@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ Friday, June 27th, 1997 @==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ MY FINAL POST By April Hackett After the rift's closure April rolled over and blinked against the unaccustomed light coming in through her window. As the change in her reality sunk in, she suddenly sat up and groaned, "No!" She sat up and watched the patterns of sunlight playing on the floor as she thought about the party last night. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ Flashback: The Party was in full swing. As the door opened, several more guests walked into the foyer and looked around. Glancing around the room, they noted all the decorations. Somehow, a sparkling net had been hung from the cathedral ceiling, filled with shiny, rainbow colored balloons. The staircase was woven with multi-colored crepe paper, with the KtK letters spaced up the stairs. Toby walked up, a shining knight in his chain mail costume and shaved head, and invited everyone inside. "The bar is over there," he said, pointing through the milling crowd to the base of the stairs. "The KtK room is in the library. Down that hallway on your right: second door on the left." Smiling, he gestured with his hand off to the left and said, "The food is in the main dining room. Help yourself to food and drink. If you need something, just ask any of the UFfers." Jules was jamming to the music. Her 'Billy Idol' look had earned her several looks of surprise and a couple of dance offers, and the party was only started. "Kewl!" she said to herself as she popped another cd into the machine and adjusted the balance. Looking over the crowd, she noticed Maus dancing with someone in a Robin Hood costume. With her green tunic dress, green ivy details on the edges of the outfit and green hose, ankle boots, and mask, she was a perfect companion for the Robin Hood character, that's for sure. Leslie wandered through the crowd, heading for the bar. she thought with a smile. Her costume, a man's black tux, complete with a pleated shirt, was immaculate. The French braid holding her long, blond hair under control accented the tuft of white hair in the middle of her bangs. She passed Wendy, who was a medieval princess covered in various shades of purple veils and chiffon. She had better be careful. If someone asked for the dance of the 100 veils, Wendy was going to be in trouble. Sukh was chatting with a small group of visitors, discussing the various differences that existed within the factions. Her midnight blue regency dress shimmered and glistened as the stones on her skirt caught the light when she moved. The UF choker that she wore on her throat proclaimed loud and clear her standing within the family of Forever Knight. Susan was itching at the furry tufts that covered her ears. "I didn't know this costume would be so scratchy," she complained quietly to her companion. April smiled as she heard that remark. "Why did you think I didn't complain when you took it. I'm quite happy with Red Riding Hood, thank you very much." They had finely gotten all the various parts to their two costumes straightened out, and were now standing by, waiting for Nick to show up. He had asked them to wait for him before mingling. "What costume did he say he was wearing?" Susan asked. "He didn't," April replied. She turned slightly as she felt rather than heard movement behind her. "Ahhhh!!!" "What's the matter, April?" Susan asked, turning to see what had her friends attention so completely. "WOW!!" Susan breathed. Nick was coming down the stairs in what the FK family had affectionately called the 'See Through Nightie'. "I see my choice of a costume was a good one then," he said with a flirtatious smile. "Ahhh... yeah. I would say, you're going to get plenty of compliments with that costume, Nick," April replied, feeling her Knightie tendencies flaring at the sight before her. "Yeah, I have to second that," Susan stammered, as she drank in the sight before her. "Where's LaCroix?" April asked, wondering what costume LaCroix was going to spring on them. "Oh, he's coming. He wasn't happy with the way his costume was draping, so he'll probably be a few more minutes." "Draping?" both women asked. Nick grinned and held out his arms. "Ladies? Shall we?" As they moved into the milling crowd, Kelly spotted April and Susan with a white clad Nick between them. "Hummm!" she muttered, looking around for LaCroix. she mused, moving slowly through the crowd. Her tight fitting, wine colored dress whispered against her skin as she moved. The formal mask she was wearing accented her dark hair and tanned skin almost as much as the off the shoulder dress did. Kelly past Laurey, who hadn't offered to demonstrate her dancing skills after the private show the Uffers had received before the party. Her black and yellow outfit and silver maned hair made her look very exotic. A handsome young man, wearing thirteenth century tunic and hoses swept her into a close, form hugging dance. "It looks like the party is going well," Susan stated, as she watched Michelle, resplendent in the green silk of her Spanish dancing dress, sweep past. "Yes, I'm glad. I was hoping the UF could finish off this war with a bang," April replied. At Susan's look, she hurried said, "Not that kind of bang!" There was a sudden lull in the crowd noise, and all eyes turned toward the stairs. As April turned, she heard Nick say, "At last. He finally managed to get his costume arranged." Looking at the stairs, she saw LaCroix slowly coming down the stairs, his toga carefully draped over one shoulder and wrapped around his body. "He definitely knows how to draw your eye, doesn't he?" Susan whispered in awe. "Yes, he's had a lot of practice at it," Nick whispered in both their ears, as he placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "I believe it's time to really begin this party," he loudly stated. Everyone began to converse with their neighbor as LaCroix walked up and looked Nick up and down. "I see you decided to appeal to their baser instincts, Nicholas," LaCroix stated. Laughing, Nick replied, "As if your not, LaCroix?" "What? This is a respectable toga, Nicholas. It was the best Roman fashion had to offer..." "2000 years ago," Nick interrupted, smiling. "I'm sure you'll hear no complaints from the guests, LaCroix." LaCroix let a small smile appear, then slowly moved through the mingling crowd. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ April looked up as Susan burst into the room. "They're gone!" she wailed, flinging herself onto the bed. April pulled her into a hug and said, "I know," very softly. "But at least we did get to say good-bye." =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ While the party winded down, all the Unnamed Faction members wandered over to the bar. As Leslie poured everyone champaign or ginger ale, Nick and LaCroix walked through the crowd and joined them. "A last toast: just between us," Leslie said, handing everyone a glass. She poured two glasses of blood wine for our two much loved vampires. Handing them their glasses, she raised hers and said quietly, "To eternal friends!" Looking at each other and smiling, all the unnamed raised theirs and repeated, "To eternal friends!" LaCroix glanced over at his son, who was drinking from his glass. "Nicholas? With everyone watching, Nick smiled and raised his glass to LaCroix. "To eternal friends....and family," Nick said, then clicked his glass to LaCroix'. "To family," everyone repeated, and finished off their glasses. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ "Come on. Let's go see what everyone else wants to do for the rest of the day," April said, hugging Susan, then rising from the bed. "We have to get ready to leave too." "I know. That's part of what's wrong. I really don't want to leave," Susan sniffled. "Believe me, I understand." As we walked by the dining room, April glanced in and saw the remains of the birthday cake, still sitting on the table, the castle and trees partially dismantled so everyone could get to the cake. "It was a lovely cake, wasn't it," April sighed, thinking of the party yesterday evening. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ "Is everything ready," April whispered to Laurey as they watched Kelly maneuver Wendy into position. "All set," she whispered back. Turning to Susan, Laurey asked, "Have you got the lighter ready?" "Right here," came the eager response. "Sh, sh. Here she comes!" Michelle stated softly, from her vantage point near the threshold of the room. Stepping back, she joined the others standing in front of the table. "Who needs me, Kelly?" Wendy asked, as they walked into the room... and stopped when she saw all her friends standing facing her. "What's going on?" she asked, smiling. As they parted to each side of the table, they all yelled, "Happy Birthday, Wendy!" just as the table behind them came into view. The large double level cake was beautifully decorated with blue flowers on white icing. A large castle was sitting on top of it, with a forest of trees surrounding it and candles burned brightly as the warriors sang happy birthday. "We hope you have many 'Happy Birthdays', Wendy!" everyone yelled, as they smiled at her shocked expression. "Let's eat," Jules sang out, reaching for the cutting knife. "This is the best birthday, I've ever had!" Wendy cried, as she hugged everyone there. "This has been a great two weeks." "That it has!" =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ April could hear everyone else in the kitchen, laughing and crying, as they relived the last two weeks. Now, all that was left was to pack, say good-bye to everyone, and head for home. Many new and better acquainted friends had been made during this war. It was going to be difficult to leave, but home called. Now, all that required handling was to decide which of the east coast members was going to drop all the signed flyers off in New York on the way home. Even to the end, they weren't going to let KtK be forgotten in the shuffle out of Toronto. "I'm going to miss this place," April sighed again. "April, come on," Susan yelled from the doorway. "I'm coming," April answered back. It was time to face the ending. Oh, but it had been glorious!! @==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ DAY BREAK (1/4) By Michelle David Set after "Masquerade" She was sprawled comfortably over the rich damask bed, the green silk of her dress wrinkled from the long slumber, her black and white hair spread about. A slight look of consternation on her face indicated to the most careful observer what dreams she might be having. The climax of the war in her opinion, the masquerade, had left her exhausted, not surprising, considering the intermittent bouts of sleep she had sparingly afforded herself over the two weeks. The excitement, exhaustion, and alcohol had ensured that she would have the most content and complete sleep that she would experience for a while. Her painted eyelids slowly opened, her mind not quite understanding the beams of yellow streaming through the open velvet curtains, so used to the eternal night she had become. And yet slowly, the stunning revelation of time's continuation insinuated itself into her mind. And Michelle awoke fully. A slight smile formed at the edges of her mouth as she remembered mailing the letters to TPTB, knowing the futility of the gesture to help time resume, but confident that with this effort FK would be brought back. Her smile widened as she remembered last... night, the wild desperation and gaiety of the masquerade, everyone, vampire or no, trying to spend those final hours in each other's arms... the pride of being in the faction she truly belonged to and surviving... And afterwards, when the guests had departed and the UFers had shared cups of coffee; their vampires another sort of beverage altogether. The knowledge that their Nicholas and LaCroix would be departing. But there was a wonder in it, knowing that after a year of estrangement the two were willing to start over. "Forever night," she whispered, savoring the ironic meaning that had become... Michelle laughed in her joy. @==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ DAY BREAK (2/4) By Laurey Set after "A Moment To Myself" and "Masquerade" *Whoom*Whoom*Whoom* Ouch. That's my head. Laurey opened her eyes and peered down at Tybalt who was curled up in a tight black ball on the covers next to her feet. Perry was not in his usual place on the other side of her feet, she noticed, as she slid slowly of bed, squinting as the bright sunlight streaming in the window hurt her eyes. "Blah. My mouth feels, tastes and probably smells like the bottom of a birdcage. Now I remember why I don't drink anymore." Shuffling to the bathroom, she turned on the water, squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush and started industriously scrubbing the residue of last night out of her mouth. Last night. Oh, boy. She winced as some of the memories started to trickle back. I wonder what Sukh's gonna want to *not* post those pictures up on the Net, she wondered. More memories surfaced, and she winced. Oh, man, I think that was Nick's butt I was grabbing while I was dancing with him. Yep, I remember, it was definitely him. Marvelous. I guess I can hope that he was just so shnoggered on the house brew that he can't remember that I was one of the many people who squeezed his butt last night. She spit, rinsed, splashed cold water on her face and wandered back out into the bedroom, beginning to wake up a bit. There was a bundle of papers on the mahogany dresser next to her jewelry from last night. Her bottle of musk perfume was placed on top of the stack, holding them neatly in place. Brows furrowed, she approached the dresser, moved the perfume bottle and picked up one page, studied it. Then another page. And another, her eyes widening and becoming awake and aware as she realized what this was, staring at the paper in her hands. Pages and pages, all in Lacroix's neat copperplate script. She leafed through the bundle, unbelieving. Descriptions of aurochs in Europe, of the herds of quagga he had seen while traveling to Egypt, accounts of great auks and ponderous clumsy stelleri sea cows, observed when once, out of curiosity, he had insinuated himself into a scientific exploration expedition to the North in the 1800's. How he and Nicholas had watched with near awe an unbroken migration of passenger pigeons in Virginia which cloaked the sky and blotted out the stars for three consecutive nights. Observations on animals' appearance and behavior in the clean, precise, scientific style of a military strategist and commander with centuries of experience. On the last page was a note to her. "I so rarely hear new questions asked of me anymore, I cannot help but find it intriguing when one comes along. I find I have more memories of the world outside of humanity than I thought. Use this information as you will, it is yours now, and remember this: people who have a purpose such as yours often find it convenient to some day make the transition that will allow them to carry on their work for as many centuries as they may wish, with advantages of persuasion not enjoyed by their fellow crusaders. It is something you may wish to consider for yourself someday." Lacroix At a loss for words or thought, she put the pages down on the dresser and stared at them as if they might vanish at any second, or she might just wake up - 'Even writing with vampiric speed, this must have taken him a long time.' she thought. Her own inner devil's advocate spoke up then. 'This is a man who doesn't do things for nothing. He's going to want you to do something you don't want to do someday in return for this, if they remain here.' A slow smile crept across her face. Whatever that something someday might be, she'd do her best and beyond to help Lacroix, now, if he ever needed help. She turned another page, starting to read this one more closely, and walked to the window to examine the paper in the sunlight. Nice, expensive paper - well, what else? she thought. The sunlight. Her head snapped up, and she stared out the window at the manicured green lawn and hedges that she had only seen as silvered silhouettes up to now. Oh, my God. "The Rift closed," she said, her voice sounding strange in her ears. They must have gone home already - oh, no. The realization that the two vampires were probably gone galvanized her into action, and she dressed in a frenzy, hauling on jeans and a t-shirt and charging out of the door, leaving a blinking and confused Schipperke staring after her. @==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ DAY BREAK (3/4) By Leslie GrantSmith, with contributions from Laurey, April Hackett, Lisa Clevenger (Sukh) and Julia Kocich. Set after "Masquerade" It had been a good party. Tending bar had been a blast, giving her a chance to talk to lots of different people. She stretched under the cool sheets and turned her head to blink blearily at the brilliant light spilling through the window of her bedroom. She stared at it a moment, wondering who had installed a street light right outside that window and why. People did some funny things during a War... Then she sat bolt upright, heart pounding in her chest. That was the dawn! Sunlight was streaming in across the room, tender, almost cool looking at this time of the day. She jumped up, frantically trying to remember if Nick's room had a window, or the one Lacroix deigned to use on occasion. Her brain coughed up the information, and she relaxed, one hand over the pounding in her chest. Of course the Guys were too experienced and canny to have chosen a room with a window when those without had been available. But if the sun was rising, that meant the Rift had closed. And the Guys... Her mind flashed back to the conversation she'd finally dared to have with Lacroix once the masquerade had wound down, and the only people left in the Hive were the Unnamed and Nick and Lacroix. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ She crouched down behind the bar, rummaging through what was left of beers, looking for a good red, hoping for one that matched her own home-brewed version, which she called, "Lacroix's Special Red." Someone came to stand beside her and she said, "I'll be outta here in a sec. Can I get you something while I'm down here?" "Actually," responded a smooth voice, rather wryly, "you could hand me that large unlabeled bottle on the bottom shelf. If you would be so kind. I tend to avoid these appliances myself. I once discovered a decapitated corpse in a beer fridge." Several things happened in Leslie's brain at the same time. The sheer pleasure of hearing that voice say those words (any words, for that matter) tangled with the fright she felt at having the owner of said voice standing close enough to her for her to hear it. This caused a shocking frisson of energy to jolt through her, and she bobbled the beer she held in her hands, juggling it a long moment before she managed to get it under control. Aware she had been asked to do something by The Voice, she carefully drew out the bottle requested and rose, stepping back on shaking legs and offering it to him at arm's length. He took it, and as her eyes were focused on his lips, she saw them curve into a smile, as she stepped back again. She became acutely aware that she was trapped behind the bar, that Lacroix was standing in the way out. Though she supposed she could always scramble *over* the bar. "You're Leslie," he informed her. She considered denying it, but gave it up fairly quickly as a lost cause. "Yes," she admitted, and in her nervousness, she twisted the neck of the bottle in her hands. As her selection had been a non-snob ale, the cap turned in her frantic grip, coming off, and a fountain of foam erupted from between her fingers. Lacroix stepped back, not wanting the stuff on his shoes, and for one mad moment she considered using the bottle as a weapon; shaking it further and directing the jetting spray at his face, then diving over the bar and taking sanctuary in the bathroom again while he was distracted. She happened to glance into his cool blue eyes at that point and the insane notion died a quick death. "You write fiction, I understand," he said, gently working the cork out of the bottle in his hands. "Who told you that?" she demanded, eyes narrowing. She'd learned quite a bit in her conversation with the Dark Knighties' Masters Nicholas and Lacroix. If she found out who, she could put some of that education to practical use. His brows lifted. "You've posted it, have you not?" "Oh," she squeaked. "You read those lists?" "Occasionally." "Occasionally what, Lacroix?" broke in Nick, leaning on the bar across from them. The elder vampire turned to look at him and Leslie's wave of relief weakened her knees as he took his eyes from her. "Occasionally I - we - read the fiction lists." "Oh, yeah. Occasionally." "If - if I'd known that," Leslie stammered, "I might not have posted what I did..." "Really?" queried Lacroix, his brows rising. "Uh... no," she admitted. "It's a 'follow your bliss' thing." Lacroix glanced at Nick, who rolled his eyes and muttered something about 'SoCal.' Really not much happier to be under Nick's warmer, but still penetrating gaze, Leslie sighed in further relief when her dear, sweet, incomparable friend, Julia, slid up to the bar and, casting a curious and amused glance at the vampires and the mortal trapped behind the bar, asked Leslie, "Where are you hiding the merlot?" "There's some in the cellar," Leslie said quickly. "I'll go fetch it." She edged forward, intending to slide around Lacroix, but he eased into her path. "No need," he said, smiling benignly, reaching past her for a bottle on the counter behind the bar. "There's a bottle open and breathing right here." Leslie, who had ceased breathing as his arm reached over her shoulder, edged back again as Lacroix picked up the bottle and graciously filled Julia's empty glass. Seeing the two vampires in conversation at the bar, other UFfers started drifting toward it. A sort of this-is-it-if-I-don't-say-what-I-wanna-say-now-I-might- never-get-a-chance mood had overtaken them. Lacroix had stated that he and Nicholas would *know* the time to depart, and that he was in no doubt that they had to but simply *will* themselves to their proper ... dimension. Nick had simply smiled and said, "...home," in a soft voice. April slid up on the barstool to one side of Nick, Laurey perching herself on the other. Jules came and stood beside Laurey, her leather jacket creaking softly as she leaned against the bar. Looking from Leslie, who gave a good impression of a deer caught in someone's headlights, to Lacroix, who seemed to be enjoying himself, April asked, "So, what's the topic of discussion?" "Fiction," Nick said, a smile on his face and a teasing look in his eye. "Fiction? What kind of fiction?" April asked, looking at Leslie. "Friction?" asked Julia, deeply engaged with her glass of merlot. "They read the lists, April," Leslie said, shooting a quelling look and Julia and glancing at the two vampires near her. "The--? *All* of them?" April squeaked. "Occasionally. Some stories, of course, are of more... immediate interest than others," Lacroix replied, a faint smile curving his lips as he watched a blush quickly cover April's face and neck. "Ah..." April stammered. "I didn't know *you* read the lists." Glancing at Nick out of the corner of her eye, she ventured, "Do you mind?" "No. In fact, I find Leslie's and your fiction quite... entertaining," Nick replied, enjoying the spot they had their human friends in. "Oh, boy!" April exclaimed softly. "It must be a bit ... weird," Leslie blurted, "to have people so interested in your personal lives. In observing and then speculating on your relationship." "It is," Nick answered. "Though of course you're not the only faction who spends time thinking, writing, talking about our intimate lives. All of us, I mean, not just myself and Lacroix." "Yeah," Leslie replied slowly. "Though our thoughts on your relationship, particularly if they move into the sexual realm, seem to offend some people. For whatever reason." She peered over at Nick. "We wouldn't want to offend you. But we're working with what we've *seen*, our perceptions and observations." She grinned. "Though clearly, not everyone sees what we do. But it isn't our intent to offend. Anyone." Nick opened his mouth to respond, but Lacroix broke in. "*We* are not constrained by mortal conventions," he said softly, eyes narrowing a bit. "Whether your ... speculations are accurate or not, in essence if not in actual detail - and I speak of all of you, not just the Unnamed - is irrelevant. It must always be kept in mind that we are not ... human. We contain everything that is humanity - how can we not - " he said with a darkly amused smile. "...and far more." Nick went on more gently. "When you move across times, across cultures, you can't help but learn - or you die - that humanity is marvelously, fascinatingly variable. One's mind is opened again and again." He glanced at Lacroix. "There is only one ... convention which I consider an absolute." Lacroix opened his mouth to speak, brows lowering a bit, then he broke off, raising his glass to his lips. There was a strained silence, then Nick, with a final, searching glance at Lacroix turned to Laurey, smiling slightly. She looked up into his face, and with a rush of affection, put her arm around his waist, leaning her head against his shoulder. She suddenly found herself blinking back tears. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. "I won't forget you, you know. Any of you," he said gently. His smile became a bit impish and he reached into his shirt pocket. "Speaking of which, would you autograph this for me?" Oh, no. She just *knew* what this was going to be. A pained expression on her face, she took the photo that Nick was holding out to her. Yep. Right at the height of her table dance. She turned a narrow-eyed look on him that would have done Lacroix justice. Completely unfazed, Nick grinned and said, "Thank goodness for one-hour photo finishing." Laurey shook her head and chuckled, giving up. Jules, grinning widely, held a pen over her shoulder. She took it and flipped the picture over. "Dear Nick. I'm so glad I met you, I wish it could have been for longer. If you start flashing this picture around and I hear about it somehow I will do whatever it takes to bribe the Lurkers into using their tesserect to get me to your dimension so I can exact a terrible revenge. You are one of the sweetest men I have ever met. Be happy--- Love, Laurey" @==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ DAY BREAK (4/4) By Leslie GrantSmith, with contributions from Laurey, April Hackett, Lisa Clevenger (Sukh) and Julia Kocich. Set after "Masquerade" Lacroix moved off as Laurey was writing, much to Leslie's relief. Okay, he wasn't going to pop her head like a grape. But he still made her nervous. Very, very nervous. She watched him as he moved around the bar, to be engaged in conversation by Sukh and Michelle. She became conscious of the sticky beer all over her hands and of the puddle the foaming bottle had left on the floor. She bent down, searching behind the bar for the stack of towels she knew she had put there at the beginning of the evening. Her eye was caught by a cardboard box, the box that the Lacroix dolls from the Nick and Nat Packers had arrived in. It had been hurriedly stashed so the Guys wouldn't stumble across it; the Peaches monologue couldn't be anything but painful for either of them to hear. The "Nick and Nat Forever" would have hurt Nick: reminding him that, if not for Lacroix's intervention, Nat would be dead because of him, that his love for her, however deep, however abiding, had not been enough to keep him from killing her. Leslie doubted the phrase would bother Lacroix. He had, after all, suggested to Nick more than once, for whatever reasons of his own, that Nick bring her across: Lacroix had his own understanding of "forever." But next War, that wouldn't be a problem, and the hidden dolls could be brought back out and used for... whatever. She patted the box speculatively. Then she straightened and gazing with some puzzlement at the container, mused, "What's wrong with a little kissy face between a couple old soldiers anyway?" The Unnamed had scattered about the room into small bunches here and there, still engaged in quiet conversation, some of them desultorily picking up glasses and bottles and setting them on the bar. Suddenly April looked up and about the room, a bit frantically. "Where's Nick?" she blurted. The rest of the group glanced around quickly. "And Lacroix!" added Jules, standing up. The other UFfers rose as well, both anxious to look around for the two vampires, but also not wanting to *not* find them. Julia happened to glance out the large windows looking out on the garden. "It's all right," she exclaimed. "They're just there. In the garden." The Unnamed moved so that they could all see out the window, but when they saw the two men, they hung back, not wanting to press too close. Nick and Lacroix stood facing one another, Lacroix motionless, Nick speaking to him, eyes intent on his maker's face. Lacroix's chin suddenly lifted, one hand coming up as though to negate something Nick had said. The younger vampire's hand reached out, came to rest gently, but firmly, on Lacroix's shoulder. They stood a moment, quiet and still, until, slowly, Lacroix lifted his own hand and, ever so lightly, set it over Nick's resting on his shoulder. "I'm going to bed," said an Unnamed quietly. "Yep." "Me too," came a murmured chorus. Turning out the lights, they went to bed. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ Leslie tossed on her robe and went out into the hall. Other doors stood open already and she heard the murmur of voices in the kitchen. Julia stepped out a moment later, tying the sash on her robe and they walked silently together toward the voices. The scent of coffee filled the air and many of them already held steaming mugs. Wendy Marie, Sukh, Michelle and Laurey sat together at the table, speaking softly, while April, Susan and Maus stood gazing silently out the kitchen window at the rising sun. The women at the table looked up from where they sat at the table as Julia and Leslie entered and all four pointed at the white rectangle of paper set in the table's center. Leslie picked it up and held it so she and Julia could read it together. "Thanks for the quiet place to talk, for a place to begin down a new path. It was great meeting all of you, but we are anxious to get home. There are people we miss, people who we are tied to with bonds of family and friendship, with love that cannot die. With deepest affection, Nick Knight (And written quickly, strongly underneath...) "Bonne chance. Lacroix" Leslie turned, handing the note to Kelly as she walked in. Kelly held it up so she, Jennifer and Gunner, coming in behind her, could read it with her. Cuzn Jen came up and handed Leslie and Julia cups of coffee. Leslie took her first sip and sighed. "Hey, Michelle, you need a ride home?" she asked the woman at the table. "I need to swing down to New York first to drop off the KtK flyers and to take Julia back." She reached into her robe pocket. "Think we'll need these for the trip back?" She held up the two gleaming bracelets of the handcuffs, the chain between them clattering softly. Julia glared at her, then smiled, realizing something. "Gracious," she exclaimed. "I've survived in a Toronto with not just *one* Lacroix, but scores of them." She snapped her fingers. "So much for fate." "Is anyone else going by... near... or could go out of there way to the airport?" Wendy Marie asked plaintively. "I don't think I could take another ride with Jules." Jules ran her hand through her hair, still spiked and even wilder after a night's sleep on it. "Hey, get a do like this and a little wind can only improve it." "It's not my hair," retorted Wendy Marie. "It's my nerves." The others laughed softly, Maus promised the other woman a ride, then bearing mugs of coffee to their rooms, they went to their rooms to pack. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ Leslie was sliding the side door of the Eggplant shut, when she heard Sukh calling. She turned and saw the UF leader coming out the front door, squinting in the sun, with a bag in her hand. The other UFfers, scattered around the courtyard packing their various vehicles also turned their attention to her. "Guess what?" she said. "What, Lady Seigneur?" "I finally found this on my bureau, under my costume where I tossed it last night. Listen." She held up a small piece of paper and read. "Sukh, these are but a small token of our appreciation for your hospitality and support. Please give these to your fellow Warriors. Thank you for a safe haven in which to begin again, as well as your congenial company. "Always, Lacroix Nicholas deBrabant" Then she took out of the bag and handed a small jewelers box to each Unnamed, "Jules. Wendy Marie. Julia. Leslie. Jennifer. Cousin Jenn. April. Maus. Susan. Laurey. Kelly. Michelle. And last but not least, Toby." They all stared at her a moment. "Well, open them. Let's see what they are," she demanded. They did as they were commanded. "Oh, wow!" exclaimed Wendy Marie. Dangling from her fingers, glittering in the sun was a charm bracelet. Three tiny figures hung from the chain; the faction badge, a honey post and a silver rose. Toby grinned, holding up a silver keychain where a faction badge sparkled. "A souvenir," declared Julia softly, peering at the bracelet in her hand. "We survived Toronto." @==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@==@ TORONTO, MON AMOUR (1/1) For the Unnamed Faction by Laurey The sun rose high and hot in the sky, and the UFfers wandered around the Don Constantine's house and the grounds outside almost shyly. Under the bright sun, the house became a grand mansion once more, not the Hive, and the manicured lawns and shrubbery looked strange now that they were green again, not silvered with moonlight and full of cool shadows. It was time to go home. A wino in an alley near the RCMP headquarters stared at the apparition of a group of women, all riding horses and wearing brilliant pink t-shirts that hurt his eyes to look at, and watched the strange procession ride by toward the Mountie headquarters. They rode around a corner and were gone. He looked at the bottle in his hand, then at the now empty street, back at the bottle, shook his head and began pouring the liquor out. When he started seeing things like that, he realized, it was time to quit. It was time to go home. Evening fell, grateful thanks were expressed to Don Constantine who arrived to take charge of his house again. He gravely returned their thanks, pleased that he had not been wrong in his choice of janissaries. It was time to go home. They all gathered around each other, suddenly realizing that this was it, and hugged each other, exchanging vows to visit and keep in touch, complimenting each other on their cleverness and resourcefulness in navigating their way through this, their first War. "I went to War and all I got was this Evil Pink T-Shirt." Everyone laughed, and looked at each other. It's not goodbye, it's au revoir, said Sukh. We'll be getting together again, don't you worry about that. They all waved a final goodbye to the Hive and started on the long journey back home. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ Sukh put her cats down inside the front door, and they immediately began telling her just what a horrible thing she had done to them, locking them in with two dogs that could go *anywhere they could* for two weeks. She flopped down in her favorite chair, red-gold hair glowing in the sunlight that streamed through the window, and chuckled softly to herself, "Lady Seigneur..." It had been a good War. Maus walked into her living room, looked around her and was somehow surprised that nothing had changed. Her auburn curls bouncing, she skipped over to the computer table and sat down, patting her trusty laptop affectionately before setting it to the side and switching on her PC. "Well, now Jules and I can open up a nightclub, she's a DJ and I'm a bartender," she said, grinning to herself... Jennifer met Chris at the door, her motorcycle left cooling in the garage. She gave him a hug and a kiss, and tossed her book of "1,001" Things to Do with Honey" onto the couch. He looked up from where he was letting the cat out of the carrier, and looked at her with a grin. "So, how many ways did you guys get to go through?" Wendy was still in a bit of a daze, thinking about the last two weeks. She danced in a circle around her living room, holding the purple gown that the Don had given her to take home with her (it was her birthday, after all) and wondering when she could find the next excuse to wear the exquisite thing. Her friends in the theatre group were going to love it... Kelly did a little dance step up the walkway to her front door, singing The Lumberjack Song and hardly believing that she was back home. Toronto had been a wonderful adventure, but she was ready for a trip out to some wilderness now, to rest and recoup....... Maybe someday she could get some of the UFfers to go camping..... that would be almost as interesting as a War, she had a feeling. What a trip. Toronto would now share company with Scotland in her heart, as her favorites of all the many places she had traveled to. April stepped out of the car into the warm Virginia air and into a boisterous greeting from her husband and her boys, who were all relieved to see her home from Toronto. Her husband swung her around in a circle, her long red-brown hair flying, and informed her that they were going swimming and he wanted to hear all about the trip to see the vampires... and if she knew anything about what had been going on with the sun not coming up. He bet that she would know something about it... Susan hopped out of the car, after giving a last hug to her dear friend April and standing waving to her as she drove away. What a wonderful time she had had. But was anybody besides her fellow UFfers ever going to believe any of it? Her Chihuahua, Cujo, burst out of the house, charged up to her through the heave Florida heat and launched his diminutive body into her arms, wild with excitement that his petite mommy was home, all 80 pounds of her... Michelle departed from the purple van, waved fond farewells to her two dear friends and ran to her front door, clutching her ceramic Winnie the Pooh, (now a War veteran), her laptop and drawing pads bouncing against her back inside her Felix the Cat backpack. What a War! She could hardly wait to get to her drawing table and start working on capturing some of the memories of the past two weeks before they began to fade, though right now she couldn't believe that they ever would... Julia left the purple van behind like part of some very strange dream, and walked in her front door, twirling a familiar pair of handcuffs around her index finger and forming plans for them already... The people at the Met were full of questions about where she'd been, the place had been falling apart without her, didn't she know, what had she been doing, just disappearing like that... Waving her hand in dismissal, Julia gave them a sardonic smile and said, "Oh, just saving the world with a bunch of friends, along with some other things..." Jules sped down the highway on her bike, still charged up from the excitement of the past couple of weeks. As she passed through towns, through truck stop areas, by big rumbling semis and Saabs full of frowning suited businessmen, she tossed handfuls of honey sticks at them, laughing with wild abandon, her newly punkish spiky white hair blazing like a white hot torch in the sunlight... Cousin Jen, the Night Hawk, her long dark hair blowing in the warm Texas wind, departed from the plane and looked around at the San Antonio landscape, wondering that everything seemed so... unchanged. On the outside, that was. On the inside, well... this was a War she was never going to forget. Leslie turned the purple van in to the driveway, all passengers taken home and bid goodbye to. She got out, stretched, and half-walked/half-ran up to her front door, swinging it open and sweeping grandly into the house. Leslie's children mobbed her like wolf pups, full of their own tales of adventures during the long, long night, clamoring to hear what their mother had been up to in Toronto with the vampires..... Gunner walked out of his house the next morning, cradling his newborn child (whom he had missed every second of the long night in Toronto), marveling at the way the sunlight dusted the baby's hair with a sheen of gold... US Customs was a nightmare, as she had assumed it would be, and Laurey was as tired as she could ever remember being when she finally pulled out of the customs station and headed toward Buffalo, dawn a scant few hours away. Driving along the dark highway, she sadly recognized the rest area where she had eaten half a sandwich two weeks (it seemed like years now) ago... The silver Porsche slewed to a stop at the side of the road, kicking up a cloud of dust and fishtailing the trailer, nearly dumping the Bultaco into a drainage ditch. Laurey opened the door and slowly got out of the car, gazing in disbelief at the big golden dog standing in the light from the lamppost, waving his plumed tail in greeting to the tiny black dog galloping up to him. =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\ And to all a Good Knight! Thanks everybody, we had a blast!