He felt like he had scoured the entire city looking for her that morning, after he'd come to her apartment and found that he was too late. She had already left. She had left to see Sylar. What he couldn't foresee was what Sylar's response would be. If she confronted him with the truth, would he kill her then? For some reason Peter didn't think so.

Peter did his best to filter out the thoughts and voices for something familiar, blinking the fatigue out of his eyes. He had overslept and was still tired. After he'd come home the night before he called Claire only to tell her "I told you so." if nothing else but they spoke for over two hours batting around theories of why Sylar was being nice to Ellen; why she would rather believe Sylar than Peter. Claire had told him to quit sneaking up on her in the middle of the night for starters and said she would talk to her.

She slid off the counter and took the necklace out of his hand with an impressed smile but he held fast onto her hand.

"It's your turn." He said, keeping her close to him.
Ellen's face went red, "My turn?" she said nervously.
"To show me what you can do." Gabriel let his other hand touch her face in a light caress along her cheek to her jaw bone and her neck.
"I don't want to hurt you."

She gave a half hearted pull against his grip on her, testing if he'd release her, but he would not be swayed. They both ignored the tapping of her necklace falling to the ground as he allowed his fingers to lace gently in her own, bringing her closer.

Ellen's mind was blank – her control and judgment never seemed to have ever existed as he touched her. The tingling was growing in her hands, her face – everywhere and she was powerless to stop it. She didn't even question why he was being the assertive one all of a sudden. She didn't want to.

"You won't hurt me." He said softly.

She avoided his gaze, keeping her face down, her eyes focused on the collar of his shirt. But she could feel the touch of his breath on her skin and the weight of his voice.
The lamp in the room flickered violently and Gabriel's heart beat faster.

A small shoot of light leaped from her hand to his making the hairs on his hand stand on end. The thrill of her power and her touch combined coursed through him like a brush fire.

"You – you don't know that." She said finally.
Gabriel pushed her hair back, putting his cheek against hers as he whispered in her ear, "Do you trust me?"

Ellen closed her eyes, she could feel the rough stubble of his face on her own and his voice in her ear nearly paralyzed her.
Placing his fingers under her chin he raised her bright eyes to him. They were brighter as another stream of light came between them. But he wasn't harmed.

"Yes." She said.

He guided her lips to his own and kissed her as she bathed them both in her white light. It danced about them like a wild ballet, but neither of them seemed to notice.

Gabriel closed his eyes to her kiss and fell into it – something he allowed himself to do not simply because he had wanted to but most importantly, it didn't matter.
Ellen would be gone soon.

It was late afternoon by the time he found them. They were walking closely together, talking quietly.
Peter heard her thoughts first
I'm glad Peter was wrong about him.
She was happy, relieved.

He saw them walking together and landed on his feet, his body invisible still, and began following them down the sidewalk several meters behind but just close enough that he could still hear them.

"You don't think Peter will try to hurt you because of this?"

Gabriel looked thoughtful for a moment. There was something close by that hadn't been there before. He gripped her arm and slowed down as he took a glance behind them.
"What is it?" Ellen said, following Gabriel's gaze down the street. She saw nothing out of the ordinary and looked back at him but he shook his head at her as though it was nothing and they kept going.

"There is no telling what he might do." Gabriel said.
"I won't let him hurt you." Ellen muttered.
"I have no doubt in your abilities and that is very considerate of you, but I wouldn't worry too much about it." Gabriel grinned to himself when Ellen wasn't looking.

He had heard Peter mutter out loud in response to their conversation and then he had found it, the angry, heated heart beat that followed them amongst all the others on the street. Peter had found them again.

Persistent. Gabriel then reached out and found Ellen's hand and held it as they walked, taking another glance over his shoulder looking nonchalant. She smiled and squeezed his hand in acceptance.

They reached the door to Gabriel's work shop and stopped.
"I should probably go. I've got another gig tonight." She said, "I had a good time." She didn't leave though. Ellen still stood there, staring at him.

Gabriel was getting to know her expressions well enough that he stepped closer to her and muttered, "Don't worry about me, Ellen." He said, running his fingers along her cheek and over her ear. After everything she still had concern for him.

"When will I see you again?" she said.

"Perhaps tonight."
She smiled broadly at the thought and he released her. Peter was still there, very near them, watching and listening like an incompetent spy.

Gabriel stepped off the stoop to his front door and grasped her by the arm, pulling her to him again. He combed his fingers through her hair and kissed her hungrily.

Peter could barely keep control of himself as he watched her wrap her arms around Sylar's neck in the want of his kiss.

Ellen felt her fingers through his thick hair, losing herself in how tightly he held her. It was difficult to let go.
They held each other for a few more seconds until he did let her go.

She stood close to him, her eyes looking up at him and smiled again, "Goodbye yourself." She said and managed to stagger back onto the sidewalk, "I'll see you later."

I've got to warn Claire. Peter is unstable…in more ways than one I think. She thought as both men lost her in the crowd of people passing on the street.

Peter was gripping the corner of the building so hard as he watched them he'd ripped off a chunk of it, forgetting his strength.
Sylar stood there, still a small smile on his lips as he looked after her. Until he couldn't make her out anymore he lowered his head.

Hello, Peter. He thought
Peter froze.
When are you going to realize that you cannot hide from me?
Peter watched a smile spread across Sylar's face.
It would seem that you're the killer now, wouldn't it? The truth is so difficult to maintain and translate sometimes, wouldn't you agree?
Gabriel laughed, ignoring the strange looks he was getting from passers by.
How ironic that she has chosen to be mine and that she fears you.
He looked where Peter would be standing were he visible, daring him to try anything before he opened the door to his shop and stepped out of sight.