Okay! I know this may be far-fetched. LaCroix acting like a 'good guy'? Yeah,
that will be the day!! But I couldn't resist.  As always, Nick/Nat and Co. 
belong to Sony/TriStar, etc.. I just borrowed them.  Permission granted to 
post on the JADFE list.  Questions, comments and/or flames, send to
KCSmith190@aol.com.   Enjoy!   
 
                               Deception of Love

     Natalie walked wearily into the Raven. She hated herself for what she 
was about to do, but knew that she had to. As she entered the darkened interior
of the nightclub that was the favorite hangout of the vampires of Toronto, she
gave an involuntary shudder. She did not like the idea of meeting with LaCroix,
even during the daylight hours. 
 His cold smile greeted her. "My dear Doctor Lambert. To what do I owe the 
pleasure of this visit?" His steely eyes appraised her with a raised eyebrow.
 "I need to know if you are capable of erasing Nick's memory." Nat figured 
there was no reason to beat around the bush.
 "And exactly *why* would I want to do such a thing?"
 "I need for him to forget what happened between us." Nat looked a bit uncom-
fortable. She knew she'd have to tell him why, she didn't have to like it.
 "Just exactly what *did* happen between you?" LaCroix's eyes narrowed. What
had Nicholas and his mortal pet done now?
 Natalie took a deep breath. "Maybe you'd better sit down."

*******************************************************************************

     Natalie sat in the morgue a few weeks later. She was relieved that 
LaCroix had been able to erase Nick's memory. Relieved she'd been able to 
convince him that it was in his own best interests. She was also amazed
that he hadn't killed her. Her eyes misted over as she thought about
the events that had led her to seek the help of the man she hated...
<Flashback>
  *Nick stood looking at the vial in his hand. He couldn't believe that it
actually contained the cure. He had had too many disappointments in the past.
"Are you sure, Nat? We've had short-lived successes in the past. I don't 
think I could live with another failure."
 "Just look at it this way. Every time you have a success, no matter how
short-lived it is, it is still a *success*. It means that we are one step
closer to finding the real thing. I've run a dozen and more tests on this 
stuff. I think it'll work." She looked at the floor for a moment, then back
to him. "It's your call, Nick. If you really don't want to..."
 Nick looked at the woman that had captured his heart, his very being. If it
meant a chance to be with her, he'd try anything. "Okay. Okay." He nodded.
"Let's give it a try."
 Nat's answering smile was bright, as she took the vial from him and filled
a syringe. "Here we go..." she said, as she injected the fluid into his arm.
  That had been eight weeks ago. After a week of injections, they had begun
to give up hope. Then one night, Nick hadn't shown up for work, hadn't called.
Nat, being concerned that he hadn't answered his phone or pager, had rushed
to the loft. She found him lying in his bed, sleeping soundly, peacefully.
She checked him over and was shocked by what she found. He was human...
   Nick, awakened by her touch, opened his eyes and looked at her. "Nat? What's
wrong? What are you doing here?" He asked. 
 Nat looked at him, stunned. He didn't know. "Nick, you didn't show up for shift
tonight. Captain Reese kept trying to call, but you didn't answer. You had me 
scared to death. How do you feel? 
 Nick sat up, surprised to find that the exhaustion he had felt over the last few
days was gone. He had felt terrible all week, but had figured it was lack of sleep
and appetite, caused by Nat's injections.
 "I feel better than I have for the last week. I'm not as tired. Maybe I just needed 
a break." He smiled at Nat. "Thanks for being so concerned. But as you can see, I'm
fine."
 Nat wanted to smack him. Or hug him. She suddenly leaned forward and kissed him. 
 Nick was taken by surprise. Nat's sudden show of affection could prove danger--
the thought stopped abrubtly, as it occurred to him that Nat was kissing him and he 
didn't feel the desire to rip her throat out. Instead, there was a warmth beginning 
in his groin and spreading quickly outward. He pulled back and looked at her. 
 "Nat? What's going on?" He noticed that he couldn't hear her heart or smell her blood.
 Nat smiled at him. Sometimes, she loved him so much, it hurt. "You're mortal, Nick. 
*Human*."
 "What? How? When?" Nick stammered. "Nat, are you sure?" He finally seemed to get his 
bearings. 
 "Absolutely. Nick, that's why you've felt so lousy. The treatment was working!"
 Nick got up from the bed quickly and hugged her. Mortal, he was mortal. And she had given
him this wonderful gift. He kissed her softly on the lips, smiling at the very human
response it evoked from him. 
 "So, what do you want to do, first?" Nat asked him when he released her.
 Nick gently caressed her face, then brushed her hair from her eyes. "Something
I've wanted to do for a long, long time." He told her.
 Nat smiled in puzzlement. "And that is...?"
 Nick looked into her eyes, then kissed her cheek, moving down to trail soft
kisses along her neck. He came up and lightly kissed her ear, then whispered, 
 "I want to make love to you, Natalie." 
 As he caught her lips in a searing, hungry kiss, they both became lost in a
sea of passion. Their clothes were quickly discarded, their hands and lips 
seeking out one another in mutual exploration. Nick pulled one of her rosy-
tipped nipples into his mouth, sucking gently. At the same moment, he thrust 
a finger into the slick wetness of her vagina. 
 Natalie gasped in pleasure, her breathing increased and her heartrate jumped.
She reached down and grasped his rock hard shaft in her hand, then began 
pumping lightly. 
 When Nat had reached orgasm, and Nick was near to his own, he moved into 
position above her. He looked into her eyes, as he slid slowly into her 
welcoming core. He kissed her softly as he began his gentle thrusts, then 
clasped her hands in his own as he increased the rhythm. 
 Nat felt herself climbing to another release. She wrapped her legs around his
waist, thrusting her hips up to meet each one of his downward motions. Their 
tempo was perfect, as if they had been lovers for years. 
 "Nick, now...please...now!" Nat said frantically, as she felt her second 
climax exploding from within.
 With one final, deep thrust, Nick released his seed into Nat, calling her name
as he did so.
 Nick adjusted his position to prevent his weight from hurting Nat, while 
remaining inside of her. He kissed her tenderly, then smiled at her. 
 "What do you say we take a week off? Go somewhere sunny and warm, and make 
love as often as we'd like?" He asked her.
 "I'd say, what are we waiting for?" Nat answered, smiling at him.
     *They spent four days in Tahiti, enjoying the sun, surf, food and each
other. They returned to the loft on the fifth day, to rest for a few days 
before reality set in, yet again.
 Nick returned to work on the seventh day, smiling at everyone in sight.
 Natalie had warned Nick to be very careful. He could no longer fly. His 
senses weren't as sharp. He couldn't "whammy" people anymore. And if he got
shot, he could die. "I didn't cure you, just to lose you to some bout of 
stupidity." She had told him. "I love you. Promise me you'll be careful?"
 He kissed her. "I promise. I don't want to leave you."
<End Flashback>
   *Two weeks. They had only been given two weeks together. One night, as Nat
lay wrapped in Nick's arms, the vampire had come back in full force. Nick
had nearly killed her. She told him it wasn't his fault, he had no way of 
knowing what would happen. She told him that if anything, it was her fault.
She hadn't checked to make sure that the vampire cells weren't regenerating.
In truth, she hadn't wanted to know. 
 Nick had spent two weeks in silent misery. Each day, he pulled further away
>from her. Each day, he got closer to leaving. Or worse, walking into the
sun. So she had asked LaCroix to erase his memory and ease his pain. She was
dying inside, she was sure of it. She was exhausted all of the time. She was
so naseous, she couldn't eat. Guilt, no doubt. How could anyone eat when they
were so guilty?
 At least Nick was happier. His whole attitude and demeanor had changed. He
was the same ol' Nick she was used to.
     *Nick and Tracy walked into the lab to find Nat, head on her desk, sound
asleep. Nick smiled at his partner. He lightly shook Nat's arm. "Nat? Nat?"
As Natalie groggily stirred and sat up, Nick noted her tear
stained face, and swollen eyes. "Nat? Are you okay?" Concern was written all
over his face. 
 Nat looked up into Nick's eyes, mirrored with concern. "Nick?" She couldn't
remember where she was for a moment. Ah, the morgue. She came into wakefulness
and looked at the pair before her. "What time is it?" She asked as she tried
to stifle a yawn.
 Tracy smiled sympathetically at her. "Four o'clock. Nat, maybe you should 
call it a night. You look exhausted."
 Nick looked gratefully at Tracy. "She's right, Nat. You look like you could
use a week's worth of sleep." 
 "I guess I should get some sleep. I'm exhausted. Although, I can't imagine
why. I've been sleeping almost ten hours at a time. That's far more than the
five or six I'm accustomed to." She gave them a rueful smile.
 Tracy frowned in concern. "Maybe you should see a doctor, Nat. You might be
coming down with something."
 Nat grinned at her. "Trace, I *am* a doctor. I think I'd know if I was 
getting sick."
 Tracy rolled her eyes. "You're impossible." She sighed.
 Nick looked at Nat, reaching out to her with his enhanced senses. There was
definitely something different about her. Her blood smelled different, her
heartbeat was different. "Nat, Tracy's right. I know you're a doctor. But
maybe you should have a second opinion. Not that I question your abilities.
But you tend to downplay things where you're concerned." His eyes implored
her to listen to them.
 "Okay, okay! I can see I'm outnumbered, so I concede defeat! I'll go see a
doctor." She looked at the two relieved faces in front of her. How did she
manage to get such good friends? She started to get ready to leave. "As a 
matter of fact, I'm going now." She handed Tracy a file. "Here's the Carpe
autopsy report. I think that's why you came here in the first place."
 Tracy shook her head. "Nat, you are truly amazing."
 Nick smiled at Tracy. "I've been telling her that for years."
 Natalie froze at Nick's words, tears welling up in her eyes. She turned 
quickly away. "You two get out of here. You have work to do." She tried to 
keep her tone playful and her voice steady. 
 Nick caught the look on Nat's face at his words, the way she looked ready 
to cry. He was truly puzzled by it. "Nat?"
 She turned to look at him, smile firmly in place. "Get going. Sun up is 
only a few hours away and Reese will be seething if you don't get him some-
thing before you book off." She looked into concerned blue eyes. "I'm okay.
Really."
 Nick and Tracy waved as they left the morgue. Tracy relieved that Nat was 
going to see a doctor; Nick wondering at the strange changes and odd behavior
that had come over his best friend.
*****************************************************************************
 
    Natalie walked out of her doctor's office, shocked and numb. This couldn't
be. Not now. It would complicate things far too much. Oh, God! What had she
done?  As she weighed her options, two obvious choices sprang to mind. But
even as the thoughts formed, she knew only one of them was the one she could
choose. Had to choose. An abortion was out. She wanted this baby with all 
that she was. For her. For Nick. Her gift to him, from him. She hated herself
for having to break his heart, in order to give it to him.  If he didn't leave
because of it.

   *"You... You're... " He couldn't bring himself to say the words. Hurt and
anger washed through him. Pregnant. Someone had touched her, held her, loved
her. In the one way he couldn't. She had betrayed him. Betrayed them. He 
stood up and flung the glass he was holding across the room. It hit the mantle
above the fireplace. He turned golden eyes on her... then stopped. He could
see the self loathing and pain in her eyes, etched into her features. He
shook his head and turned away. How many times had he turned to Janette for
the physical pleasures he couldn't take from Natalie? She was a young, 
beautiful woman. Why shouldn't she seek the pleasures she yearned for, from
someone who could provide them for her? "Who, Nat? Who was he?"
 Nat heard the glass shatter, jumping at the sound. She saw the angry golden
eyes turn on her, and for a moment, wondered if she had made the right choice
after all. She heard his whispered question. "Who?"  She took a deep breath.
"I'd rather not get into that. It doesn't matter." She braced herself for 
his reaction to this next bit of news. "I'm going to have this baby, Nick.
I can't bring myself to kill an innocent child for my stupidity. You're my
best friend, but I'll understand if you never want to see me again. I'll
switch to days or transfer to Castle Frank. I know I've hurt you worse than
putting a stake through your heart ever could, and I am truly sorry." She
swallowed hard, and brushed away the tears from her eyes. "If it's any help
to you, my reputation is shot. It's not nearly what I deserve, but I hope it
brings you some comfort."
 Nick turned to look at her. He thought at first, that she was being sarcastic.
But as he looked at her, he could tell she was serious. She wanted people to
loathe her for this. She felt it was punishment for hurting him. Despite 
everything, he still loved her. "Nat. I won't tell you that I'm not angry or
hurt. I am. But I also understand it. You have needs that I can't fulfill.
I shouldn't be angry at you for seeking out someone who can. Just answer me
this one question, please, Nat? Did he-- *does* he-- mean anything to you?"
 Natalie fought back the tears and the incredible pain in her heart, as she
looked into the eyes of the man she would gladly die for, and lied to him one
more time. "No." 
*****************************************************************************

    *Six and a half months later, Natalie sat at the desk in her office, 
typing up her final report. She had kept quiet about her pregnancy as long
as she could. When she finally started to show, and people had begun to 
whisper, Nick had totally shocked her. He had told everyone the baby was his,
silencing further comments with a glare. She smiled at the irony of it. He 
was pretending to be the father of his own child. It made her sad, but it
warmed her to know that he still cared enough about her to do that. He never
questioned her again about the identity of the father, after the night she 
had told him she was pregnant. As a matter of fact, he seemed content to go
on pretending he was the father. He bought her a nice maternity outfit for 
work, and fussed over her all of the time. He bought baby clothes, and toys,
and helped her fix up the spare room in the loft for a nursery. He told her
he wanted her to move in there, so no one would be suspicious. But she could
not help but wonder if he really wanted it or not. Yet she had conceded.
 She looked up as she heard someone enter her office, and was surprised to 
see a man she did not recognize. "Are you Dr. Lambert?" He asked with a smile.
 "Yes. Can I help you?"
 "You can. Don't scream, and don't do anything stupid, and you and your baby
will live." He pulled a .45 out and leveled it at her head.
 "What do you want?" She asked. She tried to keep the fear from her voice.
 "I want Nick Knight. I'm betting that he'll be extremely cooperative if his
lady and his child are in danger." He grinned a wicked grin at her. "Let's
go, shall we?"
 He carefully maneuvered them out of the building, avoiding contact with any-
one else. Then he placed her in the front seat of a black car. "You'd better
drive. It would be too dangerous for me to drive and hold a gun."
*****************************************************************************
 
 Nick got the phone call, and headed out the door, face like a thundercloud.
If that maniac hurt Nat... He hurried to the nearest alley, then took to the
air. 
 He landed a short time at the house he had been told to come to. He scanned
the area, and heard Nat's familiar heartbeat. He went silently up to one of
the windows and peered in. Nat was tied to a bed, an IV tube running into her.
She made a face and cried out in pain. Nick saw the man hurry over. 
 "Good. Good. Your contractions are getting closer. This will all be over 
soon." He patted her hand and left the room. 
 Nick could see the tears running down Natalie's cheeks. How easy it would
be for him to wait until she delivered the baby, then rush in and save her.
The child would no longer be a problem. 
 What the hell was he thinking?!? This child was a part of Natalie. He had
been telling everyone it was his, and he had grown to like the idea of maybe
adopting it and really being its father. How could he even consider such a 
horrible thing? He rushed to the back door and slipped silently inside.
 Carter Holland sat in his favorite chair. The drugs he had acquired from
the birthing center were working just right. Dr. Lambert would deliver her
little bastard in just a short while. He smiled at the thought. He would take
>from Knight, all the things he had taken from him. Four years in the pen. 
Four years for his wife and son to move on, start new lives, and leave him
behind. Alone. He heard her scream in pain again, and smiled as he glanced 
at his watch. Three minutes apart. It wouldn't be long, now.
 Nick heard Natalie scream in pain, as another contraction hit her. He moved
quickly to her side. "Nat?" He whispered. She turned towards him, relief
flooding her eyes.
 "Nick?" She also kept her voice low. "How did you find me?"
 He smiled. "Your captor told me. He's expecting me to drive, so I shouldn't
be here for another...twenty minutes. I didn't drive, however, and it seems
a good thing I didn't. How far apart are the contractions?"
 Nat shook her head. "I'm not sure. Three, maybe five, minutes. This baby is
coming Nick. We can't stop it. I don't want that monster near our baby."
 Nick smiled. 'Our Baby' she had said. "Don't worry. I won't let him hurt 
either of you." He grasped her hand, as another contraction hit. She cried 
out in pain. Nick watched to see if their 'host' would come to check on them.
He didn't. Nick looked at Nat. "Nat, listen to me. I'm going to go get that
guy, then come back. Try to stay calm. I promise to come back." He kissed her
forehead, then moved from the room.
 Carter looked up in time to see Knight enter the room. He bolted for the 
door, and was outside running at full speed. How had Knight gotten here so
quickly? He looked behind him, but there was no sign of the detective. Slowing
his pace, he turned... and ran smack into Knight's chest. Struggling profusely,
he tried to free himself from Knight's strong grip. "Let me go!"
 Nick glared at the struggling form before him. "I don't think so." He pulled
a pair of cuffs from his back pocket, and secured Holland's hands behind his
back. As he roughly shoved his prisoner towards the cabin, he dialed for 
backup and an ambulance. As they reached the cabin, Nick heard Nat scream 
again. Holland looked smugly at Knight. Maybe it would still work out...
 Nick rushed into the back room after handcuffing Holland to the stairs. Nat
was breathing in short gasps, trying her best to stay conscious. But what 
stopped him short, was the sight of LaCroix. "What are you doing here?"
 LaCroix turned to look briefly at Nick. "Ah, Nicholas. So good of you to 
join us. I believe that you could use some assistance. You help her. She 
needs to push, or this child will die." LaCroix regarded Nick's shocked 
expression. "I believe NOW, Nicholas, would be a good idea."
 Nick rushed to Nat's side as she cried out in agony. He held her shoulders,
just like he had learned in the childbirth classes Nat had dragged him to.
"Come on, Nat. Push. You can do this." He held her up. "That's a girl. You
can do it." He kept murmuring encouraging words to her, stroking her hair,
rubbing her back. He kissed her temple a time or two. She needed him. Within
minutes, LaCroix spoke. "Nicholas, she has to push one more time. Help her.
She's too weak." Nick looked at him and nodded. "Nat? Nat, you have to do
this. You have to push once more." He focused on the sound of her heartbeat.
"Natalie. You have to push one more time."
 Natalie looked into his eyes. "One more time..." she murmured. Nick held her
shoulders, as she gave one final push and collapsed into Nick's arms. She 
lay there breathing hard for several moments, before she realized that something
was wrong. "Nick? Why isn't the baby crying?" She whispered. Nick was watching
LaCroix, trying to revive the tiny creature in his hands. "LaCroix?" Fear
tugged at his heart, and guilt over his earlier thoughts... what is it they
say? 'Be careful what you wish for?' Nick said a silent prayer to the God
he had abandoned so long ago. For Natalie's sake. Please...
 "Nick?" Nat's voice was frantic. Nick looked at her, then grasped her hand.
At last they heard the cries of the newborn. Nick looked thankfully at LaCroix,
who had a rather strange look on his face. He wrapped the shivering infant in
a sheet, then handed him to Nick. 
 "Congratulations, Nicholas. You have a son." LaCroix looked deep into his
son's eyes. "Look at me, Nicholas. Look at me, and remember..."
 "LaCroix!!" Nat said sharply, as Nick staggered briefly. LaCroix kept him
>from dropping the baby, then helped him into the chair next to Nat's bed.
 Nick sat, allowing the memories to flood through him. Days in the sun in 
Tahiti, the park, the zoo. He and Natalie...making love, not once, but dozens 
of times over the short two weeks they had together...The return of the vampire
...he nearly killed Natalie...LaCroix telling him, willing him, to forget... He 
looked at the tiny bundle in his arms. This was his child. His and Nat's.
She hadn't been with another man. This was their child, created through their
love. He looked at her in awe and confusion. "Why, Nat?" 
 It was LaCroix that answered. "My dear Nicholas, she loves you. You were 
in such despair over losing your mortality--losing *her*, you weren't even
thinking coherently. Our dear Doctor was trying to keep you from walking into
the sunlight and destroying us, as well as yourself. I was going to kill her
for what she had done. But once I tasted her blood, I knew of the child and
I wondered what she would do. I was amazed that not only did she risk every-
thing by lying to you, but you accepted her child as your own. I know how 
much she loves you. Enough to deceive you, for your own good. I can not stand
against a power as great as this. Tell me, Nicholas. Would you truly give up
immortality and all of your power to be with Natalie and your child? Would
you truly give up your own life, for theirs?" He looked into his son's eyes.
He already knew the answer.
 Nick looked at the man he hated and loved, feared and admired. "Yes."
 LaCroix nodded. He gently kissed the forehead of the sleeping infant in Nick's
arms, then handed Nick a computer disk. "Good luck, my son. I shall miss you."
With the slightest stirring of air, he was gone.
 Nick looked at the child in his arms. His son. As a team of medics rushed in
to assist Nat, and officers swarmed in to take custody of Holland, Nick sat
silently admiring the tiny being he and Nat had created. 
******************************************************************************

 Nat grabbed the glass and handed it to Nick. If this was a cruel joke, they
were about to find out. She watched as he sipped gingerly at the contents.
She smiled at the face he made. As he drained the last of it, he looked at 
her and managed a weak smile. "Not too bad." He told her. She laughed at him.
"Liar." She said through her smile. Nick made another face. "Okay. It was 
horrendous. I hope this works." He turned at the sound of their son's fussing.
"Hey there, little man. What's wrong with you?" Nick gently picked him up.
 Nat watched him and smiled. He stood rocking and cooing at the little bundle
in his arms. He brought him to her. "I think he's hungry. I can't help him,
there, though I do envy him." Natalie blushed, as she took the baby from him
and began unbuttoning her blouse. As the child began feeding, Nat relaxed. 
It still amazed her how nursing made her whole body relax. 
 Suddenly, Nick dropped to his knees and began coughing. Nat tried to juggle
the baby and get to his side. "Nick?" 
 "I'm...okay...Nat...okay..." He lay on the floor, breathing heavily. He opened
his eyes to look at her. She was trying to balance the baby, and help him at
the same time. He began to laugh at the sight. 
 Nat looked at him in confusion. "Nick, what's so funny? Are you all right?"
 Nick looked at her and nodded. "Nothing, Nat. I love you. Do you know that?"
He looked at her, eyes widening. "Nat!! It's gone! The vampire is gone! The
stuff from LaCroix's disk really works!!!" A sudden sadness touched him. "He
knew all along how to cure me."
 Nat touched his face tenderly. "He loves you, Nick. In a strange way, I can
understand. That's why, in the end, he gave you back your mortality. He loves
you. And he knows your son needs you."
 Nick sat up slowly and kissed her. "I know." He leaned down and kissed his
son. "In the end, we would sacrifice anything for love. Isn't that right,
Lucien?" He kissed his son again, who was frowning in concentration, as he
nursed at his mother's breast. 
 Above them, unseen, Lucien LaCroix smiled and flew off into the night.

END    
 < KCSmith