#matt casey

“Excuse me?”

Kelly turned at the sound of a voice behind him, finding a man standing awkwardly in the doorway. He had his arm in a sling and was holding a bunch of flowers in the other. “I’m looking for a paramedic that works here."

“Which one?” Kelly asked.

“Severide?”

“Oh, right,” Kelly said, nodding. “I’ll get her. Wait there.”

He left the man by the engines and headed inside. You weren’t in the kitchen, but Herrmann pointed out that there was only one other place you could possibly be if you weren’t there. Kelly headed through the bunk room, finding you curled up in your usual spot, napping on Matt’s bed while he did paperwork at the desk.

Rapping his knuckles on the doorframe, Kelly watched you shift beneath the blanket. “You got a visitor.”

"Matty, you got a visitor," you grumbled, still not appearing from your spot.

"No, uh, actually, they're looking for you," Kelly said.

You groaned, stretching out like a cat before flopping back down. “Tell ‘em I’m busy. Tell 'em I moved to England. Tell 'em to go away.”

Matt rolled his eyes. “Go.”

You huffed, swinging your legs over the edge of his bed. “Who is it?”

“Some guy,” Kelly said. “Came in looking for you.”

“A guy?” Matt asked, raising his eyebrows. He twisted in his chair to look at you. “Stepping out on me?”

“You caught me,” you said dryly. “My secret boyfriend is here. I've been exposed!”

Matt pressed a hand to his chest, wounded. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”

You rose from the bed, moving toward Matt and wrapping your arms around his shoulders from behind. Pressing a kiss to his cheek, you said, “You know I love you too much to do that, honey.”

“Better go see what this guy wants,” Matt said. “Want me to come with you?”

“I’m a big girl, Matthew.” You were halfway out the door with a giggle. “I can look after myself.”

Kelly, for Matt’s sake, said, “I’ll go with her.”

“Thanks.”

You headed out to where the engines were, smiling at the man politely as he saw you coming. Kelly was right on your heels, standing somewhat protectively behind you like some sort of overattentive guard dog.

“Uh, hi,” the man said. “I don’t know if you remember me, but-“

“I remember you,” you assured him. “How’s that arm healing up?”

“Doc says I should be out of the sling in a few weeks,” he replied. He held out the flowers. “I brought you these to say thank you. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t shown up.”

You and Sylvie had been helping victims of a multi-car pile-up a week or so ago and you’d been the one to help the man with his injuries. He’d been scraped and bruised, his shoulder dislocated after he had been forced to lunge out of the way of an oncoming car. Fortunately, his wounds were superficial, so you’d popped his shoulder back into place for him, patched him up and sent him on in an ambulance to get his shoulder checked out at Med. You’d thought that would be the end of it.

“I’m sure another paramedic would’ve helped you out,” you said, taking the flowers. “But thank you. These are beautiful.”

"How about you let me take you out for dinner tomorrow night?" he suggested. "As a thank you for saving my life."

You were about to tell him that a dislocated shoulder didn't exactly equate to you saving his life, but thought better of it. Instead, you forced another smile as Kelly bristled behind you.

"Thank you for the offer, but I was just doing my job," you said. "And it wouldn't be appropriate for us to have dinner together."

"Yeah," Kelly said. "These things happen, man. You fall in love with the person that saved you, but I promise it'll wear off after a while."

The man glanced at Kelly before his eyes flickered back to you. "I've been thinking about you all week. I don't think it's wearing off anytime soon."

Now you definitely felt uneasy. "I appreciate it, truly, but I'm going to have to say no."

"Oh, come on-"

"Look, man, she said-"

"Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, structure fire-"

"Saved by the bell," you breathed. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"Right, right," the man said, his expression melting back into that charming smile. Like the innocent flower, but the snake beneath unnerved you. "Duty calls."

You threw the flowers onto the Squad table before turning tail to run to the ambulance. Kelly grabbed you by the arm before you could disappear, wrenching you around to face him.

"Watch that guy," he warned. "I got a bad feeling."

"Me too," you replied. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Hey, Baby Severide, these just got dropped off for you."

Otis walked in with another flower arrangement in his hands. You'd been sitting with Matt in the kitchen, scrolling through real estate listings to try and find a new apartment. The one you shared now was fine, but the lease was almost up and you both agreed that maybe somewhere new would be fun. You both wanted something more permanent, so were looking to buy. A fixer-upper would keep Matt busy and give you something to do in your free time.

Lifting your head, you furrowed your eyebrows. "Any idea who they're from?"

"There's no note," Otis said, sliding the flowers onto the table. "Just got given 'em and told they're for you."

Matt eyed the flowers like they'd personally spited him. You said, "I take it these weren't from you?"

"You hate roses," he pointed out.

"True, I do," you said. "Give them to Herrmann. Tell him he can give them to Cindy."

Otis snorted. "Recycling, I see how it is."

"Cindy'll like them more than I do," you replied. "Or you can keep them. You a rose man, Otis?"

"Nah, I'm good," Otis said. "Anybody seen Herrmann?"

"Last I saw him, he was out by the trucks," Cruz replied. When Otis had gone, carting the stupidly large bouquet with him, Cruz turned to you and said, "Have you got a secret admirer we don't know about?"

"Probably that guy from the pile-up a few weeks ago," you said, slumping back in your seat. "He asked me to go to dinner and I said no. He's the only one I can think of."

You'd told Matt about the weird encounter with the man and he hadn't been best pleased about it. When Kelly backed you up and said that the man gave off a strange vibe, Matt's concern had only grown. You weren't entirely worried, but the flowers arriving had sent a flutter of unease through your stomach. This had happened before, to other people in your crew. Hell, Kelly even ended up dating one of the women who he saved, but this wasn't like that.

There was nobody in this world for you if they weren't Matt. You'd both been friends before drifting so casually into something more that it was hard to pinpoint exactly when it happened. One night you'd been eating dinner on his couch, then the next morning you'd woken up in his bed, wrapped in his arms and tangled in his sheets. Kelly hadn't even been mad about it, because there was nobody in the world he trusted more with his sister's life than Matt.

"If he comes around here again, I'll set him straight," Matt said, tugging you close enough to kiss your temple.

"Thanks, honey," you cooed. "My hero."

"Ambulance 61, person in distress-"

You sighed. "Duty calls."

"Be safe," Matt called after you, watching you rise from your seat and run for the ambulance.

"Always am!"

"So you think this guy sent the flowers?" Sylvie asked.

You shrugged, turning onto the street you needed to be on. "I don't know. Maybe? I got a bad feeling about him when he first showed up."

"But he hasn't shown up since?" Sylvie asked. "So maybe it's not as bad as you thought?"

"I don't know," you said again. "I hope I'm just being dramatic, but even Kelly said he didn't like the read he got on the guy."

Sylvie cringed. "Well, I'm sure if he shows up again then Matt will have plenty to say."

"I dread to think of it," you sighed, pulling the ambulance into an empty spot on the street. "Alright, let's go."

You and Sylvie grabbed your bags and ran up to the front door of the house you'd been sent to. Banging on the door, you shouted, "Paramedics! Anybody home?"

"In here!" came a distant reply.

You tried the handle and found the door locked. With a sigh, you handed your jump bag to Sylvie and said, "Stand back."

"What are you-?"

She broke off with a surprised gasp as you lined yourself up with the door, raised your foot and kicked it open. As the door banged against the wall, Sylvie gawked like she didn't recognise you.

"Where did you learn to do that?" she asked.

"I got Jay Halstead to teach me," you replied, taking your bag. "C'mon." You headed into the house. "Hello?"

"Through here!"

You walked through to the kitchen, finding a man sitting with his back to you. Even from behind, you recognised him, so when he turned to you there was no surprise in your expression. It was your secret admirer.

"Oh, thank God!" he exclaimed. "I was trying to prepare some vegetables for dinner and the knife slipped and, well, with the sling and all-"

You saw the blood coating the kitchen counter and the man's sleeve, soaking the towel he'd pressed over the wound.

"Okay, sir, I'm going to take a look," you said.

Sylvie was watching anxiously. She recognised the tells in your composure, the way your shoulders stiffened and your voice changed to a more professional tone. That only happened when you felt like you were in some sort of danger. She'd been your partner long enough to know how you reacted to certain situations and this made her feel uneasy.

"You say the knife slipped?" you asked. "Were you using your left hand?"

The one in the sling.

"No, it slipped out of my hand and when I went to grab it, it caught my arm."

"Right."

"Boy, am I glad they sent you," he said. "I was hoping they would." He grimaced as you removed the towel, revealing a bleeding wound on his arm that immediately sent up warning signs. "Did you get the flowers I sent you?"

"Oh, that was you?" you asked, voice hollow. "Yes, they were great. Thanks."

"Have you reconsidered my offer of dinner?" he asked.

"Sir, with all due respect, I'm trying to help you here," you said. "And no, I haven't reconsidered."

His expression turned stony, but he said nothing else and let you do your job.

By the time you and Sylvie were leaving his house, you were rattled and tossed your jump bag into the back of the ambulance carelessly.

"You okay?" Sylvie asked.

"He didn't slip with the knife," you said. "He did it to himself on purpose."

"Why would he do that?" Sylvie asked.

"I don't know," you replied. "And I don't want to know."

"Well, if it isn't my favourite bartender."

You rolled your eyes as Matt appeared at the bar, grinning at you from across the wooden countertop.

"You shameless flirt," you teased.

"Can I not appreciate the prettiest bartender in Molly's?" Matt asked.

"Don't let Herrmann hear you saying that," you replied.

Matt chuckled. "Of course, wouldn't want to damage his ego."

"The usual?" you asked.

"Yeah, please," Matt said. "And one for you. C'mon, take a break, come sit with me."

"I can't," you said, handing Matt his beer. "There's nobody else to watch the bar."

"Put Otis behind there," Matt suggested.

"Hm, no, last time I did that he dropped a glass in the ice tray," you said. "He's on time out."

Matt leaned his elbows on the bar. "C'mere then."

Giggling, you leaned over to kiss him. Matt reached a hand up, catching the back of your neck and keeping you close for longer than was acceptable for a public kiss before he let you go. Pulling away, you shook your head in mock disapproval.

"Matthew Casey, you are a terrible man," you said.

"Can you blame me?" he asked. "You look great tonight."

"I look great every night," you said.

"Well, yes, but I hardly think it's appropriate to say that you look great in nothing-"

"Matt!" you hissed, cheeks heating up as you looked around. "You're in public."

"Yeah, and I'm right here," Kelly grumbled from his spot at the bar, an empty stool all that separated him from you and Matt. "Let's keep it PG."

Matt grinned. "Sorry, man."

"Yeah, no you're not." Kelly looked at you. "What are you laughing at?"

"Sorry, sorry," you said, covering your mouth with your hand. "This is just super awkward. Oh, what's that? You're waiting? Be right there!"

You darted off towards the other end of the bar, leaving Matt and Kelly together. Matt slid onto the empty stool beside Kelly, rolling his beer bottle between his hands.

"You good?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah, just thinking about that guy," Matt said.

"Yeah, me too," Kelly replied.

The man had shown up at the firehouse again a few days ago, but fortunately you'd been out on a call with Sylvie. He'd left yet another bouquet of flowers, this time with a note that all but demanded you reconsider and let him take you out. Herrmann had sent him away with a reminder that you weren't interested in him and Matt had thrown out the flowers - roses again - before you got back. They'd all agreed not to tell you that the man had shown up, not wanting to worry you.

It worried Matt, though.

While there was nothing they could do because there was no evident threat to your safety, it didn't sit well with him that there was a man out there that was seemingly obsessed with you. Although he knew that you'd never look at another man, that wasn't the point and he felt like he couldn't do anything to protect you from this.

"Hey, if he shows up, we'll figure it out," Kelly assured him. "Although maybe he finally got the hint after Herrmann laid into him."

"I hope so," Matt muttered.

He looked over to you, laughing at the end of the bar with Herrmann and Otis. As though drawn to his gaze, you met Matt's eye and gave him that smile that was only reserved for him; the one that told him everything he needed to know without you having to say anything. I love you. That was enough for him and he returned the smile with one of his own.

I love you too.

"This guy will not get the hint." Herrmann eyed the man that walked into the firehouse. "I swear, I'm not one for violence but he needs to get knocked upside-"

"Hey, easy," you said, laying a hand on Herrmann's arm. "It'll be fine." Then you added as an afterthought, "Any idea where Matt is?"

"Nope," Herrmann replied, glancing around. "Hey, Otis! Go find Casey for me, will you?"

"Why?"

"Just do it!" Herrmann said. "Tell him the flower guy is here again."

The man approached you and Herrmann, eyes shifting between the two of you. Herrmann had moved to stand just in front of you, his shoulder acting as a barricade that kept you well out of reaching distance.

"Can we help you with something?" he asked.

"You can't, no," the man said, eyes moving to you. "But you can. Look, I'm not in a sling anymore and the cut on my arm has healed nicely."

You forced a smile. "I can see that. That's great. Can we help you?"

"I was hoping now that I'm fully healed that you'd consider rethinking my offer of dinner," the man said. "I'd really like to take you out and I think we'd have a really great time-"

"I'm still not interested," you said. "Please hear me when I say that I think you're a nice guy, but I'm just not interested in you."

"But you saved my life," he said. "I have to return the favour."

"I was doing my job," you replied. "I save people's lives all the time."

Herrmann was tense beside you, watching the man's every move like a hawk. "Look, man, I think you should go and not come back-"

"I'm not leaving until you agree to go out with me," the man said. "One dinner is all I ask. I sent you flowers-"

"She doesn't even like roses!" snapped a voice from behind you. There was a hand on your back then, a familiar presence as Matt slipped into the empty space beside you. "You keep sending roses. She doesn't like them."

"Well, if she'd agreed on dinner, she could've told me-"

"She said she didn't want to go out with you," Matt said sharply. "Can you not get the hint that she's not interested?"

"What, are you her bodyguard or something?" the man asked.

"I'm her husband."

If you weren't so skilled at keeping your expression neutral, you would have looked surprised. Herrmann, it seemed, wasn't quite as prepared as you and his eyes widened.

The man glowered at you. "You're married?"

You shrugged. "Yeah."

"You could've just told me that," he said.

"Why should she have to?" Matt asked. "You should have respected her enough to accept that she wasn't interested without her having to mention her relationship for you to get the memo. I wasn't going to say anything, but you've pissed me off. If you don't leave now, I will be getting the police involved."

The man looked at you in disbelief. "You could have just told me."

"Again, why should she have you?" Matt asked. "You don't respect a woman saying no simply because she doesn't like you? She has to have a partner for you to finally back off? You do this with a lot of women?"

The man clenched his fists at his sides but said nothing. Without another word, he stormed out of the firehouse and Herrmann called after him, "She'd have eaten you alive, son!"

Snorting with laughter at Herrmann's parting blow, you turned to Matt as he tightened his arm around your waist. "Thank you."

"Sorry if you wanted to handle that yourself," he said. "I couldn't just stand by and watch."

You rose onto your toes and kissed Matt, ignoring the way Herrmann groaned in disgust behind you. When you pulled away, you said, "I don't mind having you in my corner."

"Always," Matt replied. "Although you should probably go and tell your brother that we dealt with it. Otis and Cruz are distracting him right now."

"Jesus Christ," you grumbled, reluctantly leaving Matt's embrace. You got a few steps away before turning back and running at him. Colliding with his body, he was prepared for you and caught you in his arms as you kissed him once again.

This time, you laughed against his lips as Herrmann said, "My God! You guys are gross! Take it somewhere else!"

When Matt finally put you down, his cheeks were flushed and his lips were swollen. "What was that for?"

"I just love you," you replied.

Kelly Severide being the legal guardian to his teenage sister had its pros and cons for sure. The pros were certainly that the two of them were incredibly close and could always count on one another; Kelly also counted it a blessing knowing that while Y/n wouldn’t grow up with a mother and father, she didn’t have to experience the pain of abandonment as he did. One con, according to Y/n at least, was her brother didn’t have a ton of privacy when it came to his…social life. And being a firefighter definitely made time a difficult thing. But Kelly wouldn’t change their situation for the world. Even when his sister was being a little shit.

Like today.

Now, Kelly wouldn’t lie - he had been extra busy recently. And time spent with his darling younger sister was scarce. So perhaps that was the reason he noticed Y/n was being a little mischievous around the firehouse that day. Whatever the reason, Kelly was finding himself close to the end of his rope. First, he got quite a rude awakening when his alarm went off early and he didn’t even notice until he looked outside and saw it was still dark when he was going to head out to his car. Next was salt in his coffee. And many other little things that Y/n knew would annoy her brother.

After a few calls that day, the team finally had a decent enough break that allowed them to relax in the common area and watch a game on TV. Everyone was scattered around the room in different seats, Y/n and Kelly sitting together on the couch.

Kelly stood and stretched before starting to walk off. “Gonna take a leak.”

“I’ll alert the press,” Y/n said, earning an eye-roll from her brother. 

Once Kelly was out of sight, Y/n smirked and stretched herself across the couch to take up the whole space. Some of the others chuckled or rolled their eyes.

“Y/n, I think you should be careful. Don’t you think your brother’s had enough today?” Gabby chuckled. She was more-so worried for the girl than the hot-headed lieutenant.

“He’ll get over it,” Y/n replied a little too easily.

“I’ll get over what?” Kelly’s voice said from behind Y/n. She rolled onto her back and looked up at her big brother glaring at her. “You stealing my spot that I’ve been in for the last hour?”

Y/n shrugged. “Move your feet, lose your seat.”

Kelly walked around to the front of the couch. “Move.”

“Make me.”

Y/n regretted those words as soon as they came out of her mouth. Even more when Kelly smirked deviously. 

Kelly sat on the couch, barely avoiding sitting on his sister as she had just enough time to turn over and press her back to the back of the couch. 

“Ah! Kelly!” she yelped, but couldn’t suppress the grin on her face. Kelly immediately smiled at the giggles that filled the room; even when his sister started shoving him to try and get him off. “Ok, ok, I’ll move!”

Kelly thought for a moment and did consider moving, but Y/n’s playful attitude today seemed to have rubbed off on him. “Actually, you know what? You’re in the perfect position.”

Y/n stopped struggling and huffed. “For what? For you to crush me?”

“No; to demonstrate some carries. Mills! Wanna see a demonstration?”

Peter Mills was in the kitchen watching the scene unfold as he chopped some vegetables that were to be used for breakfast the next morning. He smirked. He and Kelly both knew that he didn’t need any refreshers on fireman carries - but he was more than willing to play along.

“Of course, Lieutenant. From there you can do a hip carry, right?”

“Exactly. Very good.” Kelly put his arms behind him, hooking one around Y/n’s upper back and the other around her knees.

“Kelly! Kelly! Don’t!”

Kelly stood up, leaning forward, and smirking deeper at his sister’s screech as she laid around his lower back/hips. “Now, this is effective for situations where a victim is laying on a surface like a couch or bed; easy to scoop them up, but it’s a bit of an awkward hold when you’re moving, especially if you gotta run. It is also good, though, for annoying little sisters who don’t know when to quit,” he continued, using one hand to lightly tickle the top of one of her knees that his arm was hooked around, making her screech and jerk in his arms. Kelly chuckled and dropped her legs so she could stand.

Y/n huffed and shoved his shoulder. “Funny. Are you done now?”

“Oh, not even close.”

The teen held a hand out, as if it would keep her older brother at bay. He ran forward and ducked a bit, positioning his shoulder near her stomach, and grabbed around her legs again, throwing her over his shoulder so she hung limp. “Kelly!”

“Over the shoulder is a basic one,” Kelly said in an informative tone, adding to Y/n’s frustration. “Typically they still have to be conscious for it, otherwise it’s a bit hard to maneuver. It does free up a hand though, in case you need it.” Kelly reached his hand up to tweak her sides a few times, filling the room with laughter again.

No one made a move to help the girl. This definitely was nothing new. But it was something welcome to brighten everyone’s day. Mouch smiled fondly from his seat on one of the chairs as he kept his eyes on the TV; Cruz and Otis chuckled from their spots; Herrmann watched with a fond smile as well, hoping that his kids someday would share the same kind of bond Kelly and Y/n had.

“You can also do the classic fireman’s carry,” Kelly continued, reaching to grab one of his sister's arms and pull it over his other shoulder. “Slightly harder grip so you gotta make sure you don’t accidentally drop them.” The lieutenant accentuated the word by pretending to lighten his grip on Y/n, making her shriek and grab his middle with her free arm.

“Severide! Don’t forget about having multiple carriers,” Matt offered from the other side of the room with his own smirk. Having Y/n grow up in the firehouse, it was hard for Kelly’s best friend to not grow fond of Y/n. She was like a little sister to him too. Which for Y/n definitely had its charms when she needed another brother figure - but it also had drawbacks when he messed with her like Kelly.

Kelly smirked devilishly at his friend. “Oh yeah! Like an extremity carry!”

Casey jogged over and helped Kelly maneuver the struggling teen so he held under her arms while Kelly held her legs.

“One of the best techniques ‘cause you don’t have to bear the weight alone,” Kelly continued with his ‘lesson.’

“Also makes it easy to swing them around,” Matt added, prompting the two of them to swing Y/n back and forth by her limbs, giggles tumbling out of her like a child.

“Stop! Stop! I get it! Now let me go!” she screeched.

Matt and Kelly looked at each other and shrugged. “Ok,” they said simultaneously. They took a couple steps and not-so-gracefully threw her onto the couch, earning one last yelp. Breathless from her own laughter, she hid her face in her hands in embarrassment as she collected herself. The men chuckled.

“You done causing trouble now?” Kelly said, amusement obvious in his voice. He poked her once when she didn’t respond.

“Ah! Yes, yes, I’m done, I swear,” she said, curling in on herself.

“Good,” Kelly said, taking a seat next to her, bringing her to rest her head on his lap. Matt sat on the other end of the couch, putting Y/n’s legs over his and rubbing her back a couple times.

You could only imagine being Matt and coming home to this sight.

You were seated in the middle of the living room in the apartment you shared with Matt, surrounded by yarn, bits of fluff stuck in your hair, sheets of sketched designs strewn across the floor.

You could feel the panic rise even more as you took in the look on Matt’s face. Especially since you couldn’t read his emotions as the anxiety clouded your brain.

“Matt, I…” 

You couldn’t continue as you felt your chest tighten just a little, the anxiety and panic clawing its way to the surface and rearing its ugly head at you. 

This had all started with Amy.

Amy.

She was a friend you’d known for almost your entire life. You’d laughed together, cried together, dreamed about the future together and talked about those dreams. Along the way, you both had stumbled, you saw less of each other, and Amy reached out less, sometimes forgetting to respond to your messages. Despite what everyone told you, you convinced yourself that it was just how life was and you made excuses for Amy’s growing absence in your life.

Then, she’d reached out to tell you she was getting married.

You felt the excitement first, remembering it like it was yesterday, how you had both talked excitedly about how you would be each other’s bridesmaids. It wasn’t a conscious memory, but it was like your brain had pulled it up, triggered by the words Amy was saying.

You didn’t even feel any apprehension when she asked if you would make the flowers for the bridesmaids. You weren’t too confident because crocheted flowers weren’t really your thing. In fact, you’d only tried it out once. So you’d told Amy you’d give it a shot, make a prototype and see how it went.

You could tell Matt hadn’t been thrilled with the idea but he didn’t say much, only offering opinions when you asked for them and keeping most of his comments focused on the task rather than Amy. Yet, you knew he was holding back. You knew Matt didn’t feel great about Amy, mainly because of the things he’d witnessed, in particular, the way she blew back into your life when it was convenient for her.

But things had been going downhill ever since you’d made the first prototype. She kept changing what she wanted, and even you were getting a little frustrated, mixed with a desire not to disappoint her.

So, having Matt stand there with a surprised look on his face in the middle of an extremely messed up living room only added to your current panic.

You felt your breath quicken and very soon, Matt’s figure was clouded by the tears you didn’t realize had pooled behind your eyes.

Without saying anything, Matt dropped whatever was in his arms, heading straight for you and folding you nice and tight into his arms. 

“Y/N, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Matt whispered quietly, and you felt the rumble of his chest before your breathing slowly evened out once again.

Matt didn’t move immediately, but his fingers brushed off the residual tears that were rolling down your cheeks.

“Sorry, I don’t…” 

Matt just tightened his arms a little and pressed a kiss firmly to the top of your head.

“Sorry,” You mumbled, scrubbing off the remnants of tears on your cheeks before glancing up at him.

Matt shook his head and leaned down for another kiss and you leaned into his embrace, temporarily forgetting about the mess in the living room.

By the time you woke up the next morning, there was barely a trace of the mess last night. The yarn was back in the boxes you had in the corner of the room and the half done flowers were laid out neatly on the kitchen counter.

No one else would have guessed what had happened the night before. 

Matt was almost on his way out, draining the last sip of his coffee and smiling as you walked into the kitchen.

He didn’t ask but just studied your face for a little longer than usual.

You smiled back at him and nodded. “Go on, I’m fine.” You assured him, even though you stepped toward him and nuzzled your face into his shoulder.

Matt pressed you lightly against him and pressed a kiss to your temple.

“You know where to find me if you need me.” Matt whispered gently into your ear.

You smiled into his shoulder with a small nod before both of you pulled away and you let Matt go before he was late for shift.

Even as the door closed behind Matt, you felt it rear to the surface. This time, the feeling was different. It wasn’t even residual anxiety from the night before. You couldn’t put your finger on it but it was bugging you.

Deciding that it might be good to have a change of pace, you grabbed the materials you needed, slung the tote bag over your shoulders and left the house, figuring you’d find a nice cafe to work out of.

So you did and you had been right. A change of environment had done wonders for you and you finally had a final prototype for the new flower idea Amy had had.

You snapped a photo and sent it to Amy, quoting as reasonable a price you could for the materials and stitches. You even gave her what she called a ‘friend discount’. 

But for someone who sometimes took days to respond to you, her response was quick now.

It’s a little out of my budget.

Thereafter, she proceeded to give you a price she was willing to pay that was such a lowball, you almost dropped your phone.

It took you a moment and another few breaths to register that feeling bubbling up in your chest now. You recognised it as a more intense version of what you had been feeling that morning. Now, you could indeed put your finger on it - Disappointment.

It was disappointment that raged within you. Especially when you’d always treated Amy like a sister.

You felt it swell as you thought about the effort you’d put in all these years, even just the effort in designing flowers she would want for her wedding, and then you remembered the many times she’d blown you off, and when she’d been dating that toxic ex of hers and had cut you out of her life for more than a year until the break up.

Resisting the urge to send her a scathing reply, you stuffed the rest of your belongings into your bag and headed out the cafe, only realizing where your legs had taken you when you looked up at the firehouse in front of you.

The trucks were all parked which meant everyone was around. 

Now that you were here, you had second thoughts and you were about to retreat, thinking you’d talk to Matt during breakfast the next day when you heard an all too familiar voice call out to you.

“Y/N?”

Of course today would be the day Kelly came to get something out of his car.

“Hey, Kelly.” You greeted back, your voice sounding weird even to you.

Kelly either didn’t notice or chose not to mention it. He just smiled and nodded. “Come on, Casey’s in his office.”

You didn’t protest, letting Kelly lead you in as if it was your first time visiting the firehouse.

Everyone called out toward you with smiles and you waved back at them as you made your way through the common room and toward Matt’s office.

“Look who I found,” Kelly called with a casual rap at Matt’s door.

Matt sat up, glancing at you before smiling. “Thanks, Sev.”

Kelly winked, more at you than him, before leaving the both of you alone.

Matt got up to close his door and glanced at you. “Everything okay?”

After all, you rarely came to the firehouse without a call beforehand. Usually, you were worried about being in the way so you only came to bring them some food, especially when you’d heard it was a difficult shift.

You nodded. “Nothing big, I just…”

You held back a heavy sigh and just handed him your phone.

Matt’s eyes moved across your phone screen as he read the message and you could see the slight darkening of his expression, even though he was trying to keep it under control.

Matt looked back up at you and handed your phone back to you. “So what are you thinking?” Matt asked.

You shouldn’t have been shocked by Matthew Casey’s complete focus on your feelings, but you couldn’t help the little jolt of warmth that still filled you even though you and Matt had been dating for a long while.

You shrugged and Matt gave you a look, which just made you smile.

“Fine, I’m annoyed. It’s like every single moment with her has been flashing in my head since I got that message and the annoyance has been piling. That’s why I haven’t responded.”

“Go for it, babe.” Matt said, matter of factly.

You glanced at him with half a smile.

“You deserve to be treated with respect and I think it’s high time someone told her. And if you don’t want to do it, I’d be happy to.” Matt said, his voice laced with a subtle protectiveness.

You pulled him toward you, just so you can lay your head against him and smiled. “Thank you.”

The conversation had gone about as you’d expected. 

You tried your best to keep your side as light as possible while remaining firm, and ultimately, the decision had been for you to try to do little flower wristlets for Amy’s flower girls, instead of a large order of flowers.

You weren’t too thrilled to do it anymore, but a part of you felt obliged to, so you’d agreed.

It was only two days later that you had run into Amy when Matt had taken you out for dinner.

“Hey, I…” You greeted her even from a distance, trying to keep things as normal as possible.

But you didn’t miss the look on her face as she turned away, as if she was pretending not to see you.

Instinctively, you glanced up at Matt, your expression one of disbelief.

Matt just squeezed your hand but you could see the strain lines on his face which were a clear telltale sign he was using all his effort to hold back.

Matt was trying to reassure you, but the only thing you felt now was anger.

There was no more second-guessing on your part about whether you had been too harsh or too mean. You knew the answer. 

You were about to open a small side business for your crochet. All your friends, including Amy, knew that.

In fact, anyone who tried to ask you to make something for them had always offered you more than what you quoted, reminding you that friends didn’t take each other for a ride.

Amy was the exact opposite and what really grinded at you was the fact that she thought she was well within her rights to be angry at you.

You were a little confused but the anger had swallowed it all up.

“You want to go elsewhere?” Matt offered.

You glanced up at him.

If this had been anyone else, it might have made you avoid the situation altogether. But right now, the indignant feeling had turned into anger.

“Why should we? You put in so much effort into trying to get a reservation here. Let’s just have a good dinner.” You answered.

 This felt like a huge breakthrough moment for you, even Matt felt it - you could do anything you had set your mind to. 

You sat down with Matt in a corner of the restaurant, pretty sure that Matt had used one of his superpowers to get the both of you a great table and you turned your back on Amy, focusing all your energy and attention on the one person who was worth it.

Once the appetisers were served, you’d thrown Amy to the back of your mind, sinking into Matt’s company and enjoying the date night that both of you deserved. 

It was just as the both of you had stepped out after paying the bill when someone grabbed your arm. 

“Food’s great here, isn’t it?”

You blinked back in disbelief at Amy, who was smiling as if nothing had happened.  

It would have been much better if you hadn’t met her in front of the restaurant earlier. Now, you were just wondering what the hell she was doing.

Matt didn’t say anything, just stood by your side and waited.

“What are you doing?” You asked, unable to hold it back any longer. There was a slight tremor in your voice that no one but Matt picked up on. 

The saddest part was Amy used to be able to. Now, she just didn’t care.

That realization hit you hard but also allowed you to look her straight in the eye.

Frustratingly, Amy was staring at you as if she was confused by your question.

When you didn’t offer her any explanation, she swallowed and spoke, “Come on, Y/N. I told you I was on a budget. You’re my friend, I didn’t expect you to try and profit off my wedding.”

You glanced up at Matt just a little and he merely nodded in encouragement.

“Profit? Amy, you agreed to pay! You are literally the only person that has lowballed me for anything crochet related. I’m not even asking you to pay me for the prototypes or the materials used for it. Have you looked up the prices online? I’m profiting nothing.” You paused and looked her directly in the eye. “Look, I think this isn’t a good idea. “

“What are you saying? You don’t want to talk about it?” Amy asked, and you could hear the tone in her voice change slightly.

You sighed. “I’m saying I don’t think I can make anything for your wedding, or be your bridesmaid. I’ve said everything that needs to be said.”

“Y/N, you… What am I supposed to tell my family?”

You couldn’t hold back the chuckle that escaped your lips. You shouldn’t have expected anything else but the fact that she was more worried about having to explain what had happened to her family members who had always treated you as one of their own, spoke volumes.

“You can tell them what happened, Amy. Just remember that if anyone calls me, I’m telling the truth.”

Matt smiled and slung an arm around you, turning to lead you away before he paused.

He glanced back at Amy before he spoke, “She cared. She really cared and you threw it back in her face. She deserves someone who treats her as a friend.”

You tugged at Matt’s arm and Matt sighed before taking you away with him.

The journey home had been pretty silent and Matt only broke it as he closed the door behind the both of you and hung both your jackets by the door.

“You okay?”

You glanced up at him and nodded before you pulled back again and shrugged. “Kind of, you know? I’m upset but like it also feels lighter? If that makes sense.”

“It just has to make sense to you. The only thing important to me is how you are feeling right now.”

You stepped into Matt’s embrace and smiled against him. 

“With you? Matthew Casey, I’m on top of the freaking world.”

Matt smiled, leaning back enough to take a look at you before pressing his lips gently to yours in a deep kiss.

THANK YOU FOR READING!! PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THIS!!

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“Thanks Gabby. I’ll ride back to the house with Matt.” I called over my shoulder getting out of the passenger seat of our ambulance truck. She waved bye to me as I quickly went inside the school. Moving down the hallway I found my brother's older son Griffin sitting outside the principal's office. Putting a hand on my hip I shook my head at him asking. “Is Casey already talking with him?”

“Yes, aunt Y/n.” Griffin nodded before I opened the door and shut it behind me seeing Matt was already talking with their principal and hadn’t noticed I was there just yet.

“Believe me, Griffin and I are gonna have a long talk the minute I get off shift. This won’t happen again.”

The principal sighed heavily sitting at his desk. “I have to say, Matt. This whole childcare situation doesn’t exactly instill me with confidence.”

“We’re making the best of it.” Matt told the principal simply.

“And who exactly is we? If you don’t mind me asking?”

Waving to the pair I finally introduced my presence in the office, walking up to the principal I shook his hand sitting down beside my boyfriend. “I guess it’s time I introduce myself, I’m Y/n, Y/n Darden. Ben and Griffin are my nephews. My brother Andy was also best friends with Matt here, that’s why we were both asked to take care of them by their mother Heather.”

“And how exactly do you know Mr. Casey?” The principal shifted his gaze between the two of us.

Gently looping my fingers through Matt’s I responded knowing this all is a bit much, especially considering we aren’t even married yet. “He’s my boyfriend. And as I said a minute ago my sister in law Heather asked both of us to watch out for them until she gets out.”

“Well it’s good to know that neither of you is having to raise these two young boys by yourself.” The principal nodded and thankfully he let us take the boys home after that. Matt and I had called into our captain and let him know we weren’t going to be able to finish out our shifts tonight but that we would them up another time.

Once we all had finished eating dinner I sent the boys off to get ready for bed. Matt was cleaning up the kitchen while I went to check on the boys, finding that Ben was asleep but Griffin was still awake so I whispered into the room getting his attention. “Can’t sleep, buddy?”

“I miss my parents.” He sniffed beginning to let some tears fall down his face.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed I gently ran a hand down his back knowing it always made me feel better when my brother would do it when I was upset. “Yeah. I miss your father too, Griff. I’m going to tell you something that most people say but when I say it you should know that it’s the truth.”

“What’s that, Aunt Y/n?” Griffin asked me, looking up at me.

Tracing patterns on his back I sniffed back some tears that were appearing in the corner of my eyes when I began explaining to him. “The same pain that you feel about missing your father I feel it too. I lost my brother. A lot of people will try to understand or claim that they know what you’re going through and some do and then some don’t. But I can tell you right for certain that I understand 100% what you are feeling when it comes to missing your father.”

“Thank you, Y/n.” Griffin spun around and flung his arms around my neck, crying some happy tears.

Wrapping my arms around his waist I kissed his forehead gently holding him tightly against my body until I smelled the fabric of his shirt suddenly feeling sick to my stomach for some reason. “You’re welcome - urgh!” Separating myself from the kid I dropped down on my knees grabbing his trash can in the corner and puking the dinner that I had eaten.

Griffin jumped down from his bed running over to me with concern. “Aunt Y/n, are you okay?”

“Uh - I guess dinner isn’t setting right for me.” Wiping my hand across my mouth I cleared my throat, sending my nephew a weak smile. “I’m alright. You don’t need to worry. Now get some sleep, you’ve got school tomorrow.”

He nodded going back over to his bed and climbed underneath the covers. “Goodnight Aunt Y/n.”

Leaving the two boys' bedrooms I entered my shared bedroom with Matt going directly to the bathroom. Rummaging around in the cabinet until I found a box of pregnancy tests I had recently bought at the store. Locking the door I sat on the toilet peeing on the stick and waited for the results, hearing a knock on the other side followed by my boyfriend’s voice. “Y/n, Y/n, are you okay. Griffin told me you got sick a few minutes ago in his room.”

“Give me a minute, Matt.” I called back to him, reading the time on my phone and seeing the test should be ready. Slowly opening the bathroom door I found my boyfriend leaning in the doorway until he saw me holding a pregnancy test in my hands. “There’s something I gotta tell you. I know that you’ve always talked about having kids and I know we haven’t really been trying but it’s -“

“You’re pregnant.” A huge grin crossed Matt’s face, stopping me from finishing my sentence, scooping me up into his arms and connecting our lips in a passionate and slow kiss.

Matt signaled me to jump and I wrapped my arms around his waist still holding the test in one hand. He walked me over to the bed and I tossed the test onto the bedside table. We fell down onto the mattress finally breaking the kissing to catch our breath. “So you’re happy, Mathew?” I giggled watching him begin to remove his shirt and I shrugged my own over my head throwing it somewhere onto the floor.

“Hell yeah I’m happy.” He chuckled, nuzzling his nose with mine, helping me remove my clothes and I did the same thing to him until he was hovering over me completely naked. He scanned my face more so asking about me having his kid then having sex. “Are you okay with all this? I know your nephews are enough of a handle right now.”

“We’re first responders, Matt. Having a baby has to be easier than the things we face on a daily basis.” Laughing playfully I wrapped my arms around his neck drawing him in for a kiss. He slowly slid his body into mine and the maitress began squeaking underneath our movements.

Matt bent his head down leaving kisses down my neck until he reached the crook of my neck, I moaned instantly when he kept kissing that particular spot. “I love you, Y/n - you’re gonna be a mama.”

Grabbing the sides of his face I pressed his forehead against my own. “Love you too. You’re going to be a daddy, Matt Casey.”

Within the first few days of being in that city he runs into his ex, another paramedic he used to be engaged to. He curses the fucking universe because his fate seems to be entwined with women who don’t want him. He expects the whole thing to be torture but honestly it isn’t. He comes to understand that him and Cici, they weren’t really meant to be together. They were just a stepping stone to each other’s happiness. A relationship that had to happen to get to the real deal.

For her it’s an Emergency Room attending by the name of John Shen.

For him… It’s a trauma surgeon; he watched amputate a man’s arm during a building collapse.

He wishes he could say it wasn’t love at first sight but seeing the way you calmed that man, reasoned with him, soothed him before undertaking the surgery beneath thousands of pounds of rubble that could collapse at any second, it certainly played into a competency kink.

The adrenaline’s still coursing through his system when he hits the bar that night. It’s still in you too, he can see it in your eyes when he offers to buy you a drink. It only takes one before he’s fucking you in the bathroom, his jeans by his ankles as he takes you against the wall of the cubical. You come with his name on your lips, leaving scratch marks up his back and teeth impressions in his shoulder. He walks back into that bar a changed man and for the next four months he’s happy, tangled up in your sheets the nights he’s not on shift, rediscovering Pittsburgh with his fingers threaded through yours.

And then his contract runs out.

They refuse to let him extend it because the officer shortage is over, and he’s forced to return to Chicago, to his old life, his old firehouse.

“You didn’t make me any promises.” You’d said, letting him off the hook. “We both knew this wasn’t going to be forever.”

But Matt, he really wanted it to be, and he suspects maybe you did too.

He returns to Chicago the same way he left it, with a heart so heavy it feels like a constant weight in his chest.

It’s three months later that he’s called out to a train derailment. It’s bad, really fucking bad, they’re talking mass causality event, all hands-on deck, trauma doctors in the field kind of shit. He catches a flash of colour; hair being pulled back a bun before arms slip into a Chicago FD turnout coat and he can’t believe his eyes.

“Bobbi?” He whispers as you turn around to face him and there you are standing before him, the black Gaffney scrubs contrasting against the turnout coat. “It looks like we’ve got some stuff to talk about.”

“We do.” You agree before gesturing at the twisted metal carriage bellowing smoke out behind him. “But let’s take care of this first, then maybe we can get a drink.”

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