Authors Note: I've been meaning to get this out for a few days now. I just.. really needed to get it out. So I'm getting it out! Yay for doing what I wanted to do! E.e;

All characters are © their respective players. I do not own Harry Potter (though I wouldn't mind .) nor do I own Albus Dumbledore (Thank God..), Hogwarts, or pretty much anything JK Rowling wrote. I do however own Calista, who in this Continuity was the Head Girl in Harry's 6th year, so if you even so much as –think- of stealing her.. I would be flattered. I will sue the pants off of you.. but I'd be flattered. Becca owns Gabe. Though.. Calista would like to think otherwise.

Sunset

Ch. 4

"I still think this is a bad idea."

Adrius sat on the edge of a ravine so deep, the bottom was indistinguishable from the darkness below. He threw a pebble off the edge, and watched it fall, waiting to see even the smallest hint of a dust cloud as it hit bottom, or perhaps hear a small echo of a sound.

Nothing.

He looked up, shielding his eyes from the blazing sunset. One eye closed, the other focusing on his partner, who stood beside him, focused on the other side of the ravine. He was silently glad he hadn't seen that pebble fall.

"It's not like you can do anything, and you know it."

"We're not leaving until she's safe."

The tall man stood, disregarding the wind that blew his 6'5" frame towards the edge of the ravine. His feet were planted firmly on the ground, and his eyes were rooted to the sight across from him, far from his reach. He could just make out the form of a woman, hanging from one hand and moments away from falling to her death. He made no move to save her, but he could not look away.

"And if she falls? You can't risk letting them know we're here to save her. Do you really want to see that?"

Gabriel's silent answer to his question made Adrius uneasy. If he was planning on doing something.. he would jeopardize them both. He would jeopardize everything.

"We're not leaving until she's safe."

The two men stood there, completely unnoticed by Calista, or the team that was quickly driving closer to the edge of the ravine in a beat up truck. How could they be noticed? It was if they weren't even there. As always, their invisibility cloaks allowed them to stand in plain sight of their prey, and remain unnoticed.

Unfortunately, if their prey had wanted to notice him, Gabriel knew no invisibility cloak would shield him.

"All right, come on, we've got to go. Now."

The team had just begun to set up their equipment, and as they attached the cable around Cooper's waist, Gabriel's eyes narrowed. He stooped down and picked up a pebble, throwing it up into the air and catching it anxiously. Every time it left his hands, it would reappear, and each time he caught it, it was gone once more. If it had been more than just a small pebble, someone might have noticed.

"Stop that, will you?"

Adrius was looking over at him in annoyance, after having gotten up and walked away. He had soon noticed the lack of footsteps following him, and had turned to see a pebble appear and reappear near the edge. His request was heeded, as it did not appear again.

"We are not. Leaving. Until. She is safe."

Adrius let out a sigh of exasperation, throwing his hands up in the air and standing there. To say his partner was stubborn would be an understatement.. the man was solid as a rock when he made up his mind. To take his mind off of the uncomfortable feeling that had settled upon him, he tried to focus on the sunset. Whistling low, he sighed. Now that was a sight to die for.

Gabriel's deep blue eyes never left her. He would have given anything to be able to reach out to her, to let her know she was safe, and that he would never let her fall. But he knew he couldn't do that.. and that fact made it all the worse when Cooper slid down the side of the cliff, and wrapped his arms around Calista, pulling her to him.

The pebble in Gabriel's hands reappeared once more, but as sifted dust, crumbling away from his clenched fist. His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Gabriel.." Adrius' voice was warning, and tense. Now, he was worried.

"Let's go."

Gabriel swiveled around in place, the invisibility cloak floating around him sharply before it settled down and followed him in his swift movement, walking away from the ravine. Adrius hadn't realized Gabe passed him until he caught a glimpse of footsteps in the sand, storming onward. He was quick to catch up, walking alongside his partner.

"Listen mate, don't-"

Gabriel had stopped, pulling both his and Adrius' hoods off their heads, to the man's surprise. The sight of two floating heads might have come as a surprise to any who had been around. Luckily, the plateau was deserted.

"No, you don't." Came Gabe's answer, and he gave Adrius a warning glance.

"All I'm saying is, don't get your knickers in a bind, you know damn well she's not-"

"I know that, Adrius. I just don't like him touching her, that's all."

"..Right then."

Adrius cleared his throat, and shook his head. His partner was putting himself through more than one man should be able to handle.. all for this one woman. As he pulled the hood back over his head and continued walking away, one thought passed through his mind.

Lourdes, you better be worth it.

Love in, love out,
Find the feeling.

And I feel it's going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
I'm waiting for your healing hand,
One touch could bring me round
I feel we're going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
It's just the way I'm feeling.

Calista opened the door, and was assaulted with cheerfulness.

"JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME! LET EARTH, PROCLAIM, HIS-"

She slammed the door in the carolers' faces, and walked back inside.

"Who was that at the door, Captain?" Terry asked, pulling out a tray of cookies from the kitchen and setting them down in front of the boys, who converged like vultures, only to pull away moments later blowing at their burnt fingers.

The tall woman frowned, flopping down into a plush seat and giving Jeremy a glance, before turning her cold blue eyes up to Terry.

"Just some kids trying to ruin my Christmas spirit with cheer."

"Merlin forbid."

The sarcastic reply came from Brennan, who had managed to carefully pinch a cookie between two fingers. He brought it to his lips as he spoke.

"As if Christmas was the time of year for, say, smiling, or something absurd like tha-AAHHH! My tongue!"

Calista snorted, smirking gently. As Brennan sat there fanning his burnt tongue, she thought to herself silently, 'now that makes me smile.'

"It's a warm night for December, isn't it?"

Jeremy hadn't been irresponsible enough to try and eat the cookies until they cooled, and instead had moved to the window, opening it and watching the carolers walk off. They were dressed in coats and scarves, but it really wasn't as chilly as December usually ran around these parts. Most notably, there had been no snow yet.

Chris and Terry had spent Christmas at the Donnybrook Estate with the three of them after all, a quiet affair involving friends curled up around the fire, rambling on about nothing in particular. Terry's small form was curled up under the crook of Chris's large arm; she looked as if she was made to fit him by fate. Brennan sat on the couch beside where Jeremy had just been, trying to soothe his tongue with milk, and Calista sat on the old, worn plush chair she refused to get rid of. It was comfortable, she often said, and it made her feel at home.

Home.

Donnybrook had been their home for years now, ever since Calista and Gabriel had come to take Jeremy away at the age of eleven from the hellhole their father had kept him locked up in. Now, his sister was his surrogate mother, and his best friend was ten years older than him.

"Jeremy, don't stand by the window, you'll catch a cold."

Calista had called out to him after a moment, and he turned to walk away, but before he did, something caught his eye. A raven flew in, to land on the windowsill. He stopped, cocking his head slightly as he stared at the bird. The bird in turn mimicked him, small black head cocking while deep blue eyes stared. Jeremy hesitantly held out his hand, his finger extended, and instead of flying off, the raven hopped up one step, and nuzzled its head under his finger. A faint smile graced the boy's features, before the raven extended its wings, and flew into the house, landing on the plush chair his sister was on. Jeremy followed.

Calista's lips were parted to call Jeremy back once more, when the bird passed him and flew to her side. She turned her head, her eyes widening faintly as she looked up at it. The raven, in turn, stared down at her, cooing.

"Aren't crows a bad omen?"

Brennan was eyeing the bird critically, in the middle of eating a cookie. He looked about two seconds away from standing up and shooing it away, but Calista stood, holding her arm out. The raven hopped off the seat and landed on her arm, like a familiar of sorts.

"It's not a crow, it's a raven. And he's mine. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take care of it."

"Aww, you didn't tell me you had a pet, Captain! What's its name? Can I pet it?"

Calista turned her eyes to Terry, who had sat up straight, looking instantly curious. The older woman quirked a smile, and nudged her arm, gesturing for the bird to alight on her shoulder. It complied, claws capturing her robe to hold itself upright as its small head nuzzled into her cheek for a moment.

"He doesn't have a name, and he's not my pet. He's just.. a friend. I wouldn't suggest petting it, he's too wild."

Terry frowned in disappointment, and a beak tugged at Calista's ear in protest, but she ignored it, her finger coming up to shoo it off.

"Oh, all right then."

As Calista turned to walk away, Jeremy followed. She stopped in mid-step, and turned around, wrapping one arm around the boys shoulder.

"Give me a moment, Jeremy."

"But.. he likes me. Can't I come watch?"

The boy's voice was low, and quiet, a perfect tenor match to his sisters. She shook her head silently, and he sighed in resignation, watching her walk away before turning back to sit on her seat until she returned.

The raven flew into the kitchen as she walked in, and she took a step back, her head bending to make sure no one had followed. Sure enough, the group was still all gathered by the fireplace, and she was out of sight. She nodded, more to the bird who had now perched on the kitchen counter than anything else, and took the step closer to meet it, quirking a small, genuine smile.

"I'm glad you could make it, after all."

The bird shuddered its feathers in reply, as if it was offended by her talking to it. But it wasn't. In fact, its shudders didn't stop, feathers fluffing larger and larger until it was obvious it wasn't just fluffing, but growing. The woman watched with little more than curiosity as the little raven melded in shape and size, reforming itself to the shape of a man, sitting with his legs hanging over the kitchen counter. He rested his palms against it, giving her an impish grin.

"I told you I would, didn't I?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"I always keep my promises."

Gabriel leaned in, one hand removing off the kitchen counter to rise up and capture her chin within caressing fingertips, holding her face close. A moment passed where their lips were a breath away, his eyes tracing every feature of her face before closing the gap, and kissing her. She in turn wrapped her arms around his neck, and obliged to his kiss more than happily. In the silence of the moment, one could still hear the distant laughter of her friends in the living room, though they heard nothing but their own heartbeats at the moment.

"Merry Christmas, Cali."

"Merry Christmas, Gabe."

For a second of your life, tell me that it's true.
Waiting for a sign.. It's all I want of you.
Your heart hides a secret
A promise of what is
Of something more than this.

Just a second of your time, any one will do.
A taste of any other is all I want from you.
Offer me the world,
And how can I resist
Something more than this?

Make-believe in magic, Make-believe in dreams
Make-believe – Impossible.
Nothing as it seems.
To see, touch, taste, smell, hear..
But never know if it's real.

Another second of my life not knowing if it's true
Make-believe in nothing is all I want of you
Whispering the secret,
Whispering there is
Always something other..
Something..

More than this..

"What the bloody hell is up with the bird, anyway?"

"Leave it alone, Brennan."

Brennan looked at Jeremy wide-eyed, surprised at the tone he'd just received from his best friend.

"Well shit, I didn't realize you were such a fowl person, Jeremy," He quipped, chuckling. Jeremy just made a face and threw a walnut at his head, to which he fell over and feigned his death upon impact.

"I think it's cute!" Terry chimed in, throwing walnuts at Brennan's dead body. His corpse gave her a cocky look, before bursting into laughter again. "What?!"

"Cap'n Lourdes, being described.. as 'cute'."

Even Chris burst into reluctant laughter at that, though it was quickly stifled by the small elbow that jabbed into his stomach.

Jeremy stood, walking away from the laughter. He had a sober face on as he walked away, and opened up a cabinet, filtering through some papers. Both Brennan and Terry gave each other a look, before the man sat up and looked over the couch at the boy.

"Hey, Jeremy, y'know I'm just playing around, right? Your sister's a fine-"

But Jeremy had already returned, with a picture in his hands. Brennan's words died in his throat, as he saw it. With a stern, stoic face, Jeremy's deadpan voice announced-

"You wanted cute."

He held a picture of their Captain at the age of six. In pigtails.

Their quiet moment was broken by peals of laughter coming from the living room, so loud that Calista couldn't help but break away from the kiss, turning her head towards it.

"What the hell is going on in there..?"

Gabe sat up straight, before hopping off the counter and sliding his arm around her waist and holding her from behind. Silently, he wished he had the liberty to simply walk back out with her, wrapped in his arms, and have a normal Christmas, with her.

But it wasn't meant to be. At least, not yet, if he had any say in the matter.

"You know, you could have let her pet me."

"I'd rather not. You're only mine to pet."

He quirked a smile, burying his head into her neck. "The same goes for you."

"As always. Though, you must admit, I'm not as pettable."

He rose his free hand up, running it through her hair. "Mm.. I completely disagree.."

Their quiet moment returned, and Calista turned her head, just barely brushing against his lips before the peals of laughter returned, to break the silence once more. Calista's eyes narrowed icily.

"I should go, anyway. Go check on them. I'll stay with you for a bit, but.. not like this."

He kissed the side of her neck, and her head tilted away to give him room, letting out a little sound of dissent.

"I wish you could stay.."

From behind her, she heard his last words.

"I know. I do too."

His hands slid away from her, and a pained sound emitted from her throat. She turned quickly, hoping for one last glance of him.. but he was gone.

And in his place, hopping on the floor at her feet was a simple raven. He opened his wings and hopped back up on the counter, just sitting there looking at her. She let out a sad little breath, before leaning her back against the counter, and hiding her face in her hands.

"I love you, so much, Gabe. So much."

In her mind, a quiet, bubbly thought reached her, as it always did when he spoke to her this way.

I love you too.

But standing there fuming, on the other side of the kitchen wall, holding the picture of Calista in pigtails, all Brennan had been able to hear was Calista's sad, pathetic sounding plea. There was no reply. No, as far as he knew, there never was.

The picture fell from his fingertips, and he walked out.

I'm not afraid to go backwards and fix what we broke.
My gaze falls behind, you make desire seem so easy.
I hold off sleep, it's so silent without you here..
Don't give up now, it would all be for nothing.

I believe in second chances
I believe the years forget

Can you feel that?
I think we're moving in the right direction.
I was someone else then,
I'd take it back if you would let me..

Every night I whisper your name at the top of my lungs

Let me fill these empty spaces,
Better late than never - Stay forever.
Let me fill this empty space..
Because there's always room for one more mistake.

End Note: I had to re-edit this because I'm an idiot who made Gabe a crow when he was a raven.. Blame HP3. And my stupidity.

I was so much happier with this story when I originally wrote it last night.. bleh.

(P.S. I like reviews, they make me a happy panda.)

(P.P.S. Sam said I could own her. So I do. 3)