Hand pressed t the cold glass of the window, Gabrielle stared out at the sky. It looked like the sky of her long lost home, reciprocating the whiteness of the snow that rarely fell in New Orleans. But this winter had been cold. Absently, she wondered if her dream would come true, of hundreds of sheets of paper lighting the sky, warming the snow away. She wondered if, like in the dream, Edge was out there somewhere, not recognising the figure staring out at nothingness, waiting for a parted lover, keeping a silent vigil. One of Christian's arms slipped around her waist, and he pulled her back, resting his other arm across her chest.

"He's not out there." She felt his hair teasing her bare shoulder before he bent to kiss the skin. Gabrielle rolled her head to one side as Christian's mouth gently sucked on the tender vein in her neck. She closed her eyes and placed one hand over his, the other entwining in his hair, pulling his head closer. His tongue drew lazy spirals on the skin, and she longed for him to pierce it and take her, but Christian pulled back.

"Are you going to feed tonight?"

"I have been feeding - "

"No, on someone other than me. And that’s not feeding, that exchanging." He nuzzled her neck as he spoke in a soft, sensual tone.

"I suppose so then. It has been a while…" Christian spun around and stood in front of her.

"So we go out?"

"Of course." She replied with a slightly defeated smile. "Wherever you want to go. Its your choice." He smiled back, taking one of her hands and pressing a kiss into the palm.

"Then we go somewhere quiet…" He paused to let a wicked grin encompass his face, " Romantic." Gabrielle reached out to brush a stray hair from his face, a smile once again growing on her own.

"You mean, candles, violins, all that shit?" He laughed softly, and nodded.

"Yes, Gabrielle, and all that shit." She gazed up thoughtfully at him.

"Christian, I've never been to a place like that." He shrugged.

"Neither have I."

"You're not serious?" She regarded him with sceptical shock. "But….Christian, how could you not have? I'm sure you had women beating down your door…" He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, yes, all the women just love the quiet intellectuals who know nothing about how to make them happy, let alone start a conversation." His tone was thick with playful sarcasm.

"But - " She struggled for words, "You're so perfect." She finished in a small, childlike voice, eyes fixed on his. Christian only blinked, as if surprised by the statement. "Well, you are….at least I think so…" she finished quietly. Al at once, he turned embarrassed and shy, quiet and sullen, the Christian before Edge had left.

"What makes you say that?" He asked, letting his gaze fall to the floor.

"You. Everything about you. Aside from the physical, because that’s just obvious - "

"Most vampires are beauti- "

"Apart from others. Your very being. The way to talk, the way you think…everything…"

"Stop." He commanded suddenly. "I know its not true. I'm hardly perfect, Gabrielle, I'm as flawed as anyone walking the streets. And all vampires grow beautiful as they age - its common. I'm not - " She leaned forward and silenced him with a soft kiss.

"In my eyes you are, and that’s all that matters. Why do you have to question everything - " Gabrielle stopped short as the irony rang through her words, but Christian didn't notice. He merely drew her into an embrace, muttering something about hardly being able to wait until they got home.

The black van was parked across from the house, Edge resting lazily on the bench seat in the back, while Kael was stretched out on the floor.

"Why are we stalking her Kael?" Edge asked, wearily.

"You said you wanted to have fun with her…play some games?" Edge nodded. "So, I've got it all planned out." Kael at up, motioning at the house. "We follow her for a few nights, let her see a glimpse of you every time, just briefly, then the thrall should take over." He rubbed his hands together at the thought. "And you know what that means…" Edge grinned like a vampire gone insane.

"I can do whatever I damnwell please, and she can't do a thing about it." He sighed dramatically. "Love is great."