Rose and a Prayer [Amelia]

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This time last year, Gabriel was so content to stop by the book shop and pick up a sandwich and spent his time amongst the temples having a little bit of a picnic to himself to celebrate Single's Awareness day. Honestly he didn't see the point of Valentines day. Why was it so hard to show someone you loved them every single day of the year instead of just that one day? It was all too commercial and more geared towards the women. But now he found himself shining up his shoes and sitting on the bed trying his hardest to tie a tie. Not since his mother had dragged him to some wedding when he was small, then the flowers had tried to attack him. But after some trying and a laugh from one of the venus guys in his barracks, he finally got that black tie tied properly. The grey shirt he had purchased to go along with the suit seemed to look much nicer than the suit he had been looking at. But he was going to get the chance to be on a date with a wonderful woman. Amelia. The thought of her name alone made him smile. He ran a hand over his freshly shaven face, putting a dab of cologne on. Not too much, just a touch. He picked up a small box, inside was a necklace for her. Gabriel hadn't known what exactly to get her, but this seemed to be a perfect trinket. It was on a sturdy chain, something that would hold should she decide to wear it during training, or heaven forbid, battle. But it was like Amelia in many ways. It was delicate while being sturdy. Gabriel had no doubt in his mind that Amelia was more than capable of taking care of herself, but he wanted to be able to protect her as well.

"Well here goes nothing." He said, adjusting his jacket and taking in a deep breath. Was he going to meet Amelia at the event? No, that was not how a woman should be treated. A woman needed an escort. His heart was pounding, after all this lady's mother was the goddess of love. It would seem like there were expectations that needed to be upheld. He wasn't going to be an aloof idiot, but as of now, he felt like a babbling idiot. Gabriel wasn't even talking and his mind felt like it was going a million miles a moment. He walked up to the third cohort barracks, waiting there for her to be ready. He felt as if he was the luckiest man in existance. Gabriel couldn't seem to get rid of the crooked grin or the bounce in his step. He held the slender velvet box in his hand, waiting for his beauty to arrive. He was excited to say the least.

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It wasn’t her first Valentine’s Day with someone, that was for sure. In fact, there had been one rather awkward year where three guys had invited her on a date on Valentine’s Day. That was back before the camp, or rather Cupid, started this idea of actual events. The odd thing was, though she had never yet gone a Valentine’s Day without a date, she had never been so happy about it, so excited. This was the first time her date mattered. So she had spent half a day and a large chunk of denarii in New Rome seeking out the perfect outfit for the occasion. Everything had to be just right. She stood in front of the mirror for the hundredth time in the last half hour and clucked her tongue. No, not yet. She was taking a chance hoping he was okay with blue, as the dress was very much blue. And she hoped he’d be okay with the big cut in the material along her left leg. It was taking a chance, but she wanted to impress him. But right now, it didn’t look right without the heels just yet. The dress hung on the ground a good two inches at least. So she returned to her bed and tied on her silver shoes before turning her attention to her hair and earrings and perfume the rest of the job. Thankfully, she was pretty deft at getting dressed up in a short amount of time, so it didn’t take long before her hair was up, her earrings were dangling from her earlobes, and she had applied just a hint of flowery perfume that she crossed her fingers that he liked.

She took one last look in the mirror and left her barrack only to find that Gabriel was already waiting for her. And he looked really gorgeous. “Wow, look at you! You clean up very nicely! Though I’m getting the impression you could make any outfit look good.” Amelia thanked the gods that she was good at walking on heels as she went down the steps from the barrack door and over to meet him. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long?”

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Gabriel couldn't help but let his mouth hang open slightly, watching the gorgeous woman appear in front of him. Everything about her was amazing. The way her dress hung about her curves, the make up, and her hair, it all was put together so nicely. Lady Venus herself wasn't as amazing and beautiful as the woman standing in front of him. The way that her heels accented her calf muscles was perfection. Gabriel's eyes traveled upwards, resting on her hips for a moment to appreciate the slit in the dress before they moved up to her face. He gave a smile. He really didn't think he deserved this. No one was supposed to like the Children of Pluto. They were supposed to be dark, depressing and look like Ozzy Osbourne. Pluto kids were supposed to chew heads off bats and sleep in coffins. Or at least that's what the people said who did their talking from the shadows. He took in a deep breath, taking in the smell of her perfume. It was the proverbial cherry on top of the sundae. "You just... you look so amazing." Gabriel said with a grin. He couldn't help but offer up his crooked grin.

"I hope I find you well, Miss MacArthur." Gabriel said, giving her a half bow before he produced a small box containing the necklace he purchased. "I saw this and thought you would like it." It was a small trinket, she probably had hundreds if not thousands of ones just like it. "May I escort you to the event?" He asked, tilting his head as he offered the crook of his arm to her. He couldn't wait for her to recieve the valentine that he wrote her and the rose that he sent. Never before had he felt so nervous or excited over a single event. He really never had reason to. He hoped she was excited or at least a bit tolerable towards his boyish glee. "shall we?" He said, grinning.

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She had to admit, she was rather pleased with his reaction. So the ensemble worked out after all. She silently thanked her mother for that one. And thanked her mother that she was going on a Valentine’s date with Gabriel. She could think of no one better. He was cute – no, handsome – fun, thoughtful, gentlemanly, the whole nine yards. She knew full well that his dad didn’t have the best reputation around here, and this he wasn’t supposed to either – and that his sister was crazy and had terrible fashion sense. She’d heard all the rumors about him, horrible stuff, but she figured most of it was made up based on his heritage. He wasn’t evil, after all. And besides, she wanted to be around him none the less. To her, he was perfect. Everything about him was. She blushed a little at the compliment. “Thanks.” There was that smile of his. It was a little bit crooked, but that was what made it so him, so endearing. She couldn’t help but smile back.

Aw, his bow was so sweet. Though she wasn’t wearing the sort of dress made for it, she curtsied in response all the same. “Much better than I was before I saw you out here waiting for me, Mr Caulder. And yourself?” She looked at the box and smiled. “Aw, you got me something? You’re so sweet!” She took the box and opened it and gasped softly. “Oh, it’s beautiful! Though… could you help me put it on before we go?” And the offered arm, the offered escort. She couldn’t get over how much a gentleman he was. She took his offered arm. “Of course you may. I would be honored to be escorted by so handsome a knight.” She loved that smile on him. He looked so happy and cheerful. It was contagious. “We shall.”

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Gabriel's crooked smile couldn't even begin to express the happiness welling up inside like a balloon. He felt so lucky, exhilarated, happy, anxious and nervous and terrified at the same time. Nothing was scarier to him than a woman and a woman who was a daughter of venus, that fear was multiplied. He didn't want to make her mad or insult her. That would be a horrible thing. Gabriel knew he didn't deserve her. He was supposed to be the crazy and evil son of Pluto. Compared to some of the others, he was normal. He took in a deep breath, smiling again. He really couldn't help it.

"A vision of radiance walked out of the barracks and spoke to me, I'm quite wonderful." He said as she asked how he was. Let's not mention the near nervous panic attack he was about to have or the fact he had to change his shirt two or three times from sweating so nervously. She gasped as she opened the box. Score, one point to him. Though honestly, if anyone was counting points, Amelia was far ahead of him. "Sure. I can help with that." He was able to deftly put it around her neck. After his mother asking him to help with that sort of thing for the longest time, he was fairly decent at it. But now, it would seem like his hands were slightly shaking. He didn't want to accidently pinch her or snag a hair. "There, all finished." He said with a grin. She took his arm and Gabriel couldn't help but feel his heart pound. He would escort her to the tables.

Gabriel walked with her, keeping pace. He didn't want to go too fast, making it look like he was dragging her after smacking her on the head with a club. It was easy to find the table with their names on it, he gently pulled the chair out and waited for her to be seated, gently pushing it under. Mentally he was going through the list of what a gentleman should be doing for a lady. Escorting? check. Pulling the chair out? Check. Chewing with his mouth closed? YEah they haven't gotten their food yet but that was a double check. "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"

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Gabriel was positively charming. She just couldn’t get over it. Amelia counted herself as lucky indeed to be going on this date with him. For the first time in years, she was actually a little nervous about a date. She really wanted to impress him. To her, he wasn’t just another guy. He was Gabriel, the guy she really wanted to be the girlfriend of. She really couldn’t wait until he got the rose and valentine she’d sent him. She’d heard they would be delivered during the dinner. Though she was a little anxious about the letter. She’d confessed her love for him in it. What if he didn’t feel the same way? What if it drove him away that she was so forward? Or the rose. That was okay to give a guy a rose right? She rather hoped so. Would it be too much, in combination with the letter? So much to worry about. She supposed it was too late to change anything now. Then again, she didn’t really want to change anything. She wanted him to know.

She blushed at his words. “You certainly have a way with words, Gabriel. Are you sure you’re not secretly Cupid himself?” It was half teasing, though she would have to admit that it would not be entirely surprising if he was the god of love. Then again… that would be awful because that would make him her brother and totally off dating limits. Second thought, she really really hoped he was just Gabriel. “Though if you were, I suppose that would make this night a little awkward, wouldn’t it?” she said with a soft laugh. Very awkward.

She held her hair to the side as he put her necklace on. “Thank you.” She smoothed the chain and pendant down her neck. “It’s lovely. You have really good taste.” She smiled and took his arm, which felt so natural. Thankfully, he didn’t walk too fast, as she was wearing decent heels. Not that she wasn’t used to heels. Though she noticed their height difference and made a mental note to cut back on wearing heels. She liked how he was a little taller than her, though the heels jeopardized that.

He was sweet, gentlemanly, the way he escorted her like this, pulled out her chair even. She sat down with a smile. “Thank you.” Tonight was going to be wonderful, she just knew it. When he asked if there was anything else he could do for her to make her comfortable, she laughed softly. “You’ve already done so much. I think the best thing would simply be your company. If there anything I can do for you?”

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There was a good deal he wished he could have asked his mother. Gabriel wished with his whole heart that she could have been there to see him on his first date. His first serious date. He had hung out with girls before, but it was nothing like hanging out with Amelia. Did his breath smell alright? He did rinse and brush his teeth like crazy till he thought he was going to have to see the dentist for replacing his teeth because he had brushed them raw. Maybe he should have gone to the dentist to get his teeth clean. He hoped he smelled alright, did he put on too much cologne? Was it alright to send her the Valentine that he did? Was it going to scare her off? He slightly shook his head for a moment. Too many thoughts were charging through his brain right now.

Gabriel gave a grin. "I promise I'm not Cupid. If I was I couldn't date you and let us be honest, that would be really bad." He laughed as she called it awkward. "Awkward wouldn't even begin to cover it. Though I hear that the immortal side doesn't count for genes, it would still be weird to be dating your half brother." He said. Gabriel had to force himself not to speak. He didn't want to risk saying something stupid to drive her away.

"Your welcome." Gabriel said when she thanked him for the gift. "Though the necklace pales in comparison to the beauty that you hold, it does you little justice. your natural beauty is that of the sunset, something that cannot be captured and is elusive yet constant." He said. The heels made her look lovely and he felt as if they made her look more like the girls he had envisioned in the books that he had read. Minus the tragic stories that is.

Gabriel took a seat in his own chair, placing the napkin on his lap. He wasn't about to get his suit dirty. He wanted to make sure that the evening was good for Amelia as well. "It is not the lady's mission to make the night fine for the man, but it is the man's prerogative to keep the lady entertained." He gently placed a hand on hers. "Anything you wish of me, anything at all, just ask. I would bring you the moon if I could." He said with a smile.

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She couldn’t wait until the valentines were delivered. She’d certainly taken a chance on hers, admitting as much as she had. But it was true. And she felt like it was high time she did admit to it. She just hoped for the best. Prayed to the gods that maybe he would like her back. She thought she was fairly good at reading guys, but with him, she just got nervous and doubted herself. It wasn’t for lack of trying though. Maybe because this time she realized that if she got her hopes up, it would actually be painful if they were dashed. Because Gabriel was different from any guy she’d yet known. In a good- no, a wonderful way. He was every bit like the hero of a romantic novel, one of her secret obsessions, though she supposed it shouldn’t surprise anyone given her heritage. All those lovely happy endings. And Gabriel… he made the guys in those stories look like slobs practically. So she couldn’t help but get her hopes up about her own happy ending; maybe this was her own love story. She wished she could talk to her mom about it. She wondered what her mom thought about her taste in guys. She hoped she liked Gabriel. Then again, even if she didn’t, Amelia figured she would find a way to be with him even without her mother’s approval.

Amelia laughed. “Good! Because I don’t know what I’d do if that were the case. Maybe go mad.” Her tone was half joking, but she wasn’t sure she was. When he spoke of her the way he did, she felt like she could simply melt. She was almost certain she was blushing. She reached up and lightly held the side of his face in her palm. “You really are the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. How other girls haven’t jumped at the chance to be yours, I don’t know…” She got the urge to kiss him then and there, but feared that might be a little too forward, so instead she let her hand fall back to her side.

When they both sat down, she too placed her napkin on her lap and smiled up at him. “I suppose, but all the same. I want you to be happy tonight too.” When he placed his hand over hers, she felt her heart flutter. And then his words went and made her heart melt for the second time in the last handful of minutes. He really was good at that. It was one of the things she adored about him. “I don’t need the moon when I have you. You’re like the knight in shining armor I’ve always dreamed of. Just to share dinner with you like this, to share Valentine’s Day with you, it’s…perfect.” A moment later, the food came, or at least the first course: for Amelia, a garden salad.

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Gabriel didn't pretend to be anything more then what he was. He knew heart ache, by the gods look at the lovely woman standing here in front of him. His heart ached as he looked at the beauty that far surpassed the sunrise in the morning that happened to be sitting right here in front of him. He had spoken to his dad about Amelia once before but since then, nothing. Maybe if tonight was successful he would make sure to tell his dad. HE would also be placing a big offering on Venus's alter. Gabriel hoped that he wouldn't look like a fool after the flowers and valentines were delivered. Gods she deserved the best, nothing less than the best and if Gabriel ever felt that she could do better, and he knew for a fact that she could, well for now he would be her everything if he could. If he was able to bring her the moon and stars he would. He thought about thousands of love poems racing through his head, but none of them seemed to be good enough to be for her. But Gabriel was at a loss. After all the years of flirting with girls, he was good, no where near as good as any of Amelia's brothers, but his world was simply knocked out of rotation when he was around her. Everything he planned to tell her and planned to say, it was all thrown out the window.

Gabriel gave a half smile, his eyes glinting with a tiny bit of mischevious. "You would be surprised at how much people dislike children of Pluto. I swear it's a fight just to get into New Rome." HE said with a laugh. "Besides most girls like those manly men who make the Mars boys look like chimps." OKay maybe he shouldn't have said that so loud with Remus sitting just across the way. Not like that neanderthal was good enough for his sister anyways. Stupid Brute. Okay that was enough, he thought as he returned his attentions back to the wonderful woman sitting beside him. He took a sip of the tea in front of him, peach black tea, though honestly he would have prefered a nice earl grey with honey and lemon. No cream and no sugar, that was for well.... cream and sugar was for females. "One of these days, I'll have to take you to this lovely tea house in Brighton, they serve the most wonderful sandwiches and pastries." Gabriel said as he gently placed his chin on the tops of his intertwined hands. He smiled at her, tilting his head to the side. "I know you'd love England and Scotland. There's plenty of wonderful things to see and do." Gabriel got a sly look on his face for a moment. "I'd try to sneak you away for a week."

The first course was delivered, for him it was the minestrone soup. HE took a spoonful, the taste was quite wonderful. It was a vegetarian option but Gabriel was by no means a vegetarian. He didn't HAVE to have meat at every meal, though it was preferred. "My my, Robin did go to quite the lengths to prepare this now didn't he?" IT was true, the seating arrangements were well done, but the decorations, the company, the food, it was all most wonderful. "Perfection plays a second fiddle to spending time with a woman such as yourself. Nothing compares to your company." Though to be honest, Gabriel was just as happy spending time with her in his tree or with a sunset picnic. Anything with her was time well spent.

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Gods, he was handsome. His dark curly hair that was the perfect length for him, really framing his face, and gods, those eyes. She could get lost in those eyes and never want to be found again. And for a moment, she did just that. She found herself staring, but she really didn’t care too much. She vaguely hoped he didn’t mind, true. Silently, she sent up a quick thank you to her mother for letting this night happen. And maybe she owed two of her brothers thanks as well: Cupid, whose holiday this was, and Robin, for setting it all up. Yes, she owed them both big time. Because she anticipated a great date night with Gabriel. Not that spending time with him period, not matter what they were doing, wasn’t worth thanking the gods for. She didn’t care what they did, as long as they were together.

She frowned and shook her head. “See, I just don’t get that. I mean, I’ve heard the rumors myself, but they always seemed so… far-fetched. You’re not a monster. And you shouldn’t be treated like one. Actually, a lot of guys here could really use taking a leaf out of your book.” She laughed softly at the Mars chimps comment. Wasn’t that the truth? She’d never gotten along with any descendent of one of the multiple war gods that Rome boasted. She’d dated one once and it had certainly been short-lived. Basically, he’d only been using her to get a one-night stand and unfortunately, it had worked. But on the bright side, she was happy to employ a Mercury kid to get him back. He’d sported green hair for a week and she had had no end of fun pointing that out for him. But that was beside the point. She focused back on Gabe. “Now hold on a moment. You make it sound like you’re not manly. I beg to differ.”

The way he talked, and that light in his eyes, just made her feel like melting. She rested her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands, somewhat mimicking his stance, though only for the reason that it was comfortable and offered a good means of just sitting here and taking him in. She smiled at his idea of taking her to the tea house, though she was a little too embarrassed to admit she had no idea where Brighton was. Thankfully, he cleared it up for her, at least a little more. “Oh, that sounds lovely! Maybe once this war is over we can go! Just the two of us, off exploring the countryside.” How romantic. She thought about the trip for a moment – just daydreamed about travelling with him period – and was about to say something when the food arrived.

“Wow, that smells good!” She nodded at his words. “Yes, he really did. But you know what?” She leaned forward and spoke a little softer, smiling all the while. “I heard he managed to get himself a date for the night too. Good thing, I should say, he deserves the night off after all this work. He’s probably too stubborn to call it a date, but we’ll see.” She grinned mischievously, planning on drilling her brother for details later. She had to know everything. But for now, she sat back straight and blew on a spoonful of her potato soup. Until he spoke up again, there he went, making her feel like the most special person in the world, as he always seemed to do. He treated her like a princess, heads above the way any other non-family guy had ever done. And she could tell he always meant it too. No wonder she’d fallen for him. It would be impossible not to. She just hoped she could make him feel as important and special as he did her. She smiled. “Same goes to you. Spending time with you, even if you wanted to trek through waist-deep mud… I’d still follow you just to be with you.”

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Gabriel knew that if today went well, he would for sure stop by Venus's temple with a massive offering. If it didn't go well, well he wasn't sure he'd like to think of it. So far it seemed to be alright. There were no bits of undead trying to claw their way to the surface, nothing like that classic game of Zombies ate my neighbors. Though he thought it was safe to say that if the zombie apocolypse ever came around, he and his family would be safe. He would do what he could to protect Amelia if things went south. But right now, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. The way her hair was pulled back, the make up on her face, her beautiful eyes, the way she held herself, It accented the perfection that was her.

"Most of it goes with the fact that my father presides over the dead. I think it has to do with the fear of unknown. That people really don't know what happens so they shun it." But unknown could go with a lot of things. Love was something that even provided unknown variables. It provided many questions that many left with more questions. "But as far as the manly comment goes, It seems to be the standard to be a neolithic knuckledragger. Social conformity and mind frame tends to dictate that men who are of low intelligence and high of testosterone and muscle tend to get their pick of the women." He shook his head. "Sometimes social convention is just bullocks.Forgive my language my lady." He said as he placed a hand over his mouth, cursing in front of a lady wasn't good manners and his mother had taught him better than that. Oh if she knew what he had just said, grown or not, Gabriel would have gotten his rear whopped with a dictionary in a circle for speaking so.

"Going all over on holiday, I think it would be nice. Besides I could use a vacation." The thought of the beach, the places he could take her, oh how he could spoil her. The little shops and restaurants all over the place, he hoped that she would love the places that he would take her. Was it weird that he already had started to make mental preparations for their week long jaunt? Gabriel could take her anywhere she wanted. Rome, Paris, Tokyo, anywhere. So long as she was happy, Gabriel would take her to the moon and back. He leaned in close so only she could hear him. "We could go where ever you'd like, and we wouldn't have to wait. The shadows will take us anywhere you'd like. The beach, the mountains, Paris, anywhere your heart desires." It probably wouldn't be good to talk about leaving the camp out loud with the praetor right there snogging his sister like some common brute. Though the thought did cross his mind to use some shadows to shove the idiots face into his soup.

"Yes, you are lovely." He said, watching Amelia once more, not really paying any mind to his own food. It did smell good, but food was the last thing on his mind right now. "Oh he got himself a date? That's good for him. I've only met him once or twice before. he's a nice guy, I'm glad he could find someone." Gabriel smiled, his voice spoke with honesty. He was interested in whatever she was interested. "I'd rather not go through waist deep mud, I hear dirt is hard on pants. But if it was to rescue you, I'd do it in a heart beat without a second thought. You are my everything." He said.