The next morning, Henry slept in, something he rarely did, giving Vicki the opportunity to get a few things done and to surprise him. She was going over the events of the night before, with things weighing heavily on her mind. One of those being Henry's need to feed from her to heal. She called Will, who was less than thrilled to be awakened, but once he found out her reason for calling, he was over it. He had told her not to worry, that with her chemistry being changed as well, it would not cause Henry to want to feed off of others again. Giving him the synthetic blood product helped as well. She felt better after hanging up.
She then turned the webcam on, which she had asked Gwen to keep on in the twin's room while they slept and listened to her children sleeping. Watching them, she had a twinge of homesickness. She would be more than ready to see them as they would be her.
She then ordered room service. She told them to prepare those breakfast plates that the English were famous for, fit for a King, she almost said Duke but changed her mind. She was curious to see what they would bring, they asked if she wanted the black pudding. Not knowing exactly what that was, she figured what the hell, why not?
She then thought about Henry, the way he never took his eyes off of her as she cut Christina's head off. Why? Why had he looked at her that way? She felt a soft breeze. Thinking it was Henry, she glanced over from where she was sitting in the bay window seat and saw that it was Elizabeth.
Her eyes were wide with surprise.
"Elizabeth? What are you doing here?" Vicki was actually thrilled she was here, she had so many questions.
"I've come to thank you." She said. Vicki noticed, really noticed this time, what she looked like. She was wearing a flowing gown, almost transluscent, threaded with gold. He hair was flowing down around her shoulders onto her back, that probably explained Henry's love of long hair. She was a stunning woman, full of strength. She exuded strength along with love and understanding.
Vicki was a lucky woman to be sure, just as Mike had said.
"I have so many questions for you." Vicki started.
"I know, sweetie, but I can't stay long. I've come to tell you why I told Henry to never take his eyes off of you," she said softly, approaching Vicki then kneeling down in front of her.
Vicki was eye to eye with Elizabeth, staring into her eyes which were so much like Henry's.
She felt as though she couldn't breath, overwhelmed by her presence but in a good way.
Elizabeth put her hand on Vicki's cheek. It didn't feel like a human hand, but a soft, feathery object, so smooth and soothing.
"You can touch me." It was more of a statement than a question.
"I was given back my status after I died. I had proven myself here on earth, so yes, I can touch others," she told Vicki.
Elizabeth continued, "The reason I wanted Henry to keep his eye on you at all times is because I wanted him to be able to let go, to reconcile what you were going to do to Christina."
"So you already knew I was going to kill her, like some kind of premonition."
"No," she laughed," I just know your personality and, well, when you set your mind to something, it's probably going to happen."
Vicki smiled at that. She was right, Vicki was if nothing, determined.
"So, he needed to let go," Vicki interrupted.." of Christina."
Elizabeth nodded, "Yes, he felt he owed her something. Of course, Henry always felt he owed the women he loved something. Christina had this evil kind of hold on him. That's why he could never kill her. I wanted him to see you, Vicki, the woman who truly loved him so much that she would risk angering him to save his life. He needed to be released from Christina."
"A clean cut, so to speak," Vicki said, the double entendre not lost on Elizabeth, who laughed.
"Yes, so to speak." she sighed. " As much I hate to , I must go." Elizabeth turned to leave.
"Wait!" Vicki stood up, starting after Elizabeth.
"Yes?"
"Well, I, uh, I don't know really..I " Vicki was not usually speechless but she was at this moment.
"What is is?" Elizabeth's face softened even more.
"Thank you." She said, her face flushed, Vicki was NOT a mushy kind of person.
Elizabeth cocked her head to one side and said,"Whatever for?"
"For believing in me, for having faith I would do it." Vicki looked to her for a reaction.
"It had nothing to do with faith in you, Vicki, it had everything to do with your faith in yourself."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You don't give yourself enough credit," she leaned over to her and said softly," I know you hate to admit it, but you are just a little bit of a romantic at heart. You weren't going to let her spoil your fairy tale ending now were you?"
Vicki smiled, hell no, she thought. No, she would never admit that.
Elizabeth turned away starting to fade as she did, her voice trailing behind her, "For the record, yes I like you, in fact I love you very much..."
How did she..? never mind, Vicki thought, she's an angel of course she could hear her thoughts.
Henry came through the French doors to find Vicki staring off into space, or so it seemed.
"Vicki? Are you okay?" he asked going to her and wrapping himself around her from behind, sniffing her hair as he so often did. She leaned back into him, putting her arms over his in front of her body. She felt his growing desire already, she loved that she had that effect on him.
"No, just waiting for.." there was a knock before she could finish.." breakfast." She turned and kissed him quickly, ordering him back into to bedroom.
The cart was placed into the eating area, then Vicki called for Henry.
He looked at the feast, eggs, bacon and sausage, toast, several kinds of marmalades, fresh strawberries and bananas and something black, cut in about 1/2 inch slices.
"What the hell is that?" Vicki asked.
"Black pudding darling." He smiled at her. She was afraid, but after the whole spotted dick issue, how bad could it be?
"Blood. It's blood mixed with oatmeal, packed into intestines and fried." was Vicki's flat response.
He nodded, "You don't have to try it."
She shrugged, "What the hell, I've had worse things in my mouth"
"And better," he grinned back at her...