Chapter Eleven

Miranda and Mick entered their apartment an hour or so later, short one little girl. It only took a minute before Miranda said, "It's so quiet." She was sitting on the couch.

"You never use to mind," Mick said, grabbing a glass of blood for himself and glass of soda for Miranda. He sat the drinks down on the coffee table, as he joined her on the couch.

"Things have changed a lot," Miranda sipped her drink, watching Mick sip his own.

She watched him till he finally couldn't take it anymore. "What?"

Miranda smiled and set her glass down. Taking his from him, she set it next to hers. He watched her, as she slid gently onto his lap. It took one gentle kiss for Mick to know exactly where this was going.

He pushed her back. "Miranda." His voice was strained.

She watched him. "Mick…?"

"We can't," He said, slipping her onto the couch and standing.

Miranda watched him as he stared out the window. His back was to her. "You aren't even willing to try? If we're careful-"

"Careful!" Mick growled, spinning to face her. "Like I was twenty years ago?"

"This is not the same thing," Miranda said, firmly. She stood, taking a step towards him. "I know better now, and so do you."

"You are human, Miranda," Mick sighed. He didn't step back but he was radiating the 'don't touch' vibe. "This may be a cure for you."

Miranda didn't speak for a long moment. "So that's it?" She crossed her arms. "You're cutting me out? Are you going to kick me out too? 'You're human now, go live your life.'"

Mick watched her. The anger and hurt flowing from her was staggering. "That's not what I meant."

"Isn't it?" Miranda's voice squeaked. "You always wanted a cure. You didn't get it, but to you, I did. Soon you'll want me to leave. Then a divorce. You'll want me to find a human husband."

"Miranda!" Mick was slightly shocked at her jump. "You're talking like a lunatic."

"Am I?" She turned and ran up the stairs. He could hear the door to the bedroom slam shut.

Mick stood perfect still. He wanted to leave her alone and let her cool off. But another part of him wanted to go after her. To let her know he still loved her. It only took weighing the two ideas for a minute before he bolted up the stairs.

When he reached it, the bedroom door was locked. He knocked. "Miranda?"

No response came from inside.

He started to walk away and then turned back. With one powerful kick the door popped open. Miranda was crumpled in a heap on their bed. She appeared so small in the vastness of their sheets.

Mick climbed onto the bed behind her and laid against her back. She tried to wiggle away but he pulled her to him. Turning her, he kissed her neck gently. "I love you. I would never want you to be with anyone else."

Miranda shook slightly as she cried. She looked up at him. "I feel like I'm in trouble for this."

"You're not," He hugged her tight. She wrapped her arms around him and they laid together.

She pulled away first, looking up at him. Kissing him, she whispered, "Can't we try?"

Again he was torn. He needed to protect her but he wanted her too. Her next kiss had him nodding gently.

"Any causalities?" Josef joked, the next morning. He had come by to drop Zoe off and, as with every visit he made to the apartment, the adults ended up in Mick's office.

Miranda blushed. Something she hadn't been able to do in twenty years. Both vampires noticed. "I have to replace a pillow, but otherwise, nothing," she managed.

Josef looked at Mick, confused. Mick just clicked his teeth together. "Oh," Josef laughed. "Can't say I've ever done that before."

"How many of the women that you slept with were pregnant?" Miranda asked, trying to defend Mick's action.

Josef smirked but didn't comment.

"So, are you benching me?" Miranda asked, as he looked over the information in the file the from the child abduction case.

Mick looked up. "What?"

"Are you going to bench me?" Miranda demanded.

"I think you should take it easy but I can't force you too."

"You could," Miranda snapped. "You and I both know that."

Mick wasn't really shocked about her being suddenly mad at him. Her being the way she was normally and the added hormones from being pregnant, he expected the worst. "But I wouldn't."

Suddenly a phone was ringing. Mick reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his cell. "Hello, Josef," he said.

"Mick, do you have plans this evening?" Josef asked.

Mick looked up at Miranda, knowing she probably couldn't hear the phone and mouthed the question. She shook her head no. "Not that we know of," Mick said, into the phone.

"Now you do," Josef said. "I have a swanky party to attend for an old, old friend and I don't want to go without someone to suffer with."

"I can't go," Mick said, automatically.

"And why not?" Josef demanded.

"Miranda can't go to a vampire party," Mick reasoned.

"Why not?" Both Miranda and Josef asked together.

"Even Miranda agrees," Josef added.

"What about Zoe?" Mick asked, desperate to keep from this party.

"Oh I have an idea," Josef said with a smile.