A/N: I don't own Sanctuary or the Sanctuary characters, and I'm making no profit from this.

This story is a follow-on to Camping Trip, Society of Vampires, The Rift, Halloween Party, Santa Claws is Coming to Town, and Happy New Year. If you haven't read them you should still be able to enjoy this story, but there may be a few gaps that you'll just have to leap over.

Helen called both Will and Nikola into her office. They arrived at the same time and sat down carefully ignoring each other. She knew they didn't care for each other; Will just had never liked Nikola and Nikola didn't truly respect Will. But at least they had learned to be polite and work together when necessary.

She showed them a clip from a TV news program, the Prime Minister of Bugato arriving in Washington D.C. At first Nikola sat back and glanced at it with his usual attitude of boredom, but then he suddenly sat forward in his chair and watched raptly.

Will saw his sudden interest and looked back and forth between Nikola and the screen. He turned to Helen and asked "What? What am I missing?"

She replied as she reran the clip "Watch the bodyguards."

Will did as the scene showed the Prime Minister getting out of a limousine, her bodyguards carefully staying between her and the crowd of mostly reporters. Will said "They all just look like bodyguards, dark suits, dark glasses, watching the crowd, earpieces, gloves . . . gloves?"

Nikola responded "And not just any gloves." He held up a hand and extended his claws out to a third of their normal length. "Most vampires can retract their claws a little, to just about this far."

Will looked back at the screen in shock. Dark glasses to hide the eyes, mouths mostly closed and open only a little even when speaking to hide fangs, gloves with extra-long fingers . . . "My God, the bodyguards are vampires?"

"Finally. Welcome to the party, William" Nikola commented condescendingly.

"Which brings us to why you are here, gentlemen. We need to know why the Prime Minister of Bugato has vampires around her. Does she know they're vampires, is she under duress? Nikola?"

"How should I know?"

"You are the King of the Vampires, you should know."

Nikola retorted "You know perfectly well I've been out of touch, and besides I don't get involved in the day-to-day business of the vampire society."

Will interjected "This could be an early move in a bid for power. If the vampires have taken control of Bugato we need to start figuring out their next move so we can block it."

"You and what army, Huggybear?" Nikola asked, a little defensively.

"Whatever army . . ." Will began, but Helen said "Enough! I didn't bring you here to argue. We need facts before we do anything. That will be your job Nikola, to find out what Queen Ana is up to, if in fact this is her doing."

Helen turned to Will "And you are here as my second in command. You need to be in the loop but we will take no, and I emphasize NO action until we understand precisely what is happening. Questions?"

Nikola and Will glared at each other briefly; then Nikola shifted in his seat slightly.

Helen noticed. "What is it, Nikola?"

"Just wondering if you want to go to my kingdom with me, Helen. A little vacation, just you and me?" he asked suggestively.

"I don't have time for that right now."

"Since New Year's Eve you haven't had time for anything involving me" he responded bitterly.

Will stood up and said "I think my part in this meeting is over. Let me know what you find out." At Helen's nod, he left.

"I do have a rather complicated job that takes a great deal of my time. The end of year fund raising went rather well and I've had to follow up with some of our patrons."

"Especially that Griswold guy; you've seen him twice since New Year's" Nikola accused.

"Eric Griswold is a very generous man and I enjoy his company. Are you jealous?"

"Yes. I mean no; well, yes, but I'm sure there's no reason for me to be, right?" he asked uncertainly, looking for reassurance.

Helen shook her head and said "No, absolutely none" a little too emphatically. Nikola stood up and went over to her. "You do like him. Do you like him better than me?"

Helen said softly "No, Nikola. It's just that he's a gentleman, intelligent, attentive, and agreeable and we don't fight like you and I do. Sometimes it's just nice to be with someone who's not a challenge all the time."

"Do you love him?"

"Of course not, I love you. Go find out what we need to know, and I'll talk to you when you get back."

"So tonight, then?"

"Tonight? How . . . you have a gate there?"

"Of course. And I'm thinking of calling it 'Teslaportation'."

"Teslaportation is too long, and why don't I have a button on my control unit for the vampire society?"

"That's because you don't need to go there without me. How about 'Teslagate'?"

"Still too long, it's just a gate Nikola. I think the fact you are restricting my access is something else we're going to discuss, and we're going to need more of those control units."

"Why?"

"Because the utility of the gates is nil unless one of us is there to run them, and I for one can't afford to spend my time that way. Or were you planning on being a full-time gate operator?"

"Well no, but . . ."

"Then go and we'll discuss it later."

Nikola left feeling like he'd lost a battle somehow. He could argue circles around anyone else, but not Helen. Well, James had always been difficult that way too, but James was gone.

Nikola went to his suite and changed into one of the suits the vampires had made for him. They weren't that different from his usual clothes, but he liked the polished semiprecious stones they used for buttons; nice shiny angular surfaces. Then he headed for the basement with his gate controller. Dammit even he just called it a gate.

The gates were his latest invention; he'd spent months in Bhalasaam working on them. He had eliminated the radiation problem and blocked access by the rift universe creatures by use of a matter-energy tunnel that translated in both universes. So he had access to nearly instantaneous travel, although so far only to a limited number of destinations. Over short distances he could aim the gate exit point well enough, but over long distances tiny variations resulted in big differences in where the gate opened. Since he did not want to walk out into a wall or below the floor, he needed a receiving gate on the other end.

He had them set up in New York, London, Paris, Cairo, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and Bhalasaam. He also had one in the vampire underground society in Queen Ana's residence, but he didn't want anyone else suddenly appearing there since that could have unfortunate consequences for whomever it was, even Helen.

The gate itself was just a large oval frame set on top of a foot-deep platform. The back of the oval was even with the back edge of the platform; you could only pass through the gate from the platform. If you entered from the wrong direction nothing happened, except you would feel a slight tingle if the gate was on. If you walked through when it was off you just fell off the platform.

Seeing the gate made him smile a little, thinking of the gift he had given Henry for Christmas. It was an enclosed piece of gate technology that did absolutely nothing if not in a particular type of contact with the rift. Henry was still going crazy trying to figure out what it was.

Nikola pushed the "on" button on his gate controller that looked a little like a small ordinary remote control. A bright white light filled the gate, and he pushed a second button identified with a stylized drop of blood, and the quality of the light changed. Then he walked into the light.

And walked out in a dimly lit underground chamber with a single door latched from the inside. Nikola unlatched it and came out into the anteroom to Queen Ana's chambers. He was a little surprised to see it empty, but it was the wee hours of the morning here and even Grandmother's handmaiden Iris had to sleep sometime.

Nikola went to the door to the inner chambers. Iris never knocked on it; she just put her hand on it and waited. Nikola and Ana were related by blood since he had made her his blood daughter, perhaps . . .

He put his hand on the door and concentrated, reaching for Ana. There was something . . . then a connection, a feeling of drowsy surprise and an instruction to wait. Even though he was king, Ana was far older and more powerful than he so he waited. In a few minutes he felt a welcome and went into the room beyond, closing the door behind him.

Ana was there, hastily dressed in a long robe and just seating herself in her gray armchair. Two identical chairs faced her and Nikola took one.

"It has been long" Ana said, a little peevishly, "except for when you put that thing in my house, and then you had no time to visit."

"I have time now. I admit the gate isn't exactly a work of art, but it is a work of science, and it has the beauty of usefulness."

Ana looked at him a little doubtfully. "I do not see this kind of beauty you speak of, but you did not come to chat. You never come just to chat, you hurry in and get what you want and then leave" she complained.

Nikola couldn't deny it. "You're right" he confirmed. "But you could call me if you need me, you know."

"I manage to rule when you are absent. But your presence would be convenient at times."

"With the gate I can come more often."

Ana just looked at him for a few moments. "Why have you come in the middle of the night, King Teslat?"

Her use of his title made Nikola a little wary. True, he'd woken her up so she had an excuse to be grouchy, but why was she being formal?

"I've come to talk about Bugato, Queen Ana."

She didn't pretend to not understand him. "Only Bugato?"

That sent a thread of alarm through him; what was going on? "Let's start there. Tell me the situation."

"It is no different than many places. They wanted bodyguards; we need to earn money we can spend on the surface, and as guards we can hide what we are from most humans."

"Vampire bodyguards would be far superior to human. You charge accordingly, I hope."

"Of course. What use is a bodyguard who steps in front of a bullet and then just lies there dead? A vampire bodyguard can get up and kill or stop the attacker; that is worth a great deal to some."

Nikola nodded. "How many, and where?"

She eyed him appraisingly. "About four hundred, but more contracts are in work. Political leaders, wealthy persons, large corporations, you see?"

Nikola nodded again. "Centers of political and economic power, yes I see. Do you intend to attempt to take them over?"

Ana smiled for the first time that night. "Someday, as needed. For now, we learn, we study. All information comes back to us, and we begin to put little pieces together. The more of us go out and stand in the background unnoticed, the more we learn."

"So Bugato itself isn't a target."

She laughed and said "Bugato is a flyspeck, a little hole with no power. We merely have a presence there to make sure there is nothing dangerous happening and to learn about its allies."

"There are places where dangerous things are happening?"

"There are always such places" Ana said, but so smoothly that Nikola knew there was a lot not being said. Still, on some level he trusted her; she would tell him when he needed to know.

It was Nikola's turn to just look at her speculatively. "We spoke of decades before."

"Do not worry little Father, it is still decades. We were foolish and clumsy last time. This time we do not have the numbers to be other than delicate and circumspect. We will spend years learning. Then we will move one of us into a particular job in a particular government, or corporation, or . . . wherever, and then another and another. Just enough power and influence to ensure we stay safe."

"There are too many humans with powerful weapons for vampires to rule again, Ana."

She inclined her head gravely. "I agree, for now. In a century, who knows? But since you are here my King, let me ask you for advice on a matter. There is another center of power we are infiltrating- crime. Standing at the shoulder of drug lords, or humans so wealthy they simply ignore the law, we learn a great deal about a different kind of power. But I do not think it wise to become too deeply involved in these things."

Nikola spoke slowly "I'm sure there are many things we could learn from those people, but all knowledge isn't good or useful. In this case learn only enough to understand their methods, power structure and weaknesses. And do not protect such people from a legal government or law enforcement, it makes us part of the evil being done. I'd rather see our people at the side of those opposing such; learning to successfully fight such strong evil power would be of greater use, don't you think?"

"Such knowledge would be of much use, yes, but inside knowledge of criminal organizations would make destroying them at some point much easier. Do you have a command about Bugato?"

Nikola understood what she hadn't said. Criminal organizations could be used as well as destroyed; what sort of use would wait until another day. "No, as long as we're not trying to take over and rule Bugato or any other human country, I'm content with what you have done. How are the farms?"

"Very good. We have been able to buy land more quickly in both Romania and Hungary, and we are looking at somewhere in the West, Spain perhaps, in case this area comes under conflict on the surface. The herds prosper. Tell me, is llama tasty?"

Nikola thought for a moment; it had been a long time since he'd had llama blood. "It's all right as I recall, but different. What's your favorite?"

"We have bought some horses from the Arabs. They are different from the plow horses. It's as if one can taste the dry desert wind in their blood; I like that."

"What are the latest figures on your human subjects?"

"Forty percent have gained their freedom, about one fifth of those have moved away to try their luck on their own. There will always be some in the pens, at least in this generation. I have directed that no vampire minor may have more than one meal in four from humans, and I provide the other meals free if necessary."

"So the taste for human blood will decline as the availability declines. Do we have any holdouts?"

"Yes, there are some that will not accept animal blood; just a few, but as our source is eliminated they will become a problem."

"I doubt many of the next generation of humans are going to want to stay in the pens."

They sat in silence for a minute. Ana said "I will not execute anyone for their taste in blood."

"And I will not permit blood taken from humans by force. You know how dangerous that would be for all of us."

"Well we have decades. Perhaps the problem will resolve itself by then, many do."

"If not, we'll address it then."

"Agreed. How is your almost-human female?"

Nikola gave her a wry grin. "Helen is difficult as always, but worth it."

"There are vampire females who would be pleased to have a child of the king, even a half-breed one. Your woman would not need to know of this."

"She tends to find out."

Ana smiled a little. "You will have a child with her then?"

"I don't know; not soon if at all."

Ana's smile faded. "If the answer is no, then now or decades from now is the same. You may live for centuries or millennia, but eventually we will both pass away. There must be a child with the royal blood. A made child for now is all right, but the royal blood is weak and thin in such a one. It is already small in you and even less in me. A child of the loins will be necessary."

"But not now. We have decades, remember?"

"If you survive that long."

Nikola started to protest but Ana overrode him. "You do not live among us, you live with others, some quite strange and powerful and you do work that is dangerous. I feel the power in your gate, King Teslat, there would have been danger even for one of us in creating such a thing. Can you deny that your danger is greater living as you choose than if you stayed here and ruled?"

"I could be challenged here."

"You would not be, not before there is at least one child, perhaps two or three."

"I'll think about it, Queen Ana. That is all I can promise now."

Ana sat back and looked at him speculatively. "It is too bad our king is bolder than he is wise. If you are without heirs, if there are only made children, eventually they will lose acceptance due to the tininess of their royal blood. Then there will be war among the vampires, Nikola Tesla, and I know you would not want that."

"I said I will think about it" Nikola said sharply.

Ana hesitated provocatively then inclined her head a fraction. "As you say. We will speak of it again, in a decade or two. Is there anything else?"

"Not that I can think of at the moment. I'll try to visit more often. You can call me you know, if you want to speak to me or you need me here for something."

"The cell phone only works well from the surface, and I am rarely there. Still, sometimes I do not think of things like that as quickly as I should. Your blood showed me modern technology is good and how to use it a little, but I still think in old ways more often than new."

"What about computers?"

"We have them, but to connect to the internet again we must be on the surface. Eventually that will change, but first we must earn money to secure our food supply and complete our surface compounds; then we will bring modern technology to us below."

"Fair enough. Is there anything else?"

"Not for now, King Teslat." Ana rose and so did Nikola. She said "It was good of you to come, although I would prefer to sleep uninterrupted in the future if possible."

"I'll try. Call me if you need me." Ana nodded and Nikola went back through the anteroom to his gate room, latching the door behind him. In a few moments he was back in the Sanctuary basement.

He went back to his suite wondering how Helen would feel about having children with him. He picked out an average wine to share with her; he wanted to save the Chateau Lafitte for a romantic evening. He knocked on the connecting door between their suites.

Helen called "Come" and he went through. She already had a glass of wine from a nearly full bottle beside her. She gestured toward it and he put his bottle down and poured a glass from hers and seated himself opposite her.

He had barely taken a sip when she asked "So, Bugato?"

"It's nothing to worry about. The vampires are just earning some money they can spend on the surface by working as bodyguards. It's a natural fit for them, and they've hired out about 400 so far worldwide."

"Perhaps we should warn . . ."

"Helen, they're not trying to take over the world, they're just trying to understand how surface politics and economics function."

There was a short silence. Helen said "So you are recommending we take no action?"

"What action were you proposing, put a plug in their holes and trap them underground?" Helen could hear a touch of anger in Nikola's voice. She frowned just a little; he usually came back from his kingdom pleased and full of himself.

"Very well, we'll just observe for now. Now about the gate controls, we'll need about a half a dozen to start. I'll give you a list of who will need them so you can ensure they self-program to the correct people."

"Fine, but no access to my lab or the vampires."

Helen was surprised he didn't argue; he seemed preoccupied with something. "That's reasonable; I wouldn't want our teams to have sudden access to either place. I want you to add a button on mine for the vampire society."

"Why would you need to go there without me?"

"You're out of touch electronically when you're there. If we need you in an emergency I could come and get you."

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go get Eric Griswold?" he muttered sullenly with his nose in his glass. He finished it and got another.

"Stop it. You're being childish. I told you I like Eric as a friend and a patron, and that's all."

Nikola studied her a moment, and she could see he was working up to something. Then he blurted out "Helen, would you have a child with me, ever?"

She was startled. "What? Why would you suddenly ask that?" she stalled.

"Answering a question with a question again?"

"So are you."

"Just answer the question Helen. Would you ever consider having a child with me?"

"I would consider it, of course, but not now. Ashley . . ."

"Has been gone for years" Nikola said gently. "Ana has been talking to me about the succession. I'm going to need a "child of the loins" as she puts it, eventually, and I want to know if I need to look elsewhere. Apparently there are a number of candidates among the vampires who are interested in procreating with me."

"A harem, King Teslat?" Helen asked snidely, refusing to acknowledge her sudden feeling of jealousy.

Nikola looked up and slowly wagged his head from side to side, considering. "Possibly, but I'd rather have a more personal relationship with my child's mother and my children as well."

"That's good to know, how very generous of you."

Nikola recognized Helen was getting angry with him; or angrier, he wasn't sure which. "Look, I'm just asking. It's a reasonable question. Where is our relationship going? I like fun nights of sex, I like working with you, but is that going to be all there is?"

"I don't know, Nikola. I hadn't planned on having this conversation for some time yet. There's no hurry, is there?"

"If I die without an heir, I'm told there could be an internal vampire war. I'm not planning on dying anytime soon, but things happen."

"I'm not ready, Nikola."

Nikola downed the last of his glass of wine and stood up. "Not ready, or not sure you wouldn't rather be with Eric Griswold, or someone else? Let me know, Helen, I'll be hanging on the end of my string like always waiting for you to jerk it when you need me; but not forever." He stalked to the connecting door, slamming the one on his side behind him. Helen noticed he'd forgotten his unopened bottle of wine.