Gabriel finally stepped things up a little bit and sort of forced a half-date. He picked me up after my shift with the intention of driving me home and then insisted that he get me something to eat. We got muffins and drinks and then after eating them, he got very sick very quickly and I had to drive us to my place. He threw up a few times and then he fell asleep on my shoulder. He was so cute though, I couldn't handle it. I left him on the couch with a blanket and the next morning, I went off to work and left him a note.

Only about two hours later, he was at the hospital with a red headed male and a cute blonde girl. Neither of them looked anything like him, but the redhead strangely resembled Dr. Ferrari. It was just something about his expression and his eyes.

Gabriel looked horrible when they walked in. I was genuinely worried about him. I had them take him to one of the offices and I gave him a bag to throw up in and went to get some equipment. I just wanted to draw some blood and check for an infection, he seemed to be developing a minor fever, so he might have some sort of infection or something.

Just as I was about to draw blood, the redhead spoke.

"He doesn't have an infection." He told me in annoyance, seeming unimpressed with the fact that he had to be here.

I was annoyed with this guy, because he was acting like he knew exactly what was wrong, but it didn't seem to make any sense whatsoever to me just yet.

"He just has a sensitive stomach... he always gets like this." The redhead told me.

"Ava... this is my nephew, Vidal." Gabe said.

The redhead looked like he could be the same age as Gabriel, maybe even a little older. I didn't like him much either, the know it all. He didn't look anything like Gabriel, so I just wondered how on earth he could be his nephew.

"Your nephew?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at both the men.

"Yes." Gabriel nodded, I looked at the one silent and possibly sane person in the room. The little blonde. She looked so sweet and cute.

She giggled and nodded as if to confirm that what they were saying was true.

"It's true... Gabe is very young compared to his sister and her husband as well as everyone else their age in the family." The blonde explained.

I smiled and nodded at her. I liked her, not the redhead though.

"I'm calling Dr. Ferrari." I said, deciding he was probably more familiar with this situation since it seemed like a common thing.

"No, Ava... stay." Gabe said, grabbing my arm and giving me adorable puppy eyes.

"What made your stomach act up like this?" I asked him, having my guess and feeling annoyed that he'd eat something so carelessly if his stomach wasn't strong enough for it.

I felt guilty thinking maybe it was on my behalf that he ate the muffin and the French vanilla. All that dairy was likely what caused this. The cream cheese in the muffin and the milk in the drinks.

"The muffin." He told me, confirming my suspicions.

"Then, why did you eat it?!" I growled, smacking him with my clipboard, feeling guilty.

"I didn't know this would happen. Besides, I wanted one too." He said to me.

"He knew it would happen." Vidal, the redhead said.

"Will you shut up, idiot?" Gabe said, making his nephew laugh.

"You're so stupid sometimes, Gabriel." I sighed, shaking my head at him.

"You wanted me not to take you to that café and get us something to eat after all this time of trying to get you to acknowledge me?" He asked me.

I felt even worse now. It wasn't that I hadn't acknowledged him, I just didn't ever allow him to take me out, I never acknowledged him as the type of guy I'd let myself date. Not openly anyway, but on the inside I wanted to be with him and go out with him.

"Just stop it." I sighed, shaking my head and going to get Federico.

I didn't want to handle the guilt and the irritation with the fact that taking me to get some food last night had caused him all this.

I just needed to figure out a way to make this work. To make him realize that I liked him as much as he liked me and there was no need to pull weird stunts like this and make us all feel bad. He could have me for a few dates now. I wouldn't argue or fight back.

The redhead and the blonde left to go get their car, and I went to go get Federico.

"Dr. Ferrari, Gabriel is here." I said.

"Of course he is, what did he do this time?" Federico chuckled.

"He ate a muffin from Tim's yesterday." I sighed.

"I see... there's a tonic in the office in the fridge labelled with his name, go get it for him and scold him for me, will you?" He asked me.

I chuckled and nodded, running off to get him his tonic. I got the tonic and I headed back to the room Gabriel was in. I didn't have my coat on at the moment, having left it in Gabe's room before running off to find his brother in law.

But on the way there, I was stopped right outside the room by a man who's voice was uncomfortably familiar.

"Ava!" The man said.

I took a moment to process what was happening and then I turned around with a bright smile even though I felt like yelling or strangling him.

"Noah." I said, smiling at him. "What brings you here?"

"I didn't think I'd find you here actually. But I have come to Vancouver to speak to you." He said to me.

"That wont be necessary... if you'll excuse me, I have to-" I started, before he interrupted me.

"No wait. I just want to know how you're doing." He said to me.

"I'm great, Noah. What do you want?" I asked him.

"You're really quite feisty, Miss Dara." He said to me with a laugh. "Or are you a married woman now?"

"I'm not a miss or a missus at all, Noah. I'm Doctor Ava Dara, thank you very much, now if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than stand around with a man who can't recognize when he's unwanted." I smiled, turning away.

"You're a doctor?" He asked me.

"I am." I nodded.

"Wow. You've exceeded my expectations." He chuckled.

"Alright, well take your expectations and get them and yourself out of this hospital." I smiled, turning to go back to the first guy that ever truly had my heart.

Noah was just a past mistake that I'd wasted far too much time on. He never deserved anything I gave him and he was never worth any feeling I may have had. Gabriel on the other hand allowed me to grow and find myself while he pursued me. It didn't feel like a burden being around him. He was respectful of my boundaries. He did things for me too instead of just expecting things of me. Gabriel was the better man and Gabriel was the one who actually succeeded in gaining my affection. I just hadn't shown him that yet.

I walked into Gabriel's room to find him grabbing his shoes, his hands shaking and his face very pale.

"Here's your tonic, Gabe." I said to him.

"Thanks." He said, acting indifferent and taking the tonic from me. He gulped it all down in one go and then he put the little bottle down.

"I'll be going then, I guess." He said to me, looking like he was upset with me.

"What's your deal now? Shouldn't I be the one who's annoyed with you?" I asked him.

"No, Ava. Because all I've done is try to make you see that I'm worth your trust and worth your time. I've spent two years running after you, making time for you, talking to you and being there for you and it was all for nothing. Because even now, after these two years of trying to make something work, you're not into me and it's time I gave up." He sighed. "I'm sorry I was so pushy and I'm sorry that I didn't accept your countless rejections."

"Gabriel, what the hell is wrong with you?!" I asked him in irritation.

"I get attached easily. I have been more than happy to run around chasing you and allowing myself to get rejected every day for two whole years... but I get it now. I realize that maybe I'm just being an idiot like you always say I'm being." He told me.

"No. You're not being an idiot. What is this about?" I asked him.

"You've given a random stranger more attention than you ever gave me for the first six months of me chasing after you. If that doesn't mean anything, I don't know what does." He said, pointing at the door.

"Oh, you saw me talking to that guy outside?" I asked him.

"Yes. I did. And he was all happy and laughing and you stood there just talking to him... I know I have no right to be mad, but I just feel horrible seeing you talking to that jerk." He said to me.

"Alright. You need to relax. Did you even listen to anything we said?" I asked him.

"No. It's not my place to eavesdrop." He said, an involuntary pout forming on his face.

"Gabriel! That was my ex, who I'm going to get you to go get rid of if he sticks around. He told me that I've exceeded his expectations, can you believe that?!" I said.

I watched Gabriel's nose wrinkle up in discomfort as he made his way to the bathroom, deciding to cool down and brush his teeth with the little toothbrush I'd given him a few minutes back. I knew he'd want one after throwing up.

He brushed his teeth as he processed what I'd told him.

"Did he actually say that to you?" Gabriel asked me after spitting out the toothpaste.

"Yes." I nodded, also slightly bothered by it but not knowing what the correct reaction to such an inappropriate comment would look like.

"That's literally.... who the hell does he think he is?!" Gabriel growled.

"Forget it. He doesn't have a brain." I sighed.

"Ava... I want to be with you, why do you make this so difficult?!" Gabriel said, almost like he was a child whining because he couldn't have what he wanted.

"Because you're stupid, Gabriel! Why on earth would you knowingly make yourself sick?! Communication is important especially if you want a relationship, and I will not be with a man who can't tell me that he can't eat a muffin because it'll make him sick." I growled at him.

"Alright, listen." Gabriel said seriously.

"I'm listening." I nodded.

"I can't eat out at all unless it's from Angel's because my sister's food is the only stuff that my digestive system accepts. But, I can cook myself, so that makes dates easier. I'm clumsy, I run into twenty things a day, at least. I get attached to things really quickly. I love kids, that's why I'm a teacher. I have a favourite student even though I shouldn't. I'm a complete Momma's boy and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have an older sister and then my brother in law has two siblings who's kids I also consider my nieces and nephews. My niece has twin daughters and I love them to death. My family is everything to me and when I fall in love I fall hard. Why do you think I'm still here, Ava? Now, either go on a date with me now, please... or I guess that's it because, Ava, I love you and it hurts to be pushed away this many times. Actually, who am I kidding, I can't let you go... please accept the date and give me some peace of mind." He rambled.

"Are you done?" I asked him.

"Ava... ple-" He said, looking like he expected his entire world to be snatched away from him.

I didn't let him begin, let alone finish his sentence. I wasn't letting this man down again. I had been far too stubborn and selfish for far too long.

I stepped up closer to him and I got on my tippy toes, I brought my hands to his face, grabbing his head and pulling him down to kiss him. It was a short sweet kiss and tingles spread through my entire body, making me shiver. At first he seemed surprised, but he quickly adjusted, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing me back at the end.

I suddenly felt very embarrassed and I couldn't believe what I'd just done. Both of us were frozen, looking at each other in awe. I had never felt like that before. Never had I ever felt tingles and shivers just from a kiss. I was pretty sure it was just in stories that kisses felt like this, but Gabriel and I were definitely real.

My watch beeped and I realized I had to go. I kissed him on the cheek, making my own heart flutter again and then I hurried out of the room, smiling and tucking some hair behind my ear. I had just kissed Gabriel, and it felt like I'd conquered the world.

I saw the blonde girl from earlier sitting on a bench and looking at me in slight amusement. I rushed off to go see a patient. But when Dr. Ferrari saw me, he prevented me from going in there.

"Uhm... you look far too flustered to see a patient." Dr. Ferrari said to me with a nervous chuckle.

"I... uh... I kissed him." I said, unable to contain my excitement.

"Wow. I didn't expect you to tell me that. But, thanks for the warning. I'm going to be hearing about this for like the rest of my life." He sighed.

"From Gabriel?" I asked.

"Yes. He's going to want to emphasize how the girl he's obsessed with stole his first kiss." Dr. Ferrari laughed.

"What?! His first kiss?!" I asked in shock. No way had he never been kissed before.

"Yup. That's Gabriel for you. He wanted to save it for that special someone and he did." Federico told me.

"Oh my goodness... will you see my patient?!" I asked.

"Yes. Go handle your stuff and get back here. No more distractions, do you understand me?" He asked.

"Of course." I said, running back to Gabriel's room.

When I walked in, he looked at me in alarm.

"What's going on?" He asked me, his cheeks red and a soft smile tugging on his lips.

"I'm so sorry... I didn't realize it was your first kiss. Mine was just taken without my permission too and I didn't like it.... I'm so sorry if you felt vio-" I started and he shut me up by grabbing my waist and pulling me into another kiss.

This time it was longer, my lower belly flipped and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I kissed him back, letting the kiss deepen slightly. Then, he pulled away and kissed me on my forehead, something that no one but my father had ever done for me.

"It was the perfect first kiss. I loved it." He told me. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. That's weird." I laughed.

"So... Date?" He asked me.

"Yes. I have expectations though, Mr. Morelli." I said to him.

"What are they?" He asked me.

"Number one, I'd like you to give me three dates before you ask me to be your girlfriend and no more kissing until then... and number two, I want to be picked up after work today because I'm tired. Number three, you need to rest and relax, I will not go on a date with you until after tomorrow when you're fully recovered." I told him.

"Hm... you're too picky... but I accept... After tomorrow, after your shift, I'm taking you out to dinner, and I'll give you three dates before I ask you to be my girlfriend and I won't kiss you unless you kiss me." He said to me.

"Deal." I nodded.

"Ok... but can I just have one more kiss before this becomes a deal?" He asked me.

"No." I laughed.

"Fine, on the cheek?" He asked me.

I rolled my eyes and kissed his cheek.

"Ok... now is that ex still here?" He asked me.

"I don't know." I shrugged.

"Don't worry about it. I'll handle that." He told me and he took my hand, pulling me out of the room and towards the blonde.

"That's Kiara." Gabriel told me and she stood up with a smile.

"What happened?" She asked us, examining our faces.

"I have a girlfriend." Gabe answered her.

"Shut up, no you don't." I objected, smacking him with my clipboard again.

"Fine, I'm a step closer to having a girlfriend." He amended, making me smile and nod.

The girl, Kiara, smiled at me before they left and even took my number so we could talk sometimes, which I thought was cute. She was a very sweet, cute person and I was excited to get to know her more.

Before I knew it, I had to get back to work and Gabriel left with his nephew, Vidal, and with Kiara.

He wouldn't leave without a quirky comment though.

"Bye, beautiful." He said, winking at me. I got those butterflies that people always talk about, except they felt too strong to just be butterflies, they were more like hummingbirds. But I had finally broken that barrier with Gabriel and I couldn't wait to tell my dad and for Gabriel to take me out on our first date.