A Bed of Roses March 2004 By: Patty Costantino Summary: Immediately following the Sons of Belial episode, Nick makes a decision, which will change his life and relationship with Natalie. Disclaimer and Characters: Nick, Natalie and crew, and Bon Jovi's Bed of Roses song don't belong to me. I'm just borrowing them for a little while. Rating: Adult for N&N sexual content in Chapter 14 Dedication: This piece of fiction is dedicated to Debbi Henson who suggested the song and the basic premise of the story. As always, I would like to thank Phylis Sullivan for beta-reading this story. I couldn't have done it without her wonderful suggestions. Thank you ladies for all of your compliments and encouragement to write more. Permission is granted to archive at FKfanfic2, FK FTP archive. This story will be archived under fiction at my site: http:/www.geocities.com/pas_20197/homepage08.html Any constructive criticism or thoughts are greatly appreciated and welcomed at psmoot43@hotmail.com or pas_20197@yahoo.com ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Prologue ************************************* Tag scene in Sons of Belial: The loft, foreboding and dark, save for the glow of a dwindling fire in the fireplace, mirrored the mood of its occupant. Nick, standing in the shadows, stared off into nothingness, and took another long pull from a bottle of bovine. A second later, the lift door slid open. Without bothering to turn around, Nick heard familiar footsteps, clicking softly on the hardwood floor. "Nick? I, ah, was just on my way in to the office." Natalie's gentle tone sounded hesitant, almost reticent in quality. Something that he rarely heard from her. "You booked off, right?" A brief awkward silence ensued while she watched him nod in response; his back still turned away from her. She moved closer to him, but refrained from touching him. "Listen, I can stay here with you if you want." "No." "It's no trouble, really. I-I could just…" She stammered, unsure what to say, wanting so desperately to draw him into her arms, to tell him that everything would be okay. "I'm fine," came the stoic reply, but they both knew he wasn't fine. "It's over, Nick." She paused. "Hey, you beat the devil. Not bad for a day's work." Her attempt at lightening the mood did nothing to dispel the sadness in Nick's soul. "You can't imagine what it's like." He went on, his fearful tone filling Natalie with mounting dread. "Maybe not, but we all have our demons." "Not like this." Nick whipped around, and Natalie drew in a sharp breath as she saw the greenish glow in his eyes. "Don't! Don't do that." She said vehemently, trying to suppress the fear in the pit of her stomach. "It's all right," Nick soothed as he reached for her. "Don't be afraid." He pressed his forehead against hers and for a moment, relished the feel of her warmth against him, but her enticing heartbeat and alluring scent soon forced him to release her and turn away. A long, heavy sigh escaped from his lips. "I think that what happened set me back a bit, set us back a bit." Nick looked over his shoulder at her, letting the words sink in. "I don't know how much. But I haven't felt such a powerful need for human blood in a long time." There was such a disheartened tone to his voice; Natalie knew this setback wasn't to be taken lightly. The situation was *very* serious. She watched him look disdainfully at his bottled blood and the fear in her stomach grew. In an attempt to quell it, she pressed her hand into his shoulder. So many times in the past, her touch would bring him back from the darkest depths of despair, giving him strength. But tonight was different. Tonight, he could only find the strength to pull his eyes away from the bottle and stare dully into the diminishing embers in the fireplace. ************************************ Across town, the Nightcrawler's velvety voice purred through the radio airwaves, "In courts and palaces he also reigns, and in luxurious cities, where the noise of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, and injury and outrage, and when night darkens the street, then wander forth the Sons of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Paradise lost." He paused, his lips curling into a complacent smile. He turned back to the mike, his smile broadening. "Paradise is but a foolhardy dream, my gentle listeners. The reality is that we must accept ourselves for what we are; live with what we've become, to embrace our true nature. Agree or disagree? The Nightcrawler wants to know…." ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 01/15 ************************************* Natalie sat at her desk, trying to concentrate on finishing the endless load of paperwork, but her mind wouldn't allow her to, as she kept reflecting back to last night's events. Despite Nick's emphatic claim that he would be fine, Natalie had insisted on staying for a little while longer. His depression only worsened, though, and as the night wore on, their conversation became punctuated with longer awkward silences until, at last, there was nothing more to say. Heavy of heart, Natalie finally left, with a promise to drop by the next evening to see how he was doing, hoping that his depression would lift by then. As she got into her car to drive off, though, a feeling of doubt washed over her and she wondered if this time, he would be able to bounce back, if his black wave of despair would pass that quickly. She'd seen the defeat in his eyes when she got on the lift and turned to say goodbye. Was it an indication that he going to give up? Move on? Realize that a cure was only a foolhardy dream? A foolish quest? Fear gnawed at her, as she drove to work, but was temporarily forgotten when she entered the office and was told by her boss Carter to get down to Yonge Street. A raging fire in an apartment building had apparently left many dead and she was needed immediately. She had spent the better part of the night and most of the day autopsying bodies and now, exhausted, she was trying to complete the paperwork. Gripping the pen more tightly, Natalie forced her eyes back to the report in front of her. Lambert, you've got to get this done then you can see how Nick is doing. At the thought of what she might be confronted with later on, fear, again, began to threaten her, but with a firm nod, she pushed it aside and buried herself in her work once more. Natalie was finishing her third report, when a knock came and glancing up, saw a familiar face peer around the door. Despite the grimness of the last twenty-four hours, she couldn't help but smile as she rushed to greet her unexpected guest, wrapping her arms around her in a warm hug. "Grace! I can't believe it's you." Grace saw the surprise in Natalie's eyes and laughed. "What? Did you think once I moved to Vancouver, that would be it? You'd never see me again?" "No, but I didn't think I'd see you so soon," she admitted truthfully. "Someone has to keep you in line." Her eyes flashed with amusement. "And I guess that someone will have to be me from now on." Natalie's eyes went wide. "Does this mean what I think it means?" Her voice was filling with excitement and hope. "You're coming back to work?" "Yep." Grace broke into a proud smile. "I just spoke with Carter and I start the nightshift tomorrow night." Natalie seized her friend's hand. "That's wonderful." "Better yet," she continued. "I've completed my medical requirements in forensic pathology and Carter has promoted me to coroner. I'll be working in the next room, with ~as you always fondly called them~ my own `customers.'" "Oh, Grace." Natalie hugged her once more. "It's the best news I've heard all day after everything that has happened." Grace looked at her friend sympathetically. Carter had filled her in earlier about the sudden influx of bodies and everyone's extended shift. "Yeah, I heard about the fire." She watched Natalie's eyes cloud over with sadness. "Yeah…well…" She shook herself out of her brief doldrums and smiled. "Let's not get into that." "Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place." Grace gave her a rueful smile. "Anyway, it's so good to be back." "I can't believe you've been gone a whole year." Tears welled in Natalie's eyes and she squeezed her arm. "I've really missed you." Grace squeezed back and blinked back her own tears. "I've missed you too, Natalie." She paused. "Once I get settled, we need to have a long talk. You can fill me in on all of the scoop." "Sorry to disappoint you, Grace," she said wryly, "but you know, I was never into the rumor mill." "That's right," she said. "You were never one to spread gossip through the morgue, only to be part of it." Grace's sage eyes locked onto hers, a slight smile tugging at her lips. Natalie's eyes narrowed. "And what do you mean by that?" "Oh, only that everyone knew a certain blond-haired, blue-eyed detective and one very stubborn coroner had feelings for each other, but concealed them under a `just friends' guise." Her smile broadened. "Are you, by chance, referring to Nick and myself?" Natalie crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing to mere slits. "If so, that sort of gossip is not up for discussion. And," she added, "despite what everyone thinks, we *are* just friends." "Oh come on, Natalie." Grace placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Anyone with half a brain can see that you both were simply meant to be." She paused, her eyes darting around the room. "By the way, where is golden boy?" Hopefully, he's at work and not somewhere else drowning out his sorrows in numerous bottles of human blood. Natalie thought grimly. "I suppose at the precinct." She said with a casual shrug, starting back to her desk. She was halfway there, when she stopped, her eyes coming to rest on someone standing in the doorway. "Trace, what brings you over to my "Bed and Breakfast?" Natalie's wry remark didn't escape the tall blond-haired detective's notice and she broke into a slight grin. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation just now." "About?" Natalie prompted. "My partner." "What about golden boy?" Grace asked with a playful grin, and glanced over in time to see a scowl appear on Natalie's face. She had always despised the nickname Grace had given him years ago. "His resignation," Tracy replied, blowing out a frustrated breath. "Resignation?" Grace exchanged a bemused look with Natalie. Natalie faced the blond-haired detective. "You must be mistaken, Trace," she said. "I just saw him last night." For a moment, Tracy's brows creased into a puzzled frown then the full realization hit her. Natalie hadn't yet heard the news. Her hand flew to her mouth in horror. "I'm so sorry, Nat. I thought you knew. Reese called me in first thing when I arrived at work. He said that Nick called in his resignation last night and would forward a written one as soon as he got settled in his new location." Natalie's heart began to race and a cold lump of fear formed in her throat. "No, Tracy." She shook her head vehemently. "I'm afraid you're wrong. He wouldn't have resigned without telling me about it." A feeling of worry washed over Grace as she watched the exchange between them. Natalie was clearly in denial and she had to do something about it. Reaching for her friend's arm, she began in a gentle voice, "Natalie, listen to me…" Natalie shrugged out of her grasp. "No, I won't listen." She shot back, her eyes becoming wild, taking on an almost animalistic look. "Nick couldn't have left. He wouldn't have given up like that. We've been through too much together for him to go and do a thing like that." The words seemed to be gushing out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't have left her lips, but as a medical doctor, she knew all too well what shock could do to people. "Granted last night was a major setback, but I've seen him crash before, only to pick himself up again and start anew. Why should this time be any different? No, he wouldn't have relinquished the fight. He just wouldn't! This must be some kind of joke, right?" Natalie looked beseechingly at Tracy, then Grace, tears filling her eyes. She was met with two concerned stares. A tear dropped on her cheek. "It's just some *sick* crazy joke." For a moment, her words hung in the cold sterile air around them before silence reined. In the bright florescent light, Grace and Tracy saw her jaw set in a determined fashion, her arms crossing as if, they thought sadly, she could quell the undeniable truth for one moment longer. Tears brimming her own eyes, Tracy reached over and gently squeezed Natalie's arm, being the first to speak up, "I'm so sorry, Nat." Her voice came out in a soft and gentle way. "I'm afraid it isn't a joke." Natalie couldn't say what suddenly changed everything. Maybe it was the remorseful look in Tracy's eyes? The sadness in her voice? Her gentle, comforting touch? Whatever it was, the full realization hit her like a sledgehammer and the world crashed around her, constricting her chest in pain, her heart in sorrow. It wasn't some crazy sick joke after all. The cold reality was he'd left. Moved on. And, she knew in her heart she would never see him again. The room suddenly felt oppressively hot as she tried to open her mouth to say something, but the words wouldn't come. She tried to move, but her legs wouldn't budge. Then she felt her knees give way and knew that she was falling. She tried in vain to grab at something, anything along the way. But it was too late as the room spun around her and then darkness engulfed her like a tidal wave. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 02/15 ************************************* As Natalie swam up towards consciousness, she could feel a light intermittent pressure against her cheek. Bothered by the feeling, she moaned inwardly. Then, as awareness began to return, she opened her eyes to behold Grace standing beside her, her hand patting her face. Natalie let out a groan and saw relief spread across her friend's face. "Oh thank goodness, you're awake!" "Yeah, barely." Natalie pressed a hand to her forehead and moaned again. "I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck." "That feeling can happen when you faint," she explained, sounding concerned. "But fortunately I caught you before you hit the concrete floor. Otherwise, it would have felt like a train hit you." "I fainted?" Disbelief was evident in her tone. "How long was I out?" "Only fifteen seconds or so," came Tracy's contrite voice. Turning her head slightly, Natalie saw the blond head appear behind Grace. "I hope you don't mind," the detective went on. "Grace and I laid you out on this slab; it was the nearest bed we could find." Natalie raised her head slightly and looked around. Sure enough, they had placed her on the steel autopsy table. She groaned once more and closed her eyes, lowering her head to the cold surface. "Good thing Mr. O'Donnell was placed in the fridge an hour ago, or I guess we'd be sharing these accommodations, and the term `strange bedfellows' would carry a whole new meaning, wouldn't it?" Despite the serious turn of the events, and the slight dizziness, Natalie gave them a derisive smile. They returned it with a weak grin, but it soon faded when they saw Natalie start to rise off the table. Alarmed, Grace went to stop her, pressing her gently back against the surface. "Maybe you should wait a few more minutes before you get up." She turned to Tracy. "Trace, could you please get Natalie some water?" Tracy started to make her way towards the sink when Natalie called her, "Trace, don't bother. I'm feeling much better. All I need is to get back to work." She began to get up once more, but Grace's hand stopped her. "Nat, honey…one thing you aren't going to do is go back to work." Her severe expression met Natalie's exasperated one. "But I need to finish those reports." This time, there was no stopping Natalie as she pushed her way up and headed to her desk. Hands on hips, Grace eyed her with her own irritation as she watched Natalie drop heavily into her chair. "They can wait. You've already put in at least eighteen hours and anyone can see you're driving yourself to the point of exhaustion. And, though I know you'll never admit it, you've also had a shock with blondie suddenly flying the coop." Natalie pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm fine," she snapped. "Nat…honey…after what we just witnessed…" "Yeah…I know my hysterics must have alarmed you, but I'm fine now." "But what you said earlier." Grace began, her forehead creasing in worry. "I know, it probably didn't make sense to you." "No, as a matter of fact, it didn't," she admitted. "What did you mean by setbacks?" "Nothing, Grace," Natalie gave her friend a weak smile. "The things I said meant nothing. Nick's resignation just caught me off guard, that's all. And, I'm a little tired, so I flipped. But now that I'm calmer and can think more clearly, I feel that if Nick decided it was time to resign and move on, it was his business. As I've said before, we were *just* friends. That's all!" "Okay…okay." Grace threw her hands up in defeat. "We'll drop the subject for the moment. But promise me you'll only work for another half hour, then head home. If you exhaust yourself, you'll get sick and the work will only pile up more." "All right, I promise I'll leave in a half hour." She picked up her pen and regarded Grace with a stern expression. "Are you satisfied?" "I will be in a half hour." Grace replied, her meaning clear. "I get the message, now go or I'll never get anything done." She paused, softening her tone. "Grace?" "Yeah?" "I'm so glad you're back to keep me in line." Natalie gave her an appreciative smile. "Thanks for just being a friend." Grace's eyes glistened with tears. "You're welcome," she said thickly. Then regaining her control, she turned back to Tracy. "All right, you heard the lady. Are you coming?" "Give me a minute, Grace. I'd like to say something to Nat." Grace gave her a puzzled frown and shook her head. "Okay." Tracy watched her leave, then turned back to Natalie. The petite coroner looked up from her stack of reports and arched a brow. "What is it, Tracy?" Her voice was now almost devoid of energy as if the recent events had sapped her strength. Tracy knew that her partner, correction, her now former partner undoubtedly was the cause, but with a sense of resignation she also knew Natalie would never admit to it. Like Nick, the professional mask would stay in place even if it killed her. "I just wanted to say how sorry I am about this whole episode." Another look of regret appeared on her face. "I feel responsible and I certainly could have been a little bit more subtle in breaking the news about my exasperating, clueless partner leaving." Natalie leaned back in her chair, twirling the pen in her hand. "Tracy, don't feel you need to apologize. You did nothing wrong." "But you wouldn't have fainted dead away if I'd been more tactful," she insisted. "I don't think your news was the cause," Natalie said wearily and threw her pen down on the desk. "Fatigue caught up with me. That's all." As if to make a point, she reached up with her hands and rubbed her tired eyes. "I've been working too many double shifts recently and this last one was probably too much." "Yeah, I guess." Tracy agreed, but there was doubt in her voice. "Anyway, I just want to say if you ever feel you need someone to talk to, you can always count on me to be there for you, Nat." The auburn-haired coroner peered at the young detective for a long moment. Natalie knew the tough wall of professionalism she had erected around herself was intimidating to some people. So she was a bit surprised now and deeply touched that Tracy felt at ease with her enough to offer a shoulder to cry on. She swallowed hard and gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Trace." "No problem," she said. "My couch is always open and my fees are reasonable." Her voice was filling with amusement, her eyes sparkling with merriment. "But do you make house calls?" Natalie asked facetiously. "For you, yes!" They both chuckled for a moment, and then as the laughter faded, Tracy spoke up once more, "I guess I should get back to the precinct before Reese sends an APB out to search for me." "Yeah, the last time was warranted with the serial killer," Natalie said soberly. "But, this time…" "He'd blow a blood vessel," Tracy finished. "Exactly, so you better get going." Natalie picked up her pen, and was about to turn back to her work when she heard Tracy's voice. "Nat?" She looked up and saw Tracy studying the floor, a frown gracing her face. "What is it, Trace?" She asked gently. Tracy glanced up at her. "I know I might be stepping over the line here when I say this, but I'm going to anyway." She paused and took a deep breath. "I know my partner must have had his reasons for leaving. And whether they were right or wrong, please know this. He cared for you, more than I think he was willing to admit to himself. I could see it in his eyes, the way he looked at you when he was certain no one was looking. The way he treated you, like you were his lady and he was your knight. It was obvious to others and me that despite your `just friends' guise, you both had a very special relationship. "I'll never in a million years understand why he left you, but he must have thought it was the right thing to do and I can only surmise he did it out of love for you. So I guess what I'm trying to say, Natalie, is when you think of him, try to remember that his motives were good and honorable, and to cherish what you both had. For it was something rare and unique. Something that doesn't come along very often in one's lifetime." Her voice faded off, her words crackling in the air around them. A deafening silence followed, and both worry and embarrassment began to wash over Tracy. Had she been too forward… outspoken? Would she now hear the wrath of Natalie? She looked away and down at her feet as the silence grew. An eternity seemed to pass before she heard her speak, "Tracy look at me." Reluctantly she raised her head, and broke into a relieved smile when she caught the look of admiration in Natalie's eyes. "It took a lot of courage for you to say that and I appreciate your observations. I know Nick and I had a solid and strong relationship. But you have to understand, in spite of it being special, it was only a friendship." Her eyes drifted away to a spot on the wall, her face taking on a faraway look. "For that is what it could *only* ever be." As her words faded, Tracy saw a look of profound regret and sadness flash across her features, something she had never seen before. Then in the blink of an eye, it was gone, as she turned back to face the detective, her professional mask falling back into place. "Now this time I'm serious," she said firmly. "I must really get back to work and you must do the same." She turned back to her desk, making it clear the discussion was over. Tracy shook her head, resigned to the fact that in a million years, she would never understand the complicated relationship between her former partner and the auburn-haired coroner. "Okay, Nat," she said and then departed. As Natalie heard the outside door to the morgue close, and feeling certain Tracy was out of earshot, the anguish she'd been holding inside grew and like an octopus began to wrap its tentacles around her heart. Turning her gaze to a far wall, a tear fell onto her face. Then another…and another…until her cheeks were covered. Then, barely above a whisper, she spoke, her voice echoing around the silent room. "Oh Nick," she said. "The truth was that without a cure, and your damn honor, you would have never allowed it to be more than a friendship…never allowed it to become more…Even after…" Her voice cracked, as memories she'd tried so hard to bury flooded her mind and she could feel the tentacles clamp their long arms around her heart in a tight, almost unbearable grip. Pain like she'd never experienced erupted inside her like a volcano. Her chest heaved, and resting her head on her arms atop the desk, she cried and cried into the cold, solitary morgue with no one around to hear her heart wrenching sobs. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 03/15 ************************************* The piano music resonated through the suite, as Nick played, the haunting melody bouncing off the walls, causing the multi-lit candles to flicker in the darkened room. A short distance away, sunlight peeked through a small crack in the heavily drawn drapes, and had moved across the carpeted floor to pool around the piano leg. As the music went on, becoming more melancholy, the rays shifted slightly, moving farther up and across the piano, threatening to settle around the keys. Just then, Nick stopped playing, and rose. In a few short strides, he was at the window, closing the drapes completely. Immediately, the sunlight disappeared, causing a light from a nearby candle to intensify and throw its stronger incandescence over the blueness in his eyes. Then he turned, and began to regard something in the corner: a small refrigerator. A powerful hunger seemed to rip through him and his eyes changed, becoming amber. In few quick strides, he was across the room, yanking the door open and retrieving a dark red bottle from the interior. He removed the cork quickly, and tilting the bottle, gulped down the red liquid in a few deep swallows. For a moment, he stood there, smiling blissfully, delighting in the succulent taste and youthful vitality of the woman's donated blood. Still hungry, Nick took out another bottle, considering briefly before drinking, then went ahead. What was the point in denying himself any longer? After all, he wasn't hurting anyone. In fact, it was just the opposite. He'd been a Good Samaritan. A good knight, probably for the first time ever. He smirked at *that* thought, and raising the bottle to the darkened room, proclaimed to the quiet. "A toast! Here's to finally rescuing a damsel in distress by saving her from me. The first, true knightly act I've ever done!" The irony of his words, coming out slurred and biting, caused him to laugh bitterly as he started to bring the bottle towards his mouth. Without warning, a wave of dizziness swept over him. He staggered slightly almost dropping the bottle. Catching himself, he straightened and then slumped against the wall. It must have been that last bottle he thought with another smirk. But then again, it could have been an accumulation of drinking many. God knows he'd been on a full-blown bender for the good part of a week. He only had to look around the room to see the evidence. Bottles were everywhere: over the elegant European style tables and soft beige-colored chairs, over the baby grand piano and windowsills. There were even some upstairs in the master bedroom and Rosa aurora marble bathroom, and behind him in the small kitchen/dining area. Nick knew he'd eventually need to clean up the place. The maids had been showing up each day, trying to get in, and each time, Nick had met them at the door, hypnotizing them into leaving. His eyes suddenly shifted to the front door in worry that they might show up now. The concern was soon forgotten, though, as his gaze locked on the gold numerals above the peephole. He shook his head and smirked once again. Another irony. Just when he thought he was at the point where the blood-wine would deaden the memory of her, something always seemed to trigger it again. This time, it was the room number: 414. To the unaware observer, it would have meant nothing, but to him, it represented probably the single most significant date in his life. April 14th. The night his life had changed. The night he had met her. Natalie. The one woman in Nick's long jaded existence who had given meaning back into his life. Had meant everything to him. Been his guiding force, his reason to go on. The light in his perpetual darkness. But now, she was gone, out of his life and his world seemed even darker. All at once, another pang of hunger seized him and lifting the bottle, this time, he managed to bring the rim to his lips, and swallow. The feelings in the blood once again were vibrant and youthful, and seemed to curb the hunger. If only they could deaden the pain, Nick thought with a regrettable sigh. After a few more gulps, he drew the bottle away, and holding it in a tight grasp, headed towards the piano on somewhat more steady footing. Placing it on the smooth shiny surface next to him, he sat down and began to play the same melody he'd been playing before. A few notes later, though, he stopped while another song drifted into his mind. Bed of Roses. Nick had heard it the night before when, depressed and tired of drinking in his fortress of solitude, he'd ventured downstairs to the piano bar to brood in the mist of humanity. During his fifth wine mixed with a hidden flask of blood from his pocket, the pianist had begun to play the melody as his female counterpart sang it. At the time, Nick had noted with a sense of remorse how applicable the lyrics were to his and Natalie's situation. And presently, as he extended his hands towards the keys, he realized that he wanted…no needed to hear the song once again. Hesitating only briefly to recall the melody, he began to play, and as the words of the song filled his mind, so to, did it fill him with yearning for her. Sitting here wasted and wounded at this old piano Trying hard to capture the moment this morning I don't know Cause a bottle of vodka is still lodged in my head And some blond gave me nightmares I think she's still in my bed As I dream about movies they won't make of me when I'm dead With an ironclad fist I wake up and French kiss the morning While some marching band keeps its own beat in my head While we're talking About all of the things that I long to believe About love and the truth and what you mean to me And the truth is baby you're all that I need I want to lay you on a bed of roses For tonight I sleep on a bed on nails I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is And lay you down on bed of roses If he only could lie Natalie down on a bed of roses, love her like a normal man, share the beauty of a mortal existence with her. But he knew it wasn't going to happen. As long as there was no cure, he'd continue sleeping on a bed of nails, with a bottle of cold human blood as his only comfort, sharing the repulsiveness of his immortal existence with no one, except perhaps his own kind. Well I'm so far away That each step that I take is on my way home A king's ransom in dimes I'd given each night Just to see through this payphone Still I run out of time Or it's hard to get through Till the bird on the wire flies me back to you I'll just close my eyes and whisper, baby blind love is true With Natalie, Nick had discovered love as they say was blind, but oh so true. At times, the love he felt for her seemed to shake him to the very core. In eight hundred years, he'd never experienced this kind of feeling: an all-consuming intensity, a hunger laced with unbelievable tenderness for another. Even with Janette it had never been like that. He couldn't say precisely when it happened, when he'd fallen. It was just something that suddenly became a vital part of his being. The hope for a cure and life with her seemed to spur it on as well, and for a while, he'd allowed himself to be blinded by it, not looking at the real picture. That is… until last week when circumstances caused him to take a good hard look at reality. I want to lay you down on a bed of roses For tonight I sleep on a bed on nails I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is And lay you down on bed of roses The hotel bar hangover whiskey's gone dry The barkeeper's wig's crooked And she's giving me the eye I might have said yeah But I laughed so hard I think I died When you close your eyes Know I'll be thinking about you While my mistress she calls me To stand in her spotlight again Tonight I won't be alone But you know that don't Mean I'm not lonely I've got nothing to prove For it's you that I'd die to defend Yes. Last week. Cold grim reality had descended around him as his mistress…his bloodlust had come calling …wanting…desiring Natalie's blood. As a result, Nick had found himself defending her, saving her against himself by making a unilateral decision for them both: To leave. To get out of her life. Nick knew she was probably seething because he hadn't included her in the decision-making, and yet it was for the best. She would've tried to dissuade him and he knew if he stayed, it would have only been a matter of time before their hearts overrode reason, and they would've thrown caution to the wind, succumbing to their feelings. Especially after… `No! I can't go there!' Abruptly, he stopped playing, and reaching for the bottle, took another deep gulp. Like before, the blood soothed his craving, but not the anguish, as the memories threatened to surface. He tried to suppress them once more, but they were too powerful, and as he drew the bottle away, they began to wash over him like a wave coming ashore. Nick couldn't remember her from the retrograde amnesia that he'd had from a gunshot wound, and yet he knew they had something special… something very good. She'd tried to stop things from progressing too far, saying they needed to take things slow. But he wouldn't listen; sensing what they were about to do was right. And it was! Flawless in every way. From the beginning, when they touched each other to the time when they came together and he stared down into her passion- filled eyes, feeling her smooth legs and soft arms wrapped around him. The perfection of the moment, however, dissolved the next day when the beast returned, and to Nick's horror, he discovered that just as the man had found his release in a joining of the flesh with her, the vampire desired his, in a blood union. At first, Nick thought the cravings for her blood would disappear, and yet they didn't. They only escalated. The beast was demanding the fulfillment it had been denied and it was all he could do to keep it at bay. For each time he was near her, his love and desire for her would surface and the vampire would threaten to emerge. His love and passion for her seemed to be fueling its hunger in such a way that the man and the vampire's desires were becoming one. For a time, Nick discovered he could push the hunger back by drinking blood…lots of blood, sometimes even mixing his customary diet of bottled bovine with human. It seemed to suppress the urges and at times, he found that he could be around her for short periods. In fact, surprisingly, during those times, his feelings…his urges for her felt more normal…more human. But they didn't last. Last week's demonic possession seemed to wipe them away, causing the beast to emerge barely in control. Afraid for her well-being and literally her life, Nick sadly realized it was time to move on, and face reality. He'd been deluding himself these past six years, thinking it would be different this time. The truth was, though, no matter how many times he attempted to pull himself out of this hellish existence, his beast… *his mistress*… would always be there to bring him down, to rule his life. There would never be a time when his cravings for blood would go away, his bloodlust would disappear. His dreams of a cure were also just that…a dream. A foolhardy dream. An illusion. He would never find redemption or walk in the sunlight or eat real food or love a woman. Love her. Suddenly, anger tore through him, and lifting the bottle, he threw it against the wall. For a long moment, he sat, watching the blood drip down the wood paneling, his lips curving with distain. Blood! And his incessant lust for it! He thought. This was his reality… his fate…his life…and as long as he lived, it would always be this way… sleeping on a bed of nails… never a bed of roses… I want to lay you down on a bed of roses For tonight I sleep on a bed on nails I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is And lay you down on bed of roses ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 04/15 ************************************* Natalie pulled up behind the coroner's van, across from the Raven. Looking over the steering wheel and through the window, her eyes took in the grim scene. A police car was parked next to the alleyway and the area had been cordoned off with yellow tape. Patrons of the nightclub were standing nearby, watching the police and forensics teams conduct their work and Natalie noted with a sense of relief that one person wasn't there. Opening the door, she emerged from the inside of her car and headed across the street. As she reached the alleyway, Natalie suddenly felt a hand seize her arm. She jumped, and turned. "Trace!" She exclaimed, shutting her eyes and clutching at her chest in relief. "Sorry to give you such a fright," the detective said apologetically. Natalie squeezed her arm. "It's okay," she assured. "It's just that for a moment I thought you were someone else." "A zombie?" Tracy asked, giving her a lop-sided grin. If you only knew the half of it, Trace! She thought. "Close," she answered with a half-hearted smile, and then her expression became serious as she turned her attention back to the crime scene. "What do we have here?" "Three bodies." Tracy replied, her face sobering. "From the initial reports, it appears to be a crime of passion. According to some of the patrons of the club, two of the victims, Angela Grimes and Robert Tate met here often, and after a few drinks, would leave together in his car. The third victim, Pete Grimes was Angela's husband. He must have found out about them and came here tonight to ensure they wouldn't leave this club together ever again." Natalie lifted an eyebrow. "He shot them?" "More like riddled them with a 38 semi-automatic, then turned around and blew his brains out." She grimaced and paled. "It's not a pretty sight." "Are you okay?" Natalie's voice softened, concern flashing across her face at Tracy's greenish pallor. "Yeah, my new partner, Cartwright, is over there getting the prelims from Grace." She gestured to a tall, lean man with brown wavy hair, penetrating brown eyes and square angler face. Somewhere in his 40's, Cartwright had been assigned from the 27th precinct, as Tracy's new partner a few days after Nick's departure. He was presently talking with Natalie's friend and co-worker, Grace. "How's Grace doing?" Natalie asked. "Great!" Tracy declared enthusiastically, her usual perkiness back in place. "She seems to be a natural at the field work." "Yeah, I think so too." Natalie agreed. "For the last couple weeks, Carter wanted me supervising her at crime scenes, but I think she's ready to go it alone. Take the plunge, so to speak." "I heard she's going to NY next week to a coroner's convention," Tracy commented with a casual air. "Carter said it would be all right if she went instead of me," Natalie replied softly. Tracy's eyes went wide with surprise. "You were supposed to go?" "That was the plan, but things came up." Her voice sounded casual, but there was an underlying weariness to her tone, which didn't escape Tracy's notice. She turned worried eyes on her. "Like?" "It's nothing to concern you with," she said, crossing her arms in a defensive manner. Tracy reached over to touch one arm briefly. "But I am worried Nat. And so is Grace." "Yeah…I know." Natalie let out a heavy sigh and then went on in a more gracious tone, "And I appreciate your care and concern, but I really am doing better. If you must know the reason I declined the trip was that I felt Grace could benefit more from going than I would. The convention will provide her with more insight into what goes on in this job." Tracy made a face. "If you ask me, mutilated corpses and bullet ridden bodies are what this job is all about." Natalie gave her a knowing look. "It isn't for everyone," she admitted ruefully. "No, it isn't." Natalie turned and looked over at Grace. "Speaking of bullet ridden bodies, Trace. I should get over there." Tracy nodded. "Okay, see ya later." "See ya." Natalie headed towards her friend, and as she drew closer, she noticed the bodies had already been removed to the coroner's van and Grace was finishing off the prelims sheet. Moving up beside to her, she regarded the sheet with a wry smile. "Crossing those T's and dotting those I's, Grace?" Grace's gaze followed Natalie's to the paper in her hand and she grinned. "You better believe it! Don't want to blow my chances, making a mistake on this homicide." Natalie nodded to the van, pulling away from the curb. "Tracy said it was a nasty one." "Tell me about it!" She voiced. "I'll be pulling slugs out of those bodies for hours." There was a trace of frustration in her tone. "What's the time of death?" Natalie asked. "Only a half hour at the most," Grace responded. "One of those creepy denizens of the night heard gunshots out here from inside the Raven, came out, discovered the bodies and called it in almost immediately." "Who?" Natalie's eyes wandered over the small crowd, still mulling around at the end of the alleyway. "Over there." Grace nodded towards a tall man standing in the doorway of the nightclub's side exit, farther down the alley. "Said he was the owner of the place." She paused and lowered her voice. "I gotta tell ya, Natalie. Not many people creep me out. But this guy!" Grace shuddered. "He had the most penetrating blue eyes. And his voice! Talked in a soft whisper, almost hypnotic in tone." As her words faded, she looked over at Natalie, and arched her brows in surprise. The petite coroner had vanished. Whirling around, Grace was just in time to see her making her way down the sidewalk in the direction of that guy. "Natalie," she called. "Where are you going?" Natalie jerked around. "I'll catch up with you later. I need to speak with someone." The lines in Grace's forehead furrowed in bewilderment. What was she up to now? Was she actually going to speak to him? Did she know him? Even if she did, Grace knew it was futile to belabor it. Natalie wouldn't tell her unless she wanted to. Frustrated, she shook her head and waved her off. "Okay, see you back at the morgue." For a moment, Natalie stood there, watching Grace resume her work. Then turning back, an uneasy feeling began to grip her as she regarded the darkened doorway. From the moment she'd known her services were needed at the Raven, she'd been reluctant to come, wanting to beg off, certain she'd run into him. After Nick had left two weeks ago, she'd made a decision to move on with her life, and try to put everything behind her. That included, of course, the vampire community and Nick's master: Lacroix. But unfortunately when Natalie had glanced up at the wrong moment a few minutes ago, his penetrating eyes had locked with hers, and she realized she'd been foolish to think it was going to be so simple to cut ties and never see Lacroix again. Thank goodness she hadn't seen him before this! The last couple weeks had been difficult enough, trying to feign indifference to everyone about Nick's departure explaining to them that they had only been friends and if he wanted to leave, it was his prerogative to do so. Trying to build up a wall around her own feelings, suppressing the constant anguish she felt every time the memories came flooding back: Of them watching a movie together, laughing at the funny scenes or crying on his shoulder over the sad ones, welcoming the comfort and safety of those strong arms wrapped around her. Of them sharing a friendly moment of banter, so easy and natural between them like taking in a breath of air. Of them breaking down those barriers and being together that one night, consummating their deep love and yearning for each other. Yes, it had been hard enough having to put up a façade and endure all of that without having to deal with his master. But now, she felt that she should at least say something to him. Natalie looked once more down the darkened sidewalk, and swallowing hard, forcing down the uneasy feeling, began to move in his direction. As she drew closer, she watched as he stepped out from the darkness into the alley. A nearby streetlight hit his face, casting a glow over his sardonic expression and piercing eyes as he regarded her. A chill crept up her spine, causing her to freeze in her tracks. It spread to her limbs, when, a moment later, she heard his disparaging tone. "Tsk tsk…the morgue. I can think of more enjoyable sights to see in this world." Damn that enhanced vampiric hearing! Natalie knew he was referring to Grace's comment just now. She swallowed and spoke up, "I'm surprised, Lacroix, I thought it would be one of your favorite places." Her voice was amazingly composed and the knowledge of it spurred her on, "After all, I understand you have an attraction for carnage and death." She crossed her arms and gave him an even look. His lips curled into a smirk. "Ah…Nicholas spoke to you about that, did he? I'm flattered." He paused. "Yes, I do have a certain passion for feasting on the fatally wounded solders of war, like an angel of death putting them out of their misery." A look of delight crossed his face and Natalie shivered inwardly as she heard him go on, "And speaking of passion, I understand that tonight's delicious homicide resulted from just that. A crime of passion." Natalie shrugged and spoke with a casual air, "It's what the detectives have surmised." Lacroix reached up and rubbed his chin in a pensive fashion. "Ah… interesting…" He seemed to drag out the words deliberately, letting them hang in the air. Natalie shot him a quizzical look. "In what way?" Lacroix stared deep into her eyes, speaking in a steely tone, "That passion can trigger a mortal to kill." "Sometimes," she admitted. "But *most* people don't go around putting a round of lead from a 38 in their loved one's chest. They can control it." "Awww…" he began in that belittling voice which always grated on her nerves and made her shake with fury. "And here I thought I'd finally found a common link between mortals and vampires." She flashed him a peevish glance. "What do you mean?" "I mean that unlike mortals, we can not control our passion," he said, his voice still contemptible. "Ah yes," she began coldly. "You did tell me once that mixing more than minds with a vampire could be hazardous to a mortal's health." Her blue eyes fixed on his, and as the meaning of her words sunk into his mind, he smiled. "I'm impressed, doctor. You remembered. I guess I'll need to use a stronger drug in the champagne next time." "Next time!" She snorted. "I don't think so. And as far as control in the heat of passion is concerned, I don't believe it, especially when love enters into the equation." "Aaah…yes. True love conquering all and that sort of nonsense." He waved his hand, dismissing the notion. "Don't delude yourself into believing it." Lacroix gave her another piercing look, and expecting her to recoil, was surprised when her lips curled into a half-smile. "I'm not deluding myself, but one thing I've learned since meeting your kind, you guys aren't too big on communication. How do you even know for sure?" "Doctor, after almost living 2000 years, I think I know a little bit more about it than you do." That mocking tone again! Well she'd show him. Two could play at this game. "Oh, you do, do you? Then tell me. Is this wealth of knowledge from over 2000 years coming from personal experience?" Natalie's acrimonious tone caused him to smile. "My dear, whether it is from my own personal matters of the heart or not, the simple fact remains mortals and vampires don't mix." "Well…we'll never know for sure will we." She said smugly, crossing her arms. For a long moment silence reined as she peered at him with a triumphant look. Then uncrossing her arms, she blew out a weary breath. "Look, we could debate this topic forever. But, it's pointless because the fact is this scientific theory won't be ever tested. We'll never know the results since Nick is gone and I have no intention of finding him." She paused and then went on pointedly, "Yes, Lacroix that may come as a bit of a surprise to you. For you see, unlike you, I plan to leave him alone, to allow him to make his own decisions, find his own way." "That's very admirable of you," he said with a slight smirk. "But, I don't quite agree. Nicholas needs guidance. He always has." "Well…you keep on believing that and you'll drive him farther away." "Are you so certain?" There was a trace of amusement in his tone. "Absolutely," she said. "The more you try to control him, the more he'll pull away from you." She paused and emitted a soft sigh. "All he wants is the freedom to make his own choices." "Nicholas's choices have been mostly foolhardy ones," he retorted. "He needs someone to set him on the right path." "Ah I see." Natalie paused with a slight nod of understanding. "Your path?" Her tone was derisive, her eyes locking on his, challenging him. "And what would that entail? To give up his hopes and dreams of a cure, to give into his nature and become what you envisioned for him when you created him." Lacroix took a warning step towards her, his eyes glowing amber. "Enough, Doctor…" Natalie backed away slightly, but livid now from his contemptible manner, she couldn't stop the flow of words, pouring from her mouth like water into a glass. "Or better yet, to have him show his gratitude to you for all that you've done for him over the centuries by being your lackey, bowing down to you, submitting to your will. Is that the path you had in mind for him? The big course you had set for him?" Suddenly she felt a powerful hand around her neck and before she knew what was happening found herself pinned against the nightclub's door. "That's enough!" He snarled through crimson, rage-filled eyes. "I won't stand for your insolence!" Natalie felt his hand tighten around neck, pressing against her vocal cords, preventing her from speaking. She turned and looked frantically down the street to see if anyone had noticed. To her dismay and mounting alarm, she saw that everyone had left. Great! No one to come to her rescue. Why couldn't she just keep her big mouth shut? Well, she wasn't going down without a fight. Turning back, her eyes flaring with anger, she lifted her leg, and brought her knee forcefully up into his groin. Lacroix moved away swiftly, her knee missing him by inches. A wicked smile flashed across his face. "One thing I've always admired about you, my dear, is your spirit and courage, even in the face of death." To her surprise, his grip suddenly slackened from around her neck, and able to find her voice, she spoke up. "If I'm facing my death now," she croaked, "bear in mind you will lose Nick, and will never reconcile your relationship with him." She paused, her eyes locking with his in a fierce gaze. "*That* is the grim reality." His lips curled into a sneer. "How can you be so sure?" "Oh I am," she assured. "When he finds out-and he will-you'll be facing your own death." "That may be," he said. "But *you* bear in mind, my dear. Regardless of whether you face death now at my hands or later by natural means, you'll be gone in the blink of an eye, forgotten by Nicholas while I'll remain eternally at his side." He paused, giving her a severe look. *That* is the grim reality." He released her, and took a step back. Natalie turned away in anger, and began to rub her neck. As she continued to massage the tender skin around her throat, she slowly became aware of a warm substance around the corner of her mouth. Reaching over with her tongue, she licked it and was met with a coppery, salty taste. Damn! It was blood. She must have bitten her lip unknowingly and now she was standing in a dark alley with a very angry, hungry vampire. Great going, Lambert! Now you're going to be dessert. Looking over, she saw Lacroix's eyes had returned to an amber hue and he was taking a step towards her once more. An anxious feeling began to wash over her. Reaching up with her hand, she started to wipe the blood away when Lacroix grabbed her wrist. "Let me do that, doctor." Natalie could hear the huskiness in his voice, as she watched him lift a finger and swipe the drop away from her skin. Then with a sense of horror and amazement, she saw him place it on his tongue. For a long moment he stood there with his eyes closed. Then slowly a blissful smile began to spread across his face. Oh what Nicholas had missed not taking her! In just one drop, he could feel the unconditional love she carried within her heart for his son. Her fire, her passions, her… His eyes suddenly popped open and he looked over at the doctor. Seething, Natalie wrenched her hand from his grasp and spoke with barely controlled fury, "What the hell was that about?" Lacroix's lips curled into a sardonic grin. "Nicholas has not told you about the way we feel life in a mortal's blood?" No he hadn't. She thought angrily. But was she really surprised? Nick had always been reluctant to tell her anything about the vampire's physiology unless she questioned it. And even then it had been difficult to drag the information out of him. He always seemed to feel the need to protect her from knowing too much about their kind. And, damn it! Now one of their kind seemed to know her intimately. And of course, it had to be Lacroix! "No, he didn't," she unwillingly admitted. "Well, I wouldn't hold that against him, Doctor," Lacroix went on. "Nicholas has never been one to open up, especially about our physiology. But, yes we can feel emotions, thoughts and feelings just from one drop of a mortal's blood and in you…" He paused and cleared his throat. "I sensed something." Her eyes narrowed in curiosity. "What?" Natalie was met with a long silence as Lacroix held her gaze. A few more seconds passed, as they continued to exchange looks, then gradually her eyes grew with understanding. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 05/15 ************************************* The smoke-filled bar was crowded and loud as Grace and her attractive female companion squeezed between two tables into the corner. Grace sank into the soft overstuffed chair and glanced at her friend. "Is this okay with you, Denise?" The woman removed her overcoat, and draped it around the back of her chair. "Fine," she said with a smile. "Let me get us some drinks." She turned, and glanced towards the bar then back at Grace. "What's your poison?" "Oh…" Grace shrugged. "Not anything too strong. How about a white wine?" "Okay, I'll be right back." Grace watched Denise make her way gracefully through the boisterous crowd and over to the beefy looking bartender behind the bar. She shook her head, and heaved an anxious sigh. Tall lean, and muscular, with shoulder length straight hair, almost black in color, vibrant cobalt blue eyes, and fair-skinned oblong face, Denise Mayfield could catch a man's eye at the drop of a hat. She was a dear old friend, someone she'd met through Natalie a long time ago, and through the years, she'd learned many things about her: She was sweet, caring, humorous, extremely flirtatious with men, possessed a high self- esteem, but wasn't overly arrogant, and was basically just an all- around fun person to hang out with. However, she was also extravagant, insisting on nothing but the best. And that included bars in the Upper East Side of New York. Grace thought worriedly, as her eyes began to take in the latest one: the Bar Seine in the Hotel Plaza Athenee. It was no different than the others, plush and expensive, with Tiffany Lamps and fine cream- colored tablecloths on the tables, surrounded by rich, dark mahogany wood paneling on the walls. The bar was extravagant with its walnut carvings of nymphs along the sides. Behind it hung a very expensive looking gilded mirror. As she continued to gaze around the room, a sense of dread came over her. She knew the time was coming when she would have to break the news to her friend that her pocketbook wouldn't be able to handle these outings anymore and happy hour in her room at the Marriott with cheap beer or wine and chips would have to suffice. But relaying this information to her, she decided, could wait until tomorrow. One more night with her party-loving friend wouldn't hurt. Except of course, maybe her head! Grace thought with a mild groan, as she looked over and saw Denise making her way back to their corner, carrying a bourbon in one hand and Grace's white wine in the other. Once there, she set the drinks down on the table then sank into a seat across from her. "I hope the Chablis is all right." Grace took a sip from her drink and smacked her lips. "Just perfect, Denise. What more could I ask for as relaxant after that boring speaker we had this afternoon." Denise groaned and rolled her eyes. "Wasn't he the worst!?" She exclaimed. "I thought he was going to lull me to sleep *permanently*." Grace chuckled. "I could see the headlines now. Pathologist found dead, from talk of autopsy beds." Her friend giggled. "How about this one?" She spread her hands in the air. "Speaker found dead, when coroners saw red, over talk of autopsy beds." Grace laughed. "Isn't that the truth? I felt like one of those coroners! I would've enjoyed putting him out of his misery. I mean who can discuss the latest autopsy tables for a whole hour?" Denise leaned over and grabbed some salted peanuts from the bowl on the table, plopping a few in her mouth. "Yeah, when you've seen one slab, you've seen them all." "And whether they're the deluxe models or not," Grace went on, "it's not like your `patients' are really going to complain about it." "So true!" She said with a wry smile. "Anyway tomorrow's agenda should be much better. DNA testing from both RFLP analysis and PCR- based analysis." "There should be a discussion tied in with that one about how to not botch DNA fingerprinting." Grace's eyes gleamed with amusement. "A complete what-not-to-do guide from the O.J. Simpson forensics team." Denise chuckled then her face sobered as she went on, "Anyway, it's a shame Natalie is missing all of this fun." Grace lifted her glass and took a long pull on her drink. "Yeah, I miss her," she said softly. "Yeah me too," she agreed. "She always managed to liven up these events with her quirky dark sense of humor." "Unfortunately that humor has been practically nonexistent recently," Grace said with a grim face. Denise leaned forward in her chair and arched her eyebrows. "Really? Why?" "Although she'll never admit it," she said, "a certain detective is probably the reason." "Oh really!" Denise exclaimed sounding irritated. "And who is this schmuck who's made her unhappy?" "Detective Knight," she said with a disgruntled look. "They claim to be only friends, but when he left Toronto for good a couple weeks ago… " "He left?" She asked, her voice betraying amazement. "Yeah, and you should've seen the state Natalie was in!" Grace glared, anger flashing in her eyes over the memory of that night a few weeks ago when he'd left and poor Natalie had cracked. "When she heard the news from Tracy Vetter, Detective Knight's partner, she just lost it and started rambling about things that made no sense to me. And then to top it all off, she fainted." "Fainted?" Denise's eyes went wide. "Are we sure we're talking about the same Natalie Lambert?" "Yeah…amazing isn't it? In the ten years I've known her, I don't think she's ever done that!" She shook her head in disbelief. "Of course she tried to cover it up with the usual `we're just friends and it's immaterial to me that he decided to leave' scenario." "I can only imagine." Denise nodded in understanding. "Natalie never was one to talk about her personal life with anyone." "Tell me about it!" Grace said sounding annoyed. "She's never once said anything about her life outside of work. And if you try bringing up the subject, she becomes tightlipped like a clam." "Always the professional," Denise added thoughtfully. "Yeah, but mark my words, her professionalism will shatter one of these days," Grace said, her voice full of concern. "All that emotion she keeps bottled up inside will one day just erupt and I'm afraid she'll break down completely." "You're probably right," Denise said, her voice matching Grace's in worry. "But if she's unwilling to talk about it with one of her closest friends. You. What solution is there?" "Maybe someone who can remain impartial," Grace said, shrugging. Denise looked surprised. "A shrink?" Grace shook her head vigorously. "Not a psychiatrist. He'd want to medicate her. And hell would freeze over before she would allow someone to do that." She smiled briefly then her expression became thoughtful. "A psychologist might be too much as well. I was thinking more in terms of a therapist." "I don't know if she'll go for that at all!" Denise said, sounding doubtful. "Maybe, but she needs to see someone. She's worrying me to death!" Grace said vehemently. "Just a few days ago, her behavior caused me to become even more upset." "In what way?" Denise asked with curiosity. Grace didn't answer right away, as she began to chew on her lower lip, contemplating what she wanted to say. After a moment longer, she spoke up, her tone careful. "More erratic," she began. "Up until then, she'd been tired, cranky and blue. But something changed a few nights ago when we were at a crime scene in an alley outside of a nightclub called the Raven." "What happened?" "We were discussing the case, and then all at once she went off down the alley alone to see this guy, who was the owner of the club, and I gotta say, Denise made my spine tingle with fear." "A real creep?" "You better believe it!" She shook her head. "He makes Hannibal Lector seem like a pussycat." "Ooo…" Denise shivered. "You're putting a quiver in my liver just envisioning what this guy is like!" Grace shook her head and laughed. "Quiver in my liver? Where do you come up with these expressions Denise?" "Naturally from the south, honey. You know, we southerners are known for our own charm and colorful version of the English language," she teased. "Yeah, so you've told me," she acknowledged with a wry grin, then her face sobered as she went on, "Anyway, I needed to return to the morgue, and since it didn't seem like this guy was threatening her in any way, I left with the rest of the forensic team. A few hours later, she showed up in the morgue, very much deep in thought. Puzzled, I asked her what was going on. Well…" Her eyes widened. "That's all it took-one question from me for her to snap out of it and tell me in no uncertain terms it was `nothing.' Then she adroitly shifted the conversation to the homicide at the nightclub." "Do you think she was deliberately covering up something?" She asked. "Perhaps it wasn't anything and she only wanted to resume her work." Grace gave her an exacting look for an answer. Denise broke into a sheepish grin. "I guess not," she said mildly. "So what do you think she was trying to hide?" "I don't know, but my bewilderment over her behavior only increased as the evening progressed." "Tell me about it." Denise said, taking a sip from her drink. "About an hour later," Grace began, "I was about to enter her office with a DNA workup when I heard her crying." "Are you sure?" Denise asked, looking doubtful. Grace gave her an emphatic nod. "Yeah, she was definitely sobbing. I don't know what happened to cause it, but she was upset about something." "Did you go in?" "No." Grace looked regretful. "Believe me, I wanted to in the worst way! Since she'd been close-mouthed about everything else, though, I knew she wasn't going to open up about this and I made the decision to leave her alone. But now, I'm not sure it was a good idea and I've decided once I return from this conference, I'm going to confront her, once and for all." "You're going to force her to talk?" Denise said, sounding skeptical. "Yes," she said, folding her arms across her chest and giving her a resolute nod. "Even if I have to tie her to a chair, and threaten her with no chocolates for a week, I'm going to do it. It's for her own good." Denise flashed a slight grin then sobered. "Do you think this guy in the alley has anything to do with her latest behavior?" "Yes, I do," she said without hesitation. "Because I have a suspicion he knows Detective Knight somehow and relayed something to her about him. But what?" Grace asked with exasperation. "I couldn't say." "Whatever the information was, it obviously affected Natalie profoundly." "Yeah," Grace said thoughtfully. "This detective must have been quite something to turn Natalie's head," Denise mused aloud. "I mean the times we used to get together at these conferences, she always seemed to be immune to male advances and overtures." "Natalie tried to *appear* to be immune to Detective Knight, Nick's charm, as well, putting up a good front around him. But sometimes, the emotions came through and you could see the care and longing in her eyes." Grace paused. "Bottom line. She had it bad for the guy. And whether he would admit it or not, he did, too. But what I can't understand is why they never seemed to act on their feelings." "Never?" Denise asked in disbelief. "I don't think so." Grace looked certain. "I know I've been out of the loop for a while, going away for a year. But if things had progressed with their relationship, I would've sensed something. Natalie is good at hiding her feelings, but not *that* good." "You have a point," Denise remarked, "and yet I find it uncanny their relationship remained in limbo for so long. If what you say is true, they were more than friends or wanted it to be more then why not change the relationship? Why not move on to the next stage? Why not…" "Oh my God!" Grace's jaw dropped. "I don't believe it! He's here!" Startled, Denise glanced up in time to catch Grace's stunned expression, and see her gaze flit across the room to stare at someone intently. Eyes narrowing, Denise began to twist around in her seat. "Who?" She asked, with mild curiosity. "No, don't turn around," Grace hissed, her eyes focusing on Denise once more in alarm. "I don't want him to see us." Denise's eyes went wide as understanding dawned. "Detective Knight?" "In the flesh." She managed somehow through the mixture of shock and disbelief rushing through her. "Oh this I've gotta see!" Denise declared, her eyes sparkling with mounting excitement. She was about to turn around once more when Grace reached out with her arm to stop her. "No, please Denise." Her eyes were imploring. "Don't worry, Grace." She waved her off. "I'll be discreet." Slowly Denise turned, her eyes peering over the crowd to the bar's entrance. "Which one is he?" "The blonde with the black shirt and pants," Grace said nervously and took another pull of her drink, trying to calm herself. Denise's eyes finally settled on the handsome detective. "Ooo… Grace." She cooed with admiration. "He is positively yummy! Natalie does have good taste." For a long moment, her eyes continued to feast on him, as she watched him make his way over to the bar to sit down. Then, Grace grabbed her arm to get her attention. "Well…yummy or not," she whispered in a frantic voice. "Will you please stop drooling long enough to turn around before he sees us?" Denise's gaze lingered for a moment longer on him before she turned back with a slight pout. "Okay…okay…I'll be good. That is… " A mischievous grin broke out on her face. "…When I've gotten a closer peak." Denise sprang up, and before Grace could stop her, she headed towards the bar. At first, numb from the shock of Denise's actions, Grace found only the strength to stare at her friend, as she boldly strolled up to the bar and began talking with the bartender. But soon shock turned to horror when she saw her cast not-so-discreet, hungry, sidelong glances at Nick. Oh my goodness! What was that girl up to now? Grace held her breath, waiting for Denise's next move or some kind of reaction from Nick, but surprisingly none came. Denise continued to talk with the bartender, slipping intermittent glances at Nick and Nick seemed content to stare forlornly over the brim of his drink at the wall over the bar. Finally with a sense of relief, she saw Denise swing around with drinks in hand and head back to the table. Once there, Grace let loose with her anger. "What the devil were you thinking about when you went over there?!!!! Nick could have seen me!!!! And then what?!!!!" "Relax." Denise said with a wicked smile. She set the drinks down on the table and sat down. "Nothing happened. Besides we've never met. He doesn't know me, so why would he think you were here with me to begin with?" Denise's logic seemed to calm Grace and after taking a deep breath, she spoke up, "You're right. I guess the shock of seeing him in this bar was too much and I wasn't thinking clearly." She paused and her eyes went wide with disbelief. " I mean, talk about a coincidence! There are millions of people in this city and Nick Knight happens to waltz into the same bar we're in." "Well…it didn't *just* happen," Denise began mysteriously. "Evidently he's been waltzing into this bar every night since he arrived here a couple weeks ago." Grace looked surprised. "And you know this from?" "From the bartender," she finished with a self-satisfied grin. "I asked him about blondie when ordering our drinks." "You weren't afraid Nick would overhear your conversation." Her brows rose slightly. Denise jerked around in her seat to glance at Nick, then back to Grace. She looked solemn. "No, the shape he's in, I don't think he could hear a thing. According to the bartender he's been on a bender since last week. Every night he comes down from room 414 to the bar and…" "How did you find out his room number?" Grace cut in with amazement. "Hotel staff members aren't allowed to give them out." Denise's lips curled into a complacent smile. "I happened to see it on his tab when the bartender was adding a drink order to it." Grace shook her head and smiled wickedly. "You are bad, Denise." "Just thorough!" She smiled back. "Anyway, as I was saying, he ventures down here every evening around this time and spends the evening drinking red wine and listening to the late night entertainment until closing. It's sad." She shook her head. "I suppose Natalie is the cause." "No doubt." Grace agreed, sounding grave. "What I don't understand is if you say they had feelings for each other and seemed to want to be together, why did he leave?" Denise gave her a perplexed look. "Why didn't he stay and try to iron out their problems? Why endure this agony of separation from her? Drowning his sorrows in drink?" Grace blew out a discouraged breath. "I don't understand it myself," she said. "All I know is Natalie used to say their relationship was complicated. Whatever that meant!" "How complicated could it be?" She shrugged. "According to what you've told me, they love each other. And love as they say, can conquer most obstacles. So where is the complication?" "I don't know," Grace looked pensive, as an idea started formulating in her mind. "But I think I've found a way to un-complicate their relationship." Her eyes began to glimmer with anticipation. Denise's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What do you mean? You have a plan to get these two together?" "I think so," Grace said slowly. It would work, she thought, but some kinks would need to be worked out and she would definitely need Denise's services. Grace glanced at her friend, her eyes becoming serious. "Would you be interested in helping?" "Would I?" Her voice was filling with excitement, her eyes gleaming with delight. "You bet! What did you have in mind?" "Well…" She began and took a swallow from her drink. "Something like this…." ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 06/15 ************************************* Natalie was finishing up the Latimer autopsy report when Jill strolled into the morgue, a tray of test tubes in one hand, and a report in the other. Somewhere in her mid-twenties, Jill had been assigned as a lab technician to the 96th precinct along with Natalie two years ago. She had blue eyes, and long blond hair, which was currently tied back in a ponytail. Her skin was a fair peach color, which seemed to accentuate her classic high cheekbones in her heart- shaped face. There was something very delicate in her features. She almost resembled a Dresden doll. She placed the tray down on a nearby table before turning around, and flashing the report in the air. "I got the tox results back on the Saunter's case you wanted." Moving towards her desk, she placed it on Natalie's stack. The coroner glanced over at the report, then at Jill. "And what was the result?" "Negative," she said in a straightforward tone. "There was no evidence of any drugs in his blood stream." Natalie reached for the report and began to flip through the pages. "Not even cocaine?" She asked, cocking a brow. Jill shook her head and crossed her arms. "Nothing at all." Natalie closed the report, tossing it back on the pile, and gave Jill a thoughtful look. "Okay then. We've conducted every possible test, so I think it's safe to say that death was caused by malnutrition and exposure to extreme elements." She paused and smiled. "Good job, Jill. We've been able to wrap up yet another case quickly, thanks to you." She eyed the pile of reports on Natalie's desk. "Anything to move along your stack," she commented. Natalie's eyes followed Jill's and she shrugged. "Actually, things have really slowed down since that fire a couple weeks ago and I've been able to catch up some." "Even with Grace gone?" There was surprise in Jill's voice as she spoke. "Yeah, because people like you have been pitching in, going that extra mile to get the job done." Natalie's voice was full of gratitude. "Glad to do it," she said. "And besides, we'll do anything around here to get you to slow down and stop working those eighteen hour shifts." She gave her a telling look. "I guess that's a hint," she said wryly. "And you're right. I have been overdoing it a tad." "A tad?!!" Jill exclaimed and rolled her eyes. "That is an understatement." "I guess it is," Natalie admitted with a sheepish grin. "And yet in our line of work we never know whether it's going to be feast or famine. Unfortunately, it's been a lot of the former, recently. So taking time off or working shorter shifts has not been in the cards for me." "Until tonight," Jill said in a stern voice. "You are still planning to knock off early aren't you?" Natalie saw the rigid expression on her face and smiled weakly. "Yes, I'm going home in an hour and for once, have a nice long soak in the tub." "Good, it's about time." Jill nodded in approval. "You certainly deserve it." She started for the door when another thought struck her, and she turned back. "Oh…by the way. I almost forgot. Carter would like you to stop by his office on your way out." Natalie's eyes narrowed. I wonder what he wants. "Did he say what it was about?" She asked, aloud. Jill shot her a mystified glance. "Haven't a clue." There was a slight pause as her eyes lit with amusement. "Maybe he's going to force you to take that leave, which you always refuse to take. Perhaps send you on Caribbean Cruise." Natalie emitted a soft chuckle. "Yeah that'll be the day!" She tapped her chin with her pen, her expression becoming pensive. "Mmm… so the big boss wants to see me." "Yep." "Ooookay. I'll stop by on my way out." She flashed Jill an appreciative smile. "Thanks." "No problem. See ya later and enjoy your soak in the tub," she said and turned to leave. "I will. See ya." As Natalie listened to the technician's retreating footsteps down the hall, her face creased into a worried frown. What could Carter possibly want? Was there a case that needed to be reopened? Evidence that needed to be found? For a moment, her thoughts turned to any questionable cases she'd been working on the last couple weeks, and with a sense of relief, she realized there weren't any. With every one, the evidence had been quite definitive. Well…she thought with a bemused shrug. Whatever Carter needed to discuss, she hoped it wouldn't intrude on her plans for a quiet evening at home with Sydney, her cat, and that long much-anticipated bubble bath. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 07/15 ************************************* There came a knock at the door, and without glancing up from his desk, Carter called out gruffly. "Look Higgins, I need that report as in yesterday!" "Ah…sir." There was a short pause, as a throat cleared and then a voice went on hesitantly, "I'm not Higgins." Carter's head jerked up as he recognized the visitor's voice. He cleared his throat, and went on in a less severe tone, trying to belie the embarrassment he was feeling at the obvious mistake. "No, of course you aren't Natalie. I thought you were…" "Higgins?" Natalie finished, stifling a laugh. She sank into a chair across from him and studied him for a moment. Somewhere in his mid-50's, Carter had dark brown hair, slightly graying now around the temples, and dark brown piercing eyes. His face was attractive in a masculine sort of way with a square jaw and deep furrowed lines in his forehead. He was a large man, with broad shoulders and chest, and a slightly protruding stomach, but basically his physique was muscular and athletic in tone. Tough, but fair, Carter was the sort of boss that had high expectations for his team. But if you worked hard, promotions came fast from him as Natalie had come to find out over the two years she'd been working for him. "Yeah, sorry about that," he said ruefully. "Higgins left here a moment ago with strict instructions to have the Brunner case completed and on my desk in an hour. He's very thorough and fast with the autopsies, but when it comes to the paperwork, he can't seem to get the work done." "Well, I can't say I'm much better." "You?!!!" Carter looked stunned. "Since I started here ten years ago, I can't ever recall a time where you weren't efficient with the entire process." He reached over and grabbed his coffee mug, taking a sip. "In fact, the only defect I can see is your inability to ever take it easy, to know when it's time to take a vacation." Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Natalie looked down at her hands. "I know it's been a while, but…" "It's been four years." He cut in and the tone of his voice, severe and concerned, caused her to look up with an expression of surprise. Had it been that long since she'd gone on any vacation? Enjoyed any time in the sun, being carefree and lighthearted? Away from one certain angst-ridden vampire? It was hard to believe! But truthfully, it had been more than four years since she'd really had a relaxing, enjoyable, true, honest-to-goodness vacation. For the last one, four years ago, wasn't much; her heart hadn't exactly been in it. It had taken place after the awful Roger Jameson fiasco when she was feeling a bit confused over Nick's mixed signals. Natalie couldn't tell whether Nick's jealousy over Roger and protectiveness stemmed from brotherly affection or deeper feelings. She had a feeling it was the latter, when he tried kissing her in a more than brotherly fashion in the precinct's interrogation room. But last Valentine's Day and the night of his amnesia made it a forgone conclusion. He loved her. But what did it matter now? Natalie thought with a sharp pang. He evidently didn't love her enough to stick it out, to continue trying to search for a cure, to have a life together, to be with her. Enough Lambert! You must stop grieving about him and put him behind you once and for all and start over…start a new life. And a vacation may be a good place to start…a good place to think things over… Coming out of her musings, she gave Carter a forced smile. "So should I put in for another dream-filled desert extravaganza?" "No, it won't be necessary, but might I suggest a four day fully-paid- for trip to the Big Apple?" "You want me to go to New York?" She was amazed. "As a matter of fact, I do." "Why?" She studied him, clearly baffled. "Grace called and…" Natalie straightened in her seat, suddenly alarmed. "Is everything all right?" "Yeah, don't worry." Carter waved her off. "Grace is fine, but her great aunt isn't." His eyes were grave. "Her great aunt?" Natalie looked wary and baffled. "I didn't think she had a great aunt." "Evidently, she does," he told her. "Unfortunately she's very sick and Grace feels she should leave the conference as soon as possible to see her before it's too late. I suggested she take the first flight out and you would be willing to fill in for her for the rest of the conference." "But sir…I've been the last few years. Don't you think someone else should go?" Natalie asked, her tone hopeful she could somehow get out of this. The idea of a vacation was appealing, but not in this manner. "Normally I would agree, Natalie. However, I relented after Grace's recommendation to send you. She pointed out that you hadn't taken a vacation for a long time and might have a breakdown if you didn't get away soon." "Grace said that!" Natalie stiffened, crossing her arms indignantly. "I can assure you I don't plan to have a breakdown anytime soon." "Yes, well…you're probably right, but it has come to my attention that you've been working too many long hours and need a break from work before something slips." "But my work has been…" "Exceptional as always," he finished and then went on, "However some have noticed, including Grace that you seem to be preoccupied with something and preoccupation can lead to careless work, which we can't afford to have happen around here. So although I think a vacation would be better, but I know you won't take one, this is the next best thing." "But sir…" she began, her tone a little exasperated. "I was just thinking about taking a real vacation." "Good…and after this little trip, you can," he said, "so go home and pack your bags. Since I've made reservations for a flight first thing in the morning for you, you'll be able to attend some of the conference tomorrow afternoon. And if you decide you want to start your vacation there or somewhere else, just let me know." "I don't know what to say?" She said, the note of surprise back in her voice again. "Just say you'll be on that flight." He gave her an exacting look. "Okay…" Natalie agreed, and rising from her seat, left, still amazed. But as she walked down the hall towards the exit, surprise turned to puzzlement, and she shook her head. A great-aunt? If Grace had one, she'd never spoken of her, which was strange because Grace always loved talking about her family. Where did she live? What side of the family was she on? Or was she just a figment of Grace's imagination? Was this, in truth, some kind of ploy to get her down to NY to relax? Oh don't be ridiculous Lambert! Even Grace wouldn't stoop to such an elaborate plan. Shaking off the ludicrous idea, Natalie made her way out to her car, her thoughts turning now to fitting in that bubble bath and finding a sitter for Sydney. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 08/15 ************************************* Natalie was in the midst of tossing her underwear into a drawer when the phone rang. Throwing the last item in, she nudged the drawer shut with her hip, and hurrying to the bedside table, picked the phone up on the third ring. "Hello," she murmured into the phone, a little out of breath. There was a slight pause, before Natalie heard a woman's cheerful voice. "Have I reached Natalie's Bed and Breakfast?" A wry grin came to Natalie's face. "At this hour of the evening, Denise Mayfield, it might be more apropos to call it Natalie's Tavern of Malt Liqueurs." Denise laughed. "You always did love those wicked whiskeys." "They weren't wicked until the hangover," Natalie teased. "That's why I always said you should switch to bourbon," Denise retorted in an amused tone. Natalie's smile broadened. "Oh… and bourbon is considered the drink of choice?" "Especially to a true southerner," Denise said. "It glides down your throat like silk and your head is clear as a bell the next morning." "More like your head feels like hell the next morning," she responded with an exaggerated groan. "Well, until you try it, you won't know," Denise said with feigned indignation. "It's a drink that we southerner's live by." "Born and raised on it, were you?" Natalie asked dryly. "Like mother's milk." She said, emitting a contented sigh. Natalie shook her head. "No wonder, the Confederacy fell during the Civil War." "We Georgians like to refer to `the war' as the War Between the States." "Oh pardon me!" Natalie chuckled then her expression became more thoughtful. "Anyway, what's up? "I called to make sure you got in okay." "Yeah," Natalie said, her voice suddenly sounding tired. "I'm here, safe and sound, even though it took me a while. Flights were either canceled or delayed for hours due to bad weather conditions in Toronto-- a heavy snowfall during the night. My plane was one of those cancelled, but there was availability on another flight in the afternoon, so I took that one." She paused, forcing a smile to her face. "I hope I didn't miss out on all of the fun and excitement at the conference today." "The most excitement today was the discussion about new precision autopsy forceps." Denise said. "These babies can pick up the finest hair, the most miniscule piece of evidence on your cadaver. " "Ah, but the important question is. Can you eat Chinese food with them?" "Grace told me about your rather nasty habit," she commented sounding disgusted. Natalie smiled briefly then went on, "Speaking of Grace, did she mention anything about her great-aunt to you?" "You mean, her great-aunt Betsy?" She asked nonchalantly, summoning up as much innocence as she could in her voice. "I think that's the one." Natalie was saying. "Did she mention where her aunt lived?" "In Buffalo, I believe." Buffalo? How strange? Natalie thought as she began to twist the telephone cord around her finger, her eyes narrowing. "Interesting… She always told me her family was from St. Johns in New Brunswick." "I guess maybe she could be a distant aunt?" Denise came back quickly with the lie, but there was a slight uneasiness in her tone. "I suppose…" Natalie said slowly, an edge of doubt in her voice. "It's kind of odd, though, she never mentioned her to me. She loved talking about her family, especially any deep dark secrets." Denise emitted a soft chuckle. "Well there you go! Perhaps there weren't any skeleton's in Aunt Betsy's closet to tell, so she never brought her up." "Yeah, I guess…" She paused, still uncertain, and then went on, "I hope Grace wasn't too stunned with the news about her." "She seemed to handle it well," Denise said. "Almost like she was expecting it to happen. I'm only sorry she had to leave suddenly. We were having such a delightful time." "I can only imagine," commented Natalie, a touch of sarcasm in her voice. "How many bars did you drag her to?" "Oh… a dozen or so?" "Poor thing," Natalie said with genuine sympathy. "I bet she looked like some of my `customers' after a night out with you." "Come to think of it. She did look a bit peaked on Tuesday after we'd been out to six bars the night before, but another night out seemed to bring her around." Natalie shook her head, her eyes filling with astonishment. "You are too much." "I've been told that," Denise confessed. "By the way, what are you doing at the moment?" "I'm in the middle of putting a few items away and getting organized for tomorrow," she explained. "Just settling in. Why?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What did you have in mind?" "I thought instead of settling in there, you could settle in somewhere else for a nice, refreshing drink." "I don't know, Denise." Natalie sounded doubtful and the fatigue was back in her voice. "I'm kind of beat after the trip down here. I've been up since 5:00 am, and on top of that, the last few weeks, have been tough, working extra shifts. I thought I would call it an early evening and get some much needed rest." "But it's only 6:00 pm!" Denise exclaimed, a trace of shock evident in her tone that anyone would consider retiring so early. "Why not at least meet somewhere for an hour or two?" "With you?!!!" Natalie snorted. "Yeah, what would be the harm in that?" "What a loaded question, Denise," she said. "It seems to me that the last time we got together, there was a lot of harm done." "Only to your head." "Only!!!!" She exclaimed. "I could barely drag myself out of bed for the 9:00 am seminar. Every inch of my body hurt." "Oh, don't worry I won't do that to you, tonight, Natalie. I had something else in mind," she said casually. "A quiet evening at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. A brief get together for a few drinks and I promise you'll be in bed by 10:00 pm." An evil smile spread across Denise's face. Whose bed she would be in by 10:00 remained to be seen, but if things went according to plan… "The Plaza! That's on the Upper East Side." Natalie was saying, her voice tinged with both surprise and disappointment. "Couldn't we go somewhere closer to here? Somewhere in Midtown?" Denise took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, she thought with a touch of guilt and plunged ahead with the other lie. "No, `fraid not," she began. "Because Greg will be leaving for Detroit tomorrow and this is the only opportunity for you to meet him." "Greg?" Natalie paused, her brows knitting in puzzlement then her face relaxed as comprehension dawned. "Oh no, Denise!" She groaned. "Another, this-is-the-one boyfriend?" "Yeah, as a matter of fact he is." She replied, trying to sound as indignant as she could. "We've been seeing each other for a year now and it's becoming serious." "Really!" She said, her voice filling with skepticism. "Yes, really!" Denise replied, still sounding indignant. "He's a wonderful guy and I'd love for you to meet him. It would really mean a lot!" "Well…" she hedged. "I suppose I can't pass up the chance to finally meet your Mr. Right." "Good, so you'll come?" Denise's tone sounded hopeful. "Yeah, I'll meet him," Natalie agreed reluctantly. "Okay then!" She voiced, jubilant. "I assume, he's meeting us at the Plaza?" "No…actually, he's staying there and would like us to come up to his suite on the fourth floor." Natalie let out a heavy sigh. She really wasn't in the mood to do this at all, but to meet in someone's suite was too much. "As I recall, from the last time you took me there, there's a bar off the lobby. Why can't we meet him there?" "Because I know you detest cramped smoke-filled bars, so I suggested we meet in his room. Besides," she added. "It's more quiet and spacious there." "Ooookay…" Natalie agreed once more in the same reluctant tone. "Just give me about an hour and I'll meet you downstairs in the lobby, then we can share a cab." "Umm…Natalie." She sounded hesitant. "I'd love to do that, but I told Greg I'd be there in about 30 min., so if you don't mind, I'll meet you there. Just come on up to the room. It's 414." "414." Natalie repeated into the phone. "Okay, got it." "And Natalie?" "Yeah?" "Be sure to wear something sexy." Damn! She stopped talking, and her face filled with horror. Sexy? Had she actually said that? How could she be so thoughtless? Now she was going to blow the whole thing. Her heart began to race. "Sexy?" Natalie asked sounding totally baffled. Denise could hear the confusion in her tone and her heart began to race even more. Think fast Mayfield. What to say? "Oh did I say sexy?" She asked, her voice amazingly calm. "Gee, I guess Greg has me under such a spell; half the time I don't know where my mind is these days. What I meant to say was something elegant." "But I thought this was suppose to be casual?" Natalie went on, sounding more bemused by the minute. "Yeah, casual elegance," she corrected. "After all, Nat, this is the Plaza we're talking about." "Okay, makes sense to me, so what if I wear black dress pants and a festive blouse?" Natalie asked. "Will that do?" "Perfect," she said approvingly. "So I'll see ya in a little while. Okay?" "Okay," Natalie paused. "One other thing, though, before you go." "What is it?" She asked uneasily. "You didn't tell me Greg's last name?" "Greg?" A slight panic-stricken tone crept into her voice. Oh my gosh! She had forgotten to give her his last name and didn't have one prepared. "Yeah, remember, Mr. This-is-the one?" Natalie was chuckling. "Or have you already forgotten him." "Oh yeah, as I said before I don't know where my mind is sometimes." She laughed nervously. Think, Mayfield. A name. You need a name. Her eyes began a frantic search of the bathroom shelf, as if the answer were there. "It happens to us all." Natalie was saying as Denise's eyes continued to scan the items on the shelf. Hurry, Mayfield. Think of something!!! Suddenly, her eyes rested on a jar, and relief overcame her. This would do! She grabbed it. "His last name is Nivea." She blurted out. "Nivea?" Natalie's eyes narrowed. "Like in the cold cream? What kind of name is that?" Her tone was skeptical. "Ummm…not sure…" Denise hesitated, floundering, feeling panic rise once more within her. She turned the container around in her hand, and her eyes caught the fine print at the bottom. Made by the Beiersdorf Corporation. She smiled and said glibly. "I think he said his father's side was German or something like that." "Interesting…well, I can't wait to meet him." "Okay, so I'll see you in an hour?" Denise asked, her voice hopeful. "All right, see you then." Natalie hung up the phone and shook her head in perplexity. Nivea? What a name? Oh well…she'd heard stranger ones. Shaking off her bafflement, she headed for the bathroom and a quick shower. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 09/15 ************************************* The elevator came to a stop on the fourth floor, and as the doors opened, Natalie emerged with a wary look on her face. On the way over in the cab, she'd puzzled once again over her earlier conversation with Denise. As conversations went, Natalie had to admit; it was one of the oddest she'd had with her friend. Normally, calm, cool and collected, Denise had been totally the opposite on the phone, sounding uneasy, uncomfortable, and at times, downright alarmed. What was going on? What or who could be the cause of her unusual behavior? Greg? She wondered. Was it possible? In the past, men had never had any kind of effect on Denise. She had always been able to maintain her poise around the most charming creatures of the male race, always remaining self-composed around them. In fact, most of the time, a man would lose his composure around her, finding himself being her beck and call guy. Well…Natalie supposed it only took one man to turn a composed, self- reliant woman into an irrational, dependent, needy basket case. Take her for example. Before she'd met Nick, she'd been a lot like Denise: independent, strong-willed, and definitely immune to the spell of the opposite sex. And yet, it had all changed six years ago when Nick had risen from her table, looked at her through his beautiful angst-ridden peepers, and told her in a deeply sad and forlorn voice that he was dead. That's all it took. After that, she was no longer the same Natalie Lambert, and over the next six years, Nick's charm and allure slowly changed her into a needy, emotional wreck of a woman. Well, no more! She thought with a determined nod. From this moment on, it was back to being self-reliant, non co-dependent Natalie Lambert, a strong woman taking back her life. The elevator bell dinged, and suddenly recalling to why she was there in the first place her eyes drifted over to the far wall, to gaze at the room numbers. As she glanced over them, she heard the elevator doors open followed by a burst of laughter. Drawing her eyes away, Natalie saw a young couple emerge, their faces flushed with happiness. She watched as they turned to face each other and exchange loving gazes. A sharp pang went through her and her face began clouding over with thoughts of what could have been. No, Lambert! Don't go there! Shaking off the growing regret, she dragged her eyes away from the retreating couple to study the numbers. It took her only a moment to discover the room was to the right. She turned, and began to make her way down the lengthy hallway. As she strolled by the rooms, she couldn't help but notice that each entranceway had two stylish brass sconces around a white six-paneled door. A door, which undoubtedly led into a room of ultimate luxury, one that she'd always felt uncomfortable lapping on herself. She'd grown up in a middle class home, with an austere upbringing, being taught that frugality was the most important thing in life, and money should only be used on practical items and services. Well…there was no room for frugality, and austerity in this place, she surmised pragmatically, as she finally came to her destination, stopping abruptly in front of the door. Instead of reaching over to knock right away, Natalie paused to glance down and give herself a fleeting examination, checking for any unflattering wrinkles in her black silk pants and deep crimson red blouse. Seeing no visible creases, she looked up, and tapped on the door. Natalie stepped back and waited. A moment passed and no one appeared. She knocked again, more firmly this time. Another minute seemed to go by and again nothing. Puzzled, she glanced up at the numerals on the door. Yep! 414! She had the right place. So where was everybody? Inclining her head, Natalie pressed her ear against the door, trying to pick up any voices. At first, she heard nothing, but after a second or two, she could distinctly make out approaching footsteps. Yes! Someone was definitely there! Natalie straightened, and taking a step back, waited expectantly for it to open. But once again, nothing happened. Now, her bafflement was turning to irritation as she knocked, this time with more force than ever. "Hey, guys, this isn't very amusing," she called out. "Denise. Greg. I know you're in there. I can hear you. Please, enough already. Let me in." Natalie stopped knocking, and leaning against the door once more, listened. This time, there was a faint rustling sound, and as she pressed her ear closer, she could tell it was nearby. Someone was standing next to the door, but for some odd reason whoever it was, wasn't going to let her in. Why? Did she have the wrong room? Had she heard Denise incorrectly? As her mind began to recall the conversation with her friend over an hour ago, Natalie was positive Denise had told her room 414. Then what was going on? And why wouldn't they answer her? Fuming now, with her hand clenched in a fist, Natalie began to pound on the door. "Hey, open up," she demanded. "I can take a joke like the next guy, but this isn't funny. I know you're next to the door. I…" "Go away!" Came a deep, baritone, definitely, male voice through the door. Natalie jerked back, feeling slightly offended. After a moment, though, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Look, are you by any chance Greg Nivea?" "No!" She jumped, his stern reply startling her. Whoever this guy was, he certainly was rude. Her temper flaring, she struggled to go on in a calm manner, "Are you acquainted with him, because you see…this is rather embarrassing, but I was suppose to meet some friends in this room for drinks and I'm pretty sure this is the number they gave me. I would return to the hotel desk and ask the clerk, but I know it would be futile because they aren't allowed to reveal patron's room numbers, so I'm at a loss as to what I should…." Suddenly her words faded, as his voice came back at her. "Natalie?" He sounded confused and surprised. Her brows knitted into puzzlement. How did this guy know her name? She'd been careful not to give it out. "Yes…" she began warily. "That's my name, but how did you…" Natalie's words were cut off, as the door swung open. Her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. "Nick?!" she exclaimed. Nick didn't answer as he looked at her in astonishment. How could he be here? Natalie thought. He was gone, right? She leaned forward, and studied him more closely, her eyes squinting in the dim light. Then suddenly, she jerked back. It was Nick! He was actually here in the flesh. With growing concern, however, she noted that he was a disheveled mess. He was wearing nothing more than his black silk pajamas. His pajama top was opened halfway down the front, and with one sleeve slightly off his shoulder, the fine blond hairs and taut muscles on his chest were quite visible to her. His hair was longer since the last time she'd seen him and a tousled mess. Unable to resist the urge, she took a step closer to him, and immediately smelled the mixture of wine and blood on his breath. And was that an amber glow she'd caught just now in his eyes? Oh Nick! What happened to you? Disheartened, she started to reach up and touch his cheek. In one swift movement, he caught her wrist, stopping her, his stunned expression vanishing quickly from his face. In its place, the stoic mask she'd come to know so well appeared. "Natalie. What are you doing here?" Natalie caught the guarded aloofness in his voice and her heart sank further. Oh no! He wasn't wasting any time erecting that barrier between them. Well, if that's the way he wanted it, two could play at this game. "What do you mean, what am I doing here?" She shot back in an indignant voice. "What are you doing here?" "I've been living here for the last few weeks," Nick explained. There was a slight slur in his voice as he spoke and it didn't escape Natalie's notice. Her eye's narrowing, she began to look over his shoulder and into the room. She could see there were bottles strewn everywhere, over tables and chairs. There didn't seem to be a spot left untouched, and upon closer scrutiny, she could see that some of them were marked with a special label. Human, no doubt! Natalie turned back, swallowing down her anger and disappointment. "Is that what you call living, Nick?" She asked. "I'd say if you've been living at all, it's been very much on the edge." Nick's body tensed at her words and instinctively he moved to bar her way into the room with his arms. "If I'm living on the edge, it's my concern isn't it, Nat?" He asked with a glare, specks of amber flashing in his blue eyes. "Besides, don't worry, a few drinks won't destroy me. It's not like I'm going to die of cirrhosis of the liver." He paused and emitted a bitter laugh. "It takes a lot to bring our kind down." Natalie heard the self-loathing in his voice and it stabbed at her heart. It was all she could do not to reach over and try to touch him again…to reach out to him somehow and tell him that everything would be all right. Instead, she swallowed hard and spoke up in a calm tone. "Nick, do you think we could have this conversation inside?" Nick's face darkened. "We aren't going to have any conversation," he said, suddenly sounding sober, his speech no longer slurred. "You're going to leave." "Nick!" Her eyes went wide with surprise, as she tried to shield the hurt at his continual gruff manner. Again, logically, she understood what he was trying to accomplish: It was his way of distancing himself from her for her own safety and welfare, so he could retreat with a clearer conscience back into his dark world. But, emotionally, it hurt. "I'm sorry, Nat," he said. "But right now isn't a good time. It's too dangerous for you to be around me. I've…" he floundered, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. "I've had too much to drink." "I know you have," she said. "But I'm worried about you Nick. You need to talk to somebody. You can talk to me. Look, I'll just stay for a little while and even though I know you would never hurt me, I promise to stay away from you." Her voice, so gentle and caring, so full of love, was shattering his heart. He hated doing this to her! When Nick had opened the door and seen her, he'd wanted nothing more than to sweep her up in his arms and never let go. To say the hell with it…let the chips fall where they might, throw caution to the wind, and go for it. But reason had quickly returned, and with it, his staunch resolve to sever his ties with her once and for all. And sever them he would! Before anything happened to her. "I'm fine," he said, sharply. "Just leave." "No you aren't!" She crossed her arms and looked at him with sudden defiance, her eyes blazing. "And I'm not going to leave until we talk and I get some answers." Nick felt his heart beat with one loud thump in his chest. Oh, she was so beautiful…when she was this way…so determined, so courageous… so full of life. A smile began to tug at his lips and he could feel his resolve cracking. "Okay, Nat," he said. "You win. But…" He held up a warning finger, his face creasing into sobriety once more. "Just for a few minutes." Natalie uncrossed her arms and nodded. "Okay." His expression still severe, he dropped his arms from around the doorjamb, and stepped aside to let her pass. Natalie started through when the heel of her shoe caught in the tread and she stumbled forward. Catching herself, she jerked back but not before brushing up against Nick, ever so slightly. She froze, her breath catching. Great Lambert. Not more than a minute ago, you said you'd keep your distance and now look what you've done. You've probably blown it. Fearful of Nick's response, Natalie was hesitant to look at him, only finding the strength to stare at the golden hairs and taut muscles on his chest. An eternity seemed to pass before she heard him speak, "Natalie, look at me." His voice sounded calm. She thought. Maybe he wasn't angry after all. Tentatively, she raised her head to peer at him. A surprised gasp escaped her lips. His blue eyes were locked on hers, staring fiercely at her with intense longing. In seconds, desire flared like a lit match within her and she felt an immediate wet release. Nick's nostrils flared then his lips curled into seductive grin and Natalie knew he could sense her arousal. A shudder raced through her. Oh, how she wanted him and loved him. Well…she thought…so much for taking back her life. Yeah, right. In her dreams!!! Natalie watched Nick take a step closer, his gaze fixing on her lips, and sighed as she felt his hands on her cheeks. Her eyes closed, and her lips parted in anticipation. In her mind, she could already imagine how it would feel kissing that sensuous mouth again, exploring, tasting, feeling his touch once more, caressing her, his fingers dancing across her flesh, making her shake with desire, and hunger for more. His cool breath was now whispering across her skin and another shot of desire raced through her. He was so near now… Oh how she wanted him craved him…to be lost inside of him…give herself over to him …to be taken… Abruptly, she felt his hands leave her face followed by a whirl of cool air and, with a heavy sigh, knew he was gone. Opening her eyes, she saw with regret that Nick had moved behind a sofa, his eyes averted downwards and away from her. No doubt, he was trying to hide his beast from her. The vampire. If only she could make him understand that he didn't need to; she loved all of him. After some time had passed, Natalie watched him lift his head, and to her surprise and joy, saw the longing still on his face. Encouraged, she took a step toward him, but stopped, when flashes of amber began to glow in his eyes. "It's best you keep away from me, Nat," he warned. His expression was severe but she could hear the gentleness in his tone, and it filled her with hope that not everything was lost between them; there might still be a chance. Natalie flashed him an encouraging smile. "Okay, Nick." With conscious care, she began to make her way towards a nearby sofa. "Would it be too much to ask for a glass of water?" She asked a moment later when she'd settled down into the soft confines of the couch. "I'm awfully thirsty." Nick's lips curled into a slight grin. "Sure," he said. "I'll be right back." For a second or two, Natalie watched him head towards the kitchen. Then turning away, she allowed her eyes to drift over the room. She could see now that the place looked worse than she'd first thought. Along with the assortment of bottles, clothes were strewn everywhere, over the backs of chairs and on tables. And, as her eyes continued to scope the room, her nose began to pick up staleness in the air as if the place hadn't been cleaned for weeks. Nick has probably been keeping the maids away with hypnotism. She thought, her brows creasing into a disappointed frown. "Here you go," came a sudden voice beside her. Natalie looked up to see that Nick was holding out a glass to her. Quickly, Natalie wiped the reproachful look from her features, and forced a smile to her face. "Thanks," she said, taking the offered drink of water and setting it on the coffee table. "No problem." Nick turned, his eyes darting over the room. "I would have cleaned up the place if I'd known I was going to have company." Natalie watched him swing back to face her. His expression was a mixture of embarrassment and sobriety, and again the desire was there to comfort him. "Hey, it's okay," she soothed, and reaching over, tried to grab his hand, but in one swift movement, he jerked back, eluding her grasp. Hurt and disappointment swept over her as she watched him retreat into a chair across from her. Natalie took a sip of water and struggled to go on in a lighter tone, "Anyway you should see my place sometimes. Pretty frightening. There have been times when I've even found Sydney under my bed wolfing down partially eaten food, left there for who knows how long." "Nat, I've seen your apartment," he said. "You're one of the most meticulous people I know, but just the same thanks for trying to make me feel better." He gave her a sweet, tender smile and her heart leapt into her throat. With one look…one gesture…he could flip her emotions in seconds. "Hey, what are friends for, if not to give each other a boost now and then." "Yeah," he went on. "But I think in our case, you were the one giving me the boost and not the other way around. You were always my rock of support." Again, that beautiful warm, tender smile that always left her weak in the knees. Natalie, struggling to maintain her composure, went on. "We were for each other." Her eyes fixed on him evenly, her meaning clear. "I suppose…" The words hung in the air for a second as she watched his smile fade into that professional facade she knew so well and heard him speak up once more, "Nat what was it that you wanted to talk about?" At his question, Natalie turned away to look out the window at the dark skyline, gathering her thoughts. After a moment, she looked back at him. Nick was staring at her expectantly. She took a deep breath, and spoke up, "For one thing Nick," she began. " The last few weeks I've been trying to understand your motives for leaving Toronto, the police force, everything that we were working towards to find a cure…everything that we had…" "Oh Nat…" he began in that long-suffering tone she'd come to hear frequently over the years. That `You can't begin to understand, you're only a mere mortal, it's never going to work, oh why oh why, do I even bother to go on, maybe I should just meet my first sunrise in eight centuries' voice. Well enough already, she thought. I'm not going to let him continue. Natalie held up her hand. "No, let me finish," she said, and paused to set down her glass on a nearby table. "I keep telling myself that whatever your reasons were you did it because you thought you were doing the right thing, that it was for the best." "And it was, Nat," he said vehemently, giving her a severe look. "But, Nick can you honestly say, it was?" She asked. "You had a setback…a major one, but it wasn't something you couldn't have pulled yourself out of." He dropped his gaze, and began to rub one of his thumbs in the palm of his other hand. "Maybe I didn't want to," he murmured, his voice filling with apathy. "Oh don't give me that crap," she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. "I've seen you drag yourself back from far worse setbacks. You just didn't try." His head shot up to stare at her through defeated eyes. "What was the point of trying anymore, Nat? I am what I am and nothing is going to change that. There is no cure for me," he smirked. "No magical potion!" "We don't know that for certain," she countered. "I know my recent attempts haven't produced any possibilities for a cure, but it doesn't mean that there isn't one on the horizon." "On the horizon?" He looked at her incredulously and shook his head. "Oh Nat!" His acrimonious tone cut sharply into her nerves and fear began to surface. She forced it back and went on with stubborn determination. "You shouldn't have given up Nick. I'm sure that I could have found something. You just needed to have a little faith." "Faith," he scoffed. "Faith is something that I lost centuries ago." "I don't believe that Nick," she said. "And neither do you." Her tone was stern, her eyes blazing, as she watched uncertainty flicker across his face. For a moment, renewed hope bubbled up within her, but it soon dissolved when he finally spoke, "If I do have faith, Nat, it is in the knowledge that this beast is always going to be there, waiting to bring death and destruction to some innocent soul if I'm not careful. For the last century, I've been deluding myself into thinking it could be conquered, that there could be a cure…a bright light at the end of my tunnel of darkness. Well, no more!" His fist came down hard against a coffee table, and Natalie jumped. "I finally have come to my senses and realize my dream of becoming mortal was just that… a dream. It was nothing more than an illusion." His voice, full of incredible despair and hopelessness, ripped at her heart, and tears formed in her eyes. With perseverance, though, she blinked them back and went on, "I don't believe it. Your quest is real, Nick and although I haven't been able to make you human physically, you are already there emotionally and mentally. For though you may not see it, you show incredible human compassion and empathy and your moral conscience outshines any evil that you profess having within your soul. Bottom line, you're more mortal than most mortals I know. And…sometimes…" she choked as a wave of emotions assaulted her and her vision blurred through unshed tears. "The pain and hurt cuts like a knife…ripping through me to know that you don't see all of this…see the good…honorable man I fell in love with. Whom I'm still in love with and probably always will be." Her voice cracked, and the raw emotions she'd strived so hard to contain for the last month roiled to the surface. Tears began to roll down her face and looking away from Nick's unreadable expression, Natalie clamped a hand over her mouth, in a last ditch effort to quell her pain. But it was to no avail. A sob welled up inside her, and a moment later, erupted from her lips, echoing around the dimly lit room. The wall around Nick's heart was splintering quickly with Natalie's words, but when he heard her anguished wail it crumbled completely. In one swift movement, he was beside her, gathering her up in his strong arms, pressing her to him. She collapsed into the comforting haven of his arms, letting the tears fall onto his pajama top. His heart aching, Nick began to rock her back and forth. "Ssssh Nat, don't cry, mon ange…don't cry…" For a long while, he went on talking, whispering into her ear, his endearing words filling her with immense comfort, calming her, warming her heart. After a time, as her cries began to ebb away, she lifted her head from his saturated top and looked into his eyes. He cupped his hands around her face and began to run his thumbs over her cheeks, wiping more tears away. "You're right, Nat I don't see the same truths you see in me. But there is one truth that I do hold, here in my heart." He pressed her hand to his chest. "I love you very much…in fact…" He swallowed hard. "So much so that at times it hurts with the intensity of it…" Natalie watched blood tears spring from his eyes, and reaching up, wiped them away. At the same time, she felt more of her own fall onto her cheek. Nick leaned forward, and began to brush his lips over them, kissing each away. After a time, he pulled back, his thumbs caressing her cheeks once more, his eyes sweeping over her face, so full of love for her. She sighed against him, and with mounting anticipation, watched as he sought out her lips, finally covering them with his own. At first, his kiss was sweet and gentle as he relished the taste of her, savoring the closeness of being with her again. But as the passion rose quickly between them, it became more intense, and with soft nibbles, he captured one lip then the other between his teeth, sucking and tugging gently until, with a breathless whimper, Natalie parted her lips, opening up to him. Without hesitation, he plunged into her warmth, tasting and savoring every bit of her with a desire and need that bordered on desperation. Every nerve in Natalie's body was on fire as she found herself reciprocating with the same hunger. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers toying with his hair, she began to slide backwards, bringing him down on top of her. Nick pressed against her and she could feel his arousal, rubbing against her thigh. Oh he felt so good. If only this moment could last forever. Instinctively, Natalie began to move her body in a slow, languid movement around him. Nick groaned and, unable to hold back another second, his fangs descended. Her tongue moved seductively over them, feeling their sharpness. A low growl erupted from Nick's chest. He knew he should put a stop to this dangerous game, but he couldn't. She felt so wonderful…so warm…and he'd wanted her for so long. Nick molded his body closer to hers and suddenly felt her impale herself on a canine. He started to pull away, but Natalie held him firmly to her, as the droplets of blood cascaded down onto his tongue, then his throat. In an instant, her love swept over him and strangely for the first time, he felt buoyancy as if some light had begun to burn once more within him, caressing him from the inside out, cradling him, and warming him. Then, slowly images began to form in his mind. Pictures of…. Nick's eyes popped open. It couldn't be! It was impossible! All at once, he drew away and looked down at her, incredulous. "Nat?" Natalie reached up with her hand, running it down his cheek. "What?" Her eyes fixed on his in a knowing smile. Nick stared back, and swallowed hard. "You're pregnant?" ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 10/15 ************************************* Natalie's smile broadened. "As a matter of fact, I am." Nick's eyes dropped to her stomach. "We're going to have a baby?" His hand moved across her belly, and Natalie could hear the wonder in his voice. She sighed contentedly. "Yes, we are Nick." Removing his hand, Nick drew his gaze back to her. Natalie could see fresh blood tears in his eyes as he gave her the most brilliant smile she'd ever seen. Joy and happiness, such as she'd never known, washed over her. A tear broke free to cascade down her cheek. Nick leaned over and wiped it away then gathering her face in his hands, kissed her. Unlike earlier, the kiss was not filled with spine-tingling passion, but was soft and caressing, the kind she'd found she'd liked the best, knowing that it signified just how much he cherished her. After a time, Nick cupped his hands around her face, and drew away, looking at her in amazement. "This is unbelievable. How could this happen?" "Well…" She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling a little warm and knowing that her face must be flushed. "I think you know the answer to that question." "Yes I know, Nat." A boyish grin appeared on his face. "But it isn't possible for vampires to…umm…you know…" he faltered. "To have children." Natalie watched a pinkest hue creep up his cheeks and grinned. "Well… I guess you could say we beat the odds because we're proof positive that it is possible." "It is, isn't it?" Nick said slowly. Then as the full realization began to sink into his mind, a huge grin spread across his face and he pulled her abruptly from the sofa. Wrapping his arms around her back and knees, he lifted her. "Oh Nat! We're going to have a baby!" He began to spin her around the room, the words coming out in joyous repetition. Another bout of exuberance washed over Natalie and she felt a laugh begin to bubble up inside of her when dizziness suddenly struck. "Oh Nick," she said with a soft groan, moving her hand to her mouth. "You better stop or I think I might throw up." Nick stopped in his tracks, his eyes filling with concern. "Nat…I'm so sorry." He set her down gently on the couch, and sinking down next to her, reached for her hand. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine, Nick." She gave him a weak smile as the dizziness ebbed away. "I just got a little woozy." Nick began to rub her back. "Can I get you anything?" He asked, his eyes betraying more worry. "Some more water? Perhaps something to eat?" "Maybe some crackers in a little while, Nick, but I'll be okay. Just let me sit here for a moment or two." "Do you want to lie down?" Natalie's brow rose. "If I'm not mistaken, I think that's how I got into this condition in the first place." She shot him an amused smile. "You aren't propositioning me, are you Detective Knight?" He gave her a leering grin. "Maybe I am." His voice was low and suggestive, causing her heart to race slightly. "That's a promising start." "Is it?" Nick reached over, and sweeping her unruly curls back, began to stroke her hair. Her heart sped up and she leaned into his touch. "Yes," she managed to say over the excitement building within her. "Much better than the way this evening began between us." Nick's eyes darkened, and he removed his hand abruptly, resting it in his lap. Natalie emitted an aching sigh. "Nat, I'm sorry about the cold reception, but you have to understand I was attempting to close the door once and for all on us for your own good and well-being." "I know," she said sympathetically, swallowing down her momentary anticipation. "You were trying to save me from a fate worse than death." "At the very least, death itself, Nat," he said soberly. "That's why I left to begin with. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself around you much longer if I stayed in Toronto. You'd always been a temptation to me…" "I had?" She sounded surprised. "Oh Nat…" Nick breathed. "You must have known that I've always wanted to taste you. And after our one night together, the desires increased even more. I became fearful I wouldn't be able to control it much longer. With the last setback, and my renewed longing for human blood, that fear only increased. And I knew it was time to leave, for if I stayed, the beast inside of me would finally have his due, take you, leading you into death…" Natalie reached up, running the back of her hand down his cheek. "But instead, it led to the creation of a new life, Nick." "It led to the creation of a new life, but only because I couldn't remember who or what I was," he reminded her in a grim voice. "If I'd recalled everything, you wouldn't have survived. My instincts would have kicked in and I would have killed you." "Are you certain your instincts would have killed me?" "Nat, I told you once how the mortal's blood allows us to…well you know…" Natalie caught the embarrassment in his voice and smiled inwardly. "Yes, I know…" she acknowledged. "You said the blood is all tied up in the sexual act based on a physical need…a predator's instinct." "Yes." "But are you positive that it's instinct and not a learned behavior?" "A learned behavior?" He looked surprised. "How could it be learned?" "Well," she went on, her scientific nature kicking in. "From the *little* knowledge I've gained from you and the actual tests I've been able to run on you, I've discovered some aspects of your physiology are instinctive or physical. For example sunlight burns you no matter what. Even when you were suffering from retrograde amnesia and didn't know who and what you were, your body couldn't tolerate sunlight for more than a moment or two. The physical outweighed the mental elements. In other words, it made no difference whether you remembered or not, you were going to burn. "So taking the same line of thinking, we can apply it to you making mortal love to me. If instinct or a physical need played into it, you would've needed to bite me in order to complete the act, in spite of the amnesia. But that night, you didn't. Why? Because I believe physically or instinctively you didn't need to. "Are you saying perhaps it's a myth?" "Yes…and…" "But the urges are always there to bite, Nat," he insisted, cutting in. "And I've never been able to control it." "Maybe because you were *told* you couldn't control it, therefore you gave into those urges," she retorted. "In other words, it was a learned behavior." "So you think it's all in the mind. It's been taught to me?" "Yes…" she went on. "And that night was a good example. When you couldn't remember you were a vampire, you also couldn't recall what you'd been taught over the centuries…all of the legends, beliefs and myths, which had been instilled in you by…" "Lacroix," he finished, his face becoming troubled. "Bingo!" She exclaimed. "The man gets a prize." A sardonic grin crinkled her features for a second before she became serious once more. "Anyway, because you weren't hampered by those long-standing beliefs-learned behaviors if you will- you could control your vampiric urges and didn't feel the inclination to bite me." "No, I didn't because I was feeling other inclinations at that time." She could hear the low and uneven quality of his voice and her heart began to race once more. "Oh?" She inquired. "And what were those, Detective Knight?" Nick turned her slightly, cupping his hands around her face. "Only inclinations to show you how much I loved you. How much you meant to me." He drew her lips close to his, nuzzling her nose. "Even though I couldn't remember who you were, I knew in my heart that you were the most precious person in my life, in my entire existence." Words seemed to escape her as she sighed against him, and a second later, felt his lips cover hers once more. The kiss was long, and slow, full of care and devotion. There was no breath left in Natalie's body when he finished and she was relieved he kept his arms around her; her insides had melted, and she felt certain she would've fallen off the sofa and onto the floor without his support. After a long moment, Natalie managed to find her voice. "Oh Nick, sometimes you do have a way with words…and…" she paused, swallowing. "Kisses." With her hands, she reached up and cupped his face. "I love you so much." Her voice was raw with emotion. Nick placed his hand over hers on his cheek, and gazed back at her intensely. "Stay the night with me?" He asked sudden impetuosity. "Really?" There was a note of surprise and underlying excitement in her tone. "Are you going to be okay with that? How about your control?" He smiled and took her hand from his face, holding it in his own. "Are you already retracting your hypothesis, doctor?" "No, I'm not…" she said, her voice full of certainty. "I still believe it's possible for us to be together again, but I do think we need to take things slow. And besides…" She grinned. "I don't want to wear out my welcome." Nick raised her knuckles to his lips, kissing them lightly, his eyes still fixed on hers. "I don't think you could ever wear out your welcome with me, Nat. I could be around you forever and never tire of you." Natalie heard the seductive tone of his voice and a smoldering flame began to burn inside of her. She removed her hand from his mouth, laying it in her lap. "Again," she said in a not-so-steady voice. "You've managed to charm the socks right off me, you smooth talker you! So I guess I'd be crazy not to accept." "Good…" Her lips curled into a mischievous grin. "So what did you have in mind, Detective?" "Snuggling?" "Snuggling…mmmm…" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I could do snuggling." "The baby would have to be included in this venture," she warned in a teasing tone. "Would that be okay with you?" "Definitely…" He tapped the end of her nose playfully with his finger. "I wouldn't have it any other way." "Okay…but before I retire with you, two things need to be addressed." He heard the seriousness in her tone and his brows furrowed in worry. "And what are those?" "One," she said. "I'll need to leave early in the morning, so could you be my wake up call?" "That might be a problem." He sounded uncertain. "We better set the alarm." Natalie giggled. "Yeah, you do sleep soundly don't you?" "Well, for all you profess that I'm not dead, I really am. My sleep habits are evidence of that." She heard the self-loathing climbing in his voice once more. Time to nip it in the bud, once and for all, she thought. "Look I sleep soundly, too. Are you going to tell me that I'm dead?" Okay…okay." He raised his hands in defeat, grinning. "Point well taken. Lets just say for now we won't belabor it. What time do you need to leave?" "Around 7:30." Nick looked puzzled. "Why so early?" "I'm attending a coroner's conference at the Marriott, where I'm staying," she explained. "It starts promptly at 9:00 am." "When did you get here?" "Only a few hours ago. I wasn't suppose to attend, but Grace…" "Grace?" His brows cocked in surprise. "As in Grace Balthazar?" "Yeah…she returned the day I found out you'd moved on." Natalie went on to explain everything about Grace's return, promotion, and big chance to come to NY for the annual coroner's conference. She told him about her suspicions in regards to Grace's great aunt, and the odd conversation with Denise earlier. In closing, she added, "I see now it was a huge ploy to get me down to NY to see you again. But how in the world they ever knew you were here in the first place is a mystery to me. From what I can see, you've been living the life of a hermit. Haven't you? " "Pretty much…though I've been known to frequent the bar downstairs." He gave her a sheepish grin. "That must be it then," she surmised. "During these conferences, I know from firsthand experience, Denise likes to drag her girlfriends around to her favorite watering holes, especially expensive ones like that one." Nick shook his head. "But Grace's heartbeat is familiar to me. I would've sensed her presence if she and your friend had been there." "Would you?" She met his baffled look with a candid gaze. "From what I can see, you've been drinking heavily for the last few weeks, wallowing in guilt and misery, unaware of the world around you. Or am I wrong?" "No you aren't." A contrite breath escaped his lips. "If Grace had walked right up to me in the bar I wouldn't have noticed," he admitted. "But what I don't understand is if they were plotting all of this, how were they able to find out my room number?" "That's a mystery you'll just have to solve another day, Detective, but for now…" She wrapped her arms around him and wiggled her eyebrows at him seductively. "How about that snuggle?" He leaned in to nuzzle his nose against hers, smiling. "Okay, but before we go upstairs, what was the other thing you wanted to talk about?" She drew away. "Oh yeah, the other stipulation," she paused for a long moment. "Yes?" He prompted. "Well…." She hesitated once more. "Well what, Nat?" He sounded impatient. "Promise you won't get mad?" She asked, holding back a smile that was threatening to surface. "I'll let you know when you tell me." There was wariness in his eyes, but his tone was light. "Nick… I love you dearly, but promise me you'll call the hotel cleaning service tomorrow and have the maids clean up this place." She said with a candid look. "That bad, huh?" He gave her a sheepish grin. "Let's put it this way," she said. "All sorts of disgusting creatures are going to infest this place soon if you don't do something about it." Her lips curled downward into a disgusted grimace. "Okay…I promise." "Good and one other thing…" "There's more?!!" He exclaimed, his lips fighting to hold an indignant, defiant pose but tending to curl instead. "Yeah…" she went on. "Before you come to bed, you need to shower and…" She poked him in the ribs. "Brush…" Another poke. "Your…" Another poke. "Teeth…." ********************************************** Natalie awoke from a peaceful sleep to the touch of cool flesh against her. A soft sigh escaped her lips as her mind began to recall the events from the night before. Nothing eventful had really occurred after retiring. In fact, Natalie was embarrassed to admit that the combination of her pregnancy, the long travel day, and the roiling emotions of a reunion with Nick had taken a toll on her body, and almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was asleep, clothes and all. At one point, though, she did recall when he spooned himself behind her, smelling of Sandalwood soap and peppermint toothpaste and began to stroke her hair and gently rub her still flat stomach. With his closeness and gentle caresses, she'd drifted off into a deep slumber, feeling content and safe. Now the feeling was returning, as she felt arms tighten around her. Turning, she smiled at his warm and tender gaze, then for a moment she allowed her eyes to drift over him. With a sense of satisfaction, she noted he'd fulfilled his other promise to her, changing into a clean pair of black silk pajamas. Her gaze moved back to his. "Good morning, Nick," she said. His tender gaze creased into a boyish grin. "It is indeed a good morning, my sweet Natalie." He reached to taste her lips. Lacing his fingers around her neck, he pulled her up on top of him, holding her there in a deep, lingering kiss. After a while, he drew the kiss to a close. "I love you," he said, looking at her with such raw intensity it took her breath away. She swallowed. "I love you too," she told him, leaning in to kiss him once again, lightly across the lips. "I think I could get used to waking up like this every day with you," he admitted with a tender smile. "Then I take it this means you enjoyed the snuggling?" She asked with a gleam in her eyes. His hand went to her cheek. "Very much," he said softly. "You're so warm and cuddly and…smell delicious." "Do I?" She looked surprised and pleased. "And what other things have you noted about me?" "Well…I think…but I've not tried it…but…I'm almost certain…" Her eyes narrowed. "Certain of what?" "I think…. you're…" A mischievous look spread across his face. "Very ticklish!" He pounced, grabbing her sides. With his deft fingers, he started tickling her. Natalie burst out in hysterical laughter and tried to press her arms close to her sides in a vain attempt to block his attack. "Stop that." She shrieked repeatedly. But it was to no avail. He wouldn't stop. After a time, Natalie felt her cheeks flush from the exertion of laughing and trying to keep Nick's hands away from her. Just when, she thought she might die from lack of oxygen, he finally stopped. For a long moment, Natalie looked at him, catching her breath, her expression unreadable. A feeling of anxiousness began to sweep over Nick, as he waited expectantly for her to retaliate. Surprisingly though, she made no move to do so. In fact, a second later, she startled him when she leaned over, and said, "So as you were saying before you attacked me, you like my warmth, and scent?" Nick rolled her over gently on her back as Natalie reached up, locking her arms around his neck. "Oh yes…" he breathed. "And not just your blood, but…everything…" He cupped his hands around her face, and captured her lips in a caressing kiss. His fingertips brushed along her neck, then traveled down to the opening of her blouse. She moaned and arched against him, as she heard his voice, low and seductive, drift up once more to her ears. "Your soft skin…" He reached in to fondle her breast, flicking his thumb across a taut nipple through the lacy fabric of her bra. "Your hair…" He moved downward to bury his face in her illustrious tresses and inhale the apricot scent of her shampoo, losing himself in the soft texture of her curls. Natalie uttered a soft whimper. "What else do you like?" Her hands entwined in his hair, and she pressed him closer to her. Nick shuddered against her. "This?" She rubbed herself in sensual motions around his arousal. "Oh yes!" Suddenly, he flipped them over. With his hands, he cradled her head, and bringing her lips towards his, kissed her long and hard and deeply. His hands wandered down her body to cup her buttocks and pull her hard against him, moving his hips against her. Natalie moaned and danced around him once more, then suddenly stilled. A frustrated groan erupted from his chest, and he pushed against her, trying to entice her to move. Instead, she cupped her hands around his face, bringing the kiss to a quick close. Passion-filled, but still amazingly blue, eyes looked up at her. "Nat?" Puzzlement crept into his voice. "What's going on?" "We need to break this up," she said, untangling herself from his arms, and giving him a playful grin. "Remember, the conference, Nick?" "Now?!!" He watched her get up from the bed, his brows rising in disbelief She turned around to face him with an even look. "'Fraid so, buster." "But what about the conference we were having a second ago?" He reached for her, catching her arm. "Wasn't that much more enjoyable?" Natalie jerked out of his grasp. "'Fraid it will just have to wait." She took a hasty step away from the bed. "Wait?!!!" He was stunned. "Yep," she intoned triumphantly. He moaned into the pillow. "How could you do this to me?" "You'll survive." She answered, leaning over to retrieve her shoes from under a chair. "I suppose I deserve this for tickling you." "You could say that, but perhaps, if you're a good boy, we can continue where we left off later." Natalie sat down and slipped on her shoes, flashing him a sly smile. "Promise?" His voice sounded hopeful. "Yeah." "In that case, I suppose I'll forgive you if you'll do one thing for me?" Natalie tilted her head. "What's that, she cautiously asked?" He gave her an affectionate smile. "Allow me to take you out to dinner tonight?" She grinned. "Okay. It's a deal. What time?" "I'll bring the coach to your place around 8:00 pm?" "Perfect it will give me enough time to dress up." "Good, now with that settled." He swung his legs over the side of the bed, getting up. "If you don't mind, I think I'll have a cold shower." As he started making his way gingerly over to the bathroom, Natalie caught the discomfort in his eyes. She stifled another laugh, giving him a sympathetic look. "Poor boy!" ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 11/15 ************************************* Natalie was pouring some hot water into a mug when she felt a nudge at her shoulder. Turning her head slightly, she noted playful eyes peering at her. She set her cup down on the snack table, her lips curling into a broad smile. "Denise!" "Hi there, ol'gal." Denise leaned over, giving her friend a warm hug. "How are you doing?" "Fine," Natalie said, drawing away. "I was wondering if you were going to show up." "Rough morning." She mumbled. "Had a hard time getting up." Natalie brows arched. "Oh?" "Yeah, I was at the Grand Bar down at the Soho Grand Hotel on West Broadway last night. Met this *divine* Spaniard," she said with a wistful smile. "I believe Carlos was his name. After a few drinks there, we headed to the Copacabana where we danced everything from reggae to salsa to hip-hop until early this morning. Honey…" The smile faded into a wan look. "I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I'm pooped. That guy wore me out." Natalie watched her lean over and pick up a cup, pouring some coffee. Stifling a laugh, she put on her best-shocked look and went on, "But what happened to poor Greg Nivea?" "Okay," Denise admitted with a contrite sigh. "You caught me. There wasn't a guy named Greg Nivea in my life. But the big question is…" Her eyes came to life, sparkling with mischief. "Is there one in Natalie's life?" "A Greg Nivea?" She inquired in a teasing tone. "Mmmm…I don't think so." Denise slapped her playfully on the arm. "Come on. You know what I mean." Natalie laughed. "Yes I do, but perhaps that's confidential." She grabbed her mug, and turning, headed back to her table, Denise following right behind. "Confidential!" Denise voiced with a trace of irritation. "After all the planning and scheming Grace and I went through to get y'all back together." Natalie sat down. "How do you know we're back together," she countered cagily. Denise took a seat next to her. "The evidence is pretty clear. You haven't wiped that silly grin from your face since I laid eyes on you. You look happy as a clam at high tide." She took a sip from her cup, giving her a complacent smile. "Something must have happened." Silence reined as Denise watched Natalie pull a tea bag from her purse, unwrap it, and drop it into the hot water. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Since when do you drink tea? And decaf ones, to boot?! What's going on here?!" Natalie shrugged. "Nothing Denise. I just thought I'd try to cut back on the caffeine some. Is that okay with you?" "Yeah, I'm just kind of surprised, that's all," Denise commented, still looking wary then shaking it off, she added with a smug grin. "Anyway, in regards to last night and your obvious joy today, I gather things progressed between you two. "We talked." Natalie acknowledged, her face unreadable. "Talked!" Denise gaped. "I hope the reconciliation entailed more than talking!" Natalie tilted her head and smiled. "You know Denise, you have a pretty dirty mind." "I'm just thorough in my investigation," she explained, her eyes lit with wickedness. "I need to obtain all the facts." "Yeah…well speaking of being thorough, how in the world did you and Grace manage to obtain Nick's room number?" "Oh that was easy," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "Really!" Natalie's brows rose. "Well I'm all ears." Denise began to explain everything from the time she and Grace walked into the Bar Seine to Nick's entrance to Denise seeing Nick's room number on his bar tab to planning the entire scheme with Grace. "So bottom line, this was Grace's idea?" Natalie concluded. "Yeah, I hope you're not angry with her." There was a touch of worry in her tone. "Grace knew if she called you about Nick being here in NY, your stubbornness and pride would have gotten in the way and you wouldn't have come." "Is that what she said?" Natalie asked sounding surprised. "Something along those lines," Denise said. "And I have to agree. You can be so bull-headed, so obstinate…so…" Natalie chuckled. "Okay, I get the picture," she said, and removing the tea bag from the cup, wrapped it around a spoon, draining the residue into the mug as she went on. "I guess this means Ol'Aunt Betsy is going to survive?" Denise caught the facetious tone in Natalie's voice and smiled. "Yeah, last I heard she made a miraculous recovery and Grace is already back in Toronto." "Amazing." Natalie shook her head. "You two are really something." She reached over and placed her hand over one of Denise's, blinking back tears. "I sure have two wonderful friends." Denise squeezed her hand, forcing down her own emotions. "We were simply trying to fix something that should have never been broken to begin with." Natalie caught the implication in her tone, and broke into a slight grin. "Well…as it stands now, the broken part might just be fixable, so I gotta admit you ladies did a great job." "Good…because if things didn't work out between y'all, I was going to strongly consider Nick for myself," she teased. "I mean Natalie! How could you let such a delectable delight out of your reach?" "You talk like Nick is some kind of tempting morsel or dessert." "Isn't he? I mean you could get lost in those gorgeous peepers of his. They are so captivating…so mesmerizing…so…" "Hypnotic." She finished, feeling another smile play at her lips. If you only knew, Denise. If you only knew! "Well…yeah," Denise was saying. Natalie looked at her friend seriously. "Nick's good looks aren't the only thing he has going for him," she said. "He's compassionate, trustworthy, loyal, honest, principled…" "All great attributes. Does he have a twin?" Natalie grinned. "No, `fraid not. When Nick was created, God broke the mold." "Too bad…someone good and honorable like him might have been able to change my decadent lifestyle." Natalie's grin widened. "I don't know about that. I think only you can change your exotic lifestyle. But seriously," she went on, her smile fading. "For all of Nick's goodness and honorability, I'm afraid…" Natalie's voice caught and Denise reached over to cover her friend's hand. "What Natalie?" She took a deep breath, reining in her emotions. "I'm afraid he doesn't always see how good a person he really is, and because of this, he feels he doesn't deserve to be happy." "Is that why he left?" Denise asked hesitantly, removing her hand. "I think partly, yes." Her words came out slowly, carefully. "He was also afraid…" "Afraid of a commitment?" Denise interrupted with a smirk. "Aren't they all?" A slight grin lit Natalie's face then she became serious once more. "No, Nick isn't like that. He was afraid he would ruin my life." "Ruin it?" Denise sounded confused. "How?" Natalie took another deep breath and went on, trying to keep her face neutral. "Because of his past, about things he's done, of which he's not proud." Denise gave her a baffled look. "What things?" "It's complicated," she said surreptously. "I can't tell you because I've promised Nick I wouldn't reveal them to anyone. I hope you understand." "Okay…I understand, but the past is past, right? You said so yourself, he's a much better person now, isn't he?" "Yes, but unfortunately he doesn't see it that way. Sometimes, he becomes so bogged down with guilt about what he's done that…." "He can't see the forest for the trees." Denise finished. "Exactly." "Well…if anyone can make him see it, you can Nat. I've never known anyone with such determination like you." "It took all of the determination I could muster and some of my stubbornness to penetrate through Nick's self-loathing last night." Natalie admitted candidly. "But…" she added, her voice becoming self- assured. "I feel fairly confident I actually made some strives with his mental and emotional state." "How about his physical state?" Denise waggled her eyebrows. "Okay. Enough!" There was warning note in her voice, but she couldn't refrain from the slight smile coming to her lips. "The rest is not for public consumption." "Oh, so you do admit something happened?" Denise asked teasingly. Natalie eyed Denise with a steady gaze. "I'm not admitting anything." Denise held up her hands. "Okay…I'll leave it alone. For now!" Her tone was stern, but lightened quickly as she went on, "When are you seeing Mr. Self-recrimination again?" "Tonight," Natalie said. "He's taking me out to dinner." "Oooo…" The playful glimmer was back in Denise's eyes. "He strikes me as the sort of guy who loves romantic candlelit dinners. Maybe Le Cirque, The View, La Reserve, Tavern on the Green or The Rainbow Room." Natalie shook her head. "I haven't a clue. All he said was he'd send the coach around for me at 8:00 pm." "Oh…so what is Cinderella going to wear?" Natalie shrugged. "I don't know. Nick wasn't too forthcoming with the dress code, but when I said I'd be dressing up, his response was `good.'" "Good!" Denise regarded her with a touch of exasperation. "That could mean anything. Didn't he give you any hints?" "No, he was rather distracted at the time." Her lips curled into a roguish grin. "Oh?" Denise arched her eyebrows. "In what way?" "Never mind." Natalie replied sounding annoyed. Denise let out a frustrated sigh. "Okay…I know when to give up. But, if you won't provide me any details about last night, at least let me help you pick out something to wear," she insisted. "Or better yet, why don't we go shopping after the conference today?" "Oh I don't know, Denise." Natalie looked unsure. "I don't think I can afford some of the places you'd take me to." "Relax, I can slum it at times," she said with a wry smile. "In fact, I know a great little boutique on 23rd street. Jacques, the owner, is a close personal friend of mine." It was Natalie's turn to waggle her brows. "Jacques? A close personal friend?" "Yes, despite your tight-lipped manner about your relationship with blondie, I'm more than happy to talk about mine with Jacques. Her face took on a wistful look, her lips curling into a reminiscing smile. "Ah…such a passionate whirlwind romance it was! You know, it's true what they say about Frenchmen." Natalie's eyes flashed with amusement. "Oh? And what is that, pray tell?" Denise sighed with contentment. "They make magnificent lovers." Natalie tossed her a derisive look. "Oh really!" "Yes, they are true connoisseurs of art, fashion, cuisine and, of course of love." "Of course," Natalie agreed with a trace of sarcasm. "So what happened to Mr. Berenges?" Denise shook her head sadly. "Distance played a factor in our relationship. We only saw one another occasionally when I came to NY. Of course…" A smile began to play at her lips. "Meeting Paul at the Forensic Science Seminar last summer in New Jersey might have had something to do with the break-up." "Yes, that could've been the icing on the cake," Natalie agreed with a wry grin. "Well…you know Nat," she began sheepishly. "Monogamy hasn't always been my strongest suit. But, at least like most of my former paramours, Jacques and I have remained good friends. There are no hard feelings." "I'm relieved to hear it. I wouldn't want him taking out any long- buried grudges against you on my dress selection if it needed any quick alterations." Denise gave her a hopeful smile. "So I take it this means you'll go?" She let out a reluctant sigh. "Yeah…I suppose my wardrobe could stand to be improved somewhat." "Good!" She slapped the table, her face jubilant. "We'll pick out something that will drive blondie mad with desire." "Hey…hold on a second." She held up a warning finger. "I'm not sure I'm the type to wear anything too revealing." "Oh for heaven sakes!" Denise shot her a maddening glance. "You can't hide forever under those oversized pant suits and that damn camel hair coat I see you drag around to every conference we attend. I know you've got something under all of those layers you've insisted on hiding from the world. Why not flaunt it?" "Okay, I'd be willing to broaden my horizons and try on some alluring outfits. But!" She held up another cautioning finger. "They can't be too provocative. I don't mind coming out of hiding to display a little, but it must be elegant, not tasteless." "Don't worry! Once Jacques has you in his shop, he'll make you look so exquisite, but in a refined sort of way, Nick won't be able to take his eyes off of you. You'll be treated like a queen all evening being placed on the highest royal pedestal ever." "Please no pedestals!" Catching the horror-stricken look in Natalie's eyes, Denise broke into a wide grin. "Oh…have I touched a nerve?" "Yeah…you might say that." "So Nick has you on one of those, does he?" "Yeah, about as high as one would ever get. Although…" she paused, her face softening. "Last night held promise." "Please!" Denise pleaded, fighting to hold her best suffering pose. "No more leading comments. If you're not willing to spill the beans about last night with Nick, your knight in shining armor, then don't say anything at all. I can't stand the suspense. It's pure torture for me." Natalie stifled a laugh, and went on, trying to sound sympathetic. "Sorry, I won't say anything more." "Okay good," Denise said. "That we've got that settled, from the bare bones you've been *willing* to throw me thus far, I gather you were lowered slightly from the pedestal last night, but not altogether, right?" "Yeah," Natalie agreed. "I think you could say that's a good summation." "So our mission, if we choose to take it." She paused, breaking into a grin. "Is simple. We'll just have to find the right dress to knock you down from it completely." Denise's eyes gleamed with delight as she watched a flush slowly creep up Natalie's face. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 12/15 ************************************* Natalie was brushing her hair when the phone rang. She jumped, her heart leaping into her throat. Who could that be? Nick? She glanced over at the clock. 7:50 pm. He wasn't supposed to be here for another ten minutes. Maybe he was early? She placed the brush down, and made her way over to the phone, her heart was racing now. She picked up the phone. "Hello," she said, her voice coming out surprisingly steady. "Natalie," came an anxious voice. "How does it look?" Natalie sighed, her heart calming instantly. "Denise, Nick is going to be here any second and you're calling me about the dress?!" Denise, hearing the exasperation in Natalie's tone, smiled. "Yeah, I'm curious how everything looks." Natalie glanced down. "It looks okay, I guess." "Okay?!" There was a note of dismay in her voice. "It should look better than okay." "It does, but…" she hesitated. "You know what I mean." Her face flushed. "Oh Natalie, don't be such a prude." "Denise. I don't mind flaunting it a little, but I feel like I'm hardly wearing anything and if a light breeze comes by, I might lose the whole outfit." "Look, Natalie, don't worry," she calmed. "Besides, the only way you're going to lose it is with Nick's help." "Denise!" There was shock in her voice. Denise sighed. "Okay…I'll stop." "Good." There was a short silence before Denise asked, "So… were there any messages from your knight when you returned from your little shopping excursion?" "No," Natalie said, then hedged. …I mean…well…sort of." "What do you mean…sort of?" "He sent me flowers," she said. "A whole roomful." "Really?" Her voice sounded excited. "What kind?" "An assortment of roses." Natalie looked around her room and smiled. The tables, and dresser were garnished with vases filled with flowers of every color and size. "It resembles a botanical garden in here. I've never seen anything like it." "Was there a card?" "Yeah." Natalie acknowledged. "Well…" she prompted, sounding impatient. "Are you going to share the contents?" Natalie picked up the card. "It was a short message," she explained. "But lovely even though I'm not sure of the implication." "Well…" Denise's voice was filling with exasperation. "It said simply…Dear Natalie, you are my bed of roses. Love Nick." "Mmm…sounds like a delightful puzzle." There was a wicked lilt in her tone. "Denise." She warned. "But all the same," Denise added quickly. "A beautiful sentiment." Natalie was about to reply when she heard a knock. Spinning around, her eyes wandered over to the door, her heart beginning to race once more. She turned back to the phone. "I gotta run. Nick's here." Denise could hear the nervousness in her voice. "Okay, relax, take deep breaths." She soothed. "And have a great time." "Okay." "And one other thing." "What?" Natalie's voice was becoming impatient. "This time I want details." Her friend's tone was stern. "I'll think about it," she said. "Now goodbye." Natalie hung up the phone. There was another knock and her heart leapt into her throat. "I'll be right there." Natalie called out. She raced over to a chair, and grabbed her stole. Wrapping it around her shoulders, she peered in the mirror briefly then headed for the door. Looking through the peephole, she could see Nick standing in the hall. Well here goes nothing, she thought. With a shaking hand, she ran her fingers down her dress then opened the door. Nick greeted her with a boyish grin, but it faded quickly into a look of astonishment as she watched his eyes move from her face down her body. With Jacques and Denise's insistence, she had decided to go with a long black gown. A stretch matte jersey halter, it had horizontal crystal trimmed bands across a deep v-neckline and opened in the back. The lower half of the gown clung beautifully to the curves of her hips, trailing downward to a frontal slit, which ran up to the top of her thighs, exposing her shapely legs underneath. On her feet there were slip on black sandals, marked with tonal crystal detail. To complete the assemble, Natalie had purchased a black Tulle Stole with shimmering beaded floral embroidery, which she now pulled more tightly around her, suddenly feeling self-conscious with Nick's continual stare. At last, his eyes returning to her face, Nick found his voice. "You look positively stunning." Natalie caught the desire in his eyes and a tingle of pleasure rushed through her. "Thanks, Nick," she managed. "You don't look so bad yourself." And he didn't. He was dressed in a black suit with white shirt and red tie. The dim light in the hallway seemed to cast a soft glow over his hair, accentuating the blond highlights. Nick reached out and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. "Not as good as you." Before she could respond, he leaned forward and kissed her long and hard and deeply. After a time, he cupped his hands around her face, breaking contact. Natalie stepped away, taking a much-needed breath, her eyes looking slightly dazed. "Wow!" She pressed a hand to her chest. " I didn't expect *that* kind of reaction! Maybe I should dress like this more often." Nick heard the breathlessness in her tone and smiled, pleased that he could have such an effect on her. "Maybe you should." He agreed, tapping her nose playfully with his finger. "But honestly Nat, you'd generate the same reaction from me if you were wearing scrubs." She regarded him with a mischievous look. "Oh, so I take it you like my scrubs?" His smile widened. "I like the person inside them," he corrected in that deep seductive voice which always made her tingle inside. Uncertain how to respond to his comment, she remained silent for a moment smiling shyly at him. Then she finally found her voice. "Would you like to come in for a second? I need to get my purse." Nick grinned. "Okay." Following Natalie, he entered a medium-size room, and noted quickly it was furnished in an English, eclectic style of blues and greens. A king size bed with end table on both sides rested in the center of the room against one wall. There was a small writing table with two chairs next to a large bay window, overlooking the city and a dresser, opposite from the bed. A sea of red, pink, and yellow roses peppered every piece of wood furniture in the room. Nick looked at her, giving her a pleased nod. "I see you got the flowers." "Yeah, they really brighten up the room," Natalie remarked with a sweet smile. "I have to admit when I saw them, I was overwhelmed. Nick you must have spent a fortune buying out an entire florist." He caught the concern in her voice and his heart ached. "You were worth every penny, Nat." His voice was full of sincerity. "I know how much flowers mean to you." Natalie walked over to him. "Yes, well…just the same you really went overboard, but I absolutely love them." She reached up and locked her arms around him. "And here's a little something to show my appreciation." One hand went behind his head and she pulled him down towards her lips for a long, deep kiss. He moved willingly and allowed her to gently explore his mouth. Her tongue moved slowly across his eyeteeth and amazingly the vampire lay dormant as another part of his body responded to her soft caresses. After a moment, she pressed her hands around his face, drawing her lips slowly away from his. A light, playful smile formed on his lips. "Not bad." Dropping her hands from around his face, Natalie took a step back, pretending to pout. "Is that all you have to say is `not bad?!'" Nick reached over and pulled her back into his arms, chuckling. "Okay. Okay…it was very impressive." He leaned in to kiss her lips again, nibbling along her lower lip for a moment before pulling back from her. Natalie gave him a contented sigh. "That was a much better answer, Detective. And I must say a great response." Nick reached up, his fingers caressing her cheek then tangling in her hair. "I'd love to continue, but I made dinner reservations for 8:30 and I'm afraid we need to move along." His cool lips lightly touched her forehead. Natalie drew away reluctantly from his gentle touches, and turning around, began to make her way across the room. "Where are we going?" "Ah…I'd rather not say. I want it to be a surprise." She retrieved her purse from the top of her dresser and turned back to face him, hearing the mysterious tone in his voice. Her lips curled into a wry grin. "Alright…I think I can handle the suspense for another twenty minutes. Shall we go?" Nick extended his arm out to her. "Okay…Milady." He said with a smile. Natalie looped her arm through his and they made their way downstairs. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 13/15 ************************************* The limousine pulled up to the curb's edge, and a second later, a driver emerged from the dark interior of the car. He reached over, and opened the back door. Nick and Natalie stepped out onto the curb and looked over at the large glass pavilion in front of them. Natalie flashed Nick a surprised look. "You brought me to Tavern on the Green?" Nick smiled. "I thought you might like the decorations. The restaurant has a reputation for outrageously overdoing it." "Yes, I've heard the décor is something to be seen. In fact I read a commentary once, which said that if Oz had a restaurant, this would be it." Nick looked perplexed. "Oz?" "Yeah, the Wizard of Oz." Her brows arched. "You've heard of the movie, haven't you?" "Oh yeah…" The puzzlement lifted slowly from his features. "Is that the one where the wizard says `Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain?'" Natalie tilted her head. "Yes, that's the one." Nick saw the questioning look in her eyes and went on, "I've never seen the movie, but Tracy used it as an analogy for the last case we were on. Natalie caught the sadness in his voice. Oh no! The last case! The alleged possession. Better do something quick Lambert to nip this in the bud before he falls into major angst. In one fluid motion, she looped her arm through his, giving him a teasing smile. "Even if you aren't familiar with the movie, I am, so why don't you take me inside and *I'll* let you know whether Tavern rates with Oz. Is it a deal?" Nick tightened his arm around hers and broke into a boyish grin, remorse forgotten. "Whatever milady wishes." They hurried up to the entrance and Nick opened the door for her. Natalie slipped through with Nick following close behind. Moving up beside her, he looked over in time to capture the wonder in her eyes as she began to take in her surroundings. Waiters in fine tuxedos were bustling around to their various assigned tables while wine stewards were pouring an assortment of wines into long-stem crystal glasses. Burning candles, casting soft yellowish glows off the glassed-in windows of the restaurant, rested in the middle of each table surrounded by white and pink damask cloths and fine silverware. There were limitless bouquets of flowers on the tables, and floor. Crystal chandeliers and beveled mirrors framed in brass hung with splendor on the ceiling and walls, giving off the appearance that the room was bathed in gold. Natalie looked over at Nick, her face flushed with excitement. "This is quite a restaurant." Nick lifted Natalie's hand, brushing his lips across her fingers. "Be careful, Nat," he warned. "I have ulterior motives for bringing you here." "You do?" Anticipation for a different reason was now in her voice. "Yes, but don't worry, your reputation will remain intact…" He leaned over, and whispered. "At least until later." His voice was low and seductive, and Natalie felt instant heat on her face. Nick drew away, his blue eyes locking on hers intensely. She swallowed and started to respond when the maitre d' made a sudden appearance. "Welcome to Tavern of the Green," he said with a gracious smile. "Reservation?" Nick released her hand, and turned to face him with an impassive expression. When he spoke, his tone was amazingly steady. "Yes, the name is Knight." He scanned the list in front of him, stopping at the name. "Ah…here it is." Glancing up, he grabbed two large menus. "This way, please." The maitre d' led them through the main pavilion into a smaller uninhabited room, with more chandeliers on the ceiling and starched, white and pink damask cloths, long, stem crystal, white candles, and freshly cut flowers on every table. He seated them in a secluded corner, handing them each a menu. No sooner had they settled themselves than a tall waiter with a large mustache appeared, wearing a tuxedo. "I'm Walter," he acknowledged in a slightly arrogant tone. "I'll be your waiter this evening. Let me go over the specials with you." After reciting a long list of appetizers, and main courses, he asked for their drink order. Natalie piped up immediately, "I'll have a club soda." "Very good." He turned to Nick. "And you sir?" "I'll order a glass of your house wine, preferably a Cabernet Sauvignon." "Very good sir," he said. "I'll give you a few minutes to decide." He nodded curtly to both of them before departing. After he was gone, Natalie turned to the menu, but soon glanced up at Nick with a befuddled look. "I don't know where to begin. The choice is too overwhelming for me." Nick reached across the table to cover her hand with his own, smiling. "Why don't you allow me to order for you?" Natalie looked surprised. "But you don't eat. How will you be able to make a selection for me?" "I may not have tried the food, but the last time I was here, my mortal guests did." "Really!" There was curiosity in her voice. "When was that?" "Back in the 70's when this restaurant re-opened," he said. "I worked for two years in the Archeology Department with the Museum, and sometimes dined here with my fellow co-workers. Or pretended to." He grinned sheepishly. "At the time, they raved about the venison and I see it's still on the menu. Want to try it?" "Why not! I'm *game.*" She snickered. "Bad pun, wasn't it?" Nick chuckled. "I've heard worse." A comfortable silence fell over them as Natalie began to look around the empty room. When she turned back, there was a puzzled look on her face. "Ummm…Nick?" "Yes?" "Correct me, if I'm wrong, but are we dining alone this evening?" "As a matter of fact, we are," he said with mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I bought out the entire room." Natalie gaped. "You did what?" Nick squeezed her hand. "I think you heard me correctly, Nat." "But Nick." There was concern in her voice. "It must have cost a small fortune." Nick pulled her hand to his lips. "You were worth it. Besides…" He paused, his voice becoming husky. "It affords us more privacy." He began to dust soft kisses over her fingers, sending an electric jolt through her. With a gentle pull, she removed her hand from his grasp, and reaching for the water glass, took a gulp, hoping the cool liquid would simmer her fast growing heat-filled state. After a few more sips, she placed the glass on the table and started to say something, when the waiter suddenly reappeared. "Have you both decided?" Walter asked, regarding Natalie. Nick caught his attention. "I'll order for the lady and myself." Walter puffed out his chest, speaking up in the same haughty tone as before. "Very good, sir." Nick proceeded to order the Lobster Bisque with Tarragon Crème Fraiche, Medallions of Venison with Haricots verts, and Shitake Mushrooms and Chestnut Mashed Potatoes for her, and to Natalie's surprise, a rare steak for himself. When the waiter departed, Natalie`s eyes were beaming with joy. "You're going to try the steak?" "Only for you Nat," he said, flashing her a tender gaze. Natalie returned the look then breaking contact, surveyed the room once more. Like the other room, she noted there were many beveled mirrors on the walls, paintings, etchings and glassed-in windows. After a moment she turned back to Nick. "This place is incredible," she said with wonder. "Do you know how many rooms there are?" "If I remember correctly there are six," he said. "This is the Crystal Room and the one we passed through was the Crystal Pavilion. The Rafters and Chestnut rooms, noted individually for their rustic baroque-inspired paneling and wormy chestnut beams are adjacent to this one. And The Terrace and Park rooms, known for their private outdoor gardens surround the other four." She shook her head. "Amazing." "What is amazing, Nat," he continued, "Is the origin of this place. Did you know it originally was a sheepfold?" "Really!" She looked intrigued. "Yes, in 1870, the structure was designed by Jacob Wrey Mould to house 200 South Down sheep. It remained intact for almost 65 years, until the parks commissioner, Robert Moses decided the building had a higher calling, that of a restaurant." "What did they do with all the sheep?" "Moses banished them to Brooklyn's Prospect Park." "Ah… at least they survived," she said with relief. "So when did the restaurant open?" "In 1934," he said. "From what I've read, a coachman in full regalia was at the door, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia opened it with a brass key, and in the company of Moses, toured the facility. After chatting with the chef and sampling some of the food, LaGuardia and Moses announced their satisfaction with the restaurant." "I take it met with success for a long time?" "Through the 40's, 50's and 60's it did well." Nick said. "Unfortunately by the early 70's, having fallen largely out of touch with the times, the restaurant closed." "Until?" Natalie prompted. "Until Warner Leroy, creator of Maxwell's Plum, fashioned his own imprint for the restaurant with a spectacular two-year renovation that I believe cost somewhere in the ball park of $10 million dollars." "And this décor was the result." Her eyes drifted over the room once more. "Yes," he said. "He was known to have lavish tastes, especially when it came to brass, etched mirrors, stained glass, antique prints, chandeliers and paintings. He wanted to create a visual theatre in which to display his passion for fine art and fantasy." "Well, I think he succeeded." Natalie remarked. Just then, the waiter appeared with their drinks, setting Natalie's club soda down then Nick's wine. After discovering they didn't require anything else for the moment, he departed. As soon as he was gone, Nick removed a flask from the inside pocket of his dinner jacket, and looking over, searched Natalie's eyes for any disapproval. She smiled, and reaching across the table, squeezed his hand. "It's okay, Nick." She removed her hand and he began to pour the dark red liquid into his wine glass. "It's not okay," he countered. His voice was laced with a trace of disgust. "But you know it's important for me to stay in control around you." Natalie nodded soberly. "I know," she paused, taking another sip of water. When she drew the glass away, a wicked grin had appeared on her face. "So… I gather this is your way of propositioning me again Detective?" He capped the flask, placing it back in his pocket, returning the grin. "Yes," he said. "I think you can safely say I am." He seized her hand, and began to brush his thumb across her knuckles. "After all, we have some unfinished business to take care of, don't we?" His tone was passionate, filled with yearning. Her pulse quickened. "Yes," she managed then struggling to keep the steadiness in her tone, she went on. "Am I to assume there might be more than just snuggling this time?" Nick could hear her accelerated heartbeat. She was aroused. A leering smile spread across his face. "You can count on it." For a moment, Natalie returned the smile then it faded and her face became thoughtful. "Why the sudden certainty, Nick?" His face sobered. "After you left this morning, I thought about last night and what you said about learned versus instinctive behaviors and I agree." "You do?" She looked hopeful. "Yeah," he said. "But… whether I agree or not, this learned behavior has become a *habit* with me, so it can not be the only reason for taking such a chance with your life and our baby." "I understand." Natalie said reassuringly. "So what other reason is there?" "Yesterday, when you allowed me to taste your blood…well…" There was a touch of embarrassment in his voice, and Natalie could see a slight flush coming to his face. "Yes?" "It was different." "Because of the baby?" She suggested. "No, it was more than that. It was something I've never experienced before." His voice carried a touch of disbelief as he spoke. "I felt a warmth like a light within. Your light, Nat." He flashed her such an adoring look that her insides began to melt. "And it seemed to calm my heart. But more importantly it seemed to calm the beast." "Really?" She asked a little embarrassed. Nick caught the slight flush on her face in the soft light from the candle, and his breath caught. God she was so beautiful. He swallowed hard. "Yes, really Nat, and ever since that moment, I've felt different…I've felt…" "What?" "Well…for one thing, I haven't wanted to rip out your throat," he admitted honestly, his lips curling into a lop-sided grin. "Gee! How flattering!" She gave him a derisive smile. Then her face softened. "So what have you felt like doing, Nick?" Nick lifted her hand and began to brush his lips across each fingertip. "Make slow…tender…*mortal* love to you, Nat." As he spoke, his voice trembled with emotion and a shudder tore through her. When he finally drew away, entwining their hands together, their eyes locked in a passionate exchange and the world around them seemed to grow distant. A sudden, "Ahem," finally brought them back to the present and Nick turned in time to see the waiter standing there with a tray, and unreadable expression on his face. "If I'm not intruding too much," he went on in his usual stuffy manner. "I've brought your appetizer." He reached over and grabbed the Lobster Bisque. Face beet red, eyes averted, Natalie could only find the strength to murmur her thanks as he placed the soup in front of her. Once he was gone, Nick reached across the table to grasp her hand. "It's okay, Nat. Don't be embarrassed. I don't think he heard. Besides, it doesn't matter what he thinks. What matters is what *we* think." Natalie caught the sincerity in his voice and looked up, the flush disappearing. A slight smile came to her face. "You're right, Nick," she said. And what *we* think is our relationship can move forward. Right?" Her voice was filling with hope. "Yes, if we take things slow. Very slow." On the last words, his expression was grave, but there was a growing confidence and resolve in his voice that hadn't been there before. It filled Natalie with optimism. "Okay, I can do slow. Slow is good. After all, slow is my personal *life affirming* preference." She grinned. "And…after dinner, Mr. Knight, you can show me just how slow you want to go." She squeezed his hand, her eyes filling with such love and reassurance; his confidence began to soar, his resolve becoming firmly cemented. He knew in his heart somehow her love had transformed him, gentling the beast and spurring on the man to love her. And, as he watched her pick up her spoon and begin to sip at her soup, his heart beat twice in succession in anticipation of showing her just how much. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 14/15 ************************************* Nick and Natalie were standing just outside the restaurant's front doorway when the limousine pulled up to the curb. They started to make their way towards the car as the driver emerged, and coming around, opened the back door. Natalie slid in and looked over expectantly for Nick, but saw only an empty spot. Puzzled, she leaned over in time to see him moving away. Her eyes narrowed. What was going on? Inaudible words floated up to her ears and she was about to call out when Nick reappeared, sliding in beside her, the door closing behind him. He turned to face her with an impish grin and gathered up her hand. "Miss me?" Natalie reached up with her other hand, and caressed his cheek, returning the grin. "Always!" Nick raised her other hand to his lips, brushing kisses along her fingertips, grazing the skin with his teeth. "Me too," he paused, his voice becoming rough-edged. "I've missed you so much…so very much." He pulled away from her hand to gaze at her, his eyes lit with intense longing. Natalie stared back at him, her heart racing, her chest rising and falling erratically through her thin gown. Suddenly, Nick shot forward, crushing his mouth against hers, parting her lips with his tongue. Almost immediately, the kiss became raw and demanding in intensity, the swift dance of his tongue in her mouth telling her just how high his passion had risen. His hands cupped around her face, pulling her closer. She moaned into his mouth and encircled her arms around his neck, twining her fingers in his hair. Her mewling sounds and the feel of her hands in his hair sent him into a passionate frenzy, fueling his desire even more. Oh, how he needed to feel her closer, to feel her warm soft body pressed against his. His hands sliding off her face, he moved to wrap his arms around her, gathering her up in a fierce embrace. He lowered them both to the leather seat, molding his body against hers and she could feel the erotic sensations of his arousal being pressed against her through his pants. Tremors of delight coursed through her. Oh, how she longed to feel him inside her, to feel his cool length enveloped around her warm moistness once more. More tremors shot through her at the thought and she ground her hips against him hard. Nick emitted a groan, and parting from her lips, moved down her neck and over to her earlobe, nibbling, licking and sucking along the way. At the same time, his right hand wandered to her shoulder then to one of her breasts. He cupped and kneaded it, dusting his thumb across the peaked nub of her nipple through the silk fabric of her gown. A breathless sigh escaped her lips. "I thought we were going to take things slow," she murmured, her excitement barely in control. "We are," he whispered, brushing kisses over her eyelids, nose and cheeks. "But all through dinner and dessert, I kept thinking how I couldn't wait to get you in here alone, where I could touch you. At least for a moment." "But we'll have to stop almost immediately," she sighed against his ear. "We're only a block away from the Plaza?" "Don't worry," he murmured in response. "I asked the driver to go around the block a few times." She broke into a wicked smile. "Well…then. What are we waiting for?" In response Nick returned the smile then reaching up with quick, deft fingers, unhooked the catch to her dress from around her neck. The silk fabric fell away almost immediately, exposing her breasts to him. His eyes traveled over them then wandered up to her face, his gaze adoring. "Oh Nat!" He said. "You're so beautiful. How I've longed to see you again." Natalie caught the tremor of emotion in his voice and another shudder rushed through her. She swallowed hard. "No more than I've wanted to see you…" she acknowledged. "All of you." She reached to undo his bow tie, but her movements were stopped by the firm touch of his hand. "Later, Nat…" He held her gaze, smiling tenderly at her. "Let me concentrate on you." She lowered her hand, nodding. "Okay…." He leaned forward, and cupping his hands around her face, captured her lips in another searing kiss. After a time, his hands drifted off her face, moving downward. Using his fingertips, he stroked down her neck, and over her collarbone to her breasts. He stroked against the skin beneath them then traveled up to squeeze the flesh lightly between his fingers. With his thumbs, he began to trace circles around her nipples, bringing them to sharp peaks once again. Natalie moaned deep in the back of her throat as she felt his lips part from hers, following the same path his hands had a moment ago. Coming to her breasts, Nick hesitated taking each into his mouth. Instead, he took his time alternating between swirling his tongue around each aureole then blowing on them. After a time, he heard Natalie's moan of frustration and felt her back arch, her fingers clutching in his hair. He smiled inwardly, knowing what she wanted. In one swift movement, he took first one then the other nipple into his mouth, beginning to suckle in earnest. Panting heavily, Natalie leaned farther back into the seat, and interlacing her fingers around his head, pulled him to her chest. As he showered her breasts with attention, one of his hands moved around, finding the tender spot of her inner thighs. Slipping between her legs, he dusted his fingertips over her flesh. Then wandering up, he brushed over the wiry curls of her mound through her lace panties, his fingers moving across her in feather-like touches. She opened her legs wider and pushed her hips up. "Please Nick, don't tease me…really touch me." Her voice, so demanding and filled with such passion…such desire, almost sent him over the edge and it was all he could do not to take her in a frantic coupling right then and there. But realizing who was lying beneath him, the treasure in his arms, reason quickly returned and with it self-restraint. "All right, Nat. " Brushing his lips across her breasts, he slipped a finger under her panties into her sensitive core. In and out, with slow deliberation, he began to move within her. Touching and gliding into her warmth, his lips moved up to find hers again. Natalie's hips rocked, lifting up to meet his touches and rub against him through his pants He released her lips, and groaned against her even as his lips moved over to her ear, licking, nuzzling and kissing, his tongue moving in languid wet strokes around her earlobe. Natalie cried out, pleading with him not to stop. Delighted with her response, he found the center of her desire, and began stroking her there, while moving inside her, faster and faster. His lips drifted to her chin, then down along her throat and over to her shoulder blade, kissing and nuzzling against her. After a while, Nick felt her growing tense beneath him and he moved up to meet her lips again. Natalie opened up to him and he kissed her long and hard and deeply as she fell over the edge, drowning in a sea of bliss. Not just once, but several times she felt a tremor rush through her, clouding her senses, leaving her dazed to anything but the waves within her. Her fingers clenched his hair and she fell back against the seat, riding out the incredible sensations with such rapture she thought she might die from it all. As the sensations diminished, Nick cradled her face with his hands, and pulled away. She opened her eyes to see his boyish grin, his eyes blue with only sparks of amber. "How was that?" He asked in a low murmur. "Oh Nick." She sighed in contentment, running her fingertips along his back. "That was wonderful, magnificent…breathtaking…on a scale of 1 to 10, I give you a twenty." "Wow! That good." She could hear the pleased tone in his voice and smiled wryly. "Yeah, but don't let it go to your head." Nick threw his head back and laughed. "I'll try not too." His laughter faded into a thoughtful look. "But I think I have you to thank for my outstanding score." Natalie raised the back of her hand and stroked along his cheek, her eyes filling with curiosity. "In what way?" He took her hand from his face and kissed her fingertips. "Because I thought of you and only you." His face was dark with emotion. "Of how deeply I love you and the way you make me feel. I wanted you to feel that." "Oh Nick." She blinked back tears. "You always have such a way with words." She reached up and wrapping her arms tightly around him, hugged him to her. "I love you so much." His arms slipped around her, his lips moving across her throat, planting soft kisses. Her leg moved up, brushing against him and he emitted a low growl. She pulled away and regarded him, concerned. "Now what are we going to do about you?" She reached over and placed her hand over the bulge in his pants. "Nat…don't…." Her hand began to massage him. "Oh…Nat…please…" He caught her wrist in a tight grip, stopping the movement even as she continued to stroke the silk. His eyes closed and he leaned his forehead against hers. "Later…" he said. Natalie could hear the ragged tone in his voice and before shutting his eyes, caught the amber glow in them. She turned her hand to entwine her fingers with his, worry etching her brow. "Okay… I'll be good…But…" she paused, her voice becoming devious, her eyes playful. "When I get you upstairs…" He drew away, nuzzling her nose. "What will you do?" He asked, smiling wickedly. She pressed her hands on either side of his face, her eyes filling with such devotion…such love. "Make, slow, tender love to you, Mr. Knight." **************************************** The door barely closed to Nick's suite, when mouth met mouth, tongues swirling, exploring hungrily, their need frantic bordering on desperation. From the time of Natalie's proclamation in the limo, the flames had only climbed between them. And by the time the limo pulled up to the plaza, and Nick rushed Natalie out onto the street, through the lobby, up the elevator and down the hall to his room, barely put back together, her hair and clothes slightly in disarray, they had grown to immense proportions. And now, as Natalie's fingers moved upward, undoing his tie, the flames leapt higher and only could be quenched with the joining of their two bodies. Between feverish kisses, Nick helped, releasing the tie from around his neck, throwing it to the floor as Natalie started to work the buttons on his shirt. When he tried to help, she swatted his hands aside, so that he began working on her dress instead, moving around her neck then her backside to release the catch and zipper. His hands slid the gown off her shoulders and downward, so that it pooled around her feet. Natalie quickly pushed the dress to the side, and slipping off her shoes, felt Nick's hands cover her breasts and his thumbs run lightly across her nipples. A soft sigh escaped her lips even in the midst of another kiss, breathing into his mouth as Nick brought them to instant points once more, marveling at their fullness, relishing the feel of her taut nipples teasing his palms. Natalie's hands explored as well, drawing lines against his firm chest muscles beneath his T-shirt, running her nails lightly against his flesh, making his nipples harden. Ripples of pleasure moved down his spine, and Nick reacted immediately. Parting from her lips, he snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her hard against him. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the lavender scent of her hair, losing himself in the silky feel of her curls and the incredible sensation of her in his arms. He could feel her tremble against him as he moved to her shoulder nibbling on her soft flesh, while stroking his hands down the length of her back to the slight swell of her hips, settling them once again at her waist. His lips moved downward, blazing a trail of kisses down her front, forcing her to bend backwards slightly. Natalie, moaning, stroked her hands across his broad shoulders, up his neck and into his hair as she felt his tongue circle her nipples, then suckle fiercely on the soft skin of her breasts. She wound her fingers tightly in his hair in a silent plea to go on and leaned farther back. He responded by molding her even closer to him, his questing mouth continuing to drive her into waves of rapture. Suddenly a gasp escaped from her and she pushed him away. Surprised Nick lifted his head, catching the fierce passion in her eyes, sending him practically over the edge. He watched as she began tugging frantically at his belt. More than eager to help, his hands went to stop her. She moaned in protest and he froze. "Nick…please," she breathed heavily, her gaze, dark and fierce, met his eyes. "Let me do this." Nick nodded, allowing his hands to drop to his side. With a sharp tug, she released the belt buckle and then went to work on his pants, unbuttoning the top button of his fly and undoing the zipper. He slipped off his shoes and she slid his pants down and away. Her hands moved up to relinquish him of his T-shirt then backing away slightly, Nick removed his socks and black silk boxers. Now completely naked, he stood there, allowing her eyes to travel over him. After a long moment of silence, a wave of self- consciousness began to descend over him. Embarrassed, Nick cleared his throat. "I take it this abrupt silence means that you still approve?" "Oh…definitely." Natalie sighed, admiration swimming in her eyes. She lifted her arms in a silent invitation. Nick didn't need anymore coaxing. In an instant, he was beside her, his arms wrapping around her waist, pressing her close. His lips found hers again, the kiss slower and more cherishing in nature than earlier and his hands caressed the curve of her back, matching the same languid movements as his tongue. Natalie reached down and stroked the length of him and he shivered at her touch. Drawing his lips away from hers, he took a step back. Gold flickering in his eyes, he reached down to cup her through her black lace panties. His fingers slipped just inside the waistband, probing and touching gently at her soft curls. His nostrils flaring, he stepped closer, breathing in her fresh distinctive scent, relishing her sweet fragrance. "Oh Natalie, you smell so wonderful," he whispered against her ear, his voice raw with desire. "So sensual…so beautiful." He slipped the panties from her body and she pulled him back close to her. "So do you," she breathed and captured his mouth in a hungry kiss, pressing her soft breasts against the taut muscles of his chest, rubbing herself in a sensual motion around him. Nick grasped her buttocks with both hands and pulled her hard against him. His hips moved around her and Natalie let out a soft whimper deep in the back of her throat. She seized his shoulders, and opened her legs wide. Nick groaned deeply into her mouth, his groin tightening more in response and what little restrain he had left was being stretched to the breaking point. But this would not be some frantic coupling; some frenzied joining, on the floor. Oh no! It would be a pure fusion of souls, a flawless union of mind and body. With enormous effort, Nick cupped his hands around her face, drawing the long and breathless kiss to a close. Natalie pushed against him, frustrated that he'd stopped. "Nick, don't stop." He brought his arms around her shoulders and waist, lifting her up into his arms. "I won't, but I don't want to do it here." His lips brushed across hers. When he pulled away, he gazed over at her with such love it made her gasp. "We need to go upstairs." She reached up drawing the back of her hand down his cheek, her eyes blazing with passion and love. "Okay, Nick." More passionate kisses, punctuated with intermittent slow, tender ones were exchanged as Nick flew them upstairs. Before Natalie knew it, Nick was lowering her to the bed, resting her on black satin sheets. Tearing her eyes away from Nick, Natalie noted he had placed her in a sea of rose petals. Puzzled, she started to speak, but soon lost the ability to, when he pressed his semi-cool flesh to hers and their lips and hands began once again to hungrily explore each other. During another mind-blowing kiss, Natalie encouraged Nick to roll over onto his back, her body settling on top of his. "Now, it's my turn." Her eyes were sparkling with mischief as she slid down, and began to spread her hands across his broad chest, brushing the blond hairs, her fingers teasing and pinching gently at his nipples. Nick's eyes, still amber in tone, were open, looking at her intently although now and again, he would shut them when he groaned or moved beneath her. Natalie moved lower, lightly touching him across his firm stomach, tickling the short hairs around his navel, then still farther to his inner thighs, caressing the skin and hairs with feather-light strokes. In this last area of exploration, Natalie heard a deep-throated moan escape from his lips and smiled, pleased at the ability to produce such a response from him. Raising herself up to a kneeling position beside him, she continued to tease and touch him with her soft strokes, running her fingers and nails the length of his inner legs, each time advancing closer to his, now very aroused manhood, only to stop within inches of touching him to drift down his leg again. Nick hips began to jerk independently upward, and another deep groan, almost bordering on a growl, erupted from his throat. "Nat, is this by any chance your way of paying me back for all of those times I didn't drink those protein shakes?" Looking over with a wicked gleam in her eyes, she saw the pained expression on his face and her own softened. "Oh Nick, I'm sorry," she murmured. "I won't torture you any longer." Her hand brushed against his groin, then her fist encircled him. She squeezed briefly before making a slow descent to the base, then upward in a long, smooth stroking motion. Looking into his eyes, she repeated the motions several times before turning away to lean over and run her tongue in slow circles over the tip, then downward along the underside. After a time, she slowed her pace, stroking down him in languid movements while the fingers of her other hand caught his sensitive balls, stroking and massaging them with slow deliberation. Moving forward even more, she started pumping him vigorously, her tongue darting out to touch the tip once again, her hair cascading around him, tickling his slightly heated skin. More growls rumbled within his chest and moving his hand downward, he entwined his fingers in her hair, tugging on her head gently. Natalie lifted herself back on her knees and waited, then smiled when she saw Nick hold his hand out to her, drawing her down beside him. He kissed her, at first slow and gently, as they lied side by side, entwined in each other's arms. Then pushing her gently over onto her back, the kiss quickly became more intense, as he devoured her with such hunger and passion; he was losing all awareness of anything beyond the sweet mouth he was fiercely plundering. After a long moment, Natalie felt him tear his lips away from hers, and ripples of delight rushed through her when he began to smother her with feverish kisses along her throat, over her shoulder and collarbone and down her front to her breasts. Coming to them, he seemed to calm somewhat, kissing and tonguing her nipples in languid circles, before moving lower to brush his lips across her stomach. She felt him press his head against her abdomen and heard his soft murmurings, "You're our miracle. Do you know that? Do you know I love you, little one?" He raised his head and looked at Natalie. "Just as deeply as I love your mother." His eyes, a vibrant blue now, shone with love. Tears welled in her eyes and reaching over, Natalie seized his hand in hers, her roiling emotions mirroring the pressure of her grip. "I love you both so much." Nick pressed the palm of her hand to his lips then lowering his head, drifted downward, his lips following a path along her inner thighs. Natalie tangled her fingers in his hair, pressing him to her warm skin and released a shudder when she felt a finger part the folds of her flesh and travel upward. Slowly, it entered her followed by another finger, lightly rubbing her nub. Moving within her, Nick's touch began to send more shudders through her body. Natalie closed her eyes, relishing the sensations, nearly springing up when those deft fingers left her to be replaced by his tongue. She moaned, her hands reaching for him. Nick captured them in his, holding them at her sides, while he continued to suck and nip, his touch sure and careful. She encouraged him with words and rapid, shallow breaths, arching her back each time a shudder passed through her, increasing the tension in her body. After a while, Nick could sense her approaching climax, and shifting his movements slightly, plunged his tongue deep within her. Natalie's reaction was immediate. She came, soaring into spasms of heated splendor. Ripples rushed through her, coursing through her spine down to her toes. After a time, as the ripples ebbed away, a lethargic feeling of warmth and contentment began to wash over her. Natalie opened her eyes slowly and smiled to find Nick lying on his side, watching her. He was lightly brushing his fingers up and down her thigh, his blue eyes adoring her, his lips curled in a pleased grin. "I think that even surpassed the last time," she commented with a contented sigh, stretching. Nick moved up her body, rolling slightly on top of her, his grin widening. "I'm so glad you thought so." He reached over and brushed some stray tendrils of hair from her damp forehead. "I only want to please you, Nat…and only you." His voice was becoming uneven and raspy, his eyes flickering once more with amber sparks. Natalie looked concerned. She was guessing that he was on-the edge, fully aroused. Seconds later, her hypothesis became a far-gone conclusion as she felt him press down, the power of his arousal rubbing against her. He leaned forward and began to rain feverish kisses over her face, then finally sought her lips. Natalie moaned, her lips parting slightly, just enough to allow his tongue to slip inside her mouth and begin exploring it with earnest. It distracted her momentarily as she felt him gently part her legs with his knee. His mouth moved from her swollen lips over her face once more, kissing her eyelids, nose, cheeks and chin. "I won't hurt you, Nat," he murmured between kisses. "Nor the baby." "I know you won't," she whispered back, her voice assured. "Because you love me as much as I love you." Her eyes full of love for him, she lifted her hips to meet him, welcoming him. Nick hesitated, looking down at her, worshiping her with his eyes. "How did I ever come to deserve you?" Natalie reached up and brushed her hand along his cheek, smiling through unshed tears. "I don't know, just lucky I guess." He smiled back through his own blood tears then with a slight movement; Nick began to enter her ever so slowly, thrusting his thick length deeper and deeper inside her. Natalie gasped, sinking back against the pillows as she felt the motion within her, while he moved forward with care. Then, she realized he was there, completely inside of her, moaning against her. She locked her arms and legs firmly around him, holding him close, pulling him even deeper into her warmth, her inner muscles tightening around him. With eyes squeezed shut, Nick bowed his head, enveloping himself in the wonder of the intimate contact. He could have stayed like that forever, but Natalie had other ideas as he felt her push against him and heard her utter his name. Her hands splayed across his backside, her legs spreading wide, she silently pleaded with him to continue. Nick lifted his head, and cupping his hands around her face, kissed her slowly and deeply. Then pulling away, he began to withdraw from her, just as slowly as he'd entered, until only the tip rested within her, only to thrust into her a moment later in a slow, sensual movement. A gasp escaped from her lips, her fingers and nails digging into the taut muscles of his buttocks. He moved once more, easing in and out at first then thrusting faster and more forcefully when Natalie snaked her legs around him once again. Her hips pushing up to meet his thrusts, she reached around to tangle her fingers in his hair, allowing them to slide through his blond curls. As they moved together, Nick caught one of her hands, and lacing his fingers with hers, raised their joined hands above her head. He held them there, forcing her breasts upward to meet his demanding lips. His tongue swept across each sharp peak then swirled in circular motions around each aureole. He heard a low groan emanate from her chest, and lifting his head, began to smother her face and throat with fervent kisses, finally molding his lips against the nape of her neck. His nostrils flared, and he inhaled deeply, relishing the sweet smell of her damp skin and the enticing scent of her arousal. After a moment, he drew away, and positioning himself farther back, began to escalate the force of his thrusts, pushing forward harder and faster, penetrating ever deeper inside her sweet hot chamber. He drove them towards that ultimate crest and Natalie responded with wild abandon, climbing with him from one wave to the next, each movement bringing them closer and closer to that flawless moment they had both wanted once more for so long. For Natalie, it came first, the world shattering in a multitude of vibrant colors around her as she catapulted into a wave of orgasms. They seemed to go on and on, never-ending, bursts of mind-numbing bliss. Through them all, she could hear Nick murmuring words of love to her, whispering them against her ear over and over again, his lips lightly brushing along her neck when he spoke. Then a sudden, tearing pain came. Natalie made a sound, a sort of soft cry that seemed to reverberate endlessly in her ears. She felt his hand hold her in place as he continued to thrust into her then suddenly ecstasy flooded her soul, unlike anything she'd ever encountered. It was almost too much when images from Nick's long life began to form in her mind, the pictures rushing past her, rolling by like big cumulus clouds on a windy day. She sensed his thoughts and emotions. His surprise and joy at the news of their baby. His elation at the knowledge that she accepted him in every way, loving the person he was and strived to be everyday. It was the perfect harmony of two souls merging into one. Natalie could feel her senses shutting down from overload, her arms dropping away from Nick. If his weight was still upon her, she could not sense it for she felt herself drifting along as if she were soaring through the clouds. The sensations continued as the images and feelings slowly faded, and she felt him pull away from her throat. With a long, passionate moan, he fell against her, shuddering, meeting his own release. Natalie closed her eyes and found she couldn't open them; they were too heavy as she continued to drift along…. ************************************* A Bed of Roses By Patty Costantino/psmoot43@hotmail.com Chapter 15/15 ************************************* A nudge at Natalie's shoulder and a panic-stricken voice finally brought her back. "Nat, speak to me." Natalie slowly opened one eye, then the other and smiled up at him lazily. "Oh Nick…" The rest of her words were drowned out by his loud yell of relief. "Nat! You're alright!" He crushed her to him, showering her face with kisses. "Yes, I am." She managed to say between some of those kisses. "Unless, of course, you squeeze me to death." Though her tone was light, her words caused him to loosen his hold around her and stop abruptly. "Sorry," he said, looking sheepish. "It's just that for a moment there…well I thought I might have taken too much." He cupped her face, bringing her lips to his in another kiss. It was a kiss filled with tenderness, cherishing and reverent, showing her just how much she meant to him. When he drew away once more, she could see blood tears forming in his eyes and the dark emotions playing across his face. Natalie reached up and wiped a few stray tears away with her thumbs. "Nick, you did just fine." She kissed him back softly. "In fact sensational in my book!" "Really?" The pleased tone was drifting back into his voice. "Yes, really!" She voiced with a level gaze. "Besides I don't feel the least bit woozy, so I don't think you took too much at all." "But I could have." A shadow began to cross over his face. "But you didn't," Natalie rushed on, trying to avoid another bout of brooding. "Yeah, you're right, I didn't." There was a trace of wonder in his voice when he spoke. "It's like I told you before, Nat, your blood makes me feel warm and light inside. The love I feel when I drink from you seems to calm me, warm my heart and soul and for once, I feel that I can control this beast inside of me." "Well…see." A smile played at her lips. "That could be part of the equation. Finding the right person could be the answer Detective." "To regaining my mortality?" He sounded so hopeful, she hated to spoil the mood, but a little realism and caution wouldn't hurt. "Perhaps," she went on tentatively. "But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here. We need to…" "Yeah…I know…" He broke into a wry grin. "Take things slow." Natalie's lips curved into the same grin. "Yeah…nice and slow," she agreed, then her eyes became serious. "So I guess this change of attitude means you aren't going to give up on your quest?" Nick caught the hopeful tone in her voice and sighed. "Nat when I said those things yesterday, I was in quite a mood." Natalie cocked a brow. "Oh really!" Her voice was filling with sarcasm. "I hadn't noticed." Nick smiled, and tapped her nose playfully. "Yes really!" There was a pause as his expression sobered. "Nat as long as I have you here to help me, to provide me with that constant hope and faith you try to instill in me, I won't give up." Natalie could hear the firm resolve in his voice, and taking his hand in hers, squeezed it. "Good!" She said, emphatically. "Because I won't either. After all…" Her lips formed another smile. "I can be as bull-headed as you!" "Me!" His brows rose in mock indignation. "Bull-headed! Never!" Natalie laughed then turning away from Nick to study her surroundings, her face became thoughtful. When she turned back, she caught him staring at her, his eyes shining with love. She smiled and spoke up in a hesitant voice. "Nick?" Nick reached up and began to trace a repeated pattern along the contours of her face. "Yes, my love." "I'm not complaining here and I think it's very romantic, but what's with all the rose petals in the bed?" "It's represents something," he began, drawing his hand away from her face. She shot him a quizzical look. "Represents something…. like a metaphor?" "Yeah, a bed of roses." "Ah…" she nodded. "So that's what the card and all those roses meant." "Yeah," he acknowledged, his eyes growing serious. "You have to understand, Nat, my life, in a way, has been like a bed of nails, filled with bloodlust… hunger… emptiness. A meaningless existence. But when I met you, you changed all that. For with you, I found my life was slowly changing into something better, something that was no longer empty, a sort of bed of roses, if you will. "And yesterday, it all seemed to come to pass when I tasted your blood and it calmed me. For I finally realized you were those beds of roses. The one person who could transform me, maybe not completely into a human being again, but as close to it as I'll ever become." He paused and swallowed hard. "For you have made me whole again with your love for me in spite of my dark past, your acceptance of me for the person I've wanted to become, and your determination for me to become a better person." He reached over, and seized something in his hand on the table. When he turned back to Natalie, his eyes were dark with emotion. "And, you're the one I've wanted to love, to share a life with, if you'll have me." Nick opened his hand to reveal a black box . Natalie gasped and clasped her hands to her mouth as she watched him open the lid. Nestled in the soft confines of the box was a pear-shaped diamond ring, with a gold band and raised setting. Tears formed in her eyes, and for a long moment, she couldn't speak, gazing, dumbfounded, first at Nick, then the diamond. When she finally found her voice, it seemed to crack with joy. "Oh Nick, it's beautiful. I don't know what to say." He removed the ring, and began to place it on Natalie's finger. "Say you'll marry me, Nat." "Oh, Nick," she said, her voice shaking. "Of course I will." Natalie watched him slip the ring on. "Nat…I don't want you to think I'm asking you because of the baby. I've wanted to ask you for a while, but I was afraid…" Natalie stopped the flow of his words with her hand. "Sssh, Nick. I know. Besides what is important now is to move on, allowing our love to bloom even more." He seized her hands, smiling through his own tears. "I agree." Natalie pressed her lips to his and kissed him. Nick tightened his arms around her, hugging her to him. When he drew away, to her horror, she yawned. "Oh, Nick. I'm so sorry. I guess everything is catching up with me. I don't want you to think…" "That I'm boring you," he finished with a soft chuckle. "I don't think that. I know you need your rest now more than ever." He kissed her hair then gathered the bed's comforter around them. Natalie sighed and settled against him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. After a short while, Nick heard her breathing becoming more even with the onset of sleep, and felt himself drifting off when he heard her mumble. "Don't worry… enforcers… won't bother… about… baby. Lacroix…see to it…" "Lacroix?!" Nick turned her abruptly around to face him, his voice a mixture of bewilderment and anxiousness. "What about him, Nat? Natalie's eyes popped open, her drowsiness disappearing fast. Drat! Her and her big mouth. She gave him a sheepish grin. "Promise you won't get mad when I tell you." "Tell me what." The anxiousness was growing in his voice. "I saw him and…" Nick's face filled with a mixture of alarm and growing fury. "He didn't come after you Nat, did he? For if he did…I swear I'll stake him and this time I won't miss." "Nick. Relax. He didn't come after me." She took his hand and kissed it to assure him that she was all right. "In fact I happened to run into him at a crime scene at the Raven and if anyone came after the other, I'm guilty as charged." "You?" There was a note of surprise in his voice. "Yeah, I sort of provoked him." Nick looked puzzled. "How?" "I tried to knee him…well… you know…" Her words faded, her face flushing. Nick's eyes widened. "Nat?! You didn't!" "Yes I did," she said candidly, her flush deepening. "He had it coming." "But Nat…" he exclaimed, trying to stifle a laugh. "Whether he did or not, you shouldn't have tried that." "Well, it didn't work anyway. He was too quick for me. But…" she paused, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "That didn't stop me from shooting off my big mouth." Nick's brows furrowed in worry, any amusement he'd felt a moment ago gone. "What did you say?" "I …ummm…said some things to him about his incessant need to try to control you and I think hit home." "You did? Oh Nat," he scolded. "He could have killed you." "Yeah, well…for a moment I thought he might," she confessed reluctantly. "But instead, he let me go. That's when he took my blood and found out about our baby." "He did what?!" Astonishment and fury were back on his face. "Relax, Nick," she soothed, pressing her palms against his chest. "It was just a drop. I must have bitten down on my lip during the argument and before I knew what was happening, he'd taken a taste. That's how I discovered I was pregnant." Her lips curled into a wry grin. "I guess you could say, Lacroix was my pregnancy test!" Nick looked grim. "I don't find that the least bit amusing Nat." "Sorry…" She gave him a rueful look. "Anyway after the initial shock blew over, Lacroix's disposition towards me suddenly changed. I can't say he was exuberant over the news, but when he told me the enforcers would undoubtedly find out about it and need to take matters into their own hands, enforcing the code, he actually said he would talk to them on my behalf." "What happened?" Natalie heard the fear in Nick's voice, and reaching up, ran the back of her hand soothingly down his cheek. "He talked to the elders, and since I'd shown past loyalty to the community, keeping questionable killings under wrap, they would leave me alone. Unless…" "Unless what?" Natalie removed her hand. "Unless…" she continued. "The baby had any vampire traits." Nick looked alarmed once more. "Do you think there's a chance the baby does, Nat? Oh God, what have I done to you? To our baby? I've jeopardized everything. This is all my fault…" "Sssh…Nick…" She cradled her hands around his face. "Don't worry. I've already run some blood tests, and although I'm only a few weeks along, the fetus shows no signs of the vampire virus." His eyes closed. "Oh thank goodness." When he opened them once again, he looked hopeful. "So the enforcers will leave us alone?" "Lacroix has said as much." Natalie paused, her voice softening. "You know Nick, I hate to admit this, but he really isn't so bad." Nick tossed her a look of disbelief. "Lacroix?" "Yeah. Underneath that stoic, rigid mask of his, I honestly believe he cares." "He has his moments," he admitted reluctantly. "But be careful, Nat. He can be devious at times." Natalie smiled. "Okay, I'll be sure to remember that." She rolled away to her side, snuggling against him. "Now, let's get some sleep." "Okay…" Nick wrapped an arm around her, and as he began to stroke her hair with his other hand, a disturbing thought struck him. "Nat?" "Yeah?" She murmured, half asleep. "How much of your blood did you say Lacroix took?" Her eyes popped open and she twisted around once more to face him, bewildered. "Only a drop. Why?" "You didn't…ummmm…allow him to take more, did you?" Natalie looked horrified. "No, of course not! If my reflexes had been faster, I wouldn't have allowed him to take even that one drop. Besides…" she paused, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "What do you take me for? A hussy?" "No…I didn't mean that," he stammered. It was his turn to look horrified. I…" "Nick Knight!" Her grin broadened. "I believe you're jealous." "Don't be ridiculous, Nat!" He said vehemently. "Me jealous? Of course not. Well…" He paused, his lips curving into a sheepish grin. "I must admit I don't like the idea of anyone touching you, but me." And as if to prove a point, he leaned forward and began kissing his way down her throat. Desire bubbled within her. "Ah… we're in total agreement there. After all, your touches are so delicious, so…" His tongue swirled around her earlobe and a finger flickered across one of her nipples. "Oooo…" She moaned against him, her eyes closing for a moment. "Maybe sleep will have to come later." Nick moved away slightly to look at her, his hands slipping around her backside, his hips pressing against her. "Are you sure about that?" His voice was low and seductive, his eyes filling with desire. Her hands encircled his neck, her gaze matching his. "Yeah…I'm sure. Besides…" Her lips broke into a crooked smile. "We need to work on that hypothesis of mine in regards to learned behavior." Smiling in response, Nick leaned forward, capturing her lips in a slow…hot …kiss. Finis ********************************** "In courts and palaces he also reigns, and in luxurious cities, where the noise of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, and injury and outrage, and when night darkens the street, then wander forth the Sons of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Paradise lost." Lacroix ********************************** Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith, Add vertue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, By name to come call'd Charitie, the soul Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A Paradise within thee, happier farr. Paradise Lost by John Milton ********************************** Bibliographies: Hotel Plaza Athenee NY: http://www.plaza-athenee.com/ Tavern on the Green: http://web.tavernonthegreen.com/ ********************************** After some thought, I decided to end the story here and leave it up to everyone to determine in their own mind the sex of Nick and Natalie's child and whether Nick regains his mortality. Another thing. Until I read Gary Rieck's- the writer of Night in Question- comment in Gwenn Muscante's book where he thought N&N had a sexual encounter, and was going to address it in a season 4 episode, I always was in the camp who didn't believe it! But, I guess I'm not any longer, am I? Anyway, it got me thinking about the idea of learned behavior vs. instinctive or physical needs in relation to mortal sex and the need for the vampire to bite, etc… If Nick could abstain from biting Nat when amnesic then it *might* be a learned behavior, not a physical need. Though I don't have him control the need to bite in my story, I figured it might be something to consider, that he might be able to control it. But I would like to emphasize that this was strictly an hypothesis, which I had Natalie broach with Nick. It was not something carved in stone! Just an interesting angle to bring up in the story. That's all. Concerning sunlight issues with the mind-altering states, I realize FK was inconsistent. In Hearts of Darkness, the woman with multi- personalities could venture out into the sunlight without burning whereas Nick couldn't with retrograde amnesia. For sake of a discussion in this story, I elected to disregard Hearts and only use NIQ as an example. Sorry if I didn't follow canon, but it was inconsistent anyway in the show. In closing, I hope you enjoyed the ride. Feedback is always welcomed at either pas_20197@yahoo.com or psmoot43@hotmail.com I would love to hear your thoughts about this story. *********************************