Front Porch By KC Smith This is a sequel, of sorts, to a story I wrote awhile back called 'Storm of the Soul'. You probably won't have to read that one to understand this one, but it couldn't hurt. ;-) Quickly: Richard is still alive, Nick is mortal and is married to Nat, and season three never happened. Standard Disclaimers: The characters from Forever Knight do not belong to me, but to James Parriott and Sony/TriStar. No copyright infringement is intended in any way. All original characters belong to me. Permission is given to archive on Mel's www.fkfanfic.com site, the fkfanfic2 site, the FTP site and, for the adult stories, the JADFE archives. All others please ask before archiving or linking any stories to your website. Questions, comments and critiques can be sent to: tigrlady2u@juno.com The song 'My Front Porch Looking In' is by Lonestar. Nick Knight walked up the steps to his house and set his suitcase on the porch. He turned around to look at the beautiful sunrise out over his Montana ranch and sighed. He'd never tire of the sunrise. Not after living nearly 800 years in the darkness. Oh yeah Yeah oh yeah The only ground I ever owned was sticking to my shoes Now I look at my front porch and this panoramic view I can sit and watch the fields fill up With rays of glowing sun Or watch the moon lay on the fences Like that's where it was hung My blessings are in front of me It's not about the land I'll never beat the view From my front porch looking in He stood there on the porch for over an hour, before turning around to head into the house. He stopped at the sight before him and smiled, his heart swelling with joy. This was what he'd been missing as a vampire. There's a carrot top who can barely walk With a sippy cup of milk A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong 'Cause she likes to dress herself And the most beautiful girl holding both of them Yeah the view I love the most Is my front porch looking in Natalie sat on the sofa, holding their 14 month old son, Andrew, on her lap and she had her arm around their almost three year old daughter, Emma. She was reading them a story from a book and looked positively radiant. Andrew had surprised everyone when he was born with the shock of bright red hair on his head. Richard had told Natalie that the Irish genes in their family had finally kicked in. He currently held a sippy cup full of milk with one hand, and was tangling the other in Nat's hair, as was his custom. Emma sat on the sofa beside her mother and brother, dressed in mis- matched clothing and wearing her shoes on the wrong feet, as usual. She insisted that she was old enough to dress herself. She was independent and headstrong, and absolutely beautiful, with her bright blue eyes and wavy blonde hair. Natalie said she was the spitting image of him. Nick stood and watched quietly until the story was finished. Natalie spotted him and her beaming smile and glittering eyes spoke of her love for him. Emma saw him next and rushed up to him, throwing her arms around his legs and squealing in delight. "Daddy!! Daddy's home!" "Dah! Dah!" Andrew cried, reaching out for Nick. Nick reached down and picked Emma up, giving her a light toss into the air and making her laugh, before holding her close and kissing her cheek. "Hey, baby girl. Were you good for Mommy while I was gone?" "Yes. I not a baby!" Emma said, before kissing his nose and struggling to be put down. Next, he took Andrew from Nat's arms and ruffled his hair, before kissing him. "How's my boy?" Andrew smiled his nearly toothless smile and tried to share his milk with his dad. Nick pretended to take a sip, then set him on the floor. He pulled Natalie into his arms and gave her a long kiss. "How was your trip?" She asked, as she looked into his eyes. "Long. I couldn't wait to get home to you and the kids." He said, honestly. "It was a spectacular view, but this is where I belong." Natalie kissed him again. "We missed you, too. Are you hungry?" "Famished." Nick said, nodding, as he scooped Andrew up and they headed towards the kitchen. Yeah I've traveled here and everywhere Following my job I've seen the paintings from the air Brushed by the hand of God The mountains and the canyons reach from sea to shining sea But I can't wait to get back home To the one He made for me It's anywhere I'll ever go and everywhere I've been Nothing takes my breath away Like my front porch looking in While they ate breakfast, they chatted about Nick's trip for the deBrabant Foundation, and how Emma learned to count to ten; about Natalie's research project for the University and how Andrew was getting a new tooth. "When is everyone coming?" Nick asked around a mouthful of toast and jam. "Richard and his family will be here tomorrow around eight. The Schanke's should be here shortly after." Natalie answered, as she wiped bacon grease from Andrew's hands and face. "Dishes or kids?" Nick asked, as he finished off his coffee. Nat smiled. "Kids. You've been gone over a week." Nick stood up and kissed her cheek, before grabbing Andrew from his high chair and setting him on the floor. "Come on kids! Let's go play!" Emma and Andrew followed him out, laughing delightedly. Natalie stood shaking her head in amusement. Nick was like an overgrown kid himself most of the time, but it was wonderful for their children to be able to play with him. She yawned once and stretched, before clearing the table and washing the dishes. There's a carrot top who can barely walk With a sippy cup of milk A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong 'Cause she likes to dress herself And the most beautiful girl holding both of them Yeah the view I love the most Is my front porch looking in I see what beautiful is about When I'm looking in Not when I'm looking out When she was finished, she went out into the playroom to find Nick lying on the floor, the kids piled on top of him. They were 'wrestling'~ as they called it~ but she knew that Nick always let the children win. Before long, she was on the floor 'wrestling' with them. After lunch, Natalie put the kids down for a nap and she and Nick spent the time making love. It was a custom they had established when Emma was still a baby. When the kids woke up, they took them out and went horseback riding, then they headed home and made dinner together, gave the kids their baths, and Nick read them their bedtime story. There's a carrot top who can barely walk With a sippy cup of milk A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong 'Cause she likes to dress herself And the most beautiful girl holding both of them Yeah the view I love the most Oh, the view I love the most Is my front porch looking in After the kids were tucked into bed, Nick and Natalie went to sit outside on the porch swing and watch the sunset. After the sun was gone and the moon had risen high overhead, Natalie stood and yawned. "I'm going to get ready for bed. You coming?" "I'll be there, shortly." Nick told her, kissing her hand. Nat nodded, and then went inside. Nick sat outside listening to the crickets and frogs. He took a deep breath of the summer air and sighed, before heading inside. He checked on the kids once more, before climbing into bed and pulling Nat close to him. "I love you." He said, kissing her deeply. Nat smiled. "I love you, too." He caressed her face and brushed her hair from her forehead, smiling. "What?" Nat asked, puzzled by his expression. "Nothing. I was just thinking how perfect our lives are right now." He said, kissing her again. "Almost perfect." Nat said, her eyes sparkling. "Almost? What could possibly make it better than it is now?" He asked her, a confused grin on his face. Nat took a deep breath and looked right into his eyes. "Another baby?" Nick looked surprised. "You want..." He trailed off as he looked at her face and her expression finally registered. "Wait a minute... you're~ really? You're sure?" Nat smiled and nodded. "I saw Dr. Matheson yesterday and she confirmed it. We're due February 20th." Nick laughed with joy, as he pulled her closer to him. "Nat! That's wonderful! I can't wait!" He kissed her again, and then he lay back and wrapped his arms snugly around her. As they drifted off to sleep, Nick thought about that morning and the sight that had greeted him when he'd turned around and looked inside. A beautiful wife, two beautiful children, and another on the way. Yes, his life *was* perfect, full of love and happiness. He silently thanked God for this miracle, then fell soundly asleep. Yeah Oh, there's a carrot top who can barely walk (From my front porch looking in) A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong, yeah And the most beautiful girl (Beautiful girl From my front porch looking in) Holding both of them Oh, yeah Oh, the view I love the most Is my front porch looking in ~The End KC Smith Nick/Natpacker with Dark tendencies. "I've never met a chocolate I didn't like."