(A/N) I am such an angel...giving you all these chapters...you all deserve it! DON'T FORGET MOM! Even if she grounds you and yells...remember she knows better...

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN POTC!

"This is it…" Gabriel said as he helped Eve down from the carriage.

"This is beautiful…" Eve glanced up at the large gray stoned manor. It was bigger than the home in Paris, and it was grander. Off to the side, and a distance back, looked to be the barn…across from it, the corral. "Is that where the horses are kept?"

"Yes." Eve heard that Gabriel's horses were beautiful, and she had no doubt that they would be. "Want to see them?"

"I would." Gabriel then took her hand and started walking her towards the barn. "How many do you have?"

"Forty-eight."

"Do you breed them?"

"Yes, my mother loved them. I honor her by making sure everything is kept up here."

"It's a nice way of honoring her. Do you know how to ride them?"

"Yes."

"Could you show me?"

"What is this? The elusive Evelyn Turner, does not know how to ride a horse?" Gabriel asked.

"Ask me how to sail a two hundred and fifty gun ship, by myself…that is my area of expertise. I don't think I really have been away from the sea, this far. I can't smell the sea air."

"It is different. It will take some getting used to, that's all."

"Did you spend a lot of time here as a child?" Eve wanted to poke into Gabriel's past, he really hadn't spoken much of his parents.

"Yes. When my father was away at sea, my mother would take us up here, teach us how to ride and care for the horses." Gabriel then stopped speaking, and Eve picked up on his discomfort.

"You know I love you, right?" Eve said suddenly. Gabriel stopped and turned her around.

"Of course. Why would you ask such a question?"

"Then why won't you open up to me about your past. You have told me names, certain occasions, but you won't tell me details."

"I have been honest."

"I haven't accused you of being dishonest. Just trust me enough to tell me how you are feeling…that's what I'm here for."

"Evelyn, it's hard to talk about my childhood, can we please just leave it alone?" Gabriel looked into her eyes pleading with her not to go forward.

"Ok, if that's what you want."

"Thank you." Gabriel then continued walking with Eve. The entrance to the barn was large, two huge doors were wide open, leading into the…what Eve thought, at least one hundred stables.

"I have never seen anything like this…" Eve walked around. "Or smelled anything this repulsive."

"That's another thing your just going to have to get used to." Gabriel watched as Evelyn went from stall to stall glancing inside. "You can touch them…they won't bite." Gabriel then walked to Eve and took her hand and walked to a stall. "This one was bred from my mother's horse." Eve looked at the caramel colored horse, it had a patch of white on it's nose, and hooves.

"Beautiful. What's her name?"

"Rosie. Wait right here." Gabriel then pulled out the gate and led the beautiful mare out. Eve stepped back as the horse came closer. "Don't need to be afraid." Gabriel then took Eve's hand and placed it on it's nose.

"What a beautiful animal…" Gabriel watched Eve's intense look, she was completely mesmerized.

"She looks just like my mother's horse." Gabriel then started to pet the animal. "Amazing their similarities." Eve smiled at Gabriel and realized something. This place was extremely important and special to Gabriel, this is the place that he best remembered his mother, and as far as Eve could tell, he loved his mother dearly…it was his father, that it seemed, Gabriel did not want to talk about. "There is much more to see."

"I know. We'll come back later." Eve then watched as Gabriel put the mare back into it's stable. This would be very interesting time spent here.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"So what did you think?" Gabriel asked Eve as they both began to climb into bed.

"Big, beautiful…there is just so much." Eve's thoughts then went to perhaps raising a child here.

"What are you thinking about?" Gabriel asked.

"Raising our child here. What do you think?" Eve started lifting the covers over her chest.

"Not permanently, but going from Paris to here, wouldn't be bad."

"Why not? I mean it's beautiful here, room to run and play for a child."

"Too far from the city."

"Wouldn't that be a good thing? The city can be very dangerous."

"So can the country." Eve decided to drop the argument, he would tell her when he was ready.

Eve turned away from Gabriel, and stared out of the window. Something haunted Gabriel, as much as he loved it here, it was a presence that had him scared, and she was sure that she would find out. Gabriel then put an arm around her waist and began to fall asleep. Gabriel knew that Evelyn had some feeling that something wasn't right about here, about him and this place, but to tell her of this dark part of his life…was just too much, he did not want her to worry, but knew Evelyn well enough that she in fact, would.

"Promise to show me more." Eve said.

"Of course."

"And one more promise."

"What is it?"

"Promise that you'll open up to me." Eve turned in bed to face him. "I know your in pain to be here…but you're here to keep me safe."

"Evelyn, it's just difficult."

"I know that. But try." Gabriel took a deep breath.

"My mother loved it here…when my father was off in London on some political conquest she would take us here. Soon after, especially when Colette and I were older, she joined him. I took my sister here…that's when we found out my parents were jailed and punished…I haven't returned since now. This place was the last time I saw my family actually alive, the four of us here together, happy, the way a family should be." Eve placed her hand on his chest. "I want us to be that way…My mother loved it here, I kept it up for her, and I bred these horses just as she would have, I could never go here, just didn't have the heart to."

"Gabriel, I am here for you…I don't want you to carry this burden on you own…just talk to me…tell me more about your mother…about your father…about your family." Gabriel couldn't go any further, it was painful, too painful for him.

(A/N) Will we ever get to the bottom of Gabriel's family? Probably not since he plays things close to the vest...or maybe Eve is the one that can open his eyes...