xover: Inner Fire and The Light (11/16) 
Jeannie Ecklund Aug 17, 2000


The first thing Nick did when they got to town, was take Joe and Grace
to get a new car.  He gave them a gold card and talked to the dealer as
he signed the credit voucher.  "Pop, buy whatever you and Grace want.
Consider it a wedding gift."

Joe protested, "No, Nick, I can pay for it."

Nick stopped him.  "Pop, let me do this for you.  The money I have means
nothing to me unless it can benefit someone else.  I could buy
a thousand cars a day on just the interest my investments bring in."

Both Joe and the dealer's eyebrows raised to the sky.

"Nick!" Joe said, taking his arm and leading him away.  "You
should never say that out loud."

Nick smiled. "You're right, Pop."  He squeezed the man's arm and nodded
to Grace.  "Just have fun and we?ll see you back at the house tonight."

He shot over his shoulders as he headed out the showroom door, "Oh...
get one that's good for mountain terrain in case we have some bad
weather this winter."

He headed for the car, happy to help his friend and looking forward to
having his wife to himself for the rest of the day.

Nick and Natalie found a Baby Depot and spent several hours selecting
items for the babies.  Their time was spent carefully pouring over the
safety information on car seats and cribs, and making purchases of
remote monitoring equipment and sensor pads for the beds.

Natalie laughed over rattles and stuffed toys, looking forward to when
the babies could appreciate them.  She bought blankets, touching them to
make sure they were soft and warm.

The pair stocked up on draperies, paint, wall decorations, and anything
else they felt they might need.  In another store, the expectant parents
bought diapers, pins, bottles, medical supplies... anything a doctor
might need to help with the babies in their remote location.  In the
late afternoon, tired but happy, Nick took Natalie out to dinner.

As the two sat in a secluded booth eating steaks, Nick said, "Day after
tomorrow, they will deliver all the big stuff. I will start painting in
the morning."

Natalie said, "I'd like to keep the babies in our room for the first six
months in their bassinets, Nick."

He took her hand across the table. "Of course.  We have so much room, it
will be easier for the night feedings."

Tears sparkled in his eyes.  "Nat, I sometimes can't believe I'm going
to be a father. Do you know I have dreamed of this for centuries?"

"It's more than a dream, Nick," she said, rubbing her hand over her
expanding midriff.

"You're right.  Of all the women I have known in my life,  I am so glad
that it is you that I am proud and blessed to have these babies with."

"Nick, I would be happy right now just to watch our babies grow. I
never want to take anymore blood samples, file paperwork or
examine anyone dead or alive.  I just want to be with my family."

"Natalie, if that is what you wish, I will support it, but put off
making any decisions until you are with the babies for a while.  You may
want something more than motherhood after a while.

You're a wonderful doctor and a brilliant scientist.  You have years to
decide.  Humanity can always use good, dedicated doctors.  Let's talk
about it later, maybe after a few years.  For now, come dance with me."
He drew her to her feet and onto the sparsely populated dance floor.

They giggled a bit when they found it was nearly impossible for them
to get close, but they managed as best they could and danced slowly.
Natalie rested her head on Nick's shoulder.  It was wonderful to feel
her husband's warmth, to hear the faint, steady heart beat.  She
thought about how much she loved him and how their lives had changed,
and she thanked God.

Nick drew his head back and put a finger under her chin, lifting her
face so he could look into her eyes.  He kissed her with soft gentle
kisses.They had to keep their passion in check, reminding themselves
they were in public.

When the dance ended, he said, "We'd better get you home, my love. It's
very late, and your doctor might skin me alive if he finds out you've
been on your feet so many hours at this late state of your pregnancy."

She nodded, reluctantly. "It's been a wonderful day, Nick. Thank
you."  She pulled him down toward her and nuzzled his neck as she
hugged him.

He smiled, caressing her cheek with his hand.  Whenever he looked at his
wife, he never failed to thank God in his heart, for her.  It amazed him
how the Lord had brought him through untold horrors and endless nights
to have this joy in his life.

The van was brought to them and they got in.  It was loaded clear to
the back of their seats with all their purchases.  Nick got in and
Natalie scooted across the special bench seat he?d had built into their
van.  She snuggled against him and soon fell asleep.

He drove in silence, listening to her breathe, enjoying her warmth
against him.  He had been able to learn to enjoy the night, to see it's
beauty again and feel a peace in it. There was such a contrast between
it and the light of day.  He was grateful to be able to live in both
now.

Before, the night had been like a type of freedom in a cage.  Unable to
go out in the day, he had considered the night both friend and enemy.
He still preferred the days.  He looked forward to the summer now, to
the longer days, and to being with his wife and babies.

Thinking of the babies made him go all soft inside.  Sometimes his
hands would tremble and his knees would weaken... terror would grasp
him.  It was a terror so pure he could barely comprehend or stand it.

He hadn't told Natalie any of this.  He was struck by such a huge sense
of responsibility... the raising and molding of two babies lives!  Was
it natural to fear this responsibility or was he just so unworthy?  He
could barely comprehend God's blessing him with two at once.
There had been a time when he never expected to have even one.

How could he possibly raise these babies well?   The only 'father image'
he'd had for so long was of LaCroix the vampire father.  Nothing in the
life he had led had prepared him for fatherhood.  He felt sheer terror,
and it rose in his throat as panic.

All of a sudden he heard Tess' voice. "Relax, Baby, you'll do fine."
He looked into his mirror and saw her reflected from it.  He didn't
bother to turn and look over his shoulder. He knew she wasn't there.

He thought.  "Do you really think I'll be able to raise our babies all
right, Tess?"

"Yes, I do, Child.  You have the Lord now. He will color all of your
future.  Think about it... you know all the right things to do. You know
what the worst and the best father can be like. Lucus will also be
learning along side of you."

Nick felt the panic subside and peace enveloped him. "Thank you, Tess.
I'll try to keep your words in mind."  He glanced back into the mirror,
and she was gone.

As he pulled into the drive way, Natalie stretched, yawned and
looked around.  They spotted a new SUV in the drive near Joe's house.

He smiled, glad to see that Joe had selected a good, sturdy vehicle. As
Nick parked beside the new SUV, Joe and Grace came from his house. Nick
and Natalie looked at the new car briefly, but when Grace noticed that
Natalie was trying hard to stifle yawn after yawn, she said, "Come on,
girl friend, let me take you on up to bed. We'll let the guys finish
checking out the details.

She slipped her arm around Natalie's shoulders and led her to the lift.
They went upstairs where she helped her friend undress and get into bed.

Natalie barely said, "Thanks, Grace,"  before she was asleep.  A
satisfied smile dancing on her lips.

Grace stood for several minutes, studying her friend's face.  When they
had left this morning, it had been lined and her eyes dark with worry
and exhaustion from the past months.  Just today's outing had taken
years off her features.

Grace gently smoothed the hair away from the sleeping mother-to-be's
face.  Lately she had slipped more into the mothering role she had felt
with Natalie over the years. She was only 6 years older, but since Joe
was a father figure around here and she would marry him soon...  She
smiled down at Natalie, turned down the lights, and joined the men
downstairs.

As she walked down the stairs, she thought about the things in her
life that had changed since she had arrived here.  There had been so
many new things she had seen and learned.  She sent a prayer of thanks
to the Lord.  It had been a most frightening, yet most joyous time.  She
wasn't sure she would have gotten through all of the bad if the Lord
hadn't put Joe as a pillar of strength in her life.

She had almost entered the kitchen when she heard the guys practically
cooing.  She peeked out from the stairs and found that the men had
brought in all the boxes from the van and were now examining the cute
baby items.  She watched from the shadows in silence, covering her mouth
to stifle the giggles as she watched Joe and Nick "oooh" and "aaah"over
the tiny baby dresses, hats, outfits, and toys.  When Joe popped a
pacifier in his mouth and set Nick to laughing, she laughed aloud too
and joined them, relishing their embarrassed grins.

After they finished unpacking and storing all the baby items, Nick
bid his friends good night and went to see how LaCroix and Janette
were.  He found them sitting before the big TV watching Casablanca.

LaCroix's head was resting in Janette's lap.  He sat up and turned off
the TV when Nick came in.

"Nicholas," he beamed, holding out his hand.

Nick took it and was drawn down to sit beside his father.  The move
sandwiched him in between LaCroix and Janette.  He relaxed half leaning
against his father's chest and shoulder.

There was no longer any tension or danger here, only peace.  It was
amazing to feel LaCroix's arm across his chest and to feel the warmth of
his father radiating to him.

He took Janette's hand and drew her into the circle of his arms.  They
sat and shared their day for about an hour.  Nick discovered that
Janette and LaCroix had gone for a short walk around the backyard.
They'd sat and enjoyed the sun for a while before coming inside.

Nick told them about his day, the baby things they'd purchased and how
much fun he and Natalie'd had.

Janette said, ruefully, "I tried to cook some of the hamburger Grace
showed me."

LaCroix laughed. "They looked like little, black hockey pucks."

Nick laughed. "I guess we will have to ask Grace to give you some
cooking lessons."

"Do you think she will?"  Janette asked eagerly. "I know desserts but
not  real food."

"I can almost guarantee it,"  Nick replied.  Finally, reluctantly he
stood to leave.  "I must check on Natalie,"  he told them as he leaned
down and planted a kiss on LaCroix's forehead and then Janette's cheek.

The tears of gratefulness that sprang into LaCroix's eyes touched his
heart.  He left them with his own eyes filled with bright tears of
thanks to God that LaCroix  had come to accept the Lord.

He turned off most of the lights at his place, leaving only the kitchen
and the passageway lit between his and Joe's house.  He had seen Joe and
Grace sitting on Joe's porch as he had returned.  He wanted Grace to be
able to see her way back to her room.

Natalie was sitting on the edge of the bed when he entered their room.

He hurried to her.  "Nat, what's wrong?"
"Brakston Hicks, I hope,"  she said, straining to rub her back.

He got up on the bed behind her and started to gently, but firmly, rub
her back.

"Oh, that's good, Nick,"  she groaned.  "How are LaCroix and Janette
tonight?"

"They're good.  How did you know I went to see them?" he asked,
curiously.

She smiled,  "I can smell his aftershave on you, as well as Janette's
perfume."

"Do you mind that we are still so close?"

"No, Nick, they are your family... your father and your dear friend.  I
understand that you are now getting the emotional support you should
have gotten centuries ago.  I'm happy for you all."

She moved, and Nick helped her to recline on her side across the bed,
facing away from him.  He continued to rub her back carefully.

She said, "It was a wonderful day, Nick.  Everything was normal."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Yes, it was normal.  It was
wonderful!"  He told her about unpacking the baby things with Joe and
how Grace had laughed at them.

Natalie stiffened again. The pain was harder this time.  "Maybe I should
have Grace give me somthing to stop the labor.  It's to early to have
these babies."

Nick hurried to get Grace, and she administered a low dosage of
medication to Natalie to try and stop the contractions.

Nick helped his wife to lay on her back with pillows propped under her
knees. "If this doesn't work, Nick," Nat warned him, ?we could be on our
way to having these babies.  I would like to hold on to them a few more
days if possible."

Nick lay against the length of her back, snuggled up to her shoulder and
prayed with her.

 end part 11  

****  Jeannie Ecklund  **** gersknightlady@cs.com