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Whatever was happening was personal and, as far as Quinn was concerned, it wasn't about hidden treasure. Both in the past and the future she was murdered and, because Quinn didn't believe in coincidences, that was very significant. The question now was who stood to gain from her death both in the past and the future and what was it that Quinn had that made murder a reasonable means to an end? The answer was fairly obvious and he was currently taking a shower in her bathroom.
She pulled her head from that and thought about what Gabriel had told her, they were pregnant when she was murdered. How the hell did he survive that? Thank God he came back almost immediately since the thought of him suffering a loss like that, losing not just her but their child, to find himself alone again made her want to drop to her knees and sob. How did any of them survive such pain and loss? It was nearly unbearable to think that everyone she loved, Archer, Nickie, Gabriel suffered and ended up alone. They needed to figure it out and change fate.
She heard the shower turn on and thinking of his beautiful body under the spray she decided to surprise him and keep him from being alone now. She placed her glass down and quietly slipped into the bathroom. The glass door of the shower stall was steaming up but she could still see him as the water slid down the deep groove of his spine. His body was so perfect, like it was carved from marble by a master, and seeing him always meant wanting him so she removed her clothes and quietly slipped into the shower. She pressed herself up against his back and wrapped her arms around his waist allowing her fingers to trace the muscles of his abs. She felt as his entire body went still, felt as his heart pounded hard and erratic in his chest, and then in a blur of movement he turned and wrapped his strong arms around her pulling her up against his body so that her soft curves were pressed up against his hard lines. Right before his mouth lowered to hers, he whispered in a voice that had grown hoarse, "Took you long enough."
Quinn toweled dried her hair but couldn't help glancing in the mirror at Gabriel who stood behind her wearing only a towel wrapped loosely around his hips. He had another towel which he was using to dry his hair, causing it to spike up all around his handsome face.
She didn't want to think about it but watching him reminded her that this poor man finds her lying on the floor, dying. A pain speared her heart at the thought. To actually watch as he slipped away, to watch him die before her very eyes. No, if she had to witness that she would never survive it. He was so strong but the past had to stop repeating itself or it would destroy them.
Who was doing this and why? She was so lost in thought she didn't realize that he had come up behind her, didn't realize it until he slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her back against his hard chest.
"What are you thinking about?"
Her eyes met his in the mirror and the look of love burning there had her heart skipping a few beats. "Wondering why someone is constantly pulling us apart. We met before, you know that, and we were pulled apart. And when we meet centuries later someone tears us apart again. Why?"
His arms tightened around her. "I don't know but we will figure it out."
She turned then and wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face against his chest.
"I don't know how you came to be here or how I went back. I don't know how I was lucky enough to find you and not just in one lifetime, but I am so grateful."
He gently ran his knuckles along her jaw and whispered, "Always and forever." And then he kissed her.
Their passion was interrupted by the buzzing vibration of Quinn's cell phone. And while she didn't want their embrace to end, Quinn knew this phone call could hold the key to the answers they sought.
"Hi, Tessa, what's up?"
"Hey. I just sent those photos to you. It cost me dinner, a very memorable dinner, so I think I might just oweyounow!"
Quinn laughed at that, confirmed she received the photos, thanked her friend then settled in with Gabriel to check out the pictures of Derek and Constance.
As soon as she saw the aged version of Derek's partner, recognition tickled her memories.
"I've seen her before. Where have I seen her?" Quinn asked mostly to herself but Gabriel reached for the phone and looked at the picture. He studied it for a few minutes then offered, "Looks like the woman who owns the Organic Grocery in the village near Whispering Winds."
"Oh my God, you're right! It is her. Well, no wonder the day I visited her store she acted so oddly. She was probably wondering or worrying if I would recognize her."
"Who is she?"
"Derek's partner."
Their age difference was great and Gabriel's look of disbelief was comical. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. Scarier yet, she's probably only in her early 30s."
"Damn."
Quinn put her phone on the table before climbing onto Gabriel's lap to straddle him. "We're going to need to speak with her."
His hands ran down her body before he gripped her night gown and worked it up over her head.
"Tomorrow is soon enough," he whispered before his lips molded to hers. She couldn't have agreed more.
Two days later, the bell chimed over the door as Quinn and Gabriel entered the grocery store and when the older woman appeared before them and offered her greeting, they were both momentarily speechless.
"So, you've figured it out then?" she asked.
"Not entirely," Quinn offered.
