Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. And I intend to play with the characters as much as I want.

Again I thank everyone who has been reading. We are getting towards the finish of this story but you know me…..I always like to have some fun with my characters. And we have a fledgling to train so we will have a few more chapters. Enjoy.

Chapter 26

Mick awoke and was surprised to find that Beth was up and gone without waking him. It was very unusual for his Beth to not stay and cuddle if she woke before him. With a faint feeling of concern he rose and pulled on a pair of sweat pants before going in search of her.

Moving into the bedroom he instantly heard the shower running in the bathroom. Stopping in the doorway, he could see her in the shower, humming to herself as she shampooed her hair. He could make out that her eyes were closed as she swayed to the tune and her figure rippled in the wavy glass of the shower wall. Quickly shedding his pants he opened the door of the shower and stepped into the warm spray of water.

"Mick!" Beth shrieked as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. The scent of the shampoo and the warm steam had blocked her sense of him when he entered the bathroom but the moment he opened the shower door she had known it was him.

"Didn't I tell you never to let your guard down?" Mick whispered in her ear as he pulled her against him.

"Really Mick, do you think that anyone but you would be crashing into my shower? In this house with this security?" Beth giggled as she leaned back in his embrace. "But since you are here…..and wet, would you please scrub my back?"

Mick nibbled along her shoulder to her neck.

"Your wish is my command," he murmured against her skin as his hands moved over her slippery skin and he reached for the soap. Beth's delighted laugh floated upward with the steam.

*O*O*

In the plush master suite on the other side of the house, Josef and Rayna were spooned under a thin silk sheet in the middle of their king sized bed. They had awakened earlier and decided to steal some private time before dealing with their guests. Rayna snuggled deeper into Josef's arms and let out a long sigh.

"What's wrong Beauty?" Josef asked as he tightened his arms around her.

"Nothing is really wrong, I'm just wondering if we will ever have a relaxed, quiet visit here," Rayna mused.

"I will bring that up with Moriah," Josef chuckled. "New Orleans certainly is a lively city."

Rayna turned in his embrace and reached up to stroke his cheek.

"I do love it here and I love the city. This is a second home and I am so touched that you gave me this house to feel safe in. And I am also glad that we could help Savannah here. She is going to be fine, isn't she?" she asked with concerned grey eyes.

"Yes my love, I believe she will be fine. Since those first moments after her turn she has become much more controlled. We will know more after we see how she behaves around Anthony and Charity," Josef replied and kissed her. "And we will make sure they are perfectly safe."

"I'm not worried about them. Savannah cares about them, she won't hurt them," Rayna stated confidently.

"You have so much faith in her," Josef commented.

"I know my friend."

"You, are a special woman," he said, his brown eyes dark and serious. "Do you know how much light you bring to my darkness? I need you with me Beauty."

With a happy moan Rayna pressed her lips to his.

"I will always be here for you," she promised and kissed him again.

*O*O*

Savannah and Tyson came downstairs and headed for the dining room to make sure that she was well fed before the two humans arrived. While Tyson placed a call to Scott to see what was happening with the official investigation, Savannah wandered into the front parlor with her second glass of blood. She felt good about the control she felt as she sipped the liquid. It surprised her that she could taste the subtle differences in the blood, the type and whether it was a male or female donor. Standing in the center of the room she studied the glass in her hands.

"Does that blood type please you?" Beth's voice came from the doorway. Savannah looked up quickly and grinned at her friend.

"I'm willing to experiment," she admitted. "I find it amazing that we can taste the differences. I thought that blood was blood."

"Yes, we can tell," Beth agreed sipping from her own glass. "Mick once told me it was rather like appreciating fine wines."

"I wondered if I would find it disgusting but necessary, but it really isn't," Savannah confessed with an embarrassed smile. "I rather like it."

"Are you ready to see Anthony and Charity?" Beth asked sitting down. Savannah sat opposite her, holding the glass tightly but careful not to shatter it. Her brow was wrinkled in concern.

"I hope so. Beth what if I can't control myself?" she asked painfully.

"You will be fine Savannah," Beth assured her. "I felt the same way when I was newly turned and was in the same room with Anthony for the first time. I was so nervous and Mick reminded me that Anthony was a friend, not food. If you focus on that it will calm the bloodlust."

"I will try. I can smell the humans in the house and I find myself becoming anxious. What if I can't keep my focus that they are friends?"

Beth smiled at her.

"I can promise you that you will not hurt anyone. There are enough vampires here to stop you before you could hurt either one. It will be impossible for you to do that so stop worrying."

Relief flooded over Savannah at those words. Beth was correct; no one would let her hurt either Charity or Anthony so it was foolish to continue to worry about it.

"And you should look at the matter of your control from another angle," Beth continued. "The urge to drink blood is strong but it is like many human urges. You may have wanted a second slice of chocolate cake but you didn't take it. You may have wanted to beat the confession out of a perp you knew was lying…" She saw Savannah duck her head guiltily. "…..but you didn't. Urges can be resisted if you know they are wrong."

"Even when they are very strong?"

"Trust yourself. It does get easier. If it doesn't work today it will be better tomorrow. Relax Savannah and be well fed when you see them," Beth added with a wink.

The sound of a car pulling up outside made both women look to the window. Savannah went paler than before.

"They are here."

"Then go get another drink. You'll be fine," Beth told her with a laugh.

*O*O*

Outside Anthony turned off the car and looked over at Charity.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

"No, not nervous. I am just a bit worried about how difficult this is for Savannah and Tyson. She had a horrible turning experience and now it is so important that she meet with her superiors to answer questions. There is so much pressure on her for this to go smoothly," Charity answered seriously.

"Ray seemed pretty sure that Savannah transitioned successfully. We know she was a strong human, I am sure she'll be okay," Anthony answered.

"I do know that Tyson will never allow her to hurt us but I also know that it will bother Savannah if she loses control. She is so used to being in charge of her life. This would shake her sense of self," Charity reflected.

Anthony reached out to take her hand in his. He smiled warmly.

"You are a good woman Charity Taylor. You are a class act lady and I love you," he said sincerely.

Charity's heart skipped a beat at his words. Things had become much more intense in the last few months and she was beginning to hope he might want more than their current relationship. She was too old to be caught up in fairy tales but she couldn't help wishing that it would become more than just the friends with benefits that it was right now.

"I love you too Anthony," she replied then smiled brightly. "Now let's go see if we can help our newest vampire friend adjust."

*O*O*

Inside the brunette fledgling hurried to the dining room and headed to the blood. Tyson and Mick halted their conversation to watch her as she refilled her glass and then forced herself to pause and take a small sip.

"Are you okay sugar?" Tyson asked.

"Yes, Charity and Anthony just arrived. I'm nervous and Beth suggested I have another drink. You told me that the blood would calm me," she answered taking another sip.

"I did say that," Tyson agreed. "Focus Savannah, keep your head. They are your friends."

"You're strong Savannah, just remember who they are. It will be fine," Mick added.

Beth could be heard greeting the couple at the door. Mick went to join them as she directed them to the parlor. Josef and Rayna passed by the room to meet the others. Panic flared briefly in Savannah's eyes as she looked at Tyson and he saw them go silver. He went to her side and draped an arm around her shoulders.

"Relax," he ordered. "Have some faith in yourself." He was rewarded by a nod and confidence returning to her brown eyes. He steered her toward the parlor.

End chapter.

I thank you for reading. Please feed the review addiction and let me know what you think. Thanks.