The Smell of Roses..

[Lovely]

1st June 2008

Sat in the window of one of the second floor science classrooms, a pretty blonde sat staring out of the window. Dallas had stayed behind after school to run her help class and finish marking those all-important mock exam papers for her students tomorrow when she'd sat down and looked out of the window for a second, just loosing herself and time. It was almost as though she'd blinked and suddenly the darkness was rapidly closing in. Sure enough her pen was still poised to mark, David West's half-finished paper under her hand. She'd just lost track of time with being unable to concentrate for more than a minute or so. Strange really as all the homework and exams were essentially essays which she enjoyed reading and marking.

It was a moment before the fact that it was dark really hit her, and what that would mean. He'd told her to be home before dark. "Too Dangerous", He'd said. "Screw that" had been her response back then and the words escaped her mouth without thinking. She needed to think, to relax, and she couldn't do that with Him around.

Scooping up the scattered papers she paused briefly, catching sight of the ring still on her left hand. She'd considered removing it just hours earlier, to deny all connections to Him, but something stopped her. She didn't want to take the ring off. Not ever. Looking at a wedding ring, especially your own, was supposed to make you happy wasn't it? She was supposed to feel better looking at that ring, and not worse.

She threw the papers into her bag and headed out to the parking lot, the solitary bike stood there waiting for her. Looking down at the skinny-legged black jeans she'd donned that morning she wondered when the last time she'd worn her leathers was. She couldn't honestly remember the last time she'd worn them to school, and she couldn't imagine wearing something like that around Him, giving him an excuse to leer at her.

It felt wrong, that she was married and didn't dress to please him. He felt wrong, and if she was honest, He creeped her out. The closer He got, the more her flesh wanted to slide from her bones so He couldn't touch it.


She didn't realise she'd been driving until she smelt the roses. Pulling over and switching the engine off, Dallas walked a little way into the edge of... well, it looked like a park, or nature reserve or something. Smiling a little, Dallas dropped to her knees next to the rose bush, trying not to think on anything that didn't quite make sense.

For the first time in a long time... as far as she knew... She relaxed, the scent of the roses so calming in the softr breeze. She almost felt safe... and made a mental note to figure out why later.

[Lovely]

The soft breeze brought something else with it, in the form of Kiefer.. unseen by Dallas but coming close like a familiar warmth, comforting and close like a hug wrapped around the girl. In her current form Dallas wouldn't see or hear her but would sense and feel as if Kiefer's words were ideas coming into her head.. as if she spoke to herself rather than the demi goddess who came at her silent call. ~You shouldn't go back to Him. You know he's not right. Listen to your heart..~

It was such a simple idea, Dont go back to Him. Really, it was what she wanted and He was already going to be so angry at her, for being out and not going 'home'. God, her classroom felt more like home than anywhere else right now. She only had her work and her students and even now, her passion for that was fading. She couldn't bring herself to care anymore.

If she went back, they'd fight. He'd smashed a bottle of wine last time they fought - last night, infact. How on earth can you be married to someone who doesn't know that you don't drink white wine? To someone who makes you tea instead of coffee... who doesn't know you're mildly allergic to carrots - in fairness, it was a strange allergy, but how could He not know? He was supposed to know these things, and it just bothered her. She wouldn't marry someone who would forget things like that, would she? He'd asked when her birthday was last night.

"It's like He doesn't even know me," She whispered to the roses, stroking the petals absently. "and I don't know anything about Him anyway, and theres just this big gap... I didnt think people just lost years of their life for no reason. I didn't blow myself up in chem or anything... Not even a bump on the head, never come off the bike." She paused, looking up at the sky for a moment. "Its like they ripped my heart out and never told me... There's just nothing in me anymore."

Still in the unseen form, she knelt beside Dallas and stroked her hair lightly. ~oh my darling, darling girl... we'll find a way to make you whole again..~ Kiefer would find it, if it were possible, it just wasn't right for someone to walk around feeling like their heart had been ripped out. ~You're right. He doesn't know you. He doesn't really love you. You know you don't belong there.~ Kiefer smiled then as she looked at the roses and it made her think of the Inn and the gardens there. ~The Montgomery Inn..~ She said that one more loudly, urging the girl to keep going down this road to the old Inn.

Of course... She could take the bag and go to the Inn. He wouldn't find her there, would He? He'd never expect her to actually leave... Maybe that's where the rose thing came from... She'd never really been a fan of them until she stayed there.
She looked at her ring again, again deliberating taking it off and again not being able to. Just another piece of the puzzle that didn't fit.
At least she'd have some peace, quiet and time to get her papers marked... and she couldn't just sit here all night...
She stood slowly, looking around to make sure He wasn't watching her. He'd only just be getting in from work and realising she wasn't there. He'd check the school first... best to be moving on quickly.

Suprisingly, she seemed to remember the way back to the Montgomery Inn, even pointing out to herself the spot she'd broken down at on her first visit. Now just to hope someone was up, awake, and they had a spare room... not that it was that late just yet.

Parking the bike, she walked to the door a little nervously, raising her hand and finally after a moment to calm herself, she knocked.

The Inn had been closed to anyone besides those specially selected customers, for months now, so the knock at the door was somewhat unexpected. Jorden paused as he was crossing the lobby and turned to stare at the door for a long moment before walking over to open it. His head tipped to the side as he regarded the woman standing there. "Dallas?" He thought for a moment that he wasn't seeing who was really there.

[Lovely]

"Hey Jorden." She smiled and sighed, relieved to see a face she knew.
"Can... " she paused, frowning. "Can I talk to you? There's something... I dont know. It's weird, I can't explain it and I dont know why." She touched her ring briefly and shrugged. "Like how I got married to a man who doesn't know me, who I swear I've never met before I woke up with a slight... well, with no memories from about a month after I moved here."

His eyebrow arched up and he sighed quietly. "At least you're not dead.. that's what we all thought.. So you've been with Gabe all this time while he's been playing grieving husband and edging his way back into our lives. That.." He stopped himself from releasing a string of curses and gripped the door. "Come in.. I'll try to help with what I can."

"Dead? Why would you think I was dead?"

She paused, stepping through the doorway.

"And who's Gabe? What's he grieving for? What's this got to do with Thomas being weird to say the least?." She paused, biting her lip. "Its just not normal and I don't know what to do."

"You've been gone for a long time, we didn't know where you were.. we thought you were killed..." Jorden started, closing the door behind her and letting his gaze follow her as she stepped into the lobby and he motioned for her to have a seat on one of the couches. "Gabe is my.. father.. your husband.. who is Thomas?"

"A long time? How long?" She paused, biting her lip again. "I dont know any Gabe... Never have. Didnt think I knew any Thomas' until recently either... That would be the one I dont remember marrying, apparantly."

She sat slowly, running her fingers through the very tips of her hair. "I dont know what's going on. I don't even remember leaving here, let alone anything else." She paused. "Would you marry someone if you couldn't remember anything about what they liked? Wine, food, allergies.."

"A year at least.. no one has seen or heard from you.. we thought.." Jorden looked at her for a long moment, realizing if she didn't remember Gabe she might not know anything about the rest of it.. about them. "No I wouldn't marry someone I didn't know unless it was an impulse thing.. Dallas you're already married to someone else so if you did marry this other guy, it's not valid." He sat down near her on the couch and sighed. "You met Gabe here, he came to stay at the same time you were here. You left with him." He tried to explain to her what he did know about what had happened to here. "The two of you went to live at his.. estate, it not too far from here."

"Well thats... kinda a relief... I mean, he seriously weirds me out. Radiates a very creepy, Psycho-killer vibe, you know? I guess really, anything could be better than that, maybe even an actual serial killer." She shrugged, leaning back and looking at Jorden.

"This is so messed up. So... if I really married this Gabe-guy... I guess I should sorta tell him I'm found? Does that even make sense?" She paused. "You said he's your father, right? So he's what, fifty? I think I'm ready for Jerry Springer..." She laughed softly.

"Something like that.. he's really youthful and in shape.." Jorden wasn't looking forward to trying to explain things to either one of them. He let out a chuckle and shook his head. "I suppose we should let him know you're here.. You probably want me to call him, huh?"

Dallas bit her lip, trying to think. "I suppose it'd be better to get it over and done with? Would you mind? I mean, you've helped me so much just over the last few minutes. I thought... I thought it was weeks, maybe a couple of months..." She trailed off, fiddling with the ring again.
"Its been at least a year." Her voice had dropped to almost a whisper.
"And I dont even know if this even is my wedding ring."

[Lovely]

Jorden reached over and put his hand around hers, thankful for the recent feeding that gave it some warmth. "Will you be alright for a few minutes? I'm sure Amy wont mind sitting with you while I make the call. I expect he's going to be shocked to say the least." He smiled, careful not to show to much as he glanced up, expecting Amy wasn't far off.

"Yeah, Sure. It'll give me a moment to process this 'married to someone else' thing and try and figure out how to get rid of the creepy one.." She smiled up at him. "Thanks Jorden. I owe you... at least one."

"Nah, you don't owe me anything.. you're family." He gave Dallas a soft smile and a wink, squeezing her hand gently, reassuringly before slowly rising off the couch.

"Family... Now that's a scary thought..." She stopped short of asking him if he was winding her up, but somehow she just didnt think so. Jorden was too nice to pull her leg about something when she was like this, wasn't he?
"I married an old man..." she laughed softly.

There was a giggle as Amy appeared as Jorden predicted."Some say I married an old man, too, but it's all in how you feel. He doesn't a feel old at all. What was this about family?"

"Ahh my darling.. This is Dallas.. Dad's wife. The one who has been missing and making him show up crying on our doorstep at odd hours of the night." He grinned as he beckoned Amy to come meet the woman who it could truly be said -changed Gabe's life. "Dallas this is my wife Amy."

"Ah, Its a pleasure to meet you Amy... Actually, its a pleasure to meet someone who I dont appear to have forgotten.." Dallas paused ."Wait, crying? Tears and everything?"

Amy looked a little concerned as he explained. What if the woman wasn't really her?... but then who would know for sure better than Jorden would? She came up to meet the woman, extending a warm hand. She whispered with a bit of a wince. "We try not to bring it up much. The crying... talking about it... it gets him started all over again. He'll be much better now that you're here. You're here! Welcome. Wait.. Jordy, where are you going?"

"I'm going to call Gabe.. Dallas doesn't remember certain things about the past. But I think it's best that he know she's alive and here.. and that we do what we can to help her. I think she may have been kidnapped but we'll figure that out once she's settled comfortably and safe." His hand drifted to Amy's waist and he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I trust you can help with that?"

Dallas stood and shook the offered hand a little bemused. "It may come in handy to know about the crying... just incase." She sank back down into the seat, fidding with the ring again... She didn't feel as though she was used to it yet. At least here, was better than back there.

Amy felt the reticence, the distance. She spoke a little over her shoulder. "Of course. We'll just have a little girl talk while you're out of the room. Go.. shoo... I promise to say only the most horrible things about you while you're gone."

"Well I wouldn't expect you to lie to her." He teased, nuzzling into Amy's cheek with a smile before stepping back. "I'll try to be quick." He said to Dallas, hoping to give her some reassurance as he turned and headed back to his office to make the call.

"Thank you." She said again, quieter than last time. This was all just.... a little much, not the timing, just the actual blurry, half-formed details.

"Take your time.. and bring tissues," she teased, her eyes alight from his attention even though his lips were cool on her cheek. The way the darkness in him felt to her was something she cherished even in the small amounts. She was watching Dallas, feeling it even in the air around her.. it had a taste almost as dark, but not as pleasant it seemed - that was the only way she could put it, how the handshake had felt. Death had touched her more than just from Gabe's hands, and it wasn't Morte, either. She took a chair near her, not wanting to crowd her. "He's missed you terribly. We're only teasing a little about the tears. He just hasn't been the same. And you.. you're ... alright?" Of course she wasn't, but she'd let Dallas tell her what she would.

[Lovely]

"More confused than anything, I think. I hope." She sighed softly. "I just want this to all be over and have that year? years? back, that seem to have gone. I dont know... The whole crying thing was kinda cute..." She shrugged, "I dont even know what this guy is like... I mean, what if Im different from how I was, and he doesn't umm... like? me anymore? Silly little things like that are starting -to get to me."

Amy held out her hand, offering some comfort if another woman she didn't know could be any substitute for the strength she needed right now. "You shouldn't," she said quietly, the grin brimming with honesty and kindness. "We'll help any way we can. I'll help, that is. How long have you been back... here... on the grounds?"

"Here-here? not even an hour..." She paused. "I dont think... time's moving a little weird for me right now. I know it was sometime tonight, if that helps? Can I... Can you tell me what he's like, this Gabe? I dont know what to expect at all..."

Amy's eyebrows raised with that hopeless shrug of trying to find a way of describing a dream. Her perceptions of others were coated in emotions and colors and tastes that defied normal explanations. She tried, starting slowly with a nod. "Kind as he is cruel, sharp as he is gentle, however he feels he needs to be? You're family and for you, he'll bend time and walk the earth if it's in his power."

She smiled a little. "Well thats a good thing... Apart from being Jorden's dad, he looks good on paper, so to speak. I just dont like this whole... empty... not knowing feeling." She was frowning slightly. "Im trying not to worry... I promise... and thank you as well... God, no-ones this nice back home."

Amy's smile brightened as she shared a bit of a secret. "He looks as good in real... well when he's really here as he does on paper, I promise." The frown worried her and she leaned closer. "Where's 'back home'? Do you remember?"

"Originally? Vegas. Yeah, people actually live there. Weird, evil, anti-social people. And everyone expects you to be a showgirl or something..." She shrugged. "Then there was Chicago... really, not that much better... My parents used to move a lot, but they kept going back to Vegas. Something to do with the ambition to be a professional gambler I think.." She smiled, almost-joking.

Jorden came back into the room with a tense smile on his face, Gabriel sometimes put him on edge. All things considered, Gabe had been quite gracious. "Well.. he's on his way. If you see a firey chariot pull up don't fret.." Jorden teased with a brighter smile as he came back into the room. "Did I miss anything good?"

"Only sex and showgirls," she beemed, happy he was back, reaching her hand out to him. "Come sit down. I was just hearing about what she remembers from Chicago. I was just about to ask what brought her back here."

Dallas laughed softly. "Firey Chariot? And I hated Chicago, thats about all I remember of it. I think I was six at the time. I really couldn't have cared less about the wonders of the place." She paused briefly. "What do you mean by back here? As in, tonight?"

She pursed her lips, holding back the eagerness as she glanced up at Jorden. Was that rude to ask? Her eyes watched him, waiting - did he know what she was thinking? Was it Gabe that drew her back or did something or someone tell her to come? Why now? She glanced back at Dallas and smiled bashfully. "I'm sorry. I'm just being nosey, I guess. Would you like a drink? Jordy?"

Sex and showgirls? Nothing not to like about those two things, he grinned and watched the girls, setting himself on the arm of the chair Amy was sitting in. "Do you know what brought you here tonight?" He asked Dallas softly, the concern showing on his face. "In all this time you haven't come.. were you not able to?"

Dallas paused for a second. "No, thank you Im fine, honestly. I almost forgot this place existed... although no, not really... I get into trouble if Im out after dark. Not that he'd know most of the time... He's not home until a few hours after every night. Looses his temper at silly things... like my eternal dislike of white wine. I feel like I was in a western bar fight for a second, bottle thrown at my head and all. Good job he's a bad shot really." She shrugged off the memory quickly. "I didn't even know I was missing until tonight."

Her hand was in search of Jorden's as she nodded, understanding a little from what she felt in just that brief moment of introduction. She chuckled a little and she realized quickly that it might seem odd. "I'm sorry. It's just.. here... you're less likely to get in trouble at night. This place seems to wake up.. full of night owls," she said cautiously, not sure what exactly the woman did remember, or what she might believe. "I just thought it was funny that in plain daylight here.. Nevermind," she shook her head, chuckling at herself. "I think Gabe may like a drink, though I understand after having bottles thrown at you, might make the idea a little unsettling."

[Lovely]

"Really? I mean, I've been spending every waking hour at the school and when Im not there, Im being told that nights around here are too dangerous... I dont know, its not like the crime rate is even high. I think he just.... wanted to keep an eye on me."

Even as she sat playing with her ring, her hands were shaking. "I just... I dont think I've been this nervous about meeting anybody, ever."

She paused, looking at Jorden. "Did you tell him? I mean... does he know that I dont remember?"

"There is a good chance that he did just want to keep an eye on you.. I mean if you have lost your memory, he might worry that you'd wander off. The woods around here aren't always very safe." Jorden expressed a possible concern her 'new husband' might have though he felt it was something more.

"Oh.. yes. I told him.. he's upset but more shocked and happy to know you are alive and appear to be well physically. I don't think it will take him long to get here.. I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up in his robe." Jorden teased just a little hoping to let the mood lighten a bit.

Dallas started laughing, "Now that is one scary thought, I mean, Im only just getting used to this idea that I married your father... But if he turns up in an old-man robe, I dont know if I'll be able to not laugh."

*********

Gabriel hung up the phone after speaking with Jorden, stared at it for a long moment before picking it up and smashing it against the wall as he let out an angry roar. Dallas was alive! His wife, his sunshine, his reason for enduring this dismal existance.. she didn't remember him.. she'd married someone else!! "That little b*tch! I'll show her. No one.. " He growled the words as he stormed through the keep, doors slamming and furniture being overturned until he reached Shar's door. "Sorceress!!" He called as he knocked loudly, nearly demanding in his urgency and upset.

The door opened the scent of incense and herbs wafting out from the recesses of her chamber. Shar called entrance from where she reclined surrounded by her familiars most of which were in their true forms. Her hand running carressingly down her favorite's muscled thigh she turned her head in the direction of the door. Perhaps others might be intimidated by the Lord of Keeps demeanor but Shar was not being capable of being just as foul of mood herself at times. "My Lord..do come in. Is there something you need?"

"Yes!" He said with his hand lifting into the air and his index finger pointing up. "...But I have no idea what it is!" He came closer, not bothered by her familiars or their forms, they were hers and she was his guest. He came closer smiling as he eyed one, they were beautifu, right he couldn't get distracted. "I think I need your help. My wife.. is alive, doesn't remember me and is married to someone else.. wanna help me hurt alot of people?"

"Your wife? " she was unaware that he even had one; such a pity there as she had hoped to see if he was as good a lover as she'd imagined.

Raking her extra sharp nails on Grim's inner thigh she rose from the chaise not bothering to close her gaping robe;this new body pleased her. Not only was it young and healthy but beautiful of form and she loved the look and feel of it.

The thought of inflicting pain on new subjects was such a turn on; she licked her lips as she pulled a fresh gown from the armoire "I would relish the opportunity to serve my Lord in the arena of torture." she said.

[Lovely]

"Oh goodie, I was so hoping you'd say that. First we need to find out who she married.. and that is the start of our list! From there on to everyone who knew she was alive and kept her from me!" He bounced, kind of giddy and seeming very excited. "Jorden called me, she's there.. we need to go get her and bring her here.. Do you think you can fix her head?"

She raised a delicate perfect brow at his schoolboy giddiness but refrained from commenting as she was laced into her gown and her cape placed on her shoulders. "I will certainly do my best...I will have to examine her to determine the cause of her memory loss and work from there." she said gesturing for Gabe to lead the way "Shall we go and fetch her..."

"I'd be delighted to go fetch her.." He was almost nervous to see Dallas, it had been so long and he'd thought the Ripple erased her. "Alright to the Montgomery we go.. if we can't fix her we may have to take her apart and just start over." Now he was grinning again as he offered Shar his arm to escort her dowm to the car, since they had to come back with Dallas and who knew what sort of state she might be in.

"Oh, my Lord you do know all the right and wickedly delicious things to say to a woman..." she said with a smile as she took his arm thoughts of tearing apart and rearranging this long lost wife dancing in her mind.

Once in the car he smiled at Shar, still nervous about seeing his wife who didn't remember him. "She doesn't remember anything it seems.. which could prove to be an issue, but I have chains in the trunk." It wasn't a long trip to the Inn and the driver was soon opening the door for them. Gabe got out and waited for Shar to join him before heading up to the door, which he flung open rather than knocking - of course.

Jorden shook his head at Dallas, chuckling at her comment about the robe and how she would laugh if Gabe showed up in one. Then of course he was picturing Gabe in an old man robe. "I don't think we have to worry about that." Gabe looked much more like an older brother than a father to Jorden.

"We dont? Oh thank god." Dallas smiled and curled up in the corner of the sofa, almost looking relaxed. "Do you know how long he'll be?"
She jumped as the door banged open, looking to Jorden and Amy first, on edge again.

Jorden didn't even flinch or startle in the least as the door was flung open, he looked up at Amy with a smile and then over to dallas with a slight shrug. "Daddy's here." He said with a kind of dry humor to his tone.

"He's here?" Dallas frowned. "I thought it was a small child in a bad mood... or the wind." She turned back, looking to the door with her arms folded, before looking away, straight across from her instead of at the door. Anywhere but the doorway actually.
"This isn't going to go as well as I had hoped... already."
She couldn't bear to look... if this frail old man came in with a walking stick and a hearing aid, she didn't know what she'd do. She'd look, when she had to. When she had to speak to him...That was only polite.

[Lovely]

Amy's smile was warm and comforting again, though her eyes held a deeper, chaotic delight as she looked up at the sound of the man outside the door. This woman had tortured his soul and she had no idea what she'd done. She only worried if he was gruesome? That was the absolute least of her worries, like how Gabe might really react once seeing her amnesiac state. The surge of fear and doubt together from Dallas was just as delightful and she reached a hand out to comfort her more. She clearly felt that Dallas wasn't about to die, but she might think she could come close to it if Gabe went into a rage. Amy pulled her hand back, her grin curling in disappointment almost. She turned it into a distraction instead. "Solid doors, that's all. Don't make them like that anymore," she said flippantly. More, they didn't make creatures like Gabe anymore... maybe that was why. She was almost giddy with the emotions circling the room and she circled around, almost dancing to the music she could feel in the air. "Jorden, I'll just go get those drinks now, okay? She's nervous.. I'm nervous. Isn't this exciting?"

"Terribly." He said with a roll of his eyes, though he'd be much happier once Gabe was gone again. Jorden sometimes thought that if she was given the chance Amy would leave him for Gabe, she seemed to enjoy and get so excited when he was around. He and Gabe were different and he couldn't help but wonder if Amy would be happier with someone like Gabe. "We're in here." He called to the man in question though he didn't really need to.

Gabe figured the sorceress would join him when she was ready to and he went on ahead, letting her follow him or sit in the car. After flinging the doors to the inn open and hearing the voices inside, he walked in toward the room they were gathered in. Jorden politely calling to him made him chuckle as he entered, his eyes casting around the room.

"She's absolutely insane." Dallas smiled at Jorden. "I like her."
She couldn't stop fidgeting, twisting her ring around and around. Anything to keep her busy.

"We're in here."

God, he was here... Actually here, in the room. She could feel her heart pouding so hard, she thought it was going to burst through her rib cage.

"Jorden." He said quietly in greeting, he smiled brightly. "Ahhh Amy darling.. ever the pleasure." Gabe's eyes fixed on the dark haired girl.. wait.. wasn't his wife blonde? It smelled like Dallas, felt like her with an odd twinge to it. "Sunshine? Dallas.. please look at me?" His own voice faded to an unusually soft tone.

~Dear God, Please... Please let me know him... let me remember..~

She blinked, taking a deep breath before looking upto him, letting her eyes move slowly up his body, until she met his eyes.

This couldn't possibly be Jorden's dad... no way... No walking stick, or zimmer frame... No grey hairs...

"Sunshine?" She frowned slightly. "Why did you call me sunshine?" With Thomas, it was always 'babe'... a words she couldn't stand, coming from the mouth of a man she couldn't stand. Sunshine, on the other hand... It wasn't exactly a common thing, was it?

"Because.." He seemed almost shy a moment, looking at Jorden with a glare before his gaze went back to Dallas and he smiled boyishly, almost as if he was giddy with a secret. "Because that's what you brought me.. what you were to me.. You are my sunshine. You bring light to my darkness and such happiness to my world."

"Oh." The frown faded and she nodded. "Okay, that makes sense." She paused, biting her lip. "So.... we're married?" She didn't know what to say to him, couldn't think straight. Before, she'd thought of all these questions that Thomas didn't know the answer to, to ask him, but actually faced with him, right now, her mind went blank.
She couldn't help smiling as she looked at him though.

[Lovely]

Amy nodded her greeting to Gabe, a smile and a rock on her heel before she reached up to kiss Jorden's cheek and reach around him for a hug. "I'll be back, okay? Miss me?" She wanted to have more of his attention than that soon. He was pouting a little and she bit her lip a little, hoping she could help that fade. He had such a killer smile, she thought, giggling to herself about that... yes... yes indeed he did, didn't he?

Gabe came closer to her, studying Dallas intently and even leaning down a little, his lips turned down in a bit of a pout. Her smile had him smiling in return without realizing it. "You really don't remember? It was right before I launched the final part of my plot to take over the world.."

"I wish I did..." She paused, biting her lip. "You're taking over the world? Well, It's an admirable goal..." She watched him studying her, her eyes a little wide. At least he was gorgeous... and his voice sent a slight tingle down her spine the closer he got - and not the bad kind Thomas' prescence gave her, The good kind. The ones that made you think in the back of your mind, when the last time was that someone had simply touched you, because touch was good... not because of the whole sex-thing.

"Is something wrong?" She paused a second. "Except, of course, this whole not-remembering-you thing?"

"Well also I thought you were dead, I'm quite pleased that you're not." He was staring at her, his head tipping to the side and his hand slowly reached out to grasp a lock of her hair gently. "Your hair.." He spoke quietly. "It used to be blonde.. it's very pretty like this.. all dark, soft, silky. It brings out your eyes more.. very lovely indeed."

"Why would you think I was dead?" She was shocked, to say the least. It was a moment before she reached up to touch his hand, curiously.
"So someone was worried... And I hate to ask this, but I need to know... how long have we been married for?"

"Explaining why I thought you were dead might be hard since you don't remember alot of important details. But we'll work on that, don't worry about it now." Of course she wouldn't remember how long they had been married if she didn't remember them being married. "We've been married for four years. Our anniversary is in March."

Amy hadn't gone very far, resting her head on Jorden's shoulder as she watched Gabe flow into the room and gently handle the situation without any rage. It was sweet to watch them while Dallas tried to remember. She was pleasantly surprised from the looks of it, and she seemed to truly want to remember. Amy sighed and beamed back up at Jorden with a whisper, "Shouldn't we maybe let them have the room to themselves?"

Shar had taken her time exiting the car and entering the Inn; afterall it wasn't her long lost spouse. The Inn wasn't as opulent as Gabe's Keep but it would do if one were plebian she supposed.

"ah..the happy couple has reunited...how touching." she said as she glided into the room and took in the scene laid before her. She was a little disapoointed there wasn't any blood or screaming to behold but perhaps that would come later.

"Oh, okay," she whispered, nodding as her hand curled around his a little more. "Four years..." Dallas smiled. "That's a long time..." Especially considering she was only just about to turn 29, and hadn't dated through her teacher-training.

She jumped, her eyes darting to the woman as she entered. "Is she with you?" She raised her eyebrow, looking back to Gabriel. The woman gave off some kind of vibe that just didn't sit well with her... Dallas took an instant dislike to her. Maybe it was the fact that her... her husband had brought another woman with him, to pick her up.

[Lovely]

"Amy darling.. you should never leave Gabe alone anywhere, much less our home. I'd like to try to have it standing come morning." Jorden murmured to Amy, watching Gabe somewhat warily. His head turned as Shar came gliding in and he offered her a slight smile and a nod in greeting.

"Keep calling me darling, I'm going to demand a room alone with you," Amy teased quietly, then the woman entered, chilling her and the room around them. Dallas' reaction was one she could nearly taste across the room... if hate and disdain had any particular flavor. Amy bristled and hugged Jorden tighter. "What's going on now? Why is she here?"

Shar nodded a return greeting to the handsome young man occupying the room Gabe had entered. She was always on the lookout for a new lover/familiar and to date she hadn't a vampire amongst her happy troupe;this would bore contemplation for the future...the female wrapped around him might prove an obstacle but then she did love a challenge.

Gabe shrugged casually and then turned with a smile to beckon Shar closer. "Yes, of course she's with me. This is Sha’uri Delyn, she's a friend of the family. I asked her to come fix your brain so you could remember what you're supposed to and we can get with things. She's said she'd try." He gave the unusual introduction, turning his bright smile on Dallas and reaching for her hand. "also I'm planning to go hurt some people after and I figured she'd like to come along for that. I figured you'd need your rest what with your brain being all wonky and all." He gestured again, still smiling cause he was just Gabe and he was amused as all shit now. "Shar this is my wife Dallas. Alrighty now that you've been introduced on with the brain zapping and getting this mess cleared up. I'm quite eager to get Dallas home."

Dallas blinked a few times. "...Hurt people?" She shifted closer to him, staying on the sofa as she let him take her hand, holding it tight.
"But... wha-... How do you know she's not going to make me worse? What if she presses some buttons and I'm not even me anymore?" Great, the woman was going to go in her head? Oh god... "What if she does something, and you don't like me anymore?" The last was whispered, meaning for only him to hear her - by human standards anyway.
So his plan was... let the weird woman in her head to play, then take her somewhere she didn't know and leave her alone there?

The way the woman looked at Jorden as a future trophy drove Amy's fingernails more tightly into the slightly clutched embrace around him. He'd feel the protective snarl in her mind that wasn't uttered as she watched the woman warily. She didn't care for her much either, now, though the fear and confusion in the room was becoming dizzying and delightful again with Shar's focus turning away from her husband and back to the other woman once introductions were made. Amy uttered a soft sigh, partly content that the woman was, for the moment, no longer interested in a conquest in her territory, but also for the humming bit of eager killing-spree about to happen once Gabe was done here. She so loved the air of mischief around him, but she loved her arms around Jorden and the air of everything he was more. The snarl in her mind snapped back into a giggle as the woman moved on, though she expected she'd come back. Sorceress... Maybe Seth and Bast knew a thing or two about fighting those if she needed to do more than just think about gouging her eyes out.

Gabe's mouth opened and then closed a few times, he hadn't really thought of that. "You have a point.. but would you rather not try and go on not remembering?" If it was what she wanted.. he'd go along with it. Dallas had been the one thing.. one person he'd do anything for, even if it wasn't what he wanted. As much as he adored Bronwyn, when it came to doing for her, it was always what he thought best.. until more recently.. it only took him 500 years, losing her twice, and an apocolypse to let her grow up.

His hand curled around her fingers and his other hand brushed against her cheek. "Whatever you want.. that's what we will do."

[Lovely]

She frowned. This was definately not a good idea in her books, but.... well.. remembering vs. not? She wished he didn't make such a valid point as well.
"I'd rather remember... Not knowing is... its awful. Not remembering you, hurts here a little." She touched her chest lightly, before smiling. "And there's no logical reason for it to."
Dallas studied his face for a moment. "I want to remember... I just.... I don't like the idea of shrinks messing with my head." It was the same reason she stayed away from the sociology and psychology department at work. Her voice lowered again, barely above a whisper.
"If she makes me worse, you have to tell me she did it, so I can say no next time... and kill her. I like knowing myself, even in this little fractured way." Well, if she made her worse, what else would she forget? Not remembering where you came from, or what you enjoyed or what you did for a career... The thought turned her stomach.[/color]

"Kill her? Are you sure you don't remember.." Gabriel said, chuckling softly as he gave her hand a gentle kiss and sat down on the arm of the chair. "Oh and don't worry Shar's not a shrink. I hate them.. ate the last one that tried to analyze me."

She blinked slowly. "Did I just... Did you just... Im hearing things. You know, I could have sworn you said... I must be more tired than I thought. Too many late nights and early mornings." She dropped her head to rest of his knee.
"So, if she's not a shrink, what is she? Crystal healer? Cause I can pretty much assure you that one wont work." Infact, she'd tried a lot of odd, new-agey type things over the past year, getting more fustrated at their promises of 'it'll take a while, this is a big thing you know'. She'd even sued one for her money back... some hypnotist that garanteed to put everyone under, couldn't even manage her.[/color]

"Crystal healer? Hmm no, no I'd say she's not one of those. Though she might use crystals sometimes, I don't really question the methods all that much as long as I get the results that I want. Shar is highly recommended, Ri and Jean simply adore her. I did mention she's a family friend right? Like a sister really.. " Okay a sister that he'd like to do many many 'naughty' things with if his wife wasn't back from the dead, but that wasn't really the point now was it? Gabe let his free hand drift down to brush the hair back from Dallas' face as she rested her head on his knee, gently stroking her temple with his knuckles.

"Ri? Jean?" She shook her head. "I wish I could say the names even sounded familiar."
A soft sigh escaped her. "I just want to go home... Be that where it may." She looked upto him with a slight smile. It probably wouldn't be good to suggest in current company, that maybe some 'alone time' in a locked room might help more than the woman who pushed alarm buttons at some level Dallas wasn't sure of. She knew she didn't feel this... relaxed (among other things) around people she didn't know, didn't trust, so to be sat here with her head on his knee screamed at her that they were all telling the truth.
Really... what did she have to loose?
Not a shrink.... but might sometimes use Crystals? Dallas wasn't sure she liked where that train of thought led her. Besides, she didn't believe in that stuff anyway... although she didn't with the new agey stuff either, and she'd tried that in desperation.

[Lovely]

Crystal healer? A shrink? Shar had never been so insulted. She was an ancient sorcoress in her own right revered for centuries. If she didn't have her own agenda with this vampire lord and a personal fondness for his sire she would turn and leave this place...and a few uncomfortable curses as well.

She dug her long nails into the palm of her hand to keep from doing so, her eyes narrowing for a brief second blinkg slowly to bring herself back under control;the energy around her crackling.

Amy felt the charge in the air and wasn't sure she wanted any part of it now, danger or no danger, no matter how sweet it tasted on her skin or sang over the scent in the air. She didn't like the flavor of the sorceress' jealousy and attitude... haughty bi-... "Jordy?" She tugged gently, smiling up at him, hoping he would follow her. Even if he didn't, she was getting something for herself. She slid herself away from his side and backed away through the door as quietly and quickly as a mouse running over fresh snow, stopping only to peek through the narrow crack in the door one last time before securing it. She watched Gabe for that moment with the woman who'd won his heart, her own singing quiet joy for him and hoping the woman would remember and love him still. He was deserving of that!

Jorden watched the scene as an unattached and uninvolved observer until Amy left the room. He'd already stated he wasn't leaving Gabe alone in his home and now more then ever he felt the need to stay. Something had upset the sorceress and he had no idea what that was, which of course concerned him. Such a woman being so flighty with her emotions was never a good thing, he wondered what had upset her so much. "Lady Shar.. would you like a drink?" Jorden rose gracefully from his chair and turned in a bow of respect to the woman.

Gabe glanced over at Shar, his brow furrowed in question and concern, what had upset her? "Is something amiss M'lady?" He asked, taking a moment to let himself reach out trying to sense what was suddenly so wrong. Had she sensed some danger or foul play he was yet unaware of?

It was little things like this that made Dallas think things went on she wasn't aware of... suddenly everyone was concerned with the witch for no apparant reason. Well, perhaps not everyone... just the guys.
Well, you couldn't help but be suspicious of the woman your husband turns up with, right?

She tugged gently on Gabriel's sleeve. "I'm sorry... can we leave now, please?" She felt... worn out, all of a sudden. Perhaps it was dealing with this woman. "It's been a very long, tiring day for me and as much as I love Jorden and Amy's company..." She shrugged slightly.[/color]