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Thanks to everyone for the reviews.
Semantics, Semantics.
Elle and Sarah's Apartment-Sunday Night
Disapproved.
Elle could tell her Gabriel disapproved. His stiff posture, tight shoulders and critical brown eyes told her everything. She could not fix it now, had not even thought of it until it was too late.
'Sorry, it's not normally like this,' she lies.
He forces a polite smile. Elle knows from his expression that her messy room bothers him. He was always so neat and organized, while she prefers the disorganized chaos of her current surroundings. Her dirty cloths piled against the far wall, while her shoes spilled from the closest. At least her bedding was clean, which Elle was suddenly very thankful for because her Gabriel was sitting beside her.
'Elle,' her Gabriel probes, 'you said I had to come over because of some emergency…' His brown eyes look around the messy room hinting that he living conditions might be the emergency, yet they did not warrant his late night trip across the city.
Elle called her Gabriel once she calmed down. When Sarah reminded her that she would have to tell Daddy, Elle panicked. Then her roommate helped calm her and reminded Elle she should call her Gabriel. Elle could not remember the exact words she used to convince her lover to come over at such a late hour. She did recall that the words sounded anxious and fearful even to her.
After a half hour of impatient pacing, foot tapping and finger drumming, her Gabriel arrived. Immediately she grabbed his large hand and pulled her into her room. Now they sit together on her king sized bed.
Suddenly she cannot look at him. Blue eyes watch her small hands twist and turn against each other. Nervous thoughts drift through her mind. Elle worried that her Gabriel would not want her if he knew she was pregnant. Some part of her knew that was a crazy but…but…she could not shake the idea that he would leave her all alone, or worse that he would be angry at her, that he would think it was her fault and if he left her…
Breathe, Elle, Breathe.
His hand touches her shoulder. Elle jumps. He squeezers her shoulder, while his dark eyes seem confused. 'Elle, what's wrong?' he questions with his head tilted to the side.
She does not know what to do. Thoughts about her Gabriel leaving her, of the child growing inside her, of what Daddy will say, overwhelm her. Moisture distorts her vision. Slender arms clutch at Gabriel. They slip around his neck, while she drags herself into his lap. Reassuring muscular arms encircle her. Between the hiccups and the sobs she can hear her Gabriel making shushing, calming sounds. He rubs her back while rocking back and forth on her bed.
'Shh, Elle, Shh,' he comforts her. 'I'll make everything okay, just tell me what's wrong.'
Elle shakes her head against his chest. Afraid if she tells him, that he will leave, that he will discard her like Adam did. She stifles a sob.
He cups her cheek and tilts her chin gently upward. Their eyes meet briefly, before Elle looks away. 'Please, Elle, tell me what's wrong?' he asks.
She sniffs, 'Promise you won't leave me?'
He nods, with his features stoic.
Her half mumbled words run together, 'I'mpregnantdon'tleaveme.' She presses herself against his chest. Arms wrapped tightly around her Gabriel.
'Elle?' he questions.
Biting her lip, she tilts her head up to look at him. His brown eyes are confused, with his head tilted to the side. He forces a tight concerned smile. 'I'm sorry. I didn't understand that.'
Elle winces. She closes her eyes to avoid looking at him. She does not want to disappoint her Gabriel, yet…yet…She wants this child so much. The life growing inside her is everything. Elle is going to have a family. She is going to be a Mommy.
Things could be perfect. Her Gabriel can live here with her and she will take care of their child. Elle has disliked her pointless job at the paper company for months. If she had a child, then she had a good excuse to quit. Plus, she could spend more time with her Gabriel. Whenever he had a 'special' project they could have Sarah or Peter watch their kid and…and she was terrified.
What if he left her? Could she raise the kid on her own? Elle did not know anything about how to raise a child and without her Gabriel, who would help her? Would Sarah still be her friend? What was going to happen to her body? What was happening to it now? What was Daddy going to say?
At some point, while she sat there trying to think, Elle started crying again. Her Gabriel holds her all warm and safe, while he uses a strong dexterous hand to wipe away her tears. All the while he makes soothing sounds and says comforting words.
Elle holds him until the tears stop. The questions and the hope duel within her mind. Her Gabriel asks her about tissues. She tells him they are on the nightstand. She remains pressed against him as he nearly falls off the bed trying to grab the box. After a couple attempts he manages to pull it to him. Elle lets him help clean the tears away.
Once they are done, he asks again, 'Please, Elle, what's wrong?
Elle swallows. Blue eyes look down at his chest. Afraid what she may see in those dark lovely eyes. With her arms wrapped tightly around him, she says slower, 'I'm pregnant.'
Soft, warm lips brush her forehead. Gabriel smiles. Elle whisper hopefully, 'You're not angry?'
He shakes his head. 'No, of course not. I'm surprised. I didn't expect this to happen so quickly.'
The euphoria she initially felt at his response is tempered. What did her Gabriel mean 'so quickly.' She raises her eyebrows at him, 'You expected me to get pregnant?'
The indescribable something flashes across his dark features. Quickly he answers, 'No, well, yes. I just didn't think things would move this quickly. We've only been dating for a little over a month, and…I always hoped we would be a family one day Elle, and now we are.' He places a large hand on her stomach. 'That's what you want, right? To have a family? To have someone love you?'
Happiness courses through her. Elle wants him to say those three important words. With her best innocent needy look, she asks, 'You love me, my Gabriel?'
'I love you,' he answers.
Her Gabriel loved her. He said he loved her.
She kisses his lips, his cheek, his forehead. Between each kiss she whispers, 'I love you', like the words will magically bind him to her forever. He holds her to him as he lies back onto her bed. Elle lies atop her Gabriel kissing him, while she feels his large hand slide down her back and cup her butt.
Her slim fingers find his belt. Then she undoes it and unzips his fly. Her small hand slips inside his pants. She massages his hardening member. His hand squeezes her butt. Then he starts pulling off her shirt. Elle whines a little as she sits up and helps him. He follows her into a sitting position. They manage to fumble off her shirt and bra. With her breast exposed, Elle leans forward a little. His warm wet tongue swirls against her hard nipples.
Her eyes close in pleasure, while a moan sounds deep in her throat. His large hand palms her breast. He squeezes and massages it. His rough touches are too much for her swollen breast.
'Gabe, Gabe stop,' she says.
He does. Reluctantly she opens her eyes. Softly not wanting to disappoint, 'They're tender...'cause of the baby...gentle.'
'Oh,' he responds. He watches her closely. Then maintaining eye contact, he leans forward. He tongue flicks against her nipple. Elle shudders. Small hands run through his dark lush hair. She pulls his mouth against her breast.
His warm soft wet tongue teases and suckles her nipples. Elle squeezes her thighs tight around his waist. Her hips rub her sex against his hardness through the thin material of their pants.
With a shuddering breathe she whispers in his ear, 'Gabe, I need you inside me.'
Immediately she feels his hands pulling at her pants. She leans forward over him, which lets him pull them halfway down. Then a tugging struggling mess ensues as she tries to kick them off, while he pulls. Eventually the offending pants and panties are discarded on to one of the various clothes piles that adorn her room.
Slender hands tug at his shirt. Once she pulls it above his head, he kisses her. His tongue slides freely into her mouth. Her smaller tongue pushes back. For a moment they are groping hands and dueling tongues, until Elle moans as his strong fingers slide inside her moist sex.
One hand presses his fingers hard against her. This time she can touch him. She can have some control. The other hand tries to pull off his pants. More tugging and kicking as her Gabriel struggles to remove his pants and underwear, while she keeps his fingers pressed hard against her sex. Strong dexterous fingers slide in and out of moisture entrance, while his thumb rubs small fiery circles against her clitoris. Finally, his clothes are tossed somewhere away from the joined bodies.
Elle takes her small free hand and presses it to her Gabriel's mouth. She gives him a wicked smile. His moisture tongue licks a wet line from her palm to her finger tips. With her moisture hand, Elle strokes his member. Brown eyes half close at her caresses. Slender fingers pump his hardness, while her small hips try to buck his fingers deeper insider her.
'Elle,' he mummers.
She manages a pleased whine in response.
'Let go of my hand,' he asks.
'No,' she grips his wrist tighter. Her fingers stiffen and ache with exertions as she holds him against her.
'If you don't, I can't fuck you,' her Gabriel tells her. She still does not release him. Instead she continues to stroke his hard member. Her moisture supple fingers rub his tip. His jaw clenches a little as he fights to control himself against her caresses.
Elle teases him, 'What do you say, my Gabriel?'
'Please, Elle, let me fuck you,' he half gasps.
Elle releases both his hand and his hardness. Strong hands grip her waist. Her slender legs slide on either side his hips. Her Gabriel lifts her a little off the bed. His hardness presses against her stomach as he positions himself beneath her.
Their eyes met. Slowly she leans forward, while his muscular arms lift her up. His hardness slides into her. Elle moans with pleasure. She is sitting on top of him. Her breasts rub against his muscular chest, while his strong arms hold her tight. Slender arms warp around him. They hug each other tight.
Elle cries out a little, as her hips grind down in a circular motion. Her Gabriel rocks more than trusts against her. The friction on her sex is incredible. Already she can feel her release building. She grinds her hips against him, while he bucks the best he can against her.
Her Gabriel kisses her lips, her chin, her neck. Elle tilts her head back. He kisses and nibbles her throat. Elle starts to make wanton lustful noises.
Half closed blue eyes spot something. Sarah stands in the doorway to her room. Her roommate watches. Elle makes even louder more lustful noises as their eyes meet. She can feel the wet electric storm inside her spiraling out of control. The knowledge that Sarah is watching them makes it better. This time Elle is having sex, while her roommate has to listen, has to watch.
With the best imitation of Sarah's breathy radio voice that Elle can manage given her situation, she says, 'Gabe…harder…need you…har-,' the last cuts off as he shifts his grip on her. He twists against her small body and pushes her over onto the bed. Elle lies beneath him while he adjusts himself. She scuttles around on the bed. He looks confused as he tries to keep himself inside her. His strong arms grab her shoulders.
'Please, so she can watch,' Elle asks.
Her Gabriel blinks. He looks up and sees Sarah standing in the doorway. He smiles dark and hungry. Muscular arms help Elle adjust herself so she is lying across the bed, with her slender legs wrapped around his waist. Her head hangs off the bed a little. Upside down she sees her pixie haired friend stand in the doorway.
Strong hands grip her waist. Then she feels her Gabriel start to thrust against her. Her slender hips buck against him. Quickly she finds his rhythm. The burning hot electrical storm grows more intense. Well manicured fingernails scratch at her Gabriel's shoulders. She bites her lip, and tries not to cry out. He thrusts against her again and again and again.
Elle keeps her blue eyes locked to Sarah's brown. She watches her roommate start to pick her way around the various clothes and shoes scattered on the floor. Then Sarah is kneeling at the edge of her bed. One slender hand cups the back of Elle's head, while the other tenderly touches her cheek. Brown eyes look down at her. Her friend strokes her cheek, while her Gabriel thrusts harder and harder against her.
Elle feels Sarah slide her hand down to her breast. Slim experienced fingers tease her hard nipple. A noise escapes Elle's throat as she fights against her release.
Suddenly her Gabriel swats Sarah's hand away. 'Mine,' he growls.
Elle watches Sarah give her Gabriel an indignant look. Her roommate looks annoyed and something else, something wicked. Her Gabriel slips a hand between Elle's legs and starts to rub at her sex as he thrusts inside her. Slender hips grind and buck against the incredible pleasant sensations of his member, of his fingers.
Eyes almost closed Elle vaguely sees Sarah leaning down. Soft feminine lips touch hers. Elle opens her mouth. Sarah's small tongue slips inside. The sensations are too much, with her Gabriel's hardness thrusting inside her, with his strong fingers rubbing fiery warm circles against her sex, with Sarah teasing her nipples, with Sarah's wet tongue inside her mouth, Elle comes. The storm inside her releases its electric wet warmth that turns her blood to molten fire coursing through her small shuddering body. She moans a sound of pleasurable release into Sarah's eager mouth.
Her roommate kisses her for a few more seconds. Then her warm pink lips pull back. Elle keeps her eyes closed as her Gabriel keeps thrusting. Once, twice, a strangled noise that might have been her name or God or both escapes his lips. He holds her hips tight against him. He stills with a shuddering shaking breath.
He leans to the side, where he collapses on the bed beside her. Elle lies there riding the ebbing pleasure of her release. As her bliss slowly fades, her eyes open. She looks around. Sarah is gone. Her Gabriel lays beside her his chest heaving, his body sweat slicked and his dark eyes half closed.
She cuddles her small body against him. His arm wraps possessively around her back. Elle whispers, 'Don't be anger.'
He responds with a tired voice, 'I'm not…I wasn't expecting her and…I don't share well.'
Elle smiles a little at that. Some demented part of her like how possessive he was of her. She hoped it would extend to Baby also. 'Sarah's a little different…you…I'm used to it. I like it. Is that okay?'
'You're mine.'
'Always, me and Baby,' she responds.
Baby.
She cuddles closer, while he holds her. Elle lets him lie there breathing quietly for a time. Eventually she knows that there is something she has to ask.
With a hesitant tone, 'Gabe, I need…No, I want you do something with me.'
He shifts a little. Their eyes meet. Brown eyes look both curious and reassuring.
She ask, 'I'm going to tell my dad tomorrow and I would like you to be there, if you could?'
'Sure,' he answers. 'When?'
Elle shakes her head. 'I don't know whenever his secretary will let me see him.'
Dark eyebrows rise at her response. Cautiously he inquires, 'You have to make an appointment to see your father?'
Elle does not know how to explain her relationship with Daddy. While her Gabriel might know almost everything about her, she does not feel like talking about this right now. 'No, not an appointment…Just, it's complicated and I would really like you there and, please.'
He smiles and nods. 'Sure, just call me and leave work, okay.'
She considers for a moment. Then Elle asks, 'Will you spend the night, here with me?'
He does not seem to consider before answering, 'Yes, but on one condition.'
She smiles. Elle will agree to almost anything to keep him here with her tonight. With a happy tone she says, 'Name it.'
He answers, 'Let me take a shower before bed.'
Elle laughs. 'Only if you let me shower with you.'
'I wouldn't have it any other way.'
He untangles their intertwined limbs. Her Gabriel pushes himself from the bed. Elle moves to a kneeling position and wraps her slender arms around his neck. He picks her up and carry her to the shower.
Primatech Paper Offices, Kirby Plaza-Monday Afternoon
Elle paced back and forth behind the security desk. Six short hard steps, turn and six steps back, repeat. After the first five minutes the dark suited security officer gave her an annoyed look, twenty minutes later the man looked well beyond exasperated. Still, he did not say anything that might upset Mr. Bishop's daughter.
An impatient sigh escapes Elle's lips, as she turns and walks back across the small space behind the desk. Her Gabriel was supposed to be here now. Elle knew she was being impatient, that she was scared. She did not want to tell Daddy. He did not approve of her Gabriel and would defiantly not approve of her pregnancy, yet she hoped that somehow, someway he would.
This morning Elle arranged an afternoon meeting with Daddy. It was like pulling teeth with his personal secretary to get five minutes with her own father. The old witch kept telling her that Mr. Bishop was busy and had 'important' things to do. Elle hated the implication that she was not important to Daddy. That he did not want her. That he still blamed her for what happened to Mommy.
Stop, Elle, Breathe.
She turns and starts to pace again. Blue eyes roam over the building's elegant marble floored floor. Six short steps later, Elle turns, sighs and begins to walk back. She wonders what her Daddy is going to say when he meets her Gabriel.
Stop, turn-Her Gabriel.
With his dark hair parted, wearing his black block glasses, tweed jacket, and slacks he walks toward her across the entryway. Elle sighs. She had learned to enjoy this Gabriel, yet it was not the other Gabriel, her Gabriel. She loved that one. Elle wanted her Gabriel to met Daddy. After briefly considering that as he approached, Elle reconsidered. Maybe her special Gabriel meeting Daddy would not work out very well.
She tells the security guard to let her Gabriel through and walks out from behind the desk to greet him. Familiar strong arms wrap around her still slim waist. He kisses her soft, gentle and chaste. After a few seconds he steps back, while his dark hungry eyes evaluate her.
'This way,' she says and grabs his hand. Elle leads him to the elevator. They stand hand in hand waiting. Eventually the elevator dings. She leads him inside, where she turns and presses the button that will take them to the forty-second floor and Daddy's office.
That done she turns to her Gabriel. She smiles brightly up at him, trying to hide her nervousness. Elle says in giddy false enthusiastic voice, 'Daddy's going to just love you. He really likes responsible guys who pull themselves up by their bootstraps.'
He looks down at her. His dark eyes tell her he knows she is lying. Tilting his head, her Gabriel says, 'I know quite a bit about Bob.'
Elle nods. She is not embarrassed by her lie, just disappointed that her Gabriel knew that Daddy probably would not like him. Slim arms wrap around his waist. She presses her cheek against his chest. With her eyes closed, she focuses on the warm comforting feel of her Gabriel. The nervous worried thoughts still and then fade from her troubled mind.
He kisses the top of her head. Elle wants to stay like this, with her Gabriel holding her, with Baby being with them, with everything being so perfect.
The elevator door dings open. Her Gabriel tries to pull away from her. Slender arms tighten around him. Elle hopes that if she can hold on, then she can put this off for a few moments longer.
'Elle' her Gabriel says. His large hands push his arms off his waist. Then he cups her face with a warm muscular hand. Gently he says, 'It'll be okay, I promise.'
Elle nods and tries to not bite her lip. Her small hand interlocks with his. Hand in hand she leads him out of the elevator and down the hall.
Too soon, they reach Daddy's office. She pushes the door open. A middle aged busy looking woman sits behind a small wooden desk. Her gaze flicks to Elle. She forces a polite business like smile. Her cool voice says, 'He's expecting you.'
Elle feels the woman's eyes on her Gabriel as they walk across the outer office. Her small hand knocks on the dark wooden door of Bob's office. She waits a second, with the knowledge that Daddy would probably not respond, and then she leads her Gabriel inside.
Daddy sits behind a big wooden desk. The desk matches the other dark wood furniture that decorates the office. With the brownish red carpet, the office has a warm earthy tone that clashes with the building's cold steel and glass facade.
Daddy remains hunched over his desk. He seems absorbed in some report he is reading. Tentatively Elle leads her Gabriel closer.
'Daddy,' she calls out gently.
After a pause of a few seconds, he answers with a tired worn voice as he continues to read the report, 'Yes, Elle.'
Her gaze flicks to her Gabriel. His body looks tense, with his shoulders rolled forward a little and his free hand jammed deep into his pants pocket. His brown eyes met hers. He smiles reassuringly.
Elle swallows past the lump in her throat. She attempts a happy voice, 'Daddy, I'd like you to meet Gabriel.'
That causes Daddy to look up. His cold blue eyes lock on to her Gabriel. A blank evaluating expression reveals nothing about what Daddy might be thinking. The silence stretches for a few beats.
Elle is about to end the uncomfortable silence, when Daddy speaks. 'Gabriel,' the name cold on his lips.
'Mr. Bishop,' her Gabriel responds politely.
This is the part that Elle really is not looking forward too. She agreed with her Gabriel last night that they should tell Daddy right away. That way he might be more receptive to him. Her Gabriel stands beside her a few feet from her Daddy's desk. He squeezes her hand injecting comforting reassuring warmth. Elle takes a deep shuddering breath.
Her tone happy, trying to show Daddy how much this means to her, 'Daddy…umm…my Gabriel and I are going to have a baby…Umm…What I'm trying to say is I'm pregnant.'
Daddy sits behind his desk. His face remains blank. Elle starts to feel her lower lip tremble.
After an interminable nerve racking silence, Daddy says in a cold demanding voice, 'I assume Gabriel is the father?'
Elle nods.
Daddy gives her Gabriel a polite soulless smile, 'Would you give me a moment alone with my daughter, Gabriel?'
Her Gabriel looks at her, with his brown eyes questioning if she was okay, if he could leave her with Daddy. Lip caught anxiously between her teeth, Elle nods. He squeezes her hand again, turns and walks quietly out of the office.
She watches her Gabriel leave. Once the door closes, she turns back to Daddy. He has the blank disappointed look she hates. Unconsciously he arms warp around her waist like she needs to shield the life growing inside her from Daddy.
His voice calm unemotional, 'I'm disappointed Elle.'
His disappointment upsets her. Elle suspected he would not like this but…but she hoped he might be happy. She whispers, 'I'm sorry.'
Daddy sighs and leans back in his large leather chair. He asks, 'How did this happen?'
A crazy disturbed thought flutters across her mind. Well, Daddy it happened in bed, in the shower, on the floor, with my Gabriel thrusting and thrusting inside me and…Stop it, Elle. She takes a breath focusing herself before answering, 'It just happened. I didn't…It wasn't…Daddy, stuff like this just happens.' Elle knows her answer was not what he wanted to hear
His demanding blue eyes bore into her. Elle looks down. Her foot starts to tap at the carpet, beating out an impatient worried rhythm.
He asks, 'How many people have you told?'
Slender shoulders shrug. Her answers softly, 'Just my Gabriel, Sarah and you…Peter probably knows.'
Silence. Hesitantly, her blue eyes trail up the desk to find Daddy looking disapprovingly at her. 'You've been to a doctor, correct?'
Elle shakes her head back and forth.
Daddy scoffs. 'Elle you're smarter than that. You don't even really know if you're pregnant yet.'
She injects, 'But the tests and sym-,'
He interrupts, 'Let me speak.'
Elle falls silent. She watches him scribble something on a piece of paper. As he does so, Daddy tells her, 'This is what you're going to do, Elle. I've written down the name and address of a doctor. Go there and find out if you're actually pregnant. If you are, he knows how to…take care of these situations.'
Something like ice water replaces her warm blood. Pain radiates cold and terrible from her heart. She whispers disbelieving, 'Take care of?'
He nods like it is the most obvious most humane response, 'We've talked about this before, Elle. You know you're not fit to raise a child. You can't even live by yourself.'
As the moisture builds at the corner of her eyes, Elle interrupts, 'But Daddy, it's my Baby. I love-,'
'Stop,' he voice harsh. 'This is not a debate, Elle. I'm you're legal guardian and as such I can and will make medical decisions that are in your best interest. This…this…pregnancy is not. Maybe if it was someone else's child, someone worthwhile like Peter or Nathan, it would be different, but not some base born watchmaker's brat.'
She is crying now. The tears flow warm and free down her cheeks. Her slender arms clutch her stomach tight. 'Daddy,' she pleads.
'No, Elle. Now, take the paper and go fix this,' he commands.
Elle turns with her tears blinding her, runs from the room. She stumbles into the outer office, where familiar strong arms catch her. Her Gabriel holds her as she sobs. With her face buried in his chest, she does not see where he is leading her. Her small legs struggle to walk as he stumbles along beside him.
Eventually he stops. Slowly he rocks back and forth while he holds her tight. Her Gabriel makes calming shushing sounds. After a few minutes, her sobs fade to dry sniffles. His thumb wipes the tears from her cheeks. Elle stifles a hitching sob.
'Shhh, Elle, Shhh,' he comforts her. 'What's wrong?'
The fear of someone trying to hurt Baby, courses through Elle like a painful electric shock. Her eyes open. Blinking she notices they are standing in the hall outside of Daddy's office. She tries to focus, tries to speak. In a soft voice, she tells him, 'Daddy…he-he wants to hurt Baby.' Then her voice grows louder, insistent, 'No, one hurts Baby, no one. Please, I love Baby. Don't let Daddy hurt him, please my Gabriel, I love our Baby.'
He holds her tight. That indescribable something flashes across his dark handsome features. He tells her, 'Shhh, Elle. No one is going to hurt our child, I promise.'
'But Daddy-,'
'Shhh, Elle. It'll be okay, I promise,' he assures her with a smile. 'You want me to take you home?'
Elle nods her assent. All she wanted now was her Gabriel to hold her, to take her home, to make it all better.
Outside WCID Radio Station-Past Midnight Monday Night
Sarah walks outside. The cold assaults her. She pulls her jacket closed, while her brown eyes scan the sidewalk. She spots Peter's familiar slim muscular silhouette outlined by a streetlight. Her long legs quickly close the distance between them.
He greets her with a nod and a smile, 'How was it?'
She shrugs, 'It was okay tonight. Not great but not bad, just a show.'
He nods at that. His muscular arm hooks through hers. They walk side by side down the street.
Sarah smiles. She really likes having Peter take her home after work. Since Peter switched to the evening shift, she got to see him more often. Sarah liked the additional time she could spend with her boyfriend. Also, it let them do things like walk arm in arm to a late dinner.
As they head across town, Sarah makes idly conversation about his shift. She half listens to him. Her thoughts are distracted by what she has wants to ask him. Since Sarah found out Elle was pregnant, and that there was a great deal more to Gabriel Gray than she thought, she has wanted to ask Peter a few things.
Arriving at the restaurant, Peter leads her inside. Sarah slides into the booth, while her boyfriend sits across from her. A haggard looking waitress takes their orders. She departs saying she will return with Sarah's coffee and Peter's water.
Brown eyes study Peter. His scar always gives him a brooding look, yet Sarah detects something more reserved about him tonight. Peter looks contemplative and distracted.
Sarah interrupts his silent mediations. 'New York to Peter, come in, over,' she fakes a radio static sound at the end.
Peter's eyes flick from the city street beyond the dinner window to her. He tilts his head a little and smiles. His upturned lips pull and twist the lower part of his scar. 'What's up?'
Her brown eyes watch him for a second. She wants to asks, just unsure if she will like his answers. Sarah decides to start with the simple question. Slightly pensive, she asks, 'Has Gabriel told you?'
He raises his eyebrows, 'Told me what?'
Sarah is not surprised to hear that. Gabriel only found out last night and then spent the whole day with Elle. She did not know how Peter was going to react to the news, which made her kind of glad to tell him herself. Her boyfriend's history with Elle was common knowledge between the three of them. It was even Elle who introduced her to Peter. Still, there was some part of Sarah that always worried the he might harbor some feelings for her roommate.
Watching him closely, she says, 'Elle's pregnant with Gabe's kid.'
'Wow,' Peter responds. 'Wow, I…hmm. I was not expecting that. They've moved much quicker than I ever imaged.' He stops seemingly to let the news sink in. 'You realize that Elle's going to be a mom? That's surprising…I take it she has told him already, so what are they…', he words trail off with the expectation that Sarah will give him some clue to the child's possible fate.
She is happy with his response. Peter does not seem too interested in Elle or upset that it was Gabriel's and not his child growing inside her. Sarah tells him, 'They're going to keep it.'
'Good.'
She gives him an inquisitive look. She agrees with his response, but would like to know the reasoning behind it.
Peter says, 'I think the kid will be good for the both of them. It's…surprising they've moved this fast. They've both had kind of a rough time with their families and…if they become their own, it might really work for them.' He pauses while he studies her. 'I know we haven't talked about it much, kids I mean, but…umm… if you were, you know…I'd want to keep it.'
Sarah smiles reassuringly at him. A few months ago Sarah thought she might be 'you know', but she was wrong. The idea of having a kid excited and terrified her simultaneously. Sarah knew she had tempted fate a few times with Peter. Now, seeing Elle dealing with pregnancy made Sarah a little thankful she was not in the same situation, yet…yet…there was something about it
She takes a deep breath. Forces her stray thoughts back to the topic she wants to know more about. Sarah probes, 'Peter, once you told me there was more than I thought to Gabe, what did you mean by that?'
Brown eyes watch his smile fade to a tight grin. He answers, 'That he could get along with Elle better than you were expecting. Ever since Gabriel came back from London, he's been a little more dynamic. He actually went out with me at night. Plus, he started spiking his hair. You've seen how different he can be at times' He shrugs. 'That's all.'
She has definitely seen a side Gabriel that she would ever expect. His possessive sex with Elle was…something very much at odds with his normally mild mannered façade. Also, Sarah wonders why Peter just lied to her. She knew him well enough to recognize that tight smile, those tense shoulders and the way he always ended his falsehoods with a shrug, like he was slipping the weight of the lie from his shoulders.
Peter's comment about London seemed like it should connect to something. Sarah tries to place it yet…nothing. Unable to figure it out, Sarah asks, 'When did Gabe go to London?'
Her boyfriend responds, 'About two years ago. No, more like a year and half. The last semester of his third year and part of the summer he did some engineering study abroad program there.'
While Sarah considers what he told her, their food arrives. The waitress drops it off with their very late arriving drinks. Sarah sits quietly pushing her zesty lemon chicken with noodles around her plate. She watches Peter take a couple bites of his meatloaf, while his dark eyes focus on the plate or look distractedly at the city beyond the booth's window. He looks everywhere but at her. Why so distant tonight, Peter?
Sarah does not know if she really wants to ask him this. Peter has been friends with Gabriel a long time. Surely he would have noticed this before. Deciding she really does have to know, Sarah asks, 'Have you ever noticed that people die around Gabe?'
His fork stills half way to his mouth. Silence stretches for a second and then he takes a bite. Quietly she watches him. His brown eyes roam around his plate, while he takes an extraordinary long time chewing.
Peter answers causally, 'No, I haven't.' His gaze rises to meet hers. 'What are talking about anyway?'
Thoughts about how Peter could miss this obvious point tumble around her mind. Sarah trusts Peter and maybe, maybe he just never noticed that about Gabriel. She says, 'When he started at the station, that serial killer got a DJ named Brian Davis. This Goth kid Trevor replaced Brain, and sure enough he was killed too. Then there was that girl Maya, who I think Gabe was involved with. The Slayer killed her too. There was this other tech who worked with Gabe some nights, Zane something. The Slayer killed him also. Now, in the past two weeks Claire dies in an accident and then that killer gets Adam. You never noticed that Peter?'
He shakes his head. His voice placating, 'That killer is targeting people who want to NYU, so of course Gabriel knows some of them. Sarah, look at me, Charles Deveaux was a partner at my dad's firm. I knew him for years and he was a NYU alum. That psycho killed him, too. Does that make me the killer?'
She shrugs her slender shoulders, 'I don't know. Does it?'
Peter scoffs, 'Sarah you're being ridiculous. Gabriel's a good guy. He's not a-he's not like that. Trust me.' His hand takes reaches across the table and squeezes hers. He smiles reassuringly at her.
Sarah forces a bright smile back. She trusts Peter, trusts Elle, but she is does not trust Gabriel. There were too many coincidences. Plus, the way he snapped at her when she touched Elle…There was something viscous something animalistic about it that want beyond simple jealously.
Still, Peter was different. He was usually so gentle and kind. Sarah knows he would never hurt anyone. She wonders if there is maybe more to Gabriel than even Peters thinks. That is why she is going to keep looking into his friend and Elle's lover. Until she has more, Sarah needs to keep Peter on her side. With her voice confident, believable, Sarah states 'I'm sure you're right about Gabe.'
Elle & Sarah's Apartment-Tuesday Evening
The knock grows more insistent. Elle sighs as she laboriously pushes herself from the loveseat. She stayed home from work today to avoid Daddy hounding her about seeing that stupid doctor. After her dinner alone, Elle fell asleep on the loveseat alone.
Short slender legs carry her quickly down the hall. As she grows closer, Elle notes it is too early for Sarah to be back from work and have forgotten her key. Also, her Gabriel said he was busy tonight. After spending most of last night with her, he told her that work was making him stay late tonight. Maybe he had finished whatever it was early and came over to surprise her. Hoping for her Gabriel, Elle flings the door open without looking.
Two men stand in the hall. The first is thirtyish, pudgy with dark hair. The other is a tall somber looking black man. Elle gulps.
The shorter one flashes a gold badge at her. 'I'm Detective Parkman and this is Detective Jean-Louis. Are you Darchelle Bishop?
Panic. Fear like rouge heat lighting courses through her. The police were here. They knew. They were going to take her away again. She was going to lose her Gabriel.
Baby. They were going to take Baby. No one takes Baby.
Suddenly the officer is touching her shoulder. His large hand is fleshy and warm, 'You're not in trouble Mrs. Bishop…but can we come in?'
Blue eyes evaluate his seemingly sincere expression. The detective gives her a weak trying to comfort smile. That strikes Elle as odd. This was not how see expected the police to come arrest her if they found out what she had done to Adam or Claire. Biting her lip, Elle nods.
The dark haired detective steps into the entryway. He asks, 'Is there someplace we could sit?'
Elle nods, again. Weakly she says, 'Sure, this way.' She leads the two detectives down the hall to the living room. While she does so, distracted worried thoughts unsettle her. Why were the police here? Was her Gabriel okay? Had they found about him, about her? Did Daddy send them?
She sits on the red plush loveseat with the pudgy detective beside her. He asks, 'Is there anyone else here? A friend or roommate that could sit with you?'
Elle shakes her head and answers, 'No, my roommate is at work and my boyfriend is busy.' He nods his understanding. Also, she notes he does not appear suspicious at the mention of her Gabriel.
He takes her hand in hers. The detective gives her a sincere almost apologetic look. In a quite comforting tone he tells her, 'I'm sorry, Mrs. Bishop. There's been an accident. Your father, he's dead.'
NEXT TIME: Elle confronts Gabriel, Virginia makes an appearance and Sarah does some research.
When I started this chapter I didn't plan a sex scene. Really, I did not. GabriElle were just sitting on the bed together and started kissing and then clothes came off and one thing led to another. Why was Sarah included? I blame my muse. The words were flowing and then I wrote that Sarah was standing in the doorway. Everything came to a screeching halt. I thought about it and decided to go with it. The scene wrote itself in about a half hour. Hope you enjoyed the (kind of) threeway pregnancy sex.
Bob: Legal guardians are appointed for the mental incompetent (like a young woman who might be a paranoid, violent sociopath), with the guardian usually being a family member/parent. They can make medical decisions but abortion is usually legal forbidden. There is a ton of cases about the issue that I don't want to bring up. Bob's actions were only a literary plot device with no political statement intended. I'm trying to not touch the A issues with a ten foot pole, so…if we can restrict things to the story I'd appreciate that.
Darchelle Bishop: I looked and looked for Elle's 'full' name, which I never found. Elle means 'she' in French. While Elle can be used as a standalone name, it is usually a shortened/nickname. So I Googled (registered trademark, please I'm poor, don't sue me) 'French girl names'. I found Darchelle, which according to those baby name sites means dark and could be shortened to Elle. Thus, she became Darchelle Bishop. Also, those name sites say that Elle means sun or light. So she is DarkLight Bishop, which kind of reflects the different aspects of her personality. Why that is important to story, I could not tell you, because it's not. I became obsessed with finding Elle's 'full' name, if she had one. I blame it the writer's block I had for a little bit...So anyway, if someone knows what her 'full' name is, aside from Elle Bishop, let me know.