From: Caroline 

Disclaimers: Don't own FK or anything related to it.  Don't own "In
These Arms," that's the rightful property of Bon Jovi and Mercury
Records.  And I kind of mixed 2nd and 3rd season locations, try to
restrain the urge to throw me into Lake Ontario.

Spoilers: A More Permanent Hell, Ashes to Ashes

Permission to DPs and Mel Moser to archive, anyone else, ask and ye
shall receive.


"In These Arms" (01/01)

By Caroline LaRoche (July 28, 1999)
Copyright @ 1999


"CERK, do you have a request?"  The receptionist sounded incredibly
bored.

"Yeah, um, I do."  Lacroix's attention was caught by the voice on the
phone line.  He stretched his senses and listened in on the call.  " "In
These Arms.' "

"Ya gotta dedication?"  She snapped her gum.

"I...uumm...I...no, no one, I just like the song."  The caller hung up.
Lacroix smiled.  He was familiar with this song; he had heard quite a
bit of it during Nicholas' hard rock phase.  An image of his son in
tight leather pants and long blonde hair presented itself to him.
Lacroix chuckled at the memory, then got to the business of finding the
song.  He clicked on his microphone.

"Gentle listeners, it appears we have a request here on Nightwatch."  He
smiled.  "Our caller wishes to hear a song from Bon Jovi, but did not
have a dedication.  Miss Vetter, I dedicate it...to you."  He clicked it
off and started the song.

                               You want commitment
                               Take a look into these eyes
                               They burn with a fire, just for you now
                               Until the end of time

He had barely seen her, barely met her, but there was something about
Tracy Vetter that had him enthralled.  He would bring her across, in an
instant, to have her with him forever.  He hoped she was still
listening.

                               I would do anything
                               I'd beg, I'd steal, I'd die
                               To have you in these arms tonight

Did she feel what he felt?  The burning desire to be near her, to hold
her, to kiss those rose-petal lips ever so gently?

                               Baby I want you like the roses
                               Want the rain
                               You know I need you
                               Like a poet needs the pain
                               I would give anything
                               My blood my love my life

He could almost smell her blood just thinking about her; a crystal clear
image of her beautiful face was forever etched in his mind.  He knew all
of her problems: her alcoholic mother, controlling father, her own
personal battles to prove herself.  They had spoken only once, briefly,
but Lacroix had made it his business to find out all he could about
Tracy.

                               If you were in these arms tonight
                               I'd hold you
                               I'd need you
                               I'd get down on my knees for you
                               And make everything alright
                               If you were in these arms
                               I'd love you
                               I'd please you
                               I'd tell you that I'd never leave you
                               And love you till the end of time
                               If you were in these arms tonight

Not since he had known Fleur had Lacroix's wish to bring across a mortal
woman been so intense.  Tracy was such a bright flame, flickering and
lighting everyone's lives...even his own, such as it were.

                               We stared at the sun
                               And we made a promise
                               A promise this world would never blind us

He closed his eyes, thinking for the first time in years of the sun,
remembering how it had colored and warmed Pompeii...Pompeii had been
nothing without the sun, a city, no more.  Maybe that was what Nick had
been talking about.  Would Tracy be the same?  He tried to picture her,
bathed in the golden brilliance of Italy's summer sun.

                               These are my words
                               Our words were our songs
                               Our songs are our prayers
                               These prayers keep me strong
                               It's what I believe
                               If you were in these arms tonight

He could never let on to Nick how he felt of his son's partner.  If
Lacroix just kept quiet, he could continue dreaming that Tracy could,
someday, be his. He didn't need Nick once more interfering, spoiling
what could perhaps be something wonderful...it had been a long time
since anything wonderful had been in Lacroix's world.

                               If you were in these arms tonight
                               I'd hold you
                               I'd need you
                               I'd get down on my knees for you
                               And make everything alright

Was she still listening?  Did she think him simply arrogant, or was she
listening to the song's lyrics, to his voice, telling her how much he
needed her.  Lacroix wondered who she had intended the song's listener
to be.  In the distance, out in reception, the phone rang.

                               If you were in these arms
                               I'd love you
                               I'd please you
                               I'd tell you that I'd never leave you
                               And love you till the end of time
                               If you were in these arms tonight

A red light blinked on his radio console, indicating that the phone call
had been forwarded to him.  Lacroix quickly programmed in a few more
songs and a prerecorded monologue...something told him this was not
going to be a short conversation, though what he was not sure.

                               Your clothes are still scattered
                               All over our room

"Mr. Lacroix?"

"Miss Vetter.  You remember me.  I'm flattered."

                               This old place still smells like
                               Your cheap perfume
                               Everything here reminds me of you
                               And there's nothing that I
                               Wouldn't do to be in your arms

"Mr. Lacroix, I...."

"Yes?"

Tracy paused.

                               And these were our words
                               They keep me strong
                               I'd hold you
                               I'd need you
                               I'd get down on my knees for you
                               And make everything alright
                               If you were in these arms
                               I'd love you
                               I'd please you
                               I'd tell you that I'd never leave you
                               And love you till the end of time
                               If you were in these arms tonight

"I don't know what it is, but I can't get you off of my mind."  She
laughed sweetly.  "I only met you once, I don't know you, but...."

"Perhaps," Lacroix carefully chose his words, "it was love at first
sight."

She hesitated.  "That's nonsense.  There is no such thing as love at
first sight."

"Ah, Miss Vetter, I have seen many things stranger than two people
falling in love with one another the moment they meet.  And besides, it
wasn't too long ago, was it, that you said the same of vampires?"

There was a sharp intake of breath.  "I...how can you know that?"

"Which one?"  He chuckled.

"Both.  You're not...you can't be...."

"Miss Vetter, I do believe we have certain matters to discuss.  Perhaps
you should meet me at the Raven."

"I...."

"I assure you, Miss Vetter, that your company and nothing more, tonight,
would make me the happiest I've been in....centuries."

***********************

Finita.

Comments and Bon Jovi CDs and lead singers to Caroline cslar@ibm.net

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