Chapter 26

Beth looked in the fridge for something to eat but was coming up short; they had yet to restock since returning from Greece. They hadn't managed to accomplish much of anything since being back, although they did finally finish unpacking and doing laundry when they managed to separate long enough to do so. Beth felt her legs, she was thankful now more than ever that she had started working out, if her muscles were slightly sore now she could only imagine without.

As if on que Mick wrapped his arms around her middle his chin on the crook of her neck, "Hungry?"

Beth turned her head kissing his check, "Yes. We need to go to the store Mick. Your leftover blood should be about finished as well, so we have to leave this loft today or we'll starve." Beth stressed the words in a teasing manor as Mick nibbled on her neck licking his most recent mark.

Beth moaned as she pressed back into his embrace, "Mick....We can't start this again."

Mick smiled against her neck giving it one more kiss before releasing her, "I guess you're right the sooner we go the sooner I can have you home to ravage you all over again."

"I'm going to take a shower and get dressed, you stay downstairs."

Mick nodded like an obedient school boy. Beth hurried up the stairs not looking back knowing one over the shoulder glance would only encourage him to join her and they would never leave.

*****

Jean woke to the feel of Josef's strong arms around her holding her close. She sighed kissing his chest before rising up above him opening the freezer door; she was hungry. Josef's eyes began to flutter open as Jean leaned back down to kiss his lips softly, "I'm hungry, you can stay and sleep."

Jean went to get up but Josef pulled himself up as well, "I'll come with you, I could use a meal myself."

They dressed in robes and made their way down towards the den, Josef keeping his arm around her with every move. Jean was hungry but could still tell something was different about him. She wanted to ask him about the previous night, what had been bothering him but secretly wanted him to bring it up. As if he were reading her mind, which she still wasn't convinced he couldn't, he pulled her to face him just inside the den before the bar.

"I heard you last night, that you need something to help occupy your time. I didn't mean to completely disregard what you said I just got…carried away," his lips curled into a smile.

Jean blushed, oh a distraction she could always make room for. Cupping his face in her hands she brushed her lips against his, "I love you. I know about getting caught up, I forgot everything too. But…are you really okay?"

Josef was silent dropping her hands from his face as he retrieved them both a glass of freshly donated and lead Jean to the couch. They sip in silence, Jean on edge with Josef's silence. Finally after what seemed like forever to Jean, Josef set his glass down.

"I'm much better now," he took her glass and set it by his, holding her hands in his stroking the backs with his thumbs. "Last night I sensed your uncertainty and thought you had grown tired of me, that you were ready to move on with your life," he confessed.

"I would never," Jean sat up straight as if appalled by the thought.

Josef continues to hold and caress her hands, "Shhhsh…I'm new to this whole thing but you have no idea how much you mean to me."

Jean pulls on hand back to reach up and caress his face, "I'm new at this two. We can find our way through…together. I love you."

Josef pulls her into an embrace just holding her tight as a single tear fell down his check. Jean knew how hard that was for him, to admit that to her, to seem weak, even to her it was against years of survival. She felt the power of his words as they sank in, she would find something to do for him later to show him how strong he was in her eyes.

Josef pulled her back handing Jean back her glass, "So any ideas what you would like to do with your time?"

Jean lets her shoulders slump forward, "No."

Josef lifted her chin with his finger meeting her stare, "Whatever it is you decide I will help you with it in any way I can."

Jean nodded, "I guess we should go get dressed."

"Yes wouldn't want to miss the party."

*****

Three hours later Mick had his arms full of grocery bags while Beth had one and the shoulder bag with Mick's supply as she opened the door to the loft. When Beth pushed the door open she nearly dropped the bag when she saw a small party going on in the living room.

A small party was going on with Candice, David, Josef, and Jean sitting in their living room having a drink looking mighty relaxed. Mick came in chuckling walking to set the bags on the counter, "Don't mind us just make yourselves at home."

"We have, don't worry," Josef lifted his glass towards the kitchen, "We were just having a drink to wait for your return."

Beth and Mick quickly put away the groceries and poured themselves a drink before joining their welcoming home party. David gave Mick a once over surprised to see he was still a vampire.

"Danielle had a bunch of stuff to catch up on, and Coop is swamped so it's just us." Candice gestured to everyone, "We brought the pictures and the DVD from the wedding."

Beth giggled, "We just picked up the pictures from the honeymoon while we were out restocking."

The girls all sat forward quickly with squeals of excitement while the men just chuckled silently to themselves all enjoying this. They pass the pictures around, Mick and Beth, more Beth telling them about the pictures and all the beautiful little places in the pictures. Mick only added things here and there like how beautiful his wife was in them, having Josef tease him with the mushy moments.

The wedding pictures turned out beautifully, the girls were discussing which ones were going to be enlarged or framed. Beth wanted to make a scrap book; she had always had the idea to make one but these pictures she wanted to remember forever, her first marriage to Mick. Yes forever would be a long time, and she never wanted to forget the day she first became his wife.

They spent the next hour just talking and catching up and joking around. The girls made plans to meet the next day for lunch as Jean and Candice helped Beth carry the glasses to the sink and wash them out, while Mick walked with Josef and David towards the door.

David and Josef both knew of Mick's plans for the honeymoon and were surprised to see him as a vampire. Keeping their voices low in case he had simply changed his mind, David asked, "So what happened with the cure?"

Mick glanced over his shoulder to see Beth and the girls walking towards them. The look of unease didn't get past Josef or David, "I'll stop by the office tomorrow when the girls meet here for lunch, I'm being kicked out anyways I'll explain then."

Josef nodded, "Welcome home, it was nice to see you two had a good time." Josef kissed Beth on the check and gave Mick hug and a pat on the back.

David followed his lead giving Beth a peck on the check before pulling Candice to him, "Welcome home. See you around."

Mick pulled Beth tight to his side, "Thanks for stopping by." Beth gave a wave as she watched them get onto the elevator before she added, "Thanks for the incents."

Mick chuckled, he didn't know if Beth would have picked up on them or not but clearly she had. Josef had chided him earlier in the night about the place reeking of sex and bringing them so Jean wouldn't be forced to smell them all through the evening. "Jean is still learning to control her senses and hasn't learned to tune out very powerful scents yet."

"I figured as much, we have been busy," Beth gave him a devilish smile. "It is sweet of him, the way he looks out for her."

Mick went over and put out the incents, "I do believe I promised to ravage you into the night."

"I believe you did," Beth walked up the stairs slowly watching him as he followed.

*****

To Be Continued…

Evilous