Date:         Sun, 25 Apr 1999 00:47:45 PDT 
From: Lisa Harvey <lmharvey@HOTMAIL.COM> 
Subject:      Sweet Surrender (01/11) 
To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU 

Disclaimer:  The Forever Knight characters belong to TPTB; all others
are mine.  Permission to post at FK Fanfic and FTP sites; anyone else,
please ask.

Special thanks to LizM, Tamara, and Anez for beta-reading this story
for me!

This is the sequel to my story "The Heart of the Matter".  I started
it many months back, before I even cleaned up the last one.  Title
comes from a song by the same name by Sarah MacLachlan....and I don't
own the rights to that either!  :)  I had no idea what I was going to
name this story until I realized that these lyrics could kind of be
applied.

Feedback, requests for story parts, are welcome, and can be sent to
lmharvey@hotmail.com

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

Sweet Surrender
By Lisa Harvey
c. 1999


Part One


Lacroix sat with his hands steepled in front of him before the
microphone.  He had been sitting in the broadcast booth for awhile
now.  Tonight's topic was not coming to him easily.  It had been this
way all week; he was distracted and irritable, and he knew the reason
why.

Since he and Marguerite had come back from their vacation a few weeks
ago, she had been neglecting him.  At first, he was understanding.
After all, she had not seen Nicholas and Natalie for several weeks,
and she had missed them.  He had missed them as well.  Then her son
had shown up; not that he had anything against Alejandro per se.

But her inattention was starting to bother him.  He knew her
affections could not be faltering already.  Her love was clear to him
through their link.  But his fear of losing her love, of being
abandoned, was gnawing at him.  Nicholas hadn't seemed bothered by
Natalie spending so much time with Marguerite and Alejandro.  But why
would he?  It would never even occur to him.  He had what he
wanted...his love, who, even as she learned the ways of her new life,
still searched for a cure.

***Two weeks before***

His curiosity peaked, Lacroix ventured down the stairs to the basement
cautiously.  He had learned his lesson last week when Marguerite and
her children were down there, when he'd narrowly missed being
decapitated by an air-hockey puck.  He had ducked just in time, the
puck denting the wood in the step above his head.

The three of them were seated on the couch, laughing hysterically at
something on the television.  It was one of the shows he and
Marguerite did not see eye to eye on--a cartoon.  The only aspect of
the show he thought was amusing was the way the same character died
every week in a different way.  He sighed inwardly; of course,
Alejandro and Natalie would like it.  Knowing his son as he did, he
supposed Nicholas even watched it.

He surmised that they had no intentions of going club-hopping tonight,
for they were all dressed casually.  Marguerite smiled as she got up
off the couch and approached him.  He was wearing one of the new
shirts she had bought for him while they were on vacation in Paris.
It was a deep blue, so dark it was almost black...but not quite.  It
was one of the few colors he would even consider wearing.  After
kissing him, she teased, "You look very handsome tonight, Lucien.  Is
that a new shirt?"

He returned her smile.  "Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear.
Perhaps you should think of some more compliments for when I come
home.  You *will* be here, won't you?"

She fluttered her eyelashes at him as she answered, "Of course, where
else would I be?"  Lacroix thought it wiser not to reply.  After all,
like Marguerite, he didn't like to argue in front of the 'children'
either.  Instead he kissed her, and after bidding farewell to Natalie
and Alejandro, left for the Raven.

She wasn't exactly waiting for him when he got home.  She had walked
in only minutes before, and was putting her jacket in the closet as he
came in.  They had gone to a movie, she explained.  She'd assured him
that it was not anything he had been interested in seeing.  He hadn't
expected her to be doing nothing but waiting for him; she was entitled
to her diversions, but he found himself agitated nonetheless.

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

Deciding that he was not going to get anywhere else with this
broadcast, Lacroix signed off early.  He was still sitting there,
brooding, when Marguerite walked through the door.  "Bon soir, mon
amour.  Comment ca va?"  He admired the view as she walked toward him
slowly; she seemed especially vibrant tonight.

Marguerite sat on his lap and kissed his cheek.  He replied, "Good
evening, Marguerite.  Did you have a good time?"

She smiled.  "Yes, I did; thank you.  You don't mind that we went to
another club, do you?"

"Of course not," Lacroix said, "I understand the need for a change of
scene."

She looked relieved.  "Good.  Alejandro wanted to hunt somewhere
different, and..."

Lacroix cut her off, "You went hunting with Alejandro?  I thought we
agreed, Marguerite, that we would go hunting together?"

She shifted uncomfortably in his lap.  "We did, and we have.  But I
didn't think that meant I couldn't go without you, Lucien."

Lacroix sighed disgustedly.  "I suppose your son doesn't kill either,"
he said, making a gibe about her hunting practices.

Marguerite shot back, "Unlike *your* son, Lucien, I can kill when the
situation calls for it, and so can Alejandro.  We just choose to
exercise control."  Irate, he wanted to question Natalie's abilities
as well, but he knew better than to go down that road.  If Marguerite
was protective of her son, she was ferocious when it came to her
daughter.

She attempted to get up, but Lacroix held onto her.  He said, "I
believe not hunting without me was implied in our agreement,
Marguerite."

She snorted, "Believe what you like, Lucien, it wasn't.  I'm sure you
aren't going to wait for me to go hunting, and I refuse to be
restricted in my activities.  I am not one of your children."

"No," he agreed, "we are much closer than that."  He paused to caress
her cheek gently.  "You are my lover, Marguerite, and I do not want
you traipsing all over Toronto..."

Marguerite growled softly, "I think you are forgetting yourself,
Lucien.  I will *not* be controlled.  Not by you.  Not by anyone.
I'll do as I please."

"And if I am displeased?"  he asked, "Does my opinion count,
Marguerite?"

She glared at him angrily.  "Of course your *opinion* counts, Lucien.
 But you aren't giving me your opinion, you're giving me an order.  I
lived my entire mortal life being told what to do, and I have not
lived free for 700 years only to subject myself to that again.  Next
you'll be telling me what I can wear..."

"I don't mind the way you dress, my dear.  In fact, I rather like it.
 What I do mind are the young men who seem to follow you around like
bees after honey.  The Community knows we are together, Marguerite,
and only the foolhardy would approach you.  The mortals that frequent
this club, however, do not."

"I can handle any mortal man who approaches me, Lucien, as you are
well aware.  Don't try to get off the subject; I'm not going to let
this go."

He sighed, "Fine, go hunting with your son, Marguerite, but know that
I am not happy with it."

Realizing that part of his problem stemmed from jealousy, she decided
to try and ease his 'concerns'.  Marguerite stroked the spiky hair
around his ear; she loved the feel of his hair against her fingers.
She said soothingly, "Just because I want my independence, doesn't
mean that I want to hold anything back from you, Lucien.  Do you want
to know what it was like?  I want to share it with you."  She began to
nuzzle his neck in his most sensitive spot.

Lacroix gave in to his desires and kissed her roughly.  He growled,
"Go to my old rooms, Marguerite, and I will meet you there in a few
minutes.  I believe we will be spending the day here."  Without a
word, Marguerite kissed him once more and slid off his lap.  He sat
there, mesmerized by the sway of her hips as she left the room.

He was well aware of what Marguerite was trying to do.  He would allow
her to distract him...temporarily.  But if she continued to ignore him
in this way, he would have to take action.  In what form, he didn't
know, but he wouldn't allow this to go on.  Lacroix pushed away from
the microphone, and strode from the room.

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

Late the next afternoon, Marguerite opened her eyes and felt Lacroix's
arms holding her close against him.  She smiled as she picked up one
of his hands and kissed it.  He moved restlessly against her back and
gripped her tighter, like a child unwilling to give up his favorite
toy.  She moved so that she fitted against him more comfortably, and
mulled over the last few weeks.

His free hand moved over her body, and she sighed as it came to rest
on her hip.  Their lovemaking had been especially rough last
night--not that she'd minded.  Usually very tender with her,
Marguerite sometimes had to encourage him to be a little rougher.  He
seemed different somehow, but she couldn't place her finger on it.
Maybe it was just her reaction to their argument.

He had always been possessive of her, but he'd been obvious about it
lately.  She didn't mind his possessive streak, as long as she was
allowed her freedom.  It was amusing to see the male vampires clear a
path for her when she walked into the Raven.  When Lucien wasn't
around, Miklos made sure that she was treated with respect.  And that
meant he would glare at the men who approached her, just as Lacroix
did.

Marguerite's thoughts were interrupted as she felt Lacroix wake up.
He kissed her neck, and she turned towards him.  After kissing him,
she said, "I've been thinking, Lucien, that we haven't really spent a
night alone since we've been home."

He smiled.  "You are correct, my dear.  What do you suggest?  I am in
favor of a romantic evening with you.  A night at the opera, perhaps?"


She frowned.  "Ugh.  How about we compromise and go to the symphony
instead?  I've heard the new violinist that you're so interested in is
in town for a few days.  I can get us tickets for tomorrow night if
you'd like," she offered.

He teased, "My, my, I hadn't realized you had connections.--I think
it's a splendid idea, Marguerite.  And afterwards?"

She sat up and shrugged.  "Surprise me, Lucien.  I'll trust you to
come up with something romantic.--Do you want to share the shower with
me?  I have to go to the store for a little while.  We're expecting a
shipment from Anastasia, and I can't wait to see what she picked out
this time."


End Part One

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.

Part Two


Later that night...

Marguerite sighed in frustration; this was taking entirely too long.
As she crossed her legs, she caught the detective interviewing her
watching with avid interest.  The cretin had done nothing but ogle her
since he had gotten here.  He finally looked down at his notebook and
asked, "I'm sorry, miss, you were *where* this afternoon?"  She
doubted he had written anything down in that dratted book; if he had,
he would've known the answer to his question.  He had only asked it
twice.

She tossed her hair back in annoyance and said, "It's *Ms.* de
Louvain, Detective, and I've already told you twice that I was at the
Raven with my boyfriend."

`The leering detective's partner stopped snooping around her office to
ask, "The Raven?  What's that?"

Marguerite took a calming breath; this other man had come in only a
few minutes ago, so he really didn't know.  She answered, "It's a
nightclub.  I'm sorry, Detective...your name is?"

The detective smiled as he replied, "It's Detective Jonas, and *I'm*
sorry.  I thought Detective Roberts might have told you that I'd be
joining you."

Ignoring any part of the conversation he wasn't directly involved in,
Roberts asked, "And what were you doing in a nightclub during the
day?"

Marguerite shot him a dirty look before answering, "My boyfriend owns
it."

"Your boyfriend?"

Marguerite almost growled.  The man was a moron, and she couldn't
understand how he had even made it through the Academy, much less into
Homicide.  "Yes, my boyfriend...my *lover*.  Aren't you supposed to be
investigating the body outside my store, Detective Roberts, and not my
whereabouts?"

Ever since she had pulled up and noticed the body in the alley,
nothing had been right.  When she'd first looked at the body, all she
saw was black hair, and, panicking, she immediately thought of
Alejandro.  Several nights ago, she'd had a nightmare about Alejandro
being beaten and left for dead by Marcus.  It had felt so real, almost
as real as the night that it had happened.  But they had killed
Divia's psychotic eldest son, and she just wanted to forget him.  She
calmed down considerably after reaching out to him through their link;
he was still at home.

She had called the police, and they had responded quickly enough.
Natalie had come, and was examining the body even now.  Marguerite had
been disappointed to find that her uncle and his partner wouldn't be
the investigating detectives, but she had offered the policemen that
did show up the use of her office.  She had been sitting in here ever
since, answering questions over and over, growing angrier by the
minute.

She stood up, and Roberts stood up with her.  Marguerite had finally
reached her limit.  The detective opened his mouth to speak, but
Marguerite caught his eyes and stared into them.  He stood mesmerized;
not too much different than before, actually, but at least now, he
would listen.  She really hated to do it this way, but if this took
much longer, Alejandro and Lucien would be here.  She didn't want to
think about what would happen then.  "Listen to me, Detective
Roberts..."

"Daisy?  Are you all right?" Nick asked anxiously from the doorway.

Marguerite tore her eyes away from the detective, who fell heavily
into his seat, disoriented.  "Oncle Nicolas, I'm so glad you're here!"
 She ran into his arms, and he hugged her tightly.

Stroking her hair, he said, "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner,
Daisy, but we were finishing up at a crime scene.  I got here as soon
as I could.  When I heard the call, I was so worried that something
had happened to you."

Knowing that Natalie had surely told him otherwise, Marguerite looked
up at him and smiled.  "I'm okay, Uncle Nick.  I'm just glad you're
here now.  I've been answering questions for the longest time."  Nick
looked at the men, and almost lost his temper.  He could only imagine
what had gone on in here, especially after seeing his niece in the
process of hypnotizing Roberts.

Eric edged past Nick.  "Hey, Knight, can I get in here too?  I want to
see who's...oh, never mind.--Are you okay, Daisy?"

Marguerite looked at her uncle's partner, and she heard his heart
speed up when she smiled at him.  "I'm fine, Eric.  These nice
detectives were just about to go do some actual investigating, I
believe."

Upon hearing Knight's voice, Roberts popped out of his chair and
turned around.  He glanced at his partner, who had stopped looking at
the artwork to gape in the direction of the doorway.  This woman was
Nick Knight's niece?  They were in some serious trouble, or at least
he was, Roberts considered.  Detective Jonas found his voice first and
said, "Yes, ma'am, we were."  He proceeded to drag his partner out the
door, cautiously skirting past Knight and D'Angelo as they left.

When they left, Eric asked, "Did they say anything stupid, Daisy?
Roberts can be a jerk sometimes...especially around pretty women."

Marguerite could tell he was embarrassed the minute the words left his
mouth.  "They didn't, not really.  They were just annoying me, that's
all.  I don't like to repeatedly answer the same questions.  How did
those two get into Homicide anyway?"

Nick shrugged.  "I think Roberts has an older brother in Vice, who was
owed some favors.  What was wrong with Jonas?  He's usually not too
bad."

Marguerite moved to straighten the knickknacks the latter detective
had touched.  She said, "Nothing was wrong with him, but he only came
into the room a few minutes before you did.  I had to spend what felt
like hours alone with that potential rapist."  She sighed, "Lucien is
going to be very upset.  I'm so glad he didn't come with me."

Nick felt his temper rising, but not at the mention of his master.  He
was angry at the fact that Roberts had been in here alone with his
niece, making her uncomfortable.  As much as he might like Lacroix's
solution, Nick had to go through proper channels.  "I'll talk to
Captain Reese as soon as we get back, Daisy.  Roberts'll be lucky to
be giving parking tickets when the Captain's done with him."

Marguerite smiled gratefully.  "Merci, Nicolas.  I would come in and
talk to the Captain myself, but I have a shipment from Anastasia to go
through, and it's rather large."

Nick said, "Just give him a call later and let him know you're all
right.  You've made quite an impression on him, you know."

She tried to look innocent.  "Who me?  I only treat him with the
respect he deserves."

Eric laughed.  "And a box of jelly doughnuts every other week."

"There are doughnuts?  Where?"  Natalie joked as she walked through
the door.

Eric answered, "Oh, I'm sure there'll be a big box of them at the
station tomorrow night.  Should I save you one?"

Nat shook her head.  "No thanks, Eric.  I have to keep an eye on this
girlish figure, you know."

Nick hugged Natalie and kissed the top of her head.  "I'll keep an eye
on your figure, Nat.  So, what's the story with our body in the
alley?"

Nat put her medical bag on the desk.  "Well, I'd say he was just a
drug addict who had the misfortune to OD on whatever he chose to shoot
himself up with tonight.  I'll need to do a blood work-up to be sure,
but his arms were full of old track marks."

As Alejandro appeared in the doorway, the air sounded with beepers and
cell phones.  While everyone was busy, Marguerite stepped into
Alejandro's arms.  He held her tightly and asked, "What's going on,
Margarita?"

Her head buried in his chest, she replied, "There was a body in the
alley, and all I saw was black hair.  I was terrified that it was you,
after the nightmare I had the other night.  I called the police after
I made sure it wasn't you."

Conscious of the mortal among them, Alejandro whispered, "I felt your
agitation, querida.  What happened next?"

Marguerite groused, "I just spent what felt like eternity with the
most incompetent detective on the force.  I don't know what rock they
found him under.  All he did was leer at me and ask irrelevant
questions."

He replied, "I knew I should have come here right away.  You shouldn't
have been alone with that cabron, Margarita.  If I see him..."

Marguerite pulled back and put a hand against his mouth to stop him.
"Calmate, Alejandro!  I do not want you to do anything rash.  Uncle
Nick is going to take care of him...the mortal way," she whispered
harshly.  A stubborn look crossed Alejandro's face and Marguerite
warned, "Alejandro...portate bien."

He looked up and met Natalie's eyes.  On the phone with the coroner's
office, she didn't need to speak; her face mirrored the warning in
their mother's voice.  He sighed, "Bien, but if he bothers you
again..."  Marguerite rolled her eyes in disgust.

Nick's voice interrupted the quiet 'discussion'.  "Daisy, we have to
go."

She turned to her uncle and smiled wryly.  "So I gathered.  There's
only one reason you're *all* this popular."

He kissed her forehead.  "I'll call here later to let you know when I
talk to the Captain."

"Merci, Nicolas.  I don't want you to worry about me; I'll be okay.
Alejandro was coming to help me with the inventory anyway, and Lucien
will be here in a little while."

As he followed Nick and Nat out, Eric couldn't help but wonder about
Alejandro Valera.  He had met Alejandro at several social functions,
like Nick's wedding.  After introducing him, Marguerite had explained
that Alejandro was her cousin.  Eric wasn't sure if he believed that
or not, but one thing was for sure...the pair was extremely close.

Absently, he wondered if the relationship had bothered her
boyfriend.--Now there was another thing Eric couldn't fathom...what
Marguerite saw in Lacroix.  He knew Lacroix was one of Nick's oldest
friends, but the man was so dark and serious...where Marguerite was so
carefree and full of life.  The Nightcrawler broadcasts were
interesting, but...

Eric shook his head; it wasn't as if he had a shot with her.  Guys
were constantly tripping all over themselves to be near Marguerite and
those two friends of hers, but they never seemed to notice.  Come to
think of it, even Natalie failed to notice all the appreciative looks
she received whenever she walked into the precinct...but Knight
didn't.  The guy didn't miss a thing, down to the smallest clue on a
case; Eric didn't know how it was possible.

He was glad Nick was his partner; Nick had taught him so much in this
past year alone.  It was experience he never would have gotten with
his other partner...not that he had been a bad guy, just different
than Nick.  Eric jumped into the passenger seat of the Caddy, and
decided to think about something else.  He just about managed to
fasten his seat belt as Nick put the car in gear and sped off.


End Part Two

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Three


The next night...

Lacroix took Marguerite's hand in his as they walked through the park.
 It had been a wonderful evening so far.--The concert had been
excellent, and now they were walking by the lake.  The water glittered
with the reflected moonlight; it was a very romantic setting, in his
experienced opinion.  In his pocket was a gift for Marguerite; one he
had been looking for just the right moment to give to her, and now
seemed to be a good time.

He had been annoyed to learn what had gone on with the police officer
last night.  It had only served to prove the point he had been trying
to make during their disagreement the night before last.  He was not
at all happy with the way men looked at her.  She was his, and he
would not share her with any man--mortal or vampire.

Marguerite glanced up at Lacroix as they walked.  She could tell he
was brooding about the detective.  He had been upset when he arrived
at the store and found out what had gone on.  She swung their hands as
they walked in silence.  After a few minutes, she remarked, "You're
awfully quiet, mon cher."

"Forgive me, my dear.  I was merely thinking."

Marguerite stopped walking and turned to him.  She asked, "You're not
still upset with me about last night, are you?"

He kissed her hand before answering, "I was not upset with you,
Marguerite...but let's not talk of that tonight."

She smiled playfully.  "What would you like to talk about?  The
symphony?"  She put her arms around his neck and went on, "Did you
enjoy it as much as I did, amour?"

Lacroix gently ran the back of his hand along her cheek as he said,
"Oh, yes, I enjoyed it very much."

Marguerite whispered, "If it's all the same to you, Lucien, I can
think of better things for us to do than talk."  She leaned up and
kissed him slowly.

He lifted her slightly to allow them better access to one another.
When the kiss was over, Marguerite turned her attentions to Lacroix's
neck.  While he could think of nothing else he'd rather be doing at
this present moment in time, he reminded himself that he should retain
control long enough to give Marguerite her gift.  He set her down
gently and said, "One moment, mon amour.  There is something I would
like to share with you first."

Marguerite toyed with the lapels of his suit as she asked, "What is
it, Lucien?"  She couldn't imagine what it might be, although he
seemed to be in a very good mood.

Lacroix knew she was dying of curiosity; he decided to tease her a
bit.  "Have I told you how beautiful you look this evening, my dear?"

She shrugged, and the wrap she was wearing slid down slightly to bare
a shoulder.  She replied, "Quite a few times, actually, but you can
say it as often as you like."  She had put her hair up tonight, except
for a few tendrils that had been freed around her face and neck.  He
always found himself drawn to the curve of her neck when she wore her
hair like this.

Lacroix brought his hand up to lightly caress her bare shoulder, and
then her neck.  He decided to get to the point; the sooner he gave
Marguerite the gift, the sooner she could thank him.  "You look
especially beautiful tonight, ma chere.  I have something I want to
share with you, and I've been waiting for a moment such as this to do
it..."

The romantic moment was ruined, however, when Alejandro appeared to
one side of them.  Marguerite sensed him before he could speak, and
she turned to face her son.  "What is it, Alejandro?  I *know* you
wouldn't intrude on this night unnecessarily."

He looked worried as he said, "I wouldn't, Margarita, but there's
something wrong with Natalie, and she won't tell me what it is.  She
won't let me get Nick either."

Marguerite looked at him in disbelief as she asked, "But she let you
come get me?"

He replied, "No. She didn't want me to call to you either."

She said, "I don't sense anything wrong with her..."  Marguerite
concentrated and discovered that her daughter was blocking her.  "But
then, I wouldn't, would I?" she continued, "How did you know to go to
her?"

Alejandro ran his fingers through his hair.  "I didn't.  I went to the
morgue to visit her, and she was practically running out the door.
She was very upset, and I followed her.  She won't tell me what's
wrong.  I don't think she should be alone right now."

Marguerite remarked, "So, naturally, you thought of me."

"Margarita," he growled in frustration.

Marguerite glanced at Lacroix, who nodded slightly in understanding.
She sighed, "Oh, all right.  Where is she, Sasha?"

Relieved, he answered, "Queen's Park.  She's just sitting on a bench,
crying."

Marguerite said, "We'll go see what's wrong, but if she doesn't want
to talk to me, I'm not going to push her."

Natalie was where Alejandro had left her.  She was done crying, at
least for now.  Marguerite approached her slowly, with Alejandro and
Lacroix following at a discreet distance.  Natalie turned to face
Marguerite as she approached and said, "I told Sasha I wanted to be
alone."

Marguerite raised her eyebrows as she said, "Well, he ignored you.
Since I'm here, why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

Nat almost looked convincing as she said, "There's nothing wrong."

Marguerite sat down on the bench without breaking eye contact with her
youngest child.  "Je suis ta mere, Natalie.  Ne mentez m'en.
Qu'est-ce qu'il y a qui ne vas pas?"

Nat sighed; she could tell from the tone that Marguerite meant
business.  Marguerite rarely used the 'I'm your mother, don't lie to
me' speech.  Nat began, "I had to do an autopsy on a little girl
tonight."  Marguerite said nothing as she patiently waited for Natalie
to take a deep breath and compose her thoughts.  Nat continued, "She
reminded me of Cynthia."

"Your goddaughter?"

Natalie nodded and started to cry.  Marguerite realized it was almost
the anniversary of Cynthia's death...her murder.  She put her arm
around Natalie and called out, "Lucien."  Lacroix appeared next to
her.  She looked up at him and asked, "Could you find Nicolas and tell
him to meet us at the loft?"  Impatient to get the evening back on
track, Lacroix inclined his head, then disappeared.

"No!  I don't want to see Nick now, not like this," Nat yelled.

Marguerite said firmly, "You may not want to, Natalie, but you *will*.
 I'm taking you home, and we're going to wait for Uncle Nick.  Any
other night I would be glad to give in and stay with you, but I can't,
not tonight."  Marguerite stood up, and Natalie realized that she was
dressed for an evening out.  Feeling guilty, she didn't say another
word as she followed Marguerite and Alejandro back to the loft.

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

Nick was examining the evidence that Eric had found when he sensed
Lacroix's presence.  He tried to ignore it, but Lacroix's tug on his
mind was insistent and unceasing.  He handed the evidence bag back to
Eric and said, "This is great.  I'm going to look around back to see
if I can find anything else of interest.  Maybe the killer dropped
something on his way out."

Eric called after him, "Knight, wait a minute!"  He sighed; Nick was
already gone.  He muttered, "Why does he always go out back?  Why
doesn't he ever search the front?  Sometimes, I wish I knew what was
going on in that head of his."

Lacroix stepped out of the shadows as Nick stepped out of the back of
the building.  Nick whispered, "What do you want, Lacroix?"

"Good evening, Nicholas.  I came to deliver a message.  Your niece
wants you to meet her at the loft.  It seems Natalie isn't herself
this evening, and Marguerite is of the opinion that your presence is
required."

"Is Nat okay?" Nick asked anxiously.  He hadn't sensed anything
unusual through their link.

Lacroix answered, "Physically, she is fine.  Her emotional state is
another story, however."

"I can't leave right now, I'm in the middle of an investigation.  The
Captain would kill me."

Lacroix replied, "I can wait.  After all, Marguerite is with
Natalie...where else would I go?"

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

Alejandro pulled a bottle out of the refrigerator while Marguerite got
out the glasses.  Natalie was pacing nervously.  She said, "I'm sorry,
Maggie.  I didn't realize you were going out."

Marguerite soothed, "It's okay.  It's not like you called me here."
She threw a dirty look at Alejandro before continuing, "I think it's
going to be awhile before they get here.  Why don't you tell me why
you didn't want to see Uncle Nick?"

Nat gratefully took the glass from her brother's hand.  She had been
annoyed at him when Marguerite found her in the park, but she felt
better now.  Marguerite would understand her pain.  After taking a
sip, Natalie said, "I don't want Nick to feel guilty about why I'm
upset.  It's not just Cynthia...you know, when I was mortal, I used to
worry that I'd never have a child of my own...but now it's true.  I
never will, and Nick will only blame himself."

Marguerite toyed with her glass as she replied, "It's hard to accept,
Nat.  I know how hard it is to come to terms with not being able to
have children.  But I can't know how you're *truly* feeling; I had
children before I was brought over."  She took a drink and continued,
"Anastasia could probably help you, if you don't want to discuss this
with Nicolas.  She should be here in a few days...if you can hold out
that long."

"I think I can; I already feel a little better.  Thanks, Maggie," Nat
said as she sank down into the couch.

Marguerite smiled as she made her way over to the piano.  "You're very
welcome."  She played a short scale and looked up.  "Alejandro, you're
being awfully quiet."

Alejandro sat sprawled on the couch next to Natalie.  He gave a slow
smile and said, "I thought it best not to call attention to myself,
Margarita.  You don't seem very happy with me."

She murmured, "We'll discuss my feelings towards you later, Sasha."

He said lightly, "I only wish that meant what it once did, Margarita."
 She smiled at him, but said nothing.

Feeling the need to reassure her family, Natalie said, "Look, I really
appreciate you guys staying here with me, but I feel better now.
Really.  If you want to leave, it's okay.  I can wait for Nick alone."

Marguerite said, "I have nothing else to do right now, Nat.  Lucien is
waiting for Uncle Nick, and I'd rather spend the time with you instead
of waiting at home.  And apparently, Alejandro doesn't have anything
better to do."  At the mention of his name, Alejandro shot his mother
a dirty look.

Nat looked unsure, but she said, "Well, if you really want to stay,
I'm glad to have to the company."

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

Lacroix was growing more irritable by the moment.  Nicholas was taking
forever to be done with his investigation.  Lacroix had tried to nudge
his son several times, but Nicholas would not be rushed.  Eventually,
he gave up; the night was shot anyway.  It was already late, and
Marguerite might very well want to stay with Natalie even after he and
Nicholas returned to the loft.

He sighed heavily.  It was bad enough he had to share Marguerite with
her family, but now Nicholas was ignoring him.  This was not to be
borne.  He decided to go hunting early the next evening.  Maybe an
outing in solitude would clear his head and give him a chance to
decide on a course of action...a solution to his dilemma, as it were.


End Part Three

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

Okay, it's official--Hotmail hates me!  Last night I finally started
receiving things that had been posted all weekend, and now *all* of my
messages are gone!  So, if you mail me and I don't respond, I am most
probably not ignoring you, I probably haven't received your mail.  I'm
going to put an alternate e-mail address at the end of this part.

See disclaimer/archival in part one.

Part Four


Two nights later...

The stairway to the wine cellar of the Raven was dimly lit, but
Marguerite didn't need a light to find her way.  She didn't bother
turning on the lights either.  All she wanted were a few special
bottles--Lucien's favorite--and she'd be on her way.  They were going
to try to pick up where they left off the other night, and she wanted
to surprise him.  As she poked around the shelves, she sensed a very
faint, faltering heartbeat and faint cries coming from a back room.

Curious, she made her way to the door where she thought the sounds
were coming from.  It was locked, but then, she didn't need a key.
Twisting the knob, the lock snapped under the pressure.  The smell of
blood assaulted her senses, and this time she did turn on the light.
On the floor was a young woman; her long, curly brown hair obscuring
her face.  At first glance Marguerite mistakenly thought it was
Natalie, even though she knew it wasn't.  This woman was mortal, but
she wouldn't be alive for much longer.

Marguerite kneeled down and pushed the hair away from the girl's face.
 From a distance, she could have passed for Natalie.  The girl's eyes
opened slightly, and as they focused on Marguerite, she grew panicked.
 In a thready voice, she pleaded, "Please, don't hurt me again..."

Marguerite was confused, but was quickly growing angry.  She leaned
closer.  "Why would I hurt you?"

In response, the girl tried to back away and weakly cried, "No!"
Marguerite looked the girl over.  There were fang marks on her neck,
but they were messy and torn...as if the vampire who had made them had
been in a rage.  There was still blood trickling out of the wound, and
pooled on the floor under the girl's body.

Her senses were already well aware of the blood, and the vampire
within Marguerite yearned to be free.  She dipped her finger in the
blood, and brought it to her lips.  Her eyes turned golden as she read
what was there.  There was so much confusion, but one thing was clear.
 Lacroix had brought the girl here.  Apparently he had wanted to toy
with her before she died.

Marguerite's fangs descended, and she lifted the now-unconscious girl
to her.  The girl was going to die anyway; there wasn't enough blood
in her body to sustain her for much longer.  But Marguerite wasn't
going to allow her to suffer a lingering, painful death...or Lacroix
to come in and finish the job.  It didn't take her long to drain the
girl, and she gently placed the girl back on the floor when she was
done.  Marguerite stood and turned to find Lacroix in the doorway.

"Marguerite..."

She snarled, "Don't even try to explain this to me, Lucien.  I can see
what this is."

He asked quietly, "Can you?"

She gestured to the body on the floor behind her.  "I'm not blind, nor
am I stupid.  From a distance, she looks like Natalie...*my child*.
Why didn't you just go after Nat?  Is it because you were afraid I
couldn't forgive you?  What makes you think I'd forgive this?"

He asked, "Is that why you killed her?"

Marguerite wiped the blood from her mouth.  "Kill her?  She was
practically dead already; I merely put her out of her misery.  I
couldn't allow her to suffer any longer."  She turned to leave.

Lacroix grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.  Marguerite
slapped him--hard.  He let go of her arm to put a hand to his cheek in
disbelief.  She spat, "Don't you touch me!"

He ground out, "You will not leave me, Marguerite."

She took a step back.  "Leave you?" she scoffed, "If I don't leave
here now, I'm going to stake your miserable heart."   She turned and
stalked from the room.  As she neared the stairs, she spied someone
lurking in the shadows.  Angry beyond words, Marguerite grabbed the
person and brought her out into the dim light.  It was a relatively
young vampire.  Marguerite believed her name was Eva, and she was new
to Toronto.

After getting a good look at Eva, Marguerite recalled seeing her in
the dead girl's blood.  The younger vampire had a smug look on her
face, and suddenly, Marguerite understood what had happened.  So,
Lacroix hadn't been the one to bring the girl to the brink of death
after all.  It had been this one.  She hissed as she threw Eva up
against the wall.

Eva recovered, and snarling, started back towards Marguerite, who
grabbed her and threw her up against the wall again.  This time,
Marguerite followed, and held Eva there by her throat.  She growled,
"Before you die, young one, I am going to explain something to you.
You may look at, and even admire, what belongs to me, but you never
touch it.  And you *never* try to manipulate my life to suit your
needs.  And you never toy with my family."

Eva rasped, "I haven't gone near your family..."

Marguerite's grip tightened as she countered, "Oh, no?  You want
Lacroix, n'est pas?  And to that end, you decided to put a wedge
between us by using that girl.  A girl who happens to bear a passing
resemblance to my daughter.  I am well aware of some of the rumors
floating around about me... about how I am too much like my
uncle...that I am too soft.  Did you think that this was so?"

The young vampire did not reply, but struggled wildly.  Marguerite
held her easily and continued, "I can assure you that like my uncle, I
can be as brutal as any one of us.  It is unfortunate that you will
not benefit from this knowledge, because you will be dead."  Eva
renewed her efforts to free herself.  Marguerite threw her against the
far wall, and Eva slumped to the ground.

Lacroix stood in the doorway in stunned silence.  He still could not
believe what had gone on between them moments ago, much less what was
happening before him now.  He wouldn't dream of trying to stop
Marguerite.  He sure she would try to stake him, and with her temper,
she might very well succeed.  He thought back to the time that
Nicholas had almost beaten him.

Besides, he was rather enjoying the scene before him.  Even though
Marguerite hated him right now...wanted him dead, as a matter of fact,
she still considered them a couple.  He thought it encouraging...for
now.  Once she walked out that door and thought about what had gone on
here tonight, he would be alone again.  If he were to be honest, he
had no one to blame but himself.

He watched as Marguerite ripped a slat of wood from a crate to create
an impromptu stake.  She reached Eva just as the girl was getting to
her feet.  Marguerite rammed the stake through Eva's heart, and the
vampire fell to the ground for the last time.  She kneeled down to
whisper, "Never try to take what is mine."  When she was sure Eva was
dead, Marguerite turned and strode from the room in silence.

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

Even though it was late, people had been in and out of the church.
But Marguerite paid no attention to them.  She sat in a pew, staring
at the altar, deep in thought.  She had been religious as a mortal,
and coming across hadn't changed that.  She came to church when she
needed guidance; she would pray and think.  She had often done it when
she had been mortal, and it had been that way since she was first
brought across, no matter where they settled.

It was the one place where most of her family couldn't go.  Kayla and
Anton could, but once they realized where she was and that she was
safe, they had left her alone.  It was why she had chosen to come here
now.  She had blocked off her link to everyone and sought out the
peaceful solitude of the church.  She needed to be alone right now.
Away from Lacroix--and right now, he was being Lacroix, and not
Lucien.  Away from her uncle, who would only run off in her defense if
he knew what had happened.

There was a touch on her arm, and Marguerite started.  She hadn't
realized there was anyone near her.  It was very foolish of her to be
so unaware of her surroundings.  She turned to find Natalie looking at
her anxiously.  "Maggie, are you okay?  Why are you blocking us?
Sasha and I were so worried..."

Marguerite shook her head.  "I'm okay, Nat.  I just needed some time
to be alone and think.  How did you know to find me here?"

Natalie smiled faintly.  "Kayla told me that you come here to get
away...or when something is troubling you.  What's wrong?"

"Oh, Nat..." Marguerite sighed, "Lacroix and I had a terrible fight,
and I...I don't think I can discuss it with anyone right now, but
especially not you...or Sasha."

Nat was immediately concerned.  "I'm sure Nick would..."

Marguerite whispered sharply, "No! "  She forced herself to calm down
and continued, "No.  Uncle Nick can't know.  He'll only get upset, and
I won't be responsible..."  She trailed off as she thought of what
would happen if Nick found out what Lacroix had done.

"You won't be responsible for what, Maggie?"

"I don't want them to fight, Nat.  They've been getting along so well
lately.  Uncle Nick is so hot tempered, and I don't want him or
Lacroix hurt."

Nat studied her friend closely.  "Why do you keep calling him
'Lacroix', Maggie?  You always call him 'Lucien'."

Tears filled Marguerite's eyes.  "Because he's not acting like my
Lucien, Nat.  He's acting like the Lacroix I've always heard about.
He was never this way with me before.  I don't know what to do."
Natalie put her arm around Marguerite, and turned to glance at the
door of the church.  Alejandro could stand his mother's pain no
longer, and was risking the pain of the cross to see what was wrong.

Nat shook her head at her brother.  She had a feeling that if he were
to hear what Marguerite was about to say, he would only react like
Nick and go off to confront Lacroix.  She motioned with her head that
he should wait outside.  For a moment he looked like he wasn't going
to go, but then he left as silently as he came.  Natalie was well
aware that he would be right outside the door.  Waiting.

Marguerite twisted her head around in time to see her son's retreating
form.  She could not believe he had actually entered a church, but she
was glad he had left.  She wasn't ready to deal with Alejandro yet,
although she knew the time would come soon enough.

Hoping Lacroix hadn't reverted to his old ways, Natalie said quietly,
"Tell me what happened, Maggie.  I want to help you.  If Lacroix has
hurt you, I need to know about it."

Marguerite sniffled, "I can't tell you, Nat, not until I know exactly
what happened.  But right now I'm too angry at Lacroix to discuss it
with him."

Nat pressed, "You need to talk about it with *someone*."

Marguerite stood up.  "I think I *need* to take a walk."

Natalie followed, and as they exited the church, she said, "You didn't
leave me the other night, and I'm not going to leave you now.  You can
go on that walk, but we're going with you."  She looked at Alejandro.

"I'm not going anywhere, Margarita, not until I know what's going on."

Marguerite sighed, "Fine, follow me if you like.  I want to walk by
the lake, but don't be surprised if I don't say anything."


End Part Four

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Five


When they reached the lake, Marguerite was true to her word and walked
in silence.  Natalie and Alejandro walked on either side of her for
quite awhile, patiently waiting for her to talk.  Eventually,
Alejandro could stand the silence no more.  He said, "I can't wait
anymore, Mama.  I want to know what el Viejo has done to you."

She whirled around to glare at her son.  She said angrily, "I will not
tell you anything if you're going to run off to confront Lacroix like
the hot-headed idiot you can be.  This is my fight, Alejandro, and if
anyone is going to do him harm, it's going to be me."

Alejandro stared at her in disbelief and said, "I won't do anything
rash, Margarita, I promise."

Marguerite merely shook her head and turned around.  She waited until
they were walking again to say, "I was in the basement of the Raven
tonight, and I found a mortal girl.  She had lost so much blood that
she was almost dead, and out of pity I finished the job.  There was so
much confusion in her blood, but I could tell Lacroix had something to
do with it.  When I looked up from the body, there he was.  I was so
angry..."

After a moment, Natalie gently prodded, "What happened then, Maggie?"

"We had an argument, and I walked out.  Or rather, I tried to walk
out.  On my way out I found that new girl lurking in the shadows.  I
think her name was Eva."

Alejandro muttered, "I know who she is...was?  Margarita, I felt your
rage, what did you do?"

"I killed her," Marguerite said simply.  "When I saw her, I *knew*
that she had been the one to drain the girl.  Although Lacroix did
help himself to a taste..." she trailed off for a moment, then said,
"and then I left.  Just because he hadn't been the one to kill the
girl doesn't change anything."

Natalie said, "I don't get it.  He still hunts occasionally, doesn't
he?"

Marguerite turned and looked at her children as she said, "Yes, he
does...but then, he's never chosen someone who looks like you,
Natalie."

Nat looked stunned for a moment, but then nodded slowly.  She
murmured, "You know, Maggie, in a twisted way, it makes sense..."
Together she and Marguerite grabbed ahold of Alejandro, who had been
about to take off.

Marguerite practically growled, "What did I tell you, Alejandro?  You
wanted to hear this, and you will do nothing...as you promised."

Before Alejandro could protest, Natalie said, "Listen, Sasha, he's not
going to hurt me."

He asked angrily, "How can you be so sure, Natalie?  Especially now?"

Nat replied, "If he was going to do something to me, he would have
done it already.  And he would do it in a way that no one would know
he was involved.  Maggie, why did Eva drain the girl?"

Puzzled by the change in topic, Marguerite said, "From what I read in
the girl's blood, Eva had some demented idea that if I was out of the
way, she could move in on Lacroix.   I think that she thought if I
believed he drained the girl in a rage, that I would leave him."

Nat asked quietly, "And haven't you?  I think you should confront him
about it, Maggie.  I don't think he would do anything that stupid and
obvious.  I think that maybe he didn't even realize the girl looked
like me...not consciously, anyway."

Marguerite looked unhappy.  "There's only one way I'm going to know
that for sure, which means I have to go to him."  She sighed, "If you
two don't mind, I think I need some time alone."

Natalie nodded.  "I understand.  I have something I want to take care
of anyway.  Sasha, are you coming?"

He replied distractedly, "In a moment."

When Natalie was gone, Alejandro asked, "Are you sure you'll be all
right, amor?  I don't want to leave you alone."

Marguerite smiled wistfully as she said, "You never did, Sasha."

Impulsively, she stood up on tiptoe and kissed him.  Encouraged by her
actions, Alejandro put his arms around her and deepened the kiss.
Marguerite buried her fingers in his hair and let herself be carried
away by the moment.  It would be so easy to let this continue to its
inevitable conclusion.  It had been so long since she and Alejandro
had been together, and she knew he wanted her still.  Truthfully, if
she had been with anyone else but Lacroix, she would have gone back to
Alejandro long ago.  But even now despite what he had done, she loved
Lacroix.  She couldn't be unfaithful to him.

She pulled back abruptly to look into Alejandro's glowing eyes.  "I
can't do this, Sasha.  It's not fair..."

He rasped, "Not fair to Lacroix?  After what he's done to you?  Let me
treat you the way you deserve to be treated."

Marguerite put a finger to his lips to quiet him.  "No, it's not fair
to *you*.  I still love him, Alejandro.  No matter what happens here
tonight, if I can forgive him, I'll go back to him.  It wouldn't be
fair to use you like this."

He growled softly, "Let me decide that, Margarita."

She shook her head.  "No, I can't; I'm sorry, Sasha.  I love you too
much to do this to you.  You deserve better than that."  Alejandro
kissed her one more time; it was slow and full of promise.  Knowing he
would respect her decision, Marguerite returned the kiss.  When it was
over, he held her close.

After a few minutes, he loosened his grip and whispered, "I'll leave
you alone now, Margarita.  You know where you can find me if you
change your mind.  Te amo."  He kissed the top of her head and was
gone.

Marguerite sighed as he left.  She walked along and stared out at the
water.  She didn't really see the scene before her, because she was
thinking back to a different time...

***Spain, 1453***

"Really, Marguerite, I can't understand why you are being so stubborn
about this."

Marguerite kept her gaze on her mother as she tried to explain,
"Maman, you heard what Aristotle said.  My uncle is beginning to
question his choice.  If I go to Nicolas now, he'll only blame
himself.  I can't do that to him."

Kayla studied her child intensely as she asked, "And Lucius?  Why are
you hiding yourself from him?"

Marguerite rolled her eyes while thinking of all the rumors she had
heard over the last few years.  "He's not ready for me yet, Maman.  I
don't know if he ever will be,"  she said dejectedly.

"You're never going to know unless you go to him.  I don't think this
fascination with him is healthy, Marguerite.  If you're not going to
go to him, I think you should find something to distract yourself."

"I was content where we were, Maman.  I don't understand why we had to
leave," Marguerite complained.

Kayla said, "It was time to move on, Marguerite.  I was getting
bored."  And then in an effort to distract her daughter, "Anton will
be meeting us soon."

"And Anastasia?"

Kayla replied, "She will join us eventually."

Marguerite had been poised for a reply, but had the breath knocked out
of her when she slammed up against what seemed to be a wall.  She
looked up and gazed into the most handsome face she had ever seen.  He
caught her as she stumbled and said, "Lo siento, senorita."

She smiled up at him; he was so tall.  "No, yo tengo la culpa."

He continued on in Spanish, "A lady as beautiful as you could never be
at fault."

Had she been mortal, Marguerite would have blushed.  "Thank you.  You
are very kind."

He replied, "I only speak the truth; I have never seen two more
beautiful women.  My name is Alejandro Valera."

After exchanging glances with Kayla, Marguerite said, "My name is
Marguerite, and this is my sister, Celie."  Marguerite used the French
form of her mother's name.

Alejandro smiled.  "You are French?  Clearly, I have been living in
the wrong country."

Marguerite was mesmerized by his turquoise eyes as she answered, "We
are from Paris, and are here to visit some distant relatives."  She
was amazed she could still remember the story she and Kayla had agreed
on.

"With your permission, my lady, I would very much like to see you
again," he ventured.

Kayla answered quickly, "I think that would be a wonderful idea.  I am
sure our uncle would approve.  You can escort us home now, if you
like."

"Nothing would make me happier," he replied.

Kayla was elated.  This could be the very distraction her child
needed.  If the stubborn girl wouldn't go to Lucius, she needed a
suitable male companion, at least in Kayla's opinion.  It shouldn't be
too hard to convince Marguerite that this devastatingly handsome young
knight would make a fine addition to their family.  Watching the pair
together, it was painfully obvious there was a very strong attraction
between the two, and it was time Marguerite learned how to make a
child anyway.

She decided that Marguerite would probably be more amenable to the
situation if she thought the mortal was not for herself, but rather
for Kayla.  It shouldn't be too hard to maneuver them together from
there.  Although she would like to spend some time with him herself.

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

Marguerite had not been very happy to find she had been tricked into
making her first child, but deep down she knew Kayla had her best
interests at heart.  And Alejandro had been a more than suitable
companion.  Even still, Lacroix had always been on the edge of her
mind.  Like now...what was she going to do?


End Part Five

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Six


Natalie walked into the Raven and watched Miklos pour a drink for her
as she approached the bar.  She accepted it gratefully, and drank it
while she looked around the club.  At this late hour, the club was
half-full.  Lacroix was in his broadcast booth; she could see that the
"on air" light was glowing.  Wonderful, a Nightcrawler monologue.
Just what Nat needed at this moment in time, her father-in-law in
morbid-mode.

She asked Miklos for two glasses of the special 'house-blend'.  Hoping
the assurances she had given to Alejandro to be true, Natalie made her
way to the broadcast booth and slowly opened the door.  Lacroix looked
up from the microphone and motioned her inside.  Nat nervously stepped
inside, allowing the door to close behind her.  The almost inaudible
click of the lock sounded deafening to her ears.

Lacroix wound up his speech as he cued up a song.  When he was done,
he gestured to a chair and took the glass Natalie offered to him.  He
sipped at it and then said, "So, you've spoken with Marguerite.  How
is she?"  He was trying to appear indifferent, but Nat knew better.
He wasn't about to show his feelings to her--no matter what they were.


She replied, "Angry.  I've never seen her this upset.  *Never*."  Nat
sipped at her drink, hoping it would relax her.  "Why do you resent me
so much, Lacroix?"

It was on the tip of his tongue to deny it, but why bother?  There was
no hiding what he had done, and his feelings must seem obvious to
Natalie.  "It's not a matter of resenting you, as much as it is
resenting the changes you have wrought in my life."

"Changes?  I would think that Marguerite has made the most changes in
your life."

Lacroix replied, "There have been...*many* changes over the last two
years, my dear.  Not all of them have been to my liking."

Natalie eyed him warily; she wasn't at all sure where this
conversation was going.  He seemed calm...but then again, he always
did.  She had done nothing to Lacroix, and started to grow angry.
Forcing herself to remain calm, she asked, "What is it you don't like,
Lacroix?  I can't think of anything I might have done."

"This is not a conversation for you, Natalie.  I should be having this
discussion with your mother," Lacroix said in a low, controlled voice.

Nat's eyes flashed in anger.  "It *is* a conversation for me, Lacroix.
 This is *my* life, and I'm not going to let you manipulate it any
longer."

"Manipulate your life?  My dear Natalie, I have stood by and done
nothing while you have taken my son from me, but I will *not* let
Marguerite slip from my grasp as well, " he growled.

Natalie stood up and said angrily, "If you think you can try to
control Maggie the way you controlled Nick..."  By this time her eyes
had turned, and she struggled for control.  "I won't let you.  You'll
probably kill me, but I'll die trying to stop you.  And you'll lose
Nick and Marguerite for good."

The door opened before Lacroix could reply, and Alejandro stepped into
the room.  He was at Nat's side in an instant, and he took her face in
his hands to stare into her eyes.  "Natalie, calmate!  If Marguerite
senses what's going on here..."  He turned to Lacroix and commented,
"You seem to be bringing out the worst in the women of this family,
Viejo.  You're lucky Kayla isn't here."

Lacroix said grimly, "I think perhaps Kayla's mode of justice would
have been far swifter and kinder than this torture has been.  Where is
your mother?"

"Probably sharpening a stake to kill you with," Alejandro retorted,
"If you think I'm going to tell you where she is, you're wrong.  If
you want to see her so badly, find her yourself...or is she still
blocking you?"   He turned his attention back to Natalie and said over
his shoulder, "I can't believe Natalie actually defended you to
Margarita, Viejo.  Even after what you've done, she was willing to
give you the benefit of the doubt."

Lacroix ground out, "Being that I did nothing to *you*, Alejandro, I
owe you no explanations.  You may stay here if you like, I'm going
out."  And he was gone.

Natalie was livid; she smacked her brother's arm in frustration.  "How
could you let him leave, Sasha?  He told me he's not going to let
Maggie go.  We can't let him treat her the same way he used to treat
Nick!"

Alejandro put his arms around Nat in an effort to calm her.  "We
couldn't stop him if we tried, Nat...and Marguerite doesn't want him
to let her go.  She still wants him, even after what's happened.  We
have to let her handle this."

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

Lacroix had wandered around the city after he'd left the Raven.  He
hadn't intended on fighting with Natalie, but she had been so
belligerent.  It had been very difficult for him not to answer her in
kind.  He supposed he would have to have a talk with her after he'd
apologized to Marguerite.  Providing either of them would still be
willing to speak with him, of course.

Finally, he returned to the townhouse.  As he suspected, Marguerite
was not there.  He decided to go down to the basement to watch some
television, or perhaps occupy his time in a game of billiards.  The
dog, after his initial over-zealous greeting, had padded off.  The
cat, however, had followed Lacroix, twining around his legs,
threatening to trip him.

He had just finished racking the balls on the pool table when Nicholas
came down the stairs; his son would not be so calm if he'd been
apprised of the evening's occurrences.  "Good evening, Nicholas.  Care
to join me in a game?" Lacroix said blandly.

Nick picked up a cue stick and said, "We can play while you tell me
what went on between you and Natalie tonight.  Between the two of you,
I could barely concentrate on work.  I'll break."

Lacroix answered carefully, "Natalie is angry with me...with good
reason.  Marguerite and I had...an altercation, and Natalie came to
the Raven in order to confront me.  I'm afraid I did not react well to
her animosity.  I left before the argument could escalate any
further."

Nick regarded his maker curiously.  He asked, "What did you and
Marguerite fight about, Lacroix?"

Lacroix was silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words.  He
said finally, "Last night I went hunting, and I found a young woman to
feed from--something about her called to me.  I brought her back to
the club in order to enjoy her without interruption.  I had only taken
a sip when I realized what it was about her that was familiar to
me...she reminded me of Natalie.  Before I could do anything else, I
sensed Marguerite in the club.  I left the mortal in the cellar,
intending on dealing with her later..."

When Lacroix trailed off, Nick prodded, "And Marguerite found her?"

Lacroix nodded.  "On the brink of death.  She gave a merciful end to
the girl.  And naturally enough, she thought I had been the one to
drain the girl.  I appeared in the doorway just as Marguerite was
finishing up.  I could sense her anger, but I couldn't understand it.
 We argued, and on her way to the stairs, she found someone lurking in
the shadows."

Nick forced himself to remain calm.  For his niece's sake, he had to
hear the whole story.  He concentrated on setting up a shot while he
listened to Lacroix continue.  "...somehow Marguerite had known that
Eva had drained the girl and why.  I've never seen her so angry; she
beat the hell out of the girl before staking her.  She left, and I
haven't seen her since."

"But Natalie has," Nick stated.

"Yes," Lacroix agreed, "and apparently Alejandro has spoken to her as
well.  He appeared in time to calm Natalie down."

Nick was baffled by the many feelings he was sensing from
Lacroix...confusion, anger, and...remorse?  Was he sorry for the fact
that the girl resembled Nat?  Nick asked, "What were you going to do
with the girl once you had a chance, Lacroix?"

Lacroix sighed, "I would have made her forget, and sent her on her
way.  It wasn't my intent to hunt for someone who looked like Natalie.
 Alejandro said that she'd defended me to Marguerite..."

Nick said, "I sensed Nat was very upset where Daisy was concerned,
Lacroix.  Why?"

Lacroix had picked up his wineglass and was studying it as he replied,
"During the course of our conversation, she became under the
impression that I was going to use force with Marguerite.  She didn't
give me a chance to explain myself.  I don't blame her; she can only
go by what she's seen of me."

"And you wouldn't try to force Marguerite to stay with you?" Nick
asked.

"Whatever else you might think of me, Nicholas, I know that you are
well aware that I love your niece," Lacroix answered in a tight voice.
 He resented discussing his feelings about Marguerite, even with his
favorite child.

Nick replied in a noncommittal voice, "I've seen you do questionable
things in the name of love before, Lacroix."

"This is *different*, Nicholas.  I have no wish to force Marguerite to
remain with me.  I enjoy her spirit; to coerce her would take away
from that.  She has freely given all of herself to me, body and
soul...everything I've ever wanted...and she expects the same of
me..."  Lacroix's voice trailed off, and he looked into Nick's eyes.

Surprised to find he understood, Nick said softly, "And it scares you,
doesn't it, Lacroix?  But you don't want to lose her, so you
unconsciously chose the person you felt was taking Marguerite...and
me...away from you.  But you realized what you'd done, and you were
going to correct it.  Marguerite will understand that."

Lacroix was unconvinced.  "Will she?  The damage is done, Nicholas.  I
fear that I've made a fatal mistake."

Nick shook his head as he replied, "You're underestimating her
feelings for you, Lacroix.  Once Daisy calms down, she'll be back..."

Lacroix looked in the direction of the stairs.  "She's here...and
she's not happy."

Marguerite appeared on the stairs.  She walked purposefully toward the
pair as she said, "Good evening, Uncle Nick.  Have you seen Natalie
yet?  I don't think she's in a very good mood."

Nick kissed her forehead and said, "No, I haven't been home yet.  I
thought I'd hang around here for a little while."

Her eyes glowed with anger as she replied, "You may as well go,
Nicolas.  Lucien and I have things to discuss, and it could
get...unpleasant.  But he would never hurt me...not physically,
anyway."

Lacroix said, "I think he's concerned for *my* safety, ma chere.
However, your niece is right, Nicholas.  This should be a private
conversation."  Nick nodded and walked toward the stairs.

***
It doesn't mean much
It doesn't mean anything at all
The life I've left behind me
Is a cold room
I've crossed the last line
from where I can't return
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me
And led me from my home
And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give
***

Marguerite waited until her uncle had left the basement, and then
turned her attention back to Lacroix.  He knew what she wanted, and
had already unbuttoned the cuff on his sleeve.  He silently held his
wrist out to her, and she drank deeply.  He held nothing back from her
this time, and as she drank he could sense most of her anger drain
away.

She pulled away slowly, and Lacroix gently wiped at her lips.
Marguerite looked pensive as she stared into his eyes.  He said
hoarsely, "You should hate me."

She closed her eyes and whispered, "I can't."  She opened her eyes in
order to study him as she continued, "But that doesn't mean that I've
forgiven you...yet."

"I am truly sorry, Marguerite," Lacroix murmured.

"You can show me how sorry you are by apologizing to Natalie first
thing tomorrow night."

"Of course, mon amour.  I had intended to do just that," he replied
sincerely.

She added, "Good.  I'll leave it to you to decide how to make it up to
me.  You can be *very* persuasive when you put your mind to it."
Concerned that he might say the wrong thing, Lacroix remained silent.
 She shook her head.  "I don't understand how you could've felt
threatened..."

He replied softly, "Love doesn't last forever..."

She interrupted tiredly, "Spare me the Nightcrawler act, Lucien.  I've
been in love with you for 700 years, but you nearly lost me
tonight.--I'm so tired.  I think I'll go to bed."

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

It was shortly before dark when Marguerite awoke from a restful sleep.
 She stretched lazily as she thought about how surprised she sensed
Lucien had been when he found that she wouldn't be sharing their bed.
 The door to the guest bedroom was locked, but that wouldn't have kept
Lucien out if he hadn't chosen to respect her decision.  She had slept
peacefully knowing that he was brooding on what he had done.

Marguerite sat up and stretched again.  When she opened her eyes and
looked across the room she found that her lover had indeed been in the
room.  On the table by the window there was a large crystal vase
filled with an arrangement of her favorite lavender roses, mixed with
daisies.  There were other packages, and she crossed the room to
investigate.

Plucking a stem from the vase and inhaling deeply, she examined the
other gifts he had left her.  There was a chilled bottle of bloodwine
with a crystal goblet next to it.  After replacing the flower in the
vase, she poured herself a drink.  She sipped at her drink as she
opened the boxes.  In them was a complete outfit, down to the
shoes--in exactly her size, of course.  Lucien'd had a designer take
her measurements when they were in Paris, and this must have been one
of the dresses he had ordered for her.

Marguerite made her way to the bathroom; she decided to take a
leisurely bath while Lucien was off apologizing to Natalie.  She
stretched out with her senses and found that he was leaving the house.
 Humming to herself, she filled the tub and added her favorite scented
bath oil.  She had no idea what Lucien had in store for her, but she
wanted to be ready when he came home.


End Part Six

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Seven


Natalie's mind was spinning as she went over her dreaded paperwork.
Between having off last night and leaving early two nights before
that, she was woefully backlogged.  She had come in extra early
tonight so she could make up for the lost time. To make matters worse,
she couldn't get her argument with Lacroix out of her head.

She hadn't intended on arguing with the elder vampire when she decided
to go confront him, but he'd made her so angry.  She had discussed it
with Nick when he had come home last night, and he told her about his
own visit with his maker.  He had been astonished to realize that he
understood, and could even relate to Lacroix's feelings.  Nick wasn't
sure if he had been more surprised by the fact that Lacroix hadn't
blocked off his emotions, or that he had voiced them.

As Natalie had started to look over the reports, she was startled by
the sound of Lacroix's voice.  He apologized for his behavior the
night before, while somehow keeping his customary pride and dignity
intact.  She had tried to apologize for her reaction, but he waved it
away, explaining that her reaction was justified.  He told Natalie
that she could only judge him by what she knew of him, and he intended
to prove to her that he had indeed changed.

She sighed as she picked up the papers she had dropped when Lacroix
appeared. Hopefully, she would be able to catch up with these reports.
 She just had one more thing she had to do first; she picked up the
phone and called Marguerite.

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

***
You take me in
No questions asked
You strip away the ugliness
That surrounds me
Are you an angel?
Am I already that gone?
I only hope that I won't disappoint you
When I'm down here on my knees
Sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give
***

Lacroix stood deep in thought, staring out at the water.  He had made
all the arrangements he could for the moment.  Whatever happened next
was out of his hands, and he didn't like the feeling one bit.  He had
left Marguerite alone all evening, and was relieved when he sensed her
presence nearby.

Marguerite approached Lacroix slowly, still unsure of what she was
going to say.  After taking her time bathing and getting dressed, she
had wandered into the living room to find the coffee table full of
gifts.  There was a vase filled with a large arrangement of
wildflowers, along with another chilled bottle and a note.  She had
just poured herself a drink and picked up the note when the phone
rang.  It wasn't until she was getting ready to hang up that she read
Lucien's note requesting that she meet him at the lake.  A glance at
the clock on her way out the door confirmed her suspicion that she was
already late.

He was truly sorry.  Even if she hadn't read it in his blood last
night, she could sense it radiating from him now.  Marguerite had
already forgiven him in her mind, but by the time she'd reached
Lacroix's back she'd decided not to give into him so easily.
Silently, she rested a hand on his shoulder.

He said softly, "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

As he turned to face her, Marguerite said, "I was talking to Natalie.
 She called to tell me that you came by the morgue to see her.  Were
you waiting long?"

"Not at all," Lacroix replied, "I had some other business that
required my attention as well.  I was concerned that I would be late
myself.  I didn't want to leave you waiting; you're angry enough as it
is."

She sighed, "I'm not angry, Lucien, not anymore."  She paused, and
Lacroix thought the better of asking if he was forgiven.  As much as
it pained him, he had decided to let Marguerite take the lead; they
would discuss the subject when she wanted to do so.  She put her arms
around his neck and asked, "Aren't you going to kiss me hello?"

Surprised, Lacroix returned her embrace and kissed her.  When the kiss
was over he murmured, "You look beautiful, mon amour."

Marguerite smiled up at him.  "Thank you.  It's a beautiful dress,
Lucien...and so were the flowers.  Where are we going this evening?"

Lacroix smiled back.  "I thought I would take you to the movies,
Marguerite.  You're always complaining that I don't like to go.  I
have something of a romantic nature that's much more creative planned
for a later date."

Her smile turned impish.  "I'll look forward to it.  It wouldn't have
anything to do with the fact that Natalie found out that she and
Nicolas mysteriously have an extra day off in a few weeks, would it?"

He merely smiled in response.  Marguerite took his hand and started to
lead him to the car.  She was impressed by the fact he was willing to
actually go by car instead of using more...supernatural means.  It was
going to be an interesting night.

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

Nat sorted through the papers that she'd dropped when Lacroix had come
in the room.  One of these was the report on the OD they had found in
the alley outside Marguerite's store.  The tox screen had shown
nothing, absolutely nothing.  The autopsy had shown that the man had
died of a heart attack, which Natalie had assumed was caused by an
overdose.  He was too young and in relative good health for it to have
occurred naturally, and instinctively Natalie suspected foul play.
There were other drugs to test for, if you knew to look for them.  She
picked up the phone to order more tests.

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

Two weeks later...

Lacroix checked his watch as he walked into Fleur-de-lis.  They had
plenty of time to meet Nicholas and Natalie, but he just *knew*
Marguerite was not going to be ready yet.  He sighed; this had
probably been the most hellish two weeks of his entire life...not that
he didn't deserve it, he supposed.  While they had been getting along
wonderfully in all other areas, Marguerite was still sleeping in the
guest bedroom.  He was not at all happy about it, and he'd been taking
it out on everyone around him.  After a week, Miklos politely
suggested that he avoid the Raven to keep from scaring any more
customers away.

He had just convinced himself to press the issue tonight--to hell with
his vow to let Marguerite take her time--when he was brought up short
by the sound of sound of a child's rapid heartbeat...and laughter.  He
moved to stand silently in the doorway, watching Marguerite crawl
around on the floor with a small child.  It went without saying that
she was not ready for their evening out, but he remained unmoving in
the doorway, unwilling to interrupt.

Instead, he studied the child before him.  She was an adorable little
moppet, with honey blonde hair caught up in two pigtails.  She was
staring intently at some inexpensive bauble that Marguerite had just
placed in her hands.  The child held it as carefully as if it were a
precious heirloom.  Her entire face lit up as Marguerite informed the
child that she could keep it.  It was then that Marguerite seemed to
sense his presence and met his gaze.

"Lucien..."  she trailed off as she stood up and brushed off her
pants.

Lacroix watched for a moment before looking down at the tiny form that
was now tugging at his pants leg.  "Hello." she said shyly.

He couldn't help smiling down at the child before replying, "Hello."
Her eyes were a deep chocolate brown.

She held up the object in her hand.  "See what Aunt Maggie gave to
me?"

Unable to resist, Lacroix knelt down to have a closer look.  It was a
small marcasite pin; it was fairly old, but certainly not as old as
some of the jewelry in the store.  He looked at Marguerite as he
noted, "It's beautiful."

Marguerite smiled as she toyed with one of the girl's pigtails.
"Siobhan is Anna's daughter.  I told Anna I would watch her for a
little bit while she ran an errand.  She should be back soon."  Anna
was the woman who ran Marguerite's store during the day, and Lacroix
recalled that she had two children, a boy and a girl.

He stood up and said noncommittally, "Really?"

She ignored his comment and said, "She's only five, and she really
should be getting ready for bed soon.  Maybe you'd like to tell
Siobhan a story while I get changed?"

Siobhan threw her arms around his leg and pleaded, "Oh please, Uncle
Lucien!"

Lacroix stiffened slightly, but not enough so that the child would
notice.  "Certainly, child.  We'll sit on the couch and I'll tell you
a story." he said aloud; through their link he said, "You taught her
that on purpose."

As Marguerite turned to walk into the bathroom adjoining her office,
she tossed back through their link, "Make it a nice story, *Uncle*
Lucien."

When she emerged from the bathroom, Marguerite found Siobhan curled up
on Lacroix's lap.  She was sound asleep, and still clutching the
brooch tightly.  Even though Siobhan's head was resting on his arm,
Lacroix looked far more comfortable than he had before.  Marguerite
was smiling as she whispered, "She's beautiful, isn't she?  Admit it,
Lucien, she's not so bad."  Lacroix only looked at her; his expression
clearly indicating that the topic was not up for even a teasing
conversation.

Lacroix's expression changed as he held her gaze.  Marguerite
instinctively knew what he wanted; just because she had held herself
back from him didn't mean she hadn't missed him.  In a husky voice she
whispered, "Tonight, Lucien, I promise."  She approached him and gave
him a kiss.  "Thank you for watching Siobhan for me.  I really
appreciate it," she purred into his ear.

Lacroix caught her mouth in a kiss before replying, "I look forward to
your show of gratitude, Marguerite."


End Part Seven

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Eight


Marguerite sighed as she rested her elbows on the railing.  If she leaned over,
 she could see the water lapping against the boat.  She had tired of this
 quickly enough, and picked up the pendant hanging around her neck in order to
 study it again.  Lucien had given it to her before they had left to meet Nick
 and Natalie.

It was hung from a long gold chain so that when she let go of the disc, it
 rested in between her breasts.  She smiled as she traced the design...around
 the outer edge was a laurel wreath intertwined with daisies, and inside that
 was an eagle.  Lucien had explained that the eagle was the standard that Roman
 legions fought under.  Marguerite already knew that, but she let him explain it
 anyway.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," Nat's teasing voice penetrated the
 silence.

Marguerite turned and smiled at her friend.  "You've already seen mine...show me
 yours."  Nat proudly held out a similar pendant, this one in the shape of the
 shield of Brabant.

Marguerite took it in her fingers in order to look at it more closely.  It was
 Brabant's coat of arms, quartered with a caduceus, the symbol of the medical
 profession.  She let go of the shield as she looked up and asked, "Do you know
 what this symbolizes?"

Natalie picked it up and looked at it before replying, "Well, I know what the
 symbols are, but I'm not sure what they mean on the shield."

"Well, a shield was sometimes quartered when two families joined; Lucien is
 acknowledging your importance in Nick's life.  I'm rather impressed.  Did Uncle
 Nick like it?"

Nat leaned back against the railing.  "He liked it a lot, but I didn't know why
 until now."

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

After Natalie left the room, Nick clapped Lacroix on the shoulder in an
 affectionate gesture.  "The shield...it's beautiful.  I just wanted you to know
 how much it means to me.  Thank you, Lucien."

Uneasy with such a rare display of affection and familiarity from his son, it
 took Lacroix a moment to reply, "You're quite welcome, Nicholas.  I wanted a
 symbol of Natalie's place in our family...of her importance in your life.
 Despite recent events, I *have* grown quite fond of her."

"I know," Nick said softly after a moment, his voice thick with emotion.  Also
 uneasy with the closeness, he decided to lighten the mood.  "So, daisies and
 laurel leaves intertwined...who's captured whom, Lacroix?"

Lacroix smiled mysteriously.  "That would depend on with whom you speak."

Nick's eyes twinkled.  "Well, I think I'd prefer to believe that it's mutual."

"As would I, Nicholas."

The rest of their talk came easier, and they were in the middle of a friendly
 debate when Natalie and Marguerite entered the room.  Marguerite cleared her
 throat to get their attention, and she was smiling as the men looked up.  She
 asked, "Are you ready to go, Lucien?"

Lacroix stood up and looked at her with a glint in his eye.  "If you insist on
 cutting such a wonderful evening short, Marguerite, I suppose we could leave
 Nicholas and Natalie alone for the rest of the cruise."

After Lacroix and Marguerite had gone, Nick turned to Natalie and looked at her
 expectantly.  "Do you want to tell me what's been bothering you, Nat, or do I
 have to guess?"

Natalie looked surprised.  "Bothering me?"

"Well, maybe not over the last few days, but for awhile there you were
 definitely stressing over something.  I didn't want to smother you with
 concern, but I want you to know that you can talk to me if you want.  I'm not
 totally clueless, you know."  He smiled softly as he finished.

Nat had been very reassured by her conversation with Anastasia, who had arrived
 about a week before.  Anastasia had been childless also, though not for lack of
 trying.  She hadn't given too many details, but Natalie had gotten the feeling
 that one of the reasons that Anastasia had chosen to come across was her
 trouble with conceiving and carrying a child to term.

"I didn't think you were; I just didn't want you to feel guilty about my
 worries."  Natalie smiled back.  "It's just that it was close to the
 anniversary of Cynthia's murder, and I had to do an autopsy on a little girl.
 I got to thinking about how I won't ever be able to have children if we never
 find a cure."

"Is that the night Lacroix came to get me?"

She nodded.  "As I was leaving the morgue, I ran into Sasha and he followed me
 to the park.  I told him that I wanted to be alone, and instead he went and got
 Maggie.  I felt better after I told her about it, but she thought I should talk
 to Anastasia too."

Nick looked confused.  "Why?"

"Anastasia didn't tell me too much, but she did tell me that she never had a
 baby either."

Nick's eyes grew wide in understanding.  "It couldn't have been easy on her,
 Nat.  There was a lot of pressure on a woman to bear children back then; if a
 woman didn't conceive, she would be put aside."

"So she told me.  I didn't want to say anything to you, because I didn't want
 you to blame yourself.  I would have like to have children one day, but having
 children doesn't mean as much to me if that means I can't be with you, Nick."

Nick put his arms around Natalie and kissed her.  "I'm beginning to understand
 that now, Nat.  But I'm going to be optimistic that we will have children one
 day."

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

Two nights later...

The moon was bright, full and hung low in the sky.  Lacroix watched to
 reflection of light play along the waves as he waited.  After what seemed to be
 an interminable amount of time, he sensed her approach.  He didn't turn right
 away, pretending to be lost in thought.

Marguerite studied her lover as she drew closer.  Outwardly he looked relaxed
 and contemplative, but she could feel a sense of anticipation through their
 link and it was contagious.  Making him wait had only added to the sensations
 flowing between them; it was all she could do to keep from running to him.

When she had left for her store Lacroix had still been in the shower.  While
 Anna took care of the customers during the daylight hours, Marguerite would
 occasionally keep the store open for those who were...nocturnal by nature.
 Tonight had been just such an occasion.  The customer in question had taken
 forever to make a selection, but when she'd left her wallet was significantly
 lighter, having paid a small fortune for a very old earring and necklace set.

Lacroix turned to greet her at the last moment; he smiled widely when he saw
 what Marguerite had chosen to wear.  She wore a forest green dress with a short
 skirt.  The color not only complimented her coloring, but also the gift he was
 finally going to give her.  Marguerite returned his smile as she stepped into
 his arms for a kiss.

"Troublesome customer, my dear?"

"You might say that, but she left with a smile on her face.  I'm guessing you
 have plans for us this evening?  I hope I'm not late."

Lacroix's smile turned mysterious.  "What I have planned has no timetable,
 amour.  But I did ensure we will have no unwanted interruptions this time."
 She tilted her head questioningly and waited for him to explain.  "Anastasia
 and Alejandro have gone out for the evening, and I've been assured that
 Nicholas is occupying Natalie in any spare time they might have."

"Well, I'm intrigued.  What did you have in mind, Lucien?

"The one thing that I definitely wanted to do, mon amour, is give you this..."
 He pulled a small box out of his pocket and presented it to Marguerite.  She
 opened it up and her eyes widened at the contents.  It was a gold ring set with
 emeralds.  Besides the daisy pendant, it was the most precious thing he had
 ever given her.  She took it out of the box to inspect it.  Inscribed inside
 the ring were the words 'sans cesse'...forever.

"Oh, Lucien, it's beautiful!  Anton made this, didn't he?"

Lacroix took the box and ring out of her hands and smiled.  "Very astute.  He
 said you would be able to tell that it was his work."  He slipped the ring on
 the ring finger of her left hand.

Marguerite held out her hand to study the ring appreciatively.  Anton had really
 outdone himself this time.  She had no idea what to say; she never expected
 anything like this.  Lacroix tilted her face up to look into his.  "Your eyes
 glitter more brilliantly than these stones, mon amour.  To me, you are far more
 precious than any jewel...more delicate than any flower..."

"Lucien?"  She put a finger to his lips to hush him.  "Shut up and kiss me."
 Lacroix smiled as he leaned down to do as he was ordered.


End Part Eight

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix


See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Nine


The next night...

Natalie was up to her elbows in intestines, trying her best not to be aroused at
 the scent of all the blood.  Maybe she should have put this off until after her
 dinner break, she reflected, but she'd just wanted to get this one over with.
 The victim was a teen-aged gang-banger, killed in a drive-by shooting.  The
 first few bullets she'd found easily enough, but this last one was giving her a
 tough time.  She couldn't figure out where this ever-elusive bullet had hidden
 itself, but when she found it...

"Boo!"  Someone grabbed Nat from behind, and she instinctively turned to the
 person, vamped out.  It all happened so quickly that she couldn't control
 herself.  In the few precious seconds it had taken her to regain control, she
 realized that it was Nick's partner, Eric.  He was clearly terrified, and was
 backing away towards the door.  As their eyes met, Eric turned around and took
 off.

Eric turned and ran.  He didn't know what it was he just saw, but he didn't want
 to stick around and find out.  There was something definitely wrong with his
 partner's wife.  After he'd startled her, she'd turned around and hissed at
 him.  Her eyes glowed with some kind of greenish-gold light, like a cat's.
 She'd had fangs...and they looked sharp.

He felt his arm hook around something, and he came to a dead stop.  Oh God!  He
 looked up from the floor to stare into the green eyes of Marguerite de Louvain.
  She looked concerned.  "Eric?  Is everything okay?"

Marguerite listened as Eric started to babble about fangs and glowing eyes.  She
 very calmly dragged him back to the morgue as he spoke.  He was so upset that
 he didn't even notice where they were going at first.  Once they reached the
 door, she saw the realization hit his face and he began to struggle.

No match for the petite vampire, she pushed him through the doorway gently with
 one hand and drew the door shut with the other.  Natalie was backing away from
 the doorway; she must have been in the process of going after Eric.  Completely
 terrified now, Eric just kept saying the word 'no' over and over.  Natalie
 looked almost as equally scared.

"You're going to have to handle this, Natalie.  He can't be allowed to run
 around with this knowledge."

Nat shook her head forcefully.  "No...no!  I won't kill him.  I can't!  Please,
 Maggie!"

Marguerite sighed, "Well, being I'm not very hungry myself, how about you try
 making him forget first?"

Natalie slumped against an examination table and closed her eyes in relief.
 "I'm sorry.  I wasn't thinking."

Marguerite turned to her uncle's incoherent partner.  He had quieted down
 somewhat, and was staring at Natalie with a wary expression on his face.  She
 shifted her hand from his wrist to grip his hand, and she squeezed it
 reassuringly.  Through her link with Natalie she said, "Concentrate on his
 heartbeat, Natalie, and stare into his eyes."

Natalie did as she was told and was rewarded for her efforts as Eric relaxed.
 His eyes glazed over and she felt his will bend to hers.  "Now what?" she
 whispered.

"Well, you tell him to forget, and then you give him a memory to take its place.
  Do you think he's squeamish?"  Marguerite grinned wickedly.

"He is now."  Nat started into Eric's eyes.  "You didn't see anything before,
 Eric.  You came into the morgue, and when you saw me working on the body with
 all the blood, you passed out."

Eric mumbled, "Came into the morgue, all that blood." and then he passed out.

Marguerite caught him and eased him into a chair.  "Nat, maybe you should clean
 up a little?  He won't be out for long."  She gestured to the blood covered
 gloves on Natalie's hands.

"Ugh, I almost forgot."  Nat quickly shed the gloves and tossed them into the
 trash.  "Do you think it worked?"

"We're going to find out soon enough, I think he's waking up."

Eric put a hand to his head as he came around.  "What happened?"

Nat leaned over him.  "You fainted.  It's a good think Maggie came by to visit
 too, I don't think I could've gotten you into that chair by myself.  Are you
 okay?"

"I think so...I guess all that blood was too much for me.  I came by to get the
 lab report on the John Doe from the alleyway.  Captain Reese gave the case to
 us."

"Nick mentioned it; I have it right here."  She picked a file up off of her desk
 and handed it to him.  "Someone shot him up with epinephrine, which caused his
 heart attack.  I think they were counting on the marks on his body to cover up
 the injection site, but it was the only recent one."

He stood up on slightly unsteady legs.  Marguerite asked, "Are you sure you're
 all right, Eric?  You look a little pale."

"I'm okay, Daisy.  Thanks.  I think I just need some fresh air, I have a little
 headache."

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

Joe Reese was on the phone with his wife, Denise.  He was trying to focus on the
 conversation, but his mind was in overdrive, trying to piece together solutions
 to the department's problems as well as Denise's concerns about their
 daughters.  After several more minutes of internal struggling he told his wife
 he had to go, but promised to be home early.

He rubbed at his temples as he contemplated trying to coax a cup of water out of
 the cooler, but decided that coffee might be more what he needed.  The Captain
 sat back in his chair and looked out of his window at the department.  As his
 eyes scanned the room beyond his office, they rested on the desks of his two
 'star' detectives.  He smiled when he realized that Knight was actually doing
 paperwork; D'Angelo must be a good influence on him.

Knight had settled down considerably over the last year and a half.  After Tracy
 Vetter had gotten shot, Joe had been worried about Knight's emotional state.
 Knight was a damn good cop, no doubt about that, but he'd lost two partners in
 a short span of time.  He'd been sure that Nick would try to resign again, and
 was pleasantly surprised when all he'd asked for was a leave of absence.

Of course, the reason wasn't pleasant at all...Natalie Lambert had been ill and
 needed months off to recover.  The medication she'd been on left her sensitive
 to sunlight, so when she came back it was to the night shift.  There had been
 no reason for her to work any day shifts, really; no one else seemed to want to
 work nights.

Their engagement was no surprise to anyone, but the appearance of Nick's niece
 was.  Nick had told everyone that he'd had no family...and as far as he knew,
 that was true.  His sister had eloped and run away when Nick was very young,
 and he never saw her again.  Marguerite, his sister's only child, had tracked
 him down after she was told about her mother's family.  Joe Reese shook his
 head as the phone jarred him out of his thoughts.  Going home early was looking
 better all the time.

*****

Eric's head shot up as he felt something bounce off the top of his head, out of
 the corner of his eye he could see a crumpled piece of paper lying on the
 floor.  His hazel eyes narrowed suspiciously at his partner, who was trying
 hard not to laugh as he studied the form in front of him.  "Bored, Knight?"

Nick looked up, his eyes twinkling in amusement.  "Why would I be bored, Eric?"

Eric threw his pen down on the desk.  "You know, some day I'm gonna catch you
 doing that."  He picked up his mug and sniffed at the contents cautiously
 before taking an experimental sip.

"Doing what?"  Nick smiled as his partner made a face similar to the one that
 Nick himself made after tasting one of Nat's protein shakes.  The mug went back
 to its home on Eric's desk.

"This coffee is terrible!  Hey, partner, how about we take a break and grab a
 bite to eat...or do you have other plans?"

"As a matter of fact, I'm supposed to meet Nat in a little while.  Maybe next
 time?"  Nick put the papers he'd been working on into a folder and threw them
 into a drawer.

"Sure, whenever you want, Nick, just say the word.  I'm just gonna clean up here
 and then I'm leaving too."  Eric shook his head as his partner threw back a
 'thank you' on his way out the door.  As if he'd ever get a chance to see what
 Nick liked to eat; his partner shared all his meals with Natalie.

The report was quickly finished and printed out.  His desk was as clean as it
 was ever going to get, and he hastily walked through the department in an
 effort to get away before the Captain could think of something else for him to
 do.  On his way out, he nearly a collided with woman.  He took a closer look to
 discover that she was young--not more that nineteen or twenty--and very
 nervous.  She shied away when he put a hand out to try and steady her.

"Do you need help, miss?  My name is Detective D'Angelo."

The young woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  When she opened them,
 she said, "Yes, I could use some help.  I need to speak to someone about a
 friend of mine.  He's missing...and...and I'm so worried."

Eric took her by the arm and led her to his desk.  "I'm a homicide detective,
 but I'll do what I can to help you.  Miss...Miss?"

"Emma Fuller."  She sat down in the chair he offered her and smiled weakly.

"Okay, Ms. Fuller."  He took out a pad and started to make a few notations.
 "When did you last see your friend?"

Emma started to fidget nervously.  "A little over two weeks ago.  I, uh...he's a
 recovering drug user, and at first I was afraid that maybe he'd started to use
 again.  But no one's seen him, not even his...'old' friends.  I'm worried that
 something terrible has happened, Detective."

"Do you have a picture of him?  The more recent it is, the better."

She pulled her wallet out of her pocketbook and looked through it for a minute
 until she came up with a small photo.  She handed it to him.  "This was taken
 about a month ago, in one of those photo booths, you know?  Matt loves to pose
 for pictures."

Eric stared at the picture in amazement; the face was very familiar to him.  As
 a matter of fact, it was a case that Captain Reese had handed over to Eric and
 Nick after Roberts had gotten himself suspended after harassing one too many
 women, and Jonas couldn't handle the caseload by himself.  Coincidentally
 enough, it was the body they found in the alley near Marguerite de Louvain's
 store.  Natalie hadn't found a trace of illegal drugs in him.  As a matter of
 fact, after the autopsy she'd run more detailed tests and found that he'd been
 injected with epinephrine, which caused a heart attack.  Until now, they'd had
 absolutely nothing to go on.

Still staring at the photo, he asked, "You said his name was Matt?"

Ms. Fuller nodded.  "Matthew Peters.  He's been clean for a long time,
 Detective.  We've become very close since he's been in recovery; he has no real
 family and he's my best friend.  We tell each other everything.  I can't
 believe he'd just run away."

"I don't think he did..."  He drew a deep breath as he tried to find the words
 to tell this woman that her friend would never be coming home.  "Ms. Fuller, I
 need you to come with me.  I'm afraid I know where your friend is."

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

"How is she now?" Nick asked his partner.

"Not too good...does it ever get easier?"

Nick took his eyes off the road to look at Eric.  "Does what ever get easier?"

Eric sighed, "Everything...telling the families of the victims that they'll
 never see their loved ones again.  The look on that woman's face..."

"Never.  It's the worst part of the job, I think," Nick said quietly, and then
 in an effort to distract his partner away from the painful part of their job,
 "You said she gave you a name of a suspect?"

"Her boyfriend, Jake Harrison."

Nick interrupted, "She gave him up, just like that?"

Eric shook his head.  "No, I was asking if he had any enemies, or gotten into
 any fights that she knew of, and she mentioned Harrison reluctantly.  When I
 pressed her, she said that he's always bothering her about her friendship with
 the deceased...very possessive, borderline abusive...a real charming guy.  He
 never liked Peters, as a matter of fact, Emma said that Harrison picked a fight
 with him a few weeks ago and warned Peters to stay away from her.  She
 mentioned that he's an EMT...don't they have access to epinephrine?"

Nick gave his partner an appreciative glance.  "Why, I believe they do.  Let's
 pay a visit to our new friend, shall we?"


End Part Nine

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix


See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Ten


The Caddy slid to a stop on the gravel driveway in front of the address that
 Dispatch had given Eric.  Nick studied the structure as they got out of the
 car; it was a three story Victorian house, looking like something out of a
 gothic novel.  Eric slammed the car door and Nick winced at the sound.
 "Eric..."

"Sorry, Nick.  This place is giving me the creeps.  All it needs is some fog and
 a few bats."

Nick looked at his partner strangely.  "Watch many horror movies, Eric?"

"Probably too many," Eric sighed as he made his way to the front door,  "but you
 have to admit that this place is spooky."

"I never said that it wasn't."  A peculiar look crossed Nick's face.  Eric
 rolled his eyes; his partner was getting weird on him again.  "You're sure he
 lives alone?"

"That's what Em...Ms. Fuller said.  Why?"

Nick shook his head.  "No reason.  Why don't you ring the bell, and I'll..."

"...take a look around back?" Eric finished.  "Be my guest."  He turned to find
 Nick already gone.  Somehow, his partner had done it again, sped off without a
 sound.  Come to think of it, it was as quiet as a tomb out here.  Counting to
 ten as he climbed the porch steps, he paused before ringing the bell.  He heard
 muffled voices.  For him to be hearing them, at least one of them had to be
 yelling.

Eric tried the door, and found it unlocked.  "Today's my lucky day," he murmured
 to himself as he stepped inside.  One voice, a man's, was clearer now that he
 was inside.  The other voice was feminine, but beyond that he couldn't discern
 any details.

Fearing the worst, he cautiously made his way up the stairs to where he thought
 the voices were coming from.  He quickened his pace when he realized the female
 voice was Emma Fuller.  Eric had advised her to stay away as she left the
 precinct.  The doorway was open, and he could hear her crying now, asking
 Harrison not to...not to what?

Any intention of using the caution he'd learned in training went out the window
 when her crying intensified.  He rushed into the room just as Harrison
 backhanded Emma, and she stumbled backwards.  Eric caught her instinctively,
 and steadied her as quickly as he could.  As he pushed Emma behind him, he
 looked up to see a gun pointed at him.

"You don't want to be doing this, Jake," he said calmly, "I only came here to
 ask you a few questions."  To himself, Eric prayed, 'Oh, please let Knight get
 in here soon.'

"I'll do whatever I damned well please...I'm the one with the gun.  Who are you
 anyway?"  He eyed Eric and Emma suspiciously.

"I'm Detective D'Angelo, Metro Homicide.  Please put the gun down, Mr. Harrison,
 I just want to talk."  Eric put his hands up in what he hoped this nut would
 perceive as a non-threatening gesture.  Where was Knight?

"Yeah, right."  Turning his attention to Emma, Harrison said, "It wasn't enough
 that you had to come here and accuse me, you had to bring the cops into it
 too?"

Emboldened from being shielded by Eric, Emma found her voice.  "I didn't accuse
 you, Jake, I only wanted to know if you knew anything.  But you did kill Matt,
 didn't you?  How could you do that?!  He was my best friend!"

Eric watched as Jake's grip on the gun tightened.  If he wasn't standing in
 between them, Emma almost definitely would've been struck for her words.  He
 remained silent as Jake yelled, "I told you that I didn't want him around,
 Emma.  He was a drug addict.  Why don't you ever listen to me?"  He finally
 turned his attention back to Eric.  "Get out of my way!"

"No, I'm not going to let you hurt her, Jake.  Put the gun down."

"Or you'll do what?  Get out of my way, or I'll go through you!"

Clearly crazed now, Harrison didn't wait for Eric to react.  He clicked the
 safety off of the gun...  'Damn it, the safety was on the whole time!' Eric
 thought to himself.  The rest seemed to happen in slow motion.  As Harrison
 fired, Nick came seemingly out of nowhere and jumped in front of Eric.

Harrison fired several rounds into Nick's chest as Eric pushed Emma Fuller to
 the ground and behind an overstuffed chair.  Eric looked up in time to see his
 partner throw Harrison against the wall.  Harrison slumped to the ground.

"Knight!"

Nick turned around, his eyes were glowing and he had fangs.  Fangs.  But he had
 been hurt saving them, and Eric had to help him.  Cautiously, Eric stood up and
 approached his partner.

"Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"

Nick stared at his partner with a dumbfounded expression on his face, and after
 blinking a few times, he burst out laughing.  He would have never expected Eric
 to react like this...especially after his discovery of Nat in the morgue.  He
 managed to gasp out, "What?"

Before Eric could think of a reply, he became aware of Emma screaming from
 behind him.  Nick was beside her in an instant, and for the briefest of moments
 Eric was apprehensive of what his partner might do.  After all, he had just
 witnessed Nick in full...vampire mode, throwing the suspect up against the
 wall.  But then he just as quickly remembered that Nick had just leapt in front
 of their attacker and taken several bullets for that had been meant for Eric
 himself.

This made him remember the man lying on the floor, and Eric moved to check
 Harrison's vitals.  His pulse was steady, but an ambulance needed to be called
 anyway.  Before he dialed for help, Eric watched for a moment, as Nick seemed
 to hypnotize Emma into calming down, talking in a low, firm voice.  As he
 placed the call, her eyes quickly glazed over, and Eric could see her lips
 moving occasionally.

Nick sat Emma down in a chair to rest, and approached Eric as he finished up the
 phone call.  Eric spoke first, "An ambulance and backup are on the way."

"Good."  Nick was unsure of what to do.  His first instinct was to alter his
 partner's memories of what had happened in this room.  But where had keeping
 the truth from any his partners gotten him in the past?  They were supposed to
 trust each other with their lives, and how could Eric do that if Nick kept
 something this important from him?  He decided to leave it for now; the
 decision could always be reversed later on, when they were away from here.

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

Nick studied his partner from the passenger seat of the Caddy.  He wasn't too
 happy about letting Eric drive the car, but his partner was not about to take
 'no' for an answer.  Nick supposed that he shouldn't be driving in his
 condition.--Most of the bullets had gone right through him, but there was still
 one or two left inside...and it wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling.

After telling Eric to head towards the Raven, Nick settled back into the seat
 and tried to relax.  He and Eric would have to talk soon, and he wanted to
 figure out exactly what his partner would have to be told.  If Eric were to
 keep the knowledge that vampires existed, it would be Nick's responsibility to
 protect him from certain members of the Community.

Eric snuck a glance at his partner and sighed.  What was going on in that guy's
 head?  Eric had just witnessed something so incredible; he could barely believe
 it.  He had felt sure that Nick would want to discuss it; if he hadn't, he
 could have easily fixed Eric's memory--the same way he had with Emma Fuller.
 He spared Nick one more look as he made a left hand turn.

"So...you never answered my question...but I guess the fact that you took the
 bullets that were meant for me means *something*...and you *are* a cop...so I'm
 going to go with you're a good guy."

Nick twisted his body so he could face his partner.  "I don't want to be what I
 am anymore, Eric...I haven't for a long time.  I didn't trust either of my
 other partners with this, but I should have.  If you can't handle it..."

"You'll change my memories?  No thanks, partner.  I don't want anyone messing
 with my head.  Besides, I already trusted you with my life, and nothing's
 happened to change that."  Eric had the strangest sense of deja vu, but he just
 couldn't get a grip what it was -- something involving Natalie.  She quite
 obviously knew about Nick's...condition, and was most probably a vampire
 herself.  "I do have some questions though..."

"I'll do my best to answer them, but there are some things that it's...safer if
 you don't know."

Eric let that sink in for a moment and then said, "You said you didn't want to
 be...what you are anymore.  Can you change that?"

"I don't know, but I have to keep trying.  Nat's been my greatest hope in a long
 time."

"Which brings me to my next question...or is this one of those
 'safer-not-to-know' things?"  Eric held his breath as he waited for an answer.
 He supposed there would be nothing he could do to stop Nick from erasing his
 memories, so he'd decided to ask as few questions as possible.

Nick hid a small smirk as he answered, "Nat's a vampire too, Eric...although
 that's more of a recent development."

Eric stepped on the brakes just a little too hard as he pulled up in front of
 the Raven.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nick wincing at the
 'abuse' the Caddy was taking.  But he didn't really dwell on it; he just
 couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu--it was that strong.  He was sure he was
 missing something; there was no other explanation for the fact that he wasn't a
 hysterical mess right now.

Could he have witnessed something similar before, and been hypnotized into
 forgetting the entire incident?--What did Nick call it?  Whammied.--Could he
 have been whammied before?  The thought was more than a little disturbing, Eric
 reflected.

"Eric?"  Nick sighed when there was no reply; he hoped that he wasn't making a
 mistake in trusting his partner.  Lacroix would definitely think so, and Nick
 was sure to receive a lecture sometime in the near future.  As they approached
 the doors, he briefly wondered about the reactions of his other 'family'
 members.

Nick pulled Eric to a stop before they reached the crowd of would-be patrons and
 the bouncer that was guarding the entrance.  "Listen, Eric, there's more I have
 to tell you, but it can't be here.  Just stick close to me, and we'll finish
 our conversation on the way back to the precinct."

"Sure, Nick, whatever," Eric answered in a slightly distracted voice.  Nick
 seemed to accept this, because he turned and led the way to the Raven's
 entrance.  He nodded a greeting at the bouncer, who opened the door to let them
 in.  Eric heard the squawks of the waiting crowd as the door shut behind them.

As they made their way to the stairs leading to the dance floor, Eric quickly
 scanned the club.  Marguerite was behind the bar, apparently standing in for
 the usual bartender, who was nowhere in evidence.  She was leaning on the bar
 talking to Natalie, who was sipping at a drink.  He shook his head as an image
 of the two women having a discussion about him entered into his mind.

Eric followed Nick as he expertly threaded his way through the revelers on the
 dance floor.  He couldn't help but notice what a gothic theme this place had.
 He briefly locked eyes with a beautiful pale-faced blonde, who was assessing
 him with a hungry look.  It was then that Eric realized why his partner told
 him to stick close; mortals weren't the only ones in the crowd.

Now was not the time to get the willies, but he found himself haunted by visions
 of fangs and a pair of glowing eyes--and they didn't belong to Nick.  He had
 the strangest sensation of trying to run, but he couldn't get away.  Instead,
 he was confronted with the face of...Natalie Lambert Knight.


End Part Ten

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix

See disclaimer/archival in part one.


Part Eleven

Eric realized that he'd been staring dumbfounded at his partner's wife.  He
 tried to focus on the conversation going on before him, but he found it hard to
 concentrate.  He watched distractedly as Marguerite whispered something into a
 waitress' ear.  The waitress put down her tray and took up a position behind
 the bar.

"Natalie, why don't you take Uncle Nick up to Lacroix's rooms so you can inspect
 his injuries?  I'll take a break and keep Eric company."

Nick seemed much relieved at Marguerite's suggestion, and he and Natalie made
 their was towards the back of the club.  Eric eyed Marguerite warily as she
 hooked her arm through his.  "Let's go somewhere quieter, Detective.  It sounds
 like you've had quite a night."

Suspicious, he was about to resist when he noticed Marguerite glancing to one
 side of him.  He followed her line of sight to see the blonde he'd locked eyes
 with making her way towards him.  As he allowed himself to be led away, Eric
 saw Alejandro come seemingly out of nowhere and intercept the pale beauty with
 a hand on her arm and a charming smile.  When they'd reached the relative quiet
 of the hallway that led to Lacroix's office and the sound booth, Marguerite
 murmured, "She's one of the reasons you have to be careful in here, Eric."

*****

Nat pushed Nick up the stairs, grumbling all the way.  "I can't believe
 you...jumping in front of Eric like that in front of witnesses!  Why don't you
 just wear a sign around your neck?"  After one last half-hearted shove, Nick
 stumbled through the door and into the living room.  The rooms were pretty much
 the way Lacroix had decorated them, but there were traces of his niece all
 through the rooms.

He led the way to the bedroom, and Natalie followed behind him with her medical
 bag, which she had picked up from Lacroix's office.  "What witnesses, Nat?  The
 perp hit his head and isn't really sure what happened, and his girlfriend was
 hysterical...she doesn't remember a thing."

Nat snorted, "Sure, after you hypnotized her.  What if she was a Resister,
 Nick?"

"It was a chance that I had to take.  I couldn't let Eric get hurt, Nat.  I
 wasn't about to lose my third partner in as many years."  Nick took off his
 shirt and laid down on the bed so Natalie could take a look at any wounds he
 might still have.

*****

Marguerite ushered him into the empty office, and motioned for him to sit down
 as she poured him a drink.  She watched in slight amusement as he downed the
 drink and held the glass out for a refill.  After complying with his unspoken
 request, she settled herself on the chair opposite him.  She was relieved to
 see Eric looking a little more like himself.  She crossed her legs, exposing
 more leg than necessary, and was rewarded when it had the intended effect.

She tilted her head to study him as she asked, "Feeling better?"

Eric nodded.  "Yeah, thanks.  The Captain would kill me for drinking on the job,
 but if he'd seen what I'd seen tonight..."

"Whoa, that's far enough!  I think we need to talk--actually, I think you should
 listen while I talk...at least for a bit."  When he remained silent, she
 continued, "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and you're probably dying to
 talk about this with somebody, but you have to be extremely careful, Eric.
 Uncle Nick is trusting you with something that could get you both killed.
 There are certain members of our...community that are against anyone knowing
 that we exist."

Deciding on a question he thought to be the least obtrusive, he took her pause
 as an opportunity to ask, "Is Nick really your uncle?"

*****

Nat sighed as she removed the supplies that she would need from her medical bag.
  "You're right, Nick.  Do you think he'll remember what happened in the morgue
 last night?"

"I think he suspects something, but I doubt he'll remember the whole thing.
 Besides, I'm sure Daisy didn't just have baby-sitting my partner in mind when
 she volunteered to take her break."

Natalie smiled as she fished around for the first bullet.  "No, I doubt that
 too.  You should have seen Lacroix's face when she announced that she was
 wearing that outfit to tend the bar in."

"I can only imagine...I wish I could've seen it.  Although, I can see why.  Did
 you see the look on Eric's face when she stepped from behind the bar?  What's
 my niece doing there anyway?  Where's Miklos?"

*****

Marguerite smiled in amusement before answering, "Yes, Nick is really my
 uncle...although, we're separated by a generation or two more than everyone
 thinks."

Encouraged, he asked, "So...are you one of them?"

She smiled coyly.  "What do you think?"

Eric finally started to relax; it was obvious that Marguerite was teasing him.
 He smiled back at her.  "Will you trust me with your secret?"

*****

The next bullet came out easily.  "Miklos took a vacation."  Off Nick's
 questioning look, "Yes, a vacation.  He told Lacroix that he was going away for
 a week.  Apparently, he needed a break after the last few weeks...it must have
 been really tense around here."

Nick grinned and sat up.  "Miklos is a brave soul."

Natalie wiped her instruments off and started to put them away.  "He'd have to
 be to work here for so long.  So, about Eric..."

"He's probably going to start seeing vampires everywhere, like Tracy did," Nick
 sighed wistfully.  Tracy hadn't been his partner for very long, but he missed
 her greatly, even now.  "I don't know what Daisy's going to tell him, but as
 far as I know, he only definitely knows about you and me."  He grabbed his
 shirt and put it on.

"He probably suspects everyone we know by now.  Are they going to be okay with
 this?"

Nick rolled his eyes.  "I'm going to get one of Lacroix's infamous 'Oh,
 Nicholas' lectures, but it's not going to change my mind.  I'm set on this,
 Nat; I'm going to let Eric keep his memories.  I didn't tell Schanke or Tracy,
 and it didn't help them at all.  Maybe if Eric knows what I am, things will be
 different this time."

"And the others?  You can try to ignore Lacroix, but what about Kayla?  Or
 Anton?"

*****

"Can I trust you?  Maybe you should ask yourself if you can trust me,"
 Marguerite countered teasingly, and then soberly, "I really shouldn't joke
 around with you about this, Eric.  If an Enforcer finds out that you know about
 us, we could all be in serious trouble.  You can't discuss what you know with
 *anyone*, except for myself, Uncle Nick...and probably Natalie."

"I won't," he promised.  "Besides, no one would believe me anyway."

"Probably not...unless you're telling another vampire."  She smiled.  "But I'm
 sure Uncle Nick will explain this to you in great detail."

*****

Nick took Natalie into his arms and kissed the top of her head.  "I don't know
 what Kayla and Anton will say, but they won't have to worry, because I'm going
 to explain to Eric just how important this secret is.  I'm going to tell him
 about Enforcers..."

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

"So, Enforcers are like vampire police?" Eric asked.

Nick glanced at his partner, who was taking this rather well, all things
 considered.  After the trip to the Raven with Eric behind the wheel, it was
 good to be in the driver's seat of the Caddy again.  He drove slowly, dreading
 the paperwork that they would have to fill out after the events of this
 evening.  "Kind of, they enforce the Code, which is our set of rules."

"Nick, like I told Daisy, I'm not going to talk about this with anyone."

Nick sighed; recalling that the last person he'd trusted with his secret had
 been Natalie.  This was going to be tougher than he thought.

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

Several nights later...

Lacroix leaned on the railing that ran around the second floor of the loft.
 Nicholas was aware of the presence of his master, but chose to ignore it in
 favor of what was playing on the television screen.  Curious as to what could
 possibly hold his son's attention so raptly, Lacroix started down the stairs,
 keeping his eye on the screen.  Once he realized what Nicholas was watching,
 Lacroix quickly dismissed it and went to the refrigerator to help himself to a
 drink.

When he returned to the living room area, Lacroix still kept his distance.
 Watching Nick watch the television--the blonde Slayer and her demon lover were
 angsting over how they couldn't be together.  Lacroix was familiar enough with
 the show; Marguerite sometimes watched it herself, although she was enamoured
 of the young blond hellraiser called Spike.  Lacroix supposed that Nick
 identified with the Slayer and her lover, seeing himself with Natalie as a
 mortal.  His son was ever the tragic romantic.

Finally the show was over, and Nick turned to Lacroix and smiled impishly.  "New
 fan of the show, Lacroix?"

"Actually, Nicholas, I thought I'd escape this particular brand of torture by
 coming here, but of course, I was wrong."

Nick shrugged.  "You didn't have to stay."

Lacroix sipped at his drink before replying, "It was either that, or waste a
 perfectly good monologue on trust and the truth.  Really, Nicholas, what good
 is fatherly advice if you're not listening to it?  Although I've heard your
 partner is a fan of the show, maybe he'd be listening?"

"I've made up my mind, Lacroix, Eric is going to keep his knowledge of us.
 Tracy and Schanke didn't know, and it didn't keep them from dying."

Lacroix inclined his head.  "Point taken.  This really is your decision,
 Nicholas.  But see that it doesn't affect all of us."

"It won't," Nick paused, searching for a way to change the topic of the
 conversation.  He took a drink while he thought, and suddenly he remembered
 something he'd been meaning to discuss with his maker.  "Speaking of affecting
 people, Lacroix, did Daisy tell you what happened to Roberts, the detective
 that annoyed her?"

Lacroix was trying his best to look innocent...and failing miserably.  "Mmm,
 yes...she told me that he's turning over a new leaf, so to speak.  Volunteering
 in a woman's abuse crisis center?  Can't say that I'm surprised; he'd probably
 saw the...error of his ways, and is trying to change."

Nick gave Lacroix a disbelieving look.  "And you and Alejandro had nothing to do
 with it?"

Lacroix smiled widely.  "I promised Marguerite that I wouldn't hurt the man; I
 never promised to stay away from him."  After taking a sip of his drink, he
 added, "It's the first thing that Alejandro and I have done together; even
 Marguerite was impressed."

Nick was quite amazed himself.  He smiled as he thought that there was hope for
 Lacroix yet.  They were both settling into their places in this strange family,
 and Nick was feeling the happiest he'd been for the first time in a long time.
 He still yearned to be mortal, but he found that this existance was more
 bearable.  And he finally had hope that realizing his dreams was possible.


The End

Lisa
Feedback welcome -- lmharvey@hotmail.com or cousinlee@fcmail.com
http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/darkknight/79
"Complain.  Complain.  That's all you ever do." -- Lacroix