Nat sat admiring the little restaurant that Nick had taken her. Red
checked tableclothes draped on every little table. Candles and baskets of
breadsticks added to the romantic effect. It was all so quaint, and Nat loved
it.
   Apparently Nick could read the expression on Nat's face. He smiled as he
pushed in her chair. He leaned in close to her.
   "Do you like my choice Nat?"
   She laughed. "Oh yes. After 800 years of *not* eating, you apparently can
still pick a restaurant."
   Nick smiled. "Thanks Nat. That means alot to me."
   The waiter came and took their order: the special of the house - spaghetti
for two.  After a bit of waiting, the food was brought to their table. Nat
began to eat with Nick takind an occasional bite. (Amazingly enough, he
didn't get nauseous)
   They sat talking for a whild, listening to the live band playing in the
background.  The conversation skipped from subject to subject, moving at it's
own leisurely pace. Nat enjoyed seeing Nick like this - no angst, no
suffering. He seemed genuinely at peace.
   A  while later, the live band stopped playing. When they returned, there
was a new member, a dark haired woman. Both Nick and Nat noticed the girl
when she began adjusting one of the microphones on stage. The young woman
introduced herself and said she would be performing for the customers
enjoyment, and was taking requests. A few names were shouted out, the girl
listened for a minute and picked what she wanted. After whispering some
instructions to the band, she began to sing.
   The music filled the little restaurant. The singer had a strong beautiful
voice, and Nat was pleasantly suprised. She turned to Nick.
   "Did you know about this?" she asked.
   Nick smiled. "Yeah, she sings every Friday night. I thought you would
enjoy this."
   She grinned and turned back to watch the stage. A moment later, Nat felt a
hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Nick standing above her. He held out
his hand.
   "May I have this dance?" he asked.
   "Why yes kind sir, you may." Nat answered, sliding her hand into his.
   Nick led Nat out to the dance floor. There among the other couples on the
floor, he pulled her into his arms. It felt so right to Nick, to have Nat
here in his arms. He held her close and they slowly moved to the music.
   Song after song, they danced. The young woman on stage sang slow songs all
night, fully aware of the couple before her. The way the fair haired
gentleman held the woman in his arms, they were truly in love.
   Sometime around 11, the band got the signal to wrap up for the night. The
lead singer spoke to the band then turned to the crowd.
  "Ladies and gentlemen," she announced, "we thank you for coming. This will
be the last song of the evening." She gave the players a signal, they began
to play, and she began to sing.

       "Look in to my eyes, you will see.....
        What you mean to me.
        Search your heart, search your soul......
        When you find me there, you'll search no more."

   Nick looked deep into Nat's eyes. He saw such a deep love there. He saw
her love for him in those eyes. Nick then turned the gaze inward. Beneath the
darkness was a small flicker of light. On closer inspection, he saw it was
his love for Nat, burning brighter than the brightest star.

         "Look into your heart, you will find.....
          There's nothing there to hide.
          Take me as I am, take my life......
          I would give it up, I will sacrifice."

   Nat looked at Nick. His gaze was on her. Their eyes met, so many emotions
crossed between them. Nick had seen so much, didn't he know he had nothing to
hide? Nat loved him, would never judge him, would do anything for him. She
loved Nick with all her heart, but sometimes, he could be so darn
frustrating.

         "You can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for.....
          I can't help it, there's nothing I want more.
          You know it's true, everything I do.....
          I do it for you."

   Nick just stared at Nat. Finally he understood. Everything Nat did, the
tests, the shakes, everything came from her love for him.  Not the simple
love so many had claimed for him over the years. No, this was the love that
dreams are buile on. A love that spanned time. Nick had looked a lifetime for
a love like this. After centuries of searching he finally found it, here in
the arms of this woman.
   Nick pulled Natalie closer. He gazed into her big hazel eyes. Slowly he
lowered his face to hers and kissed her. When Nick pulled away, Nat's eyes
were full of tears. She buried her face in his shoulder, her arms holding him
tight.  Nick rested his chin on Nat's head, his arms wrapped around her. As
the last chords of the song played, he whispered the words Nat had waited so
long to hear.
   "I love you."
   The words were music to her ears. She looked up at Nick. His eyes shone in
the faint light of the restaurant.
   "I love you too" she whispered. They kissed again, this time with a
passion that spanned the centuries. With a love that would never die, they
kissed.
   They broke, and clung to each other. Alone in their sea of turmoil they
held to each other. Apart they were incomplete, but here, together, they were
whole. That was they way they both wanted to be....forever.


The End

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