Forever Knight

Family

"Are you sure that's enough time?"  Toni Knight asked.  "After all, three months isn't very long for an engagement."

"Technically, you might as well say that Mike and I have been engaged for at least four of the last five years."  Tracy Vetter answered.  "I always wanted a June wedding, so this is going to work out perfect."

"There for a while, I thought you might be getting a Michigan proposal."

"What's a Michigan proposal?"

" ... You're going to have a WHAT?"

"Oh!  You mean a Yukon proposal.   No way.  Not as long as they make little green pills.  If I were to get pregnant, there would be no way I'd fit into that fancy dress you've designed for me.  You didn't have to do that.  I could have bought one."

"Now it's my turn to say no way.  There is no way I'm going to let you get married in a store bought dress."

"Speaking of pregnancies, how are you doing?"

"Not so good.  I'm sick all the time.  I mean REALLY sick.  I don't remember morning sickness being this bad with the twins."

"Maybe this time it will be triplets or maybe even quads."

"It better not be.  If it's more than one in there, I will personally castrate a certain vampire husband I know.  With a rusty knife.  Without benefit of anesthetic.  We'll know for sure next checkup.  Tom's going to do a sonogram and run some more tests.  Are you sure you still want me as your Matron of Honor?"

"Absolutely.  If it hadn't been for you and Nick, I'd still be vegetating in that nursing home.  Besides, you're the closest thing to a sister I've ever had.  In fact, all of you are more like family than my own family.  If you and Nick couldn't do the honors for us, we probably would have to cancel the wedding."

"We can't have that, now, can we.  In that case, I'll just have to redesign my dress to match the green in my complexion."

"Speaking of family."  Nick said as he came into the living room of their house.  They had gathered there to go over the plans for the wedding.  "Have you told your parents yet?"

"No.  And I don't intend to until after the ceremony."  Tracy said.  "Like maybe on our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.  Nick, you know my folks.  Can you imagine the havoc my mother could cause?  I can just see it all now.  Wedding at the Cathedral.  Solemn High Mass.  The Cardinal officiating of course. Reception at the Yacht Club.  Just a small affair.  Not more than a thousand people.  Their friends, naturally.  Invitation only."

"Sounds like something my mother would do."  Mike Taylor came from the kitchen with a tray full of drinks for everyone.  "Only it would be at the Beverly Hills Country Club with the Presiding Judge of the State Court doing the honors, or maybe they might get Billy Graham and have the wedding at the Rose Bowl during one of his evangelical crusades."

"And what do you want?"  Nick asked.  He took a glass of cola and sipped sparingly on it.

"We just want a small wedding. Nothing fancy.  Something on the order of yours. We've decided on the courtyard of the complex.  You know, since you two were married there it's become a very popular place for a wedding.  There's one there at least every month during the summer.  The Co-op Association has sort of turned it into a money making proposition.  They charge outside couples to use it.  The money goes into the Tenant Association Welfare Fund."

"Okay, let's review what we have."  Nick said, picking up a legal pad that the ladies had been writing on.  "Tracy, you've taken care of the courtyard?"

"Yup.  Morris Feldman, he's manager this month, is taking care of all the arrangements.  Of course, where the Feldmans are, can the Giovanettis be far behind?  Mario is doing the catering."

"Good.  That's two down, twenty thousand to go.  How about the dresses and tuxes?"

"Kaiya at Twentieth Century's costume department has that all under control."  Toni said.  "The dresses - designed by yours truly."  She did a mock curtsy. "Are being made as we speak.  She assures me they will be ready in plenty of time.  Same goes for you guys.  Tuxes are in stock in every size."

"The Minister?"

"Father Ryan.  We've been going to Pre-Cana marriage seminars at St. Ignatius for the last two weeks."

"What about flowers?"

"That's being handled by Flowers By Mike."

"And the band?"

"A friend of mine in the DA's office knows of one."  Mike said.  "Made up of lawyers.  Call themselves Habeas Corpus.  According to my friend, they're really good.  And very reasonable."

"Sounds like everything's in order."  Nick concluded.  "I've talked with Monsieur de Brabant's people.  They assured me he'd be happy to let you stay at Castle Brabant for your honeymoon.  He'll even have a private plane to take you there."

"Well, that's one perk to being partnered with a real live French Count."  Mike said.  "Who else do we know that can get us our own private castle for the honeymoon."

"It's Belgian.  And the title is in name only.  It hasn't been used officially in centuries."

"Still, it looks good on a calling card."  Mike stuck his head in the air and put his index finger against his nose for emphasis. "Nicholas Knight, Le Comte de Brabant."

"Okay, Okay.  Let's get back to work.  What about the guest list?"

Tracy held up several sheets of paper.  "Right here.  The invitations will be here tomorrow.  With a little luck, we'll have them in the mail by Friday."

"And finally, the wedding party itself."

"Nick, you of course are the best man.  Jeb Puckett and Captain Davies are my groomsmen."  Mike started.

"Toni is my Matron of Honor.  Clarissa La Pont is one of my bridesmaids and Kate Harrison, one of my associates, is the other."  Tracy concluded.  "LaCroix will give me away ... Oh my gosh! ... Did anybody ask LaCroix?"

"I thought you did."

"No, you were supposed to."

"Nick, he's your father."

"It's your wedding."

"We're part of your wedding, too, aren't we, Aunt Tracy, Uncle Mike?"  Nattie and Joey Knight came running into the room.

"Of course you are."  Mike said picking Nattie up and tucking her into his arm.

"You're the most important part."  Tracy said as Joey crawled onto her lap.  "Without a ring bearer and a flower girl, it's just not legal."

Both Joey and Nattie had very self-satisfied smiles as they wiggled out of their respective 'relative's' grip and ran out of the room after their cat, Charlie.  At almost four years of age, everything the twins did was at a brisk run.

**********

" ... So you see, Mr. LaCroix."  Tracy stammered.  "You have to say yes.  After all, this is more or less a family thing, and since you once said you thought of me as sort of your daughter, I was kind of hoping you'd give me away."  She grimaced and chewed on her lower lip.  She waited for the explosion that was sure to come in retribution for her daring.  Tracy knew of the elder vampire's temper and throughout her carefully rehearsed speech, he had not said or done anything to indicate how he felt on the matter.  He merely stood stiffly, arms folded across his chest, with an indifferent expression on his face.

"I would be delighted."  He said softly.

"I know it's a lot to ask.  I mean after all, it's not like we were actually related or anything like that."

"I said yes."

"If you don't want to, I'll understand and I ... what did you say?"

"I said I would be pleased and honored to give you in marriage."

"You would?"  She threw her arms around the vampire's neck and began kissing him repeatedly on the cheek.  "How can I ever thank you?"

"By disengaging yourself and behaving like the mature adult you are, instead of some irresponsible schoolgirl."

"Right.  Sorry.  Thanks again."

She thought she saw LaCroix flash just the barest hint of a smile as she left.

**********

Jeb Puckett kicked off his boots and picked up the remote.  This was one of the few nights that he had free in a long time.  His Automotive Engineering classes at UCLA were over for the semester, and he had no stock car races scheduled until later in the month.  This was one night he was going to kick back and do as much of nothing as he possibly could.

He was startled by a severe gust of wind.  It couldn't have come from the outside.  The windows were tightly closed.  He hadn't even opened the heavy steel shutters yet.

Lucien LaCroix stood in front of him.  "Jebediah."  He said solemnly.  "I need your assistance."

"What can I do for y'all, Mr. LaCroix."  The young vampire said in a thick Georgia drawl.

"I wish to learn how to operate an automobile."  The master vampire said.

"You mean to tell me you don't know how to drive a car?"

"I have never had the need to learn.  Until now."

"Why's that?"

"It's personal."

"They's plenty of good drivin' schools around.  I'm sure one of them could teach you a heap of a lot better'n I could."

"I have investigated several schools.  I think it would be more appropriate if one of ... our kind ... taught me.  I have decided that it shall be you."

"Me?  But I ain't no teacher, Mr. LaCroix."

"Perhaps not, but you are a professional racer.  That means you are a better driver than anyone else I know.  Including Nicholas. Therefore, you shall teach me to drive my automobile."

"You got yourself a car?"

"I have purchased a vehicle.  A Porsch convertible.  Black, of course.  We will begin tomorrow night.  You will not mention this to anyone.  Especially not to Nicholas or Clarisse.  Is that clearly understood?"

Jeb nodded solemnly.  He ran his thumb and index finger across his lips as though they were a zipper.   Even in a matter as relatively trivial as this, he did not want to get the elder vampire pissed off.

With a rush of air, LaCroix was gone.

**********

Doctor Tom Nichols studied the test results before him.  He was definitely worried.  Unseen and unknown to him, Doctor Natalie Lambert, or more precisely her spirit form, was studying the papers as well.  She, too, was worried.  Toni's blood count was low, and the number of aberrant nucleotides, or 'vampire viruses' as she had called them, was elevated.  While this would not have been a problem under normal circumstances, the fact that Toni was starting her second trimester put a whole different perspective on everything. 

According to the amniocentesis, the baby's blood showed significant aberrant nucleotides as well.  This was a distressing problem.  There could be potentially dangerous complications as the pregnancy progressed. The test, incidentally, also showed that the chromosomes were definitely XY.

" ... En Englais, por favor, Tom.  In laymen's terms, what does this mean?"  Toni asked as she and Nick sat across the desk from the doctor.

"As you say, Toni, ... En Englais ... If your blood count doesn't improve soon, it means that there is a very real possibility that you could lose the baby, or even your own life"

"What can we do?"  Nick asked.  The panic was evident, both in his voice and on his face.

"All is not hopeless.  There are several things I want to try.  I'm going to put you on a strict regimen for the next few months and I want you to follow it exactly.  First and foremost, no sexual activity until after the baby is delivered.  Not even foreplay.  I can't stress that too much. 

Second, I'm placing you on a high protein, high iron diet, and I'm also prescribing an extra potency multi-vitamin supplement.  I want you to eat lots of spinach, broccoli and liver." 

Toni made a face.  "I don't mind the broccoli, but the spinach and liver!  Yeech!  Why can't chocolate have proteins and iron."

Tom ignored her.  "Third and most important, I want you on complete bed rest.  That means doing nothing.  Absolutely nothing."

"I'm an artist.  That's as close to doing nothing as you're going to get."

"Only if you can do it from your bed"

"I'll see to it she doesn't do anything."  Nick said.  "If I have to, I'll handcuff her to the headboard  And she WILL eat her spinach and liver."

"What about the kids?  Who's going to take care of them?  And the house?"

"I'll call Robyn, Teresa Giovanetti, Miriam Feldman and Clarisse.  Between us, I'm sure we can work out some sort of an arrangement for Nattie and Joey.  As far as the house goes, it's a smart house after all.  Jenkins can handle the cleaning and maintenance.  If necessary, I'll hire a housekeeper.  Not negotiable.  Case closed."

"Jenkins?"  Tom asked.  "You have a butler?"

"No.  Jenkins is the name we gave to the computer that controls the smart house functions."

"Oh."

"Tracy and Mike's wedding is in three weeks.  Can I at least go to that?"  Toni pleaded.  "I am the Matron of honor, after all."

"Only if they hold the wedding in your bedroom."

**********

"Okay, Mr. LaCroix, this here's your car."  Jeb said, showing LaCroix to a veritable junker. 

The body was covered with dents and dings and it looked like the only thing holding the various parts together was the dirt and rust.  LaCroix was not even positive of the color.  It could have been blue.  Or maybe it was brown.

"I got it special for you to learn in."  Jeb continued.  "It may not look too swift, but it runs real good.  Had my pit crew at the track check it out."  He got in the passenger seat and motioned LaCroix to the driver's side.

"I can't drive ... this ... this ... thing!  What's wrong with using my car?"

"You really want to learn how to drive in a Porsche?   What if you wreck it?"

"I won't wreck it.  But you do have a point.  Turn it on and let's start the lessons."

"Not so fast, Mr. LaCroix. For now, I just want you to sit in it and shift gears."

"And then?"

"We'll play it by ear.  Now, this here's the gearshift.  That there's the clutch.  Press the clutch in with your left foot and pull the gearshift towards you and down ... "

**********

"Tracy Vetter! I'm going to hit you very very hard!"  Toni said as Tracy and Mike came into the bedroom.  Tracy looked the picture of dejection.  Mike did not look much better.

Although it had only been a week, Toni was already getting antsy.  She did not like this enforced rest.  Not one bit!  Nick and the twins, aided and abetted by Robyn, Teresa and Miriam, were taking turns making sure that she did exactly as Dr. Nichols ordered.  Although they had tried to disguise it every way possible, she could barely stomach the spinach and liver.  She complained about it, but she did eat the broccoli.     

"Nick just told me you postponed the wedding.  How dare you do that!  Don't you know that I'll be there in spirit, if I can't be there in person?  I'm feeling much better.  Nick can get one of those electric wheelchairs like you had, Tracy, and if I talk really nice to Tom and tell him that I'll do nothing but sit there and look pretty, I think I can convince him to let me go."

"We want you at the wedding, but we don't want you to do anything that's going to put you or the baby at risk."  Tracy said.

"That's not the only reason we put it off."  Mike continued.  "Captain Davies and I have been called to active duty.  I got the papers in yesterday's mail.  Our Marine Reserve Detachment has been ordered to report to Camp Pendleton at 0800 Monday."

"That's still no reason to postpone.  Camp Pendleton isn't that far away.  You can come home, get married and be back on a weekend pass."  Toni said.

"Pendleton is just a staging area.  The unit is going to be stationed at Quantico.  We'll be on standby alert.  That means no extended leaves until further notice."

"But Quantico Virginia is a continent away."

"I know.  We talked it over and we decided our options were either to elope to Reno or Las Vegas tonight, or wait until I get back, which will be in about six months, longer if we have to ship out.  Since we both want everyone to be witness to our marriage, we decided to wait.  We're already sent notices to all the people who were invited."

"In six months, I'll be big as a house."  Tracy said.

"Then we'll wait until after the baby is born."

"I can just see it now, though."  Tracy said.  "My mother is going to have a royal purple snitfit.  You know what?  I really don't give a fat rat's patootie what she thinks.  Or Daddy for that matter.  Like you and Nick have said all along, it's Mike's and my wedding and we are going to do it our way.  If they don't like it, they can ... well, you get the idea."

"They're coming?  But I thought ... "

"Yeah.  I know what I said, but I finally recanted and sent Daddy and Mother an invitation.  They are my parents after all."

"What about a proxy wedding?"

"We talked about that, too.  Not an option.  I am not getting married over the telephone."  Tracy said determinedly. 

**********

Toronto

"Well, what are you going to do about it, Richard?"  Barbara Vetter Macklin said over the phone to her ex-husband.

"Do about what?"

"Tracy's postponed the wedding.  That's what."

"Good.  Maybe she realized that she couldn't be happy with some ... common person.  And an enlisted Marine as well.  Why couldn't he have been a Naval officer like I was, instead of a mere sergeant.  Maybe she'll come to her senses and realize that her place is here in Toronto."

"Richard, will you give that up!  You've been after her to come back ever since she regained consciousness in that rest home.  She's not your little girl anymore.  She's made a life for herself in Los Angeles.   She's not coming back, and after what you did to her, I can't blame her."

"ME?  Where were you when she needed her family?  You were hiding out inside of some bottle."

"I'm sober now.  I haven't had a drink in almost eighteen months.  I've changed.  You haven't.  I checked her fiance out.  It seems he isn't so common as you think.  He's from the San Francisco Taylors.  His mother is president of the Junior League and chairperson of the San Francisco Foundation.  She's also on the board of the Art Museum, the Civic Association and the United Fund.  His father is senior partner in the accounting firm of Taylor, Biddlesmith, Brown, Hairswell and Bearss.  You have heard of them, of course.  They manage the accounts of all of the leading corporations in the Bay area.  This union could definitely be a giant step up the social ladder for everyone involved."

"Is that all you can think of?  Your precious place in the pecking order?"

"Since I received next to nothing in the divorce settlement, what do I have left?  Thank heavens my present husband has standing in this community or I'd be out in the cold."

"Well, for your information, I had the state police run a check on Michael Taylor, too.  Did you know he has a police record?  He was arrested while he was attending the University of California at Berkeley.  Drunk and disorderly conduct.  How's that for your mister high and mighty society boy.  ... And he didn't even have the decency to attend a private college."

**********

Nick walked into the squadroom at the precinct.  It did not take vampire senses to tell that every eye was on him.  He glared.  Everyone quickly returned to a pretense of what they were doing before he entered.  Several people were clustered around a flipchart set up against the far wall.  Sergeant Angie Roberson was writing on it.  Nick could barely make out the words.

Ganlon             1 - 1

Knight              2 - 1

Labowsky        5 - 2

Heller               4 - 1

Other               7 - 1

Total so far       $1436.93         Dominguez owes 7 cents.         

"And what is that?"  He asked.

"It's a pool on who is going to be our CO while Davies and Taylor are off making the world safe for democracy.  Ganlon took charge the last time and he's even money to do it again."  Roberson said.

"Why is my name on there?"

"Well, since you're the senior ranking detective, you're the department favorite."

"What about one of the people who were excessed when they merged the Walton Point and Marshall precincts.  I hear Captain Currey is doing administrative work at headquarters.  She used to be the third watch commander over there.  It seems to me that she'd be the logical choice to take over."

"You have to be joking.  They wouldn't dare send her here.  As I understand it, Walton partied for three days when she left.  You know they call her the Iron Maiden.  And from what I've heard, she deserves it."

"What you've heard is correct, ladies and gentlemen.   They also called me the Captain from Hell.  They're right on that one too.  I am the Captain from Hell."  The speaker was a tall black woman in her mid forties.  Her hair was pulled severely into a bun and she was wearing a no nonsense charcoal gray power suit. There was little doubt that this was Captain Joanna Currey.  "I assume you've also heard that I run a tight by-the-book precinct.  That, also is true." 

She went to one of the detectives who was wearing a T-shirt with cartoon of a Keystone Kop with his pants down and the words 'Cops Do It Legally' emblazoned on it.  "That is a non regulation shirt, mister.  The dress code is slacks, dress shirt, tie and jacket, or a suit for the men, and slacks or skirt with a blouse, or a suitable dress for the women. That includes appropriate footwear. No T-shirts, jeans or sneakers.  Period.  I expect to see everyone dressed properly by tomorrow evening.  Anyone who is not, will be written up."

As she walked by the desks, she picked up a slinky toy from one of them.  "All of this stuff will be gone by tomorrow, too."  She threw the slinky into the wastebasket. 

"I expect the senior officers from each department in my office in ten minutes."

Nick, Angie Roberson from Robbery, Matt Pointer from Vice, Martha Elverson from Fraud, and Stash Kerlowski, representing the uniformed officers, all stood at rigid attention in front of the Captain's desk.  Joanna Currey marched in front of them like a drill sergeant.  She had spent the last fifteen minutes outlining her policies.  " ... I hope that I have made myself clear on what I expect. Ladies and gentlemen, I am holding each and every one of you strictly accountable for everything that goes on in your respective areas.  That is all.  Dismissed"

One by one they filed out of the office.

"Sergeant Knight.  Stay."  Nick stopped in his tracks and did a military about face.

"I understand that you are without a partner, Sergeant.  I am not a commander who likes to pilot a desk.  Therefore, as long as I am here, you will be partnered with me."   

**********

Tracy opened her door.  Arlene Taylor stood there.  Her pastel pink suit dress looked as if it had been made for her.  It was.  By Yves Ste. Laurent.    Her salt and pepper hair was perfectly styled and there was the barest hint of her perfume.  The fragrance had no name.  Lancome of Paris formulated it specifically for her.  She was impeccable.  She always was.  Tracy could not remember a time when Mike's mother was not the epitome of perfection.

Tracy mentally took stock of herself.  She had been cleaning out the refrigerator.  True, it didn't really need it, but it gave her something to do.  Mike was only gone a week, but she missed him already.  Her sweatshirt and jeans were wet, dirty and smelly and her hair hung in a thousand limp straggling clumps.  She was acutely aware that there was a streak of greasy dirt across her cheek.  She brushed a clump of hair that hung across her nose to the side.

"Don't be ashamed of your appearance, my dear."  Arlene said as she seated herself on the couch.  "I know how hard it is to keep house.  Especially when you do not have an adequate staff.  I take it today is the maid's day off."  Tracy 'saw' Arlene mentally looking down her nose at her.  "When Michael told us that the wedding had been postponed, I had to come down and see if there was anything I could do to help."

< You could grab a mop and a rag and help me clean the mess in the kitchen. >  Tracy thought.  But then again, it was doubtful Arlene Taylor would even know what a mop looked like.

"Perhaps it's a good thing you did move the date back.  It will give us a chance to get everything organized properly."

"But we ... "  Tracy started to say.

"I have spoken to your mother and she is arriving first thing tomorrow.  Between the two of us, we'll see to it that you will have a wedding that is worthy of our two families."

"But Mike and I ... "

"I mean it's really not possible to have the ceremony in that dinky little courtyard of this apartment building.  I don't know what Moonie was thinking.  Then again, he never did have a sense of social obligation."

"Moonie?"

"You know his name is actually Moonchild.  Leeland and I were in our rebellious stage when he was born.  We called ourselves Isis and Vreeborg at the time.  You know, hippies and all that sort of nonsense.  I was ever so grateful that he later had it changed to Michael, but he will always be my little Moonie to me."

She rose and headed to the door.  "I've got to run now.  I simply have oodles of things to do before your mother arrives.  There's the caterer ... the orchestra ... of course I'll have to arrange suitable accommodations for the out of town guests ...  Ta-Ta."  Arlene blew kisses to Tracy as she went out the door.

Tracy closed her eyes and slowly shook her head.  Maybe she and Mike should have gone to Vegas after all.  < Little Moonie? >  She thought.  She knew his birth name was Moonchild, but Moonie for a nickname?  She filed that away for future reference.  Like for their first major fight.

**********

"Knight."  Captain Currey called from her office.  "I've decided we are going on patrol.  Meet me in the parking lot in five minutes.  And wear this, not that string thing."  She threw a tie at him.

Nick took off the string tie that Jeb had given him and put on the other one.  He had been waiting for her to notice that discrepancy.  As he knotted the tie, Rafe Dominguez pulled out his wallet and handed him a five dollar bill.

Joanna Currey was waiting for him when he reached the lot.  He headed for the Caddy.

"Where do you think you're going, Knight?"  She called.  "The department cars are over here."

"I use my own car."

"It's against regulations to use a privately owned vehicle for official business.  You should know that.  I'm surprised they let you do it."

"Trunk space.  The 1962 Cadillac has the most trunk space of any car manufactured in the last fifty years.  You must have read my file.  You know I have a severe allergy to sunlight, and frequently we don't get finished before dawn.  That means I have to ride home in the trunk.  Ergo, Inspector Ganlon lets me use my own car.  They let me do it in Toronto, too."

"Well then, we shall have to be certain that we're finished before dawn, won't we."  Captain Currey said.  You could freeze ice cream on her words.

For a few moments, Nick considered sinking his fangs into her neck, but decided against it.  There was a good possibility that it might give him food poisoning.

**********

They had just turned onto Rodeo Drive when the radio dispatcher put out the call of a silent alarm at Cartier Jewelers.

Cartier had advertised the display of an emerald called the Eye of The Dragon.  Supposedly they had installed the most sophisticated alarm system available.  Nick knew, both from previous identities as a lawman and from firsthand experience, that a top notch thief could circumvent any system that could be devised.

Joanna Currey answered that they were in the neighborhood and would handle it.

**********

Nick pulled his gun and flattened himself against the wall.  "You cover the front."  He said.  "I'll take the back."

"Knight.  I am the ranking officer.  I'll give the orders.  You provide cover.  I'll take the rear.  And I don't need to remind you that you are not to do anything until backup arrives.  After all, we are not from Robbery.  We are merely the first on the scene.  Our job is to control things until the proper units arrive.  And put your gun away.  There will be no unnecessary use of force.  Regulations."

Nick looked deeply into her eyes and focused on her heartbeat.  "I'll cover the back."  He said softly and slowly.

"And I said you will wait here for backup."

< Damn! >  Nick thought.  < She would have to be a resister. >  "I've read the regulations."  He said aloud.  "But I don't think the burglar has.  What if he tries to make a run for it?"

"Very well.  You cover the alley, but you're not to go in without authorization.  Is that clear?"

Nick nodded as he headed for the corner.  As he positioned himself, he heard a slight sound on the roof.  In an instant, he was there.  A figure was crawling out of the vent shaft.  Nick grabbed his collar and 'helped' him out. "Okay.  Assume the position."  He said, putting his gun against the robber's head.  "March?  Albert March, is that you?  I thought you had retired twenty years ago after you tried to heist the Eye of The Dragon from the New York Museum of Natural History."

"I did retire.  Moved to the Riveria when I got out of the slammer.  Been straight ever since."

"Then what brings you out of retirement."

"One word.  Monte Carlo. You know, I'm beginning to think those games are rigged.  Besides, lifting the Eye of the Dragon is a matter of professional pride."  March reached into his pocket. 

Nick cocked the hammer of his gun.

"My glasses."  March said, pulling out a pair of spectacles and fixing them on his face.  "The old peepers aren't quite what they used to be."  The thin old robber peered intently at Nick.  "Nicholas Forrester?"  He asked.  "Is that you?"

"Nicholas Forrester was my ... uncle."  Nick lied.  He had used the name Forrester when he was curator of the New York Museum.  The Cartier Foundation had loaned the emerald to them along with an extensive collection of oriental jewelry.  "He talked about the theft a lot.  I remember him showing me your picture."

"I don't think so.  I think you're Forrester."

"And what makes you think that?"

"I may be old, but the mind is still intact. I had a good chance to study your ... Ahem ... Uncle ... while I was casing the museum.  I found it pays to know your adversaries.  Let's examine the facts.  1. Forrester could move faster than any man I ever saw.  You got up here quicker than anyone possibly could.  2. I have an ear for voices, and yours and Forrester's are exactly the same. 3. Nicholas Forrester had a severe allergy to sunlight.  I'm betting you have that same allergy.   I'm also betting you drink blood for breakfast and your eye teeth are longer than normal.  Put them all together and that can mean only one thing.  I'll make you a deal.  You let me go and your secret is safe with me."

"No such luck."  Nick studied the cat burglar's face.  He homed in on his heartbeat.  He too, could be a resister, but it was worth a try.  "Nicholas Forrester is my uncle."  He said softly.  "I am not a vampire." 

"Not a vampire."  March repeated.  "Forrester is your uncle."

Nick sighed heavily as he handcuffed March.  At last, something was going right.  "You have the right to remain silent ... "  He began.

"Knight!  What are you doing here?"  Joanna Currey said as she and several policemen came up the fire escape.  "I thought I told you to wait at the entrance to the alley."

"I heard a commotion and found our burglar trying to make his escape.  Captain Currey.  This is Albert March.  He was trying to steal the Eye of the Dragon emerald."

March bowed low before the Captain.  "Enchante, madam.  I thought it was illegal to hire someone so young and so beautiful as you."

"Cut the bullcrap, March."  She motioned to one of the officers.  "Take him away."

"Is she always this prissy?"  March said as he was being led away.

"We'll discuss your breach of regulations later."  She said to Nick as she headed for the fire ladder.

"Good job, Knight.  Well done, Sergeant."  Nick said to the night air.

**********

"Okay, Mr. LaCroix.  It looks like you got this shifting thing down cold."  Jeb said as LaCroix went through the gears effortlessly. "Next is actual driving."

"At last. I was beginning to think I'd never get to my driver's examination.  Let's get my car and go to the license station."

"Like I told you before, don't get too far ahead of yourself.  Our next stop is the track."  Jeb got out of the passenger side and indicated that he wanted to drive.

"But I don't want to be a race car driver.  I just want to be able to negotiate the streets of Los Angeles."

"There ain't that much of a difference.  Particularly after the rush hour traffic breaks loose.  Everybody wants to get home faster than a ridge runner with a load of  'shine.  But that ain't why we're going there.  There ain't no racing tonight so the parking lot should be just about empty.  You can drive around all you like without havin' to worry about hittin' nothin'."

Jeb pulled into the parking lot of the racetrack.  As he had said, there were only a few isolated cars there.  He exchanged places with LaCroix. 

"Now, put her in first and start her up ... Ease up on the clutch and give her some gas ... Good ... More gas and slap her into second.  Go to the end of the lane and turn left ... Shift back down to first after you stop ... You're getting the hang of this real good.  A few more lessons like this and you'll be ready to try it on the streets .. Now go right here."

"Go right where?"

"Go right here.  Turn right."

LaCroix turned the steering wheel hard right and the car bounced onto the parking bump and came to a stop, the front wheels suspended over the roadway and the undercarriage impaled on the concrete barrier. The right wheel lay at a cockeyed angle and a thick blackish liquid poured from underneath the engine.

"Why'd you do that for!"  Jeb yelled as he surveyed the damage.  "You probably broke the steering rod and you definitely put a hole in the oil pan.  Might have even bent the frame a bit."

LaCroix looked at Jeb.  His face was the picture of innocence.  "You said to turn right." 

Jeb closed his eyes and sighed heavily.  It was a good thing he was at the track.  A friend of his in the boneyard could get him the necessary parts, but it would take the rest of the night to get the car in driveable condition.

**********

"Okay, Knight."  Captain Currey called, handing him a crime report.  "We have a case."  Get your coat on and meet me in the parking lot.  And straighten that tie.  You have to set a proper example for your men."

Nick picked up the paper.  They were demolishing the Excelsior Hotel and, according to the report, when they knocked out one of the walls, there was a skeleton in it.

Nick straightened his tie and pulled on his jacket and buttoned it.  Ye gods, how he hated jackets, particularly when they had to be buttoned.  And he hated ties even more.

**********

Barbara Macklin and Arlene Taylor were waiting for Tracy in the dining room of the Beverly Wiltshire Hotel. 

"Darling."  Barbara said to her daughter, putting her cheek against Tracy's.  She was very careful not to smudge her makeup.  "So good of you to come."

"Yes, dear."  Arlene said, duplicating Barbara's greeting.  "You look ever so much nicer than the last time we met."

Since she had ample warning of this meeting, she was appropriately dressed for it.  The two mothers were wearing designer originals.  She was wearing an off the rack pantsuit.  She felt like some poor matchgirl.

"We need your input."  Barbara said.  "Where would you consider the best place for the reception?  At the Country Club or at the Marina?"

"Mother, Mike and I are going to ... "

"No, no, Barbara."  Arlene interrupted.  "I thought we had agreed on the ballroom here at the hotel.  Their banquet facilities are larger and much better equipped for serving large numbers of guests than either of those places."

"You are so right, Arlene.  I forgot.  Now.  About the flowers.  We both agree that you should be carrying orchids and bougainvillea.  I've taken the liberty of contacting an acquaintance of your father's in Hawaii.  He's arranged for the bouquets to be flown in the morning of the wedding."

"But we ... "

"Another thing."  Arlene Taylor said.  "I don't think it is at all appropriate for you to have a Matron of Honor who will be so obviously pregnant by the time the wedding takes place.  I have asked Buffy Sinclair to do the honors.  She's a sorority sister of the daughter of one of clients of the accounting firm.  You'll absolutely adore her.  Graduated twenty fifth in her class from Vassar.  Her father has a seat on the Stock Exchange."

"But I ..."

"Well, now we've got that all straightened out, We have even more things to do.  No rest for the weary, or something like that."  Barbara said as she and Arlene got up to leave.  "Got to run.  Be a darling and pick up the check, will you.  Love you, sweetie."

It was a good thing that Clarissa had taught Tracy how to shield her thoughts.  If either of the mothers had any idea of the dark things she was thinking, they'd probably faint on the spot.

**********

"There's your skeleton."  Jake Black, the foreman of the wrecking crew pointed to a pile of bones lying at the base of a wall.  "My men found it when we knocked the wall out. You can see there's part of a newspaper buried with it.  Says the date is June 14, 1896.  That's when the hotel was built.  If you want my opinion, he died ... "

"Mr. Black."  Captain Currey said harshly.  "We are trained police officers.  You are not.  We will form our own opinions as to how the corpse died after carefully evaluating all of the evidence.  Now, if you will call your men together, we would like to question them."

"My men are across the street at Snuffy's Tavern, trying to forget what they saw.  They said they ain't coming back until that ... that ... is out of here.  Some of them ain't coming back at all."

"You mean you let potential witnesses leave the scene!"  Currey yelled at the uniformed officer in charge.  "I should have you written up for that!"

"But Ma'am.  These men were spooked out of their skulls.  I didn't think any of them were suspects and so I let them go."

"That's right, Officer ... "  She looked at his nametag.  " ... Brooks.  You didn't think.  Get the names and addresses of all the witnesses, Knight.  Turn it over to day shift if you have to, but I want a complete report on my desk by eight o'clock tomorrow night.  I'm going back to the precinct.  You can ride with Officer Dumdum, here."

**********

Nick put a twenty on the bar of the After Sunset.  "Bloodwine."  He said to Milos.  "Forget the blood."

"Sounds like you could use something a mite stronger than that there bloodwine, Mr. Nick."  Jeb Puckett said as he sat a glass in front of Nick.

He took a sip and gasped as he swallowed it.  It burned his throat and set a fire in his stomach.  "What ... what is ... that?"  He said in a strangled whisper.

"A little something me and Tino been working on.  It's a combination of deer blood and my granddaddy's special secret recipe.  We call it bloodshine.   I reckon we still got a few more bugs to work out of it."

"Here."  Milos sat a goblet in front of Nick.  "Straight human.  That should take care of any damage those two have done to your system."  He looked directly at Jeb.  "How many times has Miss Clarissa told you not to give that concoction of yours to her patrons?  One of these days, someone is going to stake you, and you're going to deserve it."

"Sorry, but Mr. Nick looked like he was a heap of stressed out."

"That I am, Jeb.  Thanks for the thought, if not the deed.  My new commander is driving me up the wall.  She's managed to piss off nearly the entire precinct.  Angie Roberson is even talking of starting a lottery to see who's going to do her in.  On the sly, of course.  'Gambling is against regulations'."  He said in a bad imitation of Captain Currey. "I'm very tempted to join it."

"That bad?"

"And that's the good part.  By the way, do you know if LaCroix is around?"

"He's just finishing up at radio station.  He should be here in about fifteen minutes, though.  Why?"

"It's in connection with a case."

**********

"Let me get this straight, Nicholas.  You have a corpse that is over a hundred years old and you want to know if I know who killed him.  Correct?"  LaCroix asked.

"Something like that.  According to both the Forensics report and the autopsy, there doesn't appear to be any indication of foul play.  I have the nagging suspicion that he was killed by a vampire."

"Any proof?"

"No.  Since there is nothing but the skeleton, there's no hard evidence to indicate exactly how he died.  That's not enough for Currey, though.  She wants this case solved.  I thought you might know of some way to find out what actually happened to our John Doe."

He thought for a few moments.  "Perhaps there is.  It involves tasting the marrow.  I've never tried it.  In fact, I know of only a select few of the Enforcers that have ever done it.  They will be very upset that I even mentioned the procedure to you.  They've never allowed anyone but themselves to do it."

"Thanks anyway.  The last thing I want to do is get in trouble with the Enforcers.  It was just a thought."

**********

Toni reached for the doorknob just as the door to the bedroom opened.  Miriam Feldman took her by the arm and gently guided her back to the bed.  "Come on now, bubela.  You don't really want to go anywhere, do you?  What would Nick say if he knew you were out of bed?"

"I'll go crazy if I have to stay in this room one more minute."  Toni let out a quiet primal scream.  "How'd you know I was up anyway?  I was very careful not to make a sound."

"Charlie told me.

"Charlie?"

"Yes.  He kept running back and forth between the stairs and the kitchen and then from the top of the stairs to your door.  All the time he was meowing and sort of trilling, like he was trying to tell me something."

Purring in a very satisfied manner, Charlie wound himself around Toni's legs.

"You must have inherited that skill from your sire, you little traitor."  Toni mumbled as she scratched his head.  "I wonder how long you would need to microwave a cat?"

Charlie growled something.  From his tone of voice, Toni was glad she could not speak Cat.

Charlie waited until he was confident that his pet female human was settled back in the bed, and then, with a great show, carefully draped himself across her feet.

Just then, Nattie came into the room carrying a large book.  "Can I read to my baby brother?"  She asked.  Nattie had taken it upon herself to entertain her mother by reading to her.  While Toni was proud of her daughter, Nattie read the same story each time ....  Madeline ... It was her 'most favoritest story in the whole world'. 

Toni thought that if she heard it one more time, she was going to be ill.  She smiled.  "Of course you can."  She said as Nattie crawled up on the bed and opened her book. 

"In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines ... "  Nattie began.

**********

Nick sipped on his bloodwine.  "I tell you Clarisse, Captain Currey is putting a severe strain on my control.  I can understand why Walton Point threw a party after she left.  We've had three transfer requests this week alone.  If this keeps up, there won't be anyone left for her to command.  She's written up everyone in the precinct.  At least once.  Even Heller.  He had this screen saver.  John 3:16.  She said it violated regulations about religion in public places. I wouldn't have thought Peter Heller knew the kind of language that he used on her.  She wrote him up for that, too."

"It can't be all bad.  I mean, you survived the Inquisition, you can handle six months of her."  Clarisse responded, refilling his glass. "You only have four more to go."

"I think I'd rather have the rack."  He took another sip.

There was a commotion at the door.  Nick and Clarisse hurried to see what was causing the stir.  Outside, a black Porsche with the vanity plate NTECRWLR had pulled up to the curb in front of the After Sunset.  Jeb Puckett got out of the passenger side and Lucien LaCroix got out of the other.

Clarisse and Nick stared at each other in wide-eyed amazement.

"Did I see what I just saw?  If I did, I think you owe me some money."  Clarisse said.

"If what you saw was what I saw, I'll be happy to pay up."  Nick said, taking out his checkbook.

"What are you paying up?"  LaCroix asked. 

"A bet.  Since you're the subject, you have a right to know.  Do you remember in 1927, when I got my first automobile?"  Clarisse asked.

LaCroix thought for a moment.  "I believe I do.  It was a Ford.  Model T, if memory serves me."

"And do you remember what you said at the time?"

"I'm not sure of the exact words."

"I remember them."  Nick said.  Then, in his best imitation of his father.  "You said that the automobile would never replace the horse.  You said that horses were faster, quieter, more comfortable and when their useful life was over, their blood made a tasty snack."

"I do recall saying something to that effect."

"I made the remark to Clarisse that I had a grand that said that Hell would freeze over before you ever drove a car.  She took me up on it.  You were driving that Porsche, weren't you?"

"I was."  LaCroix took out his wallet and displayed his driver's license.  "I passed the test two hours ago."

"Do me a favor.  Let me know where and when you'll be driving."  Nick said as he handed the check to Clarisse.

"Why?"

"So I can be on the other side of town."  He answered with a broad grin. "Seriously, though.  This calls for a celebration.  Come on, I'll buy a round of drinks."

**********

"Mike, I'm desperate.  Between your mother and mine, they're driving me crazy."  Tracy said.  He had called her ... collect ... nearly every day since he left.  If it hadn't been for these calls, she would have really gone over the edge.  Her phone bill was approaching the national debt, but it was worth it just to hear his voice.

"Relax, honey.  Only three more months to go.  I may be home sooner than that.  Have you been reading the papers?  There's talk that the dictator is almost ready to sign a cease fire agreement.  Just hang in a little longer."

"As long as I know you are with me on this, I can hang as long as I have to.  Just hurry back."

"The second they issue deactivation papers for my unit, I'm out of here.  So is Davies.  Got to go.  There's a line a mile long waiting to use the phone.  I love you and I'll call tomorrow night at the same time."  He was still blowing kisses as Tracy hung up.

**********

Nick paced the waiting room at the entrance to the maternity ward.  The room was crowded.  He was certain he knew the others in the room, but he could not place any of them.  From behind the delivery room door came a baby's cry.  The door opened and the doctor entered carrying a bundle.   "Would you like to see your son?"  He asked.  He uncovered the baby's head and held the infant to Nick. The baby looked at his father.  His eyes were glowing red.  He smiled.  He had a full set of teeth and the canines were definitely fangs.

Horrified, Nick looked at the doctor.  The doctor had removed his mask and cap.  It was LaCroix!  His eyes also glowed red and his fangs were elongated.  "There's no doubt he's yours.  He looks just like you."  He growled.  "Like father like son, don't you agree?"

He looked at the others in the room.  Suddenly he recognized them all.  Janette and Vachon were there.  Screed too.  Schanke and Cohen were present as well.  Girard and Catherine de Brabant, his parents, were among the occupants along with his sister Fleur.  He recognized Alyssa and several others he could not put a name to offhand.

"You are to blame for this!"  Janette said, getting right in his face.

"You did it!"  Schanke said pointing his finger at Nick.

"It's all your fault!"  Girard and Catherine yelled at him.

"Your Fault!  Your Fault!  Your fault!"  The others took up the chant. 

"No - o - o - o! ! ! !"  Nick cried as he huddled in a corner.

"No - o - o - o ! ! ! !"  Nick shouted as he sat upright in the bed.  His breath was ragged and his body was covered with a cold sweat.  His fangs were biting into his lower lip and he knew his eyes were yellow, if not red.  He had been having this same dream for the past several weeks.  It was getting stronger and more vivid each time.

"Daddy?"  Joey cried as he came into the bedroom where his father had been asleep.  "You all right?  I heard you yell and I felt you hurt."

Nick quickly turned his head so that Joey could not see his face.  The twins had never seen him like this and he did not want to frighten his son.  "Joey."  He said, his voice ragged.  He tried to force the fangs to retract, but he couldn't.  "Get out!"

"But Daddy, I want to helps you."

"JOSEPH!  OUT!  NOW!"  He barked.

Bewildered, the boy backed out of the room and slammed the door.  Nick heard him running up the stairs.

He took several deep breaths.  He needed to feed to regain control.  He reached for the bottle in the dorm fridge by the nightstand.  It was empty.   He cursed loudly.  He had forgotten to bring a full bottle with him.  The nearest supply was in the refrigerator in the kitchen. In desperation, he bit into his wrist and frantically sucked as much blood as he could before the wound closed.

It worked.  The nightmare was slowly beginning to fade.  Eventually his fangs retracted and he returned to normal.  He knew it was only a stopgap.  He needed fresh blood.  He went into the bathroom and washed the bloodsweat from his face.  He took a clean shirt from the closet.  He had been sleeping in one of the 'guest' rooms in the basement since Tom Nichols had put Toni on enforced rest.  He started up the stairs.

Joey stood at the top.  He had a green bottle with a label on it in his hand.  "Here, Daddy."  He said, handing the blood to his father.  "You need this.  You were having a nighttime mare in the daytime."  He smiled cautiously.

Robyn came behind her grandson.  "He said you were very upset and you would need the blood to calm you."  She said.

Nick took the bottle from his son and drank from it.  "Joey, how did you get to be so wise and so wonderful."  He said, tousling his son's blond hair.

"I get it from Mommy ... and from you."

Nick returned to the bedroom to finish dressing.  Natalie Lambert was sitting on his bed.  "Nat!"  He said.  "Why are you here?  What's wrong!"

"Nothing's wrong.  In fact, something may be very right.  I've been working with the best hematologists of all time, and they assure me that it should work."

"What should work?"

"It's a long shot, you understand, so don't get your hopes up too high."

"What's a long shot?"

"They've done it for RH babies, so it should work for him."

"DONE WHAT?  Natalie Lambert!  If you don't start talking in coherent sentences, I'm going to call in an exorcist."

"A complete fetal transfusion, of course.  I've already planted the bug in Tom's ear, so he is going to be calling you to set up an appointment."

The phone rang.

"That's him now."

"Nick."  Jenkins said. "Doctor Nichols is on line one."

**********

"What I am going to attempt is a complete fetal transfusion."  Tom explained to Nick and Toni.  He had allowed her to travel to the clinic at Maison de Mer, but only after Nick assured him that she would be in a wheelchair and in a special van.  "That means we are going to essentially drain all of his blood and replace it with clean blood.  It's been done with RH babies in utero for the past fifteen years with astonishing success. 

According to the last amniocentesis I just did, the level of nucleotides in the baby's blood was the same as in Toni's.  It occurred to me that his marrow might not be manufacturing them, but that he's getting them through the placenta exchange with Toni.  The test I just did now shows the same ratio.  Since you two haven't been exchanging blood, her count has dropped dramatically. So has his.  That's even more proof that my theory is correct. I'm also going to do a partial replacement with Toni.  This should bring her counts down even more."

"How soon can we do this?"  Nick asked.

"How about now?   I've got everything set up in the back."

"Then what are we waiting for?"  Toni said as Nick wheeled her toward the treatment rooms.

**********

Nick nervously paced the waiting room.  Tom had been in the treatment room with Toni for what seemed to be hours.  He knew that the transfusion process was a slow and painstaking procedure and that it could not be rushed.  His mind, though, was working overtime manufacturing all sorts of scenarios, each one worse than the one before.

"Chill out."  Natalie Lambert said, materializing behind him.  "You're acting like a nervous father."

Nick grabbed her by the arm. "What's going on in there?  Is everything all right?  What's taking so long?  Toni's all right, isn't she?  The baby!  Something happened to the baby!  What aren't you telling me?"

"Will you calm down before I have to sedate you with a baseball bat.  Everything's fine.  Tom just finished with the baby.  According to all the indicators, he came through it with flying colors.  He's getting ready to start on Toni now.  It'll probably be another hour or so before he's done.  Why don't you go and get some rest."   She rubbed her arm where Nick had held it.  "It's a good thing I'm a non-corporeal being.  If I had a true body, I'd probably have bruises for week."

"I'm sorry, Nat.  It's just that I'm so worried.  How can I rest when Toni and the baby are in there fighting for dear life."

"Easy.  You just relax."  She sat him on the couch and began slowly massaging his temples. "Close your eyes."  She cooed softly.  "Think happy thoughts."   In a few minutes, Nick was fast asleep.  Natalie blew on her fingers and rubbed her hands together.  "Still have the magic touch."  She said as she slowly faded.

**********

He was awakened by the sense of another presence in the room.  It was a vampire, and a very powerful one at that.  Nick had the strong impression that he was an Enforcer.  The vampire motioned for Nick to follow him into the hall.

"You were inquiring about the procedure to extract information from bone marrow."  He said solemnly.  It was not so much a question as a statement of fact.

"Not exactly."  Nick answered.  "The procedure was mentioned to me, but when I found that it was used only by Enforcers, I didn't pursue it any further."

"Who told you?"

Nick knew better than to try to lie.  "LaCroix."

"Figures.  Show me the body."

"It's only a skeleton and that's in the county morgue."

The Enforcer took Nick's arm.  "Let's go."

**********

Nick and the Enforcer approached the young orderly on duty at the morgue.  He couldn't have been more that twenty or so.  He was probably a medical student on a work study program.  Nick showed his badge.  "We need to see the skeleton that was found in the Excelsior Hotel."  He said.

"Sure."  The orderly said.  He pushed a logbook toward them.  "Sign here."

The Enforcer growled softly.

"We already did."  Nick said, staring into the youth's eyes.

"So you did."  He said, leading the way into the vault room.  "He's in here.  Why, I don't know.  There's no flesh to decompose, but regs are regs so they stuck him on a slab"

He opened a container door and took out a cardboard box and put it on the examination table. 

"Why don't you take your lunch break now."  The Enforcer 'suggested'.

The orderly opened the door to another container  and removed a paper bag.  He took out an apple and bit into it.  Then he pulled out a can of root beer and opened it.  "Want some?"

Nick made a face. 

"What's wrong?  There's nobody on that slab now.  I keep my lunch there all the time.  After all, it's just a refrigerator with a thyroid condition."  He laughed at his joke and shrugged his shoulders.  "Your loss.  I've got corned beef on rye and potato salad."  The orderly said as he left the room.  "It's my lunch break.  Just be sure you put him back when you're through."

"What do you need to know."  The enforcer asked.

"I need to know how he died, and if there was a vampire involved."

Gently, the Enforcer picked up a thigh bone.  Carefully, he held the bone to his mouth.  There was a soft crunching sound as the fangs penetrated.  Nick heard a muted slurp and then the Enforcer pulled the bone away.  He put it back in the box with the other bones.

"It was a vampire."  He said.

"Do you know which vampire?"

The Enforcer glared at him.  Nick could feel his icy dark eyes boring holes through his mind.  "Just curious."  Nick said softly.

They left just as the orderly was returning to his desk.  Nick put his hand on the man's shoulder and homed in on his heartbeat.  "We were never here."  He said.  The orderly appeared to be ignoring them. He sat down at his desk, and picked up a folder and began studying it.

Seconds later, they were back at the Maison.

"Why are you doing this for me?"  Nick asked.  "I know that Enforcers don't like to share with other vampires."

"Lady Zera."

"Oh."  He made a mental note to thank the ancient vampire when and if he ever saw her again.

"Vachon."  The Enforcer said.  As quickly and as silently as he had arrived, the Enforcer was gone.

**********

Tom came out of the treatment room at the same time Clarissa came into the waiting room.

"Well, It's all finished and as far as I can see, it was a success for both of them."  He said, stripping off his mask and cap.  "You can go in.  Just don't stay more than five minutes.  She's been through the wringer and she's exhausted and in considerable pain.  I didn't want to use any more anesthetic that I absolutely had to.  If it's all right with you, Clarissa, I'd like her to stay here for a few days.  Just as a precaution."

"You know that's fine with me.  I can use the company and I suspect she could use some too.  In fact, why don't you bring the whole family here, Nick?  There's more than enough room and goodness knows you could use a break, too.  The twins love it here.  There's a new colt in the stables and they can play with him to their hearts content.  There's plenty of staff to pamper everyone, especially Toni."

**********

"What do you mean unsolved?"  Joanna Currey shouted.  She slammed the report on Nick's desk.  "There are no unsolved cases in my precinct!"

"But Captain." Nick argued.  "The case is over a hundred years old and so far, there's really nothing to indicate there even was a crime. I had an acquaintance of mine in the newspaper business, Edgar Rathman, go over the records for that time frame and there are no unsolved murders or any missing persons reports that match our victim.  We don't even know who he is.  Since any witnesses that may know anything are long dead, we may never know how the body got into the wall.  Even if we did find out, what could we do about it?"  

There was no way he could report that it was a vampire friend of his that did it.  Nick had remembered that Vachon had told him that after he brought Urs across, he had killed the bar patron who was abusing her.  He and Screed had disposed of the body.  In all probability their skeleton was the abuser and Vachon and Screed were the ones who put the body in the wall.  It wouldn't have made a difference even if he could have said anything, considering that Vachon and Screed were dead, too.

"I suppose you have a point there, Knight, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  I'll make an exception in this case, but there will be no more unsolveds.  Is that clear?"

**********

Toni guided the electric wheelchair onto the wide porch.  Nick was sitting in the deep shade watching the twins romp with the colt in the corral. Their giggles and shouts of joy were like music to him.  She took a deep breath and held it a few seconds.  "I don't know how you stood it for eight hundred years without feeling the sun on your face.  I was only cooped up indoors for four months and I was ready to go stir crazy."

"At first it was really hard, but over the centuries, it became a little easier.  Some vampires never missed the daylight, but I did.  That's why I am so glad that I can go out, even if it's just for a short time."  He went over and kissed her gently.  "You know, you're looking absolutely radiant, my love.  Tom's treatments must be working."

"Keep it up.  Flattery will get you almost everywhere.  Even if I am bigger than a beluga whale, I feel fantastic.  For the first time since I can't remember when, I feel that there's a good chance our baby will be a normal healthy little boy."

Nick put his hand on her abdomen.  The baby gave a kick.  He bent down and gently kissed where he had kicked.  He put his ear to her stomach and concentrated on his son's heartbeat.  It was regular and strong.

"Do you realize that's the first time you've felt him?"

"I know.  I've been afraid to get too close.  I think subconsciously I didn't want to bond with him. I was afraid that we'd lose him or that he'd be born with defects and that it would be my fault.  I suppose it's wrong to think that way, but I couldn't help myself."

"No it's not wrong.  I had those same thoughts myself.  Only I was afraid if things didn't turn out right, you would blame me."

"Blame you?  How could I do that?  I'm the one who has the ... "

She put her fingers over his mouth.  "It's a moot point.  Nobody has anything to feel guilty about.  Tom was here to make a pincushion of me again just before I came out here.   He says that if everything checks out and if I continue to make progress he's going to let me do a little walking by the end of the week.  I may even be able to go back home by the end of the month." 

**********

Tracy came into the living room.  Toni was sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of the living room.  Although Tom insisted that things were normal, he still didn't want her exerting herself any more that was absolutely necessary.  Her original due date was last Thursday, but Tom said that because of the earlier problems, he didn't want to induce labor.  That and the fact that the twins had arrived almost a month early combined to make Toni feel that she had been pregnant forever.

"I thought you and the two mothers were supposed to be interviewed for an article in the society page.  What are you doing here?"

"Hiding."

"What?"

"Toni, they're driving me full goose bozo. They've turned what was supposed to be a simple dignified ceremony into a three ring circus.  All it needs is a high wire act.  We've already got the clowns, and I'm afraid that they are Mike and I.  Now they want two ceremonies.  A church wedding and a civil one immediately after that. They say that's the only way everyone that they invited will be able to see the ceremony.  To top it off, they're making noises about holding the reception in shifts at the Convention Center for the same reason.  I wish now that we had eloped."

"Don't give up.  Mike will be home soon and he's sure to straighten everything out."

"I don't know.  This ... thing ... has taken on a life of its own.  Sort of like Godzilla.  I'm afraid the only way to straighten it out may be to call off the wedding completely."

**********

Edgar Rathman laid a copy of the National Peeper on Nick's desk.  The headline read  'Female Bigfoot Has Elvis's Love Child'.  "Here you go." Rathman said.  " I want to thank you for giving me the exclusive." 

"I told you about Bigfoot?"  Nick said.

"No. On page two."  He opened the paper.  The lead story on the second page was 'Skeleton Discovered In Los Angeles Hotel'.  Underneath was a grotesque drawing of a cadaver.

Joanna Currey took the paper out of Nick's hands.  "Knight!  What's the meaning of this?"

"I had to give him an exclusive in exchange for his help on research."

"I did not authorize any deals with the media and certainly not with the Peeper.  This time you've gone too far.  You leave me no choice but to write you up for this.  I am also going to foreword a copy of my report to the legal department.  It's possible they could bring charges against you for this."  She threw the paper into the trash.  "And against your friend here, and the Peeper as well."

"Nice lady."  Rathman said.  "Maybe I should do a story on her.  Let's see.  How about  'The Meanest Boss On Earth'."

**********

Mike took Tracy in his arms as she sat on Nick's couch.  Tracy had been staying at their place in an effort to avoid Barbara and Arlene.  It was useless.  They managed to find her after only two days.  Still, as long as she didn't have to deal with them face to face, she could cope.

Mike was still in uniform.  His duffel bag and several suitcases were in the middle of the floor.

"It's a good thing the super in my building caught me before I got to my apartment or I would have thought I was in the wrong place.  Mother was there.  She said that she had just tidied up, but she had redecorated the whole place.  To her tastes.  She didn't even wait for me to get in the door before she started bombarding me with the things she and your mother had done.  I called your place, but someone named Rosita answered."

"That's the maid.  Mother decided I heeded help, so she hired Rosita.  If you think your mother is bad, wait until you see what my darling maternal parent did to my apartment.  Since she had commandeered the place as her headquarters, I decided she could have it.  Why do you think I'm staying here?"

"I had no idea what you were going through.  Between your mother and mine, it's a miracle you survived, let alone retained your sanity.   I just finished a screamfest with the two of them.  I might as well have talked to the wall.  They never listened to a word I said. I just left them talking to each other.  I didn't even bother changing.   I agree with you.  As much as it pains me, the only way we're going to put an end to this madness is to call the whole thing off.  Maybe we can try again some other time."

"No way."  Nick said emphatically.  "You two are going to have a wedding.  Your wedding.  The way you want it.  Instead of the complex, though, how about the Maison?  It'll be harder for them to find."

"I think I know what you have in mind, Nick."  Toni said.  "And it just might work.  We have to move quickly, though, before your mothers can throw a monkey wrench into the works.  Mike, Tracy, do you still have the license?"

"Of course.  I kept it in my wallet.  Whenever I got too lonely, I'd take it out and dream of our life together."  Mike said.

"I believe I know what Nick is thinking even without reading his mind."  Tracy said.  She whispered something to Mike. 

He grinned from ear to ear.  "I like it.  We just might pull it off."

"Good."  Nick said.  "Jenkins.  Conference call.  Clarissa La Pont, Jeb Puckett and Lucien LaCroix."

"Very well, Nick.  Dialing the numbers now."

Toni picked up the cell phone.  "I'll call Father Ryan and then get in touch with Kaiya."

Tracy took her phone out of her purse.  "I've got Kate Harrison and Mike Guerrierro."

"I guess that leaves Davies for me" 

**********

"Does everyone know what they're supposed to do?"  Nick said to the group assembled in their kitchen.

"I've coordinated it with the staff."  Clarissa said.  "They're redecorating the Japanese garden for the ceremony.  My chef will have a cake and refreshments ready."

"Jebediah and I will stop at Twentieth Century studios and pick up the tuxedos and dresses."  LaCroix said.  "In my car, of course."

"I'll see to it that the twins are ready and there on time."  Robyn added.

"Father Ryan, Kate and Davies will meet us at the Maison.  I've seen to it that they have the directions."  Mike finished.

"Good."  Nick said.  "Let's all get some rest." He checked his watch.   "Operation Matrimony will begin promptly at 1900 tomorrow evening." 

"By the way, do you have an extra room for me?"  Mike asked.  "I think I'd better spend the night here.  We've got a lot of work to do."

"Of course.  There's several rooms that can be made up as bedrooms."  Nick suggested.    "Or you could share Tracy's room."

Mike squeezed Tracy and kissed her.  "I like that idea even better."

"Mike. It's bad luck to see the bride the night before the wedding."  Tracy chided.

"That's okay.  We'll turn the lights off."

**********

It was almost 8 o'clock when a small caravan pulled into the driveway of the Maison de Mer.  The lot was full. 

"Where did all these people come from?"  Nick said as he helped Toni into the wheelchair.  It was the only way she was going to be a part of this.  Nick and Robyn made sure of that.

"I'm afraid it's my fault."  Jerry Davies said sheepishly.  "When I called to book off, I talked to Inspector Ganlon.  I sorta, kinda, let it slip that Mike and Tracy were getting married tonight."

"I might have mentioned it to Stash Kerlowski, since he is the Desk Sergeant after all."  Ganlon said.

"Stash told me."  Angie Roberson said.  "In strictest confidence, of course.  Somebody must have overheard us and  ... well, you know the precinct grapevine."

"What about Captain Currey.  She's going to have a bird with all of you taking off at the same time."  Nick said.

"Not flipping likely."  Ganlon said.  "As of yesterday, Davies is back as your Captain.  I've had so many complaints about her that I was just waiting for Mike and Jerry to get back before I took action.  This will be the last command she gets in MY jurisdiction.  I've talked with some of the other Inspectors.  That may be her last command.  Period.  Oh, and Knight, you don't have to worry.  Legal laughed their asses off when they read Currey's report.  The put it with the rest of her recommendations.  In the round file."

"I had to tell the Feldmans and the Giovanettis."  Mike Guerrierro said.  "Miriam and Teresa would have made my life a living hell if you two got married without them here."

"I just told Sherline Wilkerson."  Teresa Giovanetti said.   "And that was because we were in the laundry room together.  I swore her to complete silence.  She must have told the others.  The blabbermouth!  You know Miriam and I would never indulge in idle gossip."

"Don't worry."  Mike Guerrierro said.  "Morris, Mario, and I made sure that no one told your mother anything.  I threatened to evict anybody who said the first word to her."

"Yeah.  We all decided that you needed a congregation to make this a real wedding, so, here we are."  Marty Wilkerson said.

There were tears in Tracy's eyes as she hugged Miriam and Teresa.  "You people are the greatest."

"Same goes for you."  Mike said, putting a bear hug on Ganlon.  For a second Ganlon glared at him, and then hugged Mike back.

"Well, since we are all here for a wedding."  Clarissa said,  "Why don't the guests go into the garden while we get ready."

"Have your  ... other guests ... been told about tonight's plans?"  Nick said as they walked into the house.

"Of course they have.  I've briefed them all and made it abundantly clear what would happen if anyone decided to snack on the guests."

**********

Toni braided the flowers into Nattie's hair while Robyn did the same for her.  Tracy and Kate took turns doing each other.

The ladies were in the library to change while the menfolk were given the music room to use.

"Robyn, you look fantastic in Toni's dress.  It fits like it was made for you."  Kate said.

"In a sense, it was."  Toni said.  "We always could wear each other's clothes."

"I can remember many a day going to my closet to get an outfit only to see it on either Toni or Sherry."  Robyn added.

"So, she got to wear my Matron of Honor dress and I got a new one. I was going to wear a regular maternity top.  After I finished making the plans to have the dresses and tuxes picked up though, I got the inspiration for this.  I made a quick sketch and faxed it to Kaiya.  She worked whatever magic she works and here is the result."

"It's absolutely gorgeous!  Maybe you two should think about becoming dress designers."  Tracy giggled.  She was rewarded by a barrage of flowers being thrown at her.

"Final check."  Toni said.  "Something old."

"I have a prayer book that belonged to my great grandmother.  I don't think Daddy even knows I have it."

"Something new."

"The dress."

"Something borrowed."

"Robyn lent me her earrings.  I forgot mine."

"And something blue."

Tracy lifted her skirt to reveal the traditional garter.

**********

There was a hush as Father Ryan took his place in the gazebo. Clarissa's staff had outdone themselves getting the garden ready.  The band, Abraxas, a last minute substitution that Clarissa had shanghaied from the After Sunset, began the pre wedding selections.

Finally, it was time for the ceremony.  Nick and Mike took their places beside the priest.  Nattie was first down the aisle, alternately scattering flower petals along the walkway and waving at the guests.  Joey came next, solemnly holding the pillow with the rings tied to it in front of him.  One would have thought he was carrying the crown jewels.  Jerry Davies and Kate Harrison came next.  Clarissa and Jeb followed.  Robyn wheeled Toni to her place.

Then the band began the Wedding March and all eyes turned to the end of the aisle as LaCroix  proudly escorted Tracy to the altar.  Tracy thought she saw a tear roll down the old vampire's cheek as he put her hand in Mike's.

"My dear brothers and sisters."  Father Ryan began.  "We are here to witness the union of Michael Joseph Taylor and Tracy Anne Vetter.  If anyone knows of any reason this marriage should not take place, let him now speak."

Both Tracy and Mike held their breaths, half expecting to see Barbara Macklin and / or Arlene Taylor running across the lawn.

"Tracy and Michael have chosen a variation of the traditional vows."  Father Ryan continued.  "Do you, Michael, take Tracy here present, as your lawfully wedded wife, To love and to cherish.  In good times and in bad.  In sickness and in health.  For richer or for poorer. And forsaking all others keep her only unto yourself.  For now and forever.  Till death do you part."

Michael gulped loudly  "I do."

"Do you, Tracy, take Michael here present, as your lawfully wedded husband. To love and to cherish.  In good times and in bad.  In sickness and in health.  For richer or for poorer.  And forsaking all others keep him only unto yourself.  For now and forever. Till death do you part."

"I do."

Joey, with a small mental nudge from his father, held the pillow to Father Ryan.  He took the rings and blessed them.  He handed one to Mike.  "Repeat after me.  I, Michael ... "

"I, Michael ... Take thee Tracy ...  As my wedded wife ... I give you this ring ... as an eternal symbol ... of my love for you."

"Put the ring on her finger."

Michael did so.  "With this ring, I thee wed."  He said, his voice cracking.

Then it was Tracy's turn.  "I Tracy ... Take thee Michael ...  As my wedded husband ... I give you this ring ... as an eternal symbol ... of my love for you."  She slipped the ring on his finger.  "With this ring, I thee wed."  There was an audible tremor in her voice.

"By the power vested in me by the Holy Mother Church and the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  Ladies and Gentlemen.  May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Michael Taylor.  You may kiss the bride."

There was loud applause as Mike and Tracy exchanged the traditional kiss.

**********

As they started into the ballroom for the reception, Tracy suddenly stopped.  "It's time."  She said as the color drained from her face.

"Time for what?"  Mike asked.

At the same instant, Toni moaned loudly and doubled over. Nick caught her pain and bent over the chair.  "The De Brabant tradition continues."  She said in a stage whisper.  "At least this one had the good sense to wait until the ceremony was over to announce he was ready to be born."

"Toni's water just broke."  Tracy whispered to Mike.

"Oh!"  Mike said as the reality of what was about to take place dawned on him.

Almost at the same moment, Clarissa, LaCroix, Robyn and Tracy were at Toni's side.

"Jeb!  Nick called.  "Get into town and bring Dr. Tom here."  Jeb started to the door.

"Clarisse, Robyn.  Help me get Toni to the clinic."

"What can we do?"  Tracy asked.

"Keep an eye on Nattie and Joey.  And get on with your reception."

**********

Jeb landed outside Dr. Nichols's office.  Tom Nichols was studying some reports when he heard the young vampire enter.

"You gotta come right now."  Jeb said breathlessly.  "It's Miss Toni.  She's fixin' to have her baby and Mr. Nick sent me to get you."

"You mean you came all the way out here?  Why didn't you call?  I could have met you at the hospital."

"She ain't at the hospital.  They're all at the Maison.  Tracy and Mike just got hitched."

"Let me grab my bag and I'll ... Wait a second.  I won't need my bag.  The clinic at the Maison has everything I'll need."

They went to the lot.  "Where's your car?"  Tom asked.

"I ain't got one.  I figured I had to get here real fast, and I don't need no more speeding tickets.  So I flew."

Tom walked to his car.

"Too slow."  Jeb said putting his hand on the doctor's shoulder.

"Then how are we supposed to get to the Maison?"

"Same way I got here."  Jeb picked the doctor in his arms and rose into the night sky.

"Is this a good time to tell you I'm acrophobic?"  Tom said in a high voice.

"Then don't go looking down."

Tom shut his eyes and said a silent prayer that his dinner would stay put.

**********

The waiting room of the clinic was crowded.  The wedding party, as well as nearly all the guests had gathered there.  Milos came in followed by several servants carrying trays of food and tubs of beverages.  They set up a dinner line in one of the unused treatment rooms, using an examination table as an improvised buffet table.

"To paraphrase an ancient passage, if the guests can't come to the reception ... "  Milos said making a sweeping motion to the room.  The guests, led by Tracy and Mike, took the hint.

"You know, Jerry Davies said, munching on a piece of celery.  "This is the first time I've been to a wedding and a birth at the same time."

"I've married several couples in the delivery room."  Father Ryan added.  "And I even know of one woman who filed for divorce during labor."

 "It's a good thing they decided to have the wedding here.  At least I've got everything Toni will need.  It's just a shame it had to interrupt Tracy and Mike's reception."  Clarissa said.

"Speaking of receptions."  Miriam Feldman said.  "Why does it have to?  We have all the guests right here, and the food and drink are right in the next room.  What are we waiting for?"

Teresa Giovanetti handed Tracy a knife.  "Let's cut the cake and get the party started."

"Since the Best Man is ... otherwise occupied, let me be the one to make the first toast."  LaCroix said, lifting his glass.  "To Michael and Tracy.  May they find every happiness."

The others lifted their glasses.  "To ... "

" ... May they have all their years together filled with joy."

They lifted their glasses again. "To ... "

" ... May they be blessed with children and grandchildren to love and cherish."

The glasses went up.  "To ... "

" ... And may they love each other with that love that only comes once in a lifetime."

Everyone remained still and silent.

"I'm finished."

"To Mike and Tracy!"  They said in unison.

"Now, make this official."  Marge Ganlon said.  "Throw the bouquet."

 Robyn, Kate, and Angie Roberson gathered against the far wall.  LaCroix nudged Clarissa into the group.  Then he herded Nattie to them.  "You are single after all."  He said with a huge grin.

Tracy stood on one of the chairs and turned her back to the group.  She threw the flowers over her left shoulder.  They flew unerringly to Robyn who caught them with ease.

"Now for the garter."  Kerlowski said.

Tracy sat on the leather couch and lifted her skirt so Mike could remove the blue garter from her leg.  A chorus of wolf whistles pierced the air.

"Button it, guys.  She's a married lady."  Mike joked as he slowly and sensually pulled the garter down her leg.  That action brought forth another round of whistles and catcalls.  He stood on a chair facing the unmarried men gathered in front of him.

"Wait a minute.  Jerry Davies said.  We're missing one."  He took Joey by the hand and led him to the queue.  "You didn't get married while your Uncle Mike and I were gone, did you, son?"

Joey blushed.

"No, but he got a girlfriend."  Nattie teased.  "Her name is Leann Matthews."

"I'll get you for this, Nattie."  Joey hissed at his sister.

 Mike looped the garter over his thumb and pulled it back in slingshot fashion.  He released it.  It arced through the air and landed with an audible thump on LaCroix's chest.  If it were possible for a vampire to blush, LaCroix was blushing.  Robyn certainly was.

**********

Nick came out of the impromptu delivery room they had set up.  "It won't be long now."  He told the gathering.  It had been nearly nine hours, many of guests had left, but there were still a good many remaining.  "I thought I'd take a quick break."  LaCroix handed him a glass of the 'special cocktail'.   "She's going into the final stage.  They've got her and the baby hooked up to so many monitors and sensors I can barely get close to her, but so far, Tom says everything's going very well."

**********

Well?"   Nick said to Toni as he handed her an ice cube to suck on and wiped her forehead. "Any more contractions?"

"Not in the past half hour.  I wish he'd make up his mind.  This off again on again labor is getting to me."

"You're not the only one."  Tom said.  "Just about the time I'm ready to call this a false labor and send you home, they start up again.  Now that you're fully dilated, it should have been just a matter of minutes, but it's been over an hour.  I am seriously thinking of doing a Cesarean Section."

"Apparently he heard that."  Toni said as she grimaced.  "The contractions just started again and this one is a real beauty."

"I think he means business this time.  It looks like the head is coming down. Push hard with the next one."

"Dammit!  What do you think I've been doing!"  Toni shouted as another wave of pain swept through her body.

**********

The waiting room was almost deserted.  The rest of the guests had left around daybreak, either to go to work or to bed.  Only Tracy, Mike, Robyn, LaCroix, Clarissa and Jeb were left.  Even these few had changed into more comfortable clothes and were dozing periodically.  Mike and Tracy were asleep in each other's arms.  Robyn snuggled against LaCroix's chest while Clarissa and Jeb talked quietly.  The twins were sleeping on the couches.  They had dropped, exhausted, at about three in the morning.

Suddenly Joey bolted upright  "He's here!"  He shouted.

"He's here!"  Nattie echoed. 

"Who's here?"  Jeb asked.

"Our brother."  Joey said.

"He's been borned."  Nattie finished as she and Joey ran to the door.

After what seemed like an eternity, Nick came out holding a small blanket covered bundle.  "I have someone here who wants to meet all of you."  He said, taking the infant out of his cover and holding him up.  "Let me introduce you to Donald Girard de Brabant Knight.  He is thirty nine minutes old.  Mother and son are doing great.  Father is a nervous wreck." 

He replaced the blanket on Donald and sat in a chair as each in turn came to ooh and aah the newest member of his family.

Tracy placed her hand on the infant's forehead.  A look of complete peace and contentment came over her.  "This is fantastic!"  She said.  "Have you bonded with him yet?"  She asked Nick. 

Nick shook his head no.

She placed her other hand on Nick's forehead.  Although this was not necessary, she did it to keep up appearances.  Mike still did not know his partner's true nature.

Nick closed his eyes and let his mind seek and meld with his infant son.  He grinned broadly.  "Yes.  I see what you mean.  LaCroix,  Clarissa.  Come see this.  It's fantastic!"  He called. 

With Tracy's 'help' the other vampires bonded with little Donald.  The bond was not as strong as Nick's, though.  Clarissa was Nick's vampire 'sister' and LaCroix was his vampire 'father', so their bond was through Nick.  Since Jeb was not 'related' there was no bond, so Tracy actually provided him with a link.  Next came Robyn and finally Mike.  Each had felt a profound sense of peace and contentment emanating from the tiny newborn.

"We don't have to do it that way."  Nattie started.

"We know he's happy."  Joey finished. "We can feel it."   Lately, the twins had gotten into the habit of finishing each other's sentences.  Sometimes it became very disconcerting.

After a few minutes, Nick rose.  "I think little Donald is hungry.  I'd better get him back to Toni."  He looked to LaCroix, Jeb, and Clarissa.  "Come with me.  I have something to show you."

**********

Nick took them to a tiny supply and cleanup room off the treatment room where Toni was busy nursing the baby.  He removed the cover from a pan.  In it was the placenta.  He took a forceps and stripped a small amount of fetal blood into four specimen cups. He then handed one to the others and kept one for himself.  "And now, I invite you to taste my son Donald."  He said, putting the cup to his lips and sipping the blood.  The others did the same.

"My grandson is a very special child."  LaCroix said.  "He is destined for great things."

"Hear! Hear!"  Clarissa acknowledged.

"You know, I envy y'all."  Jeb said as he sipped the blood. 

"Why is that?"  Clarissa asked.

"Because you can be tied to this baby and each other forever.  I ain't got that kind of a bond with no one.  Smiley, who brung me across, never bothered to make a bond.  Miss Clarissa has been like a mother to me, teaching me and all that, but there ain't no blood between us.   I can't feel her except when we share blood, and that only lasts a couple of hours.  I'd give anything to have a family like yours."

"Maybe we can do something about that."  LaCroix said.  "Is there somewhere we can go for privacy.  The waiting room is too public and this room is much too small."

"There's the other treatment room."  Clarissa suggested.  "The staff has removed all of the food and beverages, so it is clean.  There's a lock on the door, if that would help."

Nick helped Jeb onto the exam table.  "What exactly do you have in mind?"  He asked LaCroix.

"Actually, the good doctor gave me the idea.  I am going to use the same procedure on Jebediah that he used with Donald.  I must warn you, though.  It has never been tested on a vampire.  In fact, it has never even been tried.  I ought to know.  I just thought of it a few minutes ago."

"And what are you going to do?"  Clarisse asked.

"I am going to drain all of Jebediah's blood.  Then I am going to replace it with my own.  If I am successful, my blood and my nucleotides will be in Jebediah's bloodstream.  That means that in theory, I, and not ... Smiley, will be his ... father.  If it works, he will be a member of this family.  If it does not, he will be no better or worse than he is now.  Do you want me to continue, Jebediah?"

"Shoot.  Since I ain't got nothing to lose and a whole 'nuther family to gain, drain away."

Clarisse brought a case of bottles into the room.  "I think you'll need this before you're done."  She said.

LaCroix bent over Jeb and positioned his mouth over the carotid artery.  "Don't be afraid, Jebediah."  He whispered.  "I will try to make this as painless as possible."

"I ain't scared."  Jeb said.  "I can't wait.  Go ahead.  Do it."

LaCroix let his fangs elongate and his eyes turn yellow.  Gently, he pressed them into Jeb's neck.  Clarisse and Nick stood on each side and held his hands.  As LaCroix took the blood, Jeb lost consciousness.  As more and more blood was drained, Nick and Clarissa could hear the young vampire's breathing become ragged and labored.  Eventually it became harder and harder for him to breathe until there was no noticeable rise and fall to his chest.  His skin was ice cold and his color was even more gray and deathlike than normal.  Nick carefully opened one eye.  The pupil was fixed and dilated.  Jeb showed no sign of life at all.

"Now."  LaCroix said, raising his head.  "To bring him back."  He picked a scalpel out of the equipment cabinet.  Clarisse grabbed his arm as he was about to draw the knife across his wrist.

"No. She said softly.  "From the start, I have been a surrogate mother to Jeb.  I have nurtured and have taught him everything he knows.  The only thing missing in our relationship was the blood bond.  Let me have in fact what I have always had in my heart.  Let me give him my blood.  Let me be the one to bring him back across."

LaCroix handed her the scalpel.  Clarisse carefully drew it across her wrist and watched as the blood welled up.  She held her arm over the comatose vampire's mouth and watched with baited breath as it dripped in.  "Come on, Jeb, Honey."  She whispered.  "Drink.  Come back to me."

After a few coughs, Jeb finally swallowed.  Almost immediately, he began to make a sucking motion with his mouth.  Clarisse pressed the wound to his lips.  Jeb sucked hungrily.  LaCroix held a bottle to her mouth as she wavered slightly.  Nick put his arms around her waist to steady her.  She finished the bottle and a second and third one as well.

Finally, Jeb released her arm.  His face showed a slight color and his breathing was deep and regular.  He was asleep.

"Now what?"  Nick asked.

"Now we wait.  I suggest we get some sleep.  He probably will not wake before nightfall."  LaCroix said.

"You go ahead.  I'll stay with him."  Clarisse said, pulling a chair beside the table and taking Jeb's hand.  "I've already told the staff to prepare sleeping quarters for everyone.  I suspect that the mortals are in bed right now. "

"When did you do this?"

"Shortly after Toni went into labor.  I took the liberty of having Toni and the baby moved to a suite near here.  The twins are there too.  If you want to stay with her, Nick, Milos will show you the way."

"That won't be necessary.  I can always find her."

**********

Nick shut the refrigerator door.   He put the cereal, juice, and milk on a tray.  He searched the kitchen and found another small refrigerator.  He opened it.  He was right.  Clarissa's staff had put the flowers from the wedding in there.  He selected a pink rosebud and laid it on the tray, too.  He then went to the a third refrigerator where Clarissa kept the beverages for her special guests and poured a glass of deer blood and set it on the tray.

Mike came in just as he was about to leave the kitchen.

"I thought it would be at least six weeks before you and Tracy would see the outside world."  Nick chided.

"All the ... activity ... we've had made us hungry, so while Tracy is making herself more beautiful, I thought I'd come and get some refreshments."  Mike said, opening the refrigerator.

Nick started for the door.

"Wait a minute."  Mike said.  "Sit here with me."  He took a chair at the table and motioned for Nick to sit beside him.  "We've got to talk."

"About what?" 

"About you.  I know what you are.  You're a vampire.  And in all probability so are LaCroix, Clarissa and Jeb."  Mike said calmly.

"Look, Mike.  We've been through this before."

"I know. When I hit my head that time.  It was a shock then.  I wasn't ready to accept it.  I thought it was a result of the concussion.  I mean it messed with my brain and blew everything out of proportion.  This time it's different.  I've thought it out and it's the only scenario that fits all of the clues"

"And what are they?"

"Well, your allergy to sunlight for one thing."

"But you've seen me in the daytime."

"But you've always been in the deep shade.  Then there's the fact that you can move twice as fast as anyone else."

 Nick's mind raced to cover that argument.  "It's not something I talk about, but in my high school days, I trained to be a decathlon athlete."

"What about the fact that you can't eat food?"

"You've seen me eat."

"You only pick and nibble."  He picked up Nick's glass from the tray.  "I got a feeling this isn't tomato juice."  He started to put it to his lips.

Nick pulled it away.  "That's a special protein drink one of my previous doctors prescribed for me.  It could make you sick if you drank it."

"No doubt everything you said may be true, but the icing on the cake was last night when Tracy helped me bond with the baby.  In the back of my, or maybe it was her mind, I saw you as a vampire.  Don't worry, Nick.  I'm not going to wig out.  I gotta know.  Please."

Nick slowly nodded.  "This is a dangerous thing.  You could be in very serious jeopardy.  You must swear that you will never reveal what you know to anyone else.  Anyone.  I cannot impress that enough.  There are those who have been killed for less."

"Obviously Tracy knows.  And of course Toni knows.  I'm willing to bet Robyn knows too.  Am I the only one who doesn't know?"

"We all thought it was for the best.  After that night we felt you couldn't handle the truth and we didn't want to take the chance that you'd go over the edge."

"I can understand that, partner.  I'm glad we had this conversation."  He put his right hand over his heart and raised his left.  "I swear by all that I hold sacred never to reveal what I know."  He lowered his hand.  "Now. let's get back to our respective spouses before they come looking for us."

**********

Nick went into the treatment room.  Clarissa had her head down on the edge of the table.  Jeb smiled at Nick and put his fingers to his lips.  "Don't wake her.  She stayed up all day worrying about me and she just fell asleep a few minutes ago."  Jeb grinned widely.  "Nick, it worked.  I can feel her real strong.  And you.  And Mr. LaCroix, too.  In fact, he's coming down the hall right now."

"I know.  I can feel you, too."

LaCroix entered the room.  "How are you doing, Jebediah?"  He asked.

"I'm powerful hungry."

"You are in all probability experiencing something akin to first hunger."  LaCroix said.

Nick went into the supply room and returned with several bottles.  He handed one to Jeb who quickly drained it.

"Miss Clarissa gave me her blood."  Jeb said.  "I guess that makes her my mother.  I like that.  My real maw died when I was just a tad.   I ain't never had a mother."  He looked at LaCroix.  "If she's my mother and you're her father, I reckon that makes you my grandfather.  Is it okay if I call you Grandpa?"

LaCroix gave his newly recreated grandson a withering look.

"I take it that's a no."

**********

Tracy and Mike paused outside the apartment.  They knew their parents were waiting inside.  There had been enough messages on Nick's answering machine to tell that the fathers had joined their mothers and all of them were anxiously waiting for the couple to return. Tracy took a deep breath and opened the door.

As she had figured, the parents looked like four sharks going in for the kill.  Barbara Macklin and Richard Vetter were standing at the table and Arlene and Leeland Taylor were seated on the couch.  Barbara rushed to her daughter's side and hugged her, as always, careful of her makeup.

"Darling."  Barbara said.  "Where have the two of you been?  Arlene and I have been worried sick.  We've been calling the Knights every hour since Michael stormed out of here three days ago, but all we get is someone named Jenkins, and all he does is offer to take a message."

"Mother.  We ... "  Tracy stammered.

"It doesn't matter."  Arlene continued.  "You're here now and we have so much to discuss before Saturday."

"But we ... "  Mike tried.

"I have terrific news."  Barbara said.  "Armella Clive-Peterson is coming."

"Who?"

"My darling, you are out of touch, aren't you."  Barbara said, patting her daughter's cheek. "Armella Clive-Peterson is only the premier maven in all of Canada. She's seventh in Who's Who In North America.  To have her acknowledge you guarantees you a place in Canadian society.  She'll be in California for a meeting of the North American Art Museum Docents.  She's the President Emeritus, you know.  And she's agreed to come to your wedding.  It's only the social coup of the season. The members of the Ladies Auxiliary will be positively green with envy."

"But mother, we ... "

"Of course, since she's on a very tight schedule, we've had to make major changes in the order of events.  For starters, we had to move it from an evening affair to the morning.  I know some of your friends have a problem with sun allergies, but it couldn't be helped.  At 7 am, the fleet of limousines will pick up the guests at the Beverly Hilton.  From there it will be on to the Polo Club for breakfast at 8.  At 9:45 we will arrive at the Cathedral where the Cardinal will perform the religious ceremony starting at 10:15."

"Mother ... "

"As soon as the High Mass is over, we will go to Griffith Park for the civil ceremony."  Arlene continued without missing a beat.  "That will begin promptly at 12:45.  Judge Wopler can't make it before then.  He's promised that it won't take more than a half hour, so that should give you one hour and forty five minutes to rest and get ready for the receptions, which begin at 3."

"Mother! ... "  Mike said louder.

"Don't keep interrupting your mother."  Leeland Taylor said.  "You're acting like a whining little child and we are talking about your wedding, after all."

"The reception will be held at the same time in three separate ballrooms at the Chandler Pavilion.  We decided to do it that way instead of one after the other so that everyone will be able to see and talk to Mrs. Clive-Peterson before she has to leave at 6 for the trip back to Ottowa.  Of course the two of you will be expected to circulate between the rooms."

< MOTHER! > Tracy sent. < That's enough! >

Barbara Macklin stopped short and her face blanched. "Tracy."  She sputtered.  "What's happening?  What did you just do?"

"It's called telepathy.  I couldn't make you listen any other way, so I went directly to your mind."

"Make me listen to what, dear?"

"Us."  Tracy and Mike each held up their left hands.  "We're married."

Arlene Taylor clutched at her chest and staggered backwards.  "You're WHAT?" 

"We got married.  Yesterday.  At the Maison de Mer.  It was a beautiful and simple ceremony.  Just the way Mike and I had planned it."

"But ... but what about Saturday?  What are we going to tell all those guests?"  Arlene sputtered. 

"What am I going to tell Armella Clive-Peterson?"  Barbara gasped.

"That's YOUR problem."  Mike said.  "You planned this wedding so now you're stuck with it.  I have an idea.  Mom, Dad, why don't you get married again?  You know, you could renew your wedding vows.  That way, there would still be a wedding and Mrs. Clive-Peterson could give the two of you her social blessing instead of us."

Leeland Taylor thought for a few minutes and then slapped his son on the back.  "Michael, you're a genius.  Come to think of it, our first wedding was in the parking lot of the A&P Supermarket just outside of Woodstock. You'll be best man, of course.  Son standing for his father.  You don't hear of that too often."  Leeland laughed at his private joke.  "Maybe you should think about coming into the firm.  We could always use a bright boy like you.  Now that you have a wife, you need something more stable than police work.  I'll start you out as a junior partner."

"No.  I'll stay where I am, thank you."

"Then at least let me talk to the Commissioners here in Los Angeles."  Richard Vetter said.

"Like you tried to intercede for me that time?"   Tracy said.  "No thank you.  Mike likes it right where he is and he's good at it."

I'm sure they can find something less hazardous than Homicide for you."  Richard continued.  "Perhaps Fraud.  Or I could talk with Inspector - what's his name - about giving you back your old job as his office assistant."

"I said no.  I mean no."

"At least let us give you a honeymoon.  Where would you like to go?  Acapulco or Cancun?  Or maybe both."

"Neither.  We're honeymooning in Europe."

"Europe?"

"Yes.  Although he doesn't like to talk about it, Nick is the titular Count de Brabant.  He's made arrangements for us to stay at his ancestral castle in Belgium.  It's actually owned by his cousin, Monsieur de Brabant.  I presume you have heard of the De Brabant Foundation?"

"The De Brabant Foundation?  You men he's one of THE De Brabants?"  Arlene stated excitedly. Her mouth was open and her breath shallow and panting.  "Are you serious, Michael?  Your partner is really the Count de Brabant?"

"Why didn't you say something sooner?"  Barbara proclaimed.  Her expression mirrored Arlene's.  "If I had known that, we would have included him in our group of friends.  Wait until I tell my Volunteer Group!"

"If I had known that back in Toronto."  Richard Vetter said.  "I would have treated him much differently.  For openers, I would not have complained so loudly about the two of you being paired.  I would have had you both transferred to a different department.  Since Mike won't let me arrange a transfer for him, at least let me see what I can do for Count Nicholas.  A person of his lineage should not be putting his life in danger."

"Mother.  Daddy.  Do me a favor."  Tracy said.

"Whatever you want, Sweetie"

"Anything for you, Princess."

"Naff off!"

*********

Announcing the marriage of

Miss Tracy Anne Vetter

And

Mr. Michael Joseph Taylor

September 27

At the

Maison De Mer

Arroyo Hills CA

*********

Announcing the arrival of

Donald Girard Knight

September 28 7:43 AM

Weight:           7 lb. 2 1/2 oz.

Length:           19 1/4 inches

Parents: Nicholas and Atonia Knight

**********

The End?

Right.  Sure.