ADULT - Sex and a wee bit o' foul language.

Warning!! This is a bit of Valentine Fluff<g>

Usual copyright disclaimers apply.

All comments to knightraven@clear,net.nz

Enjoy.

Unexpected Liaisons

By Knightraven

Copyright 1999

The night was cool and her breath fogged as she struggled with her groceries.

Her car was in the shop...again. Shifting the weight around in her arms to relieve the aching muscles, she decided tomorrow was the day she was starting her new fitness regime.

It was late, or early, depending on your usual bedtime routine. She had, with great relief, finished work for the evening , and returned home without having to fork out for a taxi, thanks to a certain blonde detective, only to be confronted with empty cupboards and a grizzling cat. So after a quick change into jeans and sneakers, she hit the pavement began the walk to the all night market a few blocks away.

"Should have caught a cab home," she muttered to herself, hoisting her bags up for the umpteenth time. Yeah, Lambert, but you need the exercise. What the hell for, she didn't know, it wasn't as if there were any prospective men in her life!

"May I be of assistance, doctor?" a smooth voice breathed from over her left shoulder.

Natalie yelped and spun around, scattering her supplies over the pavement.

"Damn it! Why do you guys always do that to me!" she growled, glaring at the man, recognizing his voice and smug smile. She bent suddenly to retrieve her goods, unfortunately Lacroix did the same and they clunked heads together painfully.

"Ow! Damn it!" Natalie clutched her head as she crouched down, her eyes closed, wishing the vampire to just go away.

"My apologies, doctor," he said softly, holding his own head. He gently pulled Natalie's hand from her forehead to check her for injury. Giving her had a critical once over he cocked a half smile.

"No permanent damage. However, I could kiss it better if you believe it would help."

"Not on your life, buster." Natalie replied. She pulled her hand away and returned to gathering her groceries, with Lacroix's help, they were quickly repacked. Standing, with her, Lacroix reached for the bags.

"Please, allow me." He all but snatched the bags from her arms. She wasn't complaining. If he felt the need to do his gentlemanly thing, why should she, and her aching arms, stand in his way.

"At least you guys are good for something," she muttered softly.

"Indeed, we can be good for a great many things." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Ha!" Natalie began walking back to her apartment. She wasn't going to go anywhere near that one! With her vampire help at her side, she wondered, why in hell, Nick's sire was here bothering her.

"So, Lacroix, what brings you to this part of town?" she asked companionably.

"Oh, just sampling the local nightlife, my dear," he purred, licking his lips. He smirked at her predicted glare. "Not literally of course," he added after a well timed pause.

"Yeah, well, good. Cause I've had a long enough day without any extra help from you, thank you very much," she told him firmly. They reached the front doorway and Natalie punched in the code to open the security door. She then led the vampire into the building and to the lift.

Lacroix observed the woman beside her as they rode up to her apartment. She was flushed, a thin layer of moisture shone on her skin from her recent exercise. This little sojourn had been completely spontaneous, he just happened to be flying by, when he spotted her walking alone, hampered by her groceries.

"So, tell me, doctor. Do you often walk the street unaccompanied in the small hours of the night?"

She sighed heavily,

"No, my car is in the shop."

Natalie mentally kicked herself for doing such a foolish thing. Had she become so comfortable with the night and all it's creatures to not give a second thought to venturing out for such a long walk by herself? Idiot. She reached into her jeans pocket for her keys and unlocked her front door, where she immediately set upon by her feline friend.

"Here, you had better give me that one," she said taking a bag from his arms and fishing out a can of cat food.

Lacroix closed the door behind him and set the remaining bag down on the kitchen bench and idly and blatantly went about unpacking her items. Fruit, coffee, lots of coffee, milk, bread, more cat food.

Natalie turned from feeding the cat just in time to see him smirk at the box of tampons he was holding in his hand.

"Do you mind!" she growled, snatching the box away and shoving it back into the bag.

"Not at all." His smirk held until she gave up her glare and went about putting her shopping away. She clicked on the kettle. Reaching for a coffee mug, she hesitated, then grabbed another.

"Well, since you're here and seemingly helped me by carry my shopping home, I suppose I should offer you a drink."

"I'll take that as an invitation, doctor. Thank you." He gave her another smug smile as he straddled himself onto one of her barstools at the breakfast bar, acting for all the world, that him being in her apartment was an everyday event.

Natalie shook her head and went back into the fridge to withdraw one of the emergency bottles she had stashed way in the back. From the cupboard she brought out the hot chocolate and a bag of small marshmallows. Pouring the blood into a mug she placed it into the microwave for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, the jug boiled and she poured the water into her own mug along with a healthy portion of milk and a small handful of pink marshmallows. The microwave beeped and she handed Lacroix the heated beverage. He smirked, and expectantly held his mug out to her. She just stared at him, confused as to what the wanted. Then it hit her.

"You have got to be kidding." He shook his head, and she couldn't help smiling as she dumped a handful of the marshmallows into his mug.

"So who came up with that one?" she asked as she led them into the lounge and onto the sofa. Lacroix sat down beside her, leaving a comfortable distance between them.

"Who would you presume. It was one of the more successful experiments I might add, most however, usually ended with Janette and I spiting out our meal and making Nicholas pay for his stupidity."

"I don't know, Nick may have come up with the idea, but it was you guys who actually drank it." She grinned as he shot her a nasty glare.

"More often than not, he would conveniently neglect to inform us of his culinary tampering," he growled as Natalie began to giggle.

Lacroix pursed his lips as he continued to look sideways at her. Why was he still here? He did not have to subject himself to this ridicule! He sipped from his sweetened blood.

"I'm sorry. I just had this picture of you and Janette...and well, you know..." she trailed off as she realized he wasn't sharing her amusement.

She sipped quietly on her chocolate, as she wondered what on earth they were gong to talk about. Maybe if he was annoyed enough he would just leave. Either that or kill her.

"I was visiting my barber," he announced suddenly.

"What?"

"My reason for being in 'this part of town'," he said, sitting back and crossing his legs, his mug resting on his thigh.

"Really?" She inspected his hair. It looked the same as it always did. She had just figured it never grew.

"He did actually cut it?" she said, not believing him, still trying to measure his hair.

"He took almost a whole centimeter off!" he exclaimed, brushing it with his hand. Natalie gripped his chin and turned his head side on.

"Oh yeah, so he did. Looks good," she finally said, going back to her drink. Lacroix harrumphed. Natalie restrained herself from chuckling by smirking into her chocolate. Were all vampires so vain, or was it just his family?

Somehow they managed to start talking about the exhibition at the local art gallery, and that moved on to art and literature in general. When music made its round, Natalie rose and placed a CD into her stereo and hit play.

"What made you choose the radio industry as a...career?" she asked him, taking her seat next to him once again, though a little closer than before as they became more comfortable with each other. She was seeing a side of the master vampire she had never thought existed. Between, what nick had told her and what she had seen for her self, she had always thought of him as an overbearing, stoic...ogre. But now, many things were coming into perceptive in regards to his behavior toward Nick, and to her. She recalled Valentines day perfectly, had done since the week after it happened, and the knowledge she now had of his torrid love life it made the whole affair all the more sad. She had heard the pain, masked in anger, that night.

"A variety of reasons. I found a profession which I could put my knowledge and appreciation of the fine arts to use, and project my message to the community all without leaving the comfort of my own home, so to speak." He flicked a hand through the air then sipped at the refill from his mug.

"Hmm. Cunning."

"Of course." They shared a smile. Natalie glanced toward the window then suddenly launched herself at the vampire, flattening him to the sofa.

"Natalie, what on earth are you..." he trailed off as he watched the sun rise across the woman's face, scant inches from his own. The soft orange glow, caressed her features, and the sight took his breath away.

"Thank you. That would have been a little painful."

"No problem." She smiled then pushed off him and rose to her feet.

Going over to the curtains she pulled them closed, only to have horrendous gaps letting the light in where Sydney had brought the railing down two nights previous.

"Damn." She turned back to Lacroix who was still laying flat on the couch, just out of reach of the burning and rapidly intensifying rays. "Let me go and close the blinds, then head for the bedroom." She told him, then disappeared down the hall and into the first door on the left.

"Okay, it's safe." He heard her call. Lacroix rolled off the couch and crawled along the floor until he came to the bedroom doorway, then rose and entered her private domain. It was almost completely dark. The windows were not only covered with blinds, but also heavy curtains.

"I need it dark to sleep during the day." She told him. He stood in the doorway, taking in her boudoir. "Well, I guess you're here for the day, and since this is the only dark room in the house, we are going to have to share." She said gesturing to the bed.

"There is no need. I shall sleep on the floor."

"Don't be silly. It's a king size bed, there is plenty of room."

"It would not be proper."

"Proper? Since when have you been concerned with what is proper?" she asked him with a crocked smile.

Since the moment I realized I want you, he thought.

"Always."

"I promise, I'll be the perfect Lady." She laid a hand over her heart. She crossed to her dresser and opened the bottom draw and drew out a t shirt and a pair of trackpants. She threw them at him.

"Here, these are Nicks, they may be snug, but they'll do as makeshift PJ's."

Lacroix frowned at the navy blue Toronto Metro Police Department T-shirt and matching pants. It was either that or nothing, he mused. Natalie grabbed her own nightwear, opting for pajamas herself rather than a night-shirt, and vanished into the bathroom to change.

Toeing his shoes off, Lacroix slowly undid the buttons of his shirt, slid it from his shoulders and hung it on a spare coat-hanger in her wardrobe, it was joined quickly by his pants. He pulled on the trackpants, they were far too short but otherwise fit well enough. The T-shirt was rather snug, it looked good, he noticed as he caught sight of himself in the wardrobe mirror, but it wasn't exactly helping quell his sudden and growing desires.

One glance at the bed, told him which side was Natalie's and he slid into the other. He was laying with his hands behind his head as he listened to her wash and dress.

He closed his eyes as she entered, the momentary light from the bathroom, flared across his eyelids. He felt her slid in next to him and sighed.

"Goodnight, Lucien."

"Good day, Natalie." They both turned on their sides away from each other. It was Natalie who, crumbled first. The giggle came from deep within, eventually bursting out into the darkness. Once she started she couldn't stop. Lacroix turned over to look at her with a confused grin.

"What?"

"You!" she finally spluttered, taking deep shaky breaths as she fought to calm herself.

"What about me?" he asked in an amused huff.

"You're in my bed!"

Lacroix smiled, the situation was rather amusing, and her failing attempts at controlling her laughter, became contagious. He found himself laughing for the first time in...he couldn't remember the last time he had laughed honestly, no snide thoughts, no chilling undertones, just warm, honest laughter...it had been a long time. As they fell quiet again, he told her.

"You realize, if Nicholas were to walk in now..." Natalie finished his sentence.

"...We would be in a whole heap of trouble!"

"Quite." He huffed. He let out a long sigh, and flopped back down onto his back. They grew quiet. He listened to her heart beat slow to normal, and her breathing ease.

"Hmh." He expelled the sound , as a thought popped into his head.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Go on, tell me."

"It was nothing, I just suddenly thought of my brother." Why was he telling her this? He asked himself.

"Your brother?"

"Hmm." He said absently as he mulled over the unexpected visit to his mortal past.

"You have a brother?"

He snapped out of his revive and turned briefly toward her darkened face. He let the emotions mould his face, with the knowledge he was safe from her eyes.

"Had. When I was mortal, I had an older brother, Augustus." He paused for a moment, before quietly adding. "He was killed in battle when I was eleven."

"I'm sorry."

"No need, it was two thousand odd years ago, doctor."

"Perhaps, but he was still your brother." He was silent.

"What reminded you of him?" she asked him quietly across the darkness.

She could hear the smile in his voice.

"I recall, laying in bed with him, whispering of the local gossip, and such things small boys speak of, when they are supposed to be sleeping."

"I guess something's don't change much, do they?"

"To that I can attest." He smiled.

They were silent again.

"I'd almost forgotten." He whispered, more to himself. She felt him turn back onto his side away from her. She turned to face him.

"Lucien. May I ask you something?" she heard him sigh dramatically and smiled.

"Very well." He sighed.

"What do you miss most about being mortal?"

"Nothing." he answered just a little too quickly, his answer more of a knee jerk reaction than a honest answer. They were silent again. She was almost asleep, when she heard him whisper.

"Apricots. I miss apricots."

She would have smiled if he hadn't sounded so pensive. He had told her more with that one word, than she could as yet decipher as sleep finally took her.

<<<<<

He was running through the long grass in amongst the orchard. The sun was hot and beating down upon his skin. He laughed as the young man chasing him lunged and missed his nimble target.

"Not this time, Augustus!"

"You will not escape me, runt!"

Lucius laughed as his brother came at him again, only this time he was brought to the ground. He writhed and giggled under his brothers weight, trying valiantly to get free of his larger sibling. Suddenly he was free.

"Come, I shall race you to the spring!" Lucius jumped to his feet and took off after his brothers gangly form as he bounded toward the freshwater spring further down the field. The smell of ripening fruit wafted on the air, and the sounds of insects buzzing about them brought a smile to his face.

He could see his mother up ahead waiting beside the spring with her basket of fresh apricots and olives.

It was one chore she preferred to do herself, and when he and Augustus were here it would be they alone who would help carry her pickings back to the Villa.

"Boys! Boys!" She called as they rushed passed her and to the edge of the spring, falling into a heap when they finally reached it. They both looked up at their mother, she was smiling warmly. Rising, each giving the other a playful shove, they quickly went to their mothers side. "Here, try these for me." She handed them each an apricot, which they shoved into their mouths immediately, biting into and sucking the sweet, ripe juice.

"Good?"

"Mmm." They nodded enthusiastically.

"Come then, carry these for me, and let us head back home." They talked and ate several of the apricots as they walked back to their home.

>>>>>

End part 1

Unexpected Liaisons

By Knightraven

Copyright 1999

Part 2

When he woke he was surprised to find himself spooned against Natalie. In fact it took him a moment to comprehend exactly where he was, his dream was still fresh in his mind. He had not thought of his family for a very long time and the warmth in his heart faded rapidly as the centuries caught up with him once again.

He gently pulled away and slipped out of bed, the sun was still high, but his need to feed drove him from her bed. Stepping silently out into the kitchen, careful of the light streaming in through the partially covered windows. He covered his eyes against the glare of the sun, and made for the refrigerator, hoping to find another bottle within. Thankfully, he spied three green bottles standing way in the back. He pulled one out and took a long swig. He was about to put the half empty bottle back when he thought better of it and took it back to bed with him. He gently slid back under the sheets,

"You okay?" she mumbled sleepily. He turned to her.

"Quite."

"Good. Go back to sleep," she grumbled.

He smiled, then forced it to vanished as he stomped heavily on his rising passion. No, she was Nicholas's, leave her. But try as he might, he knew it was a losing battle. He was falling for the good doctor, whether he liked it or not.

She woke again and for a moment she was startled by the weight she felt against her, and froze. But as she relaxed again, she could feel his soft breath against her hair, and his cool body pressed against her. She glanced down at the arm across her hip. It had been a very long time since she had slept with anyone besides Sydney. She found herself smiling. It felt nice, and even though his body was cooler than the norm, she still felt warm in his embrace. She wondered if it had been intentional, or if he just happened to be a snuggler in his sleep. Sighing, she placed a hand over his and forced herself to sleep again.

It was late afternoon when she woke . She had dreamt. It had been a very pleasant, if not disturbing dream. She suspected his close proximity had much to do with what her mind had fantasized.. Neither of them had moved a muscle, and she heard him take a deep breath as he too woke.

"My apologies," Lacroix mumbled as he noticed the position he was in, and that she, too, was awake. He pulled away and shuffled over to his side of the bed.

"That's okay, it was nice." She turned over to face him, barely able to find his features in the dark.

She could feel him looking into her eyes and she smiled. He was such and enigma. One moment he was as confidant and intimidating, and the next, he seemed vulnerable, and fighting to find something to say. The latter was something she had only began to notice last night, but to her, it only made him all the more attractive.

And he was attractive, there was no doubting that.

Something happened as they had slept together, she had seen it before, with friends and lovers and the like, but with Lacroix it was different, more intense. A bond, had grown between them, for as they had both lain in their most vulnerable state of sleep, they had felt safe completely trusting the other. She could only guess, that to a vampire to feel this way with a mortal was no small thing.

She suddenly felt his hand brush her cheek.

"Thank you for your gracious hospitality, Natalie."

"You're most welcome." She somehow found his own face in the dark and mirrored his gesture.

Looking into her eyes, he heard her heartbeat increase, and could sense her desire burning brighter by the moment.

"Natalie..." he whispered, his voice heavy with fervour.

"Just hurry up and kiss me," she whispered back. Almost instantly his lips were pressed against hers. He pulled back for a moment, prepared to be push away, but Natalie reached up and pulled his head forward to meet his lips again. This kiss was harder, longer, deeper. She slipped her tongue against his lips demanding entry, and he was all to happy to comply.

She moved her hands across his chest and down to where his T-shirt tucked into his pants, and yanked it out. She pulled it over his head and threw it to the floor. Her hands now felt his naked flesh, soft and cool under her fingertips.

His own hands had found the buttons of her pajama top and he now pushed the garment from her shoulders. Their movements became urgent as they stripped themselves of their pants and molded together, the length of each others body against the other.

Natalie noticed how his erection pressed against her abdomen and his breath had shortened, much like her own. His hands seemed to be on every inch of her body, causing it to tingle and hum with pleasure. She arched her back as he slipped a hand to caress her clitoris.

She moaned, and writhed as he lowered his head to kiss her breasts. His tongue was unbelievable. She was surprised at the intensity and quickness of her orgasm as it shuddered though her body under his hands and mouth.

Recovering, she began to pay attention to him. Her hands splayed over his chest, molding the muscles under her hands, pulling at his nipples then dropping her head to take them into her mouth. She pushed him onto his back and he mewled as she sucked and licked her way to his navel. She pulled back and pulled the covers off of them both, then trailed her hands down his hips to his knees then back up the insides of his thighs. Finally she took him in her hands, feeling him for the first time. She smiled. At least this part of him is nothing like the average roman statue.

She didn't hesitate to take as much of him into her mouth as she could. He grunted and with great restraint gently thrust up into her. "Natalie!" he gasped as she thrust her tongue into his glands.

She sucked and licked until he finally pulled her off. He brought her up to meet his lips again, and they kissed passionately.

"Natalie," he whispered breathlessly through their lips. "I...I'll have to bite you."

"I know, it's okay. Just don't take too much." She grinned into his lips and she felt his fangs extend. She flicked her tongue along one and he groaned. So she did it to the other.

"Gods!" He rolled them both over until she was laying on her back, and smoothly pulled her legs up over his shoulders and entered her swiftly. Natalie cried out as he grunted and held still for a moment, closing his eyes at the sensation, before he began to thrust in a slow and gentle rhythm.

She didn't know how he managed it, but he kept the pace slow and even until she finally grabbed his buttocks and thrust herself harder at him. He took the sublet hint it was, and steadily moved faster and harder. A few stokes later Natalie exploded in a second climax just as she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder as he bit her. She felt him climax inside of her and a fleeting glimpse of his thought passed to her as he took her blood.

They lay slumped together in a heap, breathing heavily as they came back to earth. Lacroix slowly slid from her and rolled onto his back. Natalie rolled with him and draped herself over his chest, his cool skin felt good against her burning body.

"Wow," she breathed. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.

They lay silently for several minutes, and Natalie couldn't help but touch him again. Her head was on his chest and she slipped her hand down to gently stroke him. He was already almost fully erect again. Lacroix opened his eyes and raised his head far enough to watch her. He smirked as he sensed his eyes becoming brighter.

"Hmm. Round two?" he asked her, his voice rough and low. Natalie glanced up with a smile to meet his glowing eyes.

"Up to it?"

"Always," he said lightly, pushing her off him and turning her around until her feet were on either side of his head. They took each other all the way this way, Lacroix biting into her thigh as they peaked.

They lay entwined on the bed, idly stroking each other with fingertips.

"I have tomorrow night off. Would you like to come over?" This was the big question. Where did they go from here? He was silent for a moment, and a flutter of loss and disappointment pulsed through her heart.

"Yes...I would," he whispered quietly and kissed her temple. Natalie smiled again as she thought about how this was not the evening she envisioned, nope not at all. Her smile faded when Nick suddenly came to mind. What about Nick? Just what about Nick? He 's had his chance, she couldn't wait forever. She knew Lacroix wasn't the reason for him not committing anything to her, and these past few months they had drifted apart. He was seeing Janette more, and even the station gossip pool was believing their just friends routine now.

So where did that leave her? With Lucien? She stroked his stomach and listened to his heart beat once in it's vamperic fashion. Did she love him? She hardly knew him! But she did like him, a lot. She found herself enjoying his company, his keen mind and subtle, if black, sense of humour. She was sure that more would come of it. So yes, it left her with Lucien.

Oh boy, was Nick going to have a fit.

True to his word, Lucien was waiting for her when she arrived home from work the next morning.

"I was hoping I could keep you company for the day," he whispered into her ear as he had grabbed her from behind when she entered her apartment. He loved the way her heart had leapt and thundered in his ears, he had covered her mouth to muffle her yelp of fright. She turned in his arms and wrapped her own around his neck, drawing his lips to hers in a passionate dance.

"I've been thinking of you all night," she smiled seductively.

"Really? Hmm, perhaps you should tell me exactly what you were thinking about."

"Hmm, maybe I should just show you." She grinned at his raised eyebrow as she backed away and holding his hand, dragged him into the bedroom.

Laying together, Natalie propped up against his chest, she finally ventured onto the subject of Nick.

"Lucien, I don't think we should tell Nick about us for a little while." She pushed away from him a little to look into his face. "It's just that, if...if our relationship doesn't develop further, then all the stress and havoc from him finding out, would be for nothing. And you two have only just begun speaking civilly again, I don't want to be the reason you two enter into another feud." She flopped back down and sighed. His hand rubbed her arm gently.

"I understand your reluctance, Natalie. And I suppose I have to agree that we should wait." He then added with a sigh, "Nicholas can be so tedious." He shared her smile and brushed her hair with his lips.

"So, we are in a relationship?" he mused. It had been a very long time since he was in any sort of relationship with anyone.

"Well, you did come back after the first night, and every night since. I let you spend my precious one night off this week in my bed, and you walked me home tonight and last night, so yes, I guess this is a relationship, though it's been so long, I may have to look the correct definition up in my dictionary." Lacroix chuckled and began kissing the side of her face, sliding down until he met her lips.

"Remain with me tonight," he breathed into her ear.

Not an inkling of guilt or hesitation was felt as she mumbled,

"Okay."

Nick strode into the morgue, only to be confronted with the day-shift coroner.

"Ah, where is doctor Lambert?" he asked the man standing over a body, up to his elbows in blood. The doctor glanced up at the detective.

"Home sick. They called me in for the night."

"Oh, um, thanks." Nick spun on his heel and left in a swirl of black leather.

"No problem," the doctor muttered.

Nick had let himself into her apartment. If she was sick then she was probably sleeping. He figured he would just make sure she was okay and leave.

"Nat?" he called quietly, poking his head around the front door. Not getting a reply he entered fully and closed the door behind him. A quick glance around the apartment told him she was either in her room or the bathroom.

Coming to her bedroom door, he gently pushed it open, and froze.

Lacroix had been fast asleep and hadn't heard him come in. His head was laying comfortably against Natalie's shoulder, his arms wrapped around her waist. Something was calling him to wake. He forced his eyes open. As he became fully aware he jerked his head toward the door just in time to see his son spin and vanish.

"Nicholas!" he called as he stumbled out of bed, and realizing he was naked hurried to grab his pants and shirt.

Natalie had by this time woken and surmised the situation.

"Lucien wait, I want to go with you," she said pulling his arm to hold him back as she leapt out of bed. Lacroix sighed and nodded, his son was long gone.

"He'll be at the loft," she told him, puling open a draw and pulling on the underwear followed by jeans shirt and pullover.

"I did not wish him to learn of us this way," he sighed, buttoning the final button on his shirt.

"I know," Natalie replied softly and stopped what she was doing to encircled his waist with her arms. Lacroix gathered her to him and they hugged for a moment, before breaking away and finished dressing.

Nick slammed the lift door open, then closed again, and strode to his fridge and pulled out a bottle pressing it to his lips and drinking heavily. He couldn't believe what he had just seen! Natalie! His Natalie...and Him! How could she! Nick turned and threw the bottle in his hand across the room to smash against the far wall by the stairs.

"Better?"

Nick spun around to face off with the voice.

"No! I am not!" he snarled in his masters face, but backed away a few steps when he finally noticed Natalie step out from behind him.

"What do you want," he growled at her, turning back to the kitchen, to retrieve another bottle from the fridge.

"Nick, please..." Natalie began moving toward him.

"Please, what?!?" Nick confronted her. "Ignore what I just saw?! Pretend it never happened?! Accept it and move on?! What?! What do you want Nat?!" Natalie hesitated in answering, so he asked. "How long?"

"How long?"

"How long have you been fucking him!!?" Nick's emotions slipped out of control again.

"Nicholas, that is quite enough!" Lacroix stepped toward his son, glaring dangerously.

Nick threw up his hands in surrender, and Lacroix stayed where he was. Natalie sighed and answered his question.

"Three months."

"Three months?" Nick could hardly believe his ears. They had been together behind his back for three months. The revelation took the wind from his sails and he turned away from the pair and breathed deeply.

"I want you to understand, Nick," she spoke calmly. Nick closed his eyes.

"I don't know that I can, Natalie," he told her, the venom and volume almost gone from his tone.

"We..." Natalie glanced at Lacroix, who remained still and quiet close to her side. "What has happened between Lucien and I just happened Nick, we didn't go out of our way to make things uncomfortable. We, just...We..." Natalie trailed off, unable to find the words to explain.

"We did not wish for you to discover our relationship this way, Nicholas. We were not sure of how it would develop ourselves. We thought it best to wait before informing you. But rest assured, Nicholas, we would have told you," Lacroix spoke sincerely, moving closer to his son. Nick turned to met his gaze.

"I love her," Nick told him boldly.

"Yes, but are you in love with her?" Lacroix asked him gently.

Nick was silent as they looked into each others eyes before replying with a question of his own.

"Are you?" he finally whispered. Natalie turned to watch her lover. His answer interested her as well.

Lacroix remained silent for a long moment, he took a deep breath and glanced from Nick to Natalie then, back to his son again.

"Yes."

Nick felt as though he would be knocked over by a feather. He bored into Lacroix's eyes. Was it true? Had Lacroix fallen in love with Natalie? Was it possible? And more importantly, did Nat feel the same way?

"Nat?" he turned to asked the same of her. "Do you love him?"

Natalie kept her gaze on Lacroix and smiled gently, if she had been hesitant about her answer, it hadn't come though in her voice.

"Yes, I love him." Lacroix held her gaze, and moved closer. A small soft smile caressed his lips as she walked into his arms, laying her had against his chest, as they embraced.

Nick watched all this his eyes bulging, then he frowned, it was more to himself, and about what he was feeling right now. It was odd, his anger and jealously of a few minutes ago, had almost fallen away. And now all he was left with was relief. Relief? Yes, relieved that at last Lacroix had found someone again. Even if it was a the expense of Natalie. Asking him to leave Fleur had always been a time he regretted, though even now was sure it had been the right thing to do. But Natalie was different. She too held that special light within, but she was not as innocent as his sister had been, Natalie was well aware of the make up of man...and beast. He watched as they looked into each others eyes. Love. How could he possibly ask him to leave it behind again?

The answer was obvious. He couldn't.

"I...I'm not really sure what to say," he began. "But if it's real...if this is real...then I suppose it is something which you will both have to live with, and I'll have to come to terms with. I'll try not to interfere," he finished quietly.

Lacroix was surprised, and he snapped his head to his son, while still holding Natalie. He had expected much more from Nicholas. A physical confrontation had been planned for, however, it seemed it would be unnecessary.

"Thank you, Nicholas."

Nick shifted his feet.

"Yeah, well. If you ever hurt her..." he told him firmly, leaving the threat unspoken.

Lacroix smiled and meet Natalie's eyes once more.

"She will be quite safe, I assure you," he spoke quietly. He then reached down and their lips met tenderly, sealing their words.

"So what are you going to do now?" Nick asked the pair still gazing into the others eyes. Without breaking away, Lacroix answered. "I have absolutely no idea."

Natalie returned his smirk and added, " One day at a time, Nick...one day at a time."

Nick glanced away, a sudden sadness forcing him to avert his gaze from the lovers. She had been his, they both had, but now...

"Nicholas." He looked up to meet his sires eye. "I told you forever, did I not?" Lacroix smiled lightly as his son realized his thoughts had been easily received.

"Yes, Lacroix, you did."

"Good. See you don't forget, hmm?" he told his son firmly. Nick smirked. Natalie smiled at the two as amusement passed between them. It was an old story. She molded into her lovers side as he wrapped a protective arm around her, holding her close.

"And if I do...I'm sure you will help to remind me," Nick bantered lightly. Lacroix's smirk held and his eyes glinted with the knowledge of their eternal game as he promised his son,

"But of course, Nicholas...but of course.

Finis

End part 2

Hmm...End eternal? Let us discuss.<eg>

Kylie.

knightraven@clear.net.nz

"What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive,

generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!"

http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven