#brettonio

"You know," Gabby's tone was sly, her eyes sparkling and Matt knew he should brace himself for her next words, especially since he found his lap full of her petite body, her arms draped around his neck. Thankfully the blinds to his office were closed. He didn't need any grief from Severide about quickies at work and how he can't do the same with Kidd in his own office. "Sylvie and Antonio seem pretty steady," She observed, tracing the planes of his chest through his collared CFD shirt. 

Matt was happy for Gabby's brother, he really was. He had come to consider Antonio a friend and not just his fiance's brother and an ally with the CPD. That didn't mean he wanted to hear about his relationship with one of his co-workers.

He felt his body relax as Gabby began to press kisses, soft but full of heat, against his jaw and he knew she was buttering him up for whatever she was about to tell him. He, however, wasn't going to complain as his own hands sunk into her thick glossy chocolate hair to anchor her lips to his skin.

"I was thinking," She murmured, her voice breathless and warm, making him groan. "We all happen to have off the Wednesday before my parents' big bash on Saturday, sooooo what if we did something together? Like grab dinner, dessert and we could dance too? You need all the practice you can get before you walk into that ballroom full of at least a hundred or so Latinos and Latinas, baby,"

"Are you saying I can't dance?" He joked, stroking her soft cheek with his thumb. "That's not what I said. I said you need practice. There's a difference," She laughed, unable to keep a straight face. "Just for that I should put you on hose duty," He remarked. "But because I know I can't say no to you about anything, we can double date with your brother and Brett. I get to pick the restaurant, though."

"You drive a hard bargain, Lieutenant. Buuuuut I bet I can change your mind." 

A searing kiss was pressed to Matt's lips and then Gabby had thrown her shirt over her head, leaving her in a lace bra he definitely would have remembered. Suddenly picking the restaurant wasn't as important.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You and Sylvie, me and Matt at Lakeshore's Wednesday night at 7 don't be late big brother I know where you live

Antonio shook his head as he saw the incoming text from Gabby. Double dating with his younger sister was always interesting to say the least. She was very protective of him, despite being the younger sibling. It took her years to warm up to Laura who had confessed to him on numerous occasions throughout their marriage, she still wasn't sure if Gabby liked her. But he was just as culpable, unable to turn off his cops instincts, which led him to chasing off a few of Gabby's boyfriends.

This was different. He'd known Matt for years now. Hell, the guy came to him to ask for the family's permission to marry Gabby. He was good people. And it wasn't like Sylvie was a stranger. But he knew Gabby wanted to see them interact together, to see neither of them was jumping into something they weren't prepared for.

It was silly he was a grown man in his 40s with two teenagers, but Sylvie made him feel like he was as much of a teenager as Eva and Diego actually were. With Laura things had burned hot and fast, then settled into a typically suburban life once he made detective. He couldn't remember the women, girls really, before her except for Angel Ramirez who went to high school with Gabby and Deana Cruz who was his first everything. So dating was new to him, honestly, and Sylvie's infectious energy had worn off on him.

"You have a visitor, Rico Suave," Came Platt's dry tone, drawing him out of his thoughts. Sylvie jauntily waved from behind the austere sargeant, her blue eyes as bright as her smile. Seeing her familiar blinding smile, he couldn't stop his lips from curving into one of their own, even as Ruzek cat called and Atwater remarked, "Bow chicka wow wow,"

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Sylvie Brett," Antonio mused, drawing her lithe frame into his strong frame. "Keep it PG you're on city property," Platt's tone was droll as she rolled her eyes while the detective drew the medic in for a soft kiss.

"I probably should have called ahead or at least texted. I just realized I don't know exactly when you guys take a lunch or a break," She was sheepish, peering at him through her velvet lashes. "Whenever we can," Antonio was honest. "It's rare we go to lunch at the same time twice in the same month. Lucky for you I haven't taken mine yet." He winked and she flushed, showing him the familiar brown paper bag from Lucky's.

"Lucky's?" Jay groaned from his desk. "That is not fair. Hey," He called to Erin across the bullpen. "Why don't you ever bring me a sandwich from Lucky's. I would bring you one."

"You lie," Erin rolled her eyes. "You insist we go dutch over stakeout snacks because you're a cheapskate, Halstead."

"No, I insist we go dutch on stakeout snacks because I respect you as a woman, Erin Lindsay. You wouldn't want a man to pay your way and I'm honoring that. I'm a feminist."

Antonio soaked in Sylvie's warm bubbly laughter as he guided her into the little kitchenette while Jay and Erin continued their playful squabble as Ruzek and Atwater decided between Lou Malnati's or Weiner Circle for their lunch.

"Oh, wow," Sylvie murmured, suddenly hesitant as she went to open the bag. "I just realized I didn't even ask Gabby what your order is. I don't even know what you like or don't like on your sandwich. Jeez…"

"Hey," Antonio's voice was warm, his large hand covering Sylvie's slender one. "It's a sandwich, baby girl. It's really not that complicated. Also, lucky," He laughs at the pun. "For you, I'm not picky and Gabby wouldn't have told you the right number combo anyway, so you'd show up here with the wrong sandwich."

"That is a very Gabby thing to do," Sylvie agreed as she unwrapped her number one combo, tuna salad with original potato chips and coleslaw on the side. "I suck at pranks." She pouted briefly but brightened when Antonio bit into his own sandwich and said, "Italian beef is one of the best things about living in Chicago. So I don't know if Gabby mentioned it but apparently you and I are going on a double date with her and Matt on Wednesday at Lakeshore's at 7pm sharp."

"Oh," Sylvie murmured. "It'll be the most painless double date I've ever been on that included Gabriela," Antonio said, his warm smile making Sylvie relax. "I know Matt and she knows you. Also, I'll get to see you in a dress again. That last little number you wore… Wow."

Sylvie flushed prettily and they spoke intermittently while finishing up their lunch. A kiss they wished could have lingered was shared and it was back to doing what they did best; keeping the city of Chicago safe.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"We can always cancel," Matt offered, his blue eyes going dark and appreciative when Gabby emerged from their master bathroom in a gorgeous aquamarine colored dress with a high neckline and a slit that revealed a flash of her toned thigh. The silver heels she wore added a few inches to her petite frame and emphasized her legs, making Matt want nothing more than to keep her here in their bedroom.

"You're cute when you're trying to be funny," Gabby mused as she put her earrings in and made last minute adjustments. "If Brett looks half as good as you do, I'm sure Antonio wouldn't mind," Matt all but growled as he moved his hands over Gabby's curves. "Listen Lieutenant, you're playing with fire," Her voice was low and sultry.

"Oh, yeah? And what if that's exactly what I want to do?" He challenged.

"Matt," Gabby warned, her eyes narrowing while her hands anchored themselves to his broad shoulders. "Gabby," He murmured, bending to draw her perfect pout into a heated kiss.

"No, no, nope," Gabby pushed at Matt's firm chest and backed herself up against their dresser, putting space between them. "I literally threatened Tonio when I texted him that he better be at Lakeshore's with Sylvie or I would find him. We are going on this double date, Matthew, so keep your hands to yourself, mister."

"But what I want to do is more fun. Also, we have a free house tonight since Louie's staying with your parents," Matt threw out one last Hail Mary. "That is true, but you know what? We can have plenty of fun," Gabby's eyebrows waggled up and down as she smirked. "After we go on this double date because when we come back we'll still have a free house. And you can guarantee we'll have fun if you're a good boy."

"Now who's playing with fire, Gabby?" Matt groans and her beautiful face is nothing but triumphant as she adjusts his suit jacket so it sits properly on his broad shoulders and winks as she sways her hips back and forth when she leaves their bedroom. 

Matt is hot on her heels and as they leave, he tells her, "You better make this worth it, Gabriela Dawson."

Gabby shakes her head, mouth opening in mock offense, "You dare doubt my seduction prowess, Matthew Casey?"

"Never," He moaned as they kissed each other passionately before he put his truck in gear and made his way toward the restaurant.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh," Sylvie couldn't hide the obvious admiration in her voice as she opened her apartment's door to a handsomely dressed Antonio. Lakeshore's was a more upscale restaurant than she would have thought Gabby and Matt would want to go to but seeing the good looking detective in a suit made her send them a silent thank you for choosing the restaurant they did.

"I'll say," His gruff voice sent a shudder racing through her body, his eyes darker than their usual soft warm brown. Maaaaybe she could tell Gabby her tuna salad from Lucky's made her sick and they could reschedule?

"None of that," Antonio chuckled, drawing her against him. "As much as I'd love to stay and see what's under that very gorgeous dress, I am not facing Gabriela when she is on the warpath. You will be on your own."

"You wouldn't be my knight in shining armor and save me?" Sylvie drapes her arms around his neck and batted her lashes. "You know I would," He assured, the honesty punching her like a right hook she never saw coming but there was a warmth behind his vow that made her feel safe and wanted and she knew she would never get enough of that feeling.

"This is going to be great," He kissed the soft tip of her pert nose. "You have nothing to worry about, baby girl. It's Matt and Gabby." He reminded her and with a warm kiss to her lips, they were on their way to the restaurant.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gabby had never seen Antonio like this, not even when he was a teenager and wrapped around Deana Cruz's finger. His arm was slung over the back of Sylvie's chair and occasionally as she told a funny story about confusing parsnips for carrots on their first date, he would lean in and press his face into the slender column of her neck. Or when Gabby reminded her of the crazy call where they literally rescued a cat from a tree because neither of them could say no to their frequent flyer Mrs Marsden, he looked at her with such warmth and softness she wondered if he had been body snatched.

She knew her big brother was a softie behind his tough Chicago Cop image, but he had never been so… affectionate, she supplied taking a long slow sip of her wine. Not even with Laura.

Laura was a good wife and a good mother, Gabby would never say otherwise she just wasn't good at being a cop's wife. Especially after Antonio got shot in the fallout of Pulpo's release and how quickly he wanted to go back to work.

She didn't want to see him get hurt either, but Antonio would have gone nuts as a small town cop in Wisconsin. He would have come back to Chicago faster than Towes going through the neutral zone on a breakaway and they would have ended up exactly where they were now.

"Look at the time," Gabby wasn't being subtle at all and she knew it, but if she had to watch Antonio nuzzle - ewwww - Sylvie's nose again, she might throw up her very expensive steak. "Sylvie and I have to go, uh, powder our noses. You boys play nice," The pure confusion from her three dinner companions didn't deter Gabby as she stood up and practically dragged Sylvie to the bathroom with her.

"Don't puppy dog eye me, Brett. When you look at me like that, it's like looking at an injured baby bird and then I have no choice but to nurse your broken wing back to health."

"Sorry! It's just, um, I mean I know you like me but that's as an ambo partner, a coworker and a friend. But now your brother and I are dating and that's different…"

"If Antonio got shot again what would you do?"

Beating around the bush wasn't going to do either of them any good. Gabby had never hated Laura more than when she had abandoned Antonio and took Eva and Diego with her. He put on a brave face but she saw right through it. She didn't think anything could make her big brother who had been her rock her whole life crumble and then Laura took his kids away. She still remembered being in the hospital and seeing him holding tiny Eva in her pink blanket and how he vowed to make Chicago the safest city in the world just for her. Then he made the same vow to Diego five years later.

Laura had made her own vows and not in a maternity suite at Chicago Med, either but in a church in front of God and their families and she broke them.

Gabby wasn't going to watch Antonio be abandoned again.

She studied Sylvie's pretty features as every emotion played out across her face, settling into her big blue eyes that always gave her away. "I don't understand," She admitted softly and Gabby softened her stance as she took her friend's hand in her own. "I know this sounds like a test and I probably won't do a good job convincing you that it isn't," Gabby laughed. "But it's not a test. It's just… okay, so I know you know the basics about my big brother. How he was married, has two kids, is a good boxer yada yada. But did he tell you he's been shot three times on the job?"

The look on Sylvie's face said it all and to be fair that wasn't exactly - even with the jobs they had - a conversation for the first few dates.

"I'm not trying to scare you away. I promise. That's the last thing I want to do, actually. Obviously, this is all really new and there's a lot you're going to learn about Antonio. Like he drinks straight from the orange juice carton, if you leave an open bag of Oreos around just kiss it goodbye and do not let him make cafe` too much cream and sugar, he'll give you a cavity. You would think we were Cuban and not Dominican. But if it's black, it means he's working a rough case. Anyway," Gabby dismissed giving Sylvie's hand a gentle squeeze. "My point is, Laura - even though they were married for almost twenty years - wasn't cut out for being a cop's wife. The last time Antonio got shot, she didn't want him to go back to Intelligence. She wanted him to go out to Crystal Lake where her sister lives and be the Sheriff of Mayberry or whatever."

Sylvie frowned. Obviously there was a lot she was going to learn about Antonio and she couldn't wait to learn all the little things even the annoying ones Gabby mentioned but the big things, too. But from what she knew about him just being Gabby's brother, a small town cop - like the ones she knew in Fowlerton - he was not.

A cold shiver raced up her spine at the thought of him being hurt but the last thing she would want is him resenting her because she was being a worry wart.

Looking into Gabby's gentle brown eyes, she knew the only thing she could do was be honest. "I would be scared," Her voice was soft. "But I knew - even before we started this - that his job was dangerous, that there was the possibility he could get hurt. If he didn't put himself in harm's way, he wouldn't be as good at his job as he is. Just like we wouldn't be as good at ours. We go - all of us at 51 and everyone at the 21st - where everyone else is too afraid to go and if the mother of his children couldn't change that about him, how could I? And I wouldn't want to," Her cheeks flush. "The fact that he's so brave…"

"Okay," Gabby held up her hand. "That's my brother. I don't want to hear it. Tell me about how annoying it is when he criticizes how you fold your towels or shows you how your spice rack should be organized. Actually," Gabby laughs, eyes brightening. "He is going to die if you don't have any Sason` in your cabinet and complain how he can't work like this when he tries to make you breakfast and then he'll take you out. He can cook like five things, okay?"

Sylvie laughs as Gabby wraps an arm around her shoulders while they leave the bathroom together and she can't wait to tell her about all of her brother's annoying habits just like she can't wait to learn more about him as the months go on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Antonio couldn't stop himself from checking his watch. Gabby and Sylvie had been gone longer than they should have been. Her flimsy excuse was easy to see through and though he and Matt had become friendly over the years, they didn't exactly talk each other's ear off when they saw each other.

Taking a sip of his beer, he cleared his throat and asked, "Has Gabby made Louie sit through a Hawks game yet?"

Louie - his nephew, he had to remind himself because he still couldn't believe Gabriela would pull something like this, fostering - and adopting - a baby she rescued from a fire - was a safe subject. Next to sports he was the safest thing he and Matt could talk about while his sister grilled his date in the ladies' room.

When this whole thing started, Gabby wanting to foster Louie, Antonio figured she and Matt were on the same page about it and though they got there eventually he couldn't help but be wary of it. Children were a huge commitment and a kid who had already been through so much before turning three was a whole nother story.

But he was happy they found their footing and judging from the smile on Matt's face as he said, "He stayed up for the entire third period last night. Saw Kane's game winner and everything. Gabby couldn't have been prouder," things between them were going well and that's all he ever wanted; his baby sister to be happy, to have a family of her own.

"Oh, yeah? Well, spring training's right around the corner so you better make sure she has him rooting for the Cubbies too, aye? And the Bears when football season comes around. The Bulls, too. That's the best part of bein' a Dad, you know? They sit on your lap while you watch the game and talk nonsense and babble and try to grab at you while you're tryin' to watch the game. Diego was famous for that," Antonio laughed and Matt nodded. "Louie has really warmed up to me the past few days. I thought he'd always be Gabby's after everything," The Lieutenant admitted. "He asked me to read him his bedtime story the other night."

"That's great, Matt," Antonio's tone was genuine and Matt smiled just as he saw Gabby emerge from the ladies' room, Brett right behind her.

"Finally," Antonio groused, fixing Gabby with a pointed stare. "Another minute and Matt and I were gonna bang the door to the ladies' room down."

"You were not. We were gone, like, five - ten - minutes, tops. Anyway, who is ready for dessert?" Gabby asked as she sent a wink to Sylvie who gave her a grateful smile.

After the foursome split a piece of the restaurant's famous seven layer chocolate cake, they said their goodbyes before walking to their respective vehicles.

"This was really nice," Sylvie admitted as she hugged Gabby closely. "We have to do it again, but something less fancy. Oooh," Her blue eyes were bright as she suggested, "We could go to Navy Pier and play all the games! I threw a mean skee ball and I have knocked down many a milk bottle at the Fowlerton County Fair. Louie could come and maybe…" She looked over her shoulder at Antonio. "Eva and Diego would want to also?"

"The Pier's probably one of the few places they'd still want to be seen in public with me," Antonio joked, placing a soft kiss on Sylvie's head as he pulled her close. "If we do it on a weekend, I could swing it with Laura for sure. And they would love to meet their cousin and it's been to long since they've seen their Tia and Tio Mateo over there,"

"Shut up," Gabby giggled, punching Antonio's shoulder. "Also, you are so on, Brett. I kick ass at skee ball. I'm going to win Louie, one of those giant stuffed animals."

"Not if I win him one at water balloon darts," Matt teased Gabby as he reached to shake Antonio's hand. "When the details are ironed out just, uh, let us know and we'll be there. It'll be fun."

The Dawson siblings hugged and each pair headed to a different part of the city.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Matt unlocked the door to the apartment, Gabby's cell phone rang. Seeing her mom's phone number on the caller id, she couldn't stop the panic rushing through her. Was something wrong with Louie?

"Mom," She couldn't hide the breathlessness in her tone because Camille said, "Breathe mija Louie is fine. He was about to settle in and asked for Matt. He wants the same bedtime story Matt read to him the other day."

"Oh, really?" Gabby couldn't help the pride in her voice. It hadn't been easy for Matt to adjust to Louie, even the idea of him, but now they seemed to have found their footing. Her heart lifted from the thought of their son asking for him like he would have done for her at first.

"It's for you," Gabby mused, eyes sparkling as she handed a confused Matt her phone.

"Story please," Matt heard Louie's familiar small voice say and he had to smile. "Well, you said the magic word so I guess I have to tell you a story, huh big guy? Let me get settled and I'll pick out the book I read last time, okay?"

He and Gabby both changed and he put Louie on speaker as Gabby settled into his arms, her head on his chest. He kissed her softly and then told Louie, "Guess what, buddy? Your Mommy's here, too, so I hope it's okay that she gets to hear your story."

"Hi, Mommy," Matt felt an intense warmth go through him as Gabby's whole face lit up. Then Louie said something that made both of their hearts stutter. "Go ahead, Daddy. Tell the story," His impatience, a rare occurrence, was so cute and they laughed as Matt cleared his throat and began to read.

"Fi-fi-fo-fum," he started reading Jack and the Beanstalk. When he was finished, he kissed Gabby as passionately as ever, after they said goodnight to Louie. "He called me Daddy," The awe was unmistakable in his tone and Gabby returned his passionate kiss in kind. "I know," She was equally marveled. "We're Mommy and Daddy now." Her voice was soft and gentle.

"Yeah, we are." Matt confirmed, holding her close as they drifted off, both of them so content.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What did you and Gabby talk about in the ladies' room?" Antonio wasn't one to go fishing for information but this thing with Sylvie was so new and it was the first real thing he wanted to pursue since Laura walked out, so it all felt very fragile and precious.

Sylvie bit her lip as she fumbled with the hem of the CPD T-shirt Antonio was letting her borrow. It smelled just like him; warm like his cologne, clean like his aftershave and something spicy underneath. It's not like Gabby swore her to secrecy but everything was so new between her and Antonio, it was like they were in their own little bubble and she didn't want it to burst.

"Hey," His tone was warm as he lifted her chin. "You don't have to tell me. If you don't want to, tell me to back off and I will." He assured.

He was so hard to resist standing in front of her wearing just checkered pajama pants that sat low in the prominent grooves of his hips. Confronted with the sight of his tattoos and bare chest, she didn't know how she was controlling herself.

Along his ribcage she could see the scars from the gunshot wounds that had healed. Reaching out with ginger fingertips, she touched them and soon his large hand was covering hers, stopping her exploring.

"That was a rough time," He admitted. "The fallout of it all. The last thing I wanted to do was let that son of a bitch ever see a sliver of daylight that wasn't in a prison yard, but there was nothing I could do. Strings were pulled and a bigger fish was gonna fry. And, uh, I probably came back too soon after but all I ever wanted to be was a Chicago cop. Couldn't do that bein' Barney Fife in Crystal Lake."

"The first time," Sylvie blushed, the apples of her cheeks going red. "I didn't even notice. I was, ahem, busy with other things, apparently." Antonio chuckled as he shook his head and pulled her tight to his fit frame. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you, Antonio. This is all happening so fast and I'm feeling so much and I don't want to scare you away…"

"You couldn't. Nothing could. It's all new for me and comin' at me faster than I thought it would. We'll figure this all out together. It ain't always gonna be smooth sailin' like this, but us Dawsons don't turn tail when things get a little rocky."

"I know it won't. But I've never really felt like this before. You're different from Harrison and Cruz. You're someone I can see a future with, someone I want a future with."

"I want that same future, Sylvie Brett."

"Are you sure? Because the future I want involves a lot less clothes, but you look pretty tired, Detective…"

Sylvie couldn't finish her sentence as Antonio suddenly lifted her from her feet and tossed her onto his bed. She was breathless as he stripped her of his CPD T-shirt and his lips left her skin searing with heat as she begged for more.

It wouldn't always be like this, but they knew this - what was brewing so strongly between them already - was going to be worth fighting for.

They knew this was something real. More real than they expected but not unwelcome.