Yeah… Yeah, I know. Another story? Don't ask why because I don't know, I just can't help myself. Honestly I wasn't expecting to write anything working off of the finale, but I'm a mess and Dawsey has me by the throat, okay?

Ever since that fall finale (which went way better than I could've ever expected, by the way, don't get me started because I will never shut up about it… like Jesse and Monica and their chemistry absolutely killed me okay let me quit before I rant about it forever), I haven't been able to get this out of my head. I have no idea how long it's gonna be (I'd say not very long, but we know my track record). But there's a few certain ideas that I can't stop thinking of, and quite frankly they're just distracting me at this point, so I decided to sit and write them out, and we'll see where it goes.

Obviously, there's no way for us to know how Dawsey's hook-up will affect things on the show; it could change everything, or it could never be mentioned again. Honestly, knowing Derek, it could go either way, but this is my take on what I wish/want to happen (obviously, it's not possible without Monica, but let me dream). I just hope you all enjoy this.

I don't feel like I should even need to say this, but with all the ship/fandom drama going on as of late, let me just make this clear; this is a Dawsey story. If you dislike Dawsey/Gabby, then this probably isn't the story for you.

Happy reading, fellow Dawsey fans. I hope you enjoy.

part one

"She insisted on coming to Chicago… said she had someone she wanted to see here."

Matt's eyebrows furrowed as the woman shot him a knowing grin before stepping away from him, his confused gaze moving around until he caught sight of Gabby, watching as she effortless spoke with the older couple next to her, her expressive eyes telling him more than her words ever could as she worked the crowd.

Drawing in a slow breath, Casey grabbed their glasses of wine, hearing the sound of the violin start to fill the room as they began playing the next song. With his curious eyes locked on Gabby, he slowly stepped away from the bar, his hesitant steps stopping after a few feet, Matt watching her from afar. It was like she could sense his gaze, Gabby glancing towards him almost immediately, that familiar, warm Gabby-smile lighting up her face, sending shivers through his spine. His breath momentarily caught in his throat when they locked eyes, Matt regaining his senses before he lifted out the wine glass, silently encouraging her to come back to him as the smile covering his face grew wider.

Her smile grew when she saw his invitation, Matt watching as Gabby returned her attention to the older couple momentarily, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, unable to look away as she began moving towards him. His eyes involuntarily trailed over her form, something they'd done at least ten times since he got here, but this time felt different, his throat going dry when he took her in, his smile growing as she got closer.

She was always beautiful, even in all the various states he'd seen her in over the years, there was never a moment when he didn't think she was the most gorgeous woman in the world. But here, now, he was sure she'd never look more radiant. Maybe it was the atmosphere, maybe it was the fact he hadn't seen her in over a year, maybe it was her wearing that same old Gabby smile he'd become accustomed to seeing over the years, or maybe it was just the sexy little black dress hugging her curves; he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, for all he knew it could've been a thousand different things, but whatever it was, all he knew was she looked absolutely stunning.

Her steps slowed when she got closer, her brown eyes shining back at him as she came to a stop less than a foot from him, Matt seeing her eyes quickly trail up and down his body with that same gentle grin resting on her face as she took the wine glass from his hand.

"Come dance with me."

It took him a moment to register what she'd asked him, although it wasn't much of a question as her soft brown eyes stared into his soul, Matt blinking a few times before he nodded.

"Okay."

His voice didn't even sound like his own, but it was enough confirmation for her as Gabby shot him a shy grin before turning towards the dance floor. His eyes stayed on her form as she downed a sip of wine, Matt following her towards the table she'd previously occupied, mimicking her actions as she sat her wine glass down.

As they continued towards the dance floor, Gabby slowed momentarily, turning back to reach for his hand, taking it in hers without question before she focused her gaze forward yet again, continuing her path as if nothing happened. Glancing down to their conjoined hands, Matt couldn't help the warmth that spread through his body at the feeling of his skin pressed against hers. It was a comforting feeling, one he'd missed more than he cared to admit, especially when he knew that in just a few short hours she'd be gone again.

The music seemed to get louder in his ears as they got to the dance floor, Gabby dropping his hand as she turned around, Casey instantly missing the contact until she regained his hand in hers. His hand instinctively moved around to her back, Gabby bringing her other hand up to his shoulder, the two falling back into the comfortable position they'd done a handful of times before. It wasn't something they'd done often, getting all dressed up and going to events that involved slow dancing. But they'd done it enough times before that they instantly fell in sync with one another, just as they always did, Matt smiling softly at her as they began moving.

He was hesitant; he was hesitant to have her this close again, to let himself be this close again, and he knew she could feel it. But she said nothing as they slowly started swaying to the music, Gabby keeping her distance at first, as much as she could with the situation they found themselves in.

With each move they made, Gabby inched closer to him, desperate for the close contact as Matt kept a firm hand on her back. A soft smile formed over her lips when she felt him pull her closer to him, the two swaying side to side as the music filled the room, unable to drown out the sound of Gabby's heart thumping in her ears while she moved her hand along his shoulder. Just being this close to him again made her heart race; the same thing had happened at the firehouse, and when she saw him walk in mere minutes ago. It was the same way she always reacted to seeing him, and even after all this time that hadn't changed.

His eyes flashed down towards her, Gabby feeling his gaze on her as she stroked his shoulder. Slowly, Matt adjusted the hand he had ahold of, bringing it closer to him as he placed it on his chest, resting it over his heart. Her entire body flooded with warmth at the gesture, Gabby feeling him drop his guard as he pulled her even closer, their bodies flush together as a soft smile formed over her face. Her head pressed against his cheek as they moved, their movements gradually slowing down as she felt his breathing deepen, the former couple completely immersing themselves in this moment.

She felt his head lean towards her slightly, Gabby nuzzling her head against his as they practically stood in place, their bodies merely swaying slightly as she felt him grin, Matt keeping her hand firmly over his heart. When he leaned towards her again, Gabby reciprocated the gesture, their skin practically touching as they stood close together, both of them acting on pure emotion. Stroking his thumb over her fingers, Matt pressed his nose into the side of her face, Gabby tilting her head the rest of the way, feeling his lips on hers before she could even question it.

The second he kissed her, it was as if the world melted away, Gabby focused on nothing but the feeling of him as his lips moved slowly against hers, the two effortlessly falling back into this familiar dance with one another.

"Matt…" She whispered against his lips, feeling him smile softly before kissing her again, Gabby relaxing against him as he pressed her body into his, using the hand around her back as leverage. Her hand slid up from his shoulder to rest on his neck, keeping him just as close to her.

When he finally pulled back the second time, Gabby was breathless, the sound of the music competing with the sound of her blood pumping through her ears, her bottom lip falling between her teeth as their eyes locked on one another.

The second he flashed her that soft Casey grin, she was done for, Gabby eyes telling him more than words ever could as Matt's gaze flickered to her lips before finding her warm brown eyes again, his eyebrows raising slightly. Without a word, she gave a slow nod, Matt's grin widening as her bottom lip tucked between her teeth, Matt leaning forward the few inches to press a kiss to the side of her head, the two soon registering that the music had stopped.

"Just give me a second." She whispered in his ear, Matt nodding as she reluctantly pulled herself from his grasp, Casey missing the contact immediately as she left him on the dance floor, walking towards the woman that had approached them earlier. He couldn't tell what all was being said, but after a quick nod from the woman, Gabby was heading back towards him, flashing him a wide smile as she got closer, the sight completely captivating him as she returned to his side.

"Let's go." She murmured, Matt nodding as she laced her fingers through his, letting her lead him through the ballroom, the pair moving through the crowds of people as they got out into the lobby, Matt coming to her side before they continued to the elevators.

Not a word was said between them as they stepped inside the elevator, their hands still intertwined as Gabby used her free one to press the button for her floor, Matt drawing in a deep breath to steady himself. He was trying his hardest to not think about anything past this moment, because if he did he might give himself the opportunity to talk himself out of this, and he really didn't want to. He wanted this, and as far as he could tell, so did Gabby.

He didn't know what this evening meant, he didn't know why she came all the way here just for him, and why she came now. But it didn't matter, not right now. This was the woman he loved… The woman he'd always loved. And if one night was all the had, he intended to make the most out of it.

The sound of the elevator dinging pulled him from his thoughts, Gabby flashing him a soft smile before stepping out into the hallway, Matt following her lead. They moved slowly down the hallway, coming to a stop at the very end, at what Matt could only assume to be her room, Gabby dropping his hand to pull out her key.

Without even thinking, he slid his hands to her waist, Gabby's breath hitching at the action as she felt him press his chest into her, making the very simple task somewhat difficult as he distracted her, Matt pressing an open-mouthed kiss to her bare shoulder, her short hair tickling the side of his face.

"Matt…"

"Shh." He hummed, gently biting down into her neck, Gabby doing what she could to control her breathing as her hands trembled, her entire body on fire as he elicited this reaction from her. Shoving the key into the door, Gabby shuddered when Matt trailed his finger up her bare arm, leaving goosebumps in his path as he bit down into her skin yet against, instantly soothing the area with his tongue.

The second she got the door open, she turned around, grabbing ahold of his tie and using it to drag him into her room, his lips finding hers before the door could even shut behind them, hands roaming bodies as passion took over. Without breaking their contact, Gabby blindly began undoing his tie, getting the object off of him quickly and tossing it to the ground, her hands then moving towards his shoulders, sliding under his jacket to push it from his body. He dropped his hands from her long enough to get the jacket off, the material falling to the ground as she instantly began working on the buttons of his shirt. She got the clothing undone in record time, their kisses needy and frantic as she rid him of the item, letting it fall to the floor before Matt began leading her towards the bed, her hand gripping the back of his neck.

They could both feel the desperation in each other's movements, the two barely able to find moments to breathe as he guided her further into the room, the air around them thick as his hands roamed her body.

When his hands moved around to her back, blindly going in search of her zipper, it was as if she had a moment of clarity, doubt slowly creeping into the back of her mind as he kissed her.

Should we really be doing this?

Once the thought was in her head, she couldn't let it go. She wanted to do this, of course she did. But she wasn't sure it was the best decision for them, for him. And she needed to be sure before they went any further, and things happened that couldn't be taken back.

"Wait… is this a mistake?" She asked, barely having time to get the words out as Matt's lips were on hers again, her hands gripping either side of his neck, her question not seeming to slow him down at all. "I'm leaving in the morning."

Rationally, she knew she should stop kissing him. That they should actually talk about this before things went any further, but each time he pulled her back into him, placing his lips on hers, it was like all reason went out the window. She couldn't stop herself, Gabby kissing him back with just as much passion as his hands gripped her waist tightly.

"I know… And I'm staying." He responded softly between kisses, Gabby's hand sliding down in between them, beginning to work on his belt, Matt being reminded of just how quick her hands actually were as she got his belt undone before he could get another word in, soon beginning to work on his pants.

With his pants unbuttoned, hanging off his hips, Matt kissed her again as he moved his hand up to the back of her head, gripping onto her hair and giving it a slight tug, keeping them apart for a moment, their panting filling the room. Her eyes flashed to his, her mouth open as she sucked in air while she had the chance, Matt's bright blue eyes locked on her as he spoke again.

"But that doesn't make this a mistake."

And he meant it. Because this was Gabby, and nothing with her could ever be a mistake. They could never be a mistake.

Matt pressed their foreheads together as the words left his lips, his eyes focused solely on her as heavy breaths escaped her lips. When he brushed his nose against hers, Gabby's entire body flooded with warmth, his words and actions giving her all the assurance she needed as she felt his lips on hers again, Gabby resting her hand on his chest.

With no more words needing to be said between them, he crouched down, lifting her up into his arms as Gabby held on to him around his neck, Matt picking her up just to throw her down onto the bed. Her grip around his shoulders and upper back caused him to fall down with her, Matt resting in between her legs as his lips immediately found hers again.

Her hands moved desperately across his back, Matt kissing her with a passion she hadn't felt in a long time before his lips trailed across her jaw, moving down to her neck, immediately going to that spot he knew drove her crazy.

It felt like they were picking up right where they left off as Matt left his marks along her skin, his lips moving down towards her chest, his hands roaming any part of her body he could find, clearly not liking so much material still covering her. After leaving a fresh mark on her upper chest, he pulled back, lifting himself up off her enough to give her room to arch her back, Gabby understanding his silent request as she raised up off the bed slightly, giving him the room he needed to unzip her dress. She was panting as he took his time, their quick and needy movements suddenly slowing down as Matt stopped pulling the zipper when he got to her waist, his eyes darkening as he watched her chest heave up and down.

It was a look she'd seen thousands of times before, a look she knew she elicited from him, Matt suddenly pulling back from her completely, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing in confusion and a hint of panic as he stood up.

Maybe he'd changed his mind, maybe he decided this wasn't a good idea… Maybe he didn't want to be with her.

Those thoughts and a dozen like it swarmed her mind, Gabby gulping as she lifted herself up to rest on her elbows, her partially open dress hanging off her shoulders, covering just enough of her chest as Matt's eyes focused on her. But all her worries went out the window when he slid his pants down his legs, the material bunching at his ankles before he kicked them off, want and desire pooling in her stomach as she saw the effect she had on him. Gabby laid down on her back, a yelp of surprise escaping her lips when Matt grabbed her legs, forcing them apart as he kneeled on the bed in between them, her dress bunching up at her waist while he hovered over her, picking up right where he left off as his lips found hers in the dim room.

From that moment on, every move between them was frantic and needy, Matt yanking all the material from her body, kissing and touching any skin he could find as their bodies molded together, both of them wanting to make every second count as they got lost in one another, knowing there was a chance they'd never get this again.

If this was the last night they had together, they were determined to make the most of it.

And they did.

Gabby's eyebrows furrowed as she heard the phone ringing from the nightstand, a low groan escaping her lips as she was disturbed from her peaceful rest, Dawson blindly reaching out for the phone, bringing it up to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello Miss Dawson, this is your 8:15 wake up call. Your car has been scheduled to take you back to the airport, they'll be here in an hour."

Gabby blinked furiously as she listened to the man from the front desk relay the information, a heavy sigh escaping her lips before she responded.

"Okay, thank you." She replied, the man giving her a goodbye before she hung up, her body collapsing back into the bed, her mind racing as thoughts of last night, and early this morning, flooded her brain. Gabby was unable to stop the slight grin that pulled on her lips at the memory, her euphorically achy body just another reminder of how very real last night had been.

But her smile soon faltered when she registered the lack of body heat next to her, Gabby glancing to the side to see the messy sheets empty, her hand reaching out to touch them, the cold temperature telling her she'd been by herself for awhile.

She couldn't say it was surprising, in fact she knew she'd be more surprised had he actually been here when she woke up. But that didn't make it sting any less. She couldn't blame him; she knew he had a life to get back to... a life that didn't include her anymore. And even though they didn't regret what happened last night, or at least she didn't regret it, she knew that's all it was; it was just one night together.

But it had been one incredible night; one of the best of her life. One she'd never forget. She'd never forget the way her body reacted to his touch, the way he ignited a fire in her that no one else ever had. She wouldn't forget the comfort she felt falling asleep in his arms, their bare bodies tangled together as they had been a million times before. It was familiar, like no time had passed, like nothing had changed between them.

But the cold bed sheets beside her were a harsh fall back into reality. Because time had passed. Things had changed. So much had happened between them, and they weren't the same Gabby and Matt they had been before.

In some ways, that was a good thing. The person she'd been when she first left, she never wanted to be that woman again. She was different now; she had grown up, she had changed into a, she would say, better person. And, clearly, she wasn't the only one who had changed.

Never before would she have woken up alone to an empty bed. In fact the only times she'd ever woken up after a night like that with him alone was when Matt would be out in the kitchen making them breakfast, or maybe he'd had an early job to get to. But she always knew he'd be coming home, and more often than not he'd wake her up to say goodbye before he left.

But that wasn't them anymore.

They didn't have a home, Matt wouldn't be coming back to spend the day with her. They wouldn't be lounging around the apartment, or getting ready to go to work; there was nothing they'd be doing anymore. They weren't Matt and Gabby anymore. He was Matt, and she was Gabby, but their lives weren't intertwined like they used to be. He had no obligation to wake her before he left, or even leave her a note telling her he'd gone.

Their night together was amazing, but that was all it was. It was just one night, and there was no telling when she'd see Matt again. If she'd see Matt again.

And that reality really didn't sit well with her.

When she made the choice to come back to Chicago, the current status of her relationship with Matt hadn't really played much into her plan. Hell, she never even had a plan to begin with. She didn't know what she'd be walking into when she got to the firehouse; she didn't know how Matt would react to her being there, if he'd even want to see her at all, and she definitely didn't know if he was seeing someone. She hadn't really taken any of the what ifs into consideration… she just followed her heart and it led her to him.

He had been on her mind a lot lately, her desire to see him trumping every other rational thought she had. There were always moments when she thought of him and missed him, of course there were. But it was as if lately, he was all she thought about. He had consumed her thoughts more often than not, and she wasn't even sure why. But all she did know was that even after all this time, her feelings for him had never gone away. No matter how much distance was between them, he was still the one man she held closest to her heart, and that realization just reaffirmed the fact that Matt Casey was the love of her life, and he probably always would be. That just because she felt like she needed to stay in Puerto Rico and help people, that didn't mean she ever stopped loving him. She was sure she couldn't stop loving him, even if she tried… but what she wasn't sure of was if the same could be said for him.

And that's what brought her back here. Even though she had no idea where she stood with him, she had to see him again. She felt compelled to see him, to talk to him, and that's what drove her home. She needed to figure out if he felt the same way, if his feelings for her were still alive. It was an impulsive decision she made to come back, to figure out where they stood.

And it was an impulsive decision that paid off.

Or at least she thought it did.

But the harsh truth of the matter was, she didn't know. She didn't know what any of this meant, what last night meant… if it meant anything. Despite her wanting to talk to him, because they desperately needed to talk, they hadn't gotten much of a chance for that, their unexpected evening together taking away that opportunity. And now there was still so much left unsaid between them, even more so now after what had happened hours prior, and she didn't know what any of this meant to him. She only knew what it meant to her.

And to her, last night meant hope. It meant hope that he still cared about her, that he still felt something for her, aside from the contempt and anger she knew he'd held onto after she left. It meant something good; that maybe, just maybe, things between them weren't completely finished. That maybe there was still enough love there for them to see if they could make things work.

She knew she was getting ahead of herself, Gabby blowing out a sharp sigh as she stared at the ceiling, her mind racing while different scenarios crowded her thoughts.

There was too much left up in the air, there was still too much uncertainty, and Gabby knew she couldn't leave it like this. It would eat her alive if she didn't try and at least make things clear from her end. She knew where she stood, she knew what last night meant to her, what he meant to her, and she needed to make sure he knew it too.

But she couldn't force him into anything. She had no plans to return to Chicago, and as far as she knew, he wasn't open to the idea of leaving. But that didn't mean they couldn't try.

All she could do now was leave it in his hands, and let him make the decision. She knew she had to put herself out there one last time, that she had to let him know her offer was still there, but after that, there wasn't much she could do. If all he wanted was one night, then he got it, and if that's the case then maybe she could finally move on.

But maybe, just maybe, it wasn't. Maybe he was open to them reconnecting, maybe he was open to letting her back into his life. She could only hope he was, but there was only one way for her to find out. She would lay everything out there and leave it all out on the table, giving him an in if he wanted it.

Then the rest was up to him.

"Hey… it was great seeing with you… being with you, it brought back so many memories. Good memories… best of my life. My only regret is that we didn't have more time to spend together… So, if you wanna spend your next furlough in a disaster area, consider yourself invited."

A small smile pulled on his lips as he listened to her words, the soft sound of her voice hitting his ears filling him with a warmth and comfort that only she'd ever been able to provide him.

"They'll always be room in my tent, Matt Casey."

Matt slowly brought his phone down from his ear, staring blankly ahead as her words rang in his head, a large lump forming in his throat as he sat in his office, feeling as if he was unable to move. He wasn't sure what to make of her message, or how he felt right now, aside from the slight shock filling his body.

Truthfully, he never expected to hear from her.

They both knew what last night was; it was a chance to be together again, with the knowledge that their situation was still the same. He was staying, she was leaving, and they might not get another opportunity for this, so they took it. And he was glad they did.

But he didn't think it was anything more than that, and he never expected to hear from her, especially after leaving the way he did. A call from her, although not unwelcome, wasn't something he was waiting on. And he especially hadn't expected that.

He never expected she'd extend that type of offer to him, that she'd invite him to come spend time with her again, with them both knowing the situation they were in. It never occurred to him that she would want this to be more than one night, but her voicemail… that changed things.

It was an opening. It was Gabby letting him know that she wanted it to happen again, that she wanted it to be more than one night, and he wasn't sure what to make of that.

He didn't regret what they'd done, he never could. Being with her, there was nothing else like it and getting the chance to spend that time with her again, he could never regret that. But he went into it knowing that was it; regardless of where the night ended up, he went to that fundraiser knowing this was most likely his last chance to see her, and he didn't want to let himself get too attached.

But he should've known he never stood a chance. This was Gabby, this was the greatest love of his life; there was no way all his feelings for her wouldn't flood back the second he laid his eyes on her. And they had. They absolutely had.

But he wasn't naive enough to be blinded by that. He knew she wasn't staying, he knew Gabby wasn't coming home, so he went into that situation completely clear-headed. This was one night for them to have together, and it had been wonderful. He went, and he was glad he did. He'd never regret his choice. But he never expected it to be anything more than what it was. He expected them to both go back to their own lives, appreciating the time they got to spend together, but knowing nothing more would come of it. Yet, it had.

Gabby was putting herself out there, something he knew she never had the easiest time with in the past. She was giving him a chance. A chance for what exactly, he still didn't know, but it was a chance to see her again. It was an offer to spend more time together, and see her in her element. It was the confirmation that she wanted more than what last night gave them. She wanted more with him.

He just wasn't sure if it was the best idea, for either of them.

There was so much unresolved hurt and pain between them, so much they hadn't dealt with, and opening themselves up to all that again… he wasn't sure if it was something he could handle. He didn't want to put himself in a position to get hurt again.

And he really didn't want to hurt her, either.

They had both hurt each other, so much so that it tore them apart, and he didn't want to risk them hurting one another again, no matter how good the intentions were. As nice as spending more time with her sounded, nothing with their situation had changed, and he couldn't help but feel like regardless of where this went, it would only end in heartbreak. Again.

Though he also knew there was another very real possibility of how this could go. It could give them the chance to reconnect with one another, it could give them the opportunity to move past what they'd broken, and start fresh. It could give them another chance at them.

Taking her up on her offer could either give him another chance at the greatest love he's ever known, or it could send his world crashing the ground again, but there was no way to know which way it would play out unless he took her up on it. And that's what scared him.

But he knew he had to make a choice. Regardless of how this could go, Gabby left it up to him to decide, and now it was his turn to call the shots in what happened next for them… if anything happened at all. He was solely in charge of making this decision for them.

He just didn't know what the right decision was.

Yeah, so… there's that. Honestly, this entire story has no plan (aside from certain ideas), and I have no idea how long it'll be. It's definitely the most unorganized thing I've ever done. But hey, that's part of the fun, right?

I have no idea how often this will get updated, I'll try my best to make it as frequently as possible, but I still do have my two other stories going (Yes, I know, really not the smartest thing for me to post another story but blame Dawsey, not me), so we'll just have to see how everything works out.

But I hope you all liked this chapter, I'm so eager to hear what you think, thank you for reading!