Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I do act like I do though, don't I?

I have some extra free time so here is a new chapter. Enjoy. Thanks for all the feedback.

Chapter 7

Beth reached Ben just after he had risen from the table and dropped a few dollars down beside his glass as a tip.

"Ben, I didn't know you liked jazz," Beth said smiling pleasantly. "Is this your first time here?"

"Yes, I heard good things about this group and decided to stop by," Ben responded smoothly. He glanced back at the table where the other three watched with interest. "Imagine my surprise to see you here and that you are so friendly with the owner."

"Kira is a friend of Mick's," Beth said quickly.

"You have a very interesting circle of friends Beth," Ben commented meaningfully. "I certainly didn't expect to see Josef Kostan so soon after our talk."

Blushing slightly, Beth gathered her thoughts. Ben would never believe that she said nothing to Josef about their lunchtime discussion.

"Yes, I'm sure you didn't," she acknowledged. "Josef and Kira are very old friends, he comes here quite often. I hope this isn't a problem Ben; you led me to believe that you were not going to pursue that investigation. Was I mistaken?" Beth asked innocently with wide eyes.

Ben smiled, admiring how she was able to turn things back on him. Knowing she was friends with Kostan, he had expected her to mention their conversation to the billionaire. It was a gamble he had taken by letting Beth know his interest in the first place.

"Very true, I have dropped that. Just had no idea I would see him so very soon," he chuckled. "Well…..I am heading out, have a good evening Beth. I will see you on Monday."

"Sure Ben, see you on Monday. Have a good weekend," Beth answered smiling sweetly and watched him leave the club. As she returned to the others, she couldn't help wondering just how good vampire hearing was.

"So our ADA is a fan of the Bowery Quintet, is he?" Mick observed smugly.

"So you could hear that?" Beth sighed as she sat down.

"You handled that well Beth. Talbot knew he couldn't trip you up," Josef approved.

"Well he is aware that Mick and I know you so he couldn't be surprised I would mention our lunch discussion to you," Beth replied. "Now we are both clear about where we stand," she shrugged.

Mick looked concerned, not at all happy about Beth playing cat and mouse games with Talbot. He was not at all sure that Beth continuing to work for the ADA was wise. Kira had quietly watched the expression on Mick's face and knew where his thoughts were going.

"Well I do believe that he will drop his questions about Josef as time goes on. There will be other cases to distract him. Talbot strikes me as being a sensible sort, he will not commit political suicide taking on a man with Josef's clout," she said quietly.

"Kira is right. Ben will move on to other things with time," Beth agreed, hoping to remove the scowl from Mick's face.

"So I will be that easily replaced as public enemy number one?" Josef pouted. "I think I am insulted."

An involuntary snort escaped Mick as he shook his head at his friend. Beth giggled and Kira sighed as she lightly slapped at his shoulder.

"Really my darling, you have no idea how lucky you are this is ending. Otherwise you would be relocating instead of sitting here drinking my best scotch," she scolded.

"We would all be relocating because of Emma's foolishness," Josef growled. "I am grateful that this is over and I hope it becomes ancient history quickly."

"Amen to that," Mick echoed and took a swallow of the scotch that had been delivered to the table earlier.

"Now Beth, shall we start our little expedition tomorrow at three PM?" Kira asked, changing the subject.

"Sounds perfect if it's not too early for you," Beth agreed happily.

"No, it's a good time for me," Kira told her as both guys perked up curiously. "And don't ask Josef, I'm not telling you. Let Beth and me have our little secrets. You will like the end result, I promise."

"This is sounding very mysterious," Josef smirked and grinned at Mick. "I happen to like a woman with secrets, don't you buddy? They make it such fun to uncover them."

"You're so sure of yourself," Kira laughed lightly and patted his cheek. "Beth, I will pick you up at your place."

"I'm looking forward to it," Beth giggled, loving the look on Josef's face. She smiled sweetly up at Mick. "I know you like uncovering secrets," she teased.

A flash of heat in Mick's hazel eyes made Beth catch her breath. Her insides quivered as she realized she probably didn't have a prayer of keeping a secret from him if he wanted to know it.

"I am a private investigator. I unravel secrets for a living," Mick answered in a low voice. "We will discuss this later…..privately."

Beth felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she quickly took a swallow of her wine. Josef chuckled and Kira discreetly pretended to check the action at the bar.

"I look forward to it," Beth said huskily, her eyes locked on his.

*M*M*

As the morning sun shone brightly around the closed blinds of Beth's bedroom, she awoke to the happy discovery that Mick was still holding her. She turned in his arms to find him watching her with a smile on his lips.

"Good morning beautiful," he greeted her.

"You stayed….." she murmured happily and snuggled closer.

"I did," he agreed. "But I will have to head home in a while. I will need some freezer time," Mick added as he nuzzled her ear. "And then I have some shopping of my own to do."

Beth blushed, remembering how Mick had cajoled the reason for the shopping expedition out of her.

"You promised you would not tell Josef. Please Mick, don't ruin Kira's surprise," she begged.

"I swear he will not hear it from me. I happen to be on Kira's side in this plan," Mick promised and gave her a tender, quick kiss.

"And just what type of shopping are you planning?" Beth asked although she suspected she knew.

"I have an urgent need for my own bed," Mick informed her, a low growl in his voice. He liked how she trembled at his words. "I want you to stay at my place in comfort."

"Wow, what a change this is in your life. You are transforming your totally cool vampire pad into a human friendly apartment," she said with wide eyes and a teasing smile. "I am so flattered you would do that for me."

"I want to take care of you," Mick said simply.

"You always have," Beth said softly.

In the back of her mind a nagging little voice rose up to taunt her. "Josh only wanted to take care of you too," it jeered at her and she winced at the memory. Guilty feelings about how she had treated Josh had become less frequent as time went on but every now and then they flared up as if to punish her for her new happiness. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Mick felt the change in her mood immediately and wasn't sure if it was something he did or something totally different.

"Beth, are you okay?" he asked stroking fingers along her cheek. Now she felt even guiltier as her eyes flew open to meet his.

"I'm okay…..honest. I…..I just sometimes feel bad because I wouldn't let Josh take care of me. I wasn't honest with him at the end," she confessed as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "But I don't regret my feelings for you Mick. I was holding him off before you came back in my life, this is not your doing," she hurriedly added before he could speak. "It was all me."

Mick said nothing but pulled her close, tucking her under his chin and stroking her back in comfort. He felt the warm wetness of her tears on his chest and wished he could take away her pain.

"Don't torture yourself," he whispered finally as he felt a small shudder go through her body. She pushed back and smiled up at him, her eyes now dry. She gave him a shaky smile.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I am sorry I did not want to ruin your wonderful gesture. I love you Mick."

"It's all right, I understand," he assured her. "You can't control your memories." He gave her a half smile. "After all, you are only human."

Beth choked on her laugh and smiled at him radiantly. Mick kissed her nose.

"I love you too Beth."

As Beth hugged him, she saw the clock on the night stand and stiffened.

"Mick, its nine thirty. Don't you need to be in your freezer?" she asked anxiously.

"Vampires do not need sleep like humans do," he chuckled as he drew her close again. "Yes I need time in the freezer but I can go without far longer than you can go without sleep. And I fully intend to take you to breakfast before I catch some sub-zero rest."

"You will get so tired of watching me eat," Beth grinned in delight.

"Well, I haven't yet," Mick assured her. "So let's get moving so you are ready for Kira at three. I am glad you two are becoming friends."

"She has offered to answer some of my questions," Beth told him and caught a flash of concern on his face. "Don't worry; she swears she won't reveal any of your deep, dark secrets. She just wants to help me not make mistakes."

While Mick wasn't sure that he liked Beth becoming even more immersed in the vampire world, he could see the wisdom in her becoming more informed.

"I think she will be a big help to you," he agreed.

End chapter.

Thank you for reading. I have been trying to show how Mick and Beth are dealing with their new relationship and I can't help feeling that Josh's memory would sometimes be intruding on Beth. Please review and share your opinion. Thank you.