Gabriella went into his open arms and wept as he held her tightly. Arthur stroked her hair trying to console her. This was the first time he held his daughter.

"Why can't she see that I need her as much as she needs me." Gabriella sobbed in her fathers shoulder."

Arthur stiffened for a moment and understood what must have occurred.

"Blayne sees things perhaps too clearly sometimes. She never sees the obstacles just what is needed and sets a path." He said sadly.

Gabriella pulled away from him slowly wrapping her arms around herself.

Arthur watched her as she took a few paces away and seemed to stare in front of her.

"She doesn't understand that what we want just can't be." Gabriella voiced the sadness she felt overwhelming her soul.

He just listened not voicing his thoughts on the matter. This was the first time that his daughter had reached out to him.

"I hurt her. I said such an ugly thing to her." Gabriella covered her mouth to control the sobbing. "God I hurt her." She covered her face.

Arthur walked up to her and put his arms around her and she turned and buried her face in his chest.

"How could I hurt her like that?" Gabriella cried.



* * *

Elle had walked out looking for a quite place. She didn't like being in that house with all those people. They didn't like her and she didn't like them. Her Aunt Diana seemed nice enough but she wasn't too crazy about Chaz. The man that was her grandfather seemed okay but she just didn't really know him. And Blayne Anberville she was sure she didn't like at all. After she had almost run her over she had scared her half to death.

Elle had wondered into the garages behind the house. She saw cars that she didn't recognize but what caught her attention was the restored Harley Davidson to one corner of the garage. There were a few other motorcycles but the Harley left her speechless. Elle walked around it admiring the big machine. It was the most impressive bike she had ever seen. Her fingers went out to touch it.

"Don't touch that!" Blayne shouted

Elle jumped in fear and withdrew her hand immediately. She turned towards Blayne and upon seeing the eyes filled with anger directed towards her she took a step back.

"I'm sorry…" Elle was about to walk away when Blayne put her hand on Elle's shoulder.

Elle turned towards Blayne with her face down in submission.

"Look at me," Blayne instructed in a softer tone then previously.

The child raised her head, defiantly with a frown on her face.

Blayne smiled, "that's better, never allow anyone to bully you."

Blayne turned and began walking away leaving the child with a confused and curious look on her face.

"I don't like you!" Elle yelled.

Blayne stopped and turned around. "That's your right." Blayne began walking away again. As she was walked away she spoke to her. "I'm going to take out the Harley in about an hour. If your mom lets you I'll give you a ride and you can see how she handles."

Blayne did not wait for a reply and continued walking away as a smile appeared on her face.

Elle watched her not understanding whether she wanted to like her or not. She thought for a moment whether she should go for a ride on the Harley with Blayne Anberville or not. The child looked towards the bike in admiration; hesitating only for a moment than took off running to ask her mother 's permission.



* * *

"Mom!" Elle was yelling as she entered the house.

Gabriella went out of the library seeking her daughter.

"Elle? Are you all right?" Gabriella held onto her daughter's shoulder.

Elle was trying to catch her breath. "Mom…."

"Honey, just take a deep breath…are you okay?"

"Mom, can I go on a ride on her bike? Please mom…please." Elle begged her mother.

"Elle what are you talking about?"

Arthur walked out of the library and smiled at his excited granddaughter.

"Please mom…please?" Elle insisted.

"Elle, what are you talking about?"

"I think she is talking about Blayne's bike, right?" Arthur joined them asking his granddaughter.

"Yes, it's incredible. She says if you say its okay she will give me a ride. Please mom, please?" Elle began all over again looking at her mother and pulling at her arm.

"What do you mean a bike?" Gabriella asked suspiciously. "As in a motor cycle?"

Elle shook her head up and down with a big smile on her face.

"Please mom, oh please."

"Elle, I don't think so. It's not safe." Gabriella hated denying her daughter the pleasure she saw in her face. Elle rarely expressed such interest in anything these days.

Immediately the child looked forlorn. At that moment Blayne was coming down the staircase. Gabriella looked up as Blayne was walking down leisurely. She was wearing tight black leather pants and jacket. Blayne seemed like something wild and untamable and for a moment she forgot to tell herself that she must hide what she felt like doing to the woman coming down the staircase. Blayne's eyes never left hers.

Elle looked towards the staircase sadly.

Blayne walked up to the small group. "My father will tell you that I have never had an accident on the bikes."

Elle looked from Blayne to her mother. "Please mom."

"No."

Elle took off running.

"Elle! Elle wait." Gabriella went after her daughter.

"I didn't mean to…" Blayne said as she stared after Gabriella.

"Gabriella is very protective of her daughter. The child is very withdrawn." Arthur added.

"She's just afraid." Blayne said distracted as she stared after mother and child.

"What is she afraid of?" Arthur looked at Blayne with curiosity.

"Everything, she's thirteen." Blayne still stared at the door that both Elle and Gabriella had run out of.

"Blayne…?"

Blayne faced her father. "Yes?"

"Are you all right?" Arthur touched his daughter's arm.

Blayne looked down then met his eyes again. "What is all right?"

"Blayne…"

"No…" Blayne said as she walked out of the house.



* * *

"Elle?" Gabriella walked up to her daughter slowly.

"I don't fit anywhere…" Elle sobbed. "I want to go home."

"Elle… come here baby." Gabriella reached out to her daughter.

The girl turned away then suddenly ran into her mother's embrace and cried even harder.

"Elle." Gabriella caressed her daughter's hair softly and kissed her head. At that moment the roar of the motorcycle got Gabriella's attention. Blayne was pulling out of the garage and stopped looking towards her.

Gabriella smiled and raised her daughter's face. "Go…listen to what Blayne tells you."

Elle's features where instantly filled with joy. She kissed her mother and ran towards Blayne.

Blayne got off the bike and helped Elle with her helmet. She then got back on helping the child climb in behind her. Before pulling out Blayne looked towards Gabriella for a moment then the bike and its two riders pulled out of the driveway.



* * *

"It's a nice bike." Elle said sitting next to Blayne on the grass. They had stopped after they had ridden for a good hour.

"Thanks. You like it, huh?"

"Yeah, it's awesome." Elle said excitedly.

Blayne couldn't help but smile at the excitement emanating from the girl in front of her.

"What grade are you in?" Blayne said looking towards the horizon.

Elle took a deep breath and looked from Blayne to in front of her as well. "I'll be starting high school in the fall."

Blayne looked at the girl then back at the horizon again. "Scared?"

Elle was about to give her usual smart mouth answer when she looked at Blayne. Suddenly she realized that Blayne was really asking her. She wasn't laughing at her or staring like most people did when she told them.

"Yeah." Elle said softly looking down at the ground at her feet.

"You can tell your mom you don't want to go and she will understand." Blayne said softly as she turned to look at Elle now.

"My dad will get mad. He made all the arrangements." Elle got up and took a few steps away and turned her back to Blayne. "They fight a lot. I don't want them to fight because of me."

"I'm sorry."

Elle nodded. "My mom likes you."

It was Blayne's turn to stare at the ground as Elle turned around to face her.

"I saw the bust of you." Elle waited to see Blayne's eyes rise to meet hers.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah… that's how I know she likes you." Elle said seriously.

Blayne's head turned to the side. "I went to high school when I was thirteen too."

"Did you hate it?" Elle asked

"Yeah." Blayne kicked the ground with her boot then she got up a well. "Why do you hate it?"

"I won't know anyone. All the kids will make fun of me."

Blayne turned sad eyes towards the girl. She knew the pain of being different only too well.

"Talk to your mom." Blayne said again softly. "She will understand."

"Maybe."

"Come on let's go before your mother thinks I've kidnapped you."

Elle looked towards Blayne and they both laughed.



* * *

"You let her what?" Joseph could not believe what he was hearing.

"Blayne will take good care of her."

"What is happening with you? We have always thought that motorcycles are dangerous. I can't believe you allowed it." Joseph walked away from her furious.