Disclaimer: The characters of the FK crew are not mine. I'm just borrowing them for a little while and will dust them of and return them. They belong to J Parriot and B Cohen and are owner by Sony/Tristar. No copyright infringement was intended.

Perfect Timing

LaCroix listened as the motor of the elevator kicked in, Nicholas was cutting it close but then so was he. LaCroix sat his wine glass on the end table and watched as Nick pushed the elevator door open. "Good morning Nicholas, you should get in earlier."

Nick looked at LaCroix and sighed, "LaCroix what do you want? What are you doing here?"

"Is that a decent way to greet your 'father'?"

Nick opened the fridge and pulled out the 'house' special, he gestured to LaCroix with the bottle. LaCroix picked up his own glass and sipped it.

"I brought my own vintage with me today Nicholas but I thank you for your effort."

Nick poured his drink into a mug and picked up the remote control to the shutters. He opened one to LaCroix's disapproval and peered out careful not to allow the sunlight to reach him. Nick sipped his drink and turned to LaCroix. "Are you going to tell me why you're here or are we just going to sit here staring at one another?"

LaCroix laughed, "Ah can't a good 'father' visit his favorite son without his motives being questioned?" Nick looked skeptical at LaCroix and flopped down on the sofa across from him. "Nicholas tomorrow night I want you to call in....sick."

Nick looked curiously at LaCroix. "Our kind doesn't get ill LaCroix you know that."

LaCroix chuckled, "Tomorrow night Nicholas isn't going to be like any you have ever known as a vampire. Have you ever asked Janette about my thousandth anniversary of my crossing over?"

"Why would I care to ask her about that." Nick said looking bored at LaCroix.

"It was a special night Nicholas as exciting for Janette as it was for me."

Nick took another sip from his cup and waited. He knew that LaCroix would color whatever story he was relating in vivid detail if he just waited silently. LaCroix looked at his handsome blue eyed son waiting for him to continue.

"On my thousand anniversary Nicholas the 'vampire' within my Janette went dormant for 24 hours."

Nick dropped his mug, it shattered upon impact and Nick sat for what seemed to be hours in his mind. The bovine blood pooled into a still puddle on the hard wood floor. "Is this a sick joke of some sort LaCroix?" Nick asked, thinking in some twisted part of LaCroix's mind that he wanted to see him suffer.

"No Nicholas, I wish it were, it's a reprieve. You'll have 24 hours of a... mortal existence." LaCroix looked disgusted then went on, "your job is far too dangerous to do as a mortal therefore I'm here to insist you call in...sick." LaCroix got up as the scent of the spilt bovine was nauseating him.

Nick watched as LaCroix climbed the stairs and then heard the door to his bedroom close. Swatting down Nick carelessly picked up the glass. As he gazed at the sunlight cascading on the floor near the open shutter he was startled by pain as the glass had cut him. Nick watched as his blood ran down his injured finger and dripped onto the floor. The elevator hummed into service. Natalie stepped out of the elevator after pushing the heavy door open. "Nick!"

Natalie cried out and ran to him when she saw the blood on the floor. Slowly Nick stood up holding his bleeding hand to him, how he wanted to nurse on the open wound but he knew this would repulse Natalie. Slowly like a frightened child he held his hand out to her.

"I cut myself on the glass I..I dropped my mug."

"Are...are you okay?" Natalie questioned as she glanced at the blood pooled on the floor. "That's bovine Natalie not me. I just have a little cut."

Natalie gently took his injured hand and examined the injury. "I would stitch that but by the time I prepared to, that would be healed and forgotten."

Natalie went to Nick's kitchen and got old towels out from under the sink to help Nick with the mess on the floor. As she got down to clean the blood away Nick stood behind her, trying to be out of her sight...he couldn't wait any longer he sucked on his injured finger and swallowed a mouthful. Natalie peeked over her shoulder and watched Nick for a second, she wasn't repulsed she had done that too when she cut herself but it wasn't a blood lust thing just that it hurt and she didn't want to make a mess.

Nick realized Natalie saw him, very lightly he blushed with embarrassment and went to get a pail of hot soapy water to scrub the floor. "Sorry," he whispered as he got down beside her.

"For what," she questioned. Nick looked away from her. "Oh for sucking on your hurt finger Nick? A lot of people do that with small cuts...it's not blood lust. It's just a reaction. I've done it too." Nick smiled as he finished scrubbing the floor and stood up.

"Thanks Nat." Natalie pulled at Nick's hand and looked at the cut, it looked like an old scar now and by evening it would fad completely away.

"Well," Nat looked at him as if she was waiting. Nick seemed confused for a moment then lean forth and kissed her forehead. Natalie was startled by his action. "Nick that was nice...very nice but I thought you wanted me to pick up a package and send out in the post today."

"Oh yes, sorry Nat. I have something on my mind." Natalie looked curiously at Nick but he said nothing about what was on his mind. He just invited her over tonight to watch movies with him, gave her the package, and thanked her for sending it out for him.

The day passed and when Nick went to work, he traded shifts with someone so he could have the following night off like LaCroix had asked him to do. Natalie was off tomorrow he knew that because she mentioned that she suppose to take Sidney to the vet and she only made morning appointments if she didn't work at night.  Nick laughed at himself thinking that a 24 hour span of freedom from the 'vampire' and he was going to end up at the vets with Nat.

Natalie came up in the elevator as usual, then opened the door and pulled her coat off. Nick reached out of a darkened corner pulled Natalie to him and kissed her passionately. Natalie was caught somewhere between shock and excitement. "Nick!...Wh....mmmmmmm aaaaahhhhhhh!!! What's got into you?!?!"

Nick just hugged Nat to him and moaned to himself pleased. "Popcorn and hot chocolate Nat?"

"Yes please." Nat headed for the sofa as Nick went and got the food and drink.

"Want to order a pizza? I'll always wondered why pepperoni was so popular." Nick asked. Natalie looked at him again.

"Nick are you okay?" Nat questioned, but her answer would have to wait Nick was ordering a pizza on the phone. The movie started and Nick paced impatiently waiting for the pizza when the buzzer sounded and he allowed the delivery person in with the pizza. He paid and took the pizza and coke and returned to Nat's side with two glasses and plates. Nick sips the coke as Nat watched him then he took a big gulp...."Ah so that why they call it the 'real thing'."

Natalie was startled to see a man that forced himself to drink the protein shakes gulping down coke. He took a bit of the pizza and moaned as if he was having the best orgasm ever. Natalie touch Nick's chest and then press her head to his chest. Startled and overjoyed Natalie kissed Nick and cried out in joy. "Nick your mortal!!!!"

Nick nodded, "LaCroix said it's his 2 thousandth year as a vampire this evening and this happened to Janette when he turned a thousand.  I only have 24 hours Natalie and I don't want to miss a moment of it. I want to eat pizza, make love to you, and if I have to, go to the vet with you and Sidney." Natalie laughed, tears stung her eyes as she told Nick that Sidney's shot could wait until her next day off. Natalie asked Nick if he wanted to go out on a picnic, to the lake, or what he wanted to do in the day light. Nick smiled and said, "I want to do everything Nat...but more importantly I want to do it with you." Natalie sipped her coke...the carbonation seemed to burn her throat and she didn't feel hunger only nibbled on a small piece of pizza.

Natalie dozed off for awhile as Nick tugged at her arm..."Nat wake up. Watch the sunrise with me...come on. Please." Natalie got up of the sofa and stood in front of the window she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked to see the darkened sky taking on a pink hue then the sun peeking through the clouds. Nick stood behind her holding her close to him as he watched. The light crept into the room at their feet then slowly rose. Nick reached out to touch a ray of sunshine in front of them, Nat's hand joined his. Pain!! Burning!!! Natalie pulled her hand back and repelled herself from the sunlight ...confused she looked at Nick.

The room still darkened in the corner she looked at him through glowing vampiric eyes. Tears slowly ran down her checks..."Nick....Nick...," she called to him, "what's happening?!!" Nick slowly walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle, it was LaCroix's vintage and not his own. Bovine was hard enough for him to drink and for her, hurt and frightened, he thought it easier to get this down her. Confused and frightened Natalie followed after Nick careful not to get into the sunlight. He poured an ounce or two into a cup and offered it to her. Natalie pushed the cup away and yipped as her fangs dropped piercing her lip...the aroma of the blood in the cup seemed inviting slowly Nick offered it to Natalie again. Natalie took the cup turned away and downed it...mmmmmmmmm...she felt the same way about this as the warm feeling she got when she ate a divine sweet milk chocolate. The burn on Natalie hand faded and she smiled at Nick feeling better.

Nick sat Natalie down on the sofa and was on the phone. "What is it now Nicholas?" LaCroix said as he had just laid down for his days rest and just because his son was...was going native for 24 hours didn't mean he was. Nick tried to say something to LaCroix privately but Natalie could hear both he and LaCroix quite well along with the steady beat of Nick's heart. "Oh of course the human Janette held most dear traded places with her during the 24 hours Nicholas.

Is there a problem with that? Put her in the trunk and bring her over...I'll baby-sit her while you go out and play Nicholas." Natalie stared at Nick and her eyes watered. Nick hung up the phone and sat down beside Natalie. He wanted to hold and hug her. Natalie fell into his arms sobbing. Nick looked to the sunlight on the floor...Natalie lifted her head and softly she whispered. "Nick this is your day...please go out and do all the things you had planned...I...I'll stay here and I'll be okay." Nick so wanted to see the world in daylight but he yearned to be with Nat and share this with her. Damn LaCroix for leaving out this 'small' fact. Natalie insisted that Nick go out and have fun. Nick finally agreed just for a little while, he first went up and took a shower.

Coming down stair he watched as Natalie experimented with flying only about a foot off the floor and about six feet...she giggled in delight. It takes so little to impress a fledgling Nick thought then wiped the thought from his mind. Natalie had just traded places with him for 24 hours she wasn't a fledgling. Nick smiled at Natalie...."having fun?" Natalie turned looking embarrassed. "It's okay Nat, after all you're a doctor, you may learn more about it by experiencing it yourself." Natalie nodded and walked Nick to the door and kiss him bye.

Nick drove around in the car with the top down he stopped at a small diner and ordered breakfast, read the news paper and watched as the day lovers started their day. These were the type of people LaCroix and his kind didn't feed on, couldn't because they were safely locked away in their homes at night. After breakfast he again drove around and found himself at the zoo.

Watching both the animals and the people, he bought a balloon for Natalie then saw stuffed animals. He picked through them at the stand until he found a small blondish looking one that was entitled 'vampbear'. Why not he thought and purchased it. At the zoo he walked through seeing animals and rode small rides. Children played and giggled all around him. He felt something strange, an aching, and a churning, in his stomach. He realized he was hungry and stopped at a stand, read the menu, laughed, and ordered some souvlaki. Schanke would be proud of him.

After eating Nick drove home and found Natalie asleep in his bed in a classic vampiric sleeping pose on her back with hands over her heart. He left the 'vampbear' and balloon for her in the corner of his room and was very quiet not wanting to wake her. Nick found himself in the park walking, he watched as small kids played baseball among themselves and fought over who was safe and out.  He volunteered to umpire. The game went on until all of the kids at the same time stopped in the middle of everything.

They all ran towards street and lined up for a passing ice-cream truck. Nick stood in line behind them and ordered what seemed to be the popular among them. Mmmmmmmmm....ice-cream!!! Now he knew why Natalie loved chocolate so. Many of the children left for home and asked Nick to umpire at tomorrows game. Nick just told them he would try.

Natalie sat on the sofa sipping from a wine glass, she smelled Nick's vintage and decided it was vile. LaCroix's vintage was much more appealing. Nick pushed the door open and Nat tried to cover the red wine mixture in the glass with both hands. "Natalie," Nick whispered, "don't be embarrassed and hide this from me. You need this right now for the 'vampire'. I'm
choose to join the family and you will choose to someday."

sorry I was so close to you to have to make you go 24 hours as a vampire. I know it's hard and frightening for you." Natalie petted Nick gently, "Better me than Schanke."

Nick laughed, "Well I guess I could have hypnotized him into forgetting today." "What did you do with your day Nick?" Nick smiled and told her of all of his adventures. He said he loved the chocolate ice-cream and playing baseball with the kids.

Nick stood in front of the window and watched as the daylight faded from his sight. Natalie then joined him looking out into the darkness.

"So Nicholas did you enjoy your day?" LaCroix stood behind them next to the table he picked up

Nat's wine glass. Sniffed it and took a sip. Natalie spun around startled she vamped out. "Very good my dear." LaCroix said in approval. Nick pulled Natalie to him as she caught a faint reflection of herself in the glass of the window. She looked at her glowing eyes and the white fangs as she slowly opened her mouth. Then she looked into Nick's loving eyes, she hugged him. LaCroix went on stepping closer he gently pulled Natalie from Nick's arms. "Careful Nicholas, just as you working tonight, she with the vampirism within her can kill you."

Natalie looked at LaCroix shocked. He addressed her this time. "You hear him don't you? The pounding of his heart as the blood flows through his veins. You can smell it when you near him. It calls to you, teasing you. Are you hungry Natalie? Can you take just a little, a mouthful not more than two. You wonder don't you?" Natalie cried out, "Stop it! I love him. Please don't do this to me." Tears ran down her cheeks she hit LaCroix hard on his chest, pounding on him, and then fell sobbing into his arms. He held her, soothing her, and petting her. He talked to the 'vampire' within her like an old friend explaining to it what was happening. It seemed to enjoy its new host as it enjoyed Nick. LaCroix sat with them and watched over both his son and Natalie. They sat enjoying an old movie as Nick and LaCroix spoke about things they did in the era that the movie was made. Midnight was approaching and LaCroix prepared to leave. LaCroix looked at Natalie and whispered softly to her as Nick pulled a piece of leftover pizza out of the microwave. "Natalie not everyone gets to try a ..."sample" version of *our* lifestyle. Come to me when you choose to join the family and you will choose to someday."

Nick took a bite of pizza. LaCroix looked disgusted at his son and left through the skylight. Natalie snuggled next to Nick slowly he kissed her. Natalie whispered. "Nick please, it's not safe. I..I don't want to hurt you." Nick rubbed her back and down her thigh. "Natalie, please my day was so great. It would have been better if I could have had you out there with me but we can do this." "Nick I could kill you. LaCroix say I was a danger to you." Nick kissed her hard not taking 'no' for an answer...he knew she wanted this too.

Natalie pulled Nick's shirt off of him and kiss down his shoulder. Moaning to herself she rubbed her cool hands up his back tickling his nipple with her tongue. Nick undressed Natalie as quickly as he could and pulled her down in front of the fireplace. He pushed her legs apart and forcefully pushed his penis its whole length inside her. Natalie gasped and loosing control for a moment the 'vampire' stared up through Nat's eyes at him as he impaled her again and again with his hard unyielding penis. The fangs dropped but somehow Natalie found the strength to call the 'vampire' back in as her blue eyes again gazed up at her lover. He leaned forth kissing her as she with the *borrowed* vampiric strength turned them over laying him on his back to the floor. She slid up and down on him hard.

Nick yipped in pain a few times at Natalie's movements but she ignored his cry and continued. She felt herself yielding to the 'vampire' demanded his..er its feed. Natalie fell on to her lover. Her fangs dropped slowly she pressed them to Nick's throat. Nick moaned but submitted as Nat swallowed a small mouthful of blood. Nick bucked at her hard from the floor holding her hips, he forced his penis to her deepest parts cumming hard as she blasted her own hot juices onto him. The fangs...his fangs dropped for a moment he couldn't break her skin and she couldn't his. A shared mortal moment for them locked into a kiss then his eyes glowed and he bite swallowing hard a mouthful than two. He pulled himself away from her neck. Grabbed at the wine glass on the table downing it all and then held the mortal Natalie to himself and his cooling vampiric skin.

LaCroix glance down through the skylight and laughed...he wondered if he should tell them that four possible things could come of their love making. 1. That Nick could have at the right time stayed mortal and he would again have to bring his son across. 2. A rare occurrance but it does happen that Natalie would remain a vampire or be able to keep some of its qualities. 3. That she could get pregnant and give Nicholas a mortal (?) child. 4. Is that he could sell the video tape he just made to the naughty Nick and Nat packers that just read this story.

End