A/N: Not making any money, not trying to make them act out of character, just wrangling a plot bunny that's been skittering around my head for a while. Comments, as always, are appreciated.

Reunion of Vengeance - Part 1

Henry stood as the priest finished his prayer and gathered his jacket to leave. Another Easter, another sacrament. This would be his fifth without Vicki, his third without Tony. Sadness overwhelmed him. With Vicki as Vampire, home in Toronto and Tony moved on, even though they kept in touch, it still hurt.

He was still...empty.

He stiffened as a familiar scent invaded his senses, one that made him both leery and idiotically happy at the same time. Slow to turn, he knew what he would see.

"Hey, your worship, whatsgoin'on?" The smart ass remark didn't cover up her nervousness.

"Vicki? Is something wrong? Are you all right?"

She frowned, "Why is that the first thing out of your mouth? Can't a friend just visit a friend?"

Henry's lips set in a fine line, and he said nothing. She was no longer his child, she was a competitor, an invader in his territory, although, really, he had to force himself to think of her that way. In his heart, she was still his Victoria, whether she was vampire or mortal. Vicki shifted her weight back and forth on her feet, not moving, like she was trying to decide something.

Finally, she blurted out, "All right! Yes, something's wrong! Mike's dead and I want you to help me kill the person that killed him."

"Detective Celluci is dead?"

The words came out, and he heard them, but they didn't make sense. He had expected to go to Michael's funeral in thirty or forty years, not receive the news today. It was too wrong. He had expected to have many more arguments with the mortal over what was best for Vicki and who, between the two of them, actually knew what was best. He almost missed what she said next.

"Yes. Dead. For good this time."

"This time?" He frowned, "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"Thirteen days ago, a little vampire came to challenge me. He found Mike, who was waiting for me at the loft. He took Mike by force and then he turned him. Against his will, Henry. The bastard did it to get to me. He turned him and left him at my office. I'd been out looking for him and when I came back, Mike was just outside the door, unconscious. I barely managed to get him inside before he woke up and went wild."

Vicki knew vampires weren't supposed to cry, but it didn't seem to matter. She cried anyway.

"Where is he now, Vicki?" He moved closer, afraid to hear her answer, afraid of her tears. They were making him angry.

Vicki was crying.

Vicki didn't cry.

"His ashes are scattered now. When he woke up the first night and realized what had happened, like I said, he went wild. He said he was always willing to be with me until it was his time, but never once had he wanted to become like me. Like us. He said it with such venom, Henry." She sniffled. "I managed to calm him down that night. I thought," she cleared her throat, "I thought I'd talked him into waiting, into learning about what he was, but when I woke up four nights ago, I found this. I don't know how he managed to get to the roof without my knowing, but he did."

She pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to him. Henry smoothed it out carefully since it had become a little ball, dirty and wet, but he knew Vicki wouldn't be able to tell him what it said. He cleared his throat but read to himself:

Vicki-
I'm sorry I have to leave you. I would have stayed with you until my bones were too brittle to risk contact, but not like this. Knowing it means we only have a year or so before the inevitable, even if we fight it, even if we control it, I couldn't stand it. I didn't choose this and I can't live with it. Good Catholic boy that I am, I ask that you pray for me. I'll wait for you on the other side of wherever it is vampires go when they die.
I also leave you what few possessions I have and ask that you send the other letter in this envelope to my mother. My father will ask where his is, and you can tell him this. My final words to him were 'fuck you.' I couldn't care less about him.

Henry smiled at that sentence, whispering, "I know how you feel, Detective."

He finished reading.

Just promise me you won't go after this vampire. Or if you have to go after him, go to Henry. Get him to help you. Do this as a last request from me. I know that otherwise, you'll snort and say 'fat chance'. I never told you this, Vicki, but I know that you and Fitzroy can beat the territorial thing. I know you would've been happy together.

It's why I was glad to take you back to Toronto, to separate you from him. You changed the rules when you became vampire and he was glad for it. I wish I could've found a way to be with you forever, but I just couldn't. I never had the guts to say it to you while I was alive, but I can say it now, knowing I won't have to see the look on your face when I did. I love you, Vicki. And like I said, I'll be waiting for you. I'll be on the roof.

Mike.

P.S. When you and Henry take out the bastard that did this to me, make sure you tell him why you did it, right before you rip out his heart.

Henry couldn't believe it, but he respected Michael Celluci now more than ever. He was a man of his convictions right to the moment he waited for the sun.

Vicki's voice was hard when it broke through his thoughts. "So. You gonna help me kill this fucker or what?"

"Vicki, you know Mike didn't really want you to do that." He took a step closer. "I promise you, it won't change what you're feeling right now. And even after your rip out your enemy's heart from his chest, it won't ease the ache in your own."

"Fine. So you're not going to help me. I need Tony's number, I need his help to get back to Toronto faster. I don't want to waste any more time."

Henry moved to grab her arm, getting a flash of very sharp, very white teeth for the effort. "I didn't say I wouldn't help you." He reached inside his jacket for his phone.

*******************

Two hours later, they paced around his apartment making small talk and Henry asked, "When did you last feed? You know how being hungry makes you cranky."

"For your information, your highness, I fed last night. Nice little diner just outside of Burnaby. You'd have liked it." He smiled and she couldn't help it, she remembered the times they'd spent in bed and the way he'd made her feel.

"I'm sure." They both turned at the same time, both scenting who was at the door. Henry had it open before Tony could even knock.

"Man! I really wish you wouldn't do that."

"My apologies. It's good to see you again, Tony, it's been a while." Henry smiled and Tony got weak in the knees, just like he always had. Most likely how he always would. To counteract it, he forced himself into the apartment, around Henry and spoke to Vicki.

"Hey, Victory. Sorry to hear about Celluci." He was surprised by the look of pain on her face, but said nothing else.

To keep Vicki from having to control her response, Henry interjected, "Thank you for coming Tony. Are you sure you can miss work and school?"

"No worries. I told them there was a death in the family and I had to go home." He held up a back pack. "I'm ready whenever you two are."

"It's almost sunrise, Vicki. Would you like to begin now or wait - "

The look on her face stopped him and he smiled a small smile, "Forgive me. I didn't think. I'm assuming there's room for two in the back of your van?"

She smiled a sincere smile for the first time that night. "Of course there's room. I traded the van in for a small r.v. and made some modifications."

"You knew I'd help you." His tone changed just a little.

She shook her head, "No, I prayed you would."

He raised an eyebrow, "Victoria Nelson prayed?"

"Yes, I prayed. And lower that eyebrow."

He grinned. God how he had missed her. What if the good detective were right? As much as it would pain him to admit it, the man probably was and that would mean Henry had been wrong. He didn't like that.

"Very well. I'll get my bag and we can get started."

Tony visibly relaxed, feeling the tension leave the room. "Cool. One of you can drive until sunrise and I'll take a nap."

"I'll drive." Vicki and Henry said together.

Henry held up palms. "It makes sense I drive until we're out of my territory."

She muttered, "I hate it when you're right."

"I know," he grinned.

"I also hate it when you grin at me like that. It makes horny."

"I know that too." He grinned even wider.

She was in front of him in a split second, grabbing his head and kissing him, careful to keep her fangs from drawing blood, but using her tongue with all her skill. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her tighter against him and she could feel his erection pushing against her.

Tony discreetly left the room and the two of them locked in an embrace that was almost like combat.

Everything Henry had believed for almost 500 years about being a vampire had been chipped away for the last six years. Everything he had been taught had been shattered in less than a week by the woman now holding him in a vice grip. They should have destroyed one another five years ago and they should now. Instead, all he wanted to do what sink into her, in every way he could.

All she wanted was him, in her, drinking from her and after that she wanted to get the guy who had killed what was perhaps her last tenuous link to humanity. The last five years had been good with Mike, but she had spent them not being truly vampire, but vampire like, to make him happy.

He was gone now, and she felt both heart wrenching sadness and an anger that threatened to make her explode.

She needed Henry to keep the feelings from overwhelming her.

And he would.

tbc