"Matt I-" Gabby said, unable to find the words that she was looking for. So much had happened, and they'd hurt each other so much, but at the root of it all, she wanted nothing more than to go on a date with him, to try again, even without knowing what that would look like for them.
"Of course I do." She said, taking a step back from him and dropping his hand, running hers through her hair, trying to articulate what she was feeling. "But everything's changed now."
"Nothing has changed Gabby." Matt tried to reason, moving back to read for her hand again only for her to take another step back.
"Everything has changed Matt. You have the boys to think about now, we can't just jump back into this and try long distance. It's not that simple anymore."
"But it can be." Matt said, as he tried to reach for her hand again, this time Gabby allowing it, "The boys aren't young anymore Gabby, they're almost adults, we can make this work, I promise."
"Matt-"
"It'll be different this time Gabby. We didn't even really give it a try last time, we chose the easy way out. I know it's not that simple and we have things to talk about but I'm not going to give up as easily this time. I shouldn't have given up the first time." Matt using the hand he was holding to pull Gabby closer - Gabby happily letting him pull her to him - resting their foreheads together.
"Okay." Gabby said, shifting so they were looking at each other again. "We have a lot to talk about, but I don't want to leave Chicago again wondering what if."
Matt couldn't wipe the smile off his face "I don't want that either. I don't think I'd survive it."
The next thing either of them knew they were kissing for the first time in years, both of them feeling a sense of peace and completeness wash over them, it felt like coming home.