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((Awwwww children. I WANT A LITTLE BOY SO BADLY. I can't stand it. AGH. Man...I might just steal one...))

Yanmei had been there for them whenever they wanted her. She left her phone on and lived only half a mile away in a small house. Nearly every day she'd come and visit, talk to them, sometimes bring dinner or lunch. She always made sure everyone was okay. She could see everyone getting better, and over the years she saw it becoming more genuine. She was sure things would be perfect. As soon as Gabriel found Hans and got rid of him, she would be able to leave and let them completely move on.

She hadn't changed much, except her hair was now long and wavy, but still black of course, and she was still relatively short and curvy. She still talked to Gabriel and Abel, and she still hid the notes and gifts Abel gave to her to give to everyone. She would humor Abel, to make him feel better, and hide them in her home where if anyone visited they'd never find it.

Today she was walking towards Talen's house, some pastries in her hands that she had bought to bring to the small family, and a few extra sweets for David that she'd slip to him without his parent's knowing. She walked up to the door and knocked, whistling a bit as she did so. Things were as good as they ever were. She prayed soon things would be perfect.

((What a nice lady. I want some pastries...))

The halls of the hospital were lit in the bluish light so that it seemed to take every illness and injury of those inside to the extreme. Every cut seemed more sever, every pale skin was alabaster white. If anyone had been there for any reason they'd be drained by just being inside. Of course if anyone were drained it was the young man leaning in the hall, head tilted up and lips moving.

His blonde curly hair was cut short around his face which was smooth and perfect. His jaw was defined and his cheek bones perfect. He was taller than most who walked by and his body was lean. There was some muscle on his arms that had grown there over years of training, of course they weren't so visible as to be threatening. He appeared to be in his early twenties.

If he was in a normal condition, he would have been stunning. But he was bandaged, cut, and bruised. He had a crutch under one arm as he put the other against his stomach. Words came from his mouth that was a slur of another language.

"Excuse me. Mr..." The nurse who had walked up glanced down to her chart, "Mr. Caine?" She looked up and said man opened his brilliant blue eyes to look at her. "You should go back to your room..." At these words, he smiled and shook his head.

"I'll be fine, thank you." He said calmly, voice smooth and reassuring. The nurse immediately smiled and walked away. A trick he had learned from Gabriel. He could feel the sickness inside of him starting to ebb away, same with his broken arm and bruised muscles. He knew what he was doing would be considered 'bad' to Gabriel, but he didn't care. He felt alive when he helped heal the injured and sick. It made him feel like he was closer to the people who originally made him feel alive without having to feel pain.

After catching his breath he limped out of the hospital and sat down on a bench outside. His hand moved to his jeans and pulled out a white cell phone. He flipped it open and pulled up the address book, scrolled through hundreds of names until it froze on one that made his lips tug into a smile but than into a frown. 'Talen' was all it said and his thumb hovered on the call button.

What he was doing was crazy, he'd be caught, Gabriel would pull him up again without giving him a chance to even see his friend. He took a sharp intake of air as his eyes watered and he slammed his thumb on the call button. With his hand trembling he put the phone to his ear and sat silently, watching people walk by, looking at him with pity in their eyes. Lifting a healing hand he rubbed his tears from his eyes and swallowed.

If he just heard his voice, he'd be fine. Just a simple hello...and he'd hang up and move on.

((Hahaha his last name's Caine, I remembered. xD I never used his last name before...

Ironic.))

Mei listened patiently to all the commotion in the house, laughing to herself. When Saul came to the door she grinned widely at him and hugged him. "Hello!" She exclaimed happily before removing herself from him. "How's Mr. Hot Shot doing?" She winked at him and then pulled out the box of pastries. "I brought food. Put some fat on that body of your's." She said and wandered into the kitchen where everyone else was.

"Hey guys." She smiled all the while and she waved the box around. "Brought some tooth decay with me. I couldn't help myself...Lord knows I shouldn't get any fatter, but I can't resist. Temptation was the death of me." She sighed heavily and shook her head. Her brown eyes moved to David with a lit up light and she waved excitedly to him like a little girl. "Hey Sexy Face." She cooed and winked at him.

"What a lady killer." She looked around, noticing the absent Talen, who she secretly was the most excited to see. Her crush had only grown over the years, of course she never truly admitted it without making it sound like she was joking. "Where's..." She trailed off when she caught sight of him through the window in the back. There was a strange feeling in her gut that she felt like she should rip the phone from his hands. Her breath caught for a second before she shook her head and looked away.

"Who is he talking to? A new girlfriend?" She asked, a bit jealous. "I'm the only girl for him!"

((Hahaha. Silly Asian...))

Abel put his face into his bandaged hand. The ring on the phone felt prolonged, giving him second thoughts. He pulled the phone away as it continued and was about to close the phone when he heard Talen's voice. Everything froze. He felt ridiculous...desperate...weak. He put the phone to his ear again and was silent, a smile on his face, though his eyes were pained. Words lingered on his tongue but his mouth told him not to let them out.

A sigh came from his nose and he held back a laugh. If he could see himself he'd see just how stupid he was. He felt his body collapse and he breathed out. What he was doing was wrong. He knew Talen was fine, he knew Alice and Saul were better than ever. If he tried to make contact, like Gabriel said, it would ruin that balance of happiness they had built.

This time the laugh escaped his lips. "Oh God. I'm sorry. I...I...dialed the wrong number." He forced out and moved to hang up.

((Hahahaha.))

Mei laughed loudly at David's reaction and she shrugged. "I never lie, sir. You're face? Definitely sexy. I don't say that often, except for your uncle. He's got a sexy face too." She smirked playfully and leaned against the counter as David tried to grab the pastries from Saul. As Alice waved her over she sat down and watching her kiss her husband.

"Awwwwww. So sweet!" She said with a giggle and wiggled her butt in her seat for emphasis. "I want a man." She sighed dreamily and placed her hand on her cheek. "And I'm glad it's not a girlfriend! No girl is good enough for him! Anyways...I think he's gay." She furrowed her brows as she went into a whisper, "no reaction when I flirt with him. He doesn't make any moves! It's kind of embarrassing." She nodded firmly and leaned back. "Let's eat." She said and began to put some food into her mouth.

((Hahahaha. Of course she's kidding...right?! Yeah she is.))

Abel's hand froze when the voice came again, this time saying his name. He felt his heart drop. The stupidity in what he had done was beyond belief. Carefully he put the phone to his ear, as if afraid something would break. He was quiet again, wondering if he should just hang up, of course he knew he should...but he was trying to think of excuses not to. Rubbing his face again he looked up at the people walking by, some glancing his way, some obviously watching as they went by. The world seemed slow as he sat there with his phone against his ear. Their sounds were muted.

"I don't know what I am doing." He admitted. "Actually, I do, and I know how stupid it is, but I am doing it anyways. And since I am so deep in trouble now, I might as well just do what I can while I can, until I'm found." The words spilled from his mouth and this time he didn't bother trying to stop himself from talking. Laughing again he leaned back, tilting his head so that he was staring up at the sky. An arm draped over his forehead and he smiled at the situation. It was so ignorant that it was humorous.

"You don't mind just talking to me, do you? I think it might make me feel good." He said slowly, closing his eyes. "Tell me you're doing well."

Mei smiled at them and shook her head, swallowing her food. "She got a manly man. Manliest of them all." She laughed softly and leaned back, glancing out the window. She studied Talen, her eyes narrowing slightly at the way the man was moving as he spoke, her gut feeling was telling her to go out there again.

"I really wonder who that is..." she muttered, mostly to herself as she stared out the window. Pulling her eyes away she looked back at the others with another smile, putting more food in her mouth.

"Maybe. I could just kiss him you know. Smack him and then kiss him. It seems more romantic that way. But first I'd have to get in a fight with him...over something trivial..."

((I think she's planned it out in her mind...))

Abel listened to his friend with a smile and continued to keep his eyes closed. Just hearing his voice made him seem like he was next to him. It was nearly as good as him actually being there. "That's great." He said, sincerely happy for Talen. "I'm glad you're okay." He said and paused as Talen finished. How was he? That was a question he didn't expect to answer.

"Uh..." He licked his lips, his energy draining as his body continued to heal itself. "It's been seven years...four months...and..." He stopped himself and laughed. "What about me..." He opened his eyes and watched the sky again. His eyelids felt heavy as he tried to think of some words of assurance or something to say. "Well...I'm tired...really tired. Exhausted even." He finally said, knowing that was the truth. "I might fall asleep on this bench. Did you know, they make movable maps these days? I asked this guy for directions and he pulled out this map that moved. It was fantastic. Nearly as fantastic as automobiles, almost got ran over by one of those today. It scared me and then I realized afterward that it wouldn't have mattered much anyways, right?" Laughing he rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes again.

"I also saw a really handsome violin the other day. I was about to buy it, when I remembered I had no money. But I went in the store anyways. It was wonderful. There were tons of instruments I think you'd enjoy. I even saw a combination of those miniature pianos, the electrical ones, and a guitar. It was the most bizarre thing. The man who worked there asked if I played, and when I said I didn't, he showed me how it worked. It was spectacular. I even saw harps, can you believe that? I thought no one appreciated that anymore. I played a little, but I felt bad for not buying anything so I left." After a moment he felt his body become lighter, sleep threatening to get him. "You should visit that shop one day. It's near the hospital, the one we visited Saul at, remember? The people there are simply the kindest and helpful people. I wish I could get to know them better. They seemed wonderful and friendly. But you know...I can't really get attached. It's all just temporary..." He trailed off as he faded out.

"Talen...it was good hearing you again. I missed everyone, especially you." An ambulance drove by, the sirens splitting the calm air and it briefly stirred Abel enough to finish talking. "Don't tell anyone I called. I don't want to ruin anything again. Especially don't tell Yanmei. No one knows I'm here. And if they find out, I'll get in trouble. Gabriel will get on a soapbox and Yanmei will yell and you know...I just don't want that. But...but it really was nice talking to you..." He felt his lips slow and his breathing become softer. He hadn't realized he had been talking a lot. It was possibly the longest he's spoken with someone since he was last with Talen. "Don't forget to visit that music store...you should make friends with the gentlemen there. You might be able to bargain with them to cut down the price of some instruments." Finally his whole body became weightless and he breathed out.

"Don't forget...to visit..." His hand dropped, as his head tilted all the back, mind wandering away from reality as his body began to cope with the rest of the healing process it needed.

((Ahahaha. He likes to talk... and he's like a hobo...sleeping on a bench...))

Mei nodded a bit as they told her she should go through with her plan. "I guess I might try it. And Saul...I thought I already WAS your hero. The fact that I have to prove my worthiness to you hurts my heart." She put a hand to her chest and frowned.

When Talen walked through the door, her eyes were critical, staring at him as if bearing through him. Her suspicion was growing stronger and stronger as she took in the man's reactions and she fingered her pocket where her phone was. She caught sight of Saul's look and she turned her eyes back to the man at question.

"You do look pale." Mei echoed, still looking at Talen. "And who would turn down an offer for 'things'? You should have accepted it. If you want, I can call them back. I can be your manager." She said, slipping in a joking smile, even though she was trying to get something out of him, something to further her need to call Gabriel. She had a feeling that whoever called Talen was somebody who wasn't supposed to call him.

After another bite of food and began to get up from the table. "Excuse me for a second. Someone is calling me." Just as she said that her phone went off, a classical song drifting into the air. She slid out of the kitchen, shooting a glance at Talen again before disappearing.

Once out of view she opened her phone, which was only ringing because she made it ring. Her finger quickly dialed Gabriel's number and she sat at the bottom of the stairs, brows furrowed.

"Mei? What's up?" Gabriel answered.

"I'm not sure actually. But I have this crazy feeling that something is DEFINITELY up." She looked out the door and continued, "Where's Noah?"

((Lala. I don't want to use Abel here, since he's sleeping and I don't want to wake the baby up. Also, she's using Noah because it's Abel's middle name...so she wouldn't raise tremendous curiosity. Haha.))

((MAN I am going to be doing stuff too! Wheeee. Haha. While I should be studying...but ooohhh wellll.))

Mei glanced up when she saw Talen. She turned her head slightly as Gabriel answered her previous question.

"He's with Matthew. Why? Is something wrong?"

"I see. You should check." She looked back to Talen, shooting him a questioning look as if to ask why he was watching her. "Could you give me some privacy?"

"What's this about, Yanmei?"

Mei continued to watch Talen. Lifting a hand she waved him away with a frown. "You know." She responded and breathed through her nose, turning her head again. "Of all people you should know."

There was a pause on the other end before a sigh came out. "What is giving you this concern?"

"Things. Things are." She muttered softly. "If you want, I can check too." She began. There was movement that Mei could hear. "Are you checking?"

"Yeah, hold on." There was sound of stepping and voices that suddenly began to linger into the phone as Gabriel left the privacy of where he was. Yanmei tapped her foot, took the phone from her ear and stood up, examining Talen. "Who called you?" She asked, voice dark.

Gabriel groaned and Mei put the phone back to her ear. "Matthew said he left a few days ago."

"A few DAYS ago?" Mei suddenly said loudly and she put a hand to the top of her head, eyes narrowing. Abruptly she slammed the phone shut and stared at Talen. "Liar." She said with a suppressed anger, not directed to him. "My god. I don't understand. I really don't. This is ridiculous. People can't be responsible!" She opened the door and began to walk out, looking at Talen over her shoulder warningly.

"Stay here." She said simply and shut the door.

((Hahaha. She believes she can actually make people do what she wants.))

Mei looked back when she heard Talen coming after her and she stopped. At his words she breathed out heavily and narrowed her eyes again, frustrated at this whole ordeal. Things were going so smoothly until Abel decided it'd be fun to call Talen. Fun for him maybe, not for her. And in the end, not for anyone.

"I had a feeling." She grunted and pulled some black hair from her face. "Just remember that he's not staying. So really, coming is just hurting everyone. He can't stay." She said again, trying to push it into Talen's mind. She then turned around swiftly and started walking down the sidewalk at a fast pace, mumbling a bit to herself.

She had a sense of where Abel might be. It was just the thing he'd do. But to be sure, she stopped again and looked to Talen. "Do you know where he is? I have a feeling, but I don't want be wrong and then having to go walking even more."

((Mmmmm. Now off to medieval times! Wheeee.))

((I went one time! It was tons of fun! I want to go again sometime. But it comes here in June. So I have to wait..))

"That's what I thought..." She said and started to walk again, collecting her thoughts together, wondering what she'd have to do to get the angel to go back. Seeing how hard it was the first time, she wondered if he'd be easier this time.

It was after ten to fifteen minutes when they finally got near the hospital. People were walking around and cars drove by at a steady pace. Mei looked around, trying to spot the person they were looking for. She was about ready to call Abel just to find him by the ring, but saw a head of blonde curls. Running a hand through her long black hair she walked towards him.

When she got closer she noticed the bandaged arm and the crutch lying beside him on the bench. It was obvious to her already what he was doing here. He had remnants of scratches on his face, scabbed and fading and a small bruise on his eye which would have been a nasty black eye a few hours ago. His head was tilted back against the bench, face up towards the sky and mouth slightly parted. He looked completely calm and for a moment it made Mei want to just leave him be.

Finally she walked up in front of him, resisting the urge to kick him in the leg and start to shout. There were people around, so she had to restrain her anger for now. "Wake up." She said and leaned over, face close to his. She pressed her hands to the back of the bench and put her mouth to his ear. "GET. UP." She said loudly and she quickly moved when Abel jumped awake.

He stood up suddenly but his vision blacked out and he fell back onto the bench. "Oh. my. goodness..." he panted, put a hand to his forehead. He winced and then looked to see Mei glaring at him. His eyes widened and a look of guilt crossed his face. "What...how...ohhhh no."

"Oh YES." Mei responded and grabbed his chin in her hands to make him look at her. "What the HELL are you doing? Do you REALIZE the trouble you are in? I could KICK you right. Smack you even. But there are people here, we won't let them witness that." She snarled and Abel's face darkened, a frown on his lips. He was too busy watching Mei to notice that there was someone else nearby. "What made you think you could go wandering around here as you please? HUH?"

"I...I wanted to..." He paused and looked down to his knees, hands rubbing his legs nervously. "I wanted to do something...I needed to do good for people...I wasn't doing anything worth my time there. I belong here..."

"Like hell you do. You're putting yourself in danger. AND everyone else. Do you remember WHY you left here? And then you call Talen. OH GOD. Coming here is one thing, contact ANYONE is a whole different story, Abel. You put them in serious danger."

"Wait...you were..."

"Yeah. I was there. I didn't want to believe you could have been STUPID enough to call him. But hey, I seriously underestimated your ignorance. And his."

Abel's eyes suddenly brightened and he looked directly at Mei now, as if asking her an unspoken question. "Is..."

"You think he'd let me leave alone? When you called? You better remember you're leaving as soon as Gabriel gets here." She said sternly but her words fell on deaf ears. Abel was looking around Mei, his whole body on edge with contained excitement.

When he finally saw Talen a large smile came over him and he tried to move himself away from Mei. She took a step back and he smiled even more, like a kid on Christmas morning. "Oh...oh my..." He began and then put a hand to his mouth as he hid laughter. "You need to shave."

((Hahaha. The first thing he says...how CRITICAL.))