Chapter 2 – Do I or Don't I

Stella rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head, the sun was too bright. She pulled the blanket back down when she heard someone laugh at her. Gabriel. Stella sat up and wiped her eyes then glanced at the man in question to see him scoop a fried egg onto a plate.
"Good morning sunshine" he said, bringing the plate to her. He sat on the bed and put the plate on the bedside table.
"Morning feathers" she grumbled, noting Gabriel's smile.
"Did you sleep well" he asked.
"Do Angels even sleep" she asked. "You're so peppy" she noted.
"What's wrong with peppy" he returned. Stella shook her head and smiled.
"Nothing, I'm just used to people being grumpy all the time" she told him, and Gabriel nodded then handed the plate to her.
"Enjoy" he said. "I'm going to shower" he told her while he grabbed jeans and a shirt then walked into the bathroom. Stella ate while watching TV until Gabriel came out of the bathroom and then she had a shower and got dressed.
"Thanks for breakfast" Stella said, walking over to sit beside the Archangel.
"Why did you run back to Lucifer" Gabriel asked, keeping his eyes on the TV. Stella frowned in thought.
"I don't know. I guess I got scared" she said, rubbing her palm with her thumb.
"Of me" Gabriel asked, turning to face her. Stella hesitated before meeting his eyes.
"Of caring about someone" she told him. Gabriel rested his hand over hers and turned his body to face her.
"Why" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Because everyone I care about, leaves me. My Dad left when I was little, my brother died, my younger sister would rather party with frat boys than see me, and my mother works herself to the bone to provide for her two daughters. My friends…they used me. I was the smartest girl in class and they only wanted my notes" Stella explained then sighed to try and stop herself from crying.
"I'm not going anywhere. This bond, I hate seeing you hurting. I hate that you don't trust me, but I get it; nobody has given you a reason to before" he said, pulling her against him. Stella pulled away after a minute of Gabriel holding her and smiled.
"Why do I feel like I can trust you" she asked, eying him carefully.
"The-" Gabriel started.
"Bond?" Stella finished with a smirk, and Gabriel nodded. "Is this weird for you too" she asked.
"I've always kept to myself" Gabriel admitted. "I was always playing pranks on the other Angels and they didn't like that too much" he told her, and she shook her head.
"No, you? Tricking people? I thought tricksters were nuns" Stella teased, making Gabriel laugh.
"Do I look like a nun" he asked.
"Well…" Stella started teasingly, and Gabriel nudged her making them both laugh.

Later that day, Stella told Gabriel she was going back to see Lucifer. Gabriel was hesitant at first, but Stella told him her plan; make sure Lucifer still trusted her and find out what his plan was.
"I don't like the idea of you going in there alone" Gabriel warned while Stella put her sneakers on. She stood up and faced him.
"He trusts me" she reminded him. "Have faith in me." She quickly kissed his cheek and grabbed the handle to leave but felt a pain in her heart. She grabbed at her chest and looked to Gabriel who looked pained.
"If you leave before the bond sets in, it can break it" Gabriel told her.
"So I can't leave" she asked in annoyance.
"You can, if you promise to come back" he said. He looked as if he were pleading her to come back.
"I promise you Gabe, I'll come back. I'm just trying to save the world" she told him then immediately the pain dulled. Gabriel tilted her chin up and smiled.
"We can take this slow, but I want to see where this leads. I care about you" he said, making the pain completely disappear. Stella smiled at him and then left, heading for the cabin.

"Lucifer" Stella called out as she stepped into the cabin. She slowly closed the door behind her and walked through to the living room. Empty. "Please don't jump out of nowhere" Stella mumbled.
"Miss me?" Stella jumped and turned to see Lucifer smiling at her.
"You scare the hell outta me" she told him, and Lucifer grinned.
"Where'd you go" he asked. Stella walked over to the couch with Lucifer behind her and she sat on the edge.
"I needed to clear my head. I just had so much go on yesterday that I needed to process" she lied. Silence filled the air for a few minutes before Lucifer spoke up.
"Why do you have to lie to me baby" Lucifer asked, shaking his head. Stella looked up with fear in her eyes, Lucifer was standing over her with glowing red eyes.
"I – I'm not-" Stella stood up and took Lucifer's hand. His eyes returned to normal and he smiled.
"I can smell him on you" he told her. Stella let go of his hand and turned to run but Lucifer was in front of her in a heartbeat.
"Please" Stella begged, backing away.
"Please what?" Lucifer snapped, stepping closer each time she stepped back.
"I don't want to hurt you" Stella told him as she stopped backing away. Her eyes shone blue and the house began to shake. Lucifer looked around before his gaze returned to Stella. "You gave me the power to defend myself, don't think I won't use it on you" she warned.
"Your eyes" Lucifer started. "They're angelic" he finished. She house stopped shaking and Stella looked around. "You're his" Lucifer realised. Stella watch as he summoned an Angel blade and began stepping back when he stalked her, anger and betrayal clear on his face.
"Gabriel, help me" Stella whispered under her breath. She stepped back and was back in Gabriel's apartment, his wings around her.
"What happened" Gabriel asked, leading her to sit on the bed.
"He – he tried to kill me with an Angel blade" Stella told him. "He said he could smell you on me" she said. Gabriel held her to him and Stella pushed him off, standing up and taking a few steps away.
"Stella-" Gabriel started.
"This is too crazy" Stella said, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I can't do this" she said and moved for the door, but Gabriel grabbed her hand.
"Please, give us a chance" he begged. Stella shook her head.
"If I hadn't met Lucifer, I'd be dead right now. I am not ready to start a relationship with someone who claims to be my soulmate" Stella cried, pulling her hand from Gabriel's.
"If you leave, I can't guarantee I'll still be here when you get back" he said softly. "Witness protection, remember" he reminded her.
"I don't care" she sniffled.
"Stella-" he started.
"I don't care" she shouted, meeting his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it and sighed instead.
"Okay" he said. "Do what you want" he snapped, turning away from her to hide the pain. He heard the door open and then slam shut before the pain tore through him and he teleported away.

FOUR WEEKS LATER
"No! Come on" Stella grumbled as she kicked the dumpster in the alley. Stella had spent the last four weeks trying to get a job, so she could afford a place to rent but all she could get was a few dollars by using her ability in the streets. Twice already she had been spotted and chased by police. She couldn't afford to buy groceries from the minimal change she got from performing. She slid down the wall and let out a sob, this wasn't what she planned. She was planning on dying before she met Lucifer, then she met Gabriel…Stella let out a high-pitched cry when she thought of him. The pain in her chest still hadn't dulled but she knew it was dying. She felt him less and less. Why hadn't she just stepped in front of traffic now? She knew why, Gabriel would feel it. Stella jumped when she felt a presence in front of her. She looked up and saw the homeless man that lived in this alley. He nodded a greeting and kept walking, heading for the dumpster at the end of the alley. Stella gasped when she felt a cut on her arm. She looked down and her arm was fine. Gabriel. Stella got up and let the bond lead her to him.

"Get away from him" Stella snapped when she arrived at the abandoned theatre. The demon standing over Gabriel turned to her and snarled.
"Stella" Gabriel realised. He was more cut up than Stella had felt, but now that she saw him, she could feel every single slice. The demon ran at her and she closed her hands into fists, focussing her energy on the demon. It slowly began to shake and then it burst into flames and turned to ash. Stella ran over to Gabriel and knelt to check on him.
"Are you okay? What happened" she asked. Gabriel groaned as she helped him sit up.
"You came back" he smiled, and Stella pulled him against her.
"I did, I came back" Stella sobbed and kissed Gabriel's forehead. Stella slid back as Gabriel glowed and when the light died down, he was healed. "What was that" she asked.
"I'm an Angel. I can heal myself" he told her.
"Can we please go home, I missed you" she said, letting him hold her. She felt a warmth and they were home.

Gabriel smiled as he watched Stella dance around the kitchen while doing the dishes that night. He could feel her joy, and it was contagious. He walked up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist, and she turned in his arms.
"Why did you come back for me" Gabriel asked softly, resting his forehead against Stella's.
"I felt your pain. I couldn't bear the thought of you hurting, this stupid bond thing – it's driving me crazy" she admitted, pulling away and looking into Gabriel's eyes to gauge his response. He leant forward and kissed her. At first Stella was shocked, but she soon moved her lips with his. She ran her fingers through his hair, giggling when she felt his fingers graze across her hip.
"Ticklish" he asked with a grin. Stella pulled him into another kiss and squealed when he lifted her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist and let him carry her to the bed. "if we do this, there's no turning back. The bond is cemented" Gabriel warned her, his voice husky. Stella gently pushed him to sit back on his heels and she took off her shirt.
"I want this" she said, then pulled him to her again.