Hi Readers:
What did you think of the last chapter, and all of the discussions that happened? Well, I hope you enjoyed them as I hope to give you some more information on them right now. So, let's just jump right into it. Here's Chapter 7.

Chapter Seven
We're on Our Way to Motor City, Ms. Gabriela Casey(?)

He thought that the traffic going out of town would be easy, compared to what they are currently dealing with. This traffic is unlike any traffic that he's seen so far, probably because they're starting to get to a point where they're now starting to merge highways. More specifically, the highways that take you from Northern Michigan to Detroit, the East Coast and Florida. And he believes that there's truckers that have to take this route, there's just no way that this can't be what happens. Then again, who knows what happens on this route. All Matt knows, is that he wishes that he would've asked Gabby to drive. The reason he doesn't want her to drive, is due to the fact that she's never towed something. If you forgot, Matt and Gabby also brought their car along with them so that they can park a bit of a distance away from the big cities. But right now, that was definitely not something that was on his mind; rather, he was trying to concentrate on the traffic.

Well, that, and the conversation that he and Gabby are currently in the midst of having with each other. But which conversation might that be? The conversation that Matt already brought up, and that they are going to need to talk about more in depth when it comes to the logistics of how it's going to happen; and whether she even wants it to happen. But what am I talking about exactly? How Matt wants to truly be Mr. and Ms. Casey. Yes, I know what you are probably asking 'isn't Gabby already Ms. Casey legally?' well, yes she is. But Matt's talking about in public. He gets that she likes her heritage, and he understands that Casey is not the most Hispanic name; but there's a reason behind him asking his wife to take his last name. He believes that her having the last name "Dawson" to use on a daily basis gives her a bit too much independence. It might make her feel like a 'Miss' rather than a 'Ms.'. (E.g., an unmarried, single woman with freedom).

But the truth is, that's no longer her reality; as they are married. They are Mr. and Ms. Matthew James Casey. They are husband-and-wife, and he wants her to treat her like her equal. Yes, she's going to start doing better; he is well aware of the fact that she's going to concentrate on that. But right now, he wants to talk to Gabby about her using her name; because that's what the name 'Gabriela Casey' is in relation to her, it's her name for her to use. And he wants her to use it for the aforementioned reasons. He just hopes that she understands where he's coming from, and why he's asking her to start using his last name on a daily basis. Taking a breath, Matt got ready to talk to Gabby about it as he drove them both out of town. "Think we can talk about something while we're stuck in this traffic?" Looking up from her iPad, Gabby smiled. "Want me to open the app that we want to use for conversations?" Matt shook his head when he heard that. "Later."

Gabby agreed with Matt when he said that, well aware of the fact that he's going to stick to that commitment, as he was the one who first brought up the app in the first place while they were still at home. But, it seems like Matt has something else on his mind that he wants to talk to her about. "You want to talk to me about something specific baby?" Matt sighed when Gabby asked him that question, a bit nervous as to her response in the first place; I mean, is she going to deny that what he's asking her is a good idea? God, there are so many ways to start this conversation. But Matt has yet to think about how he can say it, so he's just going to wing it. Better to just wing it, than not say anything at all (in his opinion); and if he screws it, then he can just apologize and drop it. Either that, or he can figure out how to say it another way; he's sure that there can always be a better way to say something, a way that doesn't offend his wife that much. But, let's take a shot.

"Uhm, it's about that topic that I mentioned back in Grand Rapids while we were eating." Gabby turned to look at her man when he said that, smiling at him as she knew of the exact topic that he was thinking about. The topic that relates to him wanting her to use his last name. "Oh, you mean the one related to the name 'Ms. Gabriela Marie Casey'?" Matt laughed when he heard Gabby ask him that, a bit nervous. "Baby, you seem nervous right now. Why are you so nervous?" Matt took a breath when she asked him that because he is nervous; after all, he doesn't want to make her feel ashamed for wanting to use her family name, as it's a beautiful name that she has. Gabriela Dawson is the woman that he fell in love with, but he thinks that her using the last name 'Dawson' is just something that they need to change. They need to change, for her to really understand how they need to work now. They are a team, they are a Mr. and Ms.; e.g., they're husband and wife.

She's no longer Miss Gabriela Dawson, she's the Ms. to his Mr. Casey. Taking one last breath, Matt went to start. "Yeah, I want to talk to you about that. But, I want you to just hear me out okay? There's a couple reasons behind this, and I just want you to hear me out." Gabby agreed with her loving husband when he said that, smiling at him. "Of course, what is it baby? Just talk to me and tell me what's going on." Matt took a breath when he heard Gabby say that, clearly able to see that she's going to have an open mind when it comes to the two of them talking about this. "Promise me that you have an open mind when it comes to what we're going to talk about?" Gabby agreed with Matt when he asked her to have an open mind, smiling at him. "Hey, of course baby. I promise to have an open mind. Just talk to me and take it easy. I can see that you're nervous. Remember, it's me Matt; you're wife, and the woman who loves you more than anything in the whole world." Matt agreed with his wife when she said that, smiling as he feels the same way. "I feel the same way."

Gabby agreed with Matt when he said that, smiling at him. "Well then, how about you talk to me baby?" Matt took a breath, agreeing with Gabby when she asked him to talk to her about what he wants to talk about, her last name.

Matt's POV:
When Gabby told me to talk to her about this topic that I want to talk to her about, I took a breath as I was nervous about this topic. I mean, what man wouldn't be nervous when it comes to basically demanding that his wife that he wants her to use his last name; especially when she's such a proud woman who loves her last name. I know that's going to be part of this conversation, I can just see that being a fact. Yet, I just hope that Gabby can really keep an open mind when it comes to us talking about this as husband and wife. I love Gabby more than anything, and I just want to do this to the best of my abilities. Taking one last breath, I turned to look at the woman of my dreams. "Okay, so he's what I want to talk about. I want to talk about you starting to go by Ms. Gabriela Casey rather than Ms. Gabriela Dawson." Gabby agreed with me when I said that. "Yeah, I had a feeling that was what this conversation was going to be about." I agreed with Gabby, sighing.

"Gabby, can you promise me that you're going to keep an open mind as we talk about this?" Gabby agreed with me, nodding. "I promise to keep an open mind baby. But, how about you talk to me before I start getting worried about what you want to talk to me about." I laughed when Gabby told me that, agreeing with her. "Oh believe me, I doubt you're going to get worried. But still, I understand that there's a lot that you need to think about. Yet, at the same time; I think that you're going to understand where I'm coming from, and I believe that you might like it." Gabby agreed with me when I said that. "Then how about you start talking baby?" I agreed with Gabby when she said that, smiling at the woman I love more than anything in the entire world. "Okay, so here's the thing. The truth is, I love your current name. Let me just start with that." Gabby agreed with me when I said that. "I know that baby, but you said you want me to start using Casey?"

I sighed when Gabby asked me if I want her to start using the last name 'Casey' because I do, and you know the reason behind it. "Can I just explain my reasoning? I promise, there's a reason behind it." Gabby agreed with me when I told her that. "Of course you can baby, but you better have a damn good reason for why you want me to use another last name rather than my own." I laughed when she said that. "Well, first of all…Casey is your last name; It belongs you because you're my wife, so let's just get that fact out the way." Gabby agreed with me when I said that, smiling at me. "Now, as to the reason why I believe that you should want to start using the name…is due to the fact that I believe it will be quite helpful to you." Gabby was confused when I said that. "Sorry, but how can it be helpful to me?" I sighed when Gabby asked me that, well aware of the fact that this was going to be the hard part of our conversation; that just makes a lot of sense.

Taking a breath, I proceeded to look at the woman I love more than anything in the entire world; ready to take it slow. I just want her to hear me out and relax, and I want her to listen to my reasons to ask her to do this. I want her to let me explain it. "So listen, I know that one of the problems we had before you left is how you were very independent." Gabby agreed with me when I mentioned how, before she left to go to Puerto Rico, she did a bunch of stuff that were independent. And as much as I love that, it wasn't fun to have to experience; as I would much rather experience it with her. "First of all, I just want to say this; I did not appreciate the fact that you went searching for Bria with Severide instead of me. That's a fact I need to talk to you about." Gabby looked at me when I said that. "And you're going to listen, because this is important to me." Gabby agreed with me, nodding when I said that; clearly able to see that I was not that happy about this topic.

"First of all, I want to remind you that I am your husband; Severide is not your husband, he doesn't have as much at risk when you go do stuff." Gabby was confused when I said that. "What are you talking a bout baby?" I took a breath and looked at her for a moment. "Baby, I'm the one that has to answer to your brother and father if you get hurt; not Severide. I can't just blame it on Severide, and tell your brother that you went out searching for Bria with Severide. He'll never let me live that down; in fact, he'll scold me for letting you do search with my best friend rather than me going with you. He will literally pester me why I didn't go with you instead of Severide. That was actually why I went with you to the morgue, and I want to talk to you about that time." Gabby agreed with me. "I appreciate that you came by the way baby." I agreed with her. "And I was glad that I was able to take you, I really mean that because I love you more than anything baby."

Gabby agreed with me when I said that. "However, while we were still sitting at the bar, I had to put my arm out and stop Kelly from leaving the bar with you. Kelly literally wanted to go with you to the morgue rather than me, and I didn't like that to tell you the truth; it made me feel jealous when I had no reason. I felt like…" I took a breath before telling Gabby how I felt. "I felt like I had to claim you as mine, and tell my best friend that hey…back off, she's my wife, not yours. If you want to have a wife again, get married." Gabby just looked at me when I told her that. "Really?" I agreed with Gabby when she told me that. "Gabby, and there's also practical matters when it comes to it. Gabby, of all the people you had to choose, did you really have to choose my best friend?" Gabby was confused. "Why are you asking me that? Wait, are you…" I shook my head. "Don't even go down that path. I am not jealous, nor have I ever been jealous when it comes to our relationship."

Gabby agreed with me when I told her that, well aware that was the case; and she also knows that'll always be the case when it comes to our relationship. "However, what I am trying to say is, you put my relationship with Severide at risk by going investigating with him rather than me." Gabby did a double take when I said that, clearly not understanding why that would even be the case. "Baby, why's that?" I took a breath when Gabby asked me that. "Baby, you went searching in the drug alleys with my best friend, rather than your husband. You really think I was happy to hear that? Baby, I'm your husband, not Kelly. It made me worried that you went there without me, because at the end of the day…I'm the one that has to answer to your brother. If you got hurt, he'd ask me so many questions; and he would not be very happy with me; nor would your father, and I already have a strained relationship with him from me not going with you to Puerto Rico."

Gabby agreed with me when I told her that. "Yeah, and from when he lived with us." I agreed with her when she told me that. "Yeah, never again in my life is he going to live with us. Sorry, but I am not living with Captain Underpants on my couch again. Oh, that was just horrible. I love you babe, but that was too much; and he was there for too long. You said that you wanted a baby with me, but I was not going to have sex with you when he was out there. Oh, and don't even get me started on how he always took your side. I get that he's your dad, but please babe; you should've told your dad by yourself to stay out of it. And that comment I made, that made you mad around October, how I didn't want his opinion; babe, I don't want his opinion on our marriage. It's our marriage, and I don't want to be judged. I don't want people telling me how to make you happy. I want to know how to make you happy from you, and only you." Gabby agreed with me when I said that.

"Yeah, that makes sense." I laughed and just agreed with Gabby when she said that. "But still, I want to go back to that Severide thing." Gabby agreed with me. "Babe, I am your husband; Severide is not your husband. And that's why I want you to take my name, to remind you every single day of who you need to turn to when you need help; you need to turn to me because we're a team. And if we have kids, that's going to be even more critical due to the fact that; like I just said, I'm the one who has to answer to your family if you get hurt, not Kelly. So, that really hurt me babe; and I need you to know that." Gabby agreed with me when I said that. "Can we agree that you saying goodbye really hurt me too?" I took a breath and agreed with her when she said that. "I know that hurt you, and I'm really sorry about that. I mean it babe, I really am sorry. But, if I could go back…I would do it all over again." Gabby was shocked when I said that. "Even after what I asked you."

I sighed when Gabby asked me that. "Yes, based on the situation that we were in at the time babe. At the time, we were fighting with each other; and I didn't want my last words to you to be filled with hate. Gabby, think about it. Yes, you hated the fact that I said goodbye; but be honest with yourself. If I died today, would you rather my last words to you be filled with hate and anger? Or would you rather my last words to you be 'I love you'?" Gabby took a breath when I asked her that, seemingly understanding where I was coming from that day. "I guess I can see that." I nodded, agreeing with Gabby when she told me that. "Gabby, that was all I was doing. I was making sure that my last words to you would've been filled with love for you. That's it, that was my goal; and I wanted you to know that I love you rather than hate." Gabby agreed with me when I said that, smiling at me. "You really think I liked saying those words babe? I thought I was going to die."

Gabby sighed when I told her that. "Yes, I wanted to fight to get out for you, I wanted to….but I had to also be practical. Yes, I wanted to keep my mask on, but I wanted you to hear my voice; the voice that you love to hear…the voice that gets to say I love you to you. Babe, that's the honest truth that you're just going to have to accept. The fact that I put your above my own health. Gabby, think about it. I took off my mask, to give you a better send off than what we would've had. I put my life at risk for that." Gabby agreed with me when I told her that, taking a breath as she really though about it. "Yeah, I can see that now." I smiled, agreeing with my beautiful wife when she told me that. "Gabby, I love you…I really do. And I will never regret the decisions that I made that day." Gabby nodded, grabbing my hand as she turned her head and smiled at me. "Now, how about we get back to that other part of the conversation." I laughed. "Right, the last name part."

Gabby agreed with me, smiling when I said that. "You want me to take your last name?" I took a breath when Gabby asked me that. "Just off the top of your head, what are your thoughts about that?" Gabby took a breath as she looked at me. "I would love to take your last name baby. I really like that idea, and it would help when we have kids." I agreed with Gabby when she told me that. "Yeah, I wasn't ready to jynx it. But, I don't really think that Matt Casey, Gabby Dawson and Baby C Casey sounds good." Gabby looked at me when I said 'Baby C'. "Baby C?" I laughed and just smiled at her. "Short for Baby Casey. I mean, I would love to have a boy if we were blessed with a child." Gabby was shocked. "Really, a boy?" I nodded when she asked me that. "Baby, I hate to say this…but if I agree to let you get pregnant, it'd only be once." Gabby stared at me. "Excuse me?" I nodded. "Okay, you just have to hear me out when I say this." Gabby agreed with me.

"Okay, so here's the thing. If I agree to let you get pregnant this time, I'm the only one with something to loose. But let's say that everything goes great, then we have a child together. The second time…" Gabby then finished my thought. "Both you, and our child would have to risk loosing me." I agreed with Gabby when she said that. "And Gabby, as much as I would love to have another baby with you; I can't do that to our child. I can't tell them that they have to risk loosing their mother just because we want to have another baby. That's not fair to them, nor is it fair to either of us. I mean, does that make sense?" Gabby agreed with me when I said that, stroking my hand as she held it. "And the reason I want a boy, is because I want you to carry our son. I mean, if we have a girl…then we can just do surrogacy. By the way, that's something you didn't see in the pamphlets." Gabby was confused when I said that. "You mean the adoption pamphlets." I agreed with Gabby.

"Sorry about that, I was just trying to get some information; and can you blame me Gabby? I was scared. You do crazy things when you love somebody, and when you're acting out of fear. That's also why I said goodbye." Gabby agreed with me when I said that. "Yeah, I can see that." I took a breath. "You were so set on having a baby, that I wanted to show you that there was other options." Gabby agreed with me, nodding. "But what was the pamphlet?" I sighed. "Surrogacy. It had information on surrogacy, where the baby would be genetically ours; but you wouldn't carry the baby. I know, that's not what you want. But, I think that would be a great mix of what we want? Sure, you want to be pregnant; but I don't want you to be pregnant because of the danger. Surrogacy would mean that the baby is still a mix of the both of us, but you wouldn't be pregnant. I know it's not the same, but I could just treat you as if you were pregnant. Plus, no morning sickness."

Gabby laughed when I said that, just looking at me. "God, I wish we had this conversation months ago; maybe then we would already be in the process." I agreed with Gabby when she told me that. "Yeah, I know what you mean. But there's options baby. And the truth is, I still want to talk about it; about what I've done over the summer for us to be ready for this." Gabby was confused when I said that. "What have you done over the summer?" I smiled at her. "It's something that can help us. I've been picking up construction jobs, and I've been putting them in a bank account recently." Gabby looked at me when I said that. "Another one?" I smiled and agreed with Gabby when she asked me that. "Our Surrogacy Savings."