Don't even think about reaching me. I won't be home.

Don't even think about stopping by. Don't think of me at all.

I did a what I had to do. If there was a reason, it was you.

Ah, don't even think about getting inside. Voices in my head. Ooh, voices.

I got scratches all over my arms. One for each day since I fell apart.

I did, oh, what I had to do. If there was a reason it was you.

Footsteps in the hall... It was you, you.

Oh, pictures on my chest... It was you. It was you...

I did a what I had to do. Oh, and if there was a reason... Oh, there wasn't no reason. no.

And if there's something you'd like to do. Oh, just let me continue to blame you.

A footsteps in the hall... It was you, you.

Oh, pictures on my chest... It was you, you.

Gabrielle stepped out of the plane and inhaled deeply. It was the New Orleans she remembered, at least in scent. It was remarkable how little it had changed. With only a small carry-on bag to her name, she walked through the terminal and found a place to briefly sit down. Where was she going to go now? Get a cab, show up unannounced on their doorstep and pick up where things left off? No, that wouldn’t work. She hadn't head from either of them for 15 years. The last was a letter from Christian, begging her to comeback. Gabrielle just read it, crumpled it up and threw it away. Kale, whom she had spoken to last week, hadn't seen or heard from Christian

or Edge for just as long. When he left, they were the same. Christian spent days and nights wishing for her to come back. His ancient dreams had returned. Edge was tortured, but defeated the darkness, Kale had said. Gabrielle knew she had to go back now, it had been too long. Almost as soon as Kale parted, she bought a plane ticket straight to New Orleans, without reservation or second thought. But she had waited two weeks to leave. Sighing lightly, she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, ready to get a cab and go home.

Christian literally flew down the stairs seeking out his brother.

"Edge! Edge where are you?" Christian raced around the entire main floor before finding Edge in the kitchen. "She's near! I can feel her!"

"What?" Christian bounded over to him with childlike excitement.

"Gabrielle! She's in the city!" Edge leapt up, running to the front door.

"Christian, where in the city?" Christian stopped in the hallway, closed his eyes, and found her again.

"Airport. She's at the airport. Come on!" He ran past his brother, grabbing his arm and pulling him out the door to, and into the garage, clambering into the passengers seat. "Drive!"

Edge smiled, truly excited about something for the first time in years. Beside him, Christian couldn’t keep still, with all the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning, urging Edge on faster. They made it to the airport in amazing time and waited outside, hoping Gabrielle would walk in their direction.

She stepped out of the doors to the miscellany of cars, taxis, vans and other forms of transportation and felt the cold bitter, somehow revitalising wind catch her hair. Gabrielle breathed deeply, relishing in the perfect crisp early spring air that she hadn't realised she missed so much. She scanned the crowded lot for a taxi when she was struck by a pale face staring at her through a car window. Blonde haired, slight curls fell around his face and penetrating grey eyes that were so familiar to her pierced the glass. The door opened. Out stepped Christian, hair shining in the glowing orange twilight, eyes bright with happiness, causing them to lighten to a bluish colour.

"Gabrielle…." He breathed, "Its been so long…" Indecision marred her face. Gabrielle hadn't expected him to be here, and she didn't want to see him so soon. The taxi ride was supposed to give her time to think about what to say, how to react. But there was Christian standing expectantly before her. Looking past him, she saw Edge in the car staring at her with either longing or surprise, she couldn’t tell which. He raised his hand hesitantly and waved, with an elated look on his face. Gabrielle waved a hand at him, not knowing what else to do. Christian still stood before her and she lowered her eyes.

"Hi…" She whispered. He looked at her strangely.

"What's wrong?" She shook her head trying to force a smile.

"I'm - I…I just never expected this - " Christian smiled at her.

"Neither did we. I just waited, I knew you’d be back one day - I felt it today. We had to come." He motioned towards the open door beside her, and after a moments thought, she got in. She couldn’t very well turn her back on them. Christian sat beside her in the front. Sandwiched between the two meant she had left so long ago, in such a cruel way, Gabrielle couldn't help but feel awkward.

The entire familiar drive back to the mansion was unnerving. Gabrielle, sitting in-between Edge and Christian felt just as torn as before. The radio blared Pearl Jam from a minidisk, know considered 'classic alt'. Christian was dressed the same as he always had, black pants, black shit with the sleeves too long. Edge was also unchanged. Even the white-blonde streaks remained, silky looking as ever, begging for her touch. Christians hand grasped hers as Edge pulled into the long driveway. They could both see the nervousness on her face.

"It's okay, " Christian began, "We didn't change a thing." Gabrielle looked up at the shining white mansion and for a moment, time repeated itself. It was the same. Maybe everything would be okay. Edge parked the car and grabbed her bag, while Christian led her to the front door. She took a deep breath, almost readying herself for something spectacular, a homecoming of epic proportions as Christian flung open the door. Every single detail was how she remembered it. The dark wood of the walls, the maroon in the ancient wallpaper, the staircase before her, living room to the left hall to the right. She realised she had been holding her breath and suddenly

remembered to exhale.

"Its perfect…"

"Welcome home, love." Edge spoke his first words to her. "Say you'll stay?"

"I - I don't know…I just got back - "

"You don't have to choose this soon, Gabrielle. I won't make you…" Christian said from beside her. Edge sat on the steps.

"I just don't want to lose her again." Gabrielle smiled at him and sat on the stairs as well.

"I'll see, Edge." She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as his arm moved around her waist. She smiled with content and faintly head Christian's footsteps fading off into the kitchen. They were along and neither knew what to do. after a long moment, Edge spoke.

"I have to be honest, Gabrielle. I don't know what to say at all." She brought her head up and looked in his eyes. "I'm so happy you're back, but I can't think of a single thing to say." He lowered his gaze to the floor, and her hands nervously toyed with a strand of her still light brown hair.

"I don't know what I was thinking Edge, I really don't…"

"You don't need to explain it Gabrielle, I got the letter - " She shook her head.

"Not leaving. Coming back. I don't know why I did it…I was in Europe, I was fine - "

"Why did you come back then?" He inquired thoughtfully.

"I ran into Kael in Cardiff." Edge frowned. "He told me about he last he saw you two… And…" She trailed off, not sure how to put Kael's words into her own.

"What did he tell you?" Edge demanded harshly, making Gabrielle shift uncomfortably.

"Just that - You and Christian always had so much hope - " She paused trying to remember Kael's words. "That as long as you had immortality you knew I'd be back. It make me so sad to know that you had such hope, and I'd never even considered coming back." Edge smiled slightly.

"He makes us sound obsessed…" She laughed softly.

"I'm glad to hear you weren't - but then, why did Kael leave? He said he was sick of you both…"

"I don't know why he left. He just did. Just took his bike and went away."

"He said that - "

"I don't care!" Edge said sharply, startling her. Gabrielle reached over and lightly took his hand.

"Edge, it's - "

"He was always telling me what I did wrong! He never forgave me for what I made you do to Jeff…he always reminded me of what I lost - "

"Edge, stop it. Its okay, that was - " He shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle, I'm so sorry. I just - "

"Don't worry." She said smoothly, reassuringly. "Kael's gone. It doesn’t matter anymore, nothing in our past does." Edge looked up at her with tears shining in his eyes.

"So….You'll stay then?" He asked, still hopeful, squeezing her hand gently. Gabrielle looked up into his eyes, eyes that held such hope, such blind hope. How could she disappoint?

"I will…"

"Forever?" She nodded.

"For always." Edge beamed at her, joyfully, clearing his throat before he spoke again.

"Go tell Christian then. He's been waiting as long as I have." Gabrielle smiled back at him, and rose to go to the kitchen and tell Christian the good news.

Christian sat at the table, absently flipping through a magazine, too excited at Gabrielle's return to commit himself to any one task. He looked up to see her standing in the doorway. She walked further into the kitchen and took the chair across from him. He closed the magazine and put it to the side.

"Christian, I was talking with Edge and - " She stopped taking a deep breath. "I'm staying here." His eyes brightened almost instantly at her words, and his concentrated expression melted into a thankful one.

"And you'll never leave?"

"Never. I swear it." He leapt up and walked to her, bending down and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her up.

"You don't know how long I've waited - " Christian whispered in her ear. "You have no idea…" His lips grazed her neck, brushing against the skin softly. Gabrielle closed her eyes and sighed. She never realised how much she missed his comfort.

"Christian…"

"Hmm?"

"I'm so happy…" She said, softly. And there, in happiness, in Christian's arms, Gabrielle remained for a long time. The happy, complete feeling of reunion was too perfect to spoil.

Gabrielle walked upstairs quietly, not realising how long she had been in Christians arms downstairs. Edge was in his room, her now highly developed senses told her. She stood in his doorway, and with hesitation, opened it. Edge was laying in his bed, asleep, or at least pretending to be. Standing beside the bed Gabrielle quickly disrobed and slipped under the sheets, greeted and warmed by Edge's body. Eagerly, she brought her lips to his, then rested her head on his chest, hearing the slow beat of the vampire heart within, and felt him lay and hand over her own. If there was one thing she missed dearly in those 20 years away, it was this. Laying in each others arms with no thoughts of the past, no thoughts of the future, just one moment. They had been waiting for so long, and it made it more perfect, if that was possible. Neither slept, but neither moved for as long as it took the sun to rise, and through darkened curtains, they watched, even if the vision was only in their minds.