Author's Note: I will be speed-updating at an overwhelming rate for this. Reason why: B4 has THREE VOLUMES. ::sigh:: You have been warned, so no reviews about how fast I'm updating. If you want, it's easy to just save this to your bookmarks and just come back to it when you're ready.

Disclaimer: see my profile page. It should be there at the bottom somewhere...

Nightmare Past

It was like she was back in Russia, where her old home had been. Gabriella's birthday was in January so it was still freezing cold. She had told many where she had lived before, but only the Vampires got it. The others had no idea, so were still confused about how she could wear such thin, loose, and flowing clothing in winter. She felt sadness as she looked around at the burned debris. Then time seemed to switch to the beginning of the day before. She walked around among the Roma, watching them set and prepare for her birthday surprise party. They looked at her and grinned, calling her by her name and she even stopped to talk to a couple of them.

She didn't bother wondering how they knew her or anything of the sort. All of her Roma family had even the basic ability of Seeing the Unseen. They could all see ghosts, the golden lines, could tell what other's active or hidden powers were, and could easily tell if someone was a Vampire or just a human who was unnaturally pale. One of their mottos was that no one was normal or had no power at all. They'd only had a few tragedies including rabid Vampires, but they were quickly taken care of by her Grandmother.

One of the worse things about the whole thing was, was that her Nana was head of the village. So now, since she had not been the only survivor, that role fell to her.

Gabriella got to her the largest home in the village and bit her lip before setting her hand on the door and entering.

"Ella! Ella, get out of bed you silly goose," her Nana was saying just as she got into the living room.

There was a thud and Gabriella had to hold her laughter as Ella grumbled, "Nana! What was that for?"

"Ella! It's your birthday," Nana said playfully n the same way, "We have a lot to do today, so get up and get dressed."

"Alright, alright," Ella sighed.

Gabriella smiled as her little self rolled her eyes before laughing lightly. She turned and left the house before her Nana noticed her. Walking around a bit more and helping here and there, she finally went back to the Town Square where she saw some of the other children hanging out and hiding as they waited for Ella. "Heya, pests," she said with a smile as she came up behind them, using her usual greeting.

"AGH!" The kids turned around and looked at each other after looking at her. "What are you doing here?" One of the kids asked with a slight smile, "You're supposed to be that way." He pointed over toward the east side.

"Yeah that's right! It's cheating what you did!" Another kid said folding her arms. "How did you know where we were? We hid our ki and everything!"

"Did you forget? We can see the ones that walk in the night! They don't need ki." Another boy scoffed at her, slapping her arm teasingly.

"I bet you higher yours so she would find us!" The girl said, folding her arms with a pout.

"Well she's here now. No chance of her forgetting that, right?" The boy turned to her with a smile; three teeth of his were missing.

Gabriella laughed and bent down, "Right, but Ella's going to be here any minute. Hide again, silly pests," she ruffled the lead boy's hair, "You want to surprise me screaming happy birthday, don't you?" she smiled. She stood and then remembered something important, "Hey, little ones, about half-way through the feast tonight, go play in the forest. When you hear horses and see wands of fire, hide in the trees and anywhere else. Don't let them see you." She ordered them, making her voice change t that specific tone her Nana used when making sure she wouldn't be disobeyed.

"Okay!" The kids said, with a slight smile.

"Why though? If we see danger we're supposed to report it. Your nana would be very mad at us." The girl said frowning.

"Just listen to her! She's not here, remember?" He whispered before looking, "Ah! Hide guys! Ella's coming!" They all scattered again, waiting.

Gabriella laughed and shook her head before time sped up. She remembered it all, the smiles, the laughter, the music and the affection. Then time stopped at the middle of the feast, and she saw her littler self talking to the other children. There hadn't been many kids to begin with, since it was common for mothers to die after giving birth, so many waited to have theirs. Unfortunately there were a couple of the women pregnant when they were slaughtered, but the few kids and a few teens that had been away on their required adventure, survived.

"TAG!" A young girl shouted, touching the little boy that had been standing at the table next to Ella and the toothless leader.

He grinned and placed his cup down and chased after her, "You're not getting away, Vara!"

"You could have tagged them, Renti!" She shouted back as she ran around the table.

The leader gave a grin, "That sounds like a game, do you wanna play? We can go into the forest." He pointed over to the forest, "That way we won't be in the way."

Ella smiled, "No, my friends. I'm required to stay here, but if you wish to go, that's fine with me. Just be careful, Varvara, Aleksey, and Terenti," she laughed.

Aleksey had a pained look on his face, but it slid off easily, "Then I stay too." He said as he watched his two friends run into the forest, Varvara tripping along the way with Terenti laughing at her as ran after him. It looked like he had tagged her back.

"Aleksey," Ella smiled softly and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Go play. I love your loyalty, never change that, but you don't have to give up playing just to stay with me."

He shook his head stubbornly, folding his arms and tossing his head to the side, looking at her using just his eyes, "I don't wanna leave you alone, Ella. It's not right."

Ella pecked the boy on the cheek, "Then will you go and play twice as much for me?" she asked, "I'm choosing to stay here, and I'm not alone. Nana and the others are here if I need them."

Again he looked hurt but reluctantly complied, "Alright Ella, but…" He paused wondering if he should say anything, but then shook his head again. "Will you promise me something?"

"Of course, Aleksey," Ella smiled kindly.

He held out his pinky finger and looked at her seriously, "Promise me that you'll be okay and safe. I have a bad feeling, about leaving you alone, but on my behalf I promise to come back if I sense something amiss okay?" He knew never to get Ella to promise something without promising something on his end.

It was a rule that the village upholder, but it wasn't just to Ella, but to everyone.

Gabriella's eyes widened as she remembered this part. She went to stop her littler self or Aleksey, but she was now blocked from making any contact with anyone. She clawed at the barrier and cried out, but it would let her do nothing.

Ella blinked, frowning at the promise, but laughed and took his pinky firmly with her own. Another part of the promise making was that the person asked to make a promise repeat the requested promise word-for-word, or close to. "I accept your double-edged promise. I swear to you that I'll be okay and safe. I agree that you can come back if you sense something amiss."

Ella smiled and placed a very light and innocent kiss on Aleksey's lips, "But if I yell at you to go back if there is something wrong, will you please do it?" It was just a simple request with no strings, so he could disagree if he wished, but she hoped he would agree.

"I'll go back." He replied, "But when that something is gone, I promise I will return. Just like I said before," He smiled at her, "I hope you have a happy birthday, Ella-Gabri." He kissed her cheek and then her lips before he turned around to chase after his friends that were in the forest.

Gabriella felt tears streaming down her eyes. Why was this happening? She watched as it all skipped to an hour later, and she was forced to watch the horrors happen all over again.

They came. Riding hard and fast along the worn roads. In one hand were a shot-gun and the rains for the horses, and in the other hand was the wands of fire. As they neared, hate and fear-filled shouts came from their throats. They passed the first houses, and the first riders threw their torches onto the roofs and then slung out their shot-guns. Blasts from the shots rang through the air, and the

Roma started falling one by one. No one had time to react to their falling family members, except for surprised expressions maybe, but as more Outsiders ran in, more houses were lit on fire, and more shots rang free.

However, the Outsiders had miscounted a good amount of the Gypsies, so as they paused to re-fill, that's when the attacks from the Roma came. Nana took Ella up in her arms and started running. The heir to the tribe had to survive, though it was Nana's job to help them fight. They ran and ran, screams flowing behind them, but only made it half-way to the forest before Ella's grandmother was shot.

They fell to the ground in a heap, Nana covering her already dead. Blood started to swirl and grow around Ella, and she struggled to breathe but not escape since she knew she would die as well. Her indigo eyes wide with terror as she glanced back toward the forest; horror gripped her heart tighter.

Aleksey was running toward her, about to finish the job that her nana couldn't do. She promised him she'd be okay and he kept his promise, he returned, right when the bad thing happened. He knew he had to get her to safety, the fire torches and the shot-gun rings scared him, but just like the village taught everyone, the men were supposed to be the fighters and the protectors. The women did the magic and the barriers. How the Outsiders got there, he didn't know, but he did know that it was his turn to help her.

"HET! HET ALEKSEY!" Ella screamed at the top of her lungs, "Go back! Go back! Please go back!"

He stopped in his tracks, debating on whether or not he should, but he remembered that he made a promise. Aleksey gave her a sad look before returning to the forest, just like he promised he would, but he stayed close.

Gabriella cried and ran around, trying but was unable to do nothing. She saw the Outsiders had amulets around themselves, which protected them from the Roma attempts to get them to retreat.

Time moved.

Dawn approached and the Outsiders stopped their attacks, instead they were waiting. Waiting for something, Aleksey had moved away from the forest to see if there were any survivors when he saw that the Outsiders weren't waiting. They were watching a solider, a Russian soldier, kill the survivors that were trying to protect their own. Their pleading, their own promises, nothing meant anything. He watched them get killed and realized what would happen to Ella. He ran off to find her.

"Aleksey!" a weak voice called for him.

He ran over towards the voice and smiled in relief to see that Ella was okay, just like she promised. "Ella, we have to stay hidden now." He whispered, "No talking or yelling okay; silent as the trees in winter, right?" He pressed a finger to her lips and looked behind him to see if anything was there. When he was certain he said, "The village is in pieces, the only survivors are you, me, Renti, and Vara." He whispered softly brushing her hair away, "Stay silent as winter…" He heard a crack and fell silent quickly. He covered Ella and her nana with his body so that the person there wouldn't know; hoping it would fool them, at least…to think that there were two, instead of three.

"You can't fool me, little vermin," the soldier smirked and cocked his spear, "I hope you like hell!" he threw it and watched it successfully go through the ones he believed were there. The boy's scream was satisfying since it sounded like two, but he thought that it was the last sound of the old woman. He spit in their direction before turning and walking off.

Ella's eyes widened as she saw the life in Aleksey's eyes begin to fade, "Het, Aleksey, please don't leave me now," she couldn't believe this. Before she had asked him to leave, choosing to be alone, but now that he was leaving for real, she wanted nothing more than to for him to stay. "Please…" she murmured tears flowing.

Gabriella felt her knees buckle and she fell to the bloody ground. Tears flowed faster, and she breathed in as her eyes widened. "No…" she said in unison with Ella. She heard the hoof steps of the horses leaving. "This…isn't happening…" She sensed they were far gone, and so her breath deepened for a scream. "Aleksey…" she and Ella murmured, "Don't…no…" finally she snapped, "ALEKSEY!"

Her scream carried throughout for a good half a mile in her nightmare world, and then all the way into reality as Gabriella was forced awake. Whether by her own will or another's, she wasn't sure yet…

Andrew had stayed awake, and when he heard her screaming, he had decided it was the best time to wake her up. It was strange, to hear a name Ian called him by, fall from her lips. "You were having a nightmare, and I told you I'd wake you up." He stated, looking sheepish.

"…Alek…sey…Aleksey?" Gabriella breathed as she shook violently. She was focusing in on Andrew's face, "Aleksey…you…kept your promise?"

He blinked, "Ian told you that he called me that didn't he?" Andrew gave her a slight smile, "Anyway, half-asleep or not, I told you I'd wake you up, I tend to keep my promises even if it kills me in the end…which is exactly what Rae's goal is I bet you anything." He muttered the last part darkly before looking at her. "Are you okay? The nightmare…do you want to talk about it?"

Gabriella was completely focused now, and she slowly sat up, making Andrew back up, but she followed him, "You keep your promises. Even if it kills you in the end?" she asked him purposely, "Aleksey…you promised me…" she broke off and stared at him, "Will you remember for me?" she wondered seriously.

"Well, in answer to the first question yes. It's the reason why I'm still stuck in the Informers and why I'm stuck helping out with Donnie's brothers… Even if it kills me? I've been so close to death, that's what I started to believe. As for the other part, what do you want me to remember? My past-life or my past?" He asked her seriously.

"The promise you made me. The very last one," Gabriella answered as she leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on his lips, similar to the one she gave Aleksey before he left to go into the forest.

"I believe he/I promised that I would come back." Andrew murmured, he had Ian help him unlock his past-life, but he kept it in a folder. A little folder, but he supposed that since the years gone by and the folder started being chained, he forgot about it. All of it…Her screaming, his past-life name, and the kiss just helped the folder open again.

"Yes," Gabriella smiled gently; kissing him lightly again, "I thought that it was a lost cause, a promise made in vein…" she admitted with a gentle kiss of apology, "But you kept it for me…" she kissed him a little bit harder for thanks.

Andrew just smiled, "Never doubt promises made by anyone. Unless it's Rae, Ellie and Eletric…God knows they're devils." He gently kissed her softly, but broke apart swiftly. "I kept it for you, as much as I would have kept it for a friend. I do like you, Gabriella."

Gabri paused, the abrupt end to his response and his almost-words hitting her like a tone of bricks. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, "You don't get it yet…but that's alright…" she murmured turning around to place her feet on the floor, "It's a little selfish on my side to expect you to. I'm sorry." She went to stand up.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, "Don't apologize, you didn't do anything wrong. If anything……I'm the one to be sorry." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is…a hell of a…bad time to ask…but would you consider……an outing?"

Gabriella blinked a bit at him and would have just stared at him in shock if Anya hadn't mentally slapped her forehead making her smile instead. They were all itching for a deep kiss, but obviously the man was having a bit of difficulty figuring that out. She just pecked his cheek, "I accept your offer."

He gently touched her chin and brought her into a kiss. He didn't want it to be too deep, since he didn't want to scare her off, but he pressed his lips tight and hard against hers, telling her thanks and pouring the trust he had into it. He wasn't sure if he should say the words 'I love you' when they technically only met. 'I'll say them though…' He promised to himself, 'That I swear.'

Gabriella was surprised, but satisfied that he had finally kissed her the way she wanted him to. She responded easily, leaning into his touch and light embrace.

He gently broke away, "Thank you, Gabriella." He murmured. He started combing her hair, feeling the soft texture, "For accepting."

Gabriella smiled and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, smelling his enticing scent. "Ella," she corrected with a smile, but sighed contently, "You're welcome, Andy."

"Ella," He murmured, gently nuzzling her neck and brought her closer to him, just letting time flow.