A/N: Many, many thanks to all who have reviewed so far, especially Lara-Van. I do already have all of these stories written, but I'll see what I can do with your idea, 'cause I like it. And sundaes. I like those too.

He called her.

It had been exactly six months, eight days, 42 minutes, and thirteen seconds - now fourteen - since Elle and Gabriel had last seen each other. Since they'd betrayed each other - hurt each other.

Although he'd thought of her constantly, his Angel With a Broken Watch, Gabriel had not attempted to contact Elle. The hurt was still too fresh for him to try to call her.

But Gabriel had no one else to turn to, and he wasn't about to let himself blow up half of New York.

"Don't hang up," he pleaded into the payphone.

Her head screamed for her to hang up on him, to ignore the killer's pleas, but a part of her, however small, still loved the monster.

"What do you want, Sylar?" Elle growled.

"Just to talk. I need... I could use your help, Elle. Please?" He desperate, and she knew it.

"Fine. I'll meet you at Sally's Diner, Chestnut Street in Hartsdale. 2:30." If Elle was going to agree to this, it was going to be on her terms.

"And bring money," she added. "You're buying me a Slush-o."

Gabriel happily acquiesced, and arrived at the diner at 2:20. It was when he sat down that Gabriel first realised he knew nothing about Elle.

And she knew everything about him.

Only slightly more apprehensive than he had previously been, Gabriel bought two large cherry Slush-o's and sat down to wait.

Elle stumbled in at 2:37 and spotted Gabriel in the corner. He looked only slightly dark and ominous in his all-black attire. She slid into the seat across from him and wordlessly sipped on her Slush-o.

"Hey," Gabriel began, staring into his own Slush-o.

"Hey," Elle mumbled back.

The situation was rather awkward for both parties.

"Elle," Gabriel began, looking her in the eyes, "I need your help."

"What the hell do you possibly need me for, Sylar?" Elle hissed back.

"I... I think I'm gonna blow up New York City." He looked back down into his Slush-o.

"I know all about that. You're not going to blow up New York. Pet-... someone else is."

"Elle, I know you all think it's Peter." Gabriel looked up at her.

"And I know that you're wrong."

Elle sighed. This was not what she needed today. A nice manicure and a kill or two, sure, but not this; not him.

"What makes you so sure you're the bomb?"

"I, I don't know, really. I painted it. And then I was sure it was me."

Elle raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"You painted it."

"Yeah, I painted it. With Issac's power."

Elle inhaled, an understanding coming to her face.

"So, you did kill him."

"That company of your's doesn't know too much, do they?"

"You could say that." In truth, the company knew very much about Sylar, they just weren't telling her.

They were silent for a while before Gabriel spoke again.

"Elle," he grabbed her free hand, "I want to run. And I want you to come with me."

"Wha- what?"

"C'mon, Elle. Let's ditch them all. Peter, Suresh, The Comapny, all of them."

"Gabriel, I don't-"

His eyes took on a desperate look as Elle's began to widen in fear and surprise.

"We can go away, together. have a normal life, with all the peach pie, ziti, and cherry Slush-o's we want."

Elle thought about it. She really wanted to up and go with him, but what if it was just a trick? He'd killed that Trevor kid pretty quickly. What was stopping him from killing her?

"I can't," she whispered ferociously, making her way out the door.

Gabriel sighed, and rested his head on his arms. He should have excepted this, should have-

"Why'd you do it?" Suddenly Elle was standing next to him. Her voice was at a near-hysteria level and tears were rolling down her face.

"You didn't have to kill him. It was all a test! If you had passed, we could have been happy. Together."

Gabriel pulled Elle down next to him, and hugged her close.

"I'm sorry, Elle. I'm so sorry."

He held her in his arms, helping to calm her, taking in the little sparks of electricity without a sound. They hurt a bit, but Gabriel was able to ignore them in favor of the distraught girl he held.

After a few minutes, the sparks and the sobs got fewer and farther between. Eventually, they subsided altogether.

Elle pulled away, and looked at him. She ran her hand down his face, a wide-eyed wonder splayed across her features. When she got to his lips, Gabriel turned his head and kissed her palm.

"I'm planning on visiting my mother after this. Come with me?"

Elle paused.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Gabriel questioned.

"Yeah, okay, let's go to your Mom's." Elle smiled.

They stood, and hand in hand, made their way to Gabriel's car.

"Oh," Elle said, "I almost forgot." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. She grabbed a pen from Gabriel's shirt pocket and scribbled something on it.

"If you really think you're going to blow-up the city, he'll help." She folded the paper into his hands.

Gabriel unfolded it and looked at the name. Claude Rains. Didn't he know that name?

"Gabriel!" Elle pushed him behind a van. The paper lay forgotten on the ground.

"You have to go. Now," she commanded.

"What? Why?"

"My father. He runs the company. He wants you dead. And he's here." She glanced over at her car, where Bob was standing.

Gabriel looked in the direction of Elle's stare. He gently turned her head so she was looking at him.

"Elle, come with me. We can run away, be safe from people like him."

Elle grabbed his arms.

"Please, Gabriel. Go. I can't lose you." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Not again."

And in that moment, Gabriel realised that Elle was just as broken as he was.

He kissed her. Hard and quick, but full of passion.

"I'll come back for you."

"You'd better." With that, Gabriel Gray hopped in his car and sped off.

Elle took a few deeps breaths, trying to compose herself before she darted over to her father.

"Hi Daddy," she said, trying her best to be chipper.

"Elle, who were you talking to?" Bob questioned.

"No one, it was-"

"Don't lie to me, Elle."

"I'm not. I promise, Daddy."

Bob gave her a reproachful look. He knew better than to trust his daughter. She was, after all, a lying sociopath.

"Okay. Why don't we go home?"

Elle smiled at her Daddy, figuring he'd believed her.

When she turned away, Bob pulled out his phone.

"Get me the Haitian. I've got a problem that needs to be taken care of."

Elle would never remember the night Gabriel stole back her heart.