Dawn pulled her clothes out of the dresser and threw them onto the bed. She banged the dresser shut, releasing a fraction of the mad she felt."I don't run away" she said to no one in particular as she stared at the pile of clothes, most of which no longer fit her. If she stopped to think, if she was going to be completely honest with herself she would have to admit Gabe was right, she ran away from her problems.She ran away when she called Don's house and "Juanita" had answered the phone. She ran away from the handsome police officer who had approached her at the cafe because of her reaction to him. She ran away after she accepted Don's wedding proposal and caught him and "Jaunita" in a...compromising position in the kitchen. Finally she had run away when Gabe reacted badly to the news that she was pregnant with another man's child. Dawn sat down on the chair in the corner of the room and shook her head as the full weight of this new revelation sank in.

He was right to be angry with her for hiding something so important from him. He loved her and she loved him, but she hadn't trusted or respected him enough to share all of herself with him. That small area of her heart, the area where she feared his rejection, caused her to hurt the man she had grown to love. He hadn't been upset that she was pregnant, she realized, but that she had hid it from him. It certainly wasn't an excuse for what he said to her, but it was definitely a reason. A small spark of hope grew inside of her and she decided she wasn't going to run away this time. She shoved all her clothes back into the dresser and raced to the door determined to find Gabe and make things right between them.

She opened it just as Gabe was about to knock.They stood there for a couple of seconds, both of them nervous about what the other would say. Both afraid that what was said couldn't be unsaid. Both afraid the other couldn't forgive. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Gabe broke the silence."I am so sorry Dawn. I should not have suggested you were capable..."Dawn shook her head at him."No! Gabe! I'm sorry! You were right I should have told you sooner, I was just...

He didn't let her finish her sentence. Relief rushed into him as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until her knees felt too weak to support her. It didn't matter because he had a hold of her and was never going to let her go again."I do not care if you are pregnant" he said as he continued to ravage her mouth. "I do not care who the father is!" He gentled his kisses and brought his hand down and placed it on her stomach. "This baby is a part of you and I will love it like I love you. I was going to wait to do this. I thought you would think I was crazy, since we have only known each other a short time."

He pulled a small black box out of his pocket and got down on one knee "Oh my God!" Dawn exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands, her pulse beginning to race as Gabe opened the black box and removed the ring.

"I had a plan, you see. I was going to come home with you to Riverview. I was going to woo you and convince you that you could not live without me, because I can not live without you. I would like to marry you, if you'll have me." he said, placing the simple diamond solitaire on her finger. "You don't have to answer now. Think about it and wear this as a reminder that I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you."Dawn stared down at the ring on her finger and then up into Gabe's expecting face. Several hours before she hadn't believed this could happen, and now the man she truly loved was offering her everything."Gabe, are you sure..."

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life" he said grasping her hands in his."Before I answer though I need to make sure you understand what happened between Don and I.""You do not have to explain anything to me. We both lived life before we met. What happened is in the past, it does not matter anymore."

"But it does Gabe. I might have been innocent, naive, but I truly believed I loved him, that he loved me. I believed it because I had never felt that way before. Now I know it wasn't love because what I felt for him was minuscule compared to what I feel for you. I love you so much it hurt to think you wouldn't want me anymore if you knew. Then when you reacted that way..."

"I was upset you did not trust me enough to tell me." he admitted. "It hurt my feeling that you told Elliot and not me. That is why I said what I said. I hurt and I guess I wanted you to hurt too. That was wrong and I am so sorry!" he exclaimed."I know you are." she said. "You had a right to be angry Gabe. When I calmed down I realized you weren't upset about the baby. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I was just so scared.""I am not upset about the baby" he said again.

"I know" she said framing his face with her hands. "But you need to understand that this baby is Don's and if he decides he wants to be a part of it's life I can't stop him. He hasn't done anything illegal. He didn't force me. When I went home last time I was a single, pregnant woman and I believed I would have to marry him. If I hadn't caught him with another woman I probably would have. Do you still want me knowing that he might always be a part of our lives? I don't know what he'll do, but he might try to use this baby as a way to punish me for leaving him.""I love you, and I will be there, no matter what. We can handle anything life throws at us together."

"Then yes, yes I'll marry you Gabe"He picked her up and spun her around. She laughed as her head became dizzy."You won't regret it" Gabe said as he steadied her, stroking her cheek. " I am going to spend the rest of my life making you happy"His fingers stroked her hair and she was undone by the love she saw in his eyes."I'm already happy, now that I have you. Make love to me."

He lowered his mouth to hers, as she circled his shoulders, her arms locked around his neck. The heat seered through her skin and into her blood as he kissed her, teasing with tongue and teeth, his hands smoothed over the naked skin under her shirt. She trembled, a soft moan escaped her mouth as it willingly parted under his, inviting him. On an oath, he tore his mouth from hers and buried it against her throat.

"Do you know what you do to me?" he asked as her scent swam in his head and the taste of her flooded his mouth. "How much I need you?" He tugged the straps of her shirt down her shoulders, snapping one in his hurry to remove it."Show me" she said, and was caught fast as his mouth fused to hers. She could feel the urgent drum of his heart and knew it beat for her. Only for her.

He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Dawn pressed her lips to his throat. He shuddered. On a sigh of pleasure she continued to nibble, her fingers slipped beneath his shirt to stroke his chest. Murmuring her approval, she ran her hands over him freely, delighted with each new discovery. She turned her head, his mouth was there as he tumbled with her onto the bed.

He continued his assault on her system. She didn't protest the speed or urgency as his hands hurried over her, leaving her a quivering mass of sensation. His mouth, just as hurried made the same erotic journey. Her hands tugged at his clothes, desperate to remove any barrier between him and her. He rolled over the bed with her, helping them rid each other of the rest of their clothes.Impatient, he brought his mouth to her breast to suckle, his hands slid up her thighs to find her, wet and burning. Her body arched in shock as she gasped for breath and then moaned as pleasure shot into her and then out. She shuddered and went limp underneath him.

Unbearably aroused, he watched her, the glowing pleasure that flushed her cheeks, the dark desire in her eyes. Without even realizing it, he slowed the pace and began to savor her. "I want you... please!" she begged."I will please you." he said as he flicked his tongue over her nipple. "And me."He sampled slowly. Each sigh, each shudder filed him with gratitude that she was his. He took her up again, driving her higher until her breath was ragged, her body on fire.

When he could wait no longer, his mouth covered hers and he sunk into her. Enfolded in her he trembled. Even with the hammering of need pounding at him he moved slowly, muttering his love to her in a myriad of languages, knowing he could take her soaring again before that last glorious release. She did not need to understand the words to know what he was saying. Finally she understood love, selfless enduring love. His muscles, their strength channeled into unimaginable gentleness, trembled as he felt her rise to meet him. And when the power pushed her off that last, thin edge, he went with her.