I have put this story in the Ravenawards under Novus, could be Primus, not sure about that *g*. I give permission for it to be archived on the Ravenawards site, Fkfanfic2 and any body else can ask. I am a little nervous, this is the first story I have ever really posted to a list before. (I'm shaking with nervousness *g*) Hope you enjoy.

Dislaimers: I don't own any of these characters, although I really wish I did. At least they would all be happy.

Choices (1/1)

Nick sighed in pleasure as the hot water cascaded down the whole length of his body. He bent down, picking up a bottle of shampoo and began to wash his hair. He smiled when he heard the door to his bathroom open.

He rinsed his hair under the blast of hot water and then turned the taps off. Opening the shower screen, he stepped into the bathroom to grab a towel. He heard her gasp, like as if it was the first time she had ever seen his naked flesh.

He dried off his body, making a show of it. She whined when he wrapped the towel around his waist. She had been admiring that part of his body for a while now.

Nick went downstairs and made their breakfast. Obviously, she did not have what he was having. She liked to eat healthy. He gave his lover a long, passionate kiss, wanting to go further. He couldn't be late for work again, however. He needed to hurry and get changed.

Nick flew upstairs, leaving his lover to finish her breakfast. He got changed into his black jeans, a black top and put his leather jacket on to complete his attire for the night. Walking back downstairs he picked up his badge, his gun and the keys to the Cadillac.

Walking seductively toward him, his lover kissed him goodbye. she was going to go to lunch with him at their designated restaurant. Other than that, both of them had to work tonight.

Nick drove her to work, before driving himself to the precinct. His partner, Tracy Vetter, had just arrived herself.

"What's up with you, Nick?" she asked him. "You actually look happy, for a change." Nick just smiled for an answer, as they walked together to their desks.

They were both soon busy with work. They had finally gotten some leads on the case they were working on. Nick couldn't really concentrate on his work, however. He started to stare at the clock, then his watch, every few minutes.

When luch had finally arrived, Nick grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. He heard Natalie's heartbeat coming towards him. He had promised to meet her for lunch like he always did nowadays. He had something rather important to say to her tonight, something that would completely take her by surprise.

When Natalie reached hi desk, Nick gave her a small smile. He suddenly felt nervous. Natalie returned his smile.

"Are we going to go to lunch now?" she asked rather suggestively. Nick nodded, not knowing how to respond to the simple question out loud. He linked his arm in hers and led her outside and to his car. He had heard the whispered conversations in the precinct about the way they had left together. They would be even more surprised when he came back to work after lunch, however. He suddenly felt embarrassed.

He drove her to their designated restaurant. It was new and run by vampires, so it was a suitable place for both of them to eat.

While they were waiting for their food of choice, Nick kept a light conversation going. He talked about things that sounded quite trivial. He asked her questions like; "How was work tonight?", "Have you found any evidence to help us track down this killer?" and "Would you like to have another video night with me soon?"

She answered with lengthy replies, always asking questions back; "How was your night of work so far?", Have you found any likely suspects for this case?", "Your place or mine?"

When they got their lunch served, all talk stopped. Natalie ate her hamburger and chips she had ordered, while Nick slowly sipped at the bovine's blood in the glass put in front of him. Nick watched Natalie as she ate her meal. He silently questioned her choice in food. What happened to the healthy meals she usually ate?

After the meal was finished, the silence continued. Natalie could feel that Nick wanted to tell her something. Nick kept his head down, trying to think of how good this night might end, while trying desperately not to think of how bad it could turn out. When he looked up again, it was to be staring into the beautiful eyes of his lover.

Natalie beamed as Nick locked his gaze on her neck. When his eyes moved to the other side of her neck, she had gotten suspicious. She realised Nick was looking over her shoulder. Natalie dreaded turning around. He body stiffened. Nick must have noticed this, as a second later his eyes bore their way into hers.

When the other female came and sat next to Nick, Natalie felt her heart drop. They were together, as lovers, that was plainly obvious. Natalie had never seen this woman before, but hated her immediately. She seethed with anger and jealousy, even as tears of crushed hope glittered in her eyes. When Natalie saw this other female with a glass filled with blood, she started to cry. He had left her for a vampire.

"I'm sorry, Nat." Nick said, his usual guilt heard in his voice. "I didn't know how to tell you."

"Is this supposed to make me feel better, Nick?" Natalie asked, her voice rather steady even as the tears poured from her eyes. "Do you have any idea how much this hurts me?!"

Nick simply looked down again, giving a short nod of his head. "I couldn't be with you, I don't even know if that is what I wanted anymore. For the first time in a very long time, I'm happy. Please accept that. This was my choice and I had to make it for myself."

"I thought I would at least have a say in it too, Nick."

Nick nodded then. Maybe she should have had a say, but it didn't really matter anymore. The damage has been done. "Can we still be friends?"

Natalie looked at Nick as he raised his head at that question, want shining in his eyes. She nodded her head, yes. "We can still be friends." It occured to her all of a sudden that that was all they had ever truly been, really good friends. She had mistaken her brotherly love toward him as real love. She smiled at the pair across from her.

She reached across the table and pulled Nick in for a hug. "Really good friends, like always. Thats all we have ever been." She watched as Nick gave a big grin and then he hugged her back.

"Thanks for understanding Nat." He told her, as he gave her the peck on the forehead that she was so used to. With that, Natalie jumped out of her seat.

"Nick. We are late to go back." She suddenly gave a wicked grin. "What do you think everybody will think about us?" Nick laughed at this and shook his shoulders. He leaned against his lover and whispered something in her ear. The woman gasped and then hit Nick on the shoulder.

"Nicky, I will have nothing to do with that!" she declared. Nick grinned, said he was kidding and drove himself and Natalie back to work.

Nick could tell that Natalie was still hurting. That she had decided that they should stay friends was her way of making herself feel better. That had been her choice to make.

--------------------------

Back at the restaurant, finishing her own lunch, Urs got to her feet and smiled. She liked this Natalie that her Nicky was always talking about. She had a feeling that she would become really good friends with the coroner. She would like that very much. This was her choice and she was going to take it. Smiling to herself, she flew back to the Raven and her job.

LaCroix was waiting for her to come back from her break, as she had told him what Nick was going to do. He had been interested in this news. His Nicholas had finally chosen someone a lot more right for him to love.

When she saw the ancient vampire at his normal place at the bar, she slowly walked over to him, a smile on her face.

"Well?!" LaCroix demanded.

"They are still friends. Natalie accepted his news after a few minutes. She realised that all Nick was to her was a really good friend."

"So the good doctor has now met and accepted you as Nicholas' lover. Very good."

LaCroix had plans for Natalie himself. If Nicholas did not interfere with his life again, like he had with his mortal sister, Fleur, then everything would be perfect in his world again. He would have his son back, with his delightful lover by his side. He would have a new daughter, one that Nicholas would enjoy having around for eternity. He also admitted to himself that he would not be as bored, the good doctor being as....intriguing as she is.

LaCroix looked around the packed club. He saw Nicholas' female partner sitting further up the bar, alone. He strode over to her, all the other vampires scurrying away, scared of what the oldest vampire in Toronto could do to them.

"Detective." He said, his vioce making her turn around. "I want you to give a message to Nicholas for me. Tell him that he will soon have a baby sister to look after."

Tracy looked puzzled for a moment. "Isn't Nick's family dead?"

"For a very long time now."

Tracy accepted this bizarre news with a shrug. She got up off the stool.

"I've gotta go back to work now anyway." She replied walking towards the exit. She got into her Taurus and drove herself back to the precinct.

As soon as she stepped into the precinct she saw Nick with Natalie. They were goofing off like they always did, but something had changed. They were acting more like really good friends than lovers like they usually did. Looks like those two have finally sorted out their relationship issues and decided to stick as best friends, she thought idly to herself.

She walked to her desk and sat down. Her partner looked at her.

"Hey, while your looking at me, that Nightcrawler guy told me to tell you that you will soon have a baby sister, whatever that means."

Nick looked to Natalie quickly. He knew that she was the one LaCroix wanted to bring across. Ultimately, it was both their choices, but he had a good idea what Natalie would say. He grinned at her

He whispered in her ear, so that Tracy couldn't hear. "Looks like you will be joining the family." All Natalie did was smile.

The choice had already been made, but Natalie was happy. She would spend forever with really close friends.

The End