Scorched Earth {Nate}

[gabriella]

Friday 4th December, 2009

It was official. Gabby hated her life and hated what she had become. She had seen men come and go over the past year and each time she was left abandoned she would revert back to what she used to be like before she had met Jacob. Jacob was the very first guy who came into her life and helped her to get over her past fears, making her realise that she wasn’t to blame for the death of her parents, that it had just been a terrible nasty accident on her birthday when her temper had risen and her ability manifested for the first time and she burned down the house, managing to escape herself, but unable to get in and retrieve her parents. Gabby had sat a broken child who was only eight at the time. Her birthday used to haunt her, until Jacob helped take the painful memories away. However that was a long time ago, since Jacob, there had been at least another four men who had come and gone and now, she was abandoned once more. When her birthday approached on November sixteenth it haunted her once more like it always did, and now she is once again remembered of the past.

Three times she desperately tried to start a new life and failed, maybe this time would be different, but even deep down she couldn’t be sure, but she had moved back to New York a few months ago and managed to get herself a job as a waitress in a restaurant, it wasn’t great, but it paid her bills and kept her on food. She was like a robot these days, as if she worked automatically and the same routine. Today she wasn’t working, it was her first day off, she had even agreed to work every weekend, because working kept her sane and kept her from thinking about other things. She hadn’t been looking forward to the day off, she had begged them to let her work, but they said she needed a break. It didn’t seem to matter what she said, they weren’t taking no for an answer and sent her packing, telling her to return after a week. What could she do? She didn’t want to lose the security of the job so she left with her head hanging low and just wandered around until she saw someone who looked alarmingly like her mom.

Gabby stopped in her tracks just staring, but soon realising it wasn’t her mom obviously, she began to sob, shaking hysterically as the memory once more came flooding back to her. She slowly slipped down the wall and just looked out straight ahead. Everything seemed to have stopped; it was almost as if time was standing still. Suddenly Gabby could feel the heat building within, she knew the sign well, as it had happened to her two or three times previously and she began to mutter to herself. “No, not again. Please, not again.” She tried to calm herself down, but it wasn’t working, she just got hotter and hotter, and then suddenly it happened, her ability began to go out of control, as the fire balls grew in her hand and the next thing she knew they were flying in the direction of a car which was parked on the opposite side of the road. Then all she heard was an almighty sound as the car exploded sending shrapnel and broken glass everywhere. The explosion was so severe it had sent the shrapnel and glass flying at quite a distance and Gabby just sat there in tears, with shrapnel and glass everywhere and blood dripping from small wounds on her face and hands and arms.

The slow motion began to stop and everything began to speed up again and all Gabby could hear were screams of panic and sirens from the police, ambulance or fire brigade. She knew she should get up and move but she was grounded in fear, she couldn’t even face to look at the damage she may have caused, she just hoped and prayed nobody had been in the car. Her hands were still engulfed in flames, and all she could go was try to put them out as best she could hoping that nobody would come to her and begin questioning her about what had happened, she couldn’t go through all of that again. Not now, not ever.

[Nathaniel Foster]

"See ya later Joe, don't miss me too much ya jackass." Nate grinned and grabbed his leather jacket, pulling it on as he winked at Candice who was also getting ready to leave. He walked out into the street and looked around him. Nate lit a cigarette, breathing the smoke down deep into his lungs. He stood there for a moment, contemplating what to do with his evening. Marcus was with his new woman, probably on a date somewhere, and Joe was heading to the nearest Irish bar to watch a soccer game that was on, of course he could join him, but he didn't feel like drinking tonight. There was too many thoughts swimming around his head.

December was never an easy month for Nathaniel. His beautiful little girl was taken away from him just before Christmas by her bitch of a mother. He shivered violently at the thought, taking another quick inhale of the cigarette. Harley had rung him earlier that day from France, luckily Sadie (the bitch) hadn't stopped contact altogether, and Nate could still speak to his little girl every other day. Her little angelic voice made him warm, despite being cold blooded, he always felt a little flame of love alight in his heart whenever he spoke to her. She was starting to look more and more like him, her crystal blue eyes, her dimpled chin and her thin lips. He loved that. He loved the fact his daughter actually looked like him, and not so much like her mother. Sadie was beautiful, without a doubt, but he liked to think she had to look at Harley everyday and realise what she had lost.

Candice walked out, rubbing her arms together. "Ooo bit brisk tonight eh baby blues?" Nate grinned at her, "Yeah Goldielocks." He couldn't feel the cold of course, but Candice had no idea about his ability, nor Marcus' as far as Nate knew. "Anyway, I'll see you on Monday! Have a nice weekend Natey!" "You too Candy." She walked off, wiggling her bum as she did. Nate chuckled loudly, coughing quietly after. He decided to start walking home, taking the back streets which were quicker than the main roads.

The wind blew fiercely through the alleyway he was currently walking in, and all of a sudden, the smell of smoke lifted through his nostrils and down into his lungs. He frowned, "What the..." Smoke was seen a couple of streets away, lifting into the air as if a building was on fire. He threw his cigarette away and started running, the wind blowing through his jacket as he ran. Once he stopped he saw a blur of images; fire engines, police cars, ambulances, women screaming, men trying to restrain their families, children in awe of the powerful flames flicking at the car which was alight and finally his eyes fell on someone. She was sobbing hysterically, and her hands were alight with orange flames. Nate's eyes widened.

"Shit." He looked around and darted past the car on fire and suddenly ran straight into a police officer. "Sir! Your too close, move aside." "No I need to get to..." What was an excuse, an excuse this jackass would believe. "My girlfriend, she's over there, she might be hurt." The police officer looked and gasped, he grabbed his radio and started shouting loudly. Nate shrugged out of his grip and ran towards her. He bent down looking at her hands, she didn't seem to be burning, her skin still the pasty white it should be. "Hey, miss?" Nate shook his head and grabbed her forearms, the icy grip running down her skin to her palms, where the flames suddenly disappeared. Her hands went blue. He tried looking at her face, but her head was hung so low he couldn't see. Nate moved one of his hands and gently tucked it under her chin, he lifted it up slowly, seeing the freckles on her face and her green eyes filled with tears. "Sweetheart, you..." He was about to ask her if she was alright, before three police officers began running towards them. Nate lifted her up into his arms without her permission and ran through the alleyway next to where she had been sitting.

"Just hold on sweetheart, lemme get you somewhere safe."

[gabriella]

Gabby couldn’t believe she had lost control again. She hadn’t done that since Jacob had left her. Even when Cameron and Rodney had gave up on her for reasons she didn’t know or understand she hadn’t lost control like that, just felt abandoned and a little sad. Now she had no idea the damage she had caused other than hearing the screams of people around and all the sirens. She tried to keep a low profile, something which wasn’t easy when your hands were aflame. She knew if anybody were to see her, they’d soon ask questions when they realised she wasn’t burning. Yet, despite the fact her hands were burning, she was frozen in fear. She daren’t look up, she daren’t move, what if she’d killed someone? Gabby wasn’t a bad person, in fact she was the total opposite, she was a lamb, a total sweetheart, she was just a girl with a very tragic past that returns to haunt her every so often and causes major catastrophes like the one in front of her now.

She soon heard someone speak, and her heart began to beat furiously, now they would see there was something different about her, something strange. She couldn’t look up at the man’s voice, she was just too scared of what she would see, either a policeman about to carry her off for causing wilful damage or a man in a white coat carrying her away to do random tests on the ‘weird chick who can set herself on fire’. She had been through her share of that, when she was brought up by The Company. We’ll make you better they said, we’ll make it all go away, did they hell, she wouldn’t be in the mess she was in now if that had been the case. She then felt hands on her arms, and she was about to break free, so she could run, but then she felt the coldness run through her arms, and down to her hands, and soon the heat which had built had begun to recede. She decided to turn her head to the side and took a glimpse to see her arms and hands were a blue shade and her hands were no longer on fire.

She still kept her head down low however, not even daring to look up at the person who was obviously like her, well, not like her, he was the opposite of her, but he was obviously a special. She then felt a hand go under her chin, and she had a feeling he was going to lift her face to look at him. She was going to try force herself against it, but something inside told her this guy wasn’t going to cause trouble, he was going to try and help her, and so she let him move her face up. Her eyes were still filled with tears as she continued to sob realising what she had done, but also blood seeping from the cuts on her face and arms and hands from where the shrapnel and glass had stuck into her. He began to talk to her but soon trailed off. She saw the reason why as she policemen began to approach them both. Her eyes opened wide in fear, but still with tears rolling down them. Next thing she knew she was being picked up into his arms, not that she was about to protest, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck without even thinking and soon he was running with her down the alleyway she had been sitting in.

He spoke to her again, telling her to hold on, so he could get her somewhere safe. She didn’t care who he was, he was helping her, and that was all that mattered to her right at that moment. But now she was getting taken away from the initial scene of where she had accidentally caused the explosion, she began to mutter again. “I didn’t mean to do it you know. I’m not a bad person. I hope I didn’t hurt someone, I feel...” She couldn’t get any more words out as the memory of watching her house burn down flashed before her eyes again, and she just went back to sobbing once more with her head buried into his neck.

[Nathaniel Foster]

Chaos. Nate couldn't believe it, well he could. It wasn't unusual for him to come across chaos and situations where he could help. People at the boxing hall, mainly Joe called him Superman. He could use his ice breath and stop thirty story buildings from collapsing due to fires. Nate didn't mind being the hero, but if he could avoid it, he would. When it came to damsels in distress however, Nate never said no. He would save any woman he could, whether it be from a car accident, or an abusive domestic partner. He had humongous respect for women, ever since he was a kid. It's just a shame nearly all the women in his life messed his life up.

You would have thought the first thing he would have done is stop the car from exploding, but no. Despite the fact he heard several people screaming, his eyes were fixated on the woman with her hands alight. He didn't know why his attention was brought to her of everyone at the scene. Other than that her hands were alight and she might have been seriously hurt, but there was something else drawing him to her. So as he slipped past the police officer and crouched over her. There wasn't a smell of burning anymore, just the subtle smell of her perfume and what smelled like burning candles. He sighed heavily.

After cooling the fire woman down, he gently lifted her chin up her eyes immediately hitting him like an arrow through the heart. She was beautiful, then he studied her face further, noticing the cuts and pieces of shrapnel and glass sticking out of her skin. He needed to get her out of here. As the three police officers ran towards them, Nate instinctively picked her up, wrapping one arm around her back and the other under her knees. He ran quickly, down an empty alleyway where the smoke was still clearly visible. His apartment wasn't far from here, he could take the back entrance.

Nate heard her mutter, ever so quietly he almost gasped. "I know sweetheart, your a special I'm guessing? Well don't worry, I'm gonna get you somewhere safe where I can clean you up. You only hurt yourself by the looks of it." Nate smiled down at her and stopped outside the building where his apartment was, he kicked open the back door before stepping back again. All of a sudden a loud explosion echoed through Brooklyn. He felt the little body stiffen as did his. He turned slowly to see car windows blown out and sirens blaring from every direction.

"C'mon sweetheart, let's get you inside." His voice was deep and raspy, he was in shock. This woman, whoever she may be was dangerous. She needed protecting and looked after. And right now, Nate was the only person to do it.

[gabriella]

Gabby kept her arms wrapped around the stranger’s neck as he continued to run with her in his arms as led her away from the scene she had caused. She had begun to tell him in a muttered voice that she hadn’t meant to do it, she wasn’t a bad person and hoped she hadn’t hurt anyone. It was at that point she began to sob heavily again as the memory of her parents dying in their burning house came back to haunt her once more. She had wanted to speak some more, she wanted to tell him she felt terrible for causing it all, but the words couldn’t get out over the huge lump in her throat which resulted in more tears. Her saviour then began to talk to her again telling her he knew she hadn’t meant it and guessed she was a special. She knew she would have to stop crying so she could answer him and talk to him properly.

He went on to tell her he was going to take her somewhere safe to get cleaned up and she had only hurt herself by the look of it. This gave her slight relief as she let out a gentle sigh. She then caught that look of his as he smiled down at her, which made her want to get back to her strong side, she sniffed a few times. She then gave him a watery smile of her own, “Yeah I’m a special, just like you. I wonder if it’s coincidental or fate that yours should be the opposite of mine?” She managed to ask, through the tears which had subsided a little. Then the guy stopped and she heard him kick a door, but just after that Gabby heard a loud explosion, knowing that it was at least one car exploding from the flames, she immediately began to get scared again and once more the tears were beginning to fall lightly.

The next thing she knew he was talking again, saying he was going to get her inside, she hadn’t failed to notice he had called her sweetheart twice. None of the guys she’d been with previously, despite how short the romances were had ever called her that. She hadn’t even been in a sexual relationship with any of those, as they had only lasted weeks. The last sexual relationship she had was with Michael and that was well over a year ago now. She lifted her head up for a few brief seconds, “Does my mysterious saviour have a name then?” She sniffed a few more times, feeling somewhat a little more safe at being inside a building and away from the scene she had accidentally caused by her power going out of control on her once more. This had to stop, she had to get a proper control on it, she couldn’t keep letting it take her over and destroying things because she didn’t want to end the life of another human as long as she lived.

After asking the kind stranger’s name, she didn’t wait to see if he would then in turn ask her own, she decided to give it anyway, “I’m Gabriella Weston, although, usually I just get called Gabby.” She gave him another watery smile. She figured it was the least she could do right now, he didn’t have t come to her rescue after all, but he did, and the more glimpses of him she caught, the more she seemed to like. He was obviously a special like her, despite being polar opposites, he was tall, strong and had the most ruggedly handsome features, and those eyes of his were melting right through her.

[Nathaniel Foster]

Nate didn't look back. He ignored the screams, the shouts and the sirens blaring through his ears. This one was special, he didn't want to let her go. She could burst into flames at any moment and although his clothes would singe, he would just turn to ice, and be completely fine. Women in distress was where he belonged, he was like a more toned, less powerful Superman. Except he no longer had a Lois Lane. He had no-one. But this wasn't time to think about himself, this woman, whoever she may be was hurt. He had to get her somewhere safe, somewhere where the cops wouldn't find her. The only safe place other than the Boxing Hall which was in the other direction was his place. Hell at least he could clean her up then.

Her beautiful watery smile didn't go unnoticed by Nate, he couldn't help but turn his smile into a grin then. She then went on to speak, saying if it was coincidence or not that his power was the exact opposite of hers. "Ha. Probably sweetheart, but who knows, maybe it's fate? Not everyday a goof like me runs into a flamer like you." Ok so he was mentally kicking himself over the crappy line, but hey, at least he was cheering the poor soul up. He was soon down the back alley of his apartment building, where he kicked the back door in with one large boot and stepped up with the little body in his arms. It was then they heard the explosion, the one that echoed through Nate's ears. He paused, horrified at himself that he hadn't stayed to put it out.

The soft familiar watery substance of the woman's tears swept through his t-shirt. She had managed to nestle her head between his leather jacket and t-shirt, maybe it was soothing to her, he didn't know, nor did he mind. Nate decided to keep talking to her, everything else could be dealt with by other people, she was more important right now. He carefully sidewalked in through the doorway and sighed releavingly. He smiled when she asked if he had a name, "Nathaniel. But everyone calls me Nate." He couldn't help but grin down at her, she was doing better than a few minutes ago at least. Nate was about to ask her own name before she came out and said it anyway, "Gabby. I dig that." He continued grinning at her as they waited for the lift, and of course he was still holding her, not really wanting to let her go.

Nate noticed her little watery smile and carefully stepped into the lift with her. He stayed silent, waiting to get to the top floor. As he did he pulled down the iron gates of the lift shaft with his foot and stepped through them. He owned the entire floor, which was always good because it meant no noisy neighbours. Nate couldn't stand being disturbed because of parties and what not. Keeping one arm firmly wrapped around her back, he slid the other hand away from under her legs and pulled open the front door of his apartment. It was a huge open plan warehouse apartment, which was obviously well kept.

"Gabby, you think you can stand for a minute while I flick the lights on? Only if you can sweetheart, otherwise I'm sure I can swing you over my shoulder or something." He grinned cheekily at her and chuckled lightly. This was strange, this flirting which felt right rather than just neccesary. It made a small spark light in his ice cold heart.

[gabriella]

When Gabby had given him her watery smile she watched as his own turned into a grin; a grin which lit up his whole face and she felt as if she was losing herself in his eyes. Yet now wasn’t the time to be thinking about things like that, she had caused a chaotic scene and this guy was just rescuing her away from herself, that’s all he was doing. Why would he be interested in her, he was probably married anyway, someone like him was bound to be taken already. She realised she was getting too lost in her thoughts and snapped herself out of them. Gabby smiled some more when he replied to her question about fate and then she had to laugh a little at his line. It was kind of bad, but in a cute way, she couldn’t let it go and decided to throw a line of a similar nature back at him. “Well, it’s not every day a flamer like me gets to meet such a cool guy, literally, as you.” She had to laugh a little again after those words.

It was a miracle Gabby was even able to smile, never mind laugh, as she still had the memory of her parents’ death in her mind, but somehow this guy was able to keep her calm and she was appreciating it. Despite her reply line she was still very scared because of what she had caused earlier. She was annoyed as well, because she had been able to keep it under control and since being abandoned she was beginning to lose it again. All she needed was for someone to love her and take care of her. But every guy who had walked into her life ran out of it as fast as they had come into it. Gabby was beginning to wonder if she should go back to the place that raised her from a young girl, even if they had done all those tests on her, at least they would keep her locked up and the world would be a safer place.

However thinking like that just got her all the more upset and she snuggled her head into the guy all the more feeling safer with him than she had her whole life. After a short while Gabby had moved slightly to ask the guy his name because she wanted to thank him for helping her and wanted to do so by using his name. He replied and a grin followed which made Gabby smile again even though the tears were still falling involuntarily. “You have a lovely name.” She replied and smiled at him some more, “Well thank you Nate for helping me.” Gabby hadn’t waited for him to ask her name, instead just telling him and the smile she was already giving him turned into an even warmer one when he said he digged her name. “Thanks.” She replied and couldn’t help but smile some more through her tears at him grinning down at her as they waited for the lift. She knew that he could probably have put her down at any point but she was glad he hadn’t as she was enjoying being in his arms.

Gabby was glad he was able to keep her in his arms while he wrestled with the old style lift, she put her head back down into his neck again and soon enough they were on his floor and he was asking if she could stand so he could put the lights on. She had to laugh a little when he spoke of swinging her over his shoulder or something if she couldn’t. She didn’t want to leave his arms because she felt so very safe and comfortable there, but she didn’t want to lie either. “I can stand, I just...” She trailed off, she was about to say she just didn’t want him to let go, but how could she say something like that to a guy she’d only known for a few minutes? She moved herself, so that could slip down from his grasp and soon she felt her feet on the floor of his apartment. However she soon had to grab onto his arm because the minute her feet were on the floor she realised she wasn’t as stable as she thought, feeling incredibly shaky. “Sorry, maybe I should have let you swing me round your shoulder.” She stated as she used her free hand to wipe away at the tears which were still stupidly falling down even though she wasn’t physically crying, they were still involuntarily escaping from her eyes. Looking up at him, she just wanted to get back into his arms, yet feeling bad for thinking like that when she didn’t even know if he had someone in his life already or not.

[Nathaniel Foster]

As Nate ran along with Gabby in his arms he noticed her stare at him, he didn't stare back but realised she must be thinking about something... maybe even someone. She had to have a man in her life surely? Someone that beautiful, that powerful and mysterious. Nate realised, why the hell was he thinking about her like that? He didn't even know the girl, she could be a death trap for all he knew. But his gut instinct told him she was nothing like that; that in fact she was a lost soul, just another New York broken heart. Just like himself really, Nate's heart had been broken, and smashed into millions of pieces when his little Harley was taken away.

It was after this quiet moment that the two threw funny cheesy lines at each other. It was breaking the ice not to mention they were both joining in, it wasn't just Nate being a goof like usual. She actually seemed to like him. He chuckled at her reply and slowed down his running for a moment. He decided to keep quiet, realising she was probably contemplating the situation that had unfolded moments prior. He felt her snuggle into him like a girlfriend snuggles her boyfriend at the cinema. Nate smiled to himself thinking about it. The feeling of having a woman, a fricking beautiful one at that holding on to him just made him feel complete, there was only one thing that could make this better... and that was his little girl, she was the only thing that could possibly complete him fully.

Snapping out of his thoughts suddenly, Nate looked down at the woman and smiled, she asked his name in which he told her. She complimented his name before thanking him, "Anytime sweetheart." She then went on to say her own name and Nate automatically complimented her. Gabby, it suited her so perfectly. She was perfect, she really was. As they stepped into the lift, it fell silent again and Nate managed to get the lift working using one hand. They soon were on Nate's floor and he pushed the gate up before stepping out onto the landing. He then opened the door to his apartment and asked Gabby if she could stand for a moment.

Of course Nathaniel didn't want to let go of her, she was just so warm, so wonderful. She began to reply then suddenly stopped halfway in between. Without warning Gabby began to move, slipping out of Nate's large hands. As her feet touched the ground, she wobbled then grabbed his arm almost immediately. She apologised and Nate shook his head, wrapping an arm around her little waist. "Don't apologise Gabby doll, I shouldn't have let ya go." He smiled down at her and watched as she wiped away the tears falling down her face. His smile suddenly turned into a grin, "Come here." He lifted her up over his shoulder and began chuckling lightly, "Now I don't have to let go sweetheart, I can do everything with ya just over my shoulder. Just don't get too mesmerised by my sweet buns." He chuckled again and switched the lights on revealing his apartment.

Nate had homely tastes. He wasn't fussed about loads of things; he had two huge leather sofas in his open plan kitchen/diner/lounge that looked so promising to him now he started walking over there. "So doll face, bet you could use a drink?"

[gabriella]

After Gabby threw her own rather cheesy line back at him nothing more was said between them for a short time. Gabby lost in her thoughts and he was probably lost in some of his own thoughts. He did seem to slow his running down which in turn made Gabby snuggle into him more even though she didn’t really know him; it was like she had always known him. It was a very strange feeling to feel, but one she knew she liked. After it would seem they both realised they had got lost in their thoughts Gabby saw him looking down at her and smiled. Gabby had then asked his name and after he replied she complimented his name and then thanked him. She gave him another smile when he said anytime and added the word sweetheart. It had been a while since anybody had called Gabby that. It made her feel warm inside, and she couldn’t help but smile all the more. “I haven’t been called sweetheart in such a long time.”

They were soon inside Nate’s apartment and Gabby hadn’t wanted to let go of Nate as she had been feeling so comfortable. When he asked if she could stand she was almost going to say she didn’t want to let go, but trailed off and slipped down from his grasp until her feet reached the floor but made sure to keep a hold of his arm with her hand. She had apologised for grabbing at him, he shook his head and wrapped an arm around her waist and then he replied saying she didn’t have to apologise and he shouldn’t have let her go, she gave him a warm smile and then couldn’t help but say the next few words to him. “Well, I kind of didn’t want to let go, but I felt I had to.” She immediately blushed right after saying those words. She had then wiped away at tears which were still falling freely, sometimes her emotions really got the better of her. She watched him smiling down at her and all too soon it was turned into a grin and he was speaking again, saying she was to come here. She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she didn’t get a chance to say anything as she was hoisted up into his arms again, thrown over his shoulder.

If it had been any other guy, the rather independent Gabby would probably have screamed for them to let her go, but as it happened, she rather liked Nate, and loved the fact she was now over his shoulder, even if her face was looking at his wonderfully muscular back, not to mention his perk backside. Gabby was in awe of this gentle giant who seemed to have come to her rescue. Alright, so he wasn’t really a giant but against Gabby’s small frame that’s exactly the way he looked. As Nate began to chuckle it made Gabby giggle, all the more after he spoke saying he didn’t have to let her go and she wasn’t to get too mesmerised by his sweet buns. Gabby continued to giggle all the more, tears seemingly gone, “You’re a bit late with that request, I think I’m already mesmerised by them.” And you she added, but thankfully in her thoughts, well she didn’t want to scare him off with the whole coming on too strong attitude now did she? They seemed to be playing off each other well and Gabby liked that, so she didn’t want to ruin it, after all, if nothing else he could be a friend. But looking at him and thinking about things, she wanted more than friendship, it just depended on whether he was single or not.

Soon enough the lights to his apartment were on and Gabby lifted her head as much as she could to take a look around, not that she could see much from the current angle she was in, but anyway, from what she could see he had a lovely apartment. It was much better than her own that was for sure. She loved the fact it was all open plan, it looked very modern and very much a guy’s apartment she thought. He started walking over to his lounge room area and he soon spoke saying she could probably use a drink. “A drink would be wonderful actually Nate, thank you, but I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be drinking it from this angle, as much as I love looking at your buns.” Gabby couldn’t help but say as she began to laugh again. What was happening? She had never had this instant connection with any of the other guys who had been in her life, but Gabby knew she loved it.

[Nathaniel Foster]

As Gabby told Nate she hadn't been called sweetheart in such a long time, he couldn't help but sigh deeply and nestle his head on top of hers. "That's a shame, beautiful woman like you deserves all the compliments in the World..." Nate paused, smiling to himself. "Sweetheart." It was strange, Nate hadn't found a woman this attractive in the longest time, ever since he first laid eyes on Sadie and that seemed like a million years ago now. The only person he loved now was his little Harley, the most beautiful little girl any father could ever wish for. Silence then fell as he thought about his daughter. He sighed.

As they entered Nate's apartment he asked her whether she could stand for a moment so he could hit the lights. Part of him longed for her to hold on, he didn't want to let her go. But another part told him he barely knew this girl, she could be married for all he knew. As she slid from his arms, she immediately stumbled and grabbed on to him. He couldn't help but chuckle slightly as she smiled ever so warmly up at him. The next few words that she spoke startled him slightly, was she feeling the exact same way as he was? "Sweetheart, why didn't ya just say? I would have done this..." He watched her blush and told her to 'come here'. When she was close enough he threw her over his shoulder.

A sudden memory of himself and Sadie lifted through his mind. The night of their engagement party, he threw Sadie over his shoulder and laid her down on the sofa. As he stroked her short black hair, he couldn't help but stare into her dark brown eyes, she looked like a Goddess. It was two weeks later that Sadie found out she was pregnant. They were going to have a baby. It was so wonderful, so amazing. But what Nate didn't know was what was going on behind closed doors.

Nate bit down on his lip hard but then decided to speak, telling Gabby not to look at his ass. Of course this would make her look, which was his intention. He loved teasing girls, especially beautiful ones. When Gabby spoke, he burst out laughing, the dimples in his cheeks growing more and more. This felt so good, so natural. Nate managed to flick the lights on showing his rustic, open plan apartment. He asked her if she wanted a drink, in which she replied a drink would be wonderful but she wasn't sure she could drink it from that angle as much as she loved looking at his buns. Nate again burst out laughing and gently dropped her down on his leather sofa.

"There ya go princess." Nate grinned at her as he looked down at her and tilted his head slightly. Now he could see her in the light, he realised how beautiful she actually was. Her eyes were such a pale green and her hair was curled, so wonderfully curled. He coughed abruptly and clapped his hands together, "So what to drink? I make a mean Mojito or you can have a beer or well I have nearly everything." He grinned that boyish grin of his and began walking to the bar, flipping a tumbler up in the air as he did.

[gabriella]

When Nate said a beautiful woman like her should get all the compliments in the world Gabby sighed gently, hearing him say that was wonderful and the feel of his head on top of hers was amazing, it was like they just fit together, like they were meant to be, like they had known each other for a lifetime. Then he added on the sweetheart again, which made Gabby’s heart skip a beat and then she smiled warmly, this guy was just amazing really. “Well, thanks Nate, I wouldn’t say no to you saying those kinds of things to me all the time.” The words were out before she even knew what she was doing or saying. She could have sworn she had just thought them, but no, there was a definite sound, she had indeed spoken the words. Oh My God she thought, that was a blatant flirt right there, what would he think of her? What was wrong with her?

Then she had admitted that she hadn’t really wanted to let go when he’d asked if she could stand but felt she had to. Where was all of this coming from? It was like she had been possessed with some sort of love goddess or something. But it seemed she hadn’t chased him away, in fact he asked her why she didn’t say she didn’t really want to let go because he would have just done this, and the next thing she knew she was swept up onto his shoulder. She had begun to giggle and he then told her not to get mesmerised by his buns. Of course he was a bit late with that and she told him as much. Nate burst out laughing at what she had said which just made Gabby giggle all the more. It felt so good to be happy again, but it did make her wonder how long she would be happy for this time. It never usually lasted.

Once Nate had flicked the lights on he had asked if she wanted a drink, Gabby who seemed to have found her inner true self around Nate had said it would be good but probably a bit difficult from her current angle as much as she was enjoying looking at his buns. She heard him burst out into laughter again and she laughed along with him, as he placed her on his sofa calling her princess. She could get used to all those nice names and compliments, but then, which girl wouldn’t? “Well, now I’ll be able to enjoy that drink, pity the view isn’t so good anymore.” There seemed to be no stopping Gabby now as her playful side got more and more intense. She laughed again, and then shook her head, “Actually you have a lovely apartment. I don’t think I’ve felt this good in such a long time.” It was true, the last time she had felt this good was when she was with Jacob, she couldn’t even remember how long ago that was now, but she found she didn’t even care.

She couldn’t help but notice that he seemed to have lost himself as he looked at her, not that it unnerved her or anything, in fact, she was finding him just as fascinating as he was maybe finding her. Then she saw him as he seemingly snapped out of it and clapped his hands together asking her what she would like to drink. “You know I think I might just try your hand at a Mojito please.” She said as she watched him walk to the bar and flip a tumbler. She couldn’t help but think to the movie Cocktail she had seen years ago with a young Tom Cruise, it was one of her favourites and giggling a little she couldn’t help herself, “Fancy yourself as a bit of a Tom Cruise? You got the whole tumbler flipping thing down rather well, but I have to say, I wouldn’t say no to being your Elisabeth Shue.” Elisabeth Shue was the actress who played Tom’s love interest in the movie. Yeah they had a bit of a bumpy path along the way, but they got together in the end, and the end part of the movie was all she was interested in when it came to being Nate’s Elisabeth Shue.

[Nathaniel Foster]

Nate took in every little mumble of the beautiful bundle in his arms. He noticed how she seemed to shy away from them as soon as she said them too. He couldn't help but smirk to himself, wondering why she was being like that. "I'll say kind things to ya whenever ya want baby doll." It wasn't unusual that Nate gave pet names to women, Candice had many herself and always enjoyed flirting back with him. But this time it was different, this wasn't no ordinary woman he had just met. She was different, special. It wasn't only her ability that made her special either, there was something else, a spark, a rare and beautiful spark that immediately attracted him to her. That and she was possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

As Nathaniel dropped Gabby to her feet gently, he knew he shouldn't have. One, he didn't want too. Two, she was still far too weak from the incident moments prior. But something told him he had too, this was too soon, it was too much. He hadn't felt this drawn to a woman since Sadie, and that felt like a lifetime ago. Was this real? Was Gabby actually here? He snapped out of it, throwing Gabby over one shoulder lightly as he returned to his happy, playful self. Nate flicked the lights on and listened to the wonderful giggles of Gabriella. His heart melted at the sound of her laugh, she sounded like an angel, not to mention she looked like one too. He sighed as he thought about it.

Once Gabby was safely on the sofa, not staring at his 'buns', Nate became the perfect host and offered her a drink. He laughed heartily when she said it was a shame the view wouldn't be as good anymore, "Well I have to bend down in the bar like, damn tumblers are at the bottom see?" He winked at her, the baby blues of his eyes sparkling like never before. Gabby then went on to say she loved the apartment and how she hadn't felt this good in a long time. "Well I'm sure glad I found ya, hate to think you've been sad or hurt baby doll." Nate sighed loudly then, not really meaning too. "Truth be told, haven't felt this good in a while either." He smiled at her, the dimples and lines in his cheeks etching into his face so naturally. That was when he noticed her, how truly stunning she was.

It took a moment or two before Nate could snap himself out of it and finally ask what drink she would like. "Mojito, coming up." Nate walked to the bar and flipped a tumbler up, catching it mid air. He bowed, "Oh thank you, you're too kind." He wasn't talking to Gabby as such, this was what Nate did when he was home alone. Strange, he had never done that in front of a lady at his place. Whenever he did have female company, there was always the urge to not be himself, to not be the teenage boy at heart, but now... it felt right. Nate couldn't help but grin uncontrollably as Gabby said if he fancied himself a bit of a Tom Cruise. "Well sweetheart, maybe... but just in that movie like, I don't jump on sofa's on Oprah and declare my love for Katie Holmes." He laughed to himself, wondering if Gabby would get the joke.

As Nate began flipping a bottle of white rum in one hand and sparkling water in the other, he couldn't help but remember the last woman he had over here a month ago or so. Her name was Jade, and she was so cocky, so arrogant... nothing like the Goddess sitting on his sofa now. As he continued thinking about the past, he added the final touch of mint and began to shake the tumbler, eventually pouring it out into a tall glass. He added a straw and some lime on the side, before grabbing a beer for himself. Well, he did have the weekend off. As he placed the Mojito on the coffee table, he realised how much he needed a cigarette. It had only just occurred to him that he hadn't had one in nearly an hour, in fact, cigarette's were the last thing on his mind.

"There ya go sweetheart, one Mojito." Nate smiled and placed the beer close to the Mojito glass before disappearing again to the bar where he grabbed an ash tray. This time, he placed it at the opposite end of the table, along with his zippo lighter and his pack of twenty smokes. He sighed awkwardly, "I can go outside if ya don't like it... Anything you want Gabby doll, just let me know." Nate sat on the opposite sofa, pulling a cigarette out of the carton and placing it between his soft lips, he then grabbed the zippo and proceeded to light his cigarette. As he took the first draw of smoke, he looked over at Gabby and smiled, "Well, gotta say it... most beautiful girl in the World sitting in my apartment... hell, I must be one lucky son of a gun."

[gabriella]

Gabby hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but she had. She felt somewhat embarrassed the soon as she realised she’d said them out loud, but Nate who had seemed so calm and cool from the moment he had helped her when she had, well had a meltdown for want of a better expression, was just as cool about what she had said, telling her he would say kind things to her whenever she wanted, calling her baby doll. A warm glow went over her at the mention of the nickname, it was so cute. “That’s good to know then; I could listen to them all day.” This time she was aware of what she said and happy to say it. Maybe she was gaining some sort of confidence. She liked Nate and she felt like she wanted him to know.

After Gabby was sitting on the sofa she had commented about the view not being as good now after she had been staring at his buns. She had to laugh out loud when he replied to her telling her he had to bend over at the bar because the tumblers were at the bottom. She couldn’t help but look over as well. “Yeah, the view is still as good from this angle.” She had caught that wink of his which made blush and then she grinned. She loved the banter going on between them both. Gabby had then spoken of how she liked his apartment and how she hadn’t felt so good in a long time. When Nate spoke Gabby felt her heart melt at the words he had said to her. “Well I’m glad you found me too Nate, and sadly I have been hurt in the past, but I try not to dwell on the past and look to the future.” She gave him a bright smile then. When Nate added tha the hadn’t felt this good in a while either, she grinned at him as well as blushed, “Maybe we were destined to meet, maybe we’re meant to brighten each other’s life?” Gabby didn’t usually believe in fate, given how her past relationships with men had turned out, but she had a feeling that Nate was different somehow. It was still all fairly new but given the way he was acting with her, she didn’t think he was about to cut and run on her anytime soon.

Gabby had then asked for a Mojito and smiled when Nate said it was coming up, she then watched him at work as he mixed the drink together. Gabby then couldn’t help but comment on his skills by mentioning Tom Cruise who of course had impeccable cocktail mixing skills in the movie Cocktail. When Nate replied, she burst out laughing, if she had been sitting on the edge of the sofa she would surely have fallen off. “It was the movie I was referring to, but you never know, you might go jumping on sofas if you were declaring your love to me.” Alright, damn it to hell where did that come from? Gabby blushed furiously, she hadn’t flirted with a guy like this in like forever; it wasn’t the type of thing Gabby did. But she found with Nate flirting seemed to be second nature. “I’m sorry; I have no idea where that came from.” Although she was giggling a little nervously at what she had said.

Soon enough Nate came over with the drink and handed it to her, “Thanks Nate.” She replied as she took a sip immediately, it was absolutely wonderful. She watched as Nate then disappeared again and came back shortly with an ashtray. So he was a smoker she thought, it wasn’t something she did herself, but she never held it against anybody who did. It wasn’t part of her nature. So when he asked if she would mind, she shook her head. “I’m not a smoker myself, but I don’t dictate to others who do, so you go right ahead. I don’t mind.” Once he had lit his cigarette up she couldn’t help but blush once more at what he said next. “Thanks Nate and I have to say, I’m sitting in the apartment of the most handsome, kindest, funniest men I’ve ever met.” Well if he was going to throw out a super compliment to Gabby she was going to throw one right back at him.