Only Human

2.7

I yawned, cuddling closer to Gabe on the couch in the living room. I scanned my eyes around the room. The lights were dimmed, most of the room filled with the light from the fireplace. My mom and Mark were sipping wine and attempting to sing along to Celine Dion's O Holy Night on the opposite side of the room. Despite the noise, it felt like just Gabriel and myself in there. 

"Are you sleepy?" Gabriel asked, not ceasing soothingly running his fingers up and down my arm. I was like a blanket, draped completely over him and entirely limp. 

"I'm feeling very content," I replied instead, rolling onto my side slightly to look up at him. I blushed when I discovered he had already been staring at me. 

"And why is that?" He asked, pressing a kiss to the top of my head as if he couldn't help himself. 

"This is the best Christmas of my life. I get to spend it with someone I love," I explained softly, threading my fingers through his hair and gently guiding his lips to mine for a brief kiss. 

"I love you too, Sweetheart," He whispered, looking into my eyes. I smiled up at him. 

"Get a room!" My mom yelled, slinging a pillow at us. She missed by at least five feet. When they were tipsy, Mark and my mom were very... loose. 

"Well, what do you say? Shall we?" Gabriel asked, nuzzling his nose with mine while scooping my entire body into his chest like I was a newborn. I nuzzled him back and nodded. 

"Goodnight, Mom," I said. "Goodnight Mark." 

Gabriel stood up, still cradling me against his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. They waved slightly in acknowledgment before they started up on their rendition of Little Drummer Boy. 

"Merry Christmas," Gabriel called out, whisking me out of the living room and up the stairs. I felt my eyelids growing heavy as he walked. My ear was pressed against his heart, and listening to his heartbeat soothed me, healing me entirely from the pain of being away from him for a week and a half. I wasn't sure how I was going to survive the remainder of the break. 

At that thought, my eyes started to tear up. 

I knew the second Gabriel smelled my tears. His heart pounded a little faster, his muscles tightened around me, and a small gasp escaped his lips. 

"What's wrong, Sweetheart?" He asked as he somehow managed to get the door open to the room I was staying in. I sniffled at the thought of my sweet, caring, gentle fiance being apart from me again and I clutched onto him tighter. He sat down at the head of the bed, leaning against the headboard and readjusting me on his lap so that we could talk to each other. 

When I didn't look directly at him, he nudged my face up with his and looked into my glassy eyes. I felt my lip trembling and I held his face gently in my hands, scanning over every feature and committing them all to memory. 

"Please tell me what's wrong," He begged, his beautiful blue eyes full of worry. 

A tear slipped out of my eye and I blinked to clear the rest of them before they could fall and worry Gabriel even more. 

I pressed a kiss to his cheek, then to his other one. His eyes fell shut and his arms strengthened their hold around me as if I might fly away. He was my anchor though, he need never worry that I would leave him. 

"I love you," I said so quietly if he wasn't a werewolf he wouldn't have been able to hear it. I heard his breathing start to quicken. 

"Viola, what is going on? You're worrying me," He plead, his tone completely panicked. I shook my head, looking deep into his eyes before diving into his chest. I held him so tightly to me I was worried he was going to explode. His arms were seat belts, locking me into place on his lap and keeping me pressed against him.