Gabi sits in her motel room, aimlessly staring out the window at an empty pool outside her room. She's been in El Paso for almost a week now and she feels absolutely miserable and completely alone. Why did I let that witch run me out of town? How could I let her take away my life? She thinks out loud. Gabi remembers the weeks before her wedding day and how tortured she was feeling about thinking of both Ricardo and Antonio. How could she want both men? What was wrong with her? With her thoughts racing through her mind, Gabi finally stands up and walks up and down her room, pacing with a fury trying to decide what to do. Her thoughts of both men enter her mind again. The same images she's had burned in her memory since leaving one week ago. Gabi finally sits on the bed and slowly the tears come racing down. She misses him so much. So much she can barely hold herself together. Her time away from him made her realize just how much she really loves him. How much she wants to be a part of his life and never let him go. She never realized she could feel such yearning and desire for him. She never thought it possible. As Gabi contniues to sob, she grabs her wallet and takes out a picture of him. As she stares at this beautiful face, his warm smile gazing longingly at her, Gabi desperately wants to run back to him. Back in the arms who love her in return. She brings the picture up to her lips and kisses him lovingly and Gabi says... "How could not realize it before? I'm sorry to have put you through so much. I didn't know. I didn't know how much I really love you....Ricardo." Gabi continues to stare at Ricardo's picture until she falls asleep with the picture clutched to her heart.

She begins to dream, a dream which takes her back to Sunset Beach. Gabi escapes to the beach and encounters Ricardo walking toward her. Her heart skips a beat as she sees him approach her. No words are spoken. He simply caresses her face as she caresses his until their hands intertwine together. As the sun sets, Ricardo pulls Gabi down to the sand and gently begins to make love to her. Gabi feels their bodies meet as one and relishes his touch and his soul. She has never felt happier. This is the same dream she has had since she left her life behind. The same dream that made her realize just who she really loved.

The power of the dream awakens Gabi. She is still shaking from the mere imagination of Ricardo's touch, upset that she is once again facing reality. A reality that does not include Ricardo. She wishes she could forever stay in the dream where she and Ricardo are together and so in love. As Gabi tries to sleep again in order to recreate the magical trance she's been under, she says out loud, "That saying was always right, absence does make the heart grow fonder."

Antonio is sitting at his desk at the mission staring at the phone trying to will it to ring. Spence had called him 30 minutes earlier indicating that he should know shortly where Gabi was by tracing her credit cards. The last 30 minutes had been pure torture for Antonio. He kept looking at his watch every other minute, unwilling to calm himself due to the anticipation he was feeling. He finally gets up and start pacing the office, running his fingers through his hair furiously unable to think straight. Why would Gabi just leave like that? He wanted answers from her. He would not be able to put her or anything behind him until he knew why Gabi so abrubtly left his... Ricardo's life.... and his. He thinks back to Ricardo and Gabi's wedding day and how he was willing to accept Gabi with Ricardo. He had been ready to deal with their sharing a life together. It would have been difficult, but with time he knew he could at least learn to see them together. He would always love Gabi, that was something he could never rid himself of. Gabi was a part of him and no one, not even his love for Ricardo, could end that. As his mind continued to race, the phone rings. Antonio knocks over a chair in an effort to grab the phone on the first ring. "Hello...Spence?" He says.

"Yeah, Father, it's me. I think I've located Gabi. At least, I know where she's used her credit card the last week."

Antonio listens impatiently. "WELL, WHERE IS SHE!!" He practically yells over the phone. He realizes that he came off abrubt by Spence's silence on the other end. "I'm sorry Spence, it's just that I am desperate to find her....for Ricardo...you understand."

"Yeah, Father, I get ya. Ricardo has been a mess ever since Gabi left him. If it wasn't for this murder case we're all working on, he'd be a lot worse. I feel really bad for him."

Antonio listens to Spence's words and they cut like a knife. This is his doing. If it hadn't been for that one night when he and Gabi gave in to their desires, Gabi and Ricardo would be together and his brother would be happy. The guilt washed over him like water over a bridge. He couldn't stand it. He had destroyed his brother, but he couldn't help what he was feeling, neither could Gabi.

"Father , are you still there?" Spence says.

Antonio had been in thought for awhile. He shakes his head as he snaps back into the converstation. "Where is she Spence?"

"Well, looks like Gabi has been using her card extensively at this motel in Blanco, Texas....it's called the rotary. Does that mean something to you? Now that i think about it, isn't that where Gabi is from?"

Antonio hits his head with his hand. OF COURSE! Gabi went back home. How could he not have thought of this in the first place? He feels such relief to have found this information. Now he can see her, be near her...and talk to her about what really drove her away. "Spence, thanks I owe you big. Can you give me the phone number on the printout? I need to talk to her for Ricardo. I'm gonna try and see if I can work things out between them."

"A little heavenly intervention huh?" Spence says and laughs softfly.

Antonio winces at this. "Yeah I guess you could say that." Antonio and Spence both say goodbye and Antonio slumps in his chair, staring at the number in front of him. A smile slowly creeps up on his face as he thinks of seeing Gabi once again. His heart races so fast he feels like it will puncture through his chest. He slowly picks up the phone and dials. Now Gabi would not be able to escape him. He has made a decision and he needed Gabi to know what he wanted to do.

"Rotary Inn, Kelly speaking." "Yes, could you give me directions to your location......."

Gabi has been roaming around the town of Blanco for the past 2 hours and that was a long time to take to walk throughout this whole town. It was very small. Only 3000 people inhabited the town. Gabi had always hated the town, but it was her hometown and it was the only place she could think of that she belonged. As she walks through the streets, looking through the various windows of all the stores on Main St., she remembers doing the same thing with her father, Lorenzo....before he hurt her. Gabi shakes her head as she tries to forget the memory of her father. Instead, she replaces him with thoughts of Ricardo. She thinks back to when she met Ricardo, so long ago. She thinks back to how he made her feel even back then. He was so handsome, debonair, and so sure of himself. The confidence he possessed was so evident that she had found herself wanting to acquire that same security. Her intentions had been to use him, but instead she had fallen for him. Without warning, Ricardo Torres had crept into her heart... something she never thought would be possible. Gabi never knew she could love someone more than herself. She was a selfish girl and she wanted what her sister had. Above all, her love life. How was she to know that Ricardo would change her life forever. How was she to know that he would feel a love so great for her. It was inconceivable to Gabi that it would happen. But it had. Ricardo had loved her for her and understood her when no one else had and she thought she owed him her life for that. How wrong she had been. Gabi had misjudged her feelings for him all along. She did love him. She loved him so much that she didn't know how she would go on without Ricardo in her life. Her time away from him made her reflect back on what she had had with Ricardo. She reflected back on all the good times they had had together. As Gabi turns the corner to go back to the motel, she opens her purse and pulls out the ring....her engagement ring. She kisses the ring and debates on putting it back in her purse. She decides to put it on her right hand index finger for now. That way she would give the impression she was getting married yet she would have a part of Ricardo always touching her. She needed that right now in order to pull through her depression. Gabi decides to say hello to Kelly before venturing to her cold, solitary room. She walks through the door and notices a man at the counter talking with Kelly. He has his back to Gabi and she vaguely recognizes his profile from behind. As she realizes who it is, he turns around. Gabi and Antonio lock eyes. Only their gaze keeps them standing. It's as if a piece of string holds their eyes together. Gabi's knees begin to buckle as Antonio approaches her.... a stern worried look on his face. He begins to say something when Gabi instantly places her fingers on his lips. Gabi can only say, " I knew you would somehow find me......"

Antonio and Gabi walk into Gabi's small motel room without saying a word. They escaped Kelly's curious eyes before having to say anything to her. Gabi knew that the next time she saw Kelly, she would be asking her who Antonio was. She was not ready to that and would have to figure out a way to dodge her. Gabi sat on the bed and stared at the floor. She didn't know what to say at this point. Antonio was uneasily shifting from one foot to another, staring at Gabi. Gabi could feel his eyes boring into her.

"Why are you here, Gabi?"

"Antonio, this is just best for all of us, you are going to have to trust me on this. I didn't know what else to do."

"Sorry, I don't buy that. There is something more to this and you're not telling me. What is it? You know you can tell me anything. After everything we've been through, you should know that already. Gabi, please Ricardo is miserable since you left. Can't you see how much you've hurt him.... and me?"

Gabi turns to look at Antonio after his last comment. She had never meant to hurt him. Never meant for everything to go this far. Looking at Antonio now, a small feeling of longing washed over her. She had loved him as more than just a friend She knew that and a part of her would always love him but her heart truly belonged to Ricardo. As unhappy as she was now, one good thing had come from Carmen forcing her to leave Sunset Beach. She was forced to come to terms with her feelings and she had. She longed to be with Ricardo. Her heart ached at not being able to see him or be with him. It was a feeling she had once felt so strongly for Antonio. Now, as Antonio stood in front of her, all she felt was feelings of friendship, a very powerful friendship, but friendship nonetheless. She knew that he still felt more and it killed her more now to know this.

"Antonio, please accept this. No one forced me out. I decided to leave because it was best. I couldn't hurt Ricardo. I couldn't marry him without him knowing the truth, I realized it wouldn't have been fair to him. But I also didn't have the guts to tell him about us. I couldn't do it. That's why I left."

Antonio was staring at Gabi with wary eyes. "Forced you out? Why would you think I thought you were being forced out? "

Gabi froze. She had tripped on her words and knowing Antonio he wouldn't give up until she told him about Carmen's ultimatum now. She knew him too well. He wouldn't give up until he knew the truth. She tries to think quickly. " I-I....meant that I thought you might have thought I was pushed I don't know Antonio, stop questioning, PLEASE!!"

Antonio grabbed Gabi by the shoulders forcefully and made her stare into his eyes. He had a determined look and she knew that she would not be able to escape this. He wouldn't let her. She gave in and decided to let it out. She could trust Antonio, she always would trust him. With a sad look in her eyes, she stared into his eyes about to stun him with her words.

"Someone else knows our secret....that's why I had to leave..."

Ricardo was walking through his mothers house waiting for her to finish dressing. She had called him over to talk with him. He really wasn't in the mood to be with her but she had been insistent. He didn't need another lecture about Gabi but he was curious about what she wanted to talk to him about. He had been throwing himself into Francesca's murder investigation since his wedding day fiasco. It was the only way to keep him from going absolutely insane. Gabi was in his every thought. He woke up in the morning and he saw her face. There was not a minute that went by that he didn't think about her. Going to sleep her face would be in his mind. Then he would dream of her. She was engraved in his heart, mind, and soul. He never thought a woman would be able to penetrate through his manly exterior. But he had met his match in Gabi Martinez. She was so inside of him that it hurt sometimes to even breathe. Ricardo became frustrated once again. Frustration was a common emotion for him since the wedding. He got off the couch and started to wander around the house looking very pensive. WHy did she leave? What made her do that? He couldn't allow himself to believe her reason for leaving him. There was no way she didn't love him. He could feel her love for him just like she could feel his love for her. She had lied about that and he was determined to find out why. Something was forcing her to give up on their life together and he was not going to rest until he knew what it was. He had to find her. Not only to find the truth but just to see her. With every day that passed his love for her grew instead of slowly diminishing. He didn't think it possible to love her more than he did but every day, it would grow and he would amaze himself at how much power she had over him. He was putty in her hands. Ricardo found himself in front of his mother's video collection. A small smile crept on his face as he read the various labels on the video cassette covers. Most of them were of spanish soap operas. He shook his head in mock disapproval. His mother was a fanatic when it came to them. He had never understood how people could get hooked on soaps. As he continued to scan the tapes, his fingers fan over the tape of the Yosemite trip they had all taken when they were teenagers. He had never seen the tape because his mother had videotaped only the scenery of the cabins they stayed in. Neither Antonio, Maria, or himself had ever seen it even though Carmen had tried countless times to get them to watch it. His curiosity grew as he kept eyeing the tape. Maybe he would sneak it out and surprise her by watching it. Besides it would be fun to see all of them when they were younger. Ricardo's beeper went off at that moment. It was the station calling him on a 911. He left a note on the table telling Carmen why he had left. As he starts to walk out, Ricardo eyes the tape one more time and decides to take it. He smiles mischievously as he heads to the police station...

Ricardo reaches his loft a few hours later after being called to the station. He has had a long day and is hoping to get a good nights sleep. He hasn't been able to sleep well since Gabi left. He had become so accustomed to having her in the loft. He had left everything as it had been before she left in the loft. The suitcases they had packed were still next to the bed with the airline ticket on top. Ricardo walked over to the luggage and picked up the tickets. Gabi had seemed so excited about going to Hawaii. The look on her face when he told her they were going had flooded him with warmth. Even now as he thought back to that special moment between them, it made him feel good. Ricardo smiles. He was confident they could straighten out whatever was coming between them. That was the only thing keeping him going right now. He loved her too much to ever let her go. Ricardo let out a sigh and began to undress to get ready for bed. He turned his head to go to the bathroom when something under his jacket caught his eye. The tape! He forgot that he had taken it from his mother's house. He walks over to the table and pulls the tape from under his jacket. Ricardo stares at it for the longest moment and suddenly gets a strange feeling in his stomach. He wears a look of bewilderment, wondering why he is feeling strange. He walks over to the VCR and pops the tape in. He awaits to see the vacation his family took to Yosemite Park so long ago......

Gabi didn't know how she was going to tell Antonio that his mother knew about them. But Antonio would not give in until she told him. He knew when she was lying to him so that would do no good. Maybe telling him the truth was the best thing to do. She didn't know anymore. She was tired of thinking and lying. For once she needed to tell the truth. With a pained look, Gabi takes a deep breath and begins.

"Do you really want to know? Antonio, it's not what you're going to want to hear. Make sure you're ready."

Antonio is utterly confused. "Dammit! Gabi just tell me who knows!" He screams.

Their eyes locked, Gabi puts on an impassive face and slowly and quietly speaks. "Your mother. Your mother knows." Gabi says without feeling.

Antonio's eyes widen and his mouth slightly drops. His heart instantly sinks as he pulls away from Gabi, stunned at what he has just heard her say. His mind races with various images of his mother threatning Gabi.

"My mother?" He answers.

He couldn't believe it. Gabi couldn't be serious. She must be mistaken.

"Yes Antonio. Carmen somehow got a hold of the tape. She made a picture from the tape and confronted me with it right before my wedding with your brother. She threatened me Antonio. She threatened to tell Ricardo and expose you. I thought I could defy her but I realized she will never end her vendetta against me. She hates me. She really hates me Antonio. I couldnt do it. I couldn't jeopardize your life or Ricardo's. So I ran. I became more of a coward and decided to take the easy way out. I can't take it anymore Antonio. I have accepted this as my punishment. I need to hurt. I need to dwell on this, not you or Ricardo. I take responsibility and will live my life without either of you in it. That is my punishment and I accept it. I deserve it."

Antonio is shocked at what he is hearing. Tears have begun to flow down his flushed cheeks. Gabi's words have cut deeper than anything he has ever heard in his life. She sacrificed her life for Ricardo and for him. His mother. He couldn't beleive his mother was capable of such hatred. That was what hurt him so much. Antonio could not think of a time when he had been more heartbroken. He loses himself in his sorrow and breaks down. Sobbing into his hands, falling to the floor.

Gabi, shocked at his reaction, instinctively runs to him. She drops to the floor and holds him, the tears now flowing from her eyes as well. They hold each other, torn to pieces by what has just been said. Antonio clutches Gabi so tightly she feels he is going to suck the life out of her. As they both calm each other, Antonio's vulnerability breaks through. He runs his hands up and down Gabi's back as she slowly carreses the nape of his neck. He begins to caress her legs and slowly lifts his head to hers. Gabi and Antonio stare into each others eyes and Antonio can't help but kiss her. At first tenderly, but as Gabi responds to his kisses, his passion intensifies and his kisses become more powerful as he and Gabi slowly recline to the floor......

Carmen is alone in her home, eating a dinner she had prepared for her and Ricardo. She was reliving all of the happenings of the past two weeks, satisfied she had done the right thing for both of her sons. In mid thought, Carmen receives a sharp premonition. It's so strongly felt by her, she literally gasps.

"OH NO!! Ricardo....Antonio....que esta pasando? What is going to happen with my sons? I feel they are going to be hurt, so terribly hurt. Why am I feeling this?"

Carmen immediately jumps from the table and calls Ricardo. No answer. She stares into space as another very strong image enters her mind. Carmen races into her shop and immediately scans for the "tape". Panic strikes her as she realizes it is missing.

"Dios Mio! No, por favor Dios, no dejes que mi hijo lo vea. Please don't allow my son to view such a thing!!!"

Carmen grabs her bag and bolts out of the shop so quickly that she knocks down the beads hanging from the doorway. She is in desperate need to stop what is about to happen......

Antonio and Gabi begin to lose each other in their arms. Antonio relishes every touch. He takes in the smell of her, the feel of her soft supple skin. His mind is lost in the overwhelming sensation that only Gabi Martinez is able to make him feel. His hands begin to explore as he passionately kisses her neck, her cheeks, her sensuous mouth. He knows nothing else in this world other than the moment he is living. He thinks of nothing else except for wanting to desperately make love to the woman he loves, the woman who also loves him in return. Antonio's hands find their way to Gabi's blouse as he slowly unbuttons it.

Gabi is also lost in her own little world with this man she loves. Her eyes closed, she takes in everything about him. Her fingers run through his hair and she gently plants kisses all over his neck and face. She can almost feel the sand beneath her. As her eyes slightly open, she can see the sun setting as the warmth of the late summer night glows over them. She feels his hands unbuttoning her blouse and there is nothing more she wants but to make love to him. She yearns for his touch, so much so she brings her hands to his and helps with the removal of her blouse. Gabi is completely in a trance by this man as she sees his face. So beautiful in her mind. She gently calls out to him.

"Ricardo..... Ricardo, I love you so much. Please make love to me."

The movement stops. Gabi is still in a trance reliving her dream, but Antonio's heart rips open. He lifts his head and notices Gabi, eyes closed, trying to find his face with her hands so she can bring him closer. Antonio shys away with a look of complete pain. He observes her for a few more seconds as she is lost in another world.....a world that does not seem to include him. His heart breaks again as she once again says Ricardo's name.

"Gabi, Gabi, look at me." Antonio says, with a cracked voice.

Gabi steps out of her dream and opens her eyes and realizes that she is back in her motel room. She is not on the beach overlooking the ocean. The sun is not setting and looming over her..... and the man in front of her is not Ricardo.... it is Antonio. Gabi is now fully snapped back into reality and quickly sits up. She realizes what she just did. She became lost in her dream sequence, the same dream which had allowed her to rediscover the love she has for Ricardo. She doesn't know what to say. Antonio's face is masked with a look she never wants to see. She has just destroyed him. Antonio is dying inside. They both sit there, not able to speak, not sure what to say until Antonio gathers the courage somehow to say what he had planned to say to Gabi upon finding her. He had decided to tell her before coming to Blanco. This was the only chance he would have and he had to take it.

"I'm leaving the priesthood," he says, his voice fading. "Gabi, I want to leave the priesthood for you."......

Ricardo is standing over the TV. His stomach is in turmoil. In front of him, he sees the images of two people silouetted together....making love. His mouth opens as he uncontrollably begins to breathe hard. His arms raise as he approaches the screen where the images project before him. His hands touches the screen onto her face. The beautiful face which had captured his heart. Ricardo drops to his knees and looks at the other figure on the screen. His brother. His beloved brother. The pride and joy of his youth. The phone rings and snaps him back. Tears start to form as he stands upright and steps back from the screen. The phone contnues to ring and he wonders who it could be. Standing there, in his loft, watching the woman who he loves and the brother who he adores, make love, propels him into despair. Ricardo's mind begins to flash back to every single moment Gabi and Antonio were together. His attention waffles. He thinks back to a moment when he caught them together, when they were always so quick to make an excuse, then he switches back to the images on the screen. For several minutes he does this until he realizes, and accepts what is happening before him. The phone stops ringing. Antonio and Gabi made love. Ricardo begins to sob never taking his eyes off the screen. He attempts to sit on the bed for he feels his legs giving from under him. Watching the screen intently, fully engrossed in the movie, he slips off the edge of the bed and slams to the floor. Ricardo clutches the bedspread, forcefully with both hands, his eyes still focused. And then his body begins to writhe in sobs. He is unable to control the flow of tears or is he unable to control what he is watching. Ricardo buries his head in the bed, crying as a newborn baby would......

MORE SOON.....

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