Thank you all for your reviews! It's been one hectic week but things are calmer now so I've finally found the time to write. I hope you enjoy the next chapter and as always, comments are welcome!

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

"…think I'm coming down with something so I'm working from home for the rest of the afternoon… Mmhmm, yeah… Okay… Thanks, Mo… Okay, bye." Beth disconnected and shifted the phone into her other hand so she could dig her keys out of her bag. She tried to ignore the way her hand shook as she fumbled with trying to direct the key into the keyhole, but after ramming the key into the door a few times, she slammed the keys into the doorknob.

"Come on, Beth. Breathe, breathe," she muttered to herself. She stood there for a few minutes, inhaling deeply and blowing out and finally, she felt the trembling ease. She lifted the keys from the doorknob and this time, she slid the key in easily. Beth breathed a sigh of relief and once inside, she collapsed against the closed door.

Charlotte's offer replayed in her mind, eating away at her, taunting her. "I'm offering to turn you." Beth closed her eyes, not sure if she felt disappointed or relieved. She had been so sure before, when she had declined! She thought she had dodged a bullet but now, the doubts and regrets were starting to set in. She had known they would but she hadn't expected it so soon.

"I can make you immortal, invincible. You'll see things you could never see before, smell things you never thought you could smell—it's like nothing you've ever felt before…"

Oh, but she had been wrong, so wrong. Beth had felt that way before—the night she had been high on Black Crystal, she had felt untouchable but at the same time, she had felt as if she was finally experiencing all the world had to offer. It was an incredible feeling and if that wasn't what Charlotte had been describing, then Beth couldn't imagine what was. She remembered the way the breeze had glided past her, whisper-soft, like a teasing caress that tickled and delighted her in equal measures. And the sounds! The city had never sounded so alive to her than that night… The hum of voices, of conversations, ebbed and flowed around her, like waves on a beach. Beth found that if she focused, she could tune everything out into a pleasant buzz and zero in on one conversation, feel the emotions of the speakers bleed into her consciousness. And if she really wanted to, she could feel the subtle vibration of music dancing on her skin, pulsating from various clubs; it had almost felt like an invitation to dance, twirl, leap.

But what Beth remembered most vividly of all was the certainty that Mick—calm, reserved Mick—desired her. She could see it in the way he looked at her, hear it in his voice, in the things he refused to say and most certainly she could feel it when he held her. He had held her as if she was delicate glass and he was afraid she would break if he held her too close. In reality, she had felt like putty in his arms, ready to be molded into any shape it took to stay in his arms. She had felt safe, secure; it was as if the rest of the world had fallen away and didn't matter. There were no rules, no boundaries… when Mick had held her that night, anything felt possible.

Beth sighed, suddenly wishing she hadn't mentally relived the Black Crystal experience. She hadn't realized how much she had missed the feeling Black Crystal gave her. It wasn't the feel of the night toying with her senses that she missed but the confidence that she had known what she wanted and the fearlessness with which she had tried to attain it. It had felt so right when she had begged Mick to turn her that night, but when Charlotte had freely offered to turn her, the prospect of accepting had felt odd, wrong… like she was betraying Mick somehow. It had nothing to do with him but everything to do with him at the same time. It was her choice but really, would she have been given that choice had she never met Mick, never seeked out his company on cases? She had thought about how Mick completely hated what he was and how he was always so lonely and she knew that wasn't what she wanted. Besides, a part of her didn't feel completely comfortable with Charlotte. She had felt manipulated, alone, in Charlotte's company. And once she realized that, Beth had known without a doubt that if she did want to be turned one day, she wanted her sire to be someone she trusted completely, someone she felt safe and comfortable around. If she chose immortality, she wanted Mick to be the one to give it to her. Mick and no one else; it wouldn't feel right otherwise.

Beth stared into the darkness of her apartment, knowing she should move and stop dwelling on the topic but unable to bring herself to do so. So she stood there, leaning against the door, silent, unmoving, until her phone lit up and rang in her hand, casting an eerie glow. Beth almost jumped at the sudden sound but when she saw Mick's name on the caller ID, she calmed.

"Hey."

"Beth." He sounded agitated. "Where are you?"

"Home." She heard him curse. "Mick, what's wrong?"

"Beth, listen to me. I want you to stay where you are and don't let anyone in. Do you hear me? Don't let anyone in!"

"What's going on?" she asked uneasily.

"Nothing, if I can help it," he replied grimly.

"Mick!" she said crossly. "I'm not a child; tell me what's going one!"

"Don't worry about it. I'm going to take care of it, but it might be nothing… I don't want to alarm you."

"Mick! If you don't tell me what's going on right now, I'm going to leave!"

"Beth, please! I'm coming over; I'll tell you everything when I see you. Just don't let anyone in until I'm there, okay?"

"Alright, fine," she sighed resignedly.

"I'll see you in twenty minutes then," he said softly.

"Yeah." Then he hung up. Beth frowned. Could this day get any better?

She turned the lock on the door and flicked on the lights, then padded over to her kitchen. She dropped her keys and phone on the counter and was just about to turn away when something caught her eye. A small, black velvet jewelry box. And a note.

Oh Josh…oh no… She picked up the note first. For when you decide, it said. Beth stared at the short phrase blankly. For when she decided? But they hadn't talked since he had proposed… had she unknowingly done something to lead him into believing that she would say yes? She put the note down and picked up the box, fingering it without opening it. At least the wait for Mick wouldn't be boring, she thought. Then, in one fluid motion, she flipped the box open.

Beth twirled the ring between her fingers, fascinated by the way the diamond glittered in the light. She had been worried that she would hate the ring but to her surprise and relief, the ring had been beautiful. It was simple and elegant and the diamond was moderately sized without appearing gaudy. It made her smile to think that he had remembered the conversation they had had regarding engagement rings. It felt like a lifetime ago though in reality, it had only been a few months before she had met Mick.

"Matt and Bri engaged! Isn't that great?" Beth exclaimed. They were at her apartment and she was sprawled out on the couch, legs stretched across Josh's lap.

Josh laughed. "So he finally proposed, huh? He's been working up the courage to do it for weeks!"

"Has he?" Beth rested her head on top of the couch. "How come you never told me?"

"He swore me to secrecy. Said it made him nervous to have too many people knowing."

"Mmm." Beth nodded knowingly. "So even when he's committed, he's still struggling with the commitment."

"More than ever," Josh agreed.

"I'm just glad he didn't run again. Somehow, I don't think Bri would've been so forgiving this time… and they deserve each other; how can they be happy with anyone else?"

"You really believe in this true love, meant to be, thing, don't you?" he teased.

"Hey, Matt overcoming his fear of commitment for Bri is proof of that!" she proclaimed.

"Ah, yes, the ring on Bri's finger says it all."

"Only if she says it's the perfect ring," Beth countered playfully.

"And does she?"

Beth made a face. "Yes."

"But you don't?" he asked, amused.

"Am I that obvious?"

"A little." He held his thumb and forefinger several inches apart.

She threw a pillow at him, laughing. "Shut up!"

"What's wrong with the ring?" he asked curiously.

"It's very showy and that's very Bri, but I don't know… to me, it just screams 'engaged' to the whole world."

"And that's bad?"

"Well, no. I mean, I get the whole 'I want to share my joy with everyone' thing but it's knowing you've found the one that really matters isn't it? Not the size of the diamond or the fanciness of the ring."

"So Beth Turner likes plain and simple," Josh said thoughtfully. "I'll remember that."

Beth blushed. "You don't have to think that far ahead, Josh. We're in a good place now. I don't want to mess it up by leading you to believe I expect more when I don't."

"But I want to," he assured her, smiling. He leaned over and brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. "You're special, you know that? Maybe you're even the one. And if you are, I want to be ready."

Beth smiled, feeling a pleasant warmth buzz throughout her body. She caught Josh's hand in hers and tangled her fingers in his. "In that case, I'll hold you to it."

Beth missed those days, the days when being together had been easy, fun. She couldn't remember the last time they had laughed like that nor could she remember the last time she had really looked forward to Josh's company. But a connection like that didn't just disappear; surely if they wanted it badly enough, they could have days like that again, couldn't they? She twisted the ring onto her finger and eyed it critically. Was there really such a thing as moving forward by going back? Was it worth the gamble to find out?

A sudden sharp rap sounded from her door. Beth hastily pulled the ring off, feeling her cheeks flame. Mick! She rose and pressed the ring onto the counter before hurrying to the door. The knock sounded again, this time, more urgently. She unhooked the chain from the door and opened it a sliver. She peered out and the greeting she had been about to utter to Mick died on her tongue.

"Charlotte?"

"Hello, Beth. You seem surprised to see me. Didn't I say I looked forward to seeing you again?"

"How… how did you know I live here?"

"Come now, what happened to common courtesy? Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?" Beth asked innocently.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. "Let me rephrase that. Open the door or I will force my way in."

Beth pushed the door closed but Charlotte was too fast for her. The door flew open and Beth tumbled onto the floor from the force of it. She gasped as the pain slammed into her side and flashes obscured her vision.

Charlotte eased the door close and smiled down at Beth. "Now, let's talk."