Author's Note: Actually this chapter, than another, than an epilouge. I counted wrong. Of course there is more drama. Emotional roller coaster ride! Some issues will be resolved. Some will have to wait.
CHAPTER 29: Living For Someone
"You give my life direction. You make everything so clear." – Can't Fight This Feeling, Reo Speedwagon
Elle found that once Gabriel returned things started back to normal. Better than normal. Sometimes he'd come home with flowers or chocolates. She liked presents. But she liked Gabriel even more. Time apart didn't make them so into each other usually. On most occasions she cried and had an episode, but she had always been able to orgasm now.
She didn't even think about it anymore. All she thought about was him. They had had their own little Thanksgiving just weeks before and were now planning a little Christmas though Bennet had relayed to Gabriel that they come over for Christmas. He has suggested they come over for Thanksgiving, but Elle wanted to try some her and Gabriel time. Last year they had spent it apart. Annie had dragged her to her family house and Gabriel had spent it alone probably.
She was putting away the laundry at the moment. She needed a break from trying to figure out how to tenderize the steaks. Elle wasn't comfortable pounding the meat, though Gabriel seemed to have no problems. She usually let Gabriel put his own laundry away, but today she was being kind. Nice. She held some socks in her hands opening the top dresser where her boyfriend kept his socks and underwear. She remembered a period in their relationship when the glasses clad Gabriel Gray would have blushed if she had even mentioned his underwear. Now they were at a point where the non glasses clad bad ass Company agent would joke if she wanted them off tonight.
They had grown since then. She wasn't the same overworked tired little prude who barely knew how kissing worked. Now she was a strong woman who was still overworked, but knew how to treat a man and how to treat herself. She pressed a pair of gray socks in the drawer and felt something hard. Her face twisted in confusion moving her hand around to fell. A box? A small box if it was that.
She pulled it out. The square box fit into the palm of her hand nicely. It was black velvet with a bit of dust coated the edges. She brushed her finger across the dust slowly coating her finger and rubbing it on her dark blue shiny dress. Something Gabriel had surprised her with. After dinner they were supposed to be going out to a movie than ice cream.
She looked the box over curiously wondering if she should open it or keep it safe. It was a secret and she hated to disturb his secret. She couldn't help herself. She was curious. She lifted the lid back hearing it snap back. Inside tucked between two small black cushions was a ring. A wooden band with tiny little diamonds around it. She pulled it out cradling it gently. She wondered.
She took the ring with her into the living room where she stood looking at Gabriel, mouth nearly hanging open. She pressed her lips together softly watching him bob up as he closed the oven door.
"Gabriel?" She called holding up the ring as if she were unsure what it was used for. He peered over at her. He was wearing a light blue button down shirt, gray jeans, and a clean cut gray jacket that matched the jeans to a tee. She looked at him raising her eyebrows. He was looking at the ring.
"Oh." He seemed almost surprised to see it in her possession. He came over to her looking down at the ring. "Oh." He repeated again. She raised her eyes again.
"Well?" She wondered if he would get it over with or make something up . Usually when he was unsure about something he lied. "What is it?" Her breath was hard. The question to him, easy. He took it gingerly from her grasp. She saw him sink to his knee holding it up to her. She was surprised. She expected a lie, not the truth.
"Elle," He said softly trying to hold back his smile. "I've been holding this off for too long. I'm not going to wait anymore. I know how I feel about you. I know how you feel about me. It's pretty obvious that I love you." He took her hand kissing it softly. "I have never met anyone like you Elle. And I'm pretty sure I never will. You are smart, beautiful, loving, kind, and . . . I just can't imagine myself without you." He looked into her eyes as he spoke. He held her hand softly. "Elle Bishop, will you marry me?"
Elle's jaw hung open ever so slightly. Seconds ticked. Long agonizing seconds for them both. Gabriel wondered if he did the right thing. Was it too soon? Was he too late? Had he broke her? Why wasn't she talking? Saying something? Anything?
Elle wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. She must have looked like an idiot standing there with her mouth hanging open as Gabriel held her hand. She tried to snap herself out of it, but she was being proposed to. He was asking her to marry him. She wanted to say yes. Oh God how she wanted to be Mrs. Gabriel Gray, but again the words escaped her. A breath of air came out before she blinked herself out of the state of shock.
"Yes." He took a breath at her reaction kissing her hand again. "Of course I'll marry you!" She felt tears start to ruin her makeup. She fanned herself trying to keep them away. Keep them in.
He got to his feet quickly grabbing her face for a kiss. A kiss that would probably ruin their night out, but would be so much better than anything else on earth.
--
Elle looked down at her finger again. Over and over again throughout the day. She was engaged. She had a fiancé. No longer a boyfriend, a fiancé. The kind who cuddled and brought her flowers. Who she could talk about wedding plans with. Last night had been one of the best of her life. Gabriel, her fiancé. She giggled every time she thought the word. Which meant if one of the cheerleaders had shown up early they'd be staring at her weirded out.
She could already see the football player look on at her. Disappointed that she was engaged. She smiled at the ring that had belonged to Gabriel's grandmother. It was perfect despite Gabriel saying he could trade it in. She loved it. It was special and she wouldn't trade it for the world. Maybe for a wedding band. She would be Mrs. Gray. She couldn't wait for her students to start calling her that. She was a bit more excited than she thought she would be.
Maybe it was because she knew that Gabriel was going to belong to her forever. Maybe it was because they would have each other forever. 'Til death do us part. Maybe it was the giddiness of planning a big wedding. She didn't want something small. She wanted something with doves and white lilies and expensive dresses. She had called Annie this morning telling her the news giving her every detail.
It was fun. She peered up seeing Claire and Jackie were approaching. Jackie snubbed at Claire for talking to Zach who always waited for her on the bleachers like clockwork. She watched waving at the cheerleaders like a fool. She was just showing off the ring.
"Look at the bling girls." She nearly exclaimed jumping for joy. Claire smiled. Jackie became curious looking at the ring. Elle could see the girl thought it was cheap, but the diamonds were plentiful on the wood band.
"He proposed?" Claire asked innocently looking at the ring."How?"
"I found the ring so he sort of had to." Jackie laughed hearing the story.
"You seem really happy." Jackie actually sounded like that was a good thing. It was hard to dislike Miss Bishop.
"I am. I just don't know how describe it." She looked back at her ring. "Would you mind starting setting up the maps for me Jackie?" She asked the girl just nodded. Miss Bishop always set them up. Helped the girls. She was glad to help her.
"Is it alright if you guys come over for a little engagement party this weekend?" Claire whispered softly. "I mean Mom keeps going on and on about how adorable you and Gabe are." Elle laughed.
"Sure. Anything for a fan of ours." She would love to spend time with the Bennets. Claire, Sandra, Mr. Bennet. Mr. Muggles and that wide eyed brother of hers not so much, but she liked more of them than she disliked them. She'd enjoy a little party.
--
"So I hear you finally took the plunge." Noah hit his back pretty hard. Gabriel dropped all his files to the floor in the hall. Noah started to help him to pick up the papers. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay." Gabriel laughed. He had to admit he was giddy. Hearing her say yes seemed like the greatest thing on earth. "Was it Claire?"
"She came home talking about engagement parties. Sandra's excited to have you two over. Oh she wants to know if you like Mexican or Indian. We order out for special occasions like this." Gabriel laughed softly.
"Mexican. Elle loves quesadillas." He smiled to himself picking up another part of his cases.
"I'll relay it to Sandra." Noah Bennet stated as he handed some papers to him. "You haven't worked anything out have you? Like a date?"
"Nothing final. I'm learning Elle wants something big. Even though we don't know many people. I haven't even told my mother." He probably should do that sometime this week.
"Sandra and I didn't have that big of a wedding. Just a family affair." He admitted with a shrug. Gabriel smiled pushing the files to his chest. "She could change her mind you know."
"I just want to make her happy." Gabriel explained pushing the papers together. Noah nodded knowing Gabriel was a good man. He and Elle were perfect together as his wife often cooed. He turned down the hall looking at the rooms. "I heard she was here."
"Gabriel." Suddenly Noah's voice turned to a warning. "I heard what happened. She's a part of this Company-"
"I'm not going to kill her." He explained looking back down the hall. "I just want to talk." Even though he had worked with this man for months there was still always the possibility his power could kick in. Now he had a reason to kill someone. Noah didn't mind if she died. He just hoped Thompson wouldn't kill his partner if he did.
--
Candice stated at her desk eating the remainder of her French fries. She hated Texas. She preferred Vegas or New York. Big cities. She liked people. People made her who she was. Also people were good to scare. To disappoint her. Make her remember why she worked against them. The door opened as she chewed on her last fry.
"Gabriel?" she almost blushed at the sight of the handsome man. She would never admit it, but she had a school girl crush on him. Not an overaggressive flirtation. She liked his outlook on life. His appearance. His body. His power. He was all man and all she probably needed. "Couldn't get enough of me?"
"I wanted to talk to you Candice." He stated stepping into the light. She nodded softly. He closed the door and Candice was prepared to give him a scary vision if he tried to slice her head open. "You need to know Elle and I are getting married." Her heart fell. Just a little.
"Oh?" She chewed another fry dipping it in ranch dressing in a little plastic cup beside her.
"I thought," He shrugged. "I know you have feelings for me." Like he now knew Eden had feelings for Elle. "I just wanted to tell you that it's not going to happen." Candice looked up at the man. Why was he saying all this? "I know what it's like to be hurt like that. I just wanted to let you down easy. Let you know." Okay so Candice was falling just a bit harder for him. "I know somewhere behind all that illusion is a hurt girl. I've had time to think about it. Everything you told me. I know you just want someone to love you and someday you'll find someone."
"How can you come in here and say that to me? I tortured you. I tortured Elle. I deserve punishment. I deserve . . ." she stood up slowly making the illusion of a slice in her forehead. A bloody long line. He didn't move at the illusion. "Death. I want to die." Was this why she was so attracted to him? He brought death. His power was death. He killed for power. She never forgot that.
"I know. There was a time when I wanted the same." He admitted to her. Elle only knew about his attempted suicide. "But I found Elle. You'll find someone who you can live for Candice. I can promise you that." With that he left her.
She knew at that moment through muted tears she had already found him.
