The Anniversary  Part 05a/10
See disclaimers in first post.


While Alex had tracked down the Caddy and drove through the night, Donni had been busy with her own chores.

Janette arrived right on time. She rang the buzzer and Donni released the lift so she could come up with the supplies. What greeted her were a lift full of party supplies and a very beautiful raven-haired woman. 

Janette exited the lift and hugged her niece. "I am so happy to see you Donni. We do not spend near enough time together."

"I’m happy to see you too Auntie! You’re right we don’t spend enough time together. Maybe when this party is over we can all spend some time on holiday, the whole family." Donni replied. She made her way to the kitchen. Over her shoulder, she asked, "So what did you bring me to eat?" She unpacked a crate with glasses in it. Wiping two off she placed them on the blue tile countertop.

"I brought a very special vintage. It was procured from a couple on their wedding day. Voluntarily of course." This latter part was added as a joke because by now all blood was pretty much given freely.

The two women chatted while they unpacked the crates of stuff that had arrived so far. Donni had the leather furniture cleaned and oiled before she arrived. The Oriental rugs were in place and now they were working on the kitchen. Donni knew where everything went from the stories she heard from Nat and Nick over the years, right down to the coffee under the sink. Her parents still kept a can of coffee under the sink at home just for that reason. She did too, although nobody knew it except her mom.

Janette called to check on the Steinway. Donni had it sent to Kaufman and Sons to have it cleaned and pre-tuned before they brought it to the loft. It was ready, so they arranged a time for it to be delivered.

The buzzer rang again and Janette looked to see who it was. It was Fed Ex with the crates from Wales that Alex had sent on. Janette let them up. Donni signed the invoice and they proceeded to see just what Alex had found. The first crate was long and thin. Neither Janette nor Donni knew what could possibly be in it. Curiosity getting the best of them, they opened it up. What was inside made both of their mouths drop in shock.

It was the painting that Alex found.

As she stood gaping at the painting unable to avert her eyes, she asked in a whisper, "When did Dad paint this?" If she could blush she would have.

"I have no idea." Janette replied with amusement.

What they were looking at was a portrait of a woman obviously painted with so much love and tenderness that you could almost feel it. The woman was Nat. She was painted lying on a black satin sheet surrounded by blood red rose petals, her hair splayed around her head like a halo of copper fire. Her skin had a warm glow to it. Her left arm was draped over her abdomen, and she was completely nude except for the ring on her finger, which Donni recognized as Alexandra’s ring, now her mother’s engagement ring.

"Nicola never painted me or anyone else like that before! I didn’t realize he had it in him!" Janette finally said when she found her voice.

Donni was looking closely at the canvas hoping to find a date some where. She found it. In the lower left corner, so small as not to be noticed, was written in her father’s flowing script,

         "Mon Natalie Bein-aime,            
          Ceci est comment je vous vois veritablement                              Un jour peut-etre...             
                                              
          A jamais, Nicholas        9 novembre  1995"  
         (My Beloved Natalie,
          This is how I truly see you
          Someday maybe...

          Forever,Nicholas)     

"Just what am I supposed to do with this?" Donni asked her aunt.

Janette still amazed at the beauty of the painting. "If I were Nicola, I’d want it where it was the first thing I saw upon waking and the last thing before sleep. Did you find a date?"

"Yeah, November of ‘95. Does the date sound familiar to you?"

"Oui, I was away at the time. It was when I first came to Montreal, and had met Robert." Janette replied with a note of sadness. Donni remembered the incident. It was a sad time in Janette’s life.

"LaCroix told me about it after I returned to the family. It seems that your father was shot in the head and believed dead. Some quick actions on your mother and LaCroix’s part saved him from being discovered. What happened was he regained consciousness, but had no memory of who or *what* he was. Natalie brought him home to recover and from what I was told, that was the first time they made love."

Donni’s eyes grew wide with this new story of her parents’ life. She knew of the shooting but not the specifics. Donni did know that sometime after the shooting Nick went through a very dark time. She wondered if this was done during his depression. She took Janette’s advice on the placement. She took it upstairs to the bedroom, where she hung it on the wall next to the bedroom door. She knew Nick slept on his left side with his right arm over Nat. This way it would be in his line of sight from that position. It looked as if it was meant to hang there. The sizing was perfect. When she finished unpacking things and got the loft set she would call her brother. She returned downstairs to her aunt.

Janette was sitting on the couch looking into the fire, but not really seeing it. She was thinking back on that sad summer and fall of 1995. Even after all this time she still missed Robert. It was her relationship with Robert that had made her understand everything that Nick felt for Natalie, and had brought peace to her and Nat. She didn’t hear Donni come back downstairs.

"Penny for your thoughts." Donni said quietly as not to startle Janette.

"Oh, I was just thinking back to another time." Janette replied sadly. "Did you put up Nicola’s painting?"

"Yes I did, and you were right, as always. I wonder if where I hung it was where Dad had intended to hang it. It is just perfect there. Are you sure you’ve never seen it before?"

"I am positive. I would have remembered something so beautiful. But it does not surprise me that I haven’t. It is not, how should I say it, ‘for public viewing’."

"You’re right about that!" Donni said with that ‘if I could blush’ look again. "Let’s see what other treasures Alex found for us!"

They looked in all the crates and put everything back in its rightful place. Donni noticed with a pang of sadness that the loft had a very lonely feel to it. "How could they have been happy here?" She said to no one in particular. Janette answered her.

"They weren’t the first five years. It was a constant struggle for them. To keep Nicola’s secret and to hide the love they felt for one another for Natalie’s safety. It was very hard. My leaving helped some, but it wasn’t until LaCroix finally let the agreement between him and your father go that things started to change." Donni looked at Janette with a puzzled look. She was finding out so much about her parents past. Things she never knew happened. For all she knew they had a happy courtship. All this gave her a newfound respect for their love of one another. She hoped that someday she would be as lucky.

They continued to go through Nat’s things and put her CD’s in the CD rack. Nic would have to hook up all of the electronics when she got here. Janette and Donni were taking a much-deserved break when the buzzer for the lift went off. Startled by the sound, Donni went over to the monitor to see who would be there at this time of night. She was happy to see the piano tuner. She went down to open the garage to let them unload Nick’s Steinway. They loaded it into the lift and moved it into position in the loft. Mr. Kaufman then set about fine tuning the antique piano. After about an hour beautiful music was coming from the piano. He played Moonlight Sonata. Donni was lost in the memories the song recalled for her. Images of her and her sister sitting with Nick when they were about 3 or 4 listening to him play for them. The house was always full of music of all kinds when they were growing up. From Amadeus to Aerosmith, they listened to it all. When he finished Donni thanked Mr. Kaufman and paid him handsomely for his effort.

With dawn rapidly approaching, Janette said she really needed to get back to the Raven. There were still things she needed to get for Nick and Nat’s arrival. They would be here in two days, not much time to get the vintages she was looking for. She kissed her niece, and thanked her for the girl talk. She said she would be in touch if Donni needed anything else. With that she left through the skylight. She would come back after dark to get her car.


End Part 05a


The Anniversary  Part 05b/10
See disclaimers in first post.


Donni was both mentally and physically tired. She had a lot of new things to digest. She went to the refrigerator and got a fresh bottle of blood-wine. She took the bottle and her glass to the living room where she sat down to call Alex. She still had a ton of stuff to do but it would have to wait until this evening when Nic would arrive. Nic could help with the rest of the decorating. She had a much better flair for the fine touches. Donni was a lot like her name sake Schanke when it came to flair. She was very down to earth and subdued compared to Nic. ‘A lot like Daddy and Uncle Donny that’s me and Nic.’ She wished she’d known Schanke and Grace. She drifted into a fitful sleep. She dozed for a couple of hours. When she woke up she felt a little bit better. So she figured she’d better call Alex before it got too late.

Alex was just getting out of the shower when Donni called.

"Hi Alex! How goes the Great Cadillac Hunt? Did you have any trouble getting it out of storage?"

"As a matter of fact, I got the car with minimal trouble. Just a tiny suggestion to the lot attendant. It’s at the detail shop now. I was just getting ready for bed. What’s up? Everything going according to your plans?" Asked Alex.

"Everything is going smoothly here. Aunt Janette came and spent the night with me. We puttered around here putting things away, and talking about Mom and Dad. It was a great way to spend an evening. Oh, by the way, Fed Ex came. Do you have anything to tell me?" Donni asked with a note of disdain.

Alex thought it best if he played dumb. His sister didn’t seem too pleased with him right now. "Oh! Did you get Mom’s stuff?"

"Yes I did Richard Alexander de Brabant! How could you send something like THAT and not let me know?" Donni lit into her brother with all she had. "Aunt Janette was with me when I opened it!! I’m sure it was not something she needed to see. Or that Mom would have wanted her to see.!"

Alex felt guilty now. He should really have thought about that. She was right. No one needed to see that but immediate family. "I’m sorry Donni." Alex told her with as much feeling as he could convey over the phone. "I really didn’t think anyone but you would see it. No one else has ever seen it, not even Mom." He felt he had betrayed his parents by being so careless. "I remember hearing stories when I was very young about a portrait Dad painted of Mom after his accident when he almost walked into the sun. Mom remembered seeing a canvas in the loft but Dad wouldn’t let her see it. She used to ask about it once in awhile after they thought I was asleep, and always Dad would tell her that it was gone. That he destroyed it. The last time I heard mention of it I must have been 16 or 17. I didn’t know it existed either until I was poking around looking for stuff for you."

Donni cooled down some. "Alex why didn’t you tell me?"

"I don’t know. But it is beautiful isn’t it?" Alex asked his pride in his father’s work evident in his voice.

"Yes it is. I think it’s one of the most romantic and sensuous paintings I’ve ever seen." Donni thought about asking if he had read the inscription, but decided to keep it to herself. "Now I understand the way he looks at her."

"Me too. Puts a whole new spin on things doesn’t it?"

"Yeah, it does. Donni replied. "Look Alex, I’m going to let you get some sleep. You have a long drive tonight. Be careful. I’ll see you in the morning."

"Ok, Sis. I’ll see you in the morning." With that they both hung up the phone and retired for the day.


End Part 05b

The Anniversary  Part 06/10
See disclaimers in first post.
ADULT:


Natalie was busy packing for the trip to Montreal. Little did she know she would never get there.

She had packed most of her new clothes she just bought in Paris. She hoped Janette would approve. She valued Janette’s opinion on fashion.

Nat was actually looking forward to this trip. What she wasn’t looking forward to was traveling with LaCroix. As much as she appreciated LaCroix letting Nick out of the agreement they had, and the easy peace with which they lived, she still never really trusted him. She and Janette had buried the hatchet a long time ago. They had even managed to become friends. Quite a feat for both of them.

Nick was right, they hadn’t seen Janette for a long time. The last time she could recall was about 15 years ago. She didn’t even mind that they would be spending part of their anniversary with her.

She needed to finish up. Nick would be back soon. She still hadn’t wrapped his gift. This year was harder than in the past. 75 years. The time had flown by. It was funny how they still celebrated each year. Like it was their first. She still felt like a newlywed. The passion and love she and Nick felt for each other never wavered. If anything, it grew with each passing year. That was why Nat had such a hard time finding something for her eternal love. But find it she did. It was before they left Wales. She had been looking in the small antique shoppes in Swansea when she found it. It was a painting of a lady bidding Godspeed to her knight as he was leaving for the Crusades. She had seen this painting before and it had reminded her of Nick. So when she saw it again she bought it. It wasn’t particularly valuable; she just liked it and hoped Nick would too. Maybe she would wait until they got home. It would only be a couple of days later.

That settled she finished her packing. She envied Nick; he could pack in about 20 minutes and not forget anything! Well he had almost 800 more years of practice. She dragged her bags downstairs, and headed for the kitchen and some dinner.

Nick came in about 20 minutes later to find Nat perched on her favorite chair reading yet another romance novel. Nick just shook his head with a small grin on his face.

"You know, your daughter is thinking of writing one of those." Nick said pointing to her book. Nat giggled, she could imagine the plot for *that* story!

She put her book down and looked up at Nick. He kissed her forehead and down the ridge of her nose before hungrily seeking out her mouth. Nat would have to put a stop to this right now.

"Nick...we have...to..."

"I know..." He replied as he picked her up and carried her to their bed.

‘So much for stopping.’ Nat thought as she surrendered to him.

Nick set her down at the foot of the bed, never breaking contact with her lips. He felt his heart beat twice in quick succession. The lust building rapidly. He reached up and buried his hands in her hair, he felt the silk like curls run through his fingers. Pulling her closer, deepening his kiss, he heard a small gasp escape from Nat as she surrendered to him.

He continued to kiss down her neck feeling the blood running just under the surface. Nat wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him to her breast, aching for his touch. He released her just enough to remove the black silk blouse she wore. He slid it down her arms as he kissed across her collarbone and down to her lacy bra. The blouse pooled on the floor.

Nat then returned the favor and unbuttoned Nick’s shirt. His joined hers on the floor. Nat caressed the hard planes of his chest, kissing where just a moment before her hands had been. She licked small circles around his nipples causing them to harden. Her attentions to him were driving him mad with desire. She was relentless in her pursuit of his pleasure. She gently guided him to the bed and had him lay back against the pillows scattered across the bed. She returned to his mouth and sucked on his lower lip eliciting a growl deep in his chest.

Nat continued on her downward quest, nipping, sucking and caressing. When she reached his jeans she unbuttoned them with a slow maddening pace. As she looked up at Nick she saw the amber glow to his eyes. She knew he could not hold out much longer. But she was determined to bring him to the edge of reason first. She gently removed the rest of Nick’s clothes. Nat stood and slowly removed the rest of her own clothes, never breaking eye contact. She could feel Nick’s desire through their link. She kissed her way back up his muscular legs paying close attention to his sensitive inner thighs. Nat gently sank her fangs into the soft skin and took her first sip of his blood.

When Nat punctured the skin Nick nearly lost control. "Nat... please..."

"What is it you desire, my lord?"

His breathing was ragged with lust. "You woman. I desire you. I want to feel you..." Nick gasped with what little restraint he had left.

"Where do you want to feel me?" Nat asked her voice low with desire. "Here?" She clasped her hand around his very hard penis, stroking gently. She licked up the sensitive underside before she took him completely into her mouth.

"Yes..." The word was barely spoken. "Nat...I...need you...I...need to...feel...you...around me..." Nick sighed as Nat suckled his cock.

"You have me...forever." Natalie replied as she impaled herself on him.

The contact was almost more than Nick could stand. He slid his hand down to Nat’s most secret spot and massaged the nub he found hidden there. Nat cried out in sheer ecstasy as she could feel both hers and Nick’s building orgasm. She rode Nick to the brink of sanity. Just before they both fell off the edge Nick rolled her onto her back, rose up on his knees, and raised her hips to meet his allowing him to go deeper into her. He pounded into her trying to reach into her very soul.

"Nick; come with me, now!" Nat pleaded. She could not wait any longer. Nick reared his head back ready to take what was his. As he sank into Nat’s pliant neck, he felt his own release coming. As Nat also sank her fangs into Nick the circle was complete. Everything they were, all they felt came crashing down in the most intense climax.

Sleep overcame them quickly. They dreamed lovers’ dreams, and relished in the love of one another.
End Part 06


The Anniversary  Part 07/10
See disclaimers in first post.


Nicole arrived in Toronto just past sundown, the limo taking her directly to the loft. She entered the security code to the garage and lift. The garage was empty except for a few crates.

‘I guess Alex isn’t here yet.’ Nic thought to herself. ‘I wonder if Donni’s up yet.’ She quietly slid open the door and stepped into her parents past. Donni had done a perfect job of finding and placing all of Nick’s old furniture. It helped that Nick and Nat were both sentimental pack rats! Everything looked exactly as it had 80 years ago. Nic was pleased, and she hoped that her parents would be too.

She tiptoed over to the fridge to get some breakfast. Then headed to the sofa. That’s where she found her sister, sleeping curled up into a small ball. She sat in the chair that faced the sofa and sipped her blood-wine. She hadn’t been here for a very long time, not since Alex lived here. Yet it felt so comforting, like a loving embrace. She sat there daydreaming when Donni stirred. Not wanting to frighten her, she made a small tapping sound as she set her glass down on the end table. Donni opened her eyes slowly. When she caught sight of a leather encased foot she at first thought Janette had stopped by. Following the leg up to its owner, she was happily surprised to see her twin.

"It’s about time you got here! I was beginning to think I would have to do all of this my self!" Donni declared with mock disdain. She hugged Nic tightly. Nic returned the gesture.

"Sorry about being late. It was unavoidable. I got stuck in New York for the day. Weather! Some sort of freak spring snow storm." Nicole said, not sounding any too happy. "But, I’m here now!! And ready to help in any way I can."

Donni went to the kitchen to retrieve a glass of her own. The two women proceeded to have their breakfast and get caught up on the arrangements. As Nic sipped her blood-wine she asked her sister where it had come from.

"Aunt Janette brought it over. It’s exquisite isn’t it? She’s trying to find some more of a similar vintage for Mom and Dad."

"I don’t believe I’ve ever tasted anything this good." Nic replied savoring the taste of the two people who donated it. "Wedding day??"

"Yes, and some of them will be anniversaries. Auntie thought it would be appropriate." Donni answered savoring her own glass. "That’s why it is so rare. I hope she can get more of it."

With breakfast finished the girls set out finish the fine touches to the loft. Alex should arrive by 5 AM. And they wanted to be finished when he got there. Nicole set out to hook up all of the TV and stereo equipment. ‘What technological relics.’ She thought to herself. ‘But if it makes them happy, who am I to not be of service. Besides, who else could possibly do it?’ The thought brought a smile to her face as she went about her task.

While Nic was busy with the stereo, Donni headed upstairs to get the bedroom and bath ready. There really wasn’t a whole lot to do. The room was sparsely furnished. The only things were a king size bed with an iron headboard, a black lacquer dresser and a pair of matching nightstands.

Donni opened a new set of black satin sheets with red pillowcases and placed them on the bed. She then unpacked a black satin comforter that she managed to sneak out of the house before she left. She brought the one from home because she wanted the bed to feel like it was theirs, not like it was all brand-new. With that done she hurried into the bathroom. Ever since she hung the painting, she felt like a voyeur in their room.

The bathroom was done in soft grays and had black granite countertops, a black Jacuzzi tub and a glass enclosed shower. Donni went about the task of putting new fluffy Egyptian cotton towels in the cabinet and a generous pile next to the tub. She then placed a few jasmine scented candles in various holders on the counter and around the rim of the tub. She even managed to find a way to get some in the shower. She unpacked Nat’s favorite bath oils and soaps from home and placed them in their proper places. Satisfied with her work she headed back downstairs to see if she could help Nic.

Nic was just finishing up with the stereo when Donni came back down.

"All finished!" Donni announced with a happy sigh. "How ‘bout you?"

"Me too!" Nic replied. "What’s next on your agenda?"

"Well, I could use your help with the placement of some of the ‘little things’. You know, like which pictures to put out, where to put some of Dad’s special things. The things that made this ‘Home’."

"I can do that." Nicole said with a glint in her eye. After all she was an incurable romantic just like Nat.

She rummaged in some of the boxes and pulled out some framed photos that were special to both of them. The picture of the Tovler’s in Germany with the piece of ‘The Wall’ Lily had sent. A picture of Nat’s beloved cat Sydney, a picture of Schanke, Myra and Jenny. A picture of Nick and Schanke getting their first ‘Partners of the Month’ Award and the last ‘Partners of the Year’ Award they got. Nic found a very old photo of Nick and Nat taken at the first precinct picnic Nick attended. She thought that this was the first picture of them together and that it deserved to be put in a special place. She headed up stairs.

"Nicole! Wait!!" Donni cried to her, trying to stop her before she went inside.

"AAHH! What *IS* that???" Nic cried upon entering the bedroom.

"I tried to stop you. Sorry." Donni said softly when Nic came back downstairs. "That is Alex’s present to Mom. I’ll let him explain when he gets here."

He’d better have a damn good one!" Nic said with barely concealed anger. "I need to get some air. I’ll be back later. Didn’t you tell me Aunt Janette is at the Raven?"

Donni nodded her head. It would do no good trying to calm her down. Nic had to work this out herself. She knew what passionate people her parents were; she just didn’t need to see it! Nic flew out of the skylight and into the night. Donni sat down to wait for her brother to arrive.


The drive to Toronto was long and uneventful. Alex was really enjoying driving the Caddy. Every place he stopped drew appreciative onlookers. There weren’t too many pre 2000 cars on the road any more. And this one was one of the last great cars from Detroit’s Golden Age. He now knew why his father loved it so much. It was as close to flying as one could get. He drove with the top down all the way from Chicago. The night was cold but fortunately for him the cool air didn’t bother him.

He was relived and excited when he saw the CN Tower come into view. ‘Not much further.’ He thought to himself. He made his way through the pre-dawn traffic to Gateway Lane. He pulled up to the garage, parked the car and entered the code for the door. He pulled the Caddy into it’s home and shut the engine off. He got out of the car, opened the trunk and removed a large bow that he got for the hood. That finished he headed for the lift.

Donni heard the lift motor engage and knew it had to be Alex. Nic wasn’t back yet, so she had time to prepare him for her wrath.

The lift door opened and Alex walked into his childhood. The memories overwhelmed him briefly. He wasn’t ready for the fantastic job his sisters and aunt had done.

"Oh my God...you did it! You really did it! I can’t believe it. It looks like we never left."

Alex was awestruck. "How did you manage to do *all* of this?"

"Well it helps to have a brother with total recall. And most of the furnishings were here in the building. I just hired someone to come and thoroughly clean everything, and Aunt Janette and I put most of it where it belonged. Nic did the electronics, and the placing of the knick-knacks and photos."

"I am truly sorry about the thing with Mom’s portrait and Aunt Janette. Do you think she can forgive me?"

"Yeah, I think she already has. But Nicole is another story... She was none too pleased with you when she left this evening. I didn’t get a chance to show it to her or even tell her about it. She kind of found it by accident." Donni replied sheepishly.

"She’ll understand once I tell her." Alex said. "Now what do you say to me taking you for a drive in Dad’s car before I have to give it back?"

"I think that would be nice. We can go to the Raven, have something to drink and pick up Nic before we retire for the day."

"Sounds like a plan to me. Shall we go? Your chariot awaits." Alex teased.

They rode the lift down to the garage. When Alex opened the door Donni saw for the first time Nick’s second most treasured possession. There it sat in all of its San Remo Turquoise and Chrome glory. She had never been much of a ‘gear head’, but this car just might change her mind. Alex took the bow off the hood, and opened the door for his sister. He then slid behind the wheel and headed off to the Raven.


End Part 07