Author's Note: Oh my goodness this chapter was one of my favorites to write. We have some romance, some hijinks, and some disasterous plans from Peter and Luke. ENJOY!
CHAPTER 36: Punch Drunk Love
"I fold." Luke stated slamming his card on the circular table in Peter, Luke, and Daphne's room. The two older man stared up at him.
"Luke we aren't playing poker." Peter stated peaking at the young boy's cards. "And besides you would have won if we were." He flipped the cards over laying them out. Gabriel hide a soft weak smile.
"Well the hell I know." Luke shrugged. He picked up a glass of ice tea. Peter claimed he wasn't going to have Luke drunk tonight. He could have the casinos be at fault. His mother's influence could only do so much. "I can't gamble."
"Nor should you be." Gabriel stated glancing at his cards. Peter took a sip of his beer. "What game were playing any way?" Peter shrugged glancing over at Gabriel's cards. "No cheating Petrelli." He rolled his eyes lightly looking back as his own cards.
"Uh let's go with Go Fish." He didn't seem sure of the game he had decided to play. They had just been staring at their cards for about five minutes. Peter placed a pair of twos and kings on the table. Only three cards in his hand. Gabriel placed down a set of sevens. Luke had none. He took another drink of his ice tea. "So want to tell me your intentions with Miss Bishop?"
Luke choked on his ice tea letting it back wash into his glass. The sound of drowning and watery coughs exhausted the room. Gabriel merely looked up at a smiling indifferent Peter with cold dark eyes.
"Have any aces?" He merely asked the younger man.
"Go fish." He said with the same silly grin. Gabriel nodded then reached for the cards. He took one peeking at it then putting it back in his hand. "You didn't answer my question. What do you plan on doing with Elle?"
"Yeah what?" Luke inched forward on the chair that was made for the desk on next to the 25 inch television set. The dark haired man looked between the two boys. His eyebrows raised in confusion until he realized what their stupid smiles were for.
"You guys want me to marry her." He pushed the cards forward giving up the stupid game. "I knew Vegas was going to be no good."
"You got her knocked up." Luke explained. Gabriel peeked from under his fingers. "The least you could do is give her a big fat diamond ring."
"And a grand old wedding." Peter grinned sipping on his bottle of Miller Lite. Gabriel just groaned. "Oh come on Gabriel," He smacked his shoulder lightly. "Don't tell me you haven't seen her face every time she sees a white dress or even cake. Lulu made a white cake for Monica's birthday last weekend and she kept looking at it."
"Ever think she might be hungry?" Gabriel asked with complete sarcasm.
Sure he had noticed. What idiot boyfriend would he have been if he hadn't. He noticed her looking at wedding magazines at the grocery store. He noticed her walking slow pass the dress shops. He was really doing this all backwards. He had been raised to get married then have babies. Not the other way around. Then again he was always told to be special.
"She's frustrated and we want to know why you haven't even asked her yet." Peter pondered watching as Gabriel placed his hands on his knees. The two older men sat far from each other on the couch, but that didn't mean they weren't close. The three men had one thing in common and that was former and/or present feelings for Elle Bishop.
"I'm not the marrying man, Peter." He said softly and slowly. "Yes maybe once upon a time, but that fairy tale left as soon as I killed my first person. As soon as I became a monster." He looked at his fingertips as if the blood was stained on it.
"At one point in my life that's all I ever wanted." He leaned back letting the cushioned dark red couch steady him. His eyes flickered up at the ceiling. "A wife, some kids, a good job, a clean house. I wanted to be normal, but I know I'm not. I know I can never be normal. I'm not that guy any more. I'm a changed man."
Peter watched the man's reaction. Man he needed some fun. Luke knew that as well. Gabriel Gray was depressed. Nobody could get depressed in Vegas.
"Seriously," Luke started. "I need to get this fake id into good use." He waved the id of himself in the air claiming he was someone by the name of Anthony. "You with me Unmarrying Man?" He leaned forward nudging his brother. The man looking into his eyes.
"You gambling?" He asked. Luke just grinned.
"I want booze." Luke decided to say.
"I'll drink to that." Peter downed the rest of his bottle of alcohol. Gabriel Gray laughed standing up.
"Let's get this party started then." He said with a grin. Peter and Luke exchanged looks. This party was only at the beginning.
--
Daphne yanked Elle from the arena of the show before the crowds could poor out. The young blonde wrinkled her face as Daphne sped walk out. Even without using her ability she was fast. Elle looked back at the clapping audience in the large theater.
"Come on Daph," She called following behind the pixie haired blonde in the pink skirt. "They were five minutes from an encore. Don't tell me you didn't want that." Daphne merely stopped pivoting on her feet.
"Take a look at this." She said shoving the phone in Elle Bishop's face. She took the red cell phone from Daphne looking at her. Daphne pushed it forward urging her to take it.
U guys might want to come to Blondies right now.
"If I hold your hand-" Elle started to say after seeing Peter's text.
"Three steps ahead of you Bishop." Daphne swung the pregnant woman on her back as if she were a backpack. Elle shut her eyes feeling the jolt of speed move pass her. "Open your eyes, woman."
Elle flickered her eyes opened jumping from the woman's back. Two men walked passed eyeing them widely. Had they never seen two blondes in their life? Elle gave them an inhuman death stare that kept them walking into the bar averting their eyes from the women they had wanted to get the numbers of.
"Have you been putting on weight?" Daphne asked cracking her back. Elle rolled her eyes.
"I'm pregnant Daphne." She stated looking at the younger woman. "If I didn't gain weight I'd be in trouble."
"How much?" Daphne asked looking her over. "Seriously, you got the littlest baby bump in the world." She placed her hand on the little bump in the fabric of Elle's shirt.
"Okay, let's not talk about my weight." She pushed the woman's hands off. "Peter's text has me just the slightest bit worried." Daphne shrugged with a nod.
"He did sound all urgent." They walked toward the doors of the bar hopefully, yet nervous. "As urgent as anyone could sound in a text."
Elle gave a small laugh as she walked in with Daphne to the darkly lit bar. The sound of deep depressing music mused in the air, but laughter curdled the air like spoiled milk. Elle's eyes focused on the source of the laughter. Gabriel Gray had a lazy arm around Peter Petrelli at the bar who was putting a beer to his lips. Luke was just watching from the bar stool beside Peter who sat on his bar stool loosely.
"You know you-r-r a great g-guy Peter." Gabriel slurred running his fingers over his cheek. Peter laughed a bit confused. Like he had unwilling unleashed a worse monster then he imagined. Daphne hid a laugh.
"Well your boyfriend is hammered." Daphne laughed covering her mouth. Elle rolled her eyes.
"He can't be unless he has serious alcohol poisoning." Elle muttered slapping Daphne's shoulder. "Petrelli!" She called at the boy. Three sets of dark eyes were on her.
"Elle!" Gabriel called with a huge childish. He looked at Elle like she was a long lost teddy bear he had not come across in ages. He came at her with a bear hug tilting her back and planting a kiss on her.
Elle immediately smelt the alcohol on his breath. She felt his tongue jam down her throat. His lips moved dangerously against hers. His hands cradled her neck keeping her stuck to his mouth. She wanted to shock him, but had never met a drunk Gabriel. What if drunk Gabriel reverted back to regular Sylar? The sound of Peter clearing his throat made Gabriel release her.
"Elle, I missed you." He hugged her tightly in a little sob. "Don't leave again. Kay?" Elle pat her boyfriend's back lightly.
"Promise." She swore then mouthed a quick 'what did you do to him?' to Peter." She felt hands squeeze her bottom. "Gabriel, hands, public!" She called pushing his eager hands away. Luke snickered as a couple bar flies did as well.
"How did this happen?" Elle asked ignored Gabriel, who was smelling her hair lightly pulling it through his fingers.
"What? We had a few drinks." Peter shrugged as Daphne hopped on a bar stool.
"Yeah, I live with this man," She shoved a finger toward Gabriel. "I've never seen him drunk. I've seen him drink, but not drunk." Arms came around her.
"Isn't she the greatest Peter?" Gabriel nibbled on Elle's ear.
"See what you've done." Elle encouraged. She felt the arms slip from her and watched as Gabriel sunk to the stool beside Daphne.
"I miss my mom." He dunked his head on the woman's shoulder. Daphne looked at Elle with pleading eyes. She just moved on to scold Peter some more.
"Uh there there." Daphne tried out comforting Gabriel by patting his head.
"It's just . . .she was always there for me even with her snow globes and I always thought of her and she just wanted what was best for me and I miss her." He ducked his head sobbing softly. Daphne just continued to pat his head with a confused look in her eyes.
"Mood swings, Peter. Mood swings!" Elle smacked Peter upside the head.
"Hey, Peter was only trying to have fun." Gabriel defended catching her hand. "Wow your hands are nice." He kissed her palm and Elle felt her heart race.
"Stop that!" She said pulling her hand away. "How many drinks?"
"We lost count." Luke admitted. "At fifty five."
"That's completely no legal." She whispered loudly between the two boys.
"I don't actually think it is legal for you two to be out." Peter joked drinking his beer some more. Elle made a serious face before taking the beer from him. "Hey!"
"No," She handed it to Luke. "You made him like this. Why should you get to be drunk too?" Peter shrugged looking over at Gabriel. "Seriously why did you get him drunk?"
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas Elle." Gabriel slurred lightly. He grabbed a chunk of her hair. "You have pretty hair." Elle liked the flattery, but constant kind of bugged her.
"Don't you like this Elle?" Peter joked again with a small laugh.
"He might hurt himself." She hissed at him. The two boys and even Daphne laughed out loud. "Peter, this is dangerous."
"Don't sweat it Bishop. I got it covered." He winked at her.
"Do you enjoy that eye Petrelli?" Gabriel suddenly got serious. Apparently Peter didn't have it under control. "You know I've been meaning to ask you something?" He came close to Peter's face. Pretty laugh out loud funny close. "You got a thing for my girl?" Peter looked dumb founded.
"Answer the question Peter." Elle hid her laugh at Peter's comeuppance. "Have you ever kissed me?" Peter grimaced feeling a little pull on his neck.
"Once." Big pull crushing his throat. Elle just watched a bit amused as Gabriel squeezed his hand in the air.
"Elle?" He questioned. "When did this happen?" He seemed a bit sad and disillusioned.
"Let's see maybe a couple years ago or a year or more ago. It was a little after I met you. He used me to escape." She shrugged leaning over to him. "He was my first kiss." She whispered. Peter knew he'd be dead soon enough. If only he hadn't gotten Gabriel drunk. If only his plan hadn't backfired on him.
"Was I better than him?" He asked with puppy dog eyes. Peter looked at the couple. Damn Gabriel was staring into Elle's big blues hard.
"No contest." She wiped her hair in the air. "Plus you gave me a more important first." She grinned seductively kissing him passionately on his lips. Gabriel kissed back as Daphne rolled her eyes.
"Get a room!" A bar fly shouted. Gabriel broke from the kiss.
"Hey! We have a room!" He fished the key to their suite form his pocket.
"I'm guessing we shouldn't wait up." Luke called as Gabriel Gray dragged his woman from the bar.
"You'd assume correctly." Elle called just as the doors closed.
Gabriel quickly pulled her to the side lifting her in the air and whirling her with ease. She giggled like a pretty school girl. She was so happy to be in Vegas. She had had a great dinner, seen a great show, and was about to spend the remainder of the evening with her boyfriend.
"Okay," Elle stated keeping herself steady balancing on Gabriel's shoulder when he put her back on the ground. "As much as the spinning was fun I don't think my stomach can take it."
"Oh my pregnant Elle. I don't want to make your tummy sicky." He sounded like a four year old. He grabbed her in a hug. "I miss my mommy. Both my mommies." Elle patted his back.
"Well I'll take care of you." Elle told him. "Can't replace either of your mothers, but I can be a good girlfriend." He broke from her looking into her eyes. For a moment Elle though he wasn't drunk. Just a moment. His knees fell to the ground. She went to lift him up, but he stopped. Her.
"No I meant to do this." He looked up at the woman. "Elle Bishop, you're the only girl in the world that gives me butterflies and all kinds of weird feelings that make me scared and sick all at once." Elle just smiled stupidly. "I don't want you to be a good girlfriend anymore. I want you to be my good wonderful successful sexy wife."
"Gabriel," She asked stepping back. "Are you asking me what I think you are asking me?"
"Yeah, maybe." He got to his feet. "Will you marry me? Like right now?" Elle's only response was jump on him and squeal.