This is the first Round Robin that was originally posted to the FK Vals list.
Standard disclaimers apply.

The nightmare was over. It was a hoax. The world was not going to end. Whether it would be normal again was another question, which Nick could not answer. Waking on the couch, the blood bags he'd consumed that morning still scattered on the coffee table along with the shattered glass of the bottle he'd thrown in anger, Nick would have sighed in relief except for one major problem. Natalie.

Solving the case would be eminently more satisfactory if he had not left Natalie in such an unsettled state. Her request had thrown him. How could she even consider becoming a vampire? And in particular, how could she ask him? It was such a betrayal of everything they had been working toward. How could he take her mortality when it was the thing that he strove for, wished for with all his heart and soul.

He longed to talk to her, mend the rift that he saw in her eyes when he had left the morgue but she was making it obvious that he was persona non grata...She had yet to report in to work, although her co-workers were unconcerned. 'With all the overtime she's pulled, she deserves a break. Don't worry' was Grace's comment when he'd gone to the morgue to find her. Her car was still at the Raven, although no one had seen her since Janette left her in the back room. The idea that she was at the club, apparently without fear, concerned him tremendously. Who had she left with? Did she even know that her life was not in danger- that the asteroid would not hit?

He had questioned the one person that she had been seen with. And when his answers were not satisfactory, he had killed him. His reaction to the young vampire being with her aroused feelings he thought long buried. Jealousy. Anger. How dare that upstart fledgling attempt to possess Natalie? She was his.

****
Leaning into LaCroix's embrace, Natalie returned his kiss with a passion she'd not known in years. Her relationship with Nick had always been platonic, no matter what either of them truly wanted. But what was it that the elegant master vampire had said... 'he did not share those difficulties'.. Could it be that he meant that intimacy was possible? And would that something that she desired?

It was something she had not shared with anyone, not even Nick. She remembered the evening at Azure entirely. Oh, it had taken a few weeks for the memories to fully resurface, but they were there. Her opinion of LaCroix while colored by Nick's stories, was her own. Having spent most of her adult life mired in science, facts proven or disproved by rigorous trial, she would come to her own conclusions. And she had yet to see that side of LaCroix that Nick described. He was a charming, cultured man... and had a voice that could seduce the most prudish of women. Eternity with him might not be such a bad thing. And certainly better than the fate that awaited humanity...

The passion, and lack of fear surprised LaCroix. He had thought that a more gentle approach would ease Natalie's transition but had not expected her active participation. Oh, this was more interesting than even he had thought possible. His son did not know what he was missing... if he was lucky, maybe he would share. Then again, maybe he would not.

Trailing kisses from her mouth, across her cheeks and lightly down to her neck. He could hear the pounding of her heart. The skipped beat when he lightly licked the skin over her carotid artery. The soft moan as his caresses became deeper Her scent was intoxicating, like roses and cinnamon. Caressing her shoulders lightly, be brushed her auburn curls away from her neck. She had slipped her hands around his back, and now had wrapped one hand into the short hair on the back of his neck. Holding him close. Obviously she wanted more. And he would be happy to oblige.

Breathless, Natalie pulled back slightly meeting his gaze. As she'd expected, glowing amber eyes reflected back to her. A shiver ran down her back. He seemed so controlled. The few times that she'd gotten Nick this far, he would be dumping her on the floor about this time- running to the refrigerator to guzzle at least a bottle of blood, apologizing and worrying the entire time. And then would stay on the other side of the room for the rest of the evening. LaCroix seemed ready for more.

"Frightened?" he purred softly, running his hand into her abundant curls, holding her head steady.

"No." she breathed, relaxing into his firm hold.

"Good," he said, low. "I don't want you to be frightened. I want you to feel nothing but pleasure. Contrary to what Nicholas may have told you, our lives may be filled with sensuous pleasures. You and I have merely scratched upon the surface."

"Then it is possible?" she questioned, letting one hand roam over the firm planes of his chest, while making occasional forays lower.

"What? For you to enjoy my attention?" his voice had taken on the seductive quality that she had associated with some of his broadcasts... the ones where he would read verse. The ones that turned her knees to putty and her dreams erotic.

"Well, sort of..." she hesitated, turning her gaze to meet his amused look. He was obviously enjoying this.

"You mean you are not enjoying this?" he teased. "May I remind you that you have been an active participant so far?"

"Lucien!" she exclaimed, her face flaming. "I meant, can a vampire and a mortal be intimate, without the mortal's death?"

"With some, perhaps." He said slowly. He was beginning to become concerned. Was she changing her mind? "Nicholas never learned that art, my dear, so it is not your fault that his attentions, shall we say, have been less than satisfactory."

"Oh" she said quietly, wondering how he knew what she really wanted to know.

"I, on the other hand, do not suffer those limitations." He whispered in her ear, his cool breath drifting across her throat. "Do you still wish to proceed?"

"Yes." She murmured, her voice barely audible.

"You understand what it is that you ask of me?"

"As much as anyone does before they experience it, I suppose." She replied, leaning against his firm chest, one hand resting over his heart. As if on cue, she felt the solo beat. And then, the silence. Soon, her own heart would beat with the same, steady, slow cadence.

"Natalie, you know more than the average convert. I will make sure that your transition is pleasurable."

She was silent for a moment, unsure how to respond to that comment. Had he sensed her attraction to him? Or, was he attracted to her? "Nick says that he is not even sure that you will be able to survive."

"I won't let you die, Natalie." He whispered. He had already heard on the news that it was all a hoax, that there was no asteroid. She had been sleeping. If this was what it took to get her into his arms, he would not question fate. And he certainly would not tell her anything that would cause her second thoughts. She was perfectly suited for their life of darkness. And it was fitting that his retribution would be to take his son's lover for eternity.

Turning her head slightly, she lifted her chin, exposing her neck. Taking his hand in hers, she said in a clear, firm voice. "I want you to bring me across, Lucien."

"Avec plaisir, mon amour." He replied, smiling to reveal his long, sharp fangs. "and then you will be mine... for eternity." He breathed deeply, letting her heart beat echo in his mind as he leaned closer.

She could feel her heart beating hard, fast. The moment was at hand. The little voice in her mind repeating, "this is okay. This is what I want. This is the right thing to do." Closing her eyes, she felt his cool breath on her neck, felt the scrape of his fangs and the coldness of his tongue as he lapped up the welling blood.

*****
Leaving the precinct, unable to share in the jubilation, Nick mumbled an excuse to Schanke, and went to the last place anyone had seen Natalie. The Raven.

"Non. I have not seen your little mortal pet, Nichola" Janette said with obvious annoyance as soon as he reached her table. "I am not her body guard."

"Ah, but you took care of her yesterday." He reminded her, following her around the table.

"A moment of weakness." She frowned. Truly she did not know why she had pulled Dr. Lambert out of the crowd of vampires. Why should she care what one mortal woman chose to do with her short life? "But I told you everything I know yesterday. She was with the one they call Spark. That is all I know. Last time I saw her was to let her lie down in the back. I do not know when she left."

"Hmmm" Nick looked about the club thoughtfully. "But I would guess that she is annoyed with you." Janette sat on the tall stool and met his questioning gaze. "Don't be so naïve, Nichola. She would not have come here, had you agreed to take care of her needs."

"What do you mean, Janette?" He asked sharply, his eyes glittering with growing anger.

"Come now. This is nothing mysterious. I am a woman. I have eyes. Obviously she asked you for more of a relationship than you would agree to. She thought the world was ending, and had lost her last hope- you." She eyed her sibling closely. Her comments were making him uncomfortable. She must have hit too close to the mark.

"She asked me to bring her over." He admitted, running his hands up and down her goblet.

"And you refused." Janette concluded. "She may not easily forgive you this." She held up her hand. "No, you do not need to explain it to me. I know all your reasons. I have heard them before. But she does not agree, or rather did not. She may forgive you, now; she may even thank you for not acting in haste." Pausing to take a sip of her blood-wine, she met his concerned gaze, "But first you must find her. And for that, mon ami, I cannot help you."

With a sigh, he stood, kissing her lightly on the forehead before heading back out to his car. Turning on the radio, he was surprised to hear a tape of the Nightcrawler. If anyone would be making comment on the recent events, it would be LaCroix. So why was he running a tape?

A sudden thought came to him and made his blood run cold. LaCroix and Natalie. Memories of the dinner at Azure ran through his mind. Had LaCroix decided to take his retribution?

Leaving his car parked at the club, next to Natalie's sedan, he took to the air. No time to waste. Landing in front of LaCroix's townhouse, he strode to the door. Without waiting for an answer, he pushed the door open. His master was here. He could feel his presence.

And he was not alone. He had a woman with him. The scent of fresh blood called to him.

Striding into the parlor, he froze at the sight before him. There, on the couch, arms entwined, were Natalie and LaCroix. Trickles of blood were dripping down her neck. And his master was leaning over Natalie, fangs poised, ready to take her.

"STOP!! LACROIX!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?"

end part five....