I do not own Heroes, etc.

Thanks to everyone for the reviews.

In this chapter Syelle return and grow closer together.

Crazier and crazier like Alice down the rabbit hole.

Steps.

Elle steps from the cab. Her Gabriel stood on the sidewalk. He dealt with the cabbie, while Elle looked around. A non-descript brick building with a glass store front blended into the urban sprawl. Red bricks wreathed gray created a worn slightly dilapidated look. Above the shop kiosk an L shaped sign held the words 'Clock Shop' in faded yellow letters. Atop the sign a clock displayed the time. Elegant cursive black letters spelled 'Gray & Sons' on the clock face.

'Elle.'

'Yes, Gabriel,' she responds. Her blue eyes catch him studying her. He stands next to her with his head tilted slightly.

'Want to go inside?' he asks.

Elle nods. She feels her Gabriel's hand pressed against the small of her back, while he guides her to the front door. He unlocks the door and pushes it open for her. Elle walks inside.

Sound assaults her. A cacophony of ticking and tocking cause her to pause in the doorway. The hundreds of clocks and watches each make an individual noise. These small noises combine to create an almost physical symphony of sound. It makes the shop seem like a living thing calling out in a foreign language, beseeching her to enter this otherworldly place that is her Gabriel's kingdom. Elle lets the sound wash over her.

Elle knows she is staring. Glass display cases hold hundreds of time pieces. Clocks of every size, shape and material imaginable sit inside the cases. Wooden cuckoo clocks with elaborate carved designs decorate the walls. Two dark wood desks are shoved into the corner. A couple of lamps and a variety of tools cover the desks.

'Elle,' Gabriel says.

His large hand presses comfortable against her back. He guides her through the doorway. Then he lets his hand slip from her back.

The cool shop air makes her pull her thin white sweater tight. Gabriel gave her some cloths after finding her black dress crumpled on his bathroom floor. Elle was surprised that he had spare clothes that fit her. When she asked him about it, he gave some excuses about them belonging to a former girlfriend who left them at his apartment. The way he said it, plus the fact the sweater, gray shirt and black jeans are all her exact seizes made her suspicious. It all seemed too perfect. In spite of that, Elle liked that her Gabriel was already giving her cloths. He is so considerate.

Elle slides her hand along a glass case. Blue eyes wonder over the clocks inside. The clocks look like fancy china plates, with their edges covered by intricate blue designs, and the time piece in the center.

'Gabriel?' Elle asks.

She starts to turn, when she feels him behind her. The moment before she could swear he was doing something across the room. Now, he stood a few inches from her. His dark eyes met her blue ones. Her Gabriel was so attentive. Elle likes that.

Her small fingers tap the glass, 'Gabriel, what are these?'

She feels him shift behind her. His large bulk presses warm against her back, while he slides a hand possessively around her waist. Strong subtle fingers engulf her hand. He points their joined hands at each of the dozen time pieces in the case, while he explains each pieces history, manufacture and unique characteristics. When he finishes, her Gabriel kisses the top of her head. Elle feels his warm breath against her hair as he lingers there.

Elle's blue eyes focus on the two strangely shaped rocks that rest like book ends atop the glass case. The rocks clear peculiar shapes intrigue her. Their natural beauty clashes with the shop's mechanical splendor.

'What are those?' she asks pointing with their joined hands.

'Quartz,' his voice rumbles against her head.

'Okay, why do you have them?' she asks.

Gabriel responds, 'They're used in watches because they create a pulse effect. Also, they can do other things, if. . .well the pulse effect mostly.'

'Pulse effect?'

Gabriel chuckles lightly. His breath ticks her cheek as he moves to see her face. He smiles knowing as he answers, 'It keeps the watch running on time.'

Elle nods her head. He says something else after that. She does not catch it. Instead her thoughts are on his soft lips, the day's stubble on his cheeks and his short spiky hair. Her Gabriel was so handsome. Pushing up on her tiptoes, Elle kisses him. Her lips open. Small tongue brushes against his soft warm mouth. It opens. She slips her tongue inside, runs it against his teeth, his tongue, the top of his mouth. He pushes her against the glass case. His tongue slides against hers. He kisses her hungrily, until she cannot think, cannot breathe. All that exists is him, his lips, his tongue, his hands, his warm body. He stops. They break apart. Dark and light eyes watch each other inches apart. Her Gabriel seems like he is watching her trying to find something.

'I got you a gift,' Gabriel states.

Elle is excited by the idea that her Gabriel had another gift for her. He is so much better than Adam. She always had to beg Adam for gifts, but her Gabriel gave her cloths and now. . .maybe a clock. There are some many pretty ones here.

She smiles brightly at him, which he returns. Gabriel takes her small hand in his. He leads her over to the register, which rests atop a wood and glass case. A variety of watches are displayed inside. He stops her in front of the register. He flashes a smile and walks behind the glass case. Gabriel bends down out of Elle's sight. She hears a wood on wood scraping sound like a drawer opening. After some rustling, he stands, with his hands clasped together.

'Close your eyes,' he commands.

Elle looks at his hands. Then she searches his features. His pleasant expectant look starts to fade as her blue eyes watch him.

'Okay,' she says. Elle closes her eyes, while she nibbles at the inside of her lip,

She feels his warm hand clasp lightly around her left wrist. He pushes her sweater sleeve up. Then he straightens her arm. Elle hears a faint click. Cold metal draws the warmth from her skin. The metal envelops her slender wrist, while his fingers brush her hand.

'Open your eyes,' Gabriel tells her.

Sapphire eyes open. She looks down. A gold link watch fits comfortable on her wrist. Individual gold shaped hearts link together to hold a gold and silver faced watch.

Elle gasps, 'It's beautiful Gabriel.' Elle rolls her wrist, which causes the watch to slide and shift comfortable. 'How did you know the size?'

He smiles knowingly at her, 'Lucky guess. I noticed you didn't have a watch so I found this one. It was broken but I fixed it for you.'

Gabriel, dear sweat Gabriel. He is so hers. He knew her clothes sizes, he knew her wrist size, and he knew how much she liked gold jewelry. Daddy always said gold went well with her blonde hair. Somehow Gabriel must have known that. Her Gabriel is so attentive.

'I love it, Gabriel,' Elle states as her blue eyes stare at her new watch, 'how did you find it.'

'Umm,' uncertainty sounds in his voice, 'I found it with someone. She doesn't need it anymore. . .and I never saw you with a watch and your dad always get you gold jewelry so. . .I thought of you.'

Her eyes flick up to his face. He looks a little uncertain, a little like the Gabriel she did not like. 'How'd you know Daddy always gets me gold jewelry?'

He smiles and shrugs his shoulders, 'Lucky guess.'

That was odd Elle thought. She knew that they never talked about jewelry or what Daddy got her. How did her Gabriel know that?

Something crosses his face like he can sense her uncertainty. With a half smile his dark eyes evaluate her.

He nods his head toward a doorway at the back of the store, 'Let me show you something.' Then his long strides take him quickly to the curtain. With one hand he hold it open for her, he looks expectantly at her.

'Okay,' Elle responds.

Elle walks toward the curtain. His eyes follow her anxiously as she approaches. Elle slides one hand across his chest, in what she hopes is a reassuring gesture, as she steps past him and into the room beyond.

Elle stops. Her cyan eyes dart about the room trying to take in all the details. A black leather and dull steel table sits in the center of the room. It looks like the tables that doctors use or that feature prominently in television medical dramas.

Just inside the door, a long set of dark wood draws and shelves run along the wall. Her eyes take in the closed draws and a stainless steel sink in the middle of the shelves. Elle takes a hesitant step toward the table. Then she notices more shelves to her right. Dark wood shelves about six feet tall loom over her. A black drape conceals the shelves' contents. Elle takes a step toward the shelves and stops.

She turns to look questioning at her Gabriel. He meets her gaze with a confident, even anticipatory smile. Gabriel nods his head.

Elle touches the drape with her small hand. Thoughts about what she found hidden at his apartment flood her mind. The blood scrawled words. The religious gibberish. Momentarily her hand rests against the drape. Then she grips the material and yanks the drape free. It slides heavily to the floor.

Elle gasps.

The. . .things on the shelves. Her blue eyes flick from the shelves to Gabriel. He stands silent watching her. His head tilted to the side. Elle looks again at the shelf. She counts the jars there.

Seventeen.

Her Gabriel kept seventeen brains floating in glass and stainless steel jars. Some clear fluid kept them suspended. Elle noticed that a few of the brains were dived. Split along the middle into two seemingly equal parts.

Elle feels her mouth work. She tries to find words. This was unexpected. She knew Gabriel killed people but. . .but this. . .this was unexpected.

'Why?' she finally manages to speak.

Gabriel walks to the shelves. He looks relevantly at his keepsakes.

'Their amazing aren't they?' he asks, while giving her a quick look over his shoulder. Then he turns back to his collection. His strong fingers stroke a jar causally, 'I'm fascinated by neurology. My entire life I've wanted to study the brain, to be a doctor. My father was a watchmaker and he wanted me to be a watchmaker. That was easy. I understood how watches and clocks worked. I understand how things work, how to take them apart and put them together… but the brain. It's fascinating, so different, so much better than a watch, so much harder. When I started college I wanted to take medical classes. Instead I focused on engineering. My family never had much money. Even with the shop, my few scholarships and some savings I could barely afford school. Neurology. . .medical school would take too long and cost too much. Instead I became an engineer'

He turned to look at her. His expression happy, like a little boy showing off a favorite toy, 'Then I had this idea. I knew how to do my own research, how to study the brain and satisfy my other urges. I could punish the bad people and use them for something good. You understand don't you, Elle?'

Elle nod her head. She understood the urges, the need he talked about. The brains were something else, something different. Elle was never that interested the brain, but she was not going to disappoint her Gabriel.

Smiling brightly at him, she says, 'Of course I understand. I've always found it interesting too. If-.'

Her phone interrupts, provides an excuse to stop. Elle reaches inside her pocket. She looks at the display and flicks it open, while holding a finger up to Gabriel telling him to hold on.

'Hi,' she answers.

'Elle,' Sarah's familiar voice responds, 'You didn't come home last night. Is everything okay?'

Elle drifts away from her Gabriel. She walks to the medical table, before she responds, 'Yes, I'm fine.'

'So how was he?'

Elle silently thanks Sarah's timing, 'How was he what?'

'Elle,' Sarah begins in that superior tone of voice, 'how was he in bed last night?'

Elle knows she cannot answer that with him standing right behind her. Nervously her fingers pick at the black leather table top, while her eyes explore the room, 'Umm…I'm with him now. He's showing me his shop.'

'Well put him on then,' Sarah requests.

That was the last thing Elle considered doing. She was not sharing her Gabriel with Sarah. He was hers, hers. Finally, blue eyes find what she needs, 'No, hang on. . .' Elle turns to face a confused head tilted lover, 'Excuse me, Gabriel.'

She walks quickly toward the back doorway. Elle steps through and pulls the door partway closed behind her. A short hall leads to a dark room beyond, where she sees a bed pressed against the wall. Also, what looks like a bathroom is straight across from the door she just came through.

'What was that, Elle?' Sarah bugs her.

'I just stepped into the other room. Did you actually call to check on me or just tease me?', Elle responds.

'Both,' her friend quips.

Elle is flattered her roommate is so concerned, 'I'm fine.'

'So, how many times and how was it? If you answer, I'll leave you alone,' her roommate states.

Sarah always wanted to hear about Elle's sexual encounters. Elle thought her friend enjoyed hearing about other peoples' sex life a little too much. Also, she figured Sarah was a little jealous because Elle had the better night.

'Fine,' Elle says as her eyes adjust to the dark room, 'three, in his bed, against the wall and in the shower.'

'How was it?'

Elle did not know how to describe what she shared with her Gabriel. How comfortable yet exhilarating it was between them, 'Good, really good.' Elle starts walking down the short hallway, 'Great actually.'

'Are you going to work today?,' Sarah asks.

Elle did not even consider that, 'No, I'll be back this afternoon or evening.' Then the idea that her Gabriel could take her out again flashes across her thoughts. 'Maybe,' Elle adds.

'Well, I'll see you then,' her roommate states.

Finally, Sarah was done. 'Bye,' Elle says hurriedly and slides her phone closed.

Elle stands at the end of the short hall that the bathroom and the back wall of her Gabriel's special room form. Her sapphire eyes examined the neatly made bed, with its blue comforter and big fluffy pillows. She was tired. Her Gabriel did not let her get much sleep last night. Stepping into the room Elle looks for a light switch. Something covers the wall to her right. Her eyes cannot make it out in the dark. Spotting the light switch, her delicate fingers flip it on.

She covers the wall.

Hundreds of Elles cover the wall. Elle at work, Elle at the gym, Elle at her apartment, Elle at a restaurant. Hundreds of pictures create a collage of Elles that reaches from floor to ceiling. Most of them feature her alone. A few show her with Sarah, with Peter, with Adam, with Daddy, with her personal trainer, with her co-workers. Fascinated Elle walks closers. Her hand traces her frozen half-nude features as she runs on a treadmill at her gym. Then she lets her hand fall to her side. Without turning, without hearing a sound, Elle knows her Gabriel stands behind her.

'Gabriel,' she calls out.

'Yes,' his answers close behind her.

'Get your camera,' she commands.

After a second she hears a drawer open and some rustling, while her eyes scan the pictures. Yes, Elle confirmed her suspicion. Something was missing from the pictures. Still, she feels flatter that Gabriel has so many pictures of her. That he cared so much about her. Some part of her mind knew it was not normal, that she should run away screaming . . . but she knew she was not normal, and Gabriel understood her. He worshiped her.

Elle turns around to find her Gabriel standing by a small wood desk a few feet away. In one hand he holds a digital camera, while he gives her a questioning concerned look. Elle walks to him. She rubs his chest reassuringly with one hand, while taking the camera from his loose grip.

'Shh, my Gabriel,' Elle comforts him. 'Let me fix this,' she whispers.

Elle looks at the camera. She toys with a few buttons, while feeling Gabriel's dark gaze pressing against her. Eventually Elle finishes with the camera. She places it carefully on the desk, where she uses some manila folders filled with newspaper clippings to elevate it. Quickly she grabs both of her Gabriel's large hands with her small ones. She steps away from him, while pulling his hands. He follows her. He looks uncertain, head tilted, confused dark eyes burning. Elle releases his hands. She pushes up on his tiptoes, while her hands press against his dark shirt and the warm muscular chest beneath. Their lips meet. She kisses him softly. Tender.

Flash.

Elle pulls back. Blue eyes search his features expectantly. She feels his large hands on her slim waist. He holds her tight. Her Gabriel maintains the embrace, while she stretches to pick up the camera. Small nimble fingers save the picture. Then she accesses it on the display scene. It shows her kissing her Gabriel. She turns the camera so he can see them.

Smiling up at him, she states, 'Now, you have a picture of us for your wall.'

His dark eyes look at the camera. Then look at her. That wicked knowing smile spreads across his face. It fits perfectly with his dark stubble and spiky hair.

'Kiss me,' Elle commands.

He does. Hungry, open mouthed and wet. His strong hands press her small body against his large bulk. Elle loves it. The soft, hungry, wet, overwhelming sensations. The building desire he sparks inside her. Eventually he releases her.

Elle rests her head against his chest, while he hugs her tightly to him. She lets him hold her, with his hand rubs warm circles on her back.

She hears him whisper, 'Am I dreaming?'

Elle laughs. She tilts her head up to look at him, while keeping her chin on his chest. 'No, my Gabriel,' she tells him, 'I'm really. This is really.'

His dark eyes search hers, trying to find something. Elle pushes up on tiptoes to kiss his chin, while pressing her hand to his chest.

After she pulls back, Elle places the camera on the desk. Then she says, 'Let me prove it too you, my Gabriel.'

Elle starts to slide down his chest. His hands slip up under her arms. He pulls her back up. Elle looks at him. Her expression confused, blue eyes hurt. Her Gabriel did not want her to do that, but with all the pictures, with last night, he must think about her in this little room, must want, must dream about her doing this to him.

'Elle,' his brown eyes intense, 'I need you to prove yourself to me.'

An exasperated breath flares from her lips. That was what she was going to do. Elle slides one small hand down his chest. She rubs against his pants and the semi-erect member beneath. Her clear eyes wide, 'I will, Gabriel. Anything you want,' she bites her low lip in that seductive look that she knows he likes, 'anything.'

'Elle, I-,' he swallows, while his gaze becomes hungry, lustful, 'I…later.'

'Gabriel,' her tone confused. Her hand stills its palming motions against his hardness.

'I,' he swallows again, shakes his head. Then he pushes her gently away. Elle hugs herself. Confused, scared thoughts tumble around inside. Did her Gabriel not want her anymore? Did he not think she was good enough?

His strong hands rub her upper arms and shoulders. Dark eyes look at hers, 'Elle, I need you to prove yourself. I've shown you things about me and I need to be able to trust you.'

'You can trust me, Gabriel,' she responds eagerly.

'Yes,' his expression shifts a little, 'well I showed this to someone else and she. . .she was not trustworthy. I need you to do something so I know that I can trust you.'

Elle thinks about what she would do to keep her Gabriel. Anything Gabriel, your mine she thinks. Her blue eyes watch him closely trying to understand what he wants, 'Tell me what you want me do and I'm do it Gabriel. I'll do anything for you.'

Gabriel smiles predator happy, 'Cla-that girl you walked in on with Adam. How do you feel about her?'

Elle answer immediately, 'I hate that little hussy slut.'

His smile widens like a wolf about finding his mate, 'Would you kill her for me?'

Elle smiles back. Warm happiness spreads through her small body. Her Gabriel wants her to kill for him. 'Yes, Gabriel,' she answers blue eyes intense, 'will you help me?'

He blinks nods his head in assurance. 'I intended to,' he responds.

Gabriel cups her face with a strong warm hand. His thumb brushes her lips. His gaze hungry. His words commanding, 'Elle, a moment ago, how were you going to prove yourself to me?'

Elle lets his thumb brushes her soft lips. Then she takes it into her mouth, nips it gently, while swirling her tongue against the calloused tip. After a few seconds she releases it.

'Sit down,' she tells him.

Elle pushes Gabriel toward the bed. He stumbles to a seated position. Her Gabriel looks at her, while she walks slowly to him. Lower lip caught between her teeth, Elle kneels before him.

Sapphire eyes study her Gabriel's features. Before, when she did this, he was only Gabriel. Now, he was different. He was Slayer. He was the most powerful man in New York. He terrified the city, out witted the cops, and he was hers, hers.

Elle slides her hands slowly up his thighs. Reaching his waist she unzips his fly, which frees his erection. She feels his dark eyes on her. Matching his gaze she slowly licks her lips. A half smile on his face, one large hand slips through her hair. He cups the back of head. She lets him guide her toward his hard member.

Elle opens her mouth. She takes his hardness inside. Her tongue runs against the underside of his shaft, while she pumps him with her hand. Gabriel moans and gasps above her. While keeping her head low, his strong hands brush her long golden hair away from her mouth.

She bobs her head again and again on his member. In some part of her mind, Elle knows she is making a mess on his pants, damping them with her salvia, marking her Gabriel's clothes with her mouth. Elle lets her hand slip from his member. Then she takes her Gabriel as deep as possible. Gagging a little, Elle closes her lips around him and hums. Immediately she feels his hands tighten around her head. He bucks his hips, which drives him deeper into her mouth. She can barely breathe as he thrusts himself up. His hands clasp her head against his hard member. His need excites her, lets her know how much control she has over him. Elle feels his member quiver in her mouth. Then he spills himself inside her.

Elle swallows most of it. His hands slip from her head, while he leans back against the wall above the bed. His saliva slicked member slips from her mouth. Leaning back on her heels, Elle looks over at the mini fridge that doubles as a night stand. Opening it, Elle finds a coke can.

She opens the can with a hissing pop. Elle takes a long drink from it to get that taste of her mouth, the taste of her Gabriel. The entire time she feels his eyes studying her every move. After a second long swilling drink, Elle pulls some tissues from the box atop the fridge. She hands them to her Gabriel. Amused blue eyes watch as he cleans himself off. He gingerly touches his sensitive member, where he cleans her markings off him. When he finishes, he tucks himself back into his pants. Then he tosses the tissue into a small waste basket beside the fridge, where Elle deposited the empty coke can.

Elle pushes herself off her heels. She slides onto the bed next to her Gabriel. Small arms warp around him, while she rests her head on his chest. His muscular arm slides around her back, which pulls her closer. He leans back against the wall, as she snuggles against his warm body.

'You got my pants wet,' he complains.

Elle pulls her head away from his chest. Indignant blue eyes find his half smile. He was teasing her.

'Fine,' Elle says, 'see if I ever do that for you again.'

The smile widens. Its normal hungry look sated by her recent actions. Still he answers, 'You will.'

She looks at him and shakes her head, while unable to prevent herself from matching his smile. Elle knows that she would do anything to keep her Gabriel.

He leans down and presses a quick kiss her forehead. Then he rests his head against the wall. His eyes half close as he leans back. Elle wraps herself tightly around his hard muscular body.

'Gabriel,' she asks.

'Hmm,' he answers with his eyes closing.

'Gabriel.'

He lets a sigh escape his lips, while opening his eyes. 'Yes, Elle.'

Blue eyes study his dark features. His gaze meets hers. He waits.

'Elle?' he questions.

'How long did you follow me?' her tone hesitant.

'I,' he swallows, an embarrassed uncertainly mars his confident features, 'I started about six months ago. Remember when you and Sarah picked up Peter at his apartment?'

Elle shakes her head.

'Okay,' he says his disappointment clear, 'I was there. Peter needed some help fixing his sink. It kept backing up so he asked me to help. I. . .I saw you. You wore a white top and black pants. You looked. . .you were amazing, so beautiful like a blue eyed angel with golden hair. This was after C-after she told Peter about you. When Peter said your name, I had to see you. Peter was in the living room and you there with Sarah talking to him. I watched you from the kitchen. It. . .I didn't expect you to be so beautiful. My clothes were wet and covered in filth. I feared if you saw me that you wouldn't want me. That you would. . .that you would misjudge me, which is what I want most people to do, but not you. Not if you were like me. I stood inside the doorway so you couldn't see me. When you and Sarah were done flirting with Peter, he started toward the kitchen. I hurried back to the sink. He came in and I told him I needed to finish up and he could go. He let me stay to finish up and he left. I finished, cleaned up a little and followed you.'

He pauses. His dark eyes search hers. Elle did not know what to think, how to respond to that. Gabriel followed her for six months and she never noticed, never suspected. It should scare her, terrify her. It did not. It thrilled her, it turned her on. Her Gabriel wanted her, needed he like she needs him. Why else would he follow her like he did? Why else would he take so many pictures of her? He created a shire to her in his shop. He did it because he worshiped her. Her Gabriel worshiped her. In that moment, Elle realized the power she had over the most violent, most powerful, most important man in New York City. Elle realized she was his goddess. She realized Gabriel was her wolf, her huntsman that she could command. That she already had.

Her petite hand cups his face, while she smiles brightly at him, 'I understand, my Gabriel. It's okay. Really, it's all okay.'

A bright broad smile crosses his features. He turns his head, which lets him kiss the inside of her wrist, just above the watch he gave her.

'Gabriel,' Elle begins, 'I want to do it. I need to kill her. You'll help me, right?'

'Of course, Elle. I already told you that.'

Smiling Elle cuddles closer to him. She nuzzles his neck.

'Elle, she is still a student at NYU, yes?'

Elle nods her head against her Gabriel's chest.

'That makes it easier. You remember when the university redid its security systems, the electronic locks, cameras and other stuff?' he asks her.

Elle did not remember that. Really she did not pay too much attention to that stuff.

'No,' she answers.

'Hmm…they did about two years ago. Guess who helped design and install it?'

Now, Elle understand. She responds excitedly, 'My Gabriel.'

'Yes, so give me a few days and I'll have the basics arranged,' he responds.

His response causes Elle to think. She considers how he could kill all those people and not get caught.

'Gabriel, do you use the security system to help you…you know punish the bad people?'

'Yes, it lets me get close to them without leaving a trail.'

Elle wonders if she should bring this up to her Gabriel. If he would get mad, could he get mad at her?

Hesitantly Elle states, 'You realize you're a little hypocritical.' She pauses to look at him. His eyes study her, more interested than upset. ''Cause what you're doing isn't 'good', it's kind of…you know, 'bad'.'

He seems to consider that before responding, 'Yeah, but I've have this hunger, this compulsion and I just can't control it. I don't want to either.'

That Elle understands. Nodding her head she says, 'I know . . . it's just no fun when they make you control it.'

His dark eyes watch her. Elle looks at him wondering what he is thinking.

'Don't let them do that to you Gabriel. Don't let them do that to me again,' she says.

He smiles, 'I won't.' Then he kisses her forehead.

She snuggles against his chest. They lay their wrapped together for a few moments. Elle wonders if she should ask him. Would her Gabriel tell her how it felt? Elle really wanted to know. She pulls away from his chest. Her blue eyes met his dark gaze.

'What does it feel like to kill someone?'

Gabriel looks at her, with his features set. Then he smiles dark, wicked, 'It feels good. It's intense. It makes me feel alive.' He pauses his intense brown eyes search her sapphire ones, 'You'll like it Elle.'

'I know,' she responds. Elle does not want to wait. She wants to do it now.

She opens her mouth to beg him. When he interrupts, 'No, Elle. We do this right.'

How did her Gabriel know? Her lips turn down in a pouty little girl look. His expression remains firm. Gabriel shakes his head.

A sigh escapes Elle's lips, 'Fine,' She hates waiting, has waited too long already. Suddenly she states, 'I'm hungry, Gabriel.'

He pauses looking at her. Then a wicked smile crosses his face. 'Elle,' his words innocently confused, 'do you need to eat my breadstick, again?'

She tries to slap him. His large hand catches her small wrist. She hears him laughing as he tries to calm her, telling her it was only a joke. Elle slides her hand from behind his back and up under his arm. She starts to tickle him. Gabriel jerks away from her fingers like he received an electric shock. Quickly he grabs both her hands and pins them to her lap.

'Elle, Elle, I'll get lunch. Just relax, it was only a joke.'

Elle knows it was a joke. Still, she learned something important from it. Her Gabriel is ticklish. That is something she needed to remember.

She nods her head, 'I'll forgive you, if you take me to lunch.'

'Good, where do you want to go?'

Elle shrugs, 'Surprise me.'

The next chapter Syelle runs into she who shall not be named and I wrap up a couple other things. Then the pace really picks up.

Yes, I took a few liberties with the back of Gabriel's shop. Consider it artistic license. Plus, it is AU anyway.

Any comments, criticisms or questions are appreciated.