This is my first time, folks, so be gentle...
 
     It's a quickie, partially inspired by the Forever Not
challenge, partially by the Cowboy Junkies' CD _Pale Sun,
Crescent Moon_, and partially by somebody (sorry, I already
deleted the post) who asked why no one was writing happy endings.
 
     Wow, that's a lot of partially's.  Anyway, here's my version
of a happy ending ...for a while.
 
 
Forever Not:  Ring on the Sill
by J. Michele Freemon
 
Part 1
 
     She let the last of the sudsy water run down the drain as she
stared out the window at the setting sun.  The view of the valley
was quite spectacular, the bottom already lost in peaceful darkness.
 
     'Nick will be up soon.'  The thought drifted across Natalie's
mind as she wandered out onto the front porch, which faced the west
like the kitchen window.  She shivered slightly as the last of the
sun slipped into the crevice between the two ridges forming the other
side of the little valley.  'My last sunset... for a while.'
 
     The mountains gleamed a slate blue in the growing twilight,
earning their name, and the pine forests sent out a haunting,
crisp scent that she breathed in as deeply as her still-mortal
lungs would allow.  'It smells like snow.  I wonder if it's
snowing in Toronto.'
 
     The Blue Ridge was lovely, and she knew she'd enjoy the
month they'd taken off to spend here, but also she knew she'd be
just as glad to get back at the end of that time.  'At least no
one will comment on my working the same as hours as Nick.  Not for
at least a year...'
 
     She stood still, her arms wrapped about herself for warmth,
and let her mind drift where it would.
 
*****
 
     Nat thought back to a weekend only a month before.  She'd
left Nick's after an early morning spent with videos and popcorn,
but instead of going home, she'd headed for the park.  Grabbing
her current novel out of her bag, she wandered down toward the
playground.  Positioning herself at a slight distance for
concentration's sake, she lost herself in the next three chapters
of the story.
 
     Eventually, she laid the book on the grass beside her and
leaned back to enjoy the sun on her face.  She was jolted from a
near sleep by the soccer ball that landed on her stomach.  She
tossed back toward the game, grinning to let the nervous boy know
she wasn't mad, and shaded her eyes to watch the kids on the
playscape.  Her mind drifted to toddlers with Nick's hair and her
eyes, and she shook her head wryly.  'First find the cure.
Something's odd about Nick's tests, ever since that
litovuterine-b...'
 
     Nat sighed and picked up her book and sunglasses.  The small
outing had relaxed her enough that she thought she could go home
to bed and actually sleep.
 
*****
 
     A small doe ran across the clearing in front of the small
cabin, bringing Nat's thoughts back to the present and a smile to
her face.  Her hand brushed her lips as she thought about the
good-day kiss Nick had given her.  'Well, if I can't sit in the
sun anymore, at least I won't need so much relaxation.  Not to
mention cold showers...'
 
 
 
     Nick opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of
Janette's House Special.  He poured himself a glass and took a
sip, savoring the taste he'd hoped to give up for good.  He put
the bottle back into the fridge, and wandered over to the sink
to look out the window.  He sipped slowly, remembering the day
Nat had outlined his new regimen.
 
*****
 
     "Human blood.  Lots of it.  Ask Janette about it tonight."
Natalie's tone was flat, and she was staring at the wall.  She
hadn't met his eyes once since he arrived in her office.
 
     "Nat, you... you haven't given up?  Have you?"  His voice
registered his shock at her words.
 
     "You remember those anomalies in your tests?"
 
     The brittle edge to her voice finally registered, and he
nodded.  She continued, though he didn't think she'd seen his
response.
 
     "When you took the litovuterine-b..."  Her voice broke, and
it was a moment before she could continue.  "The massive amounts
did you more harm than I first realized.  Mostly at the cellular
level.  It's repairing itself, but at this rate, it'll be at
least two centuries before you can attempt another cure.
 
     "If you start drinking human blood again, there's a good
chance that the damage will heal more quickly."  There was a long
silence, then Nat choked back a sob.  "Nick, I'm so sorry,"
 
     He was by her side in a flash, pulling her into a rough
embrace.  "It was the amount.  It's not your fault.  If anyone's
to blame I am."  His voice was clipped, as he contemplated the
consequences of his brief addiction.
 
*****
 
     The timer turned on the lights in the living room of the
cabin, and a glint on the windowsill caught Nick's eye.  He picked
up Nat's ring and slipped it in his pocket.
 
     Janette had been more than willing to supply him with bottles
of both pure blood and blood cut with wine, he recalled.
Unfortunately, LaCroix had been at the Raven as well.  He refilled
his glass and wandered into the living room.  Natalie was standing
in front of the picture window and he watched as the soft light
streamed down onto her unbound hair, almost like a caress.
 
     'Tonight.'
 
*****
 
     One look at his son's face, and LaCroix settled in for the
duration.  Nick could see that he would stick to Janette, or
himself, until Nick was forced to ask her.  'Might as well get
it over with.'  He braced himself and quietly made his request.
The look of joy on LaCroix's face caught him completely off-guard
and just a few of the defenses of a century crumbled.
 
     "Why?" was Janette's practical response.
 
     "The litovuterine-b caused some damage.  Natalie hopes the
human blood will help the healing process.  In any case, my
search has been delayed at least a century."  He glanced at
LaCroix, but the older vampire's face gave no hint of
his thoughts.
 
     Janette did not press the point, thankfully, saying only,
"Very well, Nicholah."
 
     LaCroix waited until Janette left to retrieve a crate for
Nick's order, before he said softly.  "Your doctor won't be around
to find your cure." Nick glared at him.  LaCroix raised his
eyebrows and put one finger to his cheek, in a mimicry of
realization.  "Unless, of course..."
 
     "I thought we settled that on Valentine's Day," Nick replied
in a flat tone, wondering what was coming next.
 
     LaCroix chuckled low.  "Oh, Nicholas.  You don't actually
think I believed that performance of yours?"  The look on Nick's
face only made LaCroix laugh harder.  "Why don't I make it easy
for you?  I'll give you a month, plus a week for good measure.
You can offer your Natalie the choice.  Bring her across, or at
the end of five weeks, she will be dead."
 
     "Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm not serious,
Nicholas.  Five weeks.  By your hand or mine, Dr. Lambert will
cross over or die."
 
     A tiny redhead came up and slipped an arm around LaCroix's
waist as he waited for Nick's reaction.  "Lucien, you only get
that look on your face when you're up to no good.  What have you
done now?" she asked in round English vowels.
 
     "Hello, Jane."  Nick was determined that if LaCroix was waiting
for an answer, he could wait another millenia or so.  He also knew
he had no choice.  The choice was all Nat's.
 
     "Nicholas.  Janette told me of your problem.  I'm so sorry this
has happened.  Please, call me if you need an ear."
 
     Nick nodded and kissed Janette's cheek as he took the crate
of wine bottles from her.  He left without even glancing at
LaCroix, but the last thing he heard before the heavy door swung
shut was LaCroix's ringing laughter.
 
*****
 
     Nick drained his glass and went to pour another.  He'd need
all his control for tonight.  He wondered if the bond with
Natalie would mean he wouldn't wake up without immediately
thinking of the next time he'd be able to see her.  Then he
laughed softly, fingering her ring through the denim of his
jeans.  If he woke up missing her, he could just look beside him.
 
     As he raised the half-full glass of pure blood to his lips,
he thought about how the taste of her had lingered after
Valentine's Day.  She was only a few steps away, yet he remained
before the window.  It wasn't fully dark, and he had to be certain
she enjoyed all of her final sunset. '...for a while,' Nat's voice
echoed firmly in his thoughts.


     For Natalie, there had been only one choice.  As she had told
him then, a choice between death and immortality with him -- until
she found a cure, that is -- wasn't really a choice.
 
*****
 
     Nick's beeper went off, breaking the spell that had held them
gazing into each other's eyes after Nat's "Bring me across, Nick."
had rung through the morgue.
 
     Nick looked at the number thoughtfully.  "The Lady Jane
summons," he muttered.
 
     "Who's Lady Jane?"
 
     "Janette's ...daughter.  You'll like her.  She told me to call
when I needed to talk.  I guess she thinks I should need to by
now."  Nick grinned wryly and held up his pager.  "Must be fate.  I
was just about to take you to lunch.  Mind if I invite Jane?"
 
     "Um, sure," was Nat's lukewarm response.
 
     "Trust me.  Jane has more common sense... talking to her
always clears things up."
 
     Nat nodded slowly and crossed to the desk to retrieve
her purse.
 
 
     Fifteen minutes later they were ensconsed in Jane's
apartment.  She had informed them almost immediately that she
knew all about LaCroix's ultimatum.
 
     "You know him, Nicholas.  He couldn't wait to start
bragging.  Janette and I are going to be giving him the cold
shoulder for quite a while over this latest scheme!"  Nick was
presented with a glass of "something-or-other from the middle
ages.  I raided Lucien's cellar last time I stayed with him."
 
     Nat's heart warmed at the spread Jane had laid out for her.
"No matter what your decision, Natalie, you simply must enjoy
your last meals.  No more cholesterol worries for you!"  Laid out
on the dining table were a small plate of caviar, one of smoked
salmon, several slices of cheese, and some small rounds of wheat
and rye bread, accompanied by what looked suspiciously like
actual butter.
 
     'Well, Nick was right about this Lady Jane.  I never
considered cholesterol...' Nat thought as she eyed the food.
'The only thing missing is chocolate.'
 
     "Only one thing," Jane continued, smiling at the look on Nat's
face.  "Save room for at least one chocolate covered strawberry.  I
love to watch people eat chocolate!"
 
     They settled around the table, Nick and Jane doing most of the
talking.  "Jane was famous for her dinner parties.  Especially after
Janette brought her across."
 
     "What's wrong with a little vicarious pleasure?" Jane asked
innocently.
 
     When Nat had licked the last of the chocolate from her
fingers, Jane handed her a glass of light rose and led the
way to her living room.
 
     "First things first," Nat said as they sat down.  "I want you
to know I've decided I'd rather have Nick bring me across than any
of my other options."  Jane's casual conversation over lunch had
been partially geared toward introducing herself to Nat, and Nat
had sensed a kindred spirit in Jane.
 
     Nick sat next to Natalie and took her hand, lacing his fingers
through hers.  He looked at Jane and said, simply, "I wanted to
hear your take on the situation."
 
     Jane met Nat's eyes as she looked away from Nick, and what
she saw there, she recognized.  It added to the blossoming
feeling of friendship between herself and Nat and she smiled.
 
     "When I was still mortal, I said something to Lucien that's
been ringing in my head.  I believed then, as I still do, that
whenever you find love, you must hold on to it as hard as you
can, for as long as you can.  If the two of you love each other
as much as you seem to, hold on to each other!  Love is far too
rare to waste."
 
*****
 
     The front door opened, and Nat smiled softly, gazing up at
the stars beginning to dot the heavens.  The last week had been
hectic, but joyous.  There had been blood tests -- one of which
had to be faked -- Sidney to be transferred into Jenny's
welcoming arms, all the thousand things to do before leaving for a
month.  Then the small ceremony, flying here with
Nick last night, and her last full day ...for a while.  She sighed
and leaned back as his arms wrapped around her from behind.
 
     Nick held her wedding ring up for her to see.  "Hold out
your hand," he requested tenderly.  He once more placed the ring
on her finger, whispering "I love you, Nat." into her ear.  For
a time, he simply held her, hearing her heartbeat, feeling her
draw in deep breaths of the crisp mountain air.
 
     Soon, Natalie took one breath deeper than the rest and
puffed it out slowly.  Nicholas took a step back and turned her to
face him.  He rubbed his cool hands over her arms, savoring the
warmth of her flesh.
 
     Then, solemnly, he asked.  "Are you certain, Natalie?"
 
     She knew this was the last time he would ask, and she
shivered slightly at the implications.  In a calm voice she was
quite proud of, she answered him.  "Yes, Nicholas, I'm certain."
 
     Nick emitted a low sound, one well on its way to being a
growl, and struggled to retain control.  This had to be perfect.
His thumbs came up to lightly caress her cheekbones and stayed to
frame her face, as his fingers brushed her long hair back, off her
shoulders and away from her neck.  He let his eyes roam her face,
then leaned forward and softly kissed her.
 
     Nat snaked her arms up his back and stepped forward to press
her body to his.  Her lips opened and she welcomed the sweet
invasion of his tongue.  They stood on the porch in the gathering
gloom, sharing their love in the most ancient of languages.
 
     Finally, Nick turned, wrapping his arm around Nat's
shoulders, and led her into the cabin, back to the windowless
bedroom where the candles he had lit were already casting
flickering shadows on the walls.
 
 
 
Criticism, flames and virtual chocolate accepted at:
     jacie@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu