Disclaimer: The song I used is call I'd Stick with you; it's from Hunchback of Notre Dame 2. I just think its right for this moment.

Ch. 4: First Impressions

Gabriella quickly looked away from Tristan at the sight of his face. He leaned against his chair and looked down, "We need to establish a couple things since you will be living here."

"That would be," Gabriella quietly asked, trying not to stare at Tristan's face.

He looked up again and cleared his throat a bit, "You can't leave the castle obviously but you are free to roam in the forest that is here on the grounds but you can not open the gates to this castle or roam out of the castle at night." He grabbed his glass of water and took a small sip.

"How come?"

Tristan's eyes darted to Gabriella's, "It's not safe. As you can see, Gabriella, this place is not ordinary."

"It's magical," she stated.

Tristan nodded, "Yes but there are things that are dangerous here also." There was a silence between them and for some reason, Gabriella felt comfortable with this silence for it let her examine Tristan slowly. She could see the scars traveling his face but it didn't hide the youth and cool blue eyes that glanced occasionally at her in the moments they just spoke. His hair was short, slightly brushed back, and was the color of the night.

This was no monster.

"How old are you," Gabriella suddenly inquired, breaking the silence. Tristan raised an eyebrow hearing the strength in her voice at this question. He sat up more and looked at her.

"I'm twenty one," he answered. Gabriella's eyes slightly widened, He's two years older than me. "And you?"

"I'm nineteen. I'll be twenty once summer ends."

Tristan nodded, "Now a couple more things, you've already met Luka and Aaron but there are several others here. They are servants but they live here as well."

"You want me to treat them like servants because if you do then I won't. Servants are as much as human as…" She grew silent realizing what she was about to say and Tristan realized that she stopped also. "I mean," she tried to recover but Tristan placed his hand up to stop her.

"It's fine, I understand," he told her. "Also, I want you to treat them with respect but I see you already treat Aaron and Luka decently. So I have no worries." Gabriella nodded and Tristan finally stood up from his chair, "Finally my room is off limits which is in the north tower as well as the room with the white door."

"How-"

"Gabriella, I ask you not to go into those rooms. All the doors are colored except that door so I ask you to not enter that room." Gabriella nodded her head and Tristan bowed to her, "That is all and if you may excuse, it's been a late evening." Gabriella nodded again before watching Tristan walking out of the room.

"Well that went well," a voice stated. Gabriella looked up to see the General looking at her, he saluted to her, "General Cornelius Xavier Jenkins the Third, Miss Gabriella but you may call me the General."

"Pleasure," she nodded to him as she stood up. The table suddenly cleared and reformed back into a living room with the fireplace lit. Gabriella gasped in surprise as a chair soon formed then another chair.

The General chuckled, "I see the Castle has already come to like you."

Gabriella walked over to the chair and took a seat; she looked up at another portrait that showed the General again. She looked down at the seats before her and the fireplace. "You mean the Castle is alive," she inquired.

"Not quite. When certain things happen, the Castle will reshape itself in certain rooms. It reshaped itself to be a dinning room and once you were up and Tristan left, it changed back to a living room."

"Should I worry?"

"Not at all," the General chuckled. "I think it only changed on Andrew one time but that's because doesn't like Andrew."

Gabriella looked up at the General, "How come?"

"Because Andrew can be as low as scum," another voice answered. Gabriella looked over her shoulder to see a young woman, wearing a dark blue dress and to Gabriella; she seemed a little bit older, possibly Tristan's age. She had beautiful dark brown hair and green eyes that sparkled like emeralds. Her face was gentle but her voice held a serious tone.

She walked over to Gabriella as another seat formed, "Andrew is someone you have to be careful with. Tristan is very weary about him and tries to watch him but it's quite difficult."

"Oh?"

The woman smiled softly then gasped, "Now where are my manners, my name is Abigail but you can call me Abby."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. At least, it's good to know there's another woman in the house besides Constant," Gabriella giggled lightly.

Abby smiled, "There is another and that's Sofia, she's the eldest in the castle. She's been here since Tristan was born."

"You make me sound old, Abigail," Sofia softly chuckled as she entered. She nodded to Gabriella before kissing Abby's head, "Aaron went to patrol and Luka went to bed as you requested."

"Thank you, Mama."

Gabriella raised an eyebrow, "You two are related?"

Sofia nodded as she smiled, "Let me explain all of us. Abigail is my daughter and Aaron is my son in law, Luka is my grandson while Constant and the General are in a love hate relationship you haven't seen yet."

"And him," her eyes gesturing to the direction Tristan had left.

"Tristan is the master of the castle but I treat him like my son."

Gabriella leaned in, "So you know about him more?"

"Of course."

How should I ask this without sounding very rude, Gabriella pondered. She took a moment before figuring out how to ask her question, "Has he always had the," she then gently gestured to the face.

Sofia took a moment then she came to realization, "The scars?" Gabriella nodded and Sofia sighed gently, "He had a horrific accident, left him scarred."

"Oh."

"Gabriella, this is your home now. Tristan means no harm to you; I know the way you came here is not a way you wouldn't like to come. You were forced here but Tristan is someone you will quite like once you get to know him."

"I don't want to get to know him," Gabriella argued.

Suddenly Abigail chuckled, "That's what I said to her when Tristan and I first met but he'll grow on you."

"I don't think so but thanks for the attempt."

Abby nodded and chuckled a bit before standing up and began to walk off. She stopped and turned back to Gabriella, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Gabriella."

"You too."

B&B

Gabriella went back into the bedroom after everyone left. She went back to her bedroom and got ready for bed. Later into the night, a thunderstorm began. Thunder and lightning flashed by Gabriella's window that caused Gabriella to wake up.

She could hear loud footsteps and a door slam loudly. She sat up and stepped out of her bed, walked out toward the door. She opened it slightly as she poked her head out of her room. She could see a glowing light emulated out of one of the rooms.

Wonder what that is, Gabriella thought as she began to walk toward it. As she went closer, she could hear two voices talking, "You know I don't like thunder, Tristan."

A light chuckle came, "I know Luka, don't worry, I don't like them either."

"Is that why you are up," Luka inquired. Gabriella slowly peered in to see Luka sitting on Tristan's lap; he was dressed in a casual white shirt and black pants, his hair a little bit messier. He looked different from the person she met at dinner; he looked more in his own element.

"Can you sing me something," Luka asked

Tristan shook his head, "Not tonight, Luka."

"Please…"

Gabriella giggled gently and Tristan turned his head at the giggle but shook his head before smiling. He looked down at Luka, "Fine, one time but you then have to go to bed because the storm is almost done." Luka nodded and gently lay against Tristan's chest who wrapped around his arms around the little boy. Gabriella slowly began to walk away but then stopped suddenly.

"Through all the thin and thick

Closer than frack and frick

We two will do the trick

I'd stick with you."

Gabriella turned back to see Tristan standing up, carrying Luka who began to slowly fall asleep. Her eyes widened realizing that his footsteps were coming toward her; she quickly looked around and hid behind a suit of armor. Tristan walked out, closing the door with Luka, still singing.

"Fast as the clock can tick

I'd be here just as quick

No one I'd rather pick

I'd stick with you…"

Gabriella gently smiled as Tristan entered another room then reemerged without Luka, closing the door softly. He sighed and yawned before looking at the suit of armor that Gabriella hid behind but simply turned and walked down the hallway.

She released the breath that she held and slowly stepped out of her hiding spot. She softly smiled before going back to her room, closing the door as well.

The next morning, Gabriella came downstairs to the kitchen to see Sofia with Tristan. He was saying something when he heard the door quietly open and gently looked over his shoulder to see Gabriella. He gently bowed and greeted, "Good morning Gabriella."

"Good morning, Tristan, Sofia," she greeted back as she sat down. She found a nice blue dress with short sleeves and she felt a bit comfortable in her own skin. As she faced the two people, she didn't want to directly look at Tristan, feeling she would be rude.

Tristan could sense this as he looked at Sofia, nodding to her. She smiled, kissed the top of his head and walked off to another room. "I hope you slept well," Tristan inquired.

"Oh yes. I slept well."

"I hope the suit of armor wasn't uncomfortable for you."

Gabriella's head snapped up and locked eyes with Tristan who smiling a bit. She felt a blush crawl up to her cheek as she looked away, running a hand through her hair, "You knew I was there?"

"I've lived here since I was born and I know what noises are what. I do know that giggles in the hallway are not one of them at least not at that late hour."

Gabriella smiled again and Tristan marveled at the smile. It was so genuine, so pure; it was hard to believe that Arthur fathered someone who was the complete opposite of him. Gabriella looked away and stopped smiling before looking back at Tristan, "I want to apologize on how we started off. My first impression was not the best to give you."

"I don't blame you for being mad at me, Gabriella."

"Gabby," she corrected, "I like to be called Gabby."

"Gabby," he tested it out, "I understand if you are mad at me but I like us to get along. You don't have be polite to me."

Gabriella shook her head, "I should be mad you but you took me away from Brandon, my father was willing to give me up for money. It's been like that for a while."

"You are not alone," Tristan said. His eyes were directed away from her but she could see the sadness and anger. He cleared his throat as he shook it away, "Well, we can start over then?" Gabriella nodded as Tristan stood up and walked over to her, he placed his hand out, "I'm Tristan."

She took his hand, gently shaking it. A light spark came between them as Gabriella began to blush lightly, "I'm Gabriella."

Tristan smiled again and for a minute, it caught Gabriella off guard. It was gentle, even though the scars can be off putting at first; Tristan showed a gentle manner that showed that he was not going to hurt her like Sofia said. Tristan slowly released her hand before looking away a light blush showing, "Well, I'm going to handle a couple things."

"Can I explore," Gabriella wondered as she looked down.

"Of course, just be careful." He walked over to the door, opening the door.

"And Andrew?"

Tristan looked over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised. "Oh I guess the girls told you about him," Gabriella nodded, "just call on me if he gets too close to comfort."

"How would hear me?"

"I just do."

Tristan slowly walked out, turning around the corner but suddenly stopped at the sight of a portrait. He looked up at it for a moment before looking around, how did that get on the wall? He looked around before pulling it off the wall, carrying it away.

He then approached the white door, opening it and disappearing inside with the door closing automatically.

You know the drill, Review and everything. Also, if you have an idea for this story that you like to see, I like to hear it.