The Gift Part (1/2) by StormyNite Nick sat at his desk doing the final piece of paperwork on the Trent murders. Tracy was off for the holidays and most of the crew had gone home early. True it was two days till Christmas but most of the detectives had logged off hours ago, when the call came in. It was a grisly scene and not one for any person with a weak stomach. The whole family was dead--both children, the Mother and Father. Was it murder or suicide? Only Natalie would be able to tell them. Nick didn't like leaving her alone with the job she had to do because she knew Pamela and had met both of her children. Well, in fact everyone had met Pamela's kids just two weeks ago at Christmas Party. She was such a pleasant person yet afraid. It was obvious now, she had ever reason to be afraid. Natalie didn't look to well, when she left the scene. She assured him that she could handle this, but he wasn't sure. It had been a traumatic year for her. First, her brother, then her godchild and of course all the trauma he had caused in her life. If he let himself dwell on in to long, the guilt would overcome him and that was not what Nat needed tonight. He could feel her grief even now if he let himself reach out to her. She needed him. ------------------ Natalie pulled the sheet over Pamela's face as the tears flowed unchecked down her cheek. A great sadness with feelings of despair and hopelessness overcame her. Why hadn't she told them about her crazed ex-husband. Why wait until it was to late. Maybe she should have pushed her a little harder for answers when she avoided all comments about her personal life. Natalie realized Pamela was like Nick and herself-- too many secrets to hide from the world, but she was afraid and Natalie had known it. Could she have done anything to stop it. She would never know now. Natalie started to sob openly now when she felt Nick's strong arms pull her next to him. She buried her tear streaked face into his shoulder and wept. Nick rubbed her shoulder and cradled her head against him and let her cry. "Why Nick?" She mumbled into his shoulder. "How can you kill your own children? She told me that there was no hope of reconciliation between her and her husband. I-- I--didn't realize she thought her whole life was hopeless." Natalie looked into Nick's blue eyes somberly as the tears continued to flow down her cheek. "Maybe there is no hope for any of us Nick! Maybe this is just......" Nick placed his finger too her lips. "Don't do this to yourself Nat. There is always hope! You taught me that." Nick placed a light kiss to her lips and then released her. "Get your coat I am taking you home right now." "Nick, I have to finish..." "They aren't going anywhere Natalie. You can let Jerry finish tomorrow!" Nick grabbed her coat and help her put it on. -------- "Your place or mine?" He said as they approached the Caddie. "Mine! I need to take care of Sydney unless you plan on bringing him over for Christmas Eve with us. He is really good with Christmas trees and ornaments." She smiled slightly at the comment before she giggled. Nick turned to see her giggle and was glad to see some of her humor return. "Tell you what, since we have off Christmas Eve for the very first time together, let's swing by your place, pack up Sydney and your clothes and you both stay with me until Christmas. We can decorate the tree tonight and I will cook compliments of 'Murray's catering'. What do you think?" "Are you sure Nick?" She wanted him to give him an out but the thought of spending two days with Nick alone with no work both scared and excited her. "I'm sure Nat. Only no protein shakes for two days! Deal?" "Deal!" Nat scooted over beside Nick and laid her head on his shoulder overcome by a peace she had not felt in a long time. -------------------------------------- They finished decorating the tree while Bing Crosby sang White Christmas and Sydney played chase the Christmas balls across the loft floor until they both thought they would die with laughter over his antics. The fire gave a warm glow to the whole loft as Nick put the Angel on top the tree and Natalie turned on the lights. "It's beautiful Nick." She beamed as the lights twinkled adding a radiance to the already warm feeling in the room. "Oh, I almost forgot!" Natalie ran over to the bag she had brought from her place and rummaged through it until she found what she wanted. It was a brightly colored package wrapped in festive red ribbons. "Here! You have to open this early." She handed the package to him and kissed him gently on the cheek. "Merry Christmas Nick!" Nick smiled with her excitement and felt himself being carried along,not minding one bit. He was glad to have his Natalie back. He opened the package carefully not wanting to destroy the beautiful bow that Natalie had made meticulously. He recognized her knots and smiled. When he opened the package a beautiful white Christmas Skirt unfolded. It was not the usual white cotton but one made of white satin hand stitched with gold and silver threads almost to the point that it shown like new fallen snow. On the bottom Natalie had embroidered both their names and the year 1996 in gold thread. Nick was speechless. "Nat it's beautiful! It just like new fallen snow!" He leaned over and kissed her. "Help me put it on." They carefully put the skirt around the tree and sat down quietly at the base to admire their handiwork. Nick couldn't take his eyes off her as she gazed longingly at the tree and a single tear escaped her eye as she gazed up. "Do you think there is hope for us Nick?" Natalie turned her gaze back to Nick with a great sadness, yet somewhere a light still burned in her eyes. Nick smiled and gently ran his fingers across her cheek and then pulled her into his arms. "I have something for you early this year too. Something I think we both need." He handed her a beautifully foil wrapped gold box with silver satin ribbons and bows dangling all over and didn't answer her question. "Nick, What is it?" "Just open it!" Nat sat down on the floor by the tree and Nick followed. She gently unwrapped the package to open the box. Inside was a beautiful maple leaf dipped in 18 karat gold. It was about 1 wide and 1 and half inches long. When you picked it up and held it to the light you could actually see through the leaf as if it was a gossamer material spun of pure gold. Each vein in the leaf was visible as if an artists had drawn them in place with a magic pen. On the top of the pendant was a gold loop in which a small gold chain was inserted. Natalie sat speechless looking at the gift in her hand. Finally, she spoke. "I don't know what to say Nick. It's beautiful and so delicate!" Nick gently picked the leaf up out of Natalie's hand and admired it once again as he had over the centuries. "It was given to me by my Mother a month before she died. It is a genuine maple leaf from the tree that grew outside my Mother's window. Each year she would pick some of the new leaves that budded from the tree and let them dry on her dresser and then press them into her diary for safe keeping. I asked her when I was young why she did this because they would dry and become ugly and eventually turn to dust. Do you know what she told me?" Nick brought his eyes back to Natalie's as he continued. "She said the appearance of the new leaves every year gave her hope that life would continue. It was her sign that no matter what happened in the coming year that all things would come full circle and start over again in the spring. It gave her hope! She dipped this leaf in gold and gave it to me before she died. She told me that whenever I felt lost or alone that I should hold the leaf and remember that no matter what happens--there is always hope." Nick held the leaf up to the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree to let them shine brightly through the gossamer spun gold fibers. "It has gotten my through many a long night." He turned and placed the gold leaf in Natalie's hand and smiled. "I want you to have this now because every time I see you were it I will now you have faith in me and there is hope for us." Gently he touched her cheek and wiped away the single tear that escaped her eye. Natalie leaned forward and gently kissed his lips before she spoke. "I will never lose faith in you Nick and I will treasure this and keep it safe for as long as I live. Thank you for reminding me that hope is what keeps us going through all eternity. I guess I lost sight of that tonight with Pamela's death." Natalie lifted her hair and presented her back to Nick so he could place the necklace around her neck. When she turned to face him again with the leaf dangling delicately from the gold chain, it appeared to glow as it touched her skin. Nick smiled, knowing he had made the right decision in giving it to her tonight. He stood up and offered her his hand. Moving back to the couch Nick pulled Natalie onto his lap while he wrapped a blanket around her legs to keep her warm. That sat in companionable silence as the fire danced in the fireplace and the voice of Natalie Cole sang Christmas music in the background. Feeling warm and secure they drifted off to sleep in each others arms. ----------------- Natalie awoke to find herself snuggled under three comforters and black satin sheets in Nick's bed. She remembered the necklace and immediately touched her throat to find it still nestled softly there. She only wished Nick had been beside her. Pulling herself out of the nice warm bed, she started for the stairs only to find Nick already in the kitchen starting breakfast. It was really strange to think of having breakfast at 5pm but the night shift did things to your thinking once you got use to it. "Hi! Did you sleep well?" Nick handed Natalie a cup of freshly brewed coffee. It smelled heavenly to her. Taking a little sip, she smiled. "Your getting pretty handy in the kitchen." Sydney rubbed up against her legs until she leaned down and picked him up. "I see you are none to worse for wear, you fat fur ball!" She was rewarded with more rubbing only under her chin this time and loud purring. "You smell light tuna Sydney." She sniffed him cautiously. "My fault! I gave him a can of tuna fish when I started the coffee. I thought maybe I could get on his good side before, he decided to play destructo cat on the tree while we were gone." "Gone! Are we going somewhere?" "Absolutely! I have a special surprise for you this Christmas Eve!" Nick's eyes twinkled bright blue as he spoke. He was having fun with Christmas this year. It was the first time in the 7 years he had known Natalie that they got to spend the entire day or night in this case together. "This will be our 7th year together and want it to be special. So go upstairs and put on your warmest clothes because we are going traveling." Nick pulled her chair out to move her along. "But I haven't eaten yet Nick!" She laughingly protested. "I will have it finished by the time you get dressed! Go! Go!" She laughed as he swatted her backside on the way up the stairs. Natalie finished dressing in no time and polished off the scrambled eggs and bacon Nick prepared for her. Nick showered and changed while she cleaned up the kitchen. As he came down the stairs he brought a fur lined wool blanket and an old fashion fur muff. Natalie saw him approach with all the stuff and couldn't control the questions any longer. "Nick! What is..." Touching her lips with his fingers he stopped the question. He wrapped her up in the blanket and shoved both hands into the muff. He produced a similar fur lined cap and placed it on her head. When he was finished, she looked like a little fur lined Eskimo which brought a smile to his face. He pulled the blanket more snugly around her shoulder and planted a kiss on her lips. "Where ready now!" He scooped her up into his arms as she began to laugh. In a blink of an eye he lifted them both off the floor toward the skylight. He stopped only long enough to open the latch and close it after they were through. He was taking her flying. She was thrilled as they soared over the Toronto skyline watching the Christmas light twinkle and flash exclaiming the cheer and hopes of thousands that slept in their beds. They proceeded North for several miles until they reached the treeline. Nick landed softly by a nestle of pine trees and Natalie heard bells coming from the distance. The ground was covered in snow and the air crisp as the waited. "Looks like our ride is here!" Nick proclaimed as a man in an old fashion sleigh with bells approached. The sleigh was drawn by a magnificent black stallion that almost pranced as he walked. "A sleigh ride Nick!" Nat squealed with delight. Nick was thrilled to see her reaction. Jacob slowed the sleigh to a stop in front of them. "I see you made it Nicholas! Not that I ever had my doubts." Jacob smiled as he helped Nat and Nick into the sleigh. They settled into the sleigh side by side as Jacob covered them tightly and produced a large thermos of hot chocolate for Nat. The sleigh skimmed the surface of the new fallen snow as they made their way through trees to stop numerous times to enjoy the view of the Toronto skyline and the simple clear starry night in each others arms. Several hours later they returned to the loft. --------------- "That was wonderful Nick!" Natalie began unwrapping all the garments as they rode up in the lift. Handing each one of them to Nick as she disrobed, she waited until his arms were full to place a soft kiss on his lips. The smile on her face was all the reward he needed. She opened the lift door since his arms were full to find only the Christmas Tree lights on and a elegant dinner laid out on the table by candle light. She turned and smiled at Nick as he came into the room. "You are incredible!" She looked at her clothes in disgust. "I have to change before we eat. Can we wait a few minutes?" Nick dropped the coats and blankets on the top of the piano and bowed deeply. "Anything My Lady wishes!" He smiled and stepped forward to kiss her hand in a knightly fashion. Natalie curtsied and giggled as he finish kissing her hand. Natalie returned 20 minutes later wearing a gold sequined long gown and high heeled shoes to match. At her throat dangled the leaf necklace Nick gave her the evening before. She let her hair hand loosely about her shoulders the way he liked it. Nick had changed into a tux and greeted her at the bottom of the stairs. As she reached the bottom, Nick took her hand and pulled her into his arms. Slowly he ran his fingertips up her arms to her face, never once releasing his gaze from hers. "Have I told you lately just how beautiful you are?" He was driving her pulse mad. When he looked at her that way, she thought her heart had stopped. Almost in a whisper as she closed her eyes to meet his lips she responded. "Not enough." He deepened the kiss as she melted her body into his while his hands explored her back. Both sensing the danger this kind of action could cause grudgingly broke the embrace. "Shall we eat?" It came out haltingly from his chest as he fought for control of the vampire within. Nat could sense his struggle and moved to the table. Pheasant under glass, wild rice and mushrooms, asparagus in white sauce followed by a white chocolate mouse completed the dinner. Nick tasted the pheasant and mouse to please her, but thoroughly enjoyed her antics as she savored every morsel as she ate. Taking her wine glass in one hand and her hand in the other they moved to the living room by the fireplace. He then handed her yet another small box wrapped in silver this time with gold ribbons. "Nick?" Natalie was surprised to see another gift after last night. She opened it carefully to find yet another necklace nestled in a satin lined leather case. In it sat a 6 diamonds each cut perfectly in the shape of a teardrop surrounding a large 2 carat teardrop center stone. It hung from a 3/4 inch gold chain. "One diamond for each year I have known you and the 7th is for being the light in my darkness---for loving me in spite of what I am." He reached over and an unhooked the leaf necklace around her throat. "Here hold this!" He handed her the chain the leaf necklace had been on and flipped the diamond necklace over to find a hidden clasp that fit perfectly to the leaf loop. When he turned them over the large diamond tip fit snugly to the leaf stem making them appear as one. Together they were an exquisite piece. He turned her around and placed the necklace back around her neck. When he finished ,he gently caressed the necklace as it dangled on the end of the chain next to her breast. Turning his gaze back to hers he continued. "You fill me with light and hope Natalie. I love you now and forever!" Gently touching his face she could read the emotion in his eyes. The three words she had longed to hear since the day she met him meant more now than they ever did. He truly loved her. It was in his eyes, his actions and his heart. She would never doubt it. "Say it again Nick." She whispered as she brought her lips to his. "I love you Natalie and I think I always have!" He deepened the kiss as she ran her hands up under his jacket letting them caress the hard muscle there. It was wonderful! She bathed in the sensations coursing through her veins as her pulse raced and Nick's breathing increased. How much longer could this last before the vampire appeared. She didn't care about the risks only that he loved her. Nothing else mattered as he continued the onslaught of her lips and then her neck. He stopped abruptly and pulled her head against his shoulder to stop the raging beast from appearing. "It's okay Nick! It's okay!" She pulled away from him slightly to force him to look at her. His golden eyes met her blue ones. "I love you Nick--know that. Nothing is going to prevent us from being together." She smiled and ran her fingers down the side of his face tracing his fangs slightly with her fingertips. "The vampire doesn't scare me anymore because I know that his heart is no longer cold. One step at a time. Together- -we will defeat the vampire with love and faith and no one will ever keep us apart again." She kissed him gently on each one of his fangs bringing tears to his eyes. She wiped the tears away as the fell and brought each one to her lips. "See!" She turned her finger toward him to see. "No blood, only saltwater," she smiled as she brought her finger back to his lips. Amazed at her reaction and understanding, he pulled her back into his arms. "Dance with me Natalie. Dance with me until dawn and then spend the night in my arms, because tonight of all nights you have given me the greatest gift of all----HOPE and unconditional love. No man has ever been so blessed." She walked over to the stereo to put on slow music and then walked into his arms. "My pleasure Sir Knight!" And they danced until dawn and fell asleep in each others arms in front of the tree. ---------------------- The sun began shining through the one shade that for some reason did not close. The warmth of the sun shining into the room awoke Nat as she lay snugly in Nick's arms on the couch. Seeing the sun on the floor she reached for the remote. "Nick! Nick! Wake up!" She shook him roughly trying to wake him. "Nat! What is it?" He struggled to wake after only a couple hours of sleep. Seeing the sun pouring through the window he tensed until he saw the tree. Natalie pulled him to his feet and out of the sun as it touched the edge of the couch while he stood speechless in front of the tree. She closed the shade quickly and returned to his side. In place of the 10 foot Christmas tree they had so lovingly decorated, stood a 10 foot red leafed maple tree decked with all their decoration down to Natalie's hand made satin tree skirt. On the tree hung Natalie's gold leaf swinging as if in a breeze. She touched her throat to verify that it was indeed gone. Nick walked to the tree as if mesmerized by the motion of the leaf. As he touched the leaf it disappeared only to be replaced by a beautiful white card with a gold dove of peace emblazoned across the front. Nick opened the card and sank to his knees as he read. Natalie came quickly to his side and touched his trembling hand for support. The card was addressed to Nick and Natalie and read: With Love and Faith There is always HOPE! You are never Alone! Merry Christmas! Mother When his single tear touched the card it disappeared to be replaced by the gold leaf once again. Nick placed the gold leaf back on Natalie's necklace under the diamond clasp and smiled. "Forever and Always Natalie! Merry Christmas!" He brought his lips to hers which she gladly accepted. The End All comment to StormyNite nitewind@www.plantnet.com