Note: This chapter comes from an inside joke between greenleaf9 and I. We believe Josef to have been an the Titanic and too have experienced some trauma there. I've hinted at this in some of my other fics, but here you get the full, detailed history.

Warning, there are some (slight) homosexual connotations. It shouldn't take away from your enjoyment of the fic, but if you are easily bothered don't read.

Enjoy!!

Movie Night-Part 3

Knock, knock

Mick and Josef looked up from their drinks to the door. Mick's face paled, but Josef chuckled, amused. Beth's scent permeated the apartment.

"Did someone forget movie night again?" Josef asked playfully.

Mick's eyes dashed around frantically. He didn't remember inviting Beth over for a movie. He hadn't. Then his ears caught the mischievous glint in Josef's tone.

Is he purposefully trying to undermine me? Mick glared at Josef and let a small growl escape his lips.

Josef's chuckling stopped. "Awe, come on, Mick! You're never going to get anywhere at the pace you're going, I had to intervene…"

Mick continued to glare at Josef.

Knock, knock

"Are you going to keep her waiting?" Josef asked, his eyes gleaming with glee.

Mick groaned, standing up and making his way to the door. He gave Josef one last glare before he opened the door.

Beth stood in the hall, relaxed and happy. Mick couldn't help but smile at her. Beth smiled back at him and looked expectantly inside the apartment. He might not have to kill Josef after all. Mick continued to stare at her casual beauty, unaware that she returned his stare, impatiently.

"Um, are you going to let me in?" she finally asked.

Mick's concentration was broken and he shook his head to remove a few of the dirtier thoughts that had crossed his mind, involving her, him and about every conceivable flat surface inside and out of his apartment.

He stepped back, allowing her entrance to the living room. Josef stood up as Beth entered. Always the gentleman.

"Beth, what a nice surprise. Is it really movie night again? How time flies after four centuries…Well, it's a good thing I was on my way out, you kids have fun." Josef headed for the door, but Mick blocked his way. He wasn't getting out that easy.

"Why don't you stay, Josef? It was so much fun last time. I'm sure Beth won't mind. It's kind of a ritual for all of us now." Mick smiled devilishly at Josef. Paybacks are a bitch, and you are going to pay…

Josef looked between Mick and Beth. He had set this up so they could have some alone time, he had hoped that Mick would forgo the movie and skip to the end, but apparently Mick was hell-bent on getting Josef back. When Beth nodded in agreement with Mick's statement, he knew he would have to stay.

Josef sighed and walked back past Beth into the living room. He sat down with a thump in the chair, resigned to his fate. Whatever, Mick. Your loss, buddy. I've worked for centuries on my composure, one movie can't possibly hurt me…

Mick smiled at Beth and kissed her cheek as he escorted her to the living room. "What did you bring for us this time?" he asked.

Beth blushed. "Well, since I did such a horrible job the last two times, I thought I'd let you choose this time." Beth looked away, not meeting Mick's eyes.

Mick quickly went through his DVD collection in his head. Not much she'd like…maybe…Oh, this was too good to pass up!

Mick smiled and got up off the couch to go retrieve the movie. He shot Josef a mischievous grin and pulled out a DVD from the rack, quickly putting it into the player before either Josef or Beth could see the title.

Mick slunk back over to the couch. He curled up next to Beth and hugged her close to him.

"What is it?" Beth asked.

"You'll see," Mick cooed. "It's a little more romantic than the last two…"

Beth twisted her body to look at his face, confusion written on her features. Mick just smiled and kissed her cheek, then he pointed to the screen. Beth looked at the TV, still confused by Mick's reaction. Josef gave Mick a meaningful look as if to ask, "And why am I here if you chose a romantic movie?" Mick just smirked and looked back at Beth.

Josef gulped, getting a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. That's when the music started. Beth gasped and Josef moaned.

The main menu for Titanic came up. Beth's eyes lit up with joy and she looked back up at Mick. "You own Titanic?"

Mick chuckled. Of course, he owned Titanic. If nothing else the movie was a constant reminder of the night Mick took Josef to see it in theaters. A night neither Mick, nor Josef were apt to forget anytime soon…

"Of course. Winner of 7 academy awards, wonderful historical drama with a gorgeous leading lady, not nearly as pretty as you, but there is some resemblance…of course I own Titanic." Mick whispered into Beth ear. Beth shuddered with joy and relaxed into his chest to enjoy the movie.

"Well, I think that's my cue to go." Josef stood up, as composed as possible given the images of the ghost ship, floating across the screen.

"What? No, Josef. Stay. It's a wonderful movie," Beth pleaded.

"I'm sure it is, but my fortune doesn't make itself, besides, I'd be the awkward third wheel, a position I have never been fond of. "

"Have you never seen the movie?" Beth asked, curious as to why he said 'I'm sure it is" instead of 'I know.'

Josef sighed. "Not the whole thing, no, but I just can't sit still that long."

Mick was grinning from ear to ear. So far his payback was working like a charm. Beth looked at Josef with pleading eyes. "You have to stay then. It's a wonderful film, please, stay till the end this time," she begged.

"No—I must—I can't—I—"

"Stay, Josef," Mick interrupted Josef's stammering. "Beth and I want you to." Mick gave him a wicked smile.

Josef glared at him, but the hopeful look on Beth's face resigned him. He slumped back into the chair and glared at the screen, determined to make it all the way through this time. Mick's grin widened and he tightened his grip around Beth. She smiled and the room fell into a happy—except for Josef—silence.

Josef stared at the screen determined to be unaffected by the images. Mick listened as Josef went through various breathing exercises to steady his nerves and chuckled to himself, it had been a long time since he had gotten the better of Josef and he was going to enjoy every moment of it.

Josef's breath hitched as the images of the ship wreck blurred with the pristine new Titanic of 1914. Josef had been taken off guard by the images and he shut his eyes, quickly, trying to regulate his breathing.

Beth took no notice. She was entirely engrossed in the story, but Mick took pleasure in Josef's withering composure.

"It's been 84 years and I can still smell the fresh paint…" The old woman's voice began to narrate.

Mick stole a glace back at Josef, who was now entirely wrapped up in the movie, his eyes gleaming with the same memories as the actress on screen, except more vivid…more real. Josef took a shaky breath, as the camera swept over the docked Titanic. Mick smiled and turned back to the film.

Beth looked up. "You're not doing that vampire whispering thing, are you?" she whispered.

Mick shook his head and kissed her temple lightly. She contemplated him for another moment, then turned her attention back to the TV.

The movie progressed and Mick took frequent opportunities to glace at Josef. So far the cynical nature of Josef had been kept in check, but Mick was waiting for the flood gate to break loose.

Mick heard Josef chuckle slightly as Jack Dawson, yelled, "I'm king of the world!" Beth heard the chuckle and craned her head around to look a Josef too.

"What? I can't enjoy myself?" he asked, defensive. Beth turned back, not wanting to argue with him, but Mick noticed how Josef steadied himself again, replacing his mask of indifference and glaring at the screen.

Sniffle

Triumphant! Mick thought as he heard Josef stifle another sniffle with a slight cough. Mick could always rely on the powerful music of the soundtrack to break Josef's composure.

Mick held Beth tighter as Jack tried to talk Rose out of jumping off the back of the ship. Beth shivered and curled tighter into Mick's arms as Jack explained how cold the water was. Mick chuckled and whispered in her ear, "I still say snuggling up to a vampire for warmth is a bad idea…"

Mick didn't need to see it, he knew Beth had just rolled her eyes at him and he chuckled again, this time biting playfully at her ear. Beth moaned ever so slightly and rested her hand on his inner thigh, tracing light circle with her fingers in the material.

Mick felt his control slipping and he gently grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips before she could get too far. Now he was starting to regret asking Josef to stay, but as the perpetual gentleman would, he wove his fingers into hers and kissed the side of her head again, before returning his attention to the film. He had no intention of making love to Beth right there in the living room, with Josef watching.

Beth's body still pressed into his and he had a hard time keeping his thoughts from wondering to her until he heard Josef snicker again. He looked up to see Beth staring a Josef in fascination.

Josef looked over at them. "What?"

"What were you laughing at, Josef?" Beth asked, genuinely interested.

"Molly. She always was a spunky character…still is."

"Molly? As in Molly Brown! She's still alive!"

"Well, technically no, but she is still around."

Beth's mouth went dry. "She's a…a…"

"A vampire? Yes."

"W—was she then?"

"Heavens no! I turned her a few years later."

"You turned her?!"

"Yes." Josef turned his attention back to the movie and sighed as the grand staircase came into view.

Beth was still staring at him. She glanced back at the screen and then back to him. Josef spoke in a whisper, as if to himself, "I miss the days of grand staircases with grand entrances."

Beth turned away, almost embarrassed that she was watching him. It felt like some private memory that she shouldn't intrude on. Her mood pepped up with the music though.

A quick Irish dance filled the room and Beth stole a glance at Josef who was smiling from ear to ear. She had never seen a truer smile on him and it made her heart ache for some reason. Her gaze flittered to his eyes and she stared, confused. There was some emotion gleaming in his eyes that she could not place, something she could not understand.

Beth turned back to the movie. She felt odd. The look in Josef's eyes had made brought forth a torment of emotions, none of them good. She retreated back to the safety of Mick's embrace and watched the story unfold.

Beth's emotions were untroubled again and she rested comfortable against Mick. So engrossed with the film and his intoxicating scent that she nearly forgot the Josef was there. Nearly…

Sniffle…sniffle

This time it was louder. Beth stiffened in Mick's arms when she heard Josef's attempt to hide his emotions. Mick grinned. The powerful score had started again as the fated couple stood at the bow of the ship, in the fading rays of the setting sun.

"Josef? Are you…are you crying?" Beth asked.

"No." It was clear by his quick response and the emotion in his voice that if he wasn't crying he would be soon. Mick stopped himself from doing a triumphant fist punch in the air. His plan had worked. He had stripped Josef's mask away, in front of a human, none-the-less.

As the ship faded into the wreck, a stifled cry escaped Josef's lips. Beth and Mick turned, simultaneously to see Josef. His eyes glistened and Beth realized what the emotion she had seen before was…Misery. Sheer sadness, no hope like he'd had by Sarah's bedside. This was raw emotions. A kind she had never seen before.

Beth turned away to give him some privacy. There was no way she could console that kind of grief, her heart broke just thinking about that look. It nearly matched the look on Mick's face when he tried to describe how he couldn't describe his emotions about Josef 'dying.'

"I remember the cold air. I remember how good it felt…" Beth was startled by Josef's voice.

Josef was on the Titanic! Oh. My. God. Beth peered back around at Josef. He sat, staring at the chaos on screen. He shook his head as the crew frantically scrambled to prepare the lifeboats. "You were on the Titanic?" Beth asked quietly.

Josef nodded, not opening his mouth. He eyes were dry now, but the emotion was still there.

"I was in 1st class. Some friends of mine and I had decided to come back to America. I'd been here years before, you see, but I had grown tired of the 'New World.' I longed for a bit of the old one. It was a bad idea as any. You can never go back." Here he paused and gave Beth a meaningful look. "My friends and I were going to start a business out West—and before you ask, yes they were vampires—Hollywood was just coming of age then. We thought we'd rake in some profits while it was still a novelty."

Josef paused for a moment, perhaps to gather his thought or maybe to calm his emotions.

"I went by Adams back then. We were center of envy in the dining room; we had the most money, the good looks and the grace of Parisian dancers. We lived in their world and the world below. The steerage crowd was a much livelier bunch. We used to go drink with them."

Beth raised her eyebrow. Surly he doesn't mean…

"That's exactly what I mean. The people in steerage would do anything for a few dollars and some of them were…friends of the family, as it were. That's where I met-"

"Let me guess," Beth cut him off. "Rose. The love of your life."

"No," Josef voice was hollow from emotions, he was detached. His name was Jack." Beth's eyes grew wide and she gasped. Josef shook his head. "Not that Jack. Jack was a common name back then. He was Irish, from Dublin. His father had been an American sailor and his mother an inn keeper's daughter…" Josef was lost to his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Josef. I didn't know that you were…"

"Gay? Yeah, well, I'm not. But after 300 years anything new is worth a try. I appreciate beauty in any form and he was beautiful. His blood tasted great too…"

"You drank from him?"

"Of course. Vampires have to bite during sex, it's the only way…hasn't Mick talked with you about this?"

Beth looked shyly up at Mick and shook her head. Josef smiled. "And why not? You need to know-"

"You haven't finished your story Josef," Mick cut him off, desperately trying to get him off the topic of vampire/human relations. Josef seemed content to stop, but Beth was storing that little piece of information away for a later date.

"Right, where was I? Oh, yes. His name was Jack. We spent a wonderful few nights together. Then…then we hit the iceberg. I made sure all the girls I fed off, got on a life raft, but I couldn't get Jack onto one. We…we stayed on till the bitter end. I tried to convince him to let me turn him. It was the only way to save him, but he didn't want that. He didn't…" Josef paused a moment and looked up at the screen. The movie had slowly progressed as he spoke and he watched as the band played a sad melody all the while the crowds around them getting more frantic.

Tears broke through Josef's strong façade and streamed down his face. "I-I" Josef choked on his words and he silently broke down into tears. Beth and Mick watched as Josef sobbed. "I'll never forget their screams. I've listened to countless screams as I've killed, but none will ever haunt me like the voices in the water. 1,500 people screaming at once for life, for a savior, for loved ones…the din, it's-it's…"

Josef broke off. He stumbled to his feet, grabbed his coat and walked out the door. Beth watched him go and then turned back to Mick. Mick was a second too late to hide is joyous smile from Beth.

"You think that's funny?" Beth asked, her voice dripping with anger. "You set this up, didn't you?"

"No, well, yes, but…"

Beth raised her hand to silence him. "I don't want to hear it. How could you do that to a friend?" She grabbed her purse and stormed out.

Mick watched her going, feeling regret in every atom of his being. How do I always ruin this? If I could just explain that it was a joke…no that would be worse. She doesn't understand Josef's and my friendship. He'll get me back soon enough…but…damnit!

Mick stalked off to his freezer. It was too early for bed, but he need to cool down and think before he tried to apologize to Beth. It's going to take a lot of work to get out of the doghouse after this one…

Okay, so one more chapter to go…hang in there!