When Gabrielle awoke, her door was open and Kael was no where to be seen. Searching mentally, she found Edge and Christian to still be slumbering in their respective rooms, and Kael downstairs in the kitchen, his mind moving too fast for her to grasp individual thoughts. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she tiptoed out of the room for the first time in a week to see what Kael was doing. As Gabrielle slipped quietly downstairs, she felt a surge of power and independence. Her body was completely healed, as was her mind by some grace of whatever gods watched over them. Kael had watched over her for the whole week, protected her from fights but now she didn't need him, and that knowledge shot through her like lightening. Approaching the kitchen, she paused for a moment, long enough to let Kael know she was coming. He put down the pen he was furiously scrawling with, and beckoned her over. Gabrielle complied, and walked over to the seat next to him.

"I'm going to leave now." He said calmly, as she nodded. "And I want to thank you for everything…the fun we had…but I know that you don’t need me anymore." Gabrielle smiled slightly and nodded. "You don't need anyone now, you know that?" She nodded again, and began to speak before Kael spoke again. "What do you really want now?" She lowered her eyes to the floor, and thought for a second.

"Love." Gabrielle answered quietly. "I want the love I used to have from Edge, and the comfort I used to have from Christian… And I want it from you Kael. I just want everyone to love me." Her words rang with a childlike whistfullness, and they stung with simplicity. After a moment Gabrielle spoke again. "You know, everything I've done with anyone has been for love…Even when I'm a million miles away, I'm Edge's…I've always been his. And Christian…" She broke off, sighing. Kael's eyes were on her expectantly.

"Gabby…" He said her name shakily, waiting with bated breath for her response. She sighed deeply and shook her head.

"I know you love me Kael…. But - "

"God…" He muttered under his breath.

"You know how I feel…that I want to cling to you and never let go and I love being with you, anywhere near you its perfect…But I know you made a promise a long time ago, and because of me you're breaking it to her. I know you're leaving now...but I want to let you know its over. Forever." He sighed. He knew this, but it still for some reason hurt. Slowly, his lips curled up into a smug grin.

"You know I was using you. For all the sex, and the fun and the bodily harm and all of it. Yea, I strung you along all the way." Gabrielle let her head fall, leaving hair to cover her face, then rose to embrace him.

"You're always such a bastard, Kael. Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Kael rose, forcing her to stand up. He walked over to the always well-stocked cabinet and grabbed a bottle of vodka, citing it as 'one for the road'. Gabrielle smiled, attempting not to cry at his somewhat speedy departure, and escorted him to the door, where they stood facing each other.

"One for the road?" He asked tentatively leaning in for a kiss. Gabrielle stood on her toes, lightly kissing his cheek. When she puled away, he slipped an arm around her waist, smiling slyly. "I expected more than that as a goodbye…" Gabrielle closed her eyes as, for the last time, his mouth captured her, and his tongue wound with hers until neither had breath left.

"Happy?" She teased as he leaned back against the doorframe.

"That’s barely going to hold me for five minutes..." They both shared a small soft laugh before breaking off into sighs. After a rare awkward moment, Kael opened the door, letting dusk's orange light billow in. "So I'll…I'll see you around sometime?" Gabrielle shrugged.

"Yea, I guess. You should come visit." Absently, he nodded.

"I'll do that. Talk to you again, pet."

"Take care, Kael."

Gabrielle watched him mount one of the bikes, and ride off, a black speck on the orange glowing horizon.