Slow Dancing in the Darkness

“How are you settling in?” Elliot posed as he placed a cup of tea ahead of Gabriela, his brown eyes softly wandering over her face. He knew that she wasn’t happy, Gabriela had never liked Elliot hanging around, but he had little intention of stopping. Having Noah meant that he had a reason to still be around and he wasn’t about to let it slip by. To his mind, it was only a matter of time before his ex-wife became aware that she had made a mistake in leaving him and came back to him.

“It’s alright” Gabriela replied, stirring her tea gently “Noah loves his room” she added, smiling a little. It wasn’t easy on the little boy, since he had been born, he had spent time in numerous nurseries or bedrooms, but Gabriela couldn’t help but hope the latest was the last. She wanted Noah to settle down and with him due to start school in the autumn, she didn’t want to run the risk of up and leaving again at a moment’s notice.

Elliot nodded. “And you?” he posed.

“It’s a nice place, Eli” she commented “I like the area” she added.

Elliot smiled. “It’s not as bad as you thought it would be” he mused.

“I never said that this place would be bad, Eli, I just don’t like the fact that you have the power to up and leave and make me and Noah come along with you. He’s almost 5, Eli, and I want to find somewhere to settle him down. He’s got to start school and I don’t want to be one of those parents that pulls him out every time he gets settled and tells him that he has to do it all over again” she explained gently.

“I am trying, Ela” Elliot replied.

“Try harder, Elliot” Gabriela quipped as she pushed herself away from the counter “I want Noah to be happy and I doubt he will be if his papa insists that he keep moving around” she added before she made her way towards the 4 year old’s room. “You ready, baby?” she smiled.

“Papa’s here?” Noah squeaked, quickly throwing his backpack onto his shoulder.

Gabriela nodded. “He’s in the kitchen and he cannot wait to see you” she enthused, smoothing out his hair a little.

Noah grinned and sped out of the room, something which made Gabriela sigh. She wasn’t stupid, she knew precisely why it was that Elliot still insisted on hanging around, and she couldn’t help but worry that it would be Noah that got hurt in the long run. One day, Gabriela was going to find someone she wanted to move on with and she could guess that Elliot’s reaction to it would be severe. He’d never taken well to the idea that Gabriela no longer shared his name.

Collecting Noah’s overnight bag, she padded back into the kitchen, smiling a little as she watched Noah talk rapidly at Elliot. “He’s all packed” she noted, setting the bag down beside her ex.

“You could still come with us” Elliot offered “I am sure my parents would love to see you, Ela” he added.

Gabriela shook her head. The last people Gabriela wanted to see was Elliot’s parents. “I would, but I have plans this weekend” she noted.

Elliot cocked an eyebrow. “Plans?” he noted.

“I am going to coffee with a friend I’ve made. It’s nothing serious, Eli, but I said I would go and I don’t want to back out” she explained.

Elliot nodded his head softly. “Ok” he noted “I’ll see you Sunday night” he added, leaning down to lift up Noah’s bag.

Gabriela nodded her head and knelt down, tugging Noah’s jumper around him a little more. “I will see you on Sunday, Noah. Will you be good for papa and for your grandparents?” she posed, brushing the hair out of his eyes.

“I will, mama” he smiled.

“I love you, Noah” she noted, kissing his head gently “And I will call you tonight OK?” she posed.

Noah nodded his head before he toddled towards Elliot, grabbing his hand.

“I’ll see you Sunday” Elliot noted.

Gabriela nodded her head gently before she led them out into the hall, pressing another kiss to Noah’s head.

Elliot flashed her a small smile before he guided Noah into the elevator, passing Lionel who had his headphones in his ears.

Gabriela watched Elliot disappear into the elevator with Noah before she turned on her heel, moving to walk back into the apartment.

“That was the ass?” Lionel’s voice chimed.

Gabriela smiled to herself before she turned, nodding her head gently. “I think he probably prefers Elliot, but yes, that was him. He just came to take Noah for the weekend” she explained, leaning against the doorframe.

“He looks like an ass” Lionel quipped “I mean, who wears a suit to pick up his son?” he posed.

“You wouldn’t, I take it” Gabriela noted.

“My ex would kick me if I did” he replied.

Gabriela cocked an eyebrow. “You have a son?” she posed.

Lionel nodded. “He’s almost 3” he noted “It’s one of the fun facts about me that you would have found out when we went for coffee” he added.

Gabriela thought for a second before she peeked over her shoulder. “I have coffee here, if you’re not busy” she suggested gently.

“I’m not” he mused, taking a couple of paces towards her “Are you sure that you want me to come inside?” he added.

Gabriela nodded. “As long as you promise not to kill me, I think we should probably be alright” she commented with a small smile.

Lionel chuckled. “You have my word” he replied playfully before he stepped inside, his dark eyes peering around the apartment. Gabriela followed him into the apartment and closed the door before she padded towards the kitchen, flicking on the kettle before she took a little breath, trying to calm herself down slightly.

~#~
“So, you and Elliot” Lionel mused as he sipped on his drink, his brown eyes looking at her curiously.

Gabriela shook her head. “That’s a topic that we should probably steer clear of for a little while” she noted “If we have any hope of being friends, you’re not going to want to ask about Elliot for a while” she added.

“It was that bad?” the argentine posed.

“Let’s just say that if it wasn’t for Noah, I would have been happy to never see his face again” Gabriela retorted.

Lionel nodded his head.

“What about you and your ex?” Gabriela questioned.

“There’s nothing much to tell. We were together for a while, got married, had Thiago, and then things just petered out. We agreed that it was best for us both if we broke up and so we divorced. I see Thiago whenever I get the chance and I call him every night” he explained softly.

Gabriela nodded her head softly. “Do you regret it?” she posed.

“It was coming” Lionel admitted, swallowing a mouthful of his drink “I didn’t realize it, she did, but it was the right call. We’re better off as friends” he explained.

Gabriela sipped on her own drink, something which made Lionel smile. “So the topic of you and your ex, that’s a 3rd date topic right?” he teased, his eyes watching as her brown hair fell over her face.

“3rd date?” Gabriela posed.

“Yes, as in, the date that comes after the second one” Lionel smiled.

“We’d have to have a first one” Gabriela pointed out.

“I was sort of counting this” he replied.

“We’re sitting here talking about our exes” Gabriela pointed out.

“No secrets” Lionel mused “I like you, Gabriela” he noted.

“Gabby” she corrected softly “I’ve never liked Gabriela”

“Gabby” he repeated gently “I like you, Gabby, and I would like to take you out on a date. Our 1st if that’s the way you want to see it” he explained, offering her a sheepish grin.

Gabriela mulled it over for a second before she smiled. “I think I can do that” she mused.

Lionel smiled gently. “I will slip a note under the door” he grinned before he took the final mouthful of his coffee.

“Or you could knock” Gabriela suggested, leading him towards the door.

“That’s no fun” he grinned before he leant over, pressing a kiss to her cheek “I’ll see you” he added.

Gabriela nodded. “I’ll see you” she replied.