Chapter Text
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“This is a state of grace,
This is the worthwhile fight,
Love is a ruthless game,
Unless you play it good and right.
These are the hands of fate,
You're my Achilles heel,
This is the golden age of something good,
And right and real.”
-“State of Grace” by Taylor Swift
******
AUGUST (TWO MONTHS LATER…)
“Matt, seriously, stop worrying,” Sylvie says as he pulls the truck into the parking lot. “My parents loved you.”
They’re just getting back into town, having spent Friday and Saturday on The Brett Family farm, for Sylvie’s younger brother’s wedding. He’s never really been good at meeting the parents. Hallie’s family grew to like him but that first impression was rough. She had just finished pre-med and was headed to med school in the fall so imagine their shock when she brings home a rookie firefighter and part time construction worker. To them it didn’t make sense. And Gabby’s parents were nice enough, especially her mother, but he and her father had clashing personalities. That was never easy.
But the Bretts…
The Bretts were down to earth people who worked with their hands and put their blood and sweat into their livelihood.
They were exactly his kind of people. He really wanted them to like him.
“Are you sure?” He asks, opening his door. “Your dad seemed kind of...standoffish.”
Sylvie laughs and opens her door too. “That’s his entire personality. Gruff but lovable. Trust me, he loved you.”
He grabs his duffle and hers out of the back, leaving the lighter garment bags or Sylvie to carry, and then shuts the door behind him. He reaches for her free hand as he rounds the truck, sighing in relief as they walk toward the apartment hand-in-hand. As much as he wanted to meet her parents and make a good first impression, it feels great to be home. The stress of needing to constantly bring his A-game is gone and he can simply...be again.
“Thank you, by the way, for spending part of your birthday driving back from Fowlerton,” she says, leaning toward him to place a casual kiss to his lips. “It meant a lot to me that you came. Hope has been bugging me to meet you. You made her year.”
Ah, Hope. The childhood best friend he’d heard so much about. The second person from Fowlerton to give him a bad vibe. The first had been Harrison, who they’d thankfully avoided over the weekend. But he’d only had to spend two days around Hope and Sylvie left her behind in Indiana so he let it go. Out of sight, out of mind.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he tells her, pushing the door open and holding it for her. “I wanted to go, Sylvie. My birthday will come back around next year, your brother’s wedding won’t.”
“Still,” she says as they stop in front of the elevator. “Thank you.”
He closes the distance between them and leans his forehead against hers, filching a kiss just as the doors open. “You’re welcome.”
As they step inside the elevator, Sylvie hooks the garment bag hangers around the railing. He gives her a curious glance but before he can voice the question she’s banded her arms around his back and slanted her lips against his. Their duffle bag straps fall off his shoulder. The bags hit the floor with a muted thud. His hands find spots on the small of her back and her shoulder blade, fingers spreading to touch as much of her as he can.
They stand there for the entire ride, trading soft intrusive kisses while their hands explore over their clothes. She brings her hands up to his jaw, cupping it and tracing lines on his cheeks with her thumbs, and then pulls back to catch his eye.
“Happy birthday, Matt Casey,” she whispers, stealing one last slow kiss. “It may not be a hand restored vintage record player but I do have something pretty enticing in mind for you later. Something you’ll have to untie and unlace. I know how you like a slow reveal.”
Her grin is wicked and her eyes are hooded with heat. He understands her meaning as clearly and easily as his love for her. The elevator doors open as she steps out of his arms to grab the garment bag. Her grin tilts in a sexy secretive way and then she tosses him a playful wink.
“Tonight?” He asks as he scrambles to pick up their duffles and follow her out into the hall. “Why not right now?”
“Because we have other plans right now,” she tells him as she watches him unlock the apartment door.
His brow furrows. “Other plans? What other plans?”
The door swings open and Matt nearly has a heart attack.
“Surprise!” comes a huge collective shout from Severide and Shay’s living room, making him to jump.
Sylvie chuckles and balances him with her hands on his back. “Happy birthday,” she tells him leaning up to kiss the line of his jaw. “Lots of beer, your friends, and a cook out on the roof. That is what you said you wanted, right?”
He can’t believe she remembered. Hell, he barely remembers that. He said that the night of her birthday party and that feels so long ago now. His smile is wide and toothy as he wraps his arms around her and nods his way into a quick grateful kiss.
“This is exactly what I wanted,” he replies. Then he looks back up at his friends and shakes his head with a half grin. “None of you can keep a secret so I have no idea how I didn’t figure this out.”
Severide snorts and takes their bags from them. “You were too busy freaking out over going to that wedding to notice anything else. It was the perfect distraction. Your girlfriend is an evil genius.”
Sylvie smirks and shrugs with false modesty. “I have my moments.”
Shay pushes through the crowd, pulling Rafferty along behind her -- surprising both himself and Brett.
“Yes, okay, I brought a date. Stop looking at me like that,” Shay scolds as she hugs Sylvie first and then Matt. “Happy birthday, buddy! Just six more years until 40!”
“Gee, thanks for that reminder,” Matt says sarcastically.
Leslie pulls away from the hug and waves off his disingenuous gratitude. “Anytime! Every birthday is just one year closer to death.”
“Well, that’s a cheery thought,” Allison says, rolling her eyes. “I’ll be sure to point that out to you on your birthday, considering you’re older than him.”
“If I keep you around that long,” Shay says with a teasing glare.
“Oh, you will,” Rafferty replies with a chuckle. “I’m the best thing to happen to you in many years and you know it.”
Leslie blinks after her in shock as Rafferty turns and heads toward the kitchen for another beer. She looks from Rafferty back to Matt and Sylvie. “Was it just me or was that show of confidence insanely hot?”
Shay walks away, to chase down Rafferty, without giving either of them a chance to respond.
“Dammit, now I owe Stella a hundred bucks,” Sylvie mutters with a sigh. “They couldn’t have held out until the CFD gala?”
Matt snorts and pulls her into his side, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Glad to hear you’re so happy for our friend, babe.”
She smacks his shoulder with a bright laugh. “Shut up. You know I’m happy for her.”
“There he is!” Boden’s voice booms as he approaches Matt with a hearty handshake. “The man of the hour. I can’t stay long, just wanted to drop by and wish you a happy birthday. Also, needed to ask Brett’s opinion on something.”
“Yes, Chief?” Brett asks curiously.
“Carroll on 3rd shift is about to go on maternity leave. Do you think Chili would take her spot for a while?” Boden asks.
“I don’t know. She’s pretty happy at 105 now. She and Welch and McCall have been running a tight ship over there. Early and his guys are gone so it’s like a whole new house,” Sylvie replies thoughtfully. “But I don’t think she’d mind hearing the offer.”
Boden nods and smiles kindly at her. “I’ll give her a call. I’d better get out of here. Donna’s expecting me.” He shakes Matt’s hand again and claps his other hand against his back. “Have fun, Casey. But not too much fun. We have shift in the morning.”
Casey laughs and nods, waving as Boden heads for the door. “Copy that, Chief.”
He takes a moment to glance around the room and sees his Firehouse family, gathered together and mingling. His arm around Brett’s waist tightens as his chest seems to inflate with thankfulness and pride. He’s come a long way since last year and these people are a big reason why. They mourn with him, laugh with him, and support him. It’s a beautiful mixture of people. All different but all made for the same purpose… to help people.
“You okay?” Sylvie asks, resting her hand on his chest.
He nods and then slowly closes the distance between them, pressing his forehead to hers and gently bumping her nose with his. “Yeah, I am. I’m better than I’ve been in a very long time.”
She smiles warmly at him with a look of perfect understanding a moment before he leans in for a kiss. Kissing her is always a revelation, but this time it sparks a memory.
A memory of a broken man who walked into a bar, never knowing how that night might change his life.
It’s funny, he remembers thinking his world ended over a year ago but really…
It was only just beginning.