Sorry this took so long to get up...I was pretty busy lately. - Arietty

All Beth could hear was a strange beeping sound. She felt very tired, and very sore. She was very annoyed by the ominous beeping. Beth started scowling, her eyes still shut, and her head shifting slightly on a stiff pillow. She let out a groan, and opened her eyes.

Beth was lying in a hospital bed; the walls were light blue, and a vase of red and white roses were grouped together at her bedside. A large window was next to her bed, and she could see the sun pouring into the room. In the corner, there was a green armchair, and in the arm chair, was Josef.

Josef was looking at Beth, examining her wearily. Beth looked at him confusedly, wondering why she was here.

"Josef?" She asked, bringing her hand to her head. She felt very dizzy. The beeping sound accelerated, and Josef suddenly stood up and was Beth's side.

"How are you feeling?" Josef asked tediously, looking nervously at Beth's heart monitor. Beth shook her head, and reached up weakly to Josef. He leaned in helpingly, and she wrapped her hands around his neck.

"I feel better now." She said, smiling. Josef cracked a weak smile, and kissed her forehead. He stroked his fingers on her cheek, and sighed.

"You don't remember what happened, do you?" Josef asked, and Beth frowned. No, she really didn't. All she remembered was that Josef was in trouble, and she had gone to a warehouse to get him. Then, she gasped.

"Mick!" Beth cried, taking her arms off of Josef and looking around. Josef straightened automatically.

"Mick is fine; some of our other vamp friends happened to be visiting me at the time, and helped him destroy Farrell." Josef responded bitterly, looking away from Beth. Beth frowned again.

"How could they? I thought Nicholas was the best vampire in the world..." She trailed, confused. Josef looked back to Beth.

"Oh, he got away, all right. I don't think he'll be coming back here, soon, however." Josef concluded, stationing himself at Beth's bedside. Beth had question marks in her eyes, but Josef smiled slightly.

"Forget about it, love. It doesn't concern you anymore." Josef said, placing his hand on her head. Beth took it, and kissed it.

"So, what's wrong with me?" She asked, looking around the room. Josef ran his finger through his short hair.

"Uh, loss of blood, for the most part." He said, looking nervously at Beth. Beth looked into Josef's eyes, and then remembered.

Tell me you love me Beth. Tell me you love me.

Beth looked at Josef, horrified. "Oh, Josef!" She cried, and Josef quickly placed his hands on Beth, comforting her. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks, and Josef closed his eyes against her shoulder.

"Don't be afraid; I won't hurt you." Josef said comfortingly, stroking her hair. Beth looked back, slightly bemused.

"I know that." She said, frowning. Josef looked back at Beth, warily.

"Beth, I understand if you don't want me anymore after what I did to you." Josef said sadly, looking to the ground. Beth shook her head.

"Josef, I..." Josef cut her off.

"No, Beth, don't be nice to me, I don't deserve it, and I really shouldn't have done that even if I was dying. I never ever would have put you in danger, and I really can't believe I even did that to you. I want you to trust me, and when things like that happen, I know you probably never will, and..." Josef trailed as Beth grabbed his head to make him look at her.

"Josef, I love you. I don't want you to leave me, and if you didn't drink my blood, you would have died. You'd be dead. I can't live without you, Josef." Beth admitted, her cheeks blushing. Josef leaned in and kissed Beth on the lips gently, and then pulled back.

"Do you forgive me?" Josef asked, looking deeply into Beth's eyes. Beth nodded. Josef smiled.

"Thank you." He said, and kissed her again, and Beth wrapped her arms around his neck, and sat up, kissing him passionately. Suddenly, she heard a throat being cleared at the door. Beth pulled back from Josef, and saw a nurse standing there. She looked at the couple disapprovingly.

"Young man, this woman is very sick. I don't think you really should be testing her heart that way." The nurse said, striding over and tapping Beth's heart monitor, which was beeping quickly. Josef flushed, and grinned at Beth, and reluctantly let go of her. He made his way to the armchair, and sat down. The nurse tended to Beth's tubes, and looked kindly at her.

"How are you feeling, Miss Turner?" She asked, pressing some buttons on a machine. Beth started to feel a lot more regenerated.

"I feel great." Beth said, beaming. The nurse smiled, and exited the room. Josef watched her leave, and rolled his eyes.

"It's almost as if she knew what happened..." Josef said, rubbing his forehead. Beth sighed, and smiled. Then, she frowned.

"Wait, how am I not a vampire right now? You drained me, and fed me your blood!" Beth said, very confused. Josef's smile left his face.

"I guess it had something to do with the fact that it wasn't my intention to turn you. I don't know, it was all very weird." He agreed, standing up. Beth looked at herself in a nearby mirror, and opened her mouth, almost expecting to see fangs where her canines were. They were absent and Beth frowned. Josef laughed, and Beth turned to see what was so funny.

"You actually are disappointed, aren't you?" Josef said, chortling. Beth scowled, and threw a pillow at him. Josef dodged it, and laughed. Beth growled.

"Oh, don't make me get over there." Beth said, feigning getting out of the bed. Josef suddenly turned serious and was pushing her down on the bed.

"Stay on the bed, Beth." Josef said, effortlessly keeping the struggling Beth down on the white sheets. Beth looked at his arms, and smirked.

"If you were human, I'd be stronger than you, you know." Beth said mockingly. Josef looked at her with a disbelieving expression.

"Sure, Beth. Keep on thinking that." Josef said, rolling his eyes. Beth punched his arm, and felt more pain than he did. Josef laughed, and she felt the need to do something to upset him. Beth suddenly doubled over in pain.

"Ow!" Beth said, her eyes stinging. Josef grabbed her shoulders, concerned.

"Beth?" He asked, trying to get to her face. Then, Beth fainted back, her eyes closed.

"Beth!" Josef said, shaking her. After a few moments, Beth opened her eyes, and her tongue out.

"Who's stronger now?" Beth asked, and Josef looked at her blankly.

"That wasn't funny." He said, staring her down. She looked at him back, and he started to smile. Then, they both burst out laughing. Josef made his way over to Beth, and kissed her cheeks.

"You're a menace, Beth Turner." Josef said, kissing her eyelids. Beth smiled, and brought her hands to his face. She kissed him, and her heart monitor started beeping like crazy, but neither the vampire nor the human seemed to notice.

Yay, Beth's fine!!!! Okay, the epilogue is next, and then the SEQUEL!!!!!!! Review!!