Preface:

This story continues from the endings of Somewhere in Time and Brothers in Arms. Several people (Patty) who thought Beth was too easy on Mick for cheating on her got me thinking. And I agree. So here's more of the story.

The baby was all settled for the night. Sarah had offered to help out with the night feedings, yet surprisingly or maybe not so surprisingly, Amber had been able to make the transition to modern day easily and wonder of all wonders, was sleeping through the night already. After all, everything is new to a newborn so what's a few centuries?

Beth had been sleeping alone for the past weeks since returning. She realized she needed some time to let this body heal and to get used to how it felt. Oh, it was wonderful to be 18 again and, really not a wrinkle anywhere. But still, it was someone else's face and she couldn't seem to get used to that.

Plus she had to sort out her feelings towards Mick and his infidelity. It hurt so much.

She had gone through the gamut of emotions from white hot anger, all the way through to a feeling of depression and realized that partly she might be experiencing post-partum symptoms. Still it was as if she had lost something precious and could never get it back.

On one hand, she wanted to kill him. But then would remember that he thought he was never going to see her again nor escape the 16th century.

Her mind screamed, "So what? He still should have at least held out a little bit longer!"

"Mom? Are you alright? We're starting to worry." Sarah St. John had heard the outburst as she was passing by the nursery.

"Who's we?"

Sarah smiles. "The whole family. Elliott and Wolfie, especially. And of course, Mick."

Beth bursts into tears. "I just can't get over it, Sarah. Maybe just too much has happened between us. We always had trust. And now that's gone. I'm thinking of divorce."

Oh, my God, thought Sarah. Collie was right. This was serious. But was it due to hormonal imbalance or all the trauma …?

"You know, Beth, no matter what you want to do, we'll support you. That said, I want you to stop thinking about it so much. You've hardly left the house lately. My advice, if you're willing to take it?"

Beth had been listening and nodded her head.

"We girls need to get out and away. Without the children or the men – especially let's get away from all this testosterone. I think we need a little pampering and fresh air. Collie's got the plane ready and we're going to take you to someplace special."

"Where?" It was only mildly enticing but she tried to be game.

Sarah saw a spark of interest. Yes! Finally Beth was starting to come back to life. "Can it be a surprise?"

"Why won't she sleep with me, Josef? I make the ultimate sacrifice for her again, for God's sake! I'm mortal."

"And tempus fugits, Mick. There's the old tick, tick, tick. Your clock's ticking, while her biological one's just been in overdrive."

Mick had taken to hanging out with Josef again although their interests and even their sleep patterns were wildly different than before. And it was getting on Josef's nerves. He missed his old vampire buddy. And this new human version was just as angsty – maybe worse – than the old one.

"You think its cause of the baby? Maybe she needs to see a doctor and get on some pills? Yeah, that's got to be it. I mean, she was hot for me as Holly and she looked willing enough until we got back to real life. Now she just kinda mopes around, only seeing the kids and grandkids."

"You've got to break her out that funk or you'll never get laid again. Come on, Mick, where's that old aggressive, take charge kind of guy gone to? You're a wimp these days. God, I miss you! The all night poker games, billiards, seeing you get all vamped up, ready to kick butt and take names."

Mick had an arrested face when he turned it towards Josef. "You're right. I gave it all up for her and she could care less. I should have stayed vampire." He got that look on his face, the one Josef had only seen once before. The day he had re-turned Mick to save Beth.

"Oh, no, you don't, Mick. Once is all you get from me."

"Then I'll have Logan or Guillermo do it."

"Mom, I'm so glad you decided to get away. And wasn't it convenient that my assistant, Lucy, had all that extra breast milk pumped and frozen?"

Beth still wondered how they had pulled that one off. After all, nursing Amber was still a full time job for her. She'd never even tried to give her a bottle but there she was, sucking away greedily with her eyes closed. Her impossibly long lashes were getting darker. Beth frowned. Just like Mick's.

"What's that, Mom? Oh, yeah, Amber's face and body are changing daily. Hard to believe but she's getting more beautiful. It's always amazing to see this first year of life, isn't it? She'll be fine. Ready to go?"

"Where are you taking me? I need to know what to wear, Collie."

"Oh, I brought along all the clothes, shoes and hats you'll need. After all, you and I are the same size now since you've lost what little baby weight you had. And if you don't like any of my stuff, we can always go shopping."

"So, you're not telling. Why all the mystery, Colleen Elizabeth? What have you and Sarah been cooking up in those fertile brains of yours?"

Sarah looked guilty. "Ah, hah!" Now Beth was sure they were up to no good. "I refuse to get onto the plane until you tell me."

"You win. We're going to the desert. A nice warm place where we can get facials, massages, swim, golf, and get drunk on margaritas if we feel like it. It's owned by a friend of mine." Collie smiled at Sarah then her mother. Sarah smiled back. Mom didn't have to know that it was owned by a very personal friend. Of the families. Nor that Beth herself used to own it.

"Good to see you again, Ms. St. John."

"It's Mrs. Kostan now, Jim. I finally married Spike last month."

"Well, congratulations are in order then. Here to celebrate with your sisters?"

Josef didn't know what to do when Mick was acting this crazy so he just used his crafty vampire powers and hit him over the head. Crash went the expensive vase and Mick was out like a light. It's just too easy with humans!

But what wasn't going to be easy was figuring out what to do once Mick woke up. Christ, I'm torn, thought Josef.

I want Mick back – back as a vampire – back as my best friend. It would be so much easier to do this time. And he still remembered the taste of Mick from that night. He could smell him! God, aphrodisiacs and the world's most addictive drug combined just couldn't compare to how this blood called to him. I almost drained him before … had to stop myself before he died … and before he knew it he was at Mick's throat. He saw the marbling of the veins, the pulsing, and he throbbed with need. This is what Mick wants, too. He wants his powers back. It's his choice.

He laid his head on Mick and placed his fangs alongside the throat, at just the perfect angle for the best piercing. "Alright, Mick, you've got your wish."

The phone was ringing. Collie's voice. "It's all set. Bring Dad and leave 'em in the tub. We've got Mom here and she doesn't have a clue!" And she giggled. "This will work. I know it will."

"How do you even know about this place and what happened between your Mom and Mick?" Sarah had her doubts about this plan but always found herself going along with Collie's schemes. Still, she had to know the details.

"My mom's a compulsive journalist. Didn't I tell you? She wrote everything out about how she met Dad. Well, when he let her see him again twenty years after the kidnapping. You know that story, don't you, Sarah?"

"Mick's first wife, Coraline, had kidnapped Beth as a little girl and how he thought he had killed his wife after rescuing Beth?"

"Right. He kept watching over Mom as she grew up and then they met again at some murder scene. He saw her Buzzwire webcast. Her journal said she had just walked through this freezing fountain to get a picture of some dead girl's body. When she was walking away, thinking of how to title her story, she saw him. And immediately felt as though she knew him somehow."

"I would have just fainted, had I seen him. I mean, I practically melted the first time I met Elliott he was so gorgeous and, of course, he gets his looks from Mick."

"Anyway, they go on to solve this murder and she gets abducted again. This time by the murderer, some Professor's teaching assistant. She's drugged and the next thing she knows, she's in Mick's apartment."

"Wasn't she scared?"

"No, she said she felt safe with him. She had no clue he was a vampire."

"So how'd she find out? Oh, that's right. He got shot by Lee J. Spaulding, the author who had murdered his first two wives."

That's right. And she sees him all vamped up, drinking blood."

"And she didn't flip out?"

"No." Laughs Collie, "She said she wasn't sure if she had really seen it but even after his confirmation and subsequent revelations about Coraline, she said she accepted it but was insatiably curious after that."

"Okay. So how did they end up at the vacant motel room?"

"Mom's boyfriend at the time, assistant D.A. Joe – no, Josh , Josh Lindsey – had a murder witness hidden at a safehouse. Her name was Leni Hayes. Well, that's right. Mom still sends Christmas cards to her; the doctored ones, with Mom and Dad looking really old.

So Dad was asked to find Leni which he did. Here In Victorville. But things went bad and they had to make a run for it. They made it to this vacant motel off the highway but Dad had gone too long in the sun. Mom said she suspected he hadn't eaten, er, had any blood nor sleep that morning when he agreed to help them."

"Oh, that's bad. A vampire can't be out in the sun for long, can they? Of course, it's different for you hybrids, but pure vamps … so what happened?"

"He was dying. Mom was called and arrived just in time. He wanted her to take Leni to safety but Mom wouldn't hear of it. She courageously offered herself to him."

"Her blood? Now tell me she was afraid!"

"She says she was terrified but also had this trust. Trust that he wouldn't kill her or turn her."

"So he took her blood?"

"Yes, isn't that the most romantic story you've ever heard?"

Sarah looked slightly ill but agreed. "Okay. So what we're doing here is re-creating that pivotal moment in the hopes that they will fall back in love over that shared moment? You do realize, Collie, that this whole thing could backfire?"

Josef lay Mick down on the floor of the motel bathroom, undressed him and started filling the tub. Crap, the things he does for his friend. Real ice cubes or not? Better not, just in case. Don't want things shriveling up.

Collie had supplied everything. He had to hand it to her, she knew how to set a stage. But would her key players cooperate?

Let's see, a case of makeup and props. Check. He thought how funny it would be if he put one of those 'Munsters' faces on Mick. Maybe Grandpa with the Bela Lugosi whiteface and red, red lips. But no tux and tails. No, what he really should do is just put a big, red bow on Mick. With some dark chocolate dipped strawberries, champagne and a box of Trojans nearby.

Can't have them procreating anymore. It's just sick. Josef shook his head and looked at his friend. Poor, dumb bastard. Can't handle being human again but really doesn't want to be vampire, either. Well, you can't have it both ways.

Let's just see how things go and if you still want me to help, I'll be at your service, brother. Josef licked his lips and hearing someone approaching the motel room's entrance, quickly made an exit.