***
All characters are the property of Sony/Tristar. The song (in
italics) is "Sunshine" from Aerosmith's Just Push Play CD. But I
put them together. Was it a mistake? I don't know. Writing
at 1 AM is conducive to madness...and the creation of FK fic.
But all told, upon reading this by the light of day, I am pleased.
***
Nick had invited Natalie over to his home earlier that night, before they had left work. In a soft whisper in her ear as he left the morgue, he had hinted at a surprise that he had waiting for her. Nat had rushed home and changed before going to Nick's loft. The room was almost completely dark when she entered. Only the vague light that filtered through the opened windows illuminated the space. There was no sign of Nick, and fear briefly squeezed at her heart.
A brief flicker of movement and a brief whoosh of disturbed air at the back of the room caught her attention. Just as quickly, all was still once again. Natalie strained her ears, and heard nothing but the distant sounds of the city. A soft smile spread across her face as another flash of supernaturally fast movement was visible in the extremely dim light. Nick was up to something and was using all of his powers to get ready for her.
Nat walked forward, toward the spot where she had seen the quick flickers of vampiric speed. She was grateful for the fact that she knew Nick's home nearly as well as her own, so she could walk easily in the dark without stumbling over things. That thought led to the reminder that she knew only certain areas of Nick's home. She had never been privileged to enter his bedroom, though she had frequently imagined what it would look like. In each case, however, the rooms had been more based in feminine fancy than what she knew of Nick's taste in interior decorating.
Several candles flickered into life in a large and ornate silver candelabra. Other lights came on as well, illuminating the end of the room in a soft glow. In the center of the bright spot stood Nicholas Knight. The light danced across his golden curls, flaring into a halo about his head. Natalie's breath caught in her throat. He wore black leather pants and a black t-shirt that clung to his torso like a second skin. He looked like a dark angel.
Natalie felt like all of her birthdays had come at once. After months of futile pining for the elusive Detective Knight, he had set up something that looked suspiciously like a seduction. Two glasses rested on the table near him, along with a pair of bottles. Wine for her and blood for him.
"Natalie," he called out her name, his musical voice seeming to caress each syllable. "Join me?"
"Nick?" She replied, her voice questioning. "What is all this?"
Nick suddenly looked shy, and turned his brilliant blue eyes away from her. Natalie felt the loss of his gaze like a physical blow. She noticed a telltale redness pooling in the corners of his eyes, and bereated herself for bringing the bloody tears into his eyes. Nick was afraid that she would reject him.
"I wanted you to know how I felt about you," Nick said softly. "If you don't return my feelings...that's all right. I'll never mention them again. I can hide them, after all, I've had eight hundred years of practice."
"You... care for me?" Natalie said. She knew he cared, of course--Nick was the best friend that she had ever had. But friendship was all she had thought that he felt for her. The very romantic setting that Nick had prepared practically screamed that his feelings went way beyond friendship. Even his clothes--he must have overheard Grace's comment about how good he would look in leather, and Natalie's agreement.
"I love you," Nick murmured, his voice almost inaudible. "I don't know how long it's been. One day I realized that my friendship for you had evolved into something deeper."
Natalie walked over to him, gently touched his cool cheek and turned Nick's face toward her. "You have no idea how much I have wanted to hear those words, Nick. You've gotten too good at hiding your emotions, Nicholas Knight. Every time you gave me one of those perfectly platonic kisses, I could feel my heart breaking."
Nick's arms slid around her, strong and comforting. "Is this what you wanted instead?" he whispered, lowering his lips to hers. His cool, wet tongue darted between her lips. She returned the gesture, and was sruprised to discover that his fangs hadn't dropped. Natalie could only marvel at the strength of will that he must have been exerting to keep the vampire under control.
When they parted, Natalie's breath was ragged, and even Nick looked stunned. He turned briefly toward the table and poured into both of the waiting glasses, before he turned back toward her and handed one to her. Nick promptly sipped from his glass, trying to regain his composure. He promptly choked.
Natalie gave her glass a sniff. That kiss really must have scrambled Nick's wits, she thought. He's trying to drink the wine that he meant for me! "Nick, it's a good thing you're a detective and not a bartender," she said, holding out the glass that he had given her. "This is your blood."
Nick switched the glasses with as much grace as he could muster. His control was dangerously close to breaking after the earthshattering kiss, and his dignity was in shreds. This was not what he had planned on happening. He had planned on romance, not this burning passion that was quickly kindling between Natalie and himself.
Natalie smiled softly to herself. Nick was clearly embarrassed. If he had been mortal, she was sure that he would now be sporting a world-record blush.
"What's this?" Natalie asked, looking down at a cassette that lay on the table.
"It's nothing." Nick said, too quickly. "I thought about playing it for you..."
"Then let's have a listen." Natalie said, and put the tape into the stereo before Nick could protest.
"I sold my soul for a one-night stand
I followed Alice into Wonderland
I ate the mushroom and I danced with the Queen
Yeah, we danced in between all the lines
I followed daylight right into the dark
Took to the Hatter like a walk in the park
But then I met her, yeah she felt so right
No child of the night, yeah, was she....
They called her Sunshine, the kind that everybody knows
Yeah, yeah, Sunshine, she finer than a painted rose
Yeah, yeah... Sunshine...
Her kind of love's what I adore
What kind of trouble am I in for?
My kind of heaven lies at hell's back door
And I got more than I need...
'Cuz I need Sunshine, the kind that everyone knows
Yeah, yeah, my Sunshine, finer than a painted rose
Yeah, yeah, Sunshine....
I got the karma but it don't come free
I'll chase that rabbit up her bodi tree
The caterpiller's trying to cop a plea
But the smoke ain't got nothing on me...
I gotta have my Sunshine, the kind that everybody knows
Yeah, yeah, Sunshine, she finer than a painted rose
Yeah, yeah, Sunshine... yeah..."
"It made me think of you," Nick said, as the music died out. He was managing to look even more embarrassed than before. "You are the only sunshine I have in my life. A brilliant light that warms me but doesn't burn. It describes us, and my own upside-down existence."
"Nick, why are you embarrassed?" Natalie said, embracing him again. "It's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I'm flattered to be your sunshine."
Nick squirmed a bit. Males! Natalie thought to herself. Mortal or immortal, they hate being called sweet! But if he can love and do things like this, there's hope that he can become mortal again one day.
"I'm just not used to sharing my feelings, Nat. Life with LaCroix doesn't present many opportunities for it."
"I've seen you express your dislike for him already. In no uncertain terms."
"That's different, and you know it. LaCroix believes feelings of love and caring make us weak, so I kept them to myself."
"He's different from you, Nicholas. He revels in the monsterous side of his nature. You keep it under control and do not let it dominate you. I respect that. And Nick... Vampires aren't supposed to be able to love... but mortals can. Maybe the fact that you can feel love for me means that you've taken the first step toward a cure."
"Do you think so?"
Natalie shrugged."I don't know, but it would seem to make sense. If you can love like a mortal, you should be able to cross back. If you had lost all of the tender emotions and only had the lust of the beast left to you, I should think that it would be impossible."
"I love you, Nat. I want to protect you from anyone who would hurt you." Nick said. "But you haven't told me if you loved me. You just called me sweet and kissed me. I need to know."
"I do love you, Nick. More than you can dream. The man, and the beast. Did I ever tell you that I love it when you growl? It sends shivers down my spine, just because you do it."
"You accept me, with no promise that I will ever be cured, and with the knowledge that in a few years I must move on before people realize that I do not age?"
"If I cannot cure you before you must move on, then I want you to bring me across. I won't let you leave without me. The thought of you being out there and away from me would kill me."
"You would do that... for me?"
"If I become immortal, that gives me an eternity in which to find a cure for both of us. And right now, I have an experiment that I've been longing to try."
"What's that?" Nick asked, sounding rather disappointed. "Does it have to be now?"
"Yes it does. It isn't one that I can conduct back at the morgue. I want to find out what happens when..." Natalie drew closer to Nick.. "...a mortal bites the vampire on the neck."
Nick's eyes flew open and instantly turned golden as she bit down on the side of his neck. His fangs dropped, but the bloodlust was not as severe as usual. This woman did incredible things to him, and both the man and vampire sides of Nick's being enjoyed Natalie's sensual assault.
Natalie drew back to view her handiwork. His fangs were exposed, his eyes had turned to gold, and he was clearly aroused in the mortal manner as well. Nick started to growl, low in his chest, and Natalie was undone. She melted into his arms, and felt the floor fall away as Nick flew her up the stairs.
"Nick... is it possible for a vampire to make love to a mortal without killing them or bringing them across?" she asked, as he laid her down on the black silk sheets of his bed.
"With you, my love, anything is possible," Nick said, his tone startlingly tender, despite the fangs that were still much in evidence.
And he proceeded to show her just how much was possible.