A/N::: Hey guys! I'm baaaaaaaaack! The last 10yrs of my life have been crazy. All has worked out in the end. I have finally been able to make time to write the second installment of what I hope to make a series... or at least a trilogy. Thank you for all the feedback over the years! Your requests for more has definitely helped keep me in the mindset.

That being said:

Disclaimer: The only thing I own is my original character. All previously copywritten concepts are merely borrowed.

Set 4yrs after "A New Beginning". Gabrielle Just recently graduated college. She graduated with a AS in Psychology and a BS in Computer Programming. She has moved away from her town, and thankfully, even though the people in her new town know, mildly, of the incident, no one knows that she was the teenager "taken" from Doctor Lecter. She now lives in Salem, Massachusetts and is superlatively happy with her decision. She was recruited by a programming company at the beginning of her senior year.

Chapter One: Progression

Gabrielle pulled into her driveway and parked. After the car was off she laid her head back and let out a deep sigh. It had been a hard week. Her and her coding team just worked double time on a project that should of had at least another week to finish. The deadline was moved up by the client without any warning or reason. It had happened with projects before, but this one was huge and they really could have uses that extra time. They got it done, but some of her people, including herself, had just been up for seventy-five hours straight. The upside of the deadline being moved up is that the team got a week to relax and take their time getting ready for the next project. She also now had a four day weekend.

She listened to the beautiful sound of rain hitting her car for a while. When she realized she was starting to fall asleep, she gathered her things and went inside. Once the door was locked, she hung her keys and purse on their hooks, put the take-out and alcohol on the table, and went to the laundry room. She stripped down to her bra and underwear, putting her work clothes in the washing machine. She then took a quick shower and got into her comfy pjs and put her hair in a loose ponytail.

She went to the living room and set up her space. King size micro-fleece blanket to cover the couch. Fluffy queen size comforter to snuggle under. Fluffy pillows at one end of the couch, just in case. She pulled the coffee table closer, so it was easily reachable. She set out a few coasters cause she was going to have a few drinks. She grabbed the TV remote and the controller to her PlayStation 4. After Netflix was set up and "Agents of Shield" was going, she set to getting her meal. She grabbed tableware and her food, setting it up on the coffee table. Then she grabbed a glass of ice water and a glass of Cherry Coke and set them with her food. She made and 16oz mudslide (Baileys, Kahlua, Vodka, and milk) last and then sat down and got comfy. With the way she was set up, the only reason she would have to get up for the rest of the night was if she had to go to the bathroom.

Gabrielle watched a couple episodes then switched to a standup comedy. Her phone went off about halfway through, with a text from one of her teammates.

Text:

Sarah: Hey, you pass out yet? Lol

Gabby: Not yet, amazingly! What's up?

Sarah: You should come and celebrate with us!

Gabby: Lol, if I didn't already have alcohol in my system I would. Driving right now…. Not a good idea haha

Sarah: Well damn, we could come get you!

Gabby: Maybe tomorrow if you go out, hun. I'm too tired from the last few days.

Sarah: Alrighty, rest up boss lady. You deserve it!

Gabrielle chuckled and put her phone down. Her team was pretty awesome. She had gone out drinking with them before and it was always a blast. She was just too tired. Even without the alcohol, it would be too dangerous to drive. Falling asleep at the wheel is NOT something she ever wants to do in her life.

She took a large sip of her mudslide and went back to her show. She played on her phone while she watched tv and grazed on her food. When the show was over she decided to watch "A Knight's Tale" She didn't make it all the way through the movie, however. When she found herself falling asleep and missing parts, she turned off the TV and went to bed. She would clean up tomorrow, whenever she woke up. She didn't even bother turning on a light. She put her phone on silent before she put it on the charger, and made sure her alarms were off. She slipped into her wonderfully comfortable bed, snuggled down with her favorite stuffed lion. She fell right to sleep as the smell of her favorite cologne hit her nose.

A few moments later, someone walked through the front door, closing it silently. They cleaned up the mess on the coffee table. The readjusted the blankets and pillows on the couch to get it ready for use tomorrow. The then brought a glass of water and a baggie with 3 Ibuprofen into her room and placed them on the nightstand where she couldn't knock them over in her sleep. They then managed to undo her ponytail she forgot to take out before falling asleep. As they made their was out, they left a DVD in the center of the coffee table. They locked the door on the way out and the house was quiet for the rest of the night.

Thanks everyone! I know this one is short but I hope you like it!