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Standard Disclaimer: I don't own them, and I'll put them back when I'm finished playing with them.  Quotage belongs to Robert Burns and Alfred, Lord Tennyson (respectively).

Non-Standard Disclaimer:  N&Npackers, Immortal Beloveds --- this is (again) a Nanette story --- you have been warned.  Believe it or not, this was written before the recent FORKIN thread about Janette's return in THF.

This is the sequel to "The Best Laid Plans..." & starts after the tag in THF, with spoilers for the episode.  If you haven't read "Plans", email me offlist and I'll send you a copy.

Permission to archive at Mel's site and JADFE granted ... anyone else please ask.

"Voices in the Night" (1/1)
by Nymue

Part the First - Natalie

I still can't believe it.  All our plans, all our efforts ...  When Nick brought her to see me in the morgue I was paralyzed; so many emotions ... fear ... overwhelming joy because I had missed her *so* much ... then anger.  I don't know what made me angrier, that she was mortal, that she had taken another lover in Montreal, or that she hadn't come to me in the first place.  Oh, now I realize the danger she was in at the time, but still - a call would have been nice.  Who am I kidding?  I wouldn't - I won't - be
satisfied until I see her again.  And she *will* come, that much I do know.

I wonder ... Nick brought her back across; he thinks I don't know but I do - no one else would have made those kills and left them to be found like that.  She's sending him a clear message ... I wonder if he realizes what that message is?  Surely now he knows of our plans, of our relationship.  He's said so little since the fire ... I wonder if Lacroix knows?  He probably does since he and Nick have gotten closer recently, which is not a bad thing.  But still, as I sit here waiting, I wonder ...

Part the Second - Janette

So many things happen without warning.  Lacroix saving me from Daviau (sp.?),  wanting Nicolas, falling in love with Natalie ... and Robert.  I do not even know why I loved him; perhaps it was simply the longings for 'ma Nathalie' that I projected onto Robert.  I truly hope this is not what happened, for I would have, after a fashion, betrayed them both.  I'm not even sure I understand myself these days, but I *do* know what I feel.  When I saw her again I was scared, and then overwhelmed in more ways than one.  I knew she was angry and happy and frustrated ... the conflicting emotions were so clear on her face that I'm suprised Nicolas did not notice.  How I missed my beloved ...

And now Nicolas knows, though he has said nothing.  I wonder if he has told Lacroix yet?  He will, I know; they've grown closer since I left.  As for killing those so-called men ... not only was I *extremement affame* but ... la meilleure revanche, c'est la revanche.   Nicolas must realize that my words of the other night were exactly that, words.  I did *not* wish to remain mortal, or to die; I would have gone back to Lacroix, given time.  I wanted human justice to clear Robert's name, for his son if nothing else. Mmm ... the time.  I must go see her; we have new plans to make.

Part the Third - The Meeting

They sat facing each other, a thousand things unsaid.  Both were almost bursting with joy and anticipation, with longings aching to be fullfilled, but held their emotions in check; there were other matters to settle.

"You have questions cherie - ask them."

"What happened in Montreal?  Was what you told us in the morgue true?  And ... why did you ..." Natalie's voice trailed off.

"Has Nicolas told you the story I told him?"  At her affirmative nod, Janette continued, "It was true for the most part.  Why Robert I do not know.  It may have been the effects of our separation, or something else; there was genuine affection for him.  Not as much as I have for you, but more than anything I've ever felt for Nicolas.  And as to what I told you earlier ... yes, it was true and no, it was not.  I could control my hunger, yes, but that did not make me mortal.  And Nicolas knows the truth of it now ..."

"What happened?"

"When the fire broke out, I was scared, but I was also relieved.  The thought of losing you terrified me," Janette confessed.  "And again when Robert was shot, the thing that passed through my mind as he fell was "what if it had been you?"  Even as I held him and promised to care for Patrick, all I could see was you in his place.  When I failed to save Robert, I began to realize what it would be like to lose you ... I felt as if I'd lost you both.  I can explain it no other way."

Natalie sat back, absorbing this.  Finally she said, "But why go to Nick?? I *know* you never wanted to be mortal."

"I went to Nicolas because I had been seen when I killed Mario LaRouche, and because Lacroix would not care to see me "mothering" Patrick.  I wanted to clear Robert's name, if only for his son; Lacroix would not have tolerated that."

"I think I begin to see; only human justice could clear Robert, so you chose to go to someone who would help you do so.  I'm sorry about the way I acted, but I didn't know what to think, much less do or say ... especially in front of Nick," Natalie finished.

"What about *you* cherie?  What kept you for joining me as planned?" Janette asked.

Janette listened as Natalie spoke of Schanke and Cohen's deaths; of Tracy and Vachon and Vudu and the Inca; of Nick's amnesia and later "possession"; the fever, ghostly visitations, and the vampire game.

"It was like you said, too many loose ends.  And then there was Lacroix; I get the feeling that if I'd left he would have just found me and brought me back, simply so Nick wouldn't fall even farther into the depression that started when he learned you had departed for "parts unknown."  It took him a month to figure it out, by the way," Natalie finished.

"A month, you say?  I should feel insulted.  But you may be correct in you supposition cherie; Lacroix is unpredictable sometimes, especially where Nicolas is concerned."

"So," Natalie asked, "what do we do now?"

"Aristotle has arranged a new identity for me.  The papers I gave you before are no longer valid, as they pertained to Montreal."

"Where are we going?"

"To another city of French influence ... under *this* name."

"Delacroix!?!" Natalie laughed.

"The best place to hide is in plain sight cherie."

Natalie leaned against Janette.  They held each other then, the torturous seperation over; they gave into their longings and shared rapture, all the while whispering new plans, and rejoicing at their reunion.

Part the Fourth - The Voice of the Night

"And so I conclude this evening by asking, gentle listeners, how safe are your plans?  An old Scotsman of my acquaintance once wrote that "the best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley, an' lea'e us naught but grief an' pain, for promised joy."  Not very articulate, but to the point none the less.  Your plans, my children, will bring you nothing but pain.  Surely recent events have taught you this?  Or do you foolishly think that history will not repeat itself?  Perhaps you feel safe in the knowledge that
lightening never strikes twice in the same place.  Utter folly, mes enfants. But, as always, I am the Nightcrawler and *I* *love* *you* *all*."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laying together in the dark, their bodies entwined, Janette and Natalie heard the words spoken softly from CERK.  Natalie looked at Janette, who nodded and whispered, "He knows."

"Doesn't matter, not now."

"I know cherie, but still ... "

Natalie took Janette's hand and whispered, "I was never fond of the poem itself, but somehow the last six lines seem appropriate just now."

Janette listened as Natalie whispered again.  After a moment she smiled and said, "How very true cherie, how very true."

As the lovers returned to each other, the fire illuminated the pages of a book that lay open on a nearby table. The words on the page, those that Natalie had spoken, reverberated around the room ...

"Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are -
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

--- The Beginning ---