Subject: Oh Boy... 01/09 Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 12:36:48 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Hi everybody! This is the next installment of my Nicky Series coming right after “The Faithful Few”! Many warm thanks to my beta-readers, Heather-Anne and Cousin Jules! Thanks guys! Permission to post at Ftp and fkfanfic.com. Oh Boy... By Knightraven Copyright 2000 "Better give me a couple of those rolls, too, Kay. They smell delicious!" Jordan said, pointing to the freshly-baked bread on the rack behind the shop assistant. "Anything else?" the young woman in her twenties asked her with a genuine, friendly smile. She was quite used to the way this particular customer kept adding to her list each time she tapped the total into her register--after all, she did frequent her store almost every day. She would only ever purchase enough to last a day or two, and occasionally she was accompanied by a rather dashing older man who gave her the shivers, but still...he had a butt to die for. "Yes, thanks. I think I'm done." "Are you sure?" Kay teased the friendly woman. Jordan put her hands on her hips in mock defense. "Yes, I'm quite finished...thank you!" She couldn't help smiling as the woman hit the final tally button. "Seven-eighty, please." Jordan handed over a ten and waved away the change. "Have a good night, Kay." Jordan picked up the bag of groceries and headed for the door. "Thanks, Jordan!" the storekeeper called after her. Jordan gave her a wave and stepped out onto the pavement. It was a cold night, and she almost opted for a cab to take her the three blocks to the Raven. But glancing about showed her there wasn't a taxi in sight, and by the time she called for one, she would be home already. So, with tonight's lunch and dinner in hand, she strode off into the early evening darkness. She and Lucien hadn't been back from Sorrento for more than a couple of days, and they had yet to inform Nick and Natalie of their marital union. She smiled as she thought of the imminent reaction they were going to get when they finally noticed the matching rings she and Lucien wore. Her breath fogged as she breathed, and soon her toes and fingers were numb. Anyone would be insane to be out for long on a night like this. The ground was wet and becoming frosty as the night temperature dropped. It may even snow before Christmas, she mused hopefully. Not wanting to lug herself and her food through the club, Jordan circled around the rear of the Raven to enter through the back door. Fumbling in a pocket for her key, she paused when she heard a strange sound coming from the dumpster a few feet to her right. She stopped as she slid the key into the lock and listened for the sound again. There! It sounded like a small animal. Going over to the large industrial bin, she slowly opened the lid to look inside. Nothing. It had recently been emptied, too, so she could see it was clear of any wildlife. She heard the squeak again--no, it was more like a whimper. Thinking perhaps a puppy had taken cover behind the dumpster, Jordan crept around the side, so as not to scare it away. It was too cold for anything to be outside for long, even a stray dog. She was sure Lucien wouldn't mind sheltering it in the cellar for the night. Ha! Who was she kidding?! But she couldn't just leave it out here. Pulling a crushed cardboard carton out from the opening, she peered inside, and what she saw took her breath away. Huddling up into the smallest ball possible and shivering violently...was a small child. "Oh, my God," she whispered. A pair of half-closed, ice-blue eyes turned to stare back at her, and even with the cold and exhaustion, they held a look of terror. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." She held out her hand to the child as it warily shuffled further away from her into the dark. "I bet you're pretty cold. I live right here. You can come in for a while and warm up. I'll even make you a sandwich if you like," she said quietly. She relaxed her body in a crouched position, trying to be as non-threatening as possible. As the child shuffled a little, Jordan could just make out the worn sneakers and much too small jacket the child was wearing. She held out her hand again and slowly the child reached out a frozen hand and touched her fingers with its own. "Come on. It's okay. You're safe here," she told the child quietly. Why on earth would such a young child be out at this time of night and in this weather?! She looked around again but there were still no other adults in sight. Perhaps the child's parents were in the club. It wouldn't be a first for a parent to dump their kids outside or leave them in the car while they went inside to party. On the two occasions it had occurred here, Lucien hadn't hesitated in calling Nicholas and reporting the offending parents, and with a little added incentive thrown in, he made quite sure the children would never suffer the same fate again. Lucien never failed to pleasantly surprise her. The child edged closer to her and eventually grasped her hand completely and let her help the small form out of the hole it had been sheltering in. "Hello there." Jordan smiled as she held on to the child's hand. Now in the lit area of the doorway, she could see the child was filthy and wet, and no more than five years old. The blue woolen hat was pulled down over its ears and the mittens were worn and matted, and thoroughly soaked. Shaking badly, the child kept losing its balance and she had to hold on to its elbow to stop it from falling over. She kept smiling warmly. "My name is Jordan. Would you like to come inside?" The child slowly nodded its weary head and took her hand again and she led the frozen and forgotten child into the warmth of the Raven. "Here, why don't we take off our coats and shoes," she said as they stopped just inside the closed door. She took off her own wet coat and then knelt down to unzip the shabby and well-worn jacket the child was wrapped in. It was soaked through as were the three layers of clothing underneath. She was surprised the child wasn't dead. Dropping the jacket and two layers of sweatshirt on the floor, she bent down to remove his equally soaked shoes. They were far too big for the child and they, like the rest of the child's clothing, were obviously 'hand me downs'. She determined the child was a little boy, and took his socks off as well. "So, what's your name, little man?" she asked him lightly. But he remained silent, though he watched her every move intently, if not a little warily. Something had to have happened to this child for him to have been out in the streets, and by the condition she found him in, he obviously came from a low income family. "Do you want me to call your mom to come and get you?" she asked him. She saw the look of panic flash back into the blue eyes, and he shook his head adamantly in the negative. He looked like he was about to bolt, so Jordan took a gentle hold of his hands. "It's okay. Why don't we just go upstairs and sit in front of the fire?" As the child slowly relaxed a little, he nodded. Upstairs, Jordan grabbed a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around the child as she sat him in front of the roaring fire Lucien had kindly lit for her arrival home. "You sit here and get warm while I go and find something dry for you to wear, okay?" She crouched down and rubbed the boy's thin arms. At his small nod, she left him to return to the bedroom she shared with the ancient vampire. Sorting through their drawers, she managed to find a sweatshirt, a pair of socks and a pair of running shorts of her own which had a drawstring. The boy was still shivering as she pulled off the rest of his clothes and dried him off with a towel before dressing him in the sweatshirt and shorts. She was just pulling on a pair of Lucien's socks when the man himself walked into the room. The child leapt up and hid behind Jordan, his eyes wide with fear. Lacroix had paused in the hallway when he had detected the presence of a second heartbeat in the living room. Upon opening the door, his suspicion was confirmed. They had a visitor. Looking to his lover with a raised eyebrow, he asked her forebodingly, "Jordan, what...is that?" He gestured to the small body cowering behind the woman. What stray had she gone and picked up this time? The basement was already full of stray vampires, many of whom had been granted immunuity by his lover. Most were of the type he would never have allowed to reside under his roof. But much like his daughter, Janette, she too had this most annoying tendency to welcome all manner of riff-raff into the Raven's basement. "It's a child, Lucien," she told him, not at all happy as he referred to the child as 'that'. "I found him behind the dumpster out back. He's frozen half to death." Jordan tried to pull the child out from behind her, but he was having none of it. Lacroix could see the child was obviously terrified of him. Children could often sense the danger of their kind. So he remained where he was in the doorway. He saw the resolve in her eyes which told him she was going to care for the child for the time being, so he sighed. "Very well. Warm him, feed him, then get rid of him." At that he spun on his heel and left. Jordan pursed her lips at the departed vampire and then turned her attentions back to the child behind her. She knelt down and faced him, drawing him back over to the fire. "Don't mind him. He's always grumpy when he's just got out of bed." She smiled at the little boy, who had now thankfully stopped shivering. She guided him to sit on the foot stool, and he avidly watched her every move. As Jordan changed his clothes, she noticed the scars on his back and fresh bruises on his arms, legs and torso. He had recently been beaten, and she suspected it wasn't the first time. "Are you hungry?" she asked him. The boy nodded his short, light brown hair. "Okay, I'll be right back." Jordan gave him a rub on the arm before disappearing downstairs into the kitchen. He hadn't moved an inch when she returned with one of her rolls stuffed with shaved ham. The boy tentatively took the sandwich, and after an encouraging nod from her, he took a huge mouthful. As the boy ate, Jordan gave him another once over. He looked too thin, and other than the bruises, he seemed healthy enough, but nonetheless, the child should see a doctor after being out in the cold for so long, and as it so happened, she knew of a certain doctor who also just happened to have the night off tonight. But first she decided she needed to pry a little more information from the child. "Do you know where you live?" she asked him. The boy shook his head. "Are you lost?" He shook his head again. This was a little odd. Maybe he was living on the streets, but surely not alone at his age. "Do you live with your Mom?" No. Hmm. "What about your Dad?" The boy didn't reply. Perhaps we were getting somewhere at last. "Do you want me to find your Dad?" The boy's eyes lit up again, and he shook his head so hard, Jordan though he was going to fall off the stool. "Okay." He seemed to calm down a bit, but he continued to eye her cautiously. "You're not much of a talker, are you?" she said, then smiled, as he shook his head slightly. "That's okay. I was kind of quiet when I was your age, too." The boy lifted his chin a little and eyed her thoughtfully. "So, you're what, four?" The boy shook his head and held up five fingers. "Ah, five. A very good age." A thought came to her when the boy seemed to be communicating fairly well with her, even though he wasn't speaking. "Can you write your name?" she asked. The boy nodded enthusiastically. "Excellent. If you write it for me then I'll know what to call you, okay?" The boy nodded again, and Jordan went over to the writing desk and withdrew a sheet of paper and a pen. Placing them in front of the boy, she gestured to the paper. "Go for it." The boy carefully picked up the pen and placed it into his left hand, then with intense concentration, he slowly spelled out his name. L...i...a...m "Liam!" Jordan exclaimed with a big smile. Liam nodded, and for the first time, smiled back. Jordan went back to the desk and grabbed a few more sheets of paper and a box of felt tip pens belonging to Nicky. She took them over to the boy and placed them on the table. "Why don't you draw me a couple of pictures, while I go and do some things. I'll be back shortly." Liam nodded and picked up the packet of brightly colored pens and opened them. After watching him draw happily for a couple of minutes, Jordan left the room and went down to the office to call Natalie. Natalie arrived in due course and immediately raised an eyebrow at the woman as she entered the living room. Jordan hadn't told her the patient was a child. Upon seeing her enter, the child, however, was not happy to see her. He leapt up and hid behind Jordan's legs. "It's okay, Liam. This is Natalie. She is a very close friend of mine, and I asked her to come over and take a look at you." Natalie took a step toward the frightened boy and knelt before him. "That's right. I'm a doctor, you see," she said proudly, puffing her chest out and thumbing it. This elicited a slight smile at her theatrics, and he even stepped out from behind Jordan a little. The boy remained silent as Natalie crept forward a shuffle or two. "Will you let me take a quick look at you, just to make sure you're not hurt from being so cold?" Slowly the child inspected her and eyed her thoughtfully. Finally he nodded his approval, and Natalie gave him one of her award-winning smiles. Jordan crouched down beside them both as Natalie began pulling the child's clothes off. As she saw the recent bruises and less recent scars covering the small body, Natalie's heart wrenched, but she was careful to keep her outward self friendly and unperturbed. She gave Jordan a glance, though, and knew their thoughts were the same. This child had not had a happy life thus far. Pulling his clothes back on, Natalie spoke cheerfully to the boy, who now seemed relaxed in her company. "Well, Liam, I think apart from a few bumps and bruises, you seem just fine." Natalie felt him stiffen at the mention of the injuries on his body. But when she said nothing else, he relaxed again. Natalie and Jordan left Liam to his drawing once again and stepped outside to talk privately. End part 1 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy... 02/09 Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 12:37:22 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Part 2 "He's been abused, Nat!" Jordan whispered sharply. "He's five years old! How could anyone be so cruel!" "I know, Jordan. I'm going to call Nick. He'll have to come and get him. There's no way that boy's going back where he's just come from, that's for sure!" "Will they let Nick handle a non-homicide case?" Jordan wondered. "If he asks real nice." Natalie gave her a knowing grin. "You're incorrigible, Natalie Lambert," Jordan smirked. Natalie smiled wickedly at the woman then let it fall as she continued seriously. "He's not said a word since you found him?" "Not a one." "We'll need to get some more information from him somehow. Where he's come from, who hurt him, the whole nine yards." "I'm not sure he's going to be terribly receptive, Nat." "No, but perhaps Nick might be able to get something out of him. He has a special way with kids--they seem to take to him pretty well." "What will happen to him?" "Social Services will come and place him in a foster home for the short term, then if they deem his family or the home he's just come from as unsuitable, then they'll try to adopt him out." "Poor kid," Jordan said, looking back at the closed door where the boy sat quietly, playing on the other side. "Yeah. I'll go and call Nick from Lacroix's office." Lacroix watched his son enter the Raven and make his way through the crowd toward the apartment. He had seen the good doctor arrive earlier, and he now guessed she had called Nicholas to come and rid him of the mortal waif upstairs. With a sigh of relief, he queued up his next ad and leaned back into the microphone. "Lost loved ones, mes amis. Have you misplaced or perhaps even forgotten one of your own? Or perhaps you turned your head but for a moment and they were gone. Or worse still, in a hasty lash of anger, you spoke words you now regret and drove your child away. I was once told you should let them go if you love them, and they will return. But what if they do not return, and more to the point, what if you have no wish for them to do so? The ungrateful child, or the irresponsible parent. Food for thought. Then again, perhaps the child runs because he wants the parent to follow. He will test the strength of your love continuously, until he is sure in his faith that you do indeed love him, no matter what he does or where he may run, or what he may say. He will always know you will be there...I will always be here for you, my children...always." He flicked himself off the air and leaned back in his chair, satisfied with another good broadcast. Nick knocked on the living room door and opened it before he heard the summons to enter from within. A little boy, who was obviously the reason for his being here, grew wide-eyed as he entered, and bolted to Jordan and hid behind her legs. Nick raised an eyebrow at Natalie sitting on the couch. "He's a little wary of strangers." "I see." "It's all right, Liam. My name's Nick. I'm a policeman." Jordan tried to pull him out from behind her, but Liam was holding her leg so tightly he was hurting her. He was terrified. Much more so than he had been of Natalie. Nick took a step forward and crouched down to the boy's level. Liam buried his head into Jordan's leg, closing his eyes tight. Nick could hear the boy's heart beating wildly in fright, and so he backed away again to the far side of the room. Liam very slowly opened his eyes. Lacroix took this moment to enter the room. Liam screamed and bolted from Jordan and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him and throwing the bolt home. "He's terrified, Nat. His heart's going at a million miles an hour." "Indeed, they can often detect our kind." Natalie stood by the couch, thinking. Pursing her lips, she tapped a thoughtful finger against them. "I want to try something," she announced suddenly. "Try what?" Nick asked her. "An experiment. I need you two to wait outside." Both Nick and Lacroix raised an identical eyebrow, causing both Natalie and Jordan to stifle a smile. "And pray tell, just why do you wish us to wait in the hallway?" Lacroix demanded gently. "Just because...please?" "All right," Nick said grudgingly. He pulled at his father's sleeve, and after a pleading look from Nick, the ancient sighed dramatically and followed his son out into the hallway. Natalie followed them out. "Lucy!" She called the vampire waitress from the top of the stairs. "Yes, Natalie?" came a reply. "Could come up here for a minute?" Lucy was at her side in an instant. "I would like you to come and meet someone." "Sure," Lucy said, more than a little confused. Natalie led her to the living room door and turned back to her. "Wait here for a minute." Lucy waited obediently, giving the two males behind her an inquisitive glance. She sure hoped this wasn't some sort of practical joke. Natalie re-entered the living room, and nodded to Jordan. Jordan went over to the bathroom door and crouched down. "Liam, it's okay to come out now. They've gone." After a long moment, they heard the bolt slide, and the door cracked open ever so slightly. "It's okay," Jordan said again. Liam cautiously opened the door and peered out. Seeing only Natalie in the room, he stepped into the room once again. Jordan took his hand and led him back to the fire and sat him down on the overstuffed foot stool. Lucy slowly entered the room when she heard them move across the room. She had caught on to what Natalie was doing. Liam started at the sight of her for a moment, but he didn't have the same terror-ridden expression or response he had when Nick and Lacroix had entered. "Liam, this is Lucy. She works downstairs in the club." Lucy smiled at the adorable little boy, and he watched her as she came closer. "Hi, Liam. That's a neat name. My brother's name is Liam, too." The boy responded to the vampire with the hint of a smile. "Would you like something to drink, Liam?" Lucy asked him. He looked to Jordan as if for permission, and when she nodded, he turned back to Lucy and did the same. "Juice?" she asked. The boy nodded again. Lucy went over to the bar and poured the child a glass of orange juice and passed it to him and he smiled in thanks. "You're welcome," Lucy said to the boy with a friendly grin. "Look, I really should get back to the bar. Patrick will be going spare." "Okay, Lucy, thanks for your help." "No problem. Just call if you need me again." Lucy gave Liam a little wave and left the room, respectfully giving the men in the hallway a short nod as she passed them by. "How much longer must we suffer out here, like a couple of naughty school boys?" Lacroix asked his son. Nick chuckled at the thought and wondered that himself. "Okay, you guys can come back in now," Natalie whispered through the door. Nick led the way back into the room. At the first sight of the men, Liam bolted for the bathroom again. Lacroix flapped his arms in intolerance. The child was beginning to irritate him. "Well, doctor, was your little experiment fruitful?" he asked snidely. "Yes, it was," she told them. At his impatient glare, she enlightened the vampires. "I don't believe Liam is afraid of you because you're you-know-whats." "He's afraid of us because we're men," Nick finished for her. "Exactly." "He's been abused?" Nick asked her. "From the injuries, both old and new, seen on him during my initial exam, I'd have to say yes." "Sexually?" Nick was a frontline cop; he knew the signs well enough. "I don't know. He wouldn't allow me to check his genital area." "Okay, I'll have to call Social Services to come and assess him, and find him a bed for the night." "Okay." Natalie nodded as Nick left the room to call Social Services. Jordan looked over to Lacroix. "Ah, Lucien. He's not going to come out if you're here." She smiled sweetly. Lacroix pursed his lips in annoyance. Then as he was leaving the room, he turned back to his lover. "I want him gone...tonight, Jordan, " he told her seriously. "I will not become a refuge for mortal waifs as I've become for immortal ones. Do you hear me?" "Yes, Lucien. I hear you," she replied in the same snide tone he had used earlier. She hated him telling her what to do in that high-handed manner he was inclined to use. He gave her a final glare at her tone and left without another word. Calling through the door again, Jordan finally coaxed the child to come out and sit by the fire. An hour later, Lucy showed a middle-aged woman into the room. Nick chose to stay right out of sight. After a one-sided chat with Liam and another physical exam, she gestured for Natalie to join her outside. They went downstairs and into Lacroix's office where Nick was waiting for them to fill him in. "Well, I'd have to concur with your initial assessment of the child, Doctor, Detective, but I'm afraid I have some bad news." "Don't tell me, " Nick groaned. "There's no room at the inn, right?" "Unfortunately, and there won't be any for at least a couple of days." "So where is he going to go?" Natalie asked incredulously, hardly believing her ears. "You can't send him back to his so-called home. Can you?!" Natalie's eyes almost popped from their sockets at the look the Social Services officer gave her. "No way!" "Nat, calm down. We can't send him back. We don't know where that is." Nick grabbed Natalie's arms as she began to flail them about in anger. "Sometimes, due to our limited resources, we have to leave children in their homes until we can come and remove them." "Even when they're at risk!?" "Occasionally." "Great, that's just great." Natalie flapped her arms in disbelief. "But what about Liam? What's going to happen to him tonight?" Nick asked the woman. "I don't know. It's the silly season. We've been inundated with kids all in the same boat as Liam, and we only have so many safe beds to put them all in." The officer seemed as fed up with the system as Nick and Natalie were. "What about either of you?" The woman looked hopefully to Nick and Natalie. "Liam really doesn't respond well to my presence," Nick told her. "Any men, in fact," Natalie added. "What about the woman who found him? She appears responsible enough." "Jordan? Ah..." Nick said, then looked to Natalie for help. "Her..ah...partner...doesn't really take to children that well." "I see. I suppose we can take him to Hudson for a couple of nights," the officer thought aloud. "Hudson?!! No way! He is not going to an adult mental hospital. Not even over my dead body!" Natalie told her adamantly, getting fired up again. Nick scratched his head in thought for a moment, then headed toward the door suddenly. "I'll be back in a minute." Nick jogged back upstairs and stuck his head into the living room. "Jordan, can I talk to you for a minute?" he said quickly and disappeared before the boy could react. Jordan came out to join him in the hall. "Nick?" "We have a slight problem..." Nick filled her in on Liam's potential residential prospects. "He is not going to Hudson! He's staying here," she declared firmly. "But Lacroix..." Nick started, but she cut him off. "I'll handle him. Liam is staying here until an opening comes up, and that's final!" Nick smiled. He had hoped she would say that. "So I can tell Vivian to leave him here?" "Yes, you may," she said formally, as though to a servant. She was quite aware she had just been railroaded. Now she just had to figure out how she was going to break the news to Lucien. "Okay, great." Nick spun and trotted back down the stairs to tell the Social Services officer the good news. Nick and Natalie said their good-byes to Jordan and Liam, Nick remaining in the doorway. Vivian had left the moment Nick had told her Liam was able to stay at the Raven. If she hung around, they might have changed their minds. So now Jordan sat beside Liam as he slept in Nicky's bed. He had finally fallen asleep on the couch, and Jordan tenderly carried him to bed. This was where Lacroix found her. He stood in the bedroom doorway, a black cloud rolling onto his face. He was not happy. She looked up at him , then as she tucked the blankets tighter around the small body within, she said quietly, "He had nowhere else to go, Lucien." "Somehow I find that hard to believe." "You would have rather seen him sent to an adult mental asylum?" she asked him as she brushed passed into the hallway." "Yes!" he told her emphatically. She turned back to him after closing the door of the bedroom, and glared at her lover. He could be a real bastard sometimes. "It will only be for a couple of nights, just until an opening at one of the foster facilities becomes available." Lacroix glared back, then followed her to their own bedroom. "He is not staying. Get rid of him." Jordan whirled on him. "We can't! I've already said we'll take him, and we will! That boy has gone through a lot these past few days, if not years, Lucien, and I will not allow him to be treated like a piece of used clothing, to be tossed aside when it no longer fits or becomes unfashionable. Do you hear me!?!" Lacroix continued to glare at her as she did him. He had rarely seen her so worked up. "He will be completely your responsibility. I will have nothing to do with the child! Do you hear me?!" he told her in no uncertain terms. "Fine." "Good." Lacroix turned on his heel and left her to return to the club. He suddenly needed a long drink of his finest. Lacroix was woken by the sound of a child crying. He sighed as he opened his eyes to glance at the sleeping woman beside him. He closed them again. He was determined not to have any contact with the child. Anyway, the boy would only scream louder if he were to investigate. So he nudged his lover awake. "Your charge is calling," he growled. Jordan shot him a glare and slid out of bed, wrapping her robe over her silk nightgown and went into Liam's room. "Liam, Liam honey, it's okay. You're safe. Jordan's here." She held the distraught child to her breast and rocked him until he had become silent and was sleeping once again. As she held the boy, she felt something stir with her, something buried deep and was as yet unrecognizable. She gently lay the boy back onto the pillow and covered him with the duvet. Returning to her own bed, she crawled in beside her husband. He sighed silently as he felt the emotions beginning to filter through to him. "Do not become attached to the child, Jordan," he told her quietly. "I won't, Lucien. He's only here for a couple of days. No more." "It will only bring you heartache when he is forced to leave," he added gently. "I know, Lucien." She lay down and faced away from the vampire. Lacroix rolled over and wrapped himself around her. "You know how I feel about this," he said softly. "Yes, Lucien, I know how you feel." She sighed. Jordan shuffled out of his arms and closed her eyes. Lacroix sighed audibly and rolled back over to his side of the bed. End part 2 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy... 03/09 Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 12:37:54 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Part 3 They met in the hallway outside of the living room. Lacroix stood silently as the child froze and his eyes widened in fear. Lacroix raised an eyebrow. That was all it took to send the boy running back into the room he had just ventured from, firmly closing the door behind him and bolting into the bathroom and locking the door. Lacroix shook his head, and silently ridiculed the one who had broken the child's spirit so early in life. Entering his own room, he woke Jordan, still sleeping soundly after a restless day's sleep. "The boy is awake and most likely hungry," he told her gruffly, clasping his cufflinks to his shirt. Jordan woke and rose silently from the bed to pull on a pair of jeans and a shirt. Lacroix pursed his lips as he soon realized he was getting the silent treatment. "You're angry with me," he said softly, moving to stand behind her. Jordan glanced over her shoulder to him as he spoke. She sighed. "Yes...No...I don't know what I'm feeling. I'm beginning to feel things I've never felt before. Things I'm not really sure of." "I believe it is what they are now calling your biological clock." He moved closer as she gazed out the window. "I don't know, Lucien. I've never really had any desire to have children before." She sighed again. "This is just a fleeting fancy brought on by Liam's presence here. When he has left, everything will be back to normal," she told him. "And if it isn't?" he asked her softly, taking her by the shoulders and gently rubbing her arms. "I don't know. This is all so new to me...I just don't know." Jordan pulled away from his touch and left the room. Crossing the hall, Jordan went into Liam's room and found him drawing at the coffee table, just as he had been the night before. "Good evening. How are you tonight?" She gave him a big smile and she was pleased when he returned it slightly. "Hungry?" Liam nodded enthusiastically and took her hand as she led him down into the kitchen, having to keep pulling up his pants as they continuously slipped do wn his hips. Jordan smiled when he eventually just held them in place as they walked. "We'll have to get you some new clothes to wear. We can't have you running around in my gym gear all night now, can we?" Jordan told the boy lightly. He glanced up at her and smiled. Jordan couldn't believe how much the tiny boy managed to eat. If she hadn't been so used to feeding Nicky by the truckload, she would have held him in awe. But he was eventually satisfied, though he had hesitated when she asked him if wanted more. It was obviously something he wasn't used to. "Come on. I'll show you around the club. You'll be staying here for a few days, and there are some places that you're not allowed to go into, okay?" she told him as she took his hand again and they went out into the corridor leading out to the bar. It had yet to open, so Jordan took the opportunity to show Liam around. "This is the club area. When it's open, this area is off limits, okay?" Liam nodded. He knew rules; he was good at following them. He never broke the rules. Next she led him past the sound booth. "This is Lucien's workplace. This is off limits all the time." Liam nodded. "This is his office. You can come in here, but you should knock first, okay?" Liam nodded again. Jordan crouched beside him. "Upstairs you can go anywhere you want, but knock on our bedroom door before you come in, too." Liam kept up his nodding. She gave him another smile and stood up. She took his hand again and continued to lead him around the apartment. She even took him onto the roof, where they stood and watched the stars and night lights until they were forced back inside by the cold. Sitting together on the couch, Jordan read to Liam from a book full of Hans Christian Anderson's fairytales. The book was old and a first edition--something floating about on one of Lucien's bookshelves. She had noticed early on how filthy Liam was under the fresh clothes he was wearing. He didn't smell, of course, he was too young, but parts of his skin were almost black with grime. It looked like he hadn't bathed properly for days, if not longer. At Thumbelina's conclusion, Jordan closed the book and set it on the coffee table. "Well, little man, I think it's about time you had a bath." His reaction was somewhat unexpected. Liam's eyes widened with renewed fear, and he shot up from the couch and began franticly looking for a way out. The only door out was quickly barred by Jordan, and so he shot into the large wardrobe and crawled down to the far end, about four feet away from the door. He tucked himself into a ball and whimpered. Whoa! Something definitely just happened here! Jordan screamed at herself. Both eyebrows raised in surprise and stunned shock at the violent reaction the child had to such a simple activity. "Liam, honey? It's all right. No one's going to hurt you. You can come out." She tried coaxing the terrified boy out from the depths of the antique wardrobe. Half an hour and several tactics later, Liam had still to budge from his hideout. After an hour, Jordan conceded defeat and called for help. It arrived in the form of the local coroner. Jordan heaved a huge sigh of relief when Natalie entered the room. "Oh, Nat, thank God! I didn't know what else to do!" "It's okay, Jordan. You did the right thing. Tell me exactly what happened." "I just told him it was time for a bath and he freaked out completely and dove into the wardrobe!" Natalie frowned and pursed her lips thoughtfully. Then she moved toward the open wardrobe door. Peering into the darkness, she called the child out. "Liam, it's okay. You don't have to have a bath. You can come out," she told the whimpering boy. He was keening softly, almost chanting to himself, though the words were unintelligible. Lacroix reached the top of the stairs. After seeing Natalie arrive, together with the feelings he was receiving from Jordan, he thought it high time he investigated. As he listened to the women pleading with the child in the bedroom, he quietly entered the room behind them. Jordan was crouched at the wardrobe door, leaning in and talking to the child who had apparently ensconced himself within. "What appears to be the problem?" he asked suddenly. Natalie jumped a little and he gave her a small, satisfied smile as she glared at him. "He was told to have a bath, and he freaked out completely and in terror has crawled into the wardrobe and won't come out," Natalie informed him. "How long has he been there?" "About an hour and a half." Jordan moved away from the door and turned to Lacroix. "Why do you not simply pull him out?" he asked. "One, because he's scared half out of his mind. The thought of having a bath has obviously been a point of terror for him, and two..." Natalie pursed her lips in annoyance as she added, "He's too far in. We can't reach him." "Ah." Lacroix continued to watch the women attempt to coax the child out for another ten minutes before he had reached his limit. "Enough...move," Lacroix suddenly exclaimed and all but pushed Jordan from the door as he bent down. Half crawling in, he reached out a long arm and grabbed hold of the child's clothing and dragged him out. Liam began to scream. Lacroix didn't stop once he had the child out in the open, but quickly toeing off his shoes, he strode into the bathroom with the child held tightly under one arm. He turned on the shower and stepped in--Liam, clothes and all. Natalie stopped Jordan from following the pair into the bathroom. "Leave them. We'll just see what happens." Jordan reluctantly nodded and they sat down on the couch and nervously listened to Lacroix showering the boy. Lacroix, however, felt like dropping the boy in favor of covering his ears as the child continued to scream at an alarming pitch to his sensitive hearing. "Silence!" he growled, then raised an eyebrow as the child rather abruptly fell silent. "Good," he said in a more gentle tone. Lacroix stood in the flow of the water, glad he hadn't been wearing his favorite shirt, and made sure the boy was thoroughly wet. "Stand," he commanded, as he put the child on his feet. The boy was trembling with fear and he had his eyes tightly closed. Lacroix pulled the sodden sweatshirt over the boy's head and then crouched down and made to do the same to the baggy shorts, which had almost fallen on their own, when Liam began to sob. He opened his eyes and looked into Lacroix's with such pleading fear, Lacroix sighed. He took the child's head in his hands, and gazed back into his young blue eyes. "Liam, listen to me." He was having trouble tuning into the child's thoughts. It was quite common for this to happen, even for him. In the case of young children, it was the better part of why they were not a preferred target. Still, he persevered. "Liam," he spoke softly. Liam's eyes softened as he seemed to be listening. "I will never hurt you in that manner, Liam...never." He looked deeply into the boy's eyes as he sought his trust with nothing but his own truthful words. Liam's face crumpled as he continued to look into Lacroix's face. He saw in his eyes something he had waited his whole existence to see, something to risk reaching out to. Finally, for the first time in his young life, he felt he could maybe trust someone not to hurt him. With his arms crossed over his chest, Liam leaned into Lacroix's shoulder and cried, and after a startled moment, Lacroix brought his arms around the child and stroked his back, accompanied by soothing words. After a short time, Lacroix reached for the facecloth and soap and began to lather the cloth and wash the grime from the boy's skin. He removed Liam's shorts without further protest, though he felt the boy tense and remain so until he deemed Lacroix's intentions honorable. A final test. Lacroix methodically and gently washed the boy. Upon finishing with his hair, he shut the water off and lifted the boy under his arms out onto the bathmat. Reaching for a towel, he rubbed the boy's hair dry and quickly dried the rest of him before wrapping a fresh towel around the child and sending him out into the living room. The boy gave him an unsure glance before disappearing through the doorway. Lacroix, however, looked down at himself in disgust and immediately peeled off his sodden socks and shirt, throwing them to the floor with a splat, followed closely by his trousers and underwear. He dried himself and wrapped a towel around his waist before leaving the bathroom to redress in his own room. He strode out past the women as they both unashamedly gaped at his half-naked form while they doted upon the child in their arms. While Natalie put Liam to bed, Jordan followed Lacroix into the bedroom. She wrapped herself around him from behind as he attempted to pull on his trousers. He almost lost his balance as she grabbed him; only his vampiric ability prevented them from both ending up on the floor. "Jordan, I am trying to dress," he told her, as irritated as he could muster. But her hands sprawled across his bare chest and her breasts pressed against his back were having a decidedly distracting effect. "I really wish you wouldn't." He could hear the leer in her voice. He smiled, then after sighing dramatically for her benefit, he let the trousers around his waist fall back to the floor before he had fastened them. Her hands left his chest and somehow found their way to his buttocks. "What about the child?" "Natalie put him to bed." "And what about my show?" "How long do you have?" "About fifteen minutes." "Plenty of time." Jordan slipped around in front of him and fell to her knees. A quick intake of breath from the ancient vampire was enough to place all thoughts of mortal waifs and radio broadcasts far from his mind. Natalie had arrived back at the loft just as dawn broke and immediately dragged herself upstairs and onto the bed. Nick had yet to arrive home. He would be late this morning as he was in court for most of the morning. Tracy, thankfully, had agreed to ferry him home at the end of the session. Natalie rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. She felt like crap. For the past few days, she had become more and more run down, and the past two days she had felt decidedly ill throughout the night, making life at work rather uncomfortable. After a quick wash, she changed into her nightgown and fell into bed. When Nick arrived home, she barely felt him crawl under the covers beside her. Several hours later, her eyes shot open. Natalie threw back the blankets and bolted for the bathroom. Nick woke at the sudden movement and frowned as he watched Natalie run into the bathroom, and at the sound of her throwing up, he rose from their bed and followed in after her. "Nat?" She heard his concerned call. "I'm all right." "No, Nat, you're not 'all right'. You're throwing up." "It's probably just a stomach bug or a virus." "Fine, but I want you to go to a doctor." "Nick, I am a doctor." He just stared at her. "Okay, fine. I'll go and see my doctor." "Tonight." Natalie sighed "Okay, okay." "And take a couple nights off work, too." "That... I fully intended on doing." Nick held out his arms and she fell into them. He guided her back to bed. End part 3 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy...04/09 Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 13:10:34 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Part 4 Nick dropped Natalie at the doctor's office on his way to work. "You want me to stay?" he asked her as he held open the door, and helped her out of the car. "No, it's okay. I'll catch a cab home." "You sure? I can call Reese and tell him I'll be late." "No, Nick." She gave him a smile. "I'm feeling much better than earlier. Go to work." "Okay. Call me, though," he told her reluctantly "Deal." Natalie gave him a reassuring smile, and he leaned in to give her a quick kiss before heading back to the caddie. "Hi, Natalie," a young doctor in his late thirties said lightly as he entered the examination room. "Hi, Kevin." "And what's brought you to my humble practice at this time of night?" "Well, two things, really. One, I'm on the night shift now, so this is first thing in the morning for me, and secondly, I've been a bit under the weather lately." "Oh? How so?" "Slight temperature, nausea, tired all the time," she told him. "I think it's just a virus or something, but Nick asked me to come and see you." "And he was right," he told her with a grin. "And how is married life treating you, Nat? I'll always regret not asking you out in college," he said wistfully. "Yeah, well, you snooze, you lose, Kevy." Natalie gave him a grin as he pouted playfully. "It's treating me great. Nick's great, my stepson is great, everything's great except for this damn virus!" she finished, exasperated. "Okay, here's what we'll do. I'll give you a thorough physical, and do a full spread of blood and urology tests, and then we'll see where that takes us. Sound good to you?" "Just dandy, Kevin." Natalie looked less than enthused. Now she knew how Nick felt when she went after him with needles and sample jars every five minutes. "Come on, hop up here and let's have a look at you." The doctor patted the table behind her. Natalie sighed, and made to get this over and done with as quickly as possible. Jordan rolled over and watched Lucien as he slept. She could hardly believe what he had done yesterday with Liam. After professing so diligently that he was to have no part in the boy, and then to go and bathe him like he did, was something which had left her feeling a warmth in the pit of her stomach, and more than a little confused. Coming back to herself, she noticed she was now the one being watched. She smiled into his cool, blue eyes. "What are your plans for this evening, my dearest?" he asked her, as he slid his arms around her and pulled her closer. "I thought I'd do a little shopping for Liam. He badly needs some new clothes." "And who shall watch over the child while you are away?" he asked her. He pursed his lips when she just stared back at him. "No." "He'll be fine by himself, Lucien. Just check in on him every now and then. I shan't be gone for long." "I will have nothing more to do with the boy, Jordan!" He rolled away from her and sat up on the edge of the bed. Jordan frowned. "Why not? What is it about a small, mortal child that makes you so uncomfortable?" she asked him, placing a gentle hand upon his back. He closed his eyes and rose, moving away from her. "The boy does not make me uncomfortable. I just have no wish to suffer a troublesome child underfoot. That is all." Lacroix strode into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Jordan sighed. He was uncomfortable, but she decided it wouldn't be wise to push the subject at this time, but soon, they were going to have to have a serious talk about the future, and not just about her coming across. They had come to an agreement after their last major row that she would wait before she allowed Lucien to bring her over. He didn't like it, and she knew he was becoming increasingly impatient. But this was something she had to do. She had to be absolutely sure that this is what she wanted, that he was what she wanted, and more so, that she was what he wanted. They had married, yes, and it meant more than enough to her that Lucien's intentions were of the highest regards, but she was beginning to fathom the concept of forever. Relationships change over time. Who was to say he would wish to be with her twenty years from now, or a hundred? She dressed while he was in the shower and slipped out to hit the malls before they closed. Natalie was curled up on the sofa, watching the ten o'clock news, when the phone rang. "Hello?" "Natalie?" "Yes?...Kevin!" "Yeah, it's me. Hey, look, I rushed your tests through and I just received your results. I knew you'd want to hear what they had to say as soon as possible." "Absolutely." "Okay, well, here goes. You don't have a virus. In fact, you're perfectly healthy...for a pregnant female in her early thirties." He waited. And after a long moment of silence... "Pardon me?" "Congratulations, Natalie. You're pregnant." "Oh! My God!" Natalie began to laugh. "Nat, are you okay?" he asked, concerned as her laughter became almost hysterical over the phone. "Yes! Kevin, thank you, this is wonderful! Thank you!" Natalie hung up the phone and stared grinning at the wall for a moment before slapping herself on the head. "Stupid...and you call yourself a doctor!" In reality, she had all but given up on her and Nick conceiving. They had tried so many times, and Nick no longer reacted to the drug which had made him temporarily mortal. Their "last harrah" had obviously been more fruitful than she had ever dreamed possible. Still grinning, she snatched the phone up again and dialed the precinct. "Knight." "Nick." "Nat! How did it go?" Natalie knew Nick was going to hate what she was about to do, but it would be worth his worry to see his face when she told him. "Nick, I need you to come home." "Nat? Nat, what is it? What's wrong?" She could hear the tension and concern edging quickly into his voice. "Please, Nick, just come home." "Okay, I'm on my way!" Nick threw down the receiver and grabbed his coat. Tracy looked up as her partner took on an air of worry and hurry. "Nick? What is it?" "I don't know. But I have to go home. Tell the boss to call if he needs me," he called as he jogged from the bullpen out into the corridor. Natalie watched as he all but flew from the lift as the door opened. "Nat!" "Nick. You were fast." "I flew. Nat, what is it? What did the doctor say? Are you all right?" He was babbling almost hysterically as he crossed the distance to the couch where she stood and took a hold of her arms. "Nick, sit down. I have something to tell you. "Oh, God, Nat. Don't do this to me. Please...don't tell me you're sick...please!!" Natalie smiled as she dragged him down to sit with her. "I'm not sick, Nick...I'm pregnant." She kept smiling as he just stared at her. "Wh..wha? What?" he finally managed. "We're having a baby!" She grinned as a slow smile spread itself across his face. "But how? I mean, is it possible?" he stuttered, his eyes still wide and stunned. "Well, those romantic days we spent making love, and especially the one eight weeks ago, right before you were shot...well, you just heard the result. It worked, Nick! The formula worked!" She couldn't stop smiling; neither, apparently, could he. Nick shot to his feet. "Oh, my God, Nat! I'm going to be a father...again!" He rushed her and pulled her up into his arms and swung her around in circles, as they kissed and clutched at each other in sheer and overwhelming joy. "Hey! What's going on out here?!" came a groggy, though disgruntled, voice. Nick turned to his son, having found a new target, and swept him up into his arms and repeated the treatment he had just given his wife. Nicky began to giggle in spite of himself. Nick finally stopped spinning, and as he leaned back to smile at his son, he told him. "You, my first-born, are going to have a new baby brother or sister to look after!" Nicky shot a look at Natalie. "You're going to have a baby?" he exclaimed. "Yes!" Natalie grinned and nodded. "Yes! I knew it!" Nicky cheered. "How did you know?" Nick chortled. "I don't know. I just kind of did." Nicky smiled, shrugging his shoulders. Their celebration was cut short by Nick's cellphone trilling to life. "Knight!" he said, smiling, letting his son slip to the floor. "Knight, where the hell are you?!" Nick grimaced and mouthed 'Reese' to Natalie as she raised an eyebrow. "Cap, sorry I disappeared like that. You see, Nat wasn't well and..." "Nick, save the excuse and get back here pronto. Bobby Harris just walked in the door and wants to talk to you...and only you!" "Okay, stall him. I'm on my way." Nick hung up and turned back to Natalie. "Nat..." "Go, Nick," she told him with a smile. He gathered her up into another hug and a tantalizing kiss before she pushed him away towards the door, and with a final kiss, she pushed him into the lift and closed the door. Liam sat on the couch, across from where Lacroix was stiffly sitting in a wingback chair, watching him. He pulled down on his sweatshirt, stretching it over his bare knees. He was still wary of the man, but he was no longer as afraid of him as he had been before. He began looking around the office. There were paintings on the walls, and statues and other neat stuff scattered around the shelves and tables. He glanced back to the tall man staring at him. "I suppose I should entertain you," Lacroix said reluctantly. He was furious. Jordan had ditched him! While he had been in the shower, she had gone and left him with the child, even after he had adamantly told her he had no wish to care for the boy. Liam caught his unenthusiastic desire to be looking after him, so he just shook his head. The man's eyebrow lifted. "No?" Lacroix was slightly amused. "Yes, well, unfortunately I have quite a reputation which compels me to provide adequate care for those within my protection, so, as a dutiful host, I shall have to...entertain you. What would you like to do?" Liam twisted his lips in thought and glanced around the room again. He then slid off the couch and walked over to a small Venus statue sitting upon one of the tables. He pointed at the figurine and raised his eyebrows in question. "You wish me to tell you about the statue?" Lacroix asked, rising to join him. Perhaps this wouldn't be so torturous after all. He had been prepared with a few children's card games, which had been taught to him and played at length with his grandson. But this seemed much more tolerable. Liam nodded. "Very well. This is a Venus figurine from Malta, dated to about 400 A.D..." Lacroix talked and Liam listened intently for the entire duration of Jordan's absence. Nick arrived back at the station and was at once whisked off into the closest interview room to meet with his snitch. When he was done, he walked Bobby out and returned to his desk. "Nick, how's Natalie? Is she okay?" Tracy asked him as he sat down. Nick smiled. In fact, he hadn't stopped smiling since he walked in the door. Even his snitch kept looking at him funny. "Yeah, she's fine. At least she will be once she gets through the morning sickness," he said nonchalantly as he went about shuffling paper. Tracy continued with her own shuffling, not really having heard what he had said. "That's good, she..." Tracy snapped her eyes back to Nick's and saw the grin threatening to split his face into two. "Did you just say what I think you just said?" she asked him, her stunned gaze boring into his. Nick chuckled. "I'm having a baby. Well, Nat's having the baby..." He stopped his rambling when he saw Tracy begin to cry. He leapt up from his desk and went around to her. Dropping down to his knees, he took her hands in his. "Tracy, what's wrong? This is a good thing, really," he implored. Tracy nodded and brushed a tear from her cheek. "I know, Nick. It's just that...I'm so happy for you both!!" She chuckled as she briskly wiped the tears from her eyes. "I don't know what came over me, Nick. I know how much you two wanted this and..." Tracy cut herself off and threw her arms around Nick's neck and gave him a hug. "Hey, everybody!!" she suddenly yelled to the room, and when most everyone turned their attention to her, she looked down at Nick and smiled as she watched him cringe and rise to his feet. "Nick and Nat are having a baby!" she announced. The room erupted into smiles and cheers. Money changing hands seemed to go hand in hand with any announcements concerning Knight and the good doctor--now was no exception. Nick smiled his way through the almost endless line of well-wishers, until finally, he was able to lunge for his coat. He waved goodbye to his partner, leaving while he was able. Smiling as he drove, Nick gave his decision a further moment of thought before turning the caddie toward the Raven. He had someone else to relay the good news to. He only hoped he would be happy for him. His sire had seemed to have taken to his son well enough, bringing him into their family. But he wasn't sure how he wold react to a new child, born of a mortal. The strong possibility the baby would be fully mortal left him feeling a little apprehensive about how Lacroix would react to all this. Nick's smiled faded and he frowned as he began to think the worst. End part 4 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy...05/09 Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 13:11:21 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Part 5 "Nicholas! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Lacroix said amicably, gesturing to Patrick to pour Nick a drink as the younger man sat at his side. "Good news, I hope, Lacroix." Nick gave the man next him a slight, unsure smile. Lacroix gazed at his son as he fidgeted for a moment, then lifted his glass and rose from his stool. "Come, let us go to my office where we can talk a little easier," he suggested, gesturing toward the band rocking away on the stage. Nick nodded and followed his sire through to the nearby room. Lacroix sat down in his chair behind the desk while Nick paced for a moment before flopping down into the chair opposite. "Well, Nicholas, do tell," Lacroix prompted his son with a slight smile of amusement at Nick's obvious discomfort. Nick glanced up at Lacroix and took a deep breath, then he smiled. "Natalie's pregnant." Lacroix just stared at his son, having to replay what he had just heard to himself to make sure he had understood his son's words correctly. "Who is the father?" he asked calmly. "I can't believe you just said that!" Nick yelled, leaping to his feet angrily. "It's a reasonable question, Nicholas." "No, it is not! I am the father, Lacroix!" "And that is possible...how?" Lacroix spread his hands as he calmly leaned back in his chair. There was no way Nicholas was the baby's father. What had happened between his son and Sarah Lamont had been a million to one happenstance, and 'she' had been half vampire. Natalie was a mortal and his son was not. The baby was not his. Nick shifted his feet nervously before finally making his confession. "Natalie and I have been experimenting with a new drug," Nick told him quietly, unable to meet his eye. Lacroix felt his blood begin to smolder. "And this drug did...what?" he asked dangerously. Nick looked up and was caught in his sire's intense gaze. "For a few hours...it made me mortal," he said boldly. Lacroix was raging now. How dare he?! How dare he renege upon his word to stay within the fold, to be a role model and influence for his son's well-being?! And now...he was telling him he has once again been trying to become mortal. "How dare you," he growled softly, his nostrils flaring as he rose. Nick backed away from the anger he felt both physically and mentally pulsing from his sire. This was not going as well as he had hoped. "Lacroix..." Nick took a few more steps back as his sire rounded his desk toward him. "You ungrateful whelp!" "Lacroix...it's not what you think!" Nick stuttered. He hadn't seen his sire so furious in a very long time, and it was scaring him. Nick held out his hands and shook his head. "We had a deal, Nicholas!" the elder snarled. "Lacroix...I..." Nick couldn't finish. Stars and pain flew as a hand struck him solidly across the face, sending him to the floor. Before he could react, Lacroix was hauling him to his feet again. "How dare you rescind our agreement?!" He hit him again, and blood splattered the wall across the room. "If I was to accept your son, you were to come back into the fold! That was the deal, Nicholas, and now you are telling me you have lied!!" "No...I..." Nick found himself on the floor again. A foot dug sharply into his stomach and he cried out as he curled into himself. But Lacroix didn't stop. He continued to kick and punch his son until finally, exhausted, he left the room and disappeared upstairs. Jordan was playing a game with Liam when she heard Lucien slam the door to their bedroom. The wide-eyed boy looked up at her fearfully. "It's all right. I won't be long, Liam." She left the boy to go and see what had upset her husband so. "Lucien?" she asked the wildly pacing vampire. His eyes were gold and he was breathing hard and he had blood on his knuckles. He suddenly stopped and turned on her. "Do you know what my impetuous son has done now?" he almost screamed at her. She shook her head. "He and the good doctor...are having a baby!" "What?" "Yes, she is pregnant with Nicholas' child. And he then has the gall to come here and tell me he has gone behind my back and continued his quest for mortality!!!" he said before beginning to pace again. "Nick's here?" Lacroix didn't answer her, only waved toward the door. She closely observed the fury her lover was in and then firmly asked him, "Lucien, where is Nick?" He threw his bloodied hands in the air and snarled, "Where I left him, I would imagine!" "Lucien, what did you do?" she asked, alarmed that he may have done something terrible and innately irreversible. "What I should have done a long time ago!" He abruptly turned and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Jordan quickly left the room and raced downstairs and into the office. She ground to a halt when she saw Nick, lying almost unconscious on the floor, blood dripping furiously from his face, his arms holding his stomach tightly. "Oh, Nick!" She hurried to the wet bar and grabbed a bottle of blood from the fridge and returned back to Nick as he began to softly moan. She held his head up as he greedily gulped at the blood and gestured for another. "Nick, I'm so sorry." "It's not your fault, Jordan. It's his, and anyway, I almost expected him to react this way...though perhaps just not quite so harshly. I'll be fine," he told her as he leaned up against the couch. He did look better, but still it hurt her, in more ways than one, to think Lucien had reacted so badly to such wonderful news. "Come on. I'll take you home," she told him, helping him to his feet. Natalie smiled as she heard the lift engage, but it vanished the moment she saw Nick, helped by Jordan, and covered in blood, step out into the loft. "Nick! What happened?!" "Lacroix happened," was all he said before flopping down onto the couch. "Lucien didn't take too well to the news," Jordan said apologetically. "But I'm really happy for you both, Natalie." She gave the woman a big hug and Natalie returned it, then left her to go and look Nick over. "Thanks for the lift, Jordan," Nick said as the woman headed back into the lift, giving her a halfhearted wave. Jordan left and headed back to the Raven. She felt the need to have a little chat with a particular master vampire. Natalie sat down next to Nick and put an arm around his shoulders. He crumpled his face and leaned into her shoulder. "I really wanted him to be happy for me, Nat," he said through his tears. "I know, Nick. I know." She rocked and stroked his back as she held him to her. Damn that Roman bastard! she fumed silently. By the time she had returned home, Jordan was furious once again. She stormed upstairs and into the bedroom where Lacroix was standing beside the fireplace. She flew at him and began punching him in the arms. "You bastard!" she yelled at him. "You...!" She couldn't utter another word, she was so furious with him, so she just punched him again. He caught her wrists. "Enough!" he growled, pushing her away from him. "Oh, enough, all right! How could you do that to him?! It's quite possibly the happiest day of his life, and you pound him to a pulp!" "He lied to me!" he argued. "Did he?!" she asked him snidely. "Are you sure about that? Did you ask him? Huh?! Or did you just fly off the handle?!" "He and I had a deal, and he reneged! I have every right to be angry!" "Ah, yes, 'the deal'. Well, as it so happens, I know that Nick has no intention of becoming mortal anytime soon. Natalie was working on a way for them to become pregnant. And now that she succeeded, they are ecstatic, and Nick, being your son, came running to you to tell you the wonderful news, and how do you react? Like a bastard, that's how!" she fumed. Lacroix's face was becoming less snarled, though his jawline was as rigid as ever. He glanced away as she finished. "Why did he not tell me of this himself?!" he retorted. "Maybe because he thought you might react just as you have done, and sabotage any work Natalie had been doing?" He huffed and turned away at her truth. He would have done everything in his power to thwart any experiments. Jordan watched him fume for a short time before announcing, "Now I have a little boy across the hall who has probably been listening to us yelling, and is most likely terrified, so if you don't mind, I will be leaving you to think of how you're going to apologize to Nick by yourself." Before he could retort angrily at being spoken to like a child, she had disappeared. He picked up a glass from the bureau and threw it against the wall in frustration. Several hours later, sitting uncharacteristically sprawled in a chair by the fire, he had to concede to himself that he may have made a monumental mistake with Nicholas. He sighed heavily. Nicholas was having a baby. He would be a grandfather again. He chuckled halfheartedly as he heard his wife enter the room behind him. "Trust Nicholas to be the only fertile vampire in history," he exclaimed with weary amusement, then sighed when she sat at his feet and hugged his legs, her head in his lap. "Jordan, what am I to do?" he sighed. "Well, I can only make a suggestion," she offered, raising her head to smile contritely up at his raised eyebrow and amused smirk. "Please, my dear, do indulge yourself." "It's gonna entail you sucking up that Roman pride of yours and going to Nick and telling him you're sorry, and that you're happy for him," she said, looking up at him with puppy-dog eyes. He huffed and brought a hand to his temple and shook his head warily. Jordan rose and sat herself across his knees, wrapping her arms around his neck. Without thought, he snaked his arms around her waist, holding her closer. "I have never before apologized to Nicholas...for anything," he told her. "Well, then, you had better take some smelling salts with you, so you can revive him after he faints from the shock." She sat back and smiled. Lacroix chuckled. Jordan leaned down and kissed him. She pulled away to look into his eyes, then she kissed him again... Liam stroked his new clothes as he looked down at himself, smiling. He had never had new clothes before. He liked jeans, and the shoes were almost a perfect fit. Jordan had been really nice to him, and she had even bought him some games to play. He frowned as he thought about the yelling he had heard earlier. Mr. Lacroix had been real angry, and he had been scared. Liam jumped when Jordan came into the room behind him. "Hey, don't you look smart!" she told him. Liam smiled. He liked Jordan; she was nice. "How would you like to have a playmate tonight?" Liam bit his lip, a little unsure. "His name is Nicky and he's eleven, but I think you'll like him. He said he would bring his PlayStation over with him when he comes. Would you like that?" she asked him. Liam had seen the games in shops and on TV and he smiled at the thought of being able to play with one. He nodded with more enthusiasm and smiled. "Okay, he should be here soon," Jordan told him, glad to see the boy smile. Lacroix stood in the doorway watching the boys wrestle the computer game plugged into his TV. The young boy was smiling and occasionally he laughed, as his grandson chatted away as they played together. Nicholas was in his school uniform, half of which had been discarded onto a chair beside the door. Liam had, obviously, and finally been attired with a new set of clothes. Nicholas suddenly turned to him, sensing his presence. This was continually proving to be disconcerting, as he had thought himself shielded from detection. "Grandfather!" Nicky waved him in, and he pushed himself off the doorjamb with his shoulder and took a step in. "Nicholas, I see you have met our guest." "Yes," the boy told him, as Liam shied away a little from his presence. "Would you like a go?" his grandson said, holding out the control pad with a slightly mischievous smile. "Thank you, Nicholas, but no. You two go ahead," he said waving them back toward the television. As Lacroix left them and was making his way down the hall toward the club, he was halted by his grandson's voice. "Grandfather." "Yes, Nicholas?" He frowned when he saw the child turn into the devil incarnate before his very eyes as a slow, manevolent smile came to his lips. "When would you like to begin?" Confused, he asked, "Begin what?" "Your week, of course." Where was this child learning to be so intimidating? "Nicholas, what are you talking...?" Then it hit him. The memory of a certain bet on a certain plane journey hit him full force in the face. "Oh, dear gods, no," he uttered in genuine horror. "I think Friday would be a good day to start," Nicky said before turning and slowly walking back into the living room. Lacroix closed his eyes and cringed, tipping back his head to face the ceiling as he fully contemplated what this loss would cost him. His pride, patience, sanity, money...pride. A slave for a week, an entire week!! How did he get himself into this insane predicament? "Lucien? Are you all right?" Jordan asked him as she ascended the stairs behind him. "Jordan? he asked futilely, "Is it really so dishonorable to renege on a bet with a child?" He just sighed at her look. "I thought as much." "Lucien, what's going on?" she asked him, amused at his almost distraught bearing as he turned away and went downstairs. She followed him into his office where he poured himself a glass to calm his nerves. "Nicholas and I entered into a bet while on our trip to Australia," he told her. "What kind of bet?" This was getting better and better. "We bet on whether Nicholas and Natalie would ever conceive a child." "You bet on what?!" Jordan exclaimed. He continued, "And I bet, of course, they would not." He glanced at her open-mouthed shock, and threw up his hands. "It was an easy bet!" "Only?" "They did," he said, looking about as crestfallen as she thought he was ever capable of becoming. "And now you have to do, what...? Buy him season tickets to the Leafs? What?" "I only wish." "Come on. Tell me!" she chortled, grabbing his shirt front as he sagged against the bar and sighed heavily. "I must do his every bidding for an entire week." Jordan began to laugh, completely and uncontrollably, holding onto his shirt as she doubled over. "Jordan, please. This is not amusing in the least," he pleaded firmly. Her only response was to laugh harder. End part 5 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy...06/09 Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 13:12:01 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Part 6 Nick was getting ready for work when the front door buzzer sounded. Crossing to the monitor, he frowned as he wondered who it was. When he flicked the camera on, his eyebrows shot up. He thumbed the intercom. "What do you want?" he growled. And why was he using the door? Lacroix looked up at the camera. "I wish to speak with you." "About?" "Nicholas. Just let me in," he demanded impatiently. Nick pursed his lips and thought for a moment. Then with a sigh, he hit the release key. His master would do what he wanted, regardless. May as well save himself a repair bill. Lacroix took a deep breath as he entered the lift and began to rise. He had rehearsed his little speech to his son on the flight over, but he was still more than a little uncomfortable with the situation he now found himself in. Stepping from the lift, he saw his son watching him warily from the far side of the room. "What do you want, Lacroix? Did you miss a rib or two?" Lacroix sighed and took a few steps toward Nick, who, much to his surprise, annoyance and regret, moved away from him, fear edging his stance. Lacroix could sense his grandson sleeping soundly in his room, and Natalie was undoubtedly at work. They were alone. Glancing down at his hands, Lacroix almost nervously twisted his ring. "Nicholas, what I am about to say is very...difficult for me." Nick raised an eyebrow. Then frowned, a shot of dread impaling his heart. But still, he had to hear him out. He needed to know if his sire was going to accept his family, or cast them out. "I'm listening," he said. Lacroix took another steadying breath. "Nicholas, I wish to apologize for my actions toward you earlier. I seemed to have been without all the facts pertaining to your little experiment, and I somewhat...overreacted." Nick stared at his father. "Pardon me?" He couldn't quite believe what he had just heard. Lacroix apologizing? "Yes, Nicholas. As bizarre as it sounds...I am apologizing," he said with a slightly amused huff. "So it seems," Nick finally breathed. Never, in his whole 800 years, had Lacroix ever said he was sorry...never. "And I suppose I am at least somewhat...intrigued about the thought of becoming a grandfather again," he told his son quietly. That was the final straw for Nick as tears began falling. Lacroix walked over to his son, and after a moment's hesitation, he pulled him into his arms. "I wanted you to share this with me," Nick whispered from his shoulder. "I need you to be happy for me, Lacroix." Lacroix glanced at the ceiling before replying softly, "I am, Nicholas. To see you so happy after learning of your son, and Natalie, and now this... for perhaps the first time since I have known you, truly makes me happy, my son." Nick tightened his grip before finally letting go as they both turned from each other, Nick wiping the tracks from his cheeks and the elder subtly swiping an errant moistness from the corner of his eye. Nick cleared his throat and turned back, as composed as he could ever be, deciding to steer the conversation away from the emotional dam burst to more 'safer' subjects. "So, how's Liam doing?" "As well as can be expected. He and young Nicholas seem to get along well." "Vivian from Social Services called today. They have found him a bed in a care facility. They'll be by to collect him tomorrow afternoon," Nick told the ancient. "So soon?" Lacroix frowned a little. Nick eyed his father as he seemed reluctant to release the boy. Lacroix explained as he accepted the look his son was giving him. "Jordan has grown somewhat attached to the child. It will be difficult for her." "Just her?" Nick asked with a crooked smile. "He will not be gone soon enough for my liking, as I'm sure you are quite aware," he almost growled at the implying look his son was giving him. "Indeed." Nick smothered his smirk with a hand. "Any word as to where he has come from?" his sire asked as he went into the kitchen to help himself to a glass of bloodwine. Nick followed absently behind as he spoke. "No, nothing. Though missing persons is keeping an ear out for any reports which may pertain to him." He took the glass Lacroix offered him. They both stood and sipped from the glasses in their hands. Lacroix suddenly shuffled and turned slightly toward him as he leaned against the counter. "There is one last thing I suppose I should inform you of," he said reluctantly. "Yes?" "Your...son and I entered in on a little...wager, whilst on our journey to Sydney, and I have to confess that the outcome has been far from being in my favor." He grimaced as he spoke. Nick grinned, confused. Lacroix? Lose a bet? But then he had never apologized before, either. Perhaps the universal alignments had shifted and he was now in an alternate reality. Yes, that would explain everything. "And what did this...wager entail?" Nick asked, a small, amused smile flitting uncontrollably at his lips. Lacroix cleared his throat before continuing. "We bet on whether or not you and the good doctor would conceive," he said, drifting off a little at the end. "Excuse me?" Nick could hardly believe his ears. "You bet on us having a baby?" "That is what I said." Lacroix was becoming irritated in his embarrassment. "Ah. And you lost?" "Obviously," the older man growled. Nick was grinning now, but it suddenly vanished. He walked away a little and asked, "Is that why you had a go at me?" Lacroix pursed his lips before looking his son in the eye. "No. I had not recalled the bet until afterwards." Nick decided to let it go for now. "And what did you lose?" he asked, perking up a little. "Everything." It was barely a sigh. "What do you have to do?" Nick chortled. "I will be his...slave...for a week." Nick began to laugh. "Nicholas!" Nick could only laugh harder and eventually he found himself barely held up as he leaned heavily on the back of the couch. Lacroix just stood there, planted to the tiled floor, not daring to move lest it be to smack his son silent. "When...when...when do you start?" Nick finally managed to pant. "Friday." His sire's deflated expression was too much, and he rolled onto the couch, clutching his stomach. When Nick had eventually collected himself, he moved his legs to let Lacroix sit beside him. Lacroix handed his son another glass and drained the remaining one in his hand. It seemed Nicholas had forgiven him for earlier, and letting his son laugh at him seemed payment enough. Suddenly his son grabbed hold of his left hand and pulled it roughly toward him. "Lacroix...what is this?" he asked, astounded, staring at the gold ring in place upon his finger. When he didn't answer, Nick looked up at him, keeping a tight hold on the offending hand. He saw a small guilty smile pull at one side of his sire's lips. "Is this what I think it is?" Nick asked in disbelief. "You two didn't just go on a holiday to Sorrento, did you?" Lacroix shook his head. "No, Nicholas. It was our honeymoon, so to speak." "You two got married...and didn't tell us?!" "We thought it would be amusing to see how long it would take you both to notice." "After all the grief you gave me and Nat about the mortal follies of marriage, the lectures on what a farce and waste of time and energy it was...you go...and get married?!" Nick was smiling under his gruff tone. This day was certainly going in the record books. "Yes...well...it seemed a good idea at the time..." Lacroix chortled. Nick finally let him have his hand back, and he rose, placing his glass on the table. Nick shared a smile with him. They both knew how the women in their lives had played havoc with the beliefs the men had held for most of their lives, both mortal and vampire. "I must be going. I have to inform Jordan that her guest will be leaving us." Nick nodded and followed his sire to the center of the loft. "Lacroix..." Nick shuffled his feet before capturing his father's gaze firmly. "Thank you." Lacroix cupped the back of his son's head affectionately with his hand as he gave him a small smile. He then disappeared through the skylight. "I did warn you, my love," he said softly, pulling his lover to his chest as she began to cry. "I know, but it couldn't be helped," she said almost resignedly. He lowered his head to kiss her hair. "What time?" she asked him. "Three o'clock." She nodded silently. They lay in bed quietly for a long while before Jordan whispered, "Why have you been so uncomfortable with Liam, Lucien?" "I have not been uncomfortable. I believe I have told you this before," he told her adamantly, his irritation obvious. "Yes, and I believe you now about as much as I believed you then," she retorted. He abruptly turned over to face away from her. "I have no wish to discuss this any further." She rolled over to face him and slowly began rubbing the taut lines of his bare back as he continued to remain silent. "Why can't you talk about this with me?" Jordan asked him, a little upset that he was shutting her out like he was. His whole body sighed beneath her hands. "Because...I only wish to forget," he eventually breathed. Jordan continued to stroke his back and he closed his eyes as he felt her loving touch against his cool skin. "Forget what?" she asked him gently. She could only make an educated guess from what little she had gained from his blood earlier. He had been thinking of Divia. He didn't reply. "You've been thinking of her," she told him. His back stiffened, and still, he was silent. She kept stroking him with slow, soothing strokes. "You've noticed how much Liam is like her? His coloring, his inquisitive nature, his tenacious strength of character we all thought was probably dead, never to be seen again. He reminds you of her when she was mortal, doesn't he?" Lacroix quickly blinked away the rising tears in his eyes. He refused to answer her. She knew him so well. He was amazed she had read so much in his blood. "But you know what I've been thinking?" she continued. "I've been thinking how much he looks like you. He has your coloring, as did Divia, the shape of your faces are the same, he has your lips, and proud chin, and the color of your eyes...he has your eyes." She brushed her hand along his head, shoulders until he whispered, "But he is not mine, Jordan," he said with finality. "That's up to you, Lucien." He sighed heavily at her words. He was now beginning to realize just how much she was becoming to desire this child...and he wasn't sure he could give her what she wanted. A child to raise, to discipline, to teach, to hurt...to hurt him. No, not again. "When Nicholas first told me he was to father a child, do you know what my first emotion was? Anger? Disbelief? No... it was jealousy. I was...am jealous of what my son can give naturally to his wife. Something which I can not." "There are other ways," she told him. But he shook his head. "I have thought much about this since yesterday, Jordan. I am sorry, but this is something I can not do. I do not wish to be a father again." He knew this was hurting her deeply. But it was how he felt and it was something he had to say, something she had to know. "I understand, Lucien. More than you know, I understand." Jordan slipped from the bed and into her robe. He watched as she left the bedroom, and after a moment, he heard the door of one of the guest rooms open and close. He would be spending the day alone. Four hours later he tossed onto his back for the hundredth time that day. He opened his eyes and sighed. He had to face facts. He just couldn't sleep without her. He flung off the covers and stood. Leaving his room, he padded down the hall, clad only in his pajama bottoms, until he hesitantly opened the guest room door. She was awake, obviously having the same problem as he. While remaining turned away from him, Jordan reached behind her and pulled back the covers, inviting him in. Silently he crossed to her and slipped into bed. With their backs pressed against each other, he was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. Social Services showed up bang on time, and Jordan reluctantly let them in through the front door of the closed club. Liam stood next to the bar with a small bag at his feet. Lacroix, a few feet away from everyone, stoically observed the handover. Jordan went to the child and knelt before him, taking his small hands in hers. She smiled warmly, hiding her breaking heart from his view. "You're going to really like it at the home. There are going to be lots of kids to play with and games to play, and you will get to go to school...and you'll be safe," she told him, managing to summon a grain of enthusiasm from somewhere. Liam nodded solemnly and looked to the ground. Then he suddenly wrapped his arms around Jordan's neck and held on. She held him back. "I'm going to miss you too, little man," she whispered to him. After a minute, she pulled him away and glanced over to the social worker standing on the dance floor. "Now you be good for Vivian, okay?" Liam nodded. "Let me see that handsome smile one more time," she said, wiping the tears from the child's face. Liam tentatively looked up at her smile and tried to return it, only partially succeeding. She kissed his forehead as she rose and took the boy's hand and led him over to the woman patiently waiting. Jordan handed over Liam's bag of new clothes and toys and placed his hand in the Vivian's. Lacroix watched, as without another word, the child was led tearfully from the club--surprised when the boy glanced back to him, just before the door banged closed behind him. Lacroix came to her and held her as she finally let her tears flow. He led her back to the bedroom where he lay her on the bed and joined her, wrapping her protectively in his arms as she sighed and closed her eyes. They lay there until they heard the club come to life under them. It was time for work....and time to forget about everything else. End part 6 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy 07/09 Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 21:18:42 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU hi guys! Sorry the last parts have taken so long to post! Comments are very welcome Oh Boy... by Knightraven Part 7 Nicky waited impatiently on the living room couch for his grandfather to arrive. It was Friday. Nicky smiled. He had a giant list of all the things he wanted him to do. The first, of course, was to tidy his bedroom. Nat had been asking him to do it for days. But he knew it could wait. There was a swoosh of air, and Nicky felt his grandfather's presence. He smiled. Turning on the leather, he looked over to where the vampire was looking very unhappy. "Good evening," his grandfather said dangerously. Nicky smiled again and he rose to meet him. "Good evening, Grandfather." "Lacroix." His son emerged from the upstairs bedroom, shrugging on his gun holster as he trotted down the stairs. He was soon followed by Natalie. "Nicholas...Natalie." He held her cold gaze for a moment. It had been the first time he had seen her since the little incident with Nicholas. She nodded and tightly greeted him. "Lacroix." He was obviously still very much in the dog house with her. "We're off. You'll be here all night?" Nick asked him. He wasn't so sure his sire would last the distance, not after he had caught a glimpse of the list his son had prepared for his grandfather. He had Vachon standing by as a backup, should Lacroix's employ fall along the wayside. "Yes." Lacroix was not amused by the suppressed amusement he was seeing and sensing from them both. "Righty-O. We'll see you later," Nick quipped as he and Natalie stifled their grins as they passed by the condemed vampire and into the lift. Lacroix looked over at his grandson waiting for the inevitable. "Well, Grandfather..." Nicky moved around the room, "I have a few things I would like you to do for me over the next few days, so we had best get started." Lacroix balked as Nicholas flicked open and unraveled a length of paper which almost touched the ground. "Nicholas, you only have me for a week," he said, gesturing to the scroll. "Yes, so we had best hurry," Nicky said in all seriousness. Lacroix, however, fixed himself to the floor and closed his eyes. One, two, three...He thought he may have to go to a hundred before it would be safe enough to open his eyes. "Come on! First, I want you to clean my bedroom!" Nicky joyfully called from the far side of the room, motioning him toward the doorway. Nicky could feel the pulsing emotion radiating from his grandfather and smiled. One hundred and one, one hundred and two... He sank limply into the black armchair, barely keeping the bloodwine in his glass from spilling as he blew a breath of relieved air from his lungs. It had been a long, torturous night. He was still picking bits of popcorn from his clothing. Lacroix gulped at his dinner before placing the empty glass on the table and leaning back to rest his weary head. Nicholas had finally worn out for the night, and rightly so, having been everywhere this side of the border. The hockey game had almost been the final straw, but somehow, he had survived. Though he wasn't certain how much longer he could keep this up. Frankly he felt too old to be doing half the things his grandson had made him do. Sighing again, he closed his eyes. Nick entered the loft with Natalie in tow. He stopped and turned back to his wife with a grin and a finger to his lips. At her frown, he pointed to the sleeping vampire in the armchair. She smiled and shook her head. The ancient gave no inkling that he was aware of their presence. Nick grabbed a bottle from the fridge and took it with him as they went upstairs. When the door was safely shut, Nick chuckled. "I've rarely seen him so worn-out. Nicky must have dragged him all over Toronto." "Yeah, well, he deserves it," she remarked with a smile. "Damn straight." Nick grinned as he slid into bed and Natalie climbed in the other side. They snuggled together and Nick turned out the light. They lay in silence for a moment until Natalie felt Nick begin to brush his fingertips along her bare arm. "So...this baby thing," he asked her. "Yes?" "Um, can we still...you know...do stuff?" He smiled in the darkness as he moved his roaming hand to her breast, eliciting an indrawn breath of delight. "Well, actually we can...you know...do stuff." She could feel him grinning that grin, and returned one of her own. "It won't hurt the baby?" he asked, a touch of concern creeping into his voice. "No." "You're certain?" "Absolutely. In fact, I went to the book store in my dinner break and bought us a few things to read up on. I thought you might like to bring your birthing ideas up to date." He was sure she was making fun of him. She would have to be punished for such wayward acts toward her husband! He bent his head down and tickled the back of her neck with his tongue. "Oh!" Her gasp of surprise turned into a moan of pleasure as he began to nibble. Lacroix didn't bother returning home after he woke, much to his annoyance still at his son's home and in the armchair. He stood in the kitchen, gulping blood straight from the bottle. He was startled slightly as a voice cleared itself behind him, catching him in the act of doing something so uncouth. "That bad?" Nick chortled, gesturing at the bottle in his sire's hand. "Yes." Lacroix slugged the remaining dregs and placed the empty in the recycling bin. "Oh, come on, it can't have been that terrible?" "He made me take him to a hockey game! 'People' (and he used the term loosely) threw popcorn at me!" he exclaimed. "Why?" "Because he said 'hockey sucked'." Nicky's voice suddenly joined in the conversation. Lacroix glared at the smiling child beside him. "Well, what did you expect? Be thankful it was only popcorn they threw," Nick warned him, his amusement quite clear. Lacroix just moved the target of his fatally scowling expression to his son. Then sighing, he turned back to his grandson. "And what do you propose to torture me with tonight?" he asked in trepidation. "Hmm." Nicky paced away and brought a finger to his lips as he thought. "I thought perhaps I would invite my friends and go swimming." Nick was grinning broadly as he clapped his father on the shoulder. "Sounds like fun!" Lacroix looked ready to stake Nick where he stood. A slow smile shaped his lips as he told his son, "I can not swim. I have no bathing costume." His smiled returned to his almost permanent glare as Nick said helpfully, "Oh, that's okay. I have a spare pair of trunks you can borrow." Nick moved a little further out of reach, just in case. Lacroix did all he could at that point and sighed in resignation. "Very well. Just how many 'friends' do you intend on inviting?" "Just Billy, Sam, Jamie, Duncan and Becky," Nicky rattled off the list. He had actually already invited them and they were all coming, but his grandfather didn't really need to know that just yet. "So many?" "They are only the guys I hang out with. We do everything together," Nicky said. He really had only invited his close friends, though the thought of inviting his whole class had crossed his mind, but on closer inspection, he thought it best not push his luck. Lacroix sighed again. The faster they did this, the faster he would be left in peace again. "Very well. I shall order a car." "Yes!" Nicky jumped on the spot, his fists raised in the air. "Why don't Nat and I join you?" Nick was beginning to take pity on his sire and was not a little worried for the overall safety of the children. "Yeah, and Jordan can come, too!" Nicky said, very much liking the idea of a family outing. "Indeed." Quietly Lacroix thought he was about to kiss his son, as the thought of occupying six young minds alone for the night was lifted from his shoulders. The limousine pulled up outside Billy's house and honked its horn. The front door flew open, and the dark-haired boy ran toward the luxurious car. Nicky opened the door and waved to Billy's mom, standing grinning in the doorway. She waved back and then at the caddie pulling up behind. The adults had opted wisely to ride in the caddie as the limo, as big as it was, wasn't going to fit them all. "So the pool is all ours?" Jordan asked. "Absolutely. It is going to be effort enough with Nicholas' friends, without the rest of Toronto, as well." "God, it's been ages since I went swimming. I'm actually looking forward to it. Not to mention seeing you in nothing but a swimsuit." She nudged Lacroix as he grimaced. She wrapped herself around her lover, smiling at his pose. Nick waved to Katrina as they left behind the limo as it went onto the next house. Other than Billy, the arrival of a limousine at the front door was something of a spectacle for the other kids and their neighbors, but eventually they had collected their load and were on the way to the local indoor pool. As the children raced ahead into the changing rooms, Natalie looked around the large room. It was mostly filled with a large swimming pool, divided at one end by a wall, beyond which was the deeper diving area, complete with three levels of platforms. The whole area was surrounded by luscious trees and lounge chairs. "Hey, this place isn't half bad," she said. "Should you be doing this?" Nick asked, turning to his pregnant wife. "Nick, it's perfectly all right for me to do exercise. In fact, it's recommended." And at his dubious look, she added adamantly, "Don't worry, I'm not about to go jumping off the diving boards if that's what you're worried about." They continued toward the changing rooms themselves as the boys came tearing out, jumping into the pool without a second thought, while the two girls entered a little slower. They split up and entered the appropriate changing area to don their swimsuits. "I am not wearing that!" Lacroix told his son adamantly, crossing his arms stubbornly. "Why not?" Nick asked innocently. He was already changed and was now standing in the locker room, holding out a garment to his sire. "You know very well why not!" "No one will even notice." "Somehow I very much doubt that." "Come on, you don't want to let Nicky, not to mention Jordan, down, now do you? And they are mostly black." Lacroix glared and eventually snatched the shorts from his son's hand and began pulling off his clothes. Natalie and Jordan covered their mouths as the men finally joined them by the lounge chairs at the pool side. The children were shouting and splashing around to their hearts' content. "Not one word," Lacroix growled dangerously. Natalie wisely kept silent. Jordan, however, asked him innocently, "I didn't know you were a Batman fan, Lucien?" With a rumbling growl, he scooped her into his arms, Jordan screeching as he did so, and promptly carried her to the pool and threw her in. She came up spluttering to see him standing over her with a satisfied smile and his hands on his hips. It didn't stay there for long as Nick ran at him from behind and pushed him into the water. "Why you little...!" he spluttered, making a grab for Nick's ankles and succeeding. Nick fell to the ground and was quickly pulled mercilessly into the water, his laughter cut off by the water filling his mouth as he went under. "No. Billy, I want to get down." Relaxing in an armchair a while later, Lacroix looked up to see his grandson and his friend on top of the highest diving platform. It was easily twenty feet high. And although Billy seemed to want to jump, Nicholas had apparently changed his mind after looking over the edge. "Suit yourself," Billy said, then ran and jumped off the platform, splashing down into the water. Nicky crept closer to the edge, keeping a tight hold of the rail, and peered over the edge at his friend swimming to the side. He didn't want to be called a wimp...but it was really high. The next thing he knew, his his grandfather was climbing up off the ladder. "Why haven't you jumped, Nicholas?" he asked calmly. Nicky looked at him nervously. "It...it's too high." "Nonsense. Just keep your toes pointed and hold your nose." He gave Nicky a little push toward the edge. But Nicky didn't budge from his grip on the rail. "No way. It's too high!" "Nicholas. Jump." "No!" "Jump." Nicky shook his head. Lacroix pulled the boy's hands from the rail and held them in his. He looked at the frightened boy as he frowned. He really didn't like to do this, but he may as well begin to teach the boy to overcome his fears. He recalled dropping a screaming crusader several times from great heights before he finally realized he could fly. He gently guided Nicky to the edge of the platform. "No, please, I'm scared." "Yes. But do as I instruct and you'll be safely in the water without incident." "Grandfather..." Nicky pleaded as the man kept a hold of his hands. "Don't look down." Nicky looked down. Lacroix sighed. "Keep your eye on the far side of the room, and when you jump, point your toes." "I can't do this." "Yes, you can. Hold your nose," Lacroix told him. Nicky grimaced then did as he was told. With one hand firmly clasping his nose shut, he was turned around to face the water. Lacroix pushed him right to the very edge. "Good. On the count of three, jump." Nicky nodded. "One...two..." Nicky closed his eyes, "...three." Nicky clutched on to his grandfather as he faltered and lost balance. "No, no," he said, having lost what nerve he had managed to gain. Lacroix sighed. Always the hard way. He picked Nicky up and threw him off the edge. Nicky screamed as he fell the distance into the water. Lacroix leaned over the edge to make sure his grandson survived well enough. At seeing him dogpaddling to the side, a scowl on his face, he felt satisfied that another lesson was well received. "That was mean!" Nicky yelled up to him. Lacroix just smiled. "Well, since you're so tough, let's see what you've got," Jordan shouted from her lounge chair. Lacroix sneered at her before moving to the back of the platform, and with a run up, he leapt from the platform and did a double somersault to land smoothly into the water. "Show off," Jordan muttered with a smile as he joined her, dripping wet, in the chair next to her. He saw Nicholas standing at the poolside, with his hands on his hips, watching the children at play. Lacroix took this opportunity to exact a little revenge. Rising from his perch, he calmly walked up behind his son and promptly pushed him into the water. Unfortunately for the master vampire, however, Jordan and Natalie had seen his plan and had followed close behind. He found himself spitting out water, as well, with the two women laughing at the men in the water. Jumping in themselves, they all paddled and floated around for a while, before joining the children in an adult vs. kids water fight. The adults won, of course. The last child had been safely returned home, and Lacroix now sat enjoying a glass of bloodwine at the loft. His family sat around him watching a video. If he had to admit it, he would have said he had not thought tonight as horrible as he had anticipated. He even had a little fun. Oh, and Jordan had looked so divine in her forest green bathing suit. He glanced over to her as she sat next to his grandson, watching some sci-fi movie. The next thing he knew was Jordan slapping his leg to wake him. "How can you fall asleep through Star Trek?" she asked him, bewildered, and more than a little amused he had fallen asleep at all. "Apparently quite easily, my dear." Jordan stood and pulled him to his feet, and together they headed for the door. It was late and Nicky was already in bed. "See you tomorrow." Nick waved from the kitchen as they pair entered the lift. Lacroix just huffed and closed the door, knowing full well he would be here. Never would he bet with that child ever again! The next three days went by without much aggravation. Nicky seemed happy enough to stay at home or go on the odd shopping spree, basically putting Lacroix in the role as an all-expenses-paid baby-sitter/butler, which wasn't too bad, considering the alternatives. However, tomorrow was his last day, and Nicholas had announced his intentions earlier that night. He and his friends were to be taken to the amusement park, then desert, and finally, ice skating. He wondered if he could persuade his son to take the night off work. He knew Jordan would be coming, he was going to make sure of that. End part 7 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy 08/09 Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 21:19:17 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Part 8 Ordering the limo again, the children were collected from their homes and taken to the park. Lacroix looked around at each of the children in his care, memorizing their faces should he need to search for them. Then giving his grandson a wad of cash, he told them, "At eight o'clock exactly, I shall meet you all here beside the..." Lacroix turned to the stall on his right, "...House of Horrors. Nicholas has enough money to pay for you all. Stay together. Do not run amok. Do not leave the fair grounds...and if you should vomit...I do not wish to know about it," he said, having seen and heard about the rides they were all bursting to try. Apparently riding until one is ill is part of the experience. It was a part he, however, would rather avoid. "Understood?" Six eager heads nodded. "Very well, you may go." The second he had dismissed them, the children sprinted from view over toward the biggest rollercoaster in the park. Lacroix sighed and began to wander toward it himself. He may be letting them roam about by themselves, but he would still be keeping an avid eye on them. He stood below the monstrous contraption and watched his grandson and friends scream as they were flung about the tracks. He smiled slightly as he saw Nicholas wave at him from the top of a steep hill, before they sped down into a corkscrew and around more twists and turns, a loop, then began it all over again, only this time...backwards. They continued to have several goes on all the rides, and then moved on to the stalls. They played all the hoop and shooting games, James winning a giant teddy bear, which seemed more out of luck than skill. Eventually they went through the House of Horrors, and as he waited at the exit, he smirked at Nicholas as he came out, shaking his head. Though he had heard the odd scream from the other children within, apparently his grandson had been desensitized from the experience. The children had assembled themselves before him--it was eight sharp and he stood with his arms crossed, waiting. "I suppose you are all hungry?" he asked them. They all chorused, "Yeah!" "Very well." He followed them back to the car and stepped in to sit beside a girl by the name of Samantha. She was gazing up at him with a brilliant smile. He raised an eyebrow then gave her a small smirk. She seemed satisfied, and turned back to chat with the others. He sighed; he knew that smile--girls her age were not completely foreign to him. At least he now had the easy excuse of saying he was a married man. His smile fell as he recalled the first young girl who had smiled at him. He saw Nicholas give him a concerned look, and forced the morbid thoughts of his mortal daughter away and gave the boy a reassuring smirk. They stormed a local eatery, then after, Lacroix guided them all into the empty ice arena of the Maple Leaf Gardens. "Wow!" The gasps and exclamations told Lacroix he had done well in organizing the facility. He glanced around--Jordan was going to meet him here and he could feel her presence. A hand touched his shoulder and he turned to smile at his lover. "I see you've survived thus far." She smiled. "Barely." He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a squeeze before she began to pull him over to where the children were pulling on their skates. He pulled away as he saw the two extra pairs, far too big to be for anyone else. "Jordan..." "No, come on. I want to do this, and you are going to teach me." "And how do you know I know how to do this?" he said, waving a hand toward the ice, which the children were now clambering onto. "Because you know how to do everything," she said, grabbing his arm and forcing him to sit, pulling off his shoes in the process. "How can I argue with that?" he sighed. Jordan gave him a peck on the lips and sat down next to him, pulling off her own shoes. Tentatively Jordan stepped out onto the ice. Lacroix was in front of her, holding her hands. "Keep your ankles straight." She straightened her feet and immediately felt more comfortable. "Okay, now what?" "Now, push off with your left foot." Lacroix demonstrated the action then went back to take her hands. Jordan pushed off, and immediately began to slip and slide wildly. Only her lover's firm grasp kept her from falling on her ass. "Gently," he told her. Finally she smiled as she moved several feet without falling, Lacroix moving backwards and holding her all the way. After half an hour, he let her hands go. "No, Lucien!" She made a grab for him, but he moved back. She fell straight onto her hands and knees. "Ow." Lacroix reached down and helped her to her feet. "You are quite ready to do this by yourself," he told her. She scowled at him, then determinedly let him go and tried to reach the wall by herself. When she hit it, she turned back to Lacroix with a big grin. "I did it!" "So you did." He came over to her and pressed her against the wall with his body and kissed her for her gallant effort. "Hmm," she said, licking her lips. "I think I like your teaching methods." "Good. I have much to teach you." He smiled before kissing her again, almost oblivious to the "Whoooo!" directed at them from the pack of children at the far end of the ice rink. Finally Lacroix carried the last sleeping child into its rightful home, passing it on to the rightful parent. Now all he had left was to dispose of his grandson and he would have fulfilled his payment. He carried Nicholas into the loft and straight into his bedroom. He sat him on the edge of the bed and removed his dirty and damp clothes. Tucking him in, he kissed his forehead before turning out the light. With a final glance and shake of his head, he smiled at the first person he had ever lost a bet to in his entire life. Nick lay next to his wife, his head placed lightly on her stomach. He could almost sense the life growing within and he smiled. "Are you going to stay there all day?" she asked him. "Maybe." He smirked up at her. "It's just so amazing, that something we created is growing inside of you." Natalie chuckled at his wonderment. Natalie brushed her fingers through his hair, smiling contentedly as she wondered about this new life herself. "Nick, I want you to be there," she told him quietly. "Where?" "At the birth." "In the same room?" "Yes, in the same room." "Anything you want, I'll do for you. I want to be there, Nat." He moved up the bed and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her head down onto his chest. "You know, the thought of actually having a baby is kind of scary for me," Natalie admitted. "The thought of a watermelon coming out a hole the size of a grapefruit is somewhat painful." "Don't be scared, Nat." "It won't be half as daunting if I know you'll be there." "I'll be there, Nat. Nothing will keep me away." "Not work?" "Nope." "Not Lacroix?" "No way." "Not some little old lady trying to cross the street?" "Hmm." Natalie whacked him on the arm and he laughed. "Not even if she were my own grandmother," Nick promised. Natalie kissed him tenderly, then snuggled down beside her husband as they fell asleep. He leaned back in his office chair and pursed his lips against his steepled fingers. Sighing, he leaned forward again, picking up his pen to attempt finishing his investment portfolio. He had all but been hiding in his office all night, his asset assessment a convenient excuse to remain undisturbed. He and Jordan had fought again during the day. It was about nothing, a careless comment about her art class, and all hell had broken loose. She had then gone on to rant about every other tiny thing he had done to her displeasure in the past couple of days, and he had ended up walking out and slamming the door behind him without another word, preferring the guestroom across the hall. He could feel the unresolved tension bristling across their link, and he was more than aware of the reason for its presence, and it had nothing to do with whatever they had been arguing over for the past day and a half. She was angry with him, and he knew what it was about. Sighing, he thought about the idea of children. He supposed he had never really brought a child up from scratch. Indeed, he had molded Janette and Nicholas as his children, but the clay had already been tampered with, and Divia...Divia, she was something different again. He never had much to do with her when she was young. He had crept into her chamber as a newborn baby and had held her tiny form in his arms before silently slipping away again, but apart from admiring her beauty from a distance, they had never really known each other as father and daughter, not as they should have, not as he wished he had...then, perhaps, she would have not turned into the evil child she had upon coming across...then again, she could have been worse. Dropping his pen to his desk, he sat back and sighed heavily. Why was he doing this, torturing himself with these morbid thoughts? He knew why...Jordan. She was feeling the urges most women in her position felt. He supposed children were the next logical...human...desire in their relationship. But he was not human, and did he really want that kind of responsibility again? He felt the need to talk to someone about this, but as usual, there was no one here. Halken was back in Colorado, and Jordan wasn't exactly the best choice on this subject. She was usually the one he spoke to nowadays--she was always there to listen. It was a new experience for him, having a person he saw as his equal, to trust and share his problems at his side, someone ready to listen without judgment, if only it was to moan about Nicholas' mortal ways or his grandson's impertinence. It still felt so good to finally be able to find comfort in her presence. But this...this was not a discussion point between them, not until he was certain about how he felt. Nick was surprised to feel his sire enter the station. He swiveled his chair toward the doorway and smiled as Lacroix came over to his desk. "Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Nick parroted his father's usual greeting. This was a rare occasion. He wondered what he wanted. He didn't sense an emergency of any kind, though his sire did seem unsettled by something. "Nicholas," he said, a slight smile in acknowledgment of the easy ribbing. He flopped down into the chair beside the desk. Nick leaned back in his chair and tossed his pen to the desk top, waiting for his sire to explain his presence. "I wondered, perhaps, if you would care to join me for a bite to eat?" Lacroix gave him a baneful smirk, then quickly added, "Not literally, of course...if that is what you would prefer." Nick rolled his eyes. He glanced over to Tracy as she stood chatting at the coffee station. "Why not? It's about time for our dinner break. Just let me tell Tracy." Lacroix nodded and gestured toward his son's partner. Together they walked from the station, and Nick let his sire lead him toward the park. "So...what's this all about?" Nick finally asked him, after walking in silence for two blocks. He watched as Lacroix actually shrugged. They entered the empty park and went down to the lakefront. Nick leaned against a railing, looking out over the still water. Lacroix joined him, staring out over the lake for a moment before finally asking the question Nick had been waiting for. It wasn't at all what he'd expected. "Nicholas, was I really such a terrible father?" Lacroix kept his gaze on a pin of light far out to sea. Nick just stared at him for an age before finally answering. "I'm not sure if I should be the one to answer that. Perhaps you should talk to Janette..." Lacroix sighed and turned slightly away from his son. His answer was answer enough. Nick saw the reaction and began to really think about Lacroix's actions over the centuries. The man had saddened slightly. Lacroix...he had done some cruel things to him over their life together, but the more he thought about it, he had given as good as he had got, and then there were all those years when he and Lacroix had been close. The teacher, the friend, the lover, the ally, the provider, the protector, and in his own way, the comforter when life had taken a turn for the worse, time and time again. He had been always been there, even when he hadn't wanted him to be, but equally, if not more so, he had been there when had needed him...sometimes desperately. This past year he had seen his sire care for his grandson with a guarded tenderness, something he hadn't been sure he was even capable of. The changes in them both had brought them closer together than they had been for centuries. It felt good to, perhaps, begin to trust him again, to allow his immortal father back into his life...to want him there, to share in his family, to want him to be a part of that family. "Maybe I was a little hasty in my first statement," he conceded. Lacroix glanced back toward him slightly, but remained silent, waiting for Nick to continue. "You have done some really hurtful things to me in the past, Lacroix, and I supposed they were what first came to mind. But after some thought, I suppose I have to say that I perhaps contributed somewhat to our little war." "Perhaps?" Lacroix asked with a smirk. Nick smirked back. "Yeah, well. ..anyway...I think that aside, you were...are... a good father, perhaps a little strict and obsessive, but good all the same. You have always been there for me, and Janette, whether I wanted you there or not." He smiled as he spoke. "I suppose I have to confess that even when I hated you for interfering, there were times when I was relieved and grateful you had been there," Nick finished softly. It was a hard admission to make. Having fought so hard against his father's continuous interference for so long, it was almost habit to push against his sire, no matter the reason or consequence. He was quite aware he had hurt him deeply at times, Father's Day three years ago being the last. Lacroix had acted blasé when he had returned the watch, but Nick had felt the jolt of pain and rejection course through him as he had placed the gift on the bench. It was at that moment the link between them had dimmed to an all-time low. "And now...?" "You're still here. But now, you're here for Nicky, as well. I've seen you with him. He loves you, and he seems to be a good judge of character." Nick smiled. Nicky had bonded with his sire to an extent that left Nick feeling jealous at times. They had shared blood, whereas he had never tasted his son's sweet elixir. But he knew that link with his own father, the father who stood beside him. "We've both changed these last few years. I suppose I grew tired of running from you, hating you, missing you..." Nick dropped his gaze to his feet. After a long moment of silence, he placed a hand on Lacroix's shoulder and furrowed his brow. "Lacroix? What's going on? Why are you asking me these things? Are you and Jordan thinking of having kids? What's going on with you two?" Lacroix sighed and glanced away before tipping his head back toward Nick. "Jordan grew quite attached to the boy. I told her I had no desire to become a father again. She was not happy. I do not believe she was ready for the reaction she had toward my declaration." "And you're certain you feel this way?" "I had thought so, but it is becoming quite apparent this is something she is beginning to desire deeply. How can I deny her something so fundamental to her needs as a woman?" "But this is something you both need to want, Lacroix. Don't do this just to make her happy. It will only end in disaster." Lacroix closed his eyes and sighed once again. "Because I know you would make such a sacrifice for her. But this has to be something you want to commit to as much as she." This time he nodded at his son's words. "I'm not sure I want to go through the trials and tribulations of fatherhood again, Nicholas." Lacroix closed his eyes and shook his head, his inner turmoil flittering across his stance. Nick moved his arm across his shoulders and squeezed. "If you ever decide to be a father again, Lacroix, I'll be the best big brother around." Nick grinned as a smile crept into the ancient's eyes. "You know, considering all I've been through, I didn't turn out that bad, did I?" Nick asked him, still gripping the vampire. Nick was guessing he was not the only troublesome child who was contributing toward his shying away from adding to his family. "No, Nicholas...no you didn't." Lacroix gave him a genuine smile as he took Nick's head in his hand. He pulled him forward to kiss his forehead, then guided them both back in the direction of the station. They parted company at the door and Nick joined his partner at their desks, a smile of bewilderment pulling at his lips. "What did he want?" Tracy asked, nodding toward the doorway and the recently departed vampire. "Just a chat." Tracy raised a disbelieving eyebrow. Nick chuckled. "Yeah, go figure." End part 8 knightraven@clear.net.nz "What a wonderful thing humanity is...Passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, generous, full of hope and joy, noble of spirit, and above all...delicious!" http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/knightraven Subject: Oh Boy 09/09 Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 21:20:32 +1300 From: Kylie Coleman-Tucker To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Thanks for hanging in there! Hope you enjoyed the ride. Part 9 Jordan was teaching her class tonight, so Lacroix sat in his booth, taking his time in setting up his show for the evening. The phone rang suddenly, pulling him out of the reverie he had drifted into. "Yes?" "Mr. Lacroix?" "Yes." "Ah, yes...ah. I'm Vivian Keepler from Social Services. I don't believe we met when I came to assess Liam Gates." "No, I can assure you we did not." Why was she calling? Whatever it was, Jordan would have to deal with it later. "Miss Keepler, my wife is unavailable at the moment. Perhaps you would prefer to call again later?" he told her, hinting strongly at her intrusion. "As much as I would like to, Mr. Lacroix, I don't think I have the time to wait. We have a problem," she told him firmly. Lacroix sighed. He just knew he was going to regret asking, but... "And what problem would that be?" "Liam. He is no longer responding; he's shut himself away. He was fine for the first few days, then one of the male nurses made him take a bath, and he went into such frenzied state, we had to sedate and restrain him to prevent him from further hurting himself." "Why tell me this?" Had no one told them of the incident with the child earlier? This surprisingly angered him. "Because Liam won't let go of the teddy bear your wife gave him. He seems to be clinging to the safety he found with you both. He's not eating, drinking, and he's exhibiting all the signs of a major withdrawal, and I suppose I was hoping you might be able to come and see if you can reach him...before we lose all hope of saving him." She was begging. Lacroix rubbed his fingers against his forehead as he held the phone to his ear. He sighed. "Very well. I shall come immediately." When the hell had he become so soft?! He sighed. If he didn't go, Jordan would never forgive him. He hung up the phone without waiting for a response. Growling, he filled the multiple CD player and cued up a rerun. So much for tonight's broadcast, he thought as he slammed the booth door on the way out. Arriving at the youth holding facility, he noted it wasn't much more than a glorified prison, barbed wire and eight-foot fences surrounded the property. Security was visible, with alarms and a rent a cop at the front desk. He turned to the desk clerk, also present. "I am here to see Liam Gates," he said, recalling the woman's use of the boy's surname. "Mr. Lacroix?" she asked. He nodded. "We've been expecting you. Please follow me." Lacroix followed obediently as she led him through the maze of corridors. Most of the small rooms were full of pittering heartbeats--the facility was full to capacity. He could hear tears and screams from certain areas of the building. He frowned as a child, sitting in the hallway, did nothing but stare at a wall. He soon surmised that he was not in the normal housing area. "What is this?" he asked the woman. She turned back to him briefly and spoke. "To put it bluntly, Mr. Lacroix, this is the Psych ward. Most of the kids here have either suffered trauma, and/or have some mental disabilities which deem them unsuitable to mainstream with the other kids." She halted her explanation as they entered an area, which he immediately noted was much quieter, yet more tension-filled than the halls they had just passed through. He was shown into an office, halfway into what appeared to be a block of four rooms only one of which was occupied. Vivian Keepler entered her office to come face to face with the dark form of the tall, astute man. She suddenly had third thoughts about asking him to come here. "Miss Keepler, I presume," he said, turning from the window to watch her enter. "Mr. Lacroix." Lacroix nodded in graceful acknowledgment, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. He wanted this to be over with as soon as possible--he was all business. Keepler took a deep breath and dove in. "As I told you earlier, Liam has taken a turn for the worst, and I hope you might be able to help. By your presence here I'm assuming you are prepared to give it a go?" she asked him, almost hoping he would say no. She was beginning to doubt this man would have any positive effect on the child at all. "I believe the incident was triggered by a male nurse forcing the child to bathe?" he asked her. "Yes." "You were told of the earlier incident pertaining to such an action?" "Yes, we had been, and the nurse has been reprimanded for his actions." Lacroix narrowed his eyes, as he thought about the reprimand he would have given. Keepler saw his dislike of the action taken, but he said nothing. "We have Liam isolated in a safety room. Before I take you to him, I should warn you, he may try to attack you. He began the violent action last night, and as a result, we had to restrain him again." "Very well." The boy had begun to take the offensive. In his mind, this wasn't necessarily a negative development, but left unattended, would become destructive to those around him, and ultimately to the child himself. Lacroix waved her toward the doorway to signal his readiness. She led him down the short hall to the only occupied room. Unbolting the steel door, she opened it to reveal an off-white colored room. The floor and walls were completely covered in thick padding. He stepped onto the soft surface and moved inside as Keepler stood in the doorway. Lacroix turned to the corner behind the door, and his eyes widened slightly at the child he saw sitting curled up in the corner. His arms were bound to his body with a straightjacket and his eyes were ringed with dark circles. Dark bruises and grazes marred his face, legs and hands. But most disturbing was the way in which the child rocked back and forth, staring at a point on the floor ahead of him. This was not the boy that had left his care ten days ago. "You'll be all right?" Keepler asked him from behind. He nodded. She paused for a moment, then backed out and closed the door behind her, locking them in alone. He stood watching the boy rocking in a familiar rhythm. He could well be too late. Suddenly the boy flicked his eyes up to stare into his. His rocking motion stopped abruptly. Lacroix moved carefully closer, and crouched at his side, the boy still staring where he had been standing. He began to undo the straps binding him, unable to look at the child restrained in such a fashion any longer. He pulled the jacket down and off the child's arms, throwing the device into a far corner. He crouched, watching the child as he continued to stare across the room. Lacroix reached up and placed his hand against the back of the small head, and stroked his shorn hair soothingly with his thumb. After a long moment, an awareness seemed to come back into the child's eyes, Liam turned to look at Lacroix as he sat beside him. He blinked several times, taking in the man's face. Lacroix didn't cease his stroking. Tears began to run heavily down the boy's face, and Lacroix pulled him into his arms. Liam gripped onto his neck as though he were drowning, and as Lacroix sat down, the child's legs wrapped around his waist. Lacroix was a little bewildered, at not only the boy's reaction to his presence, but to his own whirling feelings toward the distraught child. He continued to stroke the child's back and hold him, safe in his embrace. Keepler stood watching in stunned amazement at the video screen monitoring the pair. She brushed a tear away as an assistant came into the darkened room. "Who's he?" the young man asked her. "I don't really know. But I sure wish he had been here a week ago," she said, shaking her head. She left the booth to quietly enter the safety room, speaking softly to the man sitting on the floor with the child wrapped tightly about his body--she had no intention of separating the pair anytime soon. "Would you like to take him somewhere a little more comfortable?" Lacroix nodded and rose with Liam hugged to him. He followed her down the hallway and into an empty lounge area filled with games, toys, a couch and a television. He sat down again on the couch and turned to the woman. "Would you be so kind as to call my wife and ask her to join me," he commanded her softly, keeping his voice low and soothing. Keepler just nodded and left him to do as he asked. Twenty minutes later, Jordan stood in the lounge doorway, staring at the sight of her husband encumbered with the sleeping form of the young child. When he turned his gaze to her, she knew he had made a decision. She smiled softly as she walked slowly over to join him on the couch, adding her own hand to that of Lacroix's gently stroking the child. "You're sure about this?" she asked him. He nodded. "He needs us." "Just as you needed Marcus," she whispered, reaching up to stroke the back of his head. Lacroix glanced at the boy in his arms and nodded. It was true. Liam reminded him of himself, a child abused and forgotten...forgotten by all but one, a soldier, a general, his mother's lover. "Let's go home." Jordan pulled his head to rest against hers. He nodded again, then kissed her forehead before he rose. Holding the boy close, he felt something change within him, something very old. He closed his eyes briefly as he felt the young Roman boy within him reaching out to help himself. He smiled softly as he pulled his lover to his side, and together, they walked out to the reception area, more than a little apprehensive about the new responsibility encumbered in his arms. With the help of a little persuasion, they arranged to become Liam's new foster parents, and not a moment too soon, they were in the car, travelling back to the Raven. Jordan kept glancing at Lucien still holding the child as he slept soundly. Liam had been fed an IV to rehydrate his body while they had waited for the paper work to be processed. The resident doctor had given them instructions on his immediate care. Jordan belayed the woman's fears by assuring her Natalie would be close by and would monitor his condition. As she maneuvered the Jag behind the club and into the garage, she sighed and shook her head at her husband's complete turnaround. She held the doors open for him as he carried their new charge upstairs and into what was Nicky's room--he would have to convert one of the guestrooms, as this one had now been commandeered. Lacroix put the boy on the bed and stood back as he let Jordan take over undressing the boy and pulling on a pair of pajamas. When Liam was all tucked in, she stood back and wrapped an arm around her lover as they gazed down at the child. "Now what?" she asked. Lacroix