Help Me Be Free, If you Can.

[Gabrielle Kovac]

Gabrielle has finally had enough of putting up with her family and all of the misery they put her through to make sure she followed their lifestyle that had been planned out for her since birth. The past two hours of Gabrielle's life had been spent arguing with her father about her interest in becoming a healer never being a possibility because he thought it wasn't a suitable enough job for her. After her very own life was threatened by him and she was told to get out it was then that Gabrielle decided she was tired of all of this and wasted no time in trying to run away again. She hadn't even changed out of her thin dress, that was far too inappropriate to go outside in before she bolted outside the door and into the rain and thunder. It was well into the night and most of her family was probably in bed right now which is what she would have preferred so she wouldn't have to say goodbye to them. Deciding that if she didn't hurry she would probably get caught and started to run as fast as her legs could carry her, but running through the rain in the dark while starting to cry was not working out as well as she had thought it would be. 'Damn I can barely breath.' Gabrielle stopped for a moment and coughed, she was really cold and completely soaked, her thin dress was hugging her every curve and her shoes were doing nothing more than weighing her down with all the water the shoes were taking in as she ran further and further away from the house. After a moment of gasping for a breath the blue eyed beauty froze when she thought she heard a noise.

"H-hello?" Her voice cracked as she tried to make it appear as if she was not crying or feeling weak. But No one had answered her and she felt relieved once again that no one was following her. Deciding that she had rested enough she decided to run further away from the house, her legs were burning in pain and she was so cold that it wasn't long before she felt like she couldn't breath again. But she kept on because she didn't want to go back home, once she was at least a good mile or two away from the house she could care less if she passed out in sickness or not, she just needed to get away. "Ow. Sh*t!" Gabrielle slipped on a rock for a moment and fell to her knees roughly, she knew it would probably start to bleed in a moment because of the way she had scratched it. Through the dark she could make out her scratched knee and sure enough it had began to bleed. But Gabrielle refuse to let this phase her.

Getting up she tried to run again but was a bit slower since her knee was killing her now. The rain continued to fall and a few flashes of lightening struck into the sky lighting it up for a moment or two. Eventually Gabrielle began to feel dizzy and weak again so she stopped to catch her breath again, once again she thought she heard a noise and brushed some of her wet hair out of her face before she turned again, she was so cold and feeling sick. "Is someone there?" She breathed out, had her father come to hunt her down and drag her back home. Pulling out her wand shakily she lit up the area with lumos and shivered, it was so cold outside.

 

[Gregory White]

Turning the page of the dusty bound book that he had acquired from a forgotten library in the depths of the manor, Greg was beginning to succumb to boredom. He was a little bit nervous in the large house; no one had told him just how many people actually lived there, and he was forever accidentally interrupting people and finding himself in private bedrooms, etc. It was getting to the point where he wondered just why the household didn't seem to know what Alohomora was; especially Audel (for Greg blamed him and not Effie). He had lost count of the number of times he'd found the two in the middle of questionable activities in strange areas of the house. The first time he'd stammered and blushed. Now, Greg would just wave himself out and try to get the images out of his mind. On the whole, despite having people around whose company he thoroughly enjoyed, Greg preferred to be alone. He was used to leading a solitary existence now, contrary to his personality. It made him uncomfortable to live with so many people. It was only Gabrielle that he liked to spend time with, really, and she didn't seem all that keen to spend time with him. Greg sighed and placed his book down, staring out into the stormy grounds in the midnight black. Then, shocking him out of his lazy stupor, he suddenly spied the one girl he'd been daydreaming about, tearing across the lawn like the devil was after her in the pouring rain. He leapt to his feet instinctively and pressed his fingers against the glass. All he could see now was a muddy pink streak; Greg no longer hesitated but began to run down the staircase and out into the storm. No one in their right mind would be out at this time. She must be in trouble.

"Gabrielle!" cried Greg, the sound torn from his lips and snatched by the fierce wind. He'd only just run out into the gardens and he was already soaking wet. "Gabrielle!". Why would she be running in the wind like this? It was a terrible night to be out. Seconds after his last shout was ripped away from him, a tiny winking light caught his keen goblin eyes and Greg took off again, sprinting towards the source. He came just in time to see the shivering and now bloody form of Gabbi before he stumbled forward and captured her in his arms. Regardless of why she was out there, she couldn't stay. She looked and felt ready to collapse and it was with little effort that he lifted her off her feet and into a cradle hold, placing her arms around his neck. He barely noticed her thin garb. The only thing Greg saw was her moonbeam-pale face, streaked with barely-visible tears and looking up at him, terribly fragile in nature. He didn't bother to ask questions but turned and loped off back to the house, staggering several times with the force of the wind. Forget explanations; there was no time but to run to the nearest warm haven.

 

[Gabrielle Kovac]

Gabrielle whimpered when she felt someone stop her from running further away and picked her up to begin to carrying her back to the Snow Manor, for a moment she thought it was her father but realized this person seemed to gentle to ever be him. "W-What do you think your doing stupid? Put me back down." She couldn't help but breath out as he carried her close to the Manor, actually she was thankful for him bothering to come out and even see if she was okay but she couldn't let him know that. She was not supposed to get attached to people and this included him, her mother described the consequences she could suffer from it if she ever did. Gregory was also taking her home which was the last place she currently wanted to go, she wanted to get away but once again she didn't get that far. So far her father was right about the whole stupid curse about being a Snow; you were born in that house and you would die in that house. And so far every single member who was actually born in the Manor has died there, Gabrielle wasn't quite sure if Danielle had given birth to her there but from the way Alphonse spoke of it she had. A strong shiver escaped Gabrielle and she snuggled closer to the chest of the man who was currently carrying her in an attempt to warm herself up because her body was so cold and numb feeling from the freezing rain and wind constantly beating down on her. Her body had eventually gotten so cold and tired that every breath she tried to take began to hurt, she needed to get inside and warm up as quickly as possible before she froze.

Once inside, the dim lights from the hallway that she figured was part of her aunt's house sort of hurt her eyes a little but immediately she felt herself begin to heat up a little now that she was out of the rain and wind. Gabrielle knew that Greg had brought her to a room but she couldn't tell who's room it was until she was sat in front of a fireplace and figured that it was probably his room. "G-Greg...could you please get me a blanket or something? I-I'm so cold it sort of hurts to breath." She wheezed out as she shivered, how did she know it was even Greg when she had barely gotten a look at him? It was probably his smell because she had always thought that he smelled a little good, like a forest or something that reminded her of nature. After a moment of shivering, Gabrielle felt a strong sneeze escape her nose before she sniffled and pushed a strand of her wet hair out of her face. "I can't believe I still couldn't leave this place." Another sneeze escaped her as she continued to shiver and seek warmth from the fire in front of her. But it just wasn't enough and she wanted more heat. How could she seriously thing that running away would actually get her away from this place so easily?

 

[Gregory White]

Greg blinked down at the woman in his arms, not entirely sure that he'd heard her right. She wanted to be put down? Now that was thing that he simply couldn't oblige her with. It was obvious that she was in no fit state the walk, and the last thing he wanted was for someone to say 'Where is Gabbi?', to which he would reply 'Out in the rain'. 'You left her there?' they'd say. 'Aye. I went to get her but she wanted to be left alone,' Greg would have to reply. Certainly not. He pressed her head to his cheek in reply and bumped the door open with his leg, shuffling into the house. He didn't notice that he was shivering but he certainly noticed that she was. Cats hated the rain and so did Greg, but even that was lost to Gabrielle's dire situation. "I know love, I know." he muttered in reply as he placed her down in front of the fire. Now there was a dilemma; how to get them both warm. "Forget it," mumbled Greg to himself as he began shedding himself of all but his briefs. They were practically shorts anyway, and he was simply too wet to be of any use to Gabbi otherwise. Before touching her again, he shook himself from head to foot like a dog (well, a lion) before scooting off to find a blanket. He could never find anything in this house, loathe to leave Gabbi as he was. Eventually he returned with an enormous fluffy blue blanket from his bed. It had a little cat hair, but it would do.

"Um..." It suddenly occurred to him that Gabbi was less that properly attired. She mustn't have thought at all before leaving in the rain; she was wearing some sort of pink nightie. To him, she might as been wearing nothing at all. He took a deep breath, told Gabbi to "Stay still and please don't complain, I'm not looking." then took her in his arms again to shimmy her out of the dress with his eyes to the ceiling. He jumped every time he touched flesh. At least his hands were warm again. Then all there was was to cosy her up with the blanket, shuffle towards the fire and wrap himself around her outside the blanket. Greg didn't dare ask what the hell was going through her mind at first, but soon the silence grew unbearable and he rested his cheek on the top of her head as he asked. "Gabrielle, why were 'ye leaving?" said Greg in a gentle voice. "Surely 'ye could have left during the day, no? It is very dangerous to leave by oneself without wrapping up, at least. Perhaps 'ye could hae asked me tae come with 'ye."

 

[Gabrielle Kovac]

If Gabrielle had been feeling less cold, weakened, and sick she probably would have put up more of a fight against Greg as he tried to get her settled and warmed up. Usually she hated when people tried to help her out, she did not like to rely on others because she always felt like she would owe them a favor or something later. Greg had stripped himself down and Gabrielle did her absolute best to avert her eyes from him seemingly perfect body as she shivered to keep warm, she may have been a little out of it but she could still recognize something like that easily. Shuffling was heard and she knew he was looking for a blanket or something around the room but seemed to have some trouble finding one to use. "H-Hey..." For only a moment she protested that he was undressing her as well but it only bothered her for a moment because soon she was wrapped inside the blanket in front of the fire, her ignore the tingles she felt when his skin touched hers and instead focused on how much less cold she was suddenly feeling. "I was leaving because this place is...it's like a prison to me. I don't want to remain here any longer and if I had left during the day someone would have caught me. I needed to leave and you...for whatever it's worth..thanks." He saved her is what he had done, he had taken away all the hurt and suffering that she would have gone through if he had let her go and continue to leave. There was a part of her that wish he hadn't though because she wanted to leave, she had to leave. Still even though she was wrapped in a thick layer and in front of the fire she continued to shiver madly, without further warning Gabrielle rested her head on Greg's chest as she sniffled a little trying to appear as if she was not becoming ill.

"I wouldn't have asked you to come with me, I don't want you to go anywhere with me." She managed out before she coughed and began to shiver again, why was she still so cold and miserable feeling. Cuddling more close to Greg she noted that not only was he so warm feeling but he smelled good too, the more Gabrielle began to think about it though easier she realized that now she would never be able to leave her home. With each passing day it became harder and harder for her to leave and the one chance she had was just severed. "Gregory you should have let me go. Why didn't you let me go?" Without sudden warning a tear leaked from one of her dark blue eyes and then another, and another, and within seconds a sob escaped her as she continued to shiver from the cold. She moved her head a little from the man holding her so she wouldn't cry all over him or anything. Little did she know that by him stopping her from leaving her would create the biggest happiness in her life too, she belonged here but she just didn't know it yet.

 

[Gregory White]

There was nothing he could have done at that moment other that clasp her to his chest and tuck her head under his chin. As she cried, it occurred to him that he had never felt so helpless before this day. For all his strength, kindness and patience towards Gabrielle, how could he help her ignore the beatings of her own heart? He had hindered her in her escape and worse, felt no better for the fact that he did because he wanted her there with him. Greg said nothing about this revelation and simply kissed her blonde waves tiredly and continued to hold her. Many moments passed before he dared break the silence between her sobs, but it soon became unbearable and he broke in with a sigh. "Gabrielle, it is fine if 'ye would've preferred me not to come. I must say though, 'ye could ha' at least ... considered it. After all, I am only here fer your sake. Should ye've been successful I would 'ha left, meself." He paused thoughtfully. "Added tae that, if ye've not gone out in the wide lonesome on yer own before, 'ye couldn't have gotten very far without me." Resting his cheek lightly on the crown of her head, Greg shuffled them closer to the fire when Gabbi shivered more violently. Pressed together like they were, he couldn't understand why her flesh felt no warmer. Greg blushed at the feeling, regardless.

"Perhaps..." ventured Greg in a tentative but confident tone. "Ye might think 'o staying? I do know something about prisons, and this seems more like a paradise to me. For one who has lived here as long as you have, I can certainly see how it could grow so suppressing, but 'ye have tae appreciate the smaller things in order for the big picture tae become more pleasant." Greg's own curls tickled her cheek as he leant to see her face, which he was too enraptured in to notice the intense proximity of it. "For example, ye're well loved in here by m ... E-Effie. Audel thinks of 'ye fondly too, I'm sure. I ... I like being with 'ye also." said Greg, blushing brighter under the heat of the crackling fire. "And consider that you are fed and clothed," he continued, "When out there by yerself, those two things are as important as love. So please don't endanger yerself like tha' again. Ye're frightfully ill as it is. At least .... wait till ye're recovered before thinking about leaving again." Greg's closeness to Gabrielle seemed so natural to him that he couldn't understand why she pushed him away. Risking not just his lips but his very heart, Greg kissed her softly on the corner of her mouth and pulled away to stare back into the flames.