Gabriel: Prequel

twenty six

[ harper's pov]

Returning home after trading drugs or injuring people is the equivalent of bliss. Nothing matches seeing Aubrey or Gabe after a tired day, and nothing will ever give me the same bliss. After the death of Axel, more gangs started to feel threatened by us, meaning we could exercise more power. To Darren, someone so greedy of power, this came as a treat. It's not my problem anymore, I think as I enter the door, calling for Gabe. I don't hear a response and the absence of them both probably means they've gone out. Time meant that she's nearing her first birthday, so she is almost aware of everything and becomes fussy if she doesn't get to go outside. That must be where they are, obviously. Her temper is already a clear inherited trait from me and I hope she takes nothing else of me, but she unmistakably looks like me with her flowing, light hair and doe eyes - although they're blue like Gabe's. Unlike us, however, her features, although similar, are much more sharper and defined, already marking her beauty. 

Eventually, they return home in silence as he she crawls into the room, a silent Gabe behind her. "Are you okay?"

"I went to see my dad to show them Aubs, but nothing really changed," he murmurs, putting his head in his hands. I would ask for clarification but I'm almost sure I know his bastard father hit him again. 

"You knew it would happen. It's kind of frustrating you took her with you, because you put both of you in danger, Gabe," I sigh, picking her up. He doesn't reply immediately, leaving us in a silence. Aubrey makes some unidentifiable noises, clinging to my arms, and I'm thankful she fills the silence. 

"I just want to forgive them and move on. I want her to have some grandparents, have some normalcy," he admits, keeping his arms open for Aubrey who squirms out of my arms to crawl over to him. 

"Go ahead and do that, but you know they won't. Yours and mine, both. You keep on trying and you'll get burned."

"You haven't even tried for a while," he exasperates, shaking his head.

Rolling my eyes, I turn away. "Yeah because the last time we spoke, she was driving me fucking crazy. I know she'll do it again, so why bother?"

"For Aubrey?"

I wave my hand dismissively, "She evidently isn't enough."

"Just try once. It's unfair to not let Aubrey meet them because of our ruined relationships with them," he attempts to persuade me.

"I refuse. I'm not doing it. They put us both in fucking danger our entire lives, and I'm not letting them talk to her."

Gabe rakes his hand through his hair, sighing, "Sure I can't persuade you?"

I shake my head, "No, you fucking can't. I need a breather, I'll be back in a bit."

Before I leave, I grab some cans of beer and storm out. Without a specific destination in mind, I walk to some random bench some streets away, slumping against the hard wood. Minutes pass by with the soft wind, letting me recollect my thoughts. Why is he so adamant on this family shit? They're not good parents to him, so I can't understand why he wants to forgive them so easily.

"Go home." The familiar, deep voice belonging to Nicholas interrupts my thoughts as he sits next to me, glaring into the distance.

There's no point in responding, so I just scowl at him.

"Acting like a brat won't make him listen to you."

"He won't listen any other way," I sigh.

"Listen to him, then. Give him a fucking break. He sacrificed his life with his parents and his shit for you." His tone, as always, holds traces of bitterness but his face softens slightly into neutrality.

"It's not that easy. He wants some idyllic life that isn't happening."

"Some of us don't even get a good life, let alone an idyllic one. Put away your pride, Harper, you have a kid, now." He's right. I know he is. His soulmate got killed in front of him; Rehan's family didn't even let him have a chance of feeling loved, but Gabe and I have each other and Aubrey. Maybe I am being too proud - proud enough that I wouldn't even give him a chance to really listen to him.

"It was her anniversary a bit ago, wasn't it?"

He bluntly nods, his face hardening again. Since she died, anger had stuck to him like a shadow, masking every other emotion. Although he might still have the same black, flowing hair; deep, black eyes and sharp, pointed features, the one thing that's changed is his vulnerability. Only with her did he ever smile, and I'm wondering if I've seen the smile in a long time. Probably not.

"She'd be a lot nicer than you, right now, being all smiley and shit," I lightly chuckle, opening a can and offering it to him. We open it in sync and drink, watching life just go on.

"Yeah, she would, actually," at the softening of his tone, I glance at him to see a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"In another life, Nicholas, I think you would've gotten your happy ending with her."

His kohl eyes becoming glassy as he stares straight ahead, defiant not to meet my eye. Instead, I clink my can with his, "To Amancia."

"To Amancia," he repeats. 

We continue sitting in silence, pity and pride until he leaves first, setting off in the setting sky. I take in account of everything he says and walk back home, anxious of Gabe. But, after seeing him wait by the door and pull me into his arms, stroking my hair, I realise I have nothing to be scared of - not my parents, not the future, not anything, as long as I'm with him.