Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing... if I did, Anna would still be alive and I wouldn't have to figure out a way to bring her back to life...
Anna shivered as Van Helsing pulled her from the freezing water. It was raining, of course, so it didn't matter much that she was already wet. The monster hunter managed a smile for her, and Anna found herself returning it as best she could.
This man didn't make sense, he had risked his life to come and save her. He'd done more then that, he risked the world to come and save her. She found that she felt something for this man, this stranger who'd suddenly swept into her life. Anna shook her head, she didn't have time to be thinking about this. Because Van Helsing had come to save her, they had lost Frankenstein, and now they would have to race back to Vaseria with almost no hope of finding Dracula.
She shuddered again, and it wasn't from the cold. She could still feel his lips on her neck, his iron grip on her waist. She turned her head and saw Van Helsing studying her.
"You gonna live?" he asked gruffly, that little smirk on his lips. Anna managed a glare, and with a smirk of her own, responded.
"Don't give me that look" He chuckled at that. And surprising them both, reached both arms for her. Anna felt herself moving, and seconds later she was enveloped in a warm embrace. Tears sprang into her eyes, and she fought them back valiantly. He reminded her of Velkan, her dear brother had held her when Papa disappeared.
"I'm so glad you're all right" Van Helsing whispered into her curls, she sniffed against his chest. Hearing her whimper he leaned back and put two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face.
"Hey," he whispered,
"It's all right. They didn't hurt you did they?"
Anna shook her head fiercely and pushed back into his chest. Finally allowing herself to cry.
Van Helsing remained where he was, very surprised she was crying in his presence. He had sent Carl to retrieve their clothes, and was glad now, he doubted the gypsy Princess would have cried with Carl there.
He rubbed her back soothingly, and laid his chin on her head.
"hm" he grunted, and Anna stirred against his chest.
"What?" she asked looking up at him, he smiled sheepishly and tugged a lock of her hair.
"You smell good" he said with a shrug of his shoulders. She shook her head and laughed, looking up at him, for what seemed the first time. Her defenses were down, he noted, her eyes seemed more open and friendly. She was lacking that cold look, now all he saw was warmth in her gaze.
"Do you have a first name Mr. Van Helsing?" she asked smiling up at him. He nodded his head, and looked away, remembering the last time someone had called him by it.
Anna waited patiently, he inhaled loudly, and with a chuckle announced
"Gabriel". She nodded her head, and seemed to be considering it.
"Do you mind i--"
"No, please do. You made my last name sound so wonderful, how could I mind?"
She remained in his embrace, and Gabriel told himself it was because she was cold. Not to mention she was probably exhausted, and a little scared, even if she wouldn't admit it. In fact, Gabriel paused and listened to her breathing, he smiled, she'd fallen asleep.
Carl, as always right on time, arrived then with their clothes and a nice cozy carriage.
The Friar saluted from the front seat, already redressed in his robes. Van Helsing chuckled,
"Well done Carl! Well done!" he complimented. Without thinking twice he swept the soggy Princess into his arms and carried her into the relative warmth of the carriage.
Carl took note of all this from his perch on the drivers seat. How Anna seemed to cling to Van Helsings clothing, and how protectively his friend held the Princess. With a shake of his head, he looked down as the great monster slayer came around to meet him.
"Are you going to get down? Or just sit there in the rain" he asked with a smirk. Carl tossed him his clothes, Van Helsing looked at him with a raised brow.
"You've had a busy day, you must be tired. You need to change out of those wet clothes, and..." He held up the reigns dramatically
"I believe I'm getting the hang of this!" he chimed. Van Helsing shook his head,
"You sure?"
"You're wasting humanities time my friend!" Carl said and pointed at the carriage door.
"It's not a sin to play match-maker is it?" he pondered after Gabriel climbed in. With a shrug the little Friar snapped the reigns, and the soggy trio started their long journey back to Vaseria.
Van Helsing looked down at the bundle of clothing in his arms, then across at Anna. Deciding he'd just have to risk it, he shed his wet clothes. Once safely dressed he took note of Anna, still in her drenched attire, she couldn't be comfortable. He fingered his coat, it wasn't much but...
With a gentleness he didn't know he possessed he draped the jacket over her, wishing he had something more. He sat down, and immediately his thoughts began swirling.
Gabriel watched Anna sleep, finding himself content to do so. She was such a mystery to him. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but he knew he had feelings for her. Some how in the midst of all this craziness, he had some how fallen for a gypsy Princess. He chuckled at that,
"What a couple we'd make. I turn into a werewolf and she hunts them" he shook his head of such gloomy thoughts. Pulling the brim of his hat down, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He could dream couldn't he?
