Author notes: Josef muse wanted a chat with Mick. This is a multi chapter kind of thing... and for the first time I'm trying out the first person view when writing.

Rated R for safety

Disclaimer: If you recognize it then I don't own it. A few of the characters are though, such as Cat, Mia, Maria and Tina. Any resemblance between them and any living, dead or fictional characters is purely coincidental! No copyright infringement intended in any way or form.

Comments are still the only food my muses accept so please... send any comments you have, good or bad

*Josef*

I paced in my office. It was 56 steps wide and 93 steps long. I knew because I had counted it several times in the past few hours while waiting and hoping that Cat would call or drop by or anything at all. I just needed something. Some sign that she would be ok, that she would get past this and we could move forward.

"Josef!" Mick suddenly appeared in front of me. His voice sounded almost annoyed which alerted me to the fact he'd most likely been calling my name for a while without me realizing it. I stared at him for a moment before composing myself.

"Sorry, Mick. How have you been? How's Beth?" I tried to steer the topic into a safe area and hoped he wouldn't ask about my obviously distracted mind.

"I've been good. Beth is good", Mick replied and took a seat on the couch opposite me as I sat down in one of my nice chairs, crossing my legs and leaning back in an attempt to look more relaxed than I was.

"You two seal the deal yet?" Mick got an almost embarrassed look at the question and I raised an eyebrow.

"You have. She finally managed to make you forget about that chip on your shoulder. I'm happy for you, boyo", I smiled at him. Mick shifted slightly, obviously uncomfortable with the topic.

"Yeah, we… she… we talked about it and…" I smiled as I heard him.

"You are so old fashioned. I'm glad you finally let her in though. You did let her in right? Told her about the vampire stuff?" He nodded in reply and I couldn't help the grin as I imagined how that conversation must have gone.

"What about you and Cat? You told her yet?" His questions brought back the past 24 hours. Her finding me, the talk and then her exit. Brought back the fact I had no idea if I had lost her forever or not.

"Oh, you did. I take it she didn't take it that well?" Mick interpreted my silence almost correctly. I sighed and shifted uncomfortably, correcting an already perfect cufflink.

"She walked in on me feeding", I said, trying my best to sound like my usual blasé self but I knew I was failing miserably. Mick had always an act for sensing when I wasn't completely truthful when talking to him, though usually he let things slide more than he probably should.

"You let her…?!? She walked in on you feeding??" Mick's shocked face was enough to make me feel even more of a dirt bag than I already did. How was this possible? How could I be feeling this bad about this? I nodded in reply and sighed.

"How did she take it?" Mick asked and I found myself once again wondering about the way she had reacted.

"She was so calm. Asking questions and let me explain as much as I could. So calm…" I wondered about that. Had she just been in shock? Had she freaked out after? What had happened when she left? Where did she go?

"She must have been in shock. She didn't scream? Or run out on you?" Mick looked closely at me, obviously wondering about my own reaction as I spoke.

"No. She sat calmly and talked to me. That is until she felt she needed to be alone to think", I frowned as I said that and once again fidgeted, this time straightening my collar. Mick sat silent for a while, just looking at me.

"You're in love with her", I was a bit startled at his calm words. My first instinct was to deny it but I found myself slowly nodding.

"I knew it! You wouldn't have let her go if you weren't and you definitely wouldn't be this nervous otherwise", I groaned slightly as he spoke and just sat there, waiting for him to start teasing me for falling for a human. Payback for all the things I'd said about him and Beth through the past few months.

"So? What are you going to do about it?" Mick smiled at me. I was a bit surprised at the lack of taunting.

"I'm going to wait for her to decide what she wants to do. If she wants to try then I'm going to be honest with her, and I'm going to do whatever she asks of me to make her ok with the vampire side of me", I replied truthfully. I was a bit uncomfortable at knowing my fate was now in the hands of a human girl I hadn't known very long. Mick nodded and smiled.

"Welcome to the gang. I hope she gives you a chance Josef. You've seemed happier lately than I've seen you in a long time", Mick smiled at me.

"When you say 'whatever she asks'… you mean you're willing to give up the freshies for her? Join the bag drinking crowd?" Mick raised an eyebrow. I sighed and then slowly nodded.

"I'm never going to drink that non-fat-soy-vegan stuff you drink but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make her comfortable", I replied. I'd already decided on this during my pacing. I wanted Cat in my life and I would do whatever it took to have her there.

"That… That's good Josef. I've never seen you willing to change for anyone in the years I've known you. I think this might be good for you, she's good for you", Mick smiled and I had to roll my eyes then smiled.

"I know she is. I don't deserve her" Mick grinned in response to that and winked at me.

"Maybe not. But, you deserve to be happy Josef and this girl obviously makes you happy. I'm glad", he smiled and paused for a moment then grinned again.

"You know Beth is going to insist on a double date once she hears about this right? She's going to want to shake the hand of the woman who managed to make Josef Kostan fall in love. The woman who managed to make him think of giving up his freshies", he chuckled at me and I groaned before I smiled.

"I wouldn't mind a double date since it would mean Cat decided to give us a chance", Mick smiled at me.

"A year ago, did you think we'd both be sitting here trying to figure out how to manage relationships with human women?" Mick raised an eyebrow. I smiled and shook my head.

"No. Had you told me I would've thought you had finally lost your mind completely" Mick chuckled and I couldn't help joining him. Despite the nerves about what Cat's decision would be, I was still excited about the fact I had found someone I love again.

To be continued