Hey, all. Time for a little crossover fun. This one is "Black Harbour" post second season crossed with "Forever Knight" some unspecified time after "Last Knight." Each part of the story ends with "". If you don't get to that point, let me know and I'll break it up into smaller bits for you. Thanks to Heather, Liz, Lori and Tami for a wonderful job of beta reading. As always, I take full credit for any errors. I can ruin any good feedback in less keystrokes than you can imagine. Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website and the FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested drop me a line. As always, feedback is welcomed. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. "Interludes" (01/??) by S. Clark Natalie Lambert pulled her car into the Irving station. She walked into the office and grabbed a map. "Looking for the Lighthouse Route?" asked the station attendant. Natalie pointed at the document. "Far more basic, I'm afraid. Where exactly am I?" The attendant, Frank, by the name on his shirt, took the map from her. He studied it for a moment, then opened it another fold. "Over here," he said, pointing towards the top of a bay. "Black Harbour." Natalie nodded. She looked out at the sky. It was growing dark, threatening rain. She realized that being caught out in a spring shower, on top of being lost, wouldn't be an enjoyable experience. "Is there somewhere close that might have rooms to let?" "A few B&B's. Nothing too fancy." "Sounds fine." She put the map back into the rack. "Mind giving me some directions?" Frank pointed out the way to a few likely spots and Natalie was on her way. She laughed at that thought of being 'on her way.' More like running away. She left Toronto five days earlier. And why? That's what she kept asking herself. Why did she leave? More important, would there be any reason to return? ### After she settled into her room, Natalie decided a walk was in order. The room was nice, the proprietors friendly, but she did miss being outside in the evening air. Especially now that it was going on spring. It was quiet outside, with just a bit of a nip in the air. She hadn't walked too far when she heard music and realized she was coming upon a local tavern. Rather intrigued by the sounds and the feeling of anonymity, she decided to stop in. Natalie walked up to the bar. She waved a twenty to get the bartender's attention. "Single malt. Neat." "Oban okay?" he asked. She nodded and he poured her a shot. Nat left a loonie on the bar and took a seat at an empty table. Natalie nursed the scotch, reflecting back on the day she left Toronto. Day. Very specifically day. It was the childish way to do it. Deep down she would tell herself maybe someday he'd come after her. She let out a snort at that thought. "I certainly hope you're not choking on the Scotch." Natalie looked up. And blinked. There he was. Blue eyes, blond hair. He had followed her. All she could manage was to squeak out his name. "Nick." He looked puzzled. "Mind if I join you?" Natalie nodded, feeling numb from the shock of seeing him. "What are you doing here?" "That should be my line, I think." He flashed her a smile. "Since you have the advantage of knowing my name, I guess I'll have to use the tried and true, 'can I offer you a drink?' line." Natalie stared at him, still in shock. "Well?" he asked, eyes still twinkling with amusement. "Well?" she repeated, regaining some of her composure. "Can I buy you a drink?" She downed the remaining contents of her glass in one gulp. "Please," she said, handing him the empty glass. He smiled, taking the glass from her hand. "A double," she added. "A woman who knows a good malt. This must be fate." Nick Haskell went to the bar and ordered two double Scotches. He couldn't remember meeting this woman before, though she apparently knew him. He looked back at her, thinking that if he had met her, he'd remember. Still, he had a feeling it'd be fun getting reacquainted. All disclaimers in part 01. Interludes (02/??) by S. Clark "So," he said. "So," she replied. She hadn't spoken more than a few syllables since he'd returned with the drinks. It was making Nick nervous. "Ok, I'll admit it," he started. "The situation is driving me nuts." "You? Driving *you* nuts?" She leaned closer to him and lowered her voice. "What are you doing here, Nick? How'd you find me?" "I live here," he said with a shrug. "Well, when I'm not in L.A." He regarded her for a moment. "That's where we met, right?" "Excuse me?" "On the lot at Fox. At a wrap party for one of Barry's projects, perhaps? Maybe, three years ago?" Her expression grew serious. "Nick, what's my name?" "You know," he continued, "come to think of it, maybe it was Paramount. Whatever. I don't think we were properly introduced then, either." Nick stuck out his hand. "Haskell." "Haskell?" She reluctantly reached out for his hand. "Nick Haskell." It slowly dawned upon her that his hand was warm. "Haskell." "Now, you can't be a Haskell. I'd be disappointed if we were related." He gave her a wink. Natalie became very aware she was still holding this man's hand and released it. She sat back in her chair. "It's Natalie." "I'll venture a further guess. The last name's not Haskell?" "Lambert," she said, recovering enough to give him a smile. "And, if I'm correct, I may not be the Nick you're looking for." "The resemblance is remarkable." She knew it was pointless trying to explain Nick Knight. 'Hell,' she thought, 'as if anyone could explain him.' She let out a laugh. "I'm sorry. This has all caught me pretty much off guard." "I guess so." Nick couldn't fully contain the look of disappointment. He'd sat with this woman because he spotted her from across the tavern. He really did want to get to know her. She placed her hand on his forearm. "I'm sorry, it's not you." "This other Nick must have really done a number on you." Nick didn't miss the wave of sadness that passed over her face. He smiled, coming up with a plan. "I'll tell you what, let's go on a picnic tomorrow." "Excuse me?" "Do you have other plans?" Natalie was flustered. "No, but..." "Great." He smiled. "Meet me at the wharf at noon." She looked as though she was about to speak, but then held back. "Don't worry. I'm harmless. I'll supply lunch and the boat. You provide the company." "Lunch." "Yeah, lunch. Picnic. Boat ride. Sunshine." "Lunch," she repeated. "You and Nick did eat lunch, didn't you?" This time when the memories arrived, Natalie was ready for them and was able to hide the reaction. "Lunch," she said with a smile. "Noon, at the wharf." "Great." Nick knocked back the remainder of his Scotch. He stood and took her hand. "Until tomorrow," he said, brushing his lips across the back of her hand. "Until then," she agreed, giving him a smile. She watched Nick, this Nick, as he left the tavern. Then she shook her head, hoping that it might clear. Concentrating on the present, and on the immediate future, what had made her trust this man? He was a total stranger, but she had made a boating date with him. She knew, if she allowed herself to be honest, it was because he looked so much like Nick, that other Nick, the one who couldn't take her out in the sunshine. She just had to know for sure. All disclaimers in part 01. "Interludes" (03/??) by S. Clark Natalie got to the wharf just as the church bell chimed noon. The town of Black Harbour was relatively small. She enjoyed the opportunity to walk the streets without having to worry about her safety. The wharf itself was a surprise. She had expected the fishing boats. But there was also a charming and quaint boatyard with a restaurant tucked onto the back. The restaurant looked like it belonged in Toronto or some other large city, with its solarium design and clean interiors. Nat peeked around the area, wondering if she actually had made plans with a stranger who looked so much like Nick Knight. Or had the evening before been some odd, stress-induced dream? "Are you lost?" She turned and looked at the speaker. He was seated in a fishing boat, smoking a cigarette. The man was medium height, sturdy build, wearing a baseball cap. Nat took in all the details, then mentally chided herself for staring at this stranger as if she were gathering data for an autopsy report. "Or are you just one of them stuck-up city girls that comes out here to soak in the atmosphere and drink cappuccinos?" "I'm looking for someone," she responded, ignoring what she hoped was joking on his part. She felt she'd spent enough years working with people to recognize who was truly dangerous. Then again, it was always those closest that could hurt you the most. "And does this someone have a name?" "Haskell." "Would you be looking for the missis or the mister?" Natalie took a moment to process this. Nick was married? Of course, it made sense. Not everyone spent their years awaiting the unobtainable. "Nick," she said, ignoring the titles. "Nick Haskell." "Ah. He's around here somewhere. Saw his friggin' car out in the lot." The man made no effort to move from the boat. Natalie took this as a sign that no further assistance would be offered. "Thank you," she yelled to him. He took another drag off the cigarette and, smiling, nodded back at her. Just then Natalie felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and turned. Nick Haskell was beside her. "You're welcome," came a response from the boat. "Hi, Buddy," Nick called out. "Blow it out your arse," Buddy muttered under his breath as he turned away. "So, you getting a good tour of the area?" Natalie nodded, then realized she'd been staring. How many times had she wondered what Nick (Nick Knight, of course) would look like in the sunshine? The golden highlights in Nick's hair shone forth. The blue eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, but she was sure the blue would be as deep as that of the sky. "It's nice out here," she said, managing to bring herself into the present. "I hope you're ready." She nodded. "Good. I've got everything loaded up." She followed him over to where a fishing boat was tied up. "I hope you don't mind the ladder." It was about six feet down from the wharf to the boat. "Not at all," she replied, wondering if the thing was solid. Nick took her shoulder bag and climbed aboard. He held the boat against the wharf and motioned for her to come down. Nat tentatively stepped onto the ladder. She found it sturdier than it appeared. Climbing down, she was glad she'd decided on slacks for the day. As soon as she was aboard Nick untied the craft and cast off from the wharf. He moved up to the cockpit and started the engine. "Want a lifejacket or anything?" he called back to her. Nat dug a windbreaker out of her bag, then joined him. "No, I'm fine." He smiled. A smile just as endearing, just as appealing, as Nick Knight's. "Ok, then. We're off." ### The water was relatively smooth, the day calm and sunny. "We lucked out on the weather today." "Yes, we did." Nick guided the boat along the shore of the Aspotogan peninsula. Not too close, but near enough to see the wharves and harbors tucked back into the coves. Nick pointed into the distance, off the starboard bow. "There's a castle out that way." Natalie regarded him with skepticism. "A castle?" "Well, that's what it looks like, at least. A man built it for his wife. I guess he wanted to be her knight or something, chivalry and all that." Natalie's face fell to a frown. She turned away, trying to appear interested in the local scenery. She hoped Nick hadn't noticed. "Let me guess, this other Nick was the knight-in-shining-armor type." A thousand memories rushed through Natalie's mind. How could she explain that he was, had been, at least, an actual knight. Even if the armor had become tarnished over the centuries, the heart of a champion remained, no matter how strongly he might deny it. She felt Nick's hand on her shoulder. "You ok?" "I'm sorry. I'm not usually such a mess." Nick nodded. "It takes time." Then a grin came to his face. "Personally, I was never the castle sort, myself. Bad heating, poor ventilation, serfs always wanting to unionize." Nat found herself smiling. "I know a nice island that's just a little ways. We can anchor, and have some lunch." "Sounds good," she agreed. The silence remained between them for several moments. "What about you?" she finally asked. "Excuse me?" "That man, back at the dock..." Natalie paused. "Buddy?" "He said something about a Mrs. Haskell." Nick shrugged. "He works for her." "Your wife?" "Ex." Nick held up his hand, showing the empty ring finger. "The ex Mrs. Haskell." "Oh." Natalie wasn't sure she felt relieved. "Want to drive?" "What?" Nick grabbed Nat's upper arm and pulled her closer to the wheel. "It's easy. Give it a try." "I'm not sure." Nick moved her in front of the wheel. He took her hands into his, placing them into the correct positions. "Two hands on the wheel," he said. "Now, you steer." He pointed out the port side, towards an island. "Head out that way. Just like driving a car, but do everything slow. This bucket doesn't exactly turn on a dime." Nick stayed right behind her. Natalie could feel his warmth, his closeness. It was a feeling she liked. "You're doing fine." He placed his hand on her shoulders and leaned in, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Just fine," he whispered into her ear. All disclaimers in part 01. Special thanks to Jeanine and Kathy for the consultations on this part. "Interludes" (04/??) by S. Clark Nat tossed the used paper plate into the box. She wiped her hand with a napkin, then threw that in, also. "Wonderful meal. Is this from the restaurant on the wharf?" "I slaved all morning preparing food," he said with mock indignation. At the look of concern that she'd said the wrong thing, he gave her a smile. "Yeah, it is." Nick popped the last bite of sandwich into his mouth. He stowed his trash, then sat back on the deck next to Natalie. She leaned her face back, enjoying the feeling of the sun through the slight chill of the breeze. "My compliments to the chef." "I'll tell her." "Has that place been open long? Has she ever considered cooking elsewhere?" "She has cooked elsewhere, but decided to move back home for her mother, her children, and her high school flame." Natalie brought her face back up to where she could look Nick in the eye. "Let me guess. The ex?" He didn't reply, which she took as an affirmative. "I guess we each have a talent for picking just the wrong thing to say to each other." She smiled, hoping he'd also enjoy the irony of the situation. "I'd rather talk about something besides my ex-wife." He placed an arm around Nat's shoulder. "So, tell me about Natalie Lambert." Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, what to say?" "How'd you end up in Black Harbour? Vacation? Fulfilling a lifelong desire?" "I've been on leave from work for the last week. I just started driving, and here I am." "What kind of work?" Natalie shrugged. "I work for the government." She placed a hand upon his knee. "And you?" "Right now? Between projects." He gave her a grin. "It sounds so much better than unemployed." She looked at him for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I'm a director, and writer." "Movies?" "Features. Movies of the week. Car commercials." He winked. "Only the artistic ones, of course." "Of course," she agreed. Nick moved a hand to her cheek. He turned her face to where he could brush his lips across hers. Feeling no resistance, he deepened the kiss. Nick stroked her cheek, letting his fingertips trace down her neck. He felt her tense as he ran his hand along a small scar at the base of her throat. Nick broke off the kiss. Natalie pulled her knees in close, wrapping her arms around her legs. "I'm sorry," she whispered. He pulled her back against his chest, enfolding her within his arms. Together they sat in silence as he held her. ### "Try it again," Nick shouted. "Nothing," came the reply. Nick let out a sound of anguish. He got to his feet and went to the cockpit. "I think the fuel line might be blocked." He tossed a few switches and grabbed a toolbox. "Anything I can do?" Nick paused a moment, seeing the concern on her face. "Smile." When she did, he returned the smile, then headed back to the engine. About a minute later, Natalie was treated to the sound of Nick cursing loudly. She rushed over to him. He was seated, one greasy hand wrapped around his other forearm just above the wrist. A small amount of blood seeped from between his fingers. "Where's the first aid kit?" She'd already slipped into her professional demeanor. "Same place I got the tools from." Natalie grabbed the kit and returned to Nick. She opened it and found it contained a few bandaids, a used ampoule of smelling salts and a condom. "You really should keep this thing stocked." Nick shrugged. "Not my boat." Nat grabbed her bag. She dug around, and pulled out a scarf and an extra pair of socks. "They're clean." Nick nodded, then looked down at his arm. She grabbed the water bottle and wet down one sock. Taking Nick's arm, she tried to pry his fingers off. "It'll bleed," he offered. "Shouldn't be too bad." He moved his hand away. Nat looked at the gash. It wasn't too deep nor too long. She swabbed some of the grime away with the damp sock. The bleeding increased a little, but not enough to be of concern. She folded the other sock and placed it over the wound, securing it with the scarf. Nat raised up the arm and placed Nick's other hand back over the bandaged area. "Keep pressure on it and keep it elevated for a few more minutes." Nick held his arm up over his head. Natalie repositioned it lower, where she'd originally placed it. "You want it level with your heart. It's not deep, but you still don't want to risk an embolism." "You should be a doctor." Natalie smiled. "I am a doctor." "I thought you said you worked for the government." "As a pathologist." Nick gave her a blank look. "Coroner." "I guess I won't ask about your bedside manner." He gave her a grin. "No one's complained yet." Nick maneuvered his arm to glance at his watch. "Damn," he muttered. "You need to get back?" "I promised my daughter we'd do something this afternoon." Natalie motioned towards the cockpit. "Should we call for a tow, or something? CAA? Coast Guard?" Nick smiled. "Let's give it a few minutes, then I can try the repair again." Nat nodded and sat down next to him. "I don't suppose you have a cell phone?" She shrugged. "Sorry." "I left mine in the car. But I have an idea." Nick stood up. He wobbled a little, and was given assistance from Nat. "You dizzy?" she asked, voice showing her concern. "Foot fell asleep," he confessed. She helped him into the front of the boat where he put in a call to the boatyard, sending a message to Katherine he'd be late. All disclaimers in part 01. "Interludes" (05/??) by S. Clark Nick pulled the boat up to a wharf, not the one they'd originally left from. "I'd like to stop and see if my daughter is here." "Of course," Natalie replied. He put the engine into neutral and hopped up onto the dock to tie off. The door of a weathered shack burst open, and a blond girl, Natalie estimated she was probably eleven or twelve, came running out. "Daddy," she yelled. "Hey, Muffin." Nick caught her as she jumped into his arms. "Sorry I'm late." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I knew you'd come. I told Aggie you would." The girl motioned back to the shack, where a woman with long, curly red hair stood in the doorway. The woman's expression remained neutral, but her eyes took in everything. "Can we go back in the boat?" The girl's enthusiasm spilled from her. "Can I drive?" She took Nick's hand and started dragging him towards the boat. "That's why I'm here. Taxi service." Nick looked over to Aggie and gave a wave. "C'mon, Dad." Anonda kept tugging on her father's arm. Then she noticed Natalie stepping off onto the wharf. Her face dropped, and she moved back against her father. Nick led Anonda to where Nat was standing. "Anonda, I'd like you to meet Natalie." Anonda's expression and voice stayed neutral. "Hello." "Natalie will be coming with us." Nick's tone remained enthusiastic. "Maybe I should just walk," Natalie suggested. Nick noticed she'd collected her things. "It's not that far back to my B&B." "There's no problem taking you back into Black Harbour," he said, holding onto Anonda. The girl squirmed from Nick's grip and jumped into the boat. "C'mon, Dad. Let's go!" "Put on your life jacket," he called over to her. Anonda started searching the storage compartments, looking for one her size. Nick reached for Natalie's hand. "Are you sure?" Natalie gave him a faint smile. "I could use the exercise." "Ok, then. I'll catch up with you later, or something?" Natalie nodded. "I had fun." "Me, too." Nick gave her hand a squeeze, then joined his daughter on the boat. The two of them cast off. Anonda waved her good-byes to Aggie as the boat pulled away from the wharf. Natalie turned to head for the road, but the woman from the shack was standing just in front of her. "The child seen a lot of hurt." The woman's voice betrayed no emotion. Natalie hoped it was an explanation, not a warning. The woman, Aggie, stepped closer. She placed her hands on Natalie's cheeks and peered deeper into her eyes. Natalie was struck with the feeling she could possibly see right into her soul. "You know all about that, don't you." Although the tone was still neutral, Natalie felt Aggie's words were spoken with kindness, and understanding. Natalie's eyes began to well with tears. The woman gave her a simple nod. Then, she dropped her hands and started back for the shack. Natalie hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and began her walk back to Black Harbour. ### Natalie exhaled, trying to relax. She knocked on the door. "Be right there," she heard from within. Nick answered the door. His expression turned to a smile as he recognized his visitor. "This is a surprise." "I thought I should have a look at your arm." She hoped the excuse didn't sound as weak as it was. "A housecall. From a coroner," he teased. Natalie was ready to bolt from the cottage. 'Maybe this was a bad idea,' she thought. Nick tossed an arm over her shoulder and pulled her into the house. "I like surprises," he declared with a grin, shutting the door behind her. All disclaimers in part 01. "Interludes" (06/??) by S. Clark Nick led Natalie over to the couch and offered her a seat. He snatched a notepad off one of the cushions and tossed it onto the coffeetable. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone." "If it's a bad time or anything..." she started. "Honestly, I'm glad for the reprieve." He picked up a bottle of Dalmore. "May I pour you one?" "Please." She took a seat. Nick headed into the kitchen. Nat glanced over at the notepad but couldn't really make out anything. "What are you working on?" "A few story ideas. I figure they're always handy, in case I get a chance to do a pitch." Nick poured Natalie a double and handed it to her before taking the seat next to her. "Any secrets in your life you'd like to see as a movie of the week?" 'As if anyone would believe my life,' she thought. 'Vampire cops and the coroners that love them.' She took a sip. "So, how was your afternoon?" "Fine. Anonda loves being out on the water. She's been taking sailing lessons." He tossed his arm over the back of the couch. "And yours?" "I did some browsing on the way back to my B&B. Nothing too interesting." He nodded. Natalie set down the glass. "I almost forgot. I did have a reason for coming by." She held out her hand. "May I?" "I hope this isn't your only reason." He deposited his arm into her outstretched hand. She peeled back the bandage that now covered the cut. "I see you've replaced my temp job." "It did look a little strange." She smiled in agreement. "And you cleaned it. That's good." "So Doc." Nick affected a Western accent. "Am I gonna live?" "You should get a tetanus booster, just as a precaution, if yours isn't up to date. Otherwise, it looks fine." "That's it?" He sounded disappointed. "Well," she looked at the wound again for a moment. "I suppose I could toss in a stitch, if you really wanted to feel manly." Nick faked a shudder. "Promise?" Nat smiled. "Or, you could do it yourself for that whole 'Rambo' experience." Nick grabbed his glass and took a swig. "I think I'll need one or two more of these, first." He held out his drink, and she met it with her own for a toast. "To my favorite coroner." Nat took a sip, then put the glass down. She finished attending to Nick's arm, covering the wound with a clean bandage. "All better," she pronounced, surveying her handiwork. Nick leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Thank you." Natalie felt a flush rise on her face. She stood and walked over to the glass doors that led onto the deck. "You've got a lovely place." She could feel his warmth as he stood behind her. "It's comfortable." Nick's hand traced a path up Natalie's arm. "It's secluded." He pulled her hair over one shoulder and placed a kiss on the back of her neck. "Private." Natalie felt goosebumps where his lips touched her skin. She relaxed against him, and he rested his chin on her shoulder. Together they shared a moment of quiet, and contentment. "Hear that?" he asked, breaking through the silence. "Hmm?" "They're playing our song." Nick took her hand and gently pulled her around to face him. "May I have this dance?" Natalie curtseyed, placing a finger beneath her chin. "Of course." Nick held her close, leading her in a slow dance. "I think the band's a little out of tune tonight." Natalie leaned her cheek against his shoulder. "I think they're marvelous." "Well, they work cheap." He twirled her around, ending the maneuver in a quick dip. Natalie had to hold herself steady for a moment after she returned to a standing position. "I'm afraid it's been a while since I've done any dancing." She took a seat back on the couch, and another sip of Scotch. "I'm sorry to hear that." He refilled their glasses, then gave a toast. "To dancing." "To dancing," she agreed. He took a seat beside her, this time just a little closer. "So, may I ask a question?" "Truth?" He nodded. "We'll try the dare later." Natalie sat up straight, trying to appear as if she wasn't feeling the affects of the malt. "Ok, truth." Nick moved closer. "Truth. Would you mind if I kissed you?" Natalie took a moment to consider, almost laughing and at the hopeful look on Nick's face. "I think I would not mind," she replied, very matter-of-fact. Nick leaned in towards her, but Natalie pushed him back. "My turn." "Dare," he said, giving her a wink. She got a mischievous look in her eye and moved in for a kiss. When she pulled away, she noticed the petulant look on his face. "I thought it was my turn," he said with a pout. "And I suppose you always get your way?" "I suppose." He kissed her again. Then he pulled back, giving her a smile. Their hand met, fingers intertwined. He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed the back. Her eyes closed, and she leaned her head against the back of the couch. Nat exhaled, feeling content, as their hands dropped down to the upholstery. She smiled and opened her eyes. He looked so calm, so peaceful. Her fingertips traced his forehead, his cheeks, the light stubble on his chin. A face so familiar in some ways, so alien in others. And, she realized, it belonged to a man that had fallen asleep. All disclaimers in part 01. "Interludes" (07/??) by S. Clark Natalie held up her glass in a toast and drained the contents. She slowly rose to her feet, steadying herself on the arm of the couch to keep from toppling over. She looked at Nick, asleep in a seated position. "Well, what to do with the sleeping beauty." Natalie pulled off his shoes. She pulled him forward, and lowered him onto his side. Then she caught his legs under the knees and pulled them up onto the couch. Searching the house, she found the bedroom. She grabbed a blanket and brought it down to cover him with. "Well, that looks..." She considered the sight for a moment and let out a laugh. "That looks incredibly uncomfortable." As if on cue, Nick let out a snort and rolled onto his back. He began to snore. Natalie turned off the ceiling light and left Nick to his dreams. ### Nick awoke and lifted his watch before his face, moving his wrist in and out until he could bring the dial into focus. He finally decided on sometime after three. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. His legs were tangled in a blanket. Moving that aside, he realized he couldn't remember bringing it down from the bedroom. Then he saw the glasses on the coffeetable. He picked them up, and noticed the lipstick on the rim of one. "Natalie," he whispered. Nick took the glasses and left them in the kitchen. Then he headed up the stairs to finish his night's sleep in the bedroom. In the room, though, he was surprised to see his bed was occupied. She was lying on her side facing him. The dim moonlight outlined her form and reflected off the pale skin of her face. Nick stripped down to his boxer shorts and crawled into the bed. She rolled closer, resting her head against his chest. He ran his hand down along her hair, and traced slow circles on her back. "Mmmmm," she purred. "That's nice." "I didn't expect you'd still be here." He spoke softly, unsure how awake she truly was. Natalie propped herself up on one elbow. She ran her other hand over his shoulder, and through the light hairs that dusted his chest. "It was late. I was tired, and a little tipsy. I hope you don't mind." She moved her hand up to his mouth, running the fingertips over his lips. He took hold of her hand and planted a kiss in the palm. "You're okay with this?" She smiled and leaned closer. Their lips met, her assent granted through action. ### Natalie awoke to a moment of disorientation. Then she smiled, remembering the early morning. She turned over, only to feel a pang of disappointment to find his side of the bed empty. But upon his pillow he'd left a note. 'Had to run out. Coffee, juice and begels downstairs. Be back ASAP. Hope you'll be here. -N' She smiled in relief. It hadn't been all that long, at least it didn't feel so long, since she'd woken up alone in an intensive care unit. She expected that experience of loss, of abandonment, would remain with her forever. Natalie got dressed, doing what she could to fix her face and hair. She hadn't really developed specific plans when she'd decided to head over here the evening before, and hadn't packed for the night. When she got downstairs the clock on the wall read 9:30. She gathered up some breakfast items and headed into the living room. She'd just taken a seat when she heard the door open. "You can't do that sort of thing to Anonda." It was a female voice. "She's young, she doesn't..." Natalie looked up from the newspaper and saw a girl, mid to late teens, enter the room. The girl stopped for a moment when she saw Natalie. "Is my father here?" "He needed to run some errands." Tasha took a seat across from Natalie, very clearly looking over the older woman. "So, you're the woman from the boat?" "And you must be Tasha." She received a dull nod. "I'm Natalie." Natalie reached forward and offered her hand. "I'm glad to meet you." Tasha gave Nat's hand a limp shake. "Shouldn't you be in school?" Natalie wasn't sure where to take the conversation, so she fell back on what she knew. After enough years of hanging around the police, she'd certainly seen her share of teenagers with attitude. "I have a pass," she responded, a defiant look on her face. "Besides, it's none of your business." "And yesterday was none of yours." The girl left Nat an opening. "He's my father. And he'd promised to spend time with Anonda." "Which he did." "But he was late because of you. I mean, really, engine problems," the girl said with a scoff. "I can come up with a better story than that." Natalie kept thumbing through the paper. "So could I, when I was young and felt the need to lie about what I was doing. Now I find it's just easier to tell the truth." The younger woman's eyes narrowed. Natalie could tell she was about to say something, but stopped herself. After years of dealing with Nick's moods, LaCroix, Roger, and a variety of other unpleasantness, Natalie was not the sort to be easily intimidated. The only thing restraining her with this child was she saw her for what she was. Hurt. Natalie recognized the behavior. "My dad's got a girlfriend in LA." Natalie didn't flinch. She considered the word girlfriend. It implied commitment. That was something she knew she wasn't ready for. Something it seemed Nick Haskell was already having enough problem with. Commitment. "Her name's Carolyn," Tasha continued. "She's a producer." "Would you like a bagel? Some juice, perhaps?" Natalie asked. Tasha let out a sigh and leaned back in the chair. The impasse was broken when the door opened again. Nick entered. He caught the sight of his daughter, seated in a chair. Then looked over and saw Natalie, calmly sipping from a mug of coffee and leafing through a magazine. "Tasha, this is a surprise." He kissed her cheek. "Shouldn't you be in school?" "I needed to talk to you about something." "Ok." She looked over to Natalie. "It's private." Nick looked to Natalie, then back at his daughter. "I'll take you back to school, you can tell me on the way." He gave Nat a shrug. "Ten minutes, fifteen tops." She nodded and the two of them headed out. Natalie was once again alone. All disclaimers in part 01. Thanks, one more time, to all who helped with this one. "Interludes" (08/08) by S. Clark While Nick was gone, Natalie glanced over various books and magazines, and then busied herself looking over the various pictures he'd placed around the room. There were photos of Nick and the girls. Some included a woman she guessed was his ex-wife. All appeared to be happy. As always, appearances could be deceiving. He arrived back at the cottage about a half-hour later. "Sorry about that. Tasha tends to come on a little bit strong." Natalie nodded. "Understandable. She's been through a lot of changes, I'm sure. And she's a teenager." Nick chuckled. "Is she ever." He rubbed Natalie's arm. "I hope she wasn't rude." "I can handle myself." Nick continued to look concerned. "She was fine. Really." Nick regarded Natalie for a moment, wondering if she was being truthful. "Are we talking about the same girl?" Natalie gave him a smile. "I'm glad you stuck around." She shrugged. "I'm on vacation, remember?" "How about going for a ride, then? I'll show you around on land this time." "Mind dropping by my B&B? I'd like to get some clothes. Make sure they don't file a missing persons report. You know, the usual." "Sure. That's easy enough. And after that?" "How about we play it by ear." "I think that works fine for my..." Nick was interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. Natalie looked over at the phone. "Do you need to get that?" "Nah." The ringing stopped as the machine picked up the call. "This is Nick. You know the drill. Leave a number and I'll call back." A woman's voice sounded on the machine. "Nick, pick up." Natalie looked at him. He shook his head 'no.' "Nick, it's Carolyn. I'm in New York. I've got some meetings set up, thought you might like to come check things out, spend a couple evenings in a suite overlooking Central Park. Nick, if..." Nick grabbed the phone. Unlike the other Nick in her life, this one could, and did, blush. "Hi, sorry." He listened for a moment, nodding his head. "You think there's some potential?...Today at two...right..." He motioned to Natalie that it should only be another minute. "A suite..." he turned away from Natalie. "No, it does sound nice." Natalie felt like the third wheel, even though there were only two of them in the room. She walked towards the doors that led to the deck. "No, really," he continued. "It's fine. I can be there." She went outside. The sky was dark to the west, threatening an upcoming storm. The bay was rougher, another portent of the changing weather. Natalie sat where she could look over the edge of the deck, and watched the seagulls swim amid the pilings. Even with the changing weather there was a stillness here, a calm. She could feel it. Perhaps this is what she needed. A small town like Black Harbour. She could find work in a local medical practice, enter life amongst the living. Some minutes later Nick took a seat beside her. "I have to reschedule. I need to head to New York. My flight leaves in a couple hours." He gave her an apologetic look. "It's meetings with production companies, maybe a job." She nodded. He leaned in to give her a kiss. As he tried to deepen it, she pulled back. "Nick, I'm not sure this is a good idea." He looked at her, eyes sad. "I suppose I'm not who you need me to be." That brought a smile to her face. "I'm not sure you're who you want to be." He nodded in agreement. "I suppose that's true, too." "Who is?" She kissed him. This kiss was clearly platonic. "I've enjoyed myself. No regrets." He smiled and put an arm over her shoulder. "So, I don't suppose you'll be around when I get back." "Probably not." "What's next? Where do you go from here?" She turned and looked into his eyes. They were so blue, so expressive. It would be too easy to become lost in them. "Forward." ### Natalie repacked her suitcase for the third time. She planned to get on the road first thing in the morning, and wanted everything ready. Although she had tried to resist, she pulled out the card and read it, once again. 'My dearest Natalie. Please forgive me, for everything. Enjoy your life to its fullest. You'll have a place in my heart, forever. -- Nick.' It was a plain white card. Inside was a dried pressed yellow rosebud. The card had arrived at her apartment several weeks ago. At least she knew he was alive. "I've tried, Nick," she whispered. She picked up the rosebud and twirled it between her fingers. Then she replaced it and the card within the envelope, and packed them back in the suitcase. "I'm trying."