Disclaimer: I do not own AGATB, RA or TSFT, nor do I own the characters.

Summary: What if Gemma had accepted Simon's marriage proposal? How would Kartik react?
Picks up after Rebel Angels. Most events have remained the same: Kartik left on Christmas Day after Gemma insulted him, but she was not kidnapped by the Rakshana and rescued by Kartik. She has not seen him since he left.

Gemma has returned to Spence to finish the year before getting married. Yes, I realise that it is probably unrealistic that she would return to finish school, but I needed a setting.

'Well, what's this I hear of a marriage?' Felicity flounces into my room, her petticoats rustling as she spreads herself out on Ann's bed.

I smile bashfully and turn back to my suitcase, where I am removing my clothes and hanging them up. 'Yes. To Simon.'

'Gemma?' In one quick, fluid movement, Felicity is up, my face cupped in her hands as she looks into my eyes. 'Is this what you want?'

I am taken aback. Felicity is not usually one for noticing anyone's feelings besides her own. I am quite touched by her concern. 'Of course, yes.'

Felicity frowns slightly, the skin on her milky white forehead creasing. 'And what about Kurtin?'

'Kartik,' I correct quietly.

'Yes.' She still holds my face in her hands, her eyes drilling into me. 'What about him?'

'What about him?' I tear my face away and slump on my bed. 'He left weeks ago. I haven't heard from him.' I stare at her pleadingly, begging her silently not to make this more difficult for me. 'Simon is a good match. He is a proper Englishman; he has a fine reputation and a well-to-do family.'

Felicity shook her head impatiently. 'Gemma, what does that matter? I've seen how you look at Kartik. And I've seen that's not how you look at Simon.'

'Leave it, Felicity!' I snap harshly. 'And begging your pardon, but I do not look at him in any way!'

'Fine!' Felicity raises her hands in surrender and swings open the bedroom door. 'Supper is to be served at seven.' She is about to close the door when she once again surprises me with her perception. 'You must do what's right for you, Gemma.' With one final glance, she swings the door shut and leaves me alone in my little room with only my swirling thoughts for company.

Sighing, I drop the slip I'm holding and I sink onto my bed. Felicity's words circle my head. Again, I question myself if this marriage is the right decision. I grimace as I remember my family's reaction to the news.

Tom was delighted. He was no doubt thinking what having Simon Middleton as a brother-in-law and the well connected Mr. Middleton as a father-in-law would do to his prospects in the field of business. He had pumped my hand eagerly on hearing the news and spouted off a list of benefits that came with being married to Simon as though afraid I would change my mind. '…and you'll have a title, Gemma, won't that be grand!'

Grandmamma had beamed, her smile stretching from one ear to the other as she paraded me in front of London's most elite, showing me off like a china doll.

Father had smiled weakly through his laudanum stupor and slurred: 'I'm proud of you, love…lovely fellow.'

Breathing in deeply, I steady my thoughts. There was no way I could break the engagement. Not only would my grandmother die of the scandal and Tom would more-than-likely disown me, but there is no reason for me to break it off.

There is Kartik, a little voice niggles inside my head.

I contemplate this. Kartik would no doubt return with the gypsies to once again resume his post of watching over me and making sure I'm not proving to be a nuisance for the Rakshana. I am a duty to him, nothing more. Simon likes me, Simon wants to marry me. He offers me stability and security. What does Kartik offer me? A headache from arguments and a bad temper.

And the potential to love him

I wrestle with this feeling. It is true that I have developed feelings for Kartik, however much I try to quash them. Sometimes, I get a feeling—encouraged by a glance from him, or the way he acts around me—that maybe he feels something to, until I am reminded that he works for the Rakshana. I have convinced myself that his kiss at Christmas was a way of keeping me under-the-thumb of his brotherhood.

Coming out of my reverie, I jump off my bed. Here I am; betrothed to a man I admire, thinking of another person, fantasising about their non-existent love for me.

A man you admire?

No! I push my traitorous thoughts deep into my mind. It is true that I don't love Simon right now, but I care for him and I feel that I could grow to love him. He is what is best for me.

Standing up firmly, determined not to think of Kartik again, I resume my unpacking.

---

I have almost finished folding my clothes into my closet when I hear a tap on the window, followed by another one. Looking over, I see stones bouncing off the glass. Angry, I stomp over to the screen and pull it open; ready to unleash my anger at whoever is doing it.

It is Kartik.

He stands below my window, pebbles in his hand. It is dark outside, but just beyond the trees, I can make out figures in the woods assembling a camp. The gypsies have come back and as I suspected he might be, Kartik is in their midst. He throws another stone up and it bounces off my forehead painfully. Without thinking, I clamp my hand to my face and emit a curse, and the sound of his soft chuckle floats up to my window.

I pull in from the cool air and quickly fasten my overcoat, my hands shaking from the ridiculous excitement at seeing him again.

Slowly, I creep out of the room. The halls and stairs are mercifully deserted and I tiptoe quietly past the dining room, where I can hear the chatter of girls as they eat their supper. I slowly pull the bolt back from the main door and, quiet as a shadow, I slip outside into the cold air. I scramble around to school until I find Kartik, calming leaning against the stone wall underneath my window, waiting for me.

'You took your time.'

'I took two minutes.'

He smirks and pulls me away towards the lake, where we are unlikely to be discovered by anyone from the school. Once we reach the shore, he drops my hand and sits on the grass, resting his back against a tree.

I sit opposite him, pulling blades of grass from the ground, staining my hands and my coat. Neither of us speaks for a long time, until I can no longer bear it.

'Where did you go when you left?'

'Back to the Rakshana. I stayed there until three days ago, when I met up with the gypsies travelling this way.'

'Kartik, I'm sorry, I—' I wave my hands about, trying to find a word to complete my sentence. 'I didn't mean to insult you.'

He laughs harshly and waves away my apology. 'Gemma, right now we have more pressing worries. Like Circe. You bound her?'

'Yes.' I do not want to discuss the realms and he does not push me.

He shifts against the tree and edges slightly closer, nonchalant, as though hoping I won't notice. I suppress a smile.

'Did you have a good Christmas without me, Miss Doyle?' He smiles coquettishly. Is it my imagination or is there a flirtatious undertone to his smile?

And what do I tell him? I enjoy being with Kartik, especially when he is in a playful mood, but I wonder if I should tell him about Simon?

'I survived. Nothing out of the ordinary,' I respond, feeling slightly guilty.

He sidles a little closer, so that we are almost side by side. 'Did you miss me?'

My breath catches in my throat. This is most unlike Kartik. He is less reserved then usual, and his voice has a teasing ring to it.

'No more then you missed me, I'm sure.'

'Who said I didn't miss you?' We are sitting very close now. I can feel his hot breath when he speaks. His finger brushes against my hand, and an electric shot runs up through me. I glance shyly at Kartik. He is looking at me through his long lashes, a mischievous grin playing across his lips.

Without warning, I push my lips against his and he responds instantly. For a moment, my heart stops and then I pull away, gasping as fresh air fills my lungs. Overwhelming guilt swims through me and as he leans in again, I push against him slightly, shaking my head.

'Kartik, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…' I trail off. I desperately don't want to have to explain this to him.

'Gemma…?' His voice is husky. Confusion and hurt, along with something else, something I haven't seen there before, something I do not recognise, flickers across his eyes.

'Kartik, I'm to be married,' I whisper softly. 'I'm betrothed to Simon Middleton.'

Kartik looks shocked for a moment, and that is how long it takes for me to identify the strange new emotion in his eyes.

Desire.

Please review. I didn't make it any longer because I want to see what people thought before I went on to write a long story.

I am willing to write another chapter if I get enough positive responses and reviews.

Please review, all criticism welcome.