"Elena, we need to get going if we want to start the Parranda on time." Luisa, Elena's Grandmother announced to a non spirited Elena.
Elena sighed heavily. The Parranda that lead through the city and back to the palace had quickly become a Navidad tradition. Elena had been looking forward to it but now, knowing Isa wouldn't be there, it just seemed like an obligation. She turned around to face her Abuela and forced a smile.
"Coming Abuela!" She replied, trying her best to sound festive.
Luisa knew that Elena wasn't in the Navidad spirit. When Elena approached her to walk out the door, Luisa embraced her granddaughter with much sympathy. Elena appreciated Luisa's understanding without the need to externalize it all.
Just then, they heard horses swiftly approaching. Elena's eyes brightened at the thought that perhaps Isa had been able to make it after all. She ran out the front doors of the palace and into the front courtyard. It didn't take long for her hopes to be crushed as she saw it was the guards returning from their mission.
Leading the troops and the first to dismount his horse near Elena was Rico. Elena was confused as to why Rico had taken charge. Where is Gabe? Her head suddenly began to spin with thoughts of something horrible happening to him. She ran over to Rico, bombarding him with questions.
"Where's Gabe? What happened? Is he OK? Please tell me he isn't hurt!" She asked, now in a full panic.
"He stayed behind your majesty. He didn't say why. The Delgados escaped into Paraiso, he may have gone after them" Rico explained.
"What?!" Elena exclaimed. "By himself? Why would he do that?!"
"I don't know Princess." Rico replied honestly. "I'm sure he's fine. Gabe is level headed, he wouldn't do anything unless he'd thought it through first" He told Elena, trying to reassure her.
Elena just nodded as she thought about it. Rico was right. Gabe always used his head. He was smart, practical. He would be just fine. Rico turned back to the troops, leaving Elena to fall back into a daze, alone with her thoughts. Luisa who had overheard, approached Elena and embraced her from behind. Perceptive as always, she knew that Elena had already been missing Gabe. After all, he had lead the first parranda along side Elena. Luisa knew that Gabe being by Elena's side now was almost as important to her as Isa being there.
"First Isa... now Gabe..." Elena muttered
"It's hard to be without the people you love for the holidays" Luisa replied, surprising Elena with the use of the word love. She looked quizzically at her Abuela who gave a sly smile in return, telling Elena that it was ok. Although never voiced, she knew Elena's feelings about Gabe. Elena grinned and let out a quick laugh, knowing that nothing got past Abuela.
"Yeah... it is" Elena stated, nodding to Luisa as confirmation that indeed, Elena loved Gabe.
Finding a small bit of comfort in one another and knowing that the rest of their friends and family were waiting for them, Luisa and Elena walked arm in arm towards the royal carriage. They would arrive at the city center, smile, and carry on with the parranda!
By the time the parranda had reached the bridge leading up to the palace, Elena was actually enjoying herself. Seeing the city come together for the holiday was enough to lift most anyone's spirits. She had her Abuelos on one side of her and her best friends Mateo and Naomi on the other side. She was grateful to be surrounded by such love and beauty.
Before entering the palace gates, Elena paused and turned around to face her fellow Avalorans. They continued on through the gates, Elena smiling and connecting with nearly each one. Finally, she headed through the gates too just as everyone was beginning to surround the towering tree that stood resplendently in the courtyard. She suddenly stopped as she looked up towards the front steps to the palace and spotted Isabel with Gabe standing closely behind. They were both muddy and tattered but Elena could see their smiles shining through it all. Isa was jumping up and down, no longer able to contain her excitement.
Isabel took off towards Elena and Elena immediately began to run towards her sister as well. They clashed into an embrace and Elena lifted Isa off of the ground, not even caring that her new Navidad gown would be soiled from the mud. They squeezed each other tightly and Elena finally placed Isabel back on the ground, bending down to her level so that she could look upon her beloved sister's face.
"I can't believe you're here!" Elena finally exclaimed, still hardly believing her eyes.
"Gabe came and got me!" Isa explained "His mission brought him close to Paraiso and he said that there was no way he was going back to Avalor without me!" She bragged.
Elena glanced up at Gabe who was watching the reunion with the look of pure pleasure on his face. He had made her Navidad wish come true. She then looked back to Isa who was still going on about their journey home and how though it was difficult, she remained brave and they kept pushing on.
"Wow Isa! That's incredible!" Elena beamed.
After gushing over the joy they both felt to be able to spend the holiday together and a few more hugs, Isa ran over to her Abuelos for a similar reunion. Elena watched her go, unable to wipe the joy she was feeling away from her expression. She then turned back to face Gabe, who had remained in the background, watching it all. A new sort of smile spread across her face. She was so grateful for what he had done for her family. Gabe was amazing and so sweet. She had known it for a long time but had never really showed him how much she appreciated all that he did for her or how much he meant to her.
Elena's eyes softened to Gabe and when they finally locked on his, her heart skipped a beat and the connection she suddenly felt with him took her breath away. Gabe must have felt it too. His eyes widened and he became more serious as he took a deep inhale and started to slowly descend the stairs towards Elena.
Elena, just as slowly, walked towards Gabe. Gabe's heart began to pound inside of his chest as he continued to stare deep into Elena's eyes. The look on her face was one that he had seen before but this time there was just something about her movements that told him that she wasn't going to break away. There was something about it that told him that she was ready to accept exactly what all those looks meant. The closer they got, the heavier his breathing became and before he knew it, Elena was upon him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and tightly gripping behind his neck. With their eyes still locked on one another, he raised his brows with uncertainty, still not knowing if it was ok to take her in his arms. He nervously grazed his hands ver her waist, barely touching her with the tips of his fingers. Elena, humored by his hesitations, grinned at him playfully before pulling him in close for a kiss. She pressed her lips on his good and hard. Gabe relaxed into Elena's embrace, no longer afraid to fully grip his hands around the small of her back and pull her in impossibly closer as he more than welcomed her affections.
"thank you .. for bringing Isa home to me" Elena whispered, still letting herself linger closely to the lips of the man who would do anything to make her happy. The man who stood by her side no matter what, even if he didn't agree with her actions, the man who would sacrifice everything just to keep her and her family safe, the man who she confided in, relied on and trusted more than anyone.
"Happy Navidad Elena" Gabe replied as he traced the lines of Elena's face, studying everything about it. He never wanted to forget the moment. The admiration had been there from the start and the affections hadn't taken much longer to develop. They had each enjoyed the small pings of excitement they would get while locking eyes and often contemplated what was in store for their relationship. But they had also always been content with their friendship, so they each remained silent about their feelings, leaving their future to the future. Gabe had a feeling that the future was now.
When he was confident that the look of love that sparkled in her eyes was forever ingrained in his memories, he gently but confidently kissed Elena again.
Elena fell limp in Gabe's arms. She kept her eyes closed as their lips parted and slowly blinked them open again to find Gabe, looking at her just as he always had. Elena was certain that if ever there was a look of love, that was it.
"Happy Navidad Gabe" Elena happily sighed.
A/N: I am 100% convinced that the way to Elena's heart is/will be through Isabel!
Happy Navidad in July everyone and hope you enjoyed!
