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    "Looking good partner," Tracy admired Nick's gangster outfit.  "It suits you."
   "You look wonderful too," he said.  Tracy was dressed in a red sequined flapper outfit, complete with spit curls. "I don't know if you've met Javier Vachon?"  He wore a derby and pinstriped suit.
    "You pick her up on your bike?"  Nick asked him.
   "Yeah, it's built for two, perfectly safe." "Yeah, well just don't let her father, Commissioner Vetter see the motorcycle or you'll be
riding home alone."
   "Hey, where's the doc?"
   "She's still waiting outside. For Grace, I think."
 

.        .           .             .           .      .

     She looked beautiful, and he had told her so.  If this was to be the last time he'd see her.. he shut his eyes. He didn't want to think about that currently.  "You don't look half bad yourself," she commented.
     "Natalie, if there was another way..."
     "I know," she said simply.
   He felt his son's  anger like a heat blast. "He is really mad," LaCroix whispered to her.
     "Well, he won't be as soon as I tell him why you're here."
     "No, then he will be furious."
     If there hadn't been so many  people in the room, Nicholas would have started a brawl right there, he sensed
      Natalie attempted to smooth things over. Taking Nicholas on one arm and LaCroix on the other she commented, "Looks like you two were on the same wavelength tonight when it came to costumes."
     They were dressed nearly identically, both choosing the gangster motif, but while Nick wore varying shades of gray, LaCroix chose black.
    "Tell me, you didn't invite him," Nick whispered through clenched teeth.
     "I did, he's leaving tonight and he's here to say good-bye.  And it's not me he's here to say good-bye to.

     "She surprised me, Nicholas. You said she would and you were right."
    "I wish I'd been wrong," he said moodily.
    "My son, I know you feel that you should be the expert on this. On love, because after all, you've been in love so many times before. That perhaps in this, and only this, do you have the upper hand. When all is said and done, you will undoubtedly be the victor. But do not think for a minute you have a monopoly on it. If I chose so, this outcome could be entirely different. Do not doubt for a moment that should you ever do anything to change Dr.Lambert's feelings toward you, that I will be there to pick up the pieces. Not yours, next time, but hers.
    Nicholas, I know you are very angry right now. You're feeling as though I have stolen something that should of been yours and yours alone.  But I know you well enough to question your motives. Perhaps even when you, yourself are unwilling to examine them.  Duty, obligation, conscience, and oh yes, your ever-present guilt, all play a part in your feelings toward Natalie."
    "So, on that happy note, we say good-bye?"
    "No, Nicholas just adieu."
    "I would like a last dance with Natalie, if I may?"
    Nick nodded, then decided to get some fresh air.  He would allow it, but he did not want to watch it.
    "Natalie, shall we?"
    He escorted her to the dance floor.
    The singer crooned.

      She smelled wonderful.  Like warm summer evenings.  Night blooming jasmine.  He held her tighter. He was grateful he had plenty to drink earlier.  This wasn't going to be easy.
      "LaCroix, I can't believe I'm actually uttering these words, but maybe you and Nick should go away for a while.  A few months or years maybe.  And in the change of scenery, find a new car and bring it back to your garage in Toronto. I don't know how, but I can convince Nick it's for the best.  I think, maybe, you need him more than me."

      LaCroix's only response was to pull her tighter to him.  Not trusting himself to speak he took a few moments to compile his scattered thoughts, keeping his emotions in check.  Something he hadn't done in forever.
      She was actually willing to damn herself to a life utterly alone to help him.

      Her next words threatened his resolve even further.
       "LaCroix, tell me of Rome."
       "I could give you a tour, you know." His eyes sparkled at the thought.  Natalie was entranced.  The spark was short lived however. "No, I guess Nicholas would notice if you were missing. Ah- it's of no matter.  It is not what it used to be."  He proceeded to describe his ancient home as they swayed to the music.  He told her of the city, the society, his gardens and the vacation villa.
     "It sounds wonderful. Were you always rich, even when mortal?"
     "Yes."
     "And what of women?  What did they do, back then?"  A brief shadow fleeted.  "You went to college, Doctor, I'm sure you leaned about women's rights or lack thereof prior to the turn of the last century."
    "Yes, but I got precious little of Roman history in my medical training."
    "Yes, well there certainly weren't any female coroners back then.  If there were, you would have been especially busy.  Life expectancy back then was 27.  One fourth of all the children born, died, trying to make it to their first birthday.  Another fourth were gone before age ten.     When I had come across, I had already lived past what was expected."
Another shadow fleeted. She could tell his willingness to confide in her was coming to an end.
    "And what of families, then?" she probed gently.
    "Families were the center of our society. And the father was the center of the family. Romulus had given complete power to the father over his sons, even until death. A father and his children composed the family. The father took care of everything, finances,
marriages, divorces, absolute obedience was mandated by law.  If a child was disobedient, the father had the right to disown, sell into slavery, or even kill a child who had been disobedient."
     Even as the words penetrated, Natalie knew.  She had seen it first hand. Her reaction did not go unnoticed.
    "A little light shed on why I am, the way I am, hmmm, Doctor?"
   "I guess we're all products of the way we are raised," she said.
   "Not just the way, the when."
  Natalie fingered with the cross at her neck.  So much like Marcella- and yet different.
    Natalie.  His son's purpose for existence lately.  He thought of his own conflicting emotions.  For two thousand years he'd believed that the summum bonum of life was pleasure. Pleasure in feeding, in savoring life after life vicariously borne again and again.
    And now had one small mortal satiated that desire?   That all consuming quest? Was this how she bewitched Nicholas too?  How was it that one mortal held more fascination for him than all those come before or after her?   Was it simply because she had lived and remained mortal as the others died or  joined his dark family?  That would be the simple explanation.  The one he wished so desperately to be true, and yet, he knew it wasn't.  It was something else.  A feeling he barely recognized.
    Damn Natalie Lambert and her self-sacrificing ways, her big hazel eyes, chestnut curls, sultry mouth, her fiery spirit, uncompromising.
    _He was putting the key in the ignition._
     "LaCroix?"
     One pale hand lay lightly on his chest.
    _The engine roared to life._
     He leaned back to look at her.
     "By the gods," he whispered. "Maybe I'll just take her for a test drive." He pulled her close and kissed her.

     "Earth to LaCroix?"  Natalie's voice startled him back into reality.  He still held her, but the engine had choked and died.     "Who did the necklace belong to? she asked softly. Softer still he replied, "One who believed as you do."

    How would he watch over her?  He hoped he had raised Nicholas to do it properly.  If he continued with the mortality quest he would be weakened.  He considered the events of the past months.
   Was two thousand miles away far enough?
    His plans changed.
   "Natalie?" He tilted her chin to look up at him.  Large hazel eyes regarded him sadly.  "I need you to listen to me carefully. He held her gaze.  "You're going to forget all about our conversation in regards to how I feel about you.  You're slightly irritated to be dancing with me, but you promised Nicholas.." He held her close for one last moment.
    "LaCroix, that's close enough," she snapped.  "Let's go find Nick," she said as the song ended. She disentangled herself from his embrace.
LaCroix ignored the pain, the intense feeling of loss he experienced as her eyes searched the room.  It had worked.
     "I thought I saw him over by your captain, " LaCroix pointed her in the wrong direction.
 

     That gave him a moment outside alone with Nicholas.

    "Perfect," LaCroix said .  "Well, I hope you're happy.  I couldn't go through with it."
    "Through with what? Leaving?"
    "No, through with my lie, my story that I loved her.  My ingenious plan."
    "What?  A plan?  You mean you don't really care for Nat?"
    "Of course not, Nicholas, you've known me for centuries.  Have I ever cared for a mortal?"
    "Well, you claimed to care for Fleur, and-"
    "Yes, no one can ever take Fleur's place...  I've told you dozens of times. But now, I find love is a mortal disease and concept I want no part of."
    "So why did you...?"
    "I was sure if I told Doctor Lambert that I loved her, she'd send us away with her blessing.  She didn't disappoint either.  She was planning on convincing you it was for the best.  You'd have come willingly in your haste to protect and posses her.  And all would have been business as usual, your obsession with mortality quelled, and we would resume our night time activities."
      "So what stopped you?" Nicholas asked, marveling at the diabolical brilliance of his master's plan.
      "It lacked something.  It was too easy.  I was halfway there and I realized it was no fun winning if no one else was in the race.
Eventually you'd have found me out and resented me.  So, I have hypnotized Doctor Lambert into forgetting most of our latest conversations," LaCroix finished.
      "Well, as wrong as your decisions have been, I am really glad you don't really care for Natalie.  You really had me shook up there for a while."
     "Please, Nicholas. That's like sleeping with the enemy- hardly my style." LaCroix said.
    "Give the doctor my regards."
     "You're off then?"
     "Yes, just back to my broadcast.  The Nightcrawler is back in town."
     He lingered just a moment as he felt Nicholas take her in his arms.

Epilogue

      "So then he had the audacity to suggest that I only loved you because you were my little project!" Natalie ranted about LaCroix's latest argument with her.
     "And what did you say?" Nick grabbed Natalie, pulling her onto his lap.
      "I took the high road.  Determined to be a lady, I just ignored him."
      He looked at her doubtfully.
      "Okay, so I threw my scalpel at him.  It was only a surface wound, I'm sure he's fine.  He laughed at me, anyway."
      "Hey, listen to this," Nick turned up the radio.  "They're playing our song," He took Natalie in his arms and they danced
 

     LaCroix looked up to see the switchboard aglow with red lights. Protests undoubtedly about his choice of music, this evening.  Ah well, it was of no consequence- his son and Natalie were happy.
    Give 'em what they want, Lucien, he said to himself.
     He went back on the air:
     "Etched on a wall in Pompeii is a message inscripted and frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  It reads:  Learn this well: while I am alive, you are my enemy, Death.  When you are dead, you are nothing.  Nothing lasts forever.  After the sun shines so brightly, it sinks into the ocean.  The moon which was recently full wanes.  A strong wind often becomes a gentle breeze.  It is windy, tonight dear listeners and the full moon shines bright.  Enjoy it while you can."

     LaCroix contemplated his own words.  Nothing lasts forever.  Is that how long he would allow himself to feel nothing?  Empty, hollow. Would it be forever?
     He remembered another of those walls in Rome. The words on this one read:
     'If you are able, but not willing, why do you promise pleasures and kindle hope and always tell me to come back tomorrow?  Go ahead, force me to die, since you force me to live without you.  It will certainly be a kindness to end my torment.'

     And yet, Marcella had not come. Natalie could never be his.  Nothing lasts forever.

The End

A final disclaimer- the lyrics used in the story were first, God Help the Outcasts, lyrics and music belonging to: Alan Menken and Stephen Schwarz.  The other lyrics belong to George Gershwin from the songs: But Not For Me, Someone to Watch Over Me, and They Can't Take That away From Me. No copyright infringement is intended.  Only intense idol worship.  If you liked it, let me know at  nicolehrtln@yahoo.com

Back to Part Eleven!