Disclaimer: I don't own Moonlight; if I did it would still be on the air

Summary: Beth tries getting Mick more comfortable with his vampire side. Takes place post-Sonata

Author's notes: 1. ""= Dialogue, ''= thoughts

2. 88888= change of character

3. C.O.S.: Change of Scenery

Title: Look in the Mirror

They embraced, their kisses becoming more passionate. Beth began rubbing his back in round circles, her breathing becoming heavy with desire. Mick broke it off as he felt himself begin letting go. Shocked, and frustrated Beth sunk down on the floor, Mick beside her. She reached up and stroked his face, without a word she knew what was happening:

"It's okay. I trust you."

"I could kill you." His voice was firm.

"I know. But you won't. I trust you." She was full of conviction. He stood up and turned to face her, letting his body react to the desire he smelled. She stood up to join him, and again stroked his face:

"I love you. I trust you. This isn't scary to me. It's just Mick- my Mick." She rose on her toes and kissed him, running her tongue across his fangs.

"One day I may take too much." He answered, giving voice to his fear.

"Then we'll deal with that when and if it happens. For now we love each other." He gave in, kissing her with fresh desire. This time he gave into his baser nature tasting her blood. He tasted how much she loved and accepted him. He wondered why he couldn't accept himself the way he was.

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Beth awakened curled against him in bed. She never felt so content. With a single gesture, Mick made her feel safe; with a hug he made her feel loved. Everything was simple with him, natural. But at the same time it was incredibly complex. He wouldn't age as she would. He slept in freezers, drank blood. And still despite it all she loved him; she had faith they would get past anything.

She propped herself up on one elbow gazing down at him. He was a good-looking man. Wavy dark hair, dark eyes that grew soulful when he was serious, sparkled when he was joking or laughed. High cheekbones made his face heart-breakingly handsome. He had the sculpted body of a 30 year old. She reached down and lightly traced a scar on his chest. He cracked open one eye with a lazy smile.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked.

"I just want to savor the moment." She returned his smile, taking a deep breath. He idly reached up and lightly touched the bite marks on the side of her neck.

"You didn't hurt me, any more than I wanted to be," she assured him suggestively wiggling against him. He rose from their bed and looked down at her- she knew what was coming. She was insistent:

"You won't hurt me. You will not hurt me Mick St. John." She watched the looks play across his face, and could guess his thoughts. First was anger at what he was and the situation. Second came worry- he knew she was delicate. One squeeze too tight could break her bones. One touch too harsh could bruise her china-like skin. And sadness. He knew their time together would be short, she was mortal; one day she would wake and want children. One day the age difference would become obvious- she would look old enough to be his mother. She knew his thought pattern, and one way to break him of it. She stood up, and resolutely moved behind him.

She stood on tiptoe and began kissing the back of his head, began teasingly allowing her tongue free-range across the nape of his neck. She stopped as she felt his muscles tighten, and the tension build as he held back. They'd crossed the room and were standing in front of a full-length mirror

"Mick: Open your eyes and let go," Beth quietly whispered. He opened his eyes. They were ice blue, the pupils dilated.

"Beth step back." She ignored him, instead choosing to stand beside him. Smelling her desire, his fangs extended:

"Beth step back." His voice was huskier. She stubbornly didn't move.

"Look in the mirror." She reached up, forcing his face toward the mirror.

"What do you see?" He was breathing hard, still resisting the full change.

"Don't fight it Mick." She felt the tension release he gave in.

"What do you see?" She repeated the question.

"I see a monster; someone with power to kill within seconds or stretch it out for hours. I see a predator with humankind as his prey. I see someone that drinks blood to live, and has everlasting life. I see someone who fears losing those he loves most, but knows the reality it will happen." He answered.

"Want to know what I see?" She asked. He was silent, knowing she was going to tell him no matter what.

"I see my Mick. I see somebody that loves me, and would do anything to protect me. This is a part of you. If I were unwilling to accept it, I would have run screaming from your apartment the day I found you. I trust you Mick. You would never do anything to purposefully hurt me. Have faith in that. I do "

In the blink of eye he stood behind her, his breath heavy and warm on her neck.

"I can kill you right now. One squeeze of your neck can make it quick. Or one touch to the pressure points on your throat will paralyze you for a slow, painful death." She briefly thought of laughing, but discounted it hearing the menace in his voice.

"This is not a game Beth, not to me. I can kill; I have I killed before. I will kill again. And if you died because of me, I couldn't live with myself. I couldn't live the rest of my life knowing I'd taken you away from the world."

She looked at the mirror shocked. She knew he loved her, she had no idea it was that deeply. She turned in his arms to face him, reaching up to stroke his face.

"I trust you. I love you no matter what you've done, no matter what you'll do. Her eyes sparkled with tears: "You're Mick. You're my knight in shining armour; you're my guardian angel. I don't care what happens to me. As long as I'm with you I can bear anything." She sealed her words with a kiss. Coming up for air she added:

"We have each other. Nothing else matters." He responded by carrying her back to bed. Beth silently reveled in her victory. She'd won. But she knew Mick; her victory would be temporary. Tomorrow they'd have the same fight.

I'll leave it there. I haven't decided if I want to continue it.