First Time by Lifehouse – Please give this song a listen, it really fits to how Mick is feeling.

"Is this how you greet all your old friends? I have to say, Mick, I'm not too impressed," Josef said sarcastically, pushing his friend away in jest. "How are you Mick?"

Mick frowned. "Why don't you tell me? You seem to be more involved with my life than I am at the moment."

Josef laughed and walked past Mick into the flat. "Hey Beth."

"Josef," she replied, relaxing a little. The ancient vampire crossed the room to take a seat on Beth's couch. Beth sat across from him, feeling a strange sense of deja vu.

Mick claimed the spare armchair, feeling the tension in the room like a fourth person.

Once comfortable, Mick turned on Josef. "Alright. Why are you here?"

Josef grinned in a way that made Mick very uneasy. "To give you another option. A compromise, shall we say," Josef said, lifting his feet and placing them on the coffee table.

Mick lent forward, almost subconsciously. Beth did the same, puzzled.

"A compromise? Josef…" Mick said incredulously.

The vampire in question slouched back on the chair, clearly enjoying the power he held over the pair.

"I heard your… discussion. And I've come to tell you that there is another option, that doesn't involve Mick leaving or Beth growing fangs. At least, not yet. Beth, you don't have any blood on hand, do you?"

Beth rolled her eyes and tilted her head, exposing her neck. "Sure, take a swig," she said sarcastically. Mick shot daggers at Josef, who smiled back smugly in response.

"Just get on with it, Josef," Mick said, raising an eyebrow at his old friend.

"Alright, since you insist."

Josef cleared his throat then stood up to entertain his audience. Beth bit her lip, too afraid to look at Mick. A small bubble of hope was rising in her, that she desperately tried to suppress. It wouldn't do to get too excited until Josef had announced his grand scheme.

"It's simple, really. You give your relationship a trial period, of say, two years. Beth will not get old or frail in that time, and it gives her time to decide if she really wants to become a vampire, instead of rushing it," Josef shrugged and flashed the pair a smile.

Beth hid a grin in her hand. In two years she could easily persuade Mick to turn her, and he could hardly resist this idea of Josef's.

Mick turned the idea over in his head. It was a sound one, giving time for things to change before Beth was trapped into anything. He was still reluctant to turn her into a monster, but Josef's offer was like promising sight to a blind man – to refuse would be to pass up the chance of a lifetime.

Still.

She was safer away from him.

Watching Micks face carefully, Beth sighed wearily as she saw him reach a negative conclusion. Quickly raising her eyes to meet Josef's, she glanced at Mick, then back at Josef and shook her head slightly. Josef realised what she was getting at, and pulled Mick out of his seat.

"Lets have a word, Mick." They walked into Beth's study. As soon as the door shut behind them, Beth leapt off the couch and placed an ear to the door.

"What were you thinking, Josef? You know it can't work," Mick said, his voice defeated in a way that was unfamiliar and slightly scary for Josef to hear.

"It can work!" Josef said firmly, "You're just to afraid to let it. You know, for a vampire, you really are a wuss."

Mick raised his eyebrows again, "This isn't about me being afraid, it's about turning a perfectly normal, happy human into a monster! I wont ruin her life with bloodsucking and freezers, Josef. She's better off without it."
The door flew open. "Isn't that my choice?" Beth demanded. "It's my life, I have a right to choose what happens in it!"

Josef hid a smile. This was the reason he was fighting for Mick to keep her around – Beth really was good value, and could keep Mick in his place.

"I will not be responsible for you becoming a monster! I can't hurt you like that, Beth," Mick said tenderly.

Beth lowered her voice. "You wouldn't be hurting me. It's what I want, Mick, and I'm willing to wait two years. Why can't you make any sort of compromise?"

Mick knew he had been beaten. She was right; of course, he should stop fighting the inevitable.

Maybe it was time for him to go after what he wanted, instead of using excuses.

Mick let his eyes lock on Beth's. Josef took the hint and was out the door before either of them even noticed.

"Could we give it a go, Mick? Just see how it works out?" Beth asked, walking closer to him. Mick felt his resistance crumbling and willpower fading.

"If you feel any doubts, at any point, just say. Don't wait until it's too late to back out. You're not obliged to stay with this – I wont be offended if you leave." It was sort of true – he'd be broken hearted instead.

Beth grinned broadly as she realised she had won.

"And if you are in danger, I'll –"

Beth clamped a hand over his mouth. "Would you shut up and kiss me already?"

With a smile on his face, Mick wrapped his arms around Beth and kissed her, lifting her off her feet in the process. Her arms came up around his neck, fingers running through his brown curls.

Beth let out a short laugh. Mick pulled back, eyeing her curiously.

"What?" he asked, a gorgeous grin coming over his face.

"How many girls get to say that they're dating a vampire?"

Beth grinned at the delighted sparkle in his blue eyes, and then put her arms back around his neck. Mick swept her up in his arms and kissed her again.

"How many vampires get to say they're dating the most beautiful woman they've ever met?"