Disclaimer: All characters herein were borrowed, abused, and put back. Characters are owned and copyrighted by Sony Pictures/Tristar Corp and were created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen. I'm just borrowing them for awhile, I promise to put them back in relatively good condition. No copyright infringement is intended. Any similarity to any real persons, living, dead or undead, or any other fan fiction, is purely coincidental. Also, nothing in this story is intended to offend anyone. If I screw something up, please let me know. Permission to archive by Mel on fkfanfic given. To The Moon and Back (1/2) By Cousin Raven (raven@naturesong.com) Sequel to "Truly, Madly, Deeply" available at my fanfic page at http://www.naturesong.com/raven/myfkfan.htm (Sequel per request) ============================ Tracy got home and opened her door slowly. It was going to be a long night. Lucien had just whammied her, or rather, he thought he did. She'd had enough experience hanging around Vachon to know what the whammied were supposed to do, and that came in handy. Once she got into the house, she closed the door and leaned back on it. Slowly, she slid down to the floor, her tears started to flow uncontrolably. Didn't he understand she needed to be needed? She needed someone to love, someone to care for...She knew he probably did it 'for her own good', but it was hard, so hard, to be rejected so fully that he didn't want her to remember it. Maybe...he was just scared. ---------------------- She's taking her time making up the reasons To justify all the hurt inside Guess she knows from the smiles and the look in their eyes Everyone's got a theory about the bitter one They're saying, "Mamma never loved her much" And, "Daddy never keeps in touch That's why she shies away from human affection" But somewhere in a private place She packs her bags for outer space And now she's waiting for the right kind of pilot to come ----------------------- She sniffled a bit and decided maybe she was better off. After all, death by vampire wasn't her idea of a good time...the idea of Lucien sinking his fangs into her caused a slight chill and goosebumps to appear. "Stop kidding yourself," she spoke aloud to herself. "It's not going to happen...you're going to die an old maid in some nursing home all alone..." This idea caused fresh tears and she struggled up and from the door. She got to the bedroom and took off her black pumps and tossed them in the closet. She took a tissue from the box by her bed and wiped her eyes even though fresh tears continued to flow. A small amount of makeup came off with the tears. "Damn," she said, continuing her earlier converstation with herself. "Guess I should've got the waterproof kind after all..." ----------------- I would fly to the moon & back if you'll be... If you'll be my baby Got a ticket for a world where we belong So would you be my baby? ------------------ Lucien stared at the tablecloth at Azure. He couldn't believe he'd given up another love for his son. True, he loved his son, but one couldn't love him quite the way he wanted to love Tracy. He wanted someone to whom he could show his heart, to love, to adore...it was breaking him down--the lonliness. He sighed in spite of himself and rose to leave. He left a generous tip and paid for the meal. Outside, the night had a slight chill, but he never noticed it. He stood in a shadow near Azure and looked around. Nobody in sight so he took flight, not really planning on going anywhere in particular. ------------------- She can't remember a time when she felt needed If love was red then she was colour blind All her friends they've been tried for treason And crimes that were never defined ------------------- The shower ran hot and Tracy stepped in gratefully. The steam practically billowed off her skin, but it felt good. She washed slowly, carefully, taking up as much time as possible so she wouldn't have to get out of the warm shower. Usually she sang to herself while she showered but she just didn't have the will tonight. Outside, Lucien landed practically on her doorstep. He debated going in and then sat down on the step. He'd whammied her, so she'd forgotten everything. He sighed. She wouldn't remember anything he'd said, or done, or how he felt. He'd have to start over-completely. He restructured his thoughts on what to do. The shower turned off and Tracy hopped out and began to towel herself off quickly. The waterbeads on her turned cold and goosebumps appeared again. Finally, completely dry except her hair, she put on her deodorant and wrapped her hair up in a towel. She dressed in her favorite comfy pair of pink sweatpants and a white sweatshirt. Lucien looked at the sky and determined he had about three hours before sunup, but what to do? He'd directed entire armies with more confience than he felt facing this one woman. What was wrong with him? She went to the living room and popped on the TV. She flipped through the channels for a minute finally coming to rest on one of the cable channels. "Bram Stoker's Dracula" was playing so she decided to watch it. She recalled that Vachon had laughed through most of it the last time she'd seen it. ---------------------- She's saying, "Love is like a barren place, And reaching out for human faith Is like a journay I just don't have a map for" So baby's gonna take a dive and Push the shift to overdrive Send a signal that she's hanging All her hopes on the stars What a pleasant dream ------------------------- Thoughts of Lucien interrupted her memories. Why had he done it? There was no reason, that she knew of, that should keep him away. She began to run down the mental list she kept of known vampires. Vachon wasn't 'related' to him, so that wasn't a problem. She'd heard he had a daughter who wasn't around anymore, and a son. Who was the son? Not Vachon, not Miklos, then who? Who could keep Lucien from getting together with her? Lucien stared at the sky again. On the wind, he felt something. Irritation. It was coming from Nick. He felt it wash over him. He was irritated that Tracy had not come to work. Lucien smiled. Maybe if he was overloaded with paperwork he'd see what silly creatures mortals were. Tracy started to think about Nick. True, she'd never seen him in daylight, he had some skin condition, she recalled. What if his skin condition was really a *really bad* allergy to sunlight? Like the crisp and burn kind? She considered this. It was certainly a possiblilty, and if Nick was LaCroix's son, it rather explained his strange behavior somewhat. She knew Nick had lost his first partner, Schake, in a plane crash, so maybe Lucien knew he was afraid of losing another. Then, if he was a vampire, he'd know he would *have* to lose them eventually...but then, maybe not. Maybe going with Lucien would result in the exact thing Nick was afraid of *never* happening...if she became a vampire. She smiled at the thought, then realized the movie was over and the credits were going up. She'd been so caught up in her thoughts she'd forgotten the movie. ---------------------- All her hopes on the stars What a pleasant dream -------------------- Lucien took a deep breath and stood up. He walked up to the door and hit the doorbell like any proper gentleman. On the couch, Tracy sighed. All there was to watch on TV at this time was informercials. They were getting to her, she was almost about to order something when the doorbell rang. Funny, who would be at her door at this time? Outside, Lucien suddenly felt Nicholas very close and flew up and out of sight. Nick stepped to the door and was about to hit the doorbell when the door opened. "Oh, hi Nick," she said and faked a small cough. "Hey, heard you were sick. Is there anything I can get you? Medicine, tea, anything at all?" Tracy smiled to herself. He hated paperwork and probably couldn't wait for her to get better so he wouldn't have to do quite so much of it. "No, Nick, I'm fine. I'll be better tomorrow, promise." He appeared very relieved. He smiled and said, "Well if you need anything, anything at all, you just call." Tracy smiled and nodded. "Good," Nick said and turned, making it look like he was heading for his car. Tracy giggled to herself and closed the door. She made for the window and peeked out the curtains. Sure enough, he took flight after a quick lookaround. She smiled. She was right after all. The doorbell rang again. "Grand Central Staion," Tracy said aloud to no one. She threw open the door, expecting Nick to be back, expecting to see him with hot soup in hand or something like that. What she saw made her pause completely. It was Lucien. -------------------------- But somewhere in a private place She packs her bags for outer space And now she's waiting for the right kind of pilot to come --------------------------- Lucien felt almost flustered. How was he to introduce himself yet again. She seemed so surprised to see him there, and why not, she didn't remember him. "I..." he said, searching for the words that had come so easily before. Tracy watched him trying to piece his thoughts together and felt for him. Her expression brightened when she realized he thought her still whammied. "I remember," she said. His searching look was replaced by one of curiosity. She'd resisted even his whammy. Apparently, he *did* have his limits. ======= To the Moon and Back part 2/2 Disclaimers in part 1 ----------------------------- I would fly to the moon & back if you'll be... If you'll be my baby Got a ticket for a world where we belong So would you be my baby? ------------------------ Lucien looked down at the ground then back at Tracy. He felt his confidence and energy come back to him slowly. There was no need to redo everything. "I would be honored if you would accompany me to a movie or play of your choice." Tracy smiled. "I'd love to, Lucien." Lucien felt as if his heart would burst. She fogave him, she somehow understood. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card with the Raven logo emblazoned on it. He gave it to her and said, "Please call me, or better yet...come by." Tracy smiled and looked at the sky. Dawn was not far off. "Looks like we've got time to talk right now," she said. He gave her a confused look. She looked skyward and that's when he realized just how much time he'd spent sitting on her doorstep, thinking. It was almost dawn, he was toast. He tried to make a break for cover, but she grabbed his shirt and pulled him in, no easy feat for a mortal. She closed the door from the coming sun and turned around to look at Lucien. His eyes glittered gold and she almost yelled. He closed his eyes and said, "I'm sorry, I haven't lost track of time like that in a long time. I am sorry to intrude on you, but it looks like I'll be staying the day here." Tracy smiled. "Trapped with a gorgeous man the entire day. What will we do?" Lucien opened his eyes again, the gold more pronounced at the suggestion he thought she was putting forth. He opened his mouth to speak and realized his fangs had also pushed their way forth. "'hat hould he dangeroussss," he said. Tracy smiled and approached him. "That depends," she said. Nicholas might never forgive him, but he was not here to stop this now. Not this time. He kissed her softly on the lips and she shivered. He held her in his arms and kissed her with soft kisses down the side of her neck. As he did, he dragged his fangs on her skin, to get her used to the feel, to let her know what was coming. She sighed and arched her back to him. With a final growl of desire he bit her throat, sucking the life from the vein. As he did he held her carefully, in tune with the beat of her heart, in tune with the breath of her body. At just the right time he stopped and tore his own wrist, dropping a few drops on her tongue at a time. She opened her eyes and they were golden. With a small growl she clamped down on his wrist and took the blood back. Lucien watched her with wonder. The feeling of losing so much blood was just as erotic as taking it, if not more so. It had been so long since he'd done this, he'd forgotten. ------------------- She can't remember a time when she felt needed If love was red then she was colour blind All her friends they've been tried for treason And crimes that were never defined ------------------- He felt himself going weak from the blood loss and he gently pryed her off his arm. At first, she didn't want to, then she noticed his gaunt look and let go immediately. "Are you okay?" she asked. Normally, he would be asking her that question. The blood she'd ingested would go to work soon and change her body chemistry forever. Some didn't survive this change, others reveled in it. He hoped she'd still be alive by nightfall, otherwise Nicholas definately wouldn't approve. He sighed and looked at her. Drying blood covered her chin and some of her shirt, but she was still beautiful. She looked down at herself and noticed the mess for the first time. "I'll be right back," she said. Lucien nodded and slunk to the floor. By the time she was back from cleaning up, he was asleep. She looked at him sleeping soundly and noted that she was quite sleepy herself. She couldn't just leave him there. She thought to drag him to the couch or at least the chair, so she reached over and tried to slide him. To her surprise he came easily. Then she realized what was happening. She picked him up then and put him carefully on the couch. He did not wake up. Deciding it *was* time to sleep, Tracy sat down on the chair to watch Lucien. Soon, she felt a paralyzing feeling take over her body and she felt her conciousness ebb away. ------------------ Push the shift to overdrive Send a signal that she's hanging All her hopes on the stars What a pleasant dream ------------------- Tracy awoke with a start. A horrible pain had centered itself in her gut and would not leave. She looked around her first thought, "What an interesting dream." Then, on her couch, she saw him. He was sitting up now, and smiling at her. All the events suddenly crystalized in her mind. This was not a dream, but reality. Of all the situations she'd expected, she hadn't expected this one quite so soon. All of the implications spread through her. The doorbell rang then and Tracy went to get it. She opened the door carefully, but the sun had gone down already. At her door, Nick stood. He had a brown paper bag in his hand. When he saw her, his nostrils flared for an instant. "He knows," was Tracy's next thought. "Have you seen LaCroix? I have something for him," Nick said but looked at Tracy in a confused way. Lucien was at the door instantly. He held Tracy by the waist and said, "Yeeeesss, Nicholas...I am here. Thank you," and reached for the bag. Nick got irritated then and pulled the bag back. "What did you do?" LaCroix ripped the bag from Nicholas' hand and said in a cold voice, "What you are too afraid to do." Then he closed the door in Nicholas' face. "What was that about?" Tracy asked. Lucien reached into the bag and pulled out a single green bottle. He expertly pulled the cork and handed her the bottle. "Here you are, my dear," he said. She wanted to say more but the smell of the blood was too much. She downed it quickly. Lucien talked while she drank, "That, my dear, was about finding a mortal you want and keeping her; something Nicholas has yet to master." Tracy nodded in understanding as she finished her bottle. "Nat," she said. "Yes, well, it is his life, and he revels in his misery. Are you quite done?" he asked her. She nodded and licked the mouth of the bottle. The pain in her gut was gone, she was complete. She stared at this man, her maker, who every vampire she knew seemed to fear, and wondered how it was all going to work out. It might be a tragedy, it might be a comedy, but she was certain, it would be something she wouldn't miss for all the world. ----------------------- But somewhere in a private place She packs her bags for outer space And now she's waiting for the right kind of pilot to come ----------------------- I would fly to the moon & back if you'll be... If you'll be my baby Got a ticket for a world where we belong So would you be my baby? ----------------------- =================================== This story took on a life of it's own. I wanted to call it "The story that just would not end" but didn't think that would appeal to most people. I did not actually intend for things to happen this way. Hope you liked it anyway. Let me know either way (raven@naturesong.com) ==================================== To The Moon and Back - Savage Garden (c) Sony music 1997 ==================================== Cousin Raven (raven@naturesong.com) http://www.naturesong.com Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings... they did it by killing or enslaving all those who opposed them.