Gabrielle padded softly down the hall to Christians room, trying not to cry after yet another confrontation with Edge. He could be so stupid, she thought, so….mortal. Opening Christians door, she was met, as usual, by the soft glow of the candles in the chandelier over the bed where he was sleeping. Not bothering to take of any clothing, Gabrielle climbed under the sheets and pressed her head to Christian's chest. Briefly, he stirred, then put an arm around her back, pulling her closer. It wasn’t until he felt a wetness fall on his chest that he spoke.

"Why aren't you with Edge?" Not raising her head, Gabrielle said nothing. Christian sat up, forcing her to do the same. Gabrielle countered by burying her head in the pillow instead. "Why aren't you in Edge's room, Gabrielle?"

"He's mad at me." She said, finally raising her head, revealing tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She sat up, and leaned against Christian.

"Why?" He asked softly, stroking her back. She shook her head.

"I - I told him something that happened…in Cardiff…he got upset…" Christian thought a moment. The only thing he knew of Cardiff was her meeting Kael.

"What was it?" Again, Gabrielle shook her head.

"If I tell you, you'll only get mad too…"

"Was it with Kael?" Christian asked gently. This time, she nodded reluctantly. "You two…Did you…"

"Yes, Christian, I screwed Kael." She managed to blurt out, almost unintentionally, causing more tears. "And Edge hates me for it." Christian tried to quiet her, but she continued. "You know, when it comes to screwing you, he doesn't care, but Kael's different…why?" She asked, looking up at him with a gaunt, pale, tear streaked face. "You don't care, do you?" He smiled forcefully, caught off guard by the paleness and thinness of her face. Her golden eyes seemed to burn with fire and her skin stretched tightly across her skull. It must have been ages since she'd fed.

"I don't care, Gabrielle. There's reasons behind everything and - " He frowned. "How long has it been since you’ve fed?" She lowered her gaze in some sort of odd, misplaced guilt.

"I don't know…" She answered, then whispered a response.

"What?" She sniffed, and held back more tears.

"A year…" When her gaze finally met his again, she stared into his shocked eyes.

"Why? I didn't know we could…god, Gabrielle…" He shook his head in disbelief.

"I'm afraid! I haven't killed someone since…for twenty years, Christian!" She exclaimed passionately. "The guilt of Jeff is in my head everyday! I'm afraid to feed, I know how it will turn out. I don't want to kill anyone….I know what will happen…"

"Gabrielle, you have to! Its what we are, you can’t - " He stopped. What could he do, force her to drink? No, she had her own way now, her own life. This was how she lived. If she didn't want to feed, so be it.

"I can't feed. I've gone longer than this without it…let me be?" She asked, innocently. He nodded, and she lay back down. He joined her.

"Talk to Edge tomorrow, at least. Explain what happened. He'll understand. He just doesn't like Kael, that’s all."

"Thank you for not being stupid." Gabrielle remarked, falling asleep in his arms. He smiled down at her, old feelings welling up, thinking maybe he hadn't lost her yet.