Prologue
 

“Rach! Come on!! I want to get home! Momma’s taking me out to dinner, and I don’t want to be late!” 9 year old Annie Dawson pulled at her best friend’s arm.

“Annie! Your mom will wait for you, but Cary Craine won’t wait for me! I HAVE to go talk to him!” Rachel shouted back to Annie.

 “You go talk to Cary Craine, and I’m going to go home.” Annie declared, only to have Rachel wave her away, and run up to Cary, her longtime crush.

 “Rachel Lane, you can just go to….” She began, but remembered what her mother had said about saying things like that. She lifted her backpack up onto her shoulder and took off for her house, which was only about 10 minutes away from the schoolyard. Her mother didn’t like her walking alone, no matter how short the walk was, but Annie didn’t think she would mind this time. After all, it was Annie’s big day today. Her 9th birthday!

 As she approached her block, she realized that smoke was coming from somewhere…something was on fire. The little girl’s heart started to pound as she broke into a run, hoping and praying that it wasn’t…..but it was. She stood on the end of the road, her eyes tearing up from the strong smelling smoke, and the realization that her house was burning.

 “MOMMA!!!!!!!” She shouted, dropping her heavy bag and taking off at full speed. She was almost to the burning, ashy remains of her house before someone lifted her up and held her back. “Momma!! Where’s my mother? Tell me where she is, please, please take me to her!”

 Annie sobbed, pleading with the policeman that had picked her up. ”Take me to my mother, please!”

 “Sweetie…. I’m sorry, your mom…she didn’t make it out.” It broke the policeman’s heart to see this little girl’s life destroyed. Her entire family, her mother and her older brother had been inside of the house when it caught on fire, the reason of which they were not sure yet.

 “No! She did too! She’s going to take me out to dinner for my birthday, me and her and Bryan! Like we do for every birthday!” But Annie was a smart child, she realized what was happening. She had just lost her family…for good.
 
 
 

 “Do we have any background on this kid? The real parent, anything like that?” The Chief of Police in the small town where Annie lived gestured towards the file that lay open in front of them. “The kid is adopted, ain’t she? No way that woman is the kid’s real mother!”

 Files for all three members of the Dawson family lay on the table. The first was on Annie’s mother, Abigail Addison-Dawson. She was a tall, vibrant woman with vivid auburn hair and sparking emerald eyes. The next was Bryan Dawson, 13, who had his mother’s notorious hair, paired with light blue eyes. And the third was Annie. Tanned skin, burning coal eyes, with a small dimple that set off her adorable smile. Nothing at all like her mother, or her brother.

 “Yeah, she’s adopted. Mother, not the real one, the redhead, was a social worker, and decided to adopt the kid a few years after she was born. Real mother is a…..hold on, lemme look.” The officer talking to the Chief dug around in Annie Alexis Dawson’s folder.

 “Yeah…here it is. The mother was a young teen, looks like a foxy little thing from the picture. Ms. Gabriella Martinez.”
 
 
 
 

Chapter One
 

”Antonio…” Gabi sighed the name of the man who she had her arms wrapped tightly around. As a reply, he pulled her closer, and placed his hand under her chin softly, pulling her face up to his. When she was looking him in the eye, he kissed her with an impossible delicacy.

As he pulled back from her, she tightened her grip on him, visibly displeased with the space being put between them. She wanted Antonio close, and she wanted him to stay there.

“Gabi…I need to get going…” Antonio whispered into her ear as Gabi continued to caress his face, his neck, his shoulders with warm, moist kisses that drove him wild.

“Why? You just got here, Antonio. I…you don’t regret this already, do you?” She looked up at her newly returned lover with sad eyes.

“No, Gabi…of course I don’t. I will tell you that I wasn’t expecting such a…hot…welcome home though. But I don’t regret it, Gabi. Never.” When he had left for his sabbatical, Gabi had been happily engaged to Ricardo, and well on her way to getting over him and what had happened in the cave in. But when she had greeted him at the airport…well, she made it clear that she was anything but over him.

“Good.” She smiled shyly at him. “Now that we’ve got that settled, you don’t have to leave, do you? Can’t you stay a little longer…I want you to!” She ran her fingers over his bare chest teasingly.

”Come on, Gabi…I need to go see Mama. And Maria.” He said, then added in a pleading voice, ”Don’t look at me like that, Gabi…it’s impossible to walk away from you when you look at me that way…you are so beautiful…”

“Good! I want you to not walk away from me. Not now…not ever.” She said, pleased with herself. She had been so worried that Antonio might have actually gotten over her while he had been away…a month was a long time to be away from each other. But, she was very happy to see that their time apart had the same effect on him that it had on her. The past four weeks had been the longest that Gabi had ever suffered through. The highlight of her day had been when Antonio called. They had barely had time to say hello, but hearing his voice had made her stomach fill with butterflies. And it made her want him back home even more.

Now he was, though. He had come in only a couple of hours ago (though it seemed longer to Gabi) and he had been with Gabi since the moment he stepped off of the plane, thanks to the station calling Ricardo in. He had been supposed to pick up Antonio from his early morning flight into town, but the dead body found in an alley had held him up at work. At the last minute, he had called Gabi to see if she was free. Well, she hadn’t been, but her plans had easily become changeable.

Somehow, they had made it to the loft without tearing each other’s clothes off, but they hadn’t made it much past that. Almost as soon as they stepped foot in the door, Gabi had been in his arms.  And had stayed there for almost two hours. She wasn’t too fond of the idea of leaving, either.

“Gabi, I really need to go let Mama and Maria know I made it back safely. It won’t take that long, I promise.” He begged Gabi to release her hold on him, but she was reluctant. “You can come with me…”

“Well…I guess, if it won’t take long…I could let you go.” She pretended to think it over. “Yeah, you can. As long as you hurry back home to me!”

Antonio leaned over to kiss Gabi again. “Thank you, Gabi. And believe me, I will hurry back to you.” He stood up and dressed quickly as Gabi finally crawled out of the bed and slipped on a robe. She walked him to the front door, where they postponed Antonio’s leaving for another five minutes with passionate kisses.  When they finally broke apart, Antonio smiled at her again. He couldn’t believe that being apart had made her feel this way about him again. He had been positive when he left that Gabi was completely in love with Ricardo. That was part of the reason he had gone. But now she seemed to be in love with him. “Gabi, when I get back, we need to talk. About us…and Ricardo.”

Immediately, Gabi’s expression darkened. She didn’t even want to think of her fiancé now, much less discuss him with Antonio. Then again, they were going to have to eventually.

“When you get back.” She said reluctantly.

“Hey, cheer up, beautiful.” Gabi blushed at his compliment. “I am back, and we are together.”

“Yeah…we are.” For now, at least, she added mentally. Sooner or later, Antonio’s priestly conscience would kick in. Gabi wasn’t sure how eager he would be to be with her then.

“Now, I really need to go.” Antonio pulled away, still resting his hands on her waist.

“I know…” Gabi said, as she reached up to kiss him one more time. She could smell his aftershave, and the warm, minty taste of his mouth on hers. Wordlessly, he ran his fingers down her face, then he was gone.

Gabi watched him go, waving at him as she pulled out of the driveway. She was so happy. As she curled up on the couch, still wearing nothing but her robe, she absentmindedly flipped through the television stations. Her body was still tingling from making love with Antonio for the first time in months. She sighed with contentment.  Everything seemed so perfect. Antonio still loved her…he was back with her. She had no plans of letting him go again, either.

She didn’t want to hurt Ricardo any more than Antonio did, but Gabi had spent the last two years trying to make herself love him. She refused to give up any more of her life for a man she knew now that she would never feel anything beyond friendship and gratitude for.

Suddenly, a knock on the door of the loft brought Gabi out of her state of deep thinking. She tightened up her robe and ran a hand through her now shoulder length hair.

“Ms. Gabriella Martinez?” A professional looking woman in a business suit asked her when Gabi opened the door.

“Yes, I’m Gabi Martinez. Can I help you?” Gabi asked cautiously. What did this woman want?

“Ms. Martinez, I’m Darla Shivers, I’m a social worker from a group home just outside of Sunset Beach. There are some things that I need to discuss with you.

Gabi’s heart started pounding. A social worker. Wanting to talk to her.  She was scared to even consider that this may be about what she was thinking. The mistake she had made so many years ago.

“Um…all right.” Gabi tried to remain calm. “Come in, have a seat. Let me throw on some clothes. She walked into the bathroom, where the clothes she had discarded when Antonio had arrived had been thrown. It didn’t take her long to dress. She walked out to see Darla studying some photos of her, Antonio, and Ricardo.

“Is this your…boyfriend?” She asked pointing to Antonio. Gabi had never realized it, but in the picture she was closer to Antonio than Ricardo, and Antonio was looking down at her with a rather intimate smile on his face.

“I…yes.” She said. It would be true soon enough!

“Hmm. Well, I’m going to get right down to business. I’m here to discuss something I’m not sure you will want to talk about, but I have to bring this up.” She set the briefcase she was carrying down on the table. After flipping through papers for a few minutes, she produced a picture, which she lay on the table in front of Gabi. “Do you recognize this child Ms. Martinez?”

Gabi hesitantly picked up the photo. It was a young girl, a school picture it seemed. She had a sinking feeling that she knew exactly who the little girl was.

“I…no.” Gabi said. She didn’t know for sure, even though she had a pretty good idea.

“This is Annie Dawson. The child that you gave up for adoption almost ten years ago.” Darla Shivers said in an unsympathetic voice. “She was adopted by Abigail Dawson, a social worker at the group home Annie was put into after you gave her up. About four months ago, Abigail Dawson’s house was burnt down. Abigail and her son were in the house at the time of the fire.”

“Was Annie?” Gabi asked, her voice breaking with fear. She didn’t know this child, she had knowledge of what kind of girl she was, but there was undoubtedly an emotional connection. Especially since she hadn’t wanted to give up her baby girl.

“No. Annie was at school when the fire began. But, now due to the tragedy she has no home and no family. None of her grandparents are healthy, and there is no family she can go to.” Gabi studied the picture. The girl in the photo looked happy. Happy and settled.

“Unless you would like custody, Annie will go into a foster home until someone wants to adopt her.”

Gabi didn’t know what to say. After being forced to give up her daughter so many years ago, she was being given a chance to get her back. She was literally speechless.

“Ms. Martinez?” Darla asked after a few moments. “I’m going to leave my number. You can call me when you decide what you would like to do. Feel free to come by the home and meet Annie. The address is on the business card."

“I…all right. Thank you.” Gabi was still gripping the picture tightly when Darla Shivers let herself the front door. The tears that had formed in Gabi’s eyes spilled over now, blurring Gabi’s view of the picture. She couldn’t believe she was being given this second chance.

Gabi heard the door open, but she was in too much shock to turn around to see who it was.

“Hey, Gabi, I left the present I had for Benji…Gabi? Are you okay?” Antonio rushed over to the couch where Gabi was sitting. He touched her face gently, trying to get her to look at him. “Gabi?”

She glanced up at him, glad to have him beside her. She laid the picture face down on the table as he sat down on the couch.

“Antonio…” She whispered his name in a pained voice, and immediately he took her in his arms, holding her and comforting her. As he whispered soft, reassuring words into her ear, his hands caressed her hair and back. He wanted to know what had upset her so much. He hated seeing her like this. “Tell me what’s wrong, Gabi. Has something happened?”

“Yes…I’m so sorry, Antonio…I’m so sorry…I made a mistake. A long time ago, I made such a mistake.” She was speaking in a muffled voice, her face buried in his shirt.

“It’s okay, Gabi. Whatever you’ve done, it’s all right. You can tell me. I won’t blame you for anything, Gabi. You know that, don’t you, baby?” He said in a soft, calming voice.

“No, Antonio…I am to blame for this. This is my entire fault. I did this, and now I’m going to have to pay.” She said, her voice a little more clear now as she sat up, wiping her tears. He reached over and caught a stray droplet of moisture that escaped her eyes, though she was trying to control her tears, and removed it gently.

“Gabi, you couldn’t have done anything that bad. I know you, and you don’t have it in your heart.” He said, his eyes confirming the belief in her that he spoke of so sincerely.

“Yes, I did, Antonio. I…I was young. I slept around…I…I made a mistake.” She said, to Antonio’s shock.

“Gabi, you are not to be held at fault for your past mistakes. What you did when you were young does not matter now.”

“Yes, it does, Antonio. It matters when there’s another person involved!” She said, unable to stop her sobs now. She was confused, and angry, though at who she wasn’t sure, and more than anything, she wanted Antonio to understand what she was trying to tell him.

“What do you mean, another person? Who are you talking about, Gabi?” He asked, now thoroughly confused about what Gabi was talking about.

“Antonio, I’m talking about my this!” She grabbed the picture up off of the couch and put it in his hands.

Antonio looked at the little girl in the picture; she was beautiful, dark hair, onyx eyes.  "Gabi, she looks just like you," he remarked casually as he raised his eyes to her.  "Oh..."

Chapter Two
 

“Gabi…who is this?” The sinking feeling in Antonio’s gut told him that there was a good chance that it was who he thought it was, but he didn’t want to jump to any conclusions.

“Antonio…I…my daughter.” She whispered the last two words so lightly that Antonio had to ask her to repeat it. “I said it’s my daughter, Antonio.”

“Your daughter…” His voice faded out as he digested this very shocking news. Gabi had never even hinted at a daughter…not once.

“I’m sorry…I should have told. Well, I should have told you, at least. But I thought you would never find out…I was trying to forget.” Gabi tried valiantly to explain, but Antonio held up his hand.

“Why would you try to forget your child?” Antonio asked, and he regretted the question soon after. His query brought fresh tears to Gabi’s eyes. “It’s all right, you don’t have to tell me.”

“No…you deserve an explanation. I…I was only sixteen when I gave birth to her. I’m not sure who the father is…I…I slept around in high school. My…my father made me give her up for adoption. I didn’t have a choice…but I can’t say that I wasn’t relieved. I was too young for a baby.” She wanted Antonio to not think less of her for what she had done, even though she though less of herself because of it.

“I…I believe you, Gabi. But…” He paused slightly. “Why are you bringing this up now?”

“Because her adoptive parents are dead. I can take her back now.” She said, now refusing to look him in the eye.

“You can?” This was yet another shock to Antonio. “What…have you told Ricardo about this?”

“NO! No, Antonio, you’re the only person that I’ve told about this, and I don’t want anyone else to know. Please, don’t tell anyone. Especially not Ricardo.”

 “All right, Gabi, but how are you going to hide a child from him? You live with him.” He was bringing up things that she hadn’t even thought of yet.

“I’m not going to.” She said. “I mean, I’m not going to take her.”

“Why not, Gabi? She’s your daughter, and she has no where else to go. You said her family was dead.” He couldn’t believe that Gabi would refuse to take her own child into her custody.

“Antonio, I can’t raise a child! I have no idea how to be a parent!” She couldn’t deny that she was curious about her daughter, but she still didn’t want to take Annie’s life in her hands. There was too much potential letdown there, too much of a chance for failure.

“Sure you do, Gabi. You’ve got a natural thing for children. I’ve seen it when you talk to Benji and the kids at the mission. You would be a wonderful parent.” He tried to reason with her.

"Antonio, I can't and I won't. Don't even try to change my mind. If I took that girl into my custody, I would ruin her life. How could I not? She'd be doomed."

"What do you mean, Gabi? Why would she be doomed?"

"I never had real parents, so how the hell could I possibly know how to be one?"

Antonio's comeback wasn't as quick this time. He took his time, deliberating over words and choosing them carefully.

"Before you make a decision, why don't you meet her, Gabi?" He suggested. She glanced down at the business card on the table. She looked back into Antonio's eyes, hesitating. "Please, Gabi, do it for me."

"I…all right." There was no way she could refuse Antonio, especially not when he was being so damn reasonable.

"Gab, T! Hey!" They had been so involved in their conversation that Ricardo's arrival had gone unnoticed by both of them. "What is it that you want Gabi to do, T?"

Antonio was caught off guard, and unable to respond, so Gabi quickly interfered and gave Ricardo an answer.

"He wants me to…uh…to do some volunteer work at the mission." She lied efficiently, only pausing once to think of an answer.

"Cool. I'd offer to join you, but we're really swamped at work, with that cat burglar and all." He said, walking over to his brother and fiancé. "It's great to have you back, T. Sorry I couldn't pick you up like I was supposed to."

"That's okay, Ricardo. Gabi and I…we, uh…did just fine." He threw her a glance that told her that he was not enjoying having to lie to Ricardo. And he wasn't too good at it, either.

"Have you seen Mama and Maria yet?" Ricardo said, wrapping arm around Gabi's waist in a possessive manner that sent Antonio's blood boiling. He had to fight off the urge to pull her away and into his arms. But he did fight it off. The sympathetic look Gabi gave him helped. It told him that she didn't like the situation any more than he did.

"No, I was just about to head over there. You want to come?" Antonio asked.

"Sure. Unless you have any other plans, Gab?" He asked his fiancé, and she shook her head. "Great. Let me change real quick, okay?"

Ricardo let go of Gabi, and went into the bathroom to change, leaving Antonio and Gabi alone again.

"Gabi? Are you going to think about what I said? About seeing her?" Antonio said when he was sure Ricardo couldn't hear them.

"I will, Antonio. For you. But only on one condition." She said seriously, looking him in the eye.

"What is it, Gabi?"

"That you'll come with me."

"Of course I will." He stepped over to her and took Gabi in his arms. "Of course I will. I love you." He whispered into her ear, holding her close. They pulled away hastily before Ricardo returned and caught them in a 'compromising' situation.

The trip to visit the rest of the family went just as Antonio had expected. He didn't really enjoy his homecoming, simply because he was too anxious to get Gabi back into his arms. He could tell she was having a hard time dealing with this bomb that had just been dropped on her, and he wanted to be there to help her with it.

At Maria's house, he saw Gabi walk into the kitchen, and seeing it as an opportunity he slipped in unnoticed. She was standing by the window looking out at the beach. Quietly, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She stiffened slightly, then relaxed when she realized who was holding her, a slow dreamy smile touching her face. This felt so amazing. Antonio leaned down and caressed her neck with his mouth as his hands slid up her shirt in a sensuously teasing manner.

 "Mmmm…" She sighed with pleasure as he caressed her with both his hands and mouth. Her head tilted to give him better accesses, and Antonio chose that moment to pull away. "Antonio…don't stop…" She moaned as his mouth leaned down for one last taste, then he managed to wrench himself away.

 "Sorry, baby, you don't know how much I'd like to go on, but this is my sister's house, and any one of my family members could walk in on us at any moment." He reminded her, to which she readily replied.

 "So lets go somewhere else!" She turned to where she could face him and wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear, "I want to be with you, Antonio…now."

 "Gabi…" He whispered her name, but still pulled away. "We can't, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…God I want you…but we can't. Not here."

 "Come on…live a little…why don't we do it here? On the kitchen floor, where anyone could walk in on us. Doesn't that turn you on, baby?" She said in the most erotic way she knew how, and the efforts were far from lost on Antonio. She slid her body closer to his. "Oh…you don't have to answer that; I can tell for myself."

 "Gab-" Antonio began to moan, realizing that if she kept this up, there would be no denying her.

 "Antonio?" He heard his sister call his name, and the door began to swing open as Gabi quickly pulled out of his arms, blushing brightly. "Oh, there you are! And Gabi, too. Now Antonio, come on, no more hiding out. You've been gone for a month, and everyone wants to see you!"

 "Yeah. Just give me a minute, I wanted to get something to drink. I'll be right there okay? Gabi…didn't you need something, too?" He asked Gabi, who was staring downward, traces of a rosy pink still lingering on her cheeks.

 "Yes, I did. We'll both be right there, Maria." Looking slightly befuddled, and shooting Antonio a cautious glance, she left. Though she had chosen not to say anything, the proximity between Gabi and her brother had not gone unnoticed. But she trusted Antonio, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. He was a priest after all. Right?

 "See what you almost did?" Antonio said with mock seriousness, but his playful tone disappeared when he realized that Gabi was genuinely embarrassed about what Maria had almost caught them doing. "Hey, it's okay. She didn't catch us…"

 "I know. But I'm still sorry. I don't know what got into me." She said and Antonio pulled her into his arms again.

 "Well, I don't know either, but I think I like it. In fact, I know I like it." She grinned up at him, pleased. "Now, come on before Maria comes back to get me and really finds us doing something."

 "All right." She smiled again, and they went back to join the rest of the family.
 
 

 A few hours later, they were leaving. Ricardo had once again been called away by the rigorous duties of a lawman, leaving Antonio to escort his fair bride to be home.

 They decided to forgo the car trip, especially since Ricardo needed the car that they had all arrived in to make top speeds while getting to the station, and took a long walk on the beach. They took their time and walked slowly over the sand, arms around each other's waist while they gazed at the stars. Dusk was beginning to take over the skies, but the ever flaming sun was not yet ready to dim it's brightness; the mixture created a wonderful view for young lovers to dream upon.

 "Beautiful, isn't it?" Antonio asked her, his voice conveying the same mystical wonderment that Gabi herself was not immune to.

 "Yes…it is." She could see them in her mind's eye. Two people, in love walking along the beach as the sun set with an awe-inspiring display behind them. Then, slowly, the picture changed. The two people became three, the lovers separated by a young, dark haired child.
 
 
 

Chapter Three
 

Gabi put her hand on the phone. She wanted to make this call, she needed to but something was not letting her. Slowly, she gathered up her nerve and removed it from the receiver and started dialing. Then she slammed it back onto the hook, unable to complete the call when the loud ring startled her. She picked it up and said "Hello?" In a strangled and unnaturally shrilly voice.

"Gabi? Something wrong?" The voice startled her. She jumped slightly, then was relieved that Antonio had saved her the trouble of calling.

"No…I was calling you, actually. There's something I want to talk about." She said hesitantly. Antonio heard the reluctance in her voice and gave her an encouraging word to continue.

"What is it, Gabi?" He asked patiently. Then she stopped. He told her to continue, hoping she was about to say what he thought she was.

"I was thinking… about us. Today…if you're not busy…do you think we could go…go…" She couldn't do it. "Go on a picnic?" She finished quickly.

"A picnic? Sure, I guess. I'm not busy. But Gabi, isn't there somewhere else you need to be going?"

"Like where?" Gabi feigned ignorance, though she was sure he was talking about the same thing she had just almost brought up.

"Like seeing your…your daughter." The words sounded alien when he said them. He still wasn't accustomed to the idea that Gabi had a child.

"My daughter." Gabi sounded as if she were testing the words, afraid they would somehow cause her harm. She remained silent, considering the idea, though she really knew that she had no choice. "You'll still come with me, won't you?"

 "Wouldn't miss it." He was glad that she was being more open-minded about this.

"Good. When do you want to go? It doesn't matter with me, today's my day off…I'm free all day…." She wasn't exactly eager to do this, though she couldn't deny the curiosity was there.

"How about half an hour from now? There's something I have to take care of here at the mission, but it won't take more than ten minutes. We may even be a little early, so we can stop somewhere and grab a bite to eat first. Is that okay?" Antonio asked.

"Fine. Come pick me up?" Gabi suggested.

"Sure, I'll be there in about 20 minutes, then."  He replied. "Gabi, I'm glad you're doing this. I'm proud of you, you know that?"

"I'm glad, Antonio…I want you to be proud of me." She said, then after a brief pause added softly, "I can't wait to see you."

"I can't wait to see you, either." He said. "I love you."
 

Antonio hung up the phone with a heavy heart. The realization of what he and Gabi were doing had finally hit home as he lay in bed the previous night, and now he was feeling guiltier than ever. Guilty for breaking his vows, and guilty because he knew that he had no intention of stopping any time soon. He had been granted a second chance with the woman that he loved, and he wasn't going to blow it this time. As soon as the time was right, he would talk to Gabi about coming clean with Ricardo, and his leaving the priesthood. But for now, the time wasn't right. Gabi had too much on her mind to deal with their relationship right now, and Antonio had vowed to do his best to help her through it, and to force his libido to wait just a while longer. It was up to Gabi to make the first move into a real relationship between them.
 

He pulled up in front of the loft about fifteen hours later, and found the door unlocked, so he went in without knocking. He found Gabi standing by the table wearing a silky, and very sexy, black robe…with nothing, as far as Antonio could tell, underneath.

"Gabi…are you ready to…to go…" His voice choked as she moved closer to him, leaving him unable to finish the question that he already knew the answer to.

 "Why don't we put it off for a few hours…there is something else I want to take care of right now…" She played around with the buttons on his jacket until they were all undone, then slowly ran her fingers over his chest with only the thin material of his T-shirt separating them.

"Gabi…" As hard as it was to do Antonio reached down and removed her hands from his chest. "Gabi…we can't…"

 "Why not, Antonio? Last time I checked, we were both consenting adults…you are still consenting, aren't you?" A worried expression touched her face as she waited for his answer.

 "Of course I am, Gabi, but we can't do this now. I know what you're doing, and it isn't going to work." Gabi backed away now, angry.

 "Exactly what do you think I'm doing, Antonio?" She demanded. He couldn't help but note how astoundingly beautiful she was when she was mad. It made her eyes almost glow with determination, with stubbornness that Antonio found absolutely irresistible. But he continued on, doing his best to ignore the burning lust in his heart, as well as other parts of his body. "I'm trying to have the man that I love make love to me, that what I'm trying to do. I would think that you would be the last person to shoot down that idea."

 "No, Gabi, I think that you're scared, and you're trying to avoid seeing your daughter. And it's not going to work. Gabi, you're going to hate yourself if you don't do this, and I'm going to make sure that you see that little girl. I love you enough to know when you need a push, and one of those times is right now. You're going to change out of that robe and put on some decent clothes, and we're going to go to that adoption agency and see your daughter. Now, go get dressed." He said in his most intimidating tone.

 Gabi knew deep in her heart that he was exactly right, he was saying things that she was too scared to say, and she also knew that sometime probably not too far away she would be thanking him for this, but at that moment, she was too frightened to do or say anything except obey his orders and shed to seductive robe in exchange for a pair of tight black pants and an equally form fitting sky blue shirt.

 "Better?" She replied sarcastically when she had finished complimenting the ensemble with thick-heeled black shoes and a small black handbag.

 "For where we're going, yes, though I might want to see that robe again later." Gabi couldn't resist a grin, and when she smiled he knew that he was already forgiven for his tough love.

 "Maybe. If you're nicer…" She turned her back to him to grab her purse, and he slipped up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

 "Don't be scared, Gabi. I'm going to be with you every step of the way. I love you." He moved her hair aside and gently kissed her neck. She turned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck.

 "Thank you, Antonio. I love you so much." She reluctantly moved out of his embrace. "We’d better be going before I decide to put that robe back on."

 "Whatever you say…" She smiled at his attempt at submission.
 
 

 Forty-five minutes later, after a light breakfast and a lot of re-thinking, Gabi and Antonio stood outside the tall, white house. Her heart pounding, Gabi slipped her hand into Antonio's, who squeezed it lightly in a motion of reassurance.

 "Do you want me to go in with you, or wait out here?" Antonio asked.

 "I want you with me. Don't leave my side." Gabi ordered. She wasn't sure if she had the strength to do this without him.

 "All right. I won't leave your side." Antonio promised, and they rang the doorbell.  A tall, matronly woman answered and promptly asked them what their business here was.

 "I'm here to see a little girl…my…" She glanced at Antonio, who nodded. "My daughter."

 "Your daughter? If she's your daughter, then why is she even here?" She asked, not exactly overflowing with kindness.

 "I put her up for adoption…and…well…it's a long story. Ms. Shivers told me to come by…can I see her?" Gabi asked in a timid voice. She was seriously considering bolting, but was comforted by Antonio's hand resting on the small of her back. She was as amazed as always by the effects that even the smallest of contact between them could have on her and her ragged and shattered nerves.

 "Come in, I'll go see if Ms. Shivers wants to speak with you." The rigid woman walked away lost down a long hallway, leaving Antonio and Gabi alone in the main room.

 "Antonio, are you sure I should be here? What if she doesn't want to see me…what if-" Her mind was racing with a thousand different scenarios of what could happen.

 "Gabi, you want to see your daughter, don't you?" Gabi nodded. "And there is a part of you that wants her back, a big part, isn't there?" She nodded again. "So lets go meet her, all right?" A final nod from Gabi sealed the subject."

 "I'm just so scared…what is she hates me…what if…" Gabi was near tears, and probably would have started crying if they hadn't have been interrupted by the woman that Gabi had met the day before.

 "Ms. Martinez? I'm glad that you came. Follow me, I'll take you right to her." Compared to the woman that had greeted them, Darla was being friendly. The previous day, she hadn't seemed so eager to talk with Gabi.

 "All right. Can…can Antonio come, too?" Gabi asked. Darla turned, as if just noticing Gabi's companion. She studied him for a few minutes, then nodded.

 "Sure." She replied, and turned to leave the two down a long hall, then up a steep set of stairs. They stopped at the first bedroom to the right that they reached. "She's in the playroom with the other children. I'll go get her. Why don't you two wait right down there?" She pointed to an empty room down the hall.

 "All right." Gabi and Antonio entered the room, which consisted of a few chairs and a couch.

 "I can't believe this is happening…" Gabi moaned as Antonio took a seat on the couch next to her.

 "It is. You’re about to meet your daughter. We both are." Antonio rubbed her shoulders, working out the knots of tension.

 "Thank you so much for being here, with me. I couldn't have done this without you." Gabi said, smiling gratefully up at him.

 "I bet you could have, but I'm glad I could be here anyway." His hands lingered on her shoulders before he brought them down, taking one of her small, slender hands in his.

 Then Darla walked in, accompanied by a small girl. Antonio was amazed at how much she resembled Gabi. She was petite, giving the appearance of being much younger than her ten years with small features, and big, dark eyes. She smiled shyly at them.

 Gabi's heart nearly stopped when her daughter walked into the room. She was too distracted to notice the similarities between them, her gaze was held in the warm, but sad eyes. The same eyes that Gabi herself saw every time she looked into the mirror. Eyes that seen too much heartache, too much pain, and too much loss. But they were not exactly alike. Annie had also seen love, a true caring and deep love that Gabi had never felt before Antonio had given it to her.

 When Annie walked into the room, Gabi discovered something else inside her, too. She had been worried not only that her daughter would feel nothing for her, but also she had been worried that she would not feel the love that a mother was supposed to feel. And now, Gabi was discovering that she did feel it. The moment she had laid eyes on the girl, Gabi had known in her heart that there was no way she was going to give up a second chance with her little girl, the baby that she had suffered long and hard at the hands of her father for having, the baby that she had never been given a chance to love. Well, she had a chance now.
 

Chapter Four

"Hi, Annie." Gabi whispered softly as she gazed at the little girl standing shyly in the doorway.

"Hello." Annie replied even more softly.

"Annie, this is Gabi and…" Darla Shivers glanced over at Antonio, realizing that she didn't know his name.

"Antonio." He supplied.

"Gabi and Antonio. They want to talk to you for a few minutes. Is that all right, Annie?" The social worker asked the child in a warm voice, warmer than the one that she had used when informing Gabi of Annie's state the day before.

"I guess…are they going to adopt me, Ms. Darla?" Annie asked to softly for Antonio and Gabi to hear as she studied them a bit more closely.

"I…why don't you just talk to them for a few minutes? I'll talk to you more later, okay, sweetie?" She asked, and Annie nodded. "I'm going to go for a while. Call me if you need anything." The last comment was directed at Antonio and Gabi before she left the room.

Since Gabi showed no signs of speaking again, and Annie seemed too shy to start conversation, Antonio decided to speak up.

"Do you like it in Sunset Beach, Annie?" He asked.

She answered with a grin that reminded Antonio of Gabi so much.  "Yes…I love the beach! Ms. Darla took me and some other kids a few days ago."

"Did she? How long have you been here?" Antonio inquired, wondering when Gabi was going to take over. He glanced over at her to see that she was still watching Annie, tears in her eyes. Gabi saw him looking at her and reached over to slip her hand in his.

"A month. It's okay, but I miss my Momma and Bryan. He is…was…my brother. They died…" She said sadly. Gabi tensed next to him.

"You loved your mother very much?" Gabi said, more of a fact that a question.

"Yeah. I know she wasn't my real mom, but I loved her just like she was." Annie answered then looked shyly at Gabi. "Are you…gonna…you know…adopt me? Because I like you…and I wouldn't mind it you adopted me."

Antonio was surprised by how direct she was, coming out and asking straight off, but he was glad to see that there was a connection between Gabi and her daughter.

"Yeah, I am, Annie…" Gabi answered with only a moment's hesitation. Antonio was a little surprised that she hadn't taken more time to think about it, but he knew that she was doing the right thing.

"You are?" She seemed happy about it. So happy that she almost ran over to hug Gabi before her shyness returned.

"I am." Gabi looked so sure, and so happy that she had made the right decision. Antonio will be glad, she thought with a smile.

"Can I…go home with you? Today? I don't really like it here much…" Annie said, stepping closer to Gabi with each word. Gabi tentatively reached over and touched Annie's arm.

"Sure you can." She answered, before thinking. None of the logical thoughts crossed her mind – that the loft wasn't big enough for three people, that Ricardo didn't even know about her, that she would have to explain to the girl that she was her real mother…none of those even entered her head. All she considered was pleasing her daughter. Her daughter.

"Gabi-" Antonio began to say, about to warn her that she needed to tell Ricardo about her daughter before bringing her home with her, but Gabi threw him a silencing look. "Gabi…are you sure?"

"You don't want me to come home with you?" Annie asked, giving Antonio a hurt look.

"Of course I do, Annie…but Gabi's…I mean…She…I…" He tried to explain himself as Gabi watched on with an amused expression.

"Excuse me?" Ms. Shivers said, stepping into the doorway. "Did I just hear what I thought I did?"

"Ms. Darla, she's gonna adopt me!! I'm gonna have a home again, and a Mommy, and everything!" Annie exclaimed proudly.

"You are?" Darla asked, throwing Gabi a curious look. Most parents, biological or hopeful adoptive took at least a few days to ponder the life altering decision.

"She is." Gabi replied, looking just as proud as Annie had been.

"Well…this is surprising. But I'm…glad that you made this decision Ms. Martinez."

"Actually, it's soon to be Torres." Gabi corrected, not even seeing the surprised and a little hurt look that flashed across Antonio's face. Wasn't Gabi planning on calling off the wedding? "You might want to change your papers, or whatever. Gabi Torres."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Torres. And you are Mr. Torres, I presume?"

"Yes, I am…but not her fiancé…I'm Father Antonio Torres." He said before Gabi had a chance to stop him. She blushed brightly, remembering that she had told Darla the day before that Antonio was her boyfriend. Darla raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Gabi, but didn't say anything. Annie, on the other hand, did.

"But I thought you were going to be my…my Daddy…" A father was something that Annie hadn't even had in her family before they died.

"Annie, why don't you go back into the playroom for a few minutes. I need to talk to Miss Martinez and Father Torres." Darla said as Annie, who was looking slightly confused and a bit sad walked out of the room.

"Well…though I would recommend getting your personal situation straightened out so Annie won't be too confused, I can't really stop you from. taking Annie back, Ms Martinez, though I do wish that you would give it some more thought. This is a monumental decision…you can't just bring her back if it doesn't work out. " She shot Antonio a glance. "And you might want to have your fiancé meet her, too."

"But…I'm her mother. Shouldn't I take her home immediately?" Gabi said, then noticed the social worker's slight frown and Antonio's peculiar expression. "Antonio?"

"Gabi…don't you need to tell Ricardo first? I mean…he needs to know." Antonio said in a gentle voice, not wanting her to think that he disapproved of her decision. He completely approved, actually, but he still thought that taking her home immediately was rushing it a little.

"I guess…if you think I should wait, then I will, Antonio." Gabi looked over at him and he gave her a small smile. "I'll come for her tomorrow, then."

"All right. We'll have her things packed." Darla said, then added. "But please, Ms. Martinez, I must stress that this is not a decision to be made lightly. This is a child, another life that you are taking on responsibility of."

"I know that. She's my daughter!" Gabi said, beginning to get a little annoyed. "Don't you want me to have her?"

"Of course. She deserves a loving family…just don't commit to something that you might not be ready to handle yet." Darla said, fearing that Gabi may not be ready for motherhood.

"I am ready. Come on, Antonio…we can leave. I just want to say bye to Annie and explain to her what's happening first." Gabi said, standing. She was angry that this woman who was so set on having Gabi meet her daughter the previous day didn't seem to want her to have Annie now.

"Sure, Gabi." He stood behind her and followed as she walked down the hall and stood in the doorway of a room full of toys and young children. After a moment, Annie noticed and ran to the door.

"Are we gonna leave now?" She asked, her dark eyes open wide with excitement. Gabi smiled at her childish exuberance and bent down to look her in the eye.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but you can't go home with me right now. We have to wait until tomorrow, okay? But don't worry, first thing tomorrow morning, I'll be here to get you and you can go home with me." Gabi smiled a brilliant smile at the child and reached over to stroke her soft hair.

"Okay…" Annie said, a little reluctantly. She had taken an instant liking to the woman, who in a small way reminded her of her own mother, the one that had perished such a short time ago.

"Can I give you a hug, Annie?" Gabi asked softly, not wanting to move to quickly, ask too much her in her fragile emotional state.  But Annie didn't seem to mind at all.

It warmed Antonio's heart to see the happiness on Gabi's face as Annie wrapped her arms around Gabi's neck and she held her daughter closely, treasuring the feel of the small heart beating against hers.

After a moment of holding her daughter Gabi pulled away and stood up. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay, Annie?"

"All right." Annie said and then watched as Gabi and Antonio were escorted out by the social worker.
 

On the car ride home, both of them were silent. Gabi was lost in thoughts of her impending motherhood and Antonio lost in his worries about Gabi. As they pulled into the parking lot of the loft, he reached over and kissed her softly on the head. "Gab?"

"Yeah?" She answered, raising her face to be able to look him in the eye. Her lips mere inches away from his, he said, "We need to talk."

"Ohhh…" She moaned playfully and leaned back against the seat.

"When Is Ricardo due home?" He asked, stepping out of the car and walking around to open her door.

"What a gentleman," She commented, "He's not supposed to be home for another 2 or 3 hours."

"Good. Plenty of time for us to…talk." He said, grinning at her. "It's near lunch time. Do you want to go out for something?"

"No reason to. I've got plenty of stuff in the loft, we can eat here." She fumbled in her purse for the key. Sliding it in the doorknob, she let them in and immediately turned to Antonio. "So…let's talk."

"Gabi…you know I meant really talk. About you, and Ricardo, and Annie."

"And you." Gabi added.

"Not me, Gabi. I'm not your…fiancé. I have nothing to do with this equation, not right now at least."

"Yes, you do Antonio. You are very much a part of this. I love you. It's you I meant I was going to marry earlier! Not Ricardo. I don't love him, not the way I love you. You should know that by now. I want to be your wife, I want you to be Annie's father."

"You know what, Gabi?" Antonio took her into his arms. "I would like that very much." Leaning down, he kissed her softly. "So, we're going to tell Ricardo tonight? Everything?"

"I…oh God, it seems so cruel to hit him with the news of us and Annie at the same time, doesn't it?" Antonio had to admit she was right. Finding out your fiancé was leaving you for your brother the priest and that she had a nine-year-old daughter that she hadn't told you about and was getting back was an awful lot to throw on one person.

"You're right…why don't we wait to tell him about us then?" Antonio offered, but Gabi shook her head. "We can wait until my resignation from the priesthood is official."

"I want you to be with me from the start. Besides, it'll confuse Annie if I tell her I'm marrying Ricardo then two days later say I 'changed my mind' and I'm marrying you."

"All right…so, what do you think we should do?" Antonio asked, releasing Gabi from his embrace as she bounced onto the bed and pulled him down next to her.

"I think we should tell him everything tonight, just go ahead and get it over with. Ricardo is a very strong man, he'll survive. You know it and so do I." Gabi smiled understandingly. "I know how hard this is for you, Antonio…trust me, I do. I love you, though…Antonio, you are the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with. Not your brother." Gabi said, then saw Antonio's horrified expression. She turned around to see what he was staring at and her heart fell to the floor.

"Ricardo!"

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