Taming the Bitch (COMPLETED)

EPILOGUE - VINCE's TALE

Vincent entered Gabrielle's suite, now the space they shared, feeling the quiet weight of the night around him. He had been with Nic, gently coaxing their little angel to sleep after Gabrielle had complained of not feeling well following tea. He'd held her in his arms, feeding her a bottle of milk while reading softly until she drifted off, her head resting against his arm.

Switching on the lights, he frowned when the chandelier remained dark. He pressed the switch again, squinting for some source of illumination, when a loud bang echoed through the room. Dim, romantic lighting bathed the suite, and confetti cascaded from above.

Vincent froze, eyes widening as he took in the scene: Gabrielle stood at the foot of their bed, strewn with red rose petals, holding a heart-shaped cake with a "Happy Birthday" candle.

"Happy Birthday to you..." she sang in her soft, angelic voice. Tears glimmered in his eyes as he watched her glide across the red carpet she had laid, small scented candles flickering along each side.

With gentle steps, she completed her song. Vincent's hands flew to his mouth in stunned awe.

"Happy Birthday, Vince..." she smiled, holding the cake in one hand and wrapping the other around his waist.

"Make a wish..." she whispered, tiptoeing to press a kiss to his cheek, lifting the cake to his eye level as he closed his eyes and blew out the candle.

"May all your wishes come true..." she murmured, guiding him toward the heart of rose petals arranged before the fireplace. She set the cake on the sofa at the foot of the bed and held his right hand, drawing him close.

Soft music began to play. Vincent glided his hips sensually above hers as they waltzed.

"Je t'aime, Bella..." he whispered in French, his hand resting on the small of her back, hers on his shoulder wings. Gabrielle smiled, leaning closer to close the distance until their lips met.

"Ich liebe dich... Vince..." she replied in his language, cupping his warm cheek. Their eyes twinkled with shared delight.

"You do...?!" he asked, lifting her by the waist with one arm, bringing their faces level.

"Of course I do... What did you think?" she teased, kissing his nose before nestling her lips against his neck.

"I love you, Vince... ever since the day I met you in the parking lot, the day you helped me heal my wounds. I knew I'd finally found someone who would stay, no matter what..." she whispered, tilting her head so their eyes met beneath the silver glow of the moonlight.

Vincent wrapped her tighter, pressing kisses along her ears. Memories flickered—the broken car, bloodied hands, the first night he cooked for her, the Harry Potter film over ice cream, staying awake just to watch her sleep.

"The Manhattan bar," he murmured, smiling. "I loved you even before we truly met."

She gasped, her brow furrowing in confusion. "W-wait... what bar?!"

He leaned closer, his deep blue eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip. "The jazz bar on Fifth Avenue... you were wearing that white dress, the one that clung to you perfectly. I watched you dance... on Adrijan's lap, laughing like the world couldn't touch you. I was furious... yet utterly captivated."

Gabrielle blinked, fragments of memory surfacing—the scent of the bar, the glittering lights, the music vibrating through the floor. She remembered a flash of him, tall and impossibly composed, staring at her with an expression that had made her both nervous and intrigued.

He gently combed a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her cheek, and whispered, "Do you remember now? How your laugh drew me in? How your eyes... even then, challenged me, teased me, dared me to try and understand you?"