CHAPTER NINE - Glitches
Mick looked over at Talbot and wondered why he was still here. It was awfully late, and Beth was going to be released soon. Maybe he was thinking he'd have to drive them home.
"Ah, Talbot?" he said quietly as they stood in the small room in the Emergency Department, curtains drawn around the three of them, Beth snoozing under her ice pack.
"What?" Ben shot back.
"I was just going to tell you that you could go home—I can get a friend to give us a ride home when they release Beth."
"No need. I'm here—I can give you a ride home."
"Okay, if you insist, that's pretty decent of you." Mick said it, even though he wanted to just punch the guy. He saw how Talbot looked at Beth! It wasn't difficult to deduce that his caring went a little deeper than Mick was comfortable with. Just seeing him straddling her in that stall, holding her hair, taking care of her—it made Mick feel both angry and grateful. There was just something about Talbot that made Mick feel edgy.
"Does all this mean you won't be flying to Vegas tomorrow then?" Ben asked pointedly.
"Ah, yeah, Talbot! I'm not going to do anything that would hurt Beth, and I don't think the doctor is going to give her his blessing to go flying when she has a concussion! Even though it's not serious!
"Well—good. I'm sorry she got so sick, but I'm glad this little scheme is postponed for a while."
"Better watch it, Talbot. My marrying Beth is no 'little scheme!' I love her and she loves me. That's all you need to know."
"Huh." Talbot bit a hangnail and looked at Mick. "She doesn't know enough about you to marry you. I want you to know—I'm going to do my best to talk her out of this."
"You don't know what you're talking about. Just—be quiet."
"Mr. St. John?" the doctor said as he pushed through the curtains. He looked both men over briefly, finding it odd that they were both here with his patient. Must be some kind of love triangle—she didn't have any family members here, according to her records.
"I'm Mick St. John, Doctor. Can Beth go home yet?"
"I have the papers here to release her. I understand you are her future husband? It would be okay if you fill out this page and sign down here."
While Mick finished up the paperwork, the doctor gave his little speech to both men.
"I'm releasing her into your custody—whichever one of you will be taking care of the patient—"
"That would be me," Mick said, handing the papers back to the doctor.
"This is the situation, Mr. St. John—We scanned her head, and the scan was negative, so we conclude that she has a mild concussion, no pathology that is terribly concerning, but as with any head injury, we do need to keep a watch on her for the next twenty-four hours. Will you be able to do that?"
"Of course. I won't let her out of my sight."
"You're going to be up all night—is that a problem? If it is, I can admit her."
"Believe me, doctor, it's no problem," Mick said, putting his hand over his mouth to hide the smile that wanted to break the seriousness.
"Well, I hope it's no problem. You will have to wake Ms. Turner up every hour, ask her a question, and be sure she's making sense. With a brain injury that has caused loss of consciousness, we always worry. However, from the detailed history of the onset of this injury, it does sound as though she might have lost consciousness before she fell, and that is yet another cause for concern. At any rate, please keep her under your watchful eye, and if you find you cannot, bring her back in—we'll watch her here."
"I understand, Doctor."
"Now, I want you to make an appointment with her regular doctor in the next day or two. I want her thoroughly checked out. If she fainted, we'd like to know what caused that."
"She was very sick, vomiting, and then fainted." Ben said, looking at the doctor, then at Mick. "She also was going through some emotional stress, and in fact, she was planning to fly to Las Vegas tomorrow. I guess those plans are scrapped for now."
"Yes. There is no way I could agree to let her fly tomorrow. Not in the shape she's in now."
"That's fine, Doctor. Thank you. I'll take very good care of her," Mick said with conviction.
"I hope so! She's quite a nice young lady, if I do say so." Mick looked at the doctor who was, in turn, raising an eyebrow at Mick. He was probably in his mid-sixties, trim and handsome for a man his age. It seemed to Mick that everywhere Beth went, she found a man who wanted to befriend her.
"She is—she's my life." Mick said earnestly, gesturing with both hands out to his side in such a way that the doctor had no doubt of his sincerity.
Satisfied, the doctor nodded. I'll tell the desk to get her a wheel chair. Whoever is driving may as well go get the car and pull it around to the big double door over there." He pointed to the automatic door.
"I'm going. I'll see you shortly." Ben walked down the hall and out the door.
The doctor was checking Beth over one more time, shining his little light in her eyes, asking her to stick out her tongue and do a few other neurological checks. "Okay, Ms. Turner. I'm letting you out of here. Mr. St. John says he can take care of you tonight."
"Thanks, Doctor Carson. I appreciate your help."
A nurse came in and disconnected the IV bag, bandaged the wound, then helped Beth sit up. "How do you feel? Are you dizzy?"
"Actually, I think I'm fine now. I think I'm feeling a lot better than when I came in."
"Probably the fluids. You were a little dehydrated. You seem better. That's a good sign. You should keep feeling better and better as time goes by." She waved Mick over. "I'll help her into the chair here," she said as she got Beth into the wheel chair. "Now, follow us out and I'll let you get her into your car."
Mick followed them down the hallway, carrying Beth's handbag, and out they went through the automatic door. Ben was waiting, standing by his car, which was running. Mick lifted Beth out of the chair and put her in the back seat of Ben's car, handing in her purse, then got in beside her, buckling her in first, then himself.
"Where am I taking you?" Ben asked as he pulled out of the hospital driveway.
"To Beth's place—do you need directions?"
"No, I'll get you there."
Beth sighed and leaned on Mick, who had an arm around her and helped her snuggle close to his chest. "Thank you Ben," she said sleepily against Mick's shirt. Mick raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
"Hey, no problem. I'm sorry you got sick. Stay home until you feel better, okay?"
"MMMhmmmm. Thanks. I'll call you." Mick watched her drift off to sleep, and held her close. What a day! First his session with Josef, then this!
"Talbot—you know I still want to talk to you about that 'list' thing I heard you and Beth discussing."
"Oh, well, that's confidential, St. John. I really can't say anything about it. Beth and I were discussing a case of ours."
"A case that involves me?"
"I haven't really determined that yet. You can be sure that if I find you're involved in something unseemly, I'll let you tell me your story."
"I'm sure you will. Give me a call any time you want to talk."
"Will do. This is her street, right?"
"Yeah, just pull up right here. Thanks, Talbot," Mick managed to say as he woke Beth and slid her out of the car. "I mean that, man. It was good of you to drive us to the hospital. I was awfully scared, and you got us there much faster than calling the EMTs would have." Ben was out of the car, shutting the back door as Mick held onto Beth. Mick held out his hand, and they shook as gentlemen.
"Hey—let me know how she is tomorrow, will you?"
"You got it."
Ben watched as Mick walked Beth into the building. She seemed okay. He hoped she was. He also hoped she'd re-think this thing with St. John. How had that happened right under his nose? He shook his head and drove home.
Mick got Beth out of her clothes and into a warm nightgown, letting her sit on the bed while he got her some water. He came back into the room and held out the glass. She drank half of it before stopping.
"I don't know why I'm so thirsty! This whole thing started with being thirsty in Ben's office!"
"Well, they said at the hospital that you were dehydrated. Sounds like you pretty much threw everything up. How's your stomach now? Are you hungry?"
"No. I think just water for now. Thanks, Mick. I'm sorry you have to play nurse for me tonight."
"Well, I'm not sorry!" Mick sat down on the bed next to her, took the glass from her hand and set it on her nightstand. He took both of her hands in his. They were cold, even by his standards.
"Honey—I'm always going to be around for you, so get used to it." He winked at her and she smiled.
God! He had been so terrified when he couldn't rouse her from that bathroom floor! Thank goodness Ben had said he'd drive her to the hospital to save some time. Mick had picked her right up off of the floor, and out the door they had flown. He guessed it was good to be speeding with the Assistant DA, but nobody was around to stop them. Ben had said if they were stopped, he'd simply ask for an escort. Good thinking. Beth had gotten from the bathroom tile to a room in the ER in about ten minutes.
"I think I need to lie down. My head still hurts a little."
"Oh, I have another ice pack from the hospital. Let me get it out of my bag here," he said as he rummaged through his duffel and pulled out the frozen pack. "I'll wrap it in a towel. You—I'm going to hold you all night." He pointed one finger at her as he disappeared into the bathroom, emerging with a hand towel. He wrapped the icy pack and sat on the bed again, leaning over to take off boots and socks, then standing and taking off his jacket and jeans. All he had on was his shirt. He looked at it, shrugged, and took that off too.
"Okay. Do you want to lie down or lean on me kind of sitting? What would be more comfortable?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm just so tired!" Beth yawned a big yawn.
"Come on," Mick said as he got on the bed and pulled Beth back with him. He piled up pillows behind him and leaned on them, then spread his legs and pulled Beth up between them leaning her back on his chest, putting the cold towel on her head. "Is that okay?"
"Perfect. You're kind of a hard pillow, but you feel good."
"Okay. We'll start out like this. Go to sleep, honey. I'll wake you up in an hour."
It was already going on 3 a.m. Beth was breathing evenly as she slept against him. He kissed her cheek and settled in for the night. His mind went back over his talk with Josef.
Mick had known Josef would react to the news, but he hadn't anticipated how strongly Josef would react!
"What did you say? Mick—I thought you said Beth is pregnant. That isn't possible, my friend, unless she's been with someone besides you." He raised his eyebrows. Mick didn't like the implication.
"No, Josef. Nobody but me! In fact, I can tell you exactly when she got pregnant! The first time we had sex! How is that for timing?"
"It's impossible, Mick. That's all I can say. What makes you think she's pregnant? You've had this verified?"
"I just—I know her. I mean, after a year of being with her so much, I know her so well. I could always smell the subtle changes in her body chemistry, you know? Hasn't that ever happened to you with a woman?"
Josef shook his head. "No. I guess I'm not as sensitive to the intricacies of scent as you. Must be the P.I. in you."
"Well, I think you're probably right. Over time, I've learned to use my nose more than the average vamp does, I'm sure." He stopped and took a sip out of his glass.
"Josef, I've never been with a human before, not since I was turned, but I've been around them constantly, and Beth is different, for some reason. I'm just so intensely aware of her, Josef. I always have been. She smells like heaven to me, and this keen sense I have of her has just kind of evolved into knowing her cycles, the way her hormones get more pronounced at certain times, and the way her skin smells and drives me crazy. Well, I can't be specific about this, but all I can say is that in all the time I've known her, she hasn't smelled the way she smells now. It's all I can do to keep my fangs out of her! I just don't know what to do!"
"Wow. You are convincing, but I know better. I would have never thought Beth would cheat on you, though. Could it be Josh's?"
Mick looked at Josef and rolled his eyes. "I know you don't mean to be intentionally obtuse, but you're acting like you haven't heard a word I've said!"
"Mick! Buddy! I hate to burst your bubble, but we cannot procreate! If you're sure Beth is pregnant—"
"I'm almost sure, Josef, but I can't explain how she smells so great any other way. And if you're wondering how we 're-wrote the rules of vampire love?' Josef was nodding. The way we did that was by me getting the 'cure.'"
Josef sat up straight, then jumped out of his chair. "You were only human for six days, Mick!"
"I know! And sperm take a couple of months to be viable. I guess I produced enough of them—somehow—with that cure, which must have some magic in it, and combined with my natural vampire abilities to regenerate—I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKED! Josef! I cannot explain it logically, but when we had sex, I, ah." Mick hesitated. Josef was his very best friend, but this was pretty strange to be talking about.
"What, Mick? Don't go getting all embarrassed now. If what you're talking about actually did happen, then I'm going to be asking you to help me get the same thing! Now—you were having sex with Beth—"
"I was, and I thought it felt so great because I loved her so much, but something was really different—I mean REALLY different." Josef waited. Mick sat silent, remembering, feeling slightly aroused just thinking about that first night with Beth! Josef brought him back to reality.
"Mick! Buddy! Tell me! What was different?"
"I, uh," Mick was feeling uncomfortable.
"Come on, bro—tell me!"
"Okay! I ejaculated! Do you even remember what that feels like? I thought I was going to pass out from how great that felt!" Josef felt the slight pull of arousal listening to Mick, even though he couldn't honestly say he remembered sex before becoming a vampire. He had thought vampire sex highly superior to human, but now he wondered if that was true.
Josef stared at his friend. "I guess I'll have to take your word on that, but you don't know if you let go of any little swimmers, right?" Josef raised both eyebrows at Mick.
"Well, I didn't have a laboratory in the bedroom to take a look under a microscope, no! It was unmistakable, though, both Beth and I could identify the, ah, what came out, as semen. I'm thinking there must have been enough swimmers in what I gave her that night, several times," he said under his breath, and saw Josef lick his lips and swallow. Yeah, Josef would be aroused just thinking it was possible! "but I think it was enough to get her with child."
"Okay, so the planets aligned and your, ah, human stuff met up with Beth's, ah, whatever, and this cosmic burp happened and now you think you got Beth pregnant?"
"I think so."
Josef was silent for several beats. He looked at Mick with a strange expression. "If this proves to be true, Mick, and that is a BIG 'IF!' but IF your Beth is having your baby, then I want you to find the cure again. I want to take it. I want to have the same chance as you to father a child."
Mick just looked at him.
"Hey! I told you I didn't like regrets, and that is the ONLY one! If I can remedy it, I will!"
"I'll keep you posted on the pregnancy, but the cure might be hard to track down."
"Coraline has it, right?"
"Yeah, and Lance has Coraline. I have NO idea how to find her."
"I do."
"Be careful, Josef. Just promise me—be very careful."
Josef punched Mick lightly in the arm. "You know I will be."
--
So, what Josef had ended up telling Mick, after they had discussed the possible pregnancy, was that he was just going to have to practice that famous Mick St. John restraint, and he was going to have to love Beth without vamping. Wow. Tough order! He had never meant to vamp out on her in the first place, but sex with Beth was just so—well--intense was about the only word he could think of to describe it. Now he'd have to be a very good vampire. How would Beth take that? She seemed to love the wild side of their lovemaking! Oh, man. He was in trouble! He looked at the clock. A little after 4 a.m.
"Beth?" He kissed her cheek, took the ice pack off, and still she slept. "Beth, honey, wake up. Beth?" He moved her so he was holding her now like a baby in his arms. She was so lovely in sleep, so peaceful, so beautiful. She looked like an angel. Her heart was beating strong and steady, he noted, and her temperature was normal. Nice, steady respiration. She needed to wake up, though.
He rubbed her leg, and when that produced no results, he rubbed her sternum. There, that would rouse her.
"Owwww. Stop that."
"There you go. Honey, I just need you to wake up for a minute. Are you thirsty?"
"Yes, and I have to pee really bad."
"Okay, let's go to the bathroom. Can you wake up? Beth?"
"MMMMMMMM, I don't want to."
"I know. I'm going to make you walk to the bathroom, though. Come on." Mick got off the bed and dragged Beth over to the edge by her arms. He sat her up on the edge of the bed. "I'll help you. Here," he lifted her and held onto her, but didn't carry her. He wanted her to walk to wake up a little more. She shuffled with him into the bath and stood there, head bobbing, then leaned her head against him.
"MMMMMmmmm. You feel SO good, Mick."
He chuckled. "Well, that's good, sweetie, but can you go now?"
"Help me."
"Okay." He pulled her nightgown up and sat her down, let her pee, handed her tissue, and then she just sat there.
"Want help up too?"
"Please."
"Okay—wash hands?"
"Okay."
"Here you go," he said, turning on the tap, handing her the bar of soap, then handing her a towel.
"Now, let's go back." They shuffled back to the bed where Beth drank the other half of her glass of water. Mick got her back down on top of the bed and went to the kitchen to refill her glass with cold water from the 'fridge. He was leaning in, holding onto the door of the refrigerator, peering in and taking stock of what they had on hand. She'd need to eat something in the morning, so he guessed he could cook up the last two eggs and make some toast. There was still orange juice. She'd be okay. He was reaching for the water pitcher when he felt a hand reach between his legs and grab his sack. He jumped at least a foot in the air.
"AH!! Beth! I'm a vampire—doing that could be very dangerous! If I had reacted like you were some attacker, you'd be on the floor! With another head injury!"
"Well, you didn't really think it was someone else, did you Mick? I mean, I thought I was the only one who had access to the family jewels. It's only me, Mick." She giggled kind of drunkenly, and put her face in his chest. "MMMMM. I missed you." She smiled and he took her face in his hands and kissed her.
"You just startled me! I thought you were asleep!"
"I couldn't sleep. I'm hungry. But then when I saw you like that, and I thought I'd never seen such a LOVELY feast in my refrigerator before!"
"Ah! Beth! You're back! Good, honey!" he kissed her again. "What do you want to eat? Some toast?"
"Oh, that's boring." She looked down his naked body, enjoying the view.
"Well, it might be boring, but with your stomach, it would be good for you not to overdo it. No, you can't have that, Beth." He detached her groping hands and went to the stove, picked up her teapot, which he filled from the tap. He turned on the fire, then went to the toaster and put in two slices of bread. While he waited for things to toast and heat, he turned to look at her. She was sitting at the counter with her head leaning on one hand, gazing at him; or, rather, raking over him with her eyes.
"You are so beautiful, Mick," she sighed. I just want to touch you."
"I know, but you're going to eat your toast now," he plunked a plate down in front of her, "and you are going to drink your tea," he set a mug down by the toast, "and you're going to get to lie down with me as soon as you get done!"
"Great idea." She said as she took a bite. "Mick?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for taking such good care of me."
"You are so welcome. I'll always take good care of you, you know that, don't you?"
"I know you will." She ate and drank. Mick noticed it seemed to be going down pretty fast, and she wasn't sick, so that was good. "Mick?"
"What Beth?" he said softly, coming up behind her and putting his arms around her, listening to her chew.
"I'm going to always take care of you too."
Mick kissed her on the back of her neck. "I'm counting on that. You know, nobody has ever taken care of me before, so I'm really looking forward to it."
"I'm so sorry I spoiled the wedding." She turned into him and hugged his waist, putting her head against his chest. Mick was afraid she'd start crying.
"Beth! No problem! It's all worked out. Josef just rearranged everything so we're going next week instead of this week!"
"I wish we were married right now."
"I do too, honey, but it will be soon. A week. We can wait one little week, can't we?"
"I guess so," she sighed against his bare skin, her breath making his skin warm where she breathed on him, sending little tingles through him. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, putting her down, head on the pillow. He snuggled up behind her and put his head on her pillow too, as he pulled the light quilt over both of them. His arm went around her, hugging her close. This sure beat the freezer! He'd have to sleep sometime, but for now, he was happy.
"Mick?"she mumbled sleepily.
"What, my darling Beth?" Mick whispered into her ear.
"Be careful of my breasts. I don't know why, but they feel really sore. Maybe I fell on them too!"
He moved his arm down so it was around her belly. "Is that better?"
"It feels so good. I feel so safe." She sighed a huge sigh of contentment.
"Wonderful—get some sleep."
As Beth drifted off, Mick added things up in his head. Wine tastes funny, breasts are sore, today was definitely off—Well, he was definitely going to Google the early signs of pregnancy later! If Beth wasn't paying attention, he certainly was!
--
Ben looked at the lighted dial of his clock. After 5 a.m. and he hadn't slept at all. Tossing and turning, he couldn't get his mind to shut off. Beth wanted to marry St. John! That guy must be a fast worker! He knew she had known him for a while, but it wasn't all that long since Josh had died! He thought the two of them had been in a committed relationship! Maybe the buzz was wrong and St. John was in the middle of that relationship. Beth didn't seem to be the kind of person who would go off and marry the next guy who came along after losing her true love! She was not only beautiful, but also very smart! That's what had drawn him to her in the first place! He got up and put on his running clothes. If he couldn't sleep, he might as well run off this restlessness! He was going to have to find out what that list was, and who St. John really was—he had to go to Beth with some solid evidence or she wouldn't listen to him. Ah! Love surely was blind!
--
Josef readied himself for the freezer and thought again about Mick. If the guy truly had gotten Beth pregnant, he, Josef Kostan, would spend whatever it took to get that cure and get Simone pregnant as well. Of course, he'd have to tell her that he wasn't going to turn her right away—he wondered how she'd react. In fact, he wondered if she'd be up to the task of having a kid? What if she didn't want any rugrats? That would change everything. He supposed they could use a surrogate, but somehow, the idea of actually planting the seed was terribly appealing to him. Ah! Mick! If it wasn't one thing with him, it was another! Josef slipped into the cold dark and slept.
--
"Beth? Honey? It's six o'clock—are you awake?"
"Yeah, Mick. I've been awake for a few minutes. I'm just enjoying the feel of you behind me and I didn't want to move."
"I know the feeling. How about if you try to sleep a little bit longer, and while you do, I'll go get some things ready to make breakfast?"
"Mmmmm. That sounds great—I'm starving."
"Glad to hear it! Get comfortable now—I'm going to slip out. I'll come get you in an hour."
"Okay—I'll miss you!"
"Not if you're sleeping!"
Mick pulled on his jeans and shirt and padded barefoot to Beth's computer. He went to Google and typed in "early pregnancy, symptoms" and looked through the sites that came up. Hmmm.
Pregnancy tests that were 99 accurate 6-7 days after fertilization! Wow! He read on. There was something called a "rosette inhibition test" which showed if a substance called "EPF" was present, and this EPF would be present in the mother's plasma, cervical mucus and amniotic fluid! "Okay," he said to himself, thinking that could account for the different way she smelled and tasted. It seemed this stuff was detectable in humans fertilized 'in vitro' within 48 hours of fertilization. In some studies, EPF had been detected within 6 hours of fertilization! "Wow! I like that!" he told the monitor.
He read, 'It is assumed that the embryos themselves do not produce the EPF, but the mother's body produces it in response to becoming pregnant. It acts as an immunosuppressant, giving the mother a better chance that the fertilized egg would implant inside her womb.'
"Interesting." He said aloud, rubbing his chin.
Now, human pregnancy tests checked for hCG, which was only present after implantation, which takes place 6-12 days after fertilization. "Hmmmm. But the EPF is there HOURS after the deed is done! I KNEW it!" Mick clapped his hands together, thinking of how Beth he knew almost immediately that something about her was different, and this was probably why! He'd keep this to himself, but it seemed to prove that his senses were indeed very keen when it came to Beth. His Beth, the mother of his child!
Mick looked at the time on the computer—quarter to seven. Time to make the eggs. He practically danced into the kitchen, broke the eggs into a bowl using the one-hand method, was humming as he put more bread into the toaster, and was surprised to turn around and find Beth looking at him with a funny smile on her face.
"Um—what's going on out here that is so enjoyable?" Mick flashed his little half smile at her that let her know something was up.
"Baby, I am going to make you the best scrambled eggs you've ever had in your life! Here, sit down—I've got orange juice and coffee right here—he set them down, then twirled around and poured the beaten eggs into the frying pan. He gave them a shove with the spatula, then went to butter the toast as it popped out. In a minute, he set the breakfast plate in front of her and smiled broadly. "At your service, beautiful!"
"Wow! You sure are in a good mood!"
"I am in an excellent mood! Make me happy and eat something now!"
Beth took a sniff of the coffee and put it down without taking a sip. She took a bite of eggs, then some toast. "Mmmm, thanks, Mick, but you don't have to wait on me!"
"I think I do! Any woman I have to pick up off of a men's room floor and take to the hospital gets to have a home-cooked breakfast the next day!"
Beth rolled her eyes. "That must have been so fun for you!"
Mick looked serious and leaned over the counter, gazing into her eyes. "It was scarier than being in the war, Beth. When you wouldn't wake up, I didn't know what to think."
"I'm sorry for scaring you. I remember what it was like when I thought you and Lenni had died. We weren't even together yet, but I thought my heart would break."
"Yeah, like that." His eyes penetrated. "I can't lose you, Beth. You were right—I'm the one who's afraid to get hurt—I'm the one who can't lose you. Remember after Josh died when you asked me if I'd have turned you?"
"You said you'd do the same thing. You'd let me die. Is that how you feel now?"
"No, and I didn't feel that way then, either. I didn't want you to hurt any more than you already were hurting, so I lied."
"So you would turn me?"
"I'd turn you because I'd be with you to help you, and we'd be together forever. You—are a part of me—Beth, and I guess you should know—I'd turn you in a second. I'll never let go."
"Then I guess you should know that if that happens, I'm okay with it. You'd be with me, and we'd be together, and that's really all I care about now."
"I'm so relieved!" Mick briefly touched his eyes, wiping away the visible relief. "I feel the same. But do you remember when you asked me why I went on living if I hated what I was so much?"
"Yes, I do remember, and you said you didn't know why."
"I didn't quite tell you the truth about that either, Beth. I couldn't tell you then. You were still crying for Josh!" He left the counter and turned, walking back and forth in the kitchen, two hands over his lips.
"What was the truth, Mick? What were you afraid to tell me?"
"That I lived for YOU. I had been living to watch over you ever since I rescued you! There was never a day in my life that I didn't think of you, wonder what you were doing, if you were happy. It was like my mission in life to be sure nobody ever scared you like that again!"
"Nobody did—I said to you that morning on your balcony that I knew I had found my guardian angel, and YOU are the reason I never was afraid! So if you lived for ME, I think that proves how right it is for us to be together, Mick. Just like you said, 'it's not about being a vampire or a human, it's about you and me, right here, right now!'"
Mick literally flew around to the other side of the counter and Beth jumped off of the chair and jumped into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, and they kissed for a long time.
"This is meant to be, Beth. Whatever our future holds. It's you and me now."
"Yes, Mick, it's just us."
--
"Hello, Victor? Josef Kostan. Yes, it's good to hear your voice as well. Me? Oh, I'm just great. And how are things in Paris these days? Ah, yes, springtime. I do remember. No, not a problem, really, just a request. If you hear of the whereabouts of Lance or Coraline-- Yes, that's right. You haven't heard of them or seen them lately, have you? Yes, they were over here not long ago. In fact, Coraline was here for many years, but it's my understanding that she's back in Europe with her brother. Yes—if you find out anything, please let me know. We'll do that soon! I do miss the café au lait there! Oui. Merci, mon frere."