A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews! A lot of people have commented on how realistic the characters are - I've really been working on that so I'm glad it seems to be paying off

Now, let's see how Mick feels about that kiss…

It's just the two of us, and I feel completely connected to her. Not in the vampire sense – I can't smell or taste her blood – but I can smell and taste her. And it's incredible. The last woman I kissed as a human was Coraline all those year ago. But kissing Beth is different, different in a way that makes me feel more alive than I ever have before.

I wonder if she's going to stop me. I half expected her to pull away when I leaned in. I thought she would be angry with me for doing that, but I couldn't help it. It didn't matter. Seeing her standing in my apartment telling me she couldn't go home tonight, and then being worried about me not having a place to sleep…I guess I just lost my head.

After what feels like forever we separate. I'm not ready to let her go, to lose the feeling of her soft lips against mine, but I let her go anyway. I don't know if she ended it or I did, but I guess it doesn't really matter.

"Mick, I…"

"I shouldn't have done that," I turn away from her and stride toward the bar, immediately regretting giving in. Another scotch? I think so, "I'm sorry, it was completely inappropriate."

"No, it wasn't," the strength in Beth's voice surprises me, "Mick, I'm sick of you apologizing for things like this. You spend your whole life apologizing – apologizing for what you are, what you've done, who you've wronged," she's by my side in seconds and grabs me by the arm so that I face her.

"It's time for you to stop apologizing and start living. You're human remember? You don't have the excuse of eternity to hide behind anymore. You don't have the time to waste regretting everything you've ever done."

I'm about to protest, until I realize that Beth is right. It was easier when I was a vampire to live inside myself. To wake up every morning hating who I was and spend the day trying to make it so that I didn't feel that way when I went to bed. But now I'm human, for how long I don't know. And the way I live my life isn't right for a human. There's too much regret that I allow to rule my world. There isn't time for that now.

"Beth I'm not human forever."

"Yeah, well in case you haven't noticed, there isn't much that is forever."

I'm about to interrupt but she puts up her hand, "Even vampires can be killed. Their forever isn't guaranteed. No one's is."

"Look if we start something now, it could never last. I'll change back. I'll become what I was again. I'll hate myself again – I hate myself now."

"And I'm telling you to stop it," there is an anger and desperation in her voice that I've never heard before, "Please just stop it; I can't stand how much you hate yourself. Don't you see how amazing you are? Can't you tell that I don't fucking care if you're a vampire or not?"

"But you should care Beth! The reason I care so damn much is because you don't!"

Beth eyes me strangely, "What exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you should've stopped me from kissing you and you didn't. I'm saying that sometimes you don't seem to worry enough about your own well-being and that's why I have to worry about you."

"You have to worry about me?"

I can tell I've said the wrong thing by the tone of her voice, but I'm too angry to care. She shouldn't have let me do that. Why did she let me do that? The regret is growing in me like a monster.

"Yeah, I do. And you know why? Because if I don't you'll get yourself into trouble. If I don't look out for your best interests you'll forget what I am, you'll make me forget what I am. And it'll hurt that much more when we have to remember. Damn it Beth one of us needs to control ourselves!"

I almost yell the last part. She's being absolutely infuriating. Why can't she just see what a disaster this would be, why can't she just walk away and do what's best for her?

We stand in silence for a few minutes, and then Beth goes over to the couch and grabs her coat. Before leaving, she turns back to me.

"I spent the past three months working along side you almost every single day. And I wanted you every single day. But I did nothing. I did nothing because I was with Josh, and because I knew you wouldn't want me to, wouldn't let me. But I saw the way you looked at me. I've noticed every glance you ever threw my way. And then I couldn't take it anymore and I kissed you. And it felt right. It felt right but I tried to ignore it. I'm still trying to ignore it Mick and I'm tired of it, don't you know how hard this is for me – "

"I do know Beth, that's why it would be better if we just –"

"If we just stop this? I don't believe you. I don't believe you want to stop this no matter what kind of noble act you're putting on. And you say one of us has to control themselves. Well I have been controlling myself. In case you didn't notice, I'm not the one who kissed you five minutes ago. I might have wanted it, but I wasn't going to do it because I knew you would tell me no. That's all you ever say Mick. No. You'll use any excuse to bury your feelings for me."

"And what exactly are my feelings for you?" I ask, half hoping, half afraid she'll have the answer right.

Beth takes a deep breath, "You love me," she replies. It's a bold statement. I can sense that even she feels scared to say it.

And I don't say anything. I won't deny it, but I pray she takes my silence as a no and leaves. There's that word again…no. But it would be better for her if she leaves. It would tear me apart, but it would be better.

My silence is hurting her. I can see it and I hate it. I don't want to hurt her, ever. I want to be the one who stops the hurt. That's why I need this to end. That kiss proved I can't control myself. I don't want her to have to deal with what I am, and I know I couldn't stand the pain of losing her in the end. It's painful enough now, just seeing her getting ready to walk out my door. I have to make a conscious effort not to go to her right now and put my arms around her.

"Or maybe I'm wrong," she whispers, her eyes filling with tears that she refuses to let fall, "maybe it's just me who loves you. But the difference between us is that I won't hide behind anything. I'm not using the well being of someone else to cover up how I feel, not anymore." she inhales shakily; "this is me Mick. This is everything. And I'm sick of lying. I love you whether you want me to or not."

And with that she turns and walks out the door. I don't know where she's going – back to her apartment, maybe to Mo's, maybe just to a hotel. But I do know that if I don't go after her tonight I've lost something. Beth. My Beth who's been strong for so long, who's fought against everything just as much as I have…who finally let the truth in.

And what about me? A coward. A fool. Afraid of love. I know she's right. I hide behind what I am – what I'm not anymore. I hide behind warnings of what's best for her, what would keep her out of harm's way.

I need to go after her, but my feet won't move. I feel sick. Still standing there, staring at the door, I feel tears start to form in my eyes. I can't remember the last time I cried.

"I love you Beth," I whisper.

And I pray that somehow she hears those words. Hears them and loves me even though I wasn't man enough – human enough – to finally say them to her face.

A/N: ooh a bit of drama there. I hope Mick and Beth can work this one out - Please review darlings!