Abby knew Blake, or thought she did at least. The couple had met at a small coffee shop near her college campus and he'd asked for her number after he'd spilled coffee on her. He'd proceeded to buy her several more cups of coffee before he'd asked her on a date. Then he'd dropped a rather expensive dress for her at her apartment along with a dozen red roses.

She was thoroughly smitten with him before he began acting strange. It had started with him looking through her phone and deleting contacts from her phone. He'd convinced her that it was an accident and she'd forgiven him and simply reprogrammed the numbers from her address book. Then he'd began calling her nearly every day at least three times, it was a bit stifling, but she'd chalked it up to him being a concerned and caring boyfriend. She could see no wrong in him, except for his obsession with certain TV series.

The real trouble started when she'd asked Blake to meet Tex. He'd been fuming on the phone when she requested that he meet up with her at the restaurant she'd been wanting to try for weeks. She'd never really seen his temper flare up over the five months they'd been dating, but it peeked up its head when she asked him to meet her only sibling.

"Abilene, I can't. This meeting is really important. My father needs me to be there." His voice was firm over the line.

"But Blake, this is my closest living family member! Please, do it for me?" She was frustrated and couldn't understand his refusal to simply cancel one meeting in order to finally meet Tex.

"Fine, but you owe me." His voice was smooth but an underlying edge caused Abby to pause.

"I'll give you a kiss." She smiled softly at the chuckle that crossed the line and tickled her ears. He had such a nice laugh.

"Alright, well I'll see you Thursday night."

That conversation had been the start of a downward slope. The night at the restaurant had turned into a tense situation between her brother and boyfriend Yes, there was plenty of laughter, but she could sense the unease between the two men. More than once Blake had found her hand under the table and had given it a rather painful squeeze, he'd never done that before and she didn't like it a bit.

The next three months after the meeting at the restaurant Abby had been distant from Tex. When he called she didn't answer immediately and often she'd not answer at all and just call back later, it set his gut to churning all over again. It wasn't like Abby to not answer his calls immediately. When she did answer her usually cheerful disposition seemed dull.

"Abs? What's going on?" Tex let his concern slip into his voice as he settled into a plush chair in his study.

"Oh, I'm fine, just a bit stressed about the exams coming up." Abby sounded a bit tired to Tex's ears.

"Are you sure that's all Abs?" Concern painted his words further and he leaned back into the comfort of his seat. He frowned to himself as he listened to her go on about her day at school. Something didn't ring true about the way Abby was acting.

"I've got to go Tex, I've got an early morning tomorrow." The sound of scuffling through the line made Tex lean forward and put a hand on his desk worriedly.

"Call me tomorrow, ok?"

"If I get the chance I will. It's gonna be a busy day, not sure how much time I'll have tomorrow."

"Just try Abs. I love you." His voice grew soft at the words.

"Ok, I'll try Tex." She sighed a little tiredly. "I love you too. Have fun at the race tomorrow."

With a sense of foreboding welling inside of his gut he listened to Abby hang up the phone. It was painful to hear as if it might be the last thing he heard from her. Tex looked down at the phone in his hand with a sick feeling and pushed it aside. She was probably just tired from working and going to school. Abby did tend to push herself pretty hard with her packed schedule; she was probably busier than him.

Heaving a heavy sigh he settled the phone on the hook and ran a hand across his face. Hopefully things would look up in the morning and hopefully Abby would get some rest soon enough, that way things would go back to normal for the siblings. Standing to his feet Tex decided to head to bed, everything tended to look better on a full night's sleep. Shoving his worry to the back of his mind, Tex pillowed his head and drifted off to sleep.

Abby sighed as she brushed her teeth and caught her reflection in the mirror. Tired bags had subtly begun engulfing her eyes; it didn't suit her normally cheery expression. Those bags hadn't started until Blake had begun demanding more of her. She had to come with him to functions at his workplace, dressed up to the point that she didn't feel like herself. In all honesty she'd begun to feel like nothing more than eye candy for him and a trophy girlfriend that he could show off.

Glancing at the clock she realized that it was nearly nine and the weight of tiredness settled heavily on her shoulders. She was extremely glad that she'd told Blake she couldn't make it to the fancy gala he'd invited her too. Everything was just so much, what with working full time and going to college full time there was hardly any time to do all the extra things that Blake had begun to demand. She felt drained and ugly as she braided her hip length black hair. She'd always liked her hair long and despite Blake's new complaints that it was too long she refused to cut it. It was her hair after all.

She was just about to drift into the land of dreams when an incessant thudding at the downstairs door jerked her wide awake. Throwing back the covers with a sigh she trudged down to answer the door. Who on earth would be bothering her at this time of night? No one in their right mind would think of taking Abby from her sound sleep, so it must be an idiot. With agitation running through her she jerked the door open only to come face to face with her boyfriend of eight months.

"Blake? What on earth are you doing here? You're supposed to be at that fancy party." Abby's eyes trailed over Blake, who was dressed in a tux.

"Can't I visit the loveliest woman on earth?" He grinned and pulled a dozen of yellow carnations from behind his back. "Also… I didn't want to be alone at the party." He gave her a shy smile.

"I'm sorry Blake, but can't you go with someone else? I honestly don't mind."

"I wanted to go with you though…You're my girlfriend." He gingerly handed the flowers over to his girlfriend and slipped inside slowly.

"We don't have to do everything together." She smiled at him and shut the door behind her. Carnations, they weren't her favorite, but he always brought her carnations, she'd never corrected him.

"I like being with you," He gently caught her right hand in his and squeezed it. "We could watch one of those TV shows you like."

"Instead of the party?" Abby couldn't hide her surprise completely. With a small smile she squeezed his hand in return.

"Yeah, well if I can't have you with me, this seems like the best thing."

"Alright, let's watch something." She was honestly too tired to care about TV, but she was touched by her boyfriend's thoughtfulness. "I might fall asleep."

He tugged her towards the stairs and to her bedroom and with practiced ease he flipped on the TV and settled beside her on the bed. Lazily he snaked his right arm around her back and rested his hand on her hip before leaning back to watch something with her. It was a very adorable scene, the couple lounging and watching some crime show that Blake found extremely boring. After a few minutes he glanced over at his girlfriend to see if she'd relaxed. Slyly he leaned in to place a kiss against her neck. The kiss only caused Abby to shift in surprise and a tiny smile to touch her lips at the sign of affection.

Abby didn't quite know what to make of Blake, within the next few minutes he decided to trail a hand along her side and to kiss her neck again. It was all so foreign to her; she'd never had a boyfriend before, not a real one. She'd had someone to occasionally pay her attention, but she'd never paid them much attention. With the next kiss Abby felt her curiosity and uncertainty grow.

"Blake?" She turned to glance at him and twine her fingers with the hand by her hip. "Are you still watching?" Her gaze turned back to the show still playing on the screen.

"I'm watching something better," His tone was smooth as he placed a kiss against her throat. "You…"

"That's nice to say," She turned to face him again as she squeezed his hand gently.

"Well it's true," He trailed a hand along her side again. "I was going to whisk you away after the gala, and was going to." He whispered by her ear slowly and traced her left leg slowly. His tone was as smooth as Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

"Going to what?"

"Was going to," He pulled a ring from his jacket pocket and slipped it into her left hand. "Ask you to be my wife." His lips found her jaw as he finished his sentence.

"Blake!" Abby sounded surprised as she glanced down at the ring in her hand. Happiness engulfed her voice and lit her face up. Slowly she pulled back to look at him, "I…"

With a light smirk Blake leaned in to kiss her. He'd caught the golden goose. Abby was over the moon and more in love than he could have ever hoped for. It was all falling into place; they'd be the ultimate couple, a perfect power couple. Lazily he tugged at the bottom of her shirt until it ripped, the sound cut through the air and startled Abby. Blake moved with precision, pulling her close into his arm and slipping a hand deep into her hair. His moves startled Abby and she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. Something felt off to her and she couldn't quite place her finger on it. She felt the need to run all at once.

"Blake…You're going a bit too fast. This is all new." She pushed against his chest to put some room between them. Her words fell on deaf ears and she more forcefully shoved him away. "Blake, what are you doing?"

"I'm just kissing you."

"You ripped my shirt."

"So, I proposed."

"I haven't said yes yet." Abby sounded upset and torn.

"The answer is obvious." Blake smiled slowly at her.

"You should still have let me answer," She brushed a hand along his cheek lovingly.

"Well?" His hand slithered to rest where the shirt was torn.

"You'll have to let me think about it Blake."

"What's to think about?" His fingers brushed along her neck lazily.

"It's a big decision and I haven't known you for that long."

"I love you," Blake tugged her against his chest.

"I love you too." Confusion clouded Abby's mind as she slipped a hand to cup his cheek.

"What's the problem then?"

"Shouldn't we wait a little?" Uncertainty flooded her voice.

"Life's short, we should always seize the moment." He leaned in and kissed her lightly.

"Can't you wait...just a while?" She shivered and took a small step back in order to look up at him.

"We owe this to each other."

"It's too fast."

"Abilene…" His voice was low and something in it sent a shudder down Abby's spine. All at once he didn't seem so nice.

"I'm just…really tired. And I don't know what to think. This is so fast Blake."

"Don't overthink it babe," He kissed her deeply and backed her up against the wall closest to the door leading to her upstairs hall and the stairs.

Her mind in a muddle Abby followed her gut and slipped the ring back into Blake's pocket as he kissed her. There was something wrong with the whole picture, but she really did care for Blake. With a sigh she pushed him backwards in order to speak.

"Why are you rushing?"

"It's not a rush. I want you and I know you want to be with me." He leaned in for another kiss and his hand slipped to her hip.

"And what if I want to wait?"

"Why would you want to?"

"Because, you're not thinking clearly, we should wait."

"I'm certain of what I want." His grip tightened on her waist. He was unrelenting and a cold glint slipped into his steely eyes.

"And what if I'm not." Abby's heart started to race and a feeling of dread crept up her arms.

"Abs, can't you see reason?"

"Can't you, Blake? I'm not ready." She stepped out of his hold carefully.

"You're being ridiculous." His face darkened like a storm cloud "We've been dating for nearly eight months!"

"I'm not! It's good to be careful!"

"You're being too careful Abs." He grabbed her wrist and held it tightly.

"I don't think I am." Her words were firm and caused Blake to tighten his grip until Abby could feel her wrist bruising. "Blake…you're hurting me."

"You're being unreasonable." His voice was as cold as ice.

"You're scaring me." She twisted her wrist in an effort to escape.

"What's your issue Abs?"

"You're acting different. I don't want to go that far Blake."

"I've put a lot into this relationship! You're ruining it!"

"So have I!" She twisted her arm as he tugged harder.

"You're ridiculous!" He jerked hard on her arm and twisted.

A sickening pop filled the air and Abby stumbled in pain. Her right hand flew to cover her left shoulder protectively. Tears blurred the edge of her vision and she glanced up at Blake with wide eyes. He'd done this to her, she couldn't understand it. Earlier he'd only been more controlling about her coming to more functions with him, then he'd made sure he knew where she was at all times. Now it had become physical. He'd actually hurt her and she couldn't believe it. How could he? He was supposed to take care of her.

"You jerked!"

"You shouldn't have held on so tightly!" She turned and hurried out the bedroom door and towards the stairs. Pain urged her to hurry and make her way to the hospital. With determination she made her way to the stairs. All at once she found herself lifted up in the air and one of Blake's arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

"You're being too dramatic! It's probably not that bad!"

"It's dislocated! Let me down!" She struggled in his grip. "I need to go to the hospital."

"It's not that bad!"

"Blake! It's out of socket! Please, take me to the hospital!"

"It's your fault."

"I'll just take myself then." She twisted in his hold, but he wouldn't let go. Pain flared along her shoulder as he tightened his grip on her. "Let go!" She kicked a leg back and made contact with his right knee. It was enough for him to set her back on her feet. He turned her around and glared down at her. She shivered, he looked like a different person, and he looked dangerous.

"Come on Abs." He rolled his eyes at her.

"No. I'm going to the hospital." She shoved him backwards. He scowled and shoved her twice as hard. She felt herself practically flying, her heel hooked on the edge of the top stairs and she twisted her body trying to stop her fall. Her eyes widened and she screamed as she made contact with the stairs. It was a rush of fear and pain, and then nothing but darkness.