Takes place after The Rest of the Story chapter 12, The Greenhouse

Sandrina was driving Josef in her Porsche to Drexel Avenue for an evening with Mick and Beth when his cell phone rang. "Mick," he said. "What's up?"

"Where are you?"

"Five minutes from your building."

"Well, Beth and I are an hour away. Big accident, long detour. We'll be late but you guys go on in. Have some blood, make yourselves at home."

"See you when you get there."

Josef and Sandrina let themselves into the penthouse. They poured blood and snooped a little. They were interested in vampire-human living arrangements. There were freshies at the mansion but they had their own wing and didn't invade the rest of the house. Food in the fridge and tampons in the bathroom were a novelty. They both admired Mick's kitchen. Sandrina knew Beth loved cooking in it and Josef knew Mick enjoyed the homey atmosphere since Beth had moved in.

Josef was seated on the counter, swinging his legs, sipping blood. Sandrina was looking him over. "Remember that table in the greenhouse?" she asked. "I think this counter is the same height."

"You aren't suggesting that we do it on their countertop?"

"Why not? They probably have."

"That's not the point. They probably spent the first month Beth moved in doing it in every possible place."

"Beth told me it only took a week."

"What if I'm not in the mood?"

"There's a first time for everything." Sandrina slipped a hand between his legs and tweaked his nipples with the other.

"Well, sure, hands-on will work."

"Hah! I can look at you across a room and you're ready."

"That was just one time ... and maybe one other time ..."

"All right, if you're not in the mood, we'll just wait for Mick and Beth and enjoy a long pleasant evening together."

Josef lay flat on the counter with eyes closed and arms open. "Go ahead and have your way with me."

So she did. A little later they were both very relaxed until Sandrina's eyes suddenly widened. "Mick will know!"

"Doesn't Beth have scented candles?" Josef asked. "We'll light a few."

"That will be even better." Sandrina pointed to an incense burner.

They were sipping blood and talking about nothing in particular when Mick and Beth arrived.

"I hope you don't mind," Sandrina said to Beth. "I wanted to try your incense."

"It's nice to come home to," Beth replied. "That's one of my favorites. I'm going to have a quick salad then we can get started."

Mick was looking at a box Josef had placed on the coffee table. "You think that's what we're playing tonight?"

"That's why I got it out."

Mick got another box and placed it on top of Josef's.

Sandrina went to the kitchen. "Aren't they cute?" she asked Beth. "The money man wants to play Monopoly ..."

"And the P.I. wants to play Clue," Beth finished. "What are the odds? Isn't it your turn to choose?"

"I believe so. And you know what I want."

Beth raised her voice to interrupt the guys' argument. "It's Sandrina's turn so we're playing Risk, the game of world domination."

Mick and Josef looked at each other, reunited against a common enemy. "Maybe it will be different this time," Mick said hopefully.

"Doubtful," Josef said a little sullenly.

"How can one of them always win?" Mick asked, bewildered. "They've never been to war, but we have!"

"I never saw Sandrina's mean streak until we played Risk," Josef told Mick.

"I'm aware of the irony when I say that Beth is like a vampire when she plays."

"Rapacious," Josef said with feeling.

"I'm not sure what that means but it sounds right," Mick agreed.

Beth won.


A/N: Josef told Mick about the countertop in Guy Talk chapter 18, Garden Party.

I bought the Moonlight DVD last weekend and watched the first eight episodes which I hadn't seen since they aired. I am probably the last fan to learn that Mick's address is 2110 Drexel Avenue but I didn't catch it in '12:04 AM' the first time it aired when Donovan Shepherd found Mick's phone. Just above Mick's entry is 'KALI SIMOKOVIC' which I also didn't catch before. I have decided that is Logan's girlfriend's full name. Mick has never needed to call the Cleaners personally but I'm sure in his work he needs them occasionally so he probably has all of them in his phone contacts.