Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. The only rewards I receive are the kind reviews you give me.

This chapter is in response to those who felt really sad for Simone and thought I was a bit harsh with Josef's behavior. I hope this makes up a little for his attitude.

Chapter 10

Sunday night Josef strolled into Dusk to Dawn and took a seat at the bar. It was a quiet night and he knew that Kira often spent the evening checking in on her other clubs. There was no live entertainment scheduled and the club was not very full. Josef had every intention of luring Kira back to his place later but he was hoping he would get the promised lingerie show that Kira had promised that morning.

Thomas Wolfe was behind the bar and when he finished serving a customer, he came down the long bar to stop opposite Josef.

"What's your pleasure Josef? Scotch or blood?" he asked. There were no humans in the bar tonight and no need for secrecy.

"Scotch would be great," Josef nodded. He waited while the young man went to the shelf where the expensive liquor was and watched Thomas pour a generous glassful. He returned and set the glass before the vampire.

"Does Kira know you pour with such a liberal hand?" Josef asked in amusement.

"Only for you and Mick, those are my orders," Thomas grinned.

Josef took a slow, savoring sip and looked at the human with raised eyebrows. The boy was hovering and clearly had something he wanted to say. Knowing how much Kira cared for him, he decided to give Thomas a break.

"What is it Thomas? I can tell you are dying to ask me something," he enquired. "It's been rolling off you since you walked over."

"It's about…your lawyer….Simone," Thomas began hesitantly. "I would like to know how things stand between you and her. I mean…..I know you are with Kira….but what about Simone…? Is she still…?" he stumbled over the words.

"Is she still donating, do you mean?" Josef chuckled.

"Yea….I guess that would be the best way to put it," Thomas admitted sheepishly.

"Simone is currently just my lawyer. She is deciding if she wishes to continue as my freshie. I am not pressuring her, why do you ask?" Josef informed him.

"I'd like to ask her out," Thomas said bluntly.

"On a date?" Josef asked, caught by surprise.

"Yes on a date. I just know better than to intrude into your territory Josef," the young man stated boldly. "And I do not want to cause trouble for Simone. I figured I would clear things with you first."

"Thomas, I have no idea how Simone would feel about dating you but I certainly have no objections," the old vampire assured him in amusement. "I am not Simone's keeper."

"You may not call it that Josef but I am aware of how you feel about your ladies. I just want to be up front about this."

Josef nodded with a smile.

"I appreciate that Thomas but I have no say in Simone's private life and we never were exclusive so you are free to ask her anything you wish. I am in no position to tell her what she may or may not do," Josef informed him.

"Do you think she would say yes?"

"Son, I'm not the right person to ask that. I have not handled things very well with Simone," Josef sighed.

"She did not give me the impression the other night that she was angry. I would say she was very disappointed with herself for expecting more from you. She was hurt," Thomas told him. "I'm sure she would have quit her job if she was really angry."

"Thanks for that Thomas, I appreciate knowing that. It seems I need to speak to her again. And I do hope that Simone is smart enough to agree to a date," Josef acknowledged as he sipped his drink.

"Well put a good word for me if you can," Thomas laughed. "I would really like to get to know Simone better." He then headed down the bar to wait on another vampire. Josef finished his drink and headed back to Kira's office.

*M*M*

On Monday afternoon Simone walked up to Josef's office door and hesitated just outside it. She glanced down at the file in her hand and then looked up as she felt the curious gaze of the lovely woman seated at a nearby desk. Knowing that she would soon be the topic of office gossip, Simone straightened her shoulders and opened the door without knocking. Let the gossips be damned.

Inside, Josef looked up from his computer as she entered and smiled in welcome as she approached him.

"I assume that those are the Bartlett deal papers?" he asked.

"Yes they are," she confirmed as she laid the file on his desk and flipped it open. "It's all in order, just sign where the arrows indicate. It's foolproof Josef, they can't break this contract."

"Thank you Simone, I have no doubt of that given you were the one writing the document," Josef said quickly skimming the paperwork. He looked up quickly as Simone turned to leave. "Simone please, could you wait just a moment," he requested quietly.

She paused and turned back to him, her expression wary. Josef had risen to his feet and was coming around the desk to stop beside her.

"It has been pointed out to me, by more than one source I might add, that I have been very unfair to you," he said looking contrite. "I apologize Simone; I was very inconsiderate in this whole matter." He motioned for her to sit in one of the leather chairs in front of the desk. Simone remained standing. "I led you to believe that I harbored deeper feelings than I actually did and let the lines get blurred. I was in the wrong."

Simone could see just how unaccustomed Josef was to apologizing to anyone and especially a human. She could tell he was sincere and she almost felt sorry for his discomfort. But not completely as she thought about how it hurt to discover she really was only an employee. It had not occurred to Simone that Josef might have strong feelings for a female of his species; there had been no mention of one when he was with her. From what she had learned from Beth the bond between Josef and Kira was decades old and she had never known it. To be painfully honest, Josef had never promised her anything.

"Josef, I have had time to think and you are right, you made me no promises," Simone conceded.

"Perhaps not but I did leave the door ajar," Josef said, once again indicating she should sit as he took a seat in the chair next to it. Simone sat, curious to see what else he had to say. "I will tell you this, before the Monaghan fiasco I had no idea that I cared about Kira the way that I do."

"How could you not know? You are her sire, aren't you?" Simone said in surprise.

"It has been 106 years since I turned Kira. Our relationship has gone through many different phases," Josef explained, not sure why he felt the need to justify his actions to this woman but he felt he owed her some answers. "Kira has been living away from Los Angeles for the last fifteen years and has only been back the last few months. There have been changes in her during her absence."

Her experience and training as a lawyer had given Simone the ability to read people and she could see that Josef was surprised by his feelings for Kira. It was obvious that he had not expected to have his situation with the woman he sired to become romantic. The resentment she felt for Josef began to cool as it was clear he had not intended to deceive her.

"Perhaps she came back here as her own woman," Simone suggested with a slight smile. She knew Josef admired strength in those he surrounded himself with. It was amusing to see him taken by surprise by someone he had known for a century.

Josef nodded, his own eyes alight in amusement.

"Oh she certainly is that," he confirmed, admiration in his voice.

A small sigh escaped Simone as reality rose up in front of her. It was a bittersweet pill to swallow when she had to face the truth that she had no future with Josef. She had entered the vampire world with her eyes wide open and she could not blame the vampire for the fairy tale she had created for herself. After all, hadn't she been the one to tell Beth that vampires didn't see humans the same way that humans saw them?

"Josef, I have given a lot of thought to the position I hold in your employment. I am pleased to continue as your lawyer but I do not think I can continue as a blood donor anymore. I do hope you understand," she said seriously.

"I do understand," Josef assured her. "I am very pleased that you will stay on in your legal capacity, you are an excellent lawyer. I think you will be pleased with your next job review. And no," he added seeing she was about to speak. "This is not my buying your silence or guilt money; you earned the raise and deserve the perks that come with it. Donating blood was never a condition of your employment, I respect your decision."

"I appreciate that Josef," Simone said feeling some relief and pleasure for the gesture he was making. "I like my job and I am glad I can continue here."

"I hope we can continue as friends Simone. I like you," Josef told her. "And I did promise to tell you that a certain young man has expressed an interest in you."

"Who?" she said in surprise, then paused when she realized who he must be speaking of. "Do you mean Thomas Wolfe?" There had been two voice mail messages from the man who she had met at Dusk to Dawn. She had not responded while she nursed her hurt feelings.

"He's a good man Simone," Josef advised. "It wouldn't hurt to give him a chance."

"I will think about it Josef," Simone said getting to her feet. "I would like to remain friends." She smiled at him and headed for the door. Josef caught up to her as she reached the door and opened it for her. With a hand on her shoulder he gave her a light kiss on the cheek and smiled.

"Thank you for the good work. I will talk to you later about the new office you will be getting," he said loud enough for the woman at the desk to hear. Then in a low whisper he added. "No need for that busy body to know anything has changed. I do not want the others in the office to treat you any different than before."

"Thank you," Simone answered softly and smiled. The look on the woman's face at the desk was priceless.

End chapter.

Well in his own way Josef tried to make things better. Simone knows that she had let herself believe she could have what Beth has. I plan to make things okay for her. Let me know what you think…am I still in the dog house with Josef? Thanks.