Awwww, I love writing this kinda stuff! I've been busy today! Go me!
Sitting in his hotel room staring out at the sun, Van Helsing inhaled the rich fragrance of roses. Glancing below he smiled as he saw the little patch growing beneath his window. He loved the smell of roses, mostly because it reminded him of Anna, who he swore carried the flowers sweet sent.
Sighing at the thought of her, he wondered if she was feeling any better. The ogre had been dispatched easily enough, the horrible thing was fairly small for all the commotion it had caused. It'd been simple enough to take care of, a couple well placed shotgun shots and it was done.
Inhaling the heady sent once more, he decided to pack and head home. He smiled at the thought of having a 'home' and the realization that he missed being home. Not just because Anna was there, though that was a large part of it, but he missed the manor itself. All the creaks in the middle of the night, the horrible weather in Transylvania, rain, snow or if you were lucky, just clouds. He missed the sound of the rain on the roof of the old house as he lay in his bed. Or seeing the light frozen crystals of snow catch in Anna's hair and if possible make her even more beautiful.
In his minds eye he pictured her, those laughing hazel eyes and crimson lips that just begged to be kissed. Soft skin and long chestnut curls the draped over her shoulders. Her light laughter drifted through his mind, and he found himself easily captivated by his day dream.
She smiled that smile of hers that never failed to make his heart race, the ever-present impish glint in her eyes. She flicked her hair over her shoulder and laughed again as snow flakes danced around her.
She was so real to him he could've sworn she was standing before him, but as he reached fingers for her she disappeared as the dream was shattered.
Sighing to himself he looked about his empty room,
"what would Carl say?" he muttered. Then laughed as he imagined the Friars reaction to Van Helsing telling him he'd been seeing things. Feeling so very alone suddenly, and missing his home so much, he stared out at the sunset. Lord only knew how much he wished Anna were there with him, telling him he was getting all mushy. He missed her so much it hurt, the thought was interesting, he'd never really missed anything before. Certainly he'd never missed the Vatican or the Cardinal.
He wondered if she missed him and almost immediately waved away the thought. Of course she did, he felt horrible for leaving her when she was so sick. Standing from his chair in a sudden need to be home, he packed his bags as quickly as possible and hurried down to the stables.
Gabriel rode into Vaseria late at night, the stars were veiled and the moon kept her glow from him. Snow fell lightly, quickly gathering along the brim of his hat, he shook his head and looked up bemusedly.
He stabled his horse and fed the stallion, who whinnied his thanks before eagerly burying his nose in the grain. Gabriel patted his neck,
"eat up, you've earned it." Picking up his bag Gabriel headed for the house, his smile broadened at the thought of it being his house. He pushed the door open excitedly, looking about the dark entry room. Sighing to himself he put his hat on the hat rack and hung his coat up in the closet.
Walking silently up the stairs he was surprised to find Anna was not in her room. Scratching his head he turned to his room and looked there, he found evidence that suggested she'd been sleeping in there, tissue spread about on the floor and a bucket by the bedside.The gypsy herself however was not present. Frowning Gabriel walked back down the stairs, Carl came down the hall with a smile.
"Why hello Van Helsing, did you have a good trip?" he greeted brightly, holding an open book.
"Did you manage to bring anything back intact?" Carl frowned eyeing the monster hunter.
"Carl, all your toys are present and accounted for, they're in my bag. Do you know where Anna is?" he asked, Carl blinked and pointed toward the sitting room.
"I told her she shouldn't be up and about, what with her having pneumonia and what not. But she wouldn't have it, she was absolutely adamant, said you'd be home tonight, and well, I guess she was right." Carl scratched his head,
"Rather stubborn that gypsy of yours, and not good about taking her medicine either. She insisted upon staying in your room, I hadn't the heart to tell her no, got her to take her medicine in a deal though" shrugging Carl walked off, mumbling to himself in Latin. Gabriel was fairly certain he heard the world 'children' and 'doomed' in there though.
Shaking his head he wandered off in the direction of the sitting room, the warm glow of the fire guiding him. The couch was sitting in front of the fireplace, and coming around it he found his gypsy.
Anna's face was still flushed and sickly looking, but there was a little rosy tint back in her cheeks. A blanket was pulled over her shoulders, a few strands of hair across her face. Kneeling down he brushed the unruly locks from her face and smiled as she turned her face into his touch. He could hear the slight rattle of phlegm in her throat, and saw that the ever-present bucket was at his feet.
In her fist, held closely to her face, was his scarf, and he noted she was wearing one of his undershirts.
"Anna" he whispered, placing a hand against her forehead, frowning as he felt warmth radiating from her soft skin. She stirred under his hand, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She whimpered, her forehead wrinkling,
"please Carl, no more medicine. Gabriel will be home soon and I would like to be lucid for that." She growled, burrowing deeper into her pillow, actually, he peered closer at the pattern on it and chuckled, it was his pillow.
"Well that's good, I would rather you be lucid too" he said, stroking his fingers through her hair. Her eyes snapped open in surprise, a wide smile appeared on her features, she threw herself into his arms.
"I missed you!" she gasped, he smiled and held her tightly, inhaling the sent of roses.
"I missed you too" he breathed into her hair, she sighed against his chest. Pulling back she smiled a much softer smile and looped the scarf back around his neck, keeping it twisted around her fingers.
"Still worried about getting sick?" she pouted, looking up at him, he pretended to think about it.
"I think I'm willing to chance it" he finally conceded, with an evil grin she pulled on the scarf pulling his head down to her level. He kissed her softly, fingers tangling themselves in her silky hair. She sighed when he pulled away, hazel eyes slowly reappearing.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for that?" he asked, kissing her nose,
"You'd better get better soon" he growled, nuzzling her hair.
"Carl thinks I'm on the mend" she said, finding herself sleepy again, Gabriel nodded against her shoulder. Feeling the all too familiar tickling in her throat, Anna twisted her head away and coughed for what seemed like forever.
"I think I should go to bed" she moaned, clutching his shoulders, her accent even more pronounced with her hoarseness and sleepiness. Without hesitation he swept her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs,
"Well my dear, your room or mine?" he asked raising an eyebrow roguishly. She giggled, then sneezed, causing him to laugh,
"my bed is bigger" Anna mumbled. Immediately complying he pushed her door open with his hip and carried her to her bed. Gently placing her in it and pulling the covers up to her chin. She sniffed drearily and rubbed at her eyes,
"I'll be right back" he told her, stooping to kiss her forehead.
He returned with a wet washcloth, dressed in his favorite cotton sleep pants, he gently placed the washcloth on her forehead. She moaned at the feel of the cool cloth against her fevered skin. Closing the door quietly, he padded back to the bed and slid in behind her. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. She coughed, shaking the entire bed and rattling Gabriel as she shuddered against him. His sigh turned into a yawn,
"You'll forgive me if I sleep in my room tomorrow" he groaned. She sniffed and settled back down,
"Goodnight Gabriel" she whispered to the dark, he grunted a reply as sleep tugged at his eyelids.
"Goodnight Anna"
Anyone else wishing they had a doctor Gabriel?