Archived May 2001 ------------------------------------------------ Warning: This story is rated R. If you are under 18 years then please do not read any further ------------------------------------------------ Natalie's dull headache woke her up. Damn Lacroix... and all his champagne. Natalie slowly turned her head to see Nick fast asleep and barely breathing. "Well, barely breathing is normal for Nick. It must be nice to have lived the past 767 years without a hangover, or a cold or even the common flu." She let a groan escape as she moved her legs. Next time I pull an all-nighter with Nick, I need to be in better shape. Although it was not TOO unpleasant making love all night with him, she thought with a sly smile on her face. Natalie's smile grew as the memories from last night flooded over her. Nick had been better in bed than she had ever imagined. And he seemed a little surprised to find his "sweet" Natalie was not the inexperienced virginal type he thought she would be. "Men... they want their women to be a combination of Olga Korbet, Rachel Welch and Rin-tin-tin in bed, but they don't want to admit it to you or even to themselves," She said outloud. As if on cue, Nick rolled over and opened his eyes, "Good Morning... or is it afternoon?" "It's evening, Nick, and we both have to be at work in an hour. Do you want the shower first..." Natalie did not finish her sentence as Nick drew her into his arms. He silenced her words with a teasing kiss. Natalie felt desire well up in her. Her libido began duel her aching legs, but the ever practical side of Natalie took over, "Nick, I can't be late for work. The Inspector General is coming by the office and I can't leave Grace to fend for herself. The man has an ego bigger than the CN tower." Nick let his hold on her loosen, but he did not surrender her completely. "Natalie, you were incredible last night. I could feel the trust and faith flowing from you into me." Nick's eyes slightly teared up. He was not one to express strong emotion easily. "I love you, Natalie. I don't think you will ever know how much. You have given me my soul back. Humanity can not be far behind, can it?" Natalie's own eyes began to water giving them a diamond like glow in the fading dusk sunlight. "Nick, you have always had your humanity. It's your mortality we need to recapture...and we will." She let herself lean back into his chest and she placed a kiss gently on his lips, "Or I'll die trying..." @-----(--(------ "Wow, girlfriend, I want the "juice" and I want it now. What happened to you last night?" Grace put the tray of specimens down on Natalie's desk. " You look like you swallowed the golden goose or was it a golden haired detective?" Natalie felt as though her face was on fire as the blush rose quickly. "Grace, I have no idea what you're talking about. It was your typical evening, at your typical Charity Ball." "Typical, huh? Did your typical Knight sweep you off your feet and take you back to his castle? You don't blush like that from a two minute Waltz and a glass of punch." "Actually, Grace, it was the Tango." Natalie decided to let her friend off the hook, "And yes... there was a Knight involved, and before you ask, yes , it was wonderful." Grace exploded with, "It's about time." And then she pumped her fist in the air as she let out a "hoopla." "Dr. Lambert, just what is going on here in Forensics!" The heavy set man, pushed his way past Grace and presented himself in front of Natalie with a huff. "I see nothing to be celebrating when you have at least 4 back logged autopsies to perform. That's one of the reasons I don't like women Medical examiners. They tend to be so over emotional !" Natalie felt about two inches tall, but she gathered her strength quickly. "Mr. Blythe, I have seen many a man breakdown and cry in here so I fail to see where my sex has anything to do with my performance." Natalie spun on her heel and began to walk away when she turned back to the Inspector General, " And by the way, these four autopsies are from the 33rd street office. Seems the two MEN medical examiners could not handle their own workload tonight." She walked away leaving a uncomfortable silence behind her. She had taken a lot of crap in her job, being not only the only female ME in Toronto, but also the youngest ME they had ever had.. Natalie had to work three times as hard as anyone else, just to be treated as an equal. "Damn, I left Grace with that pig." With a sigh she walked back into the autopsy theater to find Grace showing Mr. Blythe the log books and medical records for the past quarter. (end of part one) See Disclaimers in Part one. The Last Tango By: C.T. Brennan 2 of 8 "What happened to you last night, buddy? Thanks for leaving me high and dry having to baby sit the Mayor." Schanke watched Knight closely as he leaned against the side of his desk. "Oh, and next time, Knight, try taking one step closer to the razor when shaving. You look like hell." Nick had forgotten all about Schanke and the mayor until just then, "Sorry Schank. I guess I went a little crazy when I saw Natalie with Lacroix last night." "A little crazy? I'd call it more psychotic than crazy, Nick. I could've sworn I saw your eyes glow red. Who is this Lacroix person any way?" "Lacroix is an old "friend" of mine. He is new in town and I was not expecting to see him." "You mean, you did not expect to see him with Natalie, don't you?" Schanke had never been able to get a handle Nick and Nat's relationship. It was obvious that they cared for each other, but as far as he could tell, they had never been more than good friends. "Nick, why don't you just admit you like Natalie and ask her out? My heart can't handle any more scenes like the one last night. Just do it, man. What's the worst thing that can happen?" I could kill her, thought Nick. "Schank, give me a break. I think I can handle things from here." Schanke suddenly noticed Nick was wearing the same clothes he came to work in last night. "Wait a minute there, Knight! You haven't been home yet. Which means you must have spent the night somewhere. Now where would that have been?" Nick could not contain the smile that crept out onto his face, "Schanke, it is none of your business." "Whoa, Nick Knight is smiling...you're wearing old clothes... and if you weren't so pale, I'd swear you were blushing. Tell me you did not spend the night with your old friend? " Schanke reached for the phone. "Schanke, if you breathe a word of this to any one, I will have to kill you." Nick had not thought how his relationship with Natalie may create a conflict of interest here at work. He wanted his relationship with Natalie to be private and not the latest fodder to feed the gossip mill. "Sure Nick, no problem. I can keep a secret, mum's the word." Schanke turned back to the phone. "Myra, guess where good ol' Nickie spent the night with last night?" Nick rolled his eyes in surrender and walked away. He could only hope for a major catastrophe to hit Toronto so the attention would shift away from his love life. Still, it felt good to realize he actually had a love life for the first time in eight centuries. @----(----(---- Without thinking, Nick's steps took him to Natalie's office. Maybe, my mind knows what my body needs, he thought to himself. He saw he was lucky to catch her alone. Even with her hair pulled back and a magnifier on her head, he felt his groin tighten with desire. Last night seemed more like a dream to him than reality. He had managed to keep the beast at bay not just once, but countless times throughout the night. Natalie had been a very willing partner and she had reached for him everytime with the same passion as the first time. "Well, hi there." Natalie spoke as she saw him in the doorway. "Come on in, Nick. I won't bite, unless of course you want me too." She smiled as she saw how the comment made Nick uncomfortable. He really did need to break those old 13th century ideals. Last night probably had done wonders in that regard, but poor Nick had a ways to come. Nick crossed the room and kissed Natalie letting his tongue brush across her lips. "I thought biting was my territory here." He let his mouth dropped down to the nape of her neck and he gently nibbled. Nick was rewarded with a husky sigh from Nat. "Nick..." Natalie cleared her throat and pushed Nick away gently. " I already had one major career ending scene tonight. I don't think I can handle a second one." She kissed Nick lightly on the cheek. "On the otherhand, you may just be worth it." Grace coughed as she entered the room out of common courtesy. Nick and Nat created a bit more space between them and they both blushed slightly. "How romantic you two look under the fluorescent light of the examining table. I just need to grab these clothing samples and then I'll be gone for at LEAST 30 minutes." Natalie shot Grace a "I'm going to kill you " look at Grace. "It sure didn't take you long to tell Grace about us did it, Nat?" Nick wrapped his arm around Nat's waist. "Me?" Natalie punched Nick playfully in the arm. " I can't walk down the hall without a police officer giving me a "thumbs up" or a "way to go Natalie. So don't blame me for telling one person. Apparently you already told the whole 96th precinct." Nick was a little concerned just how quick the information had been disseminated, "Ahhh, Nat. It wasn't me. Schank pried it out of me and you know him..." "Oh, I know him... Telephone, Telegraph, Tell-a-Schanke. Nothing works faster." Natalie gave Nick's arm a squeeze. A familiar whoosh sound filled the room and a very angered Lacroix stood before them. "I'll say. News does travel fast and now you have endangered all of us, Nicholas." Lacroix moved closer to Nick and Natalie and whispered, " Nicholas, You simply could not adhere to the laws governing our kind could you? You had to take a mortal lover and expose this possibility to the community." "Lacroix, I have done nothing to harm you are your precious community. Are you afraid that others will follow my steps now? Is that what has you so concerned?" Nick protectively moved in front of Natalie. " That is exactly the problem, Nicholas, I have just come from the Raven where I was visited by the Enforcers. They have sent me to dispose of you and dear Natalie here. If I do not honor their wishes, I will be disposed of myself, and I do so hate the thought of ending it all now. I was so looking forward to the new millennium." Lacroix took a closer look around the room. "What a revolting place to work, Natalie. I have no idea how you manage to tolerate it." Natalie stepped from behind Nick, "Lacroix, is Nick right? Is our relationship some kind of threat to the Enforcers?" Lacroix turned and face Nat, "Yes, my dear. That is exactly the problem. We can not have the purity of our race tainted by mortal indiscretions, as it were. Our community must remain a secret and if we decide to start pursuing an interest in mortals for something other than food, we will be exposed." "By mortal indiscretions, do you mean offspring, Lacroix?" Natalie had not even thought of the possibility and after last night... she should have protected herself better. Some doctor... Nick spoke first, "It is impossible for a male vampire to impregnate a mortal, Nat." "But, Nicholas" Lacroix said, " You have forgotten that much of our community is female. And a female vampire can procreate. In fact, it is the only way a female vampire can become mortal again....by giving birth to a mortal child." "What do you plan to do about the Enforcers, Lacroix?" Nick asked in a calming tone so not to alarm Natalie more than necessary. "I thought I'd leave the choice up to you, Nicholas. These are the options as I see them." Lacroix ticked the choices off his fingers as he spoke. "One, you bring Natalie across and make her one of us. Two, I erase all memory of you and our community from her mind and we move on. Lastly, I kill you both as the Enforcers have instructed me to do. " Natalie felt panic rise, " I think all three of those options pretty much suck, Lacroix." "Suck or not, Natalie, You will have to choose one." Lacroix looked sternly at his son, "Nicholas, I give you until this time tomorrow to let me know your answer." With a whoosh , Lacroix was gone. Nick wrapped his arms around Natalie as she sobbed uncontrollably in his arms. He wished he could tell her something, anything , to make it better, but words had left him. He buried his face in her hair and began to cry too. @--((------ Nick dropped Natalie off at the loft with a promise to return as soon as he could. He had to find out if what Lacroix had said was true. Only Janette would know the truth. Natalie poured herself a glass of the wine she had brought with her. It was unfair. She and Nick had worked so hard to help him gain his mortality only to have the very community he was trying to escape, condemn him and draw him back in. She thought of her discussion with Nick in the car ,"The only way I can stay with you, Nick is to become what you are... To be what you despise." Nick had adamantly stated he would not allow her to be brought across. He could not bear to see in her what he so loathed in himself. She knew that Nick wanted Lacroix to wipe her memory clean. Then, he would not have to bear the guilt of destroying her life. The thought brought fresh tears to her eyes. How can I live without him? How can he choose to be apart from me? Natalie took a deep drink from her glass. "Can it be so bad, my dear?" Lacroix's voice startled her causing her to drop her glass. It shattered on the hard wood floor. Natalie looked up at Lacroix and then down at the glass. "That is how I feel Lacroix. Shattered.... a piece of glass that you will pick up and toss in the trash without a second thought. " Natalie's eyes met his, "How can you do this to him? To us?" Lacroix drew closer into the room. " That is where you are mistaken, Natalie. After 800 years of torturing poor Nicholas, I have grown to value his relationship as a friend." He reached out and touched her cheek with his hand. "And, you allow me to maintain and control this relationship over him. You see, he is far too concerned that I might harm you if he crosses me in any way." Natalie pulled her face away with a jerk. "All this time, I thought you might be capable of caring for someone more than yourself. I see I was wrong." "Watch your tongue, dear Natalie. I have come to assist you. Do not spurn me so quickly without a thought as to what I might offer." Lacroix sat down on Nick's leather couch and patted the space next to him. "Come here and join me." Feeling much like the fly caught in the spider's web, Natalie took a seat on the chair beside the couch. Lacroix smiled at her. "I must say that I have always been fond of you, as you know. You are bold and beautiful, a combination I am quite attracted to in mortals. Nicholas has been a fool to have ignored you for so long. I would have brought you across quite sometime ago, if I were him." Natalie faced Lacroix, "Now it seems you may get your wish. They only way I can stay with Nick, is to become what you are and I have no intention of leaving him." "If I know our Nicholas, this is an option he is not in agreement with is it?" Natalie nodded her head in agreement. "I was quite surprised to hear that you and Nicholas were able to, how should I say it, Consummate your love in a mortal manner. I would have thought you would have been dead within minutes. Nicholas has never been strong in the stamina department, from what Janette tells me." The very name, "Janette", sent a chill up Natalie's spine. "Believe it, Lacroix. It can be done or else you would not be here threatening our lives." Natalie stood up, "I think its time for you to leave." Lacroix uncrossed his legs and stared up at her. "But you have not heard my offer. I have a fourth solution to your problem." Natalie stood in silence so La croix continued. " I admit, I am intrigued by the idea of being with a mortal in that way. It has been 2000 years since I've had the pleasure." Natalie continued to be still and did not even blink. " My proposition is this, Natalie. If you spend the night with me tonight, I will go to the Enforcers and tell them I have erased your memory. I will tell them you are no longer a threat." At first Natalie did not think she heard him correctly. Then as the words sunk in and the meaning of what Lacroix wanted from her took hold, Natalie sunk to her knees. "You want me to be with you?" she whispered. "Yes." Lacroix stood and walked over pulling Natalie back to her feet. "Nicholas has given up his very existence to be with you...to be with you as a man and not as an immortal. It's quite simple. I want to see what I have been missing these past two millennium." Natalie stumbled away from him and into the kitchen. "There is no way, I would ever consider being with you." "Think about it carefully, Natalie. One night with me and you can have Nicholas back. He doesl not want you as a vampire, you will lose him. If I wipe your mind clean, you will lose him. This way I get what I want... and so do you ... and so does Nicholas." This is madness, Natalie thought. However, with little time left and all the options unbearable. This seemed the only way out. "Okay, Lacroix. I will do it." A wicked smile crossed his face as he opened the elevator door. "Let's go, my dear. Time is of the essence." Natalie pulled her coat around her. "Nick, please forgive me," she said to the now empty loft. (end of 3 ) Usual Disclaimers found in Part One. The Last Tango By: C.T. Brennan (4 of 8 ) Lacroix and Natalie entered his apartment above the Raven through a back door that Natalie did not know even existed. The apartment was dark and sterile, a combination of leather and glass furniture with a few Picasso's and Rembrandt's decorating the walls. It seemed to fit Lacroix quite nicely. "May I fix you a drink? I have brought a particularly nice Chardonnay up from the bar." Natalie nodded her head. She still could not believe she agreed to this evening with him and was still a little speechless. Lacroix placed the glass in to her hand. She saw he brought his own "wine" glass with him. "Tell me. What was it like making love to Nicholas? Was is exciting waiting for his fangs to pierce your neck? Please tell me, I'd like to know." Natalie fixed a blank stare on her face. " It was exciting and terrifying at the same time. I was lost in a sea of color and sensation as he held me and touched me and caressed me. Still, I was waiting for the pain of his fangs on my neck ... for my life to drain out of me into him. Strangely, it made it more exciting for me. Towards the end, he did take a little blood from me, but just enough to keep the vampire back." "Such trust in each other. This devotion is, indeed, quite rare." Natalie turned to him at the sound of his voice. His eyes were quite golden and his fangs had dropped. "What will poor Nicholas think of your betrayal tonight?" Natalie's breath caught in her throat as she realized she had not thought how she would tell Nick about tonight, or even if she should tell him at all. She felt Lacroix's hands slide over her shoulders and back. She gasped as his lips touched her neck. His fangs slightly scratched her skin as he moved his mouth down her back. With a yank he ripped her shirt from her back. The tears flowed freely down her face as she pictured Nick in her mind. "I love you, Nick." @----(((------ Nick returned to the loft with a heavy heart. Janette had confirmed that the Enforcers had visited Lacroix, but she had not been allowed to stay to hear what they had said to Lacroix. Nick had thought of trying to run from the Enforcers and Lacroix. but he knew it would only be a matter of time before they were caught and killed. He had to convince Natalie to willingly allow Lacroix to erase her memory. It was the only thing that kept her alive. She would have a life, a good life after it was done. He would move on and maybe over time he would learn to think of her without too much pain in his heart. He opened the door to the loft and found it empty. Nick could not hear Natalie's heart beat and he knew he was alone. Damn, where had she gone? He heard the elevator kick in and he breathed a sigh of relief. She must have gone out and now she's back. Nick turned towards the door, but was taken aback when he saw Natalie with Lacroix. He panicked until he heard her heartbeat and discovered she was still mortal. "Where the hell have you been?" "She's been with me Nicholas. We had some last minute business to attend to, right Natalie?" Lacroix seemed very smug to Nick. What had happened? Natalie was dreading this moment, "Nick, Lacroix has agreed to help us with the Enforcers." "Yes, Nicholas. I have taken care of everything. You need not fear from them again or from me." Lacroix picked up Natalie's hand and kissed the smooth skin. "I thank you Natalie. Good luck with the rest of your evening." With a slight laugh he left. Nick reached out to Nat, but she avoided his touch and walked around him. "What the hell was that, Natalie? And what is this about Lacroix taking care of the Enforcers ?" Natalie looked back at Nick over her shoulder. He looked angry... very angry. How could she hurt him? "Nick, we have to talk." Natalie opened Nick's refrigerator and looked at her wine bottle. With a second thought, she shrugged her shoulders causing her to wince. Then, she placed the bottle back into the refrigerator. No, she would have to do this sober. There would be plenty of time to drown her sorrows later. Nick had never seen Nat like this. She was hiding something, and he knew she would have to get the courage up to tell him. "Nat, I love you. Whatever it is, I trust you. I have faith in us...that we can get through this together." He had hoped the words would be comforting to her, but they seemed to have the opposite effect. Natalie drew herself further away from him and a mental wall went up between them. "No, Nick. I have betrayed your trust and your faith." Her voice shook with emotion, "I hope one day you will forgive me. Please remember I did it to save your life...our lives." "What have you done, Nat? It can not be that bad, can it?" "Nick, I made a deal with Lacroix in order to save our lives from the Enforcers." Natalie leaned up against the counter. She had never felt so exhausted in her life. " I could not bear the thought of having my memory erased and you would not bring me across." How can I say this to him? "Natalie, what deal did you make with Lacroix? You know better than to trust him." Nick moved closer to Natalie, but kept some distance so not to discourage her from talking. "Lacroix was very interested in how we were able to make love. He asked several questions as a part of our agreement, I answered them all." Natalie's heart was breaking as she spoke. "Nick, I agreed to have sex with him in exchange for our lives." Nick only saw her mouth forming the words. He did not actually fully comprehend them until moments later. He stumbled back into the elevator door. He felt as though he had been staked repeatedly in the heart. "You what?" Nick must have misheard her. "Nick, I didn't want to lose you. It was only one time..." Natalie realized how weak her words sounded even to her. His Natalie. His Natalie in the arms of that creature. It was unbearable to picture, but his imagination kept flashing it in front of his eyes. Lacroix's lips on hers. His mouth on her neck, her shoulders, her breasts. Lacroix laughing at him as he took her over and over. The scream from Nick was unlike anything Natalie had ever heard. It was an animal's roar but painted with streaks of agony. It sounded like a rabbit's howl as it lay mortally wounded in a hunter's trap. "Nick?" She instinctively moved towards him to comfort him, when he spun around. "You bitch!" The words stung and took the breath from Natalie's lungs. Nick's eyes grew red, " I trusted you, I gave you all I had...eight hundred years of life. I gave it to you and you spat on it. You betrayed me. You took my love and jumped in bed with my most mortal enemy. Get out of here, you whore." Nick grabbed Natalie by the arm. As soon as he touched her, Natalie screamed. It stunned Nick for a minute. He was not using enough force to hurt her, but the scream was one definitely from pain. The pain brought Natalie back to reality. "You are right, Nick. I am those things, but do not think for a minute that I do not love you with all of my soul and light. I did this to save us, but now I realize, it just destroyed us. Please let go of my arm and I will leave and never bother you again." Natalie wrenched her arm free from his hand. Nick saw the expression on her face. It was one of physical pain. As Natalie brushed by him, Nick noticed a small blood stain along the side of her shirt. Nick's keen sense of smell had picked up a fresh blood smell when Lacroix and Natalie had stepped from the elevator but he had assumed it was from Lacroix. "Nat..." Nick used his vampire speed to stop her before she reached the door. "What did he do to you?" Nick reached for the top button to Nat's shirt, but she quickly caught his hand. "Nick, you do not want to see this." She pulled his hand down and away, but did not turn it loose. "Please trust me this one last time, you do not want to know..." Nick felt anger rising again, but this time it was aimed at Lacroix. "Nat, I have to know what happened. I will kill him if he hurt you." Natalie dropped his hand and retreated several feet away from him. "What did you expect, Nick? The man was a Roman General who raped and pillaged his way across Europe. How many women do you think he had who were willing partners? Don't tell me you picture him and me together in a lusty, passionate romp between the sheets? It was not like you and Janette, Nick. I do not salivate over Lacroix like you drool over her. How do you think I felt walking in on you and Janette over the years? Her lipstick smeared all over your neck and fresh fang marks on her shoulders and back..." Natalie stopped to take a deep breath. This was not where she had meant the discussion to go. "Nick, that was unfair of me to say. I'm sorry." She walked back towards him and looked into his eyes, "Please... let me go." (end of 5) The usual Disclaimers are at the beginning of part one. The Last Tango By: C.T. Brennan ( 6 of 8 ) Nick could not believe the roller coaster of emotion he was on. He had gone from total love for Natalie, to complete and utter contempt, back to concern and caring for her, all in the course of 20 minutes. "I do not know what to think right now, Nat. I do not know if we will ever be able to go back to the relationship we had. I do not know even know if I want to go back. The only thing I am certain of is I can not let you walk out that door. Please let me help you now." Nick placed a hand on her face, "Trust me once more..." Natalie closed her eyes and nodded her head in acceptance. Nick gently unbuttoned her shirt and slid it down off her shoulders. He kissed her closed eye lids delicately before looking down. Nick was glad Nat's eyes were closed so she did not see her reaction to what he saw. Natalie's once silky smooth back was now covered with eight inch long scratches which ran the length of her back disappearing into her jeans. Droplets of blood still drained from the deeper of the gouges. It looked like she had been mauled by a wild animal, which Nick realized was close to the truth. "Natalie, I am so sorry," Nick whispered into her hair as he took her into his arms, careful not to touch her back. With a fluid motion, he swept her into his arms and took her upstairs. He placed her on his bed, as he went into the bathroom to start the bath. With the running water to cover the noise, Nick put his head into his hands and cried. This was all his fault. If only he had not been so obvious about his love for Natalie, she never would have been hurt. He would kill Lacroix as soon as he had the chance. Nick wiped his face clear of the bloody tears he had shed and went to check on Natalie. @---((------- Natalie woke up in Nick's bed. She had always wanted to make love to him on these silk sheets. A lump caught in her throat when she thought of how much Nick must despise her now. Sure, he had been caring last night. Nick had run a bath and then, carried her into the bathroom, placing her in the warm water. At first it had stung her raw back. Nick had carefully washed her back. Afterward, he let her borrow his silk pajama top and given her his bed. Today,however, she wore the face of a whore in his eyes. She turned to look at the clock and realized it was early evening. She had slept through the day. Her back stung a little when she pulled one of Nick's shirts on, but she soon discovered the pain was bearable. It was the emotional scars from last night that still ran quick. She felt humiliated and ashamed. As she walked down stairs she could see Nick had left her alone. "Who could blame him?" Natalie said to the empty room. Natalie picked her car keys off the table and spotted a note taped to the refrigerator door. "Nat, I've gone to the Raven. Wait here, please. Love, Nick" it read. Her eyes stayed fixed on the Last line, "Love, Nick." Was it still possible? Could he still love her? It took a minute or two before Natalie reread the first sentence and then she screamed, "No Nick! Not the Raven. You can't win!" @----(((------ Nick entered the Raven with eyes already glowing red. The sea of mortals and immortals alike parted so he could pass. Miklos put a restraining hand on Nick's chest, "Where are you going like that, Knight?" "Where's Lacroix? I have business with him that will not wait." Nick scanned the room and saw Lacroix as the Nightcrawler behind the mike in his studio. The red, do not enter light did not stop Nick as he ripped the door open. "Good evening, Nicholas. My you are in such a state tonight aren't you." Lacroix put a long playing record on and potted down the microphone. No reason to broadcast this dirty laundry to the greater Toronto area tonight. "Let me guess, you and Natalie had a fight?" He chuckled up at Nick. Nick grabbed Lacroix by the collar and yanked him out of his chair. "What did you do to her? You bastard!" He threw Lacroix to the floor. Lacroix's fangs dropped and he growled at Nick, " Get out of here Nicholas while you have the chance. I will not tolerate this behavior in MY house." Nick could not match Lacroix's speed as he leapt to his feet and pinned Nick to the wall of the studio. "I will say this for Natalie, Nicholas, she responds awfully well when you touch her doesn't she? She reviles some of the great enchantresses in history, I think." Nick let out a canine wail and reached for Lacroix's throat, but missed and embedded his nails in his shoulder instead. "I saw her Lacroix, I want to know what you did to her and then I will kill you. " Lacroix grabbed Nick by the throat and hissed, "No one will die tonight unless it is you, my son. As far as my fling with the fair Natalie...I don't kiss and tell. I will tell you this much so you can picture it in your dreams. When she came, and she did come, Nicholas.. . she screamed your name." Lacroix tightened his grip and Nick began to choke. "Lacroix, let him go!" Natalie screamed as she pushed her way past Miklos into the booth. "Have both of you lost your minds? There are a lot of people who can see you and I don't think you want to spend the rest of your night hypnotizing this crowd." Lacroix released Nick who fell hard to the floor. Nick was still in shock over Lacroix's words to fully comprehend how close he came to dying at Lacroix's hands. Natalie glared at Nick, "Nick, if you are done with your testosterone filled need to defend my virtue, I'd like a word with you." The words were still echoing as Natalie exited. "You are a fool if you let such a prize slip through your fingers, Nicholas. Of course, there are those who would gladly relish the chance to capture her when she fell." Nick could only stare at him as he spoke. He had nothing left to say to his master. Nick pulled himself up and followed Natalie out into the bar. Natalie stepped up to the bar "Miklos, can I get a drink? Scotch , Glenfiddish if you have it." Great, Nat thought to herself, now I'm stepping up to the hard stuff. She could understand Nick wanting to confront Lacroix after seeing the scratches on her back, but damnit, she was a big girl. If some guy mauled her during sex, it was her fault not Nick's. Leave it to Nick to feel guilty about HER betrayal. She cheats and he feels the guilt. Typical, Nick. "Nat, can we go somewhere else to talk?" Nick said as he pulled up the stool beside her. He noticed her with a drink and was a little surprised. Nat very rarely drank and when she did it was not hard liquor. Natalie turned to Nick, "I don't know what else there is I can say Nick, except I'm sorry I hurt you." She drained her glass, "And that I love you, but nothing will change what happened." "Nat...please." He stood and put a hand on her arm "Let's leave." Nick pulled a bill from his wallet and left it on the bar. "I know of a cat out there who is pretty ticked at his owner." @-----(((------ They rode in complete silence to Nat's apartment. There was a flash of fur the minute Natalie made her way into the living room. "There, there Sidney. I've got some meow mix with tuna just for you." Natalie took Sidney into the kitchen and when she returned Nick was sitting on her couch. He looked as miserable as she felt, and she felt pretty damn bad. "Well, here we are Nick. " She sat down at the table across from the couch. "Thank you for taking care of me last night, by the way. It was..." Natalie paused, "difficult and embarrassing for you to see me like that." "I have to know what happened, Nat." It was a statement, not a question. Nick needed to know so he could put it behind him. It would be hard but he had to try. "I don't want to lose you. I don't want Lacroix to win." Natalie rubbed her eyes, "I don't know what good it will do to hear about it Nick. It was terrible...worse than any nightmare." "Was it?" Nick could not hide his bitterness. He remembered Lacroix's words from the Raven, '...she did come, Nicholas and she screamed your name.' Natalie looked at Nick with a shocked look on her face. "What did that bastard say to you? Did he tell you I was writhing in delight and that I was begging for more?" Nick could not meet her eyes and dropped them to the floor. "That's it isn't it? And you believed him over me! Perfect, Nick... just perfect." "I don't believe him Nat." It came out as a whisper. "What I do know, is that I need to hear it from you. What happened last night?" Natalie fixed her eyes to a place on the wall and started, " Lacroix took me to his apartment and we had a glass of wine. He asked me to refill his glass so I walked into the kitchen. I could not believe that I was there and what I had promised to do. Nick, I was so sure he was going to kill me. Anyway, Lacroix asked me about what it was like making love to you and I was describing it when he came up behind me. His eyes were burning gold and his fangs had dropped. He began kissing my neck then he tore my shirt off." She could not continue as the memory came to the forefront of her mind. "Then what did he do, Nat" She looked at Nick and he seemed oddly calm. "Tell me everything." She looked away, "He reached around and began stroking my breasts. His hands moved down my stomach to my, my...." She took a deep breath, "...to my crotch. He rubbed and squeezed while he was licking the back of my neck. He pulled my jeans down and ,I guess, at the same time , he took his pants off, I don't remember. I felt him enter me from behind. It surprised me. He forced my head down to the counter in front of me and held me down. He pumped a few times then I felt a searing pain down my back. I screamed the second time when I felt his nails scratch down the length of my back. He began licking the blood from the gouges he had made. The blood must have brought the vampire forth. He began to pump furiously into me, harder and harder. His nails scraped up and down my back , all the while,he was licking up blood from each mark he made. I know I screamed for you Nick... to help me... but it only made him laugh." Tears were running full force down Natalie's cheeks as she faced Nick once more, "He stopped then. I don't know why. He said, 'You are mine now. Give my love to Nick.' Then, he went into the bedroom and came out with a shirt for me to wear. And now you know..." Silence filled the room, then, Natalie got up and went into her bedroom closing the door behind her. Nick stared at the door for a very long time before leaving. (end of 7) Usual Disclaimers in Part one. The Last Tango By: C.T. Brennan ( 8 of 8 ) "Hey Lambert. Where have you been keeping yourself lately?" Natalie smiled as she saw Schanke enter the morgue door way. "Hi, Schanke. I miss you guys on the night shift, but I've been pulling the day shift the past three weeks." Natalie stood up from her desk," And you know, it is pretty boring around here in the day. How have you been? How is Nick?" Her words choked on Nick's name and came out as a squeak. Damn, she was trying to act casual but her emotions gave her away. Schanke, put an hand on her arm, "Well, I have seen many a love sick cowboys, but my buddy takes the cake. What ever happened between you two can be worked out. Please talk to him, Nat." "I would Schanke, but unfortunately it is Nick who doesn't want to see me. I have to honor his space." Natalie felt the tears again. "He has to come to me this time, Schank. Sorry." "That is a load of cow paddy, Nat. It doesn't matter who comes to whom first. After you finally talk to each other, no will remember whose turn it was to make the first move." Schanke gave Nat a hug, "He loves you, Lambert. I may be biased, but I think he's and worth the ten minute drive from here to his loft." He gave Natalie another encouraging hug, then left. Natalie looked in the mirror above her desk. "Okay Nick. You're getting one last shot at us." @---(((---- Nick stared at the ceiling. He had not slept in days. Everytime he closed his eyes his dreams filled up with Natalie. They all had the same theme to them. She was in trouble but he could not reach her in time. "Just like that night with Lacroix. You called out for me, but I did not save you. I let you down." Nick said aloud as he finally realized what his dreams meant. He heard his elevator engage downstairs and he immediately jumped up and flew to the stairs. It was her! He could recognize her heartbeat in his sleep. The elevator stopped and the door pushed open. Natalie stepped off and was about to call out to him when she spied him at the top of the stairs. "Hi, Nick." That was the best she could come up with. He looked terrible as though he had not fed in days. Nick was very pale and he seemed like a shadow against his black silk shirt. The silence was fast becoming uncomfortable. "Okay, Nick. You obviously aren't going to make this easy for me." She walked to the foot of the stairs and peered up at him. "Nick, I am in love with you and I need to know if you are still in love with me." Her eyes locked on his to see is she could see his answer there. Nick could not believe his ears. She still loved him after everything he had said to her. "Natalie, I love you more than life. When I said I'd love you forever, I meant it. And forever is a very long time to someone like me." Natalie closed her eyes. Thank God he still loves me. When she opened them again Nick was beside her. He looked scared to touch her as though she was a delicate piece of crystal. " Will we ever be able to go back to what we were, Nick?" Nick shook his head, "No, we can't go back, Nat." He lifted her chin and held it tenderly in his hands. "We have to start over again. This time, Nat, I'm not going to wait 3 years before I kiss you." He carefully kissed her lips. "How long are you going to wait before you make love to me this time? " Natalie whispered up at him. "How does five minutes sound?" He answered huskily. Natalie let her hands circle his waist and she pulled herself closer. "Sounds way too long to wait, Nick." She nuzzled her mouth against his neck and began a trail of kisses from his neck which led up his chin. She nibbled on his lobe and darted her tongue in and out of his ear with a pumping action. "God, Nat... you have no idea what that does to me." Nick's arousal was quite noticeable against her thigh. "I think I have a general idea, Nick." Natalie dropped one hand down to the bulge in Nick's pants and gently massaged and caressed while Nick let out an responsive moan. She used her free hand to unbutton his shirt and pull it away from his chest. Natalie led her trail of kisses downward this time, stopping at his left nipple. It became hard as she slowly sucked and licked it. Nick's head dropped back in concentration as he battled the beast within. Natalie continued her journey south by smoothly undoing the buttons on Nick's 501 jeans. Her hands wrapped around his waist again as she drew him closer. Nick let out a half moan, half growl when Natalie's lips engulfed his shaft. Slowly, she pulled him into her mouth and sucked ever so harder with each thrusting motion she simulated with her mouth. One hand clung to his waist while the other massaged the area just below her mouth. Nick's breathing was becoming very rapid and Natalie knew he was almost there. "Nat....No" Nick pleaded as he stepped away and pulled her to her feet. "I want to do this together." Nick stopped her protesting look with a kiss. He pushed his tongue past her lips and began to explore her mouth with his. Natalie groaned slightly when Nick's hands found their way into her blouse and he began to stroke her breast. With vampire agility, he managed to remove her shirt and jeans without neglecting the duties his mouth was performing. It was Natalie's turn to let a desirable moan escape as Nick's finger entered her and began to pump in and out. "You are so wet, Nat." Nick whispered appreciably into her ear. "I want you so much it hurts." Natalie was lost in the sensations her body was being rocked by, " Nick, I'm yours...now and forever." He looked down at Natalie and saw her eyes closed and her face flushed with arousal. He kissed each eye lid carefully. "I never want to be without you again, Natalie." She opened her eyes to see Nick's ever so blue eyes staring back. "Now, Nick..." It was all the encouragement he needed. Nick wrapped Natalie's legs around his waist. He pushed both their bodies against the wall behind her. Natalie screamed Nick's name almost immediately after he entered her. Nick thrust deeply into her repeatedly, each time hearing Natalie's cries ringing in his ears. He felt himself delight in the sensation of the wetness and warmth of her. Natalie's felt the waves hit her one after another as her body began shaking with orgasm. She was crying his name over and over when Nick heard his own voice screaming her name. His legs, racked from the sheer force of his release, weakened beneath him as they slid down the wall to the wood floor of his loft. Protectively, Nick slipped an arm underneath Nat's head and held her tight against him. He looked down at the still visible scars on her back. "Nat?" Natalie murmured a barely comprehensible, "Hmmmm?" " Will you marry me?" The words came out easily for him. Nick was never more certain of anything in his 800 year life. Natalie lifted her head, "Yes, I'll marry you, but Nick there's something you should know." "Whatever it is, it won't change my mind, Nat." She pulled herself upright and leaned on his chest, "I think I'm pregnant." The End