Title: This Side of Eternity
Author: Mlle Lambert/Night Owl
Rating: K/PG
Genre: Angst/Romance
Pairing: MickBeth
Season/Sequel: Sequel to This Side of Love, but it can be a standalone, also.
Spoilers: "Fated to Pretend" and "Sonata"
Summary: It's been a year, and Mick must make a difficult decision.
Disclaimer: Whoever owns them owns them! If I did, I'd be writing the scripts, not the fanfic!
Author's Note: Yeah, so the last one didn't go over so well, it seems, but after reading all these sad versions of our lovers, inspiration has struck again. Let me warn you, though. I'm back to my old ways—this isn't what I would consider fluffy! As always, feedback is love!
Written: June 4, 2008
She's asleep now—her breathing and heartbeat slow and peaceful. I watch quietly from the doorway, not wanting to disturb her. Her features are so serene and the small smile on her face makes me fall in love with her all over again.
It has been almost a year since we began dating—since that night on the rooftop after my returning. If anything, my love for her has only deepened in the time we've been together. There isn't a thing about her I dislike. I adore everything about her from her beauty, curiosity, and determination to—God help me—her stubbornness and even her aggression. It makes me really understand what Josef meant when he talked about living long enough to meet Sarah. It's the same with Beth. Maybe I was meant to live long enough to love her.
But as much as I'd like to, I can't stay. No matter what, we always circle back to the same subject as before: relationships between humans and vampires are difficult. Tonight, it was focused more on the fact that she nearly got herself killed on a case, but it eventually came back to that.
"So just because you're a vampire means that I shouldn't have to worry about you getting killed?" she asked, her voice shaking with anger.
"No, Beth, that's—"
"No, Mick, I want to make sure I have this straight. You have every right to worry about me, but I can't worry about you? What if you're in a building and it blows up or you're in a car accident and your head gets sliced off? Or what if some vampire hunter decides that he wants to come after you?"
"Those are long odds, and you know it, Beth. I can take care of myself."
"Then why don't you just go take care of yourself somewhere else? I'm pretty sure Josef has a spare freezer you can borrow." Beth turned and headed for the stairs.
"Beth, I…"
She stopped at the foot of the stairs for only a moment. "Don't. Just don't." She stopped again half way up and looked back, sadness mixing with anger. "For that matter, don't even bother coming back." She disappeared up the staircase and a few moments later, the bedroom door slammed, reverberating throughout the now silent apartment.
Don't even bother coming back. The words echo through my mind even now. She's said a lot when she's been angry, but never that. Not like this. Not since that night last May when I almost lost her for good—and would have if I hadn't come back to tell her I loved her. I would say she was only emotional and she didn't mean it, but I think she did. The look I saw in her eyes was the same one she had that night. Only this time, she was the one to run away.
I didn't come upstairs until I knew she was asleep, not wanting another confrontation. Now, here I stand gazing at her beautiful body one last time. It breaks my undead heart to know it has to end like this, but I guess it is true that all good things must come to an end. I knew it couldn't last forever—I could never turn her even if she wanted it. I silently make my way over and sit down beside her. Caressing her cheek, I realize that I would have stayed with her until the end, and probably would have chosen to follow her. I guess it doesn't matter now, though.
I rise and head out of the room. Before closing the door, I look back; almost wanting to tell her I love her one more time, but now isn't the time for that. I grab the bag I've packed which contains my blood supply and several other necessities and look around. This had been my apartment for years, then it was ours, and now, I guess it's hers. At least, it will be soon.
I've already called Josef. He's expecting me at any time, and by now, he's let his contacts know that I want to move on. They'll be the ones to take care of moving my freezer and other belongings wherever I go. I feel moisture gathering in my eyes and I laugh through my tears, but there's nothing funny about it. This really is the end. I can't even wrap my mind around it.
"So, do you... bite people's necks and... suck the blood out?"
It seems like only yesterday she was right here asking so curiously about what I was. It's been over a year since she found out about me.
"What are you?"
"I'm a vampire!"
And she was so accepting from the very beginning—and then always without fail. I think that's what made me love her in the first place.
I shake my head, knowing it's time to leave this—all of it—behind. I turn back to the entry and walk into the hall and toward the elevator. The door latches just before the elevator opens. With one final look back, I step into it, wondering if Beth really is the one who is running away.