You Never Know (Random Updates)

Chapter 51

Heidi turned around, her eyes landing on him with shock. Liam beamed and nodded happily, "Yes me help you."

"I'll help you," Heidi said without thinking.

"I help you," Liam said slowly.

"Thank you," Owen nodded. "I appreciate it very much."

"Come here Bunny," Gabe called softly as he rubbed her back. "Let Little Man and Mr. B talk. Mr. B will make sure Liam eats his taco baggie. Will you tell me which bag of chips is your favorite?"

"Huh?" She asked, a little dazed. Her eyes landed on his blue ones and he forced himself not to growl at her dilated pupils.

While a part of him never wanted her to feel like she had to resort to taking pills like Valium to feel calm, another part of him understood it at the same time. Every one of the men had some sort of dark past and that was one of the reasons why they got along so well together, they understood on some ground what each one of them had gone through. They didn't have to hide their pain and fears from one another. They could talk about it with each other or just be there for them when they needed it. They wanted to be that way with Heidi too. But at the same time, he knew he was part of her pain too so he, and the others, had to earn her forgiveness and gain her trust first.

"Baby steps," Axel whispered behind Gabe's head as he walked behind him towards the kitchen to get a drink.

"How?" Gabe glanced up at the Native American.

"Because I know you, Gabriel," Axel smirked. "And I was thinking the same thing."

"Fu...freaking..." Gabe trailed off as Heidi barely lowered herself onto his lap. "Hey Bunny," he murmured as he wrapped his arm around her waist and helped guide her back so she was sitting fully on his lap again. "What chips do you like with your tacos?"

"I...um...l...lie...lie," Heidi let out a sigh as Gabe's thumb moved up and down on her stomach in a soothing way.

"Take a breath," he whispered encouragingly. She inhaled, waited a few seconds, then slowly breathed it out before doing it again. "Good girl."

A shiver went down her spine and goosebumps appeared on her arms but Gabe knew better than to say something about it. Heidi took another deep breath and slowly let it out, only this time a very small part of her relaxed into Gabe's hold even more. A smirk that would have resembled Blackbourne's formed on his lips as he battled himself not to let the grin grow even bigger or to tighten his hold on her. Continuing the soothing motions on her stomach, he began humming the little jingle softly.

A light exhale had her shoulders dropping even more, "I like the blue triangles too but red's good too if there aren't any left."

"Marc, will you please open the blue or red Doritos?" Gabe asked casually.

"You got it," Marc nodded as he reached into the box of mixed chips. Pulling out a bag of cool ranch Doritos he opened it. "Alright now some taco meat, cheese?"

"Please," Heidi murmured as she held her new bunny close to her face.

"What else?" Marc asked as he turned to look at her. A smile formed when he saw her holding the stuffed animal.

"Lettuce and taco bell mild sauce please."

"Here is her watermelon," North said as he held out a bowl of the diced up fruit.

"Thank you North," Gabe smiled as he took the bowl from him. "Hey do we have any avocado?"

"Yeah," North nodded and handed out the second bowl he was holding.

"You like avo...avo...," Heidi looked up at Gabe in shock then down at her lap in frustration. She hated how words got stuck in her throat. She was waiting for the chuckles that she knew would come at any moment. Her eyes closed as she tried to focus on getting her words to work.

"Hey, you're okay Bunny," Gabe whispered so softly only the two of them could hear it. He cleared his throat, "Yes I love avocados with most of my meals so North keeps them in stock for me and a few of the others too. Now if you could get Luke to eat them, that would be a miracle."

"Like 'em," She murmured back as she moved her fork around in the chip bag.

"Really?" Gabe asked with a smile. He already knew the answer, in fact that was the only reason he started eating them actually, but he wouldn't tell her that. "Here have some, North will get some more out of the kitchen, I promise."

"I would like some too," some of the other men called out.

"You're telling me this like I don't already know," North rolled his eyes but gave Heidi a smirk to show her that he wasn't complaining about it. "Want a berry smoothie?"

She looked down at the taco bag in her hand and the rainbow milkshake by Gabe's knee before slowly raising her eyes to his. He waited patiently as she swallowed nervously, "l...l...later?"

He nodded, "Alright, let me know and I'll make it." He knelt down in front of her. "Anytime, I mean it, no matter how late or early or if it seems like I'm busy, if you want one tell me and I'll make it."

"He means it too," Kota nodded before pointing his fork at North. "There's been many times I've woken him up at like two in the morning or interrupted his working on something for one. Not once at all has he gotten mad at me for one of his smoothies."

"Nope," Axel shook his head, "He takes pride in caring for us with his food and protection. I've done it as well when I'm working or studying late."

"He's really a big old teddy bear underneath his scary persona," Gabe chuckled as he rubbed her back. "Raven too."

She nodded, "I...I'll...," She swallowed, "I'll try."

"Thank you," North smirked before standing. "Does anyone else want anything?"

Liam looked away from watching Kota toss Max blueberries and cut up watermelon pieces, "Put up dino Trismas tree after eat, pwease?"