A/N: Oops! Sometimes I forget these characters are vampires, and wouldn't be staying with people who didn't have freezers and blood handy, so, for continuity's sake, I went back and changed Chapter 10 a little. The limo driver is now waiting for them outside the building. No big deal—you don't even have to go back and re-read. If you just finished reading Chapter 10, you shouldn't even notice anything amiss.

Also, thank you to reader Caffeine2, for the dream (or should I say nightmare) she shared with me regarding Simone's mother. I used her description of Elise Walker and have tried to make this character seem like she was from a nightmare, lol. Thanks for letting me use some of your ideas! (See, I didn't forget you .)

Now, for Mick's pov. Please review if you get the chance…thanks!

Chapter 11

MICK

There was nothing so painfully pleasurable as seeing Josef Kostan squirm. Did that make me a bad person?

"Mrs. Walker. A pleasure to meet you," Josef said. I could tell he was struggling to remain cool as Simone's tall, willowy mother made no move to take his proffered roses, but gave both Josef and the flowers a disdainful glare. He dropped his hand in dismay.

"Okay. Uh, Daddy, meet Josef." Simone was trying desperately to rescue the situation, but Mr. Walker was considerably more gracious than the missus. He was a tall, slender man, with Hollywood good looks ala Harrison Ford. His clothes were casual but colorful, clearly showing an artistic side.

"Josef," he acknowledged, sticking out his hand amiably. He gave a pointed look at his wife. "You'll have to forgive Elise. She's having a little trouble letting go…"

Ya think?

Josef took his hand in what could only be described as relief, and his usual grin replaced the deer in the headlights expression of a minute before.

Simone turned to Beth and me. "These are our two friends—our best friends—Beth Turner and Mick St. John."

Simone's mother merely nodded politely, but Mr. Walker shook our hands as well, before ushering us into the parlor. He went to the wet bar in the corner as the rest of us sat in the black and white leather sofa and chairs. Josef gently set the bouquet on the glass coffee table.

"May I offer any of you a drink?" he asked, even though it was about ten in the morning.

"Yes!" piped up Josef immediately. I caught his eye and smirked. He cleared his throat. "Please. Whiskey, straight." The women requested club sodas, and I abstained. Walker was drinking a Bloody Mary.

The sounds of clinking ice in glasses filled the silence as we waited for Walker to rejoin us after passing around the drinks.

"So, Josef. A businessman, as I recall. I've seen you in the papers before," Walker began conversationally.

"Well, don't believe everything you read-" Josef began with a grin.

"How much money do you have?" This from Mrs. Walker. Beth gasped audibly at the rude question.

"Mother!"

"Elise!"

She looked offended. "It's a fair question. He's marrying our daughter, Marcus. We have a right to know if he can take care of her."

"You don't have to answer that," stated Marcus Walker. Josef downed his whiskey in one gulp.

"No, that's alright Mr. Walker—"

"Marcus," he corrected.

"Marcus." He bravely looked into Elise Walker's penetrating brown eyes and cleared his throat again. "Last estimate was around ten billion." I watched in amusement as Beth and Simone's eyes widened in appreciation.

She nodded in acknowledgement, though not quite in approval. Simone's ring caught the light, drawing her mother's attention. She picked up Simone's hand and squinted at the huge, pink diamond.

"Isn't it beautiful Mother?"

"Hmmm," she replied noncommittally. "I've heard it said a man gives a large diamond as compensation for what he lacks in other areas."

Beth nearly choked on her soda. I patted her back gently as Simone handed her a napkin.

"Mother, please…" Simone was obviously growing more embarrassed by the minute. Elise swept back an errant strand of platinum blonde hair, her delicate hand rubbing Simone's arm in a vain attempt to warm her.

Josef's grin was becoming much less pleasant. "Mrs. Walker, I promise you Simone will want for nothing—in any area. It will be my life's mission to make her happy."

This heartfelt proclamation was met with the raising of one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"I take it you'll be living in LA," Marcus said.

"Yes. Kostan Industries has its headquarters there, and I know Simone is settling into her law firm. On her way to partner someday, I'm sure," said Josef fondly, loving eyes resting on his fiancé.

"So you will continue to make her work, even though you have billions?"

I could almost see Josef counting patiently in his head, before replying: "That is up to her, of course. I imagine she would go crazy sitting home and eating bon-bons all day. I know she would be pleased if she became as successful as you, Mrs. Walker."

Elise sniffed indelicately. "Of course she will, if that's what she wants. She has talents in many areas. You've heard her play the piano, of course."

Josef looked at Simone in genuine surprise. "Uhh…no…I haven't had the pleasure."

Simone shrugged apologetically. "It's not something I have time to do much anymore, Mother."

"She was all set to play for the LA Symphony, but got accepted into law school at the same time. It was a difficult decision for her." Elise seemed smug at knowing something about her daughter that Josef did not.

"I'm sure," Josef agreed. "This was before I met her, of course."

Elise seemed suddenly bored with Josef, and turned her gaze on Beth and me. "Mr. St. John, was it?"

I smiled pleasantly. "Mick, please." And low and behold, she smiled back at me.

"Mick, what do you do?"

"I'm a private investigator in LA."

"How fascinating! You must get some interesting cases . Anyone famous?" I remembered my last famous client, Tierney Taylor, and flinched at the memory of how I lost her.

"Yes, a few. I'm more into missing persons, divorce evidence, that sort of thing. Lots of boring surveillance work, but most work gets done on computers these days…"

"Fascinating!" she reiterated, and I realized at once that I was being pitted against Josef. I tried not to laugh at the thought.

"And how long have you known Mr. Kostan?"

There was a tricky question. "For years. He's like a brother to me, and sometimes like a father," I said dryly, knowing that if I caught Josef's eye right then, I'd laugh out loud.

"But you seem older than him…"

"I do, don't I?" This was suddenly getting really fun.

"Hmmm…Beth. Simone's told me a lot about you. You work for the DA?"

"Yes," Beth said, trying not to be intimated by the obvious cross examination we were all receiving. "I was a journalist, so I do some investigative work in an unofficial capacity. And I've known Josef about as long as I've known Mick. Simone's a lucky girl."

Elise looked at her daughter, seeming to ignore Beth's last remark, but Josef seemed inordinately pleased by it. I felt my eyes narrow.

"You have nice friends, Simone." It wasn't hard to miss that that assessment didn't include Josef. Another awkward silence filled the room as everyone but Josef and I sipped at a drink. I knew he was wondering if it would be too rude to ask for another shot of whiskey.

"Are these paintings yours?" Josef asked Marcus, looking with interest around the room at the abstract portraits.

"Why, yes. You like art, Josef?"

"I dabble. I've collected a few paintings over the years, but I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any means.

But I can confidently say your work is incredible. I saw one of your portraits in the Met last year."

Marcus smiled. "Thanks. It was just a limited display, but I was very proud."

"We all were, Daddy. You'll have to show Josef your studio sometime."

"Of course, if he is interested. "

"Certainly."

Marcus looked at his wife. "Elise has arranged quite a spread for brunch. Hope you brought your appetites." This could get dicey…

"Actually, Daddy, we just ate. Sorry you went to so much trouble, Mother."

Elise's lips formed a firm line. She was not happy. "You could stand to eat again, Simone. You look downright anorexic. Didn't your boyfriend feed you on the way here?" Josef's jaw clenched, but he admirably held his tongue.

"I just said—"

She brushed aside Simone's words with a wave of an impatient hand. "Come with me. I'll fatten you up again in no time." And she pulled her daughter up by the hand, leading her back to what I assumed was the dining area, muttering about anemia, while Simone shot Josef a desperate look over her shoulder.

Marcus shrugged helplessly at his wife's behavior, and we all reluctantly followed Elise. Beth took my hand and gave me a meaningful look, and I squeezed hers in reassurance. Josef and I had been in this kind of situation many times. Not the mother-in-law situation, of course, but the pressure-to-eat-by- humans situation. It was always very uncomfortable, but we just had to be firm about it. Our bodies can't digest food very well, so there could be no faking it, unless you wanted a barfing vampire on your hands.

There was indeed quite an assortment of pastries and casseroles, fruit and muffins, and Elise must have gone to a lot of trouble. Our refusal would not be welcomed, I was sure.

"This looks wonderful, Mother. But really, I couldn't eat a bite." But Elise didn't care and resolutely pulled out a dining room chair and pushed Simone down in it.

"Eat." She looked at the rest of us. "All of you—please, have a seat."

When we hesitated, Elise gave a disapproving frown. "Are you all on some kind of crazy LA diet?"

"Yes!" Simone jumped on the excuse. "Yes—a high protein, liquid diet. Very cleansing."

"Nonsense! Those diets aren't very healthy. Is this your doing, Mr. Kostan?"

I decided to jump in to try to help the situation, since she seemed to like me a little better. "No, ma'am," I answered for him, "we all agreed to try it for this trip. You wouldn't believe how much better we all feel…it's very healthy, I assure you. Doctor approved and everything."

Her face softened as her eyes landed on me, and she surveyed me from head to toe and back up again. "None of you look like you need to diet. You're all in fine shape." Was she flirting with me?

"Thank you, but the drink is very filling, and we just had one before we came. Perhaps later, if you think this lovely food will keep…" I purposefully poured on the charm. Anything to smooth things over.

She smiled, then sighed. "Very well. But, Simone, I trust that now your trip is over, you'll start eating more sensibly."

"Yes, Mother," she said miserably.

"You know, I'm not on that diet," Beth ventured. I'd seen her eyeing the chocolate filled croissant. She sat down next to Simone. "May I?"

Elise seemed inordinately pleased, and passed the plate to Beth. She dug in, grabbing a few strawberries from a bowl and allowing Elise to pour her some coffee and juice. We all sat and watched Beth eat, Josef's humor having returned, especially when Marcus offered him another drink. This time, I accepted too.

We small talked a while, comparing LA to New York, discussing current shows on Broadway, the weather…it was all very gentile, until Simone made a tactical error. Elise had begun talking about sleeping arrangements, apparently under the impression that we would all be staying in their apartment. Simone had not notified Elise of our plans to stay at a hotel, which would have saved us from the hellfire that was about to rain down.

"I'm sorry, Mother, but we'll be staying at the Waldorf. Josef arranged a suite and—"

"Well, cancel it. There's plenty of room here. Why waste good money?"

"We wouldn't want to put you out," Josef ventured bravely. And, of course, the Walkers' apartment didn't have special vampire quarters with freezers and a complimentary freshie service.

"It would certainly be no trouble to house my own daughter, Mr. Kostan. And it's been months since I've seen her. You wouldn't deprive her mother of that pleasure, would you?" Scathing brown eyes would brook no argument.

"Elise…"came Marcus's half-hearted attempt to calm her.

"No, Marcus. If they don't wish to stay here, at least Simone could, right dear?"

"Mother, please, don't make a big deal of this. We'll be here a few days, and I'll come often for a visit. Maybe we could see a show—"

"Don't change the subject. No, the decision is made. Mr. Kostan, the offer still stands that you all can be our guests, but Simone belongs here with us while she's in New York. Wouldn't you agree?"

"With all due respect, Mrs. Walker, that's really her decision. She's a big girl, and used to being with me." Nothing ever good comes from a sentence beginning with with all due respect.

"What?" She looked across the table at her daughter, angry comprehension suddenly clouding her features. "Are you two…shacking up together?"

"Mother, we're engaged. It's perfectly acceptable to live together these days."

"Not to me, it isn't! This is not the kind of woman I raised you to be, Simone, whoring yourself out—"

"Now wait just a minute!" Josef was on his feet before I could say anything to diffuse the situation. I saw his eyes flash silver at the insult.

Calm down, buddy, I said at vampire level, trying to avoid a disaster. He spared me a glance, and I could almost see him counting in his head for control.

"Mrs. Walker, you are insulting my fiancé, the woman I love," he said at last, his voice now deadly calm. "I think it is time we leave before things are said that we cannot take back." Josef's Old World sense of honor appeared at the most unpredictable times.

Marcus seemed to find his spine all of a sudden. "Elise, don't get so upset. Your blood pressure, remember?" He turned to us. "Josef, forgive our over-protectiveness. She's our only daughter. Of course, she must do what she thinks is best. No need to make things uncomfortable, Darling." The last directed at his wife. Josef lowered himself slowly back into his chair.

Elise sniffed indelicately, but said no more; not one word for the next half-hour, as she sat simmering in her fury. Beth finished eating, and Marcus conducted the polite conversation, but I could still feel the tension radiating off of Josef and Elise in waves. A few more minutes for appearance's sake, and Josef stood and helped Simone out of her chair. I did the same for Beth.

"I'm sorry, but we're all overly tired from the long drive. If you'll excuse us, we'll head to our hotel for a nap. I'm sure Simone will be in touch about getting together later." We all rose, anxious to escape from this visit to the Underworld.

Marcus led the way to the door, then turned to shake our hands, and hug his daughter warmly. Elise lingered behind us, then stepped forward to embrace her daughter.

"I'll call you later, Mother," Simone said softly, mid-hug.

"See that you do."

She smiled at Beth and me, but said nothing at all to Josef. She wouldn't even look at him, even when he politely offered his thanks for her hospitality, such as it was. When the door shut behind us, we all visibly slumped in relief, even though we could hear Elise ranting in their apartment.

"See! I told you—he's taking her away from us! We'll never see her! Marcus, you have to do something about this!"

"Now, Elise—"

But I tuned the rest of it out as we waited for the elevator. No one said a word. I think we were all in a state of shock.

Back in the limo, Josef could take it no more.

"Can someone please, just stake me now! I mean, what the fuck! I feel like I've gone ten rounds with a hell dragon. My God! How does Marcus stand it? That man should get a bronze star. When she called Simone a whore, I thought I was gonna seriously vamp out on the bitch- "

"Josef," Beth said softly, nodding at Simone. Her faced was turned to the window, tears running down her cheeks. Josef sighed and ran his hand through his hair, then touched her face to turn it so she would look at him. Beth and I looked away uncomfortably, sorry they couldn't have more privacy.

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean it." He laughed humorlessly. "She just used her superhuman lawyer skills and put me through the ringer."

"She hates you," Simone said simply. "I was afraid of this."

"You were? Well some heads-up would have been nice. I was on my best behavior in there, until she started putting you down, that is. Haven't you ever brought a man home to meet her?"

"Only one other time, in high school. It didn't go well." He regarded her a minute, choosing his words carefully, I'm sure.

"This isn't a deal breaker, is it? I didn't meet Mother's approval. What does that mean to you?"

She looked down at her ring and played with the band nervously. She met Josef's eyes, red and pleading.

"I don't know, Josef," she said, then turned back to watch as Central Park passed by the window.

Josef hunched forward, head down, both hands raking his hair. It was a long, silent trip to the hotel.