Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I do however feel the need to play with their characters even this long after they cancelled it.

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Chapter 7

"Ex?" Savannah asked softly.

"Mick's ex-wife. She's the one who turned him," Beth explained. She laid one hand on Mick's arm.

"She has some nerve showing up here," Mick said harshly. "She knows how Rayna feels about her. In the presence of all these humans and cameras we can't make a scene."

"Then we don't make one," Beth said calmly. "We don't give her what she wants if a scene is what she is after."

"That is your sire?" Tyson said in surprise. He had heard the basics of Mick's turning but he was having trouble seeing this lovely woman as the manipulator Mick had described.

Savannah looked at Tyson sharply but could see he wasn't admiring her.

"That's her," Mick confirmed. "I was young and foolish and she never told me what she was."

"She never told you before she turned you?" Scott said with disbelief. "That is just wrong."

"She gave me a gift on our wedding night," Mick said with a tinge of bitterness. Beth took his right hand in both of hers and kissed it before pressing it to her heart. The anger in his eyes cooled and he looked at her tenderly. "She did bring Beth into my life so I should release some of my anger." He looked up from Beth's face to see Coraline staring at him.

"I'm not afraid of her," Beth said, surprised that she really meant that. "She can't have you."

Mick withdrew his hand from Beth's and circled her waist, drawing her close to his side. Placing a gentle, loving kiss on her forehead he looked back at Coraline. His ex nodded slightly, a small smile on her lips.

"You don't have to worry about that," Mick said. "I don't want her."

"I don't think we can avoid her," Beth said watching her lean up and whisper to Dimitri. Coraline nodded in the group's direction.

"Please remember there are cameras here," Tyson warned. "I don't think Josef wants a vamp fight at Rayna's party. And I guess we now know what past influence Granny's cards were talking about."

"We will not ruin Rayna's party," Mick said firmly and started to guide Beth toward a sheltered seating area. He knew Coraline would follow.

"Mick," she called out just as Mick and Berth reached the corner of the room. They turned to face her, Mick's arm still firmly around Beth's waist. Coraline kept her grip on Dimitri's hand as she smiled at the two. "Are you trying to avoid me?" she asked.

"Why no Coraline. We're just taking this out of human hearing," Beth said, plastering a pleasant smile on her face.

"Well, well, doesn't our Beth make a lovely vampire?" Coraline cooed. "Dimitri, let me introduce you to Beth Turner and her sire Mick St. John. Mick is my ex, you know. Mick, Beth this is Dimitri, a very old friend."

There was a flash of surprise in Dimitri's dark blue eyes and a clench of the jaw at the term 'friend'. But then he smiled as he shook Mick's hand and inclined his head graciously to Beth.

"I must say Mick, when Philippe told me you turned Beth I was shocked. I never believed you would do it. You seemed so opposed to the idea when Father wished to turn her," Coraline continued.

Mick drew Beth closer to his side.

"Darius wouldn't have given her a choice. It appears that you don't know me as well as you thought. Beth made the decision to be turned," Mick said in a low voice.

Coraline smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Well I figured she would ask eventually. Philippe is quite proud of his "petite Beth". Even Cynthia is fond of her," Coraline said piqued. "They talk about you often."

"I do hope that doesn't bore you," Beth said sweetly. She was surprised that the little thrill of fear that used to be present around Coraline had vanished. She knew the woman was older and stronger but she no longer frightened Beth.

"No, never bored," Coraline told her. "But my brother is so easily amused. He finds the most unusual things interesting."

Beth fought back the snarl in her throat and tried to remember what Philippe and Cynthia had told her of Coraline's early days. Her brothers, Lance in particular, had not been kind. Even Josef had abandoned her for another woman, and now here Beth stood before her with the one man Coraline could not forget.

"We are family Coraline, let's not quarrel," Beth said trying to smile sincerely.

"I'm not sure family is the correct term," Coraline said stiffly.

"Well technically you are my distant aunt. But you wanted me to call you "Mommy" at one time," Beth reminded her just above a whisper.

This time it was Coraline who was biting back a snarl. Dimitri looked uncomfortable and Mick tried to hold back the smile that wanted to break free. His Beth could hold her own with the verbal sparring.

"Cora my sweet, perhaps we should mingle. I see some of my colleagues have arrived. Let us not make a scene amongst these humans," Dimitri urged quietly. He tugged lightly on the hand she still held.

"That is a good idea," Mick agreed. "Coraline, this is not the place to have this discussion."

She looked at him, her eyes drinking in every inch of him.

"All right Mick, when would be a good time? There are things I must say to both you and Beth. How long are you going to be in New Orleans?"

"Through Tuesday. Beyond that it's Josef's call. This is his party," Mick replied. "And he is also throwing a party at his new home on Fat Tuesday, why don't you and Dimitri come? I will clear it with him."

Beth looked surprised but didn't say anything. Coraline smiled a genuine smile, her eyes lighting up.

"We would like that," Dimitri answered. "Come Coraline." He tugged again and with a nod to Mick and Beth, she followed him.

Mick brought his other arm around Beth and looked down into her confused face.

"I hope you don't mind but I think Josef's is a safer place for whatever she wants to talk about. If she is hoping that I'll go back to her, I don't want her reaction to be exploding here before cameras," he explained.

Beth nodded and smiled.

"I understand. I shouldn't have goaded her but I didn't like how she talked about Philippe," Beth said wrinkling her nose.

"My tiger," Mick laughed softly. He kissed her lightly.

Rayna and Josef joined them.

"I couldn't believe she showed up here," Rayna sputtered. "Oh Beth, we can see about having her removed from here."

"No," Beth said. "No, let her stay. She won't do anything to ruin tonight."

"Well we certainly know what Granny's cards were talking about, don't we?" Josef observed. "Coraline is definitely an influence from the past."

"I've invited her and Dimitri to Tuesday's party," Mick said.

"You what!" Josef exclaimed.

"We need to talk and it was the only way I could be sure she wouldn't cause a scene in front of humans. You know Coraline; we can't just ask her to go away. So let's just get it over with where we can control the situation," Mick explained.

"I see your point," Josef conceded. "I'm not sure this Dimitri can control her."

"If she causes a problem there I will personally throw her out," Rayna growled.

"Well that will certainly be entertaining," Josef laughed.

Tyson and Savannah strolled over with Scott and Shani not far behind.

"Good, no bloodshed. Not a fang in sight," Tyson quipped. "That's a relief since Savannah is packing silver ammo tonight."

"Tyson!" Savannah blushed deeply. "I have no intention of shooting anyone."

"Well if she had caused trouble, you aren't the only one carrying silver," Shani said giving Savannah a one-armed hug. "I also have a flame thrower in my car trunk."

"Shani, no," Savannah said in disbelief.

"Oh but she does. Standard Cleaner issue," Scott confirmed. "Not that she would use it in here."

"I should hope not," Savannah grinned in relief.

"What can we expect from the lovely Coraline?" Shani asked.

"I don't know," Mick said quietly. "I don't think she is planning anything violent. This is more of a personal nature."

"She wants Mick back. She thought she could outlast me because she believed Mick would never turn me. But now she has to readjust," Beth said. "If she wants a fight, I'll give her one."

"Hey," Mick cautioned. "She's older than both of us, we need to be careful."

Beth gazed up at him.

"As long as your heart is with me, I can handle anything she can dish out," she said seriously.

"You know it is," Mick promised.

Watching them, Savannah saw her ideal of love had a few bumps in the road. She looked up at Tyson.

"Do you have any ex-wives I need to know about?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

"No, never married," Tyson said solemnly.

"And with the way you look, I'm supposed to believe you," she snorted.

"Hey, I'm not a monk sugar, I just never married."

"Too slippery," Scott laughed.

There was a little flurry of activity at the room's entrance and Shani, Savannah and Tyson looked up.

"Now who is that fine example of a man?" Shani said looking toward the dark haired man heading towards them. He was dressed in a black tux with a snowy white shirt that he looked like he was born to wear. He had arresting dark eyes that were focused on the group.

Beth followed their gaze and let out a squeal of delight as she recognized him. She left the group and hurried to the newcomer. He spread his arms and engulfed her in his embrace.

Tyson looked cautiously at Mick and was surprised that Mick was watching the whole thing with a smile on his face.

"Who is he?" Savannah asked.

"That is the one vamp besides Josef, that Mick won't get territorial with," Rayna said. "He is Philippe Duvall and he is Beth's, I forget how many greats, grandfather."

"Her what?" Savannah said looking at the definitely young looking vampire.

"Oh it gets better," Rayna chuckled. "He's also Coraline's brother and Mick's ex-brother in law."

Savannah looked at the group, sure they were teasing her. Only no one was laughing and the vampire world just became even more complicated.

"I'm right in the middle of a vampire soap opera," she sighed.

End chapter.

So another old friend has shown up. I think Savannah is right; this has all the makings of a soap opera. I hope you like this. Please review, I'm waiting to hear from you. Thanks.