March 2000
Disclaimers: the characters and situations herein are inspired by "Forever Knight' which is the property of Sony/Columbia- Tri Star... and a lot of people with a lot more money than I! I promise not to harm them... The lyrics are from 'Call and Answer' by the Bare Naked Ladies...
Timeline: after 'Crazy Love
She was waiting for him. Unquestioning. Undemanding. Standing under the street light by the lake. She had felt his need. Yesterday, she'd answered his desperate call. And she'd soothed the raging beast with the mere taste of her blood.
Today was a different need. The need to be connected to another. And his needs brought him back to the one who knew him better than he knew himself.
I think it's getting to the point where I can be myself again
I think it's
getting to the point where we have almost made amends
I think it's the getting
to the point that is the hardest part,
And if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And
if you court this disaster, I'll point you home...
Gathering her into his arms he brushed back the satin lined hood of her velvet cape. Their lips met with an intensity and passion that took her breath away. It had been a very long time since they had been together. So very long. But she remembered.
"Ah, Nicholas, it has been a long time. I have missed you," she breathed, flushed with passion, melting into his firm chest.
"Too long," he mumbled, pulling away from her slightly, his desire for her becoming difficult to suppress. For as much rancor as was in their past, so, too was the passion and understanding borne of long association. It was comfortable. It was as if he was coming home.
"Will you spend the day with me, mon chere?" she asked tremulously. He had refused her yesterday.
"Yes," he said firmly, sliding his arms under her cape, kissing her lightly, his eyes glowing slightly. "Yesterday, I needed you. Today, I want you. I desire you."
"And I desire you, mon ami..."
You think that I only think about you where we were both in the same room
You
think I'm only here to witness the remains of love exhumed
You think we're here
to play the game of who loves who more than who,
And if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And
if you court this disaster, I'll point you home...
In the aftermath of their lovemaking, Nick leaned back against the pillows, languidly running his hands through her raven hair.
"What did she say to you?" Janette asked softly, curling against his firm chest.
"Who?" he asked, absently, nestling her more securely against him. It had been a long time since he made love with any woman. It had been even longer since he'd been with Janette. Several centuries by his recollection.
"Natalie." she replied cautiously. She seldom paid attention to Nick's mortal dalliances. They seldom lasted long. This time was different. She knew it. LaCroix knew it. "I could sense in your blood, that something happened. That there was a reason for your attentions tonight." Kissing him gently she raised her eyes to him. "Not that I minded, of course."
"Oh," he said softly. He had forgotten how well Janette could read him, interpret his blood. After nearly eight centuries, he should have known better. She had always been so attuned to his mood. "We solved a case tonight," he began, lightly running a hand over her bare shoulder.
"Oh, the umm, crazy man? I read about that case."
"Well, one of those murders was actually committed by his psychiatrist. A woman who understood him more than was healthy." He sighed, inhaling her sweet fragrance as he spoke.
"And?" she prompted.
"She spoke of the need for total possession. For the ultimate surrender of another. Of its addictive quality." Recounting the conversation aroused him on several levels.
Janette's eyes glowed amber as he spoke. It was a need they both understood well. They had lived it. "Yes, yes. Nicholas, do not taunt me so. It is not funny."
"Then you know why I needed you," he confessed, kissing her temple.
"But that does not answer my question." she reminded him, tilting her face to better study his expression. She was going to have to drag it out of him. While there was a time that he'd kept nothing from her, everything changed when she'd left him. Now he was guarded, cautious.
"I told Natalie what the doctor said," he replied with a shrug. The gesture was meant to seem casual, but Janette knew better. "And that I understood it," he continued.
"And?" she prompted. Getting information out of Nick was trying at best.
"And she, oh so very casually, said 'but those needs that you don't have any more. That is all in the past." His voice was even, but the hurt was clear. His friend, who he thought understood him, was dismissing him, dismissing his needs.
"What did you say to her?"
"Nothing"
"Nothing?" she repeated, her eyes narrowed. "So she assumes that all of your carnal needs are that of a man? A mortal man?"
"I suppose. I've never asked."
"Nicholas." She said with a tired sigh. He was sometimes so clueless about women. And much as she'd love to reclaim him totally, there was still the unresolved issue of his mortal friend. "You are leading her on," she declared, leaning on her elbow to face him directly. "She will never accept another man while you are around, not to mention the fact that you scare any suitor off quickly." She kissed him lightly, but maintained her scolding tone. "But neither of you are meeting each other's needs."
"What are you suggesting, Janette?" he asked, meeting her gaze directly.
"Try being honest with her."
"Oh, and I should tell her that I am seeing you?" he asked sarcastically. "That will go over real well"
She brushed her hand along his chest, "But, my dear, are you truly 'seeing me'? Are you really back with us?" His silence was enough of an answer. "I thought not."
"I am with you now," he protested
"Nicholas, there is a difference," she said softly. In some ways, he was incredibly naïve. "Now is a fling. A one-night-stand, so to speak."
"You make it sound like I am using you," he complained.
"Well, you are." She declared, an amused look crossing her face. "But do you see me protest? We are eternal. You may come and go from my life, just as I have had other lovers. The real question is, what do you want to do with Natalie?"
"She is my friend, my confidante... I trust her."
"She is more than that if LaCroix is to be believed."
"What did he tell you?" he asked darkly.
"Oh, he said that your performance at the restaurant was deserving of one of those silly awards." She smirked, loving how flustered he had become.
"He knows that I lied?"
"Of course he does. Nicholas, he is our master. He knows everything about us." Janette scolded, as if speaking to a small child.
Nick sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "So what is he planning to do about it?"
"Do? What makes you think he is planning to do anything?" she laughed, watching him restlessly pace around the room.
"If he knows what I feel about Natalie, he will harm her." Nick replied.
"And what *do* you feel about Natalie?" Janette asked softly. "You have not answered my question?"
Nick looked back at her, "you just shared my blood, Janette. I should not need to explain anything."
"My, my... a bit touchy, are we?" she said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, Janette," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "There are just some things that I am not ready to discuss yet, even with you."
"All right, Nicholas. I won't push you," she murmured, reaching over to rub his back. "But I caution you. Be careful."
"Always am," he said firmly, leaning back against the pillows. Wrapping his arms around her he sighed with contentment.
"Too careful," she sighed with unconcealed delight with his caresses. "Sometimes one must take risks to be truly happy."
"I'm happy," he protested.
"Indeed," she stated in a low, sonorous tone, her expression a perfect mimicry of LaCroix.
He laughed uproariously, "Don't let him see you do that!"
"Relax, Nicholas," she pulled him against her shoulder. "He has, and he thought it vaguely amusing."
"What would I do without you?" he whispered.
"I hesitate to even think about that day,"
You think it's only fair to do what's best for you, and you alone
You think
it's only fair to do the same to me when you're not here
I think it's time to
make this something that is more than only fair
And if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And
if you court this disaster, I'll point you home...
Carefully running her hands through his hair, Janette curled into Nick's shoulder, cherishing the moment. He would, she knew, go back to his mortal world, his mortal friends on arising. For now, he was her love, and hers alone. Her one regret, in her long life, was turning away his love so many years ago.
Someday, he would be back. And she would help pick up the pieces from his loss of yet another mortal friend, another mortal life. And maybe then, they could rebuild the love that had built over the centuries.
I'm warning you, don't ever do those crazy mixed up things that you do
If
you ever do, I promise you
I'll be the first to crucify you
It's time to prove
that you've come back here to rebuild... to rebuild...
**fin***
