Maura drained her third cup of coffee. For some reason she found it easier to tolerate Lacroix if she had a ready supply of caffeine. Now she looked steadily at him, not staring exactly, but studying. Looking for the "tell", the dark sign in his eyes that would give away that this was just another ploy to annoy her and waste her time. Surely he knew that, especially in recent days, she was much more vulnerable to annoyance.

After several minutes of silence, Lacroix prompted, "Maura my dear, I know you are awake because your eyes are open. Are you speechless with doubt, or awe?"

She slammed her mug on the coffee table and sat forward to look harder at him.

"Let me get this straight. You're the buyer Eric told me about. You want me to manage it."

"Your gift for succinctness continues unabated," he observed drily.

She sat back again. "Why. Why would you buy a nothing country dive? How would that possibly, ah, divert you sufficiently to keep your superior attitude entertained? What makes you think I'd work for you again? Have you taken to draining drunks again?"

Lacroix offered an expression of faux offense. "I have traveled all the way from Toronto to offer you a diversion from your current inert incarnation, and you return the offer with insult." The expression morphed into a bright, if vulpine, smile. "How delightful so much remains unchanged between us. However, notwithstanding our traditional... differences... you will be forced to agree that in matters of business our collaboration was reasonably successful."

Maura was shaking her head. "You're mad. Madder than usual. This isn't the urban jungle, Lacroix, there is no place for dungeon bunnies and dark poisonous watering holes for the undead." It was her turn to smile at his disapproving glare... Lacroix hated few things more than "plebeian mortal euphemisms" for his kind.

"Such charming verbiage," he countered, recovering quickly as always. "But that is not what I propose. My goal, as it is for all of mine and Nicholas's kind, is to blend in. So while I may renovate your quaint little dram shop, I will keep it in character." He was taken aback to see Maura double over in hysterics. "Have I said something amusing?"

"Oh you have no idea," Maura gasped as she finally caught her breath. "I'm just picturing you in work boots and Dickies overalls."

He rolled his eyes. "Please. There is a halfway point between high formal attire and hillbilly casual. You may count on me to achieve it."

She could hardly believe her ears. He was serious. Seriously serious.

"You really are serious," she echoed aloud.

"To paraphrase the vernacular, 'as a heart attack'. You will manage the establishment by your own good business judgement, which I trust even as I doubt you in other matters. I will merely be the silent partner." His patience wore thin as Maura fell sideways laughing until tears came. This time he said nothing.

"Silent partner?" Maura howled. "The only thing that could silence you is a well-placed stake!"

After several moments she pulled herself together and sat up again.

"Well guess what. I'll see your madness and raise you deranged. I accept. Nick shouldn't be the only one with a gainful occupation."

"Oh yes." Lacroix smiled indulgently. "Nicholas aspires to be a man of the soil. Moving it about, in any case."

Maura ignored the comment. "If we're going to do this I have some ground rules."

"I have already assured you that I will not interfere in your management decisions."

"Not that. You know that Eric Nadeau is like me... prized. You're not to touch him, not to bother him at all."

"Agreed. I would no more sample his blood than I would addict myself to your own. And as for other pursuits..." Here he smiled, a twisted burlesque of sentimentality. "You and I have a... unique history. I'd find no similar amusements from others." He allowed her to take that in, and was gratified by her annoyed smirk, before continuing,"You mentioned 'rules'. What else?"

"You don't feed in this community. Find another Community of your own elsewhere, go to Burlington or White River or back to Toronto if you like, but sustain your existing 'addiction' far away from here. If you don't, you'll ruin your plans before they start."

"Maura," he advised in an indulgent purr, "you forget who I am and how long I am among your kind. Were I not accomplished in camouflage I would not still exist."

"And wouldn't that be a shame," she sneered sweetly.

"Indeed. I won't ask you to shake hands on the deal..." He would have continued, having stored up a great many quips to torment her with in the time since they'd seen one another, but suddenly he cocked his head.

"Ah. I will leave you for a awhile. Your mari faux approaches, and you have much to discuss."

As Maura rose she shook her head and nailed Lacroix with an evil glare.

"You're really enjoying this new incarnation of ours, aren't you?"

"My dear, you have no idea."

And with that, he was gone.

Almost simultaneously Nick swept into the living room and caught Maura up in a hug and and kiss.

"Hi honey," he grinned, "I'm home. And gainfully employed."

"Me too."

He was puzzled. "You found a job since I left?"

She took him by the hand and led him to the sofa. The Sofa, where so much of their lives had been made and changed.

"In a manner of speaking. We gotta talk."

As if on cue, the phone rang. It was nearly four a.m. It could only be one person. Maura grabbed the cordless from a nearby table and thrust it, still ringing, at Nick.

"But there's someone else you need to talk to first."

mari faux: false husband