A/N: Yay writers block. No! I've written and written and nothing felt right until just now. I've done 7 attempts and all were blah. Seems sad to waste so much, but it didn't fit. I think this is how this story had to progress to really work out the way I wanted with Ryan, and all she learns this chapter. There is some bitterness, but after this, it should go downward and be sillier. Where will this take her? So, now that this is out of the way, we shalt continue on! And yes, I re-read it just to see how I felt about it as a whole.

Other updates: I am also about ¾ way through my 'Elena dies TVD' reread and plan to update soon. After this is finished, I will begin a 'Labyrinth' story (movie from the late 80's), and a 'Veronica Mars story' (early 2000). 'A darker love' -(vampire diaries 2009) will also be coming soon for an update. Josef will have a Beth pairing in my next Moonlight (2008) shindig. The first part runs like the show and mine is more like a season 2. Yes, I adore Jason Dorhing as an actor. Anyway, no one likes to read and never get updated and believe me, I feel ya there! I stalk my fanfic also for updates on my favs. Without further ado! Enjoy.

Josef

"Seriously," She said and I knew she held back a moan. Both my fist clenched at my side and I just …wanted…to. BAH! I hated when she said that! I could throw something, but then that would only cause more problems. Nothing had ever frustrated me like this girl did. I think she lived to provoke me. Remembering our other types of encounters, I much preferred those over these.

A knock on the door saved us from further chat. She gave me one last glance, and then headed for the door. Without bothering to say anything, it opened up and there was Mick. I rolled my eyes, "perfect timing as always."

Ryan moved away then, heading for the window. She didn't look happy, but then when had she ever? A memory came to mind, and I shut it out due to the bad case of blue balls I already had. Regardless, my eyes swept over her small form and I had to keep my mouth closed or they would see my fangs.

I reverted my attention to the doorway.

Next strolled in a human Beth. I cocked my head to the side and let my eyes dart to him, while my face stayed in her direction. Then I looked down at my watch noting the time between our last call and now. I told him to do what he needed to do. What in infinities fuck was she doing here as a human still? Did no one listen to me? No one pulled over for a quick bite to eat? Mick? Oh, I gave him a look to wither him in his pants. You could always face plant him into a wall, my mind offered.

Beth began to open her mouth, and I waved her off. Her eyes were wide and also darted between Ryan and me. Mick could never keep his mouth shut, and I wondered where he ended and she began. I just couldn't fathom this kind of…well whatever the hell one called it. Please tell me she would at least be a decent vampire if she ever got there, that is. I couldn't handle two Mick's. I just couldn't.

"No she isn't a vampire," I said to the little blond. "She is a druid-like me."

I let that sit in the air around us. Mick's face held confusion, much like Beth's. All I wanted was for them to leave. They looked at Ryan who was standing near the window and tapping her throat. I tried not to focus, or the sound became too defining. Her pulse called to me, even from here, and I had to swallow. I felt my chin lower, and I stared anywhere but her. From this distance, I could hear the smack of Mick's smile as it crossed his face. Ok, the wall was not a bad idea.

"Ryan," he said after a moment. His eyes darted to me, then paused as he readied himself for my wrath. "Are you ok?"

"Perfectly dandy," she grumbled out. "Can I please get the hell out of here with you guys?"

Mick stood taller, and immediately, I knew we were going to have a problem. If she wanted to go, he would argue.

"You are not leaving. He has to turn her," and I glared at the two people who ruined the earlier moment. "Why is nothing progressing?" There was a frantic note to my usual jovial voice. I'd had it with all this shit.

Mick looked around the room, "it doesn't look ok in here."

"Foreplay," I said quickly.

Ryan scoffed and stood there with her mouth open.

Her eyes narrowed, "Tell him the truth," she glared my way. Then again, she looked out the window. "They have a right to know."

I groaned, this was not a story I wanted to rehash. "Long story short," I began and licked my lips. I clasped my hands together and rubbed them for effect. Everyone knew I had a fervor for the dramatic.

"Oh my god," Ryan mumbled and interrupted. "This fuck-face," she said pointing a thumb my way, "here thinks I am changing, that there is a hidden persona in me. He says that he was a druid, but that his sire didn't know that when he was turned. He took great pains," she said and stressed that word with all the petulance a teenager could, "to avoid this secret. He believes his sire knows now. This is why he wants Beth turned-so he won't have to bed her."

If Mick could pale, he certainly had. Beth stared with that open mouth 'duh' look she had sometimes. I didn't know. Whatever.

Mick cocked his head, "Josef," he began.

"We are out of time. I told you," I said harshly. "I went a little crazy. That is why-and explains her behavior."

"No it doesn't!" she gripped.

Mick said, "That's how you got out of the fire."

I rolled my hands, "This is old news. Not important."

"Is this true?" Beth finally asked. "You would have to bed me? Why?"

Ryan answered before I even opened my mouth, "Yes he would have to. So if you don't want to have his freakish kiddos…"

She countered, "He's a vampire-"

"And I am the cure in so many wonderful ways." She snapped, "Welcome to the world of being bred by these freak shows."

Beth scrunched her face. Yeah, I wanted to do that, too, sometimes when Ryan was so brutal. "We are not the freaks. The royals are. They were just rich, and then learned from the teachers of our family and practiced. How do you think they got that way. It goes really far back."

Fury built inside my chest. Mick matched my sentiments, "Uh Ryan-"

"Just get out." She didn't want to hear us. Lovely. I was so glad I never had children.

My brows shot up, "oh, now you want to be alone. Bitch central," I said and moved towards Mick and handed him money. "Maybe you should have that snickers," I mumbled. Mick looked at me questioningly-yet guarded.

"It was a commercial," I started and shook my head. Swallowing, I gave him my bored face. It dawned on him, and he laughed.

"Which one?"

Ryan answered and uncrossed her arms, "The machete guy one with the Brady bunch."

Mick stifled a laugh, "she's got you there."

"Right." I said as if that helped anything. Absently, I placed a hand where my suspenders normally were.

Mick stared at her again, and he was really working my ire. "You are staring."

"And you were lying," he said after a long pause and edge. "Would you have?" He asked me plainly. "Bedded Beth?"

"Not willingly, but you've met the bastard. You don't say no to him."

"Or you do," he added. "And you die with honor." His earlier demeanor changed.

"You want her to suffer? They have other males that would take her as well. She is the last human descendent. You think I like this? I've kept my own secrets Mick, not lies."

I looked at Beth also, "look. Once Coraline took you, I had an idea that it was why. She used Mick. He became obsessed. I didn't think they would find me out before you turned or died a normal human death." I paused, "I didn't want you to think ill of me. There have been other females, but none loved by my brother here." And I meant it. I never thought it would come to that.

"Then why would they want you if you were a vampire."

"Mick," I said slowly. "Ryan and I are the same lineage. If she is the cure, they use the herb with her blood and make me human. As I near the cusp of vampirism again," I said and lowered my voice. "That is how they have done it in the past. With Ryan, they can breed her all on their own. However," I said quickly. "She may have started to turn. If she has, I don't know what that means. She will be stronger than they, however, they have age and skill. If they can breed her, then they will merge the lines for good. We don't know what that will make."

I turned from him and let him boil that into his brain. I was a survivor, and I didn't want to die. Who was he to judge me?

Mick started. "That seems like an awful fate Ryan," he said gently. To me he said, "There is no guarantee she can't carry a vampire child, or be fertile."

I nodded, now he got it. "God knows what it means for everyone involved."

She responded, "I don't want to be a vampire or a cure."

Beth chimed in, "we may have no choice."

"I have a choice," She said stonily. "I'd rather die."

Something in my chest hurt. Why would she say this?

"Vampires killed my family. Druids, whatever."

"Why is she the cure-how?" he asked me.

I rolled my eyes and dipped my head. Here we go with the cure again. After a pause, I placed my fingers on the bridge of my nose. "Curse Coraline for turning you. She is a person and all you care about is humanity."

"Druid blood has magic. To this day, no one knows druid secrets. Add vampire to that, and you get a pretty powerful hybrid. A dhampire. Ergo something we don't understand. But I am sure they do."

Mick shook his head, and Beth circled in place. "There is so much going on here," she commented.

"Centuries worth," I agreed. "He found out with both fire's happening, and me living. I am not old enough for that. The party had video, and I am sure he's found a way to see her. See me."

"Are you a target?" Mick asked.

"No idea, but I am always a target because of the money. She wasn't there for the first explosion."

Mick guessed, "or maybe he tested his theory with the second attempt?"

I shrugged, "who knows."

Ryan asked Beth, "Do you want to be like him? Or are you just afraid?"

We all remained quiet.

Beth looked at us, clearly put on the spot. "I wasn't ready, but your story…and His," she said referring to me. "I don't want to die, but I know he will take care of me. He has for twenty plus years."

"Oh," Ryan said. She actually considered Mick.

My growl emerged fearing she'd rather he turn her, but she cleared that up with her sarcasm. "Kill it, playboy. See, her loves her. At least they have that. You are a brute," she said calmly.

"I've loved," I seethed.

Beth spoke up, "He also took care of Sarah for fifty years."

"And she is dead."

Beth whistled, "That was low."

"I don't want to be undead." She shrugged.

I challenged her, "What if you already are?"

"Don't you ever speak her name," I swallowed again at the mention of Sarah's name.

"I am not where you are, and I don't think I would change my mind. But I'd rather die than live like that," she said in a whisper.

"Oh we get it, little girl."

"Kiss my ass," she bit out.

I replied, "Love to, but you are sort of prudish."

"Least I have self-control."

"Shut up, both of you. " Mick spoke up, "Josef, you really can't-"

"Mick," I warned.

"Funny," he said back. "You told me you would turn her against her will to save her life. Maybe she should come with us."

"NO." I didn't have to look to my side to see Ryan's entire body rise up with wrath. Pure and unadulterated rage. She remained silent, but I knew this would make it a horrible night. This was payback. Great Mick, now she wouldn't even let me get close to her. I'd been imagining doing it slowly, erotically. With her mouth shut, too.

"Neither of you care," she said in a mocking tone. "You walk around thinking and doing and saying all kinds of shit while she and I are here stuck at your beck and call. Or your will. Mick, you do want this cure-but what if I don't want to give my blood. Are you any better or safer than he?"

Both Mick and I turned toward her, but the strangest thing happened. I couldn't see her.

"Fucking goddammit," I moaned. My entire body sagged with contempt. "Great, just great."

"Mick look troubled, "I didn't realize-"

"It's her. She will bait you all night."

Mick stared around the room, but it was evident that Ryan didn't want to be found. It spoke volumes to the distance between us now. I couldn't even feel the tendril of that electric hum I so missed. Nothing had ever made me feel more alive, and connected, than the Ryan I had met months ago.

Beth sighed and looked down at her coat, and I had to wonder if that is how she really felt. She peered up at me a second later confirming as much. "What is she?"

"These vampires bred the women of my and Ryan's line, to men from the French Royal line. They used human women like you also to further their human line. It is how they get as powerful as they are. When someone like Ryan or I is turned, we are very strong. But she is more than I was. Effectively, Ryan is the fruit of their labors. They cannot find her. We will cease to matter, and god know what else will happen. They feel above everything. Do you want to be an indentured servant?"

She shook her head no, "But a cure?"

It was surreal, I know. So I nodded, "Her blood with the herb, yes." My eyes slid to Mick, and then down. He'd just shot down his only chance also.

"Ryan is very spirited, despite a painful past."

Mick agreed, "We are going about this the wrong way."

Beth's eyes were wide with resolution. "I would feel pretty bad in her shoes also." She shook her head at me, "Show a little compassion."

"I tried, but all she does is mock me." I looked around, "She hates me."

"She is young," Beth reminded me with a smirk. "You do come over very strongly." She frowned almost talking to herself, "too strong. Very strong-"

"I get it, blondie cakes. We all do. Enough of the 'I think Josef is a shit stick' talk for one minute." I sighed and reigned myself in. "That's just it," I said to them both without a care if Ryan was here or not. "She may be older, but not able to remember it. This witch," I said to Mick, "She puts Ryan under some spell. Ryan wasn't this way when I met her. It's not like I am trying to use her," I said to clarify my point. "I am not after a cure. Our blood had to have mixed in the cooler. I just want to get home. How are we going to get there now?"

Mick shrugged, "You think she is turning."

"Yes," I said and thought. "She was a pure hybrid. I just know what it is like to be in a similar place as she is now in." My eyes drifted to Mick. "He will torture and break her. Like you, I want to protect her for my own reasons."

He looked away knowing that was why I had taken him under my wing also. Sure, great. I'm a softy, and look how it bit you in the ass, I thought dismayed. Literally, I shook myself. Not into hippie style, I thought again to reaffirm who I was. It was difficult being out in the middle of the playing field.

"Force is not the way, Josef." Mick changed tunes then. "I will call you," he said a little darker than I liked. He was mid turn when I looked up. We'd had our issues, but this seemed to be a problem we'd have to work through.

He shook his head, but kept his comments to himself. Good. Now, where to find someone you have no idea where they are.

Ryan

He was a full on tirade of information there. Somehow, it wasn't enough to keep me here. I'd been fighting this thing inside me for hours, and it weighed me down. Just being near him made me want to both kill him and jump his bones. For some unknown reason, I needed to get out. I slipped between Beth and Mick as they exited the door, and no one was the wiser-thank god. Only one person could answer my questions and I wasn't sure I could trust her. I stood there and looked at Josef for a moment before Mick closed the door. He wouldn't give me answers. They shared a look, not sure what that meant, but I headed out.

Where I even start, I thought to myself, I have no idea. I walked along the streets, the closing stores, and no one even batted an eye. I'd never felt as alone as I had these last few months. Could this be real? What was the connection between me and Josef that burned my blood with need and hate all rolled into one?

"The connection is fate," she said startling me. I took a large gulp of air and nearly screamed. She pulled me aside and hushed me.

"God!" I whisper-yelled when I saw her standing there. "Wait, you can see me?"

The woman named Clarissa nodded, "Indeed. I showed you how to develop your skill."

"Why are you following me and what is going on inside of me?"

"A war is happening." She remained quiet.

My eyes bugged out, "and…" I said waving a hand in a rolling manner at her to continue.

"You are from an ancient line of Druids," she began and I rolled my eyes. Not this again. "Child," she said and touched my arm. "Be calm, the vampire is right."

The vision came to me quickly then. My life as it was, my home, my family. All hidden away, but I saw it like it was yesterday.

I pulled myself away from her and slapped her hand from me, "Why?" My voice was demanding, my hair shook with the force of my words.

"The vampire is correct in all he has said." She said again. "You and he are a pair," she said as if looking for another word. "Bound."

"Bound?" what the fuck kind of answer was that? "Break this down simple," I said to her. She stared at me for a moment, and then her inner lightbulb thingy went off.

"You asked me to make you forget. You said it hurt too much."

"Greaaaaaat." I scoffed. The images from that vision made clearer sense. I'd viewed them, only they'd seemed more like a dream and more modern. How could I not remember that?

"You know I speak the truth," she said firmly.

"Why can't I remember, and how old am I really?" A chill ran through my body and I was afraid to know the truth. Could Josef be right about me seeming older?

"Older than your fated one. You saw him tortured and die. It hurt too much, but he came back. You stayed with me, and I nearly lost you both. But he was not the same after. His blood calls to yours. It is time, as you crave him, no?"

"My fated one?" I asked and stood taller. What was this horse shit?

She nodded brightly, "Yes, Josef."

Horse shit, indeed. Dammit to all hell.