A\N: So I've been really busy and I was kind of stuck on how to finish up this short series; this version was one of the first ones I wrote and is one of the shortest but I like it and it builds up nicely to the multi chapter story in the world.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago Fire, NBC or Global

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None

Christmas

After settling into the guest room on the upstairs level of her mother's house Gabriela went into the kitchen to catch up with her mother. Knowing they needed some time alone Matt wandered the rooms on the lower level and found himself in what he suspected to be the living room.

Matt admired all of the family pictures along the mantel place and the walls of the family room. Some were of the family before Gabriela's father had died and some after. Matt's favourites being a picture of Gabriela and Matt when they were probably only three and four and Gabriela's high-school graduation picture.

"Spying on me?" Gabriela wrapped her arms around Matt and pressed her body into his.

"You were adorable," Matt fingered the picture frame of her and Antonio, "Your hair is so wavy. I like it like that."

"Here," Gabriela bent down and opened up a sliding drawer at the bottom of a bigger cabinet, "Mom doesn't like to look at these so she keeps them in here," She sat on the tiled floor and pulled out two thick photo albums.

Matt sat down beside her smiling as she situated herself on his lap, "This is pictures of my parents wedding day," She opened the first album, "I used to love looking at these when I was younger. I'd spend hours in here just flipping trough the pages."

Matt rubbed her forearm up and down as he looked at a picture of the wedding party. As Gabriela pointed out various family members he tried to keep track of them all in his mind in hopes he'd meet some of them again.

"What's that?" Matt asked aloud as he saw a crayon mark on a picture of her mother in her wedding dress.

"Oh!" Gabriela let out a burst of laughter, "I'd almost forgot about that," She gently removed the picture from its sleeve and flipped it over to reveal a crayon drawing of her in her mother's wedding dress, "I used to dream of getting married in my mom's wedding dress," A slight blush crept onto her face.

"Yeah," Matt squeezed her and kissed her cheek, "What about now?"

"I think it would still be nice now; and I'd love to wear it but I think it might upset her. There are something's she won't talk about her wedding is one of them, this is the other." She closed the album and put it on the ground and replaced it on her lap with the second one she had pulled out.

Matt didn't' have any doubts that her wedding day was something that hurt Sabrina deeply to talk about but he didn't understand why these pictures, which for all he could see were just pictures of the family at what looked like a police benefit.

"Is Antonio wearing a police dress uniform?" Matt had to take a closer look at the photo, "He is? How did he manage that?"

"Well kind of," Gabriela began to explain, "It's just a Halloween costume but the badges are actually CPD certified, Dad got them for his fourth birthday; only a few weeks before this and Antonio wanted to show them off so he wore them. Apparently everyone stopped him. They all said he'd make a great Police Officer when he was older."

"They were right," Matt commented.

"Yeah they were," Gabriela agreed, "But my Mom doesn't see it that way. She begged and begged with him not to go into policing like Dad but he told her it was all he ever wanted to do. He needed to protect the badge Dad died protecting. In the end they came to a truce; Antonio's job isn't mentioned around her and she doesn't blow up and start crying."

"Ah," Matt understood why he was shown the photo albums, "Thanks for letting me know."

Gabriela nodded her head and tucked the photo albums safely away, "Now," She stood up, "Dinner should be ready soon."

Mat took her hand as they walked into the kitchen, "And after dinner you're going to bed," He nuzzled her neck, "You're exhausted; the medicine's still making you tired.

"Matt," Gabriela faced him, "I'm on almost the lowest dose, in a few weeks I'm going to be back at work; I need to start sleeping at somewhat regular hours. Besides it's Christmas Eve.

"All the better reason to go to bed early; you know Santa Clause doesn't come if you stay up.

"Ha-ha-Ha." Gabriela rolled her eyes.

"You're just in time," Sabrina turned off the stove, "It's ready."

"Here Mom," Gabriela stepped forward Matt on her heal, "Let us serve you."

Sabrina slapped her daughter's hand away, "Nonsense Gabriela," She scolded, "You know you don't let guests so any housework.

"Mama, Yo no soy un invitado en esta casa. Viví aquí hasta que yo tenía diecinueve años. Ahora haga el favor de que me ayudará?"

"Gabriela le hará bien a respetarme soy tu madre."

At those words Gabriela fell silent and took a deep breath. She felt awful letting her mother do all of the work and as much as she tried to understand it was how she was raised and part of her culture Gabriela could not let it slide. Luckily during holidays she was usually so overrun that she allowed Gabriela and Matt to help but on every other day Gabriela visited the arguments usually ended like they had today or on occasion, if Gabriela had pushed harder worse.

Dinner and Desert were served with little talk, as both Gabriela and her mother were both frustrated at the other one. When Sabrina did talk to her daughter it was to make sure she was recovering properly and to ask when the doctors said she could go back to work.

After dinner was over Sabrina cleared the table and went to load the dishwasher and to prevent herself from asking to do it Gabriela excused herself from the table and went into the living room and turned on the TV to a Christmas movie.

"Want to talk about it?" Matt sat down beside her.

"She's so stubborn," Gabriela placed her head on his shoulder and cringed, "I love her but she's just so set in her ways. Her old school ways."

"Yeah I can see that. Is that how you were raised?" He wondered.

"To an extent but Antonio and I had the full experience of growing up in the United States. My Mom came here to study nursing; she didn't attend to stay but then she met my father and fell in love. She wanted to move us back to Madrid after he died but said she couldn't uproot us from all we knew."

"She really misses Madrid?" Matt asked.

"Everyday," Gabriela responded as she heard footsteps and turned her attention back to the TV.

"Ah," Sabrina sat down in a chair, "Christmas movies."

"Uh yeah," Gabriela curled her legs underneath her, "We haven't been watching though. I was telling Matt about Europe. He's never been before.

Sabrina's face immediately brightened, "Ah well you must come with us when we go in the summer." She spoke her accent stronger then ever.

"That's what we've been talking about," Gabriela commented, "That is if-"

"Gabriela! Don't say such things!" Her mother wouldn't let her finish her sentence.

"It's the truth Mom," Gabriela told her mother.

"But this is different," Sabrina winked, "Now back to Europe." She turned to Matt, "You'll love it. We're only planning on going to Madrid but you and Gabby can plan more days in Spain or other countries if you want.

"I was telling him I'd think he's like Italy," She explained.

"Ah yes Italy is a very nice place," Sabrina smiled, "Now lets watch the movie." She grabbed the remote and turned up the volume on the TV.

TBC

A\N: Please leave a review and stay tuned for the multi-chapter fic that should be up in a week or so.