Storiesonline.net ------- The Artist's Wolf by Eon Copyright© 2005 by Eon ------- Description: Gabriel Wolfe is a bad boy with a motorcycle, a sexy grin, and a heavy past. Aislinn Lexington is sweet, quiet, and a star artist. Able to see past his record and win past his standoffish exterior, Aislinn submits to Gabriel's passion. And he submits to her gentle love. Codes: MF slow rom 1st cons het oral pett preg ------- ------- Chapter 1: Meeting The Wolf "I hear he's been in prison. Not just juvi, but actual prison!" Aislinn Lexington glanced up from her sketchpad and glanced over at the group standing not too far from her. The perky blonde who had spoken, the head cheerleader, was clinging to the captain of the football team. Edward "Eddie" Montard had lived next door to Aislinn her whole life, and put a claim on her, insisting she was his girlfriend. Of course, he never acted like it. Eddie was always in a crowd of people, mostly girls. He probably just knows I don't like being the center of attention, she thought, pushing a feeling of unease down deep. Besides, she didn't consider him to really be her boyfriend, so what did it matter? Lifting her head, Aislinn glanced in the direction the crowd was looking. Across the parking lot, securing a helmet to the back of a motorcycle, was the new student who had just been transferred in. He was tall, easily over six feet, lean and perhaps a bit muscular, though she couldn't be sure while he was wearing a jacket. Dark hair was long, spilling over his shoulders. Aislinn noticed his features; lovely eyes, narrow nose, somewhat full lips, high cheekbones, slightly pointed and definitely stubborn chin. His expression was neither happy nor sad, angry nor joyous, merely indifferent and slightly cold. She shivered as his dark eyes traveled over her for the briefest second. "He's like, almost twenty or something," Eddie said. "He must have been held back quite a bit. Of course, if you're in jail, you're going to get held back." An chorus of laughter and giggles greeted his statement. Aislinn rolled her eyes. She was the quiet, shy, good girl who never complained, never rebelled, never did anything even remotely defiant. They paid no attention to her, to the rolling of her eyes, and she wondered if they'd even notice it if she did say something. "Nice to not be the oldest people in class, huh, Ais?" Eddie called over to her. I hate being called that, she thought, but she didn't voice it out loud. Indeed, both she and Eddie were older than the rest of their fellow Seniors; he was nineteen, and she was a little over eighteen. Eddie had been held back at least once, somewhere along the line, so Aislinn felt he had no right to talk. Her case was different, however. The year she had been set to go into Kindergarten, she had gotten seriously ill with pneumonia. When she was young, she had been weak and sickly, and the illness had kept her off her feet for a long time. She had eventually recovered, and gone to school the next year, and now her sicknesses were a thing of the past. It was just about time for class. Aislinn put away her sketchpad and stood up, glancing over to Eddie and the crowd. She froze; they were standing in front of the new guy, and they wouldn't let him pass. No, she thought, shaking her head. If he really wanted them to get out of his way, he'd make them. Aislinn moved slowly closer, not really wanting to get involved, but curious about the strange nonetheless. Something about him send a chill down her spine. "Hey, man," Eddie said, grinning arrogantly. "You can't just walk in here, you know. You gotta pay homage to the great Eddie Montard." The stranger raised a feathery brow, skeptical. "Funny. That wasn't in the handbook they sent me." A few people in the crowd snickered, but they were quickly silenced by a wave from Eddie. Aislinn was just thinking that she ought to just forget this and go to class when Eddie noticed her. He beckoned to her, and she went forward reluctantly, until he grabbed her, dragging her close to his side. The arrogant grin was back on his face, but the stranger wasn't look at Eddie. He was looking at her. "I'm Eddie Montard," Eddie said. "This is my girl, Aislinn. Show some respect, boy." Again, that eyebrow went up. The stranger was silent for long moments, staring Eddie straight in the face. A lopsided grin finally appeared on his face, and he reached out, catching hold of Aislinn's hand. Before she could stop him, he had bent down and kissed knuckles gently, in a fashion she could only describe as knightly. Eddie scowled, pulling her away from the stranger, who straightened, his lopsided grin taking on an arrogant air. "Seems like I'm not the one who needed to show her respect," he said, keeping his voice low. "You need to show me some respect," Eddie snarled. "What's your name, boy?" "Gabriel," The stranger replied. "Gabriel Wolfe." Without another word he pushed through the crowd and headed into the school. The whole crowd to turned to stare after him, and so Aislinn indulged herself in the act as well, something she dearly wanted to do. His eyes and voice had been so very cold, and yet... there was something about him. Like a knight in shining armor, she thought. Except he's more like the knight who's been wrongly accused by some evil lord, stripped of his armor, and left to fend for himself. Aislinn didn't know where the image came from, but it was there. "Hey," The head cheerleader spoke up. "Isn't Gabriel an angel?" ------- Gabriel glared down at his schedule, and slammed his locker shut. He didn't want to be here. The only reason he was here was because his parole officer hadn't given him much choice. Stupid man, he thought, shouldering his backpack. His parole officer was convinced that Gabriel was still mixed up in drugs, alcohol, sex, and all the other stuff that had gotten him into jail in the first place. Gabriel himself was the only one who knew he was clean; he hadn't even had any sex since getting out of jail. Before it had been a game, something he did because it was fun. Now those girls in their short skirts and tight tops seemed so dirty and trashy. So maybe he'd had something of an epiphany while he was in jail. It might have changed his lifestyle, but it hadn't changed him all that much. Very little made him smile or laugh anymore; not that his laughter had ever been anything other than hollow before. Gabriel didn't have a great deal to live for, except for an odd new ambition to turn his life around and make something of himself. He had caught sight of her, and for a moment he had smiled; a real, genuine smile. She'd been sitting on the curb, her head bent over a sketch pad, her thin brows furrowed in concentration. A slight breeze had caught her long hair, hair the color of cinnamon that fell to the middle of her back. In that moment she had glanced up, and he'd caught a glimpse of her face. Not especially beautiful by most standards, but there was something there nonetheless. Her eyes were large, maybe a bit too large, almond shaped and pale, cornflower blue, surrounded by long dreamy lashes. Her nose was small, pertly upturned, and he had seen on closer inspection that it was spattered with strawberry freckles. And her mouth... she had a delectably full, sensual mouth that wouldn't quite fit her face for another few years yet. A bit plain to most eyes, perhaps, but intriguing to Gabriel. Then he had seen the group standing before him and his smile had faded. The one called Eddie was so typical; an arrogant, irritating bastard. But when the little plain faced artist had suddenly been pulled to his side, that was the real shock. His girlfriend, Gabriel thought, shaking his head. She looked like she had some depth to her, but she's probably as shallow as the rest of them. It didn't matter. That girl and her ass of a boyfriend was not his concern. Right now he needed to find his homeroom. The school was big and noisy. It almost made Gabriel wish he was still in jail. Finally he did manage to find his homeroom, room 205, and he took a deep breath, reaching for the door. He was paying attention, and apparently whoever it was who ran into him, also reaching for the door, wasn't either. "Oh, oh, I'm sorry!" A breathless voice squeaked. Gabriel turned. Much to his dismay, the little artist was standing next to him. He hadn't realized at first just how tiny she was. Her blue eyes were very wide and she was pale beneath her freckles. What was her name again? he thought, watching her back away from him nervous. Ah, yes, Aislinn. "It's fine," He grunted, reaching for the door again. He was going to just go in, but something in him made him step back, holding the door open for her. She smiled at him timidly, and Gabriel was tempted to smile back. He imagined if she just let go and laughed, her face would light up a pitch black room. Damnit, he thought, shaking his head. Such stupid, sentimental thoughts aren't like me. "Um, you're... Gabriel, right?" Aislinn asked quietly. "Yeah," He answered shortly. She graced him with another shy smile. "Well then, welcome, Gabriel. And thank you." With that she slipped through the door. Gabriel stared after her for a moment, then walked into the room himself. He had to have imagined it. She'd been quiet and polite, not like most girls he knew. Maybe he'd been wrong; maybe she did have depth. But if that was the case, why was she dating a scumbag like Eddie? ------- Chapter 2: The Artist's Assignment Aislinn sat back and studied the canvas before her. The picture of the ballet dancers felt like it was missing something. It seemed that all of her pictures were like that lately. For some reason she felt as though her well of inspiration had dried out. With a sigh she set down her paint brush and began to pack of her things. Usually she worked to the very end, then got a late pass from her teacher, but there was no motivation to do so today. Art was her last period on Mondays. The art teacher clapped her hands sharply, twice. That was the signal for the class to stop what they were doing and listen to her. Aislinn slid her backpack onto her shoulders, then turned on her stool to face the teacher. Everyone else in the class was watching her attentively, as well. "I have a new long term assignment for you," The teacher said. "This month, from the moment I finish, until, oh let's say... just before Halloween... I want all of you to find something, an inanimate object... i.e. something that doesn't move on its own and does not breathe. You will learn everything you can about that object, you will draw sketches, you will do a painting, oil, acrylic, or water color, your choice, and you will hand in a report on everything you learned." There were a few groans, a few snickers, some whispers here and there. Most of the class thought the teacher was a loony. Aislinn agreed that she did tend to be a bit loopy, but she was also brilliant. This was a strange assignment, to be sure, but maybe it was what she needed. Now, what kind of inanimate object should I choose? she wondered. Not that I haven't drawn things that are inanimate, but this should be something I haven't done before. Something that is involved and complicated. She was sure that if she asked Eddie, he'd tell her to draw his football or helmet or something. Aislinn wanted something interesting. She shifted her backpack more comfortably on her shoulders and stepped out into the cool autumn air. If she moved quickly, she could catch the bus before Eddie came and decided to drive her home. Right now she didn't feel like dealing with him. Aislinn was turning towards the buses when something caught her eye. Gabriel's motorcycle looked strange amid all the cars. He's not there, she thought, unconsciously moving closer. I wonder if he was kept after class or something. Maybe he was already starting trouble. Well, it didn't matter, after all she was only looking. Aislinn crouched beside the motorcycle, a mere two feet away, and studied it closely. There was an odd sensuality to it. She could be that to Gabriel it wasn't just cold metal and a motor. Just as her paints and canvas were a lot more to her than simply paint and canvas. Setting down her backpack, Aislinn retrieved a pencil and her sketchpad from it. She flipped open to a fresh page and began sketching. It felt awkward at first; the motorcycle was like nothing she'd ever tried to draw before. But as always she fell into it, her concentration becoming so deep that she didn't hear the footsteps that came up behind her. "What are you doing?" The soft, cold voice speaking behind her made her jump. Aislinn dropped her sketchpad and leapt to her feet, whirling. She stumbled back a step when she saw Gabriel, his arms folded over his chest, looking somewhat impatient. He bent over and lifted her sketchpad, studying it for a long moment before holding it out to her. "I... I'm sorry..." Aislinn stammered. "I was just... well you see my art teach... she gave us an assignment and..." She trailed off, her gaze drifting over his shoulder. Eddie was standing on the steps of the school and he had noticed her. He was frowning, beckoning for her to come over to him. In a minute or two he'd start over here, and then she'd have no choice but to walk home with him. Aislinn began stuffing her sketchpad back into her backpack, while Gabriel walked around her, settling down on his bike. "You want a ride?" He asked. The question startled her, and she turned her head to look at him. He'd started up his motorcycle, making it a little difficult to hear, and he was holding out his helmet to her. Aislinn glanced back over her shoulder to see Eddie striding towards them. The scowl on his face was not promising. Again, she turned to Gabriel, who was still waiting, an eyebrow raised inquisitively. "Yes," Aislinn said suddenly. She reached out, taking the helmet with shaking hands, and pulled it on. Eddie was starting to run towards them now. Aislinn slid onto the bike, wrapping her arms around Gabriel's waist and holding onto him tight. What am I doing? she wondered frantically as Gabriel sped out of the parking space. I don't know this guy, he's supposedly a criminal. What is wrong with me? But she didn't really feel any fear. Turning her head to watch Eddie become smaller and smaller as they raced away, she could feel only a thrill of excitement. She wasn't certain for a long time where they were going. When Gabriel finally did pull over, she felt a little sick. Aislinn was not used to motorcycles. She stumbled off, and pulled the helmet off, shaking her hair back. With a groan, she slumped down to the sidewalk, and sat for long moments, gulping in deep breaths of air to calm her stomach. Gabriel sat down next to her and waited until she lifted her head before speaking. "So, what was that all about?" He asked. "Oh, I just... I didn't feel like dealing with him today," Aislinn replied. Gabriel huffed. "I meant the drawing." "Oh!" Aislinn exclaimed softly, her cheeks turning red. "Well, it's the assignment, you see. Our teacher wanted us to choose an inanimate object. She wants use to spend a month learning everything we can about it." "That's a strange assignment," Gabriel commented, glancing around. "Come on, get up. I'll buy you some ice cream, it will cool your stomach." Aislinn blinked at him, unable to move. He was scowling at her, his expression impatient, and yet he'd just offered to buy her some ice cream? He's as mercurial as the sea, she thought, standing up from the sidewalk. I would think he's trying to be friendly, but he's glaring at me like I've killed someone he loves, or something. She followed Gabriel as he walked into the nearby Friendly's restaurant. A waitress greeted them cheerfully, and took them to a seat in the non-smoking section. "I gave it up," Gabriel said quietly, although Aislinn hadn't actually asked the question. "That's good," Aislinn answered, her voice equally soft and her eyes on the placemat. "It's such a bad habit, really." He gave her an imperceptible nod then dropped his head to look at the menu. Aislinn shifted uncomfortably on the seat until the waitress came back. Gabriel looked up from the menu at last and motioned for her to order first. He's polite, even if he does look pissed at me, she thought. Eddie never, ever lets me order first. "Just a small sundae," Aislinn said softly. "Chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel." "Hunny," The waitress said, her voice slightly nasally, with what sounded like a Brooklyn accent. "You're so skinny." The waitress herself was a bit pudgy. She turned to eye Gabriel. "You should tell your girlfriend to eat more, handsome." "We're not dating," Aislinn and Gabriel said in unison. The waitress looked back and forth between them, then shrugged. She took Gabriel's order (a bacon cheeseburger and a large chocolate milk shake) then left the table. That left them once more in uncomfortable silence, and Aislinn wracked her brain, looking for something to talk about. She cleared her throat, drawing Gabriel's attention. "You shouldn't eat things like that," She said softly. "It's really bad for you." "Speaking of bad for you," Gabriel said. "Why the hell are you dating a creep like that? You look too intelligent for someone like him." Aislinn was a bit taken aback by that. "Oh, well, we're not really... I mean, that is to say, Eddie says we're dating but... I don't really consider him to be... we don't really do things couples do. It's just something he says." "Doesn't it bother you?" Gabriel asked. "I don't know," Aislinn replied, shrugging. "I guess I don't pay much attention. It seems so trivial." "Your happiness shouldn't be trivial," Gabriel said quietly. Aislinn didn't know how to respond. Fortunately she didn't have to, because the waitress was back with their food. She set Aislinn's sundae down in front of her, along with a spoon, then put down the plate of food for Gabriel and a giant, overflowing milkshake. Picking up her spoon, Aislinn peered at the cheeseburger. Her parents were health food nuts and she never ate stuff like that, but it did look kind of tasty. Gabriel glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow. She looked down, swirling her spoon idly, and shrugged. "My parents don't let me eat that sort of thing," She explained. "I guess I don't understand the appeal because I've never had any of it." "Here," Gabriel said, holding up the cheeseburger. Aislinn stared at him. He waited for her, much more patiently than she would have expected him to, and she leaned forward, taking a small bite. It was interesting; cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato all on one burger. She sat back, licking a bit of tomato juice from her lips, her expression thoughtful. "Well?" Gabriel asked. "It's good," She said, smiling shyly. "Although I can't imagine eating all of that." Gabriel chuckled. "I have a healthy appetite. So, tell me about this assignment of yours." It was only a small hint of laughter, but it was laughter nonetheless, and it brought a smile to her face. Aislinn had begun to think that Gabriel didn't have any moods other than angry, impatient, and indifferent. She settled back in the booth, alternating between eating her ice cream and talking about the project her art teacher had assigned to her. Gabriel seemed to be listening to her intently, something that felt odd, but good. Eddie hardly even looked at her when she talked. Suddenly she was glad she'd gone out on a limb and accepted his offer of a ride. ------- Although he'd enjoyed her company that afternoon, Gabriel wished that Aislinn would loosen her grip just a little. She didn't seem overly fond of his motorcycle as far as actually riding on it went. So he was glad when they finally pulled up in front of her house. It was a quaint little thing in the middle of the suburbs, perfectly white washed with charming dark green shutters and flower boxes beneath the windows. Gabriel guessed that, aside from the flower beds in the front, there was probably a garden in the back. The yard was even surrounded by a white picket fence. "Nice place," Gabriel commented dryly. "If you like postcards," Aislinn answered as she pulled off the helmet. "It's cozy and homey, I suppose, but it can feel a little too typical." Gabriel chuckled. "Spoken like a true artist." Aislinn turned to hand the helmet back to him, and he had to fight a smile. Her hair was badly tousled and her cheeks were red; she looked lovely. He wasn't really sure what possessed him to speak, but before he knew it, he was talking, silently cursing his wayward mouth. "Today was my day off, but usually I work in the afternoons," He explained. "I work at a garage... fixing cars and motorcycles. If you really want to choose motorcycles for your project, you can visit the garage tomorrow. If you'd like." It was a mistake. He never should have said it. The way her pale blue eyes lit up, her lips curving into a smile that made her face glow... it was too much. For the most part, when he had seen her in the morning, in the few classes they shared, and during their time together this afternoon, she had seemed so quiet and morose. There was true happiness in her expression now. "That would be perfect!" Aislinn exclaimed. "Wait here, I'm going to go ask my parents if it's okay!" Before he could stop her she was racing into the house. Gabriel groaned and sat back, pulling on his helmet. That was really stupid, he thought. I shouldn't be getting involved with a little goody two shoes like her. He was going to just leave, before she came back out, but movement at the corner of his vision caught his attention. Eddie was watching him from the driveway of the house next door, leaning against a little red sports car with the same air of possession he'd used with Aislinn. That decided him; Gabriel wasn't going anywhere. When Aislinn came back out, she seemed more alive than he had ever seen her. She practically skipped down the front walkway to wear he sat, waiting. If she noticed Eddie glaring at them both, she didn't show it. "They said it was okay," She said breathlessly, gracing him with a dazzling smile. "Good," Gabriel said. "Dress in old clothes tomorrow. I'll get you some coveralls that will fit you, but there's no reason to risk it." Aislinn nodded. "Okay. And... thanks so much, Gabriel! You know, everyone was saying today that you were cold and scary, but I don't think you are at all." Gabriel didn't know how to respond to that, and fortunately he didn't have to. Aislinn skipped back into her house, humming cheerfully to herself. In a way, he was relieved that she was gone, and yet he was also disappointed. There was definitely more there than he had first assumed; intelligence and creativity, yes, but naiveté, kindness, innocence, and playfulness. So many things that had been over shadowed by Eddie, and who knew how long that had been going on. Sparing a last lopsided grin for Eddie, who was still glaring, Gabriel finally started up his bike and drove away. I'm asking for trouble with this one, he thought, sighing inwardly. Why should I care about that girl or her stupid project? But when she'd looked him in the eye earlier in the day, and welcomed him to the school, he'd felt a sudden surge of protectiveness. The only other woman to ever have earned his protectiveness had been his younger sister. But he'd failed to protect her, and now she was dead. Just one afternoon, Gabriel thought. I'll take her with me tomorrow because I already said I would, but after that... it's better for both of us if I stay out of her life. ------- Chapter 3: Engines and Grease Aislinn sat on the steps in front of the school, her eyes trained on the parking lot, her sketchpad forgotten in her lap. As Gabriel had told her, she had worn a pair of faded old jeans with holes at the knees, a plain black t-shirt that was a little tighter on her than she was comfortable with (she'd had it since she was twelve) and a pair of scuffed up work boots that she wore when working in the garden. Even though the bus had dropped her off only moments ago (she'd refused a ride from Eddie), she was beginning to panic. What if he doesn't come? Aislinn thought. Would he do that? They say he was in jail... maybe he's mean, maybe he likes to see people sad... The thoughts were ridiculous, and she shoved them away. She didn't know why she was getting so worked up about this, and decided that it was only because she wanted to do well on her assignment. However, a thrill went through her when she heard the roaring of a motorcycle, and she turned her head to see Gabriel driving into the parking lot. Aislinn tucked her sketchpad away and stood up. Before she could move forward even step, though, someone grabbed her from behind. "Where do you think you're going?" She heard Eddie demand. Aislinn struggled against his hold. "Hey, let go! Knock it off, Eddie!" "I won't have you parading around with that grease ball punk," Eddie growled. "You're mine! You can't be hanging around other guys like a ho!" "I am not!" Aislinn exclaimed, horrified. "I don't belong to you and I can hang around anyone I want! Now let me go!" "Do as the girl says." The soft, deep voice had a dangerous edge. Aislinn lifted her head to see Gabriel, feet braced, arms folded across his chest, face fixed in a scowl. She felt the tension in the air, so thick you could cut it with a knife, as he and Eddie glared at each other. Finally Eddie let her go, pushing her away violently. As he stomped into the school, Aislinn stumbled, wind milling wildly to keep her feet. Gabriel closed the distance between them in two quick strides and caught her before she fell. "Are you all right?" Gabriel asked, keeping a firm hold on her while she got her bearings. "I think so," Aislinn answered quietly, straightening and pulling out of his grip. "I mean, yeah. I'll be fine." She brushed strands of hair that had come loose from her braid away from her face and picked up her backpack. As she headed into the school, Gabriel walked beside her, shortening his stride to match hers. "Why do you let him treat you like that?" He asked. "Eddie and I have been friends since we were little," Aislinn said quietly. "He's just been going through a phase. He'll get over it." Gabriel glanced at her skeptically but didn't express whatever was on his mind. It isn't any of his business anyway, Aislinn thought. I've known Eddie a long time and I certainly know him better than an ex-convict. She immediately felt guilty for the thought. If he noticed her strange unease, Gabriel said nothing. He walked with her until she reached her locker, then walked away to head to his own. He hasn't said anything about this afternoon, Aislinn thought. I really hope he hasn't changed his mind. Her momentary thoughts rarely stuck with her; she was no longer thinking of the time he'd spent in jail. Gabriel was nice. Maybe not to other people, but to her. He just didn't know Eddie, so of course she couldn't blame him for his assumption. ------- Gabriel sat on his bike, waiting. Judging by the state of the clothes she'd been wearing this morning, Astrid hadn't had a change of mind. He'd almost been hoping that she would, until he'd arrived to find Eddie holding onto her, speaking to her like she was some kind of possession. Why does she let him get away with it? he wondered. Well, they've been friends with childhood, she must have some kind of blind spot. Gabriel, however, had no such problem and he relished the idea of making Eddie jealous. He only hoped he wouldn't take it out on Aislinn. The sound of running footsteps caught his attention and he looked up. Aislinn was running across the parking lot, glancing over her shoulder time and again like an escaping convict. Gabriel chuckled, reaching back to retrieve the helmet for her while he waited for her to reach him. She pulled to a halt in front of him, bracing her hands on her thighs, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Ais, get back here!" Aislinn lifted her head at the shout and groaned. Gabriel peered over his shoulder to see Eddie striding towards them. The man's persistent, I'll give him that, he thought, holding out the helmet for Aislinn. She took it and pulled it on, then climbed up on the motorcycle behind him. Lifting his hand to wave to Eddie, Gabriel started up his motorcycle and raced out of the parking lot, just as he'd done the day before. He could hear Aislinn's laughter, even over the wind and the roar of the bike. It wasn't a long ride to the garage where he worked, but Aislinn still stumbled drunkenly when she climbed down off the bike. "You'll get use to it," Gabriel said, chuckling softly. Aislinn grinned sheepishly. "I don't think I will. So, this is where you work, right?" "Yeah," Gabriel replied. "Come on, first let's find you some coveralls, before we do anything else." With his bike secure, Gabriel led Aislinn into the garage. It was loud inside, and his boss, Tifo, was shouting at someone. Probably the new guy, he thought, shaking his head. He lead Aislinn into the small room in the back, crammed with a few dented, rusty old lockers and a sink that spat out water that was only slightly cleaner than grease. Gabriel pulled his coveralls from his locker, then paused, wondering what to do. He finally stuck his head out of the door, raising his voice to be heard. "Hey, Tifo, man!" He shouted. "You're about the same size as my guest! Let her use your spare!" "Are you crazy?" Tifo demanded, then paused. "Wait, did you say 'her'? You got a girl over there?" Gabriel rolled his eyes as Tifo trotted into the back room. He was small, only an inch or so taller than Aislinn, who was probably about five four if Gabriel had to guess. However Tifo was stocky and muscular. His thick biceps were covered with tattoos. His face was narrow and angular, showing a little bit of Latino heritage, and he wore a long goatee split into two braids. Gabriel had met him in jail. "Welllll..." Tifo said, grinning. "She's cute, Gabe, real cute. Looks too innocent for your tastes, though. Not your normal, that's for sure." Gabriel sighed. "Just let her use the damn coveralls." "Sure thing," Tifo clucked, pulling open his locker. He pulled out a pair of grease stained orange coveralls and tossed them to her. "Here you go, sweetcheeks. Don't distract my boy from his work." Aislinn caught the coveralls, giggling. Tifo winked at her and waggled his eyebrows lasciviously, then left to attend to the new guy, shouting at the poor kid the whole walk back to him. Gabriel waited while Aislinn climbed into the coveralls. They were still rather large on her, and she had to roll up the bottoms of the legs and sleeves. Eyebrows raised, she turned to him and held her arms out, for inspection. "Well?" Aislinn asked. "Stylin'," Gabriel replied, grinning. "Thanks," Astrid said. Her shy smile turned into a sly grin. "So, what's your 'normal'... Gabe?" "That's another habit I gave up," Gabriel told her, ruffling her hair. "Come on... 'sweetcheeks'... let's get to work." ------- The afternoon passed disappointingly quickly for Gabriel. Aislinn had started off by drawing some quick sketches of his bike and several others that were in the shop, while he worked on the things that needed to be done the most. Afterwards he began to teach her, slowly, about each part of the motorcycle and why it was there. He had to laugh, watching her take notes. Gabriel thought it was adorable, if a little bit excessive. But she was attentive and bright, and learned quickly. The engine in his motorcycle fascinated her, so he brought her over to where Tifo was working on the engine of a car. The motor was running, for the moment, and Gabriel brought Aislinn over there to have a quick peek at what it looked like. The problem he'd been having, all afternoon in fact, was that there was something oddly sexy about a small, innocent young woman in oversized coveralls. He'd been watching her more than he was proud of, and as she leaned over, he couldn't help but look. It turned out to be fortunate that he was; when Aislinn lost her balance and started to fall forward, Gabriel reacted instinctively, throwing his arms around her and pulling her away. They landed together on the floor a few feet away, and Gabriel had to brace himself to keep his weight off of her. He could feel her shaking and could feel her heart pounding furiously. His own was in his throat, thumping loudly. Sitting back on his heels, he pulled her up with him, and froze. Gabriel had just thrown his arms around her haphazardly, and beneath his hand he could feel the soft mound of her breast. Pushing her away, he forced himself to his feet. I'm not going to apologize, he thought. I didn't do it on purpose. But Aislinn didn't say anything about it. She pushed herself to her feet and turned to face him, her cheeks a little red. "Thanks," Aislinn said softly. "Seems like you're saving me a lot lately." Gabriel chuckled. "You should be more careful." "I know," Aislinn said. "I'm sorry if I scared you." Gabriel shook his head. At least now he knew better than to show her any running engines. At that moment Tifo came over, telling him he was already running fifteen minutes over and he'd better not expect overtime for it. So he an Aislinn went into the back room, washing their hands as best they could in the grubby water that spurted from the sink, and pulling off their coveralls. Gabriel noticed the expression on Aislinn's face as she studied the grease beneath her nails. Someone has a bit of princess in her, he thought, laughing to himself. "Ready to go?" Gabriel asked. Aislinn nodded. "You bet. I'm starving! Hey, why don't you stay for dinner?" "Uh, no," Gabriel said, shaking his head. "I smell like grease." "So do I," Aislinn pointed out. "It's your house," Gabriel reminded her. "You can smell however you like." She continued to try to convince him until they were on his motorcycle once more, and she couldn't be heard easily over the engine and the wind. Maybe if circumstances were different, he would have been able to accept her offer. But Gabriel didn't think her parents would approve too much of him, and he didn't feel like sitting through a dinner with them. Besides, he was still feeling a little uncomfortable from the earlier incident, even though she hadn't said anything. It was getting dark when he pulled up in front of Aislinn's house. She slid off the bike, stumbling a lot less this time, and pulled off her helmet. Her braid was a complete mess, strands sticking out wildly here and there, and grease smudged her face and fingers. However, when she smiled at him, he didn't notice any of that. "Thanks so much, Gabriel," Aislinn said. "That was a lot of fun! You're a good teacher... I've already learned a lot." "Good, I'm glad," Gabriel told her. "Um... you know... I'm sure Tifo wouldn't mind if... you know... if you came again." Aislinn's eyes lit up. "Could I really? Really!?" "Yeah," Gabriel answered, smiling. "Sure." He was nearly thrown off his bike as she hugged him enthusiastically. Unsure what to do, Gabriel sat still while she clung to him, waiting for her to let go. When she did let go at last, she paused, her head tilted slightly to the side, a curious expression on her face. Aislinn surprised him by leaning over and kissing him gently on the cheek. As she sprinted into her house, he could only stare, a slight, crooked smile on his lips. She makes a complete fool out of me, Gabriel thought. To think I used to be a hardened criminal. "Don't you even think about moving in on my girl." Gabriel sighed and turned his head to glare at Eddie. He was not in the mood for the idiot right now. Pulling on his helmet, he started up the bike, ready to just drive off. "She's too good for you, trailer trash!" Eddie shouted above the roar of the engine. Gabriel flipped up his visor. "I know that." He said calmly. "But she's too good for you, too." He dropped his visor again, revving up his motor so that Eddie's next words were drowned out. She's too good for both of us, Gabriel thought as he drove away, leaving Eddie in the dust, cursing furiously. But I'll bet I've touched her more than you have. The thought made him grin. Okay, so maybe it had been an accidental touch, but it was probably still more than Eddie had ever had the chance for. Gabriel had the feeling that his little artist had more fire than she let on and he could bet she packed quite a punch. ------- Aislinn sat on her bed, running a brush slowly through her damp hair. Her head was a whirlwind of thoughts. It had been easy, during dinner, to brush those thoughts away and focus on telling her parents about the day (except for the motor incident). But now, alone in her room, her mind had gone back to earlier, when Gabriel had pulled her away from the running engine. His hand had been on her breast. She knew it wasn't on purpose, but the memory made her shiver. Eddie had tried, on more than one occasion, to touch her. When firm 'no's were not enough anymore, she'd moved to firm punches in the stomach. Of course, she'd only had to do that once. But those times Aislinn had not wanted to be touched. When Gabriel's hand had been on her, she hadn't said anything, because she hadn't wanted him to move it. The thought excited her and terrified her at the same time. He must not have noticed, though, because he'd said nothing. Pulling her shirt away from her body, Aislinn peered down the front of it. Well, who would notice these things, anyway? she wondered. They're so small he most likely didn't know that they're my breasts. She was a small B, and Eddie had always complained about how her breasts were too small. She wondered if Gabriel thought they were too small, too. I hope not, Aislinn thought. It was another one of those scary thoughts, and she forced all of them to the back of her mind as she crawled under the covers, so she could get some sleep. ------- Over the next month, Aislinn became a regular sight at the garage. She became fast friends with Tifo and several of the other workers. Tifo spent a good deal of time yelling at them for shirking their work to watch Aislinn draw the bikes (mostly Gabriel's) until he was caught watching himself. There were no more incidents like the one with the engine, either. And although he remained cool and distant to everyone else at school, Gabriel warmed up to Aislinn as much as he ever had to anyone else (which admittedly wasn't much). It was the day before she was to turn in her project, and he'd noticed that she seemed to be a little bit gloomy about something. As she climbed down off of his bike (much easier than she had a month earlier), Gabriel reached out and grabbed her wrist. Aislinn turned back to him, forcing a smile to her face. "What's the matter?" Gabriel asked. "You've been down all day." Aislinn shrugged. "I... I don't know... it's just... well, this is the last day of the project and... I've been enjoying myself so much and... I've made friends... I..." "Hey, calm down," Gabriel said, smiling. "Don't worry about it. I think Tifo will kill me if I don't bring you back to visit." "Oh," Aislinn said. Gabriel frowned. "There's something else bothering you." Aislinn fidgeted beneath his gaze. Whatever it was that was bothering her, it was making her cheeks turn pink. Gabriel gave her wrist a gentle tug, pulling her closer to him. She looked up, flashing a wan smile, but it faded instantly. With a sigh, she gave a slight nod, and began to speak. "Eddie tried to kiss me last night," She explained. "I stopped him, though. I don't want him to kiss me." "That's understandable," Gabriel said, nodding. Outwardly he was calm. Inside he was wondering when he could find Eddie and wring his neck. Aislinn lifted her head. "I want you to kiss me." The statement was so bold for Aislinn that for a long moment, Gabriel wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. She was watching him, and with each passing moment she looked more and more like she was going to cry. Shit, Gabriel thought, uncertain what to do. She's serious. Eddie had told him a month ago that Aislinn was too good for him, and he'd agreed. That hadn't changed. But as she pulled away from him, chewing on her lower lip to keep from crying, he suddenly didn't care. Tightening his grip, he pulled her back to him before she could get away. Standing up off his bike, he drew her close, a hand catching her beneath her chin and tilting her head up. Aislinn lifted her gaze, her pale blue eyes wide and slightly wet. Gabriel leaned down, brushing his lips against hers as lightly as possible. It was a kiss; a bare, chaste, innocent kiss, and that was all it should be. But the feel of her soft mouth trembling slightly beneath his was too much. Gabriel deepened the kiss, suckling gently on her lower lip until he heard her moan softly. Breathing hard, her pushed her away. Her cheeks were red, and he had a feeling his might be, too. Sure, it had been a few months now since he'd touched a girl, but this was just not a normal reaction for him. Gabriel settled back on his bike, pulling his helmet on to hide his expression of confusion. "Good night, Aislinn," He said. "Good night," Her replied was soft, timid, as though she was afraid she'd done something wrong. "Make sure you dress appropriately tomorrow," Gabriel reminded her. "I plan on putting you to work tomorrow." Her shout of joy was only slightly drowned by the sound of his engine as he started the bike. Lifting his visor, her gave her a quick smile. The smile was returned as a bright, breathtaking grin, then she turned and ran into her house. Gabriel sighed. I am in way over my head, he thought. But as he drove away, he was too busy looking forward to tomorrow to worry about it. ------- Chapter 4: All Hollow's Eve Aislinn set her finished painting down on her easel and sat down on the stool set in front of it. She'd been uncertain about the blue and gray scale, instead of full colors, but Gabriel had told her that it worked well. Thinking about Gabriel now made her stomach clench and her cheeks go hot. What did he think of her after her strange request last night? She was more nervous about that than about turning in her project today. Class went smoothly, as it usually did. It was the only day of the week when art was the first period of the day, much to Aislinn's disappointment. Starting the day with art always started her off the right way. She was feeling in good spirits as she packed away her paintbrushes and folded up her easel. The teacher had expressed great appreciation of her project, telling her that it was a choice that showed depth of character and an open mind. Aislinn wasn't exactly sure how learning about motorcycles and painting one showed her depth of character, but she thought she might have an inkling of what the teacher meant. "Class," The teacher said, clapping her hands to bring them to attention. "I've a new assignment for you, one you might find quite fascinating. You will choose one person, whether they are friend, family, or even a stranger, to draw and paint. For the rest of the year you will use this person as a model and you will turn in one painting of them a month." Most of the class groaned. Their teacher was well known for her crazy assignments, although Aislinn thought this one was just as good as the next. In painting Gabriel's motorcycle, she had learned about something she would normally never choose to, and she felt it was an experience everyone should have. This assignment sounded to her like a good way to understand using models during painting. People have emotions, Aislinn thought. They have nuances, habits, nervous ticks. Learn to paint one person with all of that in mind, and shouldn't painting any person be easier after that? "However," The teacher continued, "This is not going to be a decision you'll have forever to dwell upon. I want you to report to me by the end of the day with your choice. That is all." Aislinn felt sick. How am I supposed to choose anyone in so short a time? she wondered frantically. And who will want to be a model for the whole year? She gathered up her books, no longer feeling very excited about the project. ------- Gabriel slammed his locker shut and pulled his backpack on. It had been a very long day and he was not feeling too good. His head ached terribly, and the girls who tried to follow him around all the time drove him nuts with their endless chatter. I need someone quiet, who doesn't blather on aimlessly, he thought. Turning suddenly, he changed direction, heading down the hall towards the art room. At lunch, when he had last seen Aislinn, she'd told him that she needed to stop in before leaving. He saw her as he approached, standing outside the art room, talking to the teacher. The smile that curled his lips quickly turned to a frown as he saw Eddie approach her from the other side. Gabriel considered just turning around and leaving, but Aislinn and the teacher were in a pretty heated discussion, and he couldn't help but be curious. He moved closer until he could hear what was being said, and so did Eddie. "I'm sorry, Aislinn, but that's the assignment," The teacher was saying. "I need to know who is going to be your model, now. I can't wait." "But why?" Aislinn asked, sounding desperate. "I need time to think, this isn't something I can just jump into!" "That's the assignment," The teacher reiterated. "Hey, Ais, I can model for you," Eddie said, grinning. Gabriel saw Aislinn wince. She must hate being called that, he thought, stepping up closer to the group. He reached out, laying a hand on Aislinn's shoulder. She jumped, whipping around to face him, but when she saw him, a smile gentled her expression. "Hey, Aislinn," Gabriel said softly. "Well, I thought about it, and I thank you for giving me some time. I'll model for your project." Aislinn blinked at him. She covered her look of surprise quickly, and replaced it with another smile. Eddie, however, did not look happy at all. He glared at Gabriel, and it looked like he might say something, but Aislinn never gave him the chance. "This is my friend, Gabriel Wolfe," Aislinn told the teacher. "He'll be modeling for me." If the teacher thought something was suspicious, she said nothing. Rather she wrote his name down on a piece of paper and disappeared into the classroom again. Eddie glared at Gabriel like he wanted to say something, but he seemed unable to find the words. Well, that put an itch in his jockstrap, didn't it? Gabriel thought, grinning. He turned to face Aislinn, and she flashed him a quick, relieved grin. "Anyway, Ais," Eddie said, shooting a glare at Gabriel. "Halloween dance tomorrow night. You're going with me, right? Of course you are." "Um, well, actually," Aislinn shifted uncomfortably, staring at the floor. "I um... I'm already uh... going with someone else. Yeah." "Who?" Eddie demanded. His eyes narrowed on Gabriel. "Him?" Before Aislinn could answer, Gabriel dropped his arm around her shoulders. "Yeah, that's right. Sorry, guess you're too late. Come on, Aislinn, I don't want to be late for work." They left Eddie behind, gaping and sputtering furiously. They sped down the hall, waiting until the were out of earshot before breaking into laughter. Aislinn rubbed her ribs and leaned against him, gasping for breath. Good, Gabriel thought, smiling down at her. You need to see what a jerk he really is. He dropped his arm from her shoulder as they walked outside, heading for his motorcycle. "I don't even have a costume," Aislinn said suddenly. "Neither do I," Gabriel admitted. "We'll go shopping after work." "I don't have any money with me," Aislinn told him. "Only my bank card." Gabriel shook his head. "We'll stop on the way. Now, tell me about this assignment." It turned out that he'd gotten himself in a bit over his head by his impulsive action. Aislinn seemed to notice, and even offered to tell her teacher that he'd changed his mind, but Gabriel wouldn't let her. Not when the alternative is that creep, he thought. Tifo and the guys would skin me if I let him get close to her. And he might skin himself. He didn't know what he was going to do about the kiss last night, but he knew he had to protect her from Eddie. ------- Aislinn had separated from Gabriel the day before to look for her costume, and had refused to show it to him. As she stood in front of her full length mirror, inspecting herself, she felt a little freaked out. The short leather skirt barely came down to mid-thigh. Beneath a thin white baby t clung to her tight enough that she actually looked like she wasn't so flat-chested. The boots she found, wet finish patent leather with stiletto heels, came to about mid-calf and were decorated with two thick, buckled straps. She left her hair down, and pulled on a short leather coat. I must be out of my mind, she thought, studying herself in the mirror one last time. What if he doesn't get it? I look a bit slutty... maybe I shouldn't have... Aislinn shook off her doubts and headed down stairs. Her mother raised an eyebrow at her outfit, but said nothing. Her parents had always been liberal and they understood that it was a Halloween costume. She just hoped they would be understanding about Gabriel, because he'd be arriving any minute. No sooner did the worry form in her head than the doorbell rang. Aislinn ran to the door, wobbling a bit in her heels, and pulled the door open. Gabriel was leaning in the doorway, dressed in plain black jeans, a short sleeved black turtle neck, and a black beret. His tool belt had been designated to carry paints and paintbrushes. They stared at each other for long moments, then both of them burst out laughing. "That is so stereotypical," Aislinn said, still laughing. "And that isn't?" Gabriel asked, grinning. Aislinn pouted. "So you don't like it?" "I wouldn't say that," Gabriel murmured, taking a step closer to her. Aislinn felt her heart still in her chest. She waited for long moments, but Gabriel finally stepped away from her. Without saying anything, he stepped down off the front porch and headed to his bike. Aislinn followed, chewing nervously at her lower lip. Did I do something wrong? she wondered. Does he like the outfit or not? At least he helped her onto the bike, so he wasn't ignoring her completely. Getting on was tricky in the short skirt. "I wish I'd known," Gabriel said as he settled in front of her. "I would have borrowed Tifo's car for the night." "Don't worry about it," Aislinn told him. "I'm fine." She wound her arms around him, holding onto him as he took off down the street. It was a little uncomfortable, sitting on the bike with so little covering her legs. Aislinn hardly noticed, though. Her mind was busy with the puzzle of Gabriel and his sudden indifference. I'll get him to notice me, she thought. He can't think he's going to remain indifferent all night. ------- Gabriel wasn't sure if he was enjoying himself or not. While it was great to see Eddie so pissed off, he was having some trouble with Aislinn. The last thing he'd been expecting was that outfit. Or his reaction to seeing her in that outfit. She is sweet, and innocent, and the complete opposite of everything I am, he thought, watching her. I absolutely cannot get too involved with her. But when she stepped out onto the dance floor and beckoned for him to follow, Gabriel went as if on a leash. He would never have guessed that she could move so fluidly, either. Gabriel kept his hands on her hips as she moved against him, afraid of letting them wander. This is torture, he thought, watching the way her hair fell away from her neck as she tilted her head back. This is hell. It's a hot, sexy, amazingly tempting hell, but it's hell nonetheless. Gabriel would be both glad and disappointed when the night ended, and he had to take her home. "Ais, what are you doing?" That was Eddie, who had sidled up close with his last minute date. "You look awful in that outfit." His date, the blond head cheerleader, nodded. "It doesn't look right on you, girl. It just screams 'easy'." Gabriel turned to glare at Eddie and his date. He opened his mouth to tell them both off but Aislinn beat him to it. "Well, you don't need an outfit that screams 'easy', do you?" She said. "Everyone in school already knows you are." The blonde's eyes narrowed. Eddie looked as though he was trying to stifle a smile. Gabriel had no problem laughing, however; the blonde wasn't his date. I didn't know she had that in her, he thought, glancing sidelong at Aislinn. She's got a lot more spunk than she usually will show. "Oh, it's on now," The blonde said, stepping forward. Before anyone could stop it, the blonde slapped Aislinn across the face. Gabriel didn't make it a habit of hitting women, but he would have, if Aislinn hadn't beaten him to it once again. Instead of slapping the blonde back, however, she punched her in the face. It took a lot of willpower not to laugh as she tumbled heels over head. Gabriel grabbed Aislinn from behind, pulling her away before she decided one punch wasn't enough. Teachers were already making their way over. It took some explaining, but there were enough people who had witnessed the incident, who agreed that Aislinn had been hit first. The teachers would let them go without punishment... but they had to leave the dance. Gabriel noted that Aislinn seemed to be perfectly fine with leaving. She hummed to herself and he figured she would be skipping if she wasn't wearing heels. "Your parents are going to wonder why you're home so early," Gabriel told her. "So then, don't take me home yet," Aislinn said brightly. Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "And where, exactly, am I supposed to take you?" "How about your place?" Aislinn suggested, perching on the seat of his bike. "You've never said where you lived. Do you have an apartment?" "I am not taking you to my place," Gabriel said firmly. He lifted her off the seat and set her on it straight, then climbed on in front of her. As he turned to hand her the helmet, he saw that she was pouting. Spoiled brat, he thought, scowling. What is she playing at? "Why not?" Aislinn asked. "I just want to see it." "No," Gabriel repeated. He didn't give her a chance to speak more, just revved up his bike and sped out of the parking lot. She sat still behind him, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders, rather than her usual tight grip. I should be glad she isn't squeezing the life out of me, Gabriel thought. But I'm not. This was getting to be an awful dilemma. Having her ask to see his apartment certainly wasn't making things any easier, either. He was relieved when he finally pulled up in front of her house. "I'll just tell my parents I wasn't feeling good," Aislinn said. Her voice was chilly. She slid off the bike, stumbling a little in those heeled boots. Gabriel reached out, grabbing her wrist and holding onto her while she steadied herself. Once she was firmly on her feet, she tugged out of his grasp. Aislinn pulled off the helmet she was wearing and held it out to him. Her expression was petulant and annoyed. "What's your problem?" Gabriel demanded. "I don't have a problem," Aislinn answered coolly. "Like hell you don't! You're acting like a spoiled brat!" Gabriel exclaimed. "Like a naïve little girl trying to dress up in big girl cloths." Aislinn's eyes narrowed. "Don't assume, Gabriel Wolfe, that every girl who likes you only wants to jump into bed with you." She tossed the helmet at him and he barely caught it in time. "And I'm not as naïve as you seem to think I am!" She turned away from him abruptly and stomped back up to her house. Gabriel winced as he heard the door slam. Well, she's mad at me, he thought. Really, really mad. He sighed, pulling his helmet on and starting up his motorcycle. Maybe she'll just go running to Eddie, Gabriel thought, scowling. He won't care that she's innocent and should be treated gently. Worse, he hadn't gotten a chance to find out if she was still going to work with him tomorrow. He'd have to stop by in the afternoon to find out what was going on. ------- Gabriel took a deep breath and knocked on the front door of Aislinn's house. He would have called her, but for some reason he'd never bothered to get her phone number. It wasn't Aislinn who answered the door, but an older woman with the same pale blue eyes; he assumed that this was her mother. "Um, hi," He stammered. "Um... I'm... I'm a friend of Aislinn's... is she here?" "No, I'm afraid she isn't," Her mother replied. "She went out." Gabriel sighed. So she went with Eddie after all, he thought. He nodded to her mother and turned to leave, but something he caught sight of made him pause. Eddie's car pulled into the driveway next door, but it wasn't Aislinn who got out of the car with him. The blonde from the night before, the one Aislinn had hit, was with him. Even beneath the make-up she'd caked on, Gabriel could see that she had a black eye. He grinned and turned back to her mother. "Do you know where she is?" Gabriel asked. "I think she went down to the art studio," Her mother answered. "The one on Lincoln, I believe." "Thanks!" Gabriel said. The drive down to the art studio was short. Inside, he approached the front desk, uncertain what to do. This studio was divided into a big public area and a bunch of small, private studios. Questioning the receptionist, Gabriel found out that Aislinn was in a private studio and he found out which one she was in. However, he wasn't happy with what he found in the studio. Aislinn was not alone in there. There was a guy in there with her, which might not have been a problem if he wasn't posing nude! "What the hell is this?" Gabriel demanded. Aislinn looked up and scowled. "Do you mind? I'm trying to concentrate." Growling, Gabriel stomped across the room, grabbed what he assumed what the man's clothes, and threw them at him. Aislinn stood up, knocking over the stool she'd been sitting on in her fury. "Get out of here!" Gabriel snarled at the man. Looking terribly frightened, the man yanked his jeans on and raced out of the room. Satisfied, Gabriel turned to face Aislinn... to find her glaring at him furiously. As she advanced on him, he backpedaled quickly, until he came up against the table the man had been sitting on. She looks like she might tear my throat out with her teeth, he thought, looking around for an escape. Forget gang members, I'd hate to run into her in prison. "That was my model!" Aislinn growled. "He was naked!" Gabriel exclaimed defensively. "Yes, he was," Aislinn agreed, her anger not fading a bit. "Do you know how difficult it is to find a model with such nice form who'll work for next to nothing? Do you!?" "No," Gabriel answered quietly. Aislinn continued to glare at him. "So what are you going to do about it?" Gabriel lifted his head to look at her. Her pale eyes were alight with anger. No doubt she was probably still upset about last night, too. However, her expression was also expectant, too, as though she was waiting for something. Aislinn folded her arms and stared at him, refusing the move. "Wait," Gabriel said. "You can't expect me to..." "Oh, yes, I can," Aislinn told him. Gabriel stared at her. Watching her, he realized she wasn't going to budge. Feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his belly, he nodded his consent. Aislinn still looked angry as she walked back to her stool and straightened it, but her anger had eased some, at least. I must be out of my mind, Gabriel thought as he tugged off his shirt. I can't believe I'm doing this. With clothes on is one thing, but this... He started to pull his jeans off, but he noticed that Aislinn was watching him, her expression focused and calm. "Could you... not stare?" Gabriel asked. "This is uncomfortable enough as it is." "I'm not staring," Aislinn answered briskly. "I'm studying my model." Gabriel scowled. She's all business, he thought as he pulled his jeans off. I'd almost rather she was staring at me with lust then that... freaky concentrating look. Turning his gaze away from her, he finished undressing, and sat down on the table, uncertain what to do now. He heard footsteps and looked up to find Aislinn circling him. Gabriel jumped at the light brush of her fingers on his shoulder; much to his surprise, he could feel himself blushing. "Good form," Aislinn murmured, partially to herself. "Not so much muscle that it overbalances everything else, but toned enough to show the epitome of the male body. You could make a lot of money doing this." Her hand dropped away from his shoulder and she walked back to the stool. Setting a new piece of canvas on the easel, she began to work, her expression completely focused. Gabriel forced himself to concentrate on the colors written on a bunch of paint tubes; that light touch had been... distracting. He really didn't want to be calling attention to any particular part of his anatomy at the moment. "So, are you going to apologize?" Aislinn asked suddenly, startling him. Gabriel smiled wryly. "Wow, most girls feel that me naked is apology enough." "Yeah, sure," Aislinn chuckled. "I'll let you get away with it this time, on account of I'm so nice." "You know, you're going to make me late for work," Gabriel pointed out. "I was just trying to teach a lesson," Aislinn said, setting down her pencil. "Come on, get dressed, and we'll go. Next time, don't assume so much." Feeling relieved, Gabriel stood up and pulled his clothes back on. I don't think I'll ever assume anything about her again, he thought, watching her as she cleaned up her things. He pulled his t-shirt back on, and when he tugged it into place, he noticed she was watching him, smiling. Gabriel raised his eyebrows at her curiously, wondering what was going on through her head. "I'm glad," Aislinn said softly. "I didn't want to stay angry. I like spending time with you more than anyone else..." Gabriel smiled. He was glad, too, that the incident was over. He walked pulled his boots on, then walked over to her, resting his hands on her shoulders. Aislinn looked up at him, her pale blue eyes wary. I'm an idiot, Gabriel thought. I'll never be good enough for her. But he leaned down, unable to resist, and kissed her mouth softly. He really didn't want to give her the wrong impression... the only problem was, he didn't know for himself just what impression he was actually trying to make. ------- Chapter 5: Something To Be Thankful For Aislinn watched Gabriel fidget uncomfortably on the table she'd set him up on. He was lying on his stomach, one arm dangling off the table, and in the picture she was drawing, she'd put him into a lovely little pond side scene. Unfortunately he was running out of patience, and so was she. The picture had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now she was beginning to hate it. It didn't fit Gabriel at all, for one thing. The picture was too serene in a goody goody type of way. With a disgusted sigh Aislinn threw her pencil aside and let herself tumbled off the stool, squeaking in pain as she hit the floor. "Why'd you do that?" Gabriel asked, lifting his head. "I was hoping this was just a dream," Aislinn responded dryly. "A hellish dream of artists' block." Gabriel pushed himself into a sitting position. "Isn't your next deadline drawing near?" "End of the month," Aislinn said. "At least I'll have some time at Thanksgiving to work through a day without interruption." Gabriel's mood seemed to deflate, then. Every time someone mentioned Thanksgiving he seemed to get gloomy and reclusive, at least as far as Aislinn could see. I wonder why, she thought, as she packed away her pencils. Now that I think about it, I've never heard him mention his family. She'd told him that she was spending Thanksgiving with her family; aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, and so on, like a big family reunion. When Aislinn had asked Gabriel what he was doing for Thanksgiving, he had grumbled something and fallen silent. "Um... well..." Aislinn stammered, wracking her brain for something to cheer him up. "We have Friday off, why don't we do something?" "Like what?" Gabriel asked, turning to her and raising an eyebrow. Aislinn shrugged. "Well, I don't know... is there anything you'd like to do?" Gabriel grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it on. Aislinn watched him curiously; he looked like he was thinking. She folded her easel up and tucked it into the case she used to carry all of her supplies as she waited for him to respond. The closer it got to Thanksgiving, the more gloomy Gabriel seemed to get, and it was starting to bother her. Aislinn was used to the fact that he didn't often smile or laugh, but he hadn't even given her a shadow of his usual lopsided grin, lately. "I think I'm going to just stay in on Friday," Gabriel told her. "Oh," Aislinn said quietly. "Okay then. Um... I could visit you." Gabriel shook his head. "No." She was taken aback by his abruptness. Aislinn had been to his place once, a little over a week ago; it was small, very cramped, and there was very little furniture in it. He'd seemed a little embarrassed, but she didn't think that was why he didn't want her to visit him. He seems depressed, she thought. He does a good job of hiding it from everyone else, but I spend almost every day with him now. He can't hide it from me so easily. She walked beside him as they headed out of the studio and rested her hand on his arm, but Gabriel pulled away quickly. "Well, if you change your mind, or you just want to talk," Aislinn said. "Dinner is at my house." Gabriel didn't respond. He climbed onto his motorcycle and in a moment had sped away. Aislinn sighed. For about a total of an hour, she'd been glad to have her car out of the shop, finally. It meant that much of the time she didn't need a ride, and although often Gabriel gave her one anyway, over the last week or so he hadn't offered once. Aislinn didn't know what to do anymore. Maybe Thanksgiving break will give me time to think, too, she thought. I've got to find a way to cheer him up. ------- Aislinn stopped and studied herself in the mirror. She wore a cute, pale blue sundress that matched her eyes and a pair of sandals; not especially warm for the weather, but she looked nice. Thanksgiving was a family affair and while it wasn't formal, it wasn't exactly casual, either. One of her older cousins, Deana, who was staying with them over the weekend, had done her hair into a French braid for her and convinced her to put on some make up. Aislinn felt a little uncomfortable, but Deana had always loved giving make-overs, so she went with it. Downstairs she could smell turkey and butternut squash. Much of these things she didn't even like at all. Aislinn found herself wondering what parts of the Thanksgiving meal Gabriel liked. I wonder if he's lonely, she thought, staring morosely at the platter full of sliced turkey. It's almost time to eat... I wish he was here. "Aislinn!" Her mother called. "Come down here for the picture before we eat!" "I'll be down in a moment!" Aislinn shouted back. Every year they took a family picture, but her mind wasn't on that. A plan was forming in her head; a totally crazy plan, but before she realized it, she was acting on it. Grabbing a roll of saran wrap and two plates, she went over to the table where the food was laid out. Aislinn piled slices of turkey on to one plate, and put scoops of mashed potatoes, squash, turnips, and cranberry sauce on the other. She quickly covered bother plates with saran wrap, stacking them one on top of the other, and grabbed her car keys from the hook by the door. "Aislinn, come on!" Her mother called again. Sorry mom, Aislinn thought as she trotted out into the rapidly darkening night. Gabriel needs me tonight. She got into her car, quickly setting the plates on the front passenger seat, and pulling on her seatbelt. In a minute or two someone would go upstairs to check on her, and she intended to be out of sight by then. Aislinn started up her car, backed out of the driveway, and sped down the road without a second thought. ------- Gabriel lounged on the shabby couch in the small living room/kitchen combination of his apartment. The T.V. was on, but he wasn't paying much attention. I used to pick up girls to soothe my boredom on nights like this, he thought, staring blankly at the T.V. screen. Okay, maybe to soothe my depression, but hell, nothing cheers a guy up like some sex. He wasn't really happy with his cynical way of thinking lately. It was upsetting Aislinn; he could see it in her eyes when she looked at him. Why should I care what that spoiled little rich brat thinks, anyway? Gabriel thought, rolling over onto his side. I've turned into a wuss since I met her. I'm better off without her. Growling under his breath, he grabbed the threadbare old blanket he kept on the couch and pulled it over his head. Maybe he'd go find a girl to pick up, after all. He was pretty certain he could find someone; he'd always been able to before. A knock on his door startled him out of his misery. Who the hell could that be? Gabriel wondered, tossing off the blanket and going to the door. He was shocked to find Aislinn standing there, holding plates full of food and looking a little pale and worried. She also looked... very pretty. The dress she wore brought out the color of her eyes, and someone had done her hair and make-up. Damnit, Gabriel thought. My resolve is about as stable as a house of cards. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "Well, since you didn't have anyone to have Thanksgiving with," Aislinn explained, "I decided to come to you." Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "What about your family?" "I don't care," Aislinn said, lifting her chin stubbornly. Gabriel stepped aside, giving her room to come in. Despite her obvious nervousness, she was determined to stay there with him; he could see it in the stubborn set of her mouth. She has a lovely mouth, he thought. Absolutely lovely. A smile was beginning to form on his own mouth. No one had ever done anything like this for him before. "Sit down," Gabriel said, taking the plates from her and setting them on the box that served as his coffee table. "Would you like something to drink? I've got a soda left." "Thanks," Aislinn smiled shyly. Gabriel padded to the fridge and retrieved the last can of Coke. His refrigerator had very little in it, and the food she'd brought with her smelled really good. He grabbed some plastic forks from a container on his counter and settled down on the couch next to her, offering her the soda. Aislinn took it and cracked it open, giggling as the fizz tickled her nose. He knew she only drank soda when she was with him, and her child-like delight in it always amused him. "What did your parents say?" Gabriel asked. "Uh, they don't actually know," Aislinn answered. "Or, well, they know I'm gone but they probably don't realize why." Gabriel frowned. "Will you get in trouble?" "Maybe," Aislinn shrugged. "I think if I explain the situation, they might understand." "Well... I'll help you," Gabriel said. "You shouldn't get in trouble for this..." Aislinn lifted her head and smiled at him. Wow, he thought, sucking in his breath sharply. It's unnerving when she looks at me like that. Gabriel felt her hand on his arm, but he couldn't take his eyes off of hers. Aislinn leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek, then sat back, drawing her hand away. "It's worth the trouble," She said. They settled down on the couch to eat dinner. Gabriel flipped lazily through the channels until he found some That 70s Show reruns, and put those on. Both he and Aislinn liked that show. Aislinn curled against his side as they watched and ate, and her laughter cheered him up. "Kelso is such an idiot!" Aislinn laughed. "You know, he kind of reminds me of Eddie," Gabriel said, adopting an innocent expression. Aislinn's eyes widened. "Oh, that's so bad..." She pressed her face against his shoulder, stifling her giggles. Gabriel let out his own laughter, tossing his head back against the couch. It felt so good to laugh like this. He put an arm around Aislinn's shoulders, holding her close to him. The feeling of her snuggling against his side made his stomach roll oddly. I don't know what to make of her, sometimes, Gabriel thought, staring down at her. Sometimes she's incredibly sweet and innocent, but she's got this spark in her, too... "Oh, man," Aislinn panted. "Geez, Gabriel, that... that wasn't nice..." Gabriel grinned. "But you laughed." "Yes," Aislinn admitted. "Hey... I've got my easel and stuff out in my car... do you think we could... ?" "If you do me one favor," Gabriel said. "What?" Aislinn asked. "Let your hair down," Gabriel replied. Aislinn blinked in surprise and flushed darkly. She reached back, pulling her hair loose from the French braid. It tumbled down over her shoulders, wavy from being plaited. Gabriel reached out, catching a strand and twirling it around his finger. Her cheeks darkened further, and she pulled away from him, scrambling out the door to retrieve her easel and supplies. Certainly different from her attempts to get me to notice her on Halloween, he thought. Perhaps making me pose naked had made her shyer than she was before. When she came back, the color had faded from her cheeks a little. She set up her easel in the living room and turned off the T.V. Turning to him, Aislinn grinned, and Gabriel felt his stomach sink. I know that look, he thought. That look means trouble. "Okay, I have an idea," Aislinn told him. "Take your shirt off." ------- Aislinn was pleased. The picture still was far from finished, but she liked the general outcome. There was something endearing about Gabriel curled up on the couch in the picture. The blanket was draped low over his hips, his arm was slung across his forehead, and his eyes were half closed in a sleepy look that was also incredibly sexy. Aislinn licked her lips and sighed. This is trouble, she thought. He looks irresistible like that... good thing he's not in that position anymore now. Gabriel was still sprawled on the couch, but the sexy look was gone. He still looks sexy, though, Aislinn thought, groaning inwardly. He lifted an arm, inviting her to join him on the couch. She kicked off her sandals and curled up next to him without really thinking about it. As Gabriel closed his arms around her, she rested her head on his bare chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. "You know, Aislinn," Gabriel murmured, toying with a strand of her hair. "This is the first time in a long time that I've actually enjoyed Thanksgiving." Aislinn smiled. "I'm glad. I didn't want you to be left alone tonight. It didn't seem fair." "The only problem is," Gabriel said, his voice soft and sleepy. "Now I don't want you to leave." He doesn't realize what he's saying, she thought, looking up at him. His eyes were closed and there was a tired smile on his face. Aislinn's heart ached as she looked at him. She reached up, gently brushing a strand of dark hair from his face. Gabriel's hand caught hers, and his eyes opened. Her heart stilled in her chest; he looked straight into her eyes and his expression was achingly tender. "Thank you," Gabriel whispered. He drew her down to him and pressed his lips softly to hers. Aislinn sighed, letting herself sink against him. She enjoyed the teasing of his mouth while it lasted, then settled her head back on his chest when he broke the kiss. He must have worked really hard, she thought, tucking her head under his chin. No wonder he's so exhausted. I'll just stay until he falls asleep, then I'll creep out. But even after he'd fallen asleep, she couldn't bring herself to move. Nor did she really want to. Gabriel was holding her close, and it felt so nice. Aislinn knew how much trouble she would be in tomorrow. Between running out on Thanksgiving dinner and staying out all night, she would be lucky if her parents didn't ground her for life. But she didn't care. At the moment, the only person in the world who mattered was Gabriel. ------- Chapter 6: In The Middle of the Night Aislinn trotted down the stairs and paused, staring out the front window. It's snowing! she thought, surprised. The first snow! Yay! She stopped in the kitchen long enough to bolt down some toast and eggs, then pulled on her coat, hat, scarf, and mittens. Gabriel would be here any moment. Good thing they clear the roads, Aislinn thought, grabbing her backpack and settling by the window. Although if it keeps snowing, they might have to close school early. Gabriel arrived a few minutes later. Aislinn waved good-bye to her parents and raced outside. They had been surprisingly understanding about Thanksgiving, although they'd still grounded her for the rest of the weekend. And they'd invited Gabriel over to dinner so they could meet him, although he hadn't yet taken them up on it. He'd better soon, Aislinn thought as she slid onto the motorcycle behind him and pulled on the helmet he offered. They're starting to get very curious. They ride to school was a little scary, because the roads were still slippery from the snow. Gabriel was always careful when Aislinn rode with him, though. They made it to school with plenty of time to spare. Shaking her hair free of the helmet, Aislinn slid down off the bike. She noticed that Gabriel was watching her and she turned to peer at him questioningly. "Nothing," Gabriel said, shaking his head. "Just have stuff on my mind." "Well, try to concentrate in class," Aislinn told him. "At least it's Friday." Gabriel nodded. "Do you want me to model tonight?" "For a little while," Aislinn replied. "If it's okay." Gabriel nodded, flashing her one of his lopsided smiles. She grinned back, then turned and dashed into the school. He wouldn't go inside until his bike was completely secure, but he never seemed to protest when she ran right inside; he knew she didn't like the cold. Aislinn stopped at her locker and retrieved her books. She was getting ready to head to her homeroom when a hand come down on her shoulder. Expecting Eddie, she whirled, already scowling. It wasn't Eddie behind her; in fact, it was another girl. The girl was taller than Aislinn, although that might have had something to do with the stiletto heels she was wearing. She wore leather pants and a leather jacket that reminded Aislinn of Gabriel. Her hair was honey blonde and curly, and her eyes were green. She's a knockout, Aislinn thought. Although I can't imagine she goes to school here... how'd she get in? "Are you Aislinn Lexington?" The girl asked. "Yeah," Aislinn replied. "I'm Callie McKormick," The girl told her. "I'm a friend of Gabe's." "Oh," Aislinn said. "So you don't go to school here, then." Callie shook her head. "No, came to see Gabe. And I wanted to talk to you." Aislinn looked at her, startled. What would she want with me? she wondered. And is she a friend of his, or... ? She remembered what Tifo had said that first day, about Gabriel's usual girls. Gabriel had said he didn't sleep around anymore, but what guy would turn down a girl like this? "Do you think we could hang out later?" Callie asked. "I can't," Aislinn replied. "Gabriel and I... have something to do." "Oh, right, the modeling thing," Callie said. "What about Saturday? I can give you my number." In the end, Aislinn agreed to spend some time with Callie on Saturday. I wonder what Gabriel will say about it, she thought. Does he even know that she talked to me? Well, he'd find out eventually, one way or another. Aislinn decided she wasn't going to worry about it just yet. ------- Gabriel stretched languidly, drawing his arms above his head and cracking his knuckles loudly. He glanced over at Aislinn. Her head was bent over her sketchpad and her brows were furrowed in deep concentration. She works so hard, he thought, a slight smile curving his mouth. It's amazing, the passion she has. He wondered, briefly, what other things she could put that intense passion to, but quickly shoved the thought from his head. It had been such a long time for Gabriel now that sometimes his imagination ran away with him. "I think we're done for today," Aislinn murmured, not taking her eyes from the paper. "I'm done," Gabriel agreed. "But are you?" Aislinn looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry." Aislinn finished the sketch and set her pad aside. Gabriel watched her; she was quiet today, more so than usual, and he was a little concerned. He stood and walked over to her, taking a moment to glance at the sketch. It was a little bit shaky, as though her quiet mood had affected her work. Gabriel laid a hand gently on her shoulder and she looked up, giving him a wan smile. "Is something wrong?" Gabriel asked. "Um, just tired, I guess," Aislinn answered quietly. "I... should get going." She stood, reaching for her pad and pencil. Gabriel swiped them out of her reach and gently pushed her back down on the couch. She looked at him, her pale blue eyes widening in surprise. Grabbing her wrist, he sat down on the couch next to her and held her firmly in place. "You're not leaving until you tell me what's bothering you," Gabriel told her. Aislinn sighed. "I met... a friend of yours today. Callie... um..." "McKormick?" Gabriel's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Didn't know she was back in town. What did she want?" "She said she wanted to talk to me," Aislinn said. "She gave me her number... she wants to spend time with me tomorrow." Gabriel frowned. "I don't know if that's a good idea..." "I'll be fine," Aislinn snapped. "I'm not a baby, you know." She grabbed her sketchpad and pencils and threw them in her backpack, then stomped out of the apartment. Gabriel stared after her, taken aback. What did I do? he wondered, running his fingers through his hair. She's wound awful tight. He walked over to the window, pushing aside the raggedly curtain to peer out onto the street. Aislinn was trudging through the snow, moving away from the apartment. Gabriel sighed, grabbed his jacket and hers, and followed her out. He trotted to catch up with her, and put her jacket over her shoulders. Aislinn grumbled a bit, readjusting her jacket so it was on her comfortably. She was shivering noticeably, however. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home," Gabriel offered. "No," Aislinn said stubbornly. "I have feet. I can walk." "You're freezing," Gabriel pointed out. "I'm fine!" Aislinn snapped. Gabriel grabbed her shoulders, spun her around, and pulled her up against him. She fought his hold at first, but after a moment she settled, pressing against him. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to ease her violent trembling. Aislinn held onto him tightly and he could feel her breath warm against his neck. Maybe this was a bad idea, Gabriel thought. It's twenty five degrees out but you couldn't tell by the way my body's acting. When he felt that she had calmed down enough, he gently pushed her away. "I'm sorry," Aislinn murmured. "I guess I'm a little strung out. There's... there's been a lot on my mind." "It's all right," Gabriel told her. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home." Aislinn nodded. "Thank you." He walked her back to his apartment and started up his motorcycle. Although it was not as comfortable for him, he had her sit in front of him, so he could keep her warm and protect her from the wind. I should not be doing this, Gabriel thought as he guided his motorcycle onto the street. I should just leave her be. Nothing can ever, ever come of this. She's too good for the likes of me. But it bothered him, all the same. ------- Aislinn studied the beat up old apartment building with a bit of trepidation. It wasn't that far from Gabriel's; Callie told her she'd rented it for just that reason. Why the heck am I doing this? she wondered. I don't want to spend my Saturday night with one of Gabriel's ex lovers. Because she truly doubted that they had always been just friends. Guys weren't "just friends" with a girl like Callie. Aislinn would much rather spend the night with Gabriel, but curiosity had gotten the better of her. Callie answered the door as soon as Aislinn knocked. The inside of her apartment was small, with a shabby couch, an even shabbier old bean bag, and a cardboard box as a table. The door to her room was open; the floor was piled high with dirty clothes and there was only a thin old mattress for a bed. Callie flopped down on the beanbag chair, and Aislinn settled gingerly on the couch. "Sorry the place is such a mess," Callie said. "I just moved in a few days ago, and I haven't had much time, with work and all." "What do you do?" Aislinn asked. "I'm a stripper," Callie answered blandly. Aislinn stared at her. Callie didn't smile or laugh, so it wasn't a joke. She doesn't seem too proud of it, though, she thought. At least she's working. That's better than what some women do. And it could be worse, she could be a prostitute. Aislinn wasn't going to ask if Callie did that kind of work. She was curious, not rude. "Um," Aislinn cleared her throat. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" "Hang on," Callie said. "Would you like a drink?" Aislinn nodded. "Sure." Callie stood and padded over to a mini-fridge sitting in the corner. She pulled out a couple of bottles and tossed one to Aislinn. Aislinn stared at the bottle; it was an alcoholic drink. Uh oh, she thought. I really shouldn't drink this... not if I'm going to have to drive home. "It's just a wine cooler," Callie assured her. "Trust me, there's hardly any alcohol in it." Aislinn sighed and cracked the bottle open. She took a quick sip, and stared at the bottle in surprise. That doesn't taste like alcohol at all, she thought. In fact, it tastes really good. She took another sip and settled back on the couch, feeling a little more at ease. Callie settled back down on the beanbag chair with a can of beer. "So, tell me about you and Gabriel," Callie said. "What do you mean?" Aislinn asked warily. "Just, how you met," Callie replied. "What you guys do together. No offense, but you're not exactly the type of girl he usually spends time with." Aislinn nodded. She started explaining to Callie how she had originally met Gabriel and why they'd started spending time together. She left out a lot of things, like the times Gabriel had kissed her, the school dance, and making him pose naked. I don't think she'll appreciate that much, Aislinn thought. Talking made her thirsty, and she downed the wine cooler rather quickly. "Oops," Aislinn giggled. "Drank that a little fast." "Nah," Callie, who was already on her third beer, said. "Want another?" Aislinn nodded. "Sure, why not." Callie got her another bottle, and they went back to talking. Although Callie didn't reveal a whole lot about Gabriel's past, she did talk about some of his past escapades. Aislinn found it both fascinating and disturbing. However, she loved listening to Callie talk about Gabriel. The longer they sat there, the more she longed to see him. And the more wine coolers she drank. "You know," Aislinn giggled, setting down a mostly empty fourth bottle. "Tifo said that I wasn't Gabriel's normal type of girl. What does that mean?" Callie laughed. "You're sweet and innocent. Gabriel sure isn't!" "Oh, come on," Aislinn whined. "I'm not that innocent." "Have you ever slept with anyone?" Callie asked. "Well, no," Aislinn admitted. "Have you?" Callie grinned. "Of course. Gabriel is especially good in bed, you know." Aislinn frowned. I didn't want to hear that, she thought, standing up. She swayed as the room seemed to spin. Groaning, she put a hand to her forehead, trying to stop the spinning sensation. She felt giddy and lightheaded. Callie stood up, and moved in front of her, blocking the door. "I don't think you can drive home," Callie said. "Not like that." "I'll walk," Aislinn retorted. "Move." "Ais..." Callie said softly, reaching out to take her arm. Aislinn smacked her hand away. "Don't call me that! I hate being called that!" She pushed past Callie and stomped out of the apartment, down into the parking lot. Her fingers didn't seem to want to grip her keys properly. Grumbling, she shoved her keys in her jacket pocket and stumbled down the sidewalk towards Gabriel's apartment. Who the hell does she think she is, anyway? Aislinn thought. She's a stripper and obviously a slut, too! Her anger boiled up in her, so that she pounded hard on Gabriel's door when she reached it. She knocked so hard that she split the skin over her knuckles, but at that moment she didn't notice. "Gabriel!" Aislinn shouted. "Get your ass out here now so I can kick it!" The door jerked open and Gabriel stood in the doorway, staring at her open-mouthed. He grabbed the sleeve of her jacket and hauled her inside, closing the door firmly behind himself. Aislinn snarled as she was tossed roughly onto the couch and she stood up, but Gabriel pushed her back down immediately. "What the hell is your problem!?" Gabriel demanded. "My problem?" Aislinn growled. "I'm not the one who sleeps with every whore who comes along!" Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "You'd better tell me what you mean by that. Now!" "Fine, act like you don't know!" Aislinn retorted sharply. "Is Callie the only one, or have there been lots of others, too?" "That is none of your damn business!" Gabriel growled. "You're acting like a nosy little child! Come on, I'm taking you home!" Aislinn stood, but she didn't move towards the door. Instead she threw herself at Gabriel at wound her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth to hers. His first response was to try to pull away, but she held onto him firmly. A moment later he dropped his hands to her hips, kissing her back. Aislinn parted her lips, and he swept her mouth hungrily with his tongue. And then he was pushing her away. Gabriel snarled, wiping his hand across his mouth, and grabbed his jacket from the hook beside the door. "What's wrong with me?" Aislinn demanded. "Is it because I'm not a stripper? Is it because I don't sleep around?" "You're drunk," Gabriel stated, his voice tense with aggravation. "I can't believe you..." "You can believe me?!" Aislinn exclaimed. "What about you?! At least I... I... oh, I feel sick..." The color drained from her face and her shoulders slumped. Gabriel grabbed her, quickly hauling her outside, where she fell to her knees. He held her hair away from her face as she threw up. I never thought I'd be doing this again, he thought, sighing heavily. I thought the days of puking or holding someone's hair while they puke were over. Once Aislinn's shoulders finally stopped heaving, he pulled her to her feet and turned her to face him. Her face was still pale, and tears welled in her blue eyes. "I guess everyone has to learn that lesson sometime," Gabriel sighed. "I'm sorry," Aislinn murmured, sniffling. "I... I feel like such an idiot..." "Good," Gabriel said. "That's how you should feel. Remember that next time someone offers you a drink." "But... it didn't taste like there was a lot of alcohol in it..." Aislinn said. She looked so forlorn that he had to smile. Gabriel settled his arm around her shoulders to keep her trembling form warm as he led her to his bike. I'm going to kill Callie, he thought. Aislinn doesn't know any better. She's such a child... Looking over at her, though, he wondered about that. Yeah, she was childish about a lot of things, but he'd seen more than that at times. Maybe she just needs something to bring it out of her, Gabriel thought, as he helped her stagger onto his motorcycle. Like uh... me stripping naked? Uh, no, maybe she should stay childish. He was glad it was dark, so she couldn't see the dark flush remembering that day caused. "Gabriel..." Aislinn said softly. "I..." "It's okay, Aislinn," Gabriel assured her. "I'm sorry... it's not that you did anything wrong. You... you're just not my type..." She turned her head away from him and pulled on the helmet, but not before he saw a tear run down her cheek. And I'm a horrible liar, too, Gabriel thought, settling in front of her. She's just too sweet and guileless to think that I would lie to her. It weighed heavily on him, that he'd been untruthful with her. But she's too good for me, he thought. I should just stick to girls like Callie. ------- Callie jumped a foot when her door slammed open. Gabriel looked every part his namesake; a snarling, furious wolf, ready to tear her throat out. He stalked over to the couch and pulled her up by her shoulders, giving her a fierce shake. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He demanded. "I would think you would know better than to give a girl like Aislinn alcohol!" "I'm not the one with the problem, Gabriel," Callie said scathingly, glaring at him. "You're the one tripping all over yourself over a little innocent suburban girl!" "I am not!" Gabriel protested. "Yes, you are!" Callie retorted. "She is not our type of people, Gabriel! We belong with others of our kind! You're playing with fire and you need to get the hell away from her!" Gabriel stared at her for long moments, then dropped to the couch. He buried his face in his hands, trying to collect his thoughts. Callie paced the room like a nervous deer, until he lifted his head. "I don't want to get away from her," Gabriel said softly. "Good lord!" Callie cried, throwing her hands up. "Have you slept with her?" "No!" Gabriel exclaimed. "No, of course not... oh god, but I want to... what the hell am I gonna do!?" Callie sighed, and dropped down on the couch next to him. She took his hands in hers, chaffing them gentle. All the color had drained from his face and his dark eyes were full of panic. "She isn't like other girls, Callie," Gabriel said softly. "Sometimes I think she's so childish but... you know, she snuck out of Thanksgiving dinner with her family to spend the night with me. No one has ever done something like that for me." Callie sighed. "All right, all right. Maybe she isn't so bad... but what about her parents? And doesn't she have a boyfriend?" "Eddie?" Gabriel scowled. "She doesn't want him." "Well, then, what are you going to do?" Callie asked. Gabriel looked up at her. He'd known Callie for a long time. Once she calms down, she'll understand, he thought. She's the only person I know who could possibly help me. He sighed, sitting back on the couch, and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," Gabriel said, shaking his head. "I need time to think about it..." ------- Chapter 7: A Light in the Darkness Snow crunched noisily under Gabriel's boots as he made his way up the stairs into the school building. Can't they shovel these things? he thought, stomping the snow off his boots. Someone is going to slip and hurt themselves. And if it's me, I'm going to hurt someone else! He was in a bad mood, and had been for days. The problem of Aislinn was constantly on his mind; even more so because she hadn't been in school for a week. He hoped she'd be here today. If not, Gabriel was going to have to go to her house, which meant talking to her parents. He didn't like that at all. I thought she would call or visit by now, he thought, rubbing his temples. At least for the sake of her art project... she usually takes that so seriously. He stopped at his locker long enough to retrieve some books, then headed down to the art room. If she was in school today, that was where she would be. Gabriel stopped outside the art room door and peered inside, quickly scanning the room. Aislinn's seat was empty, as it had been every other day this week. Snarling, he stomped back to his locker, shoved his books back inside, and raced out into the hazy, cold winter day once more. Gabriel grabbed his helmet, pulling it on quickly, and hopped onto his motorcycle. He didn't care if he got in trouble; he was an adult, he could always call himself out sick if he had to. He had to remember to be careful on the slippery roads as he raced towards Aislinn's home. Her car was in the driveway, but her parents' car was not. Good, maybe I won't have to deal with them, Gabriel thought as he walked up to the door. He knocked, but got no response. Frowning, he tried the doorbell this time, and finally heard an indistinguishable shout from inside. A moment later the door opened. Aislinn was in flannel pajama bottoms and an oversized night shirt, and she was carrying a box of tissues beneath her arm. "Gabriel!" Aislinn exclaimed, surprised. "Why aren't you in school?" "I was going to ask you that," Gabriel told her. "But seeing you, I think I can guess." Aislinn smiled wanly and sniffled. "Stubborn cold. Come inside, it's freezing out there." He was relieved to see that she was okay, but something had him unsettled. Gabriel hung his coat up on the rack beside the door, then followed Aislinn into the living room. The carpet was amazingly plush, a soft sand color, the couches were all elegant white leather, the coffee table looked like expensive mahogany; so many things that were far too expensive for him to touch. Aislinn settled on the couch, amid a bunch of blankets, then patted the spot next to her. "It's okay," She said. "You can sit. Why are you here?" "You haven't been in school all week," Gabriel pointed out as he sat gingerly on the couch next to her. "I was wondering where you were." Aislinn blinked. "It's not that big a deal. I'll go back when I'm better." Gabriel stared at her. She's not going to ask why I didn't check up on her sooner? he wondered. Why is she acting like this? Because now he could see what was wrong; the usual warmth in her pale blue eyes was missing. It was not the first time he'd seen that mistrustful look before, in the eyes of someone he had cared very much about. It brought back all the painful memories. Without thinking, Gabriel grabbed Aislinn, dragging her close. He closed his arms around her and held her tight. "Don't, Aislinn, please!" He begged. "Don't turn away from me, too." Gabriel was relieved when he felt her arms around him. Her hold was light and tentative, though. After a moment Aislinn pulled away and stared at him curiously. I owe her an explanation, he thought, staring down at her bemused blue eyes. I didn't want to ever dredge up these memories again, but I owe her. "I have to tell you something," Gabriel said. "You aren't going to like it... but I owe it to you to explain." Aislinn shook her head. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to." Smiling wanly, he took her hand in his, and pulled her with him as he stretched out on the couch. Gabriel wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her against his side, and entwined his fingers tightly in hers. "Stay like this, okay?" He said softly. "Until I finish speaking... just, please, don't let go..." Aislinn nodded. "I won't. I promise." He felt like a child again, lost in the horrors of what had happened. Aislinn's warm presence at his side made the memories a little easier to bear as they came rushing back to him. Her small hand holding his tight helped to ease the fear that made his heart pound wildly. "When I was thirteen, something very bad happened," Gabriel began. "I had a sister... she was my only real family. We lived together in a foster home. It wasn't so bad; the people were pretty nice. But she was scared so often, so I promised I would protect her." He took a deep breath, then forged ahead. "When she was twelve, she started getting into boys. Older boys. Fifteen, sixteen... I tried not to let it concern me. As far as maturity levels go, a twelve year-old-girl and a fifteen-year-old boy pretty much even out." Aislinn snickered, and Gabriel paused, peering down into her eyes. At least she can appreciate my sense of humor, he thought, gently brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Mary, that was her name, our real parents were very religious," Gabriel continued. "She was so quiet. She started going out with this guy... he claimed he was from a high school in the next county, said he was sixteen. Maybe I should have been suspicious but... he really didn't look older than sixteen. I dunno, I was thirteen, I wasn't the best judge, and I guess I didn't pay very good attention..." "How old was he, really?" Aislinn asked quietly. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew where this story was going. "Twenty two," Gabriel replied. "The sick bastard. I... I came home one day, to find out she was in the hospital. He... that monster, he..." He choked on the words, unable to continue. Aislinn squeezed his hand gently, bringing it up to press her mouth lightly to his knuckles. Gabriel relaxed, but he still could not force himself to speak that memory aloud. The gentle, concerned expression in Aislinn's eyes told him that he didn't have to; she understood. "I was so angry, I couldn't think straight," Gabriel said. "My foster father, he... he kept a gun in the top drawer of his dresser. I... when I came home from the hospital, I went and got the gun..." He felt Aislinn stiffen, but she didn't pull away from him. Her eyes were wide with fear and worry, but he wasn't certain that it was fear of him. Don't hate me, Gabriel thought. Please, please, don't hate me. I couldn't stand it. The thought of seeing contempt in those soft blue eyes was too painful to bear. "I tracked him down," Gabriel continued quietly. "And I shot him. I wanted him to pay for what he put her through. Oh, god, but it was such a mess. I... I couldn't even move after... there was all this blood... and the cops came and..." "It's okay," Aislinn murmured when he stumbled over his words. "It's okay." Gabriel swallowed hard, then continued. "The whole thing with the court... everything... I was in juvenile hall for awhile, but in the end they decided... I wasn't old enough to understand what I did. I was in such a bad state of mind. I didn't care, though. While I was locked away, they told me that my sister... she killed herself." It was as if someone had opened the floodgates. Gabriel could not remember the last time he'd cried. Now the tears began to slowly track down his cheeks, as he remembered that day. He closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears, but they leaked out from beneath his eyelashes. Small, gentle fingers touched his cheek, wiping the tears away. Gabriel opened his eyes to see Aislinn gazing up at him, her eyes wide and full of concern. "You still blame yourself," Aislinn stated. "More for what happened to your sister than for shooting that guy." Gabriel nodded. "Pretty much. For a long time I hated myself for it... but when I look back at it now... sure, you're always told that killing is wrong... and you think you know... but I didn't understand. I wanted him to pay for what he did to her but I didn't realize... I didn't realize what that meant." "You can be told over and over again that a bee sting hurts," Aislinn said quietly. "But you can't honestly know until you experience it for yourself. It's not the same thing, really, but the idea is the same. Just because you're told that it's wrong to kill, doesn't mean it's something that's easy for you to understand." She's still holding my hand, Gabriel thought, watching her face as she spoke. Oh, thank god, she hasn't let go of my hand. He'd told so few people that story; most people turned away from him when he did tell them. Aislinn's tender concern was so different from the reactions he was used to. He couldn't keep anything from those warm, caring eyes. Gabriel realized that he didn't want to; he wanted someone to know, someone to care. "My life went downhill from there," Gabriel told her. "Drinking, drugs, always on the wrong side of the law... and women. I'm not proud of it... I think the only thing I was ever proud of back then was that I had enough sense left to be careful who I slept with. Though I'm not sure it was really sense. For a long time I slept with older women... five years older, sometimes ten..." Aislinn frowned. "You couldn't touch someone younger than you, because of what happened to your sister." "Right," Gabriel nodded. "Callie is even older than me, by four years. I don't have any excuses. It was just easy to fall into that kind of lifestyle. I didn't even try to fight it." Aislinn was silent. Her brows were furrowed in deep thought, but he could read nothing else from her expression. Say something, Gabriel thought desperately, watching her still face. Say something, say anything! She did speak, eventually, but it was not at all what he expected her to say. "You can't blame yourself," Aislinn said. "For any of it. And especially not for your sister. You loved her very much, I know. But people make their choices. No matter how much you care, no matter how much you feel you know what's right for them, they are going to make their own choices. She chose to start dating guys at twelve. She chose to trust someone she hardly knew. She chose to end her life. It was not your fault." He'd heard it so many times. From countless psychiatrists, from the few people who cared enough to not hate him, from all the people who had tried to set his life straight. It was so hard to believe, but it felt a little different, coming from her. Aislinn wasn't a psychiatrist, or a probation officer, or an aunt or uncle who had to care. Gabriel relaxed a bit. I'm not sure I believe it yet, he thought, but it feels good to hear it from someone else. "So, what do you want for Christmas?" Aislinn asked suddenly. Gabriel blinked at the abrupt change of subject. "What?" "I said, what do you want for Christmas?" Aislinn repeated. "It's getting close, you know." "You don't have to get me anything," Gabriel told her. "And to be honest, there really isn't anything I want." "Think of something," Aislinn said firmly. "Even if I have to get it for you after Christmas." Gabriel stared at her for long moments, then shook his head, chuckling. Little stubborn brat, he thought, smiling down at her. He shifted a bit and reached into his pocket, finding his key ring. Gabriel wiggled a key loose, and pressed it into Aislinn's free hand. "Here," Gabriel said. "My spare. If you ever need me for anything, don't hesitate to come over." "What if you need me?" Aislinn asked, closing her fingers tightly around the key. "You can come here anytime you need to. I'll be here if you need me." "I need you now," Gabriel said softly. She nodded, her eyes full of understanding, and settled down beside him. Gabriel wasn't certain what would grow between them, but it didn't matter, so long as she was always his friend. ------- "Mistletoe, Ais. You gotta kiss me." Aislinn glared at Eddie. I will not have him ruining my Christmas, she thought, jerking away from his hold. Besides, I'd rather kiss a slug. She'd been paying closer attention to Eddie's behavior lately. Although he went around saying that he was her boyfriend, he was always with different girls. And since she'd started spending time with Gabriel, Eddie's presence felt slimy. Aislinn yanked her jacket on, pulled on her hat, scarf, and mittens, and grabbed the bag on the counter. "I'm not going to kiss you," She said sharply. "I have somewhere to be." "Going to see that trash?" Eddie sneered, keeping his voice low enough for only her to hear. "No, Eddie," Aislinn replied. "I'm leaving the trash behind." With that she walked out of the house, trying not to slam the door behind herself. Refusing to let Eddie get to her, she turned her car radio to a station playing Christmas songs and sang along the whole way to Gabriel's apartment. Aislinn had asked her parents for a silver chain for Christmas, and now the key he had given her hung on the chain around her neck. It was a more precious gift than any sort of jewelry could possibly be. Knowing it was unlikely that he would be awake, she unlocked the door and crept quietly inside. Aislinn removed a plate of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies from the bag and set it on the counter, along with a carton of eggnog. She stripped out of coat, scarf, hat, and mittens, and retrieved her Santa hat from the bag. Aislinn stopped for a minute to give herself a last smoothing over; she was wearing a pair of jeans and a clingy, off the shoulder, long-sleeved red shirt with fluffy white trim at the bottom to match her Santa hat. I hope he thinks I look good, she thought, anxiously pushing her hair away from her face. Gabriel was fast asleep, strewn on his side, one arm dangling off the side of the bed. His blanket was low on his hips, and she got the feeling he wasn't wearing much, if anything, beneath. He looks so cute, she thought, stifling a giggle. Aislinn approached the side of the bed quietly, then sat down, instantly startling him awake. Before Gabriel could do much more than sit up, Aislinn threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Merry Christmas!" She cheered. "Ugh," Gabriel groaned. "It's too early to be merry." "It's ten o'clock, you lump," Aislinn retorted. "Get up. I'll make you breakfast. And I brought cookies. And a Christmas present." Gabriel's eyes wandered over her. A crooked, sexy grin slowly spread on his face. He leaned back on the bed, forcing her to straddle his hips so she wouldn't fall. Gabriel rested his hands on her hips, and slowly drew them up her sides, dragging the soft material of her shirt along her skin. Aislinn felt her cheeks go bright red. "You shouldn't make presents so easy to unwrap," Gabriel murmured huskily, pulling her shirt up just a little. "Gabriel!" Aislinn squeaked, her cheeks burning. "What makes you think I'm your present?" "You asked me what I wanted for Christmas," Gabriel reminded her. He slid out from underneath her and Aislinn tumbled to the bed with a shriek of surprise. Gabriel pressed against her, slowly pushing her shirt up over her breasts. His hand was warm, a little rough from working, but the touch on her skin made her shiver in guilty pleasure. She felt as though her flush was creeping all over her body; the tightness of her nipples was quite apparent beneath the soft cotton of her bra. Gabriel trailed a finger up between her breasts, and she knew he could feel her tremble. "You're not ready," Gabriel murmured softly. Aislinn opened her mouth to protest, but he quickly placed a finger against her lips, silencing her. "No, sweetheart. You aren't ready yet for the things I can give you. But I hope you will be soon, because I've made up my mind. I know what I want." He leaned down and kissed her then. It was a soft, tender kiss; she couldn't imagine anything sweeter. It's not just a kiss, Aislinn realized, as she felt Gabriel's fingers wrap around hers. It's a promise. She tilted her head up, coiling her free arm around his neck to return the promise. Gabriel's tongue teased lightly along her lower lip for a short, heady moment, then he pulled back. "So, you said something about breakfast?" Gabriel asked, raising an eyebrow. "And cookies?" Aislinn laughed. "Yes, you pig. I brought food. Let me up and I'll make you some." Gabriel tugged her shirt back into place, then slid out of bed. He didn't seem to care that he was naked, but she felt herself blushing. Aislinn waited until he was dressed, then followed him out into the kitchen. He's right, she thought, studying him as he probed the fridge for something to drink. I'm not ready, not yet. But I will be soon. Very soon. ------- Chapter 8: New Year's Eve Gabriel cracked open the can of beer and handed it to Callie. He wasn't really in the mood to drink, but he sipped at his own can every now and then. She'd called him early the day after Christmas and told him she wanted to talk, but it had taken a couple of days before he could actually get to her place. As she talked, he fiddled idly with the silver bracelet on his wrist. From a distance it looked like links; up close it was actually elegant angel wings linked together. Only Aislinn, Gabriel thought as he gazed down at his Christmas present. Only she could associate me with angels. "So, I was thinking I should apologize," Callie was saying. "I should never have given her alcohol, even if they were only wine coolers. And I should never have told her that..." "Well, it's over now," Gabriel said. "Everything is good now. But if you want to apologize, you should." "So, what happened between you two, anyway?" Callie asked, raising her eyebrows curiously. "I told her," Gabriel replied. "The truth. Everything." Callie stared at him. Although she knew some of the details about his past, she didn't know as much as he'd told Aislinn. Gabriel had always said that it would take a lot for him to tell someone everything. Aislinn isn't just anyone, he thought, she's a brilliant light in so much darkness. "Well, then," Cassie cleared her throat. "What are you going to do? Did you decide?" Gabriel grinned. "I have to be out of my mind. But I can't walk away." "If anyone of us has a chance," Cassie said. "It's you. You've always been good at putting yourself at the top of the situation. Just be careful, okay? I've seen that Eddie guy... he's a sick bastard and he won't like that Aislinn wants you." ------- Aislinn glared at her reflection in the mirror. Why are all the clothes I have so dorky? she thought, stomping her feet in a small tantrum. She yanked off the green sweater and tossed it aside. There just seemed to be nothing in her closet that was right for the New Year's Eve party that Eddie was throwing. I only agreed to go because both of our parents were watching, Aislinn thought, scowling. At least I get to bring Gabriel. The thought made her smile. It must have killed Eddie, when her mother had suggested she bring Gabriel. Eddie couldn't say no without looking like an ass. I can't believe they're letting him have a party while they're out of town, she thought as she rummaged through her closet. They've got to be nuts. Although Eddie had no doubt promised him that it would be a small party with a few friends, Aislinn knew better. She just wondered who he'd find to get a keg for him. He'd been blabbing about that all week. The doorbell rang suddenly, startling her. Her parents weren't home, so she threw on a robe and raced downstairs to get the door. Aislinn was surprised to find Callie waiting for her. She stepped back, allowing the other girl in; it was too cold to stand with the door open and talk. Aislinn pulled her robe around her tighter, and stared expectantly at Callie. "Don't look at me like that," Callie grumped. "I'm sorry, okay? I've been friends with Gabriel for a long time. I want what's best for him... and it's hard cause, well... your type of people look down on us." "I don't look down on Gabriel," Aislinn said softly. "He's wonderful. I've never met anyone like him..." "He's a good man," Callie agreed. "It's hard for a lot of people to see. They just see a punk who's been to jail and gotten all mixed up in stuff. When you know him, there's so much that shines through." Aislinn nodded. She felt a little bad for she had said about Callie; she'd just been so angry. I can understand the need to protect a friend, she thought, and it's true that a lot of people would automatically look down on Gabriel. Aislinn led Callie into the living room and they both sat on the couch, a bit more at ease with each other now. "What's with the robe?" Callie asked. "Don't you two have a party to go to soon?" Aislinn scowled. "I have nothing to wear. All my stuff is... dorky." "Hmm," Callie murmured. "You're about my size. Why don't you come to my place? I've got some things that should fit you. And don't worry, I've got some stuff that isn't too crazy." Aislinn considered for a moment, then nodded. She raced up stairs and changed quickly into jeans and a t-shirt, then trotted back downstairs. Grabbing a pen and a pad of paper, she jotted down a quick note and left it on the counter for her parents. I must be out of my mind, Aislinn thought as she slid into the passenger seat of Callie's beat up old Ford. It's like I'd do anything for Gabriel... talk about being a slave to love. ------- Gabriel grumbled and dropped his cell phone into his jacket pocket. What the hell are they doing? he wondered, glaring at the light flooding from the windows of the house. There is no way in hell I'm going in there without Aislinn. He doubted he'd be allowed in without her, anyway. Gabriel wasn't exactly thrilled about this party, but he certainly wasn't going to let Aislinn go alone. He could probably throw Eddie a whole lot further than he would ever trust him. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Cassie's car pulled up. Aislinn kicked open the car door (it tended to stick), and Gabriel felt a smile curl his lips when he saw her. Cassie had found a pair of leather pants that fit her well, clinging to her long legs and the dangerous curve of her hips. A silver hoop belt hung low on her hips, drawing his eye to the low cut waist of the pants. A simple, white men's dress shirt floated loosely about her body; only two buttons were actually closed. Gabriel couldn't help wondering if the lacy red bra he could see beneath was actually hers. "You look great," Gabriel murmured as she stepped close to him. "Thanks," Aislinn said, her cheeks turning pink. "So do you." Gabriel grinned. He'd chosen a pair of black jeans and black mesh shirt that was close to see through. Aislinn was watching him from beneath her lashes, trying to hide the fact that she was looking. He put an arm around her shoulders and walked with her up to the door. It swung open as they reached it and Eddie stood in the doorway, glaring, with the blonde cheerleader on his arm. "Aren't you a little cold, dear?" The blonde asked, smirking at Aislinn, who had forgotten her jacket. Aislinn raised her eyebrows. "Me? I'd be more concerned about yourself." Gabriel smothered a snicker. She's full of spunk tonight, he thought, ruffling Aislinn's hair. Although he had to agree that the cheerleader was probably cold; she was wearing a mini-skirt and a tube top. "You're the one who should be worried," The blonde said. "Hanging out with gutter trash like that is dangerous, don't you know?" "Out of curiosity," Aislinn retorted. "Do you actually have a name? Or should we just refer to you as 'the bimbo hanging on Eddie like a bitch in heat'." Gabriel's eyes widened, but he quickly hid the expression. "Don't you think that's a little wordy, sweetheart?" "Right," Aislinn agreed. "Monosyllables only, I forgot." Both Eddie and his blonde tagalong glared after them as Aislinn tugged him into the living room. She'd told him the day before that she suspected the party would be loud and crazy. She'd been right; the music was blaring, couples were strewn about, making out like there was no tomorrow; and cigarette butts and empty beer cans littered the room. Gabriel kept Aislinn close to his side as he eyed the room, trying to find a clear space where they might be able to sit down. "Geez," Aislinn grumbled, skirting around a couple that had slumped by the kitchen doorway and was busy fooling around. "Don't they do anything else at this age?" "Oh, I dunno," Gabriel commented, peering over his shoulder. "Some of it looks like fun... ow! What was that for?" He rubbed the spot where she'd elbowed him, grimacing. "I am not... doing anything like that... in front of all these people," Aislinn said firmly. "Don't be so uptight," Gabriel told her. He wound an arm around her waist and drew her close. She braced her hands against his chest as he bent to kiss her. He could tell by the shift in her position that whatever thoughts she'd had about pushing him away had quickly faded. Gabriel cradled the back of her neck with his hand as he bent her slightly, coaxing her lips open with his tongue. Aislinn mewled softly, low in her throat, as he teased the inside of her mouth. Gabriel backed her towards the kitchen table and lifted her up on it, pulling her legs around his waist. He dropped his mouth to her neck, nipping gently at her skin. She tilted her head back, baring the slender column of her throat. Gabriel dragged his tongue over her skin and felt her shiver in delight. Goosebumps rose on her skin as he slid his hands beneath her shirt and gently stroked her tummy. He was just lifting his head to kiss her again when something struck him on the back of his head. Snarling, he pulled away in time to see a crushed beer can hit fall to the ground. A chorus of laughter rang out behind him. "Ignore them," Aislinn murmured. Looking at her, with her lips slightly swollen from the hunger of his kisses, and her blue eyes heavy lidded and sexy, he was tempted to do just that. But Gabriel wasn't going to be pushed around by spoiled, rich brats. He turned, pulling a small switchblade knife from his pocket. Flipping it open, he held it up, studying the blade with a careful eye. "Usually," Gabriel said. "It's best to use knives specially designed for throwing. However..." He pulled his hand back and let the knife fly. It whizzed past Eddie's ear, missing slicing it open by the barest fraction of an inch, and embedded itself to the hilt in the living room wall. Oops, Gabriel thought, smothering a grin. I probably shouldn't have thrown it quite so hard. He watched as one of Eddie's friends tried to yank the knife from the wall, but failed. "With enough practice, you can throw anything, just about," Gabriel finished as he walked over to the wall and easily pulled the knife out. "You'll have to pay for that," Eddie said, glowering at him. "Sure," Gabriel replied brightly. "I'll just explain to your parents that you irritated me by throwing a beer can at me. They may not believe me, but I'm sure they'll believe Aislinn." Eddie blanched as Aislinn walked up beside Gabriel and put her arms around him. He mumbled something and walked off, the blonde cheerleader trailing along behind him. Gabriel watched them walk up the stairs and shook his head. How could he dare to try and claim Aislinn was his girlfriend? he thought, closing his arms tightly around her. You're not supposed to sleep with other girls when you have a girlfriend. Gabriel turned his head to gaze down at Aislinn and noticed that her expression was disapproving. "What?" Gabriel asked. "He deserved it!" "Did you have to throw a knife?" Aislinn demanded, sounding exasperated. "Geez, Gabriel, how do you expect people to think highly of you when you go and do things like that?" Gabriel scowled. "Who cares what people think? It's not my job to please a bunch of rich snobs. I'm going to get a drink." He turned and stomped off, leaving Aislinn to stare after him open-mouthed. What the hell does she want from me? Gabriel thought, glowering at people until they moved out of his way. I'm not one of these rich, preppy snobs like she is! The thought immediately made him feel guilty. He cracked open a can of beer and downed half of it in one gulp, wondering what he was going to do now. ------- Stupid, stupid, stupid, Aislinn thought, I should never have said that! She had been trying to find him for half an hour, but he seemed to have disappeared. With a sigh she climbed the stair to find the bathroom; she'd continue looking for Gabriel afterward. She felt horribly guilty for speaking like that to him, especially when it had been her idea to come to this party in the first place. Aislinn paused inside the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. What am I doing? she wondered. Does he really want me? He said he did, but I'm so... Dorky was the only word that came to mind. When she finished in the bathroom, she clicked the light off and ambled into the hall. Much to her dismay, she saw Eddie coming towards her. Aislinn considered making for the back stairway, but he was right in front of her before she knew it. She backpedaled until she felt the wall against her back. Eddie kept moving in closer, and soon he was so close she could smell beer and cigarettes on his breath. "So, you've turned into the jailbird's little slut, have you?" Eddie slurred. "Back off, Eddie," Aislinn snapped. "What I do is none of your business." "Aw, come on," Eddie murmured. "If you can give it up for him, you can certainly give it up for me." Aislinn opened her mouth to reply, but never got the chance. Eddie pressed his mouth sloppily to hers, shoving his tongue into her mouth. She flailed beneath him in shock, squeaking in indignation as Eddie grabbed her breasts and squeezed them roughly. Aislinn managed to push him away long enough to slap him across the face, leaving four angry scratch marks on his cheek. Eddie growled, grabbing her by the shoulders and slamming her up against the wall. "Bitch!" He shouted. A moment later he was dragged away from her and tossed against the opposite wall. Aislinn didn't think she had ever been so glad to see Gabriel in her life. She threw herself into his arms as Eddie staggered to his feet and limped away. He folded his arms around her protectively and she clung to him desperately. "I'm so sorry," Aislinn said. "I didn't mean what I said, I really didn't! I'm sorry!" "Shhh," Gabriel murmured, running his fingers through her hair. "It's all right, sweetheart. Just promise me something, okay?" "What?" Aislinn asked, looking up at him. "You got in a good shot to the face," Gabriel replied, "But next time you're in that position, just bring your knee up as hard as you can." Aislinn sniffled, chuckling a little. "What if I'm in that position with you?" "Well, first of all, I've got better technique," Gabriel said, grinning. He slowly backed her against the wall, dropping his mouth to kiss her tenderly. His hands were gentle as he slid them up her stomach, to her breasts. Aislinn moaned softly as he fondled her, quite a different reaction than the one she'd given Eddie. Gabriel pulled away from her, pleased by her small mew of disappointment, and twined his fingers with hers. "Let's get out of here," He murmured. Aislinn nodded. Holding her hand tightly in his own, he led her down the stairs and out the door. The night air was freezing cold, so he set her in front of himself on his motorcycle to protect her from the wind. I'm glad to be away from there, Gabriel thought. I want to spent the rest of New Year's Eve just with her. Maybe I'll take her out for breakfast tomorrow or something. It was such a pleasant thought that it brought a smile to his face. ------- Aislinn waited, shivering, as Gabriel secured his bike. Why did I leave my coat at Callie's? she wondered, scowling. I'm totally freezing my tush off here. She scuffed at the ground with her toes, feeling incredibly morose. When Gabriel walked over to her, he must have noticed something was wrong, because he slid a finger beneath her chin and lifted her gaze to him. "Why so down, baby?" He asked quietly. Aislinn shrugged. "I... I dunno. Maybe I shouldn't have suggested we go to that stupid party..." "Hey, I didn't mind," Gabriel told her. "It wasn't so bad, really." "It was awful," Aislinn said. "Okay, yeah, it was awful," Gabriel admitted. "I hate being around kids like that." "But I'm one of them..." Aislinn said quietly. Gabriel frowned. "Is that what this is about? Aislinn, you aren't anything like them." Aislinn looked down and sighed. Maybe he's right, she thought. I've always sort of been out of place in that crowd. I've never felt like I fit in with them. She rubbed her arms, which were covered in goosebumps. The thin shirt did little to protect her from the cold bite of the wind. "I'm freezing," Aislinn grumbled. "Next time I'm dressing warmer." Gabriel chuckled. "Well then, that I think I can help you with." He tugged her close to him and bent to kiss her. Aislinn snuggled up close to him, trying to warm herself. His mouth was restless against hers, his hungry kisses making her feel pleasantly lightheaded. Gabriel settled his hands on her hips, and slowly began to inch them upward. Aislinn, eagerly waiting for the touch of his hands against her skin, was unpleasantly surprised to find that his fingers were freezing cold. She shrieked, and Gabriel jumped back, looking panicked. "What?" He asked, staring at her. "What?" "Your hands are cold," Aislinn replied, pouting. Gabriel laughed, and he looked very relieved. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her up to his apartment door and quickly unlocked it. It was warmer inside, but not by much. Fortunately, Gabriel had a small space heater in his room. They sat in front of it together, both of them needing to warm up. Aislinn snuggled against Gabriel, enjoying herself much more now than she had been at the party. "Hey, Aislinn?" Gabriel murmured, nuzzling her earlobe gently. "What?" She asked, tilting her head to the side to give him places to nuzzle. "Let's go out tomorrow," Gabriel replied. "I'll pick you up in the morning and we'll go for breakfast." Aislinn smiled. "That sounds nice." She sighed as Gabriel slowly trailed his mouth along her neck, over her jaw line, and eventually to her lips, tilting her back so he could reach better. Aislinn wound her arms around his neck as he slowly lowered her down to the floor, his mouth working restlessly on hers. His hands wandered beneath her shirt; they were warmer now, and slightly rough with work callouses. I love his hands, she thought, stretching out beneath him as he pulled her shirt open. Always so gentle... it's so nice. Still, Aislinn found herself a little self-conscious, and she squirmed beneath his gaze. "What's wrong?" Gabriel asked quietly. "Um... it's just... well... uh," Aislinn stammered. "I'm embarrassed..." Gabriel's eyebrows raised. "Why? You've got a lovely body." "But... but... my breasts are too small," Aislinn said quietly, her cheeks darkening. In response, Gabriel slid his hands beneath her back. She lifted off the floor in instinctive response, and he unlatched her bra. Her blush only grew darker as the red lace fell away, baring her breasts. He looks so... intense, Aislinn thought. She suddenly found it very hard to breathe. Gabriel's hands gently cupped her breasts, making her shiver. "Odd," He said. "They seem perfect to me." "But Eddie's always said they're too small," Aislinn protested. "Who do you believe, him or me?" Gabriel demanded. Without giving her a chance to answer, he bent down, catching one of her nipples in his mouth. Aislinn squeaked in surprise, but the sound soon turned into a soft moan. Gabriel held her there, pinned and helpless on the floor, his mouth teasing new, pleasant sensations from her nerves. His other hand trailed slowly down her stomach until he could grab the waist of her pants and tug them open. Aislinn was trembling visibly, but she didn't push him away as he slid his hand beneath the pants and her panties. "I believe you," Aislinn breathed. Gabriel pressed his mouth to hers, stifling her gasp as he first touched a fingertip to her sensitive flesh. She squirmed, raising her hips into the gentle touch of his fingers. The leather pants made it difficult for him to move his hand, and with a frustrated growl he tugged them down to her thighs. Aislinn clung to him desperately, her mouth slightly parted and her eyes heavy-lidded, as he stroked her heated center, slowly teasing her to burning arousal. The world seemed to blur as Gabriel's fingers teased her swollen clit. Aislinn brought a hand to her mouth and bit down on her knuckle, trying to stifle her cries. Her other hand was wound into his hair. She trembled from head to toe, her body tensing the more he touched her. Soon she was coming, her body quaking with the intensity of it. Aislinn inhaled deeply, large gulps of air, trying to clear her head. It was the gentle caress of Gabriel's fingers through her hair that eventually brought her around. "Yikes," Aislinn said. Gabriel chuckled. "I can do a lot more than that, sweetheart." She blushed, dropping her gaze. Aislinn could feel herself trembling; she didn't know what to make of all these new sensations. Gabriel seemed to sense her unease, because he caught her hand up in his, lifting it to his mouth. His lips brushed gently along her knuckles, making her sigh. "Don't worry, Aislinn," Gabriel murmured. "For you, I'd wait an eternity..." ------- Chapter 9: Nothing is Perfect Aislinn dropped her head into her hands and groaned. Two days, she thought, chewing anxiously on her lower lip. I have two days left until my painting is due, and I've got nothing! She flipped through a pile of sketches of Gabriel; they were all good, but nothing jumped out at her. Gabriel was working now, so she had to wait until after work, when he'd be tired and surly, to ask him to model. Aislinn glanced over at the clock; it read seven-thirty, which meant she still had more than an hour to wait. I can't just show up, she thought, although maybe I should, so he doesn't have the chance to say no. She glanced over at the duffle bag sitting in a heap at the end of her bed. A moment later she'd made up her mind. Aislinn found a pair of jeans, a white cotton t-shirt, and a warm, tan turtle neck; she folded them up and put them into the bag. Warm socks, underwear, that sort of thing. Finally, she stuffed her sketchpad and pencils into the duffle bag and trotted downstairs. "Where're you going, honey?" Her mother asked as Aislinn tugged on her coat. "Callie's," Aislinn answered. It wasn't entirely a lie. Callie's place was very close to Gabriel's, and she was going to stop there for a quick visit, anyway. Aislinn quickly pulled on her hat and mittens, and wrapped her scarf around her snugly. It was still very cold outside. "Have fun," Her mother called. "I will!" Aislinn called back. The drive certainly wasn't long enough; it only killed fifteen minutes. She found herself getting more and more excited about seeing Gabriel. He's been working a lot lately, Aislinn thought as she parked her car in the lot outside his apartment. I miss him. She stopped long enough to drop her duffle bag off in the apartment, then headed over to Callie's for a short chat. ------- Gabriel shoved his door open and staggered inside. He was exhausted from a long day of work; all he wanted was a shower, a warm meal, and bed. He'd have to do without the warm meal, though. Even with the stuff Aislinn kept stocked in his fridge, he wasn't much of a cook. It took him a long moment to realize that the lights were on. I must be hallucinating, Gabriel thought. Aislinn was in the kitchen, working diligently, and something smelled really good. He walked over to her, settling his arms around her waist, and dropping his head to her shoulder. Roasted chicken, steamed potatoes, and slices of homemade garlic bread filled two plates on the counter. "I don't know what you're doing here," Gabriel said. "But you're an absolute godsend." "You've been so busy lately," Aislinn told him. "And I've been so art dead. I wanted to spend some time with you... maybe things will click together again." Gabriel sighed. "I'm too tired to model tonight, sweetheart." Aislinn nodded, but disappointment showed in her pale eyes. For a moment he was annoyed. I've been working so damn hard, Gabriel thought, can't I have just one night of peace? Watching her face, he noticed the sheen of tears over her eyes and the reddening of her nose that meant she was trying not to cry. I'm so not in the mood to deal with this, he thought, grabbing a plate from the counter. He grabbed a plastic fork from the container on the counter and stomped to the couch, which seconded as a dinner table. The food tasted good, especially after a hard day of work. Gabriel waited for Aislinn to join him, but she didn't. She'll come around, he thought, I just need to give her some... ow! He rubbed the spot on the back of his head where an empty soda can had struck him. Turning, Gabriel saw Aislinn standing with her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed. "You ungrateful ass!" She exclaimed. "I've barely seen you in three weeks! I come here because I've missed you! I even made dinner for you!" Gabriel stared at her, surprised. A smile slowly crept onto his face, and soon he was laughing. Aislinn flushed, looking more and more angry by the moment. He stood, placing the plate out of the way of harm, as she came stomping over to him. Gabriel caught her wrists before she do much more than sputter, using his firm grip to draw her close to him. He dropped his mouth to hers, kissing her until she was breathless and limp. "I've got work tomorrow," Gabriel told her when he pulled his mouth away from hers. "But not until the afternoon. I can pick you up in the morning and we can go to the studio or something. Maybe that will help you focus." "Okay," Aislinn murmured, still a little breathless. "But um... you don't need to pick me up... I mean... I brought stuff with me... I could stay so you don't have to get up too early..." Gabriel suddenly found it hard to breathe. This is not good, he thought, if she stays here tonight, I don't know if I can... Her blue eyes were watching him, filled with anxiety and hope. How could he possibly say no to those eyes? He knew she wasn't asking for sex; she just wanted to stay with him. Gabriel sighed heavily. "All right," He relented. "I can make you a spot on the couch. It's not the most comfortable but... what?" Aislinn was shaking her head. "I don't want to leave your side," She said softly. "Then you won't," Gabriel murmured. She's going to be the death of me, he thought, as he settled with her on the couch to finish dinner. Her pale blue eyes were sparkling with contentment. Gabriel was going to have a very long, restless night with her in the bed next to him. At least I managed to get myself a queen-sized bed, Gabriel thought. It isn't huge, but it will be enough so that we're both comfortable. Well, Aislinn would definitely be comfortable. He, on the other hand, would probably spend most of the night with a hard on. "Why don't you get ready for bed," Aislinn suggested not long after they had finished eating. "You look so tired. I'll give you a massage." "Are you trying to kill me?" Gabriel asked blandly. "Oh, stop that," She said, prodding him gently in the ribs. "I'm gonna get changed for bed. You should too." As she closed herself in the bathroom, he dropped his head into his hands. So should I wait to tell her that I don't sleep in clothes until she climbs into bed with me? he wondered, or should I warn her before hand? Gabriel waited until Aislinn yielded his bathroom; he was not going to sleep without a shower. She came out wearing pale blue pj bottoms with a teddy bear print and a plain, clingy white camisole. She should not be allowed to look sexy in that, he thought, it should be illegal. "I'm going to take a shower," Gabriel told her. "Go make yourself comfortable." Aislinn nodded, leaving him to take his shower. I don't know if I'm relieved or disappointed that she didn't offer to join me, Gabriel thought as he turned on the hot water. He showered quickly, toweled himself dry, then wrapped the towel around his waist and padded into the bedroom. Aislinn was curled up beneath the covers, and by the sound of her breathing, she was already asleep. Huh, Gabriel thought, so much for a massage. He left his towel in a heap on the floor and, despite his misgivings, crawled under the covers with her. Almost immediately Aislinn shifted closer to him, pressing her back against his chest. Gabriel groaned inwardly; her position left her rear pressed firmly against him. Speaking of firm, he thought, rolling his eyes as he felt his body tighten in response. She is so going to be the death of me. ------- Aislinn awoke early, feeling well rested. She stretched languidly, and paused, blinking. Something was poking her. She turned over to find Gabriel grinning at her sheepishly. Aislinn's eyes widened as she realized exactly what it was that was poking her. Her cheeks flushed and she sat up, taking most of the covers with her. Gabriel yelped in surprise and tugged the blankets back over himself. "You could have warned me!" Aislinn said, glaring at him accusing me. Gabriel chuckled. "I never got the chance. Does it bother you?" "Um... well... I um... I don't know," Aislinn stammered, her cheeks blazing. Gabriel caught her wrist in a gentle grip and pulled her hand beneath the covers, laying it gently against his hard member. She started, tugging against his grip, but he held her firmly in place. Aislinn could feel the throb of pulsing blood and a slight twitch caused by her hand dragging slightly when she tried to pull it away. "It's all right, sweetheart," Gabriel murmured, letting go of her wrist. "Just keep this in mind... this is what you do to me when you insist on doing things like sleeping in my bed." Aislinn blinked, surprised when he let go. She closed her fingers and slid her hand up curiously. Gabriel's eyes widened and he groaned, biting his lip. When she slid her hand down again, he caught her wrist again, this time pulling her hand away. "I've had a long night," Gabriel panted. "Do me a favor and go take a shower while I uh... take care of something." "But... I..." Aislinn stammered. "Please, Aislinn," Gabriel pleaded desperately. His dark eyes begged for understanding. It's not like I'm not ready for some fooling around, she thought grumpily as she left the room. Certainly back on New Year's Eve, he'd had no problem fooling around with her. Aislinn settled herself beneath the hot water in the shower and sighed. I guess I should know better, she thought, I knew what I was doing when I asked to stay. And I knew what would happen if I slept in his bed with him. She just didn't understand why he didn't think she was capable of taking care of what she'd caused. ------- Gabriel twitched slightly. My butt is going numb, he thought, trying to get comfortable on the table. It wasn't easy. The whole time he modeled, he had to watch the intent look on concentration on Aislinn's face. He had to sit and watch as her pale blue eyes lit with fire and passion, and her full mouth parted slightly, her tongue slipping out to wet her lips. The glistening trail of wetness left on her lower lip was painfully tempting. All morning Gabriel had had to deal with the torment of watching her. "I think we're done for the day," Aislinn said finally. "I've got what I needed." She looked up and his breath was taken away by the delight in her pale blue eyes. As he watched, she stood up from behind her easel and padded over to him. Gabriel watched the slight sway of her hips, unintentional though it might be, and the hard on he thought himself rid of came back in an instant. She settled in his lap, her thighs straddling his hips. Gabriel tilted his head up to meet her as she pressed an eager kiss to his mouth. His hands settled on her narrow ribcage, holding her tightly against himself. She didn't protest when he drew her shirt up over her head and tossed it aside. Gabriel inhaled deeply; she smelled so good. His teeth nibbled at her lower lip, drawing a soft, mewling moan from her. He helped her pull off his own shirt and sighed at the press of her small hands against his bare chest. Finding the clasp of her bra, he quickly tugged it loose, allowing the soft cotton to fall from her. Gabriel dropped his head to her breasts, and she cooed softly as he suckled gently at one of her nipples. He shifted beneath her, tumbling them so that she was on the one on the table. His hands shook as he unfastened her jeans and tugged them down, taking her soft cotton panties with them. Aislinn shivered, her cheeks flushing darkly beneath his hungry gaze. Gabriel slipped a hand between her thighs, touching soft, swollen flesh. She was wet and more than ready; he couldn't wait anymore. He unfastened his pants and tugged them down, not even bothering to pull them all the way off. Gabriel pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue sweeping her mouth hungrily. Aislinn parted her thighs at the gentle pressure of his legs. He needed no guiding to find her wet entrance and he pressed inside her, groaning as he slid deeply into her tight, warm body. Her gasp of pain penetrated the haze of desire around his mind and Gabriel paused, holding himself still inside her as she adjusted to the feeling of his invasion. Aislinn trembled beneath him, clinging to him tightly. "Shh, sweetheart," Gabriel murmured, gently kissing away the tears that slipped silently down her cheeks. The sound of his voice seemed to soothe her. She twisted beneath him. Gabriel gasped as her body tightened around him. He drew himself slowly out, then pushed back in, feeling Aislinn lift her hips to meet his. She cooed softly, delighting in the new sensation the friction of their bodies caused. Gabriel cradled her head in his hands and kissed her deeply, teasing her mouth as he continued to move inside her. It took all his self control not to just sate himself quickly and ease the need that had been plaguing him for months. The little sounds Aislinn made were good encouragement. He focused his gaze on her face, watching the pleasure fill her heavy lidded eyes as he built his rhythm to a faster pace. When Gabriel felt her tense around him, felt the tightening of her body that signified her orgasm, he stopped holding himself back. He had to stifle his loud moan against her neck as he came inside her. For a long time he couldn't move; he merely lay, holding her, trying to catch his breath. The sweat on his skin and hers was cooling, and he could feel her start to tremble. Gabriel sat back, reluctantly pulling himself from the wonderful warmth of her body. The sight of blood on her thighs brought reality crashing down on him and he groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "Shit!" Gabriel swore. What have I done? he thought frantically. The gentle touch of a hand on his shoulder made him jump. Aislinn was up, kneeling on the table next to him, her blue eyes full of concern. Gabriel pulled her close, resting his head atop of hers, and gently stroking her hair. "I'm so sorry," He whispered hoarsely. "For what?" Aislinn asked. She pulled back to look at him, puzzled. "This... this was your first time and I... I..." Gabriel stammered. "Is that all?" Aislinn rolled her eyes. "Come on, Gabriel, I'm not some sixteen-year-old who thinks her first time is supposed to be fireworks and rose petals and silk sheets. That's not realistic." "But..." Gabriel protested weakly. "Nothing is perfect," Aislinn said, closing her arms around him. "I didn't want fireworks. Only you... I love you..." Gabriel stilled, resting his head against her chest, uncertain what to say. Did he love her back? He wasn't sure. He wanted her, yes, that was obvious, and he most certainly needed her. But love? Gabriel wasn't even sure he was capable of love. After what had happened to his sister, he'd never even considered the notion. But looking up into Aislinn's pale blue eyes, so filled with warmth and love, the concept suddenly didn't seem so farfetched. ------- Chapter 10: Working Late Gabriel dropped his wrench into his toolbox and winced as it crashed against his other tools, the sound echoing loudly in the empty garage. It had to be close to one in the morning and he was exhausted. Why did I agree to do this? he wondered as he staggered into the locker room. He'd been working late for Tifo for the last week, and he was starting to regret it. I feel like such an ass, Gabriel thought as he collected a towel and a change of clothes from his locker. I've barely seen Aislinn, except for school, and I haven't had time to model for her. He dropped his towel and his clothes just outside of the small shower stall. The hot water knob was a bit rusted and he had to jerk on it hard to get the shower started. A rush of cold water struck him, and he jumped back, dismayed. Stupid frozen pipes, Gabriel thought as he undressed. He was covered in grease and he wanted desperately to be clean, even if it did mean a freezing cold shower. Gabriel stepped beneath the icy spray with a sigh of resignation. He quickly scrubbed the grease from his skin and hair, shivering violently from the cold. By the time he turned off the water and grabbed his towel, his teeth were chattering. He dried himself off, then dressed quickly. The jeans and t-shirt he'd brought with him helped, but Gabriel was still cold. As he was pulling on his boots, he heard movement from inside the garage. Frowning, he stood up and walked quietly out of the locker room, peering into the dark garage. "Hello?" Gabriel called. "Look, the garage is closed. You need to leave." "But I just got here..." He recognized the voice just a moment before Aislinn stepped into the light. The sight of her made him grin. She was wearing a pair of coveralls, and no doubt only that, because the front was open, baring a V of pale skin. Gabriel reached out as she approached, catching a strand of her hair in his fingertips and bringing it to his lips. He inhaled deeply; she smelled like lavender, much nicer than grease. "What are you doing here?" Gabriel asked. "I haven't seen you all week," Aislinn answered, stepping close to him. "I've missed you so very much. So I decided to visit you." Gabriel smiled and reached to cradle her face in his hands. "I'm sorry I've been so busy, sweetheart. I'll tell Tifo that I need to stop taking on so many extra hours." He bent to kiss her softly on the lips. Aislinn put her arms around him, holding him tight, and stood on her toes to press her mouth hungrily to his. He dropped his hands to her hips and slowly pulled her back into the locker room. It was a little bit warmer in the locker room and Gabriel was still shivering. She must have noticed, because she pulled back, resting her hands on his chest. "Gabriel, you've got goosebumps!" Aislinn observed. "Yeah," Gabriel grinned sheepishly. "The shower was freezing." "Oh, you poor thing..." Aislinn wound her arms around his neck and pressed close to him once more. "I'll warm you up..." He held onto her, tangling his fingers in her hair as she kissed him, her lips teasing his. Gabriel dropped his free hand to her chest where the coverall left it bare and slid his hand beneath the soft material to cup her breast. She practically purred as he gently teased her nipple into hardness with the calloused pad of his thumb. Her skin was warm and it had the soft feeling of being cleaned very recently. Gabriel pushed the coveralls off her shoulders, and drew them down to her waist, completely baring her upper body. Keeping his mouth on hers, he slowly backed her up against the wall of the locker room. Aislinn's hands slid beneath his t-shirt, running along his chilled skin and quickly warming him up. His hand left her breast to wander down over her belly and eventually slip down into the bottom of her coveralls. Gabriel discovered then that she was indeed wearing nothing beneath them. He let his hand wander between her thighs and heard her gasp as his fingers brushed lightly over soft flesh. Aislinn wriggled against him in a way that drove him half mad with desire. "You shouldn't have come here like this," Gabriel murmured, nipping at her earlobe gently. "Why not?" Aislinn asked. "I thought you'd like to see me..." "Of course I'm glad to see you. That isn't the problem," Gabriel said. "Or maybe it is. I'm a little too glad to see you." "Ohhhh," Aislinn said, nodding. She slid her hand knowingly down over his chest and belly, slipping her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans. Gabriel's eyes widened, and he quickly pulled her hand away. Aislinn jerked her hand from his grip and settled both hands on the bunched up waist of her coveralls, pushing them down. He drank in the sight of her naked body like a man drank water at high noon in the desert. She leaned against the wall and held her arms open for him. "That's why I came here," Aislinn explained. "So you'd be too glad to see me..." Gabriel understood, then, why she'd shown up the way she did. He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him, dropping his mouth back to hers. They were in the midst of a desperate, clingy kiss when the sound of one of the garage doors being rolled up caught their attention. They broke apart, staring at each other wide eyed, for a moment frozen to the spot. "Don't worry, all my employees are gone by this hour," Tifo's voice drifted into the locker room. "So they won't be getting in your way..." Aislinn recovered first. She yanked her coveralls back over herself quickly. Gabriel mouthed "Where's your car?" at her, but she shook her head. Cassie must have dropped her off, he thought, reaching out slowly for his locker. Fortunately it was open, so he grabbed his keys, then reached out and seized Aislinn's wrist. He beckoned to the backdoor, which was propped open an inch by an old newspaper, and she nodded in understanding. Together they bolted through the back door and out into the cold night. A shout rang out behind them, and Gabriel heard the sound of running footsteps. He dropped Aislinn's hand and raced ahead to his bike, starting it up while he waited for her to catch up. When he felt her slide into place behind him he slammed on the gas and took off. Tifo's outraged shouting mingled with Aislinn's exhilarated laughter under the roaring of the motorcycle. Gabriel felt strands of her hair whip across his cheek as they turned a corner and he reached back to unhook one of the helmets and hand it to her. He could also feel her trembling from the cold. In truth, he wasn't all that warm either. By the time they reached his apartment both of them were shaking and Gabriel could hear Aislinn's teeth chattering. He kept an arm around her as he unlocked his apartment, then dragged her inside. It was only slightly warmer inside than out; he couldn't afford to heat the place all day. "Brrr!" Aislinn exclaimed, stamping her feet to try to stay warm. "Maybe I should have waited until spring to pull that little stunt." Gabriel laughed. "I disagree. The cold weather becomes you." He pulled her close, tugging open the front of her coveralls. The cold air had made her nipples almost painfully stiff. Aislinn's cheeks heated as he lowered his head between her breasts and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding onto her tightly. He felt her fingers run gently through his hair and heard her sigh of content. However, Gabriel noticed that she was also still shivering. He pulled away reluctantly, giving her a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose, then pulled her into the bedroom, where the little space heater could provide some warmth. "This is much better," Aislinn said, settling herself in front of the space heater as Gabriel rummaged for some warmer clothes. "So, what possessed you?" Gabriel asked, pulling an old, warm sweatshirt from his drawer. "You hate the cold." "Yeah," Aislinn agreed. "But... I wanted to see you a lot more than I hate the cold..." Gabriel smiled. He handed her the sweatshirt, and watched as she stripped from the coveralls and pulled the sweatshirt on. She wasn't shivering anymore and the goosebumps had left her skin. Good, he thought, settling down with her in front of the space heater and wrapping his arms around her. He nuzzled her neck softly. Aislinn giggled and twisted in his arms to face him. Gabriel brushed his fingers gently over her cheek, watching her sorrowfully. He still hadn't forgiven himself for what had happened at the art studio. "Gabriel, what's wrong?" Aislinn asked. "Don't worry about it," Gabriel answered quietly. Uh oh, he thought, watching her eyebrows draw down into a scowl. Wrong answer. Aislinn pulled out of his grip and stood up, stomping out of the room. Damnit! Gabriel thought, jumping to his feet to follow her. Where does she think she's going!? She has no clothes on and its freezing! He caught up with her at the front door and grabbed her wrist before she could attempt to leave. Aislinn whirled to face him, her pale blue eyes flaring up with annoyance. "Why are you doing this?" Gabriel demanded. "It's been a long day, I just want to relax!" "So do I!" Aislinn retorted. "But I can't when something is wrong! And I know something is wrong, so don't try to tell me there isn't! You've been working so much lately, and I've been more than understanding! But I think the least you can do is be honest with me!" Gabriel stared at her, both shocked and a little awe-struck. It wasn't often that she really got angry, but in a perverse way, he loved it when she did. Her eyes sparked up and colored flared in her cheeks, and she was so animated and lively. He tightened his grip on her wrist and pulled her into his arms. Aislinn stiffened, for a moment quite surprised, then relaxed against him. Over time Gabriel was coming to realize that if she was upset, she calmed almost immediately if he showed her some affection. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "And you're right. I guess I'm still feeling guilty about what happened in the art studio..." Aislinn sighed. "Haven't we had this discussion already? I knew my first time wouldn't be all fireworks and Harlequin romance." "But it should have been," Gabriel retorted. "I shouldn't have been so selfish..." "Selfish? Oh come on!" Aislinn grumbled, rolling her eyes. "First of all, since when is romance all about candlelight and roses? Can't it be about love, and trust, and acceptance, too?" "Well, yes, I suppose, but..." Gabriel hedged. "Besides which," Aislinn continued, speaking over him. "How was it not romantic? I mean... you were so wrapped up in me that you couldn't help yourself. At that moment, I was the one thing in the world you wanted more than anything else. I think that's plenty romantic." Gabriel stared down at her for long moments, completely at a loss for what to say. Sometimes she's just too unreal, he thought, brushing a strand of wayward hair from her cheek. Such trust and understanding was a rare thing in the world, and he sensed it wasn't something she gave easily or often. He chuckled softly and leaned his head down until his nose was mere fractions of an inch from hers. "You should write Hallmark cards," Gabriel teased. Aislinn snapped her teeth playfully at his nose. "Hush, you!" Laughing, he swept her up in his arms and carried her back into the bedroom, where it was much warmer, and deposited her on the bed. She sat amid the tangled nest of fluffy comforters and soft, goose down pillows that he'd worked hard to earn the money for; and looked absolutely adorable in his sweatshirt, which was much too big for her. Gabriel kicked off his boots and tugged off his t-shirt, then stretched out on the bed next to her. Aislinn trailed her fingers lightly over his back and he shivered in delight. "Niiiice," Gabriel purred, closing his eyes. "Do that s'more." The bed creaked as she shifted position, sliding a leg over his back and eventually settling with her thighs straddling his hips. Aislinn set her hands on his shoulders and began kneading gently, working tension and stress knots from his muscles. Gabriel sighed in pleasure, resting his head on his arms, and allowed her gentle touch to relax him. Her hands were always so soft; not a single callous on those lovely fingertips of hers. He'd been working so hardly lately, and exhaustion came up to swallow him whole. He was asleep before he even knew it. ------- Aislinn had gotten a small taste of her own medicine when Gabriel fell asleep on her. She'd curled up next to him and pulled some blankets over both of them. Now she came awake slowly, drawn from sleep by the gentle brush of fingers running along her arm. The room was dark and warm, completely cozy, and she recognized the slightly calloused touch as being Gabriel's. Aislinn turned into him, and he immediately slid his hand low over her abdomen, then over her thighs, rubbing her legs. She practically purred; it was something she loved. Keeping her eyes closed, she relaxed, losing herself in Gabriel's gentle touch. He massaged and teased, his hands moving along her legs, abdomen, and arms. She sighed as she felt his mouth against her skin, laying kisses over her ribs and chest. Aislinn tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him close to her. His mouth was warm and gentle as he traced a path along her throat and up to her lips. Aislinn sank deeply into the nest of warm, thick comforters as Gabriel pressed his mouth to hers. The calloused pads of his fingers ran along the outside of her thigh, sweeping around to the inside, to gently nudge her legs open. She shivered in delight as he pressed inside her, opening her eyes at last to look up at him. Gabriel's dark eyes were warm and tender, focused intently upon her face. Aislinn closed her arms around his shoulders and brought her hips up to meet his first thrust. Gabriel dropped his mouth to her throat, scraping her skin teasingly with his teeth. She moaned softly, her body tightening around his. He reached up, first claiming one hand, and then the other, and bringing them over her head, pressing them to the bed. Aislinn stretched beneath him, arching her back and continuing to bring her hips up against his. The friction created by his steady movement inside her made her shiver and sigh. The time stretched into long moments. Gabriel continued his slow, steady pace, drawing out of her almost completely, then sliding back in deeply. His mouth moved back to hers, teasing her lips with long, lingering kisses until they were swollen and aching. Aislinn lost herself completely in the movement of his body and the touch of his lips, and before long she was shuddering in pleasure as she came. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply in an attempt to catch her breath. With the urgency of their first time together out of the way, Gabriel seemed to revel in taking his time. She let out a disappointed mewl when he withdrew from her, but a moment later he'd pulled her into his arms. Aislinn couldn't find her voice to protest as he turned her, bringing her back up against his chest. His mouth teased her earlobe, and his hand cradled her ribs as he brought her forward onto her knees. She moaned as Gabriel slid inside her once more. Aislinn tilted her head back against his shoulder, baring her neck for his mouth. He braced himself with one hand, and allowed the other to wander slowly over her stomach and breasts as he rocked his hips into hers. She closed her eyes, savoring each movement, from the thrust of his hips to the gentle brush of his fingertips over the curve of her breast. Although the pace of their love-making barely increased, a zinging intensity built between them. Tears formed in Aislinn's eyes; the sort of tears that accompanied an almost painfully sweet happiness. Gabriel's breathing was heavy and his voice was husky as he murmured in her ear, whispers of how beautiful and wonderful she was to him. Teardrops clung to the tips of her lashes and a few even escaped down her cheeks as she surrendered to their tender passion. Aislinn felt Gabriel's breath warm against his skin as he pressed his face to her neck, quieting the moan that accompanied his own climax. They sat together for long moments afterwards, catching their breath and cooling down. Gabriel kept his arms wrapped around her, and his head rested on her shoulder. Aislinn let out a contented sigh and opened her eyes. Her contentment faded as soon as she saw the clock on his bedside table. The bright red digital numbers read seven-thirty. "You need to get ready for work," Aislinn said quietly. "Mmm," Gabriel murmured against her skin. She heard him sigh, then, "Yeah, I guess so." He let go of her and climbed off the bed. Aislinn sighed, dropping into the nest of comforters, and watched him walk out of the room. You'd think he would put some clothes on first, she thought, but a slight smile quirked her lips. She expected him get into the shower, but a few minutes passed and she hadn't heard the water running. She was just going to get up and find him when he appeared in the doorway, talking on the phone. "... No, man, I have no idea who might have been there last night," Gabriel said. "I was out of there as soon as I was done." Tifo, Aislinn thought, grinning. She felt a little bad for last night, but it was amusing nonetheless. "Yeah, I'm sorry, but I really just can't," Gabriel continued. "Yes, it's important. Very important. Yes, far more important than my job." Listening, she realized she would give a lot to hear the other side of this conversation. Aislinn propped herself up on her elbows and watched him, a spark of hope growing inside her. "You won't fire me, and you know it," Gabriel laughed. "All right, see you then. Later." Gabriel hit the talk button, turning the phone off, and dropped it carelessly to the floor. He flashed his crooked, sexy grin, and Aislinn's heart began to flutter wildly against her ribs. With a boyish whoop of joy, he sprinted across the room and leapt back onto the bed. She laughed, winding her arms around him and snuggling close as he settled. Gabriel swept her hair back and gently kissed her forehead. "So you don't have to go in until later?" Aislinn asked. "I don't have to go in at all," Gabriel replied, grinning. "Today, I'm all yours, beautiful." She echoed his whoop of joy at this news, and he echoed her laughter. They stretched out together on the bed, lounging like lethargic cats in the comfort of the soft blankets and goose down pillows. Aislinn rested her head on Gabriel's chest, smiling. He's changed a lot, she thought. He isn't nearly as cold and indifferent as he was when I first met him. But then, I've changed a lot, too. She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of Gabriel's fingers running through her hair. If she had her way, this moment would never end. ------- Chapter 11: Struck Gabriel chuckled softly, watching as Aislinn squeaked in surprised and tumbled backwards off her stool. He had to admit, the make-up Tifo was wearing was convincing. They were spending the day with some friends of Tifo's that made their own independent films and currently they were demonstrating an array of special effects. He was actually really impressed with what they could do with so little. Aislinn was certainly enjoying herself, too. Gabriel reached out, helping her back onto her stool. "Don't do that," Aislinn whimpered, half-laughing. "You look hideous." "Gee, thanks," Tifo huffed indignantly. "Gabe, man, your girlfriend is rude." Gabriel smothered a laugh beneath his hand. He really had to agree with Aislinn on this one. The make-up on his face made his cheeks look hollow, his eyes look sunken, and his skin look somewhat eaten by decay. Aislinn slid off her stool and perched on his lap then, and he wrapped his arms around her. At first Gabriel had been uneasy with her displays of affection while they were around Tifo and the guys, but he had adjusted quickly. The constant jealous looks he got certainly helped. "Personally, I think he looks better that way," Forrester, who was in charge of lighting, chimed in. Tifo scowled. "If I was a real zombie, I'd totally have eaten your brains by now." "It wouldn't be a very filling meal," Forrester responded brightly, grinning from ear to ear. Of all of the crew they'd been introduced to, Gabriel liked Forrester best. He was the youngest, amazingly no more than fifteen, and something of a cheerful punk. His golden blonde hair was on the longer side of chic, somewhat shaggy, and he was always grinning, revealing dimples, perfectly white teeth, and blue eyes that sparkled. He's a good kid, though, Gabriel thought, I wonder how he got mixed up with this lot. Since, as with Gabriel, most of Tifo's friends had been in jail at some point. "Braaaaaains..." Forrester groaned, ambling off suddenly. Aislinn giggled. "These guys are quite some characters, Tifo." Aside from Forrester there was Marx, who was in charge of sound effects, which seemed odd in a way, as he spent so much time with his headphones blaring that he should have been deaf by now. Pixel, the only female, a small, mousy thing who wore glasses with lenses so thick they magnified her eyes, and was a genius on the computer. Oli (for short) did the make up, most often something gruesome, scary, or both. Rags and Banshee put together costumes (they were identical twins). Props did... well... props. Quill, the last of them, both wrote the scripts and was something of the group leader. "Don't any of you go by your real names?" Aislinn asked. "Only Forrester," Props replied, plopping down on her vacated stool. "He's the only one of us without a mile long record." Aislinn raised her eyebrows. "Even Pixel? She doesn't look it..." "Pixel's never stolen anything, never done drugs, none of that stuff," Props told her. "But she used to hack into government files for fun. They don't like that much." Forrester came back then, still ambling lazily like a zombie. He must have caught the tail end of their conversation, because he nodded sagely. Leaning on Props' shoulder, he flashed his boyish grin at Gabriel and Aislinn. "The local psych ward also has like, a whole filing cabinet on her," Forrester added. "Piss off, Forrester," Pixel growled from where she sat behind her laptop. "She hates me," Forrester sighed, pouting. "Forrester has a thing for her," Props explained. "But Pixel doesn't go for younger guys. In fact, I don't think she goes for guys at all." Pixel lifted her gaze long enough to shoot Props an icy glare. He tumbled off the stool and scrambled away, his face fixed in an expression of mock terror. Gabriel chuckled softly and shook his head. I think 'characters' is too tame a word, he thought, they're completely loony. Rags and Banshee were currently busily engaged in a duel, of sorts, using two giant rubber fish from Props' collection. Forrester decided to join in a moment later... with a Nerf gun. "Hey, you monkeys!" Pixel shouted suddenly, lifting her head. "Pix?" Rags questioned, pausing. His sudden stop resulted in him getting smacked in the face with the giant rubber fish that Banshee was wielding. Pixel rolled her eyes and tucked a strand of stubbornly out-of-place red hair behind her ear. "I got the program for the snow machine running. Hook 'er up, Props." "Whoo!" Props cheered, bouncing down from a stack of crates he'd been sitting on. Props caught the end of the cord Pixel tossed him and hooked it into the make-shift snow machine. Aislinn was watching so intently that Gabriel had to laugh at her expression. Props switched the machine on; it made an odd, sickly grinding sound and for long moments it didn't look as if anything would happen. Suddenly, with a loud popping noise, a cloud of white fluff exploded into the air. Even as it began to drift slowly down, another pop signified a second cloud. Impressive, Gabriel thought. The effect was such that it soon looked as though a pleasant, mid-day snow shower was happening in the room. "Good work, Pix," Quill praised. "That's absolutely perfect." Pixel didn't respond, but he noticed she seemed rather pleased with herself. Rags and Banshee had gone back to their duel, this time beneath the falling 'snow'. Forrester plopped himself in the largest pile he could find and attempted to make a snow angel. Gabriel felt Aislinn shift restlessly on his lap. He had the feeling she was dying to go play in the fake snow. She loved the snow, but hated the cold, and was always at something of a disadvantage. "Come on," Gabriel said, nudging her out of his lap so he could stand up. He caught her hand and pulled her beneath the spray of fluffy white 'snow'. Aislinn laughed; the fake snow settled in her hair rapidly, turning it dusky dark brown. She wriggled out of his grip to help Rags, Banshee, and Forrester, who had dragged Tifo into the 'snow' and were trying to bury him in it. Gabriel only watched, smiling to himself. Good to see her open up around people, he thought, even if they are people who are completely nuts. He wasn't paying attention, so of course he didn't notice when Props and Oli snuck up behind him. Gabriel was so wrapped up in watching Aislinn that he didn't notice their presence until they had pushed him face first into the 'snow'. As he sat up, dusting snow from his hair and clothes, he heard laughter. Glancing over, he saw Aislinn exchange high fives with Props and Oli. "You think you're clever, huh?" Gabriel asked, glaring at her. "Well, I uh... eep!" Aislinn squeaked, backpedaling quickly as Gabriel came toward her. She turned, slipping and sliding in the snow, and tried to scramble away. Gabriel caught her around the waist and hefted her up. Aislinn squealed in surprise and kicked her feet wildly, breaking into laughter as they both tumbled backwards into a rapidly deepening snow drift. As they scuffled, he eventually managed to capture both of her wrists and drag them up over her head. Aislinn flailed as she was pulled to her feet. "You should have known you'd never get away with it," Gabriel admonished teasingly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Aislinn whimpered, half caught up in breathless laughter. "Lemme go, oh, lemme go! Lemme go, lemme go, lemme go!" Despite her best efforts she could not break his grip. Closing an arm around her waist, Gabriel began to tickle her. Puffs of snow flew up in the air as Aislinn dropped to the ground, dragging him with her. He continued to tickle her until both of them were breathless and could no longer move. Gabriel stretched out in the snow with Aislinn strewn atop of him, both of them gasping for air. "Hey!" Tifo called. "You two wanna join us for some burgers, or what?" "Nah," Gabriel answered, lifting himself onto his elbows to look over at him. Aislinn squeaked as she slid down into his lap. "All right," Tifo said. "If you two leave before we come back, make sure you lock up." Gabriel nodded. "You got it, man." Rags and Banshee had to be pulled apart before they could leave (they'd dropped the rubber fish and had resorted to wrestling). Pixel was the last one out the door; she set her laptop so the snow machine would keep running even when the screen saver came up. When they had all left, Aislinn sat up, brushing snow from her hair and off her clothes. "It's awfully nice of Tifo to let them use this place," she commented. "Yeah," Gabriel agreed. "I guess they couldn't find a good place to test the snow machine, so he let them use the garage. It reeks of grease, but it's better than nothing." "Mmhmm," Aislinn murmured. She glanced sidelong at him. "I think it's time to get back at you for tickling me." Gabriel raised his eyebrows curiously. "What could you possibly do to get back at me?" A grin spread slowly from one corner of her mouth to the other. She pounced so suddenly that he was unprepared, and he tumbled back down into the snow. Gabriel took hold of her hips as she leaned down and pressed her mouth gently to his. She teased his lips with gentle nibbles, and when he tried to take a firmer hold on her, she grabbed his wrists, pulling his hands away from her body. "Keep 'em like that," Aislinn commanded as she forced his hands above his head. "Or else." "Or else what?" Gabriel asked, grinning lasciviously. A moment later he yelped as Aislinn pinched him sharply. "That answer your question?" she inquired, raising her eyebrows. "Yes, ma'am," Gabriel said meekly. He lay still, almost quivering as she traced a path down the side of his neck with her mouth. Her hands slid beneath his shirt, pushing it up over his ribs. Soft fingertips glided lightly over his skin; there was not even one small callous on her small hands. At her insistent tugging, Gabriel shifted, allowing her to pull his shirt off. He groaned as Aislinn slowly trailed her mouth down his chest and over his stomach. The occasional touch of her tongue made him shiver. He watched her from beneath his eyelashes as she unfastened his jeans and tugged them down. He felt his cheeks heat slightly; her teasing had made him painfully hard. Gabriel chewed on his lower lip as Aislinn curled her fingers around his stiff member. He lifted his hands to stop her, but she looked at him sternly, and he let his hands fall back into the pile of snow. Her hair tickled his stomach as she bent her head, and at the first touch of her mouth he expelled the breath he was holding loudly. Gabriel sank his fingers into the soft strands of her hair as she suckled gently, slowly moving her mouth up and down along his length. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, quivering with the sweet pleasure of her warm mouth. For a long while the only sounds in the garage were his moans and the soft whirring of the snow machine as it began to shut itself down. Gabriel's fingers wound tighter in Aislinn's hair. His pulse roared loudly through his veins. His other hand, still resting in the snow above his head, curled into a fist, his blunt fingernails digging into his palm. "A-Aislinn..." he stammered breathlessly, trying to catch her attention. Gabriel couldn't get the words out of his mouth quickly enough. Aislinn leapt back suddenly, squeaking in surprise. He would have laughed if he could have thought beyond the shaking intensity of his climax. When he caught his breath and opened his eyes, he saw Aislinn sitting on her knees next to him, looking distinctly disgruntled. Gabriel chuckled and grabbed her arm, pulling her close to him. "Sorry, baby," he said. "I tried to warn you." "Blech," Aislinn muttered, wiping her mouth. "I wasn't expecting it to... you know... it just all sorta... came out at once..." At that he began to laugh so hard that his ribs ached and tears came to his eyes. Aislinn pulled away from him and scowled, but she couldn't hold it for long. Sinking down next to him again, she laughed as well, clinging to him as her body shook with giggles. "Now would be a horrible time for them to come back," Gabriel panted. "Could be... worse," Aislinn said, gasping for breath. "How?" Gabriel asked, finally catching his breath some. "We could be... you know..." Aislinn replied. Gabriel grinned. "You're right. We could be." Aislinn squeaked in surprise as he rolled on top of her suddenly. She laughed, wriggling beneath him, as Gabriel trailed light, tickling kisses along her neck. He slid his hands over her legs, beneath the short, floaty skirt she was wearing. As he hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties, she lifted her hips, allowing him to pull them off. Her cheeks were red, but she didn't push him away when he slid his hand between her thighs. Aislinn moaned softly as he teased her soft, wet flesh with his fingertips. "Hmm, I think someone likes the thrill in the risk of being caught," Gabriel observed, chuckling softly. Aislinn blushed hotly. "Don't tease me!" Gabriel caught her hips again, lifting them up from soft drift of snow beneath them. Aislinn shivered as he slid inside her and closed her arms around his neck. He dropped his mouth to hers, kissing her enthusiastically as he moved inside her. Her fingers tunneled through his hair, and he heard her soft, contented sigh. Gabriel gently coaxed her mouth open by teasing the corners of her mouth and the inside of her lips with the tip of his tongue. He felt her own tongue brush shyly against his. Running his hands up her arms, he found her hands and entwined his fingers with hers. Bringing their joined hands down into the soft bed of snow, Gabriel lifted his upper body off of her, shifting his leverage to thrust deeper inside her. Aislinn moaned, tilting her head back, her eyelids drifting shut. Her hips met his, keeping pace with his movement. They seemed so in tune with each other. When he dropped his head to kiss her, she met him with slightly parted lips. When Gabriel released one of her hands to run his fingers gently along her breasts, she responded in kind, trailing her fingertips up over his collarbone. And when he pressed his face into her hair to stifle his moans as he came, he felt her press her face against his shoulder, and felt her body clenching and shuddering. For awhile they simply lay together. Aislinn's fingers stroked soothingly through his hair. Gabriel couldn't have moved if he tried, anyway. He was in heaven, having her hold him so close like this. If this movement never ends, I could be perfectly happy with that, he thought. Aislinn must have been thinking along the same lines, because she made no move to push him away. Finally they did untangle from each other, although rather reluctantly. Both of them pulled on their discarded items of clothing and smoothed their tangled hair. Gabriel helped Aislinn to her feet, then retrieved her coat for her and held it while she slipped it on. She tilted her head back and peered at him curiously. "What's with the gentleman act?" Aislinn asked. "Act? That isn't nice," Gabriel responded indignantly. "Really, don't you know I'll take any excuse to touch you?" Aislinn laughed and caught his hand, curling her fingers around his. They walked out together into the night. Winter was not fully gone yet, but it wasn't as cold as it had been. Gabriel enjoyed the silence between them; it was the pleasant sort, the kind of silence that meant they were so relaxed in each other's company that they didn't need to force conversation. It was in the silence that he heard it, a sound horrifyingly familiar to him. It seemed to echo in his ears, although he knew Aislinn hadn't heard it. The sound of the safety on a gun being taken off. Gabriel turned his head toward the sound. Despite the dark, he recognized the figure hidden in the shadows, recognized the way Eddie Montard held himself when he stood. And despite the dark, he realized that the gun was aimed, not at him, but at Aislinn. Oddly, the next moments seemed to stretch to eternity. Gabriel turned, barreling into Aislinn and closing his arms around her. He heard the gunshot as loudly as if it was next to his ear. White hot pain blossomed somewhere in the middle of his back as he and Aislinn tumbled to the ground. Darkness swam behind Gabriel's eyes and he held still, listening. Footsteps; the coward was running off. And the sound of a heartbeat, frantic, loud, Aislinn's. Relieved that she was safe, he let the darkness overwhelm him. ------- For awhile Aislinn was too stunned to move or speak. She wasn't quite certain what had happened. Gabriel had grabbed her, there'd been a loud bang, then they had both fallen. He was on top of her, lying very still, and something warm and wet was spreading between them. Panic began to rise in her throat as she struggled out from beneath him and carefully rolled him onto his back. Aislinn nearly fainted when she saw the blood staining Gabriel's shirt. "Gabriel... Gabriel!" Aislinn called in a high, panicked voice. "Gabriel, wake up! Please, wake up!" Slowly, very slowly, his eyes flickered open. A slight smile curved his lips, and he reached up, cradling her cheek in his hand. She saw that that one little motion took all of Gabriel's strength. Aislinn covered his hand with her own, holding it against her cheek, as tears poured steadily from beneath her lashes. "Just hold on, Gabriel," she murmured, choking on a sob. "Yeah..." Gabriel responded weakly. "I... know. I..." "Shh!" Aislinn exclaimed. "Just be still, Gabriel. Save your strength." Gabriel's fingers twitched slightly against her cheek. She could feel him trembling, and his skin was cold. "No..." Gabriel struggled to speak. "Wanted to... tell you... I... love you..." His hand slid from beneath hers, his strength spent. Aislinn's sobs grew into shrieks as he closed his eyes, a smile still curving his lips. Consumed with panic, she shook him, but he didn't respond. She started screaming as Quill's van pulled into the parking lot of the garage. The whole group of them came sprinting over to her as soon as they heard her. Pixel grabbed Aislinn's shoulders and pulled her back. Forrester had to lend a hand, grabbing Aislinn's wrist, because she was trying to claw at Pixel and break away. Rags dashed into the garage, followed closely by Banshee and Props, to call 9-1-1. Both Tifo and Quill knelt next to Gabriel, and Tifo pressed his fingers to Gabriel's neck, looking for a pulse. "Can't you quiet her down?" Quill hissed, looking greatly distressed. "Snap out of it, Aislinn!" Tifo shouted. "He's still breathing! Quiet down!" "Don't yell at her!" Pixel snarled. Aislinn had stopped screaming, but she was still sobbing loudly. Pixel held onto her, glaring at Tifo. Within moments they heard sirens and the ambulance pulled into the parking lot. Two EMTs eased Gabriel onto a stretcher, while another helped Aislinn to her feet, murmuring soothingly to her. She was too riled up to take in the ambulance with Gabriel, so, despite her furious protests, it was Tifo who went with them. Without waiting for her to calm down, Quill and Pixel shoved Aislinn into the van. Forrester held onto her while they waited for Banshee, Rags, Props, Marx, and Oli to get in the van. Then they were off, racing along behind the ambulance in its mad dash to the hospital. ------- The hospital was chaotic enough, and Aislinn's hysterics didn't help. She fought against Pixel and Forrester, who held her away from the doctors and nurses who were shifting Gabriel onto another stretcher. "Damn, she's strong!" Pixel growled through gritted teeth. "No kidd-Ow!" Forrester yelped. "She bit me!" Aislinn's thrashing was attracting a lot of attention. Doctors were muttering to each other, annoyed at all the noise while they were trying to focus. A nurse began whispering swiftly to the EMTs who had brought Gabriel in to begin with. She was holding a syringe and nodding Aislinn's direction. "Get a defibrillator in here!" One of the doctors shouted. "He's stopped breathing!" The two EMTs caught Aislinn before she could run more than a few steps. They held her still while the nurse stuck the needle into her arm. She struggled for a few minutes, then went limp. "Sorry, miss," one of the EMTs said quietly. "Hey!" Forrester shouted. "You can't just do that!" "We can't let her hurt herself, either!" the nurse snapped. Still glaring at the nurse, Forrester scooped Aislinn up into his arms. They all turned their gaze anxiously to Gabriel. The doctors had gotten his heart started again, but by the way they scurried about frantically, they knew just how dire the situation was. Forrester overheard a few of the details of the emergency surgery before the doctors rushed Gabriel away and he felt his heart drop into his stomach. Tifo came up next to him and sighed heavily. "I'm going to give you guys directions," Tifo said. "I want you to take her home." "But..." Forrester protested. Tifo shook his head. "This is frightening enough. She should be at home, with her parents. If... if something happens... she should be with them." Forrester nodded in understanding. He'd known Tifo for about a year now, and he would never have thought he'd see him so close to tears. As much as he thought Aislinn should be here, he'd help Quill take her home, for Tifo's sake. None of them had family anymore to be there for them in this sort of situation. Forrester glanced down at Aislinn's face, still pale and tear-streaked, and hoped that, this time, she wouldn't have need of her parents' comfort. ------- Chapter 12: Never Give In The waiting room of the hospital was so quiet that the silence seemed to buzz in Tifo's ears. It was almost four in the morning and Gabriel was still in surgery. Forrester and Quill had come back after dropping off Aislinn. Quill's gang had stayed with him for awhile, but eventually all but Forrester had left. Now he was sitting in the chair next to Tifo, munching on a candy bar he'd gotten from the vending machine. For awhile Forrester had kept up an attitude of optimism, but it was fading as the night waned. The nurses, at least, were sympathetic. They were much less agitated now, and only the one who had given Aislinn the sedative was irritable. Unfortunately the nurses knew nothing of Gabriel's condition at the moment and could provide no information. Tifo was shifting constantly between anxiety and annoyance, and he wondered how Aislinn was holding up. He imagined that the sedative she was given would have mostly worn off by now. "If... if he... you know..." Forrester stammered suddenly. "Um... what... what are you gonna do?" "Find the bastard who did it," Tifo growled in reply. "And give him a taste of his own medicine." "I wonder if Aislinn saw anything," Forrester murmured. "She didn't say..." Tifo sighed. "This isn't good, man. I don't know what we're gonna do for her if he... if..." "He won't," Forrester said firmly. "There isn't a man on earth who'd leave behind a girl like that." "She's something, all right," Tifo agreed. "Perhaps a little uh... emotional..." Forrester stared at him. "Okay, very emotional," Tifo amended. "But man... to have someone love you that much... Gabe's a lucky man..." Forrester sighed heavily, crumpling up the empty candy bar wrapper. He was getting really bored and tired, too, but he wasn't going to leave. Instead he wiled away the hours sifting through old magazines left on the waiting room table and occasionally, when he could get him to speak, talking to Tifo. Eventually Forrester drifted off to sleep, and when he woke up, the sun was shining in through the hospital windows. "What time is it?" he asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Almost ten in the morning," Tifo answered, sighing heavily. "Nobody's told me anything!" Forrester opened his mouth to respond, but never got the chance. A doctor was coming towards them now. His face was grimly set and he looked exhausted. Tifo rose immediately, and so did Forrester. Nerves made his heart pound deafeningly in his ears... ------- The theory goes that misery loves company. For Aislinn, her consuming despair and fear was something she wanted to be left alone with. When she had woken up and found out where she was, what had happened, and that it hadn't all been a horrible nightmare, she was both angry and terrified. She had wanted to go back to the hospital, but her parents had taken possession of her car keys and they refused to drive her. Aislinn might have walked, if she could have found the strength. For hours she could do nothing but cry. Eventually her tears ran dry, but she still sobbed quietly, hiccupping now and again. She was curled up on her bed, her pillow clutched to her chest. Several times her parents had knocked on the door, asking her if she was okay, if she needed anything, but she hadn't answered. Even if she had an answer, Aislinn wasn't sure she could speak. Her throat was raw and aching from screaming and all her strength seemed to have fled. The shrill sound of the telephone ringing downstairs cut through the fog of her despair. The house was so quiet that she heard everything; footsteps, the phone being picked up off the cradle, her mother answering the phone. For a moment Aislinn considered covering her head with her pillow, so she wouldn't hear. So far every time the phone had rang, it hadn't been the hospital, but it was making her jumpy. "Yes, I'm her mother," she heard her mother say. Aislinn stilled, listening closely. "Uh huh... I see. Yes, I understand. Yes... thank you, doctor. I'll tell her. Have a good day." Aislinn heard the phone fall back into the cradle, then the sound of her mother climbing the stairs. Her heart pounded loudly in her throat. I can't hear this, she thought frantically. I can't, I just can't! She could already feel her heart falling to pieces. Despite the fact that she knew her mother was coming, Aislinn nearly jumped out of her skin when she knocked. "Aislinn, honey?" Her mother called. Aislinn bit her lip. She wasn't going to answer. Maybe her mother would go away. She'd locked her door so no one could just walk in. "Aislinn, listen to me," Her mother continued. "That was the hospital calling... Aislinn, they wanted me to tell you..." No, no, no! Aislinn thought, shaking her head. She didn't want to hear it, she wouldn't hear it. Maybe if she closed her eyes she could convince time to turn back. Maybe she could keep the dreaded news from coming. "Did you hear me, Aislinn?" Her mother asked. "Do you understand? He's been asking for you... Aislinn?" She stilled. I... couldn't have heard right, she thought, barely able to hear herself above the pounding of her heart. I'm only hearing what I want to hear... But Aislinn kicked aside her covers and tossed her pillow away. She struggled off the bed; she had changed at some point into old pajama bottoms and a light sleeping camisole, but for the life of her she couldn't remember it. Aislinn unlocked her door and threw it open. Her mother was standing outside, tears shimmering in her eyes, but a smile on her face. Without waiting for her to speak, Aislinn pushed passed her and raced down the stairs. She heard her mother's laughter, then her footsteps as she followed. "Put some shoes and a coat on, at least," her mother admonished. "Then I'll give you your keys and you can go, if you promise to drive safely." "I... could you drive me?" Aislinn asked, fighting back tears. "I don't think... I'm shaking so badly, I..." Her mother smiled. "Of course, dear. Get your shoes and coat on, and let's go." Aislinn shoved her feet into a pair of lined clogs that were sitting by the door, and grabbed her jacket from the hook. She yanked it on, then turned to look at her mother expectantly. She tapped her foot impatiently as her mother collected her car keys and coat, then raced out the door. ------- Tifo and Forrester met them in the waiting room when they arrived. Both of them looked tired, but relieved. Aislinn was ancy; she wanted to get in to see Gabriel right away. Tifo had to hold onto her to keep her from running off. "Gabriel is asleep right now," Tifo told her. "However, the doctor said you can go in and sit with him." "Why is he asleep?" Aislinn asked, dragging Tifo towards the corridor. "He was really upset," Tifo replied. "They were afraid he was going to reopen his wound, so they gave him a sedative. He was so pissed off... he kept demanding to see you." Aislinn smiled. "Then he's fine." "He is," Tifo agreed. "He stopped breathing once more during the surgery, but the doctor says there isn't any lasting damage. Aislinn..." "There's a 'but', isn't there?" Aislinn sighed. "He's not out of the woods yet," Tifo warned. "He was really lucky... the bullet missed his spine by a fraction of an inch, and his heart by about an inch and a half. There's still a chance he might not..." Tifo let the sentence trail off, but she didn't need him to finish it. I won't think that way, Aislinn thought. He's going to be fine, and I refuse to believe otherwise. When she actually saw him, though, her resolve suffered. It seemed as though he was hooked up to so many machines. Gabriel's face was pale, his hair was lank and tangled, and he looked oddly thin and diminished. Aislinn's heart pounded as she stepped to his side and gingerly touched his hand. It was cold and slightly clammy. The steady rise and fall of his chest was the only thing that reassured her. There was a chair next to the bed, and she sat there. Aislinn carefully gathered Gabriel's hand in her own and held it. I won't let go, she thought fiercely. No matter what they say or do, I won't let go of his hand. I promised... "He's quite the fighter," one of the nurses said. "I'm sure he's going to be just fine." Aislinn sighed, her heart filling with relief. The nurse was right. Gabriel would never stop fighting. I love him so much, she thought, gazing at his sleeping face. And he said... he said... Her heart thumped loudly. Aislinn closed her fingers tightly around Gabriel's and smiled. She really couldn't wait until he woke up. ------- Gabriel struggled for awhile to come out of his drug induced slumber. A blur of images met his eyes the first few times he got them open. At last he managed to keep them open, and began a slow scan of the room. A nurse was puttering around, taking care of something or other, but he didn't care much what. It was dark outside, too, so his still foggy brain concluded that it must be night. Then he realized that someone was holding his hand. Gabriel turned his head slowly and felt his heart leap as he studied the figure in the chair next to his bed. Aislinn was asleep, her head tilted back against the wall. Her hair was a tangled mess and her clothes, pajamas in fact, were much rumpled. She's okay, he thought, relief flooding through him. She's alive, she didn't get hurt... thank god. "She's been here all day," the nurse said quietly. "Usually we don't let guests stay over night but... well, she locked her heels around the chair legs and refused to budge. Gabriel chuckled. "She's... stubborn..." he rasped. His throat was sore from having a tube down it. "You're not kidding," the nurse agreed. "When they brought you in, they had to sedate her. She was... really worked up." Gabriel smiled. At that moment he felt very warm and pleased. Gazing at her face, he realized he wanted desperately for her to wake up. He shifted his fingers against hers, or tried. There was so little strength in them, he could really only twitch them. The nurse was watching closely, and she must have realized what he was doing, because she walked over to Aislinn and gently touched her shoulder. Aislinn came awake immediately, sitting bolt upright. "Gabriel!" she breathed, gazing at him in amazement. Tears welled in her eyes. Gabriel noticed that she was shaking; trembling with the effort to keep herself from jumping on him. He chuckled softly. If it were up to him, she would already be in his arms. Fortunately the nurse left the room discreetly. Aislinn hovered on the edge of her chair, chewing on her lip anxiously. Gabriel just didn't have the strength to pull her close. "The stitches are... on the left... side..." Gabriel told her. She almost knocked the breath out of him as she threw herself against his uninjured right side. Oof! Gabriel thought, wincing. That hurt. He didn't care. It was so wonderful to have her holding him. He rested his head on top of Aislinn's and inhaled deeply, savoring the way her hair and skin smelled. Her body shook with sobs and for the longest time she merely clung to him. With some work, Gabriel managed to get his hand up along her side and to her shoulder, where he could sink his fingers into her hair. Aislinn lifted her head enough to look up at him and flash a watery smile. "I... I'm so... relieved..." Aislinn stammered. "I was scared... I thought you were... were going to... you know..." "Never," Gabriel said. "I... would never... leave you..." "So, you meant what you said, then?" Aislinn asked quietly. Gabriel raised his eyebrows quizzically. "What I said?" He saw her cheeks heat, and she dropped her eyes. Concerned, Gabriel quickly wracked his mind, trying to remember what she was talking about. The amount of drugs they'd put in him in the course of the last twenty-four hours or so made his memory dodgy. Aislinn glanced at him from beneath her lashes. "Um... you said... you said that you..." Aislinn stammered. She sighed. "Oh, never mind." "What's wrong?" Gabriel asked. "Nothing," Aislinn answered, shaking her head. She forced a bright smile to her face. "It's not important. All that matters is that you're alive." She snuggled against him again, resting her head on his shoulder. He gazed down at her, feeling more than a little confused. What could I possibly have said? he wondered. It had to be important, despite what she said, because she was obviously upset. I said that I... I... what? Gabriel thought, frowning. He concentrated, closing his eyes, trying to remember those few moments of consciousness when he had been lying on the ground, slowly bleeding to death. He couldn't remember, but he didn't need to. It struck him as he was gazing down at her, watching as her face relax into a contented smile. God... I love her so much, Gabriel thought. He nearly jumped out of his skin. The thought made his heart pound. That was what she was asking him about. He wound his fingers more firmly into her hair and rested his head on top of hers. "With all of my heart, Aislinn," Gabriel murmured. He felt her go still against him. Aislinn lifted her head, pulling back to stare at him, her eyes wide and filled with tears. Gabriel watched as small teardrops, like little beads of glass, slid from beneath her lashes. Her soft, full mouth trembled, and her lips were parted temptingly. He groaned inwardly, cursing his lack of strength. "If you're going to keep looking at me like that," Gabriel said. "You had better kiss me. Because I can't move that much, and if you keep looking at me like that, I'll probably hurt myself trying." Aislinn laughed softly. She leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to his. Gabriel could taste the slight salty tang of tears on her mouth. As she leaned against him, he wished more than anything that he had the strength to move. Aislinn continued to kiss him, shifting her position to relax more comfortably against him. Her teeth nibbled at his lower lip and her hand rested in his lap. She pulled back a moment and looked at him, grinning. "Well, some parts of you are certainly working," Aislinn teased. Gabriel scowled. "It's not my fault, you know. And besides which... those skimpy little pajama tops you like to wear..." "You don't like it?" Aislinn asked, raising an eyebrow. "Should I take it off?" "Don't tempt me!" Gabriel groaned. "I've only got one hand that's truly mobile at the moment and that isn't by much." Aislinn ran a hand up his arm, catching his fingers and pulling them from her hair. Gabriel shivered as she traced the lines of his palm with a gentle fingertip. He watched her face; she wore that intense expression she had when she was drawing or painting. With a soft, pleased sigh, he rested back against the bed. Aislinn scooted back into the chair, but she continued to hold his hand, slowly kneading and massaging his palm and fingers. It was so soothing that he eventually fell back asleep. ------- Aislinn's parents were incredibly understanding. They picked up her homework, and Gabriel's, so she could help him get his finished. She knew that she would have to go back to school eventually, but for now she could stay with him. For the next few days Gabriel was as tired and weak as he had been the first day, and she could tell it was upsetting him. Aislinn worried that he would hurt himself, trying to do too much before he was healed enough. On the fourth day he was finally starting to regain some of his former strength. When Aislinn arrived back at the hospital, after visiting home for a shower, a meal, and a change of clothes, he was sitting up in bed. She kissed him briefly, then settled in the chair next to him. Today she really had to address something important. "Gabriel, uh..." she began hesitantly. "You want to know if I saw anything," Gabriel said stiffly, not looking at her. "It's okay if you didn't," Aislinn assured him. "I just thought, you know, if you saw who did it..." "Would you believe me?" Gabriel asked, his tone icy. Aislinn was startled. "Why wouldn't I believe you?" Gabriel finally turned his head to look at her. The expression in his dark eyes reminded her of the first time she'd seen him. He'd been so cold, so different... and so distrusting of people like her. He can't mean that someone I know... Aislinn thought. She gasped loudly, and shook her head. "You can't mean... it was Eddie, wasn't it?" Aislinn demanded. Gabriel nodded slowly. "It was..." She sat back in the chair, stunned. That can't be right, she thought. I've known Eddie for years. He's not always the nicest person but he wouldn't... She couldn't finish the thought. Aislinn remembered the party on New Year's Even. Deep down she knew that if Gabriel hadn't come along, Eddie would probably have forced her. She dropped her head into her hands, trying to come to terms with this revelation. "Aislinn?" Gabriel called quietly. "I'm okay," she muttered, lifting her head. She slid out of her chair and perched on the edge of the bed. Gabriel didn't protest as she pulled down the blanket and moved his hospital clothing aside. He merely watched her as she studied the spot on his chest that had been stitched closed. The skin around it was red and somewhat bruised. Aislinn laid her hand gingerly on his chest, right beneath the wound. "I believe you, Gabriel," Aislinn said softly. "Thank you," Gabriel murmured, sounding relieved. He had enough strength now to reach out and pull her close. Aislinn wound her arms around his neck, holding to him tightly. Her lips pressed warmly against his neck, nuzzling gently as he tenderly stroked her hair. It was true that she and Eddie had been friends for a good many years. However, the loss of her friend seemed pale in comparison to the thought that she had almost lost Gabriel. Gabriel would be with her from now on. As long as she had him, Aislinn knew she'd be fine. ------- Chapter 13: Going Back Aislinn stood in the middle of Gabriel's apartment, looking around. It had changed some in the last few days, that was for certain. Her parents had donated a couch and a cozy chair, plus a coffee table for the living room. She has used her own money from contest winnings and commissions to buy all sorts of things; kitchenware, new fluffy towels for the bathroom, nightstands for both sides of Gabriel's bed, a small but serviceable kitchen table with a couple of chairs, and a throw blanket with matching pillows for the couch. It looked much more homey now. Aislinn walked into the bedroom and studied it critically. The doctor had said that Gabriel could return home tomorrow, but he'd still have trouble for awhile. His surgery had been extensive and it would take time for him to recover. Although her parents hadn't been completely happy about it, they had accepted it when she told them that she was going to live with Gabriel. 'Someone has to take care of him', Aislinn thought, 'and I'm the only person he'll allow to take care of him.' She herself was going back to school today, although she wasn't pleased about it. Eyeing the beat up dresser in Gabriel's room speculatively, she moved toward it. Beneath the clothes piled haphazardly in the top drawer she found a knife. Aislinn pulled the knife free of the plain leather sheath and examined it. The blade was about five inches long, and it looked sharp. 'I must be out of my mind, ' she thought, as she slid the blade back into the sheath, secured it, and tucked it into her jeans against the small of her back. 'It's a good thing our school never bothered to get those damn metal detectors.' It wasn't like Aislinn to do such things, but she was worried. Eddie had already tried to kill Gabriel; there was no reason why he wouldn't try to kill her, too. 'If Gabriel would only cooperate with the police', she thought, scowling. 'I guess I don't blame him, really, he feels like no one will believe him but... still. Aislinn picked up her backpack and headed outside. It was almost April now, and it was getting warmer. She paused to rest her hand on the tarp covering Gabriel's bike. "He'll be riding again soon," Aislinn murmured to herself. "Everything will be as it was." She knew that wasn't really true, but she had to stay positive. Aislinn wasn't going to let Eddie, or anybody else for that matter, destroy what she and Gabriel had built. 'I'll be going to college for art next year, ' she thought, 'I need to look into places to apply to. Somewhere far away from here, where Gabriel can be safe.' ------- Waiting for Aislinn to return from school was nerve-wracking. Gabriel struggled out of bed for a bit to pace the room, although he really didn't succeed. The effort left him exhausted and sweating. 'This sucks, ' he thought, scowling up at the ceiling. 'I'm going to go out of my mind.' Between being restricted to bed, and hoping that Aislinn would be safe in school, Gabriel was a basket case. He hadn't told her that Eddie had been aiming for her, and he had no intention of telling her. The door to his hospital room creaked open a moment later and Aislinn slipped quietly into the room. Gabriel felt a huge sense of relief settle in his chest. He watched her as she pulled off her coat, a smile curling his lips. She looked absolutely adorable. The créme and brown string back halter top she wore suited her well, and he liked the hint of midriff he could see beneath the beaded fringe along the hem. The jeans she wore were plain, but set off by a matching créme and brown fringed scarf pulled through the belt loops. Aislinn was even wearing cowboy boots, something not a lot of people could pull off. "Who switched your wardrobe?" Gabriel asked, grinning. "I did," Aislinn retorted, flicking a strand of his hair. "You don't like it?" "Oh, I do," Gabriel assured her. "What happened to your old wardrobe?" "Callie helped me burn it," Aislinn told him, as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "So, you're going home tomorrow. Excited?" "Don't change the subject," Gabriel grumbled, sitting up and snaking an arm around her waist. "Didn't I tell you not to look so damn tempting when you came here?" Aislinn laughed softly and leaned against him. Gabriel nuzzled his lips against her neck until she tilted her head to give him more access and let out a contented sigh. He nibbled tenderly at her throat, drawing little mewling sounds from her. For once he was really glad that he had this room all to himself. Gabriel slid his hand up over her stomach and ribs to cup her breast. He brushed his thumb against her nipple through the thin, light material of her halter top and she shivered, and moaned softly. As she settled back in his arms, dropping her head against his shoulder, Gabriel lifted his mouth to press it against hers. He was ready to scream in frustration when someone knocked on the door of his room. Sitting back, he dropped his hands back to Aislinn's waist and called for whoever it was to come in. The woman who entered was not one he recognized. She was fairly young, maybe in her early thirties, with ashy blonde hair that was pulled into a loose, elegant French twist. Wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, which was a little too long for classic beauty. However her eyes were bright green and lively, and her face had a sort of character that was attractive, if not pretty. She was wearing a pair of straight-legged black dress pants, a plain white dress shirt, and a hunter green blazer. "Can I help you?" Gabriel asked, raising his eyebrows quizzically. "I'm Sharon Lawrence," the woman said. "I'm an attorney, and I specialize in cases like yours." Gabriel frowned. "Cases like mine?" Sharon shut the door quietly behind her and walked across the hospital room. "May I sit?" she asked, indicating the chair beside the bed. "Please," Gabriel said, eyeing her warily. Sharon settled in the chair and folded her hands on her lap. "Yes, Mr. Wolfe, cases like yours. You're a young man who has the misfortune to have several run ins with the law in your past. While a jury would be instructed to ignore this information, in a community like this, such things will usually affect their judgment." "And what jury would that be?" Gabriel demanded, scowling. "There can't be a jury if there isn't a case." "But there is a case," Sharon insisted. "Someone tried to kill you. For the sake of your safety, and that of Ms. Lexington, it would be wise to find out who." Gabriel glanced sidelong at Aislinn, but she shrugged, looking as perplexed as he felt. 'Who is this woman?' he wondered, eyeing Sharon up and down. 'And how does she know so much?' It made him uncomfortable that some woman he didn't even know knew so much about him, and about what had happened. "We already know who it was," Aislinn piped up suddenly. "Aislinn!" Gabriel hissed, glaring at her. "Don't look at me like that," Aislinn said stubbornly. "I can't let him get away with this. I won't risk you being hurt again. If you won't do something, then I will!" She turned to regard Sharon curiously. "What would you tell me, Ms. Lawrence, if I told you that Gabriel was shot by one Edward Montard?" Sharon's eyebrows rose. "I'd tell you we have a lot of work ahead of us." Gabriel listened, completely amazed, as Aislinn and Sharon spoke. As it turned out, Sharon was a native of Aislinn's neighborhood, and she knew of the Montards' reputation very well. She also did work on cases like Gabriel's; young men and women who had little chance in the system due to their pasts. He wasn't really sure what to make of the fact that she was sympathetic to his plight. Aislinn was one of few he'd met in his life that had been. "I'm going to start looking into Mr. Montard," Sharon said as she rose from the chair. "Out of curiosity, Aislinn, what did you tell people in school today?" "Nothing," Aislinn told her. "I just kept quiet. I thought perhaps it would be best if no one knew yet what had happened. My parents and I have been working hard to keep the whole thing quiet." Sharon nodded. "Very good. Keep it that way. It won't hurt to let Mr. Montard sweat a bit, that's for sure. I'll keep in touch." She fished a business card from the pocket of her blazer and handed it to Aislinn, then left the hospital room. Gabriel glanced over at Aislinn and saw that her brows were furrowed in concentration. He reached up and touched her cheek, and she turned to smile at him. Leaning down, she gave him a soft kiss on the mouth. "I should get going," Aislinn said. "I've got more homework than I like to think about." "But... but I don't want you to go..." Gabriel protested. "I'll be back tomorrow," Aislinn assured him. "Right after school, to take you home. Okay?" Gabriel sighed. "All right... and you'd better wear something like that again tomorrow." "Pervert!" Aislinn laughed. "I'm still injured," Gabriel pouted. "Humor me." Aislinn smiled and kissed him one more time, then left the room. Somewhat reluctantly, he noted, because she hesitated at the door, gazing back at him. He flashed her his usual lopsided smile and she grinned, finally closing the door. Gabriel laid back on the bed with a heavy sigh once she was gone. He hadn't been expecting a lawyer to show up. If this Sharon Lawrence stuck around, he would eventually have to tell them both what had really happened. ------- Aislinn stuffed her extra outfit into her locker, then slammed the door shut. For now her oversized sweatshirt and straight legged jeans would do. Although she really enjoyed being more creative with her clothing, it had some disadvantages. For one thing, it caught Eddie's attention, and for another, it made it too difficult to hide her knife. The too-large sweatshirt, which was actually Gabriel's, hid the knife perfectly. 'I'm way late, ' Aislinn thought, hearing the bell ring. She was running a bit slow this morning; her mind was on Gabriel. She couldn't wait to pick him up from the hospital and bring him home. He didn't actually know yet that she was moving in with him. 'I hope he isn't angry, ' she thought. 'I just wanted to... surprise him.' And she hadn't wanted to risk that he would say no. Aislinn knew that he would need her, even if he wouldn't want to admit it. Someone tapped on her shoulder. Startled, she whirled around quickly, wondering who could still be out of their class at this time. When she saw Eddie, grinning smugly, she felt her heart plunge into her stomach. Backing against the lockers, Aislinn reached behind herself and settled her hand on the knife. She slowly began working the catch free, so she could slip it out of the sheath if need be. 'Please, ' she thought, 'I don't want to have to use it.' "Hey there, Ais," Eddie said. "Where've you been lately?" "I, uh... well, I..." Aislinn stammered. She couldn't let him know what was really going on. "Well, Eddie something... something really horrible happened and I... I couldn't... I just couldn't..." "Aw, sweetie," Eddie cooed, sounding not the least bit sympathetic. "Tell Eddie what happened." "Gabriel, he..." Aislinn sniffed convincingly. "He... I... ohhh!" A few tears dripped down her cheeks. 'This is easy, ' she thought, 'all I have to do is think about that night and I turn into a leaky faucet'. There was no sympathy or tenderness in Eddie's eyes. The friend who she had had as a child was gone, and whoever this man was, he was someone she didn't want to know. "I'm so sorry to hear that," Eddie said, not sounding sorry in the least. Aislinn glared up at him from beneath her lashes. "Why did you do it, Eddie?" Eddie's expression changed almost instantly to fury. His movements were unbelievably quick as he pinned her against the locker, his hands closing around her throat. Aislinn's eyes widened in shock. 'Think, think, think, ' she thought frantically. 'Don't panic, don't panic, not now!' Her fingers tightened around the hilt of the knife even as Eddie's fingers tightened around her throat. "You dumb bitch!" Eddie growled. "Not that I'm not glad that trash is dead... because I am. But I was trying to kill you!" Her blood roared in her eyes. Aislinn couldn't believe it. And darkness was beginning to swim behind her eyes. 'I can't let him win!' she thought fiercely. She pulled the knife free of the sheath and whipped it from behind herself. The point dug sharply into Eddie's side, and he jumped back with a yell. Aislinn stared at the blood on the tip of the knife, feeling both horrified and triumphant. "You little bitch!" Eddie growled. "Stay back!" Aislinn shouted, brandishing the knife. "I won't hesitate to stick you again, you bastard!" "Ms. Lexington!" 'Uh oh, ' Aislinn thought, wincing. A harsh slap on her wrist made her drop the knife, and she looked up into the disapproving eyes of the principal, Mr. Wellington. 'I am in so much trouble, ' she thought, as the principal dragged her into his office. The police were at the school in minutes. Fortunately, they allowed her to call an attorney for her defense (she was an adult, after all), and so she phoned Ms. Lawrence. Within fifteen minutes Sharon Lawrence had stomped into the principal's office. She was wearing a woman's business suit in that shade of hunter green she seemed to love, and an angry scowl. Setting her briefcase down on the principal's desk, she snapped it open, then lifted her blazing gaze to Mr. Wellington. Aislinn was gratified to see the principal flinch. "Why is my client in here, Mr. Wellington?" Sharon demanded. "Your... client," Mr. Wellington said. "Used a knife on this young man." "Edward Montard," Sharon greeted. "Well, I see the problem. This young man shot a friend of Ms. Lexington, one Gabriel Wolfe." "I did not!" Eddie protested, glowering at Sharon. "He did!" Aislinn argued. "But he wasn't aiming at Gabriel! He told me himself... he was aiming at me!" All eyes turned to Eddie. 'Even if I can't convince them, I've planted the seed of suspicion, ' Aislinn thought. 'No one will ever be able to quite trust him again.' Eddie glowered at her for a moment, then sat back, folding his arms across his chest. He gazed at her coolly, his eyebrows raised haughtily. "Why would I do that?" Eddie asked. "I have no reason to." "But you did," Aislinn retorted. "And then you tried to choke me! That's why I used the knife on him!" Eddie glared at her. The principal and the cops stared at her in amazement. But Sharon stood up and reached out, sweeping Aislinn's hair aside. Bruises peppered her skin along her neck. The police officers exchanged looks of surprise, and Mr. Wellington turned his disapproving gaze on Eddie. Eddie merely continued to glare. "These look very new," Sharon said quietly. "I think Mr. Montard should get himself a lawyer." ------- Gabriel was both furious and proud when he found out about what had happened in school. His was angry at Eddie for daring to lay a hand on Aislinn, and angry at her for bringing a knife into school. And he was so proud of her for sticking it to that bastard. It was a very tiring, conflicting bunch of emotions. When she took her coat off, he forgot to be angry. He didn't often see her in a skirt, and the short, uneven hemmed dark crimson skirt she was wearing today was certainly a treat. Aislinn swatted at his hand as he tugged the skirt up a bit, and Gabriel jerked his hand back, grinning. "Niiiice," he purred. "Love the boots, hun." Aislinn paused to tug at the laces of the knee high boots she was wearing, eyeing them speculatively. Gabriel liked this change in her. 'She was kind of stiff when I first met her, ' he thought, sitting up. 'Now she's relaxed and let some personality break through.' He put an arm around her shoulders, allowing her to help him to his feet. Although he was capable of standing, at least, on his own, Gabriel wasn't as steady on his feet as he would like to be. "You're finally going home," Aislinn said quietly. "Are you happy?" "Very much," Gabriel told her. "Come on, sweetie. Let's go. I don't want to stay here another minute." He had changed into clothes long before she actually got back from school. Gabriel was very impatient to get back to his apartment. Aislinn held onto him the whole time he was signing out, and all the way out to her car, for which he was very grateful. He was also grateful to sit in the car for the ride back to his apartment, because being on his feet made him so tired. 'I can't stand this, ' Gabriel thought. 'But the doctor said I'll be better soon, so I need to just bear with it... ' He got an interesting surprise when he walked into his apartment. The furniture had been... well, there was a lot more of it now. The place was clean, and it looked very homey. Gabriel glanced at Aislinn as she shut the door, hanging their coats up on a hook behind the door, and setting her keys next to his on pegs beneath the coat hook. "What is all this?" Gabriel asked. "Our new life together," Aislinn replied. "The doctor said you would need help, so I'm going to stay with you. And don't protest!" "But... you never told me..." Gabriel said, feeling stunned. Aislinn paused and looked up at him. Her blue eyes were bright and a slight bit admonishing, too. Gabriel lifted his hands to her cheeks, gently brushing his thumbs over the tears that suddenly spilled over. "You didn't tell me," Aislinn said quietly. "I had to hear it from Eddie... if it wasn't for me, you... you wouldn't be hurt right now!" Startled, Gabriel closed his arms around her and pulled her close. 'That bastard, ' he thought, resting his head atop hers. 'I should have told her myself... but this is exactly what I feared!' She was trembling in his arms, and he couldn't stand it. Using all his strength, he pulled her into the bedroom and onto the bed. As they sank together into the pile of comforters, Aislinn snuggled close to him. "Don't ever, ever think this was your fault, Aislinn," Gabriel said firmly. "You mean everything to me. If it meant giving my life to save yours, I would in an instant." "That's what I'm afraid of," Aislinn told him. "I... I keep having nightmares. I've been sleeping here every night now... because I'm... I'm so scared. If something happens to you again..." "It won't," Gabriel assured her. "We're together now, sweetie. I won't let anyone tear us apart." Aislinn sighed and dropped her head to his chest. A slight smiled curve her lips. Together they struggled out of boots and clothing, then cuddled together beneath the blankets. Gabriel savored the feeling of Aislinn's warm skin bare against his. 'Damn doctors, ' he thought, nuzzling her hair. 'No "strenuous" activities for another week. And now she's living with me, sleeping in the same damn bed.' Still, it would be a wonderful week. Everyday would be wonderful now that they could always be together. ------- Chapter 14: The Artist's Wolf Aislinn sat on a high stool she'd positioned at the end of the bed, a sketchpad lying across her lap. The pain medication the doctor had given Gabriel kept him sleeping much of the time, which turned out to be rather perfect. She'd taken the time to sketch picture after picture of him, memorizing his every last feature. After speaking to Sharon the other day, an idea had formed in her head. Aislinn knew that it was going to be tough, with Gabriel's background, but if she could show people who he really was... A sudden wave of dizziness made her sway on the stool. She dropped her head into her hands, clutching her temples until the dizziness subsided. At first, she thought she was fine. A moment later Aislinn sprang off the stool, dropping her sketchpad, and raced into the bathroom. She quickly slammed the toilet seat up and sank to her knees. Gathering her hair in her hands, she held it away from her face as she emptied breakfast into the toilet. 'Ugh, ' Aislinn thought, wiping her mouth as she finally sat back. 'I don't feel feverish... ' She stood up and grabbed her tooth brush to wash the taste from her mouth. Afterwards she fished a thermometer out of the medicine cabinet and stuck it in her mouth. Aislinn had to wait only moments; her temperature was normal. 'Maybe those eggs were bad, ' she thought. 'I just bought them but... it happens sometimes.' She flushed the toilet, then went back into the room. Gabriel was stirring, so she grabbed the sketchpad and quickly tucked it away in the bottom of one of the dresser drawers that was now hers. He opened his eyes slowly, fighting off the residual from the pain medication, and smiled when he saw her. Aislinn sat on the edge of the bed, closing her fingers around his. "Morning, sleepyhead," she teased, grinning. "Yeah, yeah," Gabriel muttered. "What's for breakfast?" Aislinn laughed. "Not eggs, I think. They're bad. Would you like me to make you some waffles?" "Ooo..." Gabriel purred. "With whipped cream and strawberries?" "Spoiled!" Aislinn griped, but she wore a good natured smile. "I take it you like living with me, then?" "Oh, hell yeah!" Gabriel grinned, climbing out of bed. "And I'm finally getting my strength back... you know what that means." Aislinn raised her eyebrows, watching as he struggled into a pair of jeans. He was still a little shaky on his feet, but most of that was the pain medication. She stood, wrapping an arm around his waist, and pressing her cheek against his shoulder. Her fingertips traced over the barbed wire tattoo over his shoulder blades. Gabriel turned, smiling, and closed his arms around her. He pressed his mouth to hers, his teeth nibbling her lower lip teasingly. "Come on," Aislinn murmured against his lips. "I'll make you breakfast." ------- Gabriel hated trying to focus on all of his make-up work while Aislinn was in school. It was taking a lot of work to bring charges against Eddie, so he was still in school as well. The only proof they had that Eddie had indeed shot Gabriel was Gabriel's word, which didn't hold up well to most people in the community, and Aislinn's, which stood up a little better. It was not only frustrating, but worrying as well. Sharon was trying to convince him to tell his story, so the community would have the whole truth. She told him she hoped that winning Gabriel some sympathy might make Eddie panic, make him careless. 'I don't hold out much hope for that, ' he thought, chewing on the end of his pen. 'The only way Eddie is going to get charged with shooting me is if he comes out and confesses. Bloody chance of that ever happening.' Scowling, he tossed his pen down and stood up, wandering to the fridge for a soda. Grabbing a can of orange Slice, he cracked it open and settled down on the couch. 'It was so nice of Aislinn's parents to do this, ' Gabriel thought. 'And Aislinn... living with her is like a dream.' She was there every morning when he woke up, always taking time to make him breakfast, even before school. She was there at night, helping him with school work, making dinner for him, and curling up to him at bedtime. Gabriel sighed, feeling oddly content despite his still healing injury and his worry. Tifo was paying him for work he wasn't doing... something that he'd fought against vehemently for awhile. When he'd found out that Aislinn was staying with him, he stopped arguing. Gabriel couldn't bear the thought of her not living with him, now that she had for the last week. 'Tifo will make sure I pay him back with lots of work later, anyway, ' he thought, smiling to himself. 'Although he better ease up, exams are coming on pretty soon.' At Aislinn's insistence, Gabriel had decided to take some courses at a local community college next year. It amazed him how much her influence had changed him. Education hadn't been important to him before, and it still wasn't pivotal, but he could see a number of advantages in it. Of course, first Gabriel had to get through all his make-up work. As he was scowling at the blank T.V. screen, he heard a key in the lock of the door. Sitting up, he looked eagerly towards the door as Aislinn walked through it. She looked fantastic. The wind had blown her hair wildly, and stung roses into her cheeks. Shorts bared her long, lovely legs, and she wore a cute peasant style blouse. Gabriel stood up, catching her as she threw herself into his arms. "Hey, sweetheart," Gabriel said, kissing her lightly on the nose. "How was school?" "Horribly dull and boring," Aislinn responded. "But Sharon says, and I agree, that it's better if you're not around Eddie. And so I suffer." Chuckling, Gabriel wound his arms around her waist and tugged her down onto the couch with him. Snuggling up against him, she grabbed his can of soda and took a sip. 'Things are so much simpler, now, ' he thought, nuzzling her ear. 'I'm bored all day, she's bored all day, but when we're together, none of it matters... ' "Something on your mind?" Aislinn asked. "Nothing, just waxing nostalgic," Gabriel responded, grinning. Aislinn half-turned in his arms, snuggling up against him. "So, what have you been up to all day, hun?" "Sleeping," Gabriel told her. "There isn't much else to do without you here..." "Well, I thought maybe we could go out for a little while," Aislinn said. "Get some dinner, definitely, and I've got some birthday money to spend..." Gabriel blinked, then stared at her. 'Her birthday... ? Did I hear her right?' he wondered, watching her face. 'She never told me about her birthday... ' He felt a keen sense of disappointment in himself... he should have known. She was his girlfriend, she was the woman he loved. Aislinn must have been able to tell what he was thinking, because she rolled her eyes at him, and smiled gently. "You were in the hospital, recovering," Aislinn told him. "Besides, it's not a big deal, you know? It's only a birthday." "But it's your birthday," Gabriel said. "Come on, let's go out. I want to get you something." He stood up, gently moving her aside, before she could protest. Gabriel struggled with his boots on his own, but allowed Aislinn to help him out of the apartment and into her car. He was getting better and better by the day, but he still moved a little awkwardly at times, especially if he was sitting still for a long time. 'Good thing I've got money saved up in my bank account, ' Gabriel thought as he buckled his seat belt. 'I really want to get her something nice to thank her for everything she's done... ' ------- Aislinn was practically skipping by the time they got home. She was pleasantly full; they'd had bacon cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes for dinner, and ice cream sundaes later. It reminded her of the first time they'd spent time together. Then they'd gone shopping; art store, book store, CD store, all over the place. It had been a lot of fun, and Aislinn was full of excited energy. Gabriel had asked her, more than once, what she wanted for her birthday. She'd never been the kind of girl who liked presents. Most girls seemed to like expensive jewelry, but she didn't care much for it. So when they had been puttering around a toy store in the mall and Aislinn had seen a soft, adorable stuffed fox cub, she'd asked for that. Now she cuddled it close to her side as Gabriel unlocked the door. "I must be the only guy who gets his girlfriend a stuffed animal for her birthday," Gabriel joked. "Nah, I doubt it," Aislinn said. "But I love it! It's so cute! It's so much better than some boring piece of jewelry or something!" Gabriel chuckled softly, dropping onto the sofa. 'He's been kinda down all night, ' Aislinn thought as she perched on the arm of the couch. Reaching out, she caught a strand of his long, dark hair in her fingertips. 'It needs to be trimmed a little bit, ' she thought, 'but he'd never let me.' Aislinn could picture the fuss he'd put up, and it made her smile. "This all seems too good to be true," Gabriel murmured. "Like... something has got to go wrong." "Everything will be fine," Aislinn assured him. "Sharon says Eddie is probably trying to keep a low profile right now, now that the police are investigating him. And he hasn't been able to find out anything about your true condition, either." "Fear won't keep him quiet forever," Gabriel said. "He's obsessed with you..." Aislinn sighed and slid down onto the couch next to him. Gabriel put an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. She rested her head against his, settling herself comfortably next to him. "Eddie and I have always known each other," Aislinn said. "When we were growing up, we always said we were going to get married one day. There was even a time when I would have wanted to be with him... but I don't think the problem is really me..." Gabriel shifted his head to look at her. "What do you mean?" "I think it's you... he hates you," Aislinn explained. "He might have been telling the truth when he said he meant to shoot me... or maybe even he doesn't know what he really intended to do. There's... something really wrong..." Aislinn lifted her head and glanced sidelong at Gabriel. He was watching her, his expression bemused. 'I shouldn't be trying to psychoanalyze Eddie, anyway, ' she thought, leaning into Gabriel. She reached up, gently cradling Gabriel's face in her hands. He smiled down at her, and she felt her heart thump. 'He's so beautiful, ' Aislinn thought, lifting her head to kiss him gently. 'I just hope he doesn't get upset when he finds out about the painting... ' "Are you tired?" Aislinn asked softly, her lips brushing against his as she spoke. "I'm never too tired for you," Gabriel murmured. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned back onto the couch, pulling her with him. His calloused fingertips trailed lightly over her thighs, just beneath her shorts. Aislinn buried her fingers in his hair as she kissed him, teasing his lips with hers. It had been such a long time now since they'd done anything more than kiss. Gabriel's hands wandering slowly beneath her shirt made her shiver, made her pulse pound with excitement. Aislinn sat back, lifting her hands above her head to allow him to pull her shirt off. Gabriel smiled crookedly up at her as his fingers trailed along her collar bone and down, running lightly over her breasts. She felt her cheeks heat beneath the hunger of his dark gaze. Aislinn shifted as he sat up, moving herself into his lap. Gabriel's teeth scraped lightly over his skin, followed by the sensation of his mouth nuzzling her breasts. She slid her hands beneath his shirt, running her fingertips over his skin, and he shivered in response. She squeaked in surprise as he suddenly lifted her up off the couch and swung her into his arms. Laughing, she closed her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he carried her into the bedroom. Gabriel's mouth pressed to hers, and they tumbled together onto the bed. In second he had her pinned beneath him, holding her wrist gently to the bed as his mouth ravished hers. "I've missed you so much," Aislinn murmured against his lips. Gabriel smiled; she could feel it on her mouth. He sat back, and both of them scrambled out of the rest of their clothing. Aislinn threw her clothing aside, then coiled up against him. His skin was warm, and it felt so good against hers. She entwined her fingers with his, and lifted her mouth to his again as he gently lowered her back onto the bed. Gabriel slid his free hand down along her body, trailing his fingertips lightly over her stomach and inner thigh. "I love you," Gabriel murmured, his breath blowing hotly over her neck. Aislinn buried her fingers in his dark hair, holding him close. "I love you, too." She sighed softly as he sank into her. It was a feeling she'd missed; that pure, whole connection of their two bodies into one. Gabriel's mouth moved along her neck in tender little kisses. Aislinn lifted her hips to meet his deep, long thrusts, closing her eyes to relish the always amazing friction that slowly built between them. One of his hands found hers, his fingertips touching lightly to her fingertips. She could feel the effort, the strain, as Gabriel continued to move inside her. Aislinn bit her lip, shuddering around little shockwaves of pleasure. She closed her fingers around his and simply relaxed, allowing herself to be swept away in the sweetness of her orgasm. Sweat glimmered in a thin sheen along her skin and his. Gabriel pressed his face against her shoulder, and she could feel him breathing heavily. Long moments later, Gabriel propped himself onto his elbows. He smiled down at her, trailing the fingers of one hand through her hair. Aislinn smiled back and shifted beneath him. He knew instinctively what she wanted; he slid out of her and rolled onto his side next to her. Grinning, she bounced off the bed and dashed into the living room. "Where are you going?" Gabriel called. "To get Bradley!" Aislinn responded. "Who?" Gabriel asked, sounding extremely puzzled. A moment later he understood. She came bounding back into the room with the stuffed fox in her arms and leapt back onto the bed. Laughing, Gabriel folded his arms around her and pulled her down next to him. He pulled blankets up over them and settled next to her, snuggling close. "I know it's late," Gabriel murmured. "But happy birthday, sweetheart." "Mmhmm," Aislinn responded sleepily. "Thank you... Gabriel..." ------- Another morning found Aislinn sitting on the stool in front of the bed, sketching Gabriel as he slept. She knew his features by heart now, and drawing him had become her morning ritual. Glancing over to the corner of the room, where a finished canvas was covered with tarp, she smiled. Despite asking her time and time again, he didn't know what the painting was. Aislinn was so proud of it; she needed to get moving, because she absolutely had to turn it in today. She climbed down off the stool and hit the sketch pad, then dug up some clothes to wear. As she was tugging on a t-shirt, she winced. 'Ow, ' Aislinn thought, rubbing her breasts. 'That... hurt!' Lifting her shirt and bra, she checked her skin over carefully, but she could find no bruises. 'Odd, ' she thought, as she finished dressing. 'Maybe I'm getting my period or something... ' Although she didn't normally have that kind of pain during her period, there was a first time for everything. Tucking the canvas beneath her arm, she quickly scribbled a note to Gabriel, then crept out of the apartment. 'He's going back to work, soon, ' she thought as she set the canvas carefully in the trunk. 'Between work and schoolwork, we won't have a lot of time together.' Aislinn sighed and scooted into the front seat, sliding the key into the ignition and starting up the car. Fortunately school was quickly drawing to a close. ------- Gabriel gave Aislinn a quick peck on the cheek, then headed outside to his motorcycle. More than two months had passed since Eddie had shot him, and things weren't progressing very fast. When he got home from work today (his first day back) he would have to get as much schoolwork done as possible. 'Aislinn will help me, ' he thought, settling on his bike. 'She helps me everyday, even though she has so much of her own work to do.' Gabriel smiled to himself as he started up his bike and sped down the street. It felt good to be riding again, even though he hated the ride to work. It took him through what he'd always considered to be a white suburban nightmare; even the fact that Aislinn had lived there didn't make it appeal to him. Mothers walking their children to school, elderly sitting on benches or waiting to cross the street, all the people who were out in the morning, gave him dirty looks. Gabriel wasn't really in the mood for it. The wind whipped his hair away from his face. He knew he should be wearing a helmet, but these suburban streets weren't dangerous in the least. Gabriel was a skilled rider, and he'd never fallen once. 'Besides, they don't move that fast, ' he thought, glaring at the back of the Volkswagen in front of him. A horn blared behind him, and he turned to see what the problem was. A middle-aged blonde woman stuck her head out of the window of her minivan and smiled, waving at him enthusiastically. Gabriel blinked at her for a moment, then shook his head, facing forward as traffic started moving again. He was startled to find that people all along the sidewalks were looking at him... and smiling. 'Do I have something on my face?' he wondered. Gabriel was greatly relieved when he turned into Tifo's garage. Some old lady had just shouted at him, and he could have sworn she'd called him an angel. 'This is too weird, ' he thought. 'And what is all this... ?' The number of cars waiting to be serviced seemed to have doubled from the usual. Gabriel was heading into the locker room when Tifo stopped him. He was grinning, and clutching a newspaper. "This is great, man," Tifo said. "Business is booming! Tell Aislinn I said thanks!" "What's great?" Gabriel asked, frowning. "People have been waving at me all morning... what's going on?" Tifo's eyebrows lifted. "You mean you don't know?" "No," Gabriel said sharply. "And you had better tell me." "Oh, man," Tifo laughed. "Guess she wanted it to be a surprise." He held up the newspaper then, grinning. The headline read "Local Artist Wins Contest... And Hearts". The portrait beneath was... him! Gabriel's eyes widened and he grabbed the newspaper. It was him, lying asleep on a bed of what looked like some kind of flower petal; not roses, but something just as deep red. Angel wings stretched out beneath him. One was nearly perfect, with only a few flecks of dark blood on the snowy feathers. The other was mangled and bleeding. There was no mistaking it; the elegance, the quiet beauty, the haunting sorrow, were all marks of Aislinn's art. "Can you believe it?" Tifo laughed, snatching the newspaper back. "Listen to this! 'Young artist Aislinn Lexington painted this dramatic portrait of her boyfriend, Gabriel Wolfe, who quote, threw himself in front of a bullet to save my life, unquote." Gabriel sank down onto the bench in the locker room with a groan. "What was she thinking? All we need is this attention..." "Yeah, you do," Tifo agreed, grinning. He continued to read. "'Ms. Lexington's portrait has touched the heart of the community since she entered it in the contest two weeks ago'. Damn, Gabriel, there's even a whole section of letters from people wishing you luck, and saying you're a hero!" Gabriel felt dizzy. He grabbed the newspaper again, and stared at the page Tifo was referring to. 'Letters, quotes, ' he thought, staring in amazing. 'She's causing quite a stir.' He felt a grin slowly curl the edges of his mouth. That was the Aislinn he loved. She wouldn't rest until every person in the state knew about him and what had happened. "Listen to this, Tifo," Gabriel said, grinning. "'I don't care what he did in the past, ' Mrs. Lexington, Aislinn's mother, told the Post yesterday. 'He saved my daughter's life. Whoever did this should be locked away for life'." Tifo laughed. "Crazy, isn't it? That Eddie kid was trying to start up shit about you being in jail before, but people started looking at him all suspicious like since Aislinn put her painting in that contest." "She's a piece of art work herself," Gabriel said. "Oh geez... 'The title of the painting "The Artist's Wolf", baffled audience and critics alike until Ms. Lexington told her story'. How very like her." "So, what are you gonna do now?" Tifo asked. "I mean, now that you're famous and all." Gabriel turned back to the front page and stared at the picture. 'If I didn't know her so well, I wouldn't even believe this was me, ' he thought, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 'I look... heroic. And strong. This is how I look through her eyes... ' He knew he was grinning like an idiot, but he didn't care. Gabriel lifted his head and looked Tifo straight in the eye. "Get the Post on the phone while I call Sharon," he said. "Let's give the people a story." ------- Chapter 15: An Unexpected Ally "What am I supposed to say?" Aislinn glanced sidelong at Gabriel and sighed. He was fidgety and nervous, unable to sit still in his chair. The young reporter sitting across from him had both eyebrows raised. She liked Damien Medeiros; he was the reporter she'd spoken to about her art project. 'And he isn't much older than us, ' Aislinn thought, 'only twenty two, I think.' Like her, he was local, and if she remembered correctly, he had gotten his start through a big story. Well, sort of. Last year, during the summer, she had been one of many readers of the Post who had followed the story closely. How Damien had found a girl a few counties over, one Lilith Engelbert. How he had done everything he could to get stubborn, jaded Lilith to fall in love with him. How he had eventually succeeded in getting her to love him... and had, in the process, fallen in love himself. Aislinn had been impressed with the drama and eloquence of his writing, so she'd contacted him about her portrait. "Gabriel... is it all right if I call you that?" Damien asked. Gabriel nodded. "Okay, Gabriel, listen," Damien said. "Just tell me. It doesn't matter how you phrase it. I'll take care of the phrasing. Just give me the story." Aislinn grinned when Gabriel glanced at her. 'I know what he's thinking, ' she thought, settling back in her chair. Before she had met Gabriel, she would have been intimidated by Damien, who would do or say just about anything to get his story. Now she found him to be charming, if just a little over-bearing. Aislinn perched her chin on her hand and watched them both. She was enjoying the conversation so much that when the first wave of nausea hit her she tried to ignore it. It quickly became unbearable. Aislinn excused herself and made a dash for the bathroom, bruising her knees when she slid down in front of the toilet. When she straightened moments later, she reached quickly for the sink to clean her mouth out. 'What is wrong with me?' she wondered, as she brushed her teeth. 'I'm always getting sick, my breasts hurt all the time, it's like I'm... I'm... ' The toothbrush clattered noisily into the sink. Aislinn stared at her reflection in the mirror, shocked and terrified. She turned the sink off and raced out of the bathroom, stopping long enough to slide her feet into a pair of flip-flops. Gabriel and Damien looked up as she raced past them. "Where's the fire, sweetheart?" Gabriel asked, raising his eyebrows. "I uh... I forgot about um... Callie, yeah," Aislinn stammered. "We were going to have lunch and it... it totally slipped my mind! Geez, what a scatterbrain I am lately! See you later, hun!" She left them both staring after her, puzzled. Aislinn had to keep herself calm as she drove to the nearest drugstore. 'Good thing I've got money, ' she thought, as she browsed the section of pregnancy tests. 'I could never borrow money from Gabriel for this... I'd have to tell him what it was for... ' The thought made her shiver. Aislinn loved Gabriel so much... what if he was upset about it? 'Calm down, ' she told herself. 'You don't even know for sure if you really are... are... ' The thought made her flinch. She found the best (and of course most expensive) pregnancy test on the shelf, and brought it up to the counter. Aislinn just barely heard the woman behind the register rattle off a price. She shoved a fifty dollar bill at the woman and left without getting her change. 'Where can I go, where can I go?' she wondered frantically, fumbling with the keys. 'Um... ah... Callie! No... she might tell Gabriel... ' "Aislinn!" Startled, she spun around abruptly, dropping her keys. To her complete surprise, she saw the blonde cheerleader who usually hung around Eddie coming towards her. Aislinn's eyes narrowed; she didn't even bother to reach down for her keys. The blonde stopped in front of her, and bent close, keeping her voice low as she spoke. "Look, Aislinn, I know we haven't gotten along but..." she paused, glanced around, then continued, her voice even softer than before. "We really, really need to talk. It's important!" Aislinn's eyebrows lifted. "What could we possibly have to talk about?" "It's... it's about someone we know..." the blonde said. "Eddie?" Aislinn asked. "Shhhh!" the blonde hissed, her face going white. "Is... is there anywhere we can go? Somewhere... could we go to my place? I don't want to talk in public..." Aislinn reached down and grabbed her keys. There was a small canister of mace on her key chain, that Gabriel had given her. She slipped her thumb beneath the cover flap, unsnapping it, so it was ready, just in case. 'I must be crazy, ' she thought, as she unlocked her car and nodded toward the passenger seat. 'But if she's telling the truth... maybe she'll let me use her bathroom... ' "I'm Marina, by the way," the blonde said. "I uh... well, we'll talk when we're... not in public..." 'She does seem awfully nervous, ' Aislinn thought, settling into the front seat. 'And I wouldn't think she'd be smart enough to pull such an elaborate scheme.' With Marina giving her directions, they made it to her home within fifteen minutes. She still lived with her parents, but they were out at the moment. Aislinn studied the house as she followed Marina up to the door; there didn't seem to be anyone else there. It was almost eerily still. They went in through the side door, into the kitchen, which was dim and quiet. Marina flicked on a light, then gestured to the kitchen table. Aislinn sat, setting her bag before her, and folding her hands on top of it. She wasn't certain she really wanted Marina knowing what was in the bag. When Marina had sat down across from her, she looked at her expectantly. "I... I shouldn't be telling you this..." Marina said quietly. "If... if he finds out he'll... he'll be so angry." "Eddie?" Aislinn asked, feeling her heart start to pound. "Yes," Marina whispered. "I... I should have come forward sooner, I know but... he said... he said that Gabriel was bad, that he was... dangerous. He said he was trying to protect you... I didn't know that he was... shooting at you." "He told you?" Aislinn stared at her. "He... he told you that he shot Gabriel?" "I know where the gun is," Marina told her. "Are you sure it's the gun Gabriel was shot with?" Aislinn asked. "Guns are very different, you know..." Marina's eyes narrowed. "Don't patronize me, Aislinn. I'll have you know that I'm very interested in criminal science, and I'll be majoring in it in college in the fall. I know what type of gun it was." 'Wow, ' Aislinn thought, her eyebrows lifting. 'I would have never guessed... she really doesn't seem like the type.' But Gabriel had never seemed like the person he was now, at first. It really did take all types. "Would you be willing to speak to the police?" Aislinn asked. "I... ask for Gabriel... he saved my life... and if anything were to happen to him..." Her hand drifted to her stomach. 'What if I'm... I'm... ' she thought, trying to swallow her panic. 'And if something happened to Gabriel... ' Marina glanced at her, then reached out and pulled open the bag. Aislinn stared, horrified, as she picked up the pregnancy test and handed it to her, than pointed down the hall. "Bathroom is to the left," Marina said. Nodding stiffly, Aislinn took the pregnancy test with her to the bathroom. It was a fast test, but the wait seemed unbearably long. At last she glanced down, and felt her stomach plummet. 'Oh no... ' she thought, biting her lip. 'What am I going to do? I can't tell Gabriel... ' Her hands shook. 'I can't assume, ' Aislinn thought. 'I have to get an official test first... ' But she'd bought the most accurate test she could find for a reason. Feeling sick, she walked back out into the kitchen. "I'll tell the police," Marina said softly. "But you... what are you going to tell Gabriel?" "I don't know," Aislinn answered. "I really don't know..." "Didn't you use protection?" Marina asked. "I uh... we..." Aislinn blushed. "I guess we weren't that smart about it... We haven't actually slept together more than a handful of times, and it's always been... spontaneous. I uh... we..." "Love each other," Marina finished for her, simply. "I can understand... even if I still think it was stupid. Aislinn grinned. "Dumb kids in love, I guess." ------- Gabriel hadn't believed Aislinn when she told him she'd found a witness, of sorts. Well, he hadn't believed her because of who she said the witness was. The blonde cheerleader, who turned out to be called Marina; the same one who always hung around Eddie. He was shocked as she described to the police what Eddie has said to her. 'It's not going to be enough, ' Gabriel thought, sighing. 'They need more than just her word for it.' "I have something else," Marina said. "He... he gave me something to hold onto..." The room went still and quiet as Marina pulled a brown paper bag from her purse and handed it over to the investigator. 'Is that what I think it is?' Gabriel wondered. The investigator pulled on a plastic glove and carefully removed the item from the bag. 'It is!' Gabriel thought, staring at the gun. He glanced over at Marina. 'Why would she risk this for us?' he wondered. "Where did you get this?" the investigator asked. "Eddie asked me to hold onto it," Marina explained. "When he told me. Aislinn and I... we never got along. Maybe he assumed that would be enough to keep me from talking... and it might have been, but..." "But?" the investigator prompted. Marina glanced at Aislinn, then shook her head. Gabriel glanced between the two of them, his eyebrows raised. I' wonder what that was all about, ' he thought. He knew they had talked for a little while the other day, but he didn't really know what was said. Well, aside from the things she'd told the investigator. Gabriel loved Aislinn, of course, but he wasn't certain just how much he trusted Marina. "We're going to have to brush this for fingerprints," the investigator said, when Marina didn't respond. "And we're going to have to ask that you not leave the state." "Me?" Marina squeaked. "I didn't do anything!" Listening to the investigator explain to Marina why she couldn't leave the state was, to say the least, amusing. Gabriel glanced over at Aislinn, who was doing her best not to giggle. He reached over and found her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. They held onto each other for the rest of the conversation, then stood up together. "We'll call you when we have the results back from the lab," the investigator said. "It shouldn't take us too long. In the meantime, be very careful. Don't go anywhere alone." "Not a problem, sir," Gabriel answered, putting an arm around Aislinn's shoulders. She smiled up at him, and pressed up close. 'I wish we had more time to be together than we do, ' he thought, holding her tightly as he walked her outside. 'Between work and school... ' Gabriel really wanted to make enough money to get them a bigger, nicer apartment, but it meant working almost constantly. Aislinn had been surprisingly understanding about it, especially lately. "Let's go get something to eat," Aislinn said when Gabriel handed her a motorcycle helmet. "I'm starving!" Gabriel chuckled. "You've become a regular black hole, lately, sweetheart. Keep up at this rate and you won't fit into your prom dress." "I will too!" Aislinn said, blushing a bit. "Besides, it's only a week away!" Laughing, he settled onto the motorcycle, then helped her up behind him. 'I didn't think I'd ever be looking forward to prom night, ' Gabriel thought, leaning back into Aislinn's warm grip. 'Too bad Eddie will have posted bail by then.' Maybe they'd get lucky and the judge would have him held without bail, but he wasn't going to get his hopes up. Gabriel knew from being in the system just how slow and inconvenient it could be. ------- Aislinn closed her eyes and nearly purred. Gabriel's hands kneaded the tension from her lower back with surprising skill. She rested her head on her arms and sighed softly, completely delighted. Many times since they had started living together, she'd been up late messaging his back and arms until he fell asleep. He'd been working so much again lately that it was the only time they had together. Tonight, however, Gabriel had offered to give her a massage. 'It's good he's working so much, ' Aislinn thought, a sudden feeling of guilt killing her delight. 'If he's too busy and tired to pay attention, I have a bit of time before I have to tell him... ' She felt horrible, keeping it from him, but she just wasn't certain how she was going to tell him yet. Aislinn couldn't bear the thought of him leaving her. 'He wouldn't, would he?' she wondered. 'I mean... he said he loves me... ' "Hey, baby, is something wrong?" Gabriel asked. "You seem distracted." "I... I just have a lot on my mind..." Aislinn replied. "With everything happening... and I guess I'm a little worried. These things take time, and it might be awhile before they can get Eddie indicted." "You know the drill," Gabriel said. "Don't go anywhere alone. If I'm not home when you go to bed, make sure the place is locked up tight. I want you to be safe." Aislinn turned over to gaze up at him. "I'll be fine. I'm more worried about you. If anything happens to you..." "... I'd die," Gabriel finished for her, grinning. "Sweetie, I feel the same way you do." Sitting back on his heels, he caught her wrist, and pulled her up against him. Gabriel's lips traced a tender path along her wrist, over her palm, and up to the tips of each of her fingers. Aislinn sighed and gazed down into his dark eyes; they were warm and tender. 'So unlike the coldness when I first met him, ' she thought, folding her fingers around his and dropping her head to kiss his knuckles. Gabriel's free hand tangled in her hair, bunching the silky strands between his fingers. "You light up my world, Aislinn," Gabriel murmured. "I would do anything for you. Just to see you smile. To hear you laugh. I never thought I could be this happy until I met you." Aislinn felt tears prickle behind her eyes. She let go of his hand, only to fling herself into his arms. Gabriel held her tight and pressed his mouth gently to hers. His hands ran lightly along her bare back, teasing shivers from her skin. His lips trailed down over her jawbone and down her neck, his teeth occasionally nipping lightly at her sensitive skin. Aislinn sighed as he lowered her gently back onto the comforters. Her skin was like heated silk beneath his work roughened hands. Gabriel loved the way Aislinn writhed beneath him, pressing herself into his touch. His hands cupped her breasts, thumbs feathering lightly against her nipples until they hardened to almost painful tautness. His fingertips then continued to trail along over her stomach, down to brush her inner thighs. Aislinn shivered, raising her hips to invite his touch. Gabriel's fingers stroked her soft flesh into heated arousal. He dipped his index finger inside her, and she practically purred. Slowly he drew his finger in and out, until she was raising her hips eagerly, little moans slipping from between her parted lips. He withdrew his finger from her and gripped her hips firmly, lifting her up so he could sink deep inside her. Aislinn gasped, lifting her arms to closed them around his neck. "I love you," Gabriel murmured. "I love everything about you." "Gabriel..." Aislinn breathed. "I love your eyes," he whispered, gently kissing her eyelids. "Your lips." He kissed her mouth. "Your fingers." He caught her hand and kissed her fingertips. "Every drop of sweat." His tongue swept along her skin, tasting the tang of salt. "Every single breath you breathe." Gabriel's mouth settled over hers and his tongue gently pressed between her lips. Aislinn opened her mouth to him, shivering as his tongue swept along the inside of her lower lip. The friction growing between them became a heat that made her skin burn. She pressed her face against his neck, gasping, her body clenching around his. Gabriel's teeth found her earlobe, nipping gently, and Aislinn shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut as she came. Gabriel laid a flurry of kisses along her throat and chest. He stifled a groan against her skin as he came. Panting, he rested against her, his head between her breasts, his mouth working absently at her skin. Aislinn sighed, stroking her fingers through his hair in the long moments that they rested together. 'I have to tell him soon, ' she thought, twining a dark strand around her index finger. 'I owe him that much.' But the fear that rose in her at just the thought made her heart pound. "You've got work tomorrow, love," Aislinn murmured, brushing aside sweat dampened strands of hair to kiss his forehead. "And I have school. Let's get some sleep." "Okay, beautiful," Gabriel muttered sleepily. He moved off of her and settled beside her. Gabriel closed his eyes around her and snuggled close, pressing his face in her hair. 'He wouldn't do that to me, ' Aislinn decided. 'But I still have no idea how to say it to him.' Maybe she would talk to Marina tomorrow. She needed another perspective on the matter and maybe Marina could offer one. It was, after all, a rather sensitive subject, and she didn't want to tell him the wrong way. "I love you, Gabriel," Aislinn murmured, before letting herself drift off to sleep. ------- Chapter 16: Misfortune Aislinn groaned and wiped sweat dampened hair back from her neck. It was nearly August now, and the heat was always making her sick. She couldn't sleep, either. 'Between work and guilt, I'm a wreck, ' she thought, resting against the side of her car. 'But... I barely see Gabriel enough to say hello. How can I find time to tell him?' The thought that she hadn't said anything, after so long, made Aislinn ill. 'Then there's court dates... ' she thought, sighing heavily. 'They haven't budged an inch since they actually arrested Eddie.' He'd paid bail and since then the best they'd managed to get on him was a restraining order. I' almost wish he'd violate the damn thing already, ' Aislinn thought, scowling. 'Or... or something! Something that will give me the chance to sit down and actually talk to Gabriel.' The articles in the newspaper had brought attention to Tifo's garage, so Gabriel was working there extra, and another part-time job as well, to pay for college. Aislinn had taken a part-time job herself, and spent the rest of her time painting, working with Sharon, and cooking. Usually she left meals for Gabriel, since he was always home late and gone early. 'He hasn't even noticed this, ' Aislinn thought, resting her hand on her stomach. 'I know I'm only about four months, but I feel gigantic.' They'd barely so much as kissed in what felt like ages. It was getting darker (although not cooler) and she really needed to get home to cook dinner for Gabriel. The parking lot of the grocery store was almost completely empty, because of course, it was now closed. Aislinn reached for her keys and froze suddenly; she could have sworn she'd heard something. Keeping still, she listened closely, but there was nothing. 'Must have imagined it, ' she thought, sighing and resting a hand on her stomach. 'Your mama is starting to get jumpy.' She was also starting to like the thought of being a mama. 'I don't have work tomorrow, ' Aislinn thought. 'I should... I should stay up tonight and tell Gabriel. He... he'll understand, won't he?' He couldn't think this wasn't scary for her. And the more she thought about it, especially lately, the more she liked the idea of starting a family with Gabriel. 'It isn't like I can't provide money for myself, ' she thought. 'I make pretty good money off my paintings, especially after I won that contest.' She was so lost in thought that she never heard him creep up behind her. A hand came down on her shoulder, and Aislinn jumped, whipping around. The color drained from her face when she saw Eddie standing behind her. Scrambling for her keys, she backed up against the car door. Eddie stopped in front of her; he was shaking badly, she noticed, in a way that reminded her of drug withdrawel. "Get away from me," Aislinn warned. "I just want to talk, Ais," Eddie said, taking a small step forward. "I'm worried about you..." "Worried about me!?" Aislinn shrieked. "You tried to shoot me!" "You... you don't understand..." Eddie stammered. "That guy... he's dangerous... you have to get away from him..." "Oh, come off it," Aislinn growled. "You're violating your restraining order, Eddie. I suggest you get away from me." Eddie took another step forward. With the car firmly behind her, she could only step to the side. As she moved, Aislinn felt a wave of dizziness come over her. 'Not now, ' she thought. 'I can't get sick now.' Eddie advanced again, and she was going to try to find him off, when a sudden pain gripped her. Clutching her stomach, she dropped to her knees, and gasped for air. 'What's going on?' Aislinn thought frantically, feeling panic grip her. 'It hurts!' "A... Aislinn... ?" Eddie stammered. "What... what's going on?" "You there!" someone shouted in the distance. Another pain gripped her, and she couldn't fight back a cry of anguish. As the newcommer began running towards them, Eddie backed away, his eyes wide in terror. Aislinn could do nothing but kneel, paralyzed with fear and pain, as he ran away, and the other approached her. She felt a cool hand sweep her hair back from her forehead, and a soft voice try to coax her into calming down. "Help... please..." Aislinn groaned. "It... it hurts..." "Easy, little lady," the newcommer soothed. "Help is on the way." Tears leaked from beneath her lashes. The pain was so bad, she was practically blinded by it. Digging her fingernails into her palms until she felt them bleed, Aislinn tried to bear the pain. She doubled over as white hot fire seared along her nerves. It wore her out, made her feel exhausted. She swayed, and with the next stab of pain, blacked out. ------- Gabriel was feeling dead on his feet. It had been such a long day of work. He was starving and his body ached from head to toe. 'Maybe I'll wake Aislinn, ' he thought, as he stuck his key into the lock. 'I need to see her... I miss her so much.' He just wanted to talk to her for a short while, while he ate dinner. Gabriel knew she had the day off tomorrow... she might even still be awake. The apartment was dark inside, so she must have been asleep. Sighing in disappointment, he flicked on a light. The apartment was very still and quiet. The light on the answering machine was flashing, too. 'Odd, ' Gabriel thought, walking over to it. 'Aislinn always checks the messages when she gets home.' Reaching out, he hit the flashing light, and listened to the messages. Sharon had called more than once, a telemarketer, the library, and... "Gabriel... this is Aislinn's mother, Joy. My husband and myself... we're at the hospital. With Aislinn. Something... something happened. We need you to come to St. Michael's Hospital as soon as you get this message." Gabriel's heart began to pound loudly. 'What could have happened?' he wondered, as he quickly began turning off the lights. 'Did... did Eddie find her?' Grabbing his keys off the hook, he left the apartment and jumped onto his bike. The engine of his motorcycle roared loudly as he raced down the street. Fortunately in these more suburban areas, the hospital was never too far away. It took him no more than fifteen minutes to get there and find a parking space. Taking barely a minute to lock up his bike, he then raced up the sidewalk and through the doors. Nurses, receptionists, and patients looked up at him as he screeched to a halt. Gabriel was walking towards the front desk when he noticed Aislinn's parents from the corner of his eye. Turning, he walked over to them. Her mother's eyes were red from crying, and her father looked pale. "Gabriel!" Mrs. Lexington said, standing up. "Oh, thank goodness you're here." "Mrs. Lexington, Mr. Lexington," Gabriel panted. "What's going on? What happened to Aislinn? Was it... Eddie?" "Well... sit, sit down first," Mrs. Lexington said, resuming her seat. "You look exhausted." Gabriel sat in the seat next to her, although he couldn't sit still. "So what happened?" "Aislinn says it wasn't Eddie," Mr. Lexington said. "However, he was there. A witness says he was talking to her, when she just collapsed." "That's a violation of his restraining order," Gabriel crowed. "We've already called the police," Mrs. Lexington assured him. "Listen, Gabriel... did you know that Aislinn was pregnant?" Gabriel stared. 'I could not possibly have heard that right, ' he thought, swallowing hard. 'That can't be right, I'd have known, she would have told me... ' Wouldn't she? Thinking about it now, they hadn't exactly seen a lot of each other lately. He was always busy, and so was she. And... Gabriel realized that she had put on a bit of weight, lately, too. She'd started wearing baggy clothing again, so he hadn't quite noticed, but now that he thought about it... "I... am such... an idiot!" Gabriel groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "Did you use protection?" Mr. Lexington asked. "I... uh... well... it's a long story," Gabriel stammered. "After... what happened... I was put in medication for depression and post traumatic stress. One of the side effects was infertility." Mrs. Lexington's eyebrows rose. "You're infertile?" "Well..." Gabriel hesitated. "I guess not. The doctor couldn't tell me for sure if I'd even get that sort of side effect... but there was an incident awhile back where I was tested, and at that point I thought I was infertile." "I guess not anymore," Mr. Lexington muttered. "I... I'm sorry..." Gabriel said. "I... should have thought about it... it's just been so long." "It's our fault, too," Mrs. Lexington said, glancing sharply at her husband. "We never talked to Aislinn... she never seemed interested. We hoped that, when she did get interested, she would come to us. She knew we'd never be angry with her." Gabriel sighed. 'What a mess, ' he thought. 'At least they aren't angry with her... but why didn't she tell me?' Thinking about it made him start to feel angry. He had to remind himself how scared she must have been. She couldn't know for certain, no matter how much she loved him, how he might react. 'Maybe it won't be so bad, ' Gabriel thought, as he stood up. 'We'd make a cute family.' "I'm going to go ask if I can see her now," Gabriel told them. "Um... Gabriel..." Mrs. Lexington said quietly. Gabriel turned to look at her. Tears had welled in her eyes again. Her husband looked away, his expression sorrowful. 'What's wrong?' he wondered, frowning. 'She's all right, so... ' Then he remembered what Mrs. Lexington had said. Aislinn was pregnant... not is. Gabriel felt his heart plummet into his stomach. 'No, ' he thought, shaking his head. 'That... that can't be right.' "I'm sorry, Gabriel," Mrs. Lexington sniffed. "She... she lost the child... miscarried..." "I'm going to see her," Gabriel said firmly. He headed up to the receptionist desk and asked after Aislinn. The receptionist wouldn't let him go until her parents said it was all right. When he could, Gabriel walked down the corridors as fast as he could. He found her room pretty easily... it was a single, to his relief. As he approached the door, a nurse slipped out of the room. When she saw him, she smiled wanly. "Are you a friend of this young lady's?" the nurse asked. "Her boyfriend," Gabriel replied. The nurse's expression turned sympathetic. "She's awake. Go on in... just... she feeling really down." "Thanks," Gabriel nodded. He walked into the room, making sure to close the door gently behind himself. Aislinn was curled up on the hospital bed with her back to him. Slowly Gabriel walked over to her, his feet silent on the tile floor. When he laid his hand on her arm, she didn't move. Sighing softly, he settled in the chair next to the hospital bed, slid an arm beneath her, and turned her towards him. 'I hate hospitals, ' he thought, when he saw her tearstained face. 'I hate them so much... ' "Hey, sweetheart," Gabriel said softly. "I'm here now... it's going to be okay..." "G... Gabriel... I... I'm s-sorry..." Aislinn choked, tears starting to run down her cheeks again. "I'm so... so sorry... I... I should have t-told you..." "Shhh," Gabriel soothed. "It's okay, baby, it's okay. I'm not mad." Slowly she turned fully onto her back. Aislinn reached up and cradled his face in her hands. Smiling, Gabriel slid his hands over hers, holding her to him. 'I love her too much to be angry, ' he thought. 'And she looks so sad... ' He couldn't imagine just how she felt; he felt sorrowful enough as it was. Despite the fact that he hadn't known, that had still been his child she'd been carrying. Gabriel had no doubt about that. "You... you really aren't?" Aislinn stammered. "I... I mean... you have... every right t-to be... angry..." "No, love," Gabriel murmured. "I understand... I know you were scared... and I can't be angry at you now. I'm so sorry, Aislinn... that... the child..." Aislinn sighed heavily. "I... I can't believe it. It just sorta... happened." "What did Eddie want?" Gabriel asked. "N... nothing, I think..." Aislinn answered. "I mean... well, he seemed crazy... talking about how you were dangerous. That I should get away from you... but he never touched me." "He still violated his restraining order," Gabriel said. "They'll be sticking him in jail again... maybe this will get their butts in gear." Smiling, Aislinn finally struggled into a sitting position. 'She seems to be cheering up just a little, ' Gabriel thought, moving from the chair to the edge of the bed. 'I believe that Eddie didn't touch her, but... I'd still kill him for this.' The more he thought about it, the more angry he got; not at Aislinn, but at the unfairness of the situation. 'I bet she would have been a very happy mother, ' he thought, sliding an arm around her waist. "I... I still can't believe it..." Aislinn murmured. "I was just thinking that... I'd go home, and wait for you. I was going to tell you... to be honest, I was starting to get excited about having a baby." "That doesn't surprise me," Gabriel chuckled. "I can just picture you singing a lullaby to a baby..." Aislinn smiled. "Actually... I can picture you singing the lullabies. I'm sure you'd make a wonderful father. You work so hard for us... and with my paintings doing so well, I was beginning to think maybe..." She sighed and let her words trail off. Gabriel looked at her, studying her face. It was true that they were doing good together. He was only working as much as he was to put away money for college. And Aislinn had decided a few months back to take a year off before college. 'Now I know why, ' he thought. 'A baby would make her first year at college tough.' Gabriel might be biased, because he loved her, but he thought she didn't need college to be a successful painter. 'I'm saving up money for another reason, too, ' he thought, sighing. The jeweler was holding the ring for him, but he'd almost paid it off. As he looked at her, and an idea began forming in his head, he knew he must be crazy. Gabriel pulled Aislinn close to him, slid his fingers beneath her chin, and lifted her gaze to his. She smiled up at him wanly, and he gave her lips a gentle kiss. "Sweetheart... this might sound crazy but..." Gabriel began. "I know we're young, but... I've always wanted a family... and I love you very much..." "Gabriel?" Aislinn asked. "What... what are you saying?" "Let's... try again," Gabriel murmured. "I mean... if you want to..." Aislinn blushed. "It is crazy but you know... I kinda would... the doctor said... I'd be able to have children again..." She lifted her eyes to look at him. 'She's so beautiful, ' Gabriel thought, dropping his mouth to hers. He'd missed holding her and kissing her. Aislinn wound her arms around his neck, and kissed him back; he could tell she'd missed him just as much. He pulled her into his lap, dropping his mouth to nuzzle her neck and beneath her chin playfully. Aislinn giggled and pulled back, a smile brightening her expression. "Marry me, Aislinn," Gabriel said suddenly. "Marry me, and we'll start a family." Aislinn's eyes widened. "This is nuts, Gabriel..." "I know," he said, grinning. "Since when have either of us ever been the sane type, sweetheart?" "Never," Aislinn said, nodding sagely. "Okay, Gabriel, if you think you can handle me until death do us part and all that..." Gabriel's eyebrows lifted. "Ha... I think I know how to handle you now, love." She squeaked in surprise as he tugged her fully into his lap. Laughing, he tickled her sides until he had her giggling softly. Aislinn snuggled up against him, and he was pleased to see that the smile on her face was genuine. 'Good, ' Gabriel thought. 'I couldn't bear her being sad.' He rested his head on top of hers and held her tight, pleased. "I want to go home, Gabriel," Aislinn said suddenly. "I still feel sad but... this place makes me more sad. I want to be at home with you. The doctors said I wasn't hurt and I could leave if I really wanted to..." "Okay, sweetheart," Gabriel said. "Tell you what... I'll call in tomorrow. Tifo will understand. And I'll lighten my work schedule." "You don't have to do that," Aislinn told him. Gabriel smiled. "I want to. I miss spending time with you. Now, come on, get dressed and we'll go home... together." He let her up, and she got dressed quickly. Gabriel could see her trembling, but when he looked at her face, he realized she was merely excited. Their lives had changed drastically since he'd been shot, and now it'd be changing again. 'Nothing could possibly make me happier, ' he thought, sliding an arm around her shoulders. 'I'm going to be twenty-one soon... maybe settling down will do me some good.' And he had settled down in temperament since he'd first met her... but both Gabriel and Aislinn would always be free spirits. It was just one of many reasons they belonged together. ------- Chapter 17: Dreams To Live For "Honey, we just don't think this is a good idea." Aislinn stared at her parents in disbelief. She was sitting across from them at the kitchen table, holding a cup of tea between her hands. She had explained to them all the plans she and Gabriel had, in hopes that they would be willing to offer their support. Much to her surprise, they seemed very upset with her plans to marry Gabriel. 'They just don't understand, ' Aislinn thought. 'They think I'm too young. How typical of parents.' "Sweetheart," Her mother said. "We know you think you're in love with Gabriel, but-" "Think!?" Aislinn cut her off. "I know I'm in love with Gabriel! Do you think because I'm nineteen I can't know what love is?" "You're still very young, Aislinn," Her mother soothed. "You have so much life ahead of you, there's no need to rush into marriage." "I want to spend my life with Gabriel!" Aislinn said fiercely. "Nothing and no one is ever going to change that!" She stood up so suddenly that her chair fell over, and her tea cup shook, splattering a few drops on the table. Her mother winced, and her father looked away. 'I cannot believe this, ' Aislinn thought. 'For them to not even try to understand... ' She spun on her heel and stomped away from the table. Her mother called out after her, but she ignored it. Aislinn was hurt and furious; she wasn't about to listen to more of her mother's lecturing. 'Why can't it be that two people are just meant to be together?' Aislinn wondered as she slammed the car door and started the car up. 'Why is it always infatuation or foolishness or impulsiveness?' Her hands trembled on the steering wheel. She wanted her parents to be a part of her life, but she wouldn't give up Gabriel for that. 'Eventually they'll understand, ' Aislinn thought. 'They're my parents, and they love me.' For now, though, she'd have to deal with it. That didn't make it hurt less. By the time she got back to their apartment, tears were running down her cheeks. She stumbled out of the car and into the apartment, trying to wipe the tears away. Gabriel, who had been spending more time at home, was stretched out on the couch. Aislinn took one look at him and made a beeline for the couch, throwing herself into his welcoming arms. He closed his arms around her and pulled her close, his fingers running soothingly through her hair. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Gabriel asked, kissing her forehead gently. "My... my parents," Aislinn sniffled. "They... they won't support us. They said... said we're being foolish." "Aw, honey," Gabriel soothed. "I had a feeling this might happen. But don't worry, sweetie. Look at me." Aislinn sat up enough to look him in the eye. His expression was gentle and caring. Gabriel cradled her face in his hands, gently brushing away her tears with his thumbs. She felt a smile curving her lips. 'He always makes me smile, ' she thought. 'How can they say I don't really love him? He makes everything alright.' "Listen, love," Gabriel said. "Your parents love you. And eventually they will come to understand." "I know," Aislinn sighed. "I just... I just want them to be there. When... when we get married, I mean." "Don't worry about anything, Aislinn," Gabriel told her, pulling her close once more. "I'll make sure everything is perfect." Aislinn smiled and rested her head on his chest. 'He always tries so hard to take care of me, ' she thought. 'He'll make a wonderful husband and father.' She wouldn't have thought so when she first met him, but now she did. It was amazing to her how much the both of them had changed since they'd met. Now, resting on the couch with Gabriel's fingers stroking her hair, Aislinn couldn't imagine anything more perfect. "Now that you've calmed down, are you ready for the good news?" Gabriel asked. Aislinn lifted her head. "Eddie?" "Uh huh," Gabriel answered, grinning. "They've set a court date for late September. Sharon thinks the chances of him being found guilty are very good." "Yes!" Aislinn cheered. "They're getting him charged with as many accounts as they can," Gabriel continued. "Attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, definitely. That should net him quite a few years in prison." "Good," Aislinn said firmly. "Now we can celebrate!" A slow, sexy grin spread on Gabriel's face. He sat up, sliding out from underneath her, and got up off the couch. 'Uh oh. What is he up to?' Aislinn wondered, watching him walk into the bedroom. He came back a moment later with her backpacks and the bags he'd had specially designed to fit over the back of the bike. His grin only widened as she looked at him, confused. "You're right about celebrating," Gabriel told her, tossing her her backpack. "I've got a surprise for you." "Where are we going?" Aislinn asked, standing up and pulling her backpack on. "Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" Gabriel teased, grinning. "Come on, let's get out of here." "One moment," Aislinn said, dashing into the bedroom. She paused beside the dresser and pulled her backpack off. Opening the bottom drawer, she pulled a wrapped package from beneath a pile of clothes. 'He can't have forgotten that it's his birthday tomorrow, ' Aislinn thought, struggling to fit the package in her backpack. 'I hope he likes what I got him.' With her backpack closed once more, she ran back into the living room where Gabriel was waiting. Gabriel reached out, offering his hand to her. Aislinn reached out, wrapping her fingers around his. 'This is crazy', she thought, as he tugged her out of the apartment, pausing only briefly to lock the door. Gabriel slung the bags over the back of the motorcycle, jumped on, then reached out to help her on, as well. Aislinn climbed up behind him, pulled on her helmet, then put her arms around him tightly. A moment later they were off, speeding off into the setting sun. ------- "Oh wow! Wow!" Gabriel chuckled to himself as he watched Aislinn prowl their hotel room. It was an expensive hotel, and the room reflected that. The bed was large, the dressings marbled black and créme, and a sheer black drape covered the whole thing. The carpet was thick, plush mother-of-pearl. Two nightstands, a large dresser, and table and chairs in the mini kitchen were a rich mahogany in color. Both the kitchen and the bathroom were tiled in black and white marble, and the bathroom had a Jacuzzi style tub. 'Only the best for my Aislinn, ' Gabriel thought. "This is crazy, Gabriel!" Aislinn exclaimed. "Can you really afford this?" "Don't worry about a thing, hun," Gabriel assured her. "I just want you to enjoy yourself tonight." "I want to try the Jacuzzi," Aislinn said, turning to face him. She was grinning. "Want to join me?" Gabriel's eyebrows lifted. There was a spark of something wicked in her pale blue eyes, something he hadn't really seen before. She walked over to him and stood on her toes to lift her mouth to his. As he kissed her, Aislinn slid her hands beneath his shirt and began slowly pushing it up. Gabriel drew away momentarily, staring down at her curiously. "What's gotten into you?" he asked. "You," Aislinn answered. "I love you, Gabriel..." He helped her remove his shirt, shivering as her small hands ran along his bared chest. She leaned close to him, her lips traveling up over his chest to his neck. Gabriel's breath caught in his throat as she began loosening his belt, then unfastening his pants. Aislinn caught hold of the waist of his pants and tugged at them as she began backing towards the bathroom. "Trust me, beautiful," Gabriel said. "You don't need to twist my arm." Aislinn giggled. "Then hurry up, slowpoke!" She turned and sped away from him, tugging off her t-shirt as she went. Gabriel pursued her, almost tripping over his loose pants in his haste. He found her bent over the edge of the Jacuzzi wearing only her shorts, fiddling with the water dials. Grinning, he snuck up behind her and reached out, giving her rear a quick pinch. Aislinn squealed in surprise and straightened, spinning to face him. "You little brat," Gabriel said, grinning. "You really thought I wouldn't get you back for that?" "Hmmph!" Aislinn muttered. She turned back to the tub and reached down, testing the water. Then she began to slowly removed her shorts and panties. Gabriel watched her, licking his lips. She still had a little bit of extra weight from the failed pregnancy, but he hardly noticed. Aislinn would always be gorgeous to him. He shed his pants, then stepped close to her, folding his arms around her as she straightened again. "What did I ever do deserve you?" Aislinn murmured, looking up at him. "I'm the one who doesn't deserve you," Gabriel responded. His hands slid up over her stomach, to cup her breasts gently. She sighed softly, tilting her head back and parting her lips invitingly. Gabriel kissed her, his mouth ravishing hers, until she was breathless. He groaned when she pulled away, her soft skin brushing against his growing erection. Aislinn stepped into the Jacuzzi and sank down into the water. She looked up at him and crooked her finger, beckoning for him to join her. Gabriel slipped quickly into the tub after her and sank into the water as well. He immediately grabbed her, pulling her close for another long, deep kiss. Aislinn clung to him, her fingers tangling in his hair. Her skin quickly became slippery with water, and the feeling of her wet body against his drove him crazy. Gabriel locked his arms around her bottom and hoisted her up out of the water, pressing her against the wall. "Gabriel!" Aislinn squeaked breathlessly. Keeping his grip on her firm, he maneuvered her legs so that they were over his shoulders. Gabriel was strong, and lifting her was incredibly easy. She watched him from beneath heavy lids as he lowered his head between her thighs and ran his tongue over her soft, hot flesh. Aislinn moaned softly, her hips lifting to press against his mouth. His tongue moved against her restlessly, and his lips tugged gently at her clit. She wrapped her fingers in his hair and let her head drop back against the tile. Gabriel listened to her soft moans, and continued to tease her until they grew into cries. His lips closed around her clit, sucking hard, and she cried out loudly, hot honey pouring down her thighs. Pleased with himself, he slowly, languidly licked her clean. Aislinn was panting heavily and by the time he was done, squirming slightly. Gabriel lowered her back into the water. They relaxed together for a long time, cleaning each other, washing each other's hair. 'This is just what both of us needed, ' he thought, sighing as Aislinn's fingers ran lightly over his chest. She sat up, then stood, water sliding in small, glimmering droplets down her skin. "You're so beautiful," Gabriel murmured. "And feeling awfully frisky, too," Aislinn teased, grinning. "Meow!" Gabriel purred. He stood up as she climbed out of the Jacuzzi and sprinted out of the bathroom, not bothering with even a towel. 'What a far cry from the shy little thing I first met, ' Gabriel thought, chasing after her once more. 'But I like it!' He caught up to her in the middle of the bedroom and caught her around the waist. Aislinn screeched, then started laughing, her arms flailing as she struggled to break his grip. She turned to face him. Gabriel caught her wrists, lifting them up above her head, and backed her towards the wall. When she was pressed up against it, he used one hand to pin her wrists firmly above her head, and the other to lift her left leg up. Aislinn's cheeks heated, but she licked her lips in anticipation. "If you're really that frisky," Gabriel murmured. "Allow me to help you." "Well then," Aislinn murmured back, her blue eyes sparking. "Shut up and do it already." Gabriel chuckled softly. 'I could get used to this side of her, ' he thought, as he slid inside her. He loved making slow, gentle love to her, but the fun, sexy side of her drove him crazy, too. Aislinn moaned, moving against him, her eyes closed, as he began thrusting into her. Gabriel nipped gently at her neck, drawing little cries from her now and again. He kept her hands pinned the entire time, so her only movements could be the sinuous ones that brought her hips firmly against his, allowing him to sink deep inside her. A thin sheen of sweat quickly covered his body, and hers. Gabriel's mouth moved restlessly on her throat, tasting the salt and silky warmth of her skin. She tasted good, smelled good, and she felt so good around him. The friction that built between them was like an all consuming fire. Soon Aislinn was crying out softly, her body clenching around his. Finally Gabriel loosed her hands, folding his arms around her waist and dragging her right up against him. Her arms closed around his shoulders, and she held him close, panting softly against his skin. He buried his face against her neck, his teeth nipping at her skin as he came inside her. "Yikes," Aislinn murmured breathlessly. "Mmhmm," Gabriel agreed. "I'm not sure I can move," Aislinn said. Gabriel grinned and lifted his head. "Don't worry babe. I'll move for you." ------- Later they lay together on the bed, eating dessert. Aislinn was wearing one of Gabriel's t-shirts, something she did often. He was wearing only a pair of jeans. 'He'll be wearing jeans at our wedding, ' she thought, smiling to herself. She turned her attention back to the dessert and found herself practically purring. It was all things Gabriel had had special made by a very expensive candy shop: strawberries covered in chocolate, milk, dark, and white; small, delicate boxes made of chocolate and filled with rich, whipped chocolate mousse; a box of chocolates filled with caramel, toffee, and nougat; a variety of fudge, chocolate, toffee, mint chocolate, peanut butter. "I think I died and went to heaven," Aislinn moaned, biting into a strawberry. "I'll take you to the shop some time," Gabriel told her. "You'll love it in there, it's a thing of beauty." "Are you trying to get me fat?" Aislinn demanded, eyeing him with mock suspicion. Gabriel laughed. "Well, you'll be eating for two pretty soon. Figured I'd give you a head start." Aislinn smiled warmly at him. 'This really is heaven, ' she thought. She ate everything with a relish, knowing she'd probably be sick in the morning, and not really caring. She was also surprised to see that Gabriel was just as fond of chocolate as she was, if not more so. 'I guess there are things I still don't know about him, ' Aislinn thought. 'But that means we'll probably never run out of things to talk about.' She watched him curiously as he suddenly pushed the tray aside, laid out on the bed, and patted his stomach. Aislinn crawled over to him and settled on his lap, straddling his hips. "Listen, Aislinn," Gabriel began. "I wondered exactly how I should do this... if I should be traditional or not. But the whole down on one knee thing isn't really me..." Aislinn squeaked, suddenly nervous. "So I figured this would be good," he continued. "Just like at Christmas, when I told you what it was I wanted." He reached over and opened the drawer of the bedside table, pulling a small velvet box from it. Gabriel flipped the box open; inside was a tiered three diamond ring. The band looked like it was platinum rather than silver. Aislinn's hands covered her mouth, and they trembled badly. He took hold of one of her hands and pulled it close as he freed the ring from the box with his other hand. "I know I already asked you, and you already said yes," Gabriel said. "But I love you with all my heart, Aislinn Lexington. Will you marry me?" Tears slid down her cheeks. She bent down and kissed him enthusiastically, not stopping even when she began to run out of breath. Chuckling softly, Gabriel gently pushed her back. "Is that a yes?" he asked. "Yes!" Aislinn exclaimed, grinning through her tears. "Of course it's a yes!" Smiling, Gabriel slid the ring on her finger. Aislinn sat back a moment to admire it, then sighed softly and sank down to lay with him. 'My parents couldn't be more wrong, ' she thought. 'Some people are just meant to be together... like me and Gabriel.' She snuggled close to him as he pulled a blanket over them both, then folded his arms around her. There was nowhere Aislinn felt more safe or more loved than Gabriel's arms. ------- Gabriel struggled through the door, his arms loaded with their bags. Aislinn slipped in around him, and he scowled at her. He couldn't really stay angry, though; she was so giddy with joy that she couldn't settle down. Moving past her into the bedroom, he finally set the bags down when he heard the phone ring. Aislinn picked it up immediately. Unconcerned, Gabriel began unpacking their things. He started with the new gloves Aislinn had given him for when he rode his bike; his old ones were worn out. He took his time, basking in the afterglow of their time spent together. It was official now; they were engaged. 'And soon we'll be married, ' Gabriel thought, smiling to himself. 'I'll have to find a way to convince her parents to show up... they absolutely have to be there.' He was practically humming to himself as he worked. When he was finished, Gabriel walked out into the living room to find Aislinn still on the phone. "Uh huh... yeah... okay. Thanks for letting me know... uh huh... you too. See you soon, Uncle Vic," Aislinn finished. She hung up the phone. Gabriel noticed immediately that something was wrong; her face was pale and she was trembling as she sank onto the couch. He moved to sit down next to her immediately and put an arm around her. "What's wrong, sweetie?" Gabriel asked. "Who was that?" "Vic... Victor Montard," Aislinn answered. "Eddie's uncle... he's been like an uncle to me, too. He wanted to tell me some things... they... they canceled Eddie's trial." Gabriel stared at her. "They what!?" "They had to," Aislinn said, her eyes filled with tears. "They had a psychiatrist talking to him... and they started to find things out. So they called in Uncle Vic... he's a psychiatrist too, actually. Eddie was in bad shape, he said... babbling about all this stuff... it was so bad that they were able to get a warrant to search his parents' house..." "What did they find?" Gabriel asked, fearing the answer. "Evidence," Aislinn said quietly. "Uncle Vic said it was pretty obvious that he was abused... it showed in his violent temper but... that was his father. His mother, she... they found video tapes, Gabriel... the things she did... he wouldn't even really tell me the details, just... it was..." He didn't need to hear it, he could read it in her face. Gabriel thought he might be sick. He closed his arms around Aislinn tightly and dragged her close. 'This is sick, ' he thought. 'His own mother... that's just sick.' He shuddered and tightened his hold on her head, his head buzzing with this new information. "They put him in a psychiatric institution," Aislinn said, sniffling. "Uncle Vic said it was something he couldn't have possibly faked. That's why he was acting like he was that day... saying he wanted to protect me. There's... there's something really wrong, Gabriel." "It's all right, baby," Gabriel soothed. "It will be all right." "I never knew!" Aislinn sobbed. "I was his best friend for so many years and I never saw it!" Gabriel held her close, stroking her hair as she cried. 'I want to hate him for always ruining our best moments, ' he thought. 'But I can't hate such a pathetic creature.' He didn't really believe this excused Eddie's behavior, but truth to tell, he was a little uncertain. Perhaps after what he'd gone through, he could no longer distinguish the lines between right and wrong. And it seemed to tear Aislinn apart that she hadn't been able to help someone who had been her friend for years. 'It isn't your fault, little one, ' Gabriel thought, rocking her gently. 'I will make everything right again... I promise... ' ------- Chapter 18: Burning Bridges "I wanted to thank you for taking me, Callie." Aislinn glanced sideways at Callie and grinned. She cradled her stomach, feeling blissfully happy. 'I didn't think it would be that easy, she thought. Hard to believe... ' It was the middle of September now, a little over a year since she'd met Gabriel. It was amazing how much their lives had changed since that moment. "He should have been the one to take you," Callie said, scowling. "I told him it was fine," Aislinn assured her. "He's going to college, Callie. That's important." "Yeah, I know," Callie conceded grudgingly. "I still can't believe it... Gabriel, a teacher!" Aislinn laughed. "Teaching little hellions like himself, no less. I'm so proud of him." She pulled out a chair at a little table outside the café and sat down. Callie took the seat across from her. They had decided to go out to lunch after her appointment with the doctor, and now they had reason to celebrate. 'Several reasons, ' Aislinn thought, grinning. 'I cannot believe he's going to be a teacher.' No one had been more shocked than she when he'd announced that he was planning to teach children... troubled children. "So, when did he decide to do this, anyway?" Callie asked. "I don't know," Aislinn frowned. "He doesn't always tell me things. Like that thing with his medication." Callie laughed. "Oh, man! Even I forgot about that!" "It's not funny!" Aislinn said, scowling. "He shouldn't forget things like that!" "It was probably subconscious," Callie said, grinning. "Gabriel's one of those guys... the thought of not being able to pass on his genes would really wound his ego. He acts all tough, but he's a real marshmallow when it comes to kids." Aislinn sighed, fighting back a grin. It was always so hard to stay mad at Gabriel. 'I find out something new everyday, it seems, ' she thought, browsing through the menu. 'I've never really seen him around kids... ' It was reassuring to know that he liked children. Especially seeing as they were going to have one now. Aislinn felt a sudden twinge of nerves. She couldn't help being afraid, after what had happened with her other child. "Mmm, the cheese melt sounds good," Callie cooed. "I'm starving." "Me too," Aislinn agreed, pushing away her fears. "I think I'm going to have one of these croissant sandwiches..." "Pardon me for interrupting, Aislinn..." Aislinn nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned around to find herself facing a middle aged man with short, graying brown hair and slightly beaky features. Surprised, but pleased, she stood up out of her chair to give the man a hug. He returned the hug enthusiastically, chuckling to himself. "Uncle Vic!" Aislinn greeted. "What are you doing here?" "I needed to talk to you, Aislinn," Vic said, growing quickly serious. "It's about Eddie." Aislinn frowned and glanced sideways at Callie. The other girl nodded in understanding and stood up, vacating her chair. Vic took up the seat with a nod to Callie, then turned to face Aislinn, folding his thin hands in front of him. 'I thought for sure this would be the last I heard of this, ' she thought. 'I guess I was wrong... they're not going to keep this from me after all.' "Aislinn, Eddie is... in bad shape..." Vic began hesitantly. "He... well, he's in the hospital. He hurt himself really badly before we could get him into the psychiatric center." "What does this have to do with me?" Aislinn asked quietly. "He isn't my responsibility." "I know that, I know," Vic assured her. "But... you may be our only hope. He's our best witness against his mother. We need him to testify, but he's reluctant to talk to even me." Aislinn frowned. "What about the tapes?" "There was a problem with the warrant, I guess," Vic sighed. "So the judge threw them out." "But that isn't fair!" Aislinn exclaimed. "I know," Vic agreed. She sat back in her chair, feeling overwhelmed. Aislinn stared down at the ring gleaming on her finger and sighed. Vic followed her gaze to the ring, and a smile lit his lined face. He had been as much of an uncle to her as any of her blood uncles, and she realized she should have told him about her engagement. Vic opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. "What would you have me do?" Aislinn asked. "Just... just visit," Vic said quietly. "See if you can get him to talk to you at all. Please." Aislinn sighed. "All right," she conceded. "But not today. Tomorrow." "Thank you, thank you so much," Vic said, reaching out and taking her hand. "This means a lot to me, Aislinn, it's really does." "Don't worry about it," Aislinn told him. "I'll see you tomorrow." Vic nodded and stood up. They exchanged a last hug before he left. Callie came back a few minutes later, with two plates full of food. 'Ah, god bless her, ' Aislinn thought, taking her plate. 'She's really become a good friend to me.' Callie sat back down in her chair and, much to Aislinn's relief, began talking about her car, rather than the appearance of Vic. "So I was wondering if Gabriel would mind me going to his shop," Callie said. "I don't think he would," Aislinn told her. "But just in case, go later, while he's at school. Talk to Tifo. Just tell him you know me." "All right, thanks," Callie said, smiling. "So, are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" Aislinn laughed, and picked up her sandwich, taking a bite. This was oddly pleasant, really. She couldn't believe how nice it felt to just talk about mundane things. But there was a bit of worry in the back of her mind about her visit tomorrow. 'I'm only doing it for Uncle Vic, ' Aislinn thought, sighing. 'And well... maybe for the little boy Eddie used to be.' She couldn't help feeling just a little bit responsible for this. ------- Gabriel dropped his backpack inside the door with a sigh. 'Oh my god, ' he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. 'I never thought this would be so tiring.' His body ached, and he found himself longing for Aislinn's soft, loving touch. The apartment was dim, however, and he frowned, wondering where she could be. Gabriel walked to the bedroom and pushed the door open, his lips curling into a smile when he saw her. She was stretched out on the bed wearing on of his t-shirts, the sleeves rolled up and the hem tied to expose her stomach, plus a pair of string bikini panties. 'What is she doing?' he wondered, grinning. A tray of food sat on a stand near the foot of the bed. Gabriel settled on the edge of the bed and began taking off his boots. Aislinn crawled up behind him, her hands sliding up under his shirt, gently along his skin. "What are you doing?" Gabriel asked, glancing back at her. "Touching you," Aislinn murmured, her breath warm against his ear. "I know that," Gabriel grumbled. "But why are you so... mmph!" He flailed as she suddenly pulled his shirt up over his head. Laughing, Gabriel helped her pull his shirt off, then turned to face her, a slow, sexy grin curving his lips. He moved suddenly, pushing her back onto the bed and crawling on top of her. Aislinn laughed, snaking her arms around his neck. He cradled her face in his hands, his calloused fingertips sliding gently along her skin. "So, tell me what has you so excited," Gabriel said. "You're practically glowing." Aislinn's eyebrows lifted. "You can't guess?" "I'm tired," Gabriel complained, pouting. "Just tell me." "Idiot!" Aislinn rolled her eyes. She put a hand against his chest and pushed. Gabriel sat back, startled, as she moved up onto her knees. Aislinn reached out, gripping his wrist and drawing his hand towards her, to rest it against her stomach. 'That's right!' he thought, feeling a spark of excitement light in him. 'She had her appointment with the doctor today.' Gabriel had been thrilled when her home pregnancy test had shown positive, but it wasn't a one hundred percent. "So... so then you're... you..." Gabriel stammered, his mouth suddenly dry. Aislinn sighed in mock exasperation. "Yes, love. We're going to have a baby." Gabriel let out a yelp of joy and threw his arms around her, dragging her close. Aislinn laughed, her small hands resting on his shoulders as she clung to him. He slid an arm down to her thigh, catching it and pulling it against his hip, while the other remained around her back to support her as he lifted her up. Cradling her close, Gabriel brought her to rest against the pillows, then stretched out next to her. He rested his hand on her stomach, a smiling tugging the corners of his mouth. "I made dinner," Aislinn said softly, pointing to the tray. Gabriel reached out and dragged it close. "I see that. It looks wonderful. And I'm starving." "How was school?" Aislinn asked, reaching out for a piece of homemade beef teriyaki. "Challenging," Gabriel answered, grabbing the piece of teriyaki for her, and holding it up for her. "You can't always treat me like this," Aislinn said, smiling. "You'll spoil me." "I fully intend to," Gabriel informed her as she nibbled at the teriyaki. "I promise to take the best care of you and the baby." Her soft blue eyes warmed as she looked up at him. He closed his free hand around hers, holding to it tightly. They ate in blissful silence; occasionally Gabriel paused to run his hand over her stomach. He felt oddly at ease, despite that this was going to be a big, daring venture. He found he wasn't at all scared. Aislinn was a strong young woman and she was a fantastic artist. They would make it through together. "Gabriel," Aislinn murmured as she pushed away the tray. "Come here." "I am here," Gabriel teased, even as he scooted closer to her. Aislinn looked up at him sleepily. "Hold me." He closed his arms around her and brought her up against him. The feel of her body pressed to him tightly stirred his blood. 'Oh, man, ' he thought, nipping gently at her earlobe. 'I can never get enough of her.' Gabriel rested his head on her shoulder, listening to her breathing until it became even and deep. She'd been up since early morning, doing things for him and for herself. "Rest, love," Gabriel murmured, resting his hand on her stomach. "We have the rest of our lives to be together, now." ------- Aislinn felt nervous as she walked down the hall in the hospital, next to Vic. He had told her the day before that Eddie was in bad shape, but she was having some problems believing it. How bad could he really be? Last year, when she had first met Gabriel, he had seemed fine. 'But it just got worse and worse as time went on, ' Aislinn thought, frowning. 'I wonder what happened.' "He was asleep last time I checked on him," Vic told her. "He's doing better physically, but mentally, he's in bad shape." He stopped in front of a door and raised his eyebrows. Aislinn took a deep breath and nodded. Vic opened the door and Aislinn followed him inside. Eddie was asleep on a hospital bed. She was shocked at how he looked; his hair was messy, his face was gray and haggard, and his breathing was shallow. As she stepped closer she noted something on the inside of the wrist. Aislinn focused for a moment, and was shocked to see that it was stitches. "He... he didn't... did he?" Aislinn stammered, her eyes wide. Vic sighed. "He did. But he won't tell me anything close to why he's doing all this." "He hasn't told you anything?" Aislinn asked. "Nothing at all?" "Not a damn thing," Vic answered, shaking his head. "In fact, he barely talks." Aislinn frowned. She walked slowly, quietly to the side of the hospital bed and looked down at Eddie. Sudden anger flared up in her. 'This is where Gabriel was after you shot him!' she thought, her eyes narrowing. The anger faded, though, almost as quickly as it had risen. She knew that Gabriel could be angry at Eddie for a long time, and probably would be, but she had never been that kind of person. Aislinn reached out, gingerly resting her hand on his forehead. To her surprise, his eyes flickered open. "Ais... linn?" Eddie rasped. It was the first time she could remember him using her first name in a long time. "Yeah," Aislinn answered quietly. "Uncle Vic asked me to come visit you. He said you wouldn't talk to him." "Can't. Won't... won't... too..." he struggled to speak, as if the words wouldn't come out of his throat. "Shhh, it's okay," Aislinn soothed. "You don't have to tell me anything right now." Eddie stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. He closed his eyes then, and Aislinn sighed. 'Why do I have to be such a softie?' she wondered, stepping back from the hospital bed. 'I shouldn't care. After what he did to me and Gabriel, I shouldn't care.' But she did. She had never been the type to stay angry. As she walked out into the hall, she felt Vic take hold of her arm. "I know what you're going to say," Aislinn sighed. "And... Uncle Vic, I just don't know if I can do this!" "I won't ask you to if you can't," Vic told her. "But I could use any help you could give. I don't ask this for me or Eddie alone. I'm afraid of what... what my sister-in-law might do to other children." "I know, I know," Aislinn groaned. "What is it you want me to do, exactly?" "Just talk to him," Vic answered. "See if you can get him to tell you anything. If you try a couple of times and you've made absolutely no progress, I won't ask you back. I can promise you that." "All right," Aislinn agreed, reluctantly. "I'll stop by once or twice, I guess. But I can't spend too much time! I've been helping Gabriel." Vic smiled. "I wouldn't want you to give up your life, Aislinn. Just a few hours of your time. And thank you so much." Vic sighed heavily. "I feel like I don't know my own brother... my sister-in-law is crazy... and the rest of our family is dead or doesn't want anything to do with us. You and Eddie are all I have left." Aislinn winced. 'He had to say that, didn't he?' she thought, sighing. But she understood. Especially now, with her parents not talking to her. Besides, it would only be a couple of hours a week. It wasn't like she was going to be spending every day with him. She just hoped that Gabriel would understand. 'If he says no, then I won't, ' Aislinn thought resolutely. 'I won't do it if it really bothers him. I love him too much for that.' ------- Aislinn had been planning to tell Gabriel about helping Eddie, but he was so joyous when he came through the door that she just couldn't. There was light sparkling in his dark eyes and a boyish grin on his face. She stood up to meet him, and squeaked when he grabbed her suddenly, sweeping her off her feet. Aislinn let out a startled laugh and threw her arms around him, clinging to him tightly until he put her back down. "What's gotten into you?" Aislinn asked, a little breathless. "You are a genius," Gabriel said enigmatically, picking her up again, this time cradling her in his arms. Aislinn's eyes widened a bit. "I know that. That's why you're happy?" "No," Gabriel laughed. "I just saw the greatest thing, love. You know how you sent Callie to our garage yesterday?" "Yeah," Aislinn frowned. "What happened?" "Tifo went crazy," Gabriel explained as he carried Aislinn into the bedroom. "Apparently he really liked her. He wouldn't stop talking about her. I swear, he was practically gushing!" Aislinn felt a grin creeping into the corners of her mouth. She would have loved to see that, too. 'Tifo needs a woman in his life, ' she thought. She squeaked as Gabriel tossed her lightly onto the bed, then jumped up next to her. He pinned her to the bed, his mouth ravishing hers with hungry kisses. Aislinn squirmed beneath him, eventually pushing him away for a breath of air. "Yikes!" Aislinn gasped. "You're awfully excited about this." Gabriel smiled. "You've changed my life, my beautiful little artist. It means more to me than you can ever guess." "It's because I love you, my big, bad wolf," Aislinn murmured, her voice gently teasing. "If you love me, you'll make me supper," Gabriel said, affecting a pout. "More like my big, bad pig!" Aislinn exclaimed, laughing. "All right, if you let me up, I'll make dinner." Gabriel let out a boyish whoop of joy and leapt off the bed. She watched him, unable to fight a smile. 'I'll tell him later, ' she thought, as she climbed down off the bed. 'No way am I gonna risk spoiling this mood right now.' She could hear Gabriel in the kitchen, singing "Arms Wide Open", and she snickered. 'Never figured him for liking Creed, ' Aislinn thought, as she skipped into the kitchen to throw her arms around him. 'Takes all kinds.' ------- Chapter 19: Jealousy Gabriel sat on the couch, in the dark, glowering at the red digital numbers of the radio clock. 'Nine o' clock' he thought, 'and she still isn't home.' He must have been out of his mind, to allow Aislinn to help Victor and Eddie Montard. The days she went, she was always coming home late, and she talked often about it, too. All the memories she had of growing up with Eddie. Gabriel was frustrated, and annoyed. He wanted to spend some time with her... and not hear about Eddie Montard! He heard keys in the door knob and stood up. The door swung open. He had every intention of issuing her an ultimatum the second she stepped in the door, but he never got the chance. Aislinn made a beeline across the room and straight into his arms. 'Damnit, ' Gabriel thought, closing his arms around her. 'I'm such an idiot.' She was shaking. He pulled her down onto the couch and held her, stroking her hair, until she relaxed. "I'm sorry," Aislinn sniffed, pulling back a little. "Let me guess," Gabriel said wryly. "You guys made a major breakthrough today." Aislinn shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it." 'That's a first, ' Gabriel thought. Out loud he said, "Well, then, you don't have to. We can do something to take your mind off of it." Aislinn smiled up at him. Her blue eyes were warm, if a little watery from unshed tears. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth softly against his. Pleasantly surprised, he tightened his hold on her, dragging her close as he kissed her back. Gabriel shifted beneath her, and she settled neatly in his lap. Her fingers curled in his hair, holding his mouth to hers, until he had to pull back to catch her breath. "Wow," Gabriel panted, staring down at her. "What's that for?" "I've missed you," Aislinn murmured, peeking at him demurely from beneath her lashes. "I promised to help Uncle Vic, and I always keep my promises. But I'd rather be here with you." "I'm glad to hear that," Gabriel said, nuzzling her hair. "So, do you want me to tell you how school was?" "No," Aislinn said, nipping lightly at his neck. "Right now I want you to be quiet..." Her hands slid under his shirt, gliding lightly over his skin. Gabriel lifted her arms when she tugged insistently at his shirt, and helped her pull it off. Her fingertips ran along his skin, tracing little patterns and whorls. He shivered, his lashes fluttering. Aislinn paused and smiled up at him wickedly. "Perhaps not too quiet," She murmured. Her lips brushed his chest, and he sighed softly. Aislinn slid her hands down his belly, following the path of her fingers with her mouth. Gabriel rested his hands on her head, closing his eyes, and relishing the feel of her mouth traveling slowly downward. Her fingers unfastened his jeans, and he lifted his hips obediently for her to pull them down. He was already hard from her teasing kissing. Aislinn wrapped her fingers around him, and he groaned when she closed her mouth around him. Gabriel gasped softly, closing his fingers tightly in her hair. Her mouth moved slowly up and down along him, making him shiver and moan. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her mouth, hot and moist, around his length. Aislinn continued, one hand slipping around him to follow the movement of his mouth. He squirmed on the couch, trying to maintain his control. "Damnit," Gabriel growled under his breath. Her mouth tightened around him. He panted softly, fighting the urge to lift his hips and thrust. The fingers of Aislinn's free hand curled around his thigh, gripping in what might have been an attempt to hold him in place. Gabriel groaned, tightening his fingers in her hair, and lifting her head. She looked at him questioningly, her eyebrows lifting. He dragged her up onto his lap, his breathing coming out in a soft hiss as she rubbed against him. His hands quested beneath her shirt, drawing it up and over her head. Gabriel wrapped an arm around her waist and pushed her down onto the couch, pinning her beneath him. He unfastened her jeans and tugged them down around her knees. Aislinn shivered, moaning softly, as he slipped his hand between her thighs, and stroked her gently. She lifted her hips against his hand eagerly. Gabriel chuckled, and dipped his index finger inside her. As he slid his fingers in and out of her, she lifted her hips to match his rhythm. Her eyes were closed, her head thrown back, moans slipping from between her parted lips. Aislinn panted softly, her cries becoming louder as Gabriel increased the pace of his thrusts. Soon he felt her body clenched, felt the warm rush of hot feminine honey against his hand. Pleased with himself, he sat back, licking the taste of her from his fingers. "What's gotten into you?" Gabriel asked, when Aislinn had regained some of her composure. "Raging pregnant woman hormones," Aislinn panted. Gabriel laughed. "Sounds good to me." She wrinkled her nose at him, and reached her hands up, grabbing for him. He lowered herself on top of her, moaning as she squirmed beneath him. Aislinn struggled with one hand to pull her jeans off her legs, freeing them so she could part her thighs easily. Gabriel braced himself above her, lowering his head to kiss her mouth hungrily. She sighed against his lips, her fingers wrapping in his hair, her hips lifting up against his. He nipped gently at her lower lip, teasing her, then slid deep inside her. Gabriel traced the lines and contours of her body with his fingertips as he moved inside her. She moaned softly, her lashes fluttering dramatically. His fingers slid up over the peak of her breast, teasing her nipple gently, then ran up along her neck, to tenderly trace her lips. Aislinn sighed, and he could feel her body trembling. Gabriel sank against her, pressing his face against her neck, and allowing himself to lose control. He groaned softly, his hand finding hers and holding tight as he came inside her. They lay tangled together for a long time afterwards, catching their breath, letting the sweat on their skin cool. Gabriel trailed his fingers down her stomach, feeling content for the first time in a week. It never seemed to matter the place, time, or situation; sex with Aislinn was always more than just sex. He could see how much she loved him reflected in her pale blue eyes. "How about we go out Saturday night?" Gabriel murmured against her ear. "Sounds like fun," Aislinn said, her voice sleepy. "Where do you want to go?" "Don't care," Gabriel told her, snuggling close to her. "As long as I'm with you." "Let's go to Chuck E Cheese," Aislinn muttered. Gabriel laughed. "What? Why?" "I wanna play in the ball pen," Aislinn answered, grinning. Gabriel chuckled. He grabbed the throw blanket from the foot of the couch and pulled it over both of them. Although the couch was as by no means as comfortable as their bed, he had absolutely no desire to move. 'I can't wait for Saturday, ' he thought, closing his arms tightly around her. 'It will be so wonderful to spend time with her again.' Gabriel heard Aislinn sigh contentedly, and smiled. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift into a cat nap. ------- "But Aislinn, I really believe we're making a breakthrough." Aislinn bit her lip. 'But it's Saturday, ' she thought, staring at her Uncle Vic. 'And I told Gabriel we'd go out Saturday.' It was true, however, that they'd gotten a lot from Eddie. He'd told them a few things about what his father had done to him. So far they couldn't get him to talk about his mother. But he was doing well, and if Aislinn left now, he might stop. Eddie never seemed to want to talk without her there. "It's only this one time," Vic cajoled. "We need you, Aislinn. He only talks to you. You must make him feel safe." "I know that, but..." Aislinn hesitated. "Well, I just haven't been spending a lot of time with Gabriel lately..." "But surely he understands," Vic argued. "He loves you. He must know that this is important to you." 'It's important to you, ' Aislinn thought. Out loud she said, "Only this one time. That's it." "Thank you so much!" Vic exclaimed, hugging her quickly. "Go call him, then hurry back." Vic hurried back to Eddie's room. Aislinn sighed, and headed down the hall to the pay phone. 'I should probably get a cell, ' she thought, dropping quarters into the slot. She quickly dialed home, and waited as the phone rang. Although she was ashamed of the thought, she hoped he would not be there. It would be easier to talk into the answering machine. However, luck was not with Aislinn tonight. "Hello?" "Gabriel?" Aislinn sighed. "Gabriel, hon, it's me." "Aislinn, where are you?" Gabriel asked. "I thought you'd be home by now." "I know, I know," Aislinn replied. "Look, I... I really want to spend time with you but... well, we've really made progress tonight. And Uncle Vic asked me to stay late and I... well, I told him this would be the only time..." There was silence on the other end. Aislinn held he breath, waiting for him to reply. Certainly he would have something to say, wouldn't he? Gabriel was silent for so long that she almost thought he'd hung up. Finally she heard him sigh heavily. "All right," Gabriel said. "As long as it's just tonight." "It is," Aislinn assured him. "I promise. Now, I have to go! I'll be home late, so you don't have to wait up for me but... well, if you do, that would be nice..." "Maybe," Gabriel said. "If not, I'll see you in the morning." The line went dead. Aislinn sighed, hanging up the phone, and resting her head against the wall. 'Stupid, ' she thought. 'I shouldn't be doing this but... I really do want to help.' She felt horribly torn. Gabriel was the man she loved, who she wanted to spend her life with. Eddie was, or at least had been, her friend, someone she'd known all her life. Grumbling beneath her breath, Aislinn headed back to Eddie's room. ------- Gabriel was waiting, again. 'Every single time, ' he thought, scowling at the blank T.V. screen. 'She's been working with that Vic for over a month, and we never spend time together anymore.' He'd believe her, when she'd told him it would only be once. Since then, it had been every single time. 'And for Eddie!' Gabriel thought furiously. 'The guy who shot me!' He took a deep breath. Really, he needed to try to be reasonable. It was hard for him to understand, but he should accept her desire to help someone. It was one of her good qualities. Gabriel was jealous, and he knew it; the dreaded thought of losing her to Eddie Montard kept creeping up on him. 'She's just too nice, ' he thought, sighing. 'If she wasn't the way she is, she probably never would have given me the time of day.' He knew that, and he was grateful for who she was. Gabriel relaxed. Certainly tonight she wouldn't let him down. She'd said herself that she desperately needed a break. 'She'll be here, ' he thought firmly. 'I know she will.' As if to break his hopes, the phone rang. He dragged himself off of the couch and picked it up off the hook. Gabriel waited a moment, then hit the talk button and lifted the phone to his ear. "Hello?" He asked quietly. "Gabriel... it's Aislinn," she spoke from the other end of the line. Gabriel sighed. "Where are you?" "I, uh... I'm helping Uncle Vic," Aislinn answered hesitantly. "We... we've made a real breakthrough, Gabriel. We think we understand why... why Eddie did what he did." "Great," Gabriel muttered. "When are you coming home? We're supposed to be going out." "Well, I... I need to stay," Aislinn said quietly. "Just for another hour or so... Eddie's really worked up and... well... we need to calm him down." Gabriel gritted his teeth. 'I can't believe she's doing this again!' he thought, scowling. 'She promised me!' He was absolutely furious. He could hear Aislinn's voice on the other end of the line, calling his name, but he could not make himself answer. Snarling, he jabbed the talk button, hanging up on her. Gabriel hurled the phone across the room, not even flinching when it smacked into the wall, breaking apart. He glanced around, his fingers clenching and unclenching, looking for something else to throw. A glass sat on the counter. Gabriel picked it up, hurling it in the same direction as the phone. It shattered, raining down pieces of broken glass into the carpet. It felt good. 'I can't destroy everything, ' he thought, throwing himself down on the couch. 'I'd almost like to throttle her!' Beneath his anger, he was hurt. How could she want to be with Eddie, rather than him? Gabriel rolled onto his side, squeezing his eyes shut. This was not at all how he'd imagined this night to go. ------- Aislinn sighed, leaning wearily against the wall. It was after midnight, and she was completely exhausted. 'This is insane, ' she thought. Together, she and Vic had managed to find a connection between Eddie's past and why he had tried to shoot her. All those years, she'd been the only person he'd felt safe around, felt cared about around. He'd been jealous, and furious, when she started Gabriel. Eddie had been jealous, and he hadn't wanted to lose her. 'Creepy, ' Aislinn thought, shivering. 'It's like something from an episode of Law and Order.' It was a difficult task to unlock her car and climb inside. The drive home seemed unbelievably long to her. Aislinn was quiet as she crept into the apartment, which was completely dark. She paused, noticing the faint glitter of moonlight hitting something on the floor. Creeping over to the spot, she saw it was broken glass. 'What happened?' she wondered, glancing around. Gabriel was asleep on the couch. 'He must be furious, ' Aislinn thought. 'I don't blame him... I should have just come home tonight.' Moving silently, she stepped over to the side of the couch. His face was so peaceful when he slept. She ran her fingers along his cheek, and jumped back, startled, when his eyes flickered open. Gabriel sat up abruptly. He took a look at the clock, then turned his gaze on her. His dark eyes were so full of cold and fury that it made Aislinn shake. "So, you're home," Gabriel sneered. "How nice of you to show your face." "G... Gabriel..." Aislinn stammered, taking a step back. "I... I'm sorry. I really am... I know I should have-" "Shut up!" Gabriel roared. Aislinn stumbled backward, her eyes widening. She'd never, ever seen him this angry. Despite herself, tears stung her eyes. 'This is all my fault, ' she thought, backpedaling quickly as Gabriel stalked towards her. She couldn't seem to find her voice. Her throat had closed, and not a sound escaped her lips. Aislinn kept backing up until she ran into the door. "I want you out of here," Gabriel murmured, his voice dangerously soft. "Now." "But Gabriel..." Aislinn protested weakly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Now!" Gabriel shouted. "Get out! Now! I don't want you here anymore!" She shrieked in surprise as he grabbed her arm, his grip tight enough to bruise. Gabriel hauled her away from the door long enough to open it, then thrust her out into the night. Before she could react, he had slammed the door in her face. For long moments Aislinn could do nothing but stare at the closed door. Then it hit her, really hit her, and she groaned, dropping to her knees. Loud sobs made her whole body shake. "Gabriel!" Aislinn shouted, pounding her fists against the door. "Gabriel! Open up! Please!" The door didn't open. Aislinn cried until her throat was roar. She could feel a strange clenching pain in her stomach, and she went still. 'No, no, no!' she thought, starting to panic. 'No! Calm down, calm down, calm down, calm... ' Working around her fright, she dragged in deep breaths, until her body stopped shaking. By the time she had calmed herself, the pain in her stomach had receded. 'Just my imagination, ' Aislinn assured herself, resting her hand on her stomach. 'Nothing more, just my imagination.' Sitting back on her heels, she stared at the door. 'I'm so, so stupid, ' she thought, sighing heavily. 'He has every right to be angry with me. I'm angry with me!' Aislinn was horrified with herself. Gabriel meant everything to her, and she had ruined it. 'No, ' she thought, shaking her head. 'I'm not just going to give up.' She straightened, forcing herself to her feet. "Gabriel," Aislinn called. "Gabriel, I don't know if you can hear me but... I'm sorry. And you have every right to be angry. I deserve it." She took a deep breath. "But I love you. And you know that. I know you won't listen to me now, and I don't blame you. So I'm going to go to my parents house. I'm going to give you time to calm down. But I will be back. Eddie was my friend for a lot of years, that's true but... you mean more to me than he does. And I'll prove that to you if it's the last thing I ever do." She was out of breath. Aislinn turned away from the door, out of words to say. Anything she said now would be pointless; he wouldn't listen, not now. 'I am the stupidest person in the world, ' Aislinn thought, as she climbed into her car. 'I know better than this, I really do.' Tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks; she hadn't thought she'd had any left. The fear that she might not be able to fix this almost strangled her. She hoped against hope that this would not be a lesson she'd learned too late. ------- Gabriel sat against the door, completely worn out. Listening to Aislinn's sobs had torn his heart to pieces. When she had stopped crying, he expected her to start yelling, banging on the door, anything to get him to let her back in. Instead she had told him that she was sorry. Listening to her speak, he had been torn between anger and the deep love for her that he could not banish. Gabriel had heard her tell him that she would come back, when he had calmed down. 'I needed to hear that, ' he thought, wiping a stray tear away from his cheek. 'I really, really needed to hear that.' He was still angry. Gabriel knew it would take him awhile to calm down; jealousy had consumed him. But she wasn't going to let his anger stop her. 'At least she knows what she did was wrong, and regrets it, ' he thought. He was remembering how tightly he had gripped her arm when he'd forced her out the door. 'And she's pregnant!' Gabriel agonized, dropping his head into his hands. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' This whole thing was a big disaster. One way or another, they had to find a way to resolve it. ------- Chapter 20: Love Undying Aislinn lay on her bed, curled up beneath the blankets, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her eyes were swollen and her throat raw from so much crying. 'It's like all my confidence completely disappeared, ' she thought, 'just as soon as I got back here.' She was in her room, back at her parents house. Nothing had changed, really. Her dressers and closet were almost completely empty, but that was all. In the week since Aislinn had returned to her parents house, the only thing that had changed was her. It wasn't just her dwindling confidence. It was her growing fear... and her growing belly. At just over four months into her pregnancy, she was really beginning to show. 'What will I do?' Aislinn wondered, swallowing hard. 'My child can't live without a father... ' Her child! How foolish the whole thing seemed, now. Here she was, pregnant, and the baby's father wanted nothing to do with her. 'He hasn't called or anything, ' she thought. 'I was hoping, just maybe, he would.' "Aislinn?" She jumped, startled, and lifted her head to look at the door. Her mother stood in the doorway. Joy Lexington was concerned for her daughter. It was obvious in the lines of her face. Aislinn knew her mother would never enter without knocking, so she must have missed the knock. Joy smiled sadly, then came over to the bed and sat down. She ran fingers through her daughter's hair, hoping to soothe her. "Maybe you should go see him, honey," Joy suggested gently. "I can't," Aislinn whispered, her voice almost gone from crying. "What if... what if he gets angry again?" "Gabriel wouldn't really hurt you," Joy assured her. "He loves you. That's easy enough to see." Aislinn sniffled. "He was so mad..." "And he had every right to be," Joy admonished. "Honey, I know you want to help Vic and Eddie, but what about yourself? Would you destroy your relationship for this?" "N... no," Aislinn stammered. "I love him, mom, I really do. I just wanted to help." Joy sighed softly and leaned down, hugging her daughter gently. Aislinn's swollen belly was cause for caution now, as far as hugs went. Rolling onto her back, Aislinn rested a hand on her stomach and smiled sheepishly up at her mother. 'She didn't approve of this, ' she thought, biting her lip. 'But she and dad have been so understanding this past week.' "I was pregnant at your age, you know," Joy said quietly. Aislinn's eyes widened. "You were?" "Yes," Joy replied. "Of course, I was also married. Things were a little different back then. A lot of people still hadn't shaken the idea of marrying young, and well... I loved your father." "But you disapprove of Gabriel and I?" Aislinn asked, her eyebrows lifting. "I'm your mother," Joy said softly. "You're my baby. I couldn't have any more children after I had you. I just don't want you to do something you'll regret later." 'I've already done something I regret, ' Aislinn thought, sighing heavily. 'And I wouldn't regret marrying Gabriel. Never!' She stared at the slope of her belly and wondered what she would do if she couldn't find her confidence to fix this mistake. Her child needed to have a father. Would Gabriel even want to be involved? 'Of course he would, ' Aislinn thought fiercely. 'He would never, never abandon his child!' He wouldn't abandon someone he loved... unlike her. 'I don't deserve him', she thought, fighting back tears. 'He said he wasn't good enough for me, but I'm the one who isn't good enough for him.' Tears ran down her cheeks. She hadn't thought she'd had anymore to shed. Aislinn would have to get her things from Gabriel's apartment. 'No doubt all those reminders of me make him angry, ' she thought miserably. She was being completely unreasonable... but she didn't care. It was hard to be reasonable, feeling the way she felt. ------- Gabriel stared morosely at his sandwich. If there was one thing he was sorely missing, it was Aislinn's cooking. 'Okay, I'm missing way more than that, ' he admitted to himself. 'Why hasn't she come back?' She hadn't even so much as called. Was everything she had said that night just a lie? He couldn't believe it. Gabriel didn't want to believe such things of her. 'But how can she keep helping Eddie and not so much as call me?' he wondered, snarling in frustration. A loud knocking on the door caught his attention. Aislinn? No, it couldn't be her. She didn't knock like that, and besides, she had a key. Gabriel stood up and went to the door, pulling it open. He was not at all happy to see Victor Montard standing in the doorway. Blocking the door, he refused to let Vic inside. The man looked more than a little nervous. "What do you want?" Gabriel growled. "I uh... uh, it's about... Aislinn," Vic stammered. "What about her?" Gabriel demanded. "In case you didn't know, she doesn't live here anymore." Vic sighed. "I know. And this is really all my fault. Please... don't be angry with her." Gabriel frowned. He certainly wouldn't expect Aislinn to send Vic to plead her case. She just wasn't like that. Leaning against the door frame, he folded his arms over his chest and watched the other man. Inside, he was hoping for a good explanation. In his heart he wanted for Vic to tell him something, like that it really had been his fault that Aislinn had spent so much time away. Gabriel quickly got his wish. "I kept goading her to stay," Vic explained. "She didn't want to, and I knew I shouldn't have, but... she was helping so much. Eddie responds well to her presence. He feels safe around her. He's the only real family I have left... I wanted to help him." Gabriel sighed and rubbed his forehead. "So where is she, then? She said she'd be back, but I haven't heard from her at all." "No?" Vic chuckled. "Honestly, you've known her for more than a year. You've been living together for months, and she's carrying your child... but you don't know how low her confidence is?" "Well I... that is... she sounded pretty confident," Gabriel stammered, shifting on his feet. "Aislinn can be a little stupid when it comes to the people she loves," Vic said. "She wanted to help me, because I'm like family. Family is very important to her. And so are you. She's scared to come back... what if you tell her you don't want her anymore?" Gabriel's eyebrows lifted. "How do you know all that?" "It's my job," Vic responded, grinning. Gabriel blinked, and chuckled softly. He was glad that Vic left soon, instead of trying to invite himself in. He had so much to think about, and his mind was buzzing. 'She doesn't have the power to say no to her loved ones, ' he thought, smiling slightly. 'I should know that well by now.' And she'd realized that she'd made a mistake. 'It's stupid to stay angry at her, ' Gabriel thought, dropping down onto the couch. 'People make mistakes after all. I most certainly have.' He longed to see her. Maybe when he saw her, all his confusion would clear. If he could only see her... Gabriel sighed. Another knock interrupted his thoughts. 'Vic again?' he wondered, but he doubted it. The knock was soft, hesitant... could it be? He stood up and moved quickly to the door, jerking it open. Aislinn stood in the doorway. His breath caught in his throat. How could she look so beautiful? Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her clothing was rumpled, and her hair was tangled. She wore bunny slippers on her feet. 'But she's breathtaking, ' Gabriel thought, gazing at her. He thought perhaps it had something to do with the roundness of her belly, which showed even beneath her loose t-shirt. "I uh... I..." Aislinn stammered, keeping her eyes on her feet. "I just... figured I'd... get my... my things. So... you don't have to..." Gabriel reached out, catching her beneath the chin. She went silent. He pulled her inside and closed the door, then stopped, looking at her. What he wanted more than anything was to hold her, but he was nervous. He knew he'd hold her tight, and that couldn't be good for her stomach. Finally Gabriel stepped around behind her and wound his arms around her, dragging her against his chest. Aislinn sighed and relaxed against him, silent sobs making her quiver. "I can't stay angry at you," Gabriel murmured, nuzzling her hair. "I never could." Aislinn sniffed. "I... I c-c-can't even... begin to tell you... h-how sorry I am... I didn't mean to... you're... I love you... I..." "Shhhh," Gabriel soothed, rocking her gently. "It's all right, baby. It's all right now. Just calm down, sweetie, please." He hated seeing her in tears. Gabriel led her to the couch and sat her down, still cradling her against his chest. She turned in his arms, snuggling against him. Looking down at her, he realized just how much he'd missed her. Aislinn's fingers curled in the material of his shirt, clinging to him desperately. Gabriel sat back on the couch, chuckling softly, gently prying her fingers open. "It's all right," He said. "I'm not going anywhere." "I... I won't go anymore," Aislinn stammered. "If... if you don't want me to, I promise I won't." "Don't worry," Gabriel murmured, gently stroking her cheek. "We'll compromise, okay? We'll find a way to work it out." Aislinn sat up, wiping unshed tears from her eyes. The pale blue of her irises was awash with joy when she looked at him. Gabriel cradled her face in his hands, wiping at her tears with his thumbs. It was hard to be angry with her, when he had not seen her in a week. She reached out, her hands echoing his as she cradled his face. He sighed, leaning his cheek against the smooth skin of her palm. "I do it to help Vic, and Eddie, because I've known him so long," Aislinn explained quietly. "But never doubt for a second that I'd much rather be here, with you." "I thought you weren't going to come back," Gabriel admitted softly. "I was so angry when I threw you out, but I would never have forgiven myself if you hadn't come back." Aislinn smiled. "I would have come back, Gabriel." Sighing, he closed his arms around her and dragged her close again. Aislinn settled against his chest, resting her head beneath his chin. He watched her play with the ring around her finger idly as she leaned against him. Chuckling, Gabriel ran his fingers through her hair. His gaze drifted to her stomach, which was growing larger and rounder. 'That's my child in there, ' he thought, smiling to himself. "You know," Gabriel said. "We should probably be married when the child is born." "Mmm," Aislinn murmured in agreement. "But... I mean... we haven't had time and... I thought we were going to wait." "Until when?" Gabriel asked. "I don't want to wait anymore." Aislinn shifted and looked up at him. As she sat back, he slid his hand beneath her loose shirt and rested it on her stomach. She smiled, and closed her hand over his. Gabriel knew it wouldn't be very long before the baby was kicking all the time, and the thought made him excited. "I don't want to wait anymore, either," Aislinn said softly. Grinning, Gabriel scooped her up into his arms and lifted her off the couch. She laughed softly, throwing her arms around his neck, and clinging to him tightly. Into the bedroom he went, and set her on the bed, then stretched out next to her. His hand continued to gently caress her belly. Aislinn watched him, a smile curving her lips, her pale blue eyes heavy lidded and somewhat sleepy. "I was thinking of something small," Gabriel murmured. "Friends and family only." "If my parents even want to come," Aislinn sighed. "They'll come," Gabriel assured her. "And you... you're going to need time to find a dress. One to accommodate that belly!" Aislinn stuck her tongue out. "Hey, this is half your fault, you know!" "I know," Gabriel laughed. "How about... three weeks?" "That's not a lot of time," Aislinn said. "You don't think we can do it?" Gabriel asked, his eyebrows lifting. Aislinn grinned. "We can." Chuckling, he nuzzled his lips against her neck. She sighed softly and settled against the pillows. Gabriel stroked her cheek, staring down into her pale blue eyes. 'I'll get her parents to come, ' he thought, tracing her lips with his fingertip. 'There's no way they're going to miss her wedding.' He rested his head on her chest and snuggled up close to her side. In truth, he hadn't slept much since she'd been gone, and now he could barely keep his eyes open. "Welcome home, sweetheart," Gabriel murmured. Aislinn chuckled. "Thanks, sleepyhead." She pulled a blanket over both of them and closed her arms around him, watching him as he drifted off into a peaceful nap. ------- Aislinn held her breath, waiting. She had just told Eddie about her and Gabriel's wedding, and was waiting to see what his reaction would be. His face was blank. The stress of the past few months had changed him, as well; his face was haggard, and black circles ringed his eyes. 'He looks like hell, ' Aislinn thought, chewing her lower lip. 'I wonder how he feels about all this.' "I won't be able to make it," Eddie said suddenly. "What?" Aislinn asked, startled. Eddie smiled. "To your wedding. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it." "Oh," Aislinn laughed. "That's okay. I'll bring pictures." "Aislinn, would you do something for me?" Eddie asked suddenly. "Depends on what it is," Aislinn answered cautiously. Eddie reached out, and rested his hand on hers. She could see the scar from the stitches along his wrist, where he had cut himself. 'He's barely a shadow of himself, ' she thought, tears welling in her eyes. Aislinn sat still, allowing him to hold her hand. She'd noticed that it brought him some comfort. After everything they'd learned, she could understand what had driven Eddie to such extremes. She could never approve, but she could understand. "Tell him I'm sorry," Eddie said hoarsely. "Please." "Gabriel?" Aislinn asked, startled again. Eddie nodded. "I've been thinking a lot lately, Aislinn. My... my father was like that. Possessive, arrogant, rude... I feel like... I was turning into him." Aislinn nodded. She kept quiet, but closed her fingers comfortingly around his. When Eddie spoke about his parents, she offered him all the support she could. If she tried to speak, unless he asked her a question directly, he would clam up. 'It wasn't that long ago that I hated him, ' Aislinn thought. 'Now he's so pathetic, I just feel sorry for him.' "My father would have done something like that," Eddie continued. "And I... suppose I should apologize to you, too. You're the only person who's ever been there for me." "Don't forget Uncle Vic," Aislinn reminded him softly. "I know," Eddie said. "But you have no reason to help me. None at all. Not after what I put you through. I wanted... to thank you..." Aislinn sighed. She reached out and hugged him gently, then stood up. 'This is getting to be too much, ' she thought, rubbing her temples. 'It's tiring and stressful and... ugh!' Vic was standing in the doorway, watching them. Every time she tried to tell him how tired she was, he went on and on about how much good she was doing for Eddie. Aislinn simply didn't have the ability to say no, not when Vic was so relieved at Eddie's improvement. "When will I see you again?" Eddie asked quietly. "I don't know," Aislinn sighed. "I... I'm tired, you know..." "She's done great work, though, hasn't she, Ed?" Vic cut in, grinning broadly. "She has," Eddie agreed. "And please don't call me that." Aislinn grinned. "How about Thursday?" "Sounds great!" Vic chirped. He didn't wait for her to respond, but left the room. 'I wish I was more like Gabriel, ' Aislinn thought, not for the first time. She turned to leave, but felt Eddie grab her hand. Surprised, she turned back to him. Eddie pulled her down beside the bed and leaned close to her. "Friday," he whispered. "Go rest, and spend time with your fiancé." "Are you sure?" Aislinn asked. Eddie smiled. "Go on, Ais. I'll be fine." "Okay, Ed," Aislinn said, narrowing her eyes on him pointedly. "Oh, fine, you win," Eddie groaned, sinking back onto the pillows. Aislinn laughed softly to herself as she left the room. Sometimes she actually enjoyed his company. Especially when he did things like that. It was Monday, which meant she had the rest of today, and until Friday, to spend time with Gabriel. 'And to plan our wedding, ' she thought, a smile tugging at her lips. 'I'll call Callie and... and maybe Marina!' Although they weren't close, Aislinn had spent some time talking to Marina since she had turned in Eddie, and had found her to be surprisingly good company. Aislinn waved a quick good-bye to Vic, who was attending another patient. He smiled at her, and she sighed. 'I'm such a sucker, ' she thought. She knew that Vic had met Gabriel, and he'd said he approved of him. 'Maybe I should bring Gabriel here, ' she thought, 'so he can see that Eddie's changed.' Er, maybe. If she did, it wouldn't be until after their wedding. Aislinn wanted everything to go smoothly from now on, so she would wait and see. Nothing would take her away from Gabriel this time. ------- Chapter 21: Reception Gabriel knocked on the door of the Lexington family house, and waited. Part of him felt guilty; in order to be here, he'd had to tell Aislinn a little white lie. While she was at the doctor with Callie, getting an ultrasound, he absolutely had to talk to her parents. They'd been trying for the last three weeks to convince her parents to come to the wedding, but they'd been unresponsive. Now Aislinn believed he was at a make-up class for school. The door opened. Joy Lexington eyed him warily as he stepped into her living room. Gabriel understood why she was so upset; Aislinn was her baby. 'Still, there's no reason for this, ' he thought, as he sat gingerly on their expensive white leather couch. Joy and her husband Anderson sat across from him. He took a deep breath, dropping his hands onto his lap, and spoke. "I'm sure you know why I'm here," Gabriel said. "So I won't waste your time. As you know, because we've been calling you for weeks, Aislinn and I are getting married tomorrow." "We know," Joy said coolly. Her eyes, the same pale blue as Aislinn's, narrowed on him. "You have to be there," Gabriel stated firmly. "Aislinn needs your support. I know you don't approve, and quite frankly, I don't care. I love your daughter, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Period." Joy sat back, and he thought she might be fighting a smile. "Aislinn said you were studying to become a teacher. For..."troubled" kids?" "Yeah," Gabriel answered warily. "A thankless job, that," Anderson put in. "And it doesn't pay very well." "I know," Gabriel said. "But I want to do it anyway. And Aislinn is so talented... she'll be famous one day, without a doubt. Wouldn't want to steal her limelight..." Joy sighed and glanced at her husband. Gabriel could see that she was distressed. Aislinn was her darling daughter and he was some interloper who had already stolen her away. 'Please, ' he thought, gazing pleadingly at Joy. 'You can't even guess how much it would mean to her.' Perhaps he should have said that out loud, but he never got the chance. Joy turned a charming smile on him, one that reminded him of Aislinn. "Oh, all right," she conceded with a sigh. "We'll be there. I know it means a lot to her." Gabriel grinned. "Thank you! I didn't know what I would do if I couldn't get you to say yes..." "You would have married her anyway," Joy said, smiling. "That's what I like about you, Gabriel. I think you'll make a good husband for her." To his surprise, she stood up and hugged him. Gabriel grinned. He could definitely see bits of Aislinn in her mother. When he left, he was pleased and satisfied, now that he was sure they were going to be at the wedding. And with that out of the way, he could feel the onset of nerves. 'I love her so much, ' Gabriel thought, 'but even I'm scared.' He hoped everything was going good at the doctor. He knew that losing the baby again would devastate his Aislinn. ------- "You're looking inordinately pleased with yourself." Aislinn glanced sideways at Callie and grinned. She rested her hand on her belly, which just kept getting bigger as the weeks passed. Now she understood why, after her ultrasound, but she wasn't about to tell anyone. 'I'll make the announcement tomorrow, ' she thought, smiling brightly. 'At the wedding reception.' Aislinn was in such a good mood that even Callie's scowl couldn't make her flinch. "Tell me!" Callie wheedled. "Not a chance," Aislinn said firmly. Callie sighed. "Fine then. Look, Aislinn, I want to bring a date with me... is that okay?" "Who?" Aislinn asked, looking over at her curiously. "I'll tell if you will," Callie responded, grinning. Aislinn huffed, then broke into laughter. 'Fine, I deserved that, ' she thought, smiling. 'But I still won't tell.' She put an arm around Callie's shoulders as the two of them headed down the sidewalk. Her stomach rumbled demandingly, nothing new to her now. Often she found herself hungry, and for the strangest things. Callie found it a little unsettling. Fortunately for her, though, Aislinn's craving was a little more tame this afternoon. "Sushi!" Aislinn exclaimed, pointing at a Japanese restaurant across the way. "You hate seafood," Callie reminded her. "But I want sushi!" Aislinn insisted, grabbing her hand and dragging her to the crosswalk. "Pregnant women!" Callie huffed, exasperated. Aislinn chuckled. It was true, she hated seafood, but for some reason she couldn't kill this craving. 'Actually, I do like sushi, ' she thought, holding onto Callie's hand as they crossed the road. 'Just not often.' It was a poor defense, one she doubted Gabriel would appreciate on his middle of the night trips to here or there. He was sweet and understanding as she could hope for, but he still grumbled when she asked him to go out for ice cream at midnight. 'I love him, ' Aislinn thought, grinning. 'And it's a good thing he loves me, or he'd throttle me!' ------- It was a small wedding, but lovely nonetheless. Aislinn, with Callie and Marina's help, had found the perfect dress. It was white silk, an empire waistline, with short, ruched sleeves that hung off her shoulders. The skirt was embroidered with silver roses. Simple, but elegant, and Gabriel had been quite impressed by it. Her hair was in simple curls, crowned with a circled of white roses that trailed a lace train. Aislinn was pleased with the overall effect. Callie took the place of her maid of honor, and Marina was a bridesmaid, both of them wearing a pale blue nearly the same shade as Aislinn's eyes. Aislinn didn't know what had been more shocking; the fact that Callie's date had turned out to be Tifo, or the fact that Tifo was wearing a tuxedo. 'He looks ridiculous, ' Aislinn thought, beaming. Gabriel had managed to compromise with her, and he was wearing a sleek suit, minus tie and cummerbund. 'Now, he looks fantastic, ' she thought, smiling over at him. To her pleasure, her mother and father had shown up as well. Gabriel admitted then that that was where he'd really been the day before. Aislinn couldn't be angry at him; she understood why he didn't want her to know. 'He's the best man in the world, ' she thought, smiling at him as he pulled out her chair for her. 'And now he's my husband.' She had thought for a long time about whether or not she was going to take his last name. Finally, she'd decided; from this day forward, she was Mrs. Aislinn Wolfe. "Tifo, you old dog," Gabriel teased. "Why didn't you tell me?" "It wasn't any of your business," Tifo retorted. "Callie didn't even tell me," Aislinn put in, sliding her hand into Gabriel's. "I feel so insulted!" Callie snorted. "It wasn't any of your business, just like Tifo said." "Thanks, honeymuffin," Tifo said affectionately, sliding his arm around her shoulders. Aislinn turned to look at Gabriel and stuck her finger in her mouth, gagging. He echoed the gesture back at her, and they grinned at each other. Callie, glaring at them from across the table, scooted her chair closer to Tifo. "You're welcome, snugglefuck," She cooed, batting her lashes at Tifo. "Snugglefuck?" Aislinn questioned, glancing sidelong at Gabriel. Gabriel shrugged. "Search me." He let out a huff of surprise a moment later as Aislinn reached over, her fingers tickling him. She laughed as Gabriel dragged her close and planted a kiss firmly on her lips. Settling back in the chair, Aislinn looked down at her plate and sighed. Trays of food were finally being set out; even though it had only been five minutes, it felt like forever to a young pregnant woman. As soon as the food was all set out, she reached for the spoon in a dish of lasagna. "Easy, there," Gabriel teased, taking the spoon from her and dishing out some of the lasagna. "You act like you're eating for more than just you and the baby." "Actually," Aislinn said suddenly. "I need to tell you something." She reached out and picked up her spoon, tapping it lightly against her glass. The soft chiming sound caught the attention of everyone at the small table; no more than twenty guests total. Aislinn stood up, taking Gabriel's hand into hers for support. Even he didn't know the news she was about to impart. Everyone around the table was looking at her intently; down near the end, Forrester winked at her. "As you all know, I went for an ultrasound yesterday," Aislinn said. "But I didn't find out if the baby would be a boy or a girl." Everyone around the table groaned. She held up her hand to silence them, then continued. "However, I did find out something..." "Stop teasing us!" Callie said, scowling. "Come on, honey," Gabriel said softly, squeezing her hand. She noticed the concern in his dark eyes. "I'm not having a baby," Aislinn said quietly. Everyone went silent. A slow grin curved the corners of her mouth. "I'm having twins!" There was another long moment of silence, then cheers erupted all around the table. Gabriel looked as though he might faint. As she sank back to her seat, he closed his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. She sighed softly as he nuzzled her neck affectionately. Aislinn had been a little nervous about this news. One child was expensive enough; two was going to be quite a challenge. 'He doesn't seem upset, though, ' she thought, gazing down at Gabriel's smiling face. 'In fact, he seems pleased.' "Gabriel, man, way to go," Tifo crowed, grinning. "Those are some little soldiers you got... ow!" Scowling, he rubbed the back of his head where Callie had smacked him. They glowered at each other for a moment, before dissolving into a fit of cooing and nuzzling. Aislinn leaned back in Gabriel's arms, and paused in reaching for her fork. "I think I'm going to be seriously ill," she stated. Gabriel laughed. "It's disgusting, isn't it?" "Shut up," Tifo growled. "Actually," Gabriel said softly, his voice only loud enough for her to hear. "It's almost kinda cute, in a gross sort of way. I'm glad they're so happy." "Me too," Aislinn agreed, grabbing her fork. She stayed cradled in Gabriel's lap as they ate. At first he had trouble maneuvering his fork, until she took over feeding him, in between her own bites. 'This couldn't possibly be more perfect', Aislinn thought, sighing contentedly. 'Mom and dad are here, Callie and Tifo, all of my friends... it's simply perfect.' Gabriel kept one hand on her stomach the whole time, protectively. She knew he would be waiting with baited breath for the first kick. "You know what," Joy said suddenly. "We need to have a baby shower!" "Ooo!" Marina cooed, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, I love showers, I love 'em! Can I help plan, please, pretty please?" "Of course, dear," Joy said, looking a little bit taken aback. "Sounds like fun," Gabriel sighed, rolling his eyes. "You're not invited!" Joy told him, grinning. "It's women only!" "Hear that, Pix," Forrester said, nudging Pixel, who sat beside him. "Baby shower. Sounds like fun." "Fun," Pixel grumbled, rolling her eyes as Gabriel had. "Now, wait a minute!" Aislinn cut in, laughing. "I want all my friends to be there, male or female! Period!" Laughter erupted around her. She smiled sweetly at those around her. 'It will be... May when the children are born, ' Aislinn thought. 'Not too much longer now.' With the month of January newly rung in, and the cold worse by the day, she was glad her children would be born in spring. The timing was as perfect as every thing else seemed to be. Looking down at Gabriel, who was laughing merrily, she couldn't help but smile. ------- Gabriel sat in the stiff-backed chair and stared across the table at Eddie. 'If I didn't love her so much, I'd throttle her, ' he thought, glancing sideways at Aislinn. At five months pregnant, their honeymoon had been short and relatively uneventful. After her miscarriage, the doctor had insisted they'd be careful. Gabriel had been in such a sweet, contented mood that he'd agreed when Aislinn had suggested, uneasily, that he try to make peace with Eddie. 'At least he looks like shit, ' he thought, smiling inwardly. His hair was unkempt, dark circles surrounded his eyes, and his skin was grayish, haggard. Eddie stared at the top of the table, silent as a mouse. Aislinn looked anxiously between both of them, then let out a frustrated sigh. Eddie looked up at her, startled, and a hesitant smile curved his lips. "How did the ultrasound go?" Eddie asked quietly. "Great!" Aislinn replied, smiling brightly. "I'm going to have twins!" Eddie's eyes widened, and he turned a startled gaze on Gabriel. "And to think, up until a second ago, I envied you!" Gabriel found himself fighting a chuckle. "I'm sure it won't be a problem." "I never knew you as a kid," Eddie said. "But I knew her! She was hell in a sundress!" "Hey!" Aislinn exclaimed, swatting Eddie playfully. "And what were you?!" "Sweet and angelic," Eddie answered, grinning. Gabriel again found himself fighting laughter. He could see a faint hint of the man Eddie could have been. Aislinn seemed to bring out a gentle side that seemed impossible. 'Little brat', he thought, glancing at her. 'You know me too well.' He would never forgive Eddie for his actions, but he couldn't hate him, either. Gabriel thought he was pathetic, and he pitied him. "I wish you luck," Eddie said quietly. "You're going to need it." "We'll be fine," Aislinn told him, reaching out and taking Gabriel's hand. "We'll manage together." Eddie nodded. "I'm sure you will. Send me pictures when they're born, okay?" "We'll bring them to visit," Aislinn said, smiling. Gabriel wanted to protest. He did not want this man anywhere near his children. 'If she does bring them, I'll be going too, ' he thought, fighting a scowl. 'And maybe I'll bring a knife... except I don't think they allow that here.' Aislinn smiled at him reassuringly, then reached for her bag, and pulled out an envelope. It was their wedding pictures. She passed them over to Eddie, who took them out gingerly and studied them. "You look lovely, Aislinn," Eddie commented. He glanced up at Gabriel. "And you..." "Me?" Gabriel asked, his eyebrows lifting. "You suck," Eddie said bluntly. "You look like you were born solely for the cover of romance novels." Gabriel did laugh, this time. "Is that jealousy I hear, Mr. Montard?" "Of course not," Eddie said, with what seemed like feigned arrogance. "I was the captain of the football team. Just wait until I'm out of here, then I'll give you a run for your money, Fabio." "Ouch," Gabriel winced. "That's just plain mean." Eddie laughed. "Sorry... you're more like Rambo..." Gabriel might have been insulted, but he could see a hint of mischief in Eddie's eyes. 'So this is what Aislinn used to see, ' he thought, sighing inwardly. 'I can't blame her for wanting to help.' It was, after all, part of why he loved her so. The rest of the visit was fairly mundane, but it wasn't so bad. When Gabriel rose at last, he was stiff, and surprised to realize that they'd been there for a couple of hours. Aislinn snuggled against his side as they left the building, gazing up at him adoringly. 'Okay, it was worth it, ' he thought, grinning. 'When she looks at me like that, it's always worth it.' Gabriel bent down and kissed the tip of her nose. "I see what you meant," Gabriel said. "There's definitely a shade of who he could have been." "It's sad, isn't it?" Aislinn asked, sighing. "I wish I could do more to help." "You've done tons, love," Gabriel assured her, hugging her close. "No one could ask for more than you've done. Vic says he's made great improvement with your help." "I know," Aislinn said. "I hope with some time and patience, he'll be well enough to leave the hospital one day." Gabriel glanced over at her and felt a bit of melancholy. He had this feeling, deep inside, that Eddie was never going to be right again, but he didn't want to tell her that. Aislinn was so determined to help and he didn't want to discourage her. Although he hated it, he had accepted that she wanted to help Eddie. 'I'll stand by her through everything, ' Gabriel thought, smiling down at her. After all, she had stood by his side through everything since the first day he had met her. ------- Chapter 22: Stress Bitter cold February air nipped at Aislinn's nose. She fingered the fringe of the fleece scarf she wore, and glanced sidelong at Eddie. As much as she hated the cold, she was pleased to see him outside, getting some exercise. Although he was still mostly thin, his lack of activity lately had diminished muscle from years of playing football. The cold air put some color in his cheeks, and he looked much healthier. 'Possibly even a little happier, ' Aislinn thought hopefully. She visited him Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and sometimes on Sundays, too. Aislinn also cooked for Gabriel and, lately, worked on a commission for the cover of a debut novel for a new author. She wouldn't admit it to Gabriel, but she was exhausted. The constant work was really taking it's toll on her, but she did her best to ignore it. It was only concern for the children she was carrying that got Aislinn to rest at all. "How's the painting coming?" Eddie asked, glancing at her. "Almost finished, actually," Aislinn answered, smiling faintly. "I hope the writer likes it." "They will," Eddie said firmly. "Who wouldn't? Your art is fantastic, it always has been." Aislinn rubbed the back of her neck and laughed softly. "Maybe. I won't get my hopes too high, though. It's hard to make a career as an artist." "But you'll do it," Eddie said. "I'm sure if it." 'He's almost like a child, ' she thought, rubbing her hands together to warm them. Even through the gloves, they were chilled. As Aislinn observed Eddie, she noticed his mannerisms were child-like and docile. He spent a lot of time staring at the ground, kicking at small stones along the path, and fidgeting. They had been walking for at least an hour now, as well, and he seemed to be getting somewhat sulky. "Should we head back?" Aislinn asked quietly. "It's pretty cold out here..." "Sure," Eddie replied, flashing a wan smile. Aislinn turned, then paused, horrified, as a white hot pain gripped her belly. She recognized the feeling at once, as the same one she'd had months ago, when she'd lost her first child. The strength left her legs and she sank slowly onto the path, gasping for breath. 'A contraction!' she thought frantically, knowing this time what it was. Another did not follow right away, but that meant little. Aislinn knew it might not be long. She folded her arms over her belly protectively. "Aislinn!" Eddie called, resting his hand on her shoulder gently. "Aislinn, what's wrong?" "Contractions!" Aislinn responded, her voice high with panic. "Not again... I don't want this to happen again!" "Calm down," Eddie soothed, dropping to his knees beside her. "Calm down. You need to relax, Aislinn. Breathe." Aislinn used the sound of his voice as a focus point, and drew in deep breaths. She was shaking badly, but managed to calm herself. Keeping her hands on her stomach, she began to rise. Eddie caught her before she could stand and, to her surprise, picked her up. He cradled her in his arms as he stood. "What are you doing?" Aislinn demanded, feeling her panic start to come rolling back. "Carrying you," Eddie answered simply. "We'll get back faster this way. You need to go to a hospital." "I can walk!" Aislinn snapped. "And how are you going to get me back faster?" "You forget," Eddie said. "I was the captain of the football team." "'Was' being the operative word here," Aislinn muttered. Another painful contraction killed her words in her throat. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she clung to Eddie as he ran down the path. Although his time in the hospital had stolen some of his strength, it wasn't even noticeable now. 'Please, not again, ' Aislinn thought, closing her eyes and hanging on tightly. 'I can't deal with this again!' ------- Gabriel lifted the visor of his helmet and frowned. Despite the fact that it was nearly six o' clock, Aislinn's car was not here. He quickly secured his motorcycle, then headed up to the apartment, his helmet tucked beneath his arm. Inside was dark, quiet, and more than a little cold; they kept the heat off when they weren't there. 'She could have gotten caught up, ' Gabriel thought, trying to be reasonable. 'She hasn't since that time, but it's not like it can't happen once in awhile.' He glanced at the answering machine, but the light was still, signaling that there were no new messages. Frowning, he flipped open the address book beside the phone and scanned through it for the number of the hospital Eddie was at. A moment later Gabriel nearly jumped out of his skin as the phone rang. He grabbed and hit the talk button, figuring it would be Aislinn. "Hello?" Gabriel asked. "Hello..." a voice he didn't recognize said hesitantly. "Is this Mr. Wolfe?" "Yes," Gabriel answered, also hesitant. "Who is this?" "I'm a receptionist at St. Michael's hospital," The woman responded. "I'm calling about your wife." Gabriel felt his heart plummet into his stomach. 'Not again!' he thought, gripping the phone tightly. The last time had been terrifying enough, and he hadn't known at first that Aislinn had even been pregnant. Now... he thought about the twins growing inside her, the kicking he had felt a few times, and the thought of losing them made him ill. "She's just fine, Mr. Wolfe," the receptionist explained. "She went into early labor, but we managed to stop it with drugs. However, the doctor would like to speak to you both." Gabriel let out an explosive sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God she's all right! I'll be there in fifteen minutes." He hung up the phone without waiting for an answer and grabbed up the keys. The terror that had settled in the pit of his stomach eased a little, but it would not fade completely. Gabriel was back outside in an instant, completely oblivious to the biting cold. The drive to St. Michael's was not a long one, and within no more than fifteen minutes, he was in the parking lot. He barely remembered to make sure his motorcycle was secure before he was pushing through the doors. "Excuse me," Gabriel said, catching the attention of a receptionist. "My name is Gabriel Wolfe. My wife, Aislinn, is here..." "Right, Mr. Wolfe," the receptionist said, nodding. "We're going to have to ask you to wait a few moments, while I call the doctor." "Could someone just tell me what happened?" Gabriel asked. "Ask him," the receptionist said, pointing. "He rode here in the ambulance with her." Gabriel glanced in the direction she was pointing, and his mouth dropped open. Sitting in the waiting area was Victor Montard, and next to him, Eddie. Cautiously he headed over to them both, uncertain what to make of the situation. Vic looked up and smiled wanly as Gabriel approached, but Eddie continued staring at the floor. 'What's going on?' Gabriel wondered, looking back and forth between the two. "Aislinn went into premature labor," Vic said quietly. Gabriel nodded. "So I've been told. What happened?" "I... I carried her..." Eddie stammered. "She started having contractions, so I carried her back to the center." "They were out for a walk," Vic explained. "Eddie picked her up and ran all the way back with her. The doctor said it was good that he did... they wouldn't have been able to stop the labor if he hadn't reacted as quickly as he did." 'No, no, no!' Gabriel thought frantically, trying to keep his horror from showing on his face. 'Why him, of all people!?' His children were going to live because of Eddie Montard... the man who'd shot him! The man who'd tried to kill Aislinn. 'This is too much, ' Gabriel thought, groaning inwardly. 'This just... sucks.' He was grateful that Aislinn and her children were safe, but he could not simply forgive Eddie! "I know you hate me," Eddie said quietly. "And I didn't do it for you, anyway. Aislinn's the one I care about." Gabriel scowled. "I know that." "Hey, now," Vic cut in, frowning at Gabriel. "There's no need to act like this. After all, he did save the lives of your children." "I know that," Gabriel repeated, gazing at Vic coolly. "And I'm truly grateful." "Mr. Wolfe?" the receptionist called. "You can go in now." Gabriel let out a sigh of relief and turned away from the Montards. Aislinn may have thought of Victor as an uncle, and she might feel obligated to Eddie, but he had no such feelings. 'I can't wait until he gets better, ' he thought, as he stalked down the corridor. 'The sooner those two are out of our lives, the better!' ------- Aislinn rested on hand on her stomach and stared at it, fighting back tears. Relief, fear, she wasn't certain what they were from, but she could barely keep from crying. Her children were safe, but it wasn't comforting. 'What if this happens again?' she wondered, sniffling. 'How can I have a family if this keeps happening?' The door swung open suddenly and Aislinn jumped, looking up. "Gabriel!" she exclaimed, overjoyed to see him. "Hey, sweetheart," Gabriel cooed, moved straight over to her and pulling her into his arms. "Oh, thank goodness you're okay." "I'm scared," Aislinn murmured, snuggling close to him. "It's going to be okay, baby," Gabriel soothed. "I'll take care of you." "That's absolutely correct, Mr. Wolfe." Aislinn and Gabriel both looked up. The doctor, Dr. Henderson, the same as last time, was watching them both intently. He held a clipboard in one hand, and glasses perched on his overly long nose. Graying brown hair surrounded the shining, balding pate of his head. Aislinn sat up, leaning close to Gabriel for support. "Can you tell us why this keeps happening?" she asked. "It's stress," Dr. Henderson replied. "Too much stress can send a woman into premature labor, and you seem to be somewhat predisposed to it. Have you been working a lot lately?" "Too much," Gabriel answered, before she could speak. "I keep telling her she needs to rest more." "I didn't think I was doing that much," Aislinn said quietly. "It's simply too much," Dr. Henderson insisted. "Now, I want you to spend as much time as possible in bed." "I can't do that!" Aislinn protested, horrified. "You can, and you will," Dr. Henderson said. He turned to look at Gabriel. "And you'll make sure that she does. Tie her to the bed if you have to, but don't let her over work herself. Understand?" Gabriel grinned. "Not a problem, doctor." Aislinn glared at Gabriel, but he just smiled at her brightly. 'What about... ' Aislinn thought, then she shook her head. There was simply no question in her mind, when she thought about it. She cared about Vic and Eddie, but neither of them was more important than the health of her children. Period. Gabriel must have sensed what she was thinking, because he smiled at her warmly. "He'll understand," Gabriel said. "Vic or Eddie?" Aislinn asked, lifting her eyebrows. "I can't believe I'm saying this," Gabriel responded. "But probably Eddie more than Vic." Aislinn laughed. She stood up, and with Gabriel's help got dressed again. He was sweet and affectionate, kissing her and nuzzling her gently. As she pulled her shirt on, she thought back to when she'd met him, more than a year ago now. 'Amazing, ' she thought, smiling to herself. 'Amazing how much a life can change in such a short time.' Aislinn turned to Gabriel as he put an arm around her shoulders. Looking into his dark eyes, she knew she'd be safe as long as he was there. ------- Gabriel stood with Aislinn in Eddie's room. He sat in a chair in the corner, staring at the T.V. He'd been surprised that Vic and Eddie had left before he and Aislinn had come out of the hospital room, but he had a feeling he knew why. 'Vic doesn't want Eddie seeing us together, ' Gabriel thought. In fact, Vic had given him a nasty look when he'd entered the psychiatric center with Aislinn. Apparently it ran in the family. The thought made him shiver. "Eddie," Aislinn called softly. "Eddie, we need to talk. Eddie looked up. "You're not coming back." he said quietly. "Not until after the twins are born," Aislinn admitted. "It's the doctor's orders, Eddie. He says if I don't rest, I could lose the babies." Eddie's eyes were dark and shaded as he looked at Aislinn. Gabriel watched him warily, uncertain. 'I don't like this one bit, ' he thought, holding Aislinn's hand tightly in his. 'I hate having to do this.' "Come here," Eddie said quietly, beckoning. "Please?" Gabriel was forced to let go of Aislinn's hand as she moved over to Eddie. He watched, trying not to scream, as Eddie rested a hand on her stomach. 'I can't stand this, ' he thought, seething. 'It's a damn good thing that I love her so much.' As he watched, Eddie sat back, his eyes widening in surprise. "One of them kicked," he said softly. Aislinn giggled. "I know! They get feistier by the day, it seems." "Will you bring them?" Eddie asked, his voice hoarse. "Just once? So I could see them..." "Of course," Aislinn replied, smiling. Gabriel gritted his teeth. He didn't want Eddie ever seeing his children, but he knew that Aislinn would be stubborn about it. A part of him even understood. The man was pathetic; it was hard not to feel pity for him. Aislinn crouched beside Eddie's chair and allowed him to hug her. The gesture seemed to make him happy, even though it made Gabriel furious. "Take care of yourself," Eddie said. He glanced at Gabriel. "Make sure she takes care of herself." Gabriel nodded. "Of course." "I'm not a child," Aislinn said, wrinkling her nose. "I'll be twenty-one this year, yanno!" "She's a child," Eddie commented, looking straight at Gabriel. "Put her in time out if you have to." "Sure," Gabriel grinned. "I'll keep that in mind." Aislinn scowled at both of them, then rose. It was a struggle for her, so Gabriel moved forward and helped her up. He put an arm around her waist to steady her. Aislinn smiled at him, then reached out and gently touched Eddie's arm. "You take care of yourself too," Aislinn said quietly. "I will," Eddie murmured. Gabriel held onto Aislinn, ushering her towards the door. No matter what she wanted, he fully intended to keep this visit short. He wanted to take her home so she could start resting. They'd already come to a compromise; she could work on her paintings, and she could go visit her parents, and she could even go out with Callie for lunch once a week. Gabriel didn't want to make her a prisoner, but he was determined that she take care of herself this time. "Gabriel." Startled, he paused and glanced back at Eddie. Eddie sat in the chair, his eyes shaded by the heavy fall of his unkempt hair. He beckoned, and Gabriel let go of Aislinn, and walked over to the chair. When she looked back at him, he waved her off. Somehow he got the feeling that Eddie had something to say to him alone. 'Lovely, ' Gabriel thought, as he paused beside the chair. 'Another thing I didn't want to do today.' "You will take care of her, won't you?" Eddie asked, staring at him with haunted eyes. "Of course," Gabriel answered, feeling a little irritated. "Good," Eddie said, sitting back with a satisfied sigh. "I want you to make sure she's happy. Because I know I can't..." Gabriel stared. Words hung in the air between them, unspoken, and he knew they would continue to be unspoken. 'This is insane, ' he thought, frowning. He took a step back, away from Eddie. Anyone who really paid attention could see that he would never get better. Vic would never admit it, and Aislinn didn't want to, but Gabriel could see it, clear as day. "Coward," Gabriel growled. Eddie nodded. "I am that. I won't deny it. But you understand, don't you?" "I think so," Gabriel said. "I got lucky. I managed to turn my life around. And then I met Aislinn." "She's a blessing," Eddie agreed. "Thanks, Gabriel." Gabriel nodded briefly. He turned and left the room without another word; there was simply nothing left to say. He caught up with Aislinn at the front door of the center and put an arm around her shoulders. She smiled up at him, slipping an arm around his hips and snuggling up to him warmly. "What was that about?" Aislinn asked. "Nothing important," Gabriel answered. "Let's go home, sweetheart." ------- Epilogue A faint autumn breeze stirred leaves along the browning grass. Gabriel shifted Alastair in his arms and cooed softly to the infant, who squirmed uncomfortably in the autumn drizzle. Next to him, his brother Quinn was quiet and calm in his mother's arms. Aislinn was silent, but her eyes were red rimmed from crying, and there was deep sorrow in those pale blue irises. Gabriel felt distinct distress, not knowing how he could comfort her. 'Picked a lovely time of year for it, man, ' he thought, scowling down at the coffin. It was hard to muster anything but pity for the pathetic shell of a man Eddie had been. Gabriel hadn't been at all surprised when Aislinn had gotten the call about Eddie's suicide. 'They thought he was better, ' he thought. 'Hell, even I was beginning to think he was better.' Eddie hadn't been better, though, and not three weeks after his release from the psychiatric center, he was dead. "At least he got to see them before... before..." Aislinn choked, her voice hoarse. "Hush, darling," Gabriel murmured, leaning close to her. "He's at peace now, sweetheart." "I know," Aislinn sniffled. "I... I just feel so... so helpless... like... nothing I did... meant anything..." "You did everything you could," Gabriel assured her, leaning his shoulder against hers. "Now all you can do is live your life. It's what he would have wanted." 'I hate this, ' Gabriel thought, fighting a scowl. For all that he hadn't been able to forgive Eddie, he felt like crying. It was such a waste. What might he have been if his parents hadn't been so sick and disgusting? Glancing sideways at Aislinn, he wished he could somehow spare her this sorrow. After all, she'd known Eddie all her life. Gabriel had known Aislinn two years, and he would be devastated if he lost her. He couldn't imagine losing someone he'd known since childhood. "I suppose you're right," Aislinn said softly. "Can we go home now? Please?" "Of course," Gabriel soothed. "These two shouldn't be out here much longer, anyway." That brought a smile to Aislinn's face. "You're right. Let's take them home." Gabriel smiled. He looked down at Alastair, who was fast becoming cranky and unsettled. 'You're going to be just like your daddy, ' he thought, grinning. 'And Quinn... ' Glancing at his other son, his smile broadened. Quinn would be sweet and quiet, like his mother. Perhaps an artist. 'An artist and a troublemaker, ' Gabriel thought. 'How poetically appropriate.' ------- The paint brush left perfect strokes of green on the canvas. Aislinn leaned back, studying her latest work with a skeptical eye. It was another commission piece, one among so many as her popularity grew. The buzz of the T.V. was in the back of her mind; cartoons, noisy and silly, that's what was on. A moment later a key turned in the lock, and the door swung open. "Daddy! Daddy!" Twin voices chorused. Aislinn chuckled to herself and turned on her stool to face the door. Gabriel knelt in the doorway as two toddling boys, identical in appearance, raced over to him to smother him in hugs. Both had their father's raven black hair, recently trimmed, although it hung nearly to the shoulders on both of them. And they had their mother's pale, cornflower blue eyes, as well. 'Four years, ' Aislinn thought, rising from the stool. 'Amazing how time flies.' "How was it today, honey?" Aislinn asked, kissing Gabriel on the cheek as he stood. "He... er, it wasn't fun," Gabriel answered, sighing. "Truly a thankless job." Aislinn smiled. Gabriel bent and picked up Quinn, who was always demanding to be held. Alastair was more aloof, and a much louder, rowdier child. They greeted Gabriel everyday when he got home from work. As a student teacher in a small, alternative school for troublemakers, he did not have an easy job. Aislinn knew that the boys cheered him up immensely. "And how were they?" Gabriel asked. "Did they behave?" "Quinn got into my paints again," Aislinn answered, sighing. It was the only time her quieter son got into trouble. "Alastair was surprisingly well behaved. He watched that tape of the Swan Lake again!" Gabriel grinned wryly. "My son likes ballet. Beautiful. And the little one?" "She's..." Aislinn began, and paused as crying sounded through the baby monitor. "Awake!" Aislinn rushed into the nursery with Gabriel on her heels. Inside the crib their five month old daughter was crying, no doubt hungry. Alanna had a sprinkling of white blond hair that would no doubt darken to look like her mother's someday, and eyes of a blue closer to her father's midnight irises. Aislinn lifted her from the crib, cooing to her softly, and pulled the loose collar of her shirt down to feed her daughter. "Lucky," Gabriel muttered, eyeing Aislinn and Alanna. Aislinn laughed. "You'll get your turn later. Mom and dad want to watch them for awhile this weekend." "Ooo, nice," Gabriel said, letting Quinn down. Alastair toddled into the room and tugged at Gabriel's jeans, demanding to be held. Sighing, Gabriel picked him up and held him close to Aislinn. Alastair watched Alanna as she fed, his blue eyes alert and curious. "He's going to be a tyrant of a big brother," Aislinn commented, grinning. "He already is." "He never wants to be held unless it gets him closer to her," Gabriel agreed. "And if she grows up to be anything near as wonderful as her mother, which I'm sure she will, we'll be glad for an overprotective older brother." Aislinn laughed and leaned close to Gabriel. She was happier than she could ever have imagined being. She had a successful art career, and Gabriel was happy, if somewhat frustrated, in his teaching job. How fortunate they were! 'Not everyone is so fortunate, though, ' Aislinn thought soberly, remembering Eddie. It was a good thing to remember. It reminded her how precious children were, and made her determined to give hers the happiest lives possible. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-01-24 Last Modified: 2005-01-28 / 12:32:54 am ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------