Beth is working at her desk, looking up a list of houses on the market that would match the description of the previous crimes and also had open houses that day. Finding only two with showings later in the day she prints off the addresses and other information. Being a good investigator, Beth researches other houses in the area and put together a list of questions to ask about the house, things a normal interested couple would ask.

She rubs her neck, trying to work out a kink some passerby might mistake for stress. No one would suspect her aching muscles were from spending her nights on an air mattress instead of her nice comfy bed. It almost made her laugh, it was still better than his couch.

Still a nagging feeling of doubt lingered in her mind, did he ever plan on getting a real bed? An air mattress is not intended for a lasting fix, did he think of their relation as temporary? They always seemed to end up at his place rather than hers due to his need for a freezer and the contents of his hidden fridge. Not that she minded staying at Mick's she liked it there, just not his choice of sleeping arrangements for her, after he left to go to his freezer the small comfort of the air mattress was gone with him. Taking a drink of her now cold coffee she pushed the thoughts aside.

Looking once again into his office to see if Talbot had returned, with no luck, Beth left Ben a note telling him she was going out of the office to follow up a lead. Leaving the note on his computer screen, Beth grabbed her things and headed out to meet Mick.

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Mick parked across the street of the office to wait for Beth and their day of house shopping. He wasn't waiting long before he saw her bounding across the street to him with Oscar close behind.

As soon as she was safely in Mick's protection, Oscar nodded to Mick to head home for a few hours of freezer time. Mick leaned over to Beth greeting her with a soft kiss.

"Are you ready to go house hunting?" Mick asked with a playful grin at the idea of it as he pulled out.

"Yes, honey," Beth gives him a smile batting her eyelashes.

Mick can't help himself and laughs at her little display, "So do we have a story or are we just improvising as we go?"

"Basically we are newly weds just back from our honeymoon in Fiji, looking for our dream house to spend our blissful married lives in."

"Ah, so naïvelovers is the cover," he teased.

Hitting his arm playfully, "Yes, I suppose so. Everything else we can come up with as needed, will sound more natural."

Mick reached across the seat taking her hand in his, stroking her fingers. The realization hit her suddenly, how could she have forgotten it.

"Rings," she blurted out. "We are a playing newly weds with no rings, that is a dead give away."

Mick thought to himself where would be the best place to get rings on such short notice. He could go into any jewelry store and buy a ring for others to envy, one that was worthy of her, but when he gave her a real ring he wanted it to be more than just something from a case. Thinking back to his childhood, when the boys would give the girls the rings out of their cracker jacks, he got an idea.

Pulling off into a grocery store, Mick turned to Beth, "Stay here, I will be right back."

Having no idea what he could need from a grocery store, now of all times, Beth focused her attention on reasons she wouldn't have a ring. It was being resized; she left it on the bathroom sink, something.

A few minutes later, Mick comes strolling out not even a bag in his hand but a smile on his face.

"What was that about?" She questioned after he was back in the car.

"Hold out your hand," she did as he said. Holding his hand over hers Mick placed a small plastic container. Beth gave him a strange confused look and pulled it closer.

It was a ring, a ring from a bubble gum machine in the cheap plastic case. Opening it she took in the childish toy and found that oddly enough could work as long as no one got to close. Mick took the ring from her hand and slipped it on her finger looking up at her with that boyish smile.

"You didn't get yourself one," she asked.

Mick simply took off his ring he always wore and held it out, "The selections were not for little boys so much as that for girls and I have one."

"That you do," Beth took the ring from his hand and slid it onto the correct finger.

Pulling up at the first open house Beth notes that it is the same style as the others, two stories, two car garage, nice neighborhood, a place to raise a family. Mick quickly helped Beth out of the car lacing their fingers together as they walked inside. There were a few couples standing around, none of which looked like criminals but then again how often is it that easy to recognize a criminal?

Mick pulled Beth in the direction of one of the couples, "What do you think honey?"

"It's beautiful," Beth turned to the couple beside them. "This is beautiful, there has to be a catch."

They continued with small talk and exchanging tips on how not to get scammed for about 10 minutes when Beth ventured away to find the ladies room. When Beth returned the realtor was showing Mick around explaining the neighborhood and all the wonderful aspects of the house.

Walking up behind Mick, Beth put her hands around his waist her chin on his shoulder, "You started without me."

"Mr. Randall was just telling me about the house," Mick turned pulling Beth in his arms and giving her a passionate kiss.

"Newly weds?" Mr. Randall estimated by their contact.

"Is it that obvious? I just can't help myself around her." Mick smiles at Beth, their noses still touching.

"It's a good thing. How long have you been married?"

"One month," Beth answered quickly. "Just got back from Fiji last week."

"You don't look like you have been at the beach," Randall laughed.

"We didn't leave the room very often," Mick informed the man placing another kiss on Beth's lips as her checks blushed at the idea.

"With a beautiful wife like yours I understand. Now are there any questions I can answer for you about this house?"

"Why is such an amazing house on the market?"

"The couple who is selling is right over there talking to another couple," Mr. Randall indicated 2 couples laughing. "They are moving to the country, getting out of LA."

"Thank you, Mr. Randall. We would like to look around some more, if we have any questions we'll come find you."

Mr. Randall nodded and backed away to find another interested buyer. Mick was still holding Beth close moving to stand behind her whispering in her ear.

"The brunette and the man in military uniform are Robert and Michelle Copeland, he just got transferred near here and she is a writer. The other couple are the homeowners, like Randall said they are just looking to start fresh away from everything, they bought some land in Wyoming."

"Wow, vampire hearing is really useful," Beth whispered as she leaned up and kissed his jaw.

"It comes in handy."

Mick and Beth continue to walk around a while longer holding each other giggling and point out things about the house before making their exit. Mr. Randall simply laughed as they passed him on their way out, a young couple in love.

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"I'll be fine for a couple of hours alone. I am in the DA's office so I'll be safe," Beth argued against waking Oscar to come watch her for a few hours.

"He does need his freezer time," Mick agreed. "Promise you won't leave?"

"I promise I'll be in the office until I come down to meet you for our next showing."

"I'll see you in a couple of hours," Mick leaned across the seat placing a lingering kiss on her lips.

Beth gets out of the Benz and heads up to the office as Mick watches until she is long out of sight. Beth arrives at her desk and phones in an order for takeout to be delivered.

As her food arrived about 30 minutes later, she was already hard at work checking out the names of the people at the first showing. Nothing more than a few minor spots, traffic tickets mostly. Robert Copeland did catch her eye though, he had said he was in the military and had been transferred into the area but she couldn't find any record of him being in any branch of service.

Beth saw Ben approaching her desk just as she finished her lunch.

"How is the case going? You got a lead?" Ben asked pulling up a chair to her desk.

"Good, we have another showing to go to but I think this could be it."

"We?"

"Mick and I."

"You know Beth I hired you not your PI boyfriend."

"I know that but I needed a man to help me, and you have been busy with court. I left you a note."

"Why did you need a man?"

"Turns out all the houses hit were on the market and had an open house within 2 days prior to the home invasion. I thought it would be good check out some of the houses that fit the profile with open houses. They are larger homes, more for a family so a husband and wife blends better than single woman."

Ben's phone starts to go off he takes a moment to look at it then at Beth as he stands up, "Keep me informed. From now on, just talk to me before you involve St. John."

Ben answered his call and walked towards his office in a hurry. Beth rolled her eyes, "Men," letting out a frustrated sigh.

MLMLMLMLML

Mick made his way into Josef's office, hearing him from all the way down the hall yelling at some poor soul on the phone. Josef ended his call as Mick entered already heading to his bar.

"Mick, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"I was around, had some time to kill and thought I would come by. Any news on the Legion?"

"Around? The DA's office is around? Would you be waiting for Blondie to call you?" Josef teased him as he poured him a glass of A+.

"I am helping her on a case. She had to go into the office run some names and fill in Talbot before the next showing."

"Showing?" Mick now had Josef's full attention.

"We are looking into the recent string of burglaries. All of the houses are for sale and had showings within 2 days prior."

"So you and Blondie are playing happy married couple house shopping. If you are helping her why are you here, not with her…helping?"

"She needed to talk to Talbot and we don't get along so well, so…"

"So you decided to be the bigger vampire and come kill your time here. I'm honored." Josef tossed back the remainder of his glass.

"Have you been able to find anything more out about the Legion?"

"Talk abroad is troubling, they are bad news, professionals prepared to go up against vamps but since the Foster boys we haven't had any problems here in LA."

"Do you think their attack in LA was strictly personal? Revenge for his brother's death?" Mick knew the answer but still held out maybe they would get lucky and the Legion would show their hand.

"Not likely. The attack to draw you out may have been personal but that is not the end of them, of that I am sure."

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