Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 12:00:35 -0500 From: "Marie J. Thuot" <"jfthuot@total.net"@TOTAL.NET> Subject: Keeping Natalie 01/? Disclaimers: Forever Knight and its characters do not belong to me. This story is strictly for non-profit purposes and no infringements of the owners' rights are intended. Mild spoilers: Be My Valentine, Last Knight, Human Factor and A Fate Worse Than Death. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 01/? Marie J. Thuot VAL Natalie shivered. There was a chill in the room entirely brought by the evil presence that had been there not long ago. She felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to meet Nick's gaze. "What's up, Nat?" He asked her softly. They both had a job to do but that did not mean they were not revolted by the carnage around them. The scent of blood permeating the air had already made two officers sick and Nick himself was desperatly struggling to control his vampiric instincts. "We have a white female, late twenties, early thirties. Multiple wounds inflicted with a knife and yes, before you ask, the heart is missing. I have to run a few more tests but I would say it's the same M.O. as the four other victims. Four in four weeks. He is a creature of habits, to say the least." There was a child sobbing and the sound was heartbreaking. Tracy was trying to calm the little girl with not much success. Nick saw the questionning expression on Natalie's face. "Eleanor Ashton, age 10. She is the victim's daughter. She was hiding in her room but she saw him Natalie. She saw the man who did this." "Oh my God. Poor kid. Has someone notified the father?" "No one can find him. Real loser. It seems he has not been in the picture for the last five years and he is not the kind to keep in touch. The worst of it Natalie is that the girl is sick. There something terribly wrong with her blood." "What do you mean?" "I would say she has leukemia." "Great, just great. Social services will have a field day with this." "Maybe not. Natalie, she is our only witness to what appears to be serial murders. She needs to be placed in protective custody and I was thinking that..." "Oh no, oh no, I can see you coming Nick. I can not, you know I can't. LaCroix will kill me if I do this to him." "Nat, the girl needs you. This is the perfect solution. You are a doctor and you live in a fortress designed by LaCroix. No one can get to the kid there." "Nick, I am a coroner. That means that my patients are dead not dying." But even as she was protesting, Natalie's senses had been attuned to the little girl. She bolted suddenly and ran to her as fast as she could. "Tracy, she is going into shock. Here, let me help. Hi, Eleanor, I am Natalie, here hold my hand. Everything will be all right." Natalie kept a steady monologue as she did her best to keep the child from going into total shock. A few minutes later her efforts paid off when Eleanor's condition finally stabilized. She felt Nick's eyes on her. She turned her head and nodded slowly. Lucien would have to adapt to the joys of parenthood after all. All comments will be appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 02/? Marie J. Thuot VAL "Natalie, you go too far. A mortal child staying here? May I remind you of what consist the clientele of this establishment? Yes. Vampires! Give a prize to the good doctor. The child would be no safer here than in the midst of a pack of wolves." "But you would be there to protect her Lucien." "Haven't you heard? I am the worst of them. The answer is no." "But Lucien..." "I said no, absolutely not." "Please." "It won't work this time Natalie." She observed him closely. "I see we will have to do this the hard way then. You remember a certain Halloween party? Remember the argument you used to make me play the game? Ah, you do, don't you? Well, I claim this "absolutely not" as mine. You have to change your mind. You gave your word you would." "So I did. But believe me, it is not a wise thing to do. But tell me, why do you have to be directly involved in this? Is it not unusual to ask a coroner to protect a witness?" "Nick is the officer in charge of the case and he thought that it would be a good idea..." "So it is his idea to inflict this on me? Why am I not surprised?" "Lucien, the child is very sick. The reasons why it would be better if she stayed with us are because I am a doctor and also because Nick trusts your fierce protective instincts." "Really Natalie, let me tell you that next time I feel the need for a roommate, I'll choose a model. They are a lot less trouble." "I wouldn't be so sure about that Lucien. Models seem to have very expensive tastes. Your queen of beauty could go through your entire fortune in a few years. I do not imagine you'd enjoy living as a pauper so very much. No, believe me, you're much better off with a hardworking coroner!" He offered her an unconvinced expression and watched to see if it would be enough to make her change her mind. But when he saw that it had no effect on her resolve, he sighed. "Oh, very well. What are a few weeks when one has eternity?" He glanced at Natalie, a panicked look suddenly appearing on his face. "We are talking about a few weeks, aren't we?" "It shouldn't be long. Eleanor gave a good description of the killer to the police. It is hoped that he'll be caught soon." "Her name is Eleanor?" He had a strange bemused expression as he inquired softly. "Yes, so?" "Nothing. It's a pretty name, that's all." She eyed him suspiciously. "You are hiding something from me." "Yes. And no, I will not, absolutely not, talk about it! You will have to live with your curiosity. When is our "guest" supposed to arrive?" "In about an hour." "You were pretty sure of yourself, weren't you my dear? Since you have decided to place me in front of a done deal the least you can do is take care of the necessary shopping. This place is far from being child-friendly. The little creatures enjoy eating and playing from the last I heard. Look around you, we are saddly lacking in that department. But please, I beg of you, try to retain certain standards of soberness in your choices of entertainment. Your literary tastes have already done enough damage to my reputation." The exasperating woman laughed. "Are you telling me that the Disney's collection is out of the question?" He shuddered as he pushed her gently through the door. "Go, go before I change my mind and decide that Alaska is nice this time of the year. You would probably find it a bit cold, mortals seem to, but I am sure you would get used to it sooner or later." He was kidding. She hoped he was kidding. "So, you are adamant, no Disney's classics even if they are my favorites?" "If you know what is good for you, you would not even consider it!" As he closed the door behind her, LaCroix felt quite sure that she would come back with all the Disney movies she would be able to find. Oh, not to defy him, the thought would not even cross her mind. No, she was in a constant quest to "improve" his tastes. Little did she know that Bambi was his favorite movie of all time. The only thing that vexed him was that he seemed to be the the only one to cheer at the very good places. He had been kicked off of enough movie theaters to know that mortals had no idea of Walt Disney's true genius. All comments appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 03/? Marie J. Thuot VAL There was a knock on the door. LaCroix opened it without asking who was there. He had already sensed his son's approach. Nick was holding the hand of the child named Eleanor. Her brown eyes seemed lost on her pale face, her mouth was a sad unsmiling line and her heart was beating with the speed of a frightened animal. LaCroix bowed his head in her direction. "It seems Nicholas that I have to thank you for this new addition to my household. You are making it a tiring habit to disrupt my life." Nick looked down to Eleanor. "Ignore him, sweetie, he's just too shy to let you know how glad he is that you are coming for a visit." He then looked warningly at LaCroix daring him to argue with what he'd just said. LaCroix chose to ignore the challenge which was quite unusual. "Where is Natalie, LaCroix?" "She had to run a few errands so that our guest would be comfortable. But you do not have to wait for her return Nicholas. I am quite able to take care of a little girl." "What if she decides to take care of you?" "Then we will have a contest of wills. Go Nicholas, now. Eleanor and I will get along just fine." "If you are sure you don't mind?" "When has that ever stopped you before? I did not get to my age by being squeamish. I can handle this." "Thank you LaCroix, I appreciate this." "Don't worry, you know I will collect." "Yeah, I know. Bye Eleanor, see you later." Eleanor watched Nick leave with a terrified expression on her face. No one had thought to ask her how she felt about being left alone with a strange man. She did not feel good about it. When LaCroix approached her, she began backing away until her back was pressed against the door. LaCroix smiled. "Continue like that, child, and you will become a permanent part of that door. It could get boring after a while. I believe sitting on the couch would be a more comfortable option. But I am the first to admit that I don't know much about little girls, so if you'd rather stay where you are, that's fine with me." She observed him closely, so very unsure whether she should do as he suggested and go sit on the couch or stay where she was. The safest course finally appealed more to her and she decided to stay near the door. Somehow she felt less trapped that way. LaCroix smiled at her stubborness. "All right then, suit yourself." He sat down and he picked up a thick, heavy volume and began reading, totally ignoring the young girl. After a while, as predicted, Eleanor grew bored. She approached the couch cautiously until she was standing next to him. "What is it you are reading?" Her voice trembled a little as she asked the question. He adopted a surprised expression as if he had not been aware that she had been slowly coming to him. "I am reading a book about stars. Do you like to read?" "Yes, I do." "There is a bookshelf in the corner. Maybe you could find something that would interest you there." She looked undecided and in her eyes he could see the yearnings of a lost soul. "I love stars too..." she stood there hoping he would offer to share the book. LaCroix examined her thoughtfully. "You know something Eleanor? I believe that we will become good friends. As it happens, I have a great fondness for young ladies who love stars." He then patted the place near him. Eleanor, forgetting her initial reserve, eagerly went to sit beside him. The pictures were very nice and when he began to read to her about far away constellations, it filled a bit of the hurting void inside her heart. But even that was painful because her mother used to read to her like that. She missed her mom so bad. She felt her eyes fill with tears and she stuggled hard not to cry. Her pride would not allow her to cry in front of a stranger even if he was nice. But pride alone could not contain her heartrendind sorrow. The sobs came from deep down inside her. LaCroix wished for a moment that Natalie was there but of course, she wasn't. Memories of a little girl he had loved so long ago still haunted him and he reached out to Eleanor to bring her even closer to him. He held her, silently, for a long time. What to say that would not be the most cruel of lies? A child who lost her mother was lost as well. Nothing he'd say would change that. It would be up to Eleanor to find her way back to life. But from what Natalie had told him, the girl had not much to come back to. So, he held her and he let her cry as she so deeply needed. She fell asleep crying in LaCroix's arms and he stayed there, unmoving. All comments are appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 04/? Marie J. Thuot VAL Natalie found them like that when she entered the apartment, her arms filled with bags. LaCroix eyeing her many purchases whispered softly. "Am I being punished for the joke about models being more convenient? It looks like you decided to make a sizeable dent in my personal wealth, after all." Natalie smiled and bent down to kiss his cheek. "You know that I love you for your money LaCroix. Since I intend to stay a long time, I'll have to be careful not to spend it all too quickly!" She looked at the sleeping Eleanor. "How is she doing?" "As well as one would expect, I suppose." "It seems you too got close." LaCroix appeared uncomfortable for a second or two and then he just shrugged his shoulders. "Tell me Natalie, I was wondering what will happen to her after the murderer is caught?" "Social Services will try to find a foster home for her. Given her condition, it could be hard." "So what will be done while they try to find a place for her?" "I don't know. Lucien, I don't suppose..." she hesitated " I don't suppose you would consider letting her stay here, would you?" He looked at the sleeping child near him and then back at Natalie. There were shadows in his eyes. He observed her closely. "Have you been thinking about this since the beginning, my sweet Natalie?" It was clear he didn't think her so very sweet at the moment. She had the good grace to blush a little. "I admit the thought did cross my mind." "I knew it. You are a trial my dear. But you know what? I haven't had a boring moment in your company. So, why begin now?" "Are you saying that you would...?" "I could be convinced, yes." She almost blurted out that she loved him but she managed to stop herself just in time. He had never intended to win her heart but he had done so, pieces by pieces. That didn't mean he wouldn't mock the way she felt as just her mortal way of dealing with things. There she was hiding something from him, again! It had happened a few other times before and he was getting sick of it. Like those previous occasions, she had been looking at him in a way that could only been described as tender and then *poof*, welcome to the North Pole. He hated it when she pushed him away like that. He was getting tired of it. But he was also getting curious. What was it she did not want to reveal to him? Sooner or later, he'd find out and put a definite end to this foolishness. Natalie ignored his glowering expression. Living with LaCroix had taught her that. "It's time to put her to bed, Lucien. She is exhausted." He stood up with Eleanor still in his arms. "You're right, of course. Lead the way my dear. You will have the pleasure to tuck in this little girl. Vampires may get away with bedtime stories but tucking in is considered undignified in most circles." "She is a sweet kid, isn't she Lucien?" "Yes." Natalie gently touched a silky strand of brown hair laying on the pillow. LaCroix took her hand and slowly raised it to his lips. He kissed her palm in the tender gesture he always relished. He had begun to suspect that her mortal desires were crying out to her. She wanted something he could never give her. In her heart , she heard the voice of a child yearning to call her mother and that voice was getting more and more present in her thoughts. Early in their relationship, he had realized that it would be easy to come to care too much for her and of course he had been right. She had become so precious to him. Until now, he had felt that he could not add the way he felt to the turmoil of her emotions. Stupidly out of character for him. Usually, Lucien LaCroix took what he wanted. He wanted Natalie Lambert so he should have had no compunction about bringing her across. What if he had to use a little emotional blackmail? But he had been unable to do it. He wanted her to come to him with no doubts in her mind. He still did. But he had also sworn never to let go of someone he loved ever again. And there he was ready to play the romantic hero? LaCroix, old boy, you are becoming much too mellow. If you continue like this, you will find yourself without a leading lady. Yes, it was time to develop a strategy and stop being so noble. Really, self-denial was tiring business. Natalie was unaware that LaCroix had decided to begin her total conquest, no holds barred. And if she had known, she would have declared it was high time! All comments are appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 05/? Marie J. Thuot VAL LaCroix was awakened by the sound of a crying child. Only his vampiric hearing had allowed him to discern the noise as urgently unusual. He moved slowly as not to disturb Natalie. He opened the guest room's door and he found Eleanor sitting on the floor near her bed. He approached her softly as to not frighten her. "Eleanor, what are you doing?" "My mom told me to." "What did she tell you?" He was incredibly patient. "She said I had to hide." He should have woken Natalie. How was he supposed to deal with this? He sighed. It was too late now. "You did well Eleanor. Good children obey their mothers." "If I hadn't, maybe she wouldn't have died." "Don't you think your mom knew better than you what was the right thing to do? If something had happened to you because she had failed to protect you, she wouldn't have wanted to live." "You don't understand. I will die anyway." "I understand better than you think. Everyone dies, that's the way things are. Parents take care of their children, that's the way things are too." "I don't want things to be that way. I want things to be different." LaCroix smiled as he gently sat down beside her. "You remind me of another Eleanor I once knew. She was just like you, always wanting to change things. A bright spirit among dull ones. She believed deeply that she could make the world a better place and she had this faith that no matter what, she could do it. Many mocked her dedication but that did not stop her. She was truly indomitable." "Did she die?" Like all Eleanors she had to go straight to the point! LaCroix hesitated briefly then opted for the truth. "Well she did get to live a long and satisfying life first. And you know what, my little one? I believe she made a difference in the world. Which was what she wanted above all. Yes, she was an exceptional Lady." ******************** Washington D.C. LaCroix glanced nervously around him. Good, she wasn't there. He breathed a sigh of relief. The ballroom was all elegant black and white marble designed to offer a stark contrast to the beautifully gowned women. The country was devastated by a terrible economic crisis but the garden of Eden was still filled with birds of paradise. He enjoyed looking at the colorful display in front of him. But then, he spotted a flash of sober grey silk among the vivid hues and he knew it was Her. Who else would offer the muted charm of pearls instead of diamonds? Had she seen him? He certainly hoped not! He looked around frantically until he saw a cluster of potted palmtrees. Vampires were good at finding hiding places. The persistent woman had been hunting him down for the last two weeks. He was safe nowhere. A shame it was that she was such a prominent figure in Washington. He could not even properly deal with her. He didn't know where she had gotten the idea that he was a philanthropist who enjoyed nothing more than involving himself in good causes. But someone had apparently told her that he was and now she was hounding him down, making him feel like a poor cornered animal. All that so that he would accept to be part of her "New Deal" project. The idea made him squirm. Bad enough to involve himself in the affairs of mortals but good works? His reputation would be totally destroyed. It was a lot less humiliating to cower behind a few trees than to be believed...charitable. He looked longingly at the opened French doors that were less than thirty feet from where he was hiding. He had concluded his business for the evening and if not for fear to attract attention, he would not have hesitated to use this convenient escape route. He wondered if he could be fast enough to get through them without anyone being the wiser for it. As he was getting ready to make his move, he heard her so very distinctive voice and she was addressing herself to him. How had she managed to find him? "Monsieur LaCroix, what a pleasure to see you tonight. I see you are enjoying a bit of calm and quiet." "The pleasure is all mine, Mrs Roosevelt. May I say that you look absolutely charming this evening?" "You flatter me sir. I trust you had the time to reflect on the proposal that was presented to you?" "Of course, Mrs Roosevelt. I devoted my utmost attention to it." "And what do you think? This country needs project like the New Deal and the New Deal needs people like you to direct it." "The thing is, Mrs Roosevelt, that I am a very private man and I like to keep a low profile. I prefer to work on a smaller scale." "But think of the satisfaction you would get in helping so many. I know you will not be able to refuse such a challenge. Your son assured me that if I insisted long enough, you would not be able to withhold your consent." "My son?" LaCroix fought hard to keep the anger out of his voice. "Yes, of course. Your son Nicholas was most helpful in showing us how your multiple talents would serve the New Deal. A shrewd businessman like you must see the long term benefits in restoring the economic health of this country." "Nicholas told you that, didn't he? I certainly wouldn't want to disappoint his faith in me. A father must always be careful of his son's feelings. If you grant me the possibility to remain anonymous, I will agree to be part of the New Deal team." After all, one could only say no to this First Lady for so long. "I understand your reasons and I respect them. We have a great task ahead of ourselves, I am glad you agreed to help." As if he had had a choice. But soon Nicholas would be made to answer for this prank of his. And LaCroix would be the one to enjoy himself then... ****************** He was brought back to the present by a soft kiss against his cheek. and a childish voice thanking him. A smile played on his lips as memories of the Eleanor of long ago still lingered. A quick glance around to make sure there were no witnesses and then he did what no vampires in Toronto would have believed. He helped a little girl back into her bed, conscentiously tucked her in and then proceeded to kiss her goodnight. Back in his room, he found Natalie snuggled deep under the thick duvet. When he slipped alongside her, a blissful sound escaped her lips. Even in sleep, she recognized his presence. He gently kissed the top of her head, careful not to wake her. It was strange to sleep during the night but he had agreed with Natalie that it would be more convenient while Eleanor was staying with them. But still, having been a nocturnal creature for two thousand years made the experience unsettling. All comments are appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 06/? Marie J. Thuot VAL Natalie walked into the precinct and stopped in her tracks. How different things looked in the daylight. The paint on the wall next to her was peeling and the carpet was long past shabby. Everything appeared starker. How unsettling it was to be working days again. Then she saw Tracy typing furiously at her computer. What was she doing here? It was only four o'clock. Only one way to know. "Hi, Tracy! What's up? Aren't you supposed to still be at home?" Tracy jumped, startled. "Oh, Nat, it's you! Why is everyone always sneaking up on me like that? Have pity for my poor heart. Something came up and I rushed back in." The usually smiling detective was so serious it was scary. "What's wrong?" "You haven't seen the Toronto Scoopnews? That newspaper has the ethics of a flea. One of their journalists really deserves to be hanged by his toes. Anything for a scoop." "Do you have it?" Natalie noticed the newspaper laying on Tracy's desk and picked it up. She began reading and the more she read the paler she became. "He's writing about Eleanor! He's careful not to break the law too much, he calls her little miss E. but the scumbag is going on and on about the treatments she has to have and for God's sake he even writes the hospital's name she goes to. Does he want to take out her heart himself? Doesn't he realize that we are dealing with a psycho who kills mothers and daughters then takes their hearts as little souvenirs? The killer must be totally crazed that he was interrupted during his little Fiesta. For him, Eleanor is the one who got away. To make things right, to fully enjoy his last murder and his next ones he must have her. Believe me Tracy, he will do anything to get to her and now he knows where to begin his search." She was in a state of total panic. She had been calmer last February, when LaCroix had informed her that there was a very real possibility that the Enforcers would be coming after her. But this was different. The last few days had been eye-opening. She had taken care of a child who had no one else to take care of her. A child who was as alone in the world as she had been before LaCroix had stepped into her life. She had grown attached to Eleanor. How easy it was to love a child and how impossible not to love one as special as that little girl. Even her favorite master vampire was under her charm. "So, what have you come up with, Tracy?" "Obviously there's a leak in the police department. I am trying to find out who it is. We have to make sure that nothing more gets out. If it doesn't work, Nick will have to assign another safehouse to the kid. As for the murder investigation, we now have a name that fits the profile. Greg Harris, 35 years old, he is an escaped convict who killed his wife and daughter. It seems he was in the habit of knocking them around." "Nice guy." "Really nice guy. His wife got the message after he broke her right arm for the second time. She left him. He found her and the kid and he made sure that they would never leave him again. The info arrived only this afternoon from Winnipeg. It took this long to make a match because the "little souvenirs" part was not present on the first murder scene. This was probably added to compensate because he can't really kill his wife and daughter over and over again. He's a creep, all right." "We must find him before he strikes again." "Every cop on the streets is on the lookout for him. I am waiting for Nick and then we'll pay a visit to Greg's dad. As it happens, he lives on Bloor street. Maybe he has seen his son recently. We've already put his house under surveillance just in case we get lucky and he shows up. Nick should be here as soon as the sun comes down. Geez, this allergy of his is the most obnoxious thing. You should have heard him on the phone. He was fit to be tied." "I can imagine. Well, I have to get back to my "Bed and Breakfast", ask Nick to get in touch with me, will you?" "Yeah sure. Natalie, we'll get him." "I know. See you." **************** Natalie was reviewing the cases involving the "Heartbreaker" to see if she had missed something. What small detail could have escaped her attention? But there was nothing. She had been as thorough as ever. She sighed, the beginning of a headache beating at her temples. She raised her head when the phone rang. "Natalie Lambert." "Hi, Nat! It's Nick. Tracy told me she saw you." "Yeah, we talked earlier. Nick I wanted to know if Eleanor will continue to stay with LaCroix and I even though there was a leak?" "Of course. No one at the precinct knows where she is except Tracy and myself. So you are still the best person for the job. Because of our recent breakup, no one would suspect that I would have the nerve to ask you to do this. So for now, everything stays the same. And Nat, go home. You're not on the night shift anymore. Don't let this situation get to you, have some rest. LaCroix has enough grudges against me for a few lifetimes. There is no need to add to it by you getting sick. I just know he'll find a way to blame me for it!" "Since when have you become a mother hen, Nick?" "Let's put it that way, I think LaCroix's patience with me is very near its expiration date." "All right, all right. I'm leaving. I was finished here anyway. But please, Nick, find him fast. I have a bad feeling about this." "Nat, we'll get him, I promise you." "I'll hold you to that." "I expect you to. Now, go or I'll call LaCroix and sic him on you. You don't seem to be able to resist him for long. In fact, if what I heard is true..." "Nick! How devious can you get? I said I was going home, what do you want more?" "Say Hi to Eleanor for me." "I will." As soon as the phone conversation was over, Natalie was already at the door. Nick was very much able to be calling LaCroix right now. Lucien would enjoy being asked to rescue his overworked damsel in distress, there was no doubt in her mind! Knowing him, he would plan a grand gesture and she would never be able to live down the gossip afterwards. She shivered at the mere thought of it. Her romantic reputation would be made for life. Who would then take seriously a coroner that had been swept off her feet by a dashing hero? All comments will be appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 07/? Marie J. Thuot VAL Natalie slammed the door as she entered the apartment. LaCroix raised his head startled. "And how was your day my sweet? Or dared I ask?" Natalie whitened. "You don't want to know. There are times when I wonder why I do it? Why do I inflict this to myself?" "That bad, uh?" "Where is Eleanor?" "With Janette and Erasmus. They offered to take her outside for a while. It's not good for a child to be constantly cooped up." "I am sure she'd be safe with them under usual circumstances but right now, it was a bad idea." "How so? I assure you that Janette can be trusted to protect the little one." "I don't doubt Janette. There was a leak, Lucien." She gave him the newspaper. He glanced at the front page and then just stood there. "Is this what is called protective custody? One has to assume that the success rate must not be very high." He was enraged. "Have they found the person responsible for this?" "No. The journalist is protecting his source. But what about protecting a little girl's life? She has to continue her treatments at that hospital. It is the best one in that field. To make her change could seriously jeopardize her health. I don't know what to do." "Have her treatments scheduled so that I can accompany you. I am not overjoyed by the idea of you becoming the target of a serial killer." "Neither am I, Lucien." They were interrupted by the return of Eleanor who burst through like a meteor. "I'm back!" She was followed closely by Janette and Erasmus. LaCroix smiled warmly. "I can see that, young lady. It seems that a bit of fresh air did you a lot of good. You are positively glowing." Eleanor hugged him, pleased by what he had said. Erasmus was fighting hard not to laugh. Who would have thought that Lucien LaCroix had a softer side? No one Erasmus knew, that's for sure! "Really, Monsieur LaCroix, you will have to teach me how to do that. My compliments never seem to have the same satisfying effect on the ladies of my acquaintance." He glanced pointedly at Janette. LaCroix did not miss the hint. So the wind was still blowing in that direction... interesting. "Erasmus, you have no chance to achieve such brilliant results. Polish is the key and you, my poor boy, are much too blunt." Everyone laughed except Erasmus who adopted a falsely tragic expression. "So, there is no hope for me, you say? How disappointing." LaCroix grinned, pleased with himself. "I did not say that. In fact, if I approve of your romantic inclination, I may be tempted to personaly coach you in your endeavours." Janette blanched, the smile gone immediately from her beautiful face. Being pusued by Erasmus was bad enough but if he received help from LaCroix she would have a hard time getting rid of the Enforcer. LaCroix sensed his daughter's distress and he decided to spare her further teasing for the moment. He was pleased that their bond was getting stronger and he had no desire to cause her unnecessary pain. He glanced at his watch. "Eleanor, it is time for you to go to bed. Say good night." "Bonne nuit. Aunt Janette is teaching me French!" "That's a great idea, ma jolie. Now, go." "What does "ma jolie" means?" "Ask Janette during your next lesson." Eleanor went to Janette to kiss her goodnight and she whispered something into her ear. Janette whispered something back and then Eleanor beamed her most beautiful smile at LaCroix. She also said goodnight to Erasmus but she was careful not to get too close to him. She was still wary of strange men even if they appeared nice. She then went to Natalie to kiss her goodnight. Natalie was amazed by how this little girl seemed to bounce back even when life was knocking her around pretty hard. She made a vow to herself, that she would do anything, absolutely anything to help that child grow into the young woman she could be. The "Heartbreaker", as the media called him, would not get a second chance at Eleanor. Natalie was ready to lay down her life to make sure of that. There was still the matter of the girl's illness. But even if the traditional methods did not work, there would still be hope. Natalie had discovered many things while she had been looking for a cure to vampirism. She had found out not only that she had unsuspected talents in medical research but also that her mind worked in a way that allowed her to use intuitive reasoning which enabled her to make stunning progresses. Yes, everything was about hope. "...will you?" Natalie realized that she had been so deep in her thoughts that she had not heard Eleanor's question. "What did you say, my dear?" "Will you tuck me in, Natalie?" "Of course, Honey. Go get ready and I'll be right there." The short silence was broken by Erasmus. "Tell me, Monsieur LaCroix, things seemed a little tense when we came back from our walk. Is there something wrong?" Natalie showed him the newspaper. "Oh." was all he said. Janette was so outraged she almost growled. "What do you intend to do about this, LaCroix?" "I was thinking it was time to renew my subscription to a certain newspaper and while at it, why not inspect the "quality" of their journalists?" "Let me help. I find I have a taste for... scribblers." "Yes Monsieur LaCroix, let us help! The child is delightful and I would like to have a few words with those who seek to harm her." LaCroix looked inquiringly at Natalie. She nodded her assent to the plan. It was vital to find out who was leaking informations so that he could be stopped. Then, she was confident that if the police could not apprehend the "Heartbreaker", her bloodthirsty friends would find a way to deal with him. And that it could be a permanent way did not make a difference to her in that case. All comments are appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J.Thuot VAL Note: "Ma jolie" simply means "My pretty". Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 08/? Marie J. Thuot VAL LaCroix went to the phone and punched two numbers. He waited a few seconds, taping his long fingers against the small table. Someone finally picked up. Just the person he wanted to talk to. "Urs, tell me, is your Spaniard friend, Vachon, downstairs?" ... "Good, ask him to come up. Thank you." He felt Natalie questioning gaze on him. The hard part would be to convince her to accept his idea. "Natalie, my dear, I'm reticent to leave you unprotected while we go hunting. I think Vachon should stay with you and Eleanor until I return." To his surprise, she didn't protest. Natalie knew that LaCroix expected her to put up a fight but she didn't intend to. She'd seen what Harris had done to the women and children. "Very well, I believe it's a necessary precaution. And if Tracy's right, Vachon is good company. I wouldn't be overjoyed with a brooding vampire in my living room but one who's charming and entertaining...the idea has its merits." Erasmus choked. He was shocked. "You don't think LaCroix is the brooding type?" Seeing Natalie's look of surprise, he shrugged. "I guess you don't. Still, I'm no expert but you should be careful not to extoll too much the qualities of another vampire in the present company. Somehow, it doesn't seem wise." He directed his glance at LaCroix. "Someone I know has a jealous strike." LaCroix laughed. "Erasmus, you forget your manners and your vow never to call me anything else than Monsieur. As for you Natalie, you should be ashamed to tease me so in front of our guests. As if you would ever prefer a young pup still wet behind the ears to my great magnificent self!" "Of course not Lucien and everyone knows that you look much better than he does!" "Quite right, my dear. Now behave yourself and try not to scare Vachon too much. Don't forget that only strong, elder vampires are able to withstand those peculiarities of yours." "I'll be nice, now go." She pointed at the clock. "And don't forget to be careful. No cutting it too close." LaCroix opened the door and there stood Vachon with an anxious look on his face. It was never a good omen to be summoned to LaCroix's sanctuary. He flinched under the master vampire's hard scrutiny. What in Hell had he done wrong this time? But he prudently decided not to ask. Better wait and see. "Listen to me well, Javier Vachon, you stay here until I come back and you guard Natalie and Eleanor with your life. You mess up and I'll come after you. And believe me, you'll wish the Inca had found you before I did. As for the rest, well..." He grinned, amused. "Do what Natalie tells you and please try not to cry if she makes you watch movies. I know it's hard but remember: you're a vampire, you can do it!" And LaCroix left, followed by Janette and Erasmus. An astonished Vachon stood there, eyes unblinking. "What did he mean? What's going on?" "Well, there's this nice movie with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt that I have wanted to watch for a long time. So, if you don't mind, maybe I could explain the situation while it's playing?" Natalie smiled her most innocent smile and waited to see if he would fall for it. And he did! He gallantly accepted, never guessing how foolhardy he was being. But you do things like that when you're young. All comments are accepted at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 09/? Marie J. Thuot VAL LaCroix, Janette and Erasmus had no trouble locating the desk of the imprudent Georges Emerson. They were more than pleased to find the said journalist seated at his desk. The man was tall and handsome. Of course, you couldn't trust a snake to look like one! The way he examined Janette was nothing short of indecent. Erasmus stepped forward, angered by the man's lack of manners. He was stopped by Janette's hand on his forearm. She briefly smiled at him, then turned her attention to LaCroix. She clearly did not want to interfere before her help was asked for or needed. This was LaCroix's businness, after all. LaCroix cleared his throat. "Mr Georges Emerson, I presume?" "That's what the plaque says." The man's tone was insolent as he delivered his glib answer. LaCroix's voice became even softer. Dangerously so. "Good. Mr Emerson, my name is Lucien LaCroix. This is Ms Ducharme and a friend, Mr Erasmus. We are here regarding your article that was published this morning." Emerson, calmly begain to examine his perfectly manicured nails, ignoring LaCroix, a move that not many had survived before him. "If you're with the police, I've nothing more to say. I already spoke with detective Vetter regarding this. I have absolutely no intention of revealing my sources." LaCroix's slow smile didn't reach his eyes. Erasmus thought that it was a good thing Natalie had apparently never seen him like this. She would have had a hard time believing that the vampire who was so gentle with her could be this menacing. It was a pity that Emerson didn't realize the danger he was in. Lucien LaCroix observed his pitiful adversary and decided that it was time to bring things to their conclusion. "Oh, but you will tell me, my dear fellow. You will want nothing more than to tell me." "I don't respond well to threats, Mr LaCroix. Leave now or I'll call security." Erasmus shivered. How could a man be so oblivious of his impending doom? LaCroix's stillness didn't diminish the full impact his words had on Emerson. "You'll do nothing of the sorts. Now, listen to me carefully. I want the name of your source and I want it immediately." LaCroix was perfectly attuned to the mortal's heart. The man wasn't a resistor. He wasn't even fighting LaCroix's hold on his consciousness. "My source is Charles Brampton from Metro P.D." Emerson felt like he had clouds in his head and that made thinking too much effort. LaCroix was satisfied. "Erasmus," he said, not removing his attention from Emerson, "would you be so kind as to inform my son of this new development?" Erasmus reached for his cell phone in his coat pocket. "Certainly, Monsieur LaCroix. It will be my pleasure to do so." LaCroix looked at his daughter. "Janette?" he inquired softly. "Yes?" She stood there as regal as any queen who'd ever trod the earth. "How should I punish him? Something Natalie would approve of." How should she know? What would her new friend do? The mortal had a soft heart but this was a grievous offense...And then it came to her. "I believe she would want him unable to do more harm." Janette grinned, her expression reminescent of a panther whose hunger had been recently satisfied. "I think Mr Emerson would be happy to get away from the violence of the police beat. Yes, a nice tranfer to the fashion pages would be quite appropriate." LaCroix looked at her approvingly, he had taught her well. His eyes caught the journalist's gaze. "You will request a transfer to the fashion department, right away." He felt no remorse as he coldly gave the order to the mortal under his spell. The man deserved nothing less for his lack of scruples. The trio left while the journalist kept repeating "I will request a tranfer to the fashion department. I will request..." Erasmus looked admiringly at Janette. She really was one of a kind. She was perfect for him. Now, he just had to convince her that he was perfect for her. He sighed. That shouldn't take him more than a century or two...if he was lucky! All comments will be appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 10/? Marie J. Thuot VAL LaCroix was reading a book or more accurately, he was looking at page 630 without seeing it. He'd just received a phone call from Nicholas informing him that the killer's father hadn't been of much help about his son's whereabouts. LaCroix had almost snarled his discontent at the news but had refrained from doing so. Through his bond with his son, he'd felt how much Nicholas was worried about the whole situation. Still, Lacroix had hated to sense the fear in his Natalie when he had transmitted the bad news to her. For his peace of mind, he would have liked nothing more than to keep both his ladies at the apartment until Greg Harris had been dealt with. But even in this day and age, there were imperatives a 2000 years old vampire had no control over. They had a sick little girl who needed treatments to survive and that was why Natalie was helping Eleanor get ready to go to the hospital. LaCroix closed the book, there was just no use continuing to pretend that he was even remotely interested in what he had been attempting to read. The child had been quiet all day, the coming ordeal more than enough to dampen her spirits. In the last few days, he had done an extensive research about Eleanor's desease and the treatments used to fight it. Treatments had painful side effects and there was nothing amusing about that. He would have given a lot so that Eleanor did not have to go through such hardships. He'd tried to cheer her up but he was ashamed to admit that he had not been successful. The little forced smiles she'd offered him had been more for his sake than from happiness. How he'd longed to comfort her, to tell her everything would be fine but what did he know, really? He was a vampire not a fortune teller. They were finally ready. As he was going to make a small joke about the female propensity to keep males waiting, he caught the glimmer of unshed tears in Natalie's eyes and it was plain to see that Eleanor had been crying. Now was definitely not the time for levity. The mood did not get lighter as they approached the hospital. Natalie was driving, having declared long ago that LaCroix's reckless driving made her too nervous. LaCroix had been happy to relinquish a task he found aggravating. Driving in Toronto was not his idea of a fun thing to do. People were downright mean to each other and he did not envy the pedestrians. They had to feel they were taking their lives into their own hands... a little like going out after dark. When they arrived, Natalie took hold of Eleanor's hand and did not let it go, even for an instant. She couldn't do much but offer whatever support she could and hope it would be enough to get one little girl through this Hell. They had been in the waiting room for a little more than 10 minutes when there was suddenly a commotion near the entrance of the oncology department. LaCroix, quietly stood up, and positioned himself in front of Natalie and Eleanor. There were so many people in the room that it made the use of his vampiric powers nearly impossible. The only thing he could think of for the moment was to shield them them with his body. It seemed Natalie had had the same idea for she'd brought Eleanor against her as soon as she'd heard the suspicious noise. Eleanor broke the silence when she made a frightened sound. "It's him, that's his voice. That's the man who killed my mom." LaCroix came to the decision that he would use whatever means were necessary to insure the safety of Natalie and the child. The code be damned! They were his and not to be harmed. He'd face up an army of enforcers before he'd let anything happen to them. Natalie's arms tightened around Eleanor as she heard the demented man scream, "I've come for you, little girl. Time to join your mama. You thought you could leave me but you were wrong. Come on, that's not nice to hide from your Da. You should know better. Come out now or things will go bad for you." People were trying to hide and panicked shouts were coming from everywhere. A young woman was shaking as she pressed herself into a corner. She held her crying little boy against her, well determined to protect him even as fear almost paralysed her. Greg Harris was getting impatient with all the people scrambling around. Would he have to shoot all of them before he could find her? Enraged, he pushed away a young man who was trying to tell him that violence was never a solution. His gaze was attracted to a strangely still man. How dared he be so calm? Their eyes met and there was a mesmerizing power in the motionless man. He was just standing there, trying to control him! That made Greg Harris furious. LaCroix could not believe his bad luck. Were all the resistors in Toronto? In all his existence, he'd never been in a place where there was so many of them. "You," the man shouted, pointing his gun at LaCroix, "Move aside, let me see what you're hiding." LaCroix had absolutely no intention of obeying. "Listen to me, you don't want to do this. You killed enough people already." Even as he tried to reason with the crazed mortal he knew that it would be useless. He just needed a small window of opportunity. Harris did not feel he had killed enough people. He loved the blood too much to just stop now. He had to make everyone understand that no one got away from messing with him. Especially not his wife and daughter. "I want the girl. Give her to me and I'll let all the people here, live. If you don't, I'll start killing everyone, one by one until I get to her." Sirens could be heard in the background. When the lights went down, LaCroix was ready to act. He made his move so fast that Harris never knew what hit him. He crumbled to the floor, head twisted at a strange angle, neck broken. A far too merciful death for such a vile creature, thought LaCroix but sometimes, one had to put expediency before pleasure. When the lights came back, LaCroix saw Nicholas coming towards him. "This is yours, I believe." Lacroix pushed Greg Harris's body with the point of his shoe. "Yes. I'm glad you could use the little diversion I created. You solved our problem in a very efficient manner." LaCroix was shocked. "Nicholas, is this satisfaction I hear in your voice? How surprising." Nick shrugged. He didn't care what LaCroix thought. He was just greatly relieved that Natalie and Eleanor hadn't been hurt. "I believe you should take your ladies home, LaCroix. I don't think Eleanor is up to any kind of treatments for tonight." LaCroix looked tenderly at the little girl who loved stars. "You're right, of course. May I assume that I'm excused?" "Yes. The story is that you fought to control him when he was getting ready to use his weapon. You did something you learned in a martial arts class to defeat him. Classic self-defense. In fact you're a hero, now! I do hope he has all his blood?" LaCroix cringed at the thought. "Of course. Do you really think that I'd lower myself to this disgusting man? I don't want his memories and I certainly wouldn't want to pass them along to someone else." Nick was relieved. "Good. It means that a certain coroner I know won't have to come up with a sensible explanation for something that defies all explanations. She really hates that, you know." Natalie smiled. She would have done it without a single doubt in this case. LaCroix wasn't the only one who felt that protecting what was his was a sacred duty not to be ignored. It had been a long time since she had a family but now that she did, she would take care of them. Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 11/12 Marie J. Thuot VAL When they arrived at the apartment, LaCroix put Eleanor to bed himself. He had decided on the way home, that there were some memories a little girl didn't need and what had happened tonight was definitely one of them. Natalie had guessed his intention and she had silently nodded her agreement to the idea. She would have liked to ask him to do the same for her but she didn't want to forget what LaCroix had been ready to sacrifice on her behalf. As he had stood between her and Harris, she had known that he would break the code if it was what he needed to do to protect them. Again, she was reminded that she had never been totally honest regarding her feelings towards him. She owed Lucien the truth. Even if he didn't love her in return, he deserved to know that what she felt for him went further than the mere attraction mortals could have for vampires. Her heart began beating wildly. She was so scared. What if he rejected her? LaCroix could sense how agitated she was, but he attributed it to the awful evening they'd just had. He sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders. "You know what, my dear doctor? I'm beginning to miss the time in my life when the only excitement I had, was doing my radio show. The Nightcrawler enjoys philosophy and musing thoughts. These days, he's brawling in hospitals, of all places! Now that we are parents, we'll have to slow down a bit in our adventures." "Parents?" Her voice cracked a bit on the word. "Even temporary parents have duties towards their children. Eleanor needs stability right now. So, you hear me, my sweet, no more becoming the targets of serial fillers for us." He was making light of the whole thing, trying to help her out of the shocked state he believed she was in. Natalie was shocked, all right, but for another reason. If he thought of them as a family, could it be that he was more serious about their relationship than she believed? There was only one way to find out. Natalie pressed both her hands together so that he wouldn't see her trembling fingers. "Lucien, we need to talk." LaCroix was perplexed. "Natalie, I can't say I enjoy this ominous sentence overmuch. It has never boded well for the male part of the species." She smiled nervously at his humor. "It's not something bad. Well, I don't think it's something bad." She had him worried now. "All right, my dear. Say whatever it is you want to say before trying to guess drives me crazy." She took a deep breath. "I love you. I've loved you for a long time. After tonight, I needed to tell you even if you don't return my feelings." She waited for him to say something but when he remained silent, she stood up, heartbroken, and disappeared inside their bedroom. LaCroix was stunned into speechlessness. Could it be that he was handed what he desired most? She loved him, Natalie Lambert loved him. He couldn't believed that she did. Could 2000 years old vampires feel elated? A year ago, he would have said no. But then, he hadn't foreseen that one day, he would stand in front of his bedroom door with a silly smile on his face. All comments are appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL Disclaimers: see part one. N&N packers beware, this is a Valentine story. Please do not hate me for this! This is related to my three previous stories: Natalie's bodyguard, Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins. If you wish to read Natalie's Bodyguard, you can either e-mail me for it or find the story at this wonderful site: www.fkfanfic.com (check under new stories, it is there for the moment.) As for Guarding Natalie and White Roses and Pumpkins, they have not been archived yet but you can e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send them to you. *********************** Keeping Natalie 12/12 Marie J. Thuot VAL LaCroix entered the bedroom to find Natalie brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She often did that when she was distressed. He felt guilty for having caused her pain. Their gazes locked in that silent communication that took place when they were in the same room. She should have felt vulnerable, seated there wearing the pink silk nothing she'd changed into. She had no more shield around her heart than around her body. Would he love her back or send her away, fearing that kind of involvment with a mortal? LaCroix's hands on her shoulders felt anything but cold. Even now, when she was so unsure of what was to happen, his touch brought her comfort. He took the brush from her unresisting fingers. "May I?" His voice was rough with emotion. She slowly nodded. He carefully began to brush her hair. Each stoke gentler than the previous one. He whispered a few words in her ear, as he liked to do. "So soft. Your hair is so very much like silk." His eyes never left hers in the mirror. "How could you doubt for a moment, the depth of my feelings for you?" She protested, weakly. "You never said..." "Oh Natalie, words are dust in the wind. My sweet innocent, I have shown you in so many ways just how important you are to me." "How could I know that I wasn't a mere whim, an infatuation to be gone soon?" The mere thought of that was like a weight on her heart. LaCroix was not happy with her. Without thinking, he retaliated. "And could I be sure that I wasn't your lover only because Nicholas couldn't be?" "How can you say that?" She was hurt that he could think that. He tossed the brush on the small vanity and in a swift move, Natalie found herself seated on his lap. Her "Oh" of surprise was met by his lips. There was a whirlwind of feelings conveyed into that kiss. Passion first and foremost, for his need for her was now a constant part of him. But in the kiss, she could also find for the first time, the love he felt for her. It was there in the gentle way his hand held her head, in the care he took to fulfill her merest wishes and in the many efforts he made to understand her. She responded with the same generosity and he was shaken by the extent of her devotion to him. Such unconditional love was deeply addictive. After a few seconds, Natalie regained some of her composure. "So you love me?" Her voice trembled on the words. "I do love you, Natalie Lambert, more than you'll ever know. You have shattered this loneliness that has been my burden for so long. There is a bond, now, between us that makes you the center of my world. How I long to have forever with you. Please Natalie, consider an eternity with me. Time is not kind to mortals and even though I wish it would be for you, I know it will not. Join me in my world." Joy filled her heart. Her hand tenderly caressed his cheek. "Oh Lucien, I love you, my heart belongs to you alone but let me love you as a mortal loves. I need this to complete my life. When I'm ready, I'll ask you to bring me across." Lucien had known she wasn't ready yet but that didn't diminish his disappointment. It was important to him that she understood how commited he was to her. "Dear Natalie, I will not pressure you about this issue. You are much too precious to me for me to do so. When you're ready, I will offer you a life where colors, sounds and feelings are more vibrant than in your wildest dreams. And if you fear that as a fledgling you would be powerless, don't. I give you my word that your voice will be heard and listened to. I have learned a lot, these last few years." Natalie felt how much he cared about her and she didn't think she had ever been happier. "I believe you, Lucien. I'm sure, you're now a perfectly modern vampire. But I also happen to love the man of action. Make love to me." To be sure he would understand how important -that- was to her, she brazenly added, "please, please, please." He couldn't help but smile. "Natalie, it will always be my pleasure to oblige you. I like nothing more than to indulge your every desires." "And you do it so well", she purred. "I try to, my love, I try to." He was lost in paradise and he hoped that he would never find his way back. All comments will be appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL I have a Christmas story that will be posted soon. It will be called "White Roses in Winter". Until then, take care. Thank you for all the kind comments I received for Keeping Natalie and for my previous stories. All comments are appreciated at: jfthuot@total.net Marie J. Thuot VAL