Title: Blood and Chocolate II: Bound by Duty for Life.

Disclaimer: I did not invent these characters, or the setting. I'd like to thank Annette Curtis Klause for that.

Chapter 1

And for the first time in a long time, peace had come to those living on Sion Road, in the run down house in Riverview. Esmé and Tomas sat on plastic lawn chairs, watching and laughing at a golden haired girl and a dark haired male arguing in the front of a black truck parked halfway across the lawn. Vivian slapped her hands against the steering wheel, and turned to face Gabriel. "No! You're wrong! I can't do this! And this steering wheel's being a bitch. I'm not going to be ready in time, and you're leaving soon." Gabriel smiled his slowly curving smile, which made Vivian even more upset, and she looked out the driver's side window at the grey blue Maryland sky.

"Why are you angry? It's not the steering wheel's fault, you know."

"Don't patronize me. I already told you. I can't turn all the way around to reverse this damn truck and not hit something, and be worried about the steering wheel at the same time."

"Vivian, that's not the problem. What's wrong?" His icy blue eyes were gentle and calmed her down. Vivian clutched at the steering wheel as her pulse began to race and tears blurred the sky and the road into one grey blue smear.

"I don't want you to leave. I know you have to, to go get the papers ready for the big move, but I… I just don't think I… I can't handle all of this without you." Esmé and Tomas realized there was more than a driving lesson going on in the car, and they got up and retreated to the living room couch. Gabriel reached his hand across the seat, and stroked it across her face gently wiping a tear that was streaking down her cheek.

"Yes you can. I need you to be strong for me, my beautiful loup-garou queen." He leaned over and took her face in both of his hands, kissing the tears away. Vivian grinned at his low rumbling growl, and laughed when he got louder. She pulled away and put the key back into the ignition.

"You don't scare me wolf-man." Vivian shifted it to D, drove out of the lawn, and reversed it slowly back into the garage, directly in front of a pair of Harleys left there by other members of the clan. Gabriel got out of the truck, measured the distance from the bikes, smiled, and held a thumbs-up before walking to the driver's side and taking Vivian by the waist and getting her down from the truck. "I don't need your help you know."

"I'm not doing this to help you. I just like having you in my arms." His throaty growl became an inviting purr and Vivian flushed and ran into the house, up the stairs, and into her room, locking the door. She turned and was about to shut the window when she saw Gabriel sitting on the windowsill, with a smug grin on his face. "Not fast enough yet, I'm afraid." He wouldn't admit she was his match in speed and power, not to her face. "Written portion time. Don't pout. You have to take this test, and I have to leave in less than a week." Vivian sprawled herself face down across the bed, and looked up nodding. "A school bus ahead of you in your lane is stopped with red lights flashing. You should…?"

"Run them all over." He raised an eyebrow, and tried very hard to not laugh; she sighed and answered correctly, "stop as long as the red lights are flashing." They went back and forth with questions for half an hour, until the Five, with the obvious exception of Rafe, showed up at her house, and one of them knocked at the door to Vivian's room. Gabriel snarled as his head rolled from her taut stomach to the bed, as she opened the door.

"Hey darling, did you miss me? Your mom wants both of you downstairs for dinner."

"Thanks Will. Tell her we'll be down in a minute." Will flushed crimson as he glanced at Vivian, and back at Gabriel, fully clothed, lying face up on her bed. It was still strange to him that Vivian was now the queen bitch, and how they had settled together so easily. Ten seconds later, the couple walked down the stairs and sat at the kitchen table, with Uncle Rudy, Tomas, Esmé, and the rest of the Five.

"I'm glad you still have your appetite." Esmé snickered and handed Tomas a bowl of potato salad, from the store.

"Mom!" Vivian flushed, but smiled wide at Gabriel's bright blue eyes gazing longingly at her. The rest of dinner was a loud, messy, and entertaining haze, and finally the Five were gone, Uncle Rudy retired upstairs and the couples sat down to watch TV in the living room.

Nothing good was on. And they weren't looking to be entertained. For the past couple of days, they sat in silence watching the news for any further complications. These people were smart enough to know the danger was not over; they just didn't know what they should be afraid of. Vivian shuddered, remembering the untimely deaths of Astrid, Rafe, and Quince. Gabriel tightened his hold around her, and she could feel his steady breathing. I'm safe now, she thought. Her ex-boyfriend Aiden had done well to keep his mouth shut, but she still felt a small pang of hurt when she thought about him. At least I don't have to go back to school. In a few days I'm done with this hell hole called Maryland.

"We have to get going, the moon is out" said Gabriel, his voice a comforting rumble in her ears. Esmé was practically glowing as she winked at her daughter, while the pair walked out the door. Vivian slung her over the seat of the black Harley and pressed herself to her mate's back, breathing in his rich and now familiar scent. They rode down to the river and ran as loup-garou together under the moon.

It was still a new and exciting thrill to run with careless abandon through the long grass, and feel the earth shake a few steps behind her. Gabriel's dark fur and muscles rippled with the exertion of trying to catch up with his mate, who would eternally be just a few steps ahead of him. Eventually her muscles began to tighten and her breath came out in ragged gasps. She didn't know where they where, but the searing pain in her lungs made her laying down and pant heavily to catch her breath. She felt herself being pulled up by the scruff on the back of her neck and pulled onto the back of a large and god like creature. Gabriel purred contentedly as she half changed and pulled on his fur. He ran faster and faster until they reached the Harley and rode to his apartment.

Bucky's apartment was dark, and when they stumbled into Gabriel's apartment, the clock on the wall flashed three a.m. Vivian took a shower and changed into one of his oversized shirts, and he poured them glasses of water. Then Gabriel took a shower and changed into cotton pajama pants and they lay down on his bed. She ran her fingers through his still wet hair, listening to his breath slow down and his pulse race. This time it was Vivian who purred happily as he kissed her hands softly. She longed to make him her lover, but it was best if they waited until they were totally free.

"What are you thinking?" he murmured, his voice velvet against her neck.

"I'm thinking I'm exhausted, and should go to sleep now." He snarled and nipped at her neck, biting it with his fangs. She laughed and kissed him as ardently as the first time. This is enough for now. I love him. She didn't feel strange saying it out loud anymore, and as far as she knew, they were the only ones in the pack that actually said that to each other. "I love you" she whispered, and he paused and looked at her, his eyes drunk with desire, but they smiled suddenly.

"I love you too," he murmured.