[atrb=border,0,true] [style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px] The dragon quivered inside her home, unable to even go near her own bedroom (she'd been sleeping in the guest bedroom that Gianni usually stayed at). But now it was officially time for her to get over everything to happen. The first step she figured was to get new furniture, completely redo her bedroom. So nothing would be like it was that night. So nothing could remind her of that moment, held down in the bed . . . . her clothes ripped of. She sank down onto the cushions of her couch, slowly pulling out her phone, thumbing through the numbers to the one most often called, texted, needed. One simple message typed out. Come. Please. He'd come, the vampire always came when she needed him. She quivered as a sound of the creaking, settling house touched her ears, and alarmed her. She could see the shadow of the lion in the shadows of her home. Hear his howl in the wind. Haunting her always. Terrifying her. Her entire body shook as tears trailed down her cheeks before she was suddenly fleeing the house, her faithful companion following at her side, worried for her mistress who was obviously so distressed while tears streamed down her face. She couldn't do this. She needed to get rid of everything. She'd already burned the clothes he'd dressed her in. The clothes he'd touched. The bedding. She had tossed the room, throwing out the furniture that lay in a broken pile beneath her terrace. Yet still it haunted her. She sank to her knees in the center of the rocky drive way that circled in front of her house, wrapping her arms around herself, her eight month pregnant state not helped by her emotional distress. Gold wing spurted from her back, wrapping around her body as she shivered in the violent winds whooshing past her, deafening her ears to the sounds of the creaking, of the fantom lion stalking her still as she waited for the arrival of the one who'd make it better, who always made it better. Gianni always seemed to help. He'd be able to help her get over it. He'd be able to help her survive being in the mall again. Being in her room again. He'd help her get through this. He'd chase away the shadows, the phantom howls, the man that wasn't really there. He'd help her. She just prayed he hurry. WORDS: 0000 TAGS: play with me! NOTES: and maybe we can sing a song!

The last few months had been...well exciting didn't quite cover the panic, the pain, or the loss Gianni had felt. To know that the people who were closest to him had been taken right from under his nose...well that was hard to stomach. Now that they'd been rescued they could all start healing, though that was a scary thought in and of it's self. He couldn't fathom what they'd been through nor did he probably want to know, he'd have probably killed all the kidnappers all over again. He was taking a break from checking in on Row as she suffered through a psych evaluation mandated by her mother's family. IT was hectic but Gianni was glad that the girls seemed relatively safe. He only had to make sure now that they were kept that way and that they got professional help in some way.

As he received a pleading message from Phallontine, Gianni didn't think twice about taking off. Rowan would be fine and Brodie would be in town in a few days which would keep Gianni from being needed. Phallontine probably needed him more anyway he rationalized. Climbing into the new Porsche, Gianni almost flew to Phallontine's house. The tall vampire scrambled out of the car as he saw the dragon huddled in the driveway, her bedroom furniture thrown out the window. "Phallon, Phall what's wrong?" Gentle arms wrapped around her in the driveway. Snuggling gently under her wing, Gianni kissed her forehead. "Breathe, Phally, breathe honey. It's okay. I'm here. Nobody's going to hurt you." He sat beside her and pulled her into his lap keeping his arms around her and waiting for her to calm. "What did you need sweetheart?"

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[style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px] The young dragon couldn't help but cry, the tears streaking down her cheeks as she quivered. Over the sound of the wind her ears picked up the sound of a familiar tire treading the rocks, and before she could process his car pulling up he was already wrapped in his gentle arms. His voice was soft, fighting past the nightmare she was stuck in, quivering as she felt his lips against his forehead, struggling to take the deep breaths he commanded. Her entire body seemed to shake as he tugged her into his lap, and for a moment she her hands came in contact to his chest, his image shifted, a wild mane. Dark, dangerous Eyes. Canines and Claws and in an instant she was shaking, starting to back out of his arms before his image shifted back to himself. Her fingers tangled in his shirt, pressing her face into his neck tears wetting his skin as his voice whispered over her, calling her sweetheart, "H-He's suppose to be gone! H-he's dead! A-and he's still here! I keep seeing h-him. He w-won't go away!" She cried against his skin, "I j-just want to f-forget! I just wa-ant it to be over! I c-can't sleep in m-my own bed! I just see him there o-over me. R-remembering him as h-he . . . " She quivered in fear, falling silent, her arms wrapping around herself this time, "I just want to start over." She whispered against his skin, wiping at her eyes. "Just . . . Just hold me for a bit?" She said softly, starting to calm down.

A few more minutes and she was finally breathing normally again, rubbing her eyes as she took a steading breath, "I, I need to redo my bedroom . . . will . . . will you take me into town? To the mall? I'm terrified to go there alone. I'm terrified to go anywhere alone." She mumbled meekly, laying her had against his chest, her wings disappearing back into her skin as she felt safer in his arms, surrounded by his scent of old fashioned cologne, and blood. "I do want it to look anything l-like my room. I want it to be completely d-different from the place he . . . ." Her voice died again, heer head hanging slightly as she closed her eyes, still unable to fully wrap her mind around the rape. Not being able to face it with out hearing the claim in his voice, his obvious desire to mark her as his. Forcing her to be another bitch in his pride. She didn't know if the vampire knew the story of what happened to her. She didn't know who knew at all. She prayed not many would find out. But . . . Gianni should know, understand why she can't be in her own home with out seeing the phantom lion. "I . . . don't want it to . . . look like the room w-where. . . w-where the l-lion shifter r-r . . ." SHe swallowed thickly, her gaze going distant, seeing the man standing above her with satisfaction, feeling the pain as he violated her, feeling him move her like she was a broken doll, dressing her and ensuring his scent had been trapped on her body, "Where he raped me. . . ." Her voice left her in a gusty, broken whisper, barely a sound at all as it travelled into the open air, her body starting to shake again, one hand clinging to his shirt, as if anchoring her to the world, the other hand laying lightly over the child inside her, the little girl the man had constantly threatened to rip out of her. The child due in just twenty days.

WORDS: 0000 TAGS: play with me! NOTES: and maybe we can sing a song!

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The vampire couldn't say that he was shocked as she pulled back from him when he pulled her close into his lap. Having seen where they were kept in cages, he knew it was a hell hole just to be left alone down there but he had a feeling that none had been left alone. The characters that had been connected with the kidnappings were known for other crimes...crimes that Gianni had felt were worthy of torture before death. He breathed a sigh of relief as she tangled her fingers into his shirt and put her face to his neck. The feel of salty tears touching his skin caused his heart to pang with a terrible feeling that he'd failed PHallontine. Her tears reminded him that in her true moment of need the vampire had been involved in something else and had let her down. He hated himself for it and knew no way to make it better.

Though he didn't know what or who she was talking about, Gianni simply listened to her. He let her work the words out from somewhere deep inside. In his years around wounded people, he'd learned that it was best to let them find the words themselves than to feed them the words and try to cover their pain. Usually people recovering from a trauma who wished to speak of it simply wanted someone to hear them someone to know why they were in so much pain. Gianni was content to hold her close and listen to the words she pried from inside. As she spoke, he held her close to his chest and ran a hand through her hair intermittedly trying to call over the dog knowing the Saluki also gave Phallontine comfort. As she asked him to hold her, he nodded. "Of course I will, Bella. Of course I will forever if you need me."

As she seemed to gain control of herself, Gianni brushed tendrils of hair away from her face and nodded. "Your wish is my command, dragon." He smiled trying to lighten her mood. He hated seeing her cry. "You don't have to be alone ever again, Phally. I'm here now." Gianni thought that was that. He thought they'd go forward and she'd be okay. Then she dropped the bomb, one of the men had defiled her. A dark growl issued forth harshly ripped deep from within. He hated this and he wished to kill to avenge the pain caused to those he cared about the most. It didn't help that he'd watch the shifters responsible for this die quickly dispatched deaths. None of them would ever come back from the dark hell they'd been sent to. "I'm so sorry, Phallontine." He muttered into her ear. The vampire continued to hold her and rock her in the drive way right in front of his Porsche. He wouldn't move until she gave the signal. Instead, he could sit there all afternoon rocking her back and forth. As she put her hand on her belly where her unborn rested, the vampire gently placed his hand on top of hers. "She'll be okay...eventually, love, you'll be okay...I promise...no matter what I have to do."

[atrb=border,0,true] [style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px]Phallon immediately responded in fear as she felt hands grasp her, pulling her close, her mind taking her back to the lion shifter that had been responsible for her own kidnapping, and ultimately rape. It didn't take long, however, for the female to remember who she was with, and in an instant she was curled up close to the vampire, clinging to his shirt, hiding her face against his neck, shaking as she clung to him as if terrified the lion would appear to rip her away, take her back to the cage she'd been shoved into, laughing and taunting her about being his. Belonging to him. A pride member taken by force. Her breath came out in a hiccup before she struggled to explain, to gather her voice. Her body relaxed faintly as the vampire held her close, his fingers brushing through her hair, as Mocha obediently came at his command, laying down by her mistress's side and laying her muzzle over the dragon's ankle, licking the pregnant teen in concern. She glanced up at him slowly as he brushed her hair from her face, tears gathering in the corner of her hazel eyes. "Thank you." She whispered softly, eyes closing briefly as she lay her head against his shoulder, curling up in his lap, before she admitted why she was struggling to move on from the whole issue. She jumped at the dark growl that came from the male, starting to shake again as Mocha growled at the vampire, quickly licking her mistress's hand to try and calm her down while silently glaring disapprovingly at the vampire as if trying to remind him of what the female had gone through. His breath whispered past her ear, whispering his apologies as he rocked her and held her and slowly she continued to calm down until her breathing had returned to normal her hand falling over her largely rounded belly. She glanced up at the vampire as his hand fell on top of hers, the eight month old fetus with in her responding to the extra weight with a quick before re-shifting, causing a faint wince from the female. At his words she took a deep breath, slowly biting her lip as she looked up at him, "I'm trying, Gianni. I'm trying to get past it all." She whispered. "The baby is due in less than 20 days. I want to at least have my bedroom redone. I need it redone . . . I can't sleep in there now. She admitted quietly, before brushing a hand through her hair, pulling away from him and carefully climbing to her feet, mocha helping to steady her. She held out a hand towards the vampire, her gaze begging, "Will you . . . will you help me? Come with me to the mall . . . I, I'm not comfortable going back there alone." She admitted, looking up at him hopefully. Her eyes closed softly, before looking back at the male, "Will you come shopping with me?" She asked, before hesitating and sighing, hating the idea of having to give him even more bad news, "Gianni, the baby . . . . she's not alright . . . . The doctors, when they looked over me after Id be rescued. Kats tried her hardest, to shield her . . . but, they say there's a seventy five percent chance she's going to be born blind. She was suppose to be okay, she was suppose to be untouched. I went with everything they did to try and keep her safe, to keep her unharmed." Her eyes dropped from his, resting on the swell of the baby, her arms wrapping around her belly, "She's relying on me to take care of her, Gianni, to make sure she's safe and able to develop into a healthy young hatchling. And I've failed her." She spoke softly before sighing and looking up at him, biting her lower lip in obvious distress. "Gianni, I can do this right? I can be a mother. I feel like I'm only messing up. I've accepted having to raise a child alone, rather than considering adoption. I've been kidnapped. I've let harm come to my child so she'll be blind." She mumbled, listing every thing she's done wrong since she found herself becoming pregnant. She shook her had, sighing quietly, "I'm sorry, the psychiatrist the hospital made me see before I was allowed to be released said that between what happened, and the hormones, I'm going to have some severe mood swings this last month before Angela is born." She mumbled quietly before shaking her head and clinging to his hand, sending the dog inside with a dragon chirp, before looking up at the vampire, "Can we just go shopping so I can have a new bedroom that I can sleep in with out having nightmares. Please? I need to finish restocking my wardroom too. I . . . kinda burned everything because . . . he went through my clothes, after he . . . . He touched everything and I couldn't stand the idea of putting any of it on." She admitted with a mumble, an awkward smile touching her lips, "And the clothes I had left in my dorm room don't fit me now, between how big Angela has gotten and my, uhm . . . ." She blushed, falling quiet, deciding not to bring up the growth of her chest size before shaking her head, "Uhm, yeah . . . . can we just go shopping now." She mumbled, having moved from grief, to embarrassment in just a few short minutes and was starting to feel better now that it was out of her system. Her large eyes, still wet from the tears of moment ago turned towards him, obviously waiting for him to lead her to his car, finally starting to relax again as she brushed the back of her hands against her cheeks, Uhm, thanks, by the way;" She mumbled, looking up at him, "For listening to me." She said quietly as she moved towards his car, moving gracefully despite her size, glancing back at him, "Gianni, uhm, while were in town, can we stop for some chinese too. Pleeaassseee." She begged as an after thought, standing by the door waiting for his help to get settled in. WORDS: 1024 TAGS: Gianni! NOTES: uhm, yeah, apparently watching Season 7 of Bones, where Brennan is pregnant gives me HUGE muse for this thread. Ironic, right? <3 But here you go! Poor Gianni, having to deal with her mood swings, and her craving for egg rolls and sweet and sour chicken. And I figured he'd let him find out about Angela being blind this way, so they can have that hopeful 25 chance, while starting to get used to the idea of her being blind. At least she'll be able to see through her dragon's eyes <3

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As she jumped at his growl, he let her go. Though the vampire hadn't meant to scare her, he knew better than to hold her down as she scrambled away from his dark noise. If working for the Caruso's through Rowan had taught him anything, Gianni had learned that you let spooked prey run and let it calm back down before coming back around to it. Flushing out prey only worked when one actually wanted to kill it, if one wanted to maintain a relationship and get truly close to it then one let a scared prey realize on it's own terms that things were okay. Gianni ran a hand through his hair and reminded himself that Phallontine was not simple prey, instead she was someone very close to Gianni and he reminded himself someone he'd failed. With his hand on top of hers, he felt the baby kick. It was an odd yet reassuring feeling. Gently lifting his hand he continued to comb his fingers through her hair as she spoke of trying to get better. "Don't push yourself too hard, Phally. All things in their time. First, we get your bedroom redone sweetheart." As she rattled on, he kissed her forehead. "I promise whatever you need done. I'll do it and more."

As she climbed to her feet and then held out her hand to him, he smirked. "Hey, I'm not the one whose balance is off here." He climbed quickly to his feet, but then took her hand gently linking his fingers between hers. "Phally you should know by now that I'd do anything for you and the baby." If there was ever one thing that would bother G about this situation...Well it actually was becoming the fact that the small one inside her wasn't his though he'd lay his life down for either of them. Everytime he looked at her...looked at Rowan..he remembered Gabriella and the fact that he'd never have a family of his own. Oh he could be the greatest friend in the world, but never would he be family with anyone ever again. When Phallontine told him about the state of the baby, he merely nodded the shock barely registering...He didn't even know what raising a blind dragon would entail. Hell, he didn't know what raising a dragon/gargoyle thing period would entail. He was just along for the ride and the fact he cared about it's mother.

Her eyes dropped from his, resting on the swell of the baby, her arms wrapping around her belly, "She's relying on me to take care of her, Gianni, to make sure she's safe and able to develop into a healthy young hatchling. And I've failed her." She spoke softly before sighing and looking up at him, biting her lower lip in obvious distress. "And you kept her as safe as you could. Who knows what they would have done to her if you hadn't gone along with them. Phallon you did the best you could in a very bad and very desperate situation." Gianni sighed darkly and wrapped his arms around her, laying his head on hers. "You are a good mother Phallontine. If Angela is born blind, you'll deal with it and make the best of it. It's all you...no it's all we can do." He released her as the dog ran into the house. Pulling out his keys, he simply nodded to her again repeated request to shop. Taking her hand in his, he walked her to the passenger seat and opened the door. "Your coach awaits, princess. I'll take you whereever you want me to take you." Releasing her hand, he then walked to the other side and climbed in the driver's seat. Turning the key, he grinned as the machine purred. It would probably be the last great car he'd get to buy. Cars that were safe for small children were never as fun to drive, besides the Caruso pack had cut him off and so he was working on only his own store of money which wasn't nearly as lush. "Quit thanking me and yes we'll get you as much chinese food as you can devour."

[atrb=border,0,true] [style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px]Phallon knew he hadn't meant to scare her, it was pretty obvious by the way he quickly removed his arms, letting her calm down until she was almost relaxed again, leaning against his body as she felt one of his hands over hers, the other combing through her hair in an obvious attempt to keep her soothed. She nodded when he told her not to push herself to hard looking up at him quietly, "Okay. Bedroom first." She agreed softly before standing and holding a hand out for him. She rolled her eyes at his comment, dropping her hand only to glance down at their hands when he took it regardless, threading their fingers together. She glanced back up at him gently nodding quietly, "I know, Gianni. Thank you." She said softly, gently squeezing his hand before admitting the newest issue on her daughter, wrapping her free arm around her belly, speaking softly as she looked up at him. She dropped her eyes when he spoke, listening when he told her she'd done her best, and she slowly nodded, "I just . . . I wish it never would have happened." She said before looking up when he referred to her as a good mother, and how she'd make the best of it, before shaking her head when he said we, "Gianni, you know I adore your company, but . . . you don't have to help with Angela, truly. I've already stolen so much of your time and attention . . . " She said quietly, looking up at him, "You know that right? That I'm not going to be upset if you ever say this is too much, and you don't want to try to deal with it. Honest." He'd already done so much for her, she couldn't imagine him doing so much . . . and yet here he was again - helping her out. She smiled when h opened her door, as she slowly slid into the car, settling into the car feeling it purr to life, her eyes closing at the feeling. It was no lie that the fire dragon loved the cars her companion kept. She smiled faintly when she was told to stop thanking him, and she nodded in silent amusement, "Okay, okay, I'll stop, Gianni. Promise." She said, relaxing as she lay back against the seat, watching the scene pass by the window, her dragon twisting and turning about being in an enclosed space before settling down to curl up with the baby, deciding she was safe. She let out a soft sigh before looking at him, "So, let's hit the furniture store first." She said as they reached the mall, unbuckling after he'd parked the car and taking a deep breath, "Hopefully we'll find something good." WORDS: 0000 TAGS: play with me! NOTES: and maybe we can sing a song!

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Gianni nodded as she finally calmed a bit and made a choice of what to do instead of worrying about the fifteen hundred things she had going on. Gianni gave her a devilish grin as she rolled her eyes at him. He hoped that he was keeping her mind off the other things in her mind. It was his mission for the day to lighten her mood and make her happy even if it was just for a day. Phallontine deserved that more than anything else in the world. It was important to him for her to be happy. If he could accomplish his mission at least one person around him would be happy if even for a little while.

Gianni hugged her as she spoke about wishing it never happened. "If wishes were fishes, we'd never go hungry. You do the best with the cards that life deals you, dear. I know that sounds cliche and trite but unfortunately it's true. Take it from someone whose been there you'll spend a lot of empty night wondering what if and never getting anywhere but farther away from what is." Gianni thought of all the years after Gabriella was gone that he'd wasted in a haze not able to focus and barely able to function even for a vampire. It had taken years for him to get to a semi-normal level and now he was realizing that he'd missed out on a lot during that time. The vampire frowned deeply and his countenance fell as she spoke of taking up his time and him not having to help. He wanted to help. He liked Phallontine and was actually looking forward to helping out with the kid. Mayhaps he'd overstepped his bounds and she didn't want him around as much as he thought. Now the vampire was confused. Maybe years of having girls flock after him left him at a disadvantage of figuring out when people didn't want him around. "Oh okay." were the only words Gianni could even manage. As she continued on, he tilted his head and looked at her. "Phally why would I ever say that? I like spending time with you..your...your my only friend..especially now." He didn't wish to burden her with his own problems at the moment, but he was sure it would come out eventually.

Gianni relaxed into the leather seats as he smiled gently. He did so love fast, expensive cars. Maybe because he'd lived so many years, but his tastes tended toward the expensive. The vampire nodded curtly still thinking she didn't want him around all the time. As they pulled into a higher end furniture parking lot, Gianni parked the car and got out to open the door for her. "We will find suitable things that can be delivered today if I have to carry you all around town to find it, Phallontine. Then the best Chinese in town for dinner."

[atrb=border,0,true] [style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px]Phallon looked up at the male vampire, smiling very slightly at his devilish grin, relaxing at his obvious quieter behavior, his mood helping to lighten hers, leaning into him as he hugged her, a soft sigh breathing from her lips, nodding in agreement to his words, "You're right, I know you're right . . . it's just hard to accept it. You know?" She asked quietly, her arms wrapping around his waist, comforted by his touch before noticing his features falling, his mouth turning down in a frown, and his own words were barely managed, and she tilted her head confused by the shift in his mood before he spoke, reassuring her he'd never say anything like that, that he liked spending time with her, "Really? Truly? You don't mind spending so much time with me? Even if I'm as messed up as I am now?" She asked quietly before looking up at him, "Gianni, I'm not saying I don't want you around . . . I just feel guilty for taking up so much of your time." She whispered weakly, looking at him as she relaxed against the seat of his car. "I just want to make sure you know. If you ever do get tired of me, if things become to much once Angie is born, I'll understand if you don't want to come around anymore. I really will." She said softly, before looking up as they parked, climbing out of the car once he'd opened her door, and slipping her hand into his, "Sounds good by me, Gianni. Let's get started." She said with a nod, smiling as she moved into the building, walking towards the pre-set up examples of bedroom sets, looking around before smiling, "I want a canopy bed. And maybe . . . . . dark cherry wood?" She suggested with a smile. WORDS: 0000 TAGS: play with me! NOTES: and maybe we can sing a song!

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Gianni nodded slowly as she spoke and tried to reassure him and herself that she would be okay and that he was right. He knew thought how hard it was for those words to really take hold. People had told him the same thing when Gabriella had committed suicide but it had taken a long time to take hold. Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately depending on the outcome, Phallontine didn't have such time to refind herself since Angela was due in less than a month. Though he knew it would take longer than a month to feel safe to realize that not everything was the boogie man all over again, Phallontine would have to start now and Gianni wanted to help with that. No he needed to help someone. He'd failed her and Rowan, and Phallontine was the only one he could help. Rowan didn't trust him anymore and neither did her family. The only thing he had in the world now was Phallontine. Literally, she was his only friend that he had in the Big Easy now. He'd burned a lot of bridges when the girls were gone, bridges he couldn't repair, so he had to help those he had left.

Gianni nodded ever so slightly. "We are all a little messed up. You helped me up when I was freaking about Rowan's disappearance. Real friends don't drop each other when the going gets tough instead they stick like glue." It was Gianni's personal motto and yet life failing. If only he'd been more sensitive to Gabriella tried to understand what she was going through. Maybe she wouldn't have chosen life as a supernatural instead of death. He wouldn't let another friend someone close to him kill themselves or be the cause of their own demise. The vampire just couldn't. "Don't feel guilty. I have all the time in the world so I want to spend a little of it on you. There are few gifts as great as time spent together." As she continued on, Gianni gritted his teeth. God how could he prove to her he wasn't going to walk away. He was used to responsibilty to giving to people he didn't have to. Even though he was a vampire, deep down Gianni was still a good guy. He was a man who despite his years had never really lived. He'd been a party boy and a protector but he'd always lived for other people and never for himself.

Gianni walked by her side holding her hand. His eyes flicked from the furniture to the people around them. When a sales person walked up, he waved them off hating when people tried to show you things instead of letting you take time to look and make decisions. To Gianni, sales people should be available should questions arise but shouldn't hover or be pushy. "Sounds good to me, Phallontine. You pick what suits your fancy. I'll set up delivery and installation so you don't have to deal with the people." Gianni didn't dare ask what her budget was for this. He probably didn't want to know. "Phallon, are you thinking repainting also?"

[atrb=border,0,true] [style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px]Phallontine smiled as she looked up at the vampire, but even now it was easy to see that her smile was faltered, her smile was just a touch unsettled. Even in her smile the horrors of her recent encounters could be seen. The way her eyes didn't light up at the smallest thing, the way her smile was just a fraction too small. She looked around for a brief moment, sighing as she leaned against him, brushing a strand of her hair back, "Do you think it'll be possible? For me to move past all this?" She asked, her smile finally dropping the last hint of a fraction, looking up at him, clearly asking him to give her the advice, to promise she'll be okay. Her friends could say what ever they wanted, but the majority of them were going through their own issues as well from the kidnapping. They were healing themselves. They didn't know much about what she went through either. They were beaten slightly, they were shoved about, but none of them had been violated like she had been. None had ever suffered the way she had. None ever had to deal with the touching, hearing their own screams. "I just don't know how I'm suppose to just move past it all." She smiled faintly when he used the term 'Real Friends' relaxing at the thought as she nodded, a faint smile touching her lips, "And we're the best of friends, right. We'll always have each other, no matter what. You were so upset about Rowan being gone, what else was I to do but help you . . . you needed the reassurances." She said, very briefly pressing a kiss to his cheek. When the vampire told her not to feel guilty she tilted her head, looking up at him, her eyes wide, before a slow smile touched her features, "Alright, I wont feel guilty then. We'll spend as much time together as you want." She promised, squeezing his hand gently as she looked up at him, her gaze soft. She took a soft breath, "I promise. Just give me a heads up before you show up at the house. Katsy doesn't like you and I'd hate for you two to get into a fight." SHe said with a small smile. She smiled faintly, her smiles a touch more real now as she moved towards the furniture store, walking inside and looking around, keeping her hand in his as she smiled up at him, "Sounds like a plan!" She teased, gently knocking her shoulder into his before moving towards an obviously expensive bedding set, letting go to sit on the bed, looking around. A vanity table, a wardrobe, two side tables, a dresser, a desk, and her canopy bed, all in a deep, dark cherry wood. She smiled as she pulled him down next to her, smiling, "I like this one. And the desk could be useful if I suddenly get the urge to write at night." She stated, before nodding again, "And yes, I think it'd be good to paint the room too, make it something new, completely. Plus some bedding, and curtains for the bed, and windows." WORDS: 0000 TAGS: play with me! NOTES: and maybe we can sing a song!

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As she leaned against him and then began to speak, he hugged her close. "Yes, I think it's possible with a lot of work and time, you can move past it. Things will never be exactly the same but yes, you can be okay again one day with help." Gianni released her gently. "Phally, dear, I don't know how either, but you have to spend some time on yourself and do things like this. Change things up, break the cycle of fear." G shrugged. Rowan probably knew more about the psychology behind it all. Lord knew as did Gianni that Rowan had been trapped in her own head long enough and dealt with shrinks long enough mayhaps she'd have some good advice for Phally in moving past it.

"Of course we are the best of friends and I'll always be here for you come hell or high water. Well, I thank you for listening and I promise you won't have to worry about that again....I've...I'm afraid her family has relieved me of my duties." The taller vampire almost blushed when she kissed his cheek. He was beginning to feel better about all that was going on when she spoke of spending time together. As much as she needed him right now, he needed her too. He'd lost everyone around him lately and having Phallontine back was helping him feel better especially since he was getting to help her. Gianni touched his brow lightly. "I promise to give you heads up and staying out of the killer dragon's way so there is no toasty leech in your house." He said it all with a smile though it did bother him that the large dragon didn't take to him at all.

Gianni smiled greatly as Phallontine knocked his shoulder. At least her mind was on a project for a little while. "Then this one it is, Phallontine. I think it looks nice and beautiful just like you." He smiled gently at her and stood again. "I know a guy that could paint it today, take out all the furniture, and have it done by tonight. You want me to call him?" Gianni wanted to help but he wasn't completely sure how. "Well let's get this ordered and set a delivery then we can move on to bedding, curtains, floors whatever you wish for sweet firebreather."

[atrb=border,0,true] [style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px]Phallon smiled faintly, nodding as he told her she'd make it, she'd move past it all. Sighing, she cuddled into his side slightly, the side of her head resting against his shoulder, "Thanks, Gianni, I needed to hear that, the reassurances that I'll get better.

[/color]" She said, pulling away when he released her, looking up at him with a very small smile. Just being in his company was helping. Ease the pain, and the fear. She knew if he was right by her side nothing bad could happen. She'd be protected. Taken care of. She'd be perfectly fine. He'd not let anything more happen to her.

She tilted her head, smiling vibrantly when he assured her that they were the best of friends, her gaze dancing and bright, "Hell or High Water? Really? You'd defy those odds for me?[/color]" She teased before frowning when she heard about him being relieved of his duties, "They . . . fired you? Oh Gianni, I'm so sorry! I know how much you care about Rowan." Instantly her arms were around him, in a gentle hug - having to be careful with hugging anyone with her due date around the corner, "What are you going to do now? Do you have another job lined up? What will you do about money? Oh Gianni, that's horrible!" She shook her head sadly, "Will you be okay? I thought they were paying for a lot of your stuff weren't they?" How could they do that to him? He'd worked hard, and it hadn't been his fault she'd gone missing! Those horrid, horrid people.

She smiled faintly at his promise of giving a heads up, shaking her head, "Kats isn't a killer dragon, she's just protective of me . . . . After finding out about my father . . . she just likes to make sure that I'm safe and she doesn't like any supernatural with a humaniod appearance." She said, quickly covering her tracks about the man she called father. As she decided on the furniture she wanted, she laughed, blushing at his compliment, playfully tossing her hair over her shoulder, "I look beautiful, do I?" She asked, fighting back the blush, before smiling and nodding, "I'll be most grateful if you could set up a painter for me." She aggreed, before leeting him set up the order and delivery details, standing by his side, and not bothering to correct the merchant when he assumed they were a couple, rather than a friend helping another friend.

Only after the details had been arranged did she pull Gianni to the bedding section, grabbing some new pillows (ones that wouldn't smell like that lion) and began searching for the perfect bedding set, "What do you think I should hav for a color theme, hmm? Should I go super light, super dark, or moderately in between? I have such difficulties finding the perfect bedding set. You always know the best one for me!" She teased, slipping her arm through his and leaning against his side, looking up at him through a few strands of her auburn hair that had fallen into her face, "So, which set, Gianni?"

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Gianni smirked at her as she asked about defying odds. "Well, of course I would. What is immortality worth if you don't cheat the odds every now and then." As she reacted to him letting her know he'd been let go, the vampire didn't expect her to be quite so...upset by it. "No and yes...I was relieved of my duties partially because Rowan's brother's coming to town. " Suddenly Gianni chuckled. "You think she was a mad hatter before. She'll be screeching when she finds out he's been sent to call her home. Not even I would attempt that job and I don't subscribe to her whole pack structure thing." He gently hung onto Phallontine. "It'll be better that way. It's hard to be friends with someone you get paid to watch over and who despises you for that. I'm just going to keep teaching. I have a pretty decent nest egg lined up from my own stuff." He put a hand under her chin and tilted her face up to look at him. "Calm down, dragon, it's not so bad really. It's just going to take some time to adjust to." He released her just as gently. "Don't worry your pretty little head about me and my situation. I'm more worried about you."

As Phallontine spoke of Kats, Gianni only smiled. He was glad that Phallontine had some good friends willing to watch out for her father. Unfortunately, there was little the vampire could do against a full grown dragon so Phallontine needed those who could fight her father should he ever come to town. As the conversation switched speeds, Gianni was glad that they had something to get their minds off of. It seemed even he was being bothered by the events she'd unfolded to him. "Of course you are beautiful, you and your radiant mommy glow." As she gave him the go ahead on the painter, he opened his phone and texted someone. "Well, we'll have to pick a paint but he's free to do your bedroom just as soon as you pick a paint." This was when Gianni was glad they lived in a big city. They could walk down the street and pick paint after they settled on bedding. As they walked through bedding, Gianni resisted the urge to roll his eyes. God there were too many choices. Apparently, he'd been out of the shopping game for awhile. "I'd say moderately in between. Too dark will make your bedroom look darker, super light is harder to clean though you could pull it off. However, it can be overwhelming, so moderate I'd say." The vampire looked around afraid he'd make the wrong choice under the pressure until he spotted a bedding set with flowers on it. Walking over, he looked it over more closely. "What size do you need it in?"

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[style=width:390px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; color: 883538; text-align: justify;padding-left: 15px]She smiled faintly shaking her head at him, "You know, if you cheat th odds too much, you'll suddenly find yourself losing when you least expect it." She teased. She frowned slightly, not liking the thought of the vampire being fired, though she was relieved when he stated it wasn't completely about Rowan's kidnapping. She giggled though, when Gianni commented on her being very upset when she learns her brother would be calling her home, smiling, "Hopeully she won't do anything rash . . ." She said with a quiet smile. As he tilted her head up, she sighed, rolling her eyes momentarily, "Okay, I'll not worry over you . . . when you're around to hear it." She teased with a gentle smile. They walked in quiet as she glanced around at the bedding humming to herself, before looking up at his final words, "My bed's a King." She declared in faint amusment, still glancing over some of the bedding around her, "Why? Did you find something?" She asked quietly, glancing towards.

WORDS: 181 TAGS: gianni NOTES: and maybe we can sing a song!

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