Story in a nutshell: Elena gets surprised by Gabe and Naomi is surprised by them after returning.

Authors Note: So I took the guest idea and kind of consolidated it into a short. Mainly because I did have something in mind with that concept. I'm writing when I can, so I'll see what stories I get. I'm working on some other side projects including a Tumblr challenge in a different fandom. This is an alternate version of events that I'd pick up later in my extended universe lol.

Enjoy!

Elena sighed as she looked at her paperwork. The stack went from being tall to very short thankfully. She brushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear and stamped one off. At least now she had that done which made her workload a lot lighter. There was a knock at the door as she made sure she looked okay. This wasn't too bad.

"Come in," said Elena barely looking up from her paperwork.

"Princess Elena," said Gabe as she looked up at him and smiled. Boy was it great to see a friend right now. Although something was off as she looked at him closely. Hmm what was it? She blinked up at him watching the young captain curiously. From this angle he looked pretty attractive standing there.

Stop it, she thought, scolding herself. Sure, he was good looking and had some some fantastic sword skills, Gabe was her friend. Elena wouldn't jeopardize that just because she had some inkling of feelings for him. After all what would happen if that didn't work out.

"Hi Gabe," she said brightly and saw the paperwork in his hands. "Don't tell me that I have more."

"Oh no, this is for me," he said sitting it down and clearing his throat. "Listen there's something that I wanted to ask you about. Umm…"

She shifted in her seat and patted the chair next to hers. Maybe he could help her out after all he was fast and very good at his job. Gabe shook his head and cleared his throat not looking meeting her eye. Gabe put the folder down away from hers so it didn't get mixed in and took the seat.

"Is something wrong? You know that you can talk to me right?" said Elena comfortingly.

"I just don't know how I'm going to say it," said Gabe almost nervously.

"Well it's best if you express yourself out right."

She nudged him closely and set aside the papers. Gabe just meet her eye this time as she encouraged him. Elena couldn't help but watch as his muscles tensed some and she kept in a girlish giggle inside. He was so nervous about something and she didn't want him to feel that way, especially around her.

Gabe sighed and took her hand. Oh, this was different.

"Before Naomi left, she gave me advice that I should tell people how I'm feeling and that I shouldn't hold it in. I thought about it and she was right," he said as Elena nodded her head. It was good advice he shouldn't have to hide his feelings. He assured himself of something before smiling at her. "Elena, I have this biggest crush on you. You're smart, incredibly kind, and beautiful. I'm taking a leap of faith and I was wondering if you'd want to go on a proper date with me?"

Elena's face froze a bit as she let that sink in. He had a crush on her? A big one at that?! She couldn't help but let a small gasp out of her lips. That was not what she was expecting to hear from him. Wow alright as she sat back but didn't pull her hands away from him. He had a crush on her while her cheeks turned a light pink. In a way that was very flattering as she remembered how she felt about him.

"I'm willing to work out any schedule you have. If you don't want to, you can tell me, I just thought I'd do it."

Giggling Elena smiled a little at his awkwardness. It was a rare side of him that she got to see.

"Gabe…" Now she was stuck on what to say next. "I mean, I really do like you. You're very nice and sweet and really attractive to me." He brightened up at her words before Elena picked her next ones carefully. "It's just that if things don't work out, I don't want it to be awkward."

"It won't," he said nodding. "I can't promise but I can make things work out as best as I can."

"Well okay," said Elena, "One date and we'll see how it works out. My next off day is Thursday. Now would you like to help me finish stamping all these papers?"

Earnestly he nodded and sat down next to her until he had his next set of rounds.

Elena refocused herself back on Naomi remembering that she was in the grand council room with her friend. The blond looked just as surprised as her although in her mind it was for a completely different reason. She let out a breath and waited for her to say something.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about and what happened while you were gone."

Naomi just blanked out for a moment. She had given that advice to him thinking that he liked her after the family day in Norberg. She didn't think that Gabe might have had feelings for Elena. It was a surprise all right to see the two of them holding hands on the dock. Although she didn't really feel jealous or anything.

"Naomi" said Elena waving her hand in front of her face. "I know I was surprised too but he's a great boyfriend. When he said that you gave him the advice to and tell me how he felt, I wanted to thank you."

Her face turned pink and her dress matching her skin tone. Her dress had been perpetually pink since that day that they went out. There was one date and then the next. Sure they've had a couple of fights here and there but nothing that wasn't beyond repair.

Naomi swallowed some although Elena didn't look too upset about the date. "Well I only told him he if he felt strongly about someone, he shouldn't hold his feelings in. I didn't think that he had a crush on you though. I mean it doesn't feel weird does it?"

"No! I mean, I'm glad you gave him that advice, I, well I said yes to date. I just wanted to see how you felt about it," said Elena carefully. "He said all these nice things about me, and I don't know. He's willing to work around my schedule and he is handsome."

Elena giggled lightly more to herself as Naomi looked at her a bit dumbstruck. She didn't know that Elena felt that way about Gabe. Although the blond didn't really feel jealous at the new found relationship. She looked happy about it even. Elena shifted and finally let her guard drop some.

"Is it bad that I said yes to him? I mean he is my guard and I don't want to break his heart if something goes wrong."

"No, Elena you deserve to be happy. You've been through so much and Gabe's a great guy." Naomi thought about it and told herself to come clean. "It's hard not to like him, even I've had a crush on him."

At this Elena gasped a little. "Naomi I wouldn't have…"

The blond laughed some and just took her hand softly as well. "No, no, I thought something might be there while we were in Norberg. But being gone on my own journey gave me some perspective. There's a lot that I have to learn about myself and besides you two are kind of cute together."

Laughing harder she gasped and hit her shoulder gently. "Kind of?"

"Yea kind of, I've seen cuter pairs. You're abuelos for example are adorable and I want to have that relationship with my husband fifty years from now. Now fill me in on details I'm going to live vicariously through you."

Elena shook her a grinning, she hadn't stopped smiling, although when was she ever able not to. "It's not weird though is it? I don't want to ruin our friendship over a boy."

"That's never going to happen," said Naomi. "You're my best friend and nothing is going to change that. Now spill."

With that Elena gave all the details she could. She was glad to have Naomi constant in her life like this and that would never change.