I felt my body get hot from the sudden shot of adrenaline and an instant tingle rose in my chest. If this wasn't battle ready then I couldn't describe what was. But before I could bolt for the mystery man in the door way Dimitri grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

The man let out a soft chuckle, "Nice save, Dimka."

"Gabe."

My heart sank deep until it felt like it might be sitting on the base of my stomach. "Gabe? What are you doing here?"

Dimitri's grip tightened around my wrist, "That's a good question."

Gabe laughed out loud and tsked, "That's not a very nice way to greet an old friend." He leaned very leisurely against the frame and sighed.

Dimitri straightened himself and gently released me. His eyes swept low to the floor and quickly shot up to join Gabe's stare. "Hello, Gabriel. Now what are you doing here?" His voice was so monotoned I wasn't quite sure how he must be feeling.

He clasped his hands together and grinned, "Thank you, Dimitri. I just heard you had arrived in town and thought I should pay a visit to you and your... budding family." His eyes shot to me. I could feel him staring me down.

Dimitri quicky stepped in his line of sight to block me off. "That's very considerate. You shouldn't have." His jaw tightened.

"Now what kind of friend would I be if I didn't stop by?" He stepped forward and Dimitri took a step towards him.

"That's far enough."

He looked down and ran the tip of his shoe on the floor, "Seems fair."

Oksana looked from one person to another. She seemed at ease but I don't think even she could block out the awkwardness engulfing the room. She let out a soft sigh and it hit me. She was using her Spirit magic to keep him out. That's why Gabe tested his boudaries. Her expression went soft, "How did you know they were here?" She suddenly gave me a worried look.

He shrugged, "I figured they would be coming back again soon. So I have people looking out for him." He tilted his head towards Dimitri.

"And why would you be looking for me?" Dimitri was a wall. I could barely see past him at Gabe who looked unphased by all of this.

"As I said, I wanted to see my old friend." He grinned and it made me shudder.

Dimitri played a smile on his face, "What was the next step of your plan after you found me?"

He laughed, "Found you? I have known where you are, I know plenty about you. I didn't have to go find you." He said it like it might be some ridiculous idea.

I pushed past Dimitri, "Are you going to tell us or just stand there and banter?"

"Roza!" Dimitri pulled me back.

Gabe's grin widened, "Bold, brave, beautiful Roza." He examined me from head to toe. "Something's different about you..."

"Maybe it's that I've gotten stronger." I balled my hands into fists.

He shrugged, "That could be it but I doubt it. Your scent." He inhaled deeply. His expression lightened like he was pleased. "You smell quite pleasant. It's refreshing."

"Compared to what?" I forced my heart to slow from its constant racing.

"Compared to the everyday foulness of my kind. You're smell, strength, beauty... it's all quite intriguing. Wouldn't you agree, Dimka?" He smiled and revealed his fangs. It caught me off guard and I involuntarily took half a step back.

Dimitri slowly began to reel me back towards him. "Enough games. I'm not asking you again. What are you up to?" His tone was stern and forceful. Made me want to confess to something.

Gabe swept him arms out and bowed low, "I came to see you." He returned the same firmness in his tone. Only his held the coldness that Strigoi were so naturally good at.

"What could you want to see me for?" Dimitri slowly began to approach him.

He straightened up and grinned, "To talk, Dimka. That's all. Just talk."

He came to a stop just a few feet away from Gabe. "About?"

Gabe's glance shot from face to face, "I'd rather it not be a public discussion. Would you care to join me for a walk?" He held out his hand like he was offering it to Dimitri.

Dimitri's eyes stared down into his hand like he wasn't quite sure how to go about things. I felt my pulse begin to race and throb loudly. This was too much. It felt like time was dragging by but according to the clock on the wall it only took Dimitri ten seconds to walk out into the darkness with Gabe. And just a few more for me to run out after him before I knew what I was doing.

The night air was fresh and cool on my skin. But Dimitri's firm hold on my arm was hot. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm not letting you go alone with him." I yanked my arm out of his hands which was alot easier than I thought it would be.

"That's not your call." He stood so close to me that his shirt grazed my chest.

I shook my head, "Please. I don't..." I lowered my voice as best I could. "I don't trust him."

Gabe scoffed, "And just what have I done to you to warrent this distrust?"

I turned and planted my feet firmly in front of Dimitri, "You're Strigoi."

"And from what I heard so was Dimitri..." He smirked. "Didn't stop you from chasing him down."

My face burned from the blush I'm sure was visible on my cheeks. "That was a whole different situation."

"Now I'm curious, you hunted him down to kill him or be with him?" Gabe crossed his arms over his chest as if to challenge me.

Now I scoffed loudly, "Like that's any of your business!"

"Enough!" Dimitri's eyes were shut and his hands were clenched. "I want answers and I want them now. And if that means trusting Gabe to go for a walk then that's what I'm going to do."

"But..."

"And if you want to join us then I suggest that you stop fighting and argueing. Just walk in silence and listen." His eyes were still shut tight.

My heart sank. It felt like I was being shunned. This wasn't fair. I was a big part of this just as much as he is, wasn't I? I finally nodded, "Fine."

"Gabe." Dimitri's gaze finally found a spot on Gabe's face. "What is the meaning of all this? Just tell me."

He dropped his smile and the sulking look took its place. "There are many reasons. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Let's start by prioritizing it all."

He nodded, "Then I am here to see an old friend." He half smiled. All the sarcasm and wit gone in a heart beat. He looked sincere.

I could tell it effected Dimitri. But I couldn't tell if he was serious or just a really good actor. Caution was a must but I couldn't help but feel a little sad. If Gabe really just wanted to see Dimitri then why all the banter? Why such hostility?

Dimitri finally broke from his silence, "Then I must admit that I'm glad to see you too. Although I wish the circumstances were different."

"You mean you wish I weren't Strigoi or that I was beneath the grave you tried to put me in?" He looked to the ground and laughed softly.

He shook his head, "I really didn't have a choice, Gabe. You are what you are."

"But not by choice!" His eyes widened and he bared his teeth. He let out a low exhale, "Not by choice."

Dimitri looked away and lowered his head, "I'm sorry. What did you expect when you showed up in my house?"

Gabe stepped towards us and I felt my body stiffen. Dimitri however didn't look the least bit worried. "A friend. I expected my friend to help me. For who I was not what I am."

"Kind of hard when you're trying to suck him dry."

He forced a laugh, "I didn't try to kill him."

"You jumped at him!"

"I ran to him for help!" In an instant Gabe was standing right in front of me. His height towered over me. He was just a tad bit shorter than Dimitri but not by much.

Dimitri pushed me back hebind him in one motion, replacing me with himself in front of Gabe. "Why attack me then?"

He frowned, "You were going to yell out for help. I could sense the fear in you. I terrified you."

"So you proved my fears by attacking me..." Dimitri straightened his body. He looked so intimidating to me. I couldn't really tell what Gabe was thinking.

"I just wanted to keep you quiet. I wasn't going to hurt you. But," he sighed. "You were stronger than me then."

Dimitri nodded, "And now?"

"Now we'll just have to wait and see." Gabe slowly lifted his hand and roughly patted Dimitri's shoulder. He didn't flinch or move. He seemed unafraid.

He chuckled, "Right. And what's priority number two?"

Gabe tilted his head from side to side. "Number two? Hmm." He reached under his collar and started fiddling with something. The silver ball. "I suppose it would have to be challenge you." He frowned again.

"Why would you do that?" My voice unwilling trembled.

He shrugged, "Fair is fair. He tried to kill me. A challenge now would help settle our score. Don't you think so Dimka?"

Dimitri sighed, "If you must."

I grabbed Dimitri's hand, "You cannot be serious."

He just smiled, "I just want this over with."

"You didn't seem too surpised to see me, Dimka." He chuckled and wagged his finger at me like I wasa child being shunned. "I figured she would have told you about our meeting even though I adviced her against it." He tsked, "You don't listen very well, do you?"

"I do as I please." I felt courageous considering that he could easily take me out.

Gabe shook his pointer at me, "Head strong, Roza."

I scoffed, "Why do you keep throwing adjectives at me?"

He laughed out hartily, "Because you just keep proving the rumors true."

"The rumors?"

"Oh, you know how people love to talk." He lowered himself down and sat on the curb.

Dimitri sat down just a few inches away from him. It made me uncomfortable. Even though Dimitri showed no fear it made me uneasy to see Gabe so content to be in our presence. He sat back and stared up at the sky like he didn't have a worry in the world. And it got me on edge.

"So when do you propose the challenge to begin?" Dimitri mimicked Gabe's position, gazing up at the sky. They looked almost like a matching pair sitting side by side. Like two friends just enjoying the night view.

He sighed, "Not now. This is a time for friends." He lowered his eye to Dimitri. The ends of his mouth curled just a little like he was almost smiling. "Do you still consider me a friend?"

Dimitri grinned, "I consider Gabriel my friend."

He nodded, "And I consider Dimka my friend as well." He looked back up to the sky. "Let us be as Gabriel and Dimka today." He turned his head so that I could see his profile. "And what about the lovely Rose? What do you think of me?"

I shook my head, "I don't think you want me to answer that."

He laughed and shrugged, "At least you're honest." He nodded in my direction, "Got yourself a keeper there, Dimka."

Dimitri smiled and nodded, "I know."

"Is that suppose to be some kind of joke?"

Gabe shook his head, "I'm not trying to upset you, Rose. I'm not looking for trouble. Not now. Not from anyone here." He frowned again. I was kind of surprised about how much he did that. He didn't have any frown marks on his face to show this was a common expression. A flash of his grim expression came back to me. That same look he had when I first saw him. He looked so sad.

I felt my heart falter and sink just a little. If this wasn't sympathy then it must have been pity. Something about him made me... sad. "So what are you trying to do?"

He smiled softly and look at me so that his eyes were staring straight back into mine, "I'm trying to be human for a little while." I couldn't help but gasp. He must have expected that reaction because he chuckled. He tilted his head back and looked back up to the sky. "Just for a little while longer. While I can."

"Is there something that is going to happen that will stop you from enjoying it again?" Dimitri kept perfectly calm. He was still staring up at the sky peacefully.

"You, Dimitri. If you win the challenge you know this will be the last time for me." He chuckled again. I noticed the slight tremble in his hand that was still fiddling with the small silver ball.

Dimitri laughed softly, "You have such confidence in me... after all that's happened."

Gabe shifted and dropped his hand, "I never claimed to doubt your strength. You were strong enough to try to kill me once. I don't picture you hesitating to try your hand at it again."

"If things were different..."

"Well they're not!" Gabe exploded from his seat and stood over Dimitri.

Dimitri didn't flinch. He stayed perfectly still and calm. At least he looked that way on the surface. I couldn't tell what could possibly be boiling deep inside. "I admit, I could have been a better friend." He sighed heavily, "But what could I have possibly done for you then? We were so young, we knew so little. You make it seem like I could have saved your life."

He threw his hands up, "You didn't even try!"

"You were already dead!" Dimitri shut his eyes and lowered his head. "You are dead. You and your kind are the only ones that still think that what you have is some kind of life."

"Hypocrite..." Gabe smirked and shook his head. "You were dead for quite some time too." He turned his back to us. "Just be glad your little princess saved you."

I froze, "You don't talk to him like that..." My voice growled out the words.

Dimitri gripped my shoulder and pulled me beside him as he stood. "How do you know about Lissa?"

He shrugged, "Everyone now knows about the 'change' you went through. We all know you were turned and you somehow got your life back." He looked back at us over his shoulder, "All that little girl did was save a dead man."

"He didn't exactly have a choice when he was turned."

He spun around and bared his teeth at me, "And I did?"

Dimitri forcefully shoved me behind him, "No. You didn't but we can help you. We can bring you back." His voice lingered around the sound of a whisper.

Gabe spat, "And what makes you think I want that?"

"So you can enjoy the human moments longer than the rare minutes that charm will ever give you." Dimitri gently placed his hand on Gabe's shoulder.

He didn't pull away. His hand reached up and caressed the silver ball. He smiled, "How'd you know it was a charm?"

He shrugged, "I have never seen a Strigoi wear something so simple. Unless there's a reason..."

Gabe nodded, "I guess I should have asked for something more extravagant."

"Why ask for a charm unless you miss the human side?" Dimitri took half a step forward.

My heart was racing from the possible out comes. What if Gabe decided to hurt Dimitri? What if all of this was a trick? I didn't want to chance it and I didn't like Dimitri being so close to him. My mind was racing and my hand was steady on my stake. Whatever he was planning I would try my best to be ready for it.

Gabe finally sighed aloud, "What's the point of being human again? I have nothing to return to..." He straightened up, turned his back to us and started walking off.

Dimitri reached for him again. "Gabe..."

He spun around and tackled Dimitri to the ground. It looked like he didn't even try to fight back. He just fell! I started to run to him when Dimitri held out a hand and signalled me to stop. Gabe bared his teeth and gripped Dimitri's neck, "Do not assume that after these past few moments that anything has changed. I am what I am, Dimka. You said so yourself. You nor anyone else can change that." He slowly released him and started back to his sullen walk into the darkness.

Dimitri rubbed his neck and rose from the ground. "But you're not alone..."

I don't know if the words ever reached Gabe or if he just chose to keep walking. But the results were the same. He was gone and Dimitri and I were left standing alone under the light of the street lamp. The sky was so dark that not even the stars seemed to break its gloom. I didn't know whether I should let him contemplate on this whole situation or if I should comfort him.

My heart decided for me. My feet walked me to his side and my hand snaked its way into his. I squeezed gently and felt him squeeze back. "Are you going to be okay?"

It wasn't until he looked down at me that I realized he had tears in his eyes. He shook his head slowly and I felt my heart melt. It was like the world got dimmer, if possible. The wind blowing through us got that much colder. And the world got that much quietter. He held all the sadness in the world in his eyes with just that one look. And it just broke my heart into pieces.

He dropped his head to mine and I let him fold himself into my arms. I barely realized that we had lowered ourselves to the ground and I was practically cradling him. I felt the tremble in his arms and shoulders. There were very few times in the life we have had together that I have ever seen Dimitri break down like this. I felt my shoulder dampen and heard him release heavy breaths. He holding it back but I knew deep inside he was distraught.

That was his friend. Someone he knew and loved. Someone he grew up with. Someone he tried to kill... In the end Dimitri offered him salvation. He offered him life. And what did the idiot say? No. He had nothing left in the world for him. To him he felt like he had nothing and no one. But to Dimitri he still had him. Still had a friend and a family. He still had a home.

It was then that I told myself that this had to be the last time I ever saw him broken. He didn't deserve it. Not my Dimitri. Not from anyone. Not even me...

I tilted his face up so that we were looking eye to eye, "Hey." He lowered his eyes so I cupped his face and forced him to look back at me. "Listen to me."

"Roza, please..." he reached up and tried to pull away from me. But I didn't budge.

"No, you are going to listen to me!" I put us at an equal level. "He is not lost. I will do whatever it is I can to make this right."

He shook his head, "You heard him. He doesn't want that..."

I scoffed, "And you think I give a damn about what he has to say as a Strigoi?" I shook my head violently. "I didn't listen to your idiotic sentiments when you were one and I love you. What makes you think I'm going to care about his inconsistant rambling?"

Dimitri frowned, "You say that like you're so sure you can do something about it."

"What I cannot believe is that you have such little faith in me."

"He's lost to us, Rose!"

I pulled him to me and wrapped him in my arms. He didn't fight it. "Everyone thought the same thing about you. And look at us now."

He tightened his grip around me, "But inside I knew I wanted to come back to you. I loved you regardless of my form."

"And somewhere deep inside him is the same Gabriel you once knew. The friend that was like a brother to you."

He pulled away and looked me in the eye, "How can you be so confident about that? What if you're wrong?"

"I can't believe you don't think I can do this," I smirked.

"And I cannot believe that you think you can."

I pulled him to me and we kissed. It was sweet and simple but it brought my soul back to life. It was the spark I needed, "You just watch me."

By Shadow Kissed Mori