Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 19:42:54 -0400
From: Arletta Asbury <g4akl@EROLS.COM>
Subject: A Better Ending--LK SPOILERS

WARNING:  "Last Knight" spoilers ahead!
Do NOT read this until you've seen that episode.
You have been warned.
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Title:   "A Better Ending"  (last Knight Spoiler)
By: Arletta Asbury
g4akl@erols.com

This story was inspired by my hatred of the ending of
"Last Knight".  I hate it, hate it, hate it!  So in a
complete state of denial, I offer you this story.

I would also like to thank Julie for beta-reading it.

DISCLAIMER:
The characters of Nick, Natalie, Lacroix, etc. are characters of
the Forever Knight show and as such are the property of TPTB.
They are not mine I am just borrowing them for a little while.

********************************************************************

"Damn you Nicholas"

Nicholas felt the blow and then the room went dark.

Natalie raised herself on her right elbow and looked, as if
in a daze, first at Lacroix who was standing over them and
then at Nick who was lying beside her.

"What have you done?" she asked Lacroix.

"I have merely silenced him temporarily.  Are you alright,
Doctor Lambert?" Lacroix asked.

"I don't feel well.  Could you help me up, get me to
a hospital?" Natalie replied.

"Certainly. But first, may I suggest a bit of subterfuge?"

"What?" Natalie asked, shaking her head in an attempt to
clear it.

Lacroix took out his Swiss Army knife, opened it and advanced
toward Natalie who shrank back in fear.

"Unfortunately, this is necessary.... for both your sakes,"
Lacroix said to ease her fear.  He then made a very shallow
cut over the puncture wounds caused by Nick's fangs.  Natalie
winced in pain and closed her eyes again.  She very nearly
passed out from the accumulated blood loss and the fear.
She didn't entirely trust Lacroix, but at this moment, she
had no choice.

Lacroix scooped her off the floor and flew out of the loft
as quickly as possible.  He took her to the nearest emergency
room where he told a fabrication about witnessing a knife attack.

Natalie was barely conscious by the time they had arrived at
the hospital, but she heard enough of his story to nod her
head in confirmation.  As the staff scurried to replace the
blood lost in the 'knife attack', Lacroix left the hospital.

He returned to the loft in time to be standing over Nick as
the younger vampire regained consciousness.

"Damn you, Lacroix," Nick said as he realized he was still in
his loft.  He was lying on the floor with his right hand
outstretched as if to hold Natalie's lifeless hand.  Instead he
grasped nothing but empty air.

"Where is she?" he asked Lacroix.

"Ah, perhaps a better place.  In any event I see no reason
to leave lifeless bodies lying about".

Nick's eyes filled with tears.  "You should have ended
my torment as I asked.  Without Natalie.........."

"Life is a precious gift, Nicholas.....but I am repeating
myself.  Did you think I would aid so foolish an act?
Really, Nicholas," he said in disgust.

"I promised her we'd be together...........forever."

"Yes, well, such promises as that........"

Hearing those words, Nick felt the burden of his guilt
like a physical pain and began weeping.

Lacroix stood watching his son for a time, then said,
"Enough.  You must prepare for our journey.  We've lost
one night already to your folly.  Go and pack."

"No, Lacroix.  How can I continue," he managed between
sobs, "as if nothing.........," then trailed off.

"Nicholas, what's done is done.  Stop weeping for what's
lost and prepare for our journey."

"No," Nick said, shaking his head.  "No, you cannot ask
it of me," and shook his head again.

"Nicholas, do you insist on staying in this city after all
that you have done and all that has happened to both of us?"

"What does it matter where *I* am?  I've killed Natalie," he
said with tears spilling down his face.

"No, Natalie was alive and mortal when last I saw her," Lacroix
said gently.  "Now, go and prepare for our journey," he insisted.

"NO!" shouted Nick before pleading,  "Tell me where she is".

"Such folly as yours....a mortal."   Lacroix shook his head.

Nick, with desperation in his voice, pleaded, "Tell me!"

Lacroix sighed in resignation and carefully considered
the situation.  <It was clear to him that Nicholas would not
obey him and would not be placated.>  He looked sadly at
his son.  Finally, he nodded reluctantly and said with another
sigh, "I will take you to her."  He paused briefly before
continuing in a disgusted tone of voice, "But first.......
stop crying and *go* wash your face!  Really,
Nicholas.....such foolishness and for a MORTAL........"



The End

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g4akl@erols.com
Nick & Nat Packer with light Cousin tendencies