Hey guys! Long time no see. I'm finally back here with the next chapter for you all, and hopefully you guys enjoy it.

I know it's been a bit, a lot longer than planned, but it seems like my life is just getting more and more busy. And balance is a little hard to find lately, but I'm doing what I can and trying to kill Dawsey alive in the meantime. As I'm sure you know, I can't really promise when the next chapter will be coming, but I'm still working to get these stories written for you all, and I appreciate everyone who is still here and reading them.

That's all I've really got for now. I hope you all are doing well! Thank you so much for sticking with me and coming to read this chapter, I hope you like it and I'll see you next time!

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY

A soft yawn escaped Gabby's lips as she slowly came into consciousness, the light filtering into the room causing her brows to furrow before she began to open her eyes. It took a few moments for her to gain a sense of her surroundings after being pulled from her deep slumber, but soon enough her gaze began to focus on the familiar wall in their bedroom, another yawn leaving her mouth while she stretched out her legs.

It wasn't too early in the morning, that much she could tell from the amount of sunlight coming into their room. And her suspicions were proven correct as just seconds later she moved her gaze to the clock on the nightstand, where the time flashed back at her.

8:54AM

Letting another yawn out, Gabby allowed herself to relax back into the warmth and security their bed provided now that she knew she had some time before her and Matt needed to get up. But even though she didn't have to get out of bed just yet, she knew she likely wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, not with it already being pretty late into the morning, Gabby instead just listening to the soft sounds of her husband's breaths behind her while her mind began to wander over the whirlwind that had been these last few days.

And everytime she did, she couldn't help but smile.

A couple days had passed since they found out about this pregnancy. Where she had taken that test which had completely changed their lives, in the best way possible. And ever since then, it all still hadn't quite felt real.

Their child, this baby- it was hard for the both of them to completely wrap their minds around it. That this thing they'd wanted together was finally happening, their dream was becoming a reality; it was still hard to grasp at times. Even with the multiple other tests Gabby had taken that next morning, every single one of them coming back positive, these past few days had been filled with moments where she couldn't quite believe that her and Matt were finally pregnant. That they were having a baby, together.

But they were.

And that had made her the happiest she'd probably ever been. Not just her for her, or for their child. But for Matt, too. Because she knew what all this meant to him, how he'd wanted to be a father his entire life.

Now that time has finally come.

He would be a father. He was a father, just like she was a mother. And that knowledge alone was enough the make the smile on her face grow even wider, Gabby unable to stop the indescribable amounts of joy rushing through her system at the thought of her and Matt, and the family they were building.

Movement from behind her grabbed Gabby's attention, her back relaxing into the warmth behind her as she felt Matt shifting around until his chest was fully pressed up against her. That was enough for her to assume he was gradually waking up, but when she felt his hand move from down off her hip to her stomach, it was then she knew for sure, Gabby biting back a grin as his palm rested delicately, yet purposefully over her lower abdomen. Right over their child.

In just a few days, Matt had already formed the habit of touching her stomach. Sometimes consciously, other times unconsciously, whenever he had the chance his palm would fit it's way to her torso, and Gabby would be lying if she said she didn't love it. The soft, gentle touch of her husband, over her and the life they'd created together, had quickly become one of her favorite things.

While gradually waking up, Casey continued to move his hand gently along her stomach before carefully sliding his palm up underneath the loose shirt covering her body, his warm skin resting against hers as Gabby pressed her body back into his.

"Good morning, baby." He murmured, voice thick with sleep before pressing a blind kiss to her shoulder, Gabby letting herself relax completely into his embrace.

"Good morning." She responded back, feeling him kiss her once more before clearing his throat, like he was still in the process of trying to fully wake up.

"What time is it?" Matt asked after a moment, his words a bit clearer now.

Gabby's eyes flickered to the clock. "A little after nine." She told him, feeling him nod after resting the side of his face against her back.

"Your appointment's at 10:30, yeah?" He checked with her, those words making her smile reappear before she slowly started to nod, Gabby feeling her husband grinning as well before he slowly moved to help guide her to lay on her back.

Shortly after finding out about this baby, that next morning- after the half dozen or so extra tests Gabby had taken, the first call she'd chosen to make was to Dr. Jeffries in order to set up an appointment as quickly as possible. Just for some peace of mind, in order to be truly sure about this pregnancy and their child, Gabby needed confirmation from her doctor that she was actually, without-a-doubt pregnant. And after explaining that to both the nurse and him, her doctor had- thankfully, managed to move around a few things and work her into his schedule.

"You excited for today?" Matt continued on once they'd gotten situated, his weight resting on his elbow while his other hand remained firm on her stomach, their light gazes locked on one another as Gabby nodded back at him with a noticeable gleam in her eyes.

Laughing softly in response, his smile widened before he leaned down to give her a kiss, Matt's thumb stroking her body lightly while Gabby reciprocated the movement, her own hand coming up to rest over his neck as they moved together for a few short, loving moments.

"Me too." He agreed once they separated to take a breath, the couple sharing smiles until he moved to steal another kiss, this one much shorter than the rest as just after a few seconds he was pulling away. But this time he continued moving further down the bed, not stopping until his was eye level with her torso, Gabby's grin staying plastered over her face as she knew exactly what was coming. "...And what about you, peanut?" Matt asked their child, the softness of his voice combined with the term of endearment for their unborn baby enough to spring a few tears to Gabby's eyes. "Are you ready for the big day with me and Mama?"

Gabby bit down on her lip in hopes of keeping at least some of the emotions welling within her at bay while Matt spoke to her stomach. But it was a futile attempt, as the intimacy of this moment continued to flow through the air around them.

This wasn't the first time he'd spoken to her stomach since finding out about their child. It wasn't even the first time he'd referred to her as someone's mother, but somehow that didn't matter. Because, at least right now, it still felt like a new experience every time he did it, and that feeling was one that made her so completely and fully happy.

"I bet you are, it's an exciting day… Almost as exciting as the day we found out about you. You know why? Cause today we get to see you… We finally get to meet you and see what you look like, at least right now while your in your Mama's tummy. And we are so excited." Matt continued on, like this conversation with their child was the most important thing to him right now.

And really, it probably was, that realization only making Gabby fall more in love with the man she'd given herself to.

"Oh no, peanut." Matt said after a few minutes of their one-sided conversation, those few words pulling Gabby out of her headspace as she looked back down towards her husband, seeing his curious eyes now focused on her. "I think I made your Mommy cry."

Gabby laughed softly in response, Matt watching on in slight amusement while she brought her hand up to wipe away some of the water resting beneath her eyes. Something her husband had clearly taken notice of.

"Hopefully it's a good thing." He continued to tease, prompting Gabby to playfully roll her eyes.

"You're so dumb." Were the next words muttered from under her breath, Matt clearly having heard them as he smirked a bit in response while she shook her head, the air around them light as they continued to lovingly joke around with one another. "But no, I'm fine. I am." She assured him, Matt's features softening before he nodded. "It's just… You." Gabby told him, his brows furrowing slightly while he waited for more. "You, and how you are with our child, even now. When we've only known about them for a few days, you're already the most caring, loving father our baby could ever ask for. And it makes me so excited to see you be that… To see you be a dad."

Casey could feel himself becoming the one to be a bit misty eyed as his wife's words washed over him, the smile on his face growing into one wider than Gabby had maybe ever seen while he continued to absentmindedly rub his hand over her stomach.

"I love you." He told her without much of a pause, Gabby's heartbeat quickening in her chest as she matched his grin. "I love you, and I love our child.. I love you both so much. And as excited and ready as I am to be a father, I feel the same way. I can't wait to watch you be a mom." He responded genuinely, pulling more tears to her already watery eyes. "Our kid already has the best mother in the world, I just love you guys so much."

"We love you, too." She replied back quickly, the two sharing ecstatic looks before Matt leaned down to place a sweet, loving kiss against her stomach, his lips lingering there momentarily until he eventually moved back up the bed to his wife, with only seconds passing before his mouth was back on hers.

They both knew they needed to get up, to get ready for the day and not risk being late for what was bound to be a life-altering doctor's appointment.

But right now, in this tender moment with her husband, Gabby also knew a few more minutes couldn't hurt.

"Alright Gabby, and Matt… first off, let me just say congratulations." Dr. Jeffries spoke brightly just seconds after coming into the exam room, the doctor wasting no time after the greetings to extend good wishes to the expecting parents.

The Casey's had been here for the better part of an hour, but with going through all the routine steps with the nurse at the beginning of this appointment, as well as them both knowing their doctor had been gracious enough to work them into what they knew to be a busy schedule, they had no problems with however long they had to wait.

"I know I got a chance to tell you on the phone, Gabby, but still… I know how badly you two have been wanting this, to have a child. So congratulations, to both of you." The man continued on genuinely, Gabby's smile brightening from her spot on the exam table while Matt gave her hand a squeeze from the spot beside her.

"Thank you." She responded, happiness practically oozing out of her and Matt both as the doctor gave them another smile before reaching for his stool and sitting down. "And thank you, for getting us here so quickly." She tried, but he was already waving them off with his free hand, before picking up the tablet in his lap.

"Oh, there's nothing to thank me for. As soon as I heard the news, I wanted to get you in as soon as I could." He repeated, Matt nodding thankfully while Gabby simply smiled. "I know this is still a little new to the both of you, but if you're ready we'll get ahead and get into everything…" Dr. Jeffries began, wanting for any sort of response before continuing. Which he soon got in the form of a nod. "So at this appointment, we will mostly be confirming the pregnancy, checking the implantation. Things of that nature. Basically assuring that everything is where it should be." He explained to them, knowing how much of a mental load that would take off of the nervous, yet excited to-be parents. Especially given Gabby's history. "Now from Danielle's notes here in your chart, it's looking like your weight and blood pressure are great, nothing raising any concerns there. And I know we did a blood draw on you, it'll take some time to get those results but I'm not expecting anything. It's more so just a precaution, to alert us to any issues that could possibly arise during your pregnancy." He continued on, knowing he was giving out a lot of information. But they were taking it in stride. "But- and before we continue on any further, I do want to let you all know that from the urinalysis we did when Gabby first came in, we can confirm you are pregnant."

He saw the way both their faces lit up, Matt squeezing her hand tighter while a bright smile plastered across her face, Dr. Jeffries watching on at the sweet moment before the couple as Casey leaned down to press a gentle, lingering kiss to his wife's head. Obviously, they both already knew they were pregnant, but from the phone call with Gabby a few days prior, the doctor also knew she needed to hear it from him. That she had to come here and be told she truly was pregnant, the tears shining in her eyes telling him he'd given her exactly what she was searching for.

"I know you've taken your own tests, and- as I've said, we won't get your blood results back for a few days, but you are pregnant, Gabby. And here shortly we'll perform your ultrasound and you can see it for yourselves." He added on, pure excitement washing over the couple before they nodded. "But before we get there, there are a few things I'd like to go over with you. If I remember correctly, you took multiple at-home tests before coming in, is that right?"

"Yes, I did." She responded softly after clearing her throat, Matt kissing her head once again before straightening out his back. But still, he never went too far from her side, as the two of them were still basking in the moment of knowing just how real this pregnancy was.

"Was there something that prompted you to do that?" He pressed on, looking between the couple and the chart in his hands. "Or was it just in your usual routine, where you two were trying to get pregnant?"

"Actually we'd kind of… taken a break from that." Gabby told him, seeing the man's brows raise in slight surprise. "Not trying for a baby, but I guess the pressure of it." She continued to explain, seeing the realization that began to set in. "I was stressing out over it, worrying that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant and so we'd decided to hold off on constantly tracking everything and taking tests, and try to just stay in the moment."

Dr. Jeffries nodded back at her. "Well, it seemed to work." He spoke lightly, earning a chuckle from Casey while Gabby nodded.

"Yeah, I guess it did." She replied easily, the three sharing another lighthearted look before the older man continued on.

"So, I suppose that brings us back to my original question… What prompted you to take a test in the first place?" He asked her, Gabby knowing her doctor needed a full picture of what all was going on with her.

"I just felt… different, I guess." She began to explain, knowing both men in the room had their full attention on her. "Physically and emotionally, something felt different. I noticed my body had started to change a little bit, my emotions were a little more sporadic. And a part of me felt like it could be something, but I'd also been misled by my feelings before. Quite recently with all this, so I was a little scared to trust that." She explained, subconsciously tightening her hold on her husband's hand. "Especially when we were holding off on taking the tests, and wanting to just get back to enjoying trying for a baby, I was kind of scared to open that door again. To take a test based on a feeling, so I put it off at first. But then, I don't know… Something in my gut was telling me to just see. So I took the test, and well.. You know the rest." She finished with a soft smile, Dr. Jeffries nodding back at her while dictating a few things in her chart.

"I understand… Had you noticed any of this too, Matt?"

"I had." He responded, feeling Gabby's eyes move up to him. "I'd noticed a lot of the changes with her, but like her I didn't want to just assume anything. Especially with where we were at, I didn't want to put any pressure on her or anything, so I'd kind of left it."

The doctor nodded once more, typing out a few more things into Gabby's chart before returning his attention to them.

"Well, I will say I'm glad you followed your gut Gabby, and went ahead and took a test. The earlier we know in a pregnancy is always better, and like I said, everything from your evaluations when you first came in looks great. But, if you're ready, how would you like to go ahead and take a look at your baby?"

Gabby nodded immediately, Matt soon following suit as those unmistakably bright smiles soon returned to their faces.

"Yes." She replied quickly, her eagerness cause Casey to laugh softly while Dr. Jeffries stood up.

"Alright, well then let's get you situated, yeah?"

The next few moments began to go by in a blur, while also feeling like the longest minutes of their lives, as Gabby got prepared for the ultrasound before he began the exam. They were able to see the screen, but while he was checking over different areas of her abdomen they weren't entirely sure what they were looking at. Not until he finally stilled in one area.

It was small, just a small circle on the grainy screen in front of them, but still Gabby knew. She knew the exact second she laid her eyes on their child, her tears returning at full force as Matt soon locked his focus on the same exact thing she had seen.

Their baby.

"Oh my God." He breathed out, the tiny blob sending their hearts nearly bursting through their chests as even after all the confirmations and all the tests, this was finally the thing that had made this pregnancy sink in. That assured them this was real, that it wasn't a dream.

They were pregnant, and the tiny image on the screen proved just that.

"Gabby, Matt… There's your baby." Dr. Jeffries spoke softly, as even know he hadn't known this couple for all that long, he understood exactly how important this moment was for them.

"Our baby." Gabby breathed out shakily, tears flowing down her cheeks shamelessly before she looked up to her husband.

His hands were still on her, clutching one hand and holding her hand with the other, but his attention was fully on the screen. His teary blue eyes were focused on nothing but their child, until Gabby began to lightly squeeze his hand. It wasn't much, but it was enough to pull him from his trance, a few tears leaking down his face as well as their gazes locked on one another, with nothing but pure joy and elation between them.

"...That's our baby." She repeated, the words almost hard to get out. But still, Matt understood them, the man nodding quickly before he moved down to her level and pressed his lips to hers.

"That's our baby." He copied her, kissing her again before pulling back. But he paused, letting his forehead rest into hers until he finally stood back up. And while part of him didn't even want to, he couldn't help the strong desire he had to look back at their child.

"That is your all's baby… Your baby who, from what I'm seeing, is looking great. Everything is exactly where it should be." Dr. Jeffries told them, seeing Gabby nod happily while Matt's eyes stayed plastered to the screen. "It also looks like you're about seven weeks along, Gabby." He added on, opting to speak a little slower in order to help the expectant parents soak all this in. "I can print out some photos for you all, if you'd like-"

"Yes." Matt answered before he could even finish, Gabby letting out a watery laugh while the doctor smiled. "I mean, sorry- But yes, we'd like some pictures." He said after clearing his throat, Dr. Jeffries nodding in response before he moved to print out the images, giving the couple a little more time to do nothing but sit and stare at their child.

From that moment on, the rest of their appointment moved rather quickly. Their doctor had given them some important information, as well as set up Gabby's next appointment and given them the pictures of their child, but all the necessary information the couple needed had also been sent to Gabby in an email, as the doctor knew they likely hadn't processed too much from the moment he'd given them those ultrasound pictures. Though he couldn't even blame them.

And soon enough, after a few more thank yous and a quick stop at the receptionist's desk, they were out of the office and back in the somewhat busy streets of Chicago. Though with the snow and ice outside, everything wasn't nearly as crowded as usual, Matt holding onto Gabby's palm firmly in one hand, while his other kept a grip on the pictures of their baby.

"I… I can't believe that just happened." Gabby spoke after a few quiet moments, where the both of them had just been trying to digest everything from this morning. "We saw our baby, Matt." She added on brightly, her husband laughing lightly back at her before he nodded. "We have a baby."

"We do, we have a baby… And- God, I already love them so much." He breathed out, sparing a quick glance down to the image in his grasp before returning his gaze to the sidewalk.

"Me too." She replied, squeezing his hand once more before they continued on down the sidewalk.

They were walking slow, mostly due to Matt and his overprotectiveness, the husband and father diligently looking out for any slippery patches of ice that might make his wife fall, and holding onto her a little tighter when they passed over them. But eventually, they had managed to make their way to his truck, Casey moving a step ahead of her to open the door for her once they got close enough.

But before stepping inside, she paused.

"You know, now that we're positive there's a little baby Casey in there," She started, those words alone prompting his grin to widen as their gazes met. "I guess the next thing we need to figure out is who we're going to tell."

He saw the almost playful look in her eye, Matt chuckling softly before he nodded, keeping his hand on her back while they stood there.

"Or when we're gonna tell them, rather." She clarified, his eyebrows raising.

"Ahh… Well, I guess the only question is when do you want to tell them?" He asked back, watching as her brows furrowed in response as she thought over the question.

In all the different talks they'd had over the past few days, the topic of sharing this news with their friends and family hadn't come up. At least not really, not when they were focused on enjoying this joyous news as a couple, while also waiting for this appointment so they could truly know about their baby. But despite not talking about it, Gabby knew her husband would want people to know. He wouldn't want to wait, and truthfully, she didn't necessarily want to wait either.

And more than that, she also knew it probably wouldn't take long for their friends and family to figure things out. Especially where Shay was concerned, as ever since she'd brought up her suspicions of her best friend's pregnancy, she'd been watching Dawson like a hawk. To the point where Gabby was almost a little surprised Shay hadn't just come up and asked her during the one shift they'd had together since she took the test. Between Gabby's evident excitement, and nerves, about this baby, combined with Matt's protective instincts being put into overdrive the second they'd stepped foot into the firehouse, Gabby was sure Shay knew something was up. But even then, she'd said nothing.

Though Gabby was sure that wouldn't last. And past Shay, she also knew it wouldn't take others long, her parents especially, to put the pieces together. Which is why in her gut, she knew she wanted to tell them. And tell them soon.

She was pregnant. She was expecting a child with her husband, with the love of her life. She wanted her family to be a part of that.

But maybe not quite yet.

Despite her excitement now that they had the confirmation of their child, that they'd seen their child, Gabby also knew it was still early. She was only seven weeks, and there were so many risks during pregnancy. Anything could happen, and after everything that had happened the last time she'd been pregnant, right now she couldn't help but think that it felt a little safer to keep this just between them. At least for a few more weeks.

"I want them to know." She started, but the tone in her voice told Matt there was more to it. "I do… But I also kind of want to wait. Just for a bit." Gabby said, the look in her eyes telling him all he needed to know as his face softened, before he nodded. "Is that okay?"

"Baby, of course it's okay." He told her, as this was one thing he would never push her on. Not with everything she'd been through. "However you want to do this, that's what we'll do… We can tell people right now, or we can tell people the day after the baby is born, it doesn't matter to me. What does matter is you, and you giving me the greatest gift on the planet." He spoke so firmly, Gabby's small smile widening before leaning into his touch. "You're giving me a child, you're carrying our child… However long you want to wait, we'll wait."

Gabby thought for a moment before she moved to give him a kiss. It was soft, and sweet, but held all the meaning in the world, Matt smiling against her before she pulled back.

"Thank you." She replied, Casey giving her a soft smile, even though in his mind, there was nothing to thank him for. "But I promise, it won't be too long… Just a few weeks or so. Give us a chance for everything to sink in. Some time for the two of us to just enjoy our child, before bringing the rest of the world in on it."

Casey nodded slowly, rubbing his hand along her back before leaning in for another kiss.

"That sounds perfect." He murmured, Gabby smiling softly as the two shared one last special moment before she climbed into his truck, Matt waiting until she was situated and shutting the door, the man more than ready to get out of this freezing cold and get his wife and child back to the security of their home, where he couldn't wait to further enjoy this incredible time with the woman he loved more than anything in the world.