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Unwished for Gift Ch. 00

By: bleuangele



Chapter 0 -- Prologue

Caitlyn hated the holidays. The non-stop parade of capitalism hidden beneath the veneer of giving made her want to hide in bed until January. Coupled with the constant barrage of yuletide singing and merry-making around the neighborhood, Caitlyn wished every year she could escape to a deserted island, preferable where it was warm and sunny. On top of that, she dreaded the obligated trip home to spend Christmas with her family. It wasn't that she didn't love them. She did love her family and loved spending as much time as possible with them. It was just that her family was growing and with her being single, she was the constant talk of discussion among them. That coupled with a new niece or nephew every few years made her cringe at the thought of going home. 

"You are coming right sis? You know mom's already making plans and getting the tree ready. She's been hounding me all week to find out about you and if you are bringing a date..." asked her brother Brandon. Caitlyn mentally sighed and braced herself for the million questions she knew was coming. 

"No Brandon... there will be no date," she replied. "No, I'm not going to say any more about it. Just tell mom I'll try. Bye." Caitlyn hung up quickly and hoped that Brandon's wife had at least heard part of it and would keep him from calling her back. Holding her breath, she waited. When five minutes had passed without the phone ringing, she sighed in relief. Getting up off the couch, she moved to the bathroom to take a hot bath. Feeling the hot water surround her, she let her mind drift to thoughts of the past.

In high school, she was labeled as a nerd. She had glasses and braces and wore baggy clothes because she felt more comfortable hiding her growing curves than actually showing them off. Being top of her class also didn't help her social standings any. She was shy and quiet which coupled with her brother's popularity only made things worse. They were all high-school jocks, not to mention handsome, fun and social. Everyone liked them and even after they graduated, the kids in her class still talked about them. 

The summer after her senior year, her favorite cousin Sarah came to stay for awhile. She had just graduated college and didn't feel like traveling home for the summer. During those three months, Sarah transformed Caitlyn from a nerdy gawky girl to a beautiful grown up college student. Caitlyn's braces had come off right before school ended so that wasn't an issue. She took Caitlyn to get fitted for contacts to get rid of the glasses. After glancing at Caitlyn's choice of clothing, Sarah dragged her out to get fitted for a whole new wardrobe. From hair styles and make-up basics, manicures to pedicures, Sarah coached Caitlyn on all the etiquette to be more girly. They talked all night about girl stuff and even about boys. She gave her words of wisdom and a shoulder to cry on when she got too emotional. Sarah knew Caitlyn better than anyone and was happy to help her out of her shell. 

At the end of the summer, even though she was still shy, Caitlyn was a whole different person. Her mother couldn't thank Sarah enough. Her father almost had a heart attack. Her brothers were called immediately and made promises to beat the living shit out of any boy who dared to come near her. When it finally came time to go to college, her dad refused to pay the tuition. In the end, he relented but gave her a stern lecture on the birds and the bees before letting her go. Caitlyn reassured him, but her dad knew that his little girl was a woman and a beautiful one at that. He worried about her and constantly called to check on her, even visiting at odd times. 

Caitlyn didn't mind. She loved college. There was so much learning to do. She knew she wanted to be a lawyer so she studied as hard as she could. This left little time for socializing, to the dismay of her male classmates. Her girlfriends were also disappointed that she never wanted to go to a party with them or double date with them. But her kindness and sweet disposition won them over, and even though the boys lusted after her, she ended up being a kid sister in many eyes and they watched out for her too. 

After graduation, she got a job hundreds of miles away from home. Her parents cried and begged her to stay close to home, but she wanted to work for this firm. She found an apartment in a decent neighborhood and settled into her adult life with much joy and excitement. Because of her outstanding grades and high test scores, she was able to get a job at one of the top firms in the state. She loved every bit of it, even more so after the men stopped trying to date her. After working there a few years, everything changed when she met Scott. 

He was one of the senior partner's sons. He had been given an internship with the company at the request of his father. Once there, he made a name for himself and eventually took over for his father when he retired a few years later. Caitlyn had been preoccupied when she ran into him before a meeting. He had spilled water all over the front of her blouse and in embarrassment, she burst out crying. He escorted her to his office and left her there while he ran to the nearest store and bought her replacement clothes. When he returned, he asked her to dinner. She accepted and after a couple of dates, she was smitten. 

The only problem that existed between the two of them was Caitlyn's virginity. Scott was shocked that she was still a virgin, but he was excited to be her first. Caitlyn, on the other hand, was so inexperienced she kept stopping Scott every time he tried to touch her. After months of coaxing and pleading, and even professing his love for her, Caitlyn gave in. She regretted every minute of it. It hurt an awful lot and she didn't get any pleasure out of it. Scott loved every bit of it, and even though she cried about it, proceeded to fuck her all night and even once more before he left for work. After he left, Caitlyn swore she would never have sex again. She called in sick, got in her car and left.

She ended up at Sarah's house and spent a week recuperating and being spoiled by Sarah and her family. It didn't help that Scott called her every few hours begging and pleading with her to come back. He wanted to fuck her some more but he didn't tell her that. She was the tightest pussy he had ever had and he didn't want to let her go. In the end, she told him the truth of why she left. He couldn't believe his ears. He finally gave her an ultimatum -- if she didn't come back the next day, she was fired. Upset with the whole situation, Caitlyn responded by calling her boss and quitting. 

Caitlyn then called her parents. Without going into too much detail, she let them know that she was staying with Sarah for awhile. Within a few months, she was back on her feet and looking for a job and place to stay. She found one closer to home, and after packing up her stuff, moved on. She started working for a smaller firm which paid less, but she felt more comfortable there than her last job. She was surprised that Scott had still given her a glowing recommendation but realized that with her impeccable work record he really had no choice. As for socializing, Caitlyn dreaded a repeat and firmly believed that was all any guy wanted from her, so she refused to date and worked obsessively.

Unwished for Gift Ch. 01



Chapter 1 -- Home Sweet Home

"For the last time Caitlyn -- stop working and go home already," her boss yelled from his open office door. Caitlyn looked up to see him grabbing his coat and hat. Looking down at her papers, she sighed and started gathering them up to take home. Aaron dashed quickly over to her and slammed his hand down on top of her papers. "You are not working over the holidays - period. I mean it," he growled menacingly. "You work too much as it is and even though this case is important to you, it can wait until you come back in two weeks," Aaron stated. 

"Two weeks!!" shouted Caitlyn. "I've only requested time off for a few days!! What happened!!" she cried. 

Aaron sighed and sat down on the edge of her desk. Gathering his thoughts he said to her, "Caitlyn, you are one of the best employees this firm has ever had. You work without complaint, you put in more hours than you say you do, and you hardly ever take a day off. But you have an air about you that shows how unhappy you are. Don't deny it. I've been around a long time and I know what I know. So please take two weeks off during the holidays. I insist." 

Caitlyn started to protest but looking at Aaron, she knew how much he cared for her. Because of that, she nodded and grabbing her purse and jacket, left all her work behind as she walked out of the office. Aaron stopped to lock up and then escorted Caitlyn to her car. Caitlyn smirked a little because she knew Aaron escorting her was also a deterrent for her to sneak back in to get her work. Aaron looked at her and grinned knowing she knew him too well too. 

After starting the car, Aaron tapped on the window. Caitlyn looked up and saw him hold up two fingers and mouth the words "two weeks." She sighed and nodded. When he dropped his hand, she quickly stuck out her tongue at him and then putting the car in drive took off for home. Once there, Caitlyn called her mom and let her know she was on her way in the morning. She hung up the phone and began to pack her suitcase. When everything was packed, she slipped into some comfy pajamas and climbed into bed to get some sleep. 

"I am not going with you Kyle," stated Gabriel. 

"Come on, man. You know you ain't got no where else to go. My mom insisted you come when I told her you were staying here for the holidays," Kyle replied. 

"Damn you Kyle -- why'd you tell her that," grumbled Gabriel. 

He knew that Kyle meant the best and had since they met the first year in college, but this time he felt he went too far. The truth was that Gabriel envied Kyle and his close-knit family. Ever since Kyle had brought him home for a few weeks after his mom's death, they had become a second family to him. Kyle's mom even insisted he visit any time and call if he ever needed anything. Kyle's dad was especially kind to him. He included him along with Kyle and his brothers and treated him as if he was one of his sons. Every time he was around them, a little bit of the pain he carried with him melted away. He couldn't help but want what he was denied his whole life. 

Even though his mom tried her best to raise him, she couldn't fill the hole left by the father he never knew but always wanted. As he and Kyle became best friends, Gabriel knew he wanted to have a family like Kyle's. Yet every girl he dated just didn't match up to him. Kyle had jokingly told him one time when they had been drinking all night that his sister would be perfect for him since she too kept her distance from everyone. Even so, Gabriel had never met her. Kyle talked about her often, but rarely saw her as she worked all the time as a lawyer. 

Not that he and Kyle got much time to visit either. Their construction company was booming and all the projects they kept juggling kept both of them tied up. But they both agreed that the holidays were important so every year they closed the company for the whole month of December and gave everyone a huge holiday bonus. Usually, Gabriel stayed in the city and worked. Kyle had tried year after year to get him to come home but he had not given in. This year was different -- it had been very hard personally for Gabriel. Kyle knew that which is why he kept on insisting Gabriel come stay with them for the holidays. 

"You will finally get to meet Caitlyn," Kyle stated. "Apparently her boss booted her out and made her take a two week vacation," grinned Kyle. Rolling his eyes at his best friend, Gabriel sighed and went to pack. 

"Mom I'm here," shouted Caitlyn. She winced as she heard squeals of joy coming from the kitchen. Before she could take her shoes off, two little girls came running down the hall and barreled right into her legs. 

"Auntie Cate is home! Auntie Cate is home!" shouted her twin nieces Emily and Mandy. They grabbed her hands and started to dance in circles as her mom and eldest brother Brandon watched from the hallway. Caitlyn couldn't help but smile at the joy on the girls faces. She bent down and gathered the two of them in her arms for a huge bear hug. They squealed some more and gave her hugs and kisses back before grabbing her bag and running up the stairs with it. "We'll put it away," they shouted back to her. 

Brandon was next to grab her in a huge bear hug and swung her around too. "Good to see you too, B," she gasped as he squeezed her tight. She grinned up at him when he finally put her down. 

Kissing her cheek, he said "It's good to see you sis. We've missed you around here. Angie's been bugging the crap out of me wanting to know when you are going to get here." 

"Brandon Francis," cried their mom. "Don't go telling on your wife like that. Now you go check on them grandbabies of mine and let me see my little girl." Caitlyn laughed as Brandon winked at her and sticking his tongue out at his mom quickly made his way upstairs to find the twins. 

"My dear sweet Caitlyn," her mom whispered as she embraced her warmly. "You've finally come back to us. Your dad is going to be so happy to see you. Our family is complete now." Caitlyn blinked back tears as all the emotions she had held back for so many years came rushing through her heart. The love her mom had for her and the pain of being away from home coupled with the joy of having her back threatened to have her bawling like a newborn baby. 

"It's alright Caitlyn. Everything will be alright. You're home now and hearts have a way of healing themselves in the warmth of family," her mom softly whispered to her. "Now since we've got the whole family coming in and staying, your dad has tidied up the attic and put in some airbeds up there. We've got some portable heaters up there and blankets so you shouldn't be too cold. Go on up and get some rest before your other brothers show up," said her mom pushing her up the steps. Nodding wearily, Caitlyn went up the stairs and then up the pull down ladder to the attic. She did feel tired all of a sudden so pulling out an old comforter, she took her mom's advice and laid down for a quick nap. 



Unwished for Gift Ch. 02



Chapter 2 – Meeting Gabriel

It had stopped snowing miles before they reached their destination. Kyle had grown quiet as they got closer to his childhood home. He did this every time he drove home as the fond memories he had growing up there began to replay in his head. He loved the holidays and his family as much as he loved his beautiful wife – who lay sleeping next to him in the passenger seat. Glancing at her, his heart swelled with joy as he thought of how blessed he was once again to have found his true love. 

Gabriel was silent also as they drove along the snow covered roads. He was caught up in the beauty of his surroundings. It was surreal to him how peaceful the woods and country fields looked especially after being covered in fresh fallen snow. As much as he loved the city, there was no comparison when it came to seeing the world in such a pristine state away from all the hustle and bustle of modern technology. It took his breath away every time he and Kyle made this trip. It was no surprise to him that Kyle's parents refused to move into the city when they had all this wonder to behold every day.

When Kyle made the final turn into the driveway leading up to his parent's home, a smile lit up his and Gabriel's faces as they saw the house come into view. It was a typical country farmhouse. There were wide steps leading up to the front door surrounded on both sides by a wraparound porch with swings at the ends. All of the windows were lit up from within and you could see glimpses of delicate lace curtains that were pulled back on both sides. There was a definite homey feeling to the house – warmth that beckoned weary travelers to come inside. Even the huge oak tree that covered one side of the house seemed to welcome them as they parked under it near the other cars.

Gabriel hesitated before stepping into Kyle's family's home. For some reason, he felt nervous. Something was different here. Something made him antsy. He had been here before so he knew that wasn't it but he just couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. Before he could analyze it, Kyle's wife Samantha grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. 

"Come on daydreamer," she giggled. "You're gonna be a Gabe popsicle if you stand out there much longer," Sam teased. Gabriel smiled at her and turned around to shut the door. Sam had already moved to embrace her mother while Kyle hovered protectively next to her. They were expecting their first child in a few months and Kyle was as nervous as you wouldn't believe. Good thing Sam was a laid back person; otherwise she would have strangled Kyle long ago. Gabriel chuckled as Kyle's mom pushed him away and gently lead Sam to the living room. 

"Stop hovering Kyle. It's not like she's the made of glass you know. Go put your things away and let me get Sam settled in the living room. Shoo now!" Kyle's mom said forcibly as she pushed him once more. Pouting Kyle turned around and scooped up their bags and stomped upstairs. Gabriel laughed out loud when he heard Kyle's mom yelling at him to stop acting like a two year old. Kyle tried to turn around and slug him but ended up slipping at the top and falling over backwards. Gabriel howled at that point, even while moving to help his friend up. Kyle scowled but then grudgingly laughed with him. It was a good thing that Kyle had a great sense of humor. 

"Since you feel it necessary to poke fun at my expense, you get to sleep in the attic," Kyle stated. Gabriel smiled and nodded to him turning to pull down the ladder to the attic. Climbing up, he stopped and gasped. Laying before him sound asleep was an angel. His heart fluttered in his chest and for a moment he stopped breathing. He couldn't see anything but her face but it was enough to captivate him. He would have stood there and stared at her for longer if not for Kyle. 

He came climbing up behind him shouting, "There are blankets and stuff and oh shit!" he exclaimed when he realized that his sis was sleeping. Unfortunately for Gabriel, Caitlyn jerked awake at the sound of Kyle's shouting. She sat up suddenly clutching the blanket around her and stared at the two men looking down at her. 

"Huh, who, what??" she sleepily called out. 

"Um... I'm so sorry. I didn't know anyone was here," stammered Gabriel still not taking his eyes off of her. 

"Sorry sis. I didn't know you were up here. We'll get outta here. Come on Gabe," called out Kyle as he grabbed Gabe's arm and turned to climb down out of the attic. 

Caitlyn was shocked when she woke up and saw him standing there. She thought she was still dreaming and frankly didn't mind since he was very handsome. Then Kyle was there which was weird, until she realized she wasn't dreaming. She groaned out loud as she remembered her stupid response to seeing them. God he's gonna think I'm a doofus, she thought to herself. Anger replaced embarrassment as she swore at Kyle. He is so gonna get it for not warning me that he was bringing someone home, she promised herself. Grumbling, Caitlyn shoved the comforter off and clamored off the air mattress. She quickly straightened up her clothes and smoothed her hair down the best she could. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and climbed down the ladder into chaos.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 03



Chapter 3 – At Last

"Pappy Pappy Pappy!!!" shouted the twins as Caitlyn's dad reached down to tickle his grandbabies. Squeals of laughter filled the room along with her dad's growling and empty threats as he chased them around the living room. A small smile a lighted her face as she basked in the love that filled the air around her. She could hear her mom and sister Angie cooking and talking in the kitchen. Sam was propped up in dad's recliner reading. Her feet kept up the beat singing through her earphones connected to the MP3 player tucked next to her. Kyle and Brandon were bickering and clamoring for remote dominance when the twins jumped on them and grabbing the remote ran out of the room. Caitlyn laughed out loud as her two brothers grimaced and chased after them.  

"Hi sweet pea," whispered her dad. Turning to him, Caitlyn cried out happily and threw her arms around him. Hugging each other tightly, they both felt emotions running through them that brought tears to each others eyes. "Oh how I've missed my little princess," her dad said pulling back to look down at her. 

"I've missed you too dad... a lot. I'm sorry I haven't been home and ..." Caitlyn exclaimed but stopped as her dad shushed her with a look. 

"You're here now and that's all that matters," stated her dad. "Now go help your mom while I get the decorations out of the shed," her dad commanded as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. Tears threatened to flow again as she remembered how her dad used to kiss her on the forehead all the time growing up. It was his way of comforting her as much as her mom's hugs did. Sighing to herself, Caitlyn took a step towards the kitchen when a voice stopped her. 

"I'm sorry about earlier," Gabriel said softly to her. "I'm Gabriel Matthews. I work with your brother," he said as he held his hand out to her. Finally, a face to go with a name, she thought to herself as she hesitantly reached out to take his hand. Expecting a firm shake, Caitlyn was startled when Gabriel lifted her hand up and gently kissed the back of it. When he lifted his head and stared at her, she felt her heart beat faster and warmth fill her as she was mesmerized by his stare. She felt herself being pulled closer and let her feet move her to him. 

The doorbell ringing brought the two of them out of their reverie. Blushing, Caitlyn moved quickly to open the door. A huge smile graced her face as she saw the final members of their family show up. Caitlyn jerked as she felt and then saw Gabriel move next to her and then onto to the porch to grab the suitcases that had been placed there. Her brother Joseph quickly thanked him and then ran back to his car to get the rest of his family. As she moved to put her shoes on to go help him, she saw her dad come out from the shed and yell at her to stay put. Then he yelled for his other two sons to get out of the house and come help. Caitlyn giggled as her brothers whined about the cold and snow while lacing up their boots and trudging outside. She froze when she turned and saw Gabriel lacing up his boots too. She honestly didn't expect him to help out but was touched that he wanted to. She blushed again when he suddenly looked up and smiled at her. Before she could say anything, a baby's cries erupted from the car where Joseph was standing. 

"Shhh shhhh shhh," Joseph crooned at his 18 month old son. The cold coupled with the stop of the car had woken up Joseph James, or JJ as everyone called him. Joseph was trying to get him out of the car seat while buttoning up his coat but JJ was not cooperating. "Ouch damn it stop," he cried out as his son grabbed his hair and tugged harshly. "Daddy said a bad word, daddy said a bad word," his other son sang out to his dismay. Glaring at him, Joseph stuck his tongue out and then reached over to tickle his oldest son Cameron. Luckily, when Cameron started laughing and squealing, JJ turned off the waterworks and giggled happily along. Now Joseph had two sons to tickle which made him very, very happy. But once again, a shadow of sorrow crossed his face as he thought about the other member of their family that wouldn't be here this year. Sighing deeply, he stopped tickling and went back to unbuckling the kids. "I love you daddy," Cameron whispered reaching over to hug him around the neck. "I love you too, Cam," he replied knowing Cameron could feel his pain. Even though he missed his wife, he was thankful that she had given him two wonderful sons. 

His melancholy thoughts stopped when the other door opened and his dad reached out to get Cameron. His joyous cries made Joseph smile and he looked up gratefully at his dad. Winking at him, he finally got JJ out and proceeded up to the house with the squirming bundle of joy. A huge smile lit his face as he saw his baby sis standing there with the door open. Hearing car doors slam, he knew that all the presents and bags that he stuffed in there was being unloaded by his brothers so he bounded quickly up the steps to embrace Caitlyn.

Caitlyn hugged her youngest brother fiercely. They were the closest of all the kids and he was always the first one she ran to when she needed something. When his wife passed away last year, Caitlyn was there helping with the funeral arrangements and comforting him as best she could. It helped that they lived in the same state and were only an hour away from each other. She missed him terribly when he withdrew from everyone to deal with his grief, but she gave him his space knowing he needed it. She let all her love for him pour out into that one hug and knew he felt it and was happy she was there. JJ finally broke up the moment tugging on Cate's hair and gurgling happily. Drawing away, she smiled as her brother rolled his eyes and put his son down to toddle into the house. Not saying anything, but knowing they would talk later, Joseph went to greet his mom and other family members. 

Caitlyn kept the door open while her other brothers and Gabriel finished unloading the car. Her dad and Cameron finally came bustling in after brushing off as much snow as they could from their impromptu snowball fight. The twins immediately ambushed the two and stole Cameron away for much playing. They were the same age as him and the three of them were inseparable when they were together. Closing the door, Caitlyn leaned against it for a moment trying to get a grip on her emotions. She was filled with joy at being here with the whole family, yet at the same time, she was filled with sadness. She knew that deep down, she yearned for a family of her own ... for children of her own, but the pain of being hurt had put a wall around her heart. She didn't know if she could bring that wall down and let someone in. Too much of what had happened to her initially colored her views on men and romance. She knew that there were good guys like her dad and brothers out there, but in her heart she didn't think that she was good enough for someone like them. 

Gabriel saw Caitlyn lean against the door. He got the feeling that she was trying to pull her emotions together. There was an air of melancholy and hurt about her. He wanted to pull her close and hold her in his arms forever. Kyle had mentioned that something had happened to her awhile ago and didn't think she had ever fully recovered emotionally from it. But looking at her, it was hard to picture anyone hurting her. He had been watching her since she woke up. Her physical beauty took his breath away. But what captivated him even more was her loving soul and gentle heart. Before he could go to her, loud cries and bawling could be heard upstairs which could only mean that one of the kids had gotten hurt.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 04



Chapter 4 – Settling Down

God, I'm tired, thought Caitlyn as she finished tidying up the living room. As much as she loved her family, it was chaos to have all of them under the same roof. From the kids to her brothers and sisters, to her dad and mom, she felt out of place and overwhelmed. Not to mention Gabriel being here. Even though she gave Kyle a good punch and talking to when she finally cornered him earlier, she was glad that he had brought him. They hadn't really had a chance to talk to each other, but just watching him brought a smile to her face. Kyle had mentioned his lack of family sort of, yet seeing him interact with hers, she was amazed at how easily he fit right in. He joked with her dad, teased Angie and Sam, played with the kids, and even helped her mom whenever he thought she was doing too much. Her brothers even took to him - horsing around and ribbing him just as much as he did to them. Not to mention how devastatingly handsome he was. That is icing on the cake, Caitlyn thought to herself. She chuckled out loud as the thought of him being gay crossed her mind. Just my luck, she thought. Suddenly, a soft voice brought her out of reverie.

"Anything I can do?" asked Gabriel. Caitlyn shook her head and stood up as she finished her task. He noticed how tired she looked. The energy she showed earlier had finally run its course. He was tired too, but he couldn't bring himself to retire before she did. "Would you like some wine?" he asked her. 

"That would be nice," replied Caitlyn moving to sit on the floor. She watched as Gabe made his way to the kitchen. He knew where everything was so she was confident he didn't need help getting them both a drink. Leaning back against the couch, Caitlyn closed her eyes for a moment. The quiet peaceful atmosphere soothed her. Everyone else was either asleep, or in their respective rooms snuggling down for the evening. Caitlyn had pushed her mom upstairs and volunteered to finish cleaning up for the night. She knew her mom hated going to bed with the house out of place. But after all the work she did earlier getting it ready for the family, Caitlyn felt this was the least she could do. 

A soft touch on her arm startled her. "Hey it's just me with the wine," Gabriel stated. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he apologized. She blushed at her silly reaction and reached out to take the glass from him. Settling back down, she sipped her wine and sighed appreciatively at its wonderful taste. 

"This is delicious. I wonder who makes it," Caitlyn commented. She took another sip as she watched him settle down right next to her. 

"Ummm, I think some place in California or something. I didn't really look at the label," Gabriel replied. "You're right though," he agreed, "it is quite delicious." Taking another sip, he leaned back into the couch and sighed contentedly. Caitlyn couldn't help but chuckle a little as she saw how tired he was. He should be, she thought, thinking back to everything he had done since he arrived with Kyle. Looking at him, she smiled again when he cocked one eyebrow at her. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes as he sipped on his wine some more. 

Caitlyn shifted once more settling back against the couch. She allowed herself a few moments to relax and enjoy her wine. It was nice just sitting there but she was a little apprehensive that Gabriel was there. She didn't know him well enough to relax her guard but she did know that she liked him. She could feel the wine kicking in. It had been a few hours since she had something to eat and with her low alcohol tolerance, the glass was getting to her fairly quickly. Coupled with her fatigue, she was so ready to go to bed.

"Here, let me get that," Gabriel said reaching over to take her wine glass. He could tell that she was on the verge of falling asleep. He smiled as she mumbled some nonsense under her breath but didn't fight him over it. "I'll be right back ok," he told her as he stood up to take them into the kitchen. She sleepily nodded, not bothering to open her eyes which had somehow managed to close recently. 

Gabriel stopped in his tracks when he stepped into the living room. Caitlyn had slid down to the floor and was curled up sleeping. She is so beautiful, he thought once again. Being as quiet as he could, he lowered himself to lie next to her. He could not stop staring at her. There was something about her that kept pulling him. Unable to help himself, his eyes roved down her body taking in every part of her. She was petite but not overly skinny like many women these days. She had curves in all the right places. The clothes she wore were not designer labels but were of good quality. The soft pastels only helped to highlight her pale complexion. As tempting as her body was, her face captivated him. He noticed that she wore no make-up and her skin was flawless. Her petite nose matched her oval face perfectly. Her cheeks were rosy from the wine and her lips ... oh god those lips, he thought. She has such kissable lips, he said to himself. But looking at her, he knew it would be a bad idea to try. He respected Kyle too much too, and knew he'd get his ass kicked if he tried anything. Instead, he reached over to gently shake her awake. Caitlyn frowned in her sleep, and mumbled incoherently. She pushed his hand away and instead curled closer to him. Reaching out to him, she tugged at him until he moved to cradle her in his arms. Sighing once more, she slipped deeper into sleep. 

Now Gabriel started to panic. As tired as he was, and as much as he wanted to stay here with her, he knew he shouldn't. Yet a part of him couldn't help but pull her close. She fits so perfectly in my arms, he marveled. Just a few minutes and then off to bed, he thought. Closing his eyes, he settled next to her and fell asleep.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 05



Chapter 5 – Secrets

Whispers and giggles reached Caitlyn's ears and woke her up. Five more minutes mom, she thought. Snuggling closer to the source of warmth, she tried going back to sleep. Something's different, she realized. Why is my bed moving, she wondered. A male grumble had her coming awake immediately. She tried to sit up only to have the arms encircling her grip her tighter. More grumbles came from the man she was laying against. Oh my god, what happened last night, she thought as she began to panic. The sound of more muffled giggling had her looking past the man and right into the eyes of her brothers' kids. Blushing beet red, she tried once again to move away from the man she now remembered was Gabriel. "Wake up," she frantically whispered while trying to extricate herself. Getting nothing but more grumbling, Caitlyn resorted to drastic measures. She pinched him ... hard. 

"Yowch!!! What the hell!!" cried Gabriel coming awake immediately. Before the cursing started, Caitlyn quickly moved her hand to cover his mouth. He grabbed her hand and started tugging when he finally realized where he was and who was with him. He stopped cursing and tried to move when three little voices made him freeze. 

"Gabe said a bad word, Gabe said a bad word," Emily, Mandy and Cameron sang teasingly. Looking at them sternly, the oldest of them, Emily, stated in an imitation of her dad, "You two are in BIG trouble." 

"Oh shit," Gabriel swore and then winced as he realized what he said. 

"Damn it Gabe," Caitlyn replied and then gasped realizing what she said.

Pulling themselves away from each other, they tried to compose themselves as the kids kept up the singing and Emily marched back and forth in front of them wagging her finger. Before she could say a word, Gabriel cleared his throat and said, "What's it gonna cost us?"

The kids suddenly stopped and gathered themselves into a huddle whispering amongst themselves. Caitlyn looked at Gabe questioningly. "You're not thinking of bribing them – are you?" she whispered. "But I know they won't say anything to anyone," she told him. "Besides, what is there to tell – It's not like we were doing anything. We just happen to fall asleep together ... on the living room floor ... in each other's arms ..." Caitlyn trailed off as the implications of what the kids saw and what they could tell came crashing down on her. Looking at Gabe, she knew he had already come to that conclusion. Swearing to herself, Caitlyn felt so stupid. 

"OK," Emily started. "Second desserts, pony rides, dress-up, and you have to build us a snow fort to play in." Standing with her little arms crossed and her two cohorts behind her mimicking her stance, Caitlyn could only sigh and wish for the floor to swallow her up. She looked over at Gabe who was pondering the kids' demands. 

"No deal," Gabriel replied. "Unless you add a family snowball war and hot chocolate with cookies," he finished with a big grin on his face. Cheers erupted from the kids which led to dancing around them. Conceding defeat, Caitlyn sighed and then squealed when Gabriel started tickling her. The kids immediately joined in and within seconds all of them were giggling and squealing amidst trying to tickle each other all over. 

"Truce please," Caitlyn begged while trying to catch her breath. "We're going to wake up the others," she stated. Some throat clearing from the doorway made them freeze. They turned as one and looked up with worried looks plastered all over their faces. Sam stood in the doorway with a stern look upon her face. Still dressed in their clothes from the night before, Caitlyn embarrassingly looked down and covered her face. Sam looked at each of the kids and with one look and a cock of her head; they scampered quickly and quietly back up the stairs to their room. Sam gazed back at Gabriel and Caitlyn. With a quick wink that only Gabriel saw, she turned and walked back upstairs. 

"Caitlyn, she's gone," Gabriel whispered softly in her ear. "It's alright. Come on. We had better get up to the attic before anyone else sees us," he stated. Getting up, he held out his hand to help her up. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sigh, Caitlyn reached for his hand and stood up. Not saying a word, they walked quietly up to the attic, hand in hand. Gabriel let her go only to grab a comforter and beckon her to lie back down. Giving in, she did as he bid and he softly placed the comforter snug around her. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and gently cupped her chin. Tilting her head up, he waited until she looked up at him. 

Gabriel could see the emotions playing out on her face. He wanted to reassure her but he knew she would still worry. God, she is so beautiful, he thought. He couldn't help but want to stare at her always. She tugged at him in ways no one else ever did, even though he didn't really know her. There was an air of fragility about her, even though she didn't show it. He thought about how she had snuggled into him last night. He wanted to feel her in her arms again. Without a second thought, he leaned down and kissed her. He felt her stiffen up and he thought of stopping, but then she just melted. He didn't push her but he felt the heat start to build between them. Her lips were as soft and sweet as he imagined. He wanted to ravish her mouth until she begged for more than his kiss, but he knew he had to stop. Grudgingly, he moved away. "Go back to sleep, my sweet Caitlyn," he whispered in her ear. Kissing her lightly one more time, Gabriel reached over to grab a comforter and resign himself to the couch downstairs.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 06



Chapter 6 -- Hot and Cold

"Earth to Caitlyn -- come in. What's up with you," asked Joseph settling down next to her on the window seat. He had wandered into the living room after calling out to her from the kitchen and getting no answer. Seeing her sitting there, he knew something was up. He waited for her to acknowledge him and when she didn't, he knew it was serious. Clearing his throat to get her attention, he finally reached out and poked her arm.

"Oh did you call me?" Caitlyn asked confusedly looking over at Joseph. "I didn't hear you ... did mom need me?" she asked turning to look towards the kitchen. 

"No silly. I was calling you. What's up -- come on spill it," Joseph demanded. When she didn't say anything, he got concerned. "Hey it's me, Cat. Come here," he said softly pulling her into a hug. He felt her shaking and hugged her tighter. He waited for her to start speaking knowing she would when she got herself together.

"I'm scared Jo," she whispered. She pulled away slightly and looked up into him with tear filled eyes. Sniffling and wiping her eyes on her shirt sleeve, she turned from him to gaze back out the window. "Remember when we were little playing out there during winter break," Caitlyn said with a smile. 

Staying calm, Joseph looked out the window and smiled in response. "You were the queen of the woods and we were your worker bees making snow forts and getting you hot chocolate," he chuckled remembering her and the many games they all played together. Caitlyn was always at the center of attention even though she was the youngest. She would come up with all their games, even after most of them got them all in trouble. The boys could not say no to her, but instead of making them miserable about it, Caitlyn had a heart as big as the ocean and always took care of them almost as much as their mom did. 

"I miss those days," she said sadly. "We were so happy and carefree," she said with a sigh. Turning to Joseph, she saw sadness in his eyes too. Feeling terrible, she reached over and pulled him into a hug. "I'm so sorry, Jo. I wasn't thinking," she cried. 

"Kami would not want me to be sad, Cat," he said remembering his wife. Pulling back, he lifted her chin up and said in a serious tone, "No one knows more than me how short life and love can be. I miss her every day but looking at my boys, I know that I am blessed to have loved her and been loved by her. I know the past haunts you, but the future won't stop because of it. Life is scary, Cat, but I would rather have the life I have now, than have lived with out it because I was afraid. Let yourself be loved, Cat."

Closing her eyes, Caitlyn let Joseph's words sink in. He's right as always, she thought. She opened her eyes and with a smile hugged him tight. No more words needed to be said between them. Joseph had picked up on her feelings immediately and knew exactly what to say to bring peace to her mind. She felt so much better and was so thankful Joseph was here. With a smile on her face, she pulled away and started to say something but suddenly there was a cry from upstairs as JJ woke up. Joseph moved to get up to go to him, but Caitlyn touched his arm. Standing up, she reached over to kiss his cheek and hurried up the stairs to her nephew.

* * * * * * * 

Gabriel was on his way downstairs when giggling made him stop and turn to the partially opened door near him. A smile touched his face as he saw Caitlyn tickling JJ while changing him. She had a smile on her face and seemed at ease at what she was doing. Buttoning his clothes back up, she picked him up and swung him in the air. Pretending he was an airplane, she zoomed him back and forth until she reached the rocking chair. Sitting down she gathered him close and began to rock him while softly crooning to him. JJ was still sleepy and feeling content with his caretaker, he drifted back to sleep. When she was sure he was deeply asleep, she eased herself carefully out of the chair. She cradled him close to her breast and rocked him gently as she placed him back into his crib. With a soft kiss, she tucked the blankets around him and put the side of the crib back into place. Resting her arms on the rails, she watched JJ sleep. 

Gabriel's heart skipped as he watched Caitlyn and JJ. She is a natural, he thought. He was in awe of how happy she looked and how gentle she was with JJ. Her joy tugged at him and he felt desire stirring. Was he falling for her, he wondered. He knew no woman had ever evoked such feelings in him before. He could picture her as the mother of his children. Without further thought, he felt his feet carry him into the room. He stood behind her and before he knew it, he had wrapped his arms around her pulled her into his embrace.

She sighed as she felt two strong arms enclose her and pull her back into his chest. She knew it was Gabriel. She folded her arms over his and leaned back resting her head underneath his. Together, they watched JJ sleep for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions. Pulling out of Gabriel's embrace, Caitlyn held onto his hand and led him out of the baby's room. Closing the door softly, Caitlyn turned and looked into Gabriel's eyes. There were emotions swirling in them and questions she knew he wanted to ask her. Jo was right, she thought to herself. Taking a deep breath, she stepped close to Gabriel again, rose up on her tiptoes, and lightly kissed him. 

Caitlyn's kiss was so light at first Gabriel thought he was imagining it. But when she stepped back and looked up at him, he knew it was real. Just gazing deep into her chocolate brown eyes he was mesmerized. It was true what they say about eyes being windows to the soul, he thought. So many emotions were playing across her face but he could feel her fragility through her slight trembling. As gentle as he could, he leaned toward her and kissed her back. 

When Gabriel looked at her, Caitlyn knew he was going to kiss her back. What she didn't expect was how much she wanted him to. At the first touch of his lips, she melted. Even though it was as chaste as before, she felt like she was burning up. She couldn't help but wrap her arms around his waist and pull him closer. She thought she was going to burst into flames when his hand cupped her face. His touch sent desire racing through her body like an electric current. He pushed her step by step until her back was up against the wall. Grabbing onto him harder, Caitlyn melted into his kiss and moaned softly into his mouth.

Desire enflamed Gabriel when he heard Caitlyn moan. His hand moved to cradle her head and he eagerly sought to plunder the sweetness of her mouth. Persistently, his tongue traced her lips until she hesitantly opened beneath their onslaught. He groaned out loud at his first taste of her. When her tongue, teasingly caressed his own, Gabriel almost lost control. Pulling back, he looked down at her and wanted her much more than before. Her eyes were closed and her cheeks were flushed with desire. She was panting heavily with her mouth slight opened. As he watched her, her tongue slipped out and erotically wet her lips. "God Caitlyn," he whispered gazing down at her. Not wasting another moment, he bent to ravish her beautiful mouth again. When she pulled away and gasped, he moved to nibble and lick her delicate sensitive earlobes. Kissing his way down, he smiled as she moaned again and began to writhe in his arms. Wickedly, he bit her with a little more force where her neck met her shoulder. 

Caitlyn cried out when she felt Gabriel's bite. Pleasure so strong hit her and she felt her knees weaken. Every nibble, every lick, every touch was bringing her closer and closer to the brink of madness. "Gabriel, Gabriel," she chanted. With all her strength, she pulled herself together and pushed him away. His eyes were alight with lust and desire, but underneath that she could see something more. She felt an ache in her heart -- in a place where she had locked up all her pain and hurt. Cradling his face in her small hand, she looked at him, while her thumb caressed his swollen lips. He pulled her closer but with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes. "I don't know where this is going but I know you won't hurt me," she said to him softly. He nodded solemnly. As if sensing her need to be held, he pulled her deeper into his warm embrace. Caitlyn nestled her head into his chest and closing her eyes, she allowed herself to be cherished and wanted if only for a moment. When she heard shouting downstairs and their names being called, she knew the moment was over. With a smile, she kissed him softly once more and then stepped away to walk downstairs.

* * * * * * *

Caitlyn smiled as she wandered away from the ruckus that was going on in the yard. The whole family had gotten bundled up to go play outside for a little while. While mom held onto JJ, the rest of them were building snow forts in anticipation of a snow war. Emily could be heard issuing orders to her other cohorts amidst squeals of laughter and threats of retribution. She heard her brothers dividing up the family into teams. Even her dad's booming shouts of authority made her laugh. As she wandered farther from them, the quiet stillness of the woods surrounding her parents' home began to soothe her. She always loved the outdoors. Whenever life got to be too much for her, she would escape to her own fantasy world here in these woods. Here she dreamed of love and joy in her own make-believe fairy tales. Wintertime was her favorite time to wander in the woods. Nature was wrapped up in peaceful slumber under a cocooning blanket of white splendor. All around her, the sparkling icy beauty took her breath away. As she wandered farther away, her mind drifted to the past.

Thinking about the past though made her think about Gabriel surprisingly. She couldn't deny that she was attracted to him -- and the kisses he gave her made her believe that he was attracted to her too. She was scared of him and of the feelings he easily stirred up inside her. But there were flames of desire sparking needs and wants that she didn't know she had. I don't even know him very well, Caitlyn thought as she continued to wander deeper into the woods. Her feet carried her knowingly to her favorite glade and daydreaming spot. Even tightly held in winter's grip, the glade was still beautiful. An old log lay crookedly between two large oak trees. Caitlyn walked over to it and brushing off the snow, she settled down and gazed around her. The beauty and calm serenity brought some peace to her chaotic mind and for a few moments, Caitlyn basked in the silent ethereal beauty that shimmered all around her. After a couple of minutes, she heard heavy footsteps coming closer to where she was. Looking in the direction of her parent's home, she watched a figure purposely stride towards where she was. When he got close enough to recognize, she started as she realized it was Gabriel. Jumping up, she caught her foot in a hidden rabbit hole and lost her balance. Trying to reach for something to steady her, she realized that there was nothing close to her but it was too late. She felt a sharp pain as she cracked her head against the top of the log and then nothing as consciousness left her.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 07



Chapter 7 -- Lost in the Dark

Gabriel was enjoying spending time with the kids outside. Their innocent joy and laughter brought a smile to his face and warmed his heart. He loved kids immensely. He hoped that one day to have a family of his own with at least three or four kids. He wanted to have a huge family so if anything were to happen to him, he knew they would never feel such loneliness as he had felt when he lost his mother. These were the thoughts that came to mind as he watched Kyle's family and especially Caitlyn.

Just thinking of her caused him to pause and look around and see where she was. Looking towards the woods that surrounded her parent's home, he saw a glimpse of her before she disappeared completely. He wanted to follow her and be alone with her, but he figured she needed alone time away from everyone, including himself. So he waited for her return. After awhile though, he started to worry. He extricated himself from the family and after nodding at Sam, who saw him move, he walked briskly in the direction Caitlyn had taken. He could see her footsteps in the snow covered ground and followed them as they meandered around. At a break in the trees, he saw her. Even though he didn't call out, she looked up at his approach. He watched as she rose to greet him. His joy turned to horror as he watched helplessly as she fell. Rushing towards her, he was too late to catch her. 

He fell next to her and immediately felt for a pulse. Upon finding one, he took deep breaths to calm himself. Calling her name, and gently stroking her face, he tried to get a response from her. He started shaking when he saw blood seeping into the ground underneath her head. He reacted. He took off one of his gloves to use as a bandage. He pressed gently while maneuvering to move her. Cradling her head carefully, he picked her up in his arms and dashed as fast as he was able to back to the house. 

Joseph saw Gabriel break free from the trees in a panic. He shouted for the others when he realized Caitlyn was hurt. As pandemonium broke out, their father's booming shout of authority had everyone freezing in their steps. "Everyone calm down. Kids, go with grandma and Auntie Sam inside," he said gently to them. He watched them herd the kids indoors and then turned to the others. Moving swiftly to Gabriel's side, he started issuing orders. "Kyle, you and Brandon go inside and clear off the kitchen table. Get blankets and towels. Angie, go get your EMT kit out of the car. Joseph, come help me get her inside," he finished. 

As they swiftly moved in unison to get Caitlyn inside, Gabriel told her father and brother what had happened. Placing her gently on the table, they moved to get her wet boots and outer garments off. Angie quickly reappeared and took charge as she had medical training. Whatever she asked or said was quickly acted on. "She has a nasty scalp wound that needs to be stitched up. What is more serious is her being unconscious," she said quietly to everyone. Looking at their dad, she said seriously, "We need to get her to a hospital. I can't stitch her here and if she has head trauma..."

"Brandon go and get my car started," he stated throwing him the keys. "Joseph and Kyle will stay here with the rest. Angie and Gabriel will come with us." As much as they all wanted to go, they knew they couldn't. Gabriel, holding on to Caitlyn's hand the whole time, moved to pick her up again. With Angie keeping her from bleeding too bad, they got her in the car and took off for the hospital thirty minutes away.

* * * * * *

Caitlyn heard her name being called faintly in the dark. It's too early to get up, she thought to herself. She felt very tired and drained. The only thought that entered her mind was to sleep some more. But a voice kept calling her trying to wake her up. It sounded vaguely like Gabriel. She wondered why he was so far away. He sounded concerned, even worried which didn't seem like him. Before she could begin to remember what happened, her body demanded rest, so she succumbed to the darkness once more.

Pain filtered through Caitlyn's consciousness waking her up once more. She still felt tired and disoriented but more alert. Besides the pain, she felt warmth -- someone was holding her hand. The touch put a smile on her face. Then whispers filtered into her mind. She heard her name being called once more. Making an effort, she opened her eyes gingerly and saw Gabriel looking lovingly at her. He looked haggard and worried. She tried to smile but it was too big of an effort for her. Instead, she squeezed his hand as best she could and drifted back to sleep. 

Gabriel knew Caitlyn recognized him when she opened her eyes. Her slight squeeze on his hand confirmed it. He was overjoyed but still worried when she fell back to sleep. Before he could buzz the nurse, Sam returned with coffee for him. He thanked her wearily. He had not left her side since they brought her to the hospital two days ago. He quickly told Sam what had happened. Sam left to go get the nurse. She looked hopeful so Gabriel prayed this was a good sign. 

* * * * * * *

Caitlyn felt Gabriel calling to her. It was a tiny pull in the dark but enough to want her to respond. She was tired still and her head hurt, but she needed him. With great effort, she forced herself to wake up. Odd sounds filtered into her brain. She didn't hear her family which was even more puzzling. Focusing on her other senses, she felt warmth where Gabriel's hand still held her own. A gentle touch on her face had her turning her head to feel more. She knew it was Gabriel's other hand caressing her tenderly. She knew he was saying something but she couldn't quite make it out. Her heart ached to see him so she opened her eyes once more.

"Caitlyn, love, can you hear me?" he whispered to her.

"Gabriel..." she mumbled. "What happened?" she asked.

Tears threatened to overwhelm Gabriel the minute Caitlyn spoke his name. He saw concern flood her face at his response to her. He bent over to kiss her soothingly. Laying his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes in relief. When her other hand softly stroked his cheek, he pulled back and looked at her. Turning his head, he kissed the center of her palm. Surprise had him looking back at her when he heard her moan. Her eyes were closed and a blush infused her cheeks. When she opened her eyes, he knew then and there that he would never leave her side. She loved him and he loved her. 

"I love you Caitlyn" he spoke softly. Joy lit up her face. Confusion followed which had him worried until he saw that she was looking at the hand cupping his face. He knew then she had seen the IV in her hand. He sat back down and started to talk to her.

"Caitlyn," he said grabbing her attention. "Do you remember falling in the woods?" he asked. He watched her brow tense up as she struggled to remember. A nod had him continuing. He told her how he found her and how she ended up in the hospital near her parent's home. He told her about her concussion. As gently as he could, he also told her how long she had been unconscious. He felt that any more information would have to come from the doctor. When he stopped talking, he watched the emotions play across her face as she digested the news. 

"My head hurts ... and I'm so tired," she stated. He nodded and reached behind her to hit the nurse's button. He spoke into the speaker next to it informing them that Caitlyn was awake and in pain. The nurse on duty let him know she would send the doctor right away. He looked back at Caitlyn and saw her eyes were closed once more. He let her be so she could rest. He kissed her forehead in reassurance and sat down to wait for the doctor.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 08



Chapter 8 - Revelations

Caitlyn withdrew from her family and Gabriel after the doctor came and spoke to her. Physically, she hadn't moved but they knew she shut herself away mentally to deal with the news. It had shocked the family but they had accepted it while she was unconscious. It was a lot to absorb on top of her losing so many days, including Christmas. The best thing they could do for her now was to let her be. So they congregated outside her room and left her with Gabriel for the time being. He never left her side anyways.

After she had been admitted to the hospital, the standard tests were run since she didn't wake up right away. Some result called for further testing. What they found shocked everyone. Even though Caitlyn seemed to be in great shape, she was sick. She had a heart condition that had somehow been undiagnosed all these years. There was a hole in her heart which allowed crossing of blood between the two chambers. It wasn't very big, but it was the main reason she was always tired. The doctor believed that it was congenital, but so small that no one detected it at any of her wellness visits. Yet now it was large enough to affect her health and needed to be corrected.

By chance, she had never been very active as a child. She preferred solitary quiet activities. Even as a baby, she was very calm and tended to be still. Her parents had enough trouble with her brothers so they indulged her. When she started school, the short gym time during school hours didn't affect her enough to cause alarm. As she got older, the times increased in which she participated in draining physical activity. She did tire easily after a short amount of time, but no one paid much attention to it as they figured it was because she wasn't used to it. To this day, everyone attributed her tiredness to stress, lack of sleep, etc – not something this serious.

The course of action was surgery. It frightened Caitlyn immensely. She understood everything the doctor had said about the procedure. She knew the risks and what it entailed. She knew it had to be done. But she had never been in the hospital for this long. She had never broken a bone, had stitches, sprained anything, etc. And now there was this. Just the thought of being cut open had her on the verge of passing out or throwing up. She couldn't decide which so she just closed her eyes and withdrew from the world.

Thoughts of Gabriel came to mind. She loved him. She knew he would never leave her. Even now, he held her hand and stroked her arm comfortingly. But she felt guilty. She worried him too much. She saw how disheveled he looked. She knew how scared he had been until she woke up. I can't put him through that again, she thought to herself. But the thought of pushing him away brought pain so sharp she felt she couldn't breathe. She thought of her family on the same note, but it was different. She pushed them away all the time yet in the end they were family – together always. It wasn't the same with Gabriel. He meant more to her. 

"Caitlyn ... say something please," Gabriel begged. She had been quiet for so long, he began to worry.

"Something," she responded sarcastically. He sighed knowing she wasn't ready to talk yet. He waited once more. But when she started to cry, he had to do something. He moved to sit next to her. With great care, he pulled her into his arms. 

"Shhh, Caitlyn. It's okay. I'm here, love," he whispered to her as he stroked her back. He felt her tears soak his shirt. She trembled in his arms. He tightened his embrace slightly. He wanted to take her pain away. He wanted to be the one to hurt and suffer and have to go through all this. Not her – not his Caitlyn. Pain filled his heart at the thought of losing her. The chances were slim but they were still there. He refused to go down that route. He focused on her. She was calming down some. She had stopped trembling. He pulled back and lifted her chin to look at her. She took his breath away. He had to kiss her, so he did. He kissed her with all the love and support he could put into it. He kept it brief as he remembered her injuries. He pulled away and without thought moved them both. He was now reclining with her tucked into his lap. His arms cradled her protectively. He wanted her to talk to him – to let him know what was going through her mind. But he wasn't going to push her. So he just held onto her.

Caitlyn felt better when Gabriel held her. His presence soothed her and brought some peace. She could feel his anxiety and worry, but more than that she felt his love. She never knew she could feel this strongly for someone. Scott had hurt her both physically and emotionally. She knew she locked up her heart after that affair. But with Gabriel, everything was different now. It was like she had been half asleep before he drifted into her life. And now, she was alive and whole again. She wanted him to stay here with her forever. Suddenly, Jo's words came back to her. She knew what he meant now about truly living. Now, she had to talk to Gabriel. She needed him now.

"Gabriel," she spoke softly into his chest. She had one hand twisting nervously in his sweater. She stopped when he laid his hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. His other arm wrapped tighter around her and pulled her even closer. She closed her eyes and sighed at the contact. Tilting her head back to look in his eyes, she said gently, "I love you, Gabriel." A smile lit up his face and she couldn't help but smile in return. With that simple declaration, Caitlyn felt healed. The past was the past and she was going to let it be. She had him now and they had the future. 

Gabriel felt the same as Caitlyn. Terrified, awed, giddy – and even more feelings tumbled round and round in his heart and mind. Her words reverberated in his head and brought so much happiness to him. He had to kiss her. He had to show her how he felt about her. Holding tight to her, he did just that.

His mouth descended on hers. Her lips were so soft. When they parted for him, his tongue gently explored her. She tasted sweet and tart at the same time. Her tongue shyly touched his. A groan escaped his lips and she boldly mimicked his movements. She pulled away to gasp for air. Her face was flushed with desire. He didn't stop to her delight. He moved to nibble on the side of her neck. She leaned her head back to give him more access. Her pants and soft cries were driving him crazy. Gently, he rolled her onto her back. He had to stop before things went any further. Mindful of her IV and her head, he sat back to catch his breath. 

Caitlyn felt him pull away. She knew he was worried about hurting her. The logical part of her said to stop but her desire for him wanted more. She wanted him in ways she couldn't explain. She wanted to tear his clothes off and touch his bare skin. She wanted him to bury himself in her and make her scream his name. More than anything, she wanted to forget about what the doctor had said. She knew that was cowardly of her, but she was afraid. And somehow she felt that if Gabriel loved her physically, he would take her fears away and she would be okay. But it seemed he knew better than she, so she opened her eyes to look at him. 

"Caitlyn," he started to say but stopped. He could tell the same thoughts and feelings were flowing through her. With a wince, he adjusted himself and sat back in the chair next to her bed. He smoothed the covers around her and lowered the bed so she could rest. He stroked her face gently and leaned over to kiss her once more. Resting his forehead on hers, he whispered "When you are well..."

"I know, Gabriel. It's okay. Hold my hand?" she asked. He sat back down and complied while watching her. After a moment, she told him how she felt about what the doctor said. They talked quietly for a bit, and then he went to get her family. When they all returned and took up seats around her, Gabriel sat back down and picked up her hand again. Her parents talked to her and agreed to make all the arrangements for her surgery and whatever else the doctor wanted. Gabriel remained quiet but noticed her fatigue. He reached over to kiss her once more and told her to sleep. She nodded and drifted away as they all quietly shuffled out of the room. 

"Gabriel," Caitlyn's dad started to speak when they returned to the waiting room. Holding up his hand, Gabriel stopped him. He looked at each one of Caitlyn's family members and then his gaze shifted back to her dad.

"I want you all to know that I love Caitlyn. I am not leaving her and once she is well, I intend to ask for her hand in marriage. I know this is unexpected but she feels the same. Caitlyn's health comes first and I will stay by her side through this," he stated firmly. Her dad glowered at him for a moment but then smiled and reached over to hug him. 

"We all knew there was something between the two of you. I couldn't ask for a better man for my little girl," her dad reassured him. Grins appeared on everyone's face and they all hugged him. Caitlyn's mom cried a little and the older brothers threatened him with all sorts of dire punishment should he hurt her. Joseph smiled happily and rolled his eyes at his brothers. Kyle and Brandon told him that Sam and Angie kind of figured out what was going on. Since they stayed home with the kids, their husbands promised to tell them later. When the doctor came back to talk to her parents, Gabriel slipped away and back to Caitlyn's side. He held her hand once more and watched her sleep.



Unwished for Gift Ch. 09



Epilogue

Within a week, Caitlyn had undergone surgery to fix her heart defect. Advanced technology kept her from having her chest cut open. Instead, she had a small scar on her left thigh where a catheter had been used instead. It took her a few weeks to be well enough to return to work and normal activities. During this time, Gabriel insisted she stay with him in his condo. He moved her in as soon as she was able to leave the hospital. True to his word, he stayed by her side, even changing his schedule so he could work from home. 

Because they were together all the time, Gabriel was able to see the vulnerable side of Caitlyn that no one else really saw. She let her guards down and was truly herself around him. She opened up to him as she recuperated. She let herself be babied and cared for. She still tired easily after the surgery so he waited on her hand and foot. He comforted her when she needed it and left her alone when she didn't. And every night, he climbed into bed next to her and held her in his arms while she slept. They spoke of their past and learned about each other as the days passed. Caitlyn loved him even more as he showed restraint towards being physical with her. But she couldn't hide her desire for him completely. The brief moments he saw it, he kissed her with such passion, she prayed she wouldn't pass out. 

The day the doctor proclaimed her well enough to do normal things, Gabriel treated her to a romantic dinner at a local restaurant. He was nervous as he waited for her to finish getting dressed. In his pocket, he kept touching the engagement ring he got for her. Breathe, just breathe, he kept reassuring himself. Thinking back to earlier in the week, he remembered the call to her parent's house. He spoke to her father and asked for her hand. Of course, Caitlyn's parents gave their blessing readily. They saw how much he loved her. Even though, they had only known each other for a few months, the love they had for each other was evident every time their family saw the two of them. 

He knew she loved him. But marriage was a whole different affair. If she said no, he knew he wouldn't be able to survive. After he brought her home with him, they never talked about it. And now, there was no way he could live without her in his life. So, he had to take the biggest risk of his life and ask the woman he loved beyond a doubt to be Mrs. Matthews.

All his thoughts and worries stopped mid-stream when Caitlyn walked out of the bedroom. He mouth dropped open at the sight of her. She was wearing a simple pale sky blue dress. It clung to every curve she had on top and flowed sensuously below the waist to the floor. It was simple yet elegant and it was perfect. He noticed she made an exception to her no make-up policy by wearing lip gloss. Thoughts of those luscious lips made him step towards her and grab her for a kiss. They both moaned as their desire for each other started to burn. He had to regretfully pull away before they missed dinner all together. He kissed her briefly one last time.

"You are so breathtakingly beautiful, love," Gabriel told her. She blushed in response. "Shall we go to dinner?" he asked dashingly as he held out her shawl. She smiled enchantingly and took his arm when he offered it. Then, they were out the door and to the restaurant. They had a wonderful, intimate dinner for two that was romantic in every aspect. And then, they were back at home to Gabriel's delight and dread. He had gotten cold feet at proposing to her during dinner but now he had to know. 

He sat her down on the couch and held her in his arms for a moment. She fit him perfectly. He wanted to hold her forever. With that thought, he took a deep breath and let her go. He saw Caitlyn's eyes fill with confusion. As he moved to kneel at her feet, he saw them go wide with surprise. On his knees, he pulled the ring from his pocket and haltingly asked her to marry him. Joy filled him at her happy smile and nod and he took the ring and put it on her finger. Then, he grabbed her and kissed her. 

Caitlyn melted in his arms the minute his lips touched hers. Her arms wrapped around him and pulled him closer. Moans escaped her lips as his hard muscled chest came in contact with her plump breasts. She felt one hand wrapped possessively around her waist while the other was tangled in her hair. When he finally stopped kissing her so she could breath, she opened her eyes and looked at him. Love was written all over his face. Tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill over.

"Caitlyn, love, don't cry," he said gently.

"I love you so much, Gabriel. I never thought I could be so happy," she replied in a quivering voice. 

"Oh my love, you make me so very happy too," he whispered as he kissed her again.

"Make love to me," she said quietly when he pulled away again.

Gabriel looked down at her when she said that. She was scared -- he saw it in her eyes. But, she was also aroused. He wanted her so bad, but he knew how afraid of sex she was. Up to now, their make out sessions were limited to kissing and slight fondling. She had frozen up the one time his hand grazed her panties. He had wanted to wait until they were married or she was more comfortable, but he knew she needed reassurance of how much she meant to him. Passion filled him as he bent to kiss her once more. 

His kiss was demanding in every way. He bruised her lips and plundered the sweetness of her mouth. When she pulled away, he moved to her neck. He felt her hands move to his chest. He tightened his grip in her hair and moved her head to the side. He sucked and nibbled as she began to move beneath him. When his name fell from her lips, he nipped her shoulder in response. She gasped and shivered which turned him on even more. 

He pulled away only to grab her hand and tug her off the couch. Hand in hand, he strode purposely to the bedroom. He stopped at the edge of the bed and looked at her. She looked disheveled and thoroughly kissed. Her cheeks were filled with color and her lips were slightly swollen. But her eyes were filled with longing and need. His eyes never left her face as he shed all his clothes. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of his evident desire for her. To distract her, he grabbed her face and devoured her lips once more. He wanted to take things slowly, but when she melted against him and moaned, he had to have her. He pulled back and turned her around. He carefully unzipped the back of her dress. She shivered sensuously as he pushed the top down her arms and the rest fell to pool at her feet. He had to close his eyes and breathe deeply for a moment as her body came into view. When, he got a grip on his desire, he turned her around to face him. She blushed as he looked at her and tried to cover herself but he took her hands in his. 

Caitlyn was scared. Memories of her first time slithered into her head and brought fear along with it. She didn't want to disappoint Gabriel or even worse pull away from him. But when his hand caressed her face lovingly and he whispered words of endearment in her ear, she forced herself to forget and trust in Gabriel. With resolve, she took the initiative now to remove her bra and panties. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as she fought not to cover herself again. A squeak of surprise erupted as Gabriel suddenly grabbed her and they both fell onto their bed. He enfolded her in his warm embrace and kissed her once more. She relaxed against him and gave into the feelings he was eliciting. Their passion and need grew with every kiss and touch they gave each other. No words were needed as they explored each others bodies. 

Gabriel enjoyed all the moans and cries he brought out of Caitlyn. He pulled back and gentled his touches whenever she stiffened. And when her hands urgently pulled him closer, he smiled and continued his worship of her body. He almost lost it when she arched against him and cried out as his lips closed on her aching nipples. As he made love to her breasts with his mouth, one hand slipped lower to stroke her belly. He felt the tension building in her, but when he glanced up at her, he was pleased it was not in fear. 

When his hand reached the place between her legs, he was amazed how wet she was and how much he wanted to bury himself in her. But he wanted to hear her cries of pleasure as he made her come. So he used his hand to bring her over the edge while his lips loved her breasts. And as she came apart, his body burst into flames of desire as he watched her. He had to have her. 

"Caitlyn, love," he whispered softly as his body covered hers. He gently nudged her legs further apart. He waited until she opened her eyes to look at him. Her smile was all the encouragement he needed. With his eyes locked on hers, he gently pushed himself into her. He watched her eyes widen with surprise. He wanted to go slowly so as not to hurt her, but she locked her legs around him and pulled him down. Now, he had to close his eyes as he felt her come again around him. 

"Gabriel... I need... please give me more," Caitlyn begged as her body shook in pleasure. She cried out his name again and again as he moved in her. Her hips raised and met his every thrust. She never wanted these feelings to end. This is what making love is, she thought in amazement to herself. Coherent thought fled her as Gabriel moved faster and harder upon her. The room was filled with cries and moans and sounds of joyous love making. As one, they moved together until Caitlyn felt her body explode and screamed at the intensity of her orgasm. Gabriel let himself go and he followed her into ecstasy. As he collapsed on her, he felt her body pull him closer. 

"I love you, Caitlyn," he said emotionally to her. His heart overflowed with joy and happiness and tears pricked his eyes. 

"I love you, Gabriel," she replied just as emotionally. She refused to let him go as they both drifted off to sleep. The last thought she had was how much of an unwished for gift he was this Christmas and how blessed she was to have him now and forever.

The End