Date:         Sun, 9 Jun 1996 05:19:24 -0400
From: Arletta Asbury <g4akl@EROLS.COM>

WARNING:  "Last Knight", "Ashes to Ashes" and "Dead of Night"
spoilers ahead!  Do NOT read this until you've seen those
episodes.
You have been warned.

Title:   "The End or Not?"  (Last Knight spoiler, Ashes to Ashes
                             spoiler, and Dead of Night spoiler)
By: Arletta Asbury
g4akl@erols.com

I'm a relative newbie at Fanfic, so please, remember that
and try to be kind.  It was inspired by my hatred of the ending
of "Last Knight".  I hate it, hate it, hate it!  So in a
complete state of denial, I offer you this.

This story follows my earlier stories 'Another Ending' and
'Transitions' and you must have read at least 'Transitions'
in order to understand this story.  If you haven't read them,
you may request copies from me at the email address given above.

There is a Janette paraphrase that, I believe, comes from someone's
fanfic, however, I don't remember whose--so a Thank-you to whomever.
I would like, also, to thank Judy for her comments.

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


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

Lacroix had been rather embarrassed throughout his talk with Nick.
However, if anyone had ever asked whether or not vampires can blush,
well Nick can...and *did* the whole time.  It seems that a 13th century
catholic boy was still lurking somewhere within that 20th century
exterior.  They had moved their conversation inside when the first
rays of dawn began to appear over the horizon and it had continued
until nearly mid-morning.

If anyone except Lacroix had broached those topics, in that
manner, Nick would have squelched them immediately.  However,
he did manage to talk with Nick enough that there would probably
not be, in Lacroix's opinion, a repeat of such disastrous events as
Nick had experienced before with both Alyssa and Natalie.
But Nick still had his own doubts.

When their conversation finally drew to a close, Lacroix retired
to his own room for some much needed sleep.  Nick, rather
hesitatingly, entered his own room where Natalie lay sleeping.
He discovered that she was not asleep in bed but rather *on* the
bed.  She was lying fully clothed on top of the bedspread.

Nick paused for several minutes to consider his options.  He
finally grabbed his black silk pajamas and headed for the
bathroom where he removed his clothes and slipped into them.
He returned to the bedroom and pulled the bedspread from the
unoccupied side of the bed and folded it over Natalie.  He
then turned down the covers on his side of the bed and slipped
between the sheets.  Nick fell asleep listening to Natalie's
steady heartbeat and soft breathing.

Nick awoke sometime after nightfall and discovered that Natalie
still lay beside him.  Her regular heartbeat convinced him that
she was alright but still sleeping soundly.  He noticed dark
circles under her eyes and realized that Lacroix had been right
when he's said that she needed to rest.  He selected some clothes
to wear and went into the bathroom again to shower and dress.
When he emerged, Natalie was still sleeping.

He closed the bedroom door behind him and found Lacroix on the
phone, apparently discussing the radio station purchase.

Nick wasn't interested in the negotiations and continued on to
the suite's bar where he opened its small refrigerator and
removed his breakfast.

"You seem in a thoughtful mood today" Lacroix said as he joined
him at the bar.  "How is Natalie?"

"Asleep" Nick replied.  Lacroix raised his eyebrows.  "She's been
sleeping since before *I* went to bed this morning."

"Have you given any more thought to your career choices?" Lacroix
asked, changing the subject.

"No, somehow, nothing has appealed to me yet."

"Well, perhaps in a few days you will be able to decide."

"Maybe", said Nick.

"The cargo plane I chartered will arrive tomorrow with our
furniture and other belongings.  I have engaged an interior
decorator to attempt tastefully arranging our disparate
furnishings in our new apartment.  She has promised that with
her staff working overtime, it will require only a day to do so.
Then we can all move there."

"I wish we could move there *today*.  I'm already tired of
this hotel",  Nick said in an exasperated tone of voice.
Lacroix sighed inwardly.  At least Nicholas seemed to have
emerged from his deep depression.  He had been right, Natalie's
presence had accomplished instantly what *he* could not.

"Perhaps you should go shopping this evening.  Natalie
had no luggage with her when she arrived yesterday and she will
probably want fresh clothes when she awakes", Lacroix suggested.

Satisfied with something to occupy him, Nick left for an unusual
shopping spree.  Money and persistence eventually made up for the
fact that he had very little idea of what size Natalie wore in
anything.  He had bought her a sweater once...for Christmas two
years ago but that didn't help much now with things like jeans...
or stockings...or shoes.  He eventually wound up buying several
items that were in the 'one size fits all' category and 6 pairs
of jeans in assorted sizes, 6 pairs of shoes, 6 negligees, etc.
Nick alternated between frustration, delight, puzzlement,
embarrassment and helplessness during the whole process.

He returned to the hotel suite laden with boxes and bags.
Lacroix was in the living room with three guests.  Nick sensed
that they were mortal and listened briefly to the conversation.
They were negotiating about the radio station.  One seemed to be
Lacroix's solicitor and the other two represented the current
owners of the station.  Lacroix seemed an active participant in
the bargaining.

Nick hesitated briefly outside the bedroom door before rapping
lightly and calling "Nat".  Upon hearing no reply, he turned the
doorknob and entered.  The room was empty then he heard the
sound of the shower.  Dropping the bags and boxes on a convenient
table, he flipped on the TV and stretched out on the bed.
With the remote control he channel surfed until he found a news
broadcast and settled back, enjoying the program in his native
language.

The sound of the water stopped and Natalie emerged from the
bathroom wrapped in one of the hotel's terry robes a few minutes
later.  When she saw Nick her steps faltered briefly and she
hesitated as she became conscious of the fact that she was alone
in a hotel room with her new husband and clad only in a robe.

Nick forgot about the TV and his eyes never left her as he said,
"I bought you some new clothes.  They're in the bags over there".
He gestured toward the table.  "I wasn't sure about the sizes so
I bought an assortment.  Your clothes will be arriving tomorrow
along with your furniture and other things."

"Are you hungry?", he continued.  "The hotel has a restaurant
downstairs."

"Ummm...yes.  My last meal was on the plane."

She moved to the table and began opening the bags.  She rummaged
thru their contents and found a sweater, jeans, and underwear
that would fit.  She hesitated, unsure what to do next.  Finally
she sighed and headed back to the bathroom to change.  When she
emerged Nick escorted her downstairs.

At the restaurant, Nick ordered soup and tried to eat but wound
up mostly pretending-as usual.  Natalie ordered steak and a
salad to build up her strength.  They couldn't really talk at
the restaurant.  Imagining what another diner or waiter could
have overheard had they *really* been discussing recent events
kept both of them on casual topics like the new apartment
throughout the meal.

Afterwards they went for a moonlight stroll thru the hotel's
gardens.  They held hands like teenaged lovers and relished
such a simple act in each other's company.  As they turned to
go back into the building, Nick wrapped his arms around Natalie
and kissed her.  Then he slipped his arm around her shoulders
and they went back upstairs.

The mortals had apparently left with Lacroix and Nick and Natalie
sat together on the living room couch much as they had done on
the couch in Nick's loft.  Natalie told Nick about the
disappearance of Tracy's body.  Nick closed his eyes, for a
moment, at the news.  They were both thinking the same thing.
But who had brought Tracy across?

Just then Lacroix returned and they asked him about it.

"*I* had nothing to do with it.  But young Vachon's grave is
also reported empty.  Perhaps rumors of his death were....
premature.  I have agents on the lookout for them
but... well...you know, if they don't want to be found?
I'm sure we'll see them again in another century ...or two."

Nick looked thoughtful before replying, "Yes, ....someday."
Natalie looked from one to the other as if she was missing
some part of the conversation.

"I suppose you have no idea where Tracy would choose to
relocate?  I believe Urse would like to know where
Vachon has gone.  And I assume they *are* together."

"No, I........", Nick said, thinking about it, but nothing
came to mind.

"Just as well, perhaps", Lacroix mused.

"It seems a good idea for you, Nicholas, to send a letter of
resignation to Captain Reese, I believe his name is... and
for you, Natalie, to write a farewell letter to your friend as
well as a resignation to your supervisor.  I have stationary you
may use." In reply to her questioning look, Lacroix added "We do
not want to use the hotel stationary, Natalie,  we could be
traced thru it."

They spent the rest of the night composing then writing very
good, very convincing letters.  In his letter, Nick was
resigning primarily because he couldn't stand the thought of
losing another partner after losing first Schanke and then Tracy
in rapid succession.  Natalie's letters described how upset she
had been at her friend Laura's suicide and subsequent autopsy
which was followed by her 'knife attach by a drug crazed
maniac'.  Or so the story had been promulgated.  Writing all
three letters was a rather sobering and somber action for them,
because the letters were all a little too close to the truth, but
it was for the best that it be done.  Now, no one would ever
question their respective disappearances.  Agents of Lacroix
would post the letters from different locations in or near
Toronto, a few days apart.

When they had finished, Lacroix took the sealed envelopes with
him when he retired, for the day, to his room.

Natalie turned to Nick as she said, "I think it's time for bed."

Nick hesitated then said, "No I can't.  I'm not....."

Natalie looked at him.  He was flustered and turning faintly red.
With a half smile, she sighed then kissed him lightly on the
cheek and went into *their* bedroom.  Nick turned around and lay down
on the couch.

                            *   *   *

The following evening Lacroix entered the living room and found
Nick asleep on the couch.  He stood for a moment, staring at Nick,
then shook his head and went over to pour himself some breakfast.

Nick awoke at the sounds Lacroix made doing so, and at the smell
of the blood.  "Nicholas, do we need to talk more?" Lacroix began
but he was interrupted by the door opening as Natalie entered the
room.

"Good evening". she said.

"Good evening, Natalie", Lacroix replied.

"Excuse me, I think I'll just take a shower and change now. 
Natalie, maybe you'll let me take you down to dinner.  If you 
don't mind waiting a few minutes?" Nick asked.

"No, go ahead.  I'll wait for you", she answered.  Nick left the
room.

"Natalie, I would like to speak with you in private if you don't
mind?"

She glanced at the bedroom door then back at Lacroix before
replying, "What do you want to talk about?"

"I can hear the shower already, Nicholas won't overhear us", he
said in answer to her unspoken question.  Lacroix paused before
continuing, "Ummm...I found Nicholas asleep on the couch."

Lacroix continued, "You do realize the state he was in before
your arrival?  He was, frankly, distraught to the point of
suicide.  Guilt.  He thought he had killed you and would have
joined you in death if I hadn't intervened that night. Then
still more guilt at not being with you, forever.  I had thought
that your arrival would snap him out of it."

"He didn't want to.....", Natalie began then the full impact of
Lacroix's words hit her.  "You mean he wouldn't 'bring me across'?
That he would have let me die then killed himself?  *You* took
me to the hospital?"  Natalie swayed slightly and put her hand
on the bar's counter to steady herself.

Lacroix nodded, "If he's never told you that he loves you, he
does.  More than Janette...myself...Alyssa....anyone.  Too
much, perhaps, for his own good.  Too much to 'bring you across'
and too much to let you go...or live without you."

Natalie was staring at him, her mouth open.  Finally she said
"Who's Alyssa?"

"Never mind.  She is not important.  *You* are important...to
him."

Natalie realized that she stood there before Lacroix, alive, only
because he had cared enough about Nick to spare her for Nick's
sake.

Natalie swallowed hard several times and blinked back her tears.
There was nothing that she could say to Lacroix.  Nothing.
She also realized, perhaps for the first time, the depth of
Lacroix's feelings for Nick.

Just then Nick opened the bedroom door and rejoined them.

Natalie turned to him, forced a smile and said, "Ready?
Let's go." and they left the suite for the restaurant and
Natalie's dinner.

When they returned to the suite they found that Urse had
arrived with Sydney.  Natalie made a beeline for the airline
cat carrier and opened it to free Sydney.  He yawned and
stretched as he greeted Natalie with a 'meow'.  Urse who had
been talking with Lacroix walked over to join Natalie and they
both began fussing over the cat.  "The vet gave him a
tranquilizer for the flight", Urse offered.

"He seems to be waking up now", Natalie replied as she began
stroking him.

"He's probably hungry too. It's been hours since he's eaten.  There's
a bag of food somewhere here among his things", Urse continued.

Lacroix and Nicholas stood watching the two women with the cat.
Sydney began to tire of so much attention before his dinner.

"I think I have some jeans and shoes and other stuff that would
fit you.  Nick went shopping for me without knowing what sizes
I wear and he wound up buying an assortment of sizes just to
be sure", Natalie said changing the subject and casting a
quick glance at Nick to see if he was offended by her words.

"Oh, I'm between sizes in jeans. Maybe *two* pairs would really
both fit me", Urse replied.

"Come on.  Let's see", Natalie offered and Urse trailed her
towards the bedroom she was supposed to be sharing with Nick.
"By the way do you speak French?"

"Oui, of a sort. Creole mostly.  I lived in
New Orleans..........", Urse was saying as she closed the
bedroom door behind them.

Lacroix and Nick had watched, in silence, as the two women
crossed the living room.  Then Lacroix remarked dryly, "Janette
once said that the differences between men and women were much
greater than the differences between mortals and vampires."

"She's right", returned Nick as he grinned.

                            *   *   *

Later when Lacroix retired to his room Urse went with him.

Natalie watched their departure then remarked, "Well, she's
over twenty-one."

"A *lot* over", Nick retorted and they both laughed.  Then
Natalie stood suddenly, they had both been sitting on the couch.

"Nick, it's time to go to bed" and she took his hand and pulled
gently until he rose to his feet.

"No, I...", he began.  Natalie took a step towards the bedroom
but Nick didn't follow.

"Nick" she said as she looked into his eyes.

"I'm.....afraid"

She said "Nick" again, softly this time and he thought back to
Lacroix's advice earlier.  It *was* possible, Lacroix had reminded
him.  Lacroix had mentioned what he had seen in that back room
of the Raven.  Nick and that female vampire who had only wanted
to buy Nick a drink.  While Lacroix didn't advocate such aggressive
actions with Natalie, the principle remained valid.  Once his
fangs extended, no kissing.  Fondling yes, but using his hands,
not mouth.  And Lacroix didn't even know about Marion Blackwing.
It would take some concentration on his part and he could not
sip Natalie's blood.  Not ever.  He couldn't be trusted on that
score.  And some positions were off limits also, they were just
too dangerous, too tempting. The whole thing would be less than
completely satisfactory for both of them, but it *was* possible.
Nick took a step towards the bedroom and a better future for
both of them.

                            *   *   *

The cliche was true, Natalie awoke with a smile on her face.....
and she was still mortal.



The End

**************************************************************
Send any comments to:
g4akl@erols.com
Nick & Nat Packer with light Cousin tendencies