Hi Readers: I hope that you guys enjoyed the start of this new version of The Caseys, which is starting in Florida. Thanks again for reading, and I can't wait to see how this story goes. Now, let's get to the second chapter of our story.

Chapter 2: This is Home

If there was one thing that Matt knew: it was that he wanted to just take it easy and get some rest with Gabby, especially since she was pregnant with the twins; the beautiful children they plan on raising here in Florida, their new home. The place where Gabby is guaranteed to get all the rest and relaxation she needs to have a healthy pregnancy, either in bed or on the beach. And that was precisely what Matt was wondering about as he held his gorgeous wife in his arms (along with whether she was getting hungry). Was this their forever home? Or was this just their winter home? So, he thought he might as well ask his gorgeous wife; but, only after he tells her just how nice it was that they got a chance to make love to each other this morning. "Now, that was nice." Gabby agreed with Matt as she held him close to her, only to feel him run his hand up and down her back and make her feel so loved.

And that made her feel like she was in paradise. Her and Matt, all cuddled up to each other in the comfort of their bed; something she wishes she could have all day, but it was far too nice for that to happen. "You feel good here in bed? Just taking it easy?" Gabby nodded once more, as that was precisely how she felt: much more relaxed, as she held the man she loves close to her. Hell, she didn't even want to talk for a moment because of how happy she felt. This was her dream come true: she had Matt, she was pregnant with their twins, and they were living away from Chicago. Away from all the stress, pain, drama, and fights they ever had there. The deaths of their best friends which they had to endure there, the children they lost there (their first baby, and Louie) and just all the drama in their marriage that they had there. That was why Gabby considered this place paradise, as it was a fresh start for the both of them.

But, Matt felt that it would be going much better if Gabby actually spoke to him and told him, what was on her mind right now; so, he decided to ask her what was on her mind. "So, are you going to just lay there? Or are you going to share what's on your mind?" Gabby smiled as Matt asked her that question, as she liked how he already knew that there was something on her mind. "How did you already know that there was something on my mind?" Turning his head, Matt smiled at his beautiful wife. "I just knew. Something in my heart told me that you were thinking about something." Gabby sighed, as she was thinking about something. In fact, she was thinking about the same thing as him: whether this was home. "I guess, I was just thinking how I truly feel at home here. So, I was wondering what we're calling this Florida home." Matt snickered as Gabby asked him that question, as he was wondering that too.

Though, Gabby didn't know that yet; so, she was a bit offended when he laughed as (in her opinion) it was a valid question. "Why are you laughing? Is that not a valid question?" Gabby asked Matt as she ran her hand around his chest, only to feel Matt place his hand on top of hers and stroke it with his thumb. After which, he looked at his beautiful wife. "I'm laughing because I was just wondering the same thing." And as Gabby turned her head up to look up at the man of her dreams, Gabby was surprised. "Sorry, did you just say that you were thinking the same thing?" Matt agreed with his wife, as that's precisely what he just implied: that he was wondering whether Florida was home. "Yeah, that's precisely what I was wondering…I just feel like I have so much more time to think here, especially when we cuddle in bed with our phones off. It just gives us time to talk and think in times like these."

Gabby agreed with her husband, well aware that was the truth; when things are quiet here at home, it gives them a time to think. And right now, they were each thinking about this decision they have to make: whether Florida is home. Whether they can truly call Chicago home anymore, especially when they feel so happy here. "Listen, can we first agree that this decision isn't going to be based on the financial part? Or the home itself? I just want to make sure that we don't make this decision because of the home we have here. I mean, we may think about it; but, at the end of the day, I don't want it to influence our decision." Gabby agreed with her husband, as she felt the same way. She didn't want the beautiful home they shared here to influence their decision to move here, but instead wanted it to be something they did due to the fact that it was what they wanted. And honestly, she did want it.

She wanted it because of how she feels here, away from the city which almost tore them apart forever. Yes, she'll always treasure the time they spent in Chicago, as it was the city where they met and fell in love; but, it just didn't feel like home anymore. Then again, home is where the heart is. Home is wherever Matt is for her, so that's one contributing factor to this decision; but yes, this can be their new home. "Matt, the truth is…I think I've been done with Chicago for a lot longer than you think." Turning his head when Gabby told him that, Matt wasn't at all surprised. "Oh, really?" Looking up at Matt, Gabby was surprised. "You knew that?" Matt nodded as he looked down at his gorgeous wife, only to stroke her (naked) back with his thumb. "Yeah. I mean, we have so much painful history there. Our best friends died there, we almost lost each other there, we lost our first baby there, and we lost Louie there."

Gabby agreed with Matt, as those statements were all true: they had a lot of loss in Chicago. "Though, that doesn't mean that I won't always cherish the good memories we made there. How we fell in love with each other in Chicago, how we got married in Chicago, how we got pregnant in Chicago." Gabby agreed with Matt and smiled, as that most certainly is the truth: they got pregnant in Chicago. "To think, I wanted to go back to Puerto Rico." Matt snickered and agreed with Gabby. "Would you have come back the moment you found out that you were pregnant?" Looking up at Matt, Gabby bit her lip; an action which made Matt furious. "Ok. Just hear me out." Matt sighed and agreed with Gabby, as that was something he promised he'd always do. "May I remind you that, at the time, we thought I had an aneurysm; right?" Matt nodded, as he started to understand why she was telling him this.

It was related to the fact that she wanted to get pregnant, while he didn't want her to get pregnant. "Matt, we've always wanted to have a child; now, we're blessed with two kids. You telling me that you'd go along with it…honestly, that's the only reason I'm here with you. I mean, had I still had an aneurysm. If not, I probably would be in Puerto Rico right now, which would allow me to ensure that I would get to carry our children to term." Matt agreed with his wife, as that made sense. "Does that make you mad?" Matt shook his head, as he understood. "No, because I understand." Gabby was surprised to hear Matt say that. "Really?" Matt nodded. "You wanted to be pregnant more than anything…however, I understand only until what I told you on the road trip. After I told you that stuff, then I wouldn't have agreed. I would've been pissed." Gabby agreed with her husband, as she understood what he meant.

He was referring to the fact that he felt like he would kill her if she died while pregnant with their children, and that he couldn't do that since he already lost one woman he loves: Hallie. But now, they didn't need to worry about that due to the fact that she doesn't have an aneurysm, which, as a result, meals that she doesn't need to worry about dying while pregnant. Rather, she can just take it easy and relax with the man she loves. The man who she still needs to give an answer to his question. "So, back to the question you asked me. I think we can both agree that Florida is home now? Forever." Matt agreed with his wife, as that most certainly was the truth. This was home now, as it was a good place for them to start fresh. "It's a good place for us to start fresh, which is what we need to do with each other and our children." Gabby agreed with Matt and smiled as she bent down and kissed his chest.

Meanwhile, Matt placed his hand on the back of her head and smiled as they held each other close in the comfort of their bed. "So, have we figured out what we're going to do today when it comes to where we're going to spend time with each other? Are we going to just stay in bed, or do we have plans to go to the beach?" Gabby smiled as Matt asked her whether they were going to the beach today, as that was really easy. "Babe, we live on the beach. I can see the ocean from our bed." Gabby said, as she turned her head and looked out at the ocean; meanwhile, Matt wrapped his arm around her back and smiled as he kissed the top of her head once more. "I love this sight." Gabby agreed with Matt as she wrapped her arms around his muscular torso, only to feel Matt press his lips to the top of her head once more. "And I love the way you're all cuddled up to me right now." Gabby agreed with her husband and smiled.

However, as she turned her head to look up at the man of her dreams once more, Gabby smiled as she already knew what she wanted to do: she wants to go to the beach. "I'm going to take a shower. Do you want to join me?" Smirking as he moved his hand to the back of Gabby's head, Matt nodded as he bent down and kissed her softly. "How about you go start it for us, and I'll be right in?" Gabby agreed with her husband and smiled as she got up this morning, only to grab her towel on the hook next to their bed; but rather than wrap it around her body as she walked away to go to the washroom, she walked away in the nude. "FUCK YOU!" Laughing, Gabby agreed with her husband. "If you want, you can do that in the shower." Gabby said as a way to turn Matt on, which led to him getting up out of bed as well so that he could go join Gabby in the shower, which is exactly where they both want to be this morning.

Matt's POV: And to think, I actually thought I had a chance to touch that gorgeous wife of mine before she got in the shower; but, she decided to steal that chance away from me, just like she teased me on her way into the shower. Walking away in the nude? Well, that most certainly isn't going to go unpunished. No way in hell is she going to get away with that, because she owes me now. I mean, she walked away naked and pregnant, which is just the most gorgeous sight in the entire world. However, not as amazing as the sight in front of me: the sight of my naked wife in the shower, with water running down her stomach. God, Gabby just looks absolutely stunning as she stood there in the shower, which just made me want to hold her close to me under the showerhead so much more, something which she wanted as well. So, as I stood here in awe of her beauty, Gabby turned her head and smirked at me.

That way, she could tell me precisely what she wants. "You know, this shower is more than big enough for you to be in here with me; in fact, that's precisely what I want." I agreed with Gabby, as it was what I wanted as well: to hold her naked body in my arms. "I want that too." I said, prior to taking off my towel and hanging it up next to hers on the hooks; after which, I opened the door and smirked as I stepped into the shower with her. That way, I could give her the pleasure she wants from me here in the shower; at least, the pleasure I thought she wanted. "Baby, can you promise me something?" Looking at Gabby as she asked me that question, I motioned for her to get closer to me as I nodded. "Of course, what is it?" Taking a breath as she stepped close to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, Gabby soon looked up into my eyes. "Promise me that you just kiss me here? No sex?" And boy was I confused.

After all, that was the last thing I thought she was going to ask me. "What?" Gabby sighed as she wrapped her arms around my back and held me close to her body. "It's starting to hurt my back. How you need to pick me up in your arms and basically ram my back against the wall, it hurts." Placing my hand on the side of Gabby's face, I nodded; after all, the last thing I wanted was for her to be hurt. "Why didn't you tell me, babe?" Gabby sighed as she placed her hands on my back, only to step closer to me. Meanwhile, I placed my hand on her neck again, while moving my other hand to her stomach. "Baby, you know how much I hate hurting you. You should've told me." Gabby nodded as she leaned up and kissed me softly. "It's a hard thing to tell you, because of how much I love the feeling. And I promise, I will eventually. It's just not as comfortable when I'm pregnant with our children." I agreed with Gabby.

So, as I wrapped my arms around her this morning, I made sure to show her that I understood how she felt; that way, she would know that the last thing I was going to do is anything that would hurt her. "Gabby, can I ask you something?" Turning her head to look at me, Gabby nodded. "What is it?" I sighed. "How long have I been hurting you by making love to you in the shower?" Gabby sighed. "Maybe since the RV trip. It was so tiny in there." I agreed with her and just sighed as I kissed her softly. "I hate that I've been hurting you. Gabby, please tell me the next time I'm hurting you. Gabby, this is serious. Please, promise me right now that you're going to tell me in the future." Gabby agreed with me and nodded, while also getting worried. "Hey, what's wrong baby? Talk to me." Sighing, I looked at Gabby. "I just don't want to hurt you like my dad hurt my mom. I mean, I did that when I verbally assaulted you."

Gabby's POV: The sound of those words shattered my heart into pieces when he said them in the shower 'I just don't want to hurt you like my dad hurt my mom. I mean, I did that when I verbally assaulted you.' And even now that we were out of the shower, I was still thinking about them as I finished getting dressed this morning; though, rather than getting dressed for the beach, I instead sat down in bed in some lingerie. And let's just say that Matt looked extremely confused as he came out of the closet in his boxers. "Hey, why aren't you dressed for the beach?" Turning my head as Matt asked me why I wasn't dressed for the beach, I sighed; after all, I just had a lot on my mind at the moment. More specifically, I was thinking about what he said to me. So, as I looked at the man I love, I extended my hand to motion for him to come join me in bed. And luckily, he came to do just that: he came to join me in bed.

But first, Matt set his wetsuit down at the end of our bed (in case we decide to go out), only to walk up the side of our bed and sit down close to me; but rather than sit next to me, he was facing me. "No, I want you to sit in bed with me. Wrap you arm around me and hold me." Matt agreed with me, clearly understanding that I need now. After which, he got up and proceeded to open the covers so that he could climb into bed with me. And let's just say that really made me happy, as I was back in his arms as we cuddled up to each other in the comfort of our bed; me and the man I love, who I really need to talk to. And luckily, as he turned his head and pressed his lips to my forehead, he already knew what I needed to talk to him about. "Is this about what I said to you in the shower?" I sighed, as that was precisely what this was about: what he told me in the shower. How he mentioned his father in the shower.

That was the last thing I ever thought I'd hear Matt say, but he said it. "Babe, I never thought I'd ever hear you say something like that. It just sounded so wrong, as that's not the type of man you are. I never associated the word abusive with you, so that's just hard to hear; especially when the last thing you ever want to be is abusive." Matt agreed with me, as that was the truth. He doesn't want to hurt me, nor does he want to assault me. But, that's precisely what he did. "Yet, that's precisely what I did. And for that, I'm sorry Gabby. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I hate that I verbally assaulted you, because I still regret those words each and every day." I agreed with Matt as he told me that, only to feel him press his lips to my forehead once again. After which, he took a breath as he placed his hand on my back. "You sure that you want to head to the beach? Or do you just want to stay here?"

I shook my head when Matt asked me whether I wanted to stay here, as I want to go to the beach today. I want to go to the beach and have some fun with him. "I want to go to the beach and have some fun with you. You can surf and I can tan for a while, then I want to take a swim together." Matt agreed with me, as he clearly felt the same way. "How about we just see what happens, too? Maybe we start with you just staying here, and I can go make us breakfast? Then, we can go when you're ready? Maybe you can get a bit of rest before we go to the beach?" I agreed with Matt, as that was something I could do. "Of course. Maybe some eggs and bacon?" Matt agreed and smiled, only to lean in and kiss me softly. "I'll be right back with some breakfast for us to enjoy before we head to the beach." Matt said, as he got up out of bed and proceeded to walk away so that he could go make us some breakfast.

Walking upstairs into his and Gabby's room shortly after making some breakfast for the two of them, Matt smiled as he liked that Gabby was sitting in bed right now; she was sitting in bed and just taking it easy, as that's precisely what she needs to do right now ahead of their beach day. Meanwhile, he needs to get some food in her so that she's nice and healthy for when they head to the beach. "You ready to eat some breakfast?" Matt asked his wife, only to watch her turn her head and smile at him. "Oh, I most certainly am. That breakfast smells delicious." Gabby said, as she watched Matt make his way over to her this morning; after which, he set her plate down in his lap and her drink down on her side table. "Listen, there's no rush, okay? We can take our time. If you don't want to go right away, then we don't need to go right away. I promise." Matt said as he stared into his gorgeous wife's eyes.

Meanwhile, she grabbed Matt's hand and smiled. "I just want to say this…I truly appreciate the fact that you're letting me make the choice when it comes to whether or not we go to the beach." Sighing as Gabby said that, Matt proceeded to set her drink down on her side table. After which, he walked around their bed with his plate and drink so that he could get in and sit with her; all the while, he explained what he was really doing. "Gabby, you're my wife, and you're pregnant with our girls." Gabby was surprised when she heard Matt say that. "Oh, so you think that we're having daughters?" Matt smiled, as he thought so. "I think so. I just like the idea." Matt said, as he set his coffee down this morning. "Still hate that you can drink coffee, and I can't." Matt snickered as Gabby said that. "I only drink coffee so that you can taste it on my lips." Gabby smiled as Matt told her that. "Now that deserves a kiss." Matt agreed.

But first, he grabbed his coffee and proceeded to take a sip of it so that his lips tasted like coffee. After which, he got in bed with Gabby and smiled as he moved closer to her this morning. "You want to taste my coffee?" Matt asked, as he moved close to the woman he loves he laid down next to her; after which, he placed his hand on her stomach and smiled as he leaned in and kissed her softly. And damn, did Gabby love the way he kissed her…and not just due to the fact that she could taste the coffee on his lips. Rather, it was due to the fact that he took things nice and slow with er. It was precisely what she wanted, due to the fact that she loves him more than anything in the entire world. "God, I love you so much." Matt agreed with his wife and smiled. "And I'll always love you." Matt said, as he pulled away from their kiss and then sat up, only to grab his plate so that he can eat some breakfast.

Meanwhile, Gabby grabbed her plate and took a breath due to the fact that she couldn't help but wonder whether Matt was trying to send her a message: did he not want her to go to the beach today because she was pregnant? "Matt, can you be honest with me when I ask you this question?" Turning his head as he took a bite of his omelet, Matt agreed. "Of course, what's the question?" Gabby sighed as she looked at the man she loves. "You know what, it's stupid. Never mind." Matt shook his head, as he didn't want to hear her say something like that; rather, he wants her to ask any question she has. That way, they can communicate with each other; something they'll need to do for the rest of their lives, especially when they have their twins. "Gabby, talk to me. Please, don't shut me out. Just tell me what's bothering you, so that we can talk about it and you can let me know what's going on?" Gabby sighed.

After which, she decided to do just that. "When you asked me about how I can decide whether we go to the beach or not because I'm pregnant with the twins…was that your way of telling me that you'll follow my lead whatever I decide? Or, was it you telling me that…but telling me that we should actually stay here where I can be safe and protected for the sake of the twins?" Taken aback, Matt didn't seem to understand what his wife was truly asking him right now. "Sorry, I'm lost. That was a long question. What exactly are you trying to ask me Gabby?" Gabby sighed, as she understood why he was confused; her question was complex and involved a couple questions in one, which is not good when it's this early in the morning…clearly. "It's early in the morning, and I'm not ready for complex questions." Gabby agreed with Matt and smiled as she grabbed his hand to ask him the question again.

"Is the choice to go to the beach truly up to me? Or are you trying to tell me that you really don't want to go to the beach?"