Epilogue
"1968" Mick heard Josef say
"Beg pardon" he replied, as they lay curled up in each others arms on the large plush sofa, near the window that overlooked the streets of the city where they had made their home for the past 30 years. 50 years in total had passed since that night in Paris; when Mick had finally declared his love for Josef. The first 20 had been spent wandering through Europe as a pair of vagabond vampires; letting their love and their will carry them wherever it was wont to do, until they finally settled down in the Austrian city of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart; their connection with and love for one another growing stronger with every passing decade.
"You once asked me exactly when I fell in love with you"
"It was 1968" he continued
"You were wearing the most god-awful ruffled and bellbottomed tuxedo and you thought you looked a million dollars in it...you looked so naive and charming and boyish at the same time and I knew right then and there that I had fallen head over heels for you"
Mick snuggled deeper into Josef's embrace, smiling contentedly as Josef lovingly stroked his hair just the way he'd always loved him to do.
"Wanna know when I fell in love with you, Josef"
"Mmm I'm not sure I'm going to want to hear this, but go on"
"Just now" Mick responded with a lopsided teasing grin and a wicked glint in his eye.
"MICK" Josef exclaimed, pretending to completely crestfallen, "You fibber" he shot back at him with a cheeky smile.
Mick reached up and touched Josef's face and spoke gently this time
"I do love you Josef, don't you ever forget that"
"Ditto" came Josef's whispered reply as they collapsed into each others arms, lips and bodies pressed together as they made love right then and there.
10,000 miles away in a small nursing home on the outskirts of Los Angeles, Beth Turner opened her eyes and let out a blood curdling scream.
The End