Carl came running in at that moment and the couple pulled apart. "Am I interrupting something?" The friar asked.

Gabriel spoke. "I'm staying."

"I just cabled The Cardinal of our success and that we will start back to Rome in the morning."

"Well, cable him again. I'm staying here. In Transylvania."

Carl looked confused. "Why would you stay here?"

"Because I'm needed here."

"But you're needed in Rome."

"Not what I meant, Carl."

The little man looked at him even more confused. "Then what did you mean?"

Anna spoke this time. "He's staying with me."

Carl looked at their new found friend. "Why would he..."

Anna cut him off. "We're in love, Carl."

Now the poor friar looked at her like she was insane. "What?! He can't fall in love. He's not allowed to."

"Well, he did. And I'm sorry to say it, but I fell in love with him too. I lost my family, Carl. ALL of my family. With Dracula dead, I have no one to talk to or even love. But if Van Helsing stays, I can have all that. He's doing this for me and for himself. You can stay too if you like. But I'll leave that to be your choice."

Carl thought about it for a second then smiled. "That's VERY generous of you, Princess. But I'm afraid I'm needed in Rome. I MUST go back. I'll inform The Cardinal of this change in plans and I will leave first thing tomorrow. It was nice meeting you and I appreciate your hospitality. Goodbye, Anna. Goodbye, Van Helsing."

Gabriel smiled sadly. "Goodbye, Old Friend. I'll miss your company."

"You'll get over it. Besides, I'm needed in Rome and it would seem YOU are needed here. I'll try and visit if I can. Bye."

"Bye, Carl." The couple said in unison.

Carl left to finish packing his bags and cable Cardinal Jinette. Anna turned to Gabriel and smiled. "I'll miss the little guy. He's a good friend."

Gabriel smiled back. "Yeah he is. It'll be weird without him."

"Yeah, but at least he'll try and visit. I mean, I can't make him stay here. He's a man of the church."

"I know. But you were nice enough to offer him the choice to stay."

"He's our friend. Why wouldn't I?"

"True. But enough of that. It's late. We should get to bed for the night."

Anna nodded in agreement. "Yes. Lets." She said walking out to the hall with him and down to his guest room.

Gabriel walked in the room then turned to face his girlfriend bending down to kiss her softly. "Good nite, Darling. I'll see you in the morning."

"No." She said pushing him all the way in the room and following him.

"No?" He questioned confused.

"Yes. No. You live here now too and we are moving your things into MY room tonight. Well, now that you live here too, it's OUR room. But still..."

"Are you ABSOLUTELY sure? I mean, not that I'm not grateful or not ready, but what about the whole we shouldn't sleep together until we're married thing?"

Anna looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "I'm not asking for SEX, Gabriel. Besides, we're together now. And since when do YOU oblige to the rules of man? I thought the laws of men meant little to you."

"True. They don't. But I DO respect THAT part of the 'laws of men'. I'm not a perverted monster."

"Van Helsing, I am the PRINCESS of this town and country. I maybe someone who fully believes in God and all that, but that doesn't mean that I agree with that part of it. I am a woman with needs and my needs right now need YOU to satisfy them. And no I don't mean SEXUAL needs. Just the general needs of cuddling and comfort and things like that."

"Alright. We'll move my stuff."

Anna smiled and pecked his lips. "Love you."

Gabriel half smiled shaking his head playfully. "I love you too." He said pulling out a small velvet box from his coat pocket.

Anna saw the movement in the corner of her eye as she was packing his things to move them to her room. She turned to face him stopping her packing. "What's that?"

The man looked up at her quickly trying to hide it behind his back. "Nothing."

"Let me see it." She commanded trying to grab for it.

"No." He said holding it above his head.

Anna smirked and started to tickle him making him pull his hand down. She quickly grabbed the small box. "HA!" She laughed stopping her evil tickling.

"Anna, no!" He said and she took off with it. He chased her.

Anna opened it and gasped stopping in her tracks. Gabriel stopped as she turned with tears in her eyes. "Is this what I think it is?"

He smiled sheepishly. "It was supposed to be romantic."

"Yes." She said softly. Gabriel looked at her. "Yes." She repeated louder. "Yes, yes, yes. ABSOLUTELY YES!"

"Yes what?"

"You don't think I know? YES, I will marry you."

Gabriel blushed. "How'd you...?"

Anna just giggled. "Are you BLUSHING?!"

"Yes. But ONLY you can make me do that."

She smiled. "Do I have to put it on myself?" She asked holding the ring up.

Gabriel chuckled. "No. I can do that." He said taking out the ring and putting it on her finger.

Anna smiled bigger and kissed him passionately. He returned it gratefully and then pulled away. She bit her bottom lip gently smiling as she looked at the ring on her finger. "I LOVE it. It's PERFECT. Thank you. I love you."

He smiled and pecked her lips. "Love you too, Anna. You're my one and only."

"And you are mine." She replied. "Lets go finish moving your stuff into my, OUR room."

The man nodded and escorted her. Once at the room, Carl came running out. "VAN HELSING! ANNA!"

The couple turned around. "What is it, Carl?" Anna asked.

"Cardinal Jinette cabled me back saying Van Helsing HAS to go back. It's an order. If he doesn't come, The Cardinal will send for another knight to force him."

Anna scowled as Gabriel looked astonished. "We'll BOTH come. I'm giving The Cardinal a piece of MY mind." She replied hotly.

"Very well. I'll inform him of your coming with us."

"NO. I want to surprise him. That man is going to get an EAR full. He has no idea who he's messing with."

"Just don't hurt him. He's an old man."

"Don't worry, Carl. I won't. Just some yelling and screaming."

The friar nodded. "I'll see you two first thing at sunrise. I need some sleep. I suggest you do the same." He said and left.

Anna agreed. "Lets quickly move your stuff and then we can do the same."

"I'll get it. You did enough. You go get ready for bed and I'll be there in two minutes."

"Ok. I love you." She said and pecked his lips.

"Love you too, Hunny."

She smiled and went to their room to get ready for bed. Gabriel packed a minute later and then went to Anna's now THEIR room and knocked. "Come in." He heard.

He walked in and saw her with only a bra and panties on. "Wow!" He said closing the door behind him.

She giggled. "What?"

"I thought you'd be ready for bed by now."

Anna giggled again. "I am. I always sleep like this."

"I... um... I..." He couldn't find the words to speak.

"It's ok. Really."

Gabriel dropped his stuff and started reaching out. "Can I...?"

Anna laughed. "Yes. It's ok. They're for you to touch, Love. It's ok. Go ahead."

He reached out and cupped them squeezing them softly. She moaned at his touch. "They're so firm and soft."

That got a giggle out of her. "Ok. Enough. Before we do something that causes us to not fall asleep."

Gabriel stopped and took everything, but his boxers off. Anna stared. He noticed. "Like what you see, Love?"

"And that's all for me?" She asked not answering his previous question.

He laughed. "In a way, yes. That would be correct."

She smiled and started touching his chest and back muscles. "You're so buff. I LIKE it." She said then stopped.

"Now that you've seen me without my shirt, what are you gonna do about other women that look at my bare muscles when it's too hot outside to wear my shirt?"

"They can look. But if they try and touch your bare muscles, I'll cut their fingers off. NO ONE touches your bare muscles, but me. Those are mine and mine only to touch." She replied looking serious.

Gabriel laughed. "That's my beautiful and sexy, fearless gypsy princess."

"I AM yours." She said getting into bed. She looked at him. "Coming, Gabriel?"

"Yeah. Just let me finish getting ready for bed." He replied quickly putting on a pair of pajama pants. "There."

Anna pouted and reached for him. "I'm cold." She stated.

He got into the bed and wrapped his arms around her waist as he layed down. She snuggled into him and layed her head on his chest sighing contently. Gabriel chuckled. "Better?"

She nodded not moving from her position, but wrapped her arms around HIS waist. "Good nite, Hunny Bunny."

He stifled a chuckle at the nickname. "Good nite, My Darling Gypsy Princess."