Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. Two years later I am still running stories through my head.

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Chapter 10 What's Left Behind: Hoping

Kira caught the news of the kidnapped boy, the same as everyone else, on TV. She paid special notice to the fact that Beth was seen in the background as the grieving father begged for his son's return. It was obvious that Beth was in the company of the new ADA, which made Kira very curious. Why would Talbot be including Beth in the investigation into a child's disappearance?

Later, she had closed the bar and had gone upstairs to relax when her phone rang. Recognizing the ringtone as the one she had given to Beth's number, she quickly answered.

"Hello Beth, what can I do for you?" she asked.

"Is it too late to stop by?" Beth inquired. "I really need to talk."

"Of course, you know I'm a night person," Kira laughed lightly. "The club is closed, come around to my private entrance in back. I'll have the lights on," she told her.

It was about ten minutes later when she met Beth at the door and ushered her inside. The blonde seemed to be vibrating with energy for so late an hour.

"Beth, what are you doing out and about at this hour?" Kira questioned. She settled herself on the couch while Beth perched on a nearby chair.

"I've been so busy. Did you see the news story of the kidnapped boy in West Adams?" Kira nodded. "Well tonight Mick and I discovered how the kidnapper got inside to take Jacob. We think it was one of the people who worked on the house's recent renovation."

"So you and Mick are working together?" Kira said in surprise. "I assumed that ADA Talbot had asked you to help with the case."

"Oh Ben did ask me to help because I reported on two similar cases last year," Beth nodded. "He thought I might recognize a pattern or something. And of course the possibility of Jacob being Mick's grandson has him involved," Beth plunged on. "We won't know for sure unless we can find some pre-vamp DNA to confirm he's Robert's father……." Beth halted as she noticed Kira's shocked expression. Her eyes got wider as the realization that the vampire might not know this secret of Mick's. "Uh…..Mick never told you about Lila?"

Kira sat silently for a moment, trying to absorb the bomb that Beth had dropped. News that Mick might have a son sent a stab of jealously through her. The pain of never having had a child rose up inside and she fought to bury it once more before it overwhelmed her.

"No, Mick rarely discussed his human life with me," she finally admitted quietly. "Is there really a chance that Mick has a son and grandson?"

B eth felt sorry for the obvious pain she had inflicted on Kira. Embarrassment flooded over her for spilling Mick's story but it was too late to take back what had been said. She hoped Mick would forgive her for sharing this with Kira.

"It's possible but we don't know for sure. Mick will have to find some hair or something that can be tested from before he was turned. Mick was friends with Ray Fordham and they served in World War II together. Mick thought that Ray was killed in Italy and when he came home he tried to help Ray's widow, Lila with things around the house. They became involved only to learn that Ray wasn't dead. When he came home, Mick made himself scarce and he had no idea that Lila was pregnant," Beth recited. "Looking at Robert's birth date, it fits the timeline."

Kira nodded slowly. She knew that Mick had to be feeling tremendous guilt over what had happened. To possibly have a family and have the little boy kidnapped must be tearing him apart. Life played some cruel tricks on them at times.

"I hope you find the child," she said softly as she stared at her hands in her lap. "How is Mick handling all this?"

"I think he is hoping against hope that Robert is his son, but I think it scares him too. He is not sure how he can explain any of this to Robert if it's true."

"I don't know how he would," Kira responded. "This has to be twisting Mick up inside."

Looking solemn, Beth nodded. She had heard the guilt in Mick's voice as he told her about Lila. He had loved her and when Ray returned he had vanished rather than let his friend know what had happened. It was clear he hadn't forgiven himself.

"He is feeling so much guilt for what happened," Beth said quietly. "He needs to forgive himself."

"It is hard to forget an intense love," Kira murmured.

"You know, I saw photos of Lila at Robert's house. I couldn't help but notice how much she looked like Coraline. She was lovely, dark and slender. Do you think that has anything to do with his attraction to Coraline? Did she remind him of Lila?" Beth wondered.

Kira looked up at her thoughtfully, considering this information. She agreed that Beth might have discovered a part of the hold Coraline had on Mick.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't right to some degree. Our past often comes back to haunt us," she said softly.

It was clear to Beth that this subject was a tender one for Kira. The mention of Mick possibly having a son had shaken the redhead.

"You never had children when you were human, did you?" she asked kindly.

"No, Tyler and I weren't that blessed," Kira answered. She made an effort to shake off the pain. It did no good to grieve over what was past.

Beth knew she should change the subject.

"Tonight Mick asked me if he should be jealous of Ben," she announced, her nose wrinkled in delight. "I told him jealousy would make me feel desired. I think he is a bit jealous," she added blushing deeply.

Kira laughed.

"I've tried telling you he cares," she pointed out. "He may be slow to tell you but our dear Mick does have feelings for you. Still waters run deep," Kira added with a grin.

"Kira, can I ask you something?" Beth asked hesitantly.

"Of course."

"Sex is possible between humans and vampires, right? When I asked Mick about it awhile back, he made it sound like its dangerous and inadvisable. What is he afraid of?"

Kira chuckled, tickled by the look on Beth's face.

"Yes Beth, sex is not only possible, it can be fantastic. I'm sure Mick isn't afraid of sex, he's afraid of the urge to bite that comes with sex. We are a lot stronger than you humans and we can hurt you when caught up in the passion. Biting can be resisted; I never bit Brad before I killed him. Mick does forget the supreme control he has," Kira explained.

"Did you and Josef…..uh……before he turned you?" Beth stammered.

"Yes," Kira said smiling in remembrance. "He refrained from biting as well. He thought he was hiding his true nature but I had guessed."

"I fed Mick in the desert. He was dying," Beth told her. "It hurt somewhat."

"I'm sure under those circumstances he didn't have the control to make it pleasurable," Kira commented. "We have the ability to make the bite feel wonderful."

Beth shivered slightly, her eyes glowing. Mick's bite had hurt but she remembered there had been an undercurrent of euphoria as he drank. She tried to imagine what it would have been like if he had been able to make it pleasurable for her.

"Sounds exhilarating," she sighed.

"Give him time Beth. Mick has changed a lot since Josef re-turned him," Kira said kindly.

Beth yawned, the excitement of the day finally draining away from her.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"Why don't you stay the night? You are too tired to drive home," Kira suggested.

"I don't want to be a bother," Beth protested.

"I have a bed and I rarely use it," Kira offered with a smile.

"Thanks, I'd like that," Beth accepted with a tired smile.

*****

The next night the television showed the safe return of Jacob Fordham to his loving parents. Kira swelled with pride to know the part Beth and Mick played in saving the boy. Josef had informed her that Mick had found his sample of pre-vampire DNA and hoped to hear from the lab soon. She found herself hoping it would be a positive match. She arose early the next day hoping they would drop by to celebrate.

She dressed with care, slipping into a one shouldered black cocktail dress and found the emerald earrings that were her only remaining gift from her husband Tyler. Downstairs she joined Eli and Thomas in the club and a few hours later Mick and Beth walked in. It didn't take a detective to see the sad shadows in Mick's eyes. She hurried to them, giving them each a hug.

"Good work you two. It is so great that you found the boy in time," she smiled.

"Thanks Kira," Beth replied. Kira turned back to Mick. It was clear the test result wasn't what he hoped. She gave him a second hug.

"I'm sorry," she whispered below human hearing.

Mick kissed her cheek and smiled slightly.

"I've been reminded that family is not just in the genes," he replied.

"That is right," Kira agreed and taking Beth's hand, she led them back to her reserved table. As they settled in, Thomas delivered drinks to them. Kira raised her glass in salute.

"Here's to saving an innocent child," she said seriously.

They touched glasses and drank. Kira turned her attention to Mick.

"You did a wonderful thing my friend. I don't want to hear that being a vampire is a bad thing anymore. Rescuing that boy was a noble act," she insisted. She smiled at Beth. "I'm glad you two worked so well together."

Beth smiled happily at Mick. She felt so close to him and her heart ached for him knowing how the test results had dashed his hopes. But she did know that with Kira and Josef, Mick did have a family of sorts and she wanted to be part of it.

End chapter.

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