What can I say? The support from you guys is awesome. In a lot of ways, I'm really going to miss writing this story, although I don't plan on vanishing from the Moonlight scene. There's plenty of one-shots to be written, and I already have an idea for a long-shot or two rattling around in my brain. Hey, someone's got to carry the Mick/Coraline banner! Anyway, without further ado…

LA

The fledging gasped for breath that she didn't need, her body jerking violently as she felt the air as a living thing against her skin. The room was dim, thank God, but her eyes still blinked violently. The room was vivid with color; she could make out the individual pigmentations. There was muffled sound outside, and she could hear slow heartbeats; feel the life-force of other vampires in the house. She'd felt this way once before, but that was different. That was a thrill ride; this was a fall off a cliff.

Relief joined the torrent of other sensations; a sense of warm safety enfolded her. She was surrounded by Josef's scent, could feel the aura of his strength and control against her tingling skin. She didn't recognize the room, but they were still in LA, the sun was a vicious, living presence beyond the protection of the thick curtains. It was gentle spring in New York, here the heat ruled.

His footsteps were muffled by the carpet in the hall, but every fiber in her body reacted to his presence. The closer he got, the stronger the reaction got. The door swung open unceremoniously, and Josef stood, his 400 hundred years radiating off him. She'd heard Mick refer to it as 'decay' but there was nothing gross about Josef. It was power she was sensing, and she liked it.

"Welcome back." There was something different about him that she couldn't put her finger on. Her head was spinning, both from his presence and the fact that she'd undergone a species change. Excuse her if she was a little off her game. "You're safe, Beth."

"Duh," she tossed out lightly, and a flicker of a smile took his lips. She suddenly wanted those lips on her, showing her just how a vampire's senses could be used. Down girl, she told herself sternly. Playtime can wait; you've got serious issues to iron out here. "I figured, since I'm here and all." Her stomach tightened impossibly hard. Maybe 'safe' shouldn't be taken for granted. "Where's Lance? Is he-"

"History." Josef was at her side in an instant, running his hands over her face, soothing energy rolling off him in waves. "The dead can't make problems, little fledgling. Forget about him."

Forget that asshole? She'd love to, actually, but this was definitely a case of easier said than done. That oily voice, that creepy sneer, the feel of his fangs tearing into her neck…all that stuff was going to stay with her for a while. Still, it was a relief that he'd been sent to hell where he belonged, it helped take the sting out. And Josef's presence helped keep any panic at bay, any grief for what had been stolen from her.

A craving invaded Beth's system, one raw and primal, for nourishment, for life. She whimpered, and Josef pulled her close. "Easy, baby. Josef has what you need." She looked up to find his eyes colorless, his fangs extended. He lightly ran his fangs across his wrist, blood so dark it was nearly black welling up. Before he could offer it to her mouth, she grabbed it greedily, her tongue lapping up the powerful blood eagerly. "Sink your fangs in, Beth, suck." The reporter part of her brain, active and alive if a little fuzzy, noted that Josef was using a tone he'd never used with her before…affectionate and doting, down right indulgent. Automatically, she complied, although whether the response came from a fledgling's obedience to an older vampire, or pure instinct, she didn't know.

The more she drank, the hungrier she got. She snarled in delight, tearing the flesh. She heard Josef chuckle at her exuberance, but it sounded far away. All too soon, he gripped her hair and gently pried her away. He licked his own wrist closed, stroking her hair with his free hand. "When you're a little older, I'll teach you to clean up your own messes. Plus, you really could stand to learn a thing or two about finesse."

"Sorry." She flashed him a sheepish grin, licking around her mouth to clean access blood away. His blood was a little bitter, probably from his strength and sheer age, but underneath the bitterness was a flavor that she craved, something that called to her. A wave of exhaustion crashed over her, and she lay back against the velvet coverlet. The silk robe against her skin caressed her, lulling her to sleep. Her last conscious thought was that she'd have to thank Josef for getting rid of that skanky number Lance had forced her to wear.

Josef watched Beth's body shut down around her, watched her sink into peaceful sleep. He smoothed her hair away from her cheek, then adjusted the neck of her robe just so. His fangs hadn't brought her over the threshold of immortality, but already he felt the protective urges of a sire kick in, felt an age-old surge of affection for her. The last time he'd seen her she'd been an adult, now she was a baby. His baby. Adoption, well, it really was a beautiful thing.

Not that he'd been on the market for responsibility; he hadn't been looking to play sire to anyone. Still, there was the undeniable thrill in the challenge, the anticipation of the dance between them. He'd sired before, naturally, you didn't live 400 years and not make one vampire, but after Sara, he'd never expected to have a fledgling on his hands again. Still, as Coraline had pointed out, he was the only shot for Beth's mentor. Even if Mick's memory had been up and running, he wasn't the ideal candidate. All that self-loathing and his human wanna-be routine got old fast, and he hardly had the balls to mold Beth the right way. And Coraline, well that wasn't even an option. He wouldn't trust his goldfish with her.

This wouldn't be a picnic, he wasn't into delusion. Beth had been served up a raw deal, and she was likely to have some melt-downs. Her life, as she'd known it, was over. Film crews and vampires didn't mix, and she couldn't be around humans safely for at least a year, unless he wanted her to start treating the mortal ones like an all-you-can-eat buffet. He'd have to take her out of LA, he reasoned, where she wouldn't be easily recognized. Not New York, there were too many memories there to pull him down, and she didn't need him wallowing. She needed him at the top of his game.

His mind steeped down into practical matters. He had Beth's death to fake, a fledgling to nurture, two new fool-proof identities to fake, a business to re-locate, and new freshies to acquire. He thrived on pressure, because he dreaded boredom even more than pain. This was the mode he thrived on, not the grieving lover. The languishing in melancholy routine just wasn't his thing.

That wasn't to say that Sara's death didn't claw at him, didn't permeate his system with agony. He'd learn to bury it, someone his age had to have talent for evasion. He'd use Beth's training as his distraction, use it as a crutch. Modern psychology wouldn't agree with his approach, but screw that. He'd been a millionaire before Freud took his first piss.

Josef starting making the necessary phone calls, his fax machine working over-time, his employees dancing to his tune like the puppets they were. He kept one eye on Beth the whole time. He'd spoil that girl, but she needed the pampering, he figured. She'd held it together earlier, but he'd been using his allure to soothe her, keep her calm. It wouldn't hold out forever, and he shouldn't resort to parlor tricks too long, anyway. She'd have to tackle her demons eventually.

He examined her beautiful body through the robe, another sort of anticipation filling him. Fledglings were horny as hell, even more so than their elders, and required constant attention. It would take a while before carnal needs would set in, as her body was still processing the change, but in a few days, he'd have a ferocious appetite to satisfy, which is probably what good ol' Lance had in mind. Josef felt a possessive growl burn his throat. He told himself to get a grip, that he was going to be the only bedmate in his fledgling's life for the immediate future. Gee, not exactly the world's toughest job, he mused as he got back to work.

She woke up six hours after she'd passed out, sitting up, gulping in air she didn't need. Her anxiety was a tangible thing, clawing at the air. A second later, she was in his arms, and he was rocking her gently. "I'm drowning," she gasped, clawing at his shirt.

"Your lungs are useless, sweetheart." He'd never used endearments with her before in earnest, but it came naturally now. She didn't seem to notice. "Your body's still processing the change, give it time." In time, she'd learn to breathe to blend in, but those lessons were for another time.

She calmed down quickly, and he was pleased he didn't have to use as much of his soothing energy. He'd wean her over the next week, get the inevitable over with, and be able to move onto the next faze of her development. "I was dreaming. I was remembering," she whispered. "I think I understand now."

Ah, baby babble, he decided sentimentally. "Uh-huh. Take it easy, okay?" He fed her, not minding when she made a mess. He was just glad she had a healthy appetite. Some new vamps were squeamish about their new diet, and drastic measures had to be taken to get them to feed. Not his girl, he thought with pride. She was a natural. Of course, her fang donor had been one of the oldest, most powerful vampires in the world, far more so than Josef's, much as he hated to admit it. With the right diet and training, Beth would surpass Mick in strength in ten years easy, and Josef in a hundred, at a guess.

Of course, that kind of strength wasn't without its downside. Power and strength without wisdom and control was a one-way ticket to disaster. He wasn't going to let her superior maturity go to her head, or let her forget limits. If Miss Turner thought she was the Alpha here, she was in for a big surprise.

This time, after Beth fed, she was bright-eyed and alert, the urge for rest a good twenty minutes away at least. Usually, fledglings only were awake long enough to fill up until they went into heat which was 3-6 days after the initial death sleep was over. Then again, Beth wasn't a usual case. "Knowing you, there's probably a 3-page long list of questions rattling around in your brain," he told her, carefully arranging her against the pillows. Josef knew they had to talk before her hormones started assaulting her in a few days.

Beth smiled; feeling like it was the first time in decades. She knew it wasn't very women's lib of her, but she was soaking up the way Josef was handling her, like she was fragile glass. Most of her life, it had been a point of pride for Beth to be independent, to get in touch with her inner girl-power as Josef had once snarked. But now, she felt vulnerable and lost, and the only thing keeping her anchored was Josef. There would be time to stand on her own two feet later. After all, time was kind of a non-issue now.

"Did you kill Lance?" It probably wasn't the most pertinent question she could have tossed out there, but it just popped out of her mouth.

"I contributed." Flat hatred tightened Josef's expression. "Coraline dealt the killing blow."

Beth stiffened at the name. She still hated the vampiress, but could no longer keep her in the slot of 'evil incarnate.' She knew now Coraline had never meant to kill or traumatize her, that Coraline was an actual ancestor, and now she learned that Coraline had set them all free in a major sense. She refused to forgive Coraline for kidnapping her, for sending her mother in permanent paranoia, for masquerading as Morgan and slithering into Beth's world, but nothing was as black/white as it used to be.

"Are you sure he's dead? People in that family have nine lives."

"Beheading's kind of a final thing. Don't worry. I saw him die, he won't be coming back." Josef stroked her cheek, and she leaned into the touch. At least that was one worry laid to rest.

"Where's my freezer? Don't vampires sleep in those?" Beth frowned, wondering if there was something abnormal about her. She didn't want to go through eternity being a freak.

Josef flashed her a reassuring grin. "Yes, but not at first. By tomorrow night, you should be ready. You have to let your body finish adjusting to the change. It basically already has, the fine tuning is what's going on. You'll be sharing one with me." There was nothing brusque in his tone, but a cool authority had set in. She found it comforting, knowing someone was in charge of the circus.

"Don't throw me in that briar patch," she retorted cheekily, thinking of his defined body. She thought of her dream, feeling a catch in her throat, but quickly pushed it down. Keep it light, Turner, she cautioned herself. Now's no time to get emotional with him. "I didn't know vampires fed off each other. Is that a newbie thing, or could Mick feed off you right now?"

"Only fledglings feed off another vampire for substance on a regular basis, and that's only with the vampire acting as their sire. Too much undead variety can upset their system. Although the upset's only temporary, it's a pain in the ass, believe me. Never want to go there again. Drinking strictly their sire's blood lasts only a few weeks, then they're weaned, and put on a human diet." Beth closed her eyes, lulled into a state of relaxation by the steady rhythm of his voice as he explained. She knew Josef knew she was awake, by the tempo of her heartbeat. She could hear his, a constant factor. She wondered what it'd be like hearing ten human hearts working at once.

"After that?" she asked, pulling her train of thought back on track.

"After that, vampires still can and do drink undead blood, although it's not much for nourishment. It's to absorb their power, or it's for sexual purposes." A devilish note entered his voice, and Beth felt her own heartbeat pick up a little, since she had a feeling she'd experience that one first-hand. "Sometimes, vampires put strong vampiric blood in with the human variety, to give it some kick."

Beth opened her eyes, wanting to see his expression. "Does Mick know about all this? About Lance turning me, and…you training me?" She hoped Mick wouldn't freak out too bad about all this, but she doubted his reaction would be pretty. He had a monster complex, and he saw himself as her protector. Would he beat himself up for not being able to save her? Would he reject her friendship, see her as some kind of fiend? Lance said Mick was working for him, had that been a big lie?

"Don't get yourself worked up." Josef took her back into his arms, stroking her back through the thin robe. "Mick knows you've joined the ranks, and watched me pack you off with his blessings."

"Lance said he was working for him," Beth told him, not quite convinced this would all wrap up nice and tidy.

"He thought Mick was his little puppet, all part of the plan Mick cooked up with Coraline. Yes, he was working with Coraline," Josef asserted before Beth could interrupt. "They're going for round 50 in the Mick/Coraline saga, just hope they don't make a mess yours truly has to clean up."

"How could he?" Beth demanded, trying to jerk free of Josef's grasp. Just what had been going on while she was in New York? And why hadn't Josef said something?!

"You're not exactly a blushing virgin, my dear. I'm sure you know how." Josef clucked his tongue when Beth just glared at him. "Touchy-touchy. Let's hope Lance didn't kill your sense of humor. To answer your question, Mick and Coraline share a connection that runs deep. It's dysfunctional and complicated, been downright unhealthy at times, but it's genuine. That's how." Josef hesitated, like he was thinking of adding something, but decided against it.

"You said she was like a bad drug habit," Beth reminded him, eyes full of accusation. Inside, she was seething. Although she really didn't want Mick for herself, she couldn't stand the idea of Coraline's hooks in him. Couldn't he find someone else to shack up with?

"And I'm sticking with that, but I'm not the boy's keeper." Josef gave her a stern look. "You've got enough on your plate without worrying about Mick. Let them play house until it caves down on them, focus on your game-plan."

Beth's burst of anger had sapped most of her energy, and she sagged against him. He resettled her, and she knew she wouldn't be awake much longer. "Can I call him later? I want to make sure everything's okay."

"Absolutely not," Josef refused firmly. "It's a distraction you don't need, and don't give me that face, young lady. You may call him in a month, once we're settled in Scotland."

"Huh?" Beth blinked at him, puzzled. "Come again?"

"We can't stay in LA, sweetheart. We need to put distance between us and your adoring public." He'd reverted back to his doting tone, Beth noted. Why were they going to Scotland? Her mind knew there was an answer, but it was getting fuzzy. She wanted to argue about calling Mick, wanted to throw a fit, but she was too tired. She surrendered to sleep, promising herself to get more answers later.

Josef kissed her forehead, returning to the desk in the room to look over paperwork involving Beth's new identity. He'd let her choose her name, although their last name was settled, Mr. and Mrs. Night. Josef smirked at his own joke, and wondered if Beth would appreciate the humor. In any event, these were quick fixes, just for a couple years until Josef had the time for setting up a more permanent set-up. She was going to sulk over his stance on contacting Mick, but Josef was prepared to deal with it. In fact, he found it incredibly sexy, and knew he'd have no trouble distracting her.

His phone rang, and he checked the ID. Curious as to what his old friend wanted, he picked up before the second ring was finished. "Ah, Coraline, I thought you'd be too busy celebrating to bother calling your savior."

"You didn't exactly do it single-handily, darling. You sound better," she assessed, sounding relieved. Well, the siren does care, he realized. Maybe there was hope for her yet.

"Nothing like a new project to get the old juices flowing." He glanced at Sara's picture, silently apologizing. It looked like their reunion had been indefinitely postponed. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I have needed to get off my ass and start flexing my muscles."

"Now, that's what I like hearing." She chuckled, the sound slightly wicked. "You've got to admit, tonight was kind of fun. Well, once the stake was out of my chest."

"Speak for yourself," he retorted. He'd come on a suicide mission, fun didn't figure into it. "Amazing. I came for a fight and ended up with a newborn. Fate has an odd sense of humor." Not that he was complaining, predictability was the kiss of death for vampires. Maybe that's why he liked the stock market. It was a volatile son of a bitch.

"Mmmm. I mainly called to say goodbye. I'm flying out to Paris tomorrow with Cynthia and Mick. I've been summoned by the grandsire." He noticed she didn't sound too worried, but probably didn't have too much to be worried about. If she flattered the old coot, played her cards right, with her victory under her belt, she'd be in favor in no time.

"Miss Personality and Mick on the same plane? I'm tempted to join you. Way better than the crap known as Realty TV."

"I'm sure he can take what she has to dish out." Josef knew Coraline wasn't oblivious to the root of Cynthia's little attitude towards Mick. Coraline didn't miss a beat. "Besides, everything goes down better in First Class. I don't exactly have them sitting together."

"Good move. So, how's the second honeymoon going now that Mick has the dirt on your history?" When Mick had grilled him over the phone, Josef hadn't been able to read much into his voice, and had been curious how he took the bombshells.

"We went over it for hours. He said we've been making a fresh start since he lost his memory, he'd like to keep making it." Oh, for the love of-Now she sounded downright dreamy. Josef rolled his eyes.

"Wonderful," he drawled. "On second thought, I'm glad I'm not tagging along. Just thinking about you two cooing all over Paris makes me wonder if vampires really can vomit." Coraline laughed, too securely perched on cloud nine for him to have any impact.

"How's Beth?" she asked, sounding more curious than anything.

"She'll be able to mop the floor with you in 80 years," he informed her proudly.

"We'll see," Coraline replied dismissively. "Good luck and all that."

"You too." He just hoped Mick didn't do a 180 once his memory showed back up. The brooding hero routine could only be cute for so long. Also, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he'd like to see Coraline happy. If nothing else, it'd keep her out of his hair. He heard the line disconnect, and closed the phone. It looked the two of them were in for some very interesting times.