Nick was again amazed at the sheer quantity of food that Darius consumed.

"Your wife must have a hard time cooking enough for you." Nick said jokingly.

"Mmph......" Nick winced as he heard Darius swallow his most recent helping of chicken. "Not really. I eat out a lot so she doesn't really have to cook too much. I work late and she works during the day so our schedules don't always overlap conveniently enough for a meal together."

Then Darius stopped eating and looked at Nick questioningly, "How did you know I was married?"

Nick could smell a woman's perfume on Darius's clothes but of course there was no way to explain that without some awkward maneuvering so he simply gestured at the gold band on Darius's finger.

"Oh yeah....... I forgot about the ring." Darius looked down at his food and began to twirl his ring unconsciously. Nick saw tears begin to gather in Darius's eyes.

"Did something happen?" Nick asked softly in response to this sudden change in his friend. But, instead of answering Darius seemed to snap out of where ever he had gone and the spark of amusement returned to his eyes. Although this time, Nick could tell it was just a mask.

"So, Nick....I never figured you for the marrying type. What does your lady think of your schedule?"

Nick felt uneasy about what he had just seen and Darius's obvious avoidance of the subject did not help calm Nick's screaming instincts. You didn't live for 800 years without learning to tell when someone is hiding something. But, he kept all this to himself. Mimicking Darius and allowing the amusement to return to his eyes as well Nick replied, "Oh! We are both nightowls. That's how we met actually." Nick chuckled softly and continued, "She is opening a coffee-shop not far from here. I think she decided to call it N&N's café or something. The grand opening is tomorrow night."

"Really! Well, we shall have to go there tomorrow after work instead of this place. I would love to meet your wife!"

"Why don't you bring your lady as well." Nick watched Darius for a reaction but only saw his usual amused expression, puzzled, Nick continued, "That is if her schedule would permit. Natalie has not had to time to meet many people since we moved here and I think she would enjoy meeting you and your wife."

"Sounds like a plan."

Nick shook his head and watched as Darius attacked the rest of his meal with renewed vigor, there was no trace of his earlier emotion. Nick looked at the ring on Darius's finger again. What had happened? Certainly it was something in the past. Nick knew that distant look someone got when they drifted into memory. Darius had been seeing something that made him sad. The question was, What had he seen?  Nick pushed away his curiosity. He should know better then anyone else that the past is something you can only share when you are ready. Someday perhaps Darius will share his past with him, but not tonight.

Nick settled back into his chair and smiled. Not so much because of his new friendship but because the excitement coming through his link with Natalie was infectious. It chased any lingering doubts about Darius out of his mind. Nick concentrating on finding the reason for her happiness only to discover himself blocked.

No peeking Nicky Boy! It's a surprise.

Nick hid his shock and curiosity but with almost twitching with excitement by the time he and Darius parted ways for the day.

Natalie was lighting the rest of the candles when she heard Nick start up the stairs. She quickly blew out her match, straightened her shirt and rushed out to meet her husband. Nick walked in the house, set down his case and threw his coat over a chair then looked around admiringly at their new home. The flat above Nat's coffee shop was a far cry from the little apartment they had been living in for the past few months. Though not nearly as big as Nick's old loft it was rather spacious. There was a small kitchen and a large living room that took up nearly all the space in the apartment. There was a hallway off the living room that led to two smaller bedrooms and the bathroom. The ceilings in the living room were almost as high as they had been in Nick's old loft. A door off the living room led to another large room. The door was closed but soft light shone under the door.

Nick looked at the door quizzically then turned to look questioningly at Natalie. Natalie only smiled in response to his unspoken question and he made his way over to the door. The room beyond was filled with hundreds of candles (all in safe holders of course) and arranged tastefully around the room were objects and artifacts from the Loft. As well as some that Nick had kept in storage while he lived in Toronto. The walls were covered in Nick's paintings and pictures Natalie had found among his things. In the center of the room was the grand piano that Nick had at his Loft. Natalie heard Nick gasp when she saw the picture that rested on the piano.

It was a picture he and Natalie had taken together just after her conversion. It was the last picture they had taken in Toronto, but of course it had to be taken at night due to circumstances that you already know. It still showed them both smiling, both Nick and Natalie's unruly hair was rumpled and wind blown from her first flying lesson. But now instead of a dark night sky behind them there was a beautiful blue sunny day. Their faces and cheeks were highlighted by the sun. It looked perfect. Down to the slight reddish hue on their cheeks.

Natalie held her breath. She wasn't sure how Nick would react to this reminder of the quest he had worked hard to put behind him. But she had worked so hard, she wanted to make this a special occasion. Nat had planned to hang the picture in the coffee shop and all depended on Nick's reaction to it now. The emotions she was feeling from the link were all confused. He was happy to have all his things around him again. But there was something else....

Nick laid the picture gently down on the grand piano and turned to Natalie.

"Nat, I..." He stopped and shook his head. This was almost too much. Nothing so good had happened to him all at once for centuries. He was with  a person he loved more then I can describe in words and now he was surrounded by so many happy memories. There was something, a feeling he couldn't name....  Then it came to him.

"I am finally Home!"

Nick laughed and spun around in a circle. Nat ran to join him and clung on tightly to his chest as he twirled. When he finally slowed she looked up to meet his eyes. They were brimming with crimson tears. But for the first time in a while it was not from sadness but from joy.

"You better like it! Do you have any idea how long it took me to do that picture! Colorize this, brighten that, then you wouldn't bel...."

She was interrupted when Nick caught her up in a kiss. Deep, soft and full of love. After a few minutes Natalie saw where he was headed and pushed him away with a sly grin. She grabbed his hand and led him over to another room that she had saved for last. Just off the Piano room was another small guest room. Nat led Nick to the door connecting the rooms and stopped him with another mischievous grin.

"Close your eyes."

"But Nat!"

"Close 'em Nicky!"

Nick sighed playfully and closed 'em. Nat pushed open the door and carefully led her husband into the room.

"All right, open them!"

Nick opened his eyes and gasped. Arranged tastefully around the small room were some of his paintings. Even the large one that Schanke had critiqued had a spot along one wall. And scattered literally everywhere were hundreds of candles. It was perfect. He sank down onto one of the comfy cushions that lay about on the floor, overwhelmed.

"Oh Nat!" Nick pulled her down beside him. "This is perfect. Its home. I am finally Home!" Nick leaned down to kiss Natalie and this time she responded back enthusiastically.

Well, one thing led to another. I will let you use your own imagination.  Moving on.....