Here's chapter 3. It takes place around the same time as S2E4 Hero, but the only spoiler is for S2E2 End of Nights Pt2. Enjoy.

Bold = thoughts

Italics = flashbacks/memories

Bold italics = telepathic messages

Disclaimer: I do not own Sanctuary or any of its characters.

Chapter 3

Natalija stood backstage at the Blue Rose quietly with her hands clasped in front of her, wondering just how insane she was to have agreed to do this. She let her mind wander back over the conversation that led her to this moment.

"So you'll help us?" Natalija asks.

"For you, my sweet, I'd do anything," Gig replies. "Now as to my price."

"Just how much is this going to cost us?" Vladimyr inquires.

The Quinterran steeples his fingers in front of himself and smiles, "I want Natalija to sing for me."

The twins glance at each other in utter surprise then back to the man sitting across from Natalija. Gig's smile gets wider, "It has come to my attention, my dear Natalija, that your beauty is rivaled only by your divine voice. I'm certain the patrons of my establishment would love to hear you sing, as much as I would."

Natalija lowers her gaze to the table in an effort to hide her embarrassment. Sensing her discomfort, her brother questions the other man, "How did you come across this information, I wonder?"

"I heard it… What is the phrase? Through the grape vine. And my grapevine is quite extensive, as you should well know," his eyes seem to twinkle with amusement.

Staring down at his sister, who has yet to look up, Vladimyr opens his mind. We can find another way, Tali.

No. We need his help.

If just the thought of it causes you this much discomfort…

I will be fine, since you will be accompanying me.

Why do I have to accompany you?

Because it's only fair. And you love me. The last part was conveyed with a mental nudge.

You are so lucky that I do.

Natalija raises her head to grin at her brother. Then looks to Gig and informs him, "I'll do it, but you should know my tastes in music do not… coincide with this type of establishment." She indicates the club with a sweep of her hand.

"I expected as much, my dear, and would never think to insult your sensibilities that way. No. I recently purchased a place much more to your tastes, I assure you," the Quinterran tells her.

"Really? And exactly what kind of place would that be?" the female vampire inquires.

"A pub," he answers proudly.

Vladimyr asks incredulously, "A pub?"

Gig turns to him, "Yes. A pub."

"You mean a bar?" the male vampire questions.

"Definitely not!" Gig responds vehemently. "Bars are so… crass."

Natalija speaks up, "Yet you own this nightclub?"

"A necessary evil, my dear. It is easier to hide my dealings among the masses here," he explains. "But The Blue Rose is my true passion."

"The Blue Rose?" she queries.

"Yes. The Blue Rose," Gig actually appears to blush. "I named it for you."

Vladimyr actually snorts, while Natalija just stares at their long time contact in shock. Recovering her senses she quietly asks, "For me?"

"Yes," the Quinterran states, "Blue for the color of your eyes and Rose… Well, what other flower would you be?"

She shakes her head in amazement, "Sometimes, Gig, you surprise me."

"I'm not always the lecherous man you make me out to be," he smirks at her.

"Only some of the time, then?" Natalija smiles back at him.

"More like most of the time," Vladimyr comments.

Gig shrugs, "Perhaps, but still not all the time. Now back to the business at hand, if you will. I think two shows a week for four weeks will do nicely."

"What!" both the twins visibly flinch.

"Come now," he points out to them, "Do you realize what it will take to set up the bank account, alone?"

Vladimyr growls low in his throat, "You do realize that we have other obligations to fulfill, don't you?"

Natalija places a hand on her brother's arm and turns to Gig, "Perhaps we can do six shows, but I doubt we would be able to do them with any consistency. Our work does not actually conform to a set schedule, Gig."

"Of course, you are right. Six is acceptable" he agrees.

"We will do six shows, when we can. We pick the music. And our mother cannot find out. Ever!" Natalija states looking first to her brother, then to Gig. Both nod their agreement. "Good."

So there she stood, almost a year later, waiting to go onstage for their first performance. Looking out into the pub, she froze. Oh no!

x x x x x

"Come on, dude," Henry cajoled. "You can't stay cooped up here the whole time. You've got to see the sights. Take in a show. Eat the food. Drink the beer."

"Definitely the beer," Will agreed.

Declan shook his head and smiled, "Mates, what you here call beer, is most assuredly not beer."

Will fired back, "It's suppose to be this English type pub. I'm sure they must have something you'll drink."

"And there's this girl… Well, not really a girl... A woman performing tonight that's got this amazing voice… so I've heard," Henry finished.

"Just because Magnus invited you and your team to stay here, until your Sanctuary is repaired, doesn't mean you have to spend every waking moment obsessing over Sanctuary business," Will pointed out.

"Yah," Henry agreed, "that's the Doc's job."

"And trust me, she's got it down pat," Will said.

One of Declan's team piped up, "I think it's a Head of House thing."

"Never known one that could properly relax," another man added.

"Leave it out!," Declan exclaimed with a smile, "That's enough out of the lot of you."

Helen stood leaning against the doorframe, unnoticed by the occupants of the room. Clearing her throat to get their attention, she commanded, "All of you, out of my house. Go have fun. Just not too much. You all have work to do tomorrow."

Will and Henry rose from their seats with huge grins plastered on their faces. Declan's team looked to their leader. Slowly he got up, "You heard the lady. Everybody out."

x x x x x

Natalija flattened her back against the wall. Her heart raced almost as fast as her mind. Her face flushed and her hands shook. This cannot be happening!

In a flash Vladimyr stood at her side, taking her hands in his, "Natalija! What's wrong?"

She looked into her brother's eyes and whispered, "Declan."

He shook his head a bit, as if he didn't hear her properly. She nodded and added, "Table in the back left corner."

Vladimyr peeked around the curtain and pulled back quickly, "Bloody hell!"

"Exactly," his sister said quietly. He could feel her hands shaking in his.

Gig had been watching the exchange silently, but could no longer contain his curiosity, "Who or what is this Declan? And why does he so frighten the likes of you, my dear Natalija?"

Natalija gazed at Gig without really focusing on him, "It's not what you think."

"Nor is it something we are going to get into here," her brother hissed at the other man. Taking a gentler tone, he turned to Natalija, "Perhaps we should not do this tonight."

That seemed to snap her back, as she looked calmly at the two men before her. With her normal determination returned, she stated, "No. We made a promise, and we will keep it." She looked into Vladimyr's eyes and sent. I need to do this, Vlad. I'll be fine. I promise.

He did not look very reassured, but agreed none the less, "Then we should get started."

With a nod, Gig went out to introduce them. There was no changing her mind now.

Poor Natalija really was trying to stay away from Declan. Hope you liked it. Let me know what you think, please. Thanks for reading. Until next time.