Disclaimer: I own nobody but Gabe. I've just thought, if JKRowling uses Gabe in one of her stories can I sue her?

NB: This is the last chapter so please review generously. Actually, this might be my last fic. Dais and Gracie want this fic to last forever (for some reason) and they may kill me.

NNB: I was a bit unsure about this ending so if you don't like it I'll write an alternate one for you. I have the time to do that because I have no life.

Chapter 8: 'Til death do us part.

I pace back and forth in front of the fire. I should have kept it to myself. It's not important anyway. I never wanted to hurt Draco, ever. Why couldn't I keep my big mouth shut? Whatever's wrong with him, he'll get over it. I can't force him to love me. I'd be a fool to try. Should I try to salvage what's left of this train wreck of a relationship? I walk to the door and knock gently. "Draco?" I wait, but he doesn't answer. "Draco? I'm sorry." I go back to the living room and grab my jacket from the back of the chair. He'll come around. If not, then there's nothing I can do about it. As, they say, if you love a bird, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, it never was. I push my arms into my jacket and walk out into the cold autumn air.

Bdbdbddbddb

"Draco?"

I hear Gabe knock on the door and He puts a finger to my lips. He's barely even touching me yet it still hurts. The wait feels endless, and I feel the skin on my fingers burning inside His coarse grasp.

"Draco? I'm sorry." Fresh tears well up in my eyes and my throat hurts with holding back my scream for help. My tears stay perched on the edge of my eyelid but they mustn't go any further. Years of living with Him has taught me that much. Finally we hear the door close and He lowers His hand, allowing the crushed rose to fall to the floor. My burnt hand bumps against the desk behind me. He moves the finger on my lips and brushes my cheek lightly.

"We can talk now. Gabriel's gone." I start when He says his name. How long has He known that I'm here? Has He known all along? He looks into my eyes and my fear accelerates impossibly. What if He sees the tears? He hates it when I cry. He hates it more than anything else. More than when other men look at me, more than when I make mistakes, more than when we're in public and He can't hurt me until we get home.

"It's okay, baby. You can cry." He's never said that before, and He says it so gently that for a moment I dare to think that He's changed. I step uncertainly into His arms and lower my head to His shoulder. I feel His body tense as the tears soak through His shirt and I can see memories of Him in my mind, nostrils flared and teeth ground together, His fist coming closer and closer to my face.

"He hurt you didn't he, baby? That's why I had to protect you. I didn't want to punish you, but I had to find a way to protect you from whores like him. Do you see why I had to do it? Do you understand?" He puts two fingers under my chin and raises my head so I can see directly into his eyes. I nod and He smiles. "Good. Now we can go back to normal."

Suddenly I realise that I'm beginning to believe Him. I realise that if I don't do anything now, then He'll have His own way, and I'll be back to the life I ran away from. I wonder how long He can keep up the good guy act before I'm back in hospital, before my medical history starts to get a bit more colourful.

He scowls, and I become conscious that I'm shivering. "What's wrong, Draco? Prefer to stay here with that filthy whore?" His hand on my wrist starts to tighten and I feel the small bones grinding together. He grins and I know that He feels it too. "I should have known. But I came here to get you back, and I will have you. Even if I have to take you to Hell with me."

"Harry, please. I didn't say that! I…"

"Oh, don't give me that! I know you too well to fall for it. Maybe I've been too soft on you." I step back, but the desk is in the way and I'm trapped between it and Him. My lip trembles and I clamp my teeth together to save myself from crying. I try to raise my hand to shield my face and He slams it back down, pinning it to the corner of the desk. He moves His face until it's inches away from mine, and I can see the anger in the whites of His eyes.

"Don't. Cry."

Bdbdbdbdbd

Gabe walked into the town centre and sat down. He stared up at the building Draco lived in and contemplated going back. For a moment he thought he heard screaming, but it was gone in an instant, the wind carrying it away and leaving Gabe to stare at the closed window and wonder if Draco had forgiven him yet.

Fin.