Forever Knight

With This Ring

**********

'Parker - Knight

The engagement of Miss Atonia Marie Parker and Mr. Nicholas B. Knight is announced.  Miss Parker is a native of Munks Corner, Ohio.  She is presently employed as a technical expert with the Los Angeles Police Department Criminal Identification Division.  She also is a successful freelance artist and does contract artistic and graphic work with many of the major motion picture studios.  She is the daughter of Mrs. Robyn Parker of Munks Corner, Ohio.

Mr. Knight is a native of Chicago, Illinois.  He worked for many years with the Toronto Metro Police Department, and is currently employed as a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Division.  Mr. Knight was recently promoted to Detective Sergeant.  He is the son of Mr. Lucien LaCroix, better known to KLAC radio fans as The Nightcrawler.

Wedding plans have  yet to be finalized.' 

On the side of the article was a photo of Nick and Toni, taken at the last Co-Op Association party.

Nick laid the society portion of the Los Angeles Times in front of her.  "What's this?"

She picked up the article.  "Don't look at me.  I didn't do it.  Remember.  We decided on an informal low key ceremony.  I saw that earlier while you were asleep, and I have no doubt everyone in Southern California has seen it by now, too.  It's a wonder our phones haven't been ringing off the hook."  The fateful words had been said, and, true to Murphy's Law, both phones immediately began ringing.

Although she had moved into Nick's apartment, she decided to keep hers too, as an office and studio.  They had a second line installed and had Toni's phone transferred to Nick's place.

Two answering machines kicked in.  "This is Toni Parker's answering machine.  Toni can't come to the phone now.  Leave a message.  She'll be back."  The heavily German accented male voice said.  Interspersed with that was Nick's voice.  "Knight here.  I'm either asleep or incommunicado.  Leave a message.  I'll get back to you"

They let their respective machines handle the calls since they did not readily recognize either caller.  At the same time the door buzzer sounded.  It was Teressa Giovanetti and Miriam Feldman.  Each of them had a copy of the Times.

"I see you have the article."  Teressa said.  "We're sorry about the picture, but that's the best one we have of the two of you."

"We sent copies to the Toronto and the Columbus papers too.  We know you two have many friends in both places and that you would want them to know the good news, as well."  Miriam added.

Nick started to scold the two ladies, but they looked at him and Toni with total innocence and complete joy and pride in what they had done.  Any anger he may have felt toward them just melted away and he and Toni ended up hugging the both of them.  Besides, the damage was already done.  All they could do now was ride it out.

The phones rang again and again, and they let the answering machines handle all of the calls.

"You want to go across the hall to your place?"  He suggested after Teressa and Miriam left.  "At least there we won't have to listen to the phones."

**********

Toronto

Joe Reese read the article in the Toronto Star. "Well, he finally went and did it."  He said, handing the paper to Denise   "That boy is one of the ones who really needs a wife, and this lady looks perfect for him.  Natalie and he were so crazy in love, I thought for sure she'd be the one.  When she died, I thought he'd crack.  I was sure he'd go through life alone.  Got to write to Stonetree and tell him the good news."

**********

Myra Schanke pressed redial on her phone and listened as the number was dialed again.   All she heard was the neep …neep … neep of the busy signal.  She had been trying for twenty minutes and each time his line was busy.   He was her late husband's partner, after all, and he adored little Jenny.  She even called him 'Uncle Nick'. While it was likely they would get an invitation to the wedding, she still wanted to call him and give him her congratulations. She pressed flash and then redial once again.

**********

Columbus

Robyn Parker carefully placed the clipping on the laminate and placed  another sheet on top.  This was definitely going in the family album.  They had called her with the good news the day after he proposed, and then arranged a conference call with the Gramwood family.  All of them had talked for well over an hour.  She couldn't be happier for them. He was one of the sweetest, nicest men she had ever met.  She could easily understand why her daughter had said yes.

 Faxes, calls and E-mail came in every day.  Dress pictures, sample menus, travel plans, etc., etc., etc.  She would hate to see his phone bill.

**********

He laid the Columbus Dispatch down on the battered table and took another drink out of his beer bottle.  It was flat and warm.  He would have to complain to the manager of this flea bitten dump to fix the refrigerator again.  He never read the society pages.  The sports section.  Yes.  The racing news.  Yes.   But not the society page.  He couldn't give two fat rat's asses what those goddam bluebloods were doing.  This particular article caught his eye, though.  It was his kid in the article.  His kid was getting married.  And to a cop.  And they didn't even mention him in the article.  He missed his other kid's wedding and by God, he wasn't going to miss this one.  He took another long drink and let out a loud belch.

**********

New York

Nicholette Hudson pulled the sheet out of the fax machine.  The sender's area code was the same as the Maison de Mer.  Either Clarissa or Milos must have sent it to her.  She read it several times.  They had called her the following day to give her the news and ask her if she and Nicole would be in the wedding party.  Naturally, they had agreed.  She looked in her address book and reinserted the paper in the fax machine.  She dialed the area code for Havens Corners, Georgia.  If he hadn't received a copy yet, she would make sure Jeb Puckett knew.

**********

Place Unknown

She ripped the article out of the paper.  Her eyes were yellow with rage.  There was no question in her mind that he was the one.  She had spent too many lifetimes pursuing him, trying to extract her revenge for what he had done to her.  Now was her chance.  Such a pretty girl, too.  She almost felt sorry for her.  She traced the torn picture with her forefinger.  "A pity you will be a widow before you even have the chance to be a bride."  She let her fangs grow long and uttered an evil laugh.

**********

Los Angeles

"You are out of your tiny little mind!"  Nick yelled.  "I am not getting married at Disneyland!  What happened to the quiet wedding?  You know, just family and a few close friends?"

"Don't yell at me! It was just a suggestion."  Toni shouted back.  "Can I help it if we are so popular.  If we invite everyone who wants to come to our wedding, Disneyland may not even be big enough.  We may have to hold it in the Rose Bowl.  Look at these!"  She picked up a stack of papers littering the table where she was working and let them drop one by one.  "And those are just the ones that came today."

He picked up the legal pad with two columns of names on it.  "What we, Kemo Sabe.  These are all your friends."

She picked up a stack of letters and telegrams.  They had Canadian postmarks.  "And I suppose these are all written to Santa Claus?"

"We could always call the whole thing off!"  He shouted.

"Maybe we should!"  Toni said, heading for the bathroom.  She opened the medicine cabinet door, took out a bottle and shook two yellow and red pills into her hand.  She downed them with a glass of water, and then slammed the door shut.  Nick followed her.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you."  He sighed, putting his arms around her and kissing her on the cheek.  "It's just that everything is getting so out of hand.  I know you were just joking about Disneyland, and I had no right to come down on you like that.  Between the arrangements and the pressures we are both under, I'm ready to drain anyone says boo to me.  I love you so much, and  I want everything to be so perfect."

"I should be the one doing the apologies."  She said.  "I love you too, with all my heart and soul.  I suppose we should just chalk this up to pre-wedding jitters.  I mean, neither one of us has been getting all that much sleep this past week.  I've been off my feed, and with the caterer, the florist, the dressmaker, and the million other things that can, and have gone wrong, my stomach has been tied in knots.  We've come this far.  We might as well see it through.  If we don't, we'll just have to go through it all over again.  Because, Mr. Nicholas de Brabant Knight, I said I would marry you and I have every intention of keeping my word."  She punctuated the last statement with a kiss.

"Maybe we should think about driving down to The Baja and find a judge there.  I heard they don't even have a three day waiting period.  Just buy the license and that's it."

"Don't tempt me."  She playfully nipped his chin.  "But if we eloped, it would disappoint so many people."  She went back to the dining area and picked up the legal pad and a pencil. " Let's see how many names we can trim without stepping on too many feelings."

**********

"Well, if it isn't the condemned man.  Only one more month until D-Day."  Mike Taylor chided as they walked to their desks.  "Or is that M-day?"

Nick growled something under his breath.

"Seriously, how are you two holding up?  I saw Toni earlier.  She looked like death warmed over and you don't look much better."

"We're doing as well as anyone can expect, considering that the musicians we hired informed us they have another gig that night, and the florist can't get us the flowers we want.  And the caterer just told us it's going to cost twice as much as we had budgeted.  Other than that, everything's peachy keen.  To top it all off, Toni thinks she's coming down with the flu."

**********

Toni walked to her car.  "This has got to be the granddaddy of all flu."  She thought.  She should have taken Nick's advice and called in sick, but there were acres of paperwork that had to be completed before they took off.  She didn't want to take any more time off than was absolutely necessary.  They had both requested, and been given, vacation leave for the two weeks before and the month after the wedding.  She had managed to last three hours, though. 

"Good evening, Miss ... Parker, isn't it?"  The woman behind her said.  Toni would have sworn that she was alone in the parking lot.

"Do I know you?"  She asked, fingering the cylinder of pepper spray she kept in her jacket pocket.

"No.  But we do have a mutual acquaintance."  The woman said.   At the same time Toni felt a sharp stinging pain in her right arm and everything started to spin rapidly.  She had the sensation she was falling down a long green-black hole.  Then, mercifully, there was blackness.

**********

"It's for you."  Taylor held the phone toward Nick, who was at the file cabinet, putting away a stack of backlog reports.

"Knight."

"I have something of yours."  The woman on the other end said.  He recognized the voice.  It was someone he hoped he would never meet again.  "Your darling little fiancee is with me.  If you want to see her alive one last time, come to pier 28.  You'll know where we are when you get here."  The line went dead.

Nick called the Identification lab.  Dwayne Morris answered.  He was one of the other technicians.  "No, Toni isn't here.  She signed off sick about an hour ago.  Said she was going straight home.  Said she would call you when she got there.  She really looked like shit ... Nick? ... Nick?"  There was nothing but a dial tone.

Nick ran to the window.  His worst fears were confirmed.  Toni's Mazda still sat on the lot.  He started for the door. Taylor was right behind him.

"Where do you think you are going?"  Mike shouted as the tried to keep up with Nick on the stairs to the lot.

"Toni's been kidnapped.  She's in great danger"  Nick shouted back as he opened the Caddy door. "This is a personal matter.  You could be killed.  Go on back inside."

Mike sat down in the passenger seat.  "No way.  We're partners, remember?  If they are as dangerous as you say, you'll need all the help you can get.  Besides, if they've got Toni, I want a piece of the action.  Now, drive!"

**********

The first thing Toni became aware of when the world came back into focus was that she was bound too a chair. There was a single bare light on and it illuminated an area of about ten feet in all directions. She was in an open space in what was once some kind of warehouse or factory.   It was no longer used, and hadn't been used in quite some time, as evidenced by the thick covering of dust and the discarded scraps of wood, paper, metal and other things that littered the floor.   A blonde, slim woman stood near her.  She looked to be about twenty five, but Toni had learned long ago that, in some cases, looks were very deceiving.  Instinctively, she knew this was one of those cases.

"Well, well, Miss Parker, you're finally awake."  She said.  Her words dripped evil.  "I hope the ropes are not too tight.  I would hate to think you were uncomfortable."  She was dressed in a black lycra form fitting jumpsuit.  It not only showed off her nearly perfect figure, but it was also made for action.

"What do you want?"

"Nicholas de Brabant."  The tone of her voice made Toni's skin crawl.

"When Nick finds out you have me, he'll come looking for me."

"Oh!  I sincerely hope so.  That's the whole idea."  She took Toni's chin in her hand and lifted it.  "I have no quarrel with you.  You are merely the bait.  When I finished with de Brabant, I will release you.  If you cooperate, I may not even harm you."

"Why?"

The warehouse reverberated with her laughter.  She opened her mouth and showed long ivory fangs.  Her eyes glowed an eerie shade of yellow.  "He and that devil spawned master of his, Lucien LaCroix, made me what I am. We were lovers.  I believed I loved de Brabant and that he loved me.  I did not know what he was.  De Brabant drained me.  Or at least he thought he had.  Whether it was accidental or on purpose is immaterial.  He left a spark of life.   That's when LaCroix brought me across just to torment de Brabant.  Neither of them gave a damn about me.   They merely used me as a pawn in their nefarious games.  When they were through, they abandoned me the way a child discards a toy he no longer wants to play with.  For centuries I have sought to repay him for this.  Now I shall." 

She lifted her head abruptly and looked around. "He is here.  Let the hunt begin."  The sound she made was somewhere between a growl and a hiss.  She picked up a piece of wood from a pile that was at her feet and hefted it menacingly.  When Toni had first noticed the pile, they looked like all the other bits of wood in the place.  Now she could see that they were finely sharpened stakes.

**********

Nick drove slowly along the pier.  They had to be in one of these buildings.  He could sense them.  As near as he could tell, Toni was unharmed.  The emanations were getting stronger.  They were heading in the right direction.  Finally he stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse.  "They're in here."  He whispered to Mike.

"How do you know?"

"I know."

"Want me to call for backup?"

Nick shook his head.  "No!  As I said before, This is personal.  This is my fight alone."   Once out of the car, he pointed for Mike to cover the back of the warehouse.  He knew they were somewhere in the front.  With a little bit of luck, Mike would not be in any danger.  Carefully he scanned the area with his senses.  If he knew she was here, it stood to reason she knew he was here.  Finally he pinpointed their exact location.   With lightning speed he was inside.

"Alexandra!"  He demanded.  "Let her go.  Your quarrel is with me."

Alexandra only laughed and lunged at him with the stake.  Nick easily sidestepped it.  She flew to a catwalk.  Nick followed.  "Give it up.  We have played this scene too many times." He said, grabbing her arm as she tried to strangle him. 

"Not until one of us is no more!"  With him still holding her, she dropped backward through the fragile railing and the two of them landed on the concrete below with a sickening thud.  She was up first and raked his face with her fingernails.  He screamed, more like a growl, as the pain burned into his cheek.  His eyes turned fluorescent.  He flung her into a pile of empty drums stacked against a wall.  They fell with a thunderous clatter.

**********

Outside, Mike Taylor heard the sounds of fighting.   He went to one of the dirt encrusted windows.  Through the haze, he could barely make out two figures in the heat of battle.  One of them had to be his partner.  He tried one of the panes.  He was in luck.  The wood and metal holding the glass in place was so rusty and rotted that it gave way with only minimal effort.  He reached in and unlocked the window.  Seconds later, he was inside.

He could see Nick struggling with what appeared to be a woman, but they were moving too rapidly for him to fix his attention on either one of them.  They were snarling and howling at each other in a deafening din.  Then he spotted Toni tied in the chair. He could tell she was frightened out of her wits.  He had to admit he was terrified, too.  Staying in the shadows, he made his way to her.  He put his fingers to her lips signaling silence as he swiftly untied her.  

He took a glance at the combatants.  It was hard for him to tell who was getting the worse.  They both were bloodied, and they had noticeably slowed since he first saw them through the window.  He guided Toni toward the window he had come through.  His foot caught on an empty can and it rolled away, rattling on the concrete.

Nick heard the sound and turned quickly to see where it was coming from.  He was overjoyed to see that Mike had Toni.  It was only a momentary distraction, but it was all that Alexandra needed.  She grabbed another of the stakes and ran at Nick with all her might.  There was a sickening sound as wood met flesh and in an instant, the timber had penetrated his chest and the tip protruded from his back.  He stared, glassy eyed, at it.  Then he slowly sank to his knees and finally to the floor.  He did not move.

Mike emptied his gun into Alexandra. 

She turned to him, her eyes glowing, her fangs still down.  "Pathetic mortal!"  She spat at him.  "Do you really think that does any good?"  She looked at Toni and then at the unmoving figure of Nick.  "I have what I came for.  To spite your friend's inept attempt at rescue, I will be generous and let the two of you live."  In an instant she was gone.

Toni ran to Nick.  Though their lovemaking, a  mental bond had begun to form between them.  Although it was still very weak, she could feel he was still alive.  Barely.  The stake had missed his heart by mere centimeters, and he was losing blood rapidly.  If he did not get proper attention soon, he would be dead.  She tried to move the pole, but it was imbedded too deep.  "MIKE!"  She called. "HELP ME!  HE'S DYING."

Mike stood in the same spot, staring straight ahead.  She ran to him and slapped him hard across the face.  She grabbed his arm and led him to Nick.  Mike moved as if he were in a trance.  "I'll call 911."  He said absently.

"No time.  Grab the end of the stake and pull with all your might."  She grabbed it slightly lower than Mike and they both pulled as hard as they could.  Slowly, Toni felt the shaft move.  Although he was unconscious, Nick gave an unearthly scream as it pulled free of his body.  Blood gushed from the wound.  She took off her jacket and ripped off one of the sleeves and stuffed it into the hole.  She rolled him over and stuffed the other sleeve into the exit wound.  Normally, the wounds would have started to heal as soon as the stake was removed, but somehow Toni knew that he was too gravely injured for that.  The sleeves would keep him from losing too much more blood. 

Mike still stood in a trance like position. "I'll call 911."  He said once more.

"Never mind 911."  Toni ordered.  "You take his shoulders.  I'll take his legs.  Get him into the Caddy."

Obediently, Mike did as he was told.  They almost literally threw him into the back seat.  Mike started to get behind the wheel, but Toni pushed him into the passenger seat.  He was in no condition to drive.  Thank goodness Nick had insisted she learn to drive a stick shift. 

**********

Many broken speed laws and a few bent laws of physics later, she pulled to a screeching halt in the complex garage.  LaCroix was waiting for them.

"I felt it."  Was all he said.  He carefully  lifted Nick and carried him into the elevator. She looked at the seat of the Caddy.  It was covered with blood.  "Make a mental note to take it to Kleen-A-Kar."  She told herself.  Toni took Mike by the hand and led him to the elevator.  His hand was almost as cold as Nick's.  He was going into shock.

By the time they reached the apartment, LaCroix had already put Nick to bed.  Natalie Lambert was also present.  At her coaching,  Toni went to the freezer and took out four units of blood.  They were Red Cross outdates that were kept there for dire emergencies.  This was definitely a dire emergency.  Natalie told her to fill a bowl with water and set the bags in it to thaw.  "They lose nutrients if you microwave them."  She explained.

**********

LaCroix sat on the edge of the bed.  There was a medical kit in the bathroom and LaCroix had retrieved it. With Natalie helping him, they had cleaned and bandaged the wounds as best they could.  The rest was up to Nick.  Tenderly he stroked Nick's cheek with the back of his hand.  The look of fear for his son's life was plainly etched on his own face.  After what seemed an eternity, Nick gave a faint moan.  Immediately, LaCroix allowed his fangs to elongate and sank them into his own forearm.  He held the bleeding arm over Nick and allowed the blood to flow into his mouth.  A wide smile crossed his face as Nick first sputtered and then swallowed the life giving fluid.  LaCroix pressed the arm against Nick's lips and Nick sucked hungrily.  Finally, his eyes fluttered open.

**********

LaCroix came out of the room, holding a washcloth to his still bleeding arm.  "He's stable."  He said, embracing Toni.  "He'll need plenty of that."  He said, pointing to the bags of blood.  He wavered slightly. 

Toni handed him one of the bags.  "Drink. You need this too."  She said as she hurried into the bedroom with the rest of the blood. He sank his fangs onto the blood bag and emptied it. Mike only stared numbly at him from the couch.  When he was finished, he threw the bag into the trash compactor and sat beside Mike.

Mike scurried to the far end of the sofa and threw his arms before him in a cross like position.  "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"  He screamed. 

LaCroix quickly looked away.  "Take your arms down."  He said softly.  "I won't hurt you.  Take your arms down."

"YOU'RE A ... A ..."

"The word is vampire.  So is Nicholas.  We have never harmed you in the past and we will not harm you now.  Please put your arms down."  He used the same hypnotic voice he had used so many times as The Nightcrawler.

Slowly, Mike lowered his arms.

LaCroix fixed his stare to Mike's.  He focused on the heart.  It was beating extremely rapid.  He continued speaking to the detective in the same soft monotone.  "Relax.  Calm down.  There is nothing to be afraid of."

 Taylor's heart slowly returned to a more normal beat. 

"The events of this evening never happened."  LaCroix continued.  "You and Nicholas had a quiet, uneventful shift.  You, he and Atonia returned to the apartment and spent the remainder of this evening discussing wedding plans."

"Uneventful shift ... wedding plans."  Mike mumbled.

"Good.  You are very tired.  Rest."

"Tired ... Rest."   Mike lay back on the couch and within seconds, his heart and breathing rate told LaCroix he was asleep.

Toni came out of the bedroom.  "Nick's resting.  What do we do now?"

"Now, I will take care of Alexandra."  LaCroix said.

"No."  Nick said.  He was leaning heavily on the doorway to the bedroom.  "She is my responsibility.  I will deal with her."

Natalie's spirit was behind him.  She only raised her hands in a sign of resignation.

"Nicholas.  Go back to bed."  LaCroix said.  "Alexandra always was a strong one, and now that she thinks she has finished you, she will be even harder to defeat.  In the condition you are in now, a two day old Chihuahua puppy could defeat you."

"She doesn't know for certain that I am gone.  She'll undoubtedly go back to the warehouse to make sure.  I will have the element of surprise on my side.  That may make up for my lack of strength.  If I do not stop her, the next time she WILL kill me.  It has to be now."

"Since you are so adamant about putting an end to your existence, I will go with you.  Between the two of us, we may be able to overcome her."  LaCroix said, guiding Nick back to the bedroom.  Several minutes later, they emerged. Nick was fully dressed and had his crusader's sword hanging from his belt.  LaCroix held a crossbow and wooden bolts that Nick had taken from one of the soldiers during the battle of Ste. Remy.

Toni emerged from the other bedroom.  She had a Super Soaker in her hands and a tank of water slung over her shoulder.

"Where do you think you are going?"  Nick asked her.

"With you."

"And just what do you think you can do with a water gun?"  LaCroix added.

"It's holy water."  Toni corrected.  "I keep it for protection.  While I trust Nick implicitly, and I even trust you to a certain extent, I do not trust some of your acquaintances.  I figure it won't kill her, but a healthy shot of this might slow her down enough for you two to get the upper hand."

"Good thinking, Toni.  Only one thing is wrong."  Mike Taylor said.  "I'm going, not you."

"Are you all right?"  Toni asked.

"Yeah.  I guess I wigged out there for a bit, but I'm all right now. Besides, regardless of what's going down here, the important thing to remember is we've got a maniac on the loose and we have to stop her before she strikes again."   He took the Soaker and tank from Toni and strapped it on himself.  Toni opened an ornate box on the mantle and took out a primitive wooden cross on a leather thong.  She placed it around Mike's neck and put the cross inside his shirt.

"This is very powerful.  It once belonged to a great saint.  Someday maybe Nick will tell you the story behind it.  It will protect you."

LaCroix gathered the two in his arms and slowly levitated toward the skylight.  "It's much faster this way."

 Toni pressed the proper button on the remote and it opened just as he reached it.  She heard the whoosh as he took off.

**********

He set down outside the warehouse.  Alexandra was not in there, but he could sense her nearby.  To the best he could discern, she had not sensed them ... yet.  He dug at the scars on his arm until they began to bleed and held them to Nick's face.  "Feed again.  You will need all the strength you can get."

Nick put his mouth over the wounds and drank.

**********

LaCroix and Taylor positioned themselves in a corner of the warehouse.  From their vantage point, they could see Nick standing in approximately the same spot where he had fallen only hours before.

"ALEXANDRA!"  Nick shouted, his voice reverberating through the empty warehouse.  "You botched it!  Would you like another chance?  Just you and me this time."

LaCroix joined his mind to his son's.  < I will help you through this, my son. >  He sent.  He could tell from just this brief encounter that Nick was putting on a show about being stronger than he really was.

< Thank you ... father. >  Nick returned.

Alexandra appeared in a flurry.  Her anger and hatred were palatable. They circled like gladiators, feinting and testing, each looking for a weak spot.  Alexandra found one.  "DIE!"  She shouted as she lunged for Nick.  Nick deflected her with his arms, but not before she sucker punched him in the abdomen. LaCroix stiffened as he felt the pain through his link with Nick.   He attempted to draw it into himself.

Mike raised his Soaker.  LaCroix put his hand on it and lowered it.  "Not yet."  He whispered.  "This is Nicholas's fight.  Let him see it through.  We will act only if necessary."

Nicholas picked up one of the stakes and charged toward Alexandra. She sidestepped, but it still caught her in the shoulder.  She screamed and backhanded him, then pulled it out.  The fray continued for what seemed an eternity, neither one gaining a clear advantage. 

"Please, My Lord Mars."  LaCroix prayed.  He hadn't prayed to his gods in almost two thousand years, but he prayed now.  "End this quickly.  Nicholas cannot last much longer."  He was in considerable distress and his movements were starting to slow.  LaCroix had absorbed as much pain as he dared and had sent Nick as much strength as he possibly could.  He, too, was weakening.

Alexandra fell backwards.  LaCroix could not tell if Nick was responsible or whether she had slipped.  It didn't matter.  Nick seized the moment.  He picked up one of the scraps of wood and drove it into her chest.  With great effort, he drew his sword and raised it above his head.  Mustering all the strength that remained, he brought it down across her throat.  Her head rolled across the floor. 

"It ... is ... done."  He gasped.  Seconds later, he collapsed beside his headless adversary.

LaCroix held Alexandra's severed head over Nicholas, her blood dripping into his mouth.  "You have earned the victory."  He said.  "Let her blood give you strength."  In the corner, he could hear Mike retching.

The blood worked.  He was getting stronger every minute. "Now to make sure she can never reincarnate."  Nick said.  He picked up the head and LaCroix followed with the rest of her body.  They laid them at opposite ends of the loading ramp.  The rapidly lightening sky told them that in a few hours the only thing that would remain of Alexandra would be two piles of ashes.

***********

LaCroix lowered himself through the skylight.  He carried Taylor and Nicholas followed them.  They had won the race with the sun with only seconds to spare.  Already tiny wisps of smoke were beginning to curl from LaCroix's back.  Tracy and Clarissa had joined Toni and Natalie and the four of them breathed a collective sigh of relief when they reached the floor.

"Tracy!"  Taylor called, his eyes growing wide.  "Get out of here!  They're killers!  They're all vampires! "  He grabbed her and started yanking her toward the door.  "I just saw them cut off a woman's head and drink her blood!  Get out of here before they do it to you!"

Clarissa went to him.  She placed her hands gently on his shoulders.  "Mike.  There's nothing to be afraid of here."  She whispered as she made eye contact  No one is going to harm you."  She said softly, matching her cadence to his heartbeat.   "Calm down.  We are all tired.  Why don't you go into the spare bedroom and get a good sleep." 

"Sleep ... "  He mumbled.

She took his hand and led him into the bedroom.  She and Tracy stayed with him until they were sure he was asleep.

"What happened?"  Toni said.  "When he left, he was almost normal.  Now, he's right back to square one.  Yelling and screaming about vampires and killers."

"From what you tell me he saw, he must have developed a strong case of paranoia coupled with the shock at what he had seen.  Anyone would under these circumstances."  Natalie explained.  "Sometimes, a high adrenaline rush can override the paranoia.  Then, when the person comes off the rush, the paranoia comes right back.  Mike was on a rush when he and LaCroix went with Nick.  Now that the danger is over, he's seeing the monsters again.  He will probably be better after a good sleep, but I think we should keep an eye on him just the same."

"Speaking of sleep, maybe it's time we all got some."  Tracy said.  "It's been a l-o-o-o-ng night.  Since I'm the most rested, I'll stay up and make sure everyone is okay."

"Since I don't really need sleep, I'll take turns with you."  Natalie volunteered.

**********

Toni helped Nick into the bed.  She handed him a bag of blood.  Many of his previous wounds had been reopened in this latest battle.  In addition, he had received several new ones.  Although he was recovering rapidly,  Nat had suggested one more pint.  Just to be sure.

He stroked the side of her neck.  "I'd rather have this blood."  He said with look of mischief.

"If you drink your meal like a good little boy, mommy will give you some nummies."  She said, playfully slapping his hand.

With a mock pout, he took the bag and began to empty it.  She traced the fading scars on his chest with her finger.  It never ceased to amaze her the way they healed so quickly. 

"That isn't my only boo – boo."  He said in a childlike tone.  He put her hand on his groin.  "It's all swollen, Mommy.  Make the swelling go down."    

"Drink your blood."

**********

They slept past sunset.  Toni and Nick, of course, were in their room.  Mike was in the spare bedroom.  LaCroix and Clarissa used Toni's apartment.  No one doubted that LaCroix got the bed.

Tracy caught Toni as she came out.  "It's Mike."  She said with panic in her voice.  "Nat and I have been with him all day.  He's been very restless, you know, tossing and turning in his sleep. I've been monitoring his dreams, and he's had some terrible nightmares.  He finally settled down about a half  hour ago. That's when Nat disappeared.   I just left him long enough to go to the bathroom and when I returned, he was gone."

"He couldn't have gone far."  Nick said.  "I'll see if I can find him."  He headed for the skylight.

Mike sat on the ledge of the roof, his feet dangling over the side.  He raised his arms in a cross as Nick approached.  "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!  I'll jump!  It's better than being turned into one of you!  Don't try to talk me out of it.  Your father ... if he really is your father ... tried to.  So did Clarissa, or whatever her name is.  It won't work!  I know what I saw."

Nick concentrated on his partner's vital signs.  His heartbeat was rapid and his breathing was hard and shallow.  He was in shock again.  He raised his hands.  "I won't come anyy closer.  We have to talk." He said softly."  I'm not going to try anything.  I just want to talk."  His mind was racing, looking for the right words.  "I'm your partner, remember?  Tell me what you saw."

Mike's eyes went wild.  "GET AWAY!  YOU'RE ALL VAMPIRES!  You!  LaCroix! Clarissa! Toni! Tracy! Everybody!  YOU'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!  YOU'RE ALL GOING TO KILL ME!"

"Mike.  Calm down  ... Think.  You've known me for nearly three years.  If I were a vampire and if I was going to hurt  you, I would have done it long before now."

 "But I saw it.  You were staked ...  You and that other vampire ...  The woman ... You were fighting ... She stabbed you ... Through  the chest ... Your eyes ... Her eyes ... "

Then it came to Nick.  The way to reach Mike.  "Yes.  There was a fight.  Think back.  Toni was kidnapped.  We went to rescue her.  I did fight with the woman who held her captive.  She was ... someone I imprisoned a long time ago, and she was after revenge on me.  She did stab me, but it wasn't with a stake.  It was with a hunting knife.  And it was only in the fleshy part of my shoulder.  You tripped on a can and fell.  You hit your head on the concrete.  You had a bad concussion, but we didn't know about it until you passed out.  Don't you remember?"

Mike shook his head. Slowly he dropped his hands to his side.  Nick could sense his heart and breathing returning to a more normal state.

"After the woman escaped, Toni drove us to the hospital.  You passed out in the car on the way there.  The doctor said you needed to be watched closely for signs of just what you are going through now.  In your condition, your injured mind took the events of last night and put them together in all sorts of weird combinations."

"But it was real.  It happened.  I know.  I was there."

"Hallucinations are very real to the person having them.  As real as this is right now."

"But you were dying.  We brought you to the apartment.  LaCroix was there and the two of you drank blood.  Lots of blood"

"We drank some wine.  Sangria.  In Spanish that means blood."

"What about the second battle.  The one where you cut off the woman's head and drank her blood?"

Nick made a face.  "Cut off her head?  Drank her blood?  Yu-u-k-k."  He shook his head.  "That only happened in your mind.  We put you in the spare bedroom and Tracy, Toni, and I have been taking turns sitting with you since then.  You  must have had some whopper nightmares.  You kept yelling aand screaming about vampires, battles, and blood all night and most of today.  You finally fell asleep about an hour ago.  We thought it was all over.  That is, until now."

"You mean it never happened?"  Mike said, swinging his feet back over the ledge.

Nick shook his head.  "Never happened"

"And you're not a vampire?"

Nick opened his mouth.  "Do you see any fangs?  Look at my eyes.  They're blue, just as they always were."  He went to Mike and took his partner's hand. "I tell you what.  I don't think Toni's in the mood to cook.  Why don't we go get some takeout.  Would you like Chinese, Mexican, or Italian?  Or maybe just burgers, fries and a shake?"

"How about a swift kick in the ass for being such a jerk?"

"Can't do that.  We're partners, remember."  Nick put his arm around Mike's shoulder and the two of them headed for the stairs.

LaCroix and Clarissa stood in the shadows behind the skylight.

"He's good!"  Clarissa remarked.

"He's my son."

**********

Nick kissed Toni on the cheek and laid the stack of mail on the table.  "How are you feeling today?  Any better?"

"Better.  But this flu just won't let go.  Maybe after everything is over and we're on our honeymoon, things will get back to more normal.  It's just .. now that it's only a week away, everything is ... all upside down.   Speaking of honeymoons, where exactly are we going?"

"I have no idea.  LaCroix said he is handling all that."

"LaCroix?  You let LaCroix plan our honeymoon?"

"Scary, isn't it?  When I ask him about it, he just smiles and says it's a surprise and we'll love it.  He shows such enthusiasm and such pride, I hate to say no.  Just remember, if we don't like it, we can always go somewhere else."  He picked up the mail.  "I'd better get these to Rachael.  By the way, how is she working out?"

"She's incredible. I've never had a personal secretary before.  Makes me feel like one of those big celebrities.  In just three weeks, she's turned this wedding from confusion and chaos into order and logic.  She's handled all the invitations and RSVP's.  She's taken care of all the hotel accommodations for the out of town guests.  She found another band, and she's even haggled the

caterer down to a more reasonable price.  She's saved my sanity.  Where did you EVER find her?"

"I can't take the credit.  It was Miriam's and Teressa's idea.  They thought you needed help, and they were right.  Let me see if I can get this straight ... Rachael Abelman is ... Morris's ... sister's ... brother-in-law's ...  oldest son's ... youngest daughter.  They live in upstate New York, and she's out here on some kind of college exchange program.  She's staying with the Feldmans for the semester."

"While you are talking to Rachael, I'm going down to the model apartment and take a few measurements of Mom, Sherry and Nellie for the dressmaker.  I'm glad they came out a week early.  Even with Rachael's help I still need them, too."

He kissed her again.  "Give my love to Ron and Jay too.  Remind them we're supposed to go for a tux fitting tomorrow."

**********

"Just hold your arms like this."  Toni said, putting Nellie's arms out to her side.  She took a measuring tape and pulled it around the teenager's chest.  Then she wrote the measurements on a piece of paper.  She put her niece's arms back down.  "There.  I'll get these to the dressmaker right away.  You are going to look so beautiful, no one is even going to even notice me." 

Since the Gramwoods and Robyn had only arrived in Los Angeles two days ago, there wasn't any time for the necessary fittings, so Toni was doing the work from home and then E-Mailing the information to the wardrobe department of the studio where the dresses were being made.

"Oh, Aunt Toni ... "  Nellie blushed.

"You know what would make this dress look absolutely fabulous?  I still have the pearl necklace Grandma Scott gave me for my college graduation.  It would go perfectly.  I'll get it."

"No."  Robyn said.  "You're up to your eyeballs in pins and fabric scraps.  You stay here.  Just tell me where it is and I'll bring it down."

"It's in the jewel box on the dresser in the bedroom.  Don't worry about disturbing Nick.  He can sleep through an earthquake.  In fact, he has slept through a few very minor tremors."

"You've had earthquakes out here?"  Robyn said in dismay.

"You have tornadoes in Ohio?   We have earthquakes.  No big deal"

As soon as Robyn left the room, Toni gasped.  "Oh, no.  I told her wrong.  I said the necklace isn't in the jewel box. I wore it last week and put it in my dresser drawer under my socks.  She'll never find it there.  I better go up and tell her."

Robyn peered into the bedroom.  Nick was lying on top of the blanket, on his back, with his hands folded across his chest.

Robyn rummaged through the jewel box, but did not see the necklace.  "I know that Toni said not to disturb him, but I don't think Nick would mind just this once."  She thought out loud.  "I bet he knows where the necklace is."

"Nick.  Nick?"  She called softly.  There was no response. "NICK!"  She called.  Still no response.  She shook his chest.  Nothing.  She felt his hands.  They were ice cold.  Worried, she put her ear to his chest.  There was no heartbeat and he was not breathing.

"OH! GOD!"  She cried out.  She moved his hands to his sides and put her hands, palms down on his breastbone.  "1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 5"  She counted as she pushed on his chest.

"MOM!  What are you doing!"  Toni cried from the bedroom door.

"His heart stopped!  He's in cardiac arrest! Call 911!"  Robyn yelled, still pushing Nick's chest.

"There's no need to do that.  He's all right."  Toni said, putting her hands on Robyn's  "He really is."

"But he's ...  1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 5"  Robyn continued the CPR.  "Now for a breath.  She pinched Nick's nostrils together and blew hard into his mouth.

Nick's eyes popped open.  They were yellow.  His fangs were obvious as he coughed and sputtered to recover from Robyn's efforts.  Robyn screamed.  Nick turned away.  He was hoping that she did not see everything, but he knew she had seen too much.  When he turned back, his eyes were blue again and his fangs had retracted.

"What ... What's going ... going on here?"  Robyn stuttered.  Her eyes were wide and there was definite fear in them

"Eastern Meditation Techniques.  I can slow my heart and breathing to almost nothing.  Very restful."

"Nick."   Robyn said.  "I used to be a nurse.  You were dead.  I know dead when I see it."

"Nick.  I think we had better tell her the truth.  The whole truth."  Toni said. 

"I don't know."  Nick said.  The problems they had with Mike Taylor when he discovered Nick's secret were still very fresh in his mind.

"I think it would be a lot better if she finds out now, from us, than later from other sources."

"You're right, as usual"  Nick said.  He motioned for Toni to sit on the bed beside him.  "Robyn.  You had better sit down."  He said, pointing to the stool at Toni's dressing table.  "What we have to say might ... no will ... be hard to believe.  You see,  the reason I looked like I was dead is because ... technically ... I am dead.  You see, I'm a vampire."

"A vampire?"  Robyn said, shaking her head,  "What kind of a sick joke are you trying to pull?  There are no such things as vampires."

"It's true, Robyn."  Nick said as he willed his fangs to elongate and his eyes to turn yellow once more.  "This is what I am."

"You're not joking ... You really are a vampire.  My daughter is marrying a vampire.  I'm going to wake up any minute and this is all going to be a horrendous nightmare."

"It is a nightmare.  but not the kind you think.  I've been living this nightmare for eight hundred years.  I can promise you this.  I am no different than I was ten minutes ago.  I would not harm anyone. Especially Toni.  I love her with all my heart and soul.  And yes, I do have a soul.  It belongs to Toni."

"If you are really a vampire, tell me, do you drink blood?  Do you ever sleep in a coffin?  Do you turn into a bat?  Can you fly?  Do you wear a black cape when you go out?"

Nick just rolled his eyes and sighed.  "One question at a time, please."   

**********

Jack Parker put the map on the seat beside him and restarted the car.  The car sputtered and  coughed to life.  It was an old rattletrap clunker, but it was all he could afford.  He had driven all the way from Ohio in it, getting money for food, drinks, gas, and repairs any way he could, mostly by hustling pool games in the local bars.  He slept in the back seat, and washed in gas station restrooms.  Motels were too expensive.  They cut into his drinking money.  He had found a 'Parker, A' and a 'Knight, N' at the same address in the phone book.  It had to be them.  He pulled up at the address.  "Fancy-schmancy digs my little girl has.  Maybe she'll share some of her wealth with her daddy."

The outer door buzzer rang repeatedly.  Nick flipped on the monitor screen.  Toni stood behind him.  Until he knew who it was, Nick preferred to keep the monitoring one way only.  He could see and hear whoever was at the door, but they couldn't see or hear him.

"Oh!  No." Toni said, disgust evident in her voice.  "My worst case scenario is standing at our door.  He's older, grayer and uglier than I remember him, but that thing out there is my dear long lost daddy, Jack Parker."

**********

Munks Corner, Ohio  1980

Sherry and Toni huddled in the corner of their room.  In the living room, they could hear loud angry voices.

"What are they fighting about this time?"  Ten year old Toni whispered.

"What they always fight about.  Dad came home drunk again and Mom has had it with him."  Fifteen year old Sherry whispered back.

"If you two snotty little brats don't get into bed, I'm coming up there and beat your worthless asses!"  Jack Parker yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"You lay a hand on them and I'll kill you."  Robyn yelled at him.

"You and what army.  You're nothing but a wimpy little piece of trash."  There was the sound of a fist hitting flesh.  "I don't know why I ever married you in the first place.  If you hadn't got knocked up, I'd have never even stayed this long.  You're the reason I drink.  You make me sick"

A door slammed, and all the girls heard was Robyn crying.

**********

Los Angeles

"I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!"  Jack yelled, pounding the buzzer and kicking on the door  "I'm your father!  Open this door or I'll break it down!  You've been sleeping with him, you little slut!  You're no better than your mother."   He gave the door another kick.  "LET ME IN!"

"Want me to call the police?"  Toni asked.

"I AM the police, remember?"  Nick answered, fighting to keep his fangs where they were.  "It's still two hours until sunset. I can't go out there just yet.  Even if I waited until then and took him in, the only thing I could charge him with is being a public nuisance.  Knowing his type, he'd have a public defender lawyer and be out of jail even before I even started the paperwork.  I have a better idea."  He picked up the phone and punched Marty Wilkerson's number.

"No problem, Nick."  Marty said after Nick explained the situation. 

Nick and Toni watched and listened over the intercom as Marty approached Jack.

"Hey, buddy."  Marty said as he placed a beefy hand on Jack's shoulder.  "Why don't you go somewhere and sleep it off."

"Look, Nigger,  My kid's in there.  The little %^{}# has been $%*@ing with that *@%%&^ed cop and I want to see her!"

"She don't want to see you, and neither does he.  Come to think of it, I don't want to see you either!"  Marty grabbed the back of Jack's collar with one hand, and looped his other through Jack's belt.  He then hoisted the screaming, kicking man over his head and carried him to the dumpster where he unceremoniously threw him in.

"It's taken care of, Nick, Toni.  I put him where he belongs.  With the other garbage."  Marty said into the monitor as he wiped his hands together.

**********

LaCroix landed on the roof and prepared to make his usual entrance, through the skylight.  As the Best Man, he had a hundred last minute things to go over with Nick and Toni. Besides, they said Robyn would be there later and he looked forward to renewing his acquaintance with her.

A commotion in the common area caught his attention.  Jack Parker had managed to crawl out of the dumpster and had resumed his tirade.  LaCroix landed near him.  Between the garbage smell and the alcohol, it was all he could do to keep from gagging.

"Little man."   He said to Jack.  "I strongly suggest you leave and not come back. That is, if you know what is good for you."

"And who the &*$# are you?"

"I am Nicholas's ... father."  LaCroix said, fighting to control the urge to let his fangs elongate.

"And I'm Toni's father.  No one, not you or that $%^&#ed nigger is going to keep me from her.  Know what that $%^&#ed nigger did to me?  He threw me in the garbage can.  That's no )(#$+ing way to treat the father of the bride."

LaCroix let his eyes yellow.  "Don't let the fact that you provided the sperm that created her delude you into thinking that you are her father.  There is much more to fatherhood than the urge to procreate.  You must provide safety and security for them.  You must nurture and guide your children and you must be there when they need you.  Above all, you must love them.  You have done none of that for Atonia or for Sheryl.  All you have given them and Robyn is hurt, grief and pain.  Martin Wilkerson was correct.  You are garbage."  He sneered as he picked up the panicked man and returned him to the dumpster. 

He returned to the outer door.  "I know you were watching this little spectacle.  May I please come in?"  The door buzzed open and LaCroix went to Nick's apartment. 

"He's not going to go away."  Nick said as LaCroix came out of the bathroom.  He wanted to wash the smell of Jack Parker from him.  "Marty tried.  You tried.  And I can't even arrest him.  Technically, he hasn't committed any crime.  Being an asshole is not illegal in California.  If it was, half the state would be in jail.  There's nothing we can do."

LaCroix bared his fangs and hissed loudly.

"No."  Toni said.  "Tempting as that may be, and as much as he deserves it, he is still a human being and he is still my father."

"Maybe we can't ... fang him.  But what if we ... "  LaCroix had a wicked, devilish look in his eyes, and a sinister grin.  "What do you think he would do if he knew Nicholas was a vampire?  That I was a vampire?"

"He'd shit."  Robyn Parker came out of the bedroom.  "I don't know what you have up your sleeve besides your arm, Lucien LaCroix, but if it gets Jack Parker out of our lives, I like it already."

"Robyn!"  LaCroix went to her and embraced her tenderly.  "You know about ... ?"  He said as he released her.

"We told her.  We figured she had a right to know."   Nick said.

"It blew my mind, and I'm still getting used to the idea of a vampire for a son-in-law.  They told me about the Enforcers and all that, and I swore that I will keep their secret.  Ron, Sherry and the others don't know, and unless there's a overpowering reason to tell them, they will never know.  Now, what do you have in mind, and how can I help?"

"Suppose he were to think that we all were vampires.  Not just you and Nick, but all of us."  Toni suggested.  "I can call Larry at the Industrial Light and Magic prop shop and see if I can get fangs for everybody.  That way, there would be no way to tell the real from the phony.  That should satisfy the Enforcers."

"I'll go see Clarissa and see if we can use the After Sunset for our little prank.  Somehow, I have the feeling she and Milos wouldn't mind being a part of this."  LaCroix said, heading for the skylight.

"Go to it."  Nick said, handing Toni the phone.

Several minutes later, she hung it up.  "All set.  I talked to Larry.  He wanted to make dental molds for everybody, but I told him there wasn't time, so he's sending over some of the generic ones.  I hope you don't mind, but when I told him what we had in planned, they all wanted to join in.  They'll meet us there."

Seconds later, LaCroix was back.  "All set.  I saw Martin Wilkerson in the parking garage.  He and Michael Guerierreo want to help, too.  I told them to come along."

The phone rang.  "This is Stash Kerlowski from the precinct.  We have someone here claiming to be Toni's father.  A black-and-white caught him weaving all over LaBrea Boulevard.  Brought him in on a DWI.  Stinks to high heaven.  What'll we do with him?"

"Let him go.  We've got something in mind for him."  Nick explained the plan.

"Okay.  I'll have him cleaned up and release him in your custody.  On one condition.  Some of us want to tag along.  Personally, I wouldn't miss this for the world.  I'll even call Ganlon, Davies and Taylor.  They will want to be in on it. too."

"Ganlon and Davies, yes.  Taylor, no.  He had a pretty bad time of it a few weeks ago with that concussion he got.  I don't want to take any chances that he might have a relapse."

"Oh yeah.  Forgot about that.  You want us to bring Parker to your place?"

"No.  LaCroix and I will come down to the precinct and pick him up."

The outer door buzzer rang.  It was Lu Kwang from ILM.  She had a large box with her.  "Larry figured that if we all wanted to be a part of this conspiracy, there would probably be more."  She set the box on the kitchen table and opened it.  There were hundreds of sets of vampire fangs in it.  "He called in a few favors, greased a few palms and made a few threats.  I don't think there is a pair of vampire fangs left on the entire West Coast."

LaCroix handed the box to Toni.  "Here, you and Robyn take this to the After Sunset.  Come, Nicholas, I believe it is time you met your father-in-law."

**********

Nick and LaCroix followed Kerlowski to the interrogation room. Jack Parker sat there.  He had been given a bath and some fresh clothes, but, in accordance with Nick's instructions, he had not been sobered up.  He bristled when he saw LaCroix.  "Look, you &$*^$%^, you keep away from me."

"There is no need for that kind of language, Mr. Parker.  I only came to apologize for my earlier actions.  I tend to be a bit overprotective of Atonia. Please let me make it up to you.  This is my son, Nicholas Knight, your future son-in-law."

Nick held out his hand.  "Pleased to meet you, sir.  May I call you Jack, or would you prefer Dad?"  His stomach lurched.

"Call me Jack."

"Since we are all going to be family, I thought it would be nice if we all went someplace where we could have few drinks and get to know each other."  LaCroix opened the interrogation room door and motioned for Jack to follow him.  "We have arranged for your release."

**********

While Robyn passed out the fangs to the people assembled at the After Sunset, Toni took Clarissa aside.  "I recognize some of these people. They're all regulars here at the restaurant.  I thought we were going to have the place all to ourselves."

"The word went through the Community.  They wanted to help.  Some are here out of respect for Nick and you.  Some are here out of fear of LaCroix.  Others are here out of curiosity.  I hope you don't mind."

"The more, the merrier.  Does everyone know what they're supposed to do and when they are supposed to do it?"

Larry Groce came in with his contingent.  Not only were there vampires, there were also werewolves and several horribly deformed monsters.  "They wanted to wear their own costumes."  Larry explained.  "We'll wait in the kitchen until the right time."

Toni stuck her fangs in her mouth. "Goob fep det ... Ouch!  Dow boo ghew tawk fittout viting jorself."  She took out the fangs.  "How do you talk without biting yourself."

"Very carefully and with a lot of practice."  Clarissa laughed.  "One last dress rehearsal.  Everyone!  Put the fangs in and give me your best vampire hiss."  Clarissa called.

The place erupted with hisses and snarls.  "Hey!"  One of the patrons near the back of the room called out, pointing to the man sitting next to him.  "How come he got yellow contact lenses and

I didn't?"

"Astigmatism."  The other patron said in a hoarse voice.

"I can deal with that."  The first patron said in a low voice.

"Nick, LaCroix, and that Parker guy just pulled into the parking lot."  The lookout they had posted at the door called out.

"Okay.  Places everyone.  Let's get this show on the road."  Clarissa said.  Toni and Robyn took their place in the kitchen with Larry and his crew, while the rest of the group played at being average bar patrons.

LaCroix, Nick and Jack took three 'empty' seats at the bar.

"Order whatever you want."  LaCroix said to Jack.  "Drinks are on me."

"Maybe you ain't so bad after all, Lay-Couah."

With a grimace that only Nick could discern, LaCroix put his arm around Jack.  "You aren't too bad, yourself, Jack. " < If I have to endure this much longer I am going to be ill. >  He sent to Nick.

< It was your idea. >  Nick sent back.

Milos came to them.

"I'll have a boilermaker."  Jack said.  Milos had instructions to make Jack's drinks extra strong.

"Nicholas and I shall have the usual."

"The usual?  You must come here a lot?"  Jack said.

"I practically live here."  LaCroix replied as Milos brought the drinks. He wasn't lying ... Exactly.  He did have a half ownership in the place and his apartment was on the entire second floor.

"To Atonia."  He said taking a sip of his 'drink'.   Nick did the same.  Jack downed his in several gulps.  Milos was right there with another.

"To Nicholas."  Milos replaced Jack's partial glass with a full one.

"To you, Lay-Couah."  Still another drink.

"And to you, my friend."  LaCroix cringed inwardly as he extended his glass toward Jack.  Another full glass.

"You know.  You guysh ain't sho bad after all, Lay-Couah."  Jack said, wobbling slightly on his seat.  "I t'ink I'm gonna like being a mumber of thish family."

LaCroix gave a almost imperceptible signal to Milos, who relayed it to Clarissa, who passed it to Toni.  The fun was about to begin.

"Do you really mean that?  Would you really like to join my family?"  LaCroix said, a sly, evil grin spreading across his face.

Toni came out of the back room followed by Robyn.  "You'll love being a part of this family, Daddy."  Toni said, forcing herself to use that word with him.  "They're really very exceptional

people."

"I agree."  Robyn said.  "Toni's been one of them for some time now, and they just made me one of them, too.  It's not hard to do.  You'll like it.  You really will."

"Whaddya you mean made you one of 'em?"  Jack asked, fear creeping into his voice.

"A vampire, of course."  LaCroix said, pulling Jack's head to one side and baring his neck.  He let his fangs grow long.

"We're all vampires."  Nick explained, baring his fangs.

Toni turned slightly and slipped her fangs in her mouth.  "Except the ones who are werewolves." She added.

"Or monsters."  Robyn corrected.  She had her fangs in too.

While they were talking, Larry and company had been filing out of the kitchen, and all of the patrons that had to, had secretly been inserting their fangs

"Actually, everyone in the restaurant is part of the family."  Everyone waved and smiled a toothy, fangy, smile.  "They are all ... dying to meet you."  LaCroix's voice had sinister overtones and he

had let his eyes go yellow.  The vein bulged in Jack's neck as his blood flowed through it.  LaCroix could smell the terror in the blood.  It was so tempting. 

Not here.  Not now.  

He lowered his head toward Jack's neck.  That was the cue everyone was waiting for.  The entire restaurant erupted.  There was a symphony of hisses, growls, snarls and howls.  Many were accompanied by appropriate gestures and movements.

Jack bolted from the stool and ran screaming to the door.

"I do not believe Jack Parker will be a problem any more.  I suspect he will not stop screaming until he reaches St. Louis, and he probably will not stop running until he runs out of continent."  LaCroix turned, and for the benefit of the 'others', 'removed' his fangs  "Everyone, you did a superb job.  Drinks are on me.  Enjoy yourselves."

It was party time at the After Sunset.

**********

Munks Corner, Ohio

Robyn was waiting at the bus stop for Toni and Sherry when they got home from school. Her left cheek was still swollen and bruised from where Jack had hit her two days earlier.  He had not been home since.

"I have some news for you."  She said.  "Your daddy won't be living with us any more.  I've talked to a lawyer.  I'm getting a divorce."

Sherry and Toni both hugged their mother tightly. 

"We understand, Mom."  Sherry said  "I think we will all be better off without him."

"I agree."  Toni added.  "He's my daddy, but he isn't so good to us or to you when he's been drinking."

"It might not be a bad idea if you two went to live with your Grandpa and Grandma Scott for a little while until the divorce is final."  Robyn suggested.

**********

Los Angeles

Nick tossed on the bed.  Maybe it was the partying they had done the night before, but he had trouble sleeping.  Toni had been up for several hours.  He did not understand how she could be so pert and chipper when he felt so ...

He looked around.  He was sure there was someone else in the apartment with him.  Carefully, he crept toward the living room.  There were voices.  Several someones were there.  He peered around

the corner and rubbed his bleary,  sleep filled eyes.  It was impossible.

"Nicholah"  Janette Du Charme said as she put her arms around him.  "What is so impossible about your friends coming to congratulate you on your upcoming wedding."  She pointed to the group assembled in the room.  Vachon, Screed and even Richard Lambert were there.

"It's not possible.  You are all dead."

"Oui.  Just like your Natalie and that partner of yours, Schanke.  Are they not dead also?  Yet they visit you regularly."

"How in Hell ... ?"

"But we are not in Hell.  We are in Purgatory."  Richard Lambert said.  "When we have atoned for our sins, we will be sent back.  Reincarnated, so to speak, and given another chance to redeem ourselves.  It is through your influence that we have been given this second chance.  You reformed us in this life.  For this we all are grateful."

"Oy, mate."  Screed continued.  "An' when the Big Man  'eard our prayers, 'e granted us liberty to see you and to let you see us.  Gave us a day pass, sort of, 'e did.  And 'ere we are."

"I like Atonia, mon cherie.  Almost as much as I like Natalie.  We have resolved our differences since we have been here.  Atonia is a beautiful woman and she will make you very happy.  If you do not treat her well, You will have to answer to me.  And you know how I can be."  Janette put her index finger under the flesh of his jaw and pushed the nail into the cleft.

"I, too have only the best wishes for you."  Javier Vachon said.  "For everything you did for Tracy, I shall be eternally grateful.  Can you give her a message for me?  Tell her that I am watching out for her.  Tell her that I still love her.  Tell her that I approve of her relationship with your partner and I wish her all the best, too."

"I think I can do that."  Nick said, putting his arms around the Spaniard.

"I wishes the best for yew, too.  If anyone 'arms that precious one of yours, 'e'll 'ave to answer to J. Thaddeus Screed, 'e will."

"J. Thaddeus Screed?"  Vachon said.  "You never told me your name was Thaddeus."

"When I was born, me mum figgered I needed all the 'elp I could get, so she named me after the patron of despeerayte causes and 'opeless sitcheyiatians, she did.  Me real first name is Jude, but I thought that was a bit 'igh faluten.  When I took to the seas, I just called meself Screed.  I've used that moniker so long, I practically forgot about the rest."

"When you become a father again, remember to spend more time with your children.  I think that's where most of your fledglings, myself included, went wrong."  Richard said, grasping Nick's hand.

"Ouch.  You are not going to let me forget that, are you?"

"I've already forgiven and forgotten.  You and Natalie both.  It's part of my penance.  Maybe in the next life, I'll be with a family who will be as loving and good as my family from this time."

"Au revoir, mon coeur."  Janette said softly.  "When next we meet, you will not know me and I shall not remember you."

"When will that be?"

"Perhaps sooner than you think."  Janette said, kissing him tenderly.

In a flash of light, they were gone. 

Nick opened his eyes suddenly.  He was in the bed.  No one was in the apartment.  He could still feel Janette's lips on his cheek.  He put his hand to the spot.  It was moist.  Hoiman was sitting beside his head, gently licking his face. 

**********

Tracy helped Toni with the last of the flowers.  Mike Guerierreo had delivered them to the gym and said he would be there in the morning to put them outside in the common area.  Weather permitting, and since this was Southern California, there was no reason to believe it wouldn't, the wedding would be held there tomorrow evening.  That day had seemed so long in coming and now it was almost here.

The area had been transformed into a veritable paradise.  Everyone wanted to help.  Thanks to the efforts of all the teenagers, the grass had been manicured with putting green precision and the flowerbeds were weeded and mulched to garden show perfection.   Japanese lanterns had been strung from one end of the area to the other, courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Takahara in 22B and the Tokyo Steak House.

The Giovanettis insisted that the rehearsal dinner be held at Mario's Ristarante Di Familia. They did their best to see that everyone had a good time, even to agreeing to special 'waiters' and a 'bartender' for those on 'special' diets.

Larry and the crew from ILM had worked their magic with the special effects and the sound system as well.  Soft music came from a number of well hidden speakers.  They had transformed one end of the commons into a mystical garden, complete with a huge trellis, flanked on either side by white Greco-Roman columns, and a working waterfall that seemed to spring out of the side of the building itself.   In front of the trellis, a white satin canopy had been erected.  This was where the actual ceremony would take place.  Even now, a crew of tenants, under the guidance of Mike Guerrerrio was winding strings of ivy and wisteria through the lattices of the trellis.  Another group was setting up the chairs. 

Even the ministers came from the area.  Miriam Feldman insisted that her brother, Rabbi Solomon be the one.  Father Ryan would not take no for an answer.  David Wolper, a retired judge who lived in Nick and Toni's building, offered his services.  In the end, they decided all three would officiate.

"Now that everything is more or less under control."  Tracy said.  "Why don't we go to my place for a little snack.  I bet you haven't eaten all day."

"True."  Toni said as the walked toward Tracy's.  "But then, I have eaten so much, what with the showers, the parties and the dinners, I've gained four pounds in just the last month.  If I gain any more, I won't fit into my gown.  Oh well, I guess a sandwich and a Coke can't hurt that much."

Tracy held the door open while Toni went inside,  Even in the dark, her place was squeaky clean.  Tracy flipped the light on and Toni jumped as a chorus of women's voices called out "Surprise!".

What's this?"  She gasped.

"A shower, what else?"  Nikki Hudson said.

"But I've already had three showers."

"But we weren't at any of them."   Robyn explained. 

"And they were all practical stuff."  Myra Schanke continued.

"Yeah.  Like toasters and bath towels."  Sherry added.

"What's in these boxes is anything but practical."  Clarissa pointed to a stack of packages on the coffee table.

"OOh's and AAh's went up as Toni opened the gifts.  Each outfit was skimpier than the one before.  She held up a pink satin lace edged thong bikini with matching bra.  The bra was little more than two triangles of cloth held together by pink satin strings.  It was from Clarissa.  

"That should get a rise out of him."  Myra said.

"If it doesn't, bury him.  He's dead."  Sherry added.

"If he doesn't rise to the occasion, I'll kill him."  Toni said, blushing.

At last, all the presents were opened.  There couldn't have been more than two yards of fabric in the lot of them.  Toni went from one to the other of the guests, kissing and hugging them.  "Thank you.  All of you.  This has been the best shower of all.  Not just because of the presents, they were great, but because my friends were here."

"It's not over yet."  Tracy said, handing her an envelope.  Inside were reservations for all of them at Bumpers.

"What's this?" Toni asked.

"A male strip club over in Malibu Beach.  It just opened.  They say it's really wild."  Tracy explained, a gleam in her eye.

"What are we waiting for.  On to Bumpers."  Toni said as they filed out of the apartment.  "I'm really beginning to like this shower.

**********

LaCroix opened the skylight and quietly descended into the apartment.  Normally, he preferred to make a more dramatic entrance, but he could tell Nick was engrossed in some last minute

details.  He cleared his throat.

Nick nearly jumped through the wall.  "Can't you use the door and knock like everyone else?"  He said.

"I am not everyone else."

"Okay.  Now to what do I owe this visit?"

"You've been working too hard.  You need a small break.  Why don't we go to the After Sunset and have a quiet drink.  Just you and me."

"There's some in the refrigerator."

"No.  You need a change of scene.  You know what they say, all work and no play ... "  LaCroix handed Nick his jacket.

"No bachelor party.  Remember.  I said this would be low key.  It's already gone way overboard.  Besides, you said the party we held at the After Sunset last week was it."

"No bachelor party."  LaCroix repeated, crossing his fingers behind his back.   < What I meant to say was the bachelor party would be held at the After Sunset. >  He thought as they left.

**********

Nick thought it was strange that Clarissa wasn't there, but Milos explained that she was visiting with friends.

"Shall we go to the dining room?"  LaCroix said.  "It will be less public there.  A private place is just what you need."

Nick started to say something as the entered the dining area, but he was grabbed by two strong pairs of arms and escorted to a table in the front of the room.  He looked around in amazement.  Nearly everyone from the precinct was there, including Taylor, Davies and even Ganlon.  Ron, Jeb, Mike, Marty and Larry were there as well as all the male members of the Amateur Detectives League.  Even Jay was among the 'patrons'.

"Gentlemen. May I have your attention."  Bill Ganlon said in his best official voice, tapping a glass with his fork.  "We are gathered here to provide sympathy and condolences to one of our own. Nicholas Knight, here present, is about to commit the unpardonable sin.  At this time tomorrow, he is going to get married." 

There was a round of catcalls and boos. 

Ganlon continued.  "Are we going to let him go down this torturous path alone?" 

"NO!"  Everyone roared. 

"Are we going to make his last hours of life as he knows it as pleasant as possible?"

"YES!"

"GOOD!  Then let the partying begin.  Let's get down to some serious, industrial strength ribaldry."

One of the officers slipped a tape into the VCR and turned on the big screen TV.  To say that the picture was Triple X rated was an understatement.

"Where did you get that?"  Nick shouted to Jerry Davies over the wolf whistles and grunts of the audience.

"The Vice Squad confiscated it from one of those porno shops on the strip.  I checked it out of the evidence locker this morning.  Told them we had to review the tape for a case we were working on."  He shouted, putting his fingers to his lips and whistling shrilly.  "Go to it, mama!"  He yelled. 

Nick looked at Ron.  "Isn't Jay a bit young for this?"

"He's sixteen after all.  He knows the facts of life ..."  Ron's eyes went as big as saucers. "But not like THAT!" 

Jeb Puckett stood leaning against the bar, his mouth open and his eyes riveted on the screen,  "Y'all do some strange things in the big city.  We ain't never done nothing like that in Havens Corners. Not even in Hazzard!" 

The film ended. According to Ganlon, it was time to "Eat drink and make merry, for tomorrow, Nicholas dies."

The food was brought in amid much pomp.  Each course, although not extraordinary, had been renamed with erotic double entendres.  The soup, for instance, Cream of Celery had been dubbed Cream of Sperm, while the meat course was appropriately called Stripper Beefsteak. Broccoli Florets became Brothel Flowers. The drink served with the meal was an actual drink called, appropriately enough, Angel Tits.   Those on 'special diets', like Nick and LaCroix were conveniently supplied with plastic bags to deposit their food in.  Their 'drinks' were from the 'special stock'.

"Now for dessert"  Milos said after everyone had eaten their fill.  He motioned to the kitchen and they rolled out a huge, 5 foot high cake.  The top opened up and a scantily clad dancer popped out.  It was Candy.

There was a banging at the restaurant door.  Naturally, the place had been closed for the party.  Milos opened it and a squad of police came in, guns drawn.

"NOBODY MOVE!"  Sergeant Kerlowski shouted.  "THIS IS A ... raid?"   He had spotted Ganlon and Davies and the rest of the precinct.  "We got a call from one of the neighbors that there was obscene movies and underage drinking in here."

Jay held up a bottle of Coke.

"It's okay."  Nick said with a wide grin.  "It's a private party.  My bachelor party.  Why don't you and the rest of the squad join us."

"We can't.  We're on duty."  He looked at his watch.  "But the shift ends in two hours.  We'll be back then."

"We'll be here."  Ganlon said.

It was nearly sunrise when the last patrons filed out of the After Sunset.  Nick was glad it was going to be an evening wedding.  That way, most of the guests would at least have a good opportunity to sober up before the ceremony.

**********

The pleasure of your company is requested

at the marriage of

Miss Atonia Marie Parker

and

Mr. Nicholas deBrabant Knight

September 12

8:00 PM

10115 Van Gelder Drive

Studio City CA

Reception to follow

RSVP

**********

"Atonia Marie!"  Robyn called.  "Stand still, will you?  How do you expect me to zipper this dress if you keep pacing like that?"

"Sorry, Mom."

The girls were using Toni's apartment as their dressing rooms while the men were in Nick's.

Sherry pinned the veil into the tiara and placed it on Toni's head and then positioned her hair in loose curls over her shoulders.  They stepped back and let Toni look in the mirror.

"You're gorgeous, Aunt Toni."  Nicole said.

Toni had seen the gown every time she went for a fitting.  She had designed it, as well as the bridesmaids dresses,  Even she had to admit that, here and now, it was truly magic.  It was a  floor length dress made of white watermark silk.  The medium necked bodice was embroidered with iridescent sequins and baby seed pearls.  The overskirt was three descending layers of fine chiffon, each layer hemmed with the same sequins and pearls. The veil was of the same chiffon, and it, too, was bordered with sequins and pearls  The gown was, of course, new.  The tiara was silver and diamonds, on loan to her from MGM studios.  That was the borrowed.  Around her neck she wore an antique cameo.  It had belonged to Nick's mother.  It was the something old.  As for something blue, she had the mandatory garter.

The bridesmaids wore the same dress, cocktail length, and without the overskirt.  Sherry, as the Matron of Honor, was in pale blue, while the others wore pale pink.  Robyn had a seafoam green dress.  Nicole, the ring bearer, wore a miniature copy of the wedding gown. After all, where did it say the bearer had to be a boy?

"I wonder if the guys are as nervous as we are?"  Nellie said as Tracy twisted her russet locks into a French braid.  Without the aid of the braider.

**********

"LaCroix!  You don't have to make it so tight!"  Nick gasped.

"If you could learn to tie your own tie, I wouldn't have to keep doing it for you."  He said, loosening the ends and retying it.

Nick was in white tie and white tails and LaCroix was in black tails, his own, of course.  The others were in gray tuxedo jackets and black pants.

"Do you have the rings?  As Best Man, the rings are your responsibility."

"Nicholas.  Remember.  "We agreed that Nicole would have the rings tied to her bouquet.  Relax.  Everything is under control."

"Yeah, partner."  Mike Taylor said.  "You're nothing but a nervous Mervus.  Besides, it will all be over soon."

LaCroix went to Jeb Puckett.  "You are as bad as Nicholas.  You don't know how to tie a tie either." He said, pulling on the ends of Jeb's tie.

"Mr. LaCroix.  Please don't do that.  It's a clip on."  Jeb said pulling on the edge of his collar.  "I don't see why we have to wear these monkey suits anyway.  This collar is rubbing my neck raw."

"If I have to wear one, you have to wear one."  Jay said, also pulling on his shirt.

The organist began the recital.

"That's our cue."

Once downstairs,  LaCroix went to the back of the aisle to escort Robyn to her seat as Mother of the Bride, while Nick took his place under the canopy.  Beneath the trellis, Rabbi Solomon, Father Ryan and Judge Wolper waited.

**********

Nick watched as a police escort, led by Inspector Ganlon and Captain Davies filed around the side of the building and down either side of the aisle.  Ganlon had said that some of the uniformed officers wanted to provide a honor guard, but there must have been fifty officers in military style full dress uniforms.  They stopped, each one beside a row of chairs.  On an unspoken command, they turned facing the aisle and as one, drew their swords and held them rigidly in front of their faces. 

LaCroix, with Robyn on his arm, slowly walked down the aisle.  He seated her in her chair and then took his place at Nick's side.

The bridal party came next.  Nicole came first, looking grown up far beyond her seven years.  Jay and Nellie followed.  They too, looked very mature.  Next came Tracy and Mike, followed by Clarissa and Jeb.  The final pair was Ron and Nikki.  Sherry, as Matron of Honor, would come in immediately before Toni.

There was a pause and then the organist intoned the three single notes that began the Wedding March. 

Sherry started down the aisle.

Everything faded from sight as Nick watched Toni walk down the aisle.  She was the most beautiful thing that was ever put on this earth.  And in a few minutes she would become his wife.

She reached the canopy and handed her bouquet, two dozen white roses, compliments of LaCroix, to Sherry and took Nick's hand.

"Dear Friends."  Judge Wolper intoned.  "We are here this evening to witness the marriage of Atonia Marie Parker to Nicholas deBrabant Knight.  If anyone here knows any reason these two should not be wed, let them speak now or forever hold their silence."

Toni held her breath, half expecting to hear Jack Parker's voice.  Gratefully, there was only silence.

"Let us all pray for Atonia and Nicholas"  Father Ryan continued.  He and Rabbi Solomon held their hands above Nick and Toni.  Nick winced as they prayed, Ryan in English and Solomon in Hebrew, asking God for wisdom and guidance for them.

"Nicholas and Atonia have written their own vows."  Rabbi Solomon said. "They will now pledge their commitment to each other."

Nick went first.  He took Toni's hands in his.  "Toni.  This is the part where I am supposed to tell you how much I love you.  Unfortunately there are no words in the English language or in all the languages that have ever been spoken to adequately express that love.  We are two halves.  Apart from you, I am nothing.  It is only when we are with each other that I am whole.  I know that together, we can overcome any obstacle, and tackle any problem. We shall also enjoy every happiness together. I do not know by what miracle we were brought together, but I do know that nothing, no one, can ever separate us.  I am yours for as long as we both shall draw breath, and even beyond."

 "Nick."  Toni began.  "There can never be another love like the love I have for you.  You are the center of my every thought, my every word, and my every deed.  You are my heart, my soul, and my very reason for being.  If you had never come into my life, I would have continued living.  But you did come into my life, and I cannot imagine continuing that life without you in it.  There is nothing we can't face together.  You have given yourself to me.  I, in turn, give myself to you.  For now and forever."     

LaCroix slipped one of the rings, a band of gold with two small diamonds centered in two engraved hearts, from Nicole's bouquet and handed it to Nick.

"Atonia Marie.  With this ring, I thee wed."  He placed it on her third finger left hand.

Sherry gave Nick's ring to Toni.  It was the similar to Toni's.  Two tiny diamonds nestled in two engraved hearts on a band of gold.

"Nicholas deBrabant.  With this ring I thee wed."  She said as she slipped it on his finger.

Rabbi Solomon handed Nick a glass of wine.  He took a small sip and handed it to Toni.  She took a sip and handed it back to the Rabbi.  He poured the remaining wine onto the ground and wrapped the glass in a linen cloth and placed it on the ground in front of them.  Nick stepped hard on the glass and it broke.  According to Jewish tradition, that would be the last time the husband would get to put his foot down.

Judge Wolper, Father Ryan and Rabbi Solomon raised their hands above the couple.

"By the power vested in each of us, we now declare that Nicholas and Atonia are husband and wife."  They said in unison.  "You may kiss the bride."

If Nick had his way, the kiss would last until morning.   Eventually they parted.

"Ladies and gentlemen."  Judge Wolper said.  "I give you Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Knight."

The applause was thunderous.  The honor guard raised their swords in an arch as Nick and Toni made their way down the aisle.   There was, of course, the receiving line and the mandatory pictures.

While all this was going on, the catering crew was quietly tearing down the altar site and setting up for the reception.

**********

It was nearly two o'clock in the morning before Nick and Toni slipped upstairs to change.  The reception had been a gala affair.  The band Rachael had found was fabulous.  There was a lively mix of music to suit everyone's tastes.  Even LaCroix enjoyed himself.  It was not lost on almost everyone there that he had danced most of the dances with the same partner.  Robyn.  

Nick had managed to eat a small portion of the cake. They had decided from the start that they would not smear the cake in each other's face.   Everyone present got a charge out of the fact that Tracy caught the bouquet and Mike had retrieved the garter.  Already Teressa and Miriam were planning.  Possibly two more weddings?

He threw her gently on the bed.  "Forget the honeymoon.  Let's spend the next two weeks right here in the bedroom."  He said, smothering her with kisses.

They were pelted with birdseed as they left the building.  Nick had expected to see the Caddy decked with streamers and tin cans, but instead, there was a white stretch limo.  On the back was the traditional 'JUST MARRIED' sign. 

"The driver has his instructions."  LaCroix said as he opened the door for them.

The limo pulled to a stop at the Executive Jet terminal at Los Angeles Airport.  An attendant opened the door and wordlessly escorted them to a waiting plane.  As soon as they were aboard, the door shut and the plane started taxiing.

While Nick went forward to talk to the pilot and see if he could find out where they were heading, Toni looked around the plane.  The windows had been blacked out.  Probably on orders from LaCroix.  There was a kitchen area, complete with a wet bar.  She opened the refrigerator.  It was stocked with plenty of food and bottles.  In the living room area was a complete entertainment setup, but Toni did not think she and Nick would be using it.  The bedroom had a Jacuzzi and the biggest waterbed Toni had ever seen.  They would make their own entertainment.  She opened one of the closets that ran along one of the walls.  Most of her clothes were in it.  Another held Nick's.

"Any luck?"  She asked as Nick returned.

"All the pilot will say is he has his instructions.  I think he's been whammied.  Meanwhile, let's try out this waterbed."  He said picking her up and depositing her on it.  He climbed in beside her, and at twenty thousand feet in the air, somewhere over Colorado, they consummated their marriage.

**********

The plane stopped to refuel several times, completely unnoticed by the couple in the bedroom.  The crew had strict instructions not to disturb them.  Finally, they took off from Kennedy Airport and headed out over the Atlantic.

It was late afternoon when the plane taxied into the hanger at DeGaule airport outside Paris. 

"Please wait here.  Do not leave the hanger until evening.  Then the final part of your journey will begin."  The stewardess told them.

"Where are we?"  Toni asked.

"I have my instructions."  The stewardess said blankly.

**********

At seven that evening, another limo pulled up to the plane.  This, too had the windows blacked out.  Nick and Toni had spent the day 'entertaining' each other. 

After about a two hour drive, the limo finally pulled to a stop.  "We are here, Monsieur."  The driver said. 

Nick stepped out of the limo and stared, entranced by the sight before him.  He would know this place anywhere, anytime.  It couldn't be.  It had been destroyed during World War Two.  The last time he was here, it was nothing but rubble.  Now, it was as though he had left only days earlier.  Still mesmerized, he led Toni to the door.  It was opened for them as they approached, and a liveried butler motioned them inside.  "Welcome.  We have been expecting you."  He handed Nick a letter.

Nick opened it. 

Nicholas: 

This is your wedding present from me.  I began working on this shortly after Valentines Day four years ago.  Did you really think you could fool me for one moment about your relationship with Doctor Lambert?  In fact, your willingness to bring her across rather than let her fall under my power only convinced me how much you really loved her. Then, I could not tell you that, any more than you could reveal your true feelings to me.  This was meant to be a wedding present for you and her.  When she died, I had the work continue.  I did not know why then, but when you and Atonia met and fell in love, I knew why I had to finish it.  I have had crews working around the clock since then. 

Nicholas, Atonia.  This is Brabant.  This is your home.  Enjoy it for many years to come.

As Ever

L.

With tears in his eyes, he picked Toni up and carried her across the threshold,  "Welcome home, my darling."

**********

The End

Not on a bet!