Life, Death, and Time - A Books Of Beginning Collection

Gabriel And The Wibberlys AU

- After the events of The Emerald Atlas' and the Wibberly siblings reunion with the town of Cambridge Falls, the dwarf kingdom, and Gabriel, the Dire Magnus's forces step up their attacks, same as in the canon universe. Dr. Pym plans to send the siblings back to the orphanage in Baltimore to hide for an indefinite amount of time. However, Gabriel isn't happy at all with that plan.

- He's been assigned to find out as much as he can about the forces of the Dire Magnus, by tracking down old associates like the Secretary, who might know his plan. However, to him, the war isn't as great a priority as protecting the children, who were the whole reason he joined this fight. Gabriel isn't stupid; he knows they're hated and mistreated at the orphanage, and as resilient as they are, they would probably feel safer and cared for just about anywhere else.

- So he decides to go against Pym ('I understand that you have made a decision, Stanislaus, but it's a ridiculous decision, so I am going to ignore it.') and take in the Wibberlys himself.

- The Wibberlys are delighted not to have to go back to the orphanage and to be in the care of someone they can trust. Even if that means moving around constantly as they hide from their enemies and as Gabriel tracks the Secretary.

- Where they stay depends on where they travel. Sometimes they make camp with Gabriel's supplies, sometimes they have access to allies and friends of Dr. Pym, who offer them a place to stay. 

- It's very strange for the siblings, because they're used to adults not caring about them at all. Gabriel is the first person in a long time who actually seems willing to protect them and care about them. Even Dr. Pym was going to send them back to the orphanage when things got rough, but Gabriel stepped in to keep them both protected and provided for properly.

- They don't trust many people, but all three trust Gabriel. Obviously Emma considers the warrior to be her best friend, and Kate and Michael think he proved they could trust him back in Cambridge Falls when he brought Emma to Granny Peet and saved her life. Anyone willing to do all that for their sister is alright in their books.

- Emma and Gabriel make a great team from the beginning. Emma looks up to him and is more open with him then she is with anyone other then maybe her siblings. Having someone to listen to her and be her friend does her good. As for Kate and Michael, they take longer to start to accept Gabriel as a parental figure in their lives, but slowly they do.

- Gabriel starts teaching Emma some basic fighting and swordplay techniques. He's pleased to find having something to focus on helps her deal with her anger issues and fears and need to fight.

- At first, Michael thinks he and Gabriel have nothing in common, but they form a bond when Gabriel begins to teach Michael things he finds interesting, like the history of the magical world. Gabriel also discovers Michael is quite good at reading maps and using a compass, and starts encouraging him to practice such useful talents. After that, Michael starts to feel more confident and grows closer to Gabriel.

- Kate isn't used to having a caring adult around; she's been in the role of a parent for so long, she has a very hard time asking for help when she needs it because she never had anyone looking out for her before. When Gabriel notices how exhausted she is, he decides this cannot continue and starts encouraging her to ask for help. The results aren't as complete as he hoped; it's hard to break such ingrained habits after all. But knowing someone else in the world cares about Michael and Emma's well-being does ease some of Kate's worry. She soon starts to tell Gabriel stories about Michael and Emma when they were younger, and he tells her about the antics of children in his village, and this is what really helps Kate start to open up to him.

- When camping, either Kate or Gabriel usually stays up to keep watch while Michael and Emma sleeps, though occasionally if Emma's awake she'll take a turn. At first, Gabriel wanted to keep watch himself through the whole night, but the children kept pestering him until he agreed to get some rest himself.