Date:         Mon, 3 Jan 1994 23:38:06 EST
 
 
 
 
 
Reacquaintances
 
  by Dionne Nelson
 
 
 
 
"I should have expected you."  Nick said as he walked into his apartment, only
to find Janette waiting for him.
 
"Sorry to disturb your peace of mind, but I wanted to talk to you" she sounded
annoyed.
 
"Don't be, I've known you longer than anyone, we should be able to talk to each
other without pretense."  he said as he walked over to the couch and sat down
next to her.
 
"So you do still want to talk to me?"
 
"Of course.  You've been part of my life for 800 yrs. I really don't know what
I would do with out you." he said almost sadly.
 
"Do you really want to be mortal again? to go back?"  She hated the thought of
watching him grow old.
 
"Yes, I'm not overly fond of the idea of dying, but I want to live."  Why were
they having this conversation again?  He knew that she didn't understand.
 
"And what about Natalie?"  Janette just wanted to know what he was feeling.
 
He paused.  "She's a friend.  She believes that I still have a soul.  I like
the way she makes me feel."
 
"Do you love her?"
 
"Yes.  I don't know if anything will ever happen between us, but yes, I do love
her.  I'm sorry."
 
"I have been expecting that.  Do you still love me?" Why couldn't he just tell
her.
 
He pause again, searching for the words.  "Yes.  I've loved you since I meet
you.  Nothing could change that.  But we weren't meant to be together.  I can't
kill anymore.  I don't want to."  It hurt to be so honest with himself, and
her.  Janette was known for having a temper so he was probably putting Natalie
in danger.
 
"So if something were to happen I could still count on you?"  She sounded so
sad, he wanted to hold her and tell her that everything would be alright, that
they would be together again soon.  But he knew better than to lie to her.
 
"Of course, what's wrong?"  The concern shown through in his voice.
 
"Nothing, I just need to know."  She paused, considering just how much to tell
him.  "I may have mentioned that my family, my mortal family, wasn't the most
reliable...  I like to know who I can count on."  It was painful for her to
admit.
 
"What's wrong?  Something really is bothering you, it shows."  He reached out
to touch her but stopped himself.
 
"Nothing.  Alma is contemplating her first fledgling.  I guess I just feel
alone."  She turned away for a moment, why was she here, she had other very
close vampiric friends in town.
 
Nick reached out and stroked her hair, guiding her face back to his.  "I
understand about feeling alone, mortal music does it to me.  Everyone feels
alone sometimes."  Was she really feeling that isolated, or was it just a
passing thing?
 
"True.  Do you really think you can regain what you've lost?"
 
"I think so.  I have to have faith.  And don't worry, as long as I'm around you
can count on me.  We've been through too much for me to forget about you.  You
can count on Natalie too.  There are certain things she won't do, but if you
asked her for shelter for a day I'm sure she would help."  They rarely spoke
this honestly anymore.  It felt good.
 
"She is rather remarkable in that respect.  I was quite surprized at how
quickly she got over her original shock at my little visit."
 
"She thinks your jealous."
 
"Maybe a little.  Why does she keep that horrible creature?  If she wants a pet
why can't she have some nice fish?  Fish rarely make noise, and they don't
smell nearly as much."  So Janette and Sidney didn't hit it off, of course that
was painfully obvious from the cat swear words that had come form Natalie's
bedroom.
 
"Why did you go see her?"
 
"I wanted to learn more about her.  I was waiting for you to bring her over,
but now..."  her voice trailed off.
 
"Now you believe that I can be mortal again?" he asked.
 
"That you are serious in your attempts."  She paused deliberately.  "I still
want to know where I fit in."
 
"Don't worry," he smiled.  "I still love you."  He reached out for her hand and
drew it to his mouth, biting her lightly on the outside of her wrist.  "I don't
know if Natalie understands this or not."
 
Janette turned and leaned her back against his chest.  He actually felt
slightly warm.  It was very comforting.  "Somehow I think she does.  Although I
don't think she will admit it to herself.  She has the potential to be very
successful as a vampire, if only she wanted it."
 
"I know, sometimes I want to corrupt her, just a little."  He was uncomfortable
talking about his feeling for Natalie with Janette.  He was afraid Janette
would become enraged and kill Natalie, or worse, bring her over.  But the
thought of spending eternity with her...   His arm encircled Janette idly.
 
"Do you ever miss the old feelings?  The way the hunger burns in your veins?"
She turned around to look him in the eye.
 
"The hunger no, I can't get ride of it.  But I do miss being able to indulge
myself.  I remember the wine form the 1700's, being able to wear silk all the
time without people looking at me funny.  They're little things really, but I
still miss them."
 
"Do you miss the company of your own kind?"  She moved her face closer to his.
 
"Yes, I will always miss the good times."  He let the sounds of old french slip
through.  It was plain that she wanted to seduce him but wanted his permission
first.
 
A slow smile formed on her lips.  "There where some very good times weren't
there?"  She spoke in a more modern french, 1850's, but her accent was
thickening.
 
"Yes, most of them on the streets of Paris."  He kissed her softly.  He felt
like he was betraying something by enjoying his vampiric senses, but didn't
want to stop just yet.
 
***