Chapter 1



"You may kiss the bride."

Darvi, Dakota, and Sara smiled warmly as Gabriel leaned in to kiss Renee while Ian, Jason McBride, and a young Irishman grinned at each other. The six friends applauded when they pulled apart.

It not being a traditional wedding: no guests, no dresses or tuxedos, no music, just the bride and groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the pastor, they didn't walk back up the aisle. Instead they just turned to their friends to accept their congratulations. It was the first time in the last four months that Renee had felt good. Sara had finally talked her into seeing the psychologist the precinct employed. She was helping Renee move past the emotional after effects of her rape.

Renee had moved back into Gabriel's house a month before, but was staying in the extra bedroom. She wasn't ready yet to sleep in the same bed as him again. Since she moved back, they had been trying to get his niece and nephew returned to him. A judge would be making a decision on their case within the next week.

The young Irishman walked over to Sara and put his hands in hers. The cuts and bruises were nearly gone from his face after his last fight at an underground fight club that almost cost him his life. Sara found him when he was trying to leave, barely coherent with a concussion and a couple of broken ribs, and rushed him to the hospital. The doctor told her that if she'd been any later, he would have died. They had dinner after he was released from the hospital and soon after that, started seeing each other. Sara was being cautious though. Relationships had never worked out for her before.

Dakota walked up to Renee and said, "And you always told me you were never getting married."

Renee smiled at her then felt Gabriel's arms encircle her. She tightened up, still uncomfortable with being touched, but didn't pull away. He let go as Jason slapped him on the back. "Congratulations."

The eight of them seperated into two cars and drove to a restaurant for dinner. When they finished eating, Sara took Renee and Gabriel back to his house. Renee stalled going to bed, not wanting to spend her wedding night alone but not ready to sleep with him. Gabriel sensed her internal conflict and said, "Why don't we just stay down here on the couch? We don't have to go to bed yet."

They sat beside each other without touching, although there was nothing else he wanted to do more at the moment. Even though she fought it, sleep soon overcame her. Gabriel found a blanket and covered her up with it. Then, he found another one and went to sleep on the floor beside the couch.

*******

The judge looked up at Renee and Gabriel. "Mr. Bowman, you showed yourself irresponsible once. But after looking over the circumstances, I can't say that I blame you. And everyone deserves a second chance. You haven't gone back to that in the past four months even after what happened to your wife. I applaud you for that. I also saw the kids before and when they saw you. Before they did, they were both withdrawn. Mr. Sigel and Mrs. McBrae," he nodded at the man and woman from the adoption agency. "can attest to the fact they've been like that since they were taken from you. When they saw you, however, that changed. I took everything, especially the children's emotional welfare, into consideration when making my decision."

Renee and Gabriel held their breath, waiting to hear what he had decided. He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

"It is my decision that custody of Meghan and Kevin Logan be granted to Renee and Gabriel Bowman."

Their sighs of relief escaped as one. Meghan and Kevin ran over to them, and the two adults took the two kids in their arms. Tears of joy came to Gabriel's eyes and ran freely down Renee's face. A man walked over with some papers for Gabriel to sign, giving him legal custody of his niece and nephew. After signing the papers, Gabriel lifted Meghan to his shoulders. Kevin skipped ahead of them as they left the courthouse.

*******

"Renee, what do you want to talk about today?" Dr. Slonaker asked as the young woman lowered herself into a chair.

Renee shrugged, not sure of that herself.

"You've finally realized this wasn't your fault. That was a large step. But something's still holding you back from Gabriel, isn't it?"

She nodded her head but seemed reluctant to say what it was. The psychologist prodded gently, "Renee, you need to talk to me about it. You'll never heal if you keep it all buried inside."

Renee took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "He says he'll love me and the baby even if it's not his, but I'm scared of how he'll really feel if it isn't. I don't want to lose him, but I don't want him to stick around out of his sense of duty." Her eyes were moist, but she was holding the tears back.

"What makes you think he won't still love you?"

"Men don't stick around. They just leave when they get sick of you." The tears flooded from her eyes.

Dr. Slonaker grabbed a box of tissues from her desk and handed them to Renee. This had become routine during their sessions, especially when the conversation turned to her father. "So you're afraid he's going to leave you."

Renee nodded her head.

"Have you ever been abandoned, Renee?"

"My dad left. It was a mutual agreement between him and my mom, but I still saw him every other weekend. Pushing me away wasn't part of the agreement though. I always felt he didn't care. That I wasn't important to him. That he was always just playing games with my head."

"And you're afraid Gabriel will do the same."

"Yeah." The tears had stopped, and she was fighting to keep them behind the dam. "I know it's unreasonable. He hadn't given me any reason to doubt him. He's been nothing but supportive through everything. So why do I?"

"Renee, it's perfectly normal for victims like you to feel this way. You were violated, and all of your trust issues came back to the surface. How long until you'll know if the baby is his or not?"

"Two months."

"He's stayed beside you for seven months. Give him the benefit of the doubt. From all you've said, he seems to trutly love you and won't just stay out of his sense of duty. It will be because he loves you."

Renee glanced at the clock. "Our time's up, isn't it?"

"Actually, it has been for about ten minutes, but I didn't want to cut you off." As Renee pushed herself out of the chair, the older woman asked, "Do you have a ride home?"

"Gabriel should be out there waiting."

"I'll see you next week then."

Gabriel was standing by the front passenger's-side door, waiting for her. He opened the door and helped her inside. Walking around to the other side, he climbed in and started the car. Renee did a lot of thinking on the way back to the house. Finally, she spoke up. "Gabriel, what are you going to do when the baby's born?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, glancing at her.

Kevin and Meghan were in the backseat, but weren't paying any attention to the adults. They were playing quietly.

"I know you said you would stay, but I don't want you to do that out of duty."

It took him a moment to form words. "It won't be out of suty, Renee. I love you, and do not want to even think of living without you. And I refuse to believe this baby isn't mine until she's born. And then I still won't."

Relief flooded her heart. She could hear the sincerety in his voice. Then his last words struck her. "She? Did you see the ultrasound?"

He tried to look innocent, but she could see right through his act. When she cleared her throat, Gabriel admitted, "I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to know."

Renee didn't say anything, just smiling at him. She couldn't really blame him. She'd been curious as well, but wanted to wait to know.

They pulled into the driveway. The kids jumped out of the car and raced up to the house. "Be careful," Gabriel called after them. He had taken to the parental role quite naturally. He walked around the car and helped Renee out and up to the house.

*******

"The baby seems to be doing fine," Dr. Granur told Renee and Gabriel. "Looking at the ultrasound, she's deeloping normally. Although she does appear to be a bit small for you being in the last month of the third trimester, but some are smaller than others. I do want you to stay off of your feet as much as possible for the next month, Renee. Even if that means staying away from the computer, and Gabriel bringing you all of your meals. I want you under as little stress as possible until this baby is born. Do you understand?" She nodded her head, but the doctor knew how stubborn she could be. "Gabriel make sure she does."

"I will. Don't worry."

On the way home, Gabriel told her, "I finished painting the baby's room last night."

"Did you get the furniture moved in there yet?" They had bought a crib, rocking chair, and dresser, which they had put in the garage until the room was ready.

"Not yet. Ian, Jason, and Conchobar are coming over this afternoon to help with that."

When they arrived back at the house, Gabriel helped her over to the couch. "I don't want you going up and down those steps all day," he informed her. "So I think it's best if you stay down here."

"But I can't sleep on the couch," she protested.

"Then, I'll help you upstairs at night and back down in the morning. I'll get anything you need. Just stay off your feet."

"Yes, sit," she said with a mock salute. After a few minutes, she asked, "Could you get my notebook and pen for me. They're by the computer."

After Gabriel handed her the requested items, he said, "I'm gonna go down to the shop. I'll be back up in five minutes." He walked down the stairs to the basement he had converted into his shop. Going into the backroom he had created, he grabbed an old laptop and returned upstairs. when he reached Renee, he handed it to her and said, "I know it's not new, but you can still type on it."

"Thank you, Gabriel."

"It's not a problem for the woman I love."

She thanked him again then opened it and started figuring out the programs. Gabriel walked over to the other computer to work on some business transactions. Half an hour later, the door swung open, and Ian, Jason, and Conchobar walked inside. "Hey, guys," Gabriel whispered after looking at his wife and seeing that she was resting. "The stuff's out in the garage."

The walked out to the garage, and Ian grabbed the largest box. It contained the crib. Jason and Conchobar grabbed the mattress while Gabriel went to help Ian carry the crib. Once they had all of the furniture in the room, the four men set to work on putting everything together. Ian and Conchobar set up the crib while Gabriel and Jason worked on the rocking chair.

"Did you ask Dakota yet?" Gabriel asked while they were working.

A smile spread across Jason's face. "Yeah. This morning."

"She said yes."

He nodded. "We haven't set a date yet, but we're gonna wait until she finishes school"

"Smart decision."

They finished a couple of hours later; all of them stripped to the waist. It was early November, but the temperaure was high for that time of the year, and assembling furniture was hard work. Gabriel heard the door open and close, then he heard the voices of Kevin and Meghan. "Where's Uncle Gabiel?" The younger girl's voice floated up to him.

"I'm up here, Meghan," he called down the stairs as he pulled his shirt over his head.

The two kids ran up the stairs to see their uncle. "How was school?"

"Fun," Meghan exclaimed. Kevin just shrugged.

"Well, go put your bags in your rooms, and I'll make you a snack."

When they walked downstairs, the young girl asked, "Why is Aunt Renee sleeping?"

"She's tired. Your cousin's gonna be coming soon, and that's using up all her energy."

Meghan nodded her head seriously. "When's she coming."

"In about a month."

Dakota was waiting for them downstairs. "She looks really worn out, Gabe. Is she all right."

"She's fine according to the doctor. It's just really taking a toll on her. I know she can't wait for the baby to be born."

Dakota smiled at him then said, "Well, we should be getting back to the mansion. "Thanks for picking the kids up for us."

"It's not a problem." She turned to Conchobar and asked, "Do you want us to take you to Sara's or your place?"

"Sara's, if ye will."

Gabriel thanked them for their help as they left. Then, he went into the kitchen to make a snack for the kids. While they ate, he returned to the living room to check on Renee. She was sitting up on the couch. When she saw him, she asked, "Are the kids home?"

"Yeah. They're eating a snack now." He knealt in front of her and said, "You know I love you, right?"

She nodded her head. "I-I." She closed her mouth, not being able to say it. Then, she tried again. "I-I love you, too, Gabriel."

*******

A week later Gabriel was in his shop when he heard Renee yell his name from the living room. "What is it?" He called from the bottom of the stairs.

"You need to get up here. She's deciding to come early."

"Oh shit." He darted up the stairs, calling for his niece and nephew as soon as he hit the landing. "Call either Sara or Dakota and have one of them come get you. I need to get your aunt to the hospital. Your cousin decided to come early."

He helped Renee out to the car and drove as fast as he safely could to the hospital. A nurse got Renee into a room, and Gabriel waited beside her while the nurse called for the doctor. He was there in a few minutes.

Gabriel held onto her hand, stroking the back of it. He gritted his teeth everytime she squeezed it in pain. The doctor ordered a nurse to get the anesthesiologist to give her something. It didn't take away all of the pain, just the severity of it.

Almost twelve hours later, the doctor ordered her to push once more. She did, and the small form slid into his arms. The look on the doctor's face concerned Gabriel. Then, he noticed the baby wasn't crying. "What's wrong with her?"

The doctor shook his head as they cut the umbilical cord. One of the nurses brought her hand up to the baby's neck and removed the portion of the cord that had been wrapped around it. The doctor looked at Gabriel as the baby began to cry, and her purple lips returned to a normal color. "She'll be fine."

A nurse wrapped her up in a blanket and handed the tiny girl to Renee. "Your daughter."

"Amie Catherine," Renee whispered as she took her in her arms.

She stopped crying when she was cradled against her mother's body. "She has your nose," Renee said, looking up at Gabriel. "His was a lot longer."

The doctor and nurses left, giving the three of them some time alone. Amie started searching for food, and Renee helped her find it. When she had finished, Gabriel took their baby in his arms. "You need to get some sleep. Don't worry. I'll stay right here."

She nodded as her eyes closed, and she drifted into a deep sleep. Fifteen minutes later a nurse entered the room and took Amie from Gabriel's arms. "We need to check her over, then put her in the nursery." As she started to leave the room, she looked over her shoulder and said, "There are some visitors in the waiting room, but I told them she was sleeping. You might want to go out there and let them know everything's fine."

With one last glance at Renee, he left the room. Sara, Conchobar, Dakota, Jason, Kevin, and Meghan were waiting. "How is she?" Dakota asked.

He grinned at them. "She's fine, sleeping now."

"How's the baby?"

"They're making sure she's all right." Gabriel went on to tell them how she was born.

When he finished, they noticed a nurse standing nearby. "Mr. Bowman, you may take your friends to see your daughter. She's fine."

She led them down a hallway to the large window looking into the nursery. The nurse pointed her out to them then left. "She's beautiful, Gabe," Sara said, looking at the tiny baby.

"I wanna see her, Uncle Gabiel." The top of Meghan's head came to the bottom of the window. He lifted her in his arms and pointed out her cousin. "She's tiny."

"Aye, she is. But a bonny lass still," Conchobar said, smiling at Gabriel.

"I need to get back to Renee. I promised I'd stay there."

When he returned to the room, Renee was still sleeping. A few minutes later Dr. Granur entered the room. "Good, she's sleeping. She needs her rest."

"When can I take them home?"

"Well, I'd like to keep them here for a few days just to make sure they're fine. She only weighs four pounds and eleven ounces. She appears to be fine, but I want to be sure before I release them."

Gabriel nodded as the doctor left the room. Then, he sat on a stool beside the bed. When Renee finally awoke, she asked, "How is she?"

"She's fine. Small, but doing okay. Dakota, Sara, and the kids are here. Do you want to see them?"

"Send them in."

*******

A few days later, Dr. Granur decided mother and baby were ready to go home. "I'd like for you to bring her back in a couple of weeks just to make sure nothing's developed. Since she's so small, she's more susceptible to illness."

When they got out to the car, Gabriel took Amie and put her in a car seat between Kevin and Meghan. Then, he helped Renee into the car.

They hadn't driven far when a semi-truck came speeding up behind them. Gabriel glanced in the rearview mirror, and his face paled. The driver wasn't paying any attention to the road. Gabriel pulled the car over to the side of the road and waited for the large truck to pass. "You're gonna cause an accident, as..." He stopped when he remembered there were young kids in the car.

Arriving home safely, Renee carried the now sleeping baby up to the room and laid her in the crib, pulling a blanket over her. Gabriel walked up behind her and put his arms around her shoulders. She looked aver at him, and he smiled. Leaning closer, his lips met hers. She hesitated for a moment, then met him halfway. When they pulled apart, he said, "I have missed that so much."

"So have I," she whispered.