A/N: I do not own Moonlight, but I really wish I did. This chapter is a little sad, but the next few chapters will be more fun and interesting. Remember, reviews are still awesome!
Josef sighed as he entered the elevator of Mick's building. I don't know how much longer I can deal with this. He thought. After hearing about Mick's beach trip with Beth, he felt lonelier than ever. He couldn't believe Mr. sulk-in-the-shadows was finally letting himself love again. Josef had always wondered if Sarah's sleeping state was his mistake or a cause of fate. Never in his 400 years of existence, had he ever felt that kind of love for anyone else before. Sarah forced him see himself as a man instead of a monster. Josef tried to push away the bad memories as he knocked on Mick's door. Sure enough, his friend opened up and let him in.
"Hey Josef, how you doing buddy?" Mick asked him when he noticed the faint hint of anguish on Josef's face. Josef made himself comfortable in Mick's armchair before replying.
"Let's just say, I'm going to need a drink." Josef smirked briefly before returning to his miserable thoughts. Mick walked over to his hidden freezer, and took out a bag of AB, pouring the ruby liquid into a wine glass. He walked over to his friend, handing him the glass of blood before sitting on his couch. "I'm sorry I can't drink with you. I could bring out some scotch if it makes you feel better." Mick offered, but remembered Beth was coming over. Mick observed Josef's behavior, eyeing his friend with concern.
Josef took a long sip of his glass before speaking. "No, no, Mick. I'll probably drink enough for both of us today. Besides, Blondie is coming over and I do not want to be rude." He looked up and flashed a blood-stained grin before changing the topic. "So…you two have anymore bikini-filled dates lately?" Josef eyed Mick in a suggestive manner as the blood rushed to Mick's cheeks.
"Josef, how many times do I have to tell you? Beth and I are not dating." Mick assured the elder vampire. Josef looked back at his buddy, licking his lips before remarking, "Yet."
A sudden growl formed from Josef's chest. He couldn't hold in his thoughts any longer. "C'mon, Mick! You're finally mortal and you're wasting time wondering about the future when you really need to live for the moment. What are you going to do when you turn back? Push her away after all that she's been through?" Josef didn't understand Mick's actions. He's waited to feel like human for so long and now he's letting it waste away. It was clear Beth's feelings for Mick were mutual. How could he not notice?
"I just—" Mick stopped when he heard the elevator bell ring. He got up and threw Josef a look that said knock it off, before heading to the door.
Beth's knuckles barely touched the door when he answered. Her eyes appeared red and irritated form her long day at work, but aside from that, she looked as beautiful as ever in her white top, black vest, and dark boot cut jeans. "Hey." She said quickly before walking into the apartment, setting her purse on the counter and taking a seat on Mick's couch, making herself just as comfortable as Josef had. She threw an acknowledging nod towards Josef, and he returned the nod before taking another sip of the blood. Mick walked back to the couch to sit next to Beth; they were nearly touching.
A stab of pain came over Josef as he glanced at them. He could have had a similar someone sit with him, if only… his thoughts trailed as he remembered the task at hand.
"Well, I suppose you're wondering why I need to talk to you during such late hours. I know your Mick here—" Josef paused to see the glare from Mick before continuing "is a little irritated of my speaking with you." Josef tried to get a rise from the two and received odd looks that were exchanged with each other. "But I need to ask you a favor."
Both Mick and Beth were entirely focused on Josef's words; in which they were unable to notice Beth leaning on Mick's shoulder. "I'm going to be gone for a few days and I am supposed to host a very large fundraiser for The Red Cross in Anaheim this Saturday. Unfortunately, my assistant forgot to inform me that I need to supply a band of some sort for the event." Josef clenched his teeth and growled at the thought of his idiot-of-an-assistant Michael. Thank God for the tar pits… He recollected his thoughts and turned back to the reporter. "Well, just so you know, I never ask politely for a favor, but this week I am not…going to be myself and I know you, Beth, have connections with the humans and the who's who. So, can you hire a well-known band for the fundraiser?"
Beth looked from Josef to Mick and then back to Josef, She bit her lip slightly. "Um, well, if the fundraiser is on Saturday, that means I only have a few days to set up a band, but I think I know someone who could help." She gave a hopeful look at Josef, deciding if she should continue. "Josef, why are you not going to be yourself this week?" Mick threw a nervous look at Beth, which she couldn't see because her attention was completely focused on the vampire whose eyebrows came together in an uneasy manner.
He wondered if he should go on. He stared at his empty glass, absent-minded. "I am going to New York this week to see Sarah. Tomorrow will be 53 years since I tried to turn her…" He didn't want to look up at their reactions; he couldn't bear to see his best friend snuggled so closely to the human. I've never felt pain worse than this. I just can't—can't do this. Let go of her as if it never happened. I loved her. He wanted to scream her name so loudly just to see if anyone would hear his sorrow.
In the midst of it all, Mick felt a surge of sadness seeing his best friend in such a vulnerable state. Obviously, Josef still had not cleared his conscience about Sarah. How could he believe he was responsible for her coma? It was an accident—a mishap. He could not have controlled it. Turnings are very unpredictable processes—just like births—they can sometimes end in death or this rare type of sleeping state. Surely Josef knew this, but his love for Sarah had caused him to blame himself.
Mick felt the sudden shift of weight of the couch and noticed Beth leaning forward. She tucked her legs under her turned to face him. Her face mirrored his in discontent; she looked into his hazel eyes, as if searching for an answer to an unknown question. He bit his lip as he ran a hand into his hair, and turned his focus back to Josef, who was now rising from his seat.
"Well, my flight leaves in an hour and I have to insure my brainless assistants have everything in order. Thanks for, uh... you know." He reached the front door when Beth got up and replied, "Your welcome Josef." She stared at him from across the room, meeting his gaze briefly.
Mick also stood up from the couch to see his friend off. "I will make sure this thing gets settled out." He threw the vampire an assuring look and Josef returned it with a half smile of his own as he closed the door and headed back to his Ferrari. Well, I guess this is what I get for falling in love with a human. I will never make that mistake again.
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