Permission granted to archive on JADFE site.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Here I am again.  I don't know what's gotten into me.  But here's the
usual routine.  Forever Knight does not belong to me.  I am only
borrowing them for a short period of time to have a little fun.  TPTB
can have them back when I'm through.  No infringement is intended with
the use of the songs -- LeAnn Rimes:  Looking Through Your Eyes and
Olivia Newton-John:  Love Is A Gift.

The story may be archived at Mel's site, JADFE, and the ftp site.  Anybody
else please ask.

Special thanks to Jody for beta on this one.  Thanks to the IRC N&N Nuts
for their support.

The Gift Before His Eyes
By:  Lisa a.k.a. KnightOwl
Lisa@cntwk.net
July 1998

***********
Chapter 1
***********

The young man paced the crime scene.  Once again he started for the body,
but found himself held fast by the blond detective.  "You don't really want
to see her again."  He stared into the young man's eyes.

The man collapsed in Nick's arms.  "She can't be dead.  I have so many
things to tell her.  Tell me she's *not* dead.  It can't be too late."

As the man began to fall to his knees, Nick placed his hand upon his
shoulder and walked him toward the awaiting squad car.  Nick helped the
shattered young man into the back of the car.  "Please, you'll be more
comfortable here.  We'll come get you if we need you."

The distraught man only nodded and looked up into Nick's eyes, "I never told
her I loved her.  I never told her."  He continued shaking his head, then
buried his face in his hands.

Nick only nodded an understanding and closed the door. He turned and walked
back toward the brutal scene of the young woman's attack.

As Nick approached, he was met by Tracey.  "He's a wreck.  Did you get him
calmed down any?"

Nick shrugged, "As much as I could."  Nick turned and watched the man
slumped over the back seat.  "He has lots of regrets."

Tracey was now watching Nick.  His expressions seemed to soften as he stared
at the young man.  "Regrets.  About?"

Nick continued to watch the man.  His own thoughts were swimming through his
mind.  He returned to reality when he felt the slight pinch at his shoulder.
"Nick?  About what?"

Nick rubbed at his shoulder where Tracey had pinched, "That hurt."

Tracey put her hands on her hips.  "Then answer my question.  What has he
got regrets about?"

Nick sighed, "He was in love with the victim and never told her.  I guess he
thought he had all the time in the world."

Tracey rubbed her hands together nervously.  She knew this feeling.  Things
between her and Vachon seemed at a stand still.  They were each treading
lightly around each other.  "Sometimes, you're afraid.  What if the other
person doesn't return the feeling?  You'd feel like a fool admitting
something like that."

Nick had noticed the increase in Tracey's breathing and heart rate.  He
began to speak when he noticed a familiar figure walking up behind Tracey.
He smiled, "Hi Nat."

Nat weakly smiled and waved at the two detectives.  Nick frowned, "Nat?"

She shook her head, "That was ruthless.  She would have been dead after the
first blow, but this guy kept going.  This wasn't murder, it was a
mutilation."

Nat looked past them both and saw the young man sitting in the car, "How's
he taking it?  He really fell apart when he saw the body.  I tried to spare
him some of the brutality, but...."

Tracey spoke up, "Not good.  He was in love with her and never told her.
He's really upset."

Nat felt uneasy, "Oh...that's too bad."  Natalie's eyes met Nick's, then she
looked away.  "He'll have a rough time of it.  He'll always wonder what
*could* have been."

Nick felt the uncertainty radiating in Nat's voice as she spoke.  As their
eyes met, he found his heart had beat with anticipation, then felt a sudden
loss as she turned away from him.  The ache reminded him of the young man.
Nick watched from the distance as the man continued to weep.  His chance was
gone, but Nick's stood only a few inches away.  His chance at happiness was
as warm and vibrant as the first day he had met her six years ago.

Nick's gaze transfixed upon Natalie.  He watched as her and Tracey chatted
on about the case.  Her strength and devotion over the years had become his
corner stone.  Without her determination at attempting to find a cure, he
would have probably given up long ago.  But with her encouragement, he felt
more *human* everyday.  She had stood by him through thick and thin.  She
was there to pick him up when he stumbled, patch him up when he didn't duck,
and his confidant when things were too much for him to handle.

Natalie turned to find Nick's gaze fixed upon her.  Once she and Tracey had
finished their conversation, Natalie walked over to Nick.  He stood staring,
not even realizing she had moved closer.  Her hand gently stroked his upper
arm, "Nick?  Are you all right?"

As Nick's thoughts were interrupted, he grabbed the hand upon his arm.
Natalie quickly spoke and smiled, "Nick, it's me.  Where were you this
time?"

As Nick returned from his reverie, his thumb rubbed against her hand.
"Nowhere, just thinking."

Natalie laughed, "Good, for a minute there, I thought you were having a
reaction or something to your latest protein shake."

Nick smiled to ease her fears, "You mean that horrible concoction I found in
my fridge this morning?"

Natalie playfully slapped at his arm, "Hey, I worked on that for three
weeks.  The least you can do is not call it horrible."

They continued their usual routine...Nick teased her about the shake, she
defended her recipe saying it was for his good.  After a while Natalie
turned, "Well, I have to go downtown and tuck my customer in for the day.
See yeah tomorrow?"

Nick nodded, "Yeah, you're off tomorrow night, right?"

Natalie smiled, "Yeah, you?

Nick continued nodding, "Yeah.  I'll call you and we can do something."

Natalie waved as she left, "See yeah tomorrow."  She turned and walked
towards her car.

Nick watched as she left.

*******

As Nick lay in his bed, the words of the young man haunted his dreams, 'She
can't be dead.  I have so many things to tell her.  Tell me she's *not*
dead.  It can't be too late...too late.' Nick rolled and punched at his
pillow.

As he slept, he dreamed of Natalie standing beside him in a fog.  She was
young, vibrant and full of life.  She laughed and smiled warmly as she
playfully tugged at his arm.  Suddenly, Natalie stopped and stared into the
fog when a roar could be heard from far away.  She looked at Nick and
frowned.  She turned away from him releasing his hand and began to walk into
the mist.  Nick reached out to pull her back, but she turned and sadly shook
her head.  Before he could grab her hand to pull her back, he rolled again
in bed as the tortured voice resounded through his sleep, 'I never told her
I loved her.  I never told her...never told her.  I loved her.'

Nick sat up in his bed screaming as the vision of Natalie disappeared.
"Natalie, it's not too late!  Don't leave!"  The perspiration beaded upon
his forehead as he clutched his own heart.  He too had never told
her...never told Nat.  But then again, he thought back to Valentine's Day.
His heart still ached at having to erase her memory of their time together.
He wiped the perspiration from his forehead and looked over at the clock, it
was 3 p.m.  He sat in his bed thinking about his relationship with Natalie.
He knew long ago his relationship with her had developed into more than just
patient-doctor.  She had become his light in his darkened existence, perhaps
it was time she remembered.  His conscience tore him to pieces...this was
one decision he could not make himself.  Nat deserved her say in
this...afterall, it was possibly her life and soul at stake.

Nick picked up the phone and dialed.  Once the angelic voice answered, Nick
sighed with relief, "Nat, about tonight...."

*************
Chapter 2
*************

Nick eagerly paced back and forth as he awaited the arrival of Natalie.  The
park was dark, but he had managed to find a spot with just enough light for
his purpose.  He stopped suddenly when he sensed her approaching.  After six
years, her heart beat had become second nature to him.  A smile crossed his
face as he concentrated on the familiar rhythms.  Over the years he had
learned how to gauge her moods.  It had helped him out on more than one
occasion when he knew she wasn't exactly happy to see him, but tonight was
different.  He turned and found her smiling face only inches from his.  Her
hand rested upon his arm as she gently leaned in and kissed his cheek.
"This was a great idea Nick.  I love picnics."

Nick took Natalie's hand and helped her down to the ground.  He took his
place beside her and began to rummage through the basket.  As Natalie sat
eating her sandwich, Nick leaned back on his hands and stared at her face as
the moonlight danced across her delicate features.  Natalie chatted merrily
away, but Nick was lost in thought...

>>Look at the sky
Tell me what do you see
Just close your eyes
And describe it to me
The heavens are sparkling
With starlight tonight
That's what I see
Through your eyes<<

Natalie had become the most important entity in his life.  He treasured her
more than any of the *things* he had collected along his long life on this
Earth.  Her friendship was the one constant that held him to this existence.
He eagerly awaited the evenings she spent at his loft, snuggled closely on
the sofa watching her King Kong movies.  He cherished the way she molded her
body perfectly to his.  He would wait in anticipation for the scariest part
of the movie, as Nat shivered and shrieked, he couldn't resist wrapping his
arms protectively around her.  As her body pressed against his, her heart
raced.  He would bury his face into her auburn curls, savoring the smell
unique to his Nat.....

<<I see the heavens
Each time that you smile
I hear your heartbeat
Just go on for miles
And suddenly I know
My life is worth while
That's what I see
Through your eyes>>

Over the years, Natalie had seen every mood Nick had.  Anger, hatred,
loathing, contempt, and his infamous destructive angsty side, but none of
these had frightened her off.  Even when she faced the true nature of his
beast, she would not back down.  She dwelled upon his compassion,
tenderness, sympathetic, warmhearted, eternal boyish charm.  He could not
shake her faith in him.  But he knew, it was more than faith.  The feelings
they shared were mutual...

<<Here in the night
I see the sun
Here in the dark
Our two hearts are one
It's out of our hands
We can't stop what we have begun
And love just took me by surprise
Looking through your eyes>>

Natalie placed her sandwich onto her plate.  The glassy look in Nick's eyes
made her snicker in amusement.  She wiped the mustard from her lips and
spoke softly.  "You know, I could lean back into your lap and let you have
your wicked way with me."  A mischievous grin crossed her lips as she pushed
her shoulders into his chest.  Nick took a deep breath.  Through his jeans
he could feel Natalie's hand slowly caress it's way up his inner thigh.  He
gasped, "Nat!"

She tilted her head slightly back against his shoulder and grinned.  She
looked longfully into his deep blue eyes, "No?"

Nick shook the cobwebs from his mind, "What?"

Natalie patted his knee and pushed away from him, "Oh well, maybe next
time."

Nick laughed.  A few years ago, Natalie would never had made such a bold
move.

Nick captured her shoulders and pulled her back into his chest.  He
whispered into her hair, "Maybe."

<<I look at myself
And instead I see us
Whoever I am now
It feels like enough
And I see a girl
Who is learning to trust
That's who I see through your eyes>>

As Natalie relaxed into this rare moment in his arms.  He thought of all the
pain and sorrow she had endured as a result of her friendship with him.
After his unsuccessful attempt at bringing her brother, Richard, across with
his mortality in tact, she never once had blamed him.  The void caused by
Richard's death had only increased her dependency upon him.  Nick had been
uneasy of this attachment, for it did not come without its price.  Her life
was in constant danger from others in the community and if he wasn't
careful, himself.  But, she willingly accepted this fate...

<<Here in the night
I see the sun
Here in the dark
Our two hearts are one
It's out of our hands
We can't stop what we have begun
And love just took me by surprise
Looking through your eyes>>

Natalie sighed in contentment.  Her sandwich completely forgotten.  Nick
massaged her shoulders gently as she leaned herself completely onto his cool
chest.  Her head tilted up as she looked up into the night sky.  After a
moment, she raised her hand and pointed.  "That's Orion."

Nick looked up at the star filled sky.  He pointed in another direction.
"And there's Andromeda."

Natalie tilted her head toward the spot he motioned to. "Andromeda?  I've
never heard of that one.  What's it named after?"

Nick brushed his lips softly against her auburn curls as he spoke, "It's
Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus,
rulers of Ethiopia.  Cassiopeia dared to compare her own beauty to that of
the Nereids, the sea nymphs who attended Poseidon.  In anger, Poseidon sent
a sea monster to attack Ethiopia.  An oracle said the enchanting Andromeda
should be sacrificed to the serpent to save the land.  A young brave man,
Perseus, saw Andromeda chained to the rock.  As his eyes met hers, he
instantly fell in love with her beauty, and killed the monster.  He then
married Andromeda.  As the legend goes, one of their descendants was
Hercules.  After their deaths they became constellations."  Nick pointed
into the night sky again, "See, Andromeda extends from the constellation
Perseus to the northeast corner of the great square of the constellation
Pegasus."

Natalie smiled and captured Nick's pointing hand in hers.  Her head swayed
gently against his shoulder as she spoke, "And now their love will shine
forever in the heavens."

<<And there are some things we don't know
Sometimes a heart just needs to go
And there is so much I'll remember
Underneath the open sky with you forever>>

Nick lovingly wrapped his arms around Natalie's body as he smiled.  He now
knew he could not go on forever without her.  "So the legend goes.  Some
loves are meant to last forever."  He paused for a few seconds, "Even ours."

Natalie stiffened slightly.  Her face turned to his.  She barely whispered,
"Ours?"

Before she could say another word, she found her lips captured in an
endearing kiss.  As he deepened the kiss, his hand cradled behind her head
and entangled in her auburn curls.  He devoured her lips with his eager
ones.  Natalie turned in his embrace until she was pressed fully against his
body.  Her hands softly stroked his finely chiseled muscular chest through
the dark blue silk shirt.  She was lost in the sensations his mouth and
hands wrought upon her willing body...

<<Here in the night
I see the sun
Here in the dark
Our two hearts are one
It's out of our hands
We can't stop what we have begun
And love just took me by surprise
Looking through your eyes
Looking through your eyes>>

As Nick released her lips, he whispered into her ear, "I can't live without
you, Nat.  Stay with me forever."

Natalie smiled.  Deep down she had already wished for this moment.  Her
twinkling eyes met his, "I'm already yours."

***********
Chapter 3
***********

As Nick's heart rejoiced, he pulled Natalie closer.  Suddenly, from down the
path, he heard a movement.  He broke the embrace and looked.  It was another
star struck couple out for a moonlight stroll.  Nick looked around, then
down at Nat.  "I think we had better go somewhere else then."

Natalie lovingly looked into his eyes.  "I'll follow you to the ends of the
Earth."

Nick kissed her gently on the forehead, then pulled her into his arms.  He
looked around, then took flight.

*************

As Nick continued to fly, Natalie noticed they were not headed toward the
loft.  As she held onto his neck she spoke into his ear, "Where are we going
Nick?"

Nick only smiled and kissed her gently on the cheek. "You'll see."  He
looked into her eyes, "If you are going to be part of my life forever, I
want you to know everything."

Natalie smiled and watched the city pass beneath them.  After nearly half an
hour, the city lights had been left far behind them.  As Natalie watched the
country side pass beneath them, she noticed Nick slowing.  She looked toward
the ground, there in the distance she could make out the images of a cabin
by a lake.  Natalie watched in awe as the moonlight danced upon the waves.

Nick slowed his flight and came to landing beside the cabin's porch.  As
Natalie's feet touched the ground, she was looking all around.  There were
no lights and there didn't appear to be any neighbors for possibly miles.
She spoke softly, "Nick, whose cabin is this?"

Nick rummaged through his pockets, pulled his keys out and started for the
door.  "Mine."

Natalie looked strangely at him, then looked out across the lake.  "Yours?
You never told me."

As Nick put the key into the lock he looked back and grinned, "This is where
I come when I need to think.  It's my quiet place away from the world."

Natalie turned and slowly followed Nick up the three wooden steps.  As she
made her way up the final step, she turned her head for a final look at the
lake, she stopped abruptly when she bumped into something.  As she startled
and turned back, she found herself held snugly in Nick's embrace.  She
smiled and ran her hand beneath his chin.  "I think I'll *love* it here."

Nick ran his hand slowly across her cheek.  Natalie smiled and closed her
eyes as she leaned into his palm.  The coolness of his hand against her
cheek sent chills down her spine.  She was lost in his touch, then she heard
his sigh.  She opened her eyes to see his saddened ones staring back.  With
concern, she ran her hand across his brow, "Nick, what's wrong?"

"Nat...are you sure?  You're giving up so much...and I had hoped to become
mortal so this wouldn't happen.  I had so many dreams I wanted to share with
you."  His hand traced across her cheek, then down her jaw line.

Natalie took his hand in hers.  "Nick, now we will have forever to share
those dreams."

Nick shook his head, "Not these dreams, Nat.  If I bring you across, these
dreams aren't possible."

She looked at him puzzled.  His eyes met her gaze.  She placed her hands
against his chest. "What dreams Nick?"

Nick pulled away from Nat and walked back toward the darkened doorstep. "I'm
sorry Nat, I shouldn't have said anything."

Nat stood quietly for a second, then followed Nick into the cabin.  Her eyes
tried to focus, but the darkness prevented her from seeing where Nick had
gone.  After a moment, she saw a match being struck and an oil lamp being
lit.  As Nick put the glass back onto the lamp, the room lit up.  Natalie
looked around at the plush surroundings.

Nick walked over and knelt near the fire place.  He threw a few logs in and
went about the task of starting a fire.  Natalie closed the door behind her
and went over and sat in the overstuffed chair beside Nick.
As Nick stoked the fire, Natalie placed her hand upon his shoulder.  Nick
tensed at her touch. "Nick talk to me.  If I'm going to spend forever with
you, we can't have any secrets or regrets standing in the way of what we're
about to do."

As the embers became a blaze, Nick turned to Nat.  He settled on his knees
and placed his hands upon her legs.  He raised up and ran his hands across
her thighs parting them, then he leaned forward until he came to rest with
his head against her chest.  His hands wrapped around her waist.  "I love
you so much Nat.  I just...I wish I knew if this was right."

Natalie brought her hands around him and snuggled his head against her
chest.  As her hands ran through his hair, she placed her cheek against the
top of his head. "Nick, please.  Tell me your dreams."

Nick couldn't face her, he spoke with his head against her breast.  "I hoped
we could find a cure, Nat.  Since I met you, I've dreamed of loving you, of
holding you close in the night.  For the first time in my existence, I've
found myself dreaming of a different future.  A future with you as a mortal.
A future filled with kids and a dog.  Perhaps a small house in the country."
He looked up into her eyes.  "I would love to see the sunlight dancing
across your face."

Natalie cupped his chin in her hand.  With her other hand, she ran it across
his forehead and moved a stray lock of hair back up into his hair line.  Her
hand continued to stroke through his golden curls.  Her eyes shimmered with
unshed tears, "I would love that too Nick.  But, I haven't been able to come
up with a cure yet."  She bit her bottom lip as the small tear escaped, "The
only way for your dream to ever come true is to bring me across now.  I'm
not getting any younger."  She bowed her head. "I could continue to look for
the cure, only it would be for both of us."  Nick's finger wiped away her
tear as she spoke.  "I think our children *will* be beautiful."  She placed
her forehead against his. "They would have your blond hair and my blue
eyes...and one hell of a stubborn streak."  Nick and Natalie chuckled.

As their foreheads continued to touch, Nick's desires surged forth.  He
gently brushed their noses together and stared into Natalie's eyes, he found
himself gently grazing against her lips.  He pushed Natalie back into the
chair, his body pressing and covering hers.  Between kisses he panted, "Are
you sure, Nat?  You're giving up everything....no more sunrises.  Are you
willing to live in this darkness?"

Natalie breathlessly responded, "As long as I'm with you, I'm not giving up
anything.  I'm gaining everything...a future with the one I love."  Her arms
wrapped around Nick's shoulders and pulled his body full into hers,
deepening the kiss.

************
Chapter 4
************

As his hands began to trail down her sides, he ravaged her mouth with his.
Natalie moaned in response, her desire began building in anticipation of her
transformation into Nick's world.  His hands moved slowly across her breasts
and around her back.  She was his light which he held snugly in his his
arms.  Nick pulled his head back and stared into her shimmering eyes, she
trusted and loved him with all her heart.  She was unafraid to enter his
dark world, he never dreamed it was possible to love her any more than he
did at this moment.

<<Here we are at last, suddenly the pieces fit,
all at once I make sense of this crazy world.
Loved you for so long, now your hand is holding mine
It's like we're standing still in time.>>

Nick smiled and rose from the chair.  Natalie whimpered as he turned away.
Nick turned back, "One moment my love."

He walked over to the couch and pulled an afghan off the back and threw it
in front of the fireplace.  He removed all the pillows from the couch and
threw them on the floor.  Natalie sat up in the chair and smiled at him.  He
walked back over and stood directly in front of her.  He held his hand out,
she accepted.  His fingers twined with hers as he lifted her from the chair
and pulled her against his body.  His hands wrapped around her waist and
trailed up her back until he entangled his fingers in her hair.  Their
foreheads touched as he began to sway with her in his arms to an unheard
melody.

Natalie's hands wrapped around his shoulders as she closed her eyes and
swayed with Nick.  Slowly he waltzed them towards the afghan.  Once they
were standing directly in the middle, he lifted his head and smiled into her
bright beautiful blue eyes.  "I love you, Natalie."

Natalie blushed as she smiled. "I love you, Nick."

Nick kissed her tenderly on the lips as he slowly began to lower them onto
the afghan.  He placed her head gently upon the pillows.

<<This is our moment, this is our night,
A new beginning of the rest of our lives,
With every heartbeat, with every kiss
Let's always remember, with love is a gift>>

As Nick lay beside her, his head propped up on his hand, he watched as the
firelight danced across her smiling face.  Her eyes twinkled as she stared
longingly into his eyes  He gently brushed the hair from her neck with his
hand, then began to unbutton her blouse.  Once her blouse fell from her
chest, Nick watched as her chest fell up and down with her excited breaths.
He gently traced her breasts with his finger, eliciting a sigh from Natalie
as his hand gently began to knead her breast through her bra.

As Natalie's excitement grew, Nick could begin to feel the draw of her blood
as it ran rapidly through her veins.  His eyes changed to amber as his fangs
descended.  He leaned in and slowly began to kiss and lick the side of her
neck.

<<With each passing year, we will keep our love alive
I will be here by your side forever.
Looking in your eyes, I believe in destiny.
I believe in you and me.>>

Natalie could feel the heat building within her body.  Her hand gently
caressed the side of Nick's cheek as he nuzzled her neck.  She closed her
eyes.

Nick drew upon Natalie's strength.  He slowly kissed down the slender column
of her neck, over her breast to her abdomen.  He paused and slowly traced
circles upon her stomach.  He had so many dreams to share with her, but the
one dream...children.  Possibly....one day.  He gently placed his cheek upon
her stomach then kissed her as a solitary blood tear fell from his eye.
Someday...after a cure for *both* of them.

Nick trailed the kisses back up to her neck, his bloodlust now controlling
his movements.  His hand trailed up Natalie's body and slowly moved her chin
to the side.  He paused briefly, then slowly pierced her creamy smooth skin
with his fangs.

<<This our moment, this is our night,
A new beginning of the rest of our lives,
With every heartbeat, with every kiss.
Let's always remember, with love is a gift.>>

Natalie inhaled deeply as the images flooded her mind.  She wrapped her arms
around Nick as she clutched a fist full of his blond locks.  Her breaths
came quicker and faster as she watched Nick's life unfold.  Janette,
LaCroix, the seduction.  She watched as Nick learned the ways of the
vampire, as LaCroix over saw his education, showing Nick the ways of the
night.  She saw and felt the lust and satisfaction of the hunt.  As Nick
cornered his prey, then drank deeply of their blood.  Her heart was slowing
as she saw the regret, the years he had doubted and began to loathe what he
was.  Then, she could sense his deep love for her.  She saw the visions from
Valentine's day as he revealed them to her.  She knew the torment he felt at
his betrayal to her.  The harsh words spoken to LaCroix, but he had done it
to save her life.  She had no doubts that he held her more precious than
anything in his life.  She was his future.  She saw darkness....

<<Yes, then, we have our love,
it's so special there's is no measuring it's worth.
This is our moment, this is our night
A new beginning of the rest of our lives,
With every heartbeat, with every kiss.
Let's always remember, forever and ever,
let's always remember, that love is a gift>>

As the first taste of Natalie's blood assaulted his senses, he was lost in a
wave of love and pleasure.  Her love and faith in him was the strongest
image in her blood.  Nick rejoiced as he felt Natalie's great joy in him
asking her to come across.  He could now sense she had been frightened he
would leave soon, but all her fears subsided tonight.  He also saw bits and
pieces from her life, some good...some bad.  The ordeal with Richard was as
vivid as if it had happened yesterday, but now he knew.  Natalie had not
blamed him...she blamed herself.  She had regretted pushing Nick into the
decision to bring Richard across.  Tears fell from Nick's eyes, the happiest
moment in her life was when she had met him.  She loved him that first
night.

Nick could feel her heart slow, he had drained her to the brink of death.
She was dying.  He removed his fangs from her neck and gently brushed his
fingers across the small puncture wounds.  He brought his wrist to his mouth
and sliced it with his fangs.  He held his hand over her mouth and called to
her, "Drink my love.  Come back to me."  He knew from his own experience, it
would be her choice whether or not to return to him in this darkness.

Nick's heart beat twice as he felt the increasing suction of Natalie's
feeding from his wrist.  He watched in awe as Natalie's golden eyes
fluttered open and met his.

<<It's a gift.>>

**************
Chapter 5
**************

Natalie slowly looked around her surroundings.  The darkness no longer a
problem as her new vampiric senses enhanced her night vision.  She felt a
hand gently stroke the hair against her shoulder.

Nick watched Natalie closely, it would take time for her to accustom herself
to her new senses.  He gently traced his hand across her shoulder, up her
neck, finally brushing against her cheek.  "Nat...how do you feel?"

She turned to see his blue eyes now staring at her.  She slowly shook her
head.  As she did, she felt the first twinge in her stomach.  She winced in
pain as Nick cradled her in his arms.  "It's the first hunger Nat...hold
on."

Nick left her on the floor wrapped in the afghan as he quickly ran to the
kitchen.  He kept bottles of blood here for when he would come here for
extended periods of time.  He rummaged all the way to the back of the
pantry.  He quickly pulled out five bottles of human blood and returned to
the fireplace.

When he returned, he noticed Natalie's fangs had already dropped.  He
removed the cork from the first bottle and sat beside her.  He held the
bottle to her lips and watched her eagerly drink the contents.  Natalie
swallowed quickly.  Once the first bottle was gone, she hastily accepted the
second from Nick.  As she drank she could faintly make out visions, but with
her lust, it was more important to feed than concentrate on the images
passed on through the blood.

Once she had finished four bottles, she began to slow.  Nick began to open
the fifth, but Natalie put her hand over his.  "No Nick."

He looked to see her blue eyes staring at his.  He put the bottle on the
floor and sat close and pulled her into his arms.  "I love you, Nat."

Natalie wrapped her arms around him.  "I understand so much more Nick."  She
looked into his eyes, "You were so afraid to admit your love, afraid of
LaCroix."  Her hand gently stroked his cheek.  "Together we can face
anything Nick."  She kissed him gently on the lips.  "I love you."

Nick's lowered his head.  "I was so afraid LaCroix would harm you.  Now,
look what I've done."

Natalie felt an aching feeling consume her.  She raised her hand to her
throbbing temple, then she realized where the feeling was coming from.  She
hurriedly wrapped her arms around Nick, "No...don't Nick.  I chose this."

Nick slowly shook his head, "I know, Nat.  But, I can't help but feel..."

Natalie kissed Nick gently on the lips.  "I have no regrets Nick."

Nick watched her eyes dance in the firelight.  Even though she was now a
creature of the night, a warmth radiated from her.  He captured her lips
with his again.  But this time was different, for once he could show Natalie
all his feelings without the fear of harming her.

As their lips caressed, Natalie began to feel an urge deep within her body,
it was different than the hunger of before.  She eagerly began to pull
Nick's body against her as the afghan fell to the floor.  Her hands wandered
across his chest...his blood called to her.

With their newly formed link, Nick sensed Natalie's increased awareness of
his emotions and yearnings.  He smiled as he heard a small growl emanate
from her.  He looked into her gold flecked eyes.  "Easy my love.  We have
all night."  He cocooned her body with his as he lowered her back onto the
pillows.  He kissed her earnestly as his hands began to remove her bra and
blouse.  His hands trailed down her chest and rested upon the loops of her
belt.

Natalie nearly exploded as his hands touched her cool skin.  Her senses were
more alive than she had ever dreamed possible.  Her hands went up and
quickly worked upon the buttons of his silken shirt.  As his hands worked
upon the buckle of her pants, she ripped the rest of the buttons.  Nick
grinned, "Impatient aren't we."

Natalie shyly grinned. "I guess I don't know my own strength yet."  She
pushed the shirt off his shoulders and threw it to the side.  Her hands
traced the chiseled muscles of his chest, but they were soon replaced by her
cool lips.

Nick gasped at the coolness of her soft lips.  For so long he had imagined
loving her, he could barely believe she was real.  He buried his face into
her soft auburn curls and whispered, "Tell me I'm not dreaming, Nat."

Natalie's amber eyes met his blue ones.  "I'm here Nick.  I'll be here
forever...I love you."

As Nick heard Natalie's words, all his fears and doubts were vanquished.  He
released his inhibitions as he securely cradled the woman he loved within
his arms.  He realized that now and forever, Natalie would be his.  He
eagerly captured her lips in a searing kiss.  With a heat and passion that
had been locked away for nearly 800 years, he willingly gave into his body's
mortal yearnings as his manhood stiffened in anticipation of penetration of
his new love.

Natalie hungrily accepted his probing tongue into her mouth.  The sensations
Nick evoked felt like electricity shooting through every nerve ending in her
body.  Nick had told her once of the vampire's sensitive nature, but she
never in her wildest dream could have imagined the pleasures her body was
now experiencing.  She shivered with every touch, kiss, or caress as Nick
explored her body.

Nick's hands trailed down and released her belt.  He then unzipped her jeans
and pushed them down along with her lace panties.  He threw them, along with
her shoes, over into a crumpled pile.  His hand slowly trailed back up the
smoothness of her leg.  He smiled as he heard the sigh escape her lips as he
gently cupped her mound.  He grew uncomfortable as the growing bulge pressed
against the confinement of his own jeans.

Natalie reveled among the senses of her new vampire body. Sensing Nick's
discomfort, she released his manhood from his jeans.  Soon, his jeans and
shoes had joined hers in the pile.  As they lay naked  beside each other,
Nick couldn't help but admire her exquisite body with the shadows  of the
firelight dancing across her form.

As Nick smiled, Natalie noticed his fangs descending as his eyes began to
glow amber with lust.  As she watched, she couldn't help but notice her own
body responding to his.  As her fangs dropped for the second time, Nick
captured her lips with his.  His tongue caressed Natalie's fangs until she
felt as if she would explode from the pleasure.  He gently rolled Natalie
backwards until his body covered hers.  His manhood twitched with
anticipation as it gently stroked her pubic curls.  He slowly began to rock
against her.

Natalie wrapped her arms around Nick's waist digging her nails into his
back.  She had dreamed of this moment for so long...making love to the only
man she had ever truly loved.  Her heart soared as he began to rock and she
parted her legs in anticipation.  As Nick's shaft penetrated her moist core,
Natalie screamed in ecstasy. She rose up and began to kiss the base of his
neck.

Nick threw his head back as he felt her moist tongue stroke his erogenous
zone.  A low growl emanated.  He varied his strokes as he continued to
penetrate deeper into his love.  He knew with Natalie's new vampiric urges
she would not be able to sustain this pace for long.  As she nipped as his
neck, he would playfully pull away, this in turn only increased Natalie's
desire.

Natalie snarled as Nick pulled away again.  She captured his shoulder and
pulled him hard into her body.  As Nick landed with a thud, his shaft
penetrated to Natalie's very fiber.  The sensations wreaked havoc upon her
body.  They had been building at a blinding pace, but she could not find her
release.  Nick could sense Natalie's discomfort and frustration.  He slowly
turned his head, "Drink my love, it's the only way."

As Natalie stared into Nick's golden eyes, she concentrated upon their link.
Nick gently nudged Natalie toward his throat.  Natalie hesitated only a
second before her instincts took over and she gently sank her fangs into
Nick.

As Natalie drank deeply, Nick held her snugly against his neck.  He could
feel her orgasm wash over her as her muscles contracted around his shaft.
His own body ached as he felt her release through their link...he needed to
join her...body and soul.  He reared his head back, then sank his own fangs
into her soft shoulder.

As Nick stroked deeply into Natalie's body one last time, he released his
seed deep within his love.  As their orgasms rocked their bodies, their link
vibrated with excitement and fulfillment.  Each knew of the others
contentment and happiness of this coupling.  The future was no longer a dark
and lonely place to be feared.  As long as they had each other, anything
would be possible.  As their passions subsided, they each carefully removed
their fangs from the other.  Nick looked into Natalie's blue eyes staring
joyfully into his.  As their link sang with joy, he knew it was the right
decision.

Nick buried his head into Natalie's breasts.  Nat could feel his tears as
they fell upon her.  She wrapped her arms around Nick and kissed him gently
on top of his head.  "I know my love.  I've never been so content...so at
peace.  I will love you for eternity."

The End.