Settling Old Business

Vicki sat in Henry's car and looked at the small office building with one business and a single occupancy apartment above. This had been her place for almost three years. In a few minutes she would go in and sign the papers to change the ownership of the business and use of the apartment to Private Detective Michael Celluci. She let out one long sigh and turned to Henry, her friend, her lover, her parent, her life partner and said, "Let's get it over with." With that she was out the door and half way up the walk before Henry could react. He moved with vampire speed and with her next step she landed in his outstretched arms.

As she tried to push him aside he tightened his grip and said, "You don't have to do this. He'll understand and so will I. Hire Celluci and stay in charge of the agency if that's what you want."

She struggled to free herself for a moment more then said more to herself than Henry, "I can't go back. It gets done tonight." She looked into the eyes of her Henry and added, "I want to move on with life. I was beginning to feel caged in. Tell me the truth, you were feeling caged too."

Henry smiled and Vicki's heart flipped as he said, "A comfortable cage with my love beside me, but a cage nevertheless. It's more than time. Celluci won't let you or your staff down and we can help him if he asks."

Celluci looked at the clock on the wall and said to the attorney, "They'll be here any second. Thanks for changing your schedule to accommodate us."

The outside door opened and the first thing Vicki noticed was how Celluci had changed the place. It now looked and smelled male. The silk flowers on Lana's desk were replaced by a utilitarian pencil holder and all the magazines were about sports. Vicki had to give him credit for the fact he worked fast. Henry placed a hand on her back lending the support she didn't know she needed as they moved forward into what had been her office but was already Celluci's. The room now had the look and feel of Mike. It was his pictures of past triumphs not hers that hung on the walls along with his family. The only thing unchanged were two wooden stakes to the right of the door. It made her smile to think of Henry throwing them. She nodded to the attorney and stared at Mike saying, "It didn't take long to make this place yours. If I didn't know better, I'd say you planned this move for some time."

Mike looked at the stakes he had carved and Henry had driven into the wall and said, "I guess I have. I wanted to quit the force and join your agency from the beginning. We were a team that was broken up before it's time." He stopped talking when he remembered the attorney sitting in the room listening.

After the introductions were completed, the attorney cleared his throat and said, "Shall we proceed? There are several terms and conditions to be gone over and papers to be signed."

Vicki held out her hand and said, "Give me the damn papers. I sign, Celluci signs, and we're out of here."

Henry and Mike both felt the words she didn't say, "Don't make me cry. I'm not giving up! I'm moving forward."

The attorney handed over copies to her and Celluci. Signatures, initials, and witnesses signatures were completed with speed. The attorney then collected all the papers and explained they would be filed in the morning and if there were no objections, all transactions would be final in three days. They thanked him for his services and Vicki walked with him to the door.

Mike opened the mini fridge under his desk and handed Henry a bottle of water as he took out a beer saying, "We both have our hands full when she gets moody."

She closed the front door and locked it while saying over her shoulder, "I'm not moody." She stomped back in, grabbed Henry's water finishing it off and threw the empty at the waste basket. She continued speaking, "Pissed, maybe. Sad, could be. More than likely, I'm relieved. Celluci, take good care of this place including Lana, and Jamus. We'll have the rest of our stuff out the apartment by the end of the week."

Celluci handed Henry a second water and said, "Cut it out, Vicki. We know what you're feeling." He took a pull of his beer then added, "Why don't you give Henry and me some credit for having feelings too. We love you and we want you to be happy."

Vicki looked as though she had been slapped, "I hate changes, but I long for them." She looked from one to the other, "You're both pains in the ass and I need both of you." Elemental started buzzing, circling the three of them and Vicki added, "I need you too, Tink."

Henry motioned for Elemental to settle and said, "It's not Tinkerbell."

Vicki pursed her lips saying, "Well you could've fooled me." Elemental buzzed and Vicki said, "No you're not a fairy, but you have a way of making dreams come true. It's a compliment, Elemental."

To Henry she said, "We need to leave." She turned and started for the door and said over her shoulder at Mike saying, "If you need anything, just whistle. You know how to whistle don't you? You just put your lips together and blow." She got a big grin on her face and added, "I've always wanted to use that exit line."

Henry started laughing, "Bacall said it better and Bogart was better looking than Mike."

Mike looked highly insulted and said, "I beg your pardon, but I'm much better looking than Bogart and I don't twitch."

Vicki couldn't help but feel good about how well her men were getting along. She placed a hand on Henry's arm, "If we don't leave now we'll spend the whole night arguing about the best lines from old movies and who was better looking."

Henry raised an eyebrow and asked, "Which one of us is your favorite?"

Vicki said, "You Henry are my favorite prince, Mike is my favorite detective, and Elemental is the best of its kind I know."

Elemental glowed and buzzed around the room as Henry laughed, "You got out of that very nicely love."