Cali was franticly getting ready for dinner. It had only been a couple of days, but she had dearly missed her uncle. The very man who had saved her life. The truth was, that if he hadn't entered her life when he did, she probably would have killed herself. However, she never revealed this to her uncle.

Of course she was nervous about the entire evening. Her uncle probably didn't care for Gabriel, and rightfully so. It's kind of difficult to like someone who was planning on shooting you in the head. Also, due to the circumstances of how they met, her uncle probably didn't like her being with Gabriel in the first place.

But perhaps Rosy was right, maybe deep down Gabriel was a decent person. Maybe she should give him a chance. He obviously had a caring side, he had shown it too her at least a couple of times. And what he did for her last night was sweet, although he was the one responsible for upsetting her. But in truth, if it hadn't been for her scars, she would have let him continue.

She looked at herself in the mirror, as she had decided to wear simple blue cocktail dress. After all, it was just dinner, and drinks.

"Well don't you look beautiful."Gabriel said with a smile. "Rosy is right, she does have great taste."

As usual, he just seemed to come out of nowhere.

She retuned his smile, "You look quite handsome yourself."

"What, this old thing?" He replied as he looked down at his simple business attire. He then shot her a playful wink, as he made her chuckle little bit. "You know Songbird, you really do have beautiful smile."

"Thank you." She said as she began to blush. "I have to admit. I'm not used to wearing such expensive clothes. It feels a little strange."

"Nonsense." He replied. "You were named after a goddess, you should be dressed as one." He then made his way towards the bathroom. But along the way, he gave her a quick slap on her behind. Her eyes widened, as she gasped, surprised by his obviously playful gesture. When she turned to look at him, he had a wicked smile on his face. Looking into each other's eyes, they both started to laugh.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As Gabriel made his way into the bathroom, he immediately locked the door. He did not want his songbird to know what he was planning. He then took out his smartphone, and called his lawyer.

"Hello." The lawyer said as he answered Gabriel's call.

"Giovanni, it's Gabriel." He told him.

"Y-yes, Mr. Esposito." Giovanni replied. "How-how may I help you?"

"I need you to look into a case that happened, in New York, seven years ago." Gabriel answered. "One that involved a man by the name of Carl Jenkins."

"Of course, Mr. Esposito." Giovanni immediately responded. "What exactly do you need from me?"

"I need you to find a way to get him released from jail." Gabriel told him. "And as soon as you do that, I want you to find a way to have him brought before me."

"May I ask what he's in for?" Giovanni asked.

"Let's just say he hurt someone I care a great deal about." Gabriel replied. "She was only a minor at the time."

"Sir, it's going to be hard enough to have a child molester released form jail." Giovanni informed him. "But it's going to be almost impossible to be able to get him out of the US."

"Don't act so high and mighty." Gabriel scoffed. "Since when have you not skirted your way around the law? Just find a way, and get it done. Remember failure is not an option. Understand?"

"Um, y-yes sir." The lawyer stuttered. "I'll get to work on it right away."

"See that you do." Gabriel demanded, and with that he quickly hung up his phone. Pretty soon, he heard a knock on the door.

"Gabriel?" Cali asked through the door. "Is everything all right? You've been in there for quite a while. You didn't fall in, did you?" Gabriel couldn't help but smile as he opened the door. Her beautiful smiling face was looking right at him, she made him feel so alive.

"Of course not Songbird." He chuckled. "You see, it's just not women who take forever in the bathroom." Her face just seemed to brighten, as she laughed at his corny joke.

"Well, we're supposed to pick up Uncle Sal in a half an hour." She informed him.

"Then I guess we should go." He replied. "Ladies first." He then gestured, as she walked in front of him.

Don't worry my little songbird, soon I will have an extra special gift for you.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If Cali had been hoping for a a relaxed evening, then she was to be sadly disappointed. As soon as they had picked up her Uncle Sal, there was nothing but tension in the air. No one hardly said a word, and even the small talk was had everyone on edge. Dinner itself was the most nerve racking.

"How's business Mr. Esposito?" Her Uncle Sal asked.

"Fine." Gabriel with a sarcastic smile. "How's your retirement?"

"Retirement is retirement." Uncle Sal replied with a sarcastically similar smile. Feeling overwhelmed by all of the negativity that was in the air, Cali tried desperately to stir the conversation in a different direction.

"Gee I'm sorry Rosalina couldn't be here." She just stated abruptly. She then turned her attention to her Uncle Sal. "Rosalina, or Rosy, is Gabriel's sister. She very nice, but unfortunately she is at a spa right now."

"Yes." Said Uncle Sal. "I do recall that Antonio Esposito had a daughter. It's too bad she at the spa. Tell me, Gabriel, if I may call you that? Is it the same spa that your father used to send you mother. You know, when he didn't want anyone to see his—handy work." Gabriel jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared. Uncle Sal had obviously hit a nerve.

"Of course you may call me, Gabriel." He practically growled. "And to answer your other question, no. That spa no longer exist, it was not up to par. I would never send my sister, or Cali there. I love your niece, and my sister way too much, they deserve the best. And Cali in particular shall have it. She will want for nothing, and I will gladly take care of her. Now then, since I have given permission to call me Gabriel, I hope this means that I may refer to you as Salvador. I mean we probably shouldn't be so formal, anyway. I mean we are after all, going to be family soon."

Cali who had just taken a sip of water, was taken aback as soon as he said it. All of a sudden she started coughing, and it took all she could to keep from spitting it out.

"Are you okay sweetheart?' Her uncle asked. "I hope no one said anything to upset you."

"Um, I'm fine." She replied, as she did her best to pull herself together. It's not like she didn't know what Gabriel was ultimately planning. But hearing him say it, right in front of who her own uncle, only showed her just how determined Gabriel actually was. The truth was that she really did want to get to know him, but she wasn't ready to marry him. Even if he was planning on marrying her, she had hoped that they would take some time to get to know one another.

"Well then, why don't we make it official." Gabriel said with a smile. To Cali's surprise, he soon pulled out a velvet run box. To say that she was shocked, would have been an understatement.

Oh my god! She thought. What the hell is he doing?

With a loving smile, and teary eyes plastered upon his face. Gabriel slowly open the box. To Cali's astonishment, it revealed the biggest diamond ring she had ever seen.

"Um..I—" Cali began to say. But in truth she didn't know what to say. In truth she was far from ready to say, yes. However, she wasn't sure that he would take no for an answer.

"Cali, please!" Her uncle cried. "You don't have to do this. My life isn't worth promising yourself to this man."

"Shut up old man." Gabriel growled. "I'm not talking to you. I am trying to make you a part of out lives. The least you can do is be cooperative."

"Please don't fight." Cali begged the both of them. "I—"

Before she could even finish her sentence, shots could be heard firing throughout the restaurant.

"Get down!" Gabriel cried. He then threw himself on Cali, knocking her out of he chair. He was laying on top of her, as her body trembled beneath him. She had no idea what was was going on, and burst into tears.

"Are you alright, Songbird?" Gabriel asked as he looked into her eyes.

"W-what's happening?' She cried. "W-where, where's Uncle Sal?"

"I'm right here sweetheart." Her Uncle replied, as he took her hand. He was laying on the ground right next to them.

"Those mother fuckers are going to pay!" Gabriel exclaimed, as he pulled out a gun, from his holsters. He then got up on his knees, and began to fire back at some of the assailants.

"Anton! Where the hell are you?" Gabriel cried.

"I'm right here sir!" Anton replied.

Cali's kept her eyes closed, tightly shut. Gun shots were ringing out all over the place. She could hear people, running and screaming for there lives.

"SONGBIRD!" She heard Gabriel yell. She soon felt him cover her, with his own body.

Oh my god! She thought. This is it, this is how I'm actually going to die! If any gargoyle was going to save them, now was going to be the time. Yet as usual, she was disappointed.

Eventually the gunshot all of a sudden stopped. Slowly Cali opened her eyes. Her uncle Sal was looming down at her, with a look of concern in his eyes.

"Cali, are you alright?' Her Uncle Sal asked.

"I-I'm fine." She stuttered. She was laying on her back, but felt too afraid to move. It wasn't like she could anyway. Gabriel was still laying on top of her, she could hear him breathing next to her ear. At least that meant he was okay. She remembered now. After Gabriel started returning fire. He cried out her name, before throwing itself on top oof her. Soon she noticed that Anton made his way over.

"Sir." Anton stated. "The premises are secure."

Instead of answering, Gabriel just moaned. He then slowing rolled off of her. At that moment she noticed his shirt was blood stained, around his abdomen, Gabriel had been shot! He laid on his back, as he seemed to be in great pain. She could feel tears forming in her eyes, and saw that tears were forming in his as eyes well.

"I'll go get one of the doctors from clinic." Anton stated, as he ran out of the the restaurant.

"Clinic?" Cali asked, as she was puzzled as to why he wasn't just calling an ambulance.

"They have their own emergency doctors, and their own emergency clinic." Her uncle sighed. He must have notice that she was confused. But she still want to understand why a clinic would be better. The, all of a sudden, Gabriel began to call to her.

"So-songbird?' He asked. "Are-are you alright? I couldn't let those bastards hurt you." He then reached up an touched her face.

Out of nowhere, she could feel the tears in her eyes begin to stop flowing. For the first time in her life she began to find her own inner strength.

"Uncle Sal." She demanded. "Grab some table cloths, and some napkins, so we can stop the bleeding."

He didn't ask questions, as he immediately did what she said. Gabriel just continued to moan. "S-song-bird." He struggled to say.

"Quiet!" She snapped at him. "You need to save your strength."

That only made him laugh. "Oh Songbird, I-I always found your timid n-nature so irresistible. B-but I must admit, this side of y-you is very a-appealing."

"Well then you're about to find me down right adorable." She replied. "You need to shut the fuck up, and save your strength. Because I'm not about to let you die on me."

"Here you go Cali." Her uncle said to her, as he handed her the napkins and the table cloths. As she looked at her uncle, she couldn't help but notice that he had a look fo concern upon his face. Was he actually concerned for Gabriel? She then pressed some napkins to Gabriel's wound. Hopefully, it would help stop some of the bleeding.

Where the hell is Anton with that doctor? She wondered as she began to fell frantic.

As she looked down at Gabriel, she was shocked by what she saw. His left hand was starting to turn to stone. Her tears began to return, as he body once again began to tremble.

"What the hell is happening to you?" She cried. "I don't understand!"

"I-I'm dying Songbird." Gabriel struggled to replied, as his breathing increased. "I'm s-s-sorry to dis-disappoint you. But-but it turns out that, that the gargoyles really w-w-were the bad guys. Now we-we've both learned, w-what each other w-was ashamed of."