Happy New Year's Eve everyone! It's hard to believe that in less than 2 hours, 2007 will be over but well, there you have it. Thank you to everyone who has commented with their encouragement; I appreciate it! This next chapter was one of my favorites to write so I hope you enjoy it! As always, feel free to review.

Disclaimer: Moonlight and characters don't belong to me; I'm simply a fan having fun with the characters.

Beth mumbled unintelligibly, shifting to avoid the thin slats of sunlight stirring her from her slumber. Morning already? her groggy mind protested. She struggled to open her eyes but being the traitors they were, they seemed determined to remain shut. She was so tired. Finally, Beth managed to get her eyes open to a slit. At the same time, she suddenly realized she wasn't sleeping in her own bed nor was she anywhere near home. Her eyes snapped open, all drowsiness and fatigue forgotten. She let go of the dark blue blanket that her hands had been curled around and pushed herself up. She was on Mick's couch!

Slowly, she swept the blanket away and glanced down, glad to see she was still wearing yesterday's blouse and jeans. Warmth suffused her cheeks as she remembered the first time she had awoken on Mick's couch. Surprisingly, the situation hadn't been as awkward as she might have expected. In fact, sitting on Mick's couch, in Mick's shirt had felt oddly comfortable. Perhaps it was because Mick had been such a gentleman the night before… She felt the warmth in her cheeks flame as she suddenly wondered what he had done with that shirt…

Mick smiled when he stepped into his apartment and saw that beside the dark blue blanket puddled on the couch, there were no signs of Beth. He should have expected as much; leave Beth alone anywhere and she was bound to let curiosity get the better of her. He wondered what she would discover this time. Something else to confront him about, no doubt.

He turned when he heard the soft patter of feet hurrying down the stairs. "Morning," he greeted Beth.

"Mick!" She seemed surprise to see him. "I was wondering where you were…"

"Find what you were looking for?" he asked, taking care to keep his tone controlled and casual.

Her cheeks pinked. "I was just washing up… I wasn't looking for anything incriminating."

He chuckled. "I doubt I could have stopped you if you were."

She smiled. "You went out?"

Mick held up a white paper bag. "Breakfast."

"Oh…" She seemed at a loss for words. "Thank you. You didn't have to… I saw how sunny it was outside…"

"It's no big deal. It was just a few minutes."

"Even so. Thank you." Her smile was warm as she came and took the bag from him. She walked to the counter and set the bag down without opening it. Mick followed her. "So what happened yesterday?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… did I… ask to stay the night?" The question sat awkwardly between them.

"Oh." Mick dipped his head embarrassedly. "No. I went to answer a call and when I came back, you were asleep."

"I fell asleep?!" Beth wrinkled her forehead. "Well considering…" She suddenly fell quiet. "I guess I shouldn't be that surprised…"

Not for the first time Mick wondered what had happened between her and Josh. He thought idly that perhaps they had fought about Beth's relationship with him and that was why she was so reluctant to talk about it.

"I wanted to wake you," he said apologetically. "But you seemed… tired." Liar, he thought. The excuse seemed flimsy, even to him. He had been secretly pleased that she had felt comfortable enough to let her guard down and let sleep claim her. He knew they could never be together but seeing her there, on his couch, sleeping peacefully was almost enough to make him believe that he was wrong. It was a rare moment and even after 55 years of being alone and coaching himself not to let the loneliness get to him, he hadn't been able to make himself wake her up and shatter the delicate balance his belief hung on.

"Don't be sorry." She reached over and placed her hand over his. "I slept well. Better than I have in days."

"You haven't been sleeping well?" He looked at her, startled. "No wonder you were so tired."

"Don't you want to know why I haven't been sleeping well?" Her voice was soft, almost tentative.

"Why?" he asked, voice equally soft.

"I keep dreaming of what happened when I was taken… the house where she kept me, the things she said to me, the fight…"

"Is that what wakes you?"

"No. Then I dream about you, about finding out vampires are real, about finding out your past… and then I remember her burning in the flames and I wake up, gasping for breath, feeling like I'm four years old again."

Mick stared at her, hating himself for giving her those nightmares. "This Beth, this is why it's not safe for you to be around me. You've already gotten hurt once because of me; do you think that because I saved you, it won't happen again? It will, Beth, and when it does…"

Beth shook her head, cutting him off. Her normally bright blue eyes were glassy with tears as she spoke. "Safe or not, you're still my guardian angel. You have to stop feeling responsible for me, Mick. I'm a big girl; I can make my own choices. And I'm choosing to have you in my life, dangers and all."

Mick tore his gaze away and withdrew his hand, his emotions bubbling dangerously close to the surface. "I have some things to take care of," he said abruptly. "When you're ready, you know the way out. You don't have to bother with goodbyes." He turned and walked away, feeling her sadness and hurt wash over him. I'm sorry, he told her silently. But it's better this way; you'll see.

He had almost reached the stairs when he heard her call out. "Mick?"

He looked over his shoulder resignedly. "Yeah?"

"What did you do with that shirt?"

He didn't need to ask what she meant; the memory of what had happened when she was high on black crystal was seared in his memory, yet another reminder of what he would always deny himself. "It's hanging in my closet, with my other shirts."

"Oh." He sensed her disappointment and hurried away before it could get the best of him.

Mick was in his office when he felt Beth's presence leave the apartment. He let out a long sigh and felt a stab of disappointment that she had heeded his words and not come to say goodbye. He pushed the feeling away; perhaps he had finally succeeded in driving her away.

He rose walked out of his office, to the end of the hall, where the grey door he had warned Beth about loomed before him. He stepped inside and lifted something off the hook adjacent to the door. Mick held the black, white-striped shirt up to his face and inhaled deeply. Beth's scent filled his nostrils, so strong it was as if she had just worn the shirt yesterday and not many weeks ago. Mick smiled. Everything about Beth was full of life. Nothing about her—not even her scent—faded away easily. For a moment, he allowed himself to wonder what it would be like to bask in her love for eternity, to wake up every day and know she enjoyed his company as much as he enjoyed hers. Then he returned the shirt to the hook and stepped out into the hall, pushing the grey door firmly shut. He would never know and he didn't have time to dwell on the matter—he would instead, focus his energy on helping the people who needed his help. It was what he did best after all.