The dream was a familiar one. He had had it so many times since that night. I wasn't really a dream so much as a memory of his and Natalie's last night in Toronto.

"Damn you Nicholas!"

The tip of the stake hovered over Nick's back and then began to make its fatal plunge, but at the last moment, Nick heard the stake clatter to the floor.

Nicholas spun around to face his sire. "Lacroix please! I am serious about this request."

"As I am serious in refusing you! I will not let you allow this opportunity to slip from you! You are allowing your misplaced morality to cloud your judgment. Why suffer as I have suffered! Bring her across, save yourself my pain."

"Just this once Lacroix, can you please stop your lying tongue and grant me my request, give me the death you stole from me long ago."

"Fine Nicholas, yell all you wish. But, remember every moment you delay, your beloved slips further away from you."

Nick bared his teeth and lunged at the stake still lying on the ground. "If you will not do it then I will." Nick lifted the stake but was stopped by a calm, unexpected statement from Lacroix.

"If you ever did that Nicholas, I can say without hesitation that I would greet the sun the very next day."

"What?" Nicholas asked puzzled by such emotion from his sire.

"You heard me Nicholas." Lacroix turned his head but to late to hide the single blood tear.

Nicholas reached for his sire but staggered when he suddenly felt Lacroix lower the walls around their link. Pain, sadness, longing, love, regret, they all bombarded his senses. Nick saw himself through his master's eyes. A beloved son, a child he would never be able to have. He felt the stab of pain that Lacroix felt every time that Nicholas cursed him. He felt the way that Lacroix still longed for the love of Fleur, even after all these years.

"Lacroix....Father....." Nick saw Lacroix flinch when he spoke like he expected a rebuke but blocked his pain from crossing their newly strengthened link. But, he was unable to block the surprise he felt when Nick caught Lacroix in a tight hug. The Ancient at first did not know what to do but soon his heart remembered and he returned Nick's embrace. After what seemed an eternity, Lacroix pushed Nicholas away.

"Nicholas, I release you from your debt."

"What?"

"Didn't you hear me? I release you from your debt. I cannot bear to rob you of any more then I already have."

"Lacroix., you..."

"Please Nicholas, my son, Natalie slips away even as we speak, already we may be too late."

Nick reached up and wiped away a blood tear as it trailed down Lacroix's cheek.

"Hurry Nicholas!"

"Thank you Father."

"You are welcome my son."

Nick heard the wind as Lacroix disappeared, then he hurried to Natalies's side. Already her heart was slowing but when he offered her his blood and called her back she responded quickly.

"Wake my Natalie. My lover. My new daughter."

===========

Natalie knew he was dreaming as she watched his face as he slept. Lightly, she traced the lines of his face and every one of his blond curls with her fingers. She watched as those lines deepened like he was in pain, then he stirred, mumbling something in French. Like cool fingers, she allowed her calm to spread along their bond. She felt his distress lessen and then disappear as her love forced his memory to relent. She continued to trace her fingers through his hair as he fell back into a dreamless sleep.

"Goodnight my eternal lover."

The first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon and as Natalie lay back down beside Nick she thought quietly to herself. It is such a shame I had to face death before I could truly live.

Then she felt Nick wrap his arms around her and hold her tight beside him and the breath of an answer blew gently through their bond My thoughts exactly.