10 Paces Back?

[Gabriella Strang]

And he was gone.Sure, Abi had had heart break before. But , it was nothing compared to this. First, she lost her baby-that was painful. Then her finally proclaimed relationship was fallen short by her lack of understanding, but her still hanging onto the past-by not letting go. Of course, after he break up, Abi ran into Dean. Where most people think running into their ex's is a traumatic, horrible, or some sort of bad experience, Abi found light.Dean was leaving-something she never thought he would do. It had opened her mind and her soul to so many feelings that she never knew existed. It took her away from everything. Dean, had always taken Abi away, but never like this. He never had succeeded to taking her fully away. But, that night of the New Years Eve party-that last bit of time they spent together, that all opened her mind and her heart-fully taking her away from everything she had ever held onto, and opening herself to Dean fully. Showing her feelings she never thought existed.

Saying goodbye to Dean, without the proclamation or her new epiphany, tore at Gabriella's heart.But, she couldn't let it be known. Her and Dean had had the most amazing last few hours together, and she couldn't falter under all of that.She waved goodbye and cried to herself all the way home. She really had lost him and he wasn't coming back. How was she supposed to deal with all that?

Abi composed several letters to Dean over the first weeks of his absence. Nothing sounded right. It all sounded wrong, or pathetic, whatever. Nothing fit well enough for what Abi had wanted to tell Dean, but had never gotten the chance.Finally after three weeks, she wrote a letter she knew he would be confused by, but she tried to portray her love enough through it so he would one day come home to her. She told him she would wait. She wasn't going anywhere. She just needed to know if he would come back to her.

Weeks went by and no word. Was it just a clean break? Did he not want to hear from her? All this pained Gabriella so much more. She had him in her grasp, but because of her own ignorance, she lost him.She was trying to stay strong. She didn't want to be one of those girls that whined every time their heart was broken. She wanted to be strong. She needed to be strong.

So, there she lay, on the couch in her tiny, lonely, bare apartment. The girls were gone, her baby was gone, and Dean was gone-without looking back.All this time, and she hadn't clean the third room of her apartment-the room what was meant to be a nursery.The room haunted Abi, but she knew she had to get it done eventually. Maybe it would help the healing process.So, sighing, she started off to that retched room. A good hour in there and she had it all cleaned up-had it bare.Abi slipped her dirty white sneakers on her sock less feet and headed across the slippery, snowy path to her little green KIA.The box was semi heavy,but was out of her arms in minutes.Abi slipped with one good swoop and landed on one elbow on the ice."Oh- fu-!!''She hissed feeling the heavy box finally hit her leg and listening to it hit the ground.

Abi was only in a pair of black pajama pants a white beater, and a red hoodie.She could feet the sting on her elbow from the fall, and hissed again under her breath.She didn't think there were any fractures, just a bruised ego. Sighing, Abi gave up, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. What was the point? It was just like her life-she tries to clear it out and only falls 10 paces back, getting hurt even more.

[Dean Vlcek]

Dean had received Gabriella's letter about a month after he deployed to Iraq. He had two weeks left before the end of his first tour. He would have a week, that he thought he would be spending in the East Coast, before he went back. But how easily it all changed with simple words on a paper.

He read the letter when it was handed to him and was surprised to find that it was from the beautiful human in the first place. He was confused by a lot of what it said, but understood the main point, Gabriella loved him. He didn't understand how he did, but he believed what she wrote. It was just a feeling he got.

She said she'd wait and that was good because he had to stay for another two weeks. He didn't even think about writing her back. He just planned to be back in Forks the day that he was allowed to go home. He told them he probably wasn't coming back and left, when said say came.

He had read the letter time and time again while he was in Iraq and a few times on the plane as well. He was understanding more and more of it the more he read it, but still, some things confused him. He would hopefully figure it all out soon enough though.

When he got back to Forks, he went directly to Gabriella's little apartment. He parked in the lot and made his way towards her building in the complex. Before he even saw her, he smelt her and sighed before continuing further. He could tell she was outside because of how close her scent was.

He turned a corner and saw her fall. He wished he would have been able to do something about it, but even with his vampire speed he was too far away. He looked around then, making sure no one was there, and was at her side in seconds. He picked her up to her feet and gave her a concerned look.

"Are you okay," his silky smooth voice questioned as he took in the beauty and scent of the girl that he still loved. The human that filled his heart and mind at all times of the day and who he could do nothing but think of, even more than usual, for the past two weeks.

[Gabriella Strang]

Abi let her eyes stay closed as she listened to the sound of the cars on her road. The noises from the apartments near by. Her car was such a short distance away.The door was open wide the the car was packed with the last remaining articles from the room. It was sad, but Abi knew it had to be done. She had to move on and it was better this way. She was unattached and got a fresh start. Besides, she wasnt going to have a baby anytime soon and her brother's wife was now pregnant. The baby things would go to a good home and would serve a new baby that would also be near and dear to her heart.

Without notice, Abi felt herself being lifted from the cold, icy ground. The cold however, didnt stay away, Abi's eyes popped open and soon met the amber, gorgeous eyes of someone familar."Dean!''She gasped, staring at him and bearly hearing his question. What did it matter if she was alright? She had him, right? He was back?Her hand shot to his face and her wide eyes scanned him for a moment."Dean-Oh my god-What are you?-You've''She was breathless, and her heart was racing. What did this mean? Was he back for her? Did he still love her. The thoughts raced in her mind and Abi didnt want to waste anyore time."Dean- I love you. I am so inlove with you. You have to be with me. You have to give me anymore chance.''She said very quickly,taking a breath when she finished. Sure, she was panicked, but she had to get it all out before he left again. She had to try.

[Dean Vlcek]

Dean watched as Gabriella opened her eyes and spoke to him in such quick, rushed tones, her hand tracing his face. He felt like laughing, but didn't want her to take it the wrong way. He just thought the way she jumped on him so quickly with her words was a bit funny.

When she breathed, he put a finger to her lips. He didn't now if she was going to say anything else, but he wanted to quiet her before she had the chance. After he knew she would be quiet, his finger lightly traced over her plush lips before he pulled it away and gave her a soft and short kiss.

"I love you, too, Gabriella. I want to be here. I want to be with you. I should have never left in the first place, but I did. I can't change that, but I can make it right, now," he told her quietly, his arms wrapping around her waist.

[Gabriella Strang]

Abi stared at him.He couldn't be real? could he? He couldn't be back for her? He was just too perfect to be hers. He was too amazing and wonderful and caring. How could he be coming back for her? He probably wasn't. He was probably going back on a break to tell her to never write him again. That she lost her chance and would never get anyone like him again.Her thoughts stopped and she frowned when his icy finger brushed her lips. Longing touched her and she wanted him more then ever. Oh, how she missed him.

Then, he kissed her. The kiss was great, but far to short and Abi frowned a bit more when she had to wait for an explanation.BUt, her face melted, along with her heart when the second passed and Dean's words kicked in. "Oh, Dean!''She sighed wrapping her arms around him and lifting herself to kiss him again. His lips were cool and he gave her a chill. But, there was a sudden sharp pain in her elbow. Well, a stinging pain.

Abi broke the kiss and looked at her elbow. Even through the red hoodie she could tell she was bleeding. Her eyes widen."Oh no.''Slight panic broke out. She was bleeding around a vampire.

[Dean Vlcek]

Dean waited for her to say something, but didn't expect quite the reaction he got. He welcomed it though, holding her tighter to his chest and kissing her back. He would never deny Gabriella Strang a kiss, not for as long as she lived on Earth. He enjoyed her lips too much and loved her too much as well.

But, she quickly pulled away and exclaimed in a negative way. He hadn't really been paying attention to his senses, just to his feelings for her. So, it wasn't until she pointed out the blood that he finally smelt it.

The scent, well, his controlling his lust, made his eyes turn an ocher color. They were headed towards black as he held himself back from hurting her. He hadn't been hunting properly the past six weeks and couldn't stand it long.

He quickly moved from her body and double checked, making sure no one was around, before he darted off. He didn't really think about where he was going, he just had to get away and go hunt. So, he ran straight into the forest.

[Gabriella Strang]

Abi was scared. She knew Dean had control. But this was.too much. She didn't want to push him. She should have let it go and slowly tried to slip away, but she had surprised herself and hadn't paid attention. The fear seeped off into her reaction.Her eyes met Dean's and before she knew it. She was back on her feet and looking around at nothing. Staring at the empty space Dean once occupied.

Abi wasn't hurt by it. She knew it was best. Dean would have never wanted to hurt her or lose control in front of her.She wasn't scared.Worried for Dean though. Quickly, Abi hurried to her apartment, shut the door and ran to the bathroom. Abi ripped through her medicine cabnit and found peroxide, bandages, save, and gaze and tape. With a normal person she wouldn't be so cautious. But she wanted to mask the blood away and get it away quick.

She cleaned it severl times, saved it, bandaged it and wrapped it in gaze and tape. It looked clean, for her quick job. She was left with her blood stained hoodie and frowned. How was she going to get rid of that?Out of the house?So, with that, Abi hurried outside to the dumpster and tossed it in.Her eyes scanned the complex for Dean as she moved to grab the discarded baby things and stuff them back in the heavy box she dropped

After putting the box in her car, Abi headed back to her house, and curled on the couch, wondering if it all had been a dream

[Dean Vlcek]

Dean hunted and gave it a good half an hour before he headed back to Gabriella's house. He wanted to make sure that she had plenty of time to clean up so that he didn't have to be overwhelmed by her scent once again. He would never live with himself if he lost control or hurt her.

When he got back to the apartment complex, he saw that she had picked up the stuff she dropped and put it in the car and was no longer outside. He walked up to her apartment number and knocked on the door lightly.

He caught waves of her scent as he stood there, waiting for her to open the door. He felt bad for leaving her the way he had and not making sure she was alright, but her life was more important than a cut.

[Gabriella Strang]

Abi's eyes stared at the blank television set. But, she stared right through it. Would he come back? Would regret his words?Would this scare open a new light for him? Would he see something that he didn't before? Would this push his tolerance for her? Would it ruin it?Abi hoped not. The thought of having him back was exhilarating.What if they could be together forever? What if, what if she could be like him one day? One day fully be with him?

Abi jumped up the second she heard the knock on the door. It was Dean. She knew it. She could feel it. She flung the door open and smiled bightly, beaming at him"You didn't have to knock.''She said with a smile moving slowly to grab his hand. Once grasped, she tugged a little, while lacing their fingers-never once dropping the eye lock she had on him.

[Dean Vlcek]

Dean let his eyes lock with Gabriella's as well when she opened the door. He didn't say anything to her telling him that he didn't have to knock. He wasn't just going to walk into her house. That's not how he was. It was rude.

When she tugged at his hand, lacing their fingers together, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He walked over to the couch, pulling her along with him and waited for her to sit before he sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

He kissed her temple lightly. "Is your elbow okay? I saw that fall and it looked painful," he commented.

[Gabriella Strang]

Abi smiled as she watched Dean shut the door and and pull her to the couch. Always the gentleman, but let her sit first.It felt like so long since she had had his touch. Since they had been like this, but in the same light-they fit, like a glove. Simple and just as though nothing had come between them.It was as if nothing else mattered in the world and it was just another day for Gabriella and Dean.

Dean's lips met her temple and Abi smiled, her eyes closing momentarily, but a frown soon fallowed at his words.She shook her head and moved into his chest more."Don't worry about my elbow-I'mm fine.''She said, his eyes meeting his before she dropped them. He said he loved her. He meant it, right? It didn't change that much, did it?

Abi was silent for a moment before she quickly glance back."You um.....how long will you be here?''So many questions came to her mouth but she could't muster too much of it.Gabriell's words fought with each other for the right to be first out of her mouth. But, her nerves collided as well. What if he loved her-but that didn't matter? What if he loved her, but they weren't back together?Make it right....how would he do that.

Soon after her first question surfaced, Abi moved her hand to his cheek again. Sure, she loved Dean before, but she had never looked at him being this much in love with him. How could something so perfect love her?

[Dean Vlcek]

Dean smiled to himself when Gabriella laid into his chest more. He was watching her so when she looked up, his eyes locked with hers. Until she dropped them again that is.

She looked up at him and spoke. When she did, a soft smile played at his features. He thought for a moment like it took some serious thought. "How long do you want me to be here," he asked in a way to mean that he wasn't leaving unless she told him to.

When her hand landed on his cheek, he moved to look at her more seriously and his hand fell to her cheek as well. "I told you, Gabriella. I love you and that's never going to change. I hoped that one day you would love me too, but I didn't expect it to come so soon," he explained.

[Gabriella Strang]

Abi couldn't believe he was hers. Hers.He said he would stay as long as she wanted him to. That would mean, if he would stay true to his word, that Abi would have Dean for a long time.She couldn't even put it into words how she wanted him. She wanted him, forever. Was that wrong? They bad been through so much.Was it wrong that she thought of one day marrying him. If he would ever have her, or ask her.Abi couldn't, wouldn't, bring the topic up on her own.

"Indeffinately.''She said intensely, in a soft whisper.Her eyes stayed locked with his as he spoke and went on.He said he loved her and her smile brightened, spreading a blush across her face.How could she respond to that.Abi pushed her warm lips to Dean's and kissed them softly, her eyes fluttering closed.She had Dean back-nothing could be better.Everything swept her up in a whirlwind before she even knew it, and now things were better then ever. She didnt know how they got there, but they were good.

[Dean Vlcek]

When Gabriella told Dean that she wanted him indefinitely, Dean's eyes shone with happiness. He honestly couldn't be happier that she finally loved him. Loved him the way he loved her and wanted to be with him.

Dean kissed her back passionately and pulled her closer. He had missed her so much the past six weeks and the thought came to mind that if she hadn't realized her feelings, he wouldn't have been able to see her for at least a year. He had to do year long tours after the first six weeks. So, he was glad that she had realized them sooner rather than later.

He pulled away to let her breathe and brushed her lips again before moving to her jaw and then down to her neck, letting his cool mouth move along the skin.

[Gabriella Strang]

Dean's lips were cool and stinging with pleasure. His kisses had seemed like a distant memory, and Abi wondered if she had imagined how amazing they had been. She hadn't. Dean's kisses were more amazing then she remember. They had to be better then last time. What it ever that good-like that?She asked herself cared less about the answer. She was happy and enjoying him way too much.

The passion built in Abi when Dean pushed the kiss just as far as she was. The fire burned in her that she never thought would return. She never thought she would get this chance again. He seemed happy. All the old air seemed to be gone and its was just them now.

"Oh, god-Dean. I have missed you so much. I thought.....I thought I would never get you back-never get you fully.''She said with a sigh when his lips moved down her jaw