"I'm assuming you'd be 'Señora Gabriella Rossellino?" Gabby quickly snatched the envelope from his hand, analysing the writing on it.

"Christian…this better not be from you." He shook his head in protest.

"Right, you really think I want that two week probation? Open it." She flipped it over in her hand, noticing the lack of a return address. With a flippant sigh, she tore it open and pulled out the perfectly folded white paper. A flowing, large script filled the page in only a few lines and it took her a moment to realise it was written in her scholarly language of Latin rather than English, or even her native tongue of Spanish. Christian peered over her shoulder, squinting as he tried to make out the language.

"Why's it in Latin?" He inquired half-heartedly.

"What's it say?" Heather asked from the love seat where her and Jeff had just cuddled up together. Gabby let her eyes fly over the words once more before putting it down on the table.

"It says basically, 'My dear Gabriella, I've found you again, and you are truly to be mine.'…Loose translation."

"Did anyone sign it?" Jeff questioned interestedly, while Christian picked up the letter at stared at it.

"Its signed with a straight line…I think it's a Rune…"

"Isa." Gabby cut in, "Christian's right. It is a rune. Isa, for binding."

Absently and automatically, her hand came up to caress the Gyfu rune she wore, made from pewter, that Christian had given her as a token of love. The two lines crossed together in an x, symbolic of their eternally crossed paths. The rune on the letter was one line, dark and heavy, ominously warming her of the writer's intent. She craned her head around, looking worriedly at Christian. He shook his head with a frown, and she sighed, taking his right hand in hers, running her fingers over the raised flesh on his inner wrist that formed the same symbol she wore around her neck. "And you'll never go…" She said in a hushed voice.

"And I'll always keep you safe…" He responded quietly, cupping her face with his free hand.

"My beloved."

"My forever." They sat, eyes locked and seeing only each other as if reliving some part of their past while Jeff and Heather looked on, feeling like intruders watching someone else's business. After a few slow, silent minutes, Heather and Jeff quietly left Christian and Gabby to themselves, still locked in the past.

17th Century, Off the Coast of Spain.

"I had this made for you…" Christian yelled over the howling winds, dangling the pewter square from his hand. "It matches my wrist…" Gabriella raised her head and a gust of wind pushed the hood of her cloak back, but it did not cause the tears in her eyes.

"It means love." She whispered shakily as he reached around to tie the necklace on. She caught his wrist as he moved his hand back, eyeing the formation of raised skin. It wasn't a tribal tattoo like the Moors from the islands sported. It was just his flesh, raised imperceptibly high.

"Rods…cut from the same pewter as your necklace, embedded there." He explained as she carefully ran her fingers over it.

"You…this, for me? You love me?" She questioned in disbelief, staring up into the stormy blue of his eyes, matching the water they sailed on. They glowed with adoration and vitality.

"Of course. I swear to you, I'll always be yours." Christian promised, running his hand along her jaw.

"And you'll never go…"

Jeff silently shut the door behind them as they walked out into the night. They knew Gabby and Christian needed some time alone. Silently agreeing to go to their park Jeff hugged her close as they started toward the street. Heather had her head down against Jeff's chest when he stopped short on the sidewalk. She looked up to see Adam standing there. "Hi."

"Who's this?" Adam asked.

Heather was surprised there was no hostility in his voice. "Jeff. He's..."

"I know what he is." An iciness crept into his tone but didn't show in his face.

"And you must be Adam." Jeff cut in quickly with a friendly tone. He didn't want this chance meeting to turn ugly.

"How did you know?"

"She's told me about you. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you guys. I know you must miss her a lot. I know I would." Jeff turned and looked at her lovingly.

After a few moments of silence Heather spoke up again. "What did you want Adam?"

"I just wanted to see how you were. Christian talked to me and vaguely told me about some things. But I can tell by looking at you two you are..." he stopped not wanting to continue as tears threatened to fall. "...Lovers."

Heather knew the last word was choked out. "You know I miss you. And I always will. But I don't think we were the match we imagined. You'll find someone. I know you will." She was speaking softly and almost crying herself.

"I just have one question? Are you really in love? Are you really happy?"

She nodded. "I am. I am as happy as I was when I met you. But," she thought not wanting to hurt him more. "I feel something more. There's some deeper connection between Jeff and I. I don't know how to explain it."

"You're soul mates." She looked up shocked. "I thought we were, but then I did feel something slipping. Maybe I tried to hard to hang on. Maybe my soul mate is still out there...somewhere."

Both of them began crying. "Adam, I'm sorry I really am."

"Don't be, I was making you unhappy. I just wanted to make sure you were finally truly happy. I could never stand to see you miserable again. And I would want to kill anyone who hurt you like I did. Can you forgive me?"

She nodded. "Will I see you around?"

"I'm sure you will." He leaned down and kissed her softly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

As Adam walked off she looked up at Jeff, "I'm sorry. He shouldn't have kissed..."

He placed a finger to her lips. "Shhhh, I have a feeling you guys never had a goodbye kiss. I didn't mind."

"Really?"

"You loved him. And I know the relationship between you two can't be over...but it's in the past. I know you are mine now."

Heather leaned up to kiss him and he lifted her off the ground. When he sat her back down he whispered, "Still want to go to our park?"

She nodded and they walked off, casting one shadow under the street lamps.

********

She was sitting in the drawing room on a violet sofa, some piece of a botched up sewing project resting in her lap. It was a Wednesday, the designated day for her prospective suitors to visit. The job was simple. Put on the most lovely, lavish dress in the closet and sit quietly, idly pretending to sew, a skill she did not possess. The needle, which was too large anyway, had pricked open her finger countless times. Her brother Cesario, acting as her guardian, shot her an annoyed glance as he carried on the politically charged debate with one of the many men who had been in to see her over the course of the morning. She found this one particularly ugly and boring. Spending the rest of her life with him seemed an impossible thought. After countless more minutes of sheer boredom, Gabriella was prompted to rise by the rising of the other men, and gaze demurely at the floor while they bid farewell. The instant the drawing room doors closed, she threw the sewing on the floor, crossing her arms and glaring at Cesario.

"I am not seeing anyone else. It's noon, I'm tired. I do not like any of them."

"Gabriella, we must find a suitor. Your sisters have all married off and its time you did the same. I can't have you living here once you get well into your 20's. You'll be too old to marry by then." She sighed extravagantly, sitting back down on the couch, smoothing her red skirts down. A knock came at the doors and Cesario rushed to open it. Gabriella looking out the window, watching the black carriage pull away, tiredly listening to her brother greet the newest boring male to be considered to see if he could marry the youngest Rosselino daughter. She drew her attention away from the window, letting her gaze fall on the man in front of her. Cesario stood behind him.

"This is Dante, of the family Cisneros." His eyes burned unnaturally, and she looked away immediately, unable to understand their fire. Her eyes fell on his mouth as he smiled and tight-lipped smile. She was sure his teeth were elongated, and there was a subtle glint of red shining in the corner of his mouth. He turned around, long brown hair moving then settling back against his shoulder....

Snapping her head up and looking around the room - half expecting to be in the drawing room of her mortal years - Gabby found only the living room around her. Christian, whom she had fallen asleep on, tightened his grip around her.

"Nice nap?" He whispered, kissing her forehead. Gabby frowned in thought, shaking her head.

"I had a dream about Dante." Christian's eyes grew dark and he frowned as well.

"Who's Dante?" Jeff asked, strutting into the room before Heather could stop him. Gabby sat up with a sigh, nodding at the apologetic look heather shot her.

"This really annoying vampire who shows up every century or so for no reason…"

"Except to take Gabby away." Christian finished for her. "You care to hear a story?" Jeff grinned as he steeled down on the couch.

"This is like story time in kindergarten." Heather sat down beside him, jabbing him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Be nice. This is important." He nodded, turning his attention back to Christian and Gabby.

"We're telling the short one." Christian informed them. "The long one never stops, and she never shuts up." He nodded in Gabby's direction. She scowled at him, and started.

"It all starts in 16th century Spain, where I was born. I was getting old by everyone's standards, and I had to find a husband. So I got to parade around at balls and parties and stuff like that. I happened to run into this gorgeous blonde guy at one of those parties, Christian of course. I wondered why he wasn't trying to marry me, but we talked until I was literally dragged away home. The next time I saw Christian, he had broken into my bedroom to take me from the man I was going to marry the next day…" She paused and Christian continued.

"..Who was Dante. He was a vampire, and a pretty bad one at that. He, as well as her family, took offence to my kidnapping, and we got chased all the way to the coast. Naturally, she wasn't too thrilled with it either and it took a few weeks before she stopped hating me. By then, we were in Ireland, and Dante followed, thinking he was still going to marry her. That was the first time he got his ass kicked, and I hadn't turned Gabby yet, so that was a solo effort. The last couple of times, we had help."

"He just keeps coming back." Gabby said with a sigh.

"Oh…I can help this time." Jeff told them determinedly.

"I don't want to bring you into this…" Gabby informed him with concern. He shook his head.

"I have to help. You're both my friends. When do you think he'll come around?"

"Not soon." Heather told him grimly. "It's the head games first. Like the letter. For weeks and weeks. Last time…" Gabby gasped suddenly as if an imaginary light bulb shone above her head.

"Adam! We can get Adam to help. He has to help. He's morally obliged to help." Christian nodded, then rose.

"We should get out. Clubbing or something. There's no use thinking about things we can't exactly do anything about now." Gabby smiled, jumping to her feet and running to their bedroom, yelling about getting changed. Christian started down the hall then turned back around. "Are you two gonna come with?" Heather looked at Jeff, then shook her head.

"We're gonna stay and rest." Christian shrugged, continuing down the hall, leaving shortly after.

Heather watched as Gabby and Christian finally were ready to go out and left. When the door closed Jeff smiled at her. "Are we really resting?"

"I haven't decided yet." She pulled him over to the couch sitting next to him and laying down with her head in his lap.

"So are there any crazy jilted vampires I should know about?"

"Nope, just Adam. And I don't think you need to worry about him."

"Ya know..." a worried look crossed Jeff's face. "Maybe we should have gone out with them. Ya know safety in numbers. I mean, I'm just wondering if we should be here alone."

"Don't worry. He won't mess with us unless we get involved. His first plan of action is try and kill Christian and get Gabby."

"Even though it's dangerous we should help...."

She placed a finger to his lips. "We will. She just wanted you to know you could back out and it was okay. You weren't obligated. Adam and I have helped time and time before."

"Why is Adam obligated?"

"He's Christian's brother."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. Cause then I get to thinking about me being your..."

"Don't." She pulled his head down so she could kiss him. "Don't think about us...just feel okay. There's not logic in vampires. Just look at Gabby and Christian."

He laughed. "You are mean to them."

"You also haven't lived with them for over a hundred years." she smiled. "Know what?" He shook his head. "I think I'm rested." She stood up reaching out her hand guiding him to the bedroom. "And the night IS still young."

Gabby sat back down in the rounded corner booth with a sigh, holding her head.

"When did music start sucking?" Christian chuckled, leaning back with his arm around her shoulders.

"Not many clubs around here specialise in chamber music, my dear." She smirked at him, taking a sip of her dark red wine.

"At least its better than brooding at home, or trying to tune out Heather and Jeff, banging each other like 17 year olds." He nodded, scanning the crowd for either food or friends.

"I think they're worse than we are." Christian remarked absently. She moved back close against him.

"No possible way are they worse than we are." Gabby started to eye the crowd as well, then jumped up, darting past Christian and running into the masses. When she finally emerged, she was dragging Adam by his arms over to the table. "Look who I found!" Christian smiled and greeted him with a small wave. Gabby, meanwhile, flung her arms around his neck, standing on her toes and placing a small kiss on his nose. "I haven't seen you for weeks. I missed you!" Adam smiled down at her, hugging her quickly.

"I know. I still can't get used to not seeing you guys every day." Gabby sat down, pulling him with her. "How are you guys?"

"Nuh-uh. I should be asking how you are." Gabby replied with concern. He shrugged.

"I'm…surviving. It's hard, but…I'll be fine. Its just gonna take a while, that's all." Christian sighed, and Gabby quieted down while Adam fidgeted with a napkin, tearing it into little pieces.

"Well…" Christian broke the silence, speaking quietly. Despite the crowd, they could still hear him. "Its great that we ran into you. We need your help. Soon. But I don't know when." Adam brought his eyes up, darting back and forth from Christian to Gabby, then realising what it was.

"You got a letter again…" Gabby nodded slowly, and Adam shook his head. "You know I'll always help."

"We just weren't sure because of the…new circumstances. If you're going to help, you have to be around the two of them…a lot probably." Christian informed him tentatively. He nodded.

"I know that. But I can't let that annoying gnat of a vampire fuck with you guys."

"You sure you're going to be okay though?" Gabby asked with concern, to which he vehemently nodded. "Then thank you in advance. It means so much and - " Christian leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"You're rambling." She turned around and punched him in the shoulder. He growled at her, bearing fangs, and pushed her down on the curved bench seat, her head landing squarely in Adam's lap.

"Little help?" She pleaded at him as Christian began to take small, teasing nips at her neck. Adam scooted away, letting her head fall.

"Nope. I know better than to get involved with you two. See you guys soon." He backed out, rising and starting to walk away, hearing Gabby exasperatedly yell 'Call me' or something that sounded like it. From half-way across the club, their happy laughter seemed to float into his mind, a reminder of what he had lost, and might never find again.

Gabby and Christian walked into the house cautiously listening for sounds in the house. When they only heard giggles coming from the living room then went to investigate. Heather was lying on Jeff's lap being fed chocolates. "You know those will make you fat." Gabby spoke up.

Heather pushed the approaching chocolate away and sat up. "I think I burned it off...or will later." Jeff shrugged, popping the chocolate in his mouth. "So you two have fun?" Heather asked.

Gabby had to admit Heather was happier than she had been in decades. "It was okay. Music sucked."

Christian rolled his eyes. "We ran into someone."

"Really? Who?"

"Adam."

Heather's expression became serious. "How is he?"

"He misses you." Gabby answered.

Heather sighed. "It's been harder on me than I thought it would be." Gabby glanced at Jeff reminding Heather he was there. "Oh, Jeff and I have talked about it. He knows. But what I was saying, it must be even worse on him." She leaned her head on Jeff shoulder and his kissed the top of her head.

Christian knelt in front of her. "Look, it's going to take us all a while to get used to...our new connections. Don't worry about it." He kissed her hand gently.

"Ahem!" Christian looked at Gabby who smiled sweetly. "I hate to break up this touchy feeling moment, but why is she getting ALL of the attention?"

"Oh, you'll get attention all right." Christian leered at her.

"Um, guys," Jeff said softly before Christian started dragging Gabby to their room. When they looked at him he continued pointing to the coffee table. "That was under the door when we came in here."

Heather looked at the envelope addressed to Gabby and visibly shuddered. Jeff knew she was creeped out that someone was there and they hadn't known it, even if the person wasn't in their house. He held her tighter as the other couple started at the letter.

She flipped the familiar white envelope over in her hands. This time, it had no full name on it, just a 'G'. Not even a day had passed since she received the first. It was obvious he was working desperately fast.

"Are you sure you want to open it?" Christian asked softly from behind her. Gabby nodded, then swallowed.

"I have to. He usually waits a few days…weeks even. I really have a bad feeling about this time." He gently rested his hand on her shoulder, and she sighed, tearing open the bright white encasing, and immediately, impatiently, pulling out the letter. It was longer than the one before it, but filled with the same handwriting in the same dead language. Christian read over her shoulder, straining to translate. Once finished, she made a soft sound of disgust, crumpling the letter up and throwing it down. "I'm going to cut that fucking brutes head off." She told them, lowering her voice. Christian frowned.

"I didn't finish it…" He stepped forward, starting to retrieve the paper before Gabby let out a yell.

"Don't! I - I don't want you to read that…He just talks about...about killing you and.." She broke off with a sob, "And what he's going to do to me." She shuddered, and Christian took steps towards her.

"Like…what kinds of things?" Gabby took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling.

"All sorts of…sexual things. It's the worst letter he's sent, Christian. I just want it to go away. This isn't fair at all anymore. We've got to kill him this time. I don't know if I could take this happening again." Heather started to get up, but Christian waved a hand, and Jeff pulled her back down. Christian slipped an arm around Gabby's waist, starting to lead her away towards the bedroom.

"Let's just get rest. It's almost daylight. You've had too much of a day." She nodded in agreement with a little laugh as they reached the bedroom.

"Remember the first night we spend in America? When we were sure we were safe?" Christian smiled back at her.

"And we decided to sleep in that barn before that Puritan family drove us out?" She shook her head in memory, disrobing and sliding into bed, watching Christian do the same.

"We've never really been safe." She considered, pressing her body against his for warmth.

"Maybe for a few seconds here and there. But never really really safe."

"Promise me you'll kill him?" Gabby asked with quiet hope. Christian pulled her closer in response.

"I will. I promise after this he'll never bother us again."

"Good." She replied sleepily, suppressing a yawn.

"If you're tired, just go to sleep."

"But you wanted to - " He silenced her, leaning down for a soft, quick kiss.

"Later. We're both tired." She nodded, letting herself be lulled to sleep by his hand stroking her head, and the heavy, slow heartbeat encased in the centuries old body she knew so well. In the living room, Heather fell asleep much the same way in Jeff's arms on the couch, the curtains drawn as the sun came up.

As the sun set and the moon rose Heather slowly woke up hearing silence in the house. She left her head resting on Jeff's chest feeling it rise and fall with his breathing. She was almost lulled back to sleep a few hours later when she heard Gabby and Christian moving around their room. Moving slightly, she looked up into his face seeing it peaceful with sleep. A smile spread across her face as she picked up a strand of his bright hair and tickled his nose with the end. He crinkled his nose and brushed it away a few times before waking up. "Hey sleepy head. Everyone else is awake."

"So, you usually let me sleep, and enjoy joining me."

"Yes, but we are on the couch remember?"

He looked around as she sat up so he could move. Finally he smiled and kissed her. "Morning."

"Took you long enough." Gabby and Christian walked in and Heather suddenly became serious. "Hey, how are you?"

"Scared as hell." Gabby answered. "But my knight in shining armor hath sworn to protect me." She leaned back against Christian as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Heather noticed that though Gabby was smiling Christian didn't seem confident. He couldn't be thrilled about facing him once again. Finally he spoke up. "I hate to say this already, but maybe we should call Adam over for a meeting. I mean to get some things straight."

"Good idea." Heather answered. "Jeff has to find out what we are up against and since we aren't all together in one house again, we might need more coordination somewhere."

Jeff nodded. "I have no idea what we are up against. And as freaked as you guys were last night, I think I need a crash course."

Christian nodded then headed for the phone. After a moment of discussion he hung up. "Okay, he's on his way over."

*******

Adam knocked on the door and smiled when Christian opened it. He was met with a "Can you handle this man?" instead of a hello.

"Yes, why is everyone acting like I'm gonna shatter into slivers of glass any moment?" As soon as he walked in and saw Heather and Jeff on the couch he realised why. It hit him. And hard. He walked in saying hello to everyone. Gabby said she would make everyone some drinks before they got started and Heather took the opportunity.

She patted Jeff on the knee and told him she would be right back. Grabbing Adam's arm she pulled him into the closest room. "We need to talk."

"What about?"

She sighed. "Can you handle us being around each other this much, with him here?"

"Yes!! Why is everyone..."

"Adam, I saw your face when you saw us. I want you to know this hurts me too, but we have things...bigger than this to deal with. Gabby and Christian could be in a lot of danger. I just want to know that you can handle this. Cause if you cant...I don't know if I can."

Adam looked shock. "What? But you and Jeff..."

"Look so happy? I know. We are, but it isn't easy. And he knows it isn't. I mean Adam, we had over a hundred years together." A tear fell down her cheek. "I just want to know you can be around us, possibly 24/7 and be okay. Cause if you can, I can go to Jeff for support."

"I can, I promise."

"Okay, then lets go plan on how to save our friends."

They returned to the living room and Heather sat next to Jeff kissing him softly. "Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yep."

Christian spoke up, taking charge. "Does anyone have any suggestions?"

"I do." They looked at Heather in shock. "I think Adam should move in with us." The looks of shock turned into complete disbelief.

"You think I should what?" Adam whispered.

"What's your reason?" Gabby asked thinking she was suddenly following her train of thought.

"Okay, think about this. When big bad evil attacks, What if it attacks the house? We can't exactly wait for Adam to get here. We need him where we are when we are there."

"Sounds good to me."

Christian and Jeff agreed and they all looked to Adam. "Why are you doing this?" he mouthed to her looking hurt.

"I thought you said you could handle this. Adam, we need you here. Not off in your house hiding from me. I think it would be much better for us if you were here and knew everything that's happen instead of having to report to you. That's how we have done it every other time. We need you, and we need you here."

Adam looked at his brother. He knew he couldn't desert him. He had to help protect him, and the rest of their "family". "Okay, I'll do it. I'll go pick my things up later."

Gabby hugged him. "Thank you. You don't realise how much this means. We really need you...this time...it's bad."

"Well, start telling me how bad so we can figure out how to beat this fucker..."

The smell of something being freshly baked wafted down the hall, and roused Heather. Stretching, she noticed Jeff wasn't beside her and decided to walk to the kitchen, hearing the shower running and just knowing he was in there by instinct. Once in the kitchen, she saw Gabby trying to wretch a few burnt cookies off a cookie sheet, and sat down with a small smile.

"You never could bake." Gabby growled at the comment, throwing the entire cookie sheet in the garbage with a thud.

"And I don't care to learn." She placed a plate in the middle of the table with a few not so burnt cookies, and Heather took one. Gabby sat down across from her, picking through the pile for the blackest one, crunching on it loudly. "You were mean to Adam." She remarked darkly, barely looking at Heather.

"What?"

"You were. When you asked him to move in. You should have asked him in private first." Heather sighed, rolling her eyes.

"I asked him if he was okay being around me and Jeff all the time, and he said yes."

"Which is drastically different from asking him to move in with you and Jeff. You saw his face." Gabby pointed out almost stoically, causing Heather to throw down the burnt cookie in anger.

"We've already been through this, Gabby. How am I supposed to treat him? I can't be all nice and friendly, because that would be lying…"

"Maybe treat him like a decent human being instead of some person you just threw away." She suggested with a dark tone. Heather shook her head.

"He hardly treated me like one!"

"But you're not in a relationship anymore. You don't have the right to embarrass him in front of everyone. I do want him living here, but I don't want him feeling uncomfortable."

"Then by all means, make him feel more comfortable in any way possible. You have my blessing." She retorted angrily though clenched teeth, standing up and walking away, running into Jeff on the way who shot her a questioning glance before following her to the bedroom. Gabby sighed heavily as Christian walked in from the living room.

"Is all you two do anymore argue?" She sniffled quietly.

"Seems like it."

"You still coming to help Adam move in?" Gabby nodded, standing up and taking his arm.

"Anything to get out of here."

Jeff followed Heather into their room. "What the hell is going on?"

She sat on the bed and burst into tears. "I didn't mean to be mean. I don't know, I ...I wasn't trying to...."

"Did Gabby say you were mean to Adam?"

"Yes."

"Why do you two fight so much?"

"It was our happy little family for...at least a century. And I guess we are both trying to deal with it. And maybe it was mean the way I brought up Adam moving in. But he was mean to me for so long. And, I just don't know how to act around him. I would never have asked if it didn't possibly mean the difference in life and death for Gabby and Christian."

He sat down by her wrapping his arms around her. "Shhhh. It's okay. Things will work out. I know they will. Course you are mean."

"What?!"

"You went and ruined my plans."

"What plans?"

"Well, I was thinking...since no ones home...and Adam is going to be here making things awkward. We should...have a little fun before he gets here."

"I don't know if we will have time. I don't know how long they will be gone."

"We'll have time. And you can take all your aggression out on me."

A wicked smile crossed her face. "If you are SURE we'll have time."

Adam groaned, lifting the last box into the trunk of the van, wiping his hands on his jeans.

"There. That's all I think I need."

"We can always come back." Christian pointed out, closing up the back doors. Adam nodded, and walked back into the house, going to the kitchen and sitting down while three steaming mugs of hot chocolate were dropped onto the table.

"You're in a bad mood." He told Gabby before Christian could come in and tell him to be quiet. "You're making me stuff. I know you're in a bad mood." She took the seat beside him as Christian hopped up onto the counter.

"That's a no-no subject today." Christian informed him, and Adam nodded, having some idea of what it was. Gabby looked around at the almost bare kitchen.

"Remember the first time we all moved?" Christian groaned.

"Yes, you made us buy that little flat in the Spanish quarter because it was like home."

"I was young and foolish." She shrugged with a small smile, the first all day. "And it was nice. Just kind of…small."

"Yeah, especially for two couples used to living alone. The times I wandered into the kitchen to find you and Christian engaged in sacrilegious acts on the goddamned table." Gabby gasped jokingly.

"Not like we didn't come across you and Heather in much the same manner." She reminded him, and they all fell into lost thoughts.

"That one night after that masquerade…remember when we were so damned smashed we couldn't tell the bedrooms apart?" Christian reminisced. Gabby put a hand to her forehead.

"Oh god, and we accidentally tumbled onto a bed already containing two vampires in heat?" She broke off with a laugh, which Adam echoed. "I thought I'd never get that horrific image out of my head."

"Like it wasn't traumatic for me too!" Adam pouted, "I was scared for weeks after that."

"So were we." Christian laughed, "But we still stayed there for…how long?"

"Until all the neighbors started getting old, and we weren't." Gabby reminded him with a smirk. "Goddamned mortals."

"Four course meals on legs, to quote you at a dinner party years ago. I never saw so many shocked faces." Christian shook his head at the memory. Adam chuckled softly, glancing outside.

"Light on the horizon…We oughta get going." Gabby and Christian sighed in unison, and started out the door after Adam, grabbing one another's hands instinctively. Christian climbed in the driver's seat, and Gabby stopped Adam before he could get in.

"Are you sure about this? You don't have to move in." He smiled at her, shaking his head.

"I do though. I promised I'd help you and Christian and…" She nodded, leaning forward and quickly hugging him.

"I wouldn't have the strength to do it. You've got more balls than I do."

"Obviously!" He shot back, getting in the back seat, silently dreading being in the same house with the two happy couples.

Adam walked in while Gabby and Christian parked the van. He sat the box he was carrying down and went in search of Heather and Jeff for more help. They weren't in the living room or kitchen so he went to their room. Without thinking he opened the door and he froze. Jeff was just rolling off of her, both of their faces flushed and their skin glistening. Heather saw a tear slide down his cheek before he shut the door and walked out. He sat in the living room everything suddenly hitting him at once. He knew it before but now he really realised; things were different.

Heather got up grabbing her robe and walking into their bathroom. "Let me take a shower 1st so I can go talk to him." She walked into the living room seeing Gabby standing there glaring and Christian walked down the hall figuring it would be a little while before unpacking began. "Gabby, can I talk to him alone. Please." Gabby walked off to follow Christian and Heather sat down next to Adam. "Look," she started while playing with her clothes. "We didn't want you to know, we were hoping you wouldn't get back..."

"Don't worry about it. I mean, I'm gonna know what you two are, are...anyway. It just made me realise it's over. I mean before I could pretend. Try and make believe you were flirting with some guy to make me jealous. But now I know."

"I'm sorry."

"Just one question. How can you go to him so fast after..."

"Adam, I'm in love. I miss you. I really do. And I miss some times we had in the past. But I know we couldn't have gone on. And at least we have good memories to out weigh the good this way. I don't want us to tip toe around each other. Cause no one in this house will be comfortable."

"I know, it just, hurt."

"I know, I feel the same thing when I think about us."

"Just knowing you aren't throwing everything we had out the window makes me feel better."

She hugged him. "And I'm sorry if I am ever mean to you. I don't mean to be it's just..."

"Awkward. I know."

Heather looked up to see Jeff in the doorway, now freshly showered. "Hey man, I'm sorry, I really didn't think you guys would be back."

Adam smiled at Heather then looked back at Jeff. "Don't worry. I know how it is. I know all to well."

Gabby and Christian snuck around the corner. "At least you were nice," Gabby said softly.

"Are we done now?" Christian asked. When they nodded he said, "Good, now help with all his damn boxes, please!"

Jeff set the usual junk mail and flyers down on the kitchen table, then a frown crossed his face.

"Gabby…" He called to her, trying to draw her attention away from the television to which her eyes were glued. She made some sort of sound acknowledging his call, then fell silent. Adam, sitting beside her, poked her in the ribs.

"I think it's important."

"Important enough to interrupt a monologue from the great Buddy Cole?" She mumbled, rising and walking into the kitchen. Jeff held up a white envelope and she sighed. This was only the third, but it had come three weeks later than the other two. She quietly opened and read it then sat down looking at Jeff. "Meeting time." He nodded, mentally informing everyone to converge in the kitchen. Christian was by Gabby's side in a second, struggling to make out the letter when she started explaining.

"Apparently, Dante's taking a different approach this time. He wants…he wants to have dinner with me tomorrow night at some fancy Italian place, and I think - "

"You're not going." Christian told her firmly, "End of discussion." She cleared her throat, continuing as if she hadn't been interrupted.

"I think that I should go, but take one of you with me, to just kind of keep watch in case anything goes wrong." Heather considered this, then nodded.

"She's right. What's he going to try in a crowded place?"

"But he knows all of us." Christian reminded them.

"Not all of us." Adam interjected. "He doesn't know Jeff." Heather looked over to Jeff with concern, which he waved off.

"So I just have to pretty much sit at a different table and make sure he doesn't steal her?" Gabby nodded simply.

"Basically. Even if he does, I can probably fend him off."

"I still don't like this idea." Christian told her quietly. She stood up, grabbing both of his hands.

"I don't either, but I'm too curious to pass this up. He's got some weird, different plan, and if I can figure it out, we can get one step ahead of him."

"But -" He started to protest and was silenced with a small kiss from her.

"You realise he's my archenemy and I haven't even had direct contact with him since I was mortal? Maybe I could make myself less desirable, and he won't want me anymore…You know, dispel all those stupid fantasies he has about me? Then - " She was interrupted by a loud clap from heather, who was staring at Jeff.

"You have to dress up! All fancy and everything so you fit in! Which means…We have to go shopping." She grinned up at him, and he looked over to Gabby, who smirked smugly.

"Oh, do have fun Jeffery." Heather was already up, grabbing their coats and waiting at the door. Adam shook his head at Jeff's scared look.

"You've never been shopping with her, have you?"

"No...Why..?" He was never given an answer before being dragged out the door. Christian slowly began backing away from Gabby until he hit the counter.

"You're not making me go shopping are you?" She smiled evilly for a second, then shook her head.

"Nah…But I could drag Adam."

"No, you can't." He informed her, pushing away from the table and rising. "Because I'm going for a walk."

"Oh, we wanna come." Gabby pouted at him, and Christian grabbed her from behind.

"No we don't. We're going to let him have his walk, and let Jeff and Heather go shopping so we can have a very nice, quiet evening at home."

"But I wanted to go for a …wait…No, I wanna stay home." She grinned with realisation, waving at Adam. "Go, have the walk. Take as long as you want." He rolled his eyes, starting out the door.

"Don't wake the neighbours!" He called, walking out the door. Christian immediately dragged her down the hall, to which she protested.

"I thought you said quiet! You're not dragging me to the bedroom for any quiet reasons." He shrugged as he pushed her in the room.

"I lied."

Heather pulled out the clothes she had bought Jeff while he was in the shower. When he walked out in his boxers drying his hair she smiled.

"Shopping with me wasn't so bad was it?"

"No, I don't know what he was talking about." Heather shrugged and watched him dress in the black slacks and long sleeved sapphire blue dress shirt. The material glistened and sparked in the dim light. He put his shoes on and looked up to see her staring it him.

"Jeff..."she whispered. He walked over to her sitting on the bed.

"What is it?" She picked up his brush smoothing out his drying hair.

"I'm scared. I don’t want you to go. But I know it's the only way." When she was done he turned around pulling her into his lap.

"Look, don’t worry about it. He will never know I am with her. I'm just going to keep her safe."

"I really don't think he's going to like that outfit." Christian remarked, watching as Heather synched up the last eyelet on Gabby's black and silver brocade corset. She turned to him, shrugging as best she could.

"But do you like it?" He drew back for a second to take in her figure, then pressed closer, pinning her against the chest of drawers.

"I think you should dress like this more often." He finished as Heather rolled her eyes and excused herself, reminding them they had ten minutes. "But I really don't want you to go…" Gabby sighed loudly.

"Christian, you know I have to do this. I'll be - " He shook his head with a small, seductive smile.

"I meant dressed like that, I don't want you to leave. Under ordinary circumstances, you wouldn't get past the front door before I'd pounce on you."

"Well…" She started thoughtfully, pulling him closer, "We do have ten minutes…"

Heather walked into the living room plopping down between Jeff and Adam.

"You know, I think they are the two horniest people I have ever seen!"

"Are you sure about that?" both guys asked. She laughed.

"I'm sure!"

Fifteen minutes later, after Adam was through banging on the door and Heather gave up yelling, Gabby and Christian emerged. Gabby frantically tamed down her tousled red hair as Heather flung her jacket at her. Jeff waited by the door impatiently as she hurriedly donned shoes, and Christian attempted draw her nearer for a goodbye kiss, until Adam separated them.

"You're already late!" He reminded Gabby, half pushing her to the doorway.

"Yeah, but what's another five minutes?" She asked longingly, staring at Christian as if she'd never see him again.

"Gabby, GO!" Heather instructed, waved to Jeff as he pulled Gabby out the door.

Adam noticed that as the duo started to leave, Heather looked longingly at Jeff. After the door closed he spoke up.

"You were looking at him like you are never going to see him again."

"You know what he's up against. Do you think it's so irrational?"

"I know you are worried, but nothings going to happen. You wait. He's coming home safe and sound." Adam hugged her and Christian joined in.

"He's tough" Christian added smiling. "Hell, he puts up with a lot. You know this whole family he came into isn't easy."

"God, if he can deal with you guys he should be able to deal with anything."

"WHY YOU..." Adam picked her up and Christian followed him to the couch and tickled her till she cried.

"I'm still worried," she said once she sat up.

"Me too," Christian answered and Adam nodded in agreement.

Citing some sort of obscure safety precautions, Jeff parked the van a few blocks away in an empty, dimly lit lot. He walked almost protectively beside Gabby as they approached the restaurant.

"You don't need to do this you know. I mean, I'd be fine on my own." He tilted his head to the side, glancing at her at her and shaking his head.

"You said Adam was morally obliged, and I guess I am too, by now. I'm part of the family, so to speak, and even though I get the distinct impression that you're not too fond of me, I've still - "

"Wait a sec…" She stopped short, grabbing his arm. "You think I don't like you?" Jeff shrugged in response. "I am so sorry if I've come across that way. I do like you. As much as it pains me to admit it, you're better for Heather than Adam was…" She finished quietly, almost trailing off as she started forward again. He quickly caught up to her step again. "But number one on the list of things I'm not too fond of are these shoes."

"The price of beauty?" he suggested with a small as they halted outside the restaurant. Gabby thought for a second, then shook her head.

"No, the price of trying to look like a whore from another era so Dante won't want me anymore." Jeff nodded in understanding, looking into the glass doors.

"You gonna go in first? I'll go and sit down in a few minutes." Taking a deep breath, she nodded, trying not to let her reluctance show.

"Yeah...If I need you, I'll do the telepathy thing." Again, he nodded, grabbing her hand and squeezing it gently, reassuring her.

"Good luck." She flashed him her best, most confident smile as she stepped into the foyer. Even as the air became dense with fear of her own making, she smiled to try and divert it.

The three of them had sat in the living room all night, talking and laughing, much like before things had changed. It was mostly out of nervousness that they stayed together all night; even when they were silent there was comfort. Heather had curled up on the loveseat, now sleeping lightly even though she'd given Adam and Christian direct instructions not to let her fall asleep. Adam's eyes had settled upon her, and he was startled out of his observance by Christian speaking to him slowly and disjointedly.

"I know this sounds morbid…but now that you - you're alone, if anything happens to me - " He broke off sharply, taking a breath before continuing. "Just, take care of Gabby for me?" Adam nodded slowly, swallowing.

"You know you didn't need to ask, Christian. I know how hard it would be for her if…" He shook his head. "We're supposed to be optimistic, you ass." Christian forced a smile that quickly turned into thoughtful frown.

"I just want to make sure she won't be alone. She hates being alone…" He trailed off with a sigh, looking up at the ceiling.

"I know…We're gonna be fine. We always are."