Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Blood Ties. They are all Tanya Huff's creation.

Characters thoughts are in italics.

Thanks Lena for your beta work. Your suggestions made the difference in helping me to finish this chapter!

cerulean-sky blue

Chapter 3

As Vicki stepped off the elevator, her sense of smell was bombarded with a wonderful aroma. Whatever Henry had prepared smelled delicious.

She continued down the corridor until she reached Henry's apartment. She had just raised her fist to knock when the door flew open.

Figures he would be listening for my heartbeat while waiting for me.

"Hi, Vicki."

His cerulean eyes stared at her. She had on a sleeveless red dress with a plunging neckline. The dress accentuated all her curves. A small black purse with a golden chain strap hung from her right shoulder. She held a small plastic bag in her left hand.

"You're breathtaking."

"Thanks, Henry. You don't look half bad yourself." Henry was wearing a red dress shirt with black slacks. "Are you going to let me in or are you going to have me standing in the hallway all night?"

Henry smiled and chuckled as he stepped aside. "Sorry, I was hypnotized by your beauty."

Vicki's green eyes rolled as she stepped inside. "I bet you say that line to all the girls."

"Not really." The vampire closed the door.

"Welcome to Chez Fitzroy."

Vicki looked at Henry. "If the food tastes as good as it smells, I'm in for a real treat."

"Well, prepare to be dazzled." Henry guided her to the kitchen.

When Vicki hit the kitchen doorway, she observed a medium sized table with a black tablecloth. A candelabrum stood in the middle of the table along with two covered silver serving platters.

"It's…beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it. Let me show you to your seat." He grinned at her reaction.

They walked to the table and Henry pulled out a maple chair and held it as she sat down. She slung the plastic bag along with her purse over the back of the chair.

Henry's eyebrows furrowed. "Wine?"

"Why not?"

The vampire strolled to the refrigerator and opened it. "I have rosé wine."

"That will be fine."

"Somehow I knew you would say that."

He grasped the wine bottle and reached into the tan cupboards. His hand emerged with two wine glasses. One glass he set at Vicki's place setting next to an intricately decorated white plate. The other he placed at his.

Henry leaned over her right shoulder. His pale face brushed hers as he poured some of the pink liquid into her glass and stopped. "Taste this and see whether you like it."

Vicki took a sip. "This tastes really good. I've never tasted wine like this before. You can fill the glass."

Henry topped off her glass, sauntered to the refrigerator, placed the wine bottle inside and grabbed a bottle of Perrier before closing the fridge. He placed the bottled water on the table.

"Now for the main course."

Henry lifted the first silver lid revealing a golden brown Cornish hen surrounded by brown rice and vegetables.

Vicki took another sip of wine. "You really went all out."

The vampire bowed slightly. "Nothing but the best for you."

Henry started to serve her.

"You know I am more than capable of getting my own food."

"Yes, I am well aware of that. Just humor me."

"Okay, just for tonight."

He spooned some vegetables, rice and chicken onto her plate.

"I hope you like it." Henry settled into a chair facing her and poured some water into his wine glass.

Vicki dug in.

"Mmm…this is really good. My compliments to the chef."

The PI dabbed her mouth with a white cloth napkin.

"Okay, you promised me the 'how I learned to cook' story."

Henry acted coy. "Did I?" He took a sip of water.

"Come on, Henry. Spill."

"How about some more wine first?"

"No, I think I'm good. Is the story that bad?"

"I'm just trying to be a good host."

"Okay, enough stalling."

Henry's wistful eyes looked at her.

"Her name was Dominique Noel. I met her one evening at the Louvre." Henry's blue eyes sparkled as he continued. "She was studying to be a chef at Le Cordon Bleu."

He smiled. "Dominique kept on insisting that I learn how to cook. She said I would never know when that ability would come in handy. I finally surrendered and so began my cooking lessons. Eventually she graduated from culinary school and became a chef at Apicius in Paris. We spent many years together. Her friends would always tell her that she was robbing the cradle but she didn't care. She was happy and that was all that mattered."

Vicki interrupted him. "How did she react when you revealed what you are?"

"Monique was fascinated by all of the history I had experienced. She never did get used to me feeding off other women each night but she understood that I had to do so to survive. She would often joke that I didn't feed off her because I didn't want to taste her cooking. When Dominique reached her fifties, she developed rheumatoid arthritis. It got so bad that she had to leave her job. She couldn't even cook for herself. I hired an aide to stay with her during the day. At night I would cook her meals for the next day. "

"How long did that go on?" Vicki inquired.

"For years. I didn't mind. I loved her. I would have done anything for her. One night when I arrived, I didn't hear her heartbeat. Upon entering her room, I found that she had passed away in her sleep."

"I am so sorry, Henry."

"It happened a long time ago."

Vicki decided to try to lighten the mood after that somber tale.

"So what's under the other lid?"

Henry raised the lid. "It's Death by Chocolate."

The dessert was a layered cake. Henry started slicing through the cake with a cake server. Chocolate fudge was sandwiched between each layer.

"That's looks really good. I guess I'll take some more chicken and rice and then start on dessert."

Henry spooned some more food on her plate, took a swig of water and rose from the table. "I'll be back."

Vicki ate in silence for awhile before she heard classical music coming from the living room.

Not really my favorite type of music but it beats the silence.

Henry returned to the kitchen and sat down. "It was a little too quiet in here. What movies did you bring?"

"Take a look for yourself." She handed him the small black bag. "I thought I'd get away from the vampire theme."

Henry removed the DVDs from the bag. "Lethal Weapon, Tango & Cash and Dirty Harry. I can honestly say I have never seen any of these movies."

"I kind of figured."

His eyebrows elevated. "Which one is your favorite?"

She took a bite and covered her mouth as she spoke. "It's a toss up between Lethal Weapon and Tango and Cash. I'm stuffed. I guess Death by Chocolate will have to wait for another night."

"That's fine. I'll put that along with the other food in the refrigerator so you can enjoy it any time you come over."

"Sounds good to me. I'm going to use the bathroom. I'll meet you in the living room so we can start the movie fest."

Vicki's heels clicked against the floor as she exited the kitchen. Henry put away the leftovers, cleared the table and placed the dishes in the dishwasher.

The PI was sitting on the leather sofa when he strolled in the living room. She tried to stifle a yawn.

"Am I boring you?" The vampire joked.

"No, I just haven't been sleeping too well."

Henry's face wore a look of concern. "Do you want to cut our date short so you can catch up on your beauty rest?"

Vicki shook her head. "No, I really want to watch a movie with you."

Henry held up the three movies. "Which one do you want to watch first?"

"I'm in a Lethal Weapon kind of mood."

Henry opened the DVD player and placed the disc inside. As soon as the DVD tray closed, the movie started to play. He sat down next to Vicki. Ten minutes into the movie, Vicki's head fell on his shoulder. The vampire slid from under her and laid her down. He started to his bedroom to get her an extra blanket before reconsidering. Gathering Vicki in his arms, he carried her to his bedroom, laid her on his bed, slid her glasses off her face and put them on the nightstand.

I think she'll be more comfortable in here.

He watched her sleep for awhile before going to his drawing area to do some inking for his latest work.

His thoughts drifted back to their date as he sketched.

Their first date had not ended the way he hoped but at least it was a start. Maybe this was the start of her wanting to allow passion into her life. If that's the case, maybe I can persuade her to go on a second date.

THE END

Author's note: I hope you are not disappointed with their first date. I know most of you were probably were hoping for at least a kiss but I figured it would take a while for Vicki to build up to that. I am thinking about maybe doing a second date story but it depends on whether I can come up with something that I will be happy with.