Author's note: Alright, greetings to every fan of Van Helsing! I'm new to this site and this is the first story I ever publish! But I'm not new to writing, it's just that I never thought of posting a story here. I'm aware of my writing skill; still all reviews as well as tips are welcome. Please note that English is not my mother tongue, so forgive any possible grammatical mistakes, though I'll try to minimize them to zero.

Summary: This story takes place right after the movie, only Anna was not hurt by Van Helsing and furthermore is not dead lol. The basic idea is that we'll get to learn something about who he really is, and explore his relationship with her a bit more deeply.

Warning: The story contains explicit sex scenes, so please don't read through if you are under legal age or otherwise feel uncomfortable with such stuff. To everyone else, enjoy yourselves! ;-p

Disclaimer: Yes, bla bla bla I don't own Van Helsing or anything related to the movie, I only own my own characters and plot bla bla bla etc…

A Journey Home, And A Journey Of Sentiments

Chapter 1

Dracula was vanquished. Anna's family was saved and those nine generations would at last be able to enter the gates of St. Peter. Everything now was at it should be, and Transylvania would know peace again after so many centuries.

Van Helsing, Carl and Anna had returned to the Valerious mansion. Nobody was very eager to speak, as if they were unsure of what to say; even more, what to do. Finally Carl decided to break the silence.

"I think I should inform the Vatican of the situation, since that, uh, Dracula is dead now", he started in a rather hesitant way, "and I will inform you of what they will say…", he continued and his eyes went from Gabriel to Anna and back.

"Alright Carl, I will be waiting here", said the hunter and gave a small smile to his friend. Carl smiled back and then exited the room. Anna and Gabriel were left alone.

"So… I guess you will have to leave, then?", Anna asked, trying to keep her voice steady and not to reveal the nervousness she felt.

"Yes, I suppose so… my mission here is completed; Dracula is dead", said Gabriel in a rather indifferent tone and tore his eyes from hers. He was afraid that if he kept looking in her eyes she would be able to see through him, to see what was in his heart, what feelings he had but was trying to keep buried.

"My mission is completed, too. Dracula and his brides are no more, and my family will rest, at last, but…". She suddenly stopped when she realized what was about to escape her mouth. Still, this didn't pass unnoticed by Gabriel.

"But?", he asked her, his voice soft now, and he took a step towards her.

Anna felt the change in his behavior and looked up at him. His gaze was warm and concerned and was nothing like it was only a few moments ago.

"But…", she started, and then she could keep it inside no more. "But I have lost everything in this world! Everything was taken from me, all of my family, my father, and my brother! I have accomplished my mission, yes, but there is nothing for me here anymore! All my life I had been fighting, and this fighting had a purpose. Now that this purpose is achieved, why can I not be grateful, why can I not be peaceful, why do I feel that I don't want to stay here? How am I supposed to start a life as an ordinary woman since all my life I had never know what it means to live normally?", she burst out and then turned her back to Gabriel, trying to fight back the tears that had emerged in her eyes.

Gabriel felt his heart breaking at the sight of Anna, whom he had only known as a fearless warrior princess, now being so miserable and distressed. He wanted to move closer to her, to take her in his hug and comfort her, to whisper soothing words to her ear, to hold her and kiss her once more… But the hunter was not used to showing affection or to revealing his feelings. What he did was walk up to her and place his hands on her shoulders.

"Anna… you are not an ordinary woman…" he started, very uncertain of what to say next, and gave her shoulders a light squeeze in an attempt to encourage her. Her only reaction was to turn her head from left to right as if refusing something and then to lower it. "You are strong and you can face whatever comes up. Please don't give up now… please, Anna…"

Gabriel's words made Anna turn furiously to him, tears already streaming down her cheeks. She felt no anger, though. What she felt was desperation.

"No Gabriel! I am not strong! I am weak! Why do you think I'm strong, because I hold a sword and I fight monsters? I never had a choice, Gabriel! And everything I did, I did it for my family! It never mattered what might happen to me. I needed to save my family and that's all I knew. And what have I got in return? Losing everybody I ever cared for! No, I'm not strong… I am weak and selfish, aren't I, Gabriel?". She spoke the last words in a low, broken voice, and her eyes searched his for an answer.

Instead of speaking, Gabriel warmly pulled her in his arms and she rested her head on his chest. Then he started to stroke her hair slowly, trying to give her some comfort and to make her feel better, if that was possible. The princess gave out a small sigh.

"Anna, listen to me… You are not weak. You fought bravely and did what you needed to do in the eyes of God. Your family rests in peace now and… and wasn't it you that once said that there is a bright side of death?"

"You still don't understand!", she exclaimed and pulled away from his hug. "I don't ache for the loss of my family this time… Oh, how can you not understand? It is you I cannot lose now!", she cried and stood motionless, secretly craving for a loving reaction from his side.

Suddenly reality stroke Van Helsing. Taken somewhat aback, he managed to finally look at her and speak.

"Anna… I don't know what to say. I have wanted to tell you so many things all this time and now I don't know what to say…", he told her and lowered his eyes, uneasiness obvious in his behavior.

Anna, reconsidering what she had just revealed to him and judging by his reaction, decided on her next move.

"No, you don't need to say anything, Gabriel", she said bitterly. "You have a life and I should not interfere with it. There is no place in it for me…", she continued in the same manner and then turned and began to slowly walk away, her heart aching.

"My life is worth nothing without you, Anna!", he exclaimed. Anna stopped in her steps. Was what she had just heard real or was her mind playing games on her? "Please don't go…! Anna… I… I love you…! I love you with all my heart!"

With that she turned to him, and with her eyes filled with tears of happiness and relief this time, she ran over to him and into his arms. Gabriel embraced her tightly, as if he was afraid that she would vanish at any moment.

"Oh Gabriel… I love you, I love you so much!", she said happily and lifted her hand to his cheek. Gabriel placed his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her head closer for a kiss. Anna eagerly gave in and their lips, after a short moment of pause which they took to look lovingly and longingly into each other's eyes, finally sealed in a passionate kiss. Anna moved her arms on Gabriel's back and pulled him closer to her, so that their bodies were in full contact. This sent a jolt through the man's spine and he made the kiss deeper, his tongue hungrily searching the woman's mouth. Anna was the first to break the kiss, gasping for some air. Gabriel, for the first time, gave a big and warm smile to her, and they both laughed, with feelings of happiness overflowing them.

"This is so rare, but you smile so nicely!", Anna said and then slowly traced Gabriel's lips with her fingers. He felt his blood beginning to boil and leaned closer to kiss her again, but as he was about to do so Carl appeared in the entrance.

"Uhm, Van Helsing, I have- oops, I'm sorry…", the young friar said, and his cheeks started to turn somewhat reddish with embarrassment. Anna and Gabriel looked at each other and smiled.

"It's alright Carl, come in. What did they say?". He moved on to the subject as he usually did, avoiding all unnecessary and time-consuming prologues.

"Oh well, they are pleased with the outcome of the mission and ask for our soon return… Oh and they wish us a pleasant journey home, too."

"Home…!"

"Well Van Helsing, I think it's much better than nothing now isn't it?"

"Yes, Carl, yes, whatever… You are right. What did you answer them?"

"Oh I haven't answered them yet, thinking I should inform you first… When are we to return, so that I can tell them?"

Van Helsing hesitated for a moment before answering. His eyes traveled back to Anna's, needing her to give the answer, in a way. The princess searched his questioning look for a moment, and then she smiled and nodded affirmatively. Gabriel raised an eyebrow to her, but Anna's determined look made him reconsider, and then he turned to his friend.

"Soon Carl, very soon. But we won't return alone."

"Not alone? What is this supposed to mean? Oh don't tell me- "

"It means that I am coming with you!", Anna snapped, sounding like her old self again.

"Oh, alright, alright, don't shout", Carl tried to calm her down and then, turning to Gabriel, "ehm, Van Helsing, are you sure…?"

"Knock it off, Carl."

"Well since that's your decision what can I say… But I better not inform Rome about that. I don't think they're going to like it very much…", he mostly whispered the last words to himself rather than saying them aloud. "Goodnight then, to you two. I'll cable Rome tomorrow morning, just in case you want to have second thoughts on your decision", and having spoken these words, Carl left.