"So..." she answers, glancing at him, "why were you late picking me up??"

Pausing she directs, "Just head south down 700 E. until you get to 1000 S., and then turn east." She falls back into her silent stare as the car continue on.

Alec looks over at her, detecting the coldness in her voice. He sighs as he makes the turn to follow her directions. "I'm sorry I was late baby. I had some things to do today that I couldn't get out of."

"Yes, you probably couldn't "get out of" your date last night, either!" she snaps, and then a look of shame crosses her face momentarily and disappears as she remembers her avatar's words from the night before.

Alec sighs and continues to drive, "Don't worry love, it wasn't that special." "Looking back, I should have stayed home with you. Besides I thought we both agreed to stay swingin'."

A look of relief crosses Nettle's face as she hears Alec brush off his date from the night before. "I wasn't saying you did anything wrong by going on the date," Nettle starts out, and then sighs. "I wouldn't have been home last night, anyway." Nettle adds staring at the mountains.

Alec sensing her relief smiles, "Yeah? What'd you do last night?" he asks.

"I had my fourth seeking!" Nettle's whole demeanor changes to one of respect and wonder as she explains. "You wouldn't believe how...unbelievable it was. You were a part of it..." she says in a subdued tone, putting her hand on Alec's leg-- still looking at the mountains.

Alec reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cigarette case. Pulling and lighting a joint out of it, he puts it back in his pocket. Taking a drag, he nods.
"Must be something in the air then," he mutters.
"I was in it, was I....how?"

"There aren't any more of your clones running around, are there?" Nettle asks turning suddenly and looking at Alec with trepidation. "And what do you mean, 'Must be something in the air??'" Nettle questions, watching Alec carefully.

Alec gives her a sideglance, "No, at least I hope not. I killed what was in those tanks." he says avoiding her other question. He turns off the highway and as the gremlin nears the park he turns to look at her.
"Why do you ask?"

Giving him a knowing glance, Nettle answers, "There you go again-- dodging another of my questions, Alec!" Thinking carefully, she continues, "I came hand-to-face with one of those clones in part of my seeking...I saw the side of you I'd secretly feared most, and it was just a clone..." Nettle trails off, pointing at the apartment door marked #1327.

Alec sighs, and pulls over to the apartment. Getting out he stamps the joint, and walks over to the side of the car, and opens her door.

Giving Alec a narrow look, Nettle stays in the car a couple extra seconds before getting out. With an air of haughtiness, Nettle walks past Alec. Turning, she says, "Thank you....by the way, do I know you? Does anyone, for that matter?"

Alec closes the door, and looks at Nettle. He shakes his head, "I'd hope you know me my now, love." he leans against the car. "I had a seeking too...."

Walking up to Alec, Nettle whispers in his ear, "I'm sorry I said that so harshly," and puts her back against the door where Alec's leaning. "You did?? When? What was it like?" Her former enthusiasm returning as she takes one of Alec's hands.

"S'ok love," he says. "It happened a few days ago. It was harsh, but I got through it." He smiles. "Let's get your stuff."

"You're cute when you don't give a lot of details," Nettle remarks with a sarcastic smile. "I'm glad you're OK, tho'...mine was pretty harsh, as well." Pulling him up by the hand she was holding, she leads him to the door where she pulls out her keys and opens it. "Welcome to my nearly-empty apartment!" she says, holding her arms out to encompass the living room, kitchen, and hallway. "I've already sold all this furniture to the next owner-- we just have a few boxes to take out."

"Nice place, cheers." Alec says walking around looking at the place. Settling on the bedroom, he turns and winks. "So wanna show this bedroom a really good time, one last time??"

"Baby, you'll be the best time it's ever had!" Nettle grins eagerly. "I suppose it doesn't matter that there's no bed...probably better that way, considering our track-record with broken beds!" Nettle laughs. Turning her back to the doorway, she grabs a hold of Alec's lapels and pulls him forward for a kiss while guiding his body in the room. Seconds later, the door slams shut behind them.

A few hours later....

Alec puts the last box in the trunk, "Is that all the boxes, love?" He pulls out another joint and lights it.

Nettle giggles nervously while placing a couple bags in the trunk, "That's everything! Now let's get the hell out of here before the new owner gets here and finds the mess we made in the living room....the kitchen....the bedroom...the bathroom...well, you get the idea!" Nettle moves her foot up the back of Alec's leg and gives him another kiss for remembrance before hopping into his car.

Alec chuckles as he gives her bum a slap. Alec walks around to the drivers side and gets in. He starts the car and turns on the cd player. "Let me take you-" the radio starts, but Alec quickly shuts it off, and loads another cd in.
"I hope they don't notice the marks we left on the floor of the kitchen. Oh and I left some money to have the cupboard door replaced."

Laughing hysterically, Nettle grins and faces Alec. "You did?? That was a nice gesture! Now maybe they won't try to track me down!" Thinking for a second and rubbing her back, she adds, "I might have knocked the faucets on the bathroom sink loose, too, but what's done is done." Picking up the CD Alec replaced in his player, Nettle looks at it for a moment. "Oh, I love this one!" she exclaims. "Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies!" Nettle sings contentedly. "Why'd you take it out?"

"I like Sgt. Pepper too, but I'm not much into the mood for Strawberry fields right now. It was part of me seeking." Turning the wheel Alec leads the car towards the trendy part of town.

"Aaaah-- I completely understand. Let me just put this away!" Nettle puts the C.D. back where Alec had placed it, and puts her left arm over the back of his seat, running her fingernails up and down the back of his neck. Seeing the Blue Boutique out Alec's side window, she points and comments, "We definitely need to stop there on our way back, baby! Where exactly is this place we're going to?"

Alec smiles and purrs as she does so, knowing he hasn't done that for her before. "We must stop there, ahh here it is." he says as he pulls over. The two get out of the car and walk into the apartment house. Alec knocks on the second door. "Hey Willie, it's me!" The door opens, and a seven-foot tall man steps out. "Yo, Alec." he says with a deep voice. "Willie, this is Nettle, Nettle, Willie. Good, now that intro's are done let's get to the drugs." he says making his way past Willie and into the apartment.

Startled, Nettle looks up at Willie's face, but masks her surprise well. "Willie," she smiles, nodding her head slightly while bobbing a quick curtsy. She starts following the eager Alec back into the apartment.

"Hi Willie! How you doing Willie," Willie says mockingly. Alec turns back. "Sorry, Will. I'm just really low right now." Alec says with a grin. Will nods and heads into the bedroom. He emerges with a suitcase and flops it onto the couch.
"Just got a shipment today," He says opening it. The suitcase seems to be filled with every drug imaginable. Alec smiles and picks a few out.
"Oh and I got this for you special..." Will says handing Alec some pills.

"What are they?"

"Viagra."

Alec grabs the bag, "Groovy, man." Willie smiles as Alec hands him some money. He looks over at Nettle.
"How about you? You want anything?"

When Alec looks at Nettle, he sees that she's trying unsuccessfully to hold in a big fit of laughter. Unable to control it anymore, she bursts out laughing. "Viagra?? Honey, I'm having the time of my life keeping up with you as it is! If you take that, you're going to need to put a wheelchair in my room and a handicapped spot outside!"

Alec laughs, "You haven't seen anything yet!"

Her laughter subsiding, Nettle eyes the suitcase, but finds that her old fears just aren't taking hold of her like they used to. Mentally sighing with relief, she answers, "Well, you mentioned Ginko...I know you can get that in the stores, but if you have any Ginko or Ginseng or anything like that, I'm in."

Willie and Alec give her a look and Willie shakes his head, "No woman. I ain't no GNC! I mean drugs here!" He says. Alec chuckles.

"Nevermind Willie, cheers." Alec puts his arm around Nettle and the two walk out.

Alec escorts her down to the car and once inside he looks over to her, "Don't mind him, he's just a little upset today."

Feeling a bit embarrassed about Willie's reaction to her question, Nettle smirks and asks, "Why? Because you rushed in without giving him a hug or kiss?"

With that Alec gives a genuine laugh and gives her a sideglance, "So want to go back to the sexy knickers shop?"

Grinning mischievously, Nettle slides up close to Alec putting her hand on his thigh. "All right, lover!"

Alec turns the wheel and into the parking lot. He gets out and opens Nettle's door. Smiling he winks and pats her behind, "Any chance of a fashion show??'

Nettle gets out and smiles. "I should thank your mother for teaching you such good manners, and your father for teaching you such bad ones!" Walking past him, she turns and looks over her shoulder. "Come and get it, Alec." Turning back, she opens the door to the Blue Boutique and enters while swaying her hips at Alec seductively.

Alec watches her walk. "baby, I don't like to see you go, but I love to watch you leave..." he says as he follows her in...

Nettle grins contentedly-- having heard Alec's comment-- and leads him through the more-conservative of the lingerie to the room in back. Glancing up at the "No one under 18 admitted" sign over the curtained door, Nettle steps through-- holding the curtain open for Alec.

Alec steps through and looks around, "Yeah this place is very nice, cheers." he walks over to one of the racks and picks up a purple nightie. "Yeah, this is very nice indeed.."

Nettle takes the purple nightie from Alec, and holds out a black leather bikini-number that leaves little to the imagination. "The purple one is very pretty, yes, but I think this one is more me! But I could be wrong-- I'll try them both! Anything else you want me to take back to the dressing room?"

Alec looks around chooses a forest green teddy he hands it to her and smiles "That's all love, cheers." he says as he sits and waits for her.

Nettle smiles and takes the green teddy from Alec. "This one's so see-through, I might as well come out in nothing at all!" she jokes, bending down and giving Alec a kiss before disappearing behind a dressing-room curtain. Alec can hear her humming the song "The Stripper," and watches her feet as she steps out of her shoes, slides down her pants and bikini-briefs, and drops her top and bra to the ground. 30 seconds later she slides the curtain back dramatically as she stands posed in the purple nightie. "Well, how do you like this one on?" she smiles.

Alec rubs his chin and thinks a moment. "I don't think I can comment until I see all of them..." he says a devilish glint in his eye.

"Hahahaha! I could always buy all three!" she laughs, sliding the curtain back. Alec can see Nettle lift each foot as she step out of the purple nightie, and then another 30 seconds later, she throws back the curtain violently-- a look of desire on her face as she role-plays the outfit she's wearing. The black leather bikini-top is cut so it only covers the outside of her chest and the nipples, and the matching bottoms are attached on the sides by metal links. She turns around, and shows Alec the G-string cut in back. "I need a riding-crop...and this one's a keeper!" she grins.

Alec opens his mouth to say something and then stops, he nods and winks giving a thumbs up sign.
"Grrroovvy, baby."

Smiling naughtily, Nettle disappears back behind the curtain. "Last one, baby!" she calls. After a minute she calls again, "Make sure no one's around before I come out, OK?"

Alec chuckles, "Never thought of you as the modest type."

Sliding the curtain back slowly, Nettle stands before Alec in the barely-there teddy, an innocent look on her face as she bites one finger.

Alec looks to make sure no one enters, unnoticing of Nettle standing there. he turns and he looks her over. A smile broadens his face, and suddenly it is replaced by a serious one. He strides over and grasps Nettle's face with his hands and kisses her passionately. Backing her up to the wall of the fitting room, he closes the curtain with one hand while fumbling with his shirt and pants with the other.
Lifting Nettle and placing her on the small shelf he continues to kiss her.

Nettle wraps her legs around Alec's waist-- helping him yank off his shirt-- and kissing him repeatedly and passionately while throwing it to the ground. "Oh Alec-- yes!" she cries between kisses.

A few moments later the curtain is yanked back, the clerk looks in and her eyes widen. "What the hell are you people doing!"

Alec turns quickly, "Sampling the products, very nice by the way, we'll definitely take this one!"

The clerk stands her hands on her hips, "Well if you're going to buy it, then I suggest you do so!"

"No problem, just ahh, give us a few more moments, there's a good girl." he says closing the curtain.

The clerk hears crashing and thumping, as well as a few shouts and moans coming from behind the curtain, and shakes her head and leaves. "This happens WAAAAY too much at this store!" she thinks as she makes her way back to the cash register. When the couple finish, Nettle exhales and wipes the sweat from her neck. "Alec...." she pauses to catch her breath. "Can I keep you attached to my wrist by a chain? You're a god-send!" Nettle closes her eyes and leans her head back-- enjoying the moment.

Alec leans over and kisses her neck and smiles, "Mmm chains... an idea for the future?" he says raising an eyebrow. The two get dressed and head out to the cash register.
"Here's the money for the lingerie and ahh you might want to send a janitor to clean in there, cheers." Alec says as the two walk out.

The gremlin drives off into the street once more, music loud and the two of them seem to be smiling from the afterglow of their last encounter.
"Well I'm spent after that, love. M'sorry about the roughness back there, but you in the green number...smashing baby!"

Turning to Alec and grinning, Nettle replies, "You know how you feel about those drugs you bought today? That's how I feel about your roughness!" Smacking Alec's thigh, Nettle whispers, "cut me, thrill me, kiss me, just don't kill me!" she grins. Looking at the clock on the dial, she asks, "what are your plans for tonight, baby?"

Alec gives her a sideglance, "I have a date with Julie tonight, you?" he says looking back at the street.

"Oh...you do? Who's she?" Nettle asks stiffly. "I have a date, too...with Graywolf," she says, almost as an after-thought-- a barely-perceptible look of concern on her face.

"Some bird I met a couple days ago." Alec says with a frown, not like the sound of the Graywolf bloke, "Who's this guy?"

Seeing that Alec is frowning, Nettle smiles-- trying to play it up. "Oh...just someone I tasted during the last sabbat..." she glances at Alec out of the corner of her eye. "Have you gone out with JULIE before?" she says, emphasizing the girl's name sarcastically.

"No, just someone I met." he says giving her a look. "Someone you tasted at the Sabbat eh? He any good?"

"Wouldn't YOU like to know!" Nettle smiles. Stopping for a moment, Nettle looks away and replies, "Very passionate...but doesn't listen very well." Still looking away, she asks, "Have you slept with Julie before?"

"No, not yet. I'm hoping to tonight," Alec says pulling into the chantry. He winces as he sees a strange man talking to Julie. "Hello, what's all this then."

"HOPING to??" Nettle asks with unsuppressed anger. "Is that what the Viagra is for? So you can have me 10 times in one day and still have enough energy for a chick on the side?" Glancing at Graywolf talking to the unfamiliar woman, she laughs sarcastically. "Looks like you're going to need the stamina to beat Graywolf off your mattress-for-a-date! He's got a lot to give her!"

"Shite!" Alec exclaims as he stops the car and hops out forgetting to open Nettle's door. He walks over to Julie and puts his arm around her. "Hello, Julie. Ready for *our* date?"

Enraged, Nettle flings open her door and jumps out, giving it a good slam shut. Striding up to Alec, she grabs his arm and turns him to face her. "Don't walk away from me, Alec! We're not done talking about this!" she says, not even giving Graywolf a glance. Graywolf puts his hand on her upper arm and begins to speak, "Nettle..let's just g..." but she shakes off his hand and continues staring Alec down.

Alec whirls around in surprise, "Talking about what? You need to calm yourself Nettle."

"Calm myself?? That's not what you said 5 minutes ago when I was wearing THIS!" Nettle shouts, pulling the forest green teddy from the shopping bag she's holding. Turning to Julie, she smiles and says, "oh, and he picked up some Viagra on the way home especially for your date-- I hope you don't mind a little meaningless sex!" Looking next at Graywolf, she says, "I know I don't!"

Julie's eyes widen as Nettle informs her of the days events. Graywolf shakes his head and hold out his arm to her. "Forget these two, why don't you and I do something?"

Julie looks at Alec and Nettle haughtily, "Sounds like a lot of fun." The two walk towards his car and drive off.

Alec looks at Nettle, a look of anger plays across his face. He holds up a finger as if to yell something accusingly at her and then stops and strides into the chantry.

Nettle runs after him and grabs his arm. "Say it! Say what you have to say and stop with this silence! I'd rather have you yell at me than keep quiet!" Her face is a mixture of pleading and anger.

Alec takes Nettle in his arms and carries her down to his room. He sets her down inside and closes the door. "What's the problem?! Why are you so jealous! You and I agreed to be swingin'!"

Nettle-- caught off-guard by him picking her up and carrying her off-- has had some time to cool-off and think, replaying the last 5 minutes in her mind like a looped video cassette. "Oh Alec!! I-- I don't know what's wrong with me! I get so jealous when I see you leave with other women! This isn't like me-- I assure you! I know we agreed to keep swinging....I know, I know...." she trails off standing up and facing a corner in humiliation, her shoulders slightly hunched and her arms folded.

Alec walks over and turns her gently to face him. He takes her chin in hand and kisses her forehead. "I understand, but right now I need to be alone. To think about this an all." He walks over to the door and opens it.

Nettle looks at him and fear flickers across her face for a second. "If you want to talk this through...I'll be sitting in the hot springs bashing my head against a wall." Offering him a little smile, she starts to walk past him, and then throws her arms around him in a big hug. "Oh Alec..." she murmurs into his chest emotionally, and then quickly detaches herself and heads through the door-- her hand hiding her face.

An hour later....
Alec walks down the hall towards the hot springs, he sees Nettle bathing and sighs. He walks over to the edge of the hot springs and kneels.
"Hey, can we talk?"

Nettle lets out a shriek and turns around quickly. "OH!! Thank goodness it was YOU! You freaked the hell out of me!" Seeing the seriousness on his face, she makes her way slowly to the edge of the springs where he's waiting, and grabs her robe from the ground. Putting it on, she takes Alec's hand and leads him to a couple of chairs in the corner and sits. Pointing to a reddening bruise on her forehead she explains, "...hit my head against the wall and haven't decided if I'm healing it yet."

Alec gently pushes her hair back to look at the bruise. "You really did it, you hit your head on the wall..." he says looking concerned. "Why did you do that?" he asks looking a little guilty.

"I...oh fuck it! Alec, I think I'm falling in love with you, and I was scared I'd just driven you away because of my angry outburst...I'd like to say I'm sorry about Julie, but I'm not. I'm only sorry if it messed things up between us!" She has a scared expression on her face, but was able to keep her eyes locked on Alec's throughout her talking. Now she castes her eyes down at her hands, unseeing.

Alec leans back and sighs, listening to her. hearing the word love a sad look creeps into his eyes. He stands and takes Nettle by the hand.

"Come with me, there's something I want to show you..."

Numbly, Nettle nods and grasps his hand-- not having seen his face out of fear. Standing, she keeps her eyes down and starts following Alec.

Alec leads her down to his room, and closes the door. He takes out a picture from his dresser and hands it to her. The picture is of Alec and a beautiful woman with raven hair and blue eyes. The two are smiling at giving peace signs at the camera.
"Her name was Sylvannia. She was my mentor."

Nettle takes the picture from Alec and stares at it. "Wow-- she's very beautiful. I can tell just from looking at this picture that she was a very strong woman." Looking up at Alec she asks, "Why are you showing this to me?"

"You asked me about my mentor, and now I'm telling you. I was in love with her then." he says and as Nettle looks at the picture she feels Alec move behind her and slip something over her head onto her neck. Looking down she sees it's an antique necklace. It has an ivory carved center of a woman standing by a tree and a gold outlaid frame.
"I want you to have this. It was hers, she gave it to me, before she... before she died. I think she would want you to have it."

Nettle's mouth drops open, and the picture almost slides from her hands. She quickly puts it on Alec's dresser and holds out the necklace Alec has placed around her neck. She is speechless for a moment, and Alec can see she's trying to speak. "This is the most beautiful, powerful gift anyone has ever given me...I can't believe you're giving me something so special! I am honored! Do you realize that within the Verbena, the tree is most-sacred of any image?? I will never take this off..." and Nettle bursts into tears, controlled at first, but then a sobbing that errupts from deep within her soul as if it's been repressed for many years. She cries uncontrollably-- her face in her hands.

Alec takes her in his arms and holds her as she weeps. He takes her chin in his hand and kisses her deeply. He holds her tightly, not letting go.

When she finally stops, she feels limp in Alec's arms. Resting her head on his chest, she sniffles and wipes her eyes quickly with her hands. "Thank you so much for letting me do that-- my parents always left the room quickly when I would cry..." Looking up at him, Alec can see her eyes are red, but the irises are a brilliant green-brown. What happened to Syl...Sylvannia?" She looks concerned and sad.

"Another time," he says. He picks her up and carries her to the bed, and lays her down gently.
"Right now, it's just you and me...."

Putting her arms around his neck, she pulls him down and kisses him very gently, but for a long period of time. "What does this mean about us, Alec? I cried from the depth of my soul when I realized you weren't dumping me off...I need to know what's going to happen next."

Alec wipes a tear from her cheek and looks her straight in the eye and says. "What's next is I tell you, love, that I think our swinging days...are over."

Nettle's hands fly to her mouth and her eyes tear up again. "You really mean that?? Oh Alec...I...I...better not say that..." she cuts herself off, and then starts laughing delightedly. "No, I do. I really love you, Alec, and I want to hold you in my arms until I die!" Nettle kisses Alec with a force that nearly knocks them both off the side of the bed.

Alec kisses her back, and brings them both from the edge of the bed.

Nettle stops kissing Alec and looks up at him for a moment. "I've never had a...um, boyfriend before. I always keep my relationships with men to just one date, or just within the sabbat. I guess what I'm saying is, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm willing to learn."

The two lay together but this time it is different, this time it is gentle, vulnerable, open. It is a quiet time filled only with the gasps and sighs of two people truly making love for the first time...

When the room becomes quiet and still, Nettle looks up over Alec's trembling shoulder-- a tear running from the corner of her eye. "Alec...." It's the only word she can think or whisper as she holds him tight against her body.

Alec holds her tightly, feeling the tear run down her cheek and onto his chest. He looks down and kisses the top of her head.
"M'here love."

Nettle closes her eyes and kisses him gently, and as she does, more tears make their way down her cheeks. When she pulls away, she looks at him as if seeing him for the first time. "Alec, you are a beautiful creature. Tell me what you're thinking?"

Alec looks down at her and smiles, "Hmm what am I thinking..." He looks up at the ceiling, "I'm thinking that I'm going to take me girl out to dinner tonight, and then I'm going to show her a good time."

Nettle smiles a glowing smile. "I would love that! Us going out like a....real couple! Can we go somewhere with candles and champagne?" Nettle looks positively joyful.

"Nothin' but the best for you. We'll even get a snooty french waiter if that'll make you happy." He says with a chuckle. He pats her on the butt, "Go get ready, I'll call for reservations"

Nettle jumps up from the bed and grabs her robe from the floor absent-mindedly with a grin on her face. Almost running to her room, she enters and closes the door behind her-- not caring if anyone saw her. Going to her closet, she rummages through until she finds what she wants. A half hour later she is standing in front of her mirror doing last-minute inspecting. She's wearing an ankle-length red, shimmering, form-fitting gown with spaghetti-straps and a slit up the side to her thigh, and a pair of red high-heel sandal-pumps. Her hair is pulled back into a French twist with tendrals hanging randomly, and she has on a ruby solitaire necklace and matching earrings. She's done her make-up dramatically, and a delicate whiff of perfume lingers about her neck. Smiling confidentally, she walks back to Alec's door and knocks.

Alec opens the door. He is wearing a long white british blazer with white dress pants and a black shirt. He smiles at Nettle turning her so he can get a better look.
"Very nice, baby!"

"Thank you, Alec! You look VERY handsome!" Nettle exclaims eyeing him from head to toe and running her hands up his arms. Leaning her neck close to his face she asks, "I'm actually wearing perfume-- how do you like this scent?"

Alec leans in and takes a long whiff of the perfume. He smiles at her and brings her in close.
"Mmm makes me want to skip dinner and get right to the dessert." he shakes his head and holds out his arm, "Milady, might I escort you to your carriage?"

Nettle smiles and dons an air of elegance. "I would be honored, kind sir!" She takes his arm, and puts her free hand on his lower arm as well. Leaning in, she kisses his cheek and smiles. If anyone who knew her well saw her at this moment, they would hardly recognize her. The look of fierceness is gone from her eyes, and she's standing erect-- her whole being radiating joy.

Alec leads her out to the car and then smiling he offers her the keys, "baby you can drive my car."

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