This is my interpretation of Janette's point of view during the
flashback of 'Partners of the Month' 
 
 
Parting 
By Amanda Berendt
Copyright 2003


   Janette folded the dress carefully to protect the delicate silk
and velvet as she placed it gently in the trunk with the others.  He
would soon be returning and she had hoped to be finished before he
came back. He would not take this lightly - he never did.  It had
been almost ninety years - much longer than any mortal union would
have lasted.
   She hated always having to be the one to leave.  He would never
initiate a separation although they both knew it was necessary.  It
was how they had always lived - a time together, followed by a
parting of the ways, then finding each other again.  This love they
shared was truly eternal.
 
I'd rather leave while I'm in love
While I still believe the meaning of the word
I keep my dreams and just pretend
That you and I were never meant to end
 
   The oaken door flew open and Nicolas came in.  He saw the trunks
and turned on her asking if she had planned to bid him goodbye or was
she just going to steal of into the night.  She told him she wanted
to leave before they tired of each other - before the love grew old
and died. He answered in a biting tone that she was breaking his
heart.
   She hated that he always put the blame on her.  Did he not
realize her heart was breaking also?  She wanted so much to stay here
- to unpack the trunks and run into his arms, but she could not.  The
depth of his love frightened her.  She couldn't lay all of her
feelings out like he did.  In the past, she had been hurt too often.
Now it was she who could choose.
 
Too many times I've seen the rose die on the vine
And somebody's heart gets broken
Usually it's mine
I don't want to take the chance of being hurt again
And you and I can't say goodbye
 
   She tried to reason with him, telling him it was not truly
goodbye. They would each move on - go their separate ways for a time.
Then one day their eyes would meet across a crowded room and they
would fall in love again.
   As she turned away from where he sat at the window, she took one
final look.  His golden hair sparkled in the moonlight as he gazed
out into the night.  She loved him more than he could ever imagine. 
From the moment he was born into the darkness, she knew she would
never love another as much as she loved him.  Even when she forced
herself to leave him for a time to reassert her independence; she
knew she would return to his embrace.
 
So if you wake and find me gone
Just carry on
You see I need my fantasy
I still believe, it's best to leave while I'm in love
I'd rather leave while I'm in love
 
   She slowly moved to the doorway, not daring to steal another look
behind and stepped through it.  Wondering how many years it would be
before she set eyes on him again, she quietly slipped out into the
night.
 
-Fin-
 
 
The song is "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" written by Peter
Allen.  It is sung by Stephanie J. Block and Hugh Jackman.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Nick and Janette.  I am
only borrowing them for a little while.