Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. Perhaps they'll rent it to me.

Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers. I'm so glad you haven't gotten tired of me. I appreciate the support.

Chapter 8

As Mick came down the stairs the next evening, he saw that Beth had once again awakened before him. He hoped she was getting enough sleep. She was sitting cross-legged on the couch, her laptop balanced in her lap. She was scrolling through pictures quickly. The minute she noticed Mick, she closed the laptop guiltily.

"So, what are you up to?" he asked curiously.

Beth blushed but opened the computer to show him. Mick laughed when he realized she was looking at beds.

"I like how your mind works," he approved and kissed the top of her head. "I like that one," he added looking at the modern clean lines of a queen sized bed with a leather headboard.

"It fits with the rest of the place," Beth nodded. "I was just daydreaming. Last night was heaven Mick."

He reached out and took her chin and tilted her head back. He kissed her slowly. Breaking away, he sat beside her.

"For me too," he said softly. "You give me hope."

Mick loved how her smile could light up a room. When she turned that smile on him he felt a warmth spread through him he had only felt as a human.

"They say they can deliver on a days notice," she giggled. Mick grinned that crooked grin that Beth had come to love.

"Whatever the lady wants," he said with a quick peck on the cheek. "I'm going to get some blood and get dressed. I have a feeling Josef will be dropping by. So be prepared if the door suddenly opens. Josef doesn't believe in knocking."

"Thanks for the warning. Do you have any AB negative available?" Beth laughed.

"Yes I do. I really like having you here Beth. You are becoming a habit I don't want to break."

Beth's heart did a little jump as she watched him get his blood and head upstairs. She was so happy that she was able to make him stop hating himself. Somehow she needed to find ways to keep him that way.

Mick was back in fifteen minutes. He sat down in a chair facing her. He had been doing some thinking since he went upstairs. Beth recognized the serious expression.

"Are you okay Mick?" she asked setting the laptop aside.

"Yes, I'm fine. Last night you distracted me from what happened at Josef's. I think we need to talk before anyone interrupts. There are things you need to know," he said seriously.

"Go on Mick," Beth prompted.

"Josef admitted he knows Coraline's family far better than he had let on. He was in France when they were turned. In fact, he and Coraline were involved during that time."

"He what? Mick, he never told you?" Beth exclaimed.

"No, evidently it didn't last long and her sire punished Josef. Josef is definitely afraid of their sire. There is more to that story, but Josef shut down when I asked for more information." Mick looked frustrated at how little Jose had been willing to tell him. "If it helps any, he actually approves of us. He said Coraline was a train wreck. He is concerned about what Philippe wants and he warned me not to pursue the cure."

"I heard the yelling at the end," Beth admitted. "I take it he agrees with Philippe that you stop."

"Yea," Mick said sadly. "He says it can never be permanent. He told me to forget it. Beth, I can't. Especially since I love you. I want to be human with you."

Beth's heart broke. She understood his desire and the thought of growing old with him, the thought of having children with him was one of her dreams. But she also knew that nothing was guaranteed and losing Josh the way she did drove that home.

"Mick," she said getting up and going over to him. She sat in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him and then hugged him close. "Mick, I love you as you are. I want what you want, but I'll take whatever I can have. I love you as a human or vampire. Believe me."

He almost crushed her in response. She was all he had ever desired. Mick buried his face in her hair, loving everything about her.

"Well, I should have known I'd find you like this," Josef said from the doorway. He walked in and let the door shut behind him. He inhaled slightly and instantly noticed the change in them.

"Well done," he said to Beth. He smiled knowingly. "Congratulations you two."

"I hate that about vampires," Beth muttered in Mick's embrace. "Can't we have any secrets?"

"He just loves playing the know-it-all. Ignore him," Mick said and then kissed her possessively in front of Josef. He did not care what the older vampire thought. He was making clear what belonged to him.

Josef chuckled. "You two restore my faith in love. Not to throw cold water on you but Philippe is coming over."

Mick surged to his feet, holding Beth tightly.

"Not in my home," he said angrily.

"Mick, talk to him. If you convince him, you convince Lance. Philippe is more reasonable than you think."

"Josef, you don't tell me anything. Why should I trust you?"

"Because I'm trying to keep you from bringing that family down on you," Josef said sharply.

"You mean their sire."

"Mick you don't know what you're talking about."

"You keep me in the dark."

"Boy's!" Beth interrupted. She left Mick's arms and went to Josef. Taking him by the hands, she directed him to the couch. Beth pushed him down gently and he let her. Turning, she stared Mick back down in to his chair.

"Please, you need each other. Don't destroy your friendship over secrets," Beth pleaded.

Josef had the decency to look embarrassed and Mick backed off from his anger. He had no desire to fight with Beth.

"Sorry," he said softly.

"Beth, we need to decide how to approach Philippe. He was once my friend. I do not want to challenge him," Josef said urgently. "It's Darius we need to fear."

Beth had returned to the security of Mick's lap.

"Tell us about Darius," Mick said. "Don't keep information from us Josef."

Josef looked uncomfortable. He knew he couldn't continue to hide things from Mick.

"Darius is my sire," he said bluntly. "He had kept me with him from the time of my turning. He can be very cruel and demands obedience. When we went to France, he decided to turn Coraline's whole family along with other members of Louis' bloodline. He had some grand plans for Coraline and me. I ran off with Lola. Darius was furious with me. He banished me from Europe and to this day I have not attempted to return. He's powerful Mick. I do fear what he's capable of. What he might do to us."

"Us, as in us?" Mick asked directly.

"Yes," Josef affirmed. "I'm on your side. I will stand up to him if the situation requires it. I would like to keep that from happening. Philippe was like a brother to me, but he is Darius' creation. We cannot completely trust him."

Mick got to his feet, setting Beth back in the chair. He crossed to Josef and looked down at him.

"So what do we do?"

"We try to appease Philippe. I know that we need to find out what he wants and we give it to him if we can. We give him no reason to summon Darius here."

"If I don't pursue the compound, will he leave us alone?" Mick asked.

"I hope so. I do know that he hasn't passed on the knowledge of Beth's blood type," Josef informed him. Mick stopped the pacing he had begun. Both he and Beth looked at Josef in surprise.

Josef shrugged sheepishly.

"Philippe and I went out gambling last night. When I got enough A positive in him, he relaxed and told me he hasn't been totally honest with Lance. He's saving that info in case he needs to deflect Darius' anger."

''Remind me not to cross you," Mick muttered. He stopped his pacing and looked at Beth. She smiled at him reassuringly. "I will not have Beth harmed," he said to Josef.

"It's not in my plans either," Josef responded. "I happen to like Blondie; I don't want anything happening to her."

Beth gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks Josef." There was a catch in her voice.

"Don't go weepy on me. You get sad and then Mick gets anxious and I can't deal with that much emotion," Josef said flipply.

Beth knew how hard it was for Josef to let anyone know he cared about them. She appreciated his willingness to stand up for her.

"Can we get Philippe to leave town?" Mick asked. He leaned against the column of the fireplace.

"I think we can," Josef said. "We need to handle this like a business transaction. Keep your cool."

"Who, me? I'm always cool," Mick said grinning at Josef. The older vamp just shook his head.

"Beth, I'm going to need your help," Josef said. "Mick forgets how territorial he gets around you."

Beth nodded and grinned at Mick. "I think I can handle that."

Josef would have answered but a knock on the door put a chill over the room.

End chapter.

I guess it's time to ask for reviews again. I'm still trying to decide if Darius needs to make an appearance or save him for another story. Thumbs up or down. I live for your input.