing him nod softly.

"That's fine, take as much time as you need. I'll be here." Casey promised, his words sending a rush of warmth through her system.

"Good… And, uh-" She stopped herself, Gabby glancing back towards the door once more before continuing. "Make sure you keep your phone on you, cause I might be sending you some pictures later, if you're lucky." She spoke quietly, a questioning look soon appearing over her face.

"I thought you didn't want me to see any of the dresses?" He asked her, Gabby letting out a soft breath as the smile on her face widened.

"I wasn't talking about the dress, babe." She explained with raised brows, Matt's throat soon tightening before his eyes moved back towards her chest, where he could see a bit of skin peaking out through her loose robe.

"Oh, oh-" He said before clearing his throat, Matt sitting up a little straighter as Gabby couldn't help but laugh at the effect she had on him. "Well, yes please, I would love that. I'll make sure to keep my phone close by." He assured her, Gabby shaking her head lightly just as she heard a knock at the door, the two knowing the rest of their private conversation would have to wait.

"Gabby?" Leah asked through the closed door, Matt feeling heat rise to his cheeks as he watched his girl look away from the screen.

"Yeah, you can come in." She spoke, before seeing Leah's head pop in through the cracked door.

"Hey sorry, I know you're busy but we found another dress out here that I think you'll like… Your mom and Matt's mother picked it out, and wanted you to try it." She told her, Gabby smiling softly before she glanced down towards her phone to find a similar grin on Casey's face, that alone telling her that he had heard what all Leah said.

"Alright, yeah. We can try that." Dawson responded, Leah giving her a nod before walking the rest of the way into the dressing room, the woman pushing the door closed behind her while Gabby refocused her attention on Matt. "I've gotta go, but I'll call you when we're done."

"Sounds good baby." He said softly before pushing himself up off the steps. "I'll see you later, I love you."

"I love you, too." She replied, Matt giving her one last kiss through the air before they ended the call, though the smile on Gabby's face stayed even after she'd put her phone down and looked back to Leah, who was working on getting the dress out for her. "Sorry again about that." Gabby said, but Leah merely shook her head while holding the new wedding gown up in front of her.

"Nothing to apologize for, and besides you two are adorable." She told her, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip before moving her attention towards the dress. "But yeah, this one… I think there could be some potential here." She continued on, though Dawson was hardly listening to her as her eyes raked over the white, lace material in front of her.

It was a rather simple dress, but in the best way possible as the sleeveless gown looked absolutely stunning even just on the hanger, the lace covered top catching her eye immediately, before the smooth white fabric flowed out below the waistline. There were a few more details here and there, but overall it was just a nice, traditional wedding dress; and Gabby absolutely loved it. More so than anything else she'd tried on or looked at today, this felt the closest to what she had envisioned in her head.

Now all she had to do was put it on.

With some assistance from Leah, she managed to get the dress securely into place, and the second she did it was like something had shifted within her. Like her gut was trying to tell her something, as Gabby's breath caught in her throat as soon as she looked at herself in the small mirror on the wall.

It was hard to get a full look in the dressing room, but from what she could see she was in love. She absolutely loved this dress, and she had the feeling Leah could sense that too, as she'd said nothing but encouraging and positive things about it since she put it on, the woman still doing a few adjustments to help it fit as snug as possible.

But she didn't have to do much, as it fit her almost perfectly.

There were a few alterations that would have to be made, mostly to take some of the length off the gown as her shorter stature had it falling a little lower than she wanted. But overall, it fit her perfectly, the dress hugging every curve she had while making her feel like one of the most beautiful women in the world.

"What do you think?" Leah finally asked her as she got the last button into place, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as she continued looking over herself in the smaller mirror, the sweet smile on her face growing before she looked back towards her.

"I love it." She breathed out, an almost relieved look appearing over Leah's features before she nodded back towards the door.

"Wanna go show everyone else? And see what they think?"

Gabby nodded almost immediately, Leah offering her a small smile before the two women started to head back out towards the main room where her party was waiting for her. But even just during this short trek, with every step she took she couldn't help but notice how right this all felt. How she felt the most comfortable, and the most sure of herself, as she had since they got here.

And that feeling was never stronger than when she got to her mom, Nancy, and Shay, and they all audibly gasped the second they saw her.

"Oh my God, look at her." Shay squealed in pure delight as she reached over to grab Camila's hand, Nancy watching her with a similar look of pride as her hands came together in front of her mouth, like she was too stunned to even find the words.

And Camila was a mix of the both of them, Gabby seeing the tears sitting in her mother's eyes after she had climbed up on the step in front of the mirrors to get a better look at herself, Camila completely captivated by the sight of her daughter in front of her.

"Mija, you look gorgeous." She breathed out, a lone tear escaping down her cheek as Gabby felt tears starting to well within her own eyes, the feeling around them hard to put into words as everything in this moment just felt so incredibly perfect.

"Yeah?" She asked almost timidly, her eyes moving back towards the dress before gently resting her hand across her stomach, Gabby finding herself falling more and more in love with this gown with every passing second she stood here.

"It's amazing, you look so beautiful sweetheart." Nancy chimed in, Shay squealing once more as she started clapping her hands together, while Gabby let out a watery laugh.

"It's perfect, Dawson. You look incredible." She praised, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek to try and keep her emotions in check before she nodded. "Casey is like the luckiest man on the planet." She added, earning a few laughs from the group before they all returned their attention towards Dawson, only to find her still looking at herself in the mirror.

"...What do you think, Gabby?" Leah prompted, those words forcing Dawson to take another slow breath while her eyes continued raking over her form.

From the long, flowy skirt, to the distinct waistline, with the lace detailing covering all over her chest and torso, Gabby was sure she'd never been more in love with any other piece of clothing she'd put on her body. Especially when she would look down to her engagement ring, with the diamond shining brightly against the white material, it just felt like the most perfect thing in the world.

But more than that, it felt real. All of this, it felt so real… And that was a feeling she craved, Gabby beginning to blink back a few of the tears still sitting in her eyes before she refocused her gaze back towards her friends through the mirror, the bright smile on her face telling them all they needed to know before she gave them her answer.

"...I think this could be the dress."