Just a little glimpse of what I have so far. What do you guys think?
Country singer Riley Green lives a loud life onstage, but the real story starts when the lights go out.
What began in 2020 as a business partnership with children’s designer Mallory Rian turned into marriage, two boys, and a life built somewhere between backroads and soft living. While Riley spends his days hunting, touring, and raising his sons to respect their mama, Mallory holds everything together with quiet strength, luxury, love, and a home that always feels safe to come back to.
From bedtime stories and tour buses to newborn cries and early mornings, The Life He Doesn’t Sing About is a soft, emotional look into the side of Riley Green the world never gets to see.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
For the first few minutes after leaving the salon, the boys were unusually quiet. Riley noticed immediately. He glanced at them through the rearview mirror, watching Ayden sit back with a suspicious look on his face while Noah quietly looked out the window, his long curls falling over his shoulder as the sunlight came through the glass.
“What?” Riley asked.
Ayden looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“You just two got real quiet.”
Noah looked toward his brother before answering softly.
“We’re thinking daddy.”
Riley smiled slightly.
“That’s dangerous.”
Ayden immediately sat up straighter.
“We are not dangerous.”
Riley raised an eyebrow.
“You sure about that, Tuck?”
Ayden grinned.
“Maybe a little.”
There it was. That little smile. That confidence.That exact expression Riley had seen in the mirror more times than he wanted to admit.Riley shook his head, laughing quietly.
“Man, you really are my son.”
“I know.”
Noah looked over at him.
“He says that all the time.”
“Because it’s true,” Ayden said proudly.
Riley glanced back at Noah.
“And what about you, Bear?”
Noah shrugged.
“I’m just me.”
That answer made Riley smile.
Because that was Noah.He never needed to be the loudest person in the room. He never needed attention to know he mattered. He was comfortable just being himself. Riley loved that about him. Their first stop was one of Riley’s favorite places to take the boys when he had a free day.
A small outdoor shop where they could walk around, look at different things, and where Ayden could somehow find a reason to ask about everything.The second they walked inside, Ayden’s energy came alive.
“Dad, look!”
Riley barely made it three steps.
“I just walked in.”
“But look.”
Noah followed behind them, holding onto Riley’s hand for a moment while he looked around quietly.
Riley smiled.
“Alright, what did you find?”
Ayden pointed toward something on the shelf with complete confidence.
“I need this.”
Riley looked and then looked back at him.
“No.”
Ayden’s face dropped.
“But I didn’t even explain.”
“That’s why.”
Noah covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. Riley noticed.
“You think that’s funny?”
Noah nodded.
“A little.”
“Your brother gets that from me, you know.”
Noah looked at him seriously.
“Being loud?”
Riley paused and Ayden laughed. Riley shook his head.
“Alright. Maybe not that part.”
After walking around for a while, Riley took them to get lunch.Nothing fancy.Nothing planned for pictures or social media. Just a normal dad-and-sons lunch. The kind of thing Riley missed when his schedule was packed. Ayden talked through most of the meal, telling Riley stories that somehow started in one place and ended somewhere completely different.
“And then I told him—”
“Who?”
“My friend.”
“What friend Ayden ?”
Ayden stopped.
“The one I just told you about.”
Riley stared at him.
“Ayden , you have told me about approximately fifteen people.”
Ayden thought about it.
“Oh.”
Noah just quietly laughed. Riley smiled, there was no stage. No cameras. No crowd. Just his boys.Meanwhile, across town, Mallory was doing something she rarely allowed herself to do.Nothing.She sat back while someone else took care of her. She let herself relax. She let herself enjoy the quiet.Every now and then, she caught herself smiling. Because she knew exactly what Riley was doing.
He wasn’t just giving her a day at the salon.He was reminding her that she was allowed to be taken care of too.
When her phone buzzed, she looked down.A picture from Riley. She opened it. It was Ayden making a ridiculous face while Noah sat beside him smiling softly.
The message underneath simply said:
Your boys miss you.
Mallory smiled.
She typed back:
My boys? Because last I checked, two of them came from you.
A few seconds later, his response came.
Exactly. That’s why I said your boys.
She laughed quietly to herself.
That man, her man.
Later that afternoon, when Riley pulled back into the driveway with the boys, Ayden was already halfway out of the truck before it fully stopped.
“Mama!”
Mallory stepped outside, her braids freshly done, looking more relaxed than she had in days.Ayden froze and smiled.
“You look really pretty.”
Mallory’s face softened.
“Thank you, Ayebae.”
Noah walked up next, quieter but just as sweet.
“You look happy.”
That one hit her differently.Because Noah always noticed the little things.Mallory crouched down, pulling him into a hug.
“I am, baby.”
Riley stood by the truck watching the three of them. That was the thing, he didn’t need a big moment. He didn’t need anything else. This was the life he wanted. The one nobody saw. The one after the lights went out.
Mallory eventually walked over to him, smiling.
“Thank you.”
Riley shrugged slightly.
“You deserved it.”
She looked at him.
“I know I’m always doing things for everybody else.”
“I know.”
“And sometimes I forget I need a break too.”
Riley reached for her hand.
“I don’t.”
That made her smile because she knew he meant it.
And standing there in their driveway with Carl running around them, Ayden already telling another story, Noah quietly smiling beside them and Mallory realized something.
The best parts of life weren’t the big moments.
They were the ordinary ones. The ones that always felt like home.
For the first few minutes after leaving the salon, the boys were unusually quiet. Riley noticed immediately. He glanced at them through the rearview mirror, watching Ayden sit back with a suspicious look on his face while Noah quietly looked out the window, his long curls falling over his shoulder as the sunlight came through the glass.
“What?” Riley asked.
Ayden looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“You just two got real quiet.”
Noah looked toward his brother before answering softly.
“We’re thinking daddy.”
Riley smiled slightly.
“That’s dangerous.”
Ayden immediately sat up straighter.
“We are not dangerous.”
Riley raised an eyebrow.
“You sure about that, Tuck?”
Ayden grinned.
“Maybe a little.”
There it was. That little smile. That confidence.That exact expression Riley had seen in the mirror more times than he wanted to admit.Riley shook his head, laughing quietly.
“Man, you really are my son.”
“I know.”
Noah looked over at him.
“He says that all the time.”
“Because it’s true,” Ayden said proudly.
Riley glanced back at Noah.
“And what about you, Bear?”
Noah shrugged.
“I’m just me.”
That answer made Riley smile.
Because that was Noah.He never needed to be the loudest person in the room. He never needed attention to know he mattered. He was comfortable just being himself. Riley loved that about him. Their first stop was one of Riley’s favorite places to take the boys when he had a free day.
A small outdoor shop where they could walk around, look at different things, and where Ayden could somehow find a reason to ask about everything.The second they walked inside, Ayden’s energy came alive.
“Dad, look!”
Riley barely made it three steps.
“I just walked in.”
“But look.”
Noah followed behind them, holding onto Riley’s hand for a moment while he looked around quietly.
Riley smiled.
“Alright, what did you find?”
Ayden pointed toward something on the shelf with complete confidence.
“I need this.”
Riley looked and then looked back at him.
“No.”
Ayden’s face dropped.
“But I didn’t even explain.”
“That’s why.”
Noah covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. Riley noticed.
“You think that’s funny?”
Noah nodded.
“A little.”
“Your brother gets that from me, you know.”
Noah looked at him seriously.
“Being loud?”
Riley paused and Ayden laughed. Riley shook his head.
“Alright. Maybe not that part.”
After walking around for a while, Riley took them to get lunch.Nothing fancy.Nothing planned for pictures or social media. Just a normal dad-and-sons lunch. The kind of thing Riley missed when his schedule was packed. Ayden talked through most of the meal, telling Riley stories that somehow started in one place and ended somewhere completely different.
“And then I told him—”
“Who?”
“My friend.”
“What friend Ayden ?”
Ayden stopped.
“The one I just told you about.”
Riley stared at him.
“Ayden , you have told me about approximately fifteen people.”
Ayden thought about it.
“Oh.”
Noah just quietly laughed. Riley smiled, there was no stage. No cameras. No crowd. Just his boys.Meanwhile, across town, Mallory was doing something she rarely allowed herself to do.Nothing.She sat back while someone else took care of her. She let herself relax. She let herself enjoy the quiet.Every now and then, she caught herself smiling. Because she knew exactly what Riley was doing.
He wasn’t just giving her a day at the salon.He was reminding her that she was allowed to be taken care of too.
When her phone buzzed, she looked down.A picture from Riley. She opened it. It was Ayden making a ridiculous face while Noah sat beside him smiling softly.
The message underneath simply said:
Your boys miss you.
Mallory smiled.
She typed back:
My boys? Because last I checked, two of them came from you.
A few seconds later, his response came.
Exactly. That’s why I said your boys.
She laughed quietly to herself.
That man, her man.
Later that afternoon, when Riley pulled back into the driveway with the boys, Ayden was already halfway out of the truck before it fully stopped.
“Mama!”
Mallory stepped outside, her braids freshly done, looking more relaxed than she had in days.Ayden froze and smiled.
“You look really pretty.”
Mallory’s face softened.
“Thank you, Ayebae.”
Noah walked up next, quieter but just as sweet.
“You look happy.”
That one hit her differently.Because Noah always noticed the little things.Mallory crouched down, pulling him into a hug.
“I am, baby.”
Riley stood by the truck watching the three of them. That was the thing, he didn’t need a big moment. He didn’t need anything else. This was the life he wanted. The one nobody saw. The one after the lights went out.
Mallory eventually walked over to him, smiling.
“Thank you.”
Riley shrugged slightly.
“You deserved it.”
She looked at him.
“I know I’m always doing things for everybody else.”
“I know.”
“And sometimes I forget I need a break too.”
Riley reached for her hand.
“I don’t.”
That made her smile because she knew he meant it.
And standing there in their driveway with Carl running around them, Ayden already telling another story, Noah quietly smiling beside them and Mallory realized something.
The best parts of life weren’t the big moments.
They were the ordinary ones. The ones that always felt like home.
Lovie Savannah Brooks meets country artist Riley Green at a bar, and what starts as a single night turns into something neither of them expected. Over time, their lives become deeply intertwined love, family, and everything in between. But when things begin to fall apart, Lovie is forced to make a choice that changes everything… and not everyone gets the full story of what really happened.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
The next morning started slower. Well not necessarily quiet, because with Ayden being quiet was never something Mallory expected for too long. But slower. The kind of morning where nobody was rushing out the door. Nobody was checking the clock every five minutes. Nobody was counting down the minutes until Riley had to leave again. For once, they had the whole day.
Downstairs, the sound of cartoons filled the living room while Carl stretched out across the floor between the couch and the coffee table like he had personally claimed the best spot in the house. Ayden was completely invested in whatever was playing on the television, though Mallory knew better than to believe he was actually sitting still. Somehow, even watching a show, he still managed to move around like he was planning his next adventure.
Noah sat beside him, calmer as always, his long curls falling around his face as he leaned against the couch with a small bowl of snacks in his lap. Every now and then, he glanced over at his brother with the patient expression of someone who had already accepted that Ayden was simply Ayden.
Upstairs, Mallory stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the details of the outfit she had chosen for the day while Riley leaned against the bedroom doorway watching her.She caught his reflection in the mirror.
“You know you’re supposed to be getting dressed too, right?”
Riley smiled slightly.
“I am dressed.”
“You’ve been standing there for five minutes.”
“Can’t I appreciate my wife?”
Mallory rolled her eyes, but the smile she tried to hide gave her away.
“You’re something else.”
“I know.”
She shook her head, turning back toward the mirror as she fixed the last piece of her outfit.
“I’ve been thinking about the next collection.”
Riley’s expression changed slightly because he knew that tone. The designer in her was coming out.
“The kids’ line?”
She nodded.
“Yeah. I want to do something different this time. Something that feels comfortable but still special. Like pieces they can actually play in, but parents still look at and say, ‘That’s cute.’”
Riley listened as she explained her ideas, the fabrics she wanted to use, the colors she was considering, and the little details she wanted to add. It was one of his favorite things about her, the way she could take an idea that only existed in her mind and slowly turn it into something real.He watched her for a moment, smiling.
“What?”
Mallory looked at him through the mirror.
“What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing.”
“Riley.”
He laughed softly.
“I’m just thinking.”
“About?”
He stepped closer, resting his hands gently on her waist.
“How crazy it is that you’re standing here talking about a clothing line, raising our boys, running a house, and somehow still making it look easy.”
Mallory softened a little.
“It’s not always easy.”
“I know.”
That answer mattered. Because he did know just as much as he knew how much she carried. He knew how much she gave.
Riley looked at her for another moment before a playful smile returned.
“You ever thought about us having another one?”
Mallory immediately turned her head and gave him a side eye.
“Another one?”
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
She looked back at herself in the mirror, pretending to think deeply.
“I mean…”
Riley waited.
She smiled slightly.
“I have thought about it.”
“Yeah?”
“But I already know what would happen.”
“What?”
“We’d have another boy.”
Riley laughed.
“You sound very sure.”
“Because I know my luck.”
He shook his head, amused.
“Maybe if you take control this time, we might just get that girl.”
Mallory looked at him.
“Excuse me?”
“A little mini you running around the house.”
She tried not to smile.
“A mini island girl wouldn’t hurt.”
Riley grinned.
“No, it definitely wouldn’t.”
“And you already know those boys would have her spoiled.”
“Absolutely.”
“They’d be wrapped around her finger.”
“They already are with you.”
That made her smile.
Because he wasn’t wrong.
A little while later, they were downstairs packing everything they needed for the day. Snacks for the boys, extra clothes just in case, water bottles, and the usual collection of things parents somehow always needed even when they thought they packed enough. Ayden appeared first, already wearing his shoes.
“Are we leaving yet?”
Mallory looked over.
“You have been asking that for ten minutes.”
“Because we’ve been ready for ten minutes.”
Noah quietly looked up from the couch.
“He means he’s been waiting.”
Mallory smiled.
“Thank you, Noey.”
Ayden looked offended.
“I was saying the same thing.”
“Not with the same amount of peace,” she replied.
Riley laughed from the kitchen.
“Your mama got you there.”
Ayden shook his head.
“Everybody always teams up against me.”
Mallory and Riley exchanged a look.
Because somehow, that was exactly something Riley would say. When they finally walked outside, Riley’s truck was waiting in the driveway. He moved around like he always did, making sure everyone had what they needed before he even thought about himself.
He opened Mallory’s door first, holding his hand out to help her climb inside.Even after all these years, he still did little things like that.Things that reminded her he was paying attention.Once she was settled, he moved around to help the boys buckle up, checking everything twice before climbing into the driver’s seat.
As they headed into town, Ayden immediately started asking questions.
“So what are we doing first?”
Noah looked over.
“Yeah, what’s the plan daddy ?”
Riley smiled.
“We got a long day ahead of us.”
Ayden groaned.
“That sounds like errands.”
“It is errands,” Riley admitted.
Both boys immediately complained.
“Aw man.”
“Do we have to carry bags?”
Mallory laughed from the passenger seat.
“Look at them already.”
Riley shook his head.
“They don’t even know.”
“What?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
Because the boys thought they were spending the day helping their mom.They didn’t know the day was actually about giving her a break.When Riley pulled into the parking lot, Mallory immediately recognized where they were.
She looked out the window.
Then looked at him.
Then looked back at the building.
“Riley.”
He put the truck in park. The boys in the backseat were already trying not to laugh.
“What?”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What are we doing here?”
Riley got out before answering, walking around to her side and opening her door.
“You’re getting your hair done.”
Mallory blinked.
“What?”
“And after that, your feet and nails.”
She stared at him.
“Riley, I didn’t book anything.”
“I know.”
“Then how—”
“I did that this morning.”
She paused.
“When?”
“While you were sleeping.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“After our little morning activities.”
Mallory immediately smirked and rolled her eyes.
“You are so annoying.”
“Maybe.”
He helped her out of the truck, his height making her laugh slightly as she looked up at him.At 6’4, Riley towered over her, while Mallory at 5’5 looked up at him with that familiar expression that said she loved him but was still deciding whether she wanted to argue. Riley smiled down at her.
“Text me when you’re done.”
She opened her mouth.
He gently shook his head.
“Nope.”
She stopped.
“This is your day to yourself, mama.”
Her expression softened.
“Enjoy it.”
For a second, she didn’t say anything.
Then she smiled.
“Thank you.”
She hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her easily. A moment later, she kissed him before stepping back. From the backseat came two voices.
“Bye Mommy!”
“We love you!”
Mallory laughed, waving at them.
“I love you too!”
She watched as Riley and the boys drove away. And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t thinking about everything she needed to do.She was just letting herself be cared for.
The next morning started slower. Well not necessarily quiet, because with Ayden being quiet was never something Mallory expected for too long. But slower. The kind of morning where nobody was rushing out the door. Nobody was checking the clock every five minutes. Nobody was counting down the minutes until Riley had to leave again. For once, they had the whole day.
Downstairs, the sound of cartoons filled the living room while Carl stretched out across the floor between the couch and the coffee table like he had personally claimed the best spot in the house. Ayden was completely invested in whatever was playing on the television, though Mallory knew better than to believe he was actually sitting still. Somehow, even watching a show, he still managed to move around like he was planning his next adventure.
Noah sat beside him, calmer as always, his long curls falling around his face as he leaned against the couch with a small bowl of snacks in his lap. Every now and then, he glanced over at his brother with the patient expression of someone who had already accepted that Ayden was simply Ayden.
Upstairs, Mallory stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the details of the outfit she had chosen for the day while Riley leaned against the bedroom doorway watching her.She caught his reflection in the mirror.
“You know you’re supposed to be getting dressed too, right?”
Riley smiled slightly.
“I am dressed.”
“You’ve been standing there for five minutes.”
“Can’t I appreciate my wife?”
Mallory rolled her eyes, but the smile she tried to hide gave her away.
“You’re something else.”
“I know.”
She shook her head, turning back toward the mirror as she fixed the last piece of her outfit.
“I’ve been thinking about the next collection.”
Riley’s expression changed slightly because he knew that tone. The designer in her was coming out.
“The kids’ line?”
She nodded.
“Yeah. I want to do something different this time. Something that feels comfortable but still special. Like pieces they can actually play in, but parents still look at and say, ‘That’s cute.’”
Riley listened as she explained her ideas, the fabrics she wanted to use, the colors she was considering, and the little details she wanted to add. It was one of his favorite things about her, the way she could take an idea that only existed in her mind and slowly turn it into something real.He watched her for a moment, smiling.
“What?”
Mallory looked at him through the mirror.
“What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing.”
“Riley.”
He laughed softly.
“I’m just thinking.”
“About?”
He stepped closer, resting his hands gently on her waist.
“How crazy it is that you’re standing here talking about a clothing line, raising our boys, running a house, and somehow still making it look easy.”
Mallory softened a little.
“It’s not always easy.”
“I know.”
That answer mattered. Because he did know just as much as he knew how much she carried. He knew how much she gave.
Riley looked at her for another moment before a playful smile returned.
“You ever thought about us having another one?”
Mallory immediately turned her head and gave him a side eye.
“Another one?”
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
She looked back at herself in the mirror, pretending to think deeply.
“I mean…”
Riley waited.
She smiled slightly.
“I have thought about it.”
“Yeah?”
“But I already know what would happen.”
“What?”
“We’d have another boy.”
Riley laughed.
“You sound very sure.”
“Because I know my luck.”
He shook his head, amused.
“Maybe if you take control this time, we might just get that girl.”
Mallory looked at him.
“Excuse me?”
“A little mini you running around the house.”
She tried not to smile.
“A mini island girl wouldn’t hurt.”
Riley grinned.
“No, it definitely wouldn’t.”
“And you already know those boys would have her spoiled.”
“Absolutely.”
“They’d be wrapped around her finger.”
“They already are with you.”
That made her smile.
Because he wasn’t wrong.
A little while later, they were downstairs packing everything they needed for the day. Snacks for the boys, extra clothes just in case, water bottles, and the usual collection of things parents somehow always needed even when they thought they packed enough. Ayden appeared first, already wearing his shoes.
“Are we leaving yet?”
Mallory looked over.
“You have been asking that for ten minutes.”
“Because we’ve been ready for ten minutes.”
Noah quietly looked up from the couch.
“He means he’s been waiting.”
Mallory smiled.
“Thank you, Noey.”
Ayden looked offended.
“I was saying the same thing.”
“Not with the same amount of peace,” she replied.
Riley laughed from the kitchen.
“Your mama got you there.”
Ayden shook his head.
“Everybody always teams up against me.”
Mallory and Riley exchanged a look.
Because somehow, that was exactly something Riley would say. When they finally walked outside, Riley’s truck was waiting in the driveway. He moved around like he always did, making sure everyone had what they needed before he even thought about himself.
He opened Mallory’s door first, holding his hand out to help her climb inside.Even after all these years, he still did little things like that.Things that reminded her he was paying attention.Once she was settled, he moved around to help the boys buckle up, checking everything twice before climbing into the driver’s seat.
As they headed into town, Ayden immediately started asking questions.
“So what are we doing first?”
Noah looked over.
“Yeah, what’s the plan daddy ?”
Riley smiled.
“We got a long day ahead of us.”
Ayden groaned.
“That sounds like errands.”
“It is errands,” Riley admitted.
Both boys immediately complained.
“Aw man.”
“Do we have to carry bags?”
Mallory laughed from the passenger seat.
“Look at them already.”
Riley shook his head.
“They don’t even know.”
“What?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
Because the boys thought they were spending the day helping their mom.They didn’t know the day was actually about giving her a break.When Riley pulled into the parking lot, Mallory immediately recognized where they were.
She looked out the window.
Then looked at him.
Then looked back at the building.
“Riley.”
He put the truck in park. The boys in the backseat were already trying not to laugh.
“What?”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What are we doing here?”
Riley got out before answering, walking around to her side and opening her door.
“You’re getting your hair done.”
Mallory blinked.
“What?”
“And after that, your feet and nails.”
She stared at him.
“Riley, I didn’t book anything.”
“I know.”
“Then how—”
“I did that this morning.”
She paused.
“When?”
“While you were sleeping.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“After our little morning activities.”
Mallory immediately smirked and rolled her eyes.
“You are so annoying.”
“Maybe.”
He helped her out of the truck, his height making her laugh slightly as she looked up at him.At 6’4, Riley towered over her, while Mallory at 5’5 looked up at him with that familiar expression that said she loved him but was still deciding whether she wanted to argue. Riley smiled down at her.
“Text me when you’re done.”
She opened her mouth.
He gently shook his head.
“Nope.”
She stopped.
“This is your day to yourself, mama.”
Her expression softened.
“Enjoy it.”
For a second, she didn’t say anything.
Then she smiled.
“Thank you.”
She hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her easily. A moment later, she kissed him before stepping back. From the backseat came two voices.
“Bye Mommy!”
“We love you!”
Mallory laughed, waving at them.
“I love you too!”
She watched as Riley and the boys drove away. And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t thinking about everything she needed to do.She was just letting herself be cared for.
Lovie Savannah Brooks meets country artist Riley Green at a bar, and what starts as a single night turns into something neither of them expected. Over time, their lives become deeply intertwined love, family, and everything in between. But when things begin to fall apart, Lovie is forced to make a choice that changes everything… and not everyone gets the full story of what really happened.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Mallory knew exactly who she was hearing before she even reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Dad, I’m telling you, I can do it!”
She stopped for a second, one hand resting on the railing as she listened to the conversation happening in the kitchen. There was a certain tone Ayden had that she had learned very quickly over the years. It was the same tone Riley used when he was completely convinced he was right, even if everyone else in the room knew better. The confidence. The determination. The little bit of mischief hidden underneath. She didn’t even need to see him to know what expression was probably on his face.
Mallory slowly shook her head to herself.
“Lord,” she whispered quietly. “Two of them.”
By the time she walked into the kitchen, she already knew she was right.Ayden was standing at the counter, completely animated, explaining something with his hands while Riley leaned against the island listening with a smile that told her everything she needed to know. He wasn’t just listening. He was enjoying every second of it. Because that was his boy.
Not just because Ayden looked like him or shared his personality, but because Riley recognized that same spark. That same excitement about everything. That same ability to turn a simple morning into a full story. Sitting nearby was Noah, who was quietly eating his breakfast, his long curls falling around his face as he watched his brother with the calmest expression in the room.
He didn’t interrupt.
He didn’t add to the chaos.
He just watched.
And somehow, that made Mallory smile even more.
“Noey,” she said softly, walking over to him. “You alright, baby?”
Noah looked up at her and nodded.
“Yeah mommy.”
She brushed a curl away from his face.
“You been sitting here listening to your brother talk for twenty minutes?”
Noah nodded again.
“He has a lot to say.”
Mallory laughed because that was the most accurate description anyone could have given Ayden. Across the kitchen, Ayden immediately looked over.
“I heard that.”
“Good,” Mallory replied without missing a beat. “You were supposed to.”
Riley laughed, looking between them.
“You two already started?”
“We never stopped,” Mallory said.
Ayden grinned.
“That’s because Mom likes arguing.”
Mallory turned slowly and the kitchen went quiet.Riley looked down, already trying not to laugh.
“No,” Mallory said calmly. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Act like you don’t know exactly where you get that from.”
Riley finally laughed while Ayden smiled proudly.Noah looked between his parents and his brother before quietly saying, “Daddy does do that.”
Mallory pointed toward Noah immediately.
“See? My peaceful child understands me.”
Noah smiled slightly.
Riley shook his head.
“Man, y’all teamed up quick.”
“Because we’re right,” Mallory said.
And that was the thing about being home. The little moments came back quickly. The teasing.The noise. The way Riley’s laughter filled spaces that had felt too quiet when he was gone. After breakfast, the day moved slowly. Not because they didn’t have things to do, but because nobody was rushing.
Riley had spent so much time living by schedules that he wanted to enjoy the simple parts now. The things people never saw. Ayden followed him around the yard asking questions, making plans, and turning every small task into something bigger than it needed to be.
Noah stayed close too, but differently. He didn’t need to be the loudest person in the room to be present. He sat beside Riley while he worked, handing him things when he asked, asking questions in between quiet moments, his curls bouncing slightly every time he looked up.
Riley noticed.
He noticed everything.
“You good, Bear?” he asked softly.
Noah looked at him.
“Yeah.”
“You sure?”
Noah nodded.
“I just like when you’re home.”
The words were simple.
But they hit Riley harder than any crowd ever could. He reached over, pulling Noah closer for a second.
“I like being home too.”
From across the yard, Ayden immediately called out.
“Dad!”
Riley looked up.
“What?”
“Come see this!”
Mallory, standing nearby, immediately sighed.
“Oh boy.”
Riley looked over at her.
“What?”
She crossed her arms.
“That right there.”
“What?”
“That ‘come see this’ is exactly how trouble starts.”
Riley tried to look innocent.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Mallory stared at him.
“Riley.”
He smiled.
And she laughed because there it was.
The same look.
The same energy.
The same reason Ayden was exactly the way he was.
“Two of y’all,” she muttered.
Riley walked past her, smiling.
“Love you too.”
“I love you,” she called after him. “But I’m still right.”
That evening, as the sun lowered over the property and the boys finally began slowing down, Mallory stood outside watching them. Ayden was still talking, still moving and still full of life and Riley was right there with him. Noah was sitting beside them, peaceful and content, simply happy to be included.
For a moment, Mallory didn’t think about the days Riley was gone. She didn’t think about the calls. The waiting or the nights when she handled everything alone. She just watched because this was the part nobody else got to see. Not the singer or the man on stage. Just Riley , a father a husband and most importantly home.
For a while, neither of them moved.Mallory stayed wrapped in his arms, her cheek resting against his chest as she listened to the steady rhythm of his breathing. It was such a simple thing, something she had never thought she would miss, but after days of sleeping alone and hearing only her own thoughts at night, the sound of him being there felt like a comfort she couldn’t explain. Riley held her a little tighter, his eyes closing for a moment as he allowed himself to finally relax. The last several days had been filled with noise, movement, and people constantly needing something from him, but standing in that kitchen with Mallory, barefoot and half tired, he felt like he could finally let his shoulders drop.
“You really waited up for me?” he asked quietly.
Mallory pulled back just enough to look at him.
“Don’t act surprised.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“I know you.”
“Clearly you don’t,” she teased. “Because if you did, you would know I was gonna wait.”
Riley shook his head, smiling.
“That stubborn side of yours…”
“Don’t start,” she warned, pointing at him. “You married me knowing exactly who I was.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“And I’d do it again.”
The answer came so easily that it caught her off guard.Mallory’s expression softened.Riley wasn’t always the man who gave long speeches. He showed love in the way he came home, the way he checked on the boys before himself, the way he remembered small details she mentioned weeks earlier, the way he made sure she never carried the weight of their family alone even when he was miles away.
That was Riley.
Quiet love.
Steady love.
The kind that didn’t need an audience. She reached up, smoothing a hand over his shoulder. “You hungry?”
Riley looked at her like she had asked him the most obvious question in the world.
“I’m always hungry.”
Mallory laughed softly.
“There he is.”
“Was I gone long enough for you to forget?”
“Never.”
The word came out before she could even think about it. Riley noticed and he always noticed.They moved around the kitchen together in the comfortable silence that came from years of knowing each other. Mallory warmed up some leftovers while Riley leaned against the counter, watching her with the kind of smile he only wore when he was home.It was different here.
Nobody was asking him for anything.
Nobody needed him to perform.
Nobody needed Riley Green.
They just needed Dad.
They just needed husband.
They just needed him.
“You know what I missed?” he said after a few minutes.
Mallory glanced over. “What?”
“This.”
She looked around the kitchen.
“The leftovers?”
He laughed.
“No.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
Riley looked toward the hallway where the boys’ rooms were.
“I miss being here for the little stuff.”
Mallory’s expression changed slightly.
“The little stuff?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “The bedtime stories. The random questions. Noah telling me something that makes absolutely no sense but acting like it’s the most important thing in the world. Ayden following behind him and making sure he doesn’t completely lose his mind.”
Mallory smiled because it was true.
“They miss you too.”
“I know.”
“And they talk about you all the time.”
That made him look back at her.
“Yeah?”
“Riley.”
She smiled softly.
“You are their favorite person.”
His eyes dropped for a moment.That meant more than any award, any sold out show, or any compliment he could receive. Because those boys upstairs sleeping , were his greatest accomplishment. The next morning came earlier than either of them wanted.Not because anyone had an alarm.Not because anyone was prepared. But because Noah Jonathan had apparently decided that sleeping was no longer necessary.
“DAD!”
The shout echoed through the hallway.Mallory opened her eyes immediately. For a second, she forgot. Then she heard the laughter. Riley’s laughter and she immediately smiled.
“Tuck ,” she heard Riley say from down the hall, voice still rough with sleep, “what are you doing up this early?”
There was a pause.
“Because you’re here.”
That answer was so simple that Mallory felt it before she even saw it.
She sat up slowly, listening as little feet ran across the floor. A few seconds later, Ayden launched himself into the bedroom, followed closely by Noah.
“Daddy!”
Riley barely had time to sit up before both boys were climbing onto the bed. He laughed, catching them both.
“Okay, okay. I missed y’all too.”
“No, you missed me more,” Ayden announced.
Noah immediately shook his head.
“Dennyroo, Dad missed both.”
Mallory covered her smile with her hand. Even half asleep, Noah was still the reasonable one.Riley looked between them.
“You two been arguing since breakfast?”
“We didn’t eat yet,” Ayden said.
“Exactly.”
Mallory laughed and the room filled with the kind of noise she had missed.The kind she didn’t realize she had been waiting for. Riley looked around at the three people in front of him.
Mallory.
Bear.
Tuck.
His whole world and for the first time in what felt like forever, nothing was missing.
The road home had always been Riley’s favorite part. Not because of the miles and not because of the quiet.But because the closer he got, the more the rest of the world started to disappear.The noise of the stage faded. The constant movement of airports and hotels faded. The endless conversations about schedules, interviews, and the next city faded. By the time he turned onto the familiar road leading toward the house, there was only one thing left on his mind.Home.
The headlights of his truck moved slowly across the driveway, illuminating the familiar shape of the house waiting for him. The porch light was still on, exactly the way Mallory always left it when he was away. It was a small thing, something most people would probably never notice, but Riley did. He noticed everything when it came to her. He sat in the driver’s seat for a moment after turning off the engine, letting the silence settle around him.
Riley had stood in front of thousands of people that night.He had heard them sing his songs back to him. He had felt the energy of an entire arena.But none of that compared to sitting in his own driveway, knowing his family was inside.Riley finally grabbed his bag and stepped out of the truck. He barely made it to the front door before Carl knew.
The reaction was immediate. The house that had been completely still seconds before suddenly came alive with the sound of paws rushing across the hardwood floor. Carl had clearly been waiting for this moment, and the second Riley opened the door, the dog was there, tail moving so fast his whole body followed.
“Hey buddy ,” Riley whispered with a smile, dropping his bag beside the door as Carl pushed against him. “I missed you too.”
Carl circled him, sniffing, whining, and acting like Riley had been gone for years instead of days.
But even with Carl’s excitement filling the entryway, Riley’s attention eventually moved upstairs.To the two rooms he had been thinking about the entire drive home. His boys. He didn’t call out and he didn’t turn on extra lights. He didn’t want to disturb the peace they had finally found after a full day.
Instead, Riley quietly made his way upstairs with Carl following close behind, the dog apparently unwilling to miss any part of the reunion.The first door he opened belonged to Ayden Tucker.
Riley leaned against the doorway, his expression softening immediately. Ayden was completely asleep, stretched across his bed like he had spent the entire day fighting exhaustion and finally lost. One leg was tangled in his blanket, his stuffed animals scattered around him, and his curly hair was sticking up in every direction from a day filled with swimming, playing, and whatever adventures he had managed to create.
Riley smiled.
There was no stage version of him in this moment. No country singer, no performer. Just Dad.
“Hey Dennyroo,” he whispered.
Ayden didn’t move. Riley stepped closer, brushing a hand gently over his son’s curls.
“I’m home.”
The words were quiet, almost like he was saying them for himself too. He stayed there for a moment longer before stepping back into the hallway.
Next was Noah Johnathan .
Noah was curled on his side, his blanket pulled close, his small face peaceful in sleep. He had always been the one who watched everything, who took things in quietly before speaking. Even now, there was a calmness about him that reminded Riley of how much personality could exist in someone so small.
Riley smiled softly.
“Bear.”
Again, no response. Just sleep and comfortable silence. Carl stepped closer, trying to investigate, and Riley gently stopped him.
“Easy,” he whispered. “Don’t wake him.”
Carl looked up at him as if he disagreed completely but settled back down beside him.Riley looked between both rooms one more time. These were the moments nobody saw. Not the fans, not the cameras and not the people who only knew him from the stage.They saw Riley Green the singer. But this was who he really was. The dad who missed bedtime stories.The husband who missed his wife’s voice in the kitchen.
The man who counted down the miles until he could walk through his own front door. After one last look, Riley quietly closed the boys’ doors and headed back downstairs. Mallory was still awake. She hadn’t planned on it. She had told herself she would go to bed hours ago, but some part of her had been listening for the sound of his truck the entire night. She was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea that had long gone cold when she heard Carl moving through the house.
Then she heard footsteps.Her heart already knew before her mind caught up. Riley. She stood slowly, almost afraid that moving too quickly would break the moment.
When he stepped into the kitchen, everything else seemed to quiet. For a second, they simply looked at each other.
The distance disappeared.
The missed calls disappeared.
The long days disappeared.
All that mattered was that he was standing in front of her.
“Hey,” she whispered.
Riley smiled, tired but happy in a way she hadn’t seen in days.
“Hey mama.”
She shook her head slightly, looking him over. “You look exhausted.”
He gave a small laugh. “That’s because I am.”
“I know.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “You been holding everything down?”
Mallory crossed her arms, giving him the look that only a wife and mother could give.
“Do I even need to answer that?”
Riley laughed softly.
“There she is.”
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
“Boy, these children have been running me.”
“I can imagine.”
“No, you cannot,” she teased, her Jamaican cadence slipping through naturally as she shook her head. “These two have been giving me a whole operation over here. Noah Bear got a frog obsession, and Tuck just follows him like he’s his manager.”
Riley smiled because he could picture it perfectly.
“I missed that.”
The teasing faded and the room softened.
“I missed you,” he admitted.
Mallory looked at him for a moment before stepping closer.
“We missed you too.”
And when she finally wrapped her arms around him, it wasn’t dramatic and It wasn’t rushed.It was just home.Carl settled beside them, resting his head against Riley’s leg like he was making sure everything was back the way it belonged.Riley looked around the kitchen. The house, the life waiting for him. And for the first time in days, he wasn’t counting down to anything. Because he was already there. Home.
The call with Riley lingered in the air even after the screen went dark, like his voice had settled into the backyard and refused to fully leave. Mallory sat back in her chair for a moment longer than she meant to, phone resting loosely in her hand as she watched the boys go right back into their world of splashing water and loud imagination like nothing had shifted at all. Noah was already halfway into another story, this time about being a “pool captain” with urgent responsibilities, while Ayden trailed behind him in quieter agreement, occasionally correcting details with the kind of calm seriousness that made Mallory shake her head every time.
Carl stayed close to her chair, flopping down into the shade like he had completed his duty as emotional support for the entire household and was now off the clock.
Mal finally exhaled, setting her phone down beside her on the table, her eyes drifting back toward the water. There was something about days like this that made her chest feel full in a way she never fully knew how to explain. Loud, messy, exhausting days that somehow still felt like peace. The kind of peace that didn’t come from silence, but from knowing everyone you loved was exactly where they were supposed to be, even if one of them was still miles away.
Noah suddenly popped up beside her chair, dripping water everywhere like it was part of the design.
“Mommy , watch me jump!”
Mallory didn’t even look up from her sunglasses. “Noah Jonathan, if you break your neck, I’m not saving you from yourself today.”
“I won’t break my neck.”
“You said the same thing last week.”
“That was really different.”
“How?”
“I didn’t land it right.”
Ayden, still calmer, leaned against the pool steps and added softly, “He almost landed it.”
Mallory pointed between them without turning her head. “Both of you stop teaming up against me.”
Noah grinned like that was the goal all along.
Carl huffed from the shade like he agreed with Mallory’s stance but was emotionally unavailable to enforce it.
By late afternoon, the sun had shifted just slightly, softening the heat into something golden and lazy. The kind of light that made everything feel slower, like the day itself was beginning to stretch out and breathe. Noah had finally tired himself out enough to float on his back without talking for a full thirty seconds which was an unusual achievement, while Ayden sat on the pool steps with his knees pulled up, watching the water ripple around him.
Mallory sat back in her chair, one hand resting on the arm of it, the other occasionally reaching for the glass of water beside her. Her curls had started to loosen slightly from the humidity, and she had long since stopped caring about fixing them. That was the thing about days like this eventually, you just stopped performing and started existing.
“Mom?” Ayden’s voice broke the quiet.
“Yeah, baby?”
He leaned his head slightly against her leg without fully climbing into her space. “When Dad coming back again?”
The question wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic. It was just… steady. The way kids asked things when they already knew the answer but still needed to hear it out loud.
Mallory looked out toward the driveway without thinking, like she could somehow see past distance if she stared hard enough.
“Soon,” she said softly.
Noah lifted his head from the water. “Like tomorrow soon?”
A small smile tugged at Mallory’s lips.
“Boy… I said soon, not teleportation.”
Noah frowned. “What’s teleportation?”
“That’s what grown folks wish they had when they tired,” she said, shaking her head. Then, softer, more to herself than them, she added, “but we don’t.”
Ayden shifted slightly closer. “He gonna swim with us?”
“Mm-hmm,” she nodded. “And I better not hear no complaining when he in that water acting like he five years younger than he is.”
That got a small laugh out of Noah.
“Dad always wins in the pool,” Noah said confidently.
Mallory finally looked over at him now. “That’s because your father cheat.”
Noah gasped. “Dad does NOT cheat.”
“He absolutely do,” she said, slipping slightly into that easy Jamaican cadence when she got amused, words soft but firm. “That man been swimming since he could walk. Don’t let him fool you, Noey.”
Noah looked personally betrayed by this information.
Ayden, however, just nodded like this made perfect sense. “He does go fast.”
“Exactly,” Mallory said, pointing at him like he was the only reasonable one left in the conversation. “Thank you, Ayebae.”
Carl lifted his head at the sound of her voice like he was included in the agreement too.
The sun dipped lower as the afternoon began to fade into that warm, stretched out version of evening where nobody really wanted to go inside but everyone was slowly getting tired anyway. Noah eventually drifted from floating to sitting, then sitting to leaning against the side of the pool like even his energy had limits. Ayden followed not long after, his small body curled up on the steps again, eyes heavy but still open just enough to watch the water move.
Mallory gathered towels quietly, letting them dry off without rushing them, her voice softer now, slower.
“Aight, come on,” she said gently. “We going inside before y’all turn into prunes.”
“No prunes,” Noah muttered weakly.
“Too late,” she replied. “I already see it happening.”
That earned a tired laugh from Ayden.
Carl followed behind them as they made their way back toward the house, shaking water off his fur dramatically the moment he crossed the threshold like he had suffered greatly for the sake of family bonding.
Later that night, after the boys had been bathed, fed, and tucked into bed for what felt like the third time in two days, the house finally settled into its true evening rhythm. Mallory moved through the kitchen slowly, cleaning up the last bits of the day, the quiet hum of the dishwasher filling the space where laughter had been earlier. Outside, the backyard lights glowed faintly over the empty pool, and Carl lay stretched across the floor near the couch, already asleep again like exhaustion was his full time job.
Mallory paused at the counter for a moment, hands resting lightly on the edge as she looked out toward the dark window. The house was calm now, but not empty. Never empty. Just waiting, waiting for footsteps, waiting for a truck in the driveway and waiting for a voice that hadn’t walked through the door yet.
Her phone lay beside her, silent for the first time all day.She picked it up, glancing at it without unlocking it, before setting it back down again.
“Soon,” she murmured under her breath, almost like she was reminding herself now instead of the boys.Her accent softened the word slightly, warm and low in the quiet kitchen.
“He’ll be home soon.”
Carl shifted slightly in his sleep. Mallory smiled faintly, turning off the kitchen light as she headed upstairs.
And for the first time all day, the house didn’t feel like it was waiting in pieces. It felt like it was waiting whole.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Hello devoted fan 🎉 I appreciate you more than you know ❤️ You definitely got my attention too love seeing y'all on my comments. Don't be shy 💋🥰 send me messages
Fandom/Characters: Chicago Fire - Matt Casey x Fem!Reader, Sylvie Brett, Stella Kidd, Kelly Severide, Blake Gallo, Wallace Boden, Christopher Herrmann, Joe Cruz, Darren Ritter
Word Count: 3.5k
Summary: You and Matt Casey had been secretly dating for a while, and it had gone smoothly since you worked at different firehouses. However, you were offered a job at 51 which despite seeming like a great idea, only made everything complicated.
Warnings: hurt/comfort, a bit of angst, a bunch of fluff, pet names, mention of anxiety, protective matt, kissing, happy ending
a/n: my first fic!!!!! (on tumblr that is lol) i used to write a lot on another platforms but haven't written for fun in forever (other than for school, ew lol.) so i might be a bit rusty so just yk excuse that until i get back into my flow :) anyways i hope you guys like it <3
For the last three years, you've been working as a paramedic at Firehouse 20 alongside Violet Mikami. During that time, you've come to know Blake Gallo as a result of his on-and-off relationship with her. Although he's a great guy, what made him even greater is the person he introduced you to about a year ago— your boyfriend, Captain Matthew Casey of Firehouse 51.
Where could you possibly start? His mesmerizing, smile and his charming personality drew you in in an instant. You never realized how the occasional encounters, transformed into intimate late-night conversations. And before you knew it, those late-night talks grew into romantic dinners and memorable dates.
After months of both of you dancing around one another, he finally masked up the courage to ask you to be his girlfriend. Without a moment's hesitation, you instantly said yes.
Six months have passed since then. Both of you had mutually decided to keep it private for some time in order to prevent any interference with your jobs. The only individuals who had known were your respective Chiefs, just in case something happened.
Your Chief also knew you could handle a busier station such as 51. So, he had just offered you the vacant paramedic position that was left after Foster left for Med School.
Initially, you were excited about the offer because it meant working with your boyfriend. However, now you're uncertain about accepting it as you're not sure how he’d react. While you believe he'd be as thrilled as you are, there's this nagging feeling that it would complicate things.
So you decided to call him.
"Hey Matt," You said once he picked up.
"Hi babe, everything okay? You rarely call me during shift." He replied, voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine." You assure him before nervously adding, "It's just... I have something to run by you...”
"Go ahead sweetheart, what's up?"
"You know how Foster left and ever since then there's been an open paramedic spot at 51 for a while now?"
He hums encouraging you to continue.
"Well, my Chief spoke to Boden and they both agreed that I could fill that spot if I wanted to."
"That's fantastic news!" He said excitedly. "Do you want to?"
You sighed. "I do want to. I think it would be nice to work with you and the experience of working at a busier station? That would benefit me, by a lot. I’d be able to learn so much."
"Then what's there to run by me? This is your decision Y/N." Matt questioned.
"It's your house! I don't want to interfere with the little family you all have built and make things complicated considering we'd be working together while dating and what if they take it the wrong way thinking I only got the spot because I'm with you-"
"Hey! Y/N, sweetheart, breathe." He says cutting off your rambling, trying to calm you down.
"What?" you ask, voice exasperated.
"Baby, no one's going to think anything like that. You're an amazing paramedic and you earned your spot because you're good at your job. Also, no one knows that we're together so they won't suspect a thing. We don't even have to tell them yet if you don't want to.” He said reassuringly before continuing, “And you wouldn't be interfering with anything, I can assure you that we'd all love to have you at 51. This is completely your choice though, so whether you want to transfer over here or not, you have my full support, regardless of what you decide."
You smile at Matt's words. "Thank you." You pause for a moment before resuming happily, "Okay I'm going to go tell Chief that I'm accepting the position! I'll talk to you later Matt."
"That's my girl." He says smiling before hanging up.
You swiftly head to your Chief's office and let him know that you completed the transfer paperwork and are ready to begin at 51 as soon as possible. He nods, smiling, and assures you that he will push the request forward.
It was now Monday. Which also happened to be the same day you started your first shift as the new paramedic of Firehouse 51.
God were you nervous.
You had spoken to Matt multiple times and he continuously reassured you that you had no reason to feel anxious because everyone would adore you. So why were you still panicking?
Matt liked you, Gallo liked you, and so did Boden after the short interview you two had.
You had also heard a lot about each of them through Matt, and they all sounded like wonderful people. So the odds of your new coworkers welcoming you with open arms were pretty high.
Yet despite your best efforts, you couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety that was coursing through your veins, leaving you a nervous wreck.
You let out a sigh, trying to calm your nerves as you approached the Firehouse. You bumped into Gallo on the way which instantly relieved your worries. Seeing a familiar face put your mind at ease, melting your fears away, even if it’s only for a moment.
The two of you engaged in an easy conversation as you walked into the building together.
Upon entering, you spotted a table near the rigs with several individuals seated around it. Gallo eagerly ushered you towards them, quickly introducing everyone.
"Squad, this is Y/N Y/L/N, our new paramedic!" He said as you smiled, waving at them.
Gallo then pointed at a tan, blue-eyed man who was sitting at the head of the table. "That's Lieutenant Kelly Severide. Head of Squad and those are his Squad members."
He quickly got up and shook your hand. "Nice to meet you Y/L/N."
You recognized him now. He was Matt's best friend, they'd been through thick and thin together. It was sweet actually, finally getting to put a face to the name you've been hearing so much about.
Gallo took his time introducing you to the other members of Squad, all of whom greeted you with kindness and respect.
As he slipped into conversation with them, you took the opportunity to excuse yourself and find your partner, Sylvie Brett, who you’d be spending most of your time with.
She stood out easily, being one of only two women in the house. You spotted her in the kitchen, chatting with another girl who you figured must be Stella, Severide's girlfriend. Matt had spoken to you about how amazing they were as a couple, and it always made you happy to hear about them. With a deep breath, you made your way over to them.
"Hi!" You smiled. "I'm the new paramedic here working with... Sylvie Brett?" You ask unsurly, turning your head to glance at the blonde hoping you're right.
"Yes, that's me! Hi!" She answered enthusiastically, hugging you. Matt had mentioned how sweet she was but the embrace still caught you by surprise. Regardless, you hugged her back, accepting the kind gesture. Once you pulled away you waved at the other woman who smiled back at you, introducing herself as Stella Kidd.
After conversing with them for some time and getting to know one another, you headed off to the officer quarters with the hope of seeing your boyfriend.
Once you approached the office that was referred to Matt Casey, you knocked.
"Come in." You heard so you stepped inside, closing the door behind you.
"Hi baby," You said, smiling at him. He looked up from his desk, features softening as he noticed you.
"How's my favorite girl doing?" He asked standing up to give you a brief kiss on the cheek.
"I'm great! Everyone here is so nice and fun to talk to. They've all been so welcoming." You answered excitedly.
"See, I told you everyone would love you. What's there not to?" He asked rhetorically, making you smile as he placed his hands on your waist pulling you in closer. Matt's inability to keep his hands to himself never fails to make you laugh. It was all quickly forgotten though when he drew you in for a more passionate kiss when he noticed that there weren't any prying eyes on you.
As time passed, days turned into weeks, and before you knew it, you had seamlessly become a part of them. Each member of the group welcomed you with open arms, and it felt like you had found your place within the close-knit family they had formed at 51. It seemed like you had found a lasting bond and a sense of belonging with everyone there, envisioning a permanent future among them.
You became good friends with Sylvie and Stella, established a nice mentorship with Hermann, and created a sibling-like bond with Severide.
Most importantly though, to your knowledge, no one had suspected your relationship with Matt.
You wanted to say something, you really did. You didn't want him to think you were ashamed of being with him. But you didn't want the people you had grown so close to to think that you were only offered the position because of your relationship with him; even if you were confident that they weren't the type of people to believe that.
It was an ordinary day. You and Sylvie had just returned from responding to a call— nothing too serious, just tending to a man who had been cut by a broken mirror. Together with Sylvie, you bandaged him up and sent him to Med for stitches, wishing him a speedy recovery.
You were restocking the ambulance when Sylvie spoke up, "So, did you see the way that guy looked at you?"
You almost choked on your spit at her statement, not expecting it. "How did he look at me?"
"Oh c'mon- there were literally hearts in his eyes every time you spoke up while bandaging him!" She exclaimed a bit too loudly making you shush her.
"Who had hearts in his eyes?" Matt chimed in as he walked up to you and Brett, joining your conversation.
"No one," You say brushing him off but Sylvie interjects. "This guy we were helping earlier, he totally had the hots for our new paramedic over here." She said, nudging you with her arm in a teasing manner.
"Oh, did he?" Matt asked in a tone that sounded like he was joking but you could see the way his body tensed.
"It's whatever, nothing serious. It's not like I'm going to go on a date with him." You roll your eyes trying to dismiss the situation.
"You should!" Sylvie replies happily, "You're pretty and single. He wasn't bad on the eyes either, if you know what I mean. Go have some fun girl! Who knows, he could be the love of your life." She adds, winking.
Matt gave a half-hearted smile and walked away without acknowledging Brett, leaving her looking up in confusion. "What was that about?" She asked.
"No idea," You say shortly, despite knowing exactly what was going on.
Matthew Casey was jealous.
It was quite surprising because he had never shown signs of being the jealous type. In the past, if another man approached you in his presence, he would politely ask them to leave you alone, making it clear that you were already taken. Or he’d simply put his arm around you in a protective, not-so-friendly manner, letting everyone know that you were his. It never bothered you. You found it cute, actually.
But this? This was different. He had never acted this way, which concerned you.
After you were done restocking the ambo you made your way to his office, hoping to ease the tension.
You sighed as you knocked, hearing a quick come-in before stepping inside. You noticed he had his head buried in paperwork, not even acknowledging you as you came in.
"Matt, honey, what's wrong?" You asked, worried when he still didn't look up at you. You waited for a moment before continuing once he didn't reply, "Baby talk to me."
He sighs before finally looking into your eyes. His ocean blues never failed to make you weak in the knees. So intimidating but beautiful nevertheless.
"I don't want to keep this a secret any longer." He eventually replied, motioning between the two of you.
"I don't want to either but you know we can't."
"Why can't we?" He said, tone a bit sharp, causing you to flinch for a second.
"Because-" you were cut off by a knock on Matt's door making you straighten up.
"Sorry to interrupt, but there's someone here to see you Y/N." Said Severide as he poked his head into Casey's office letting you know before heading out.
You quickly glance at Matt sighing before leaving his office, silently apologizing. You hated leaving mid conversation but this could be important. You noticed him trailing behind you as you walked out but chose not to comment on it.
Once you were outside, you recognized him as the man you had sent to Med earlier. The same man who had 'the hots' for you apparently, according to Brett.
This was going to be a long conversation.
"Hello!" He said, way too ecstatic for someone who had just been discharged from a hospital.
"Hi there, how are you feeling?" You asked, keeping the conversation polite.
"Better thanks to you, you saved my life."
"Oh, you know, no big deal! Just doing my job."
"Well, I was hoping to take you out on a date as a way of saying thank you." He said with confidence, catching you off guard.
"I'm very flattered sir but you don't need to thank me, let alone take me out on a date. I'm happy to help, love what I do." You say, hoping that gets rid of him.
By now, you were fully aware that most of the members of the firehouse were watching the interaction occur from behind you. Hence why you were aiming to wrap it up as soon as possible.
"No, no, I insist. We'll have a great time together!" He pushes.
"Like I said, thanks for the offer but I'm going to have to decline. Feel better." You say, turning around.
Before you had a chance to walk away, he grabbed your wrist harshly. Pulling you backward, making you lose your balance, and almost causing you to fall.
"Woah woah woah-" "Back off!" You hear the men hurriedly interject pushing him away from you before Matt yells, in a tone that sends shivers down your spine. "Get your hands off of my paramedic before I call the authorities. You have no right to touch her, especially after she said no."
Boden hears the commotion and steps out of his office. "What's going on over here?"
"This man put his hands on Y/N after she rejected him Chief. He was just leaving though weren't, you?" Matt replies, glaring at the man making him quickly walk away.
The second that he was out of sight, everyone turned to you. Stella speaks up, "Are you okay?"
"Don't worry guys, I'm fine." You say looking around at all of them, reassuring them that you're okay. "Thanks for the help. I'm sure he won't be coming back any time soon, especially after the way Casey glared at him." You add chuckling, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere around you.
"You'd almost think you guys were dating with the way he attacked him to defend you," Severide commented casually, using a tone that sounded like he knew something. Which you decided to ignore for the time being.
At the mention of your boyfriend though, you looked up hoping to catch a glimpse of him but noticed he was nowhere to be found which alarmed you.
As the crowd dispersed and engaged in their own conversations, you discreetly slipped away and made your way to visit Matt in his quarters, marking this as your second visit there in the last half hour.
This time though, you didn't even bother knocking and simply walked in.
When he noticed it was you, he quickly stood up concerned, “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“Oh, I'm alright. Don't worry, it was nothing I hadn't dealt with before in this line of duty, you know how men can be sometimes.” You answered, nonchalantly.
You both stayed quiet for a moment, not knowing what to say. Finally, you decided to break the silence, “I'm sorry, Matt. I don't want to argue with you, so if it'll make you happy, we can go tell them right now.”
He sighed, turning around in his chair to look at you, “Y/N, this isn't just up to me, we’re in this relationship together. We have to make decisions like these as a team. I love you and I want everyone to know that but if you're not taking this seriously and want to go on that date instead then-”
“No! This is serious to me Matt, I love you and you know that.” You cut him off before he's able to finish the sentence. “I have eyes for you and only you, no one else matters to me but you, Matthew Casey.” You add firmly, making sure he understands that.
“Then what’s the issue here?” He asks, tired of the constant back and forth you've been having today.
You sigh and sit down on the edge of his bed before replying, “I just- I've become so close to everyone here in the last few weeks and I don't want their opinion of me to change after they find out that you and I are together. I don't want them to think that I'm only here because of you.”
“Baby…” He says in a softer tone, getting out of his seat to come sit next to you.
You don't look at him once he's sat beside you, opting to look at the floor instead.
“Hey, look at me.” He gently says taking your hands in his, grabbing your attention.
You hum as you bring your eyes up to meet his.
When he's sure you're not going to look away, he starts speaking, “Listen to me, everyone here? They're the most amazing and supportive group of people you'll ever meet. They won't dare say anything of the sort because they'd be beyond happy for us. And if they slightly even think about it, I won't hesitate to go all ‘Captain’ on them.” He says, making you chuckle.
“Besides, I don't want idiots like that guy who can't take no for an answer, hurting you again for a nonexistent chance of taking you out.” He adds.
You lean forward, pressing your forehead against his, and after a moment passes, you mutter a simple, “Okay.”
“Okay?” Matt questions.
“Yeah, okay, let’s tell them.” You reply, nodding enthusiastically.
“I want everyone to know that this handsome man right here,” You say pointing at his chest with a teasing tone, “Is of the market and mine only.”
“Yeah?” He grins.
“Mhm,” You say with an even bigger smile, before leaning in to press your lips against his.
As your lips finally touch, a wave of stillness washes over you. It feels as though the entire world has come to a halt and all that exists is the shared connection between the two of you. At that moment, nothing else matters except for the feeling of his lips against yours.
His delicate hand caresses your face, making you smile into the kiss as you pull him in closer, wrapping your arms around his neck. There's no need to hide your love for each other anymore, allowing your affection for one another to be expressed freely without the fear of secrecy. The rush of emotion flowing through you is intoxicating and God, it is an exhilarating feeling, one that you had never felt before.
Before the kiss could progress any further, you heard cheering outside making you pull away. You glance out the window to understand what the fuss is about when you notice that the blinds were left open, meaning that all of 51 just saw you kissing Matt.
Your cheeks flush with warmth, causing you to bury your face in Matt's shoulder as he laughs at your reaction. He wraps his arm around you, pulling you closer in a tight embrace.
You look up at him, mouthing an ‘I love you,’
He whispers back, “I love you too.”
He quickly leans in for one more peck against your lips, before bracing himself for all the questions you're about to receive once you head outside.
“You guys were betting on us?” You asked amused, raising your eyebrows at the exchange of money happening right in front of your eyes.
“Well, what were we supposed to do!?” Cruz exclaimed defensively, earning a giggle from you.
“I mean, we all knew you guys were head over heels for each other, that was obvious. We just didn't realize you had been together prior to all of this.” Added Ritter, shrugging.
“I can speak for everyone though when I say that we are all very happy for you two.” Said Herrmann, making everyone nod in agreement.
As soon as the initial stage of shock died down, Stella and Sylvie rushed over to you, enveloping you in a group hug, requesting all the juicy details. While Kelly simply gave Matt a supportive pat on the back, smiling at his best friend.
Soon, the questions regarding your relationship began pouring in. Matt drew you closer, wrapping his arm around your waist as he answered each of them one by one. You rested your head on his shoulder, closing your eyes briefly, basking in the serenity.
And at last, you found yourself finally feeling at ease. Your family knew, and they were happy for you. Which is all you could ask for.
turnnoffyourmind
2087
romaincrisis
andulkaphoto
snowghoul
tangentwithtanner
