Title: Expectations
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG, Gen
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money..
Wc: 798
Expectations:
ex - pec - ta - tion *Longman - Dictionary of Contemporary English
1 [uncountable and countable] what you think or hope will happen
2 [countable usually plural] a feeling or belief about the way something should be or how someone should behave
"There! Another case closed! What would I do without the internet?" Vicki leaned back in her chair, contently smiling at her partner in crime.
"Yes, the wonders of the modern world…"
"Careful, Henry, you almost sound your age," she answered teasingly and earned a warm grin in reply. But before the vampire could utter the expected witty comeback, the door to Vicki's office was thrown open and a well-known figure stormed inside.
Without looking to see if the door swung closed – which indeed it did – the cop marched over before them and stated theatrically:
"That's it! I can't take it anymore!"
He loosened his tie and opened the first few buttons of his shirt, exposing an enticing, strong throat to their view, before he stripped off his trench coat and wandered over to the couch to sink onto it, the picture of despair.
"Somebody please kill me and put me out of my misery!" he begged as he looked pleadingly at Vicki.
The PI on the other hand only rolled her eyes. In answer to the inquiring look of her undead partner, she only grinned and calmly questioned:
"Your aunt's in town?"
A murmur that sounded a lot like worse was the only perceivable answer.
"Sorry, but I didn't get that." She winked at Henry, who followed her to the sitting area, quite curious as to what in the world could render his favorite adversary to Vicki's affections into such a state.
Removing his hands from his now ruffled hair, Mike repeated, suffering:
"My grandmother!"
Quickly looking down and hiding her expression from her ex, Vicki tried her best not to laugh by biting her lip. After a quick count to ten, she was back in control before stating:
"Let me guess. You were paraded in front of several potential future mothers of your children?"
"And kindly reminded that I'm my father's only son-"
"-and therefore obligated to produce an heir." Henry looked at him sympathetically while Vicki only snorted in disgust, muttering something about medieval worldviews, while Mike looked astounded at the man now sitting at his side.
He smiled sardonically at the vampire and said:
"I guess it really is time for me to die if you can finally relate to me. Well, what say you vampire, dinner on my tab?"
To both Vicki and Henry's surprise, Mike actually seemed quite earnest. With only a hint of morose humor, he actually turned his head and bared his throat to the vampire's unbelieving eyes, eyes that turned black for a second before Henry could reign in his instincts.
"Mike!" Vicki chastised, "You don't propose feeding a vampire without planning to go through with it and certainly not over an attack of self-pity! And what is the matter with you tonight? My mother constantly nags me about finding a husband, but you don't see me moping around, do you? Gosh, you are being such a drama queen tonight!" Finishing her speech, she stalked over to her secret whiskey stash, not wanting them to see how much Mike's behavior had thrown her.
At the same time, Henry and Mike locked eyes and carried on a silent communication.
Sensing Vicki turn around, Henry quickly averted his gaze to focus instead on the bottle of amber liquid held right in front of Celluci's face.
Thankful, the detective took a deep swallow before returning it to Vicki and then sighing:
"Yea, I guess that was a bit much."
Hoisting himself up, he stood, threw his coat over his arm, and prepared to leave.
"Mike?"
"Sorry for ruining your evening with my pity party. It has been a long day. I better catch some shut-eye. Bye." This said, he left as he had come, only at a far more regular pace.
Vicki appeared dumbfounded at his sudden retreat.
"Henry? What just happened?"
The vampire looked at her sadly. He had seen the resignation in the other man's eyes and again felt great empathy with the blond. Vicki, of course, did not realize that Mike's family's expectations weren't the only things nagging at Celluci. It was the knowledge that he would never be able to do as asked – and also what he secretly longed for- as the only children he would ever want to have were Vicki's and that, it seemed, would now never happen.
"Sometimes living up to others' expectations prove to be impossible. It is even more painful when one's own dreams are quite similar but impossible to fulfill."
Feeling his age at the moment, he patted Vicki's shoulder.
"I better get going. After all, you declined my diner invitation for me, so now I have to find another source."
Before she had time to offer, Henry had already vanished, leaving Vicki with the distinct feeling that she had missed something important.
***
tbc