Moonlight, The Next Chapter: Darkness

Chapter 24

Wishful Thinking


Author's note: I really love the end song and had been holding onto it, waiting for the right time to use it with Gabby and Matt Cassidy. Whether they will truly have a serious relationship is TBD but the possibility is there. And the song is both joyous - and poignant - with the possibilities of love in a coffee wasn't a major hit, so if it is new to you, hope you like it!


Intro Song: Wishful Thinking, Carole King


"So, how was dinner with your friends?"

Mick asked the question as casually as he could, stroking Beth's hair as she pillowed her head on his shoulder. Their lovemaking had been, as usual, passionate and intense. He did seem, however, to be getting better at controlling himself and not feeling so much like he was on the verge of being dangerous to her. It was an encouraging sign to him. Maybe this can work out after all…

His question may have seemed offhand, but the truth was that he was always a little apprehensive about these gatherings. What if her human friends pressed Beth on their relationship? Wanted to meet at the penthouse? Caused her to regret being in a relationship with someone who couldn't indulge in normal human activities? Or the most threatening of all now that one of them was pregnant - make her wish she could have a baby someday…

"Fun – and tiring – as always. Jordan was able to join us and we played smut poetry." She grinned up at her lover wickedly. "Ever play?"

"Can't say as I have. In fact, I'd have to say I've never even heard of it. You're gonna have to explain it to me."

Beth spent the next few minutes describing their dinner activity and gleefully building up her role in her team's success.

"Sounds…stimulating," Mick drawled, amused. Women were, in so many ways, a complete mystery to him. Hell, to most men, human or vampire.

Laughing, Beth propped herself up on one elbow to look him in the eye. "I think I just demonstrated that, didn't I?"

Mick pulled her face down to his for a passionate kiss. Finally releasing her, he responded, "Absolutely." As she settled back down on his shoulder, he added, "these get-togethers are certainly more entertaining than I realized."

Beth nodded vigorously. "They sure are. I feel sorry for Alison not being able to drink these days. It certainly helps!"

"How is Alison doing?"

"Still sick as a dog, poor thing – but her baby bump is getting cuter every time I see her. Makes me want to run out and buy something babyish…" She trailed off, one hand coming to rest on his chest.

He tensed, waiting, but she said nothing further. Which worried him all the more…


Sitting in a high-backed leather chair in Victoria Silver's library room, Gabrielle held up her glass of blood to the light, absentmindedly twirling it to coat all sides with the heavy burgundy liquid. Victoria stocked only the best blood – fresh, unusual, rare – and Gabby was free to indulge in as much as she liked. It was one of the major perks of working as her assistant.

Still, tonight she found herself wishing it was a strong latte. She thought back to her experience earlier that evening at the coffee shop she'd been frequenting. The worn leather sofa there had the rich patina that could only be acquired through age and use, the deep brown polished by repeated contact with thousands of arms and legs, fitting in perfectly with the battered wooden bookshelves, tables and chairs. Augmented by the rich aroma of brewed coffee and the sounds of commerce in a coffee shop - the grinding of beans, swooshing of steam being forced into liquid, chatter of patrons and baristas - the effect was one of ragged comfort, the kind of solace one would find in a grandmother's kitchen in a large family. It was that inclusion she had been seeking when she made her way there.

Sitting at one of the scarred tables, fidgeting with the steaming coffee mug in front of her, Gabrielle had asked herself for the hundredth time, What are you doing here? What are you doing?

She hadn't had a romantic relationship with a human - hadn't even thought about having one - for many years. Sex yes, but not a relationship. Something, however, had happened to her after her conversations with Mick St. John. Something had changed.

They had spent hours together, locked in taxis while they battled their way through New York City traffic as they investigated Sara Whitley's death, giving them time to talk and get to know one another better.

At first, Mick had been reluctant to divulge much in the way of personal information, but she had been able to eventually get him to open up by telling him stories of her past - both human and vampire. Neither had mentioned their turnings. The emotional baggage each carried from that event made it too painful to discuss, albeit for very different reasons. Eventually, the conversation had turned to human relationships and he had talked - albeit guardedly - about Beth Turner.

"Why her, Mick? And, please don't misunderstand me - I don't mean that with any disrespect. I'm just wondering. You have to know you could have your pick of almost any woman you are interested in - human or vamp. What is it about her?" She had sincerely wanted to know.

Mick had thought about her question, riding silently for several blocks, looking out the window to study the faces of passersby on the sidewalks before answering. "Well, there are the obvious things - she's smart, funny, energetic, loving, beautiful..." Seeing the smile on his companion's face, he had apologized. "Sorry, I get a little carried away, I know. She accepts me, Gabby. She knows who I am - what I am - and she accepts me. Somehow, I always knew that she would. She expects me to be a good person, and with her, I can be. She makes me feel...human, alive."

"Alive," Gabrielle had whispered.

"I never thought relationships with humans were possible either. Hell, I'm still not sure they are. I tried to dissuade Beth, told her that relationships between humans and vampires were…difficult, dangerous and complicated, I think are the words we used. Believe me, Gabby, I tried to dissuade her, but she's a..." he had paused, smiling to himself, his eyes lighting up with secret thoughts. "She's a force of nature. You'd like her."

"I'm sure I would, Mick. I really would like to meet her someday."

She had met Beth, under the worst circumstances possible, when Mick was battling for his life after being ambushed in the desert. She had watched Beth anguish over his pain, watched her stand guard over him as if her presence could stave off death itself, watched her - over a formidable Josef Kostan's objections - give her blood to keep him alive... It had been clear to Gabby that Beth was perfectly willing to sacrifice her own life to save his, if need be. How could she not like her?

"Humans can be our friends. I've learned that. You just have to pick the right ones."

The right ones. Mick's words had stayed with her, occupying her thoughts ever since, echoing in her head as she had one unfulfilling sexual encounter after another with human men, reawakening a longing she didn't even know she had. A need to connect, to feel alive again. But it meant picking the right one…

Was Matt Cassidy that person? She had no idea, but the time she had spent with Mick and Beth made her want to find out. Since that first visit, she had returned to his coffee shop several times - despite her instincts to leave and never return. He had noticed she didn't drink her coffee. Had he zeroed in on other strange things about her? She had no idea. Did he accept her explanations as to why she didn't touch her drink? She had no idea about that either, but she chose to believe that he did. It was convenient.

Her subsequent visits had all been during his evening work hours; she would bring her laptop or a book, something to justify her visits. Matt had stopped at her table to chat as much as possible, calling her 'Coco' just as he had that first day. He was charming but not pushy, engaging without stepping over the line into annoyance. Her physical attraction to him was undeniable.

When he had asked to get together with her on his night off, she had agreed - with the stipulation that they meet at the coffee shop where he worked. Somehow, she felt like she was on more solid footing with him in that setting.

So, there she had sat, technically a 125-year-old woman, but as nervous as a teenage girl on her first date. Lost in her thoughts, she'd jumped when a voice at her elbow said "Still not drinking our coffee, I see."

Looking up, she'd smiled blindingly at the handsome man standing next to the table, unaware of the impact it had on him. "Hey, Matt! No coffee yet, stomach still not up to it, I'm afraid. Sit down," she'd said, motioning to the empty chair across from her.

Sliding in, he'd flashed a grin at her. "At least now I know it wasn't just the way I made it. I was starting to get a complex. How about if I get my coffee and we move over to the couch? It's a little more comfortable."

"Deal," Gabby had responded, her heart giving a lurch at the look in his deep blue eyes.

A few minutes later, they were camped out on the couch, facing each other, knees touching as Gabrielle drew her leg up underneath her for comfort. The next several hours were spent talking about far-ranging topics, everything from politics, to the environment, to the books each had read, and the movies they'd seen.

As the evening wore on, Gabby had become more relaxed and animated. She'd learned that he was a graduate student in art history and education, with a goal of teaching at the high school level.

"I want to present art in a way that really makes students interested in it, makes them want to explore it on their own. The way it's done now, for the most part, it's boring to kids – if they get any exposure at all - and they just take the art courses that are required. I want to be the cool teacher with the class everyone wants to take because it's just so damn much fun." His eyes had sparkled and he'd displayed his killer smile, complete with dimples.

Not to mention, the cute teacher that everyone has a crush on! When asked, Gabby had explained her job as apprenticing with a successful businesswoman to learn the ropes of finance and the corporate world. She had been pleasantly surprised to find that it really wasn't so difficult to be with humans, to pretend to be human...and, he really was devastatingly handsome. Admit it - you're smitten.

They had both been surprised when one of Matt's co-workers came over to tell them that it was almost two A.M. and they were closing in a few minutes.

"Coco, I'm so sorry - I had no idea it was this late!" Matt had exclaimed, looking at his watch, still calling her by the nickname he'd used throughout the evening. "I meant to take you somewhere for a real drink."

"That's okay, Matt. I really enjoyed this. Maybe we could do it again some time and get that real drink?" Gabby had looked up through her long lashes at the young man almost shyly as he'd helped her on with her jacket.

"Absolutely," he'd responded enthusiastically, grabbing his sweater and holding the coffee shop door open for her. Out on the street, he'd hailed down a cab. Before she got into it, he'd backed her up against the car, leaning over her, his stare intent. "Coco, do you mind if I kiss you?"

"I wish you would." They had embraced tightly as their lips sought out one another. The cold, hard metal against her back had been a tantalizing contrast to the warm, muscular man in front of her. Gabrielle was shocked at how her body had responded to him, heat stirring deep inside and taking over. She'd moaned without realizing it, reaching up to put her arms around his neck. Their tongues had touched, tentatively at first, then more insistently, yet still with the sweetness and mystery that accompanies a first kiss. His mouth had become harder, more demanding, on hers.

Startled by the short tap of the horn from the impatient cab driver whose car they had commandeered, both had been surprised and breathless. Gabrielle had wondered if he would notice that she felt cooler, different from other women, but she needn't have worried.

"When can I see you again?!" Matt's face had been flushed and his eyes were full of desire for her.

"Tomorrow night?" Gabby's response had slipped out before she had a chance to think further, before she could talk herself out it.

"I want to come get you and take you out on a proper date." He'd kissed her again, a brief peck on the lips, as if he didn't trust himself to really kiss her again.

"It's a deal. I'll text you." Gabrielle had her wits about her enough at the time to want to maintain control of the situation. When he'd closed the cab door behind her, she'd smiled and reached out through the window to put her hand on his sleeve as he leaned against the door. She'd said, "I had a great time tonight, Matt," when what she had really wanted to say was, "Come home with me...sleep with me...love me..."

As she was driven away, she hadn't been able to resist a look back to see him standing on the sidewalk, staring after her. She remembered thinking, I can't wait until tomorrow night...

But now, as she sat in Victoria's mansion, contemplating the life-giving elixir she was bound to, she wondered if she should show up at all. Was Matt Cassidy the right one to pick? Or was that just a fantasy, one only Mick St. John had been able to make reality?

"I don't know," she muttered aloud as she drained the blood from the glass, "but I think I need to find out."


End song: Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop, Landon Pigg