Released by the setting sun, Henry took his first deep breath of the night and hated himself. Since the party, each rising was filled with regret for what he had done to the most important person in his life in over two hundred years. How could he willingly let a mere leprechaun get the upper hand over him, a vampire, and a prince before and after death? He wasn't sure how, but he knew he had to make it right before he could face Vicki Nelson again. Moving at vampire speed, he was dressed and out the door of his condo within minutes after sunset determined to find the little green devil that caused his current problem.

Vicki spent hours in half a daze thinking about the most amazing dreams she'd ever had. They were so real she could still feel the loving arms around her and hear the whispering voices sharing a lifetime of secrets. The lover of her dreams learned all her hopes and fears. He'd heard the things that made her happy and the things that made her sad. The pillow lover shared of himself as well and she knew that there was no one living that could satisfy her the way she'd been satisfied in her dreams.

Mike stopped by late in the afternoon a few days after the party to see a distracted Vicki sitting at her desk tapping a pencil in rhythm to a sound only she could hear.

Mike placed his hands on the desk and bent down so that his head was eye level, "Earth to Vicki."

Vicki looked up and didn't recognize him at first then jumped slightly, "Oh! Mike. Sorry. I was thinking."

Giving her a sarcastic look he replied, "I guess you were. The place could be burning and you wouldn't have known it. Whatcha working on? A new case?"

Embarrassed to admit she was thinking about a dream she said, "Nope. Nothing new, just trying to line up a few ideas on an ongoing investigation."

"What help?"

"Sorry. There's nothing you can help with."

"Come on Vick. You know we work well together. I'm sure I'd be able to give you some new angles."

Vicki remembered another bit of the dream and shook her head no. "Thanks for the offer, but no thanks." Standing up and turning off the desk lamp she added, "I'm heading home. There's a few things that still need to be put away from the party."

"What a lift? I wanted to let you know it was a great party and maybe spend some more time with you."

Vicki laughed, "Yeah. It was good having us all together without a body or a mystery or a demon being the guest of honor. You and Henry did a good job playing nice."

Mike looked around and said, "Speaking of HRH, where is he? He's usually manages to make an appearance whenever I drop by?"

Shaking her head she said, "I haven't heard from him since the party."

Mike smiled, "That's too bad. Is it too much to hope he's found something else to amuse him and he'll leave us alone from now on?"

With an annoyed smirk she said, "Yes it is. If I don't hear from him soon I'm going to pay him a visit."

"Can't you be content with just me?"

Frowning and giving her answer serious thought she said, "I need to know both of you are safe."

Henry found the little leprechaun sitting in the corner of the bar clutching his pot of gold watching at waiting.

"You didn't do me any favors." Henry accused.

Shifting the pot behind his back, the leprechaun said, "Didn't mean too. Ye had your wish. Go away."

Henry moved at vampire speed, snatched the pot and felt it turn in his hands to plastic and saw the foil wrapped chocolates.

Jumping up and reaching for his gold the little man demanded, "Give it back!"

Henry held it over his head, "Tell me your name."

Dancing from one foot to the other in indecision the little fellow finally said, "Sweeney McPheeney. Now give it back!"

Henry lowering the pot, still out of reach but better for Sweeney to see, he said, "Help me make it right with Vicki and you'll have it back and I'll add a gold sovereign from my father's time."

Greed lit up the leprechaun's eyes, "What's done is done and cannot be undone, but I'll tell the trick of it. Ye and she must do the rest."

Vicki opened her door and dropped her bag on the floor by the table. She spied the little back pot of chocolates and said, "There you are again. If I didn't know better I'd say you were a leprechaun's pot of gold."

She heard Henry's voice coming from the living room, "Good for you Vicki. That saves some time."

Vicki turned to the living room and said, "Isn't there any place you can't break into?"

"Not really when I'm determined, but in this case you told me where the spare key was. I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"The party."

She held up her hand and counted down the reasons. "You had a good time. You and Mike behaved and there were no bodies, mysteries or evil events and you want me." Thinking about the dream and wanting to fall asleep and get back to it she walked to the door, "Good night Henry. I'm glad you had a good time and that you're okay. I'm tired and want to go to bed."

"You've had a dream and want to get back to it."

Vicki stiffened as she snarled, "What do you know about my dreams?"

Henry took a deep breath and said, "The first time it wasn't a dream. It was me with you."

Doubt clouded Vicki's eyes, "I don't believe you."

Henry repeated one of Vicki's secrets about how she felt the night her father left. She shook her head and said, "Lucky guess. Any child would feel the same." Henry then told her what he learned of her reasoning for backing away from a relationship with Mike including what bothered her about his family and her vision problems. Henry could see she was still unsure and added what it was that bothered her so much about a relationship with him.

Vicki flew at him with a screech and started pounding away at his chest with closed fists throwing punches usually reserved for the fighting rink. Over and over again she said, "How could you?" Henry took the hits without fighting back until her rage faded.

Taking her fists in his hands, "I'm so sorry Vicki. It wasn't entirely my fault." Henry pointed to the little man now visible sitting next to the pot. "Meet Sweeney McPheeney. He's a leprechaun and did a bit of magic the night of your party. I wished for a night of love making and sharing secrets with you. He granted it. You had no choice in the matter. I regret I let the choice be taken away from you."

Hiccuping she asked, "Why tell me now?"

"I care more about you now even more than I did before. I can't stand for you not to know what was done to you. My conscience wouldn't allow me near you and I, a prince and vampire, feel guilty about my behavior and I need your forgiveness."

Henry looked at the leprechaun, "Tell her."

Sweeney stood, "This is what I said: For the rest of this night the two of you will share all of the love you've ever imagined and she'll share her deepest secrets and fears with ye. Ye will remember everything and she will remember nothing. But I added a bit more under me breath, the lady would have dreams of impossibly beautiful love until the truth be told and then she'd remember all."

Vicki glared at Sweeney, "What's next?"

The leprechaun grabbed his pot stood and said, "The both of ye will have to work that out."

He started to fade from view, but before he was gone Henry dropped a coin into the pot saying, "I keep my word."

Then Henry dipped his chin and looked up into Vicki's eyes, "I'll do whatever you want."

He looked so young standing there with his head bowed and his eyes gazing into hers pleading for her to forgive him. The dream that wasn't a dream came to mind and she asked, "Did you feed from me?"

"No. The vampire side of my nature was not part of what happened between us."

"You remember everything I said?"

"Pretty much and I shared only the truth about myself with you that night."

"We'll have to be very careful guarding each others secrets."

"You're forgiving me then?"

"Let's just say I'll work on it."

Henry stepped forward kissing her lips and placing his hand on her rib cage in a way she favored.

Breaking away from the kiss she sighed, "You paid attention. Now get out of here before I lose the strength to ever kick you out again."

"Am I welcome at the office?"

Jabbing him in the chest with a pointed finger, "Don't even think about not coming by. If you want your secrets to remain safe, you better be a frequent visitor."

Henry's face broke into a grin, "With bedroom privileges?"

Laughing and kissing his cheek she opened the door and said, "Don't push it Henry."