Ok, everyone, pretend this was posted last night! Had
some puter difficulties, but all is well now! Rated
S.

*******************************************************
Late Night Conversations
by Christina and Marianne

Grace was in the basement at Jasa's house, trying her
best to relax in the company of this man who she found
so utterly fascinating... captivating. She was
falling... had fallen... hard. Harder than she'd let
herself fall in centuries. So why couldn't she put
today out of her mind and concentrate on tonight?
Without realizing it, she clenched her fist.

Angel, who'd been exploring the sensitive skin of her
neck, sensed her tenseness and pulled away to see the
gesture.

After a moment of silent contemplation, he brushed her
hair away from her face. "Want to tell me what's
wrong?"

She shook out her hand and reached out to touch his
face. "It's nothing. Really. I can handle it. I just
need to..." She felt her heart swell and smiled. "I
just need you," she said softly before moving in to
kiss him. This was just too new to drag him into her
problems.

Willingly he gave into the kiss but the vampire was
also intent on finding out what had
gotten her this tense and when they parted he raised
an eyebrow and smiled at her. "Nice try. What's
wrong?"

She sighed. "You are almost as persistent as my
mother. Trust me, you don't want to get involved in
this. It'll pass. Sooner or later, he drops
everything."

"I'm in good company then, and I think I might want to
get involved. And who's he?"

She sat up, forcing him to sit up as well. Taking his
hand, she sighed and said, "*He* is Richard Riddick.
My charge. He has issues about... well, I don't know
what about exactly. All I know is that I thought we
were doing better. Getting along. Learning to trust.
Then this morning... well afternoon, seeing as to how
I'm turning into a night owl, he starts a 'discussion'
about... about..." She paused there. She was *not*
dragging Angel into this. No way.

"Us?"

She wouldn't respond. Wouldn't answer. All she would
say is, "I can handle him. He really does it just to
get me angry anyway. So we argued for a couple hours,
then I went to the holodeck and burned off some steam.
Apparently, not all of it though." Trying her best to
reassure him, she smiled and said, "I'm fine now. Or I
will be."

"Sure you can," Angel agreed with a slightly sarcastic
tone. "He's just got you completely
rattled. And you need to talk to somebody, right
Jasa?"

The Egyptian nodded firmly as she stepped into view.
"Definitely."

Grace sighed. Fully agitated now. Standing, she began
to pace the room. "You don't understand him. If I let
him think that I've lost control, he's won! I don't
know what game he's playing. As you both well know,
I'm a bit slow on the uptake sometimes. But I know how
his mind works in this respect. He's doing it for the
reactions he gets. Mostly from me." How could she get
them to understand? "I'll be fine. I always am."

"I understand him," Jasa noted with great calm,
seating herself and brushing imaginary
wrinkles from her loose skirt. "Yes, you can be a bit
slow to realize things but that's part of your charm
and as for you being fine? Bull."

"I'll second that one," Angel noted with a nod,
sprawling back slightly.

"Jase, if you understand him so well, then you should
fully understand why *I* have to be the one to handle
this. And I will. I've been handling him for months.
This is a setback. Momentary at best. It's just that
this time he finally struck a nerve. He hit on someone
I care deeply about." She paused for a second and
looked at Angel. "I'll be fine."

“You will be," Jasa agreed, not missing the look. "But
I think, a little chat with me is in order. I'm sure
Angel can find something to amuse himself with
upstairs while we talk."

She panicked then. She may have known him only for a
few days, but she knew him well. Knew Jasa even
better. "Oh no! Like I said, I may be slow, but I know
what this is. Let's just forget about it all. How's
that sound?" She gave them both her best smile and
said, "See, I'm fine now. Perfectly."

"No you aren't," her mother noted smoothly, "Angel,
please give us some time."

"You got it,” the vampire agreed, getting to his feet
and heading for the door.

"Sit down, Grace," Jasa instructed firmly.

She looked from her mother to her lover. Reaching out,
she managed to snag his arm. "I know you think you can
handle him. Just watch everything. Please. I couldn't
handle it if anything happened to you. Please."

"I'll be fine," Angel assured her before freeing
himself and walking out.

"He will be," Jasa reiterated. "Angel has the strength
and abilities of a vampire, plus the memories of
Angelus to boot. Riddick's out of his depth with that
one."

"Riddick's damage is rarely done on the person he's
confronting, Mother. Don't you understand, that either
way, I've lost."

"I'm aware of that," Jasa said referring to Riddick.
"But he won't do anything this time. It’s a man-thing,
dear heart. Angel and Riddick have to find out where
each other's boundaries lie. Once they find that out,
they'll be fine." Her eyes glinted dangerously for a
moment. "If not, they deal with me and I *won't* be
happy."

Grace stared up the stairs and sighed. "I could
really, really love him. You know? That heart and
soul kind that only comes along every couple of
centuries." Looking down at her hands, she said a
silent prayer.

"I know, dear heart," Jasa repeated, leaning over to
touch her daughter's hair. "I know."

***

Angel found Riddick still at home when he arrived at
Grace's house so, never having been there, he knocked
on the door.

The big mortal thought for a few moments about just
ignoring it. This wasn't his home... never would be,
so the knock definitely wasn't for him. He turned
momentarily back to his task of hanging her punching
bag before sighing and going to the door. Without
looking, he said, "Grace isn't home."

"Fine by me. I'm here to see you anyway." Angel leaned
against the wall, trying to cover the fact he couldn't
enter Grace's home until she was there to invite him
in. "Wanna come out and play?"

Riddick raised his goggles and smiled. He leaned
against the doorjamb on his side and asked, "Wanna
come in?"

"Nope." Angel looked up at the night sky. "Wouldn't
want to get Grace's nice carpets dirty."

Riddick laughed at that. "All of you people think it's
so easy. Don't you. I'll tell you this. I'll come
out, but there will be no confrontation on my part.
Now, what do you think Grace will think about that?
You come here, and without a word, draw me out for a
confrontation. No, that is one promise I'll die
keeping. Sorry, pal."

Angel sighed. "Look, I’m not in the mood to fight
either. For some reason, Grace likes you, Jasa too. I
just want to talk...about Grace."

Riddick nodded. Grace liked him... yes. But not how he
wanted... seemed to need. Never the less, he moved off
the doorjamb and stepped outside. "Grace wouldn't
fall for a liar. What do you want to talk about?"

"What's the deal with you ragging on her about us?"
Angel's intense eyes locked on the
mortal and he again wondered what it was about this
guy that his friend and his love cared about so much.

Riddick stared off into the distance... as if in
another time and place. "I don't think you'd
understand. I really don't know how you could."

"You'd be surprised," Angel noted then commented. "She
keeps the darkness away."

Slowly, the killer dragged his eyes to the vampire.
"She keeps the animal in me at bay. So many more would
be dead at my hands if it weren't for her and the
chance at life she gave me. I *won't* lose her, I
*won't* see her get hurt. I *will* kill for her...
without thought. The *only* way *I* can get through to
her is to 'rag' her, as you call it. The relationship
I have with her is different than what anyone else
has. What did she say to you?"

"Nothing." Angel's eyes glinted. "But I can see she's
upset. Worried... about you."

Riddick's eyes reflected brightly off her porch light.
The vampire put off virtually no reds, which made
sense because of his lack of heat. The vision wasn't
infrared, but his eyes reflected hot better. "She's
worried I'll go off and murder someone. She has every
right. I've made no guarantees. But I know Grace, I
know things about her that no one else does... she'll
be fine. She's a lot tougher than what she looks."

"She's not worried about that..." The vampire bit back
a growl. "She cares about you, you idiot! Ragging on
her only hurts her..."

Riddick laughed. "She has no idea that she has any
feelings for me." Pausing, he walked away before
turning and saying, "Oh, I know she has feelings for
me. I see the war
that goes on inside her every day. *I* can only hurt
her... no matter what. I would love to be able to
embrace her, experience what you have. But Grace is
the epitome of all that is good, as to where I am the
opposite. She has no idea how she feels... to her, the
idea of being with someone like me is staggering at
best. It's best if she holds up with you and keeps me
the criminal. Don't you think?"

"Nope," Angel said bluntly. "I can hardly be called a
paragon of virtue... Neither one of
us is the good guy here... give her time,
Riddick...She's got to give in on her own."

He nodded. "My sentiments exactly. But there is a
difference between you and I. A big one. When you were
evil, you were possessed. I killed because I enjoyed
it. Seeing the life-force drain from someone was a
thrill. Tasting their blood was almost an aphrodisiac.
I've given all that up for her. Time is one thing I
have a lot of."

"She'll come around." Angel grinned. "After all, with
me for another lover and Jasa for a
mother... You're actually in good company."

He smiled. "Jasa... An enigma that I am enjoying
getting to know. No one knows me like she does. I'm
finding I like it." Looking pointedly at Grace's
lover, he said, "You know how Grace feels for you,
right?"

"Yes." The Vampire nodded once. "She's safe with me I
swear."

Riddick nodded. "Good. Because she'll give her body
easily to men who want to experience it, but her heart
and soul are rare gifts. And you have a part of hers."
He smiled. "The other part of them... I'm intending to
own someday." He'd never shared anything before. It
was all so new. But he was learning a lot about what
it was to be a man and what it was to love. Moving
back toward the house, he looked up to the moon. "Go
back to her. You don't have much time and shouldn't
be here talking to me when you have her at home
waiting for you. G'night."

"Good night. And, I look forward to when Grace
realizes what we all know."

Riddick laughed and closed the door behind him.
Someday she would. He was sure. He'd be patient until
then.

***

Grace and Jasa were deep into their conversation when
Angel returned. Grace released her mother's hand and
was off the couch in a hot second. She said nothing to
him, just embraced him.

Angel pulled her too him and neither noticed when Jasa
slipped from the room. Now was
their time. In time, Riddick would have his. But now,
Angel wanted to be selfish and enjoy his time without
guilt.

"I won't ask. Ok," she said softly. "I'm just glad
you're home." There were no words to express the depth
of what she was feeling. Holding onto him forever
seemed like the best way to deal with it right now.
She had been scared. She hated not being in control.
But he was back now, and that's what mattered.

"We behaved ourselves," Angel promised into her hair,
his grip on her equally tight. "And settled things up
nicely."

She relaxed even more and said, "So long as there was
no bloodshed. No fighting. It's a temptation he
doesn't need, and I don't want you to go through it
for me. I kinda like to do my own fighting. I'm sort
of good at it." The last was said lightly, her hands
finding his hair and massaging his scalp.

"No fighting," Angel promised, his own hands
wandering. "In fact, we were halfway
cordial to each other."

She pulled away and looked at him in shock. "No way!
Riddick is barely even cordial to me. It's part of his
charm to be an asshole."

He grinned wickedly. "Let's say we understand each
other -- bonded so to speak."

Her eyebrows crossed in a move that was typical for
her when she didn't quite get what people meant.
Shrugging, she said, "I'm almost afraid to ask." Her
fingers traced his ears. "But you're back now. I'm
sure he'll tell me details later whether I want them
or not. And we don't have nearly enough time together
as it is."

Angel nodded, walking her back in the direction of the
couch. "We don't... so I suggest
we take advantage of it." He winked.

Pressing her body to his, she said, "On that, I will
agree. See, I can be cooperative so long as things go
my way." She gave him a quick kiss.

"You're as bad as your mother." Her lover grinned then
zeroed in for a longer one. "But I
think I like you better."

She smiled brightly. "I'm finding that there are few
people I like more than you." She just couldn't seem
to stop touching him. It was something she felt not
only with her fingers, but also in her heart... her
entire body. It would have scared her if it wasn't so
welcome.

Feeling something quite similar, Angel lifted her up.
"We agree then." He smiled and held her gaze. "Things
are fine, you know, for now at least. We're good."

She nodded. "I'm not worried about all that now." She
was undoing the buttons on his shirt. "I am concerned
about you though. You hungry?"

Reaching out to touch her hair, Angel shrugged. "I'm
okay..."

"Ha!" she exclaimed with a giggle. "You forget who
you're talking to. If there's one thing you don't have
to be with me, it's shy. It's after two and you
normally feed... eat... well before now. No arguments.
Tonight you forgo the gel... or whatever that stuff
is. You hear?!" He'd yet to show her that side of him,
but she loved him and loving meant accepting all the
parts... and even enjoying them. She was too
headstrong to be argued with on this matter.

He blinked at the monologue but being a man, er
vampire, who never refused a lady -- Angel nodded.
"Yes ma'am." With that he set her on the bed and
leaned closer to claim another kiss, a much longer,
much deeper, kiss.

She held him tightly, putting her whole body into it.
She'd showed him numerous times that she had a more
aggressive side, but for now, she was content to be
passive. How he had done this to her, she'd never
know!

His hands played over her body as he kissed her,
unconsciously trying to distract her from seeing his
"game face", he'd lied about his hunger and it was
pushing itself to the surface more and more with each
passing moment. He couldn't help not wanting her to
see him like it...being a vampire was definitely not
something he was proud of. Sure it came in handy when
protecting people but nevertheless... a monster was a
monster and a vampire was a vampire.

She let him play it as he needed. She wouldn't push
him into anything he wasn't ready to give, but she
felt it... when he let the darkness begin to rule him.
It didn't frighten her, it didn't concern her. It was
a part of him, and she had no doubts about her
feelings for him. So instead of forcing him to face
her, she concentrated on his shoulders and his back...
any part of him she could reach.

Shifting into "vampire mode" Angel gently teased the
skin of her throat with his fangs
before piercing her neck quickly, trying to avoid
hurting her. Then, his hands still playing over her
form, he drank deeply, the rush of the Immortal blood
racing through him.

There was a slight tinge of pain at first. But she was
used to that... pain, that was. What she didn't expect
was the sensations that came with it. This was giving
of herself in a way she would have never imagined. As
he fed upon her, and she felt herself losing strength,
she knew this would be the sweetest death she'd ever
experienced. It was blissful... and erotic.

Feeling her beginning to slip from him, Angel pulled
free and his vampiric hunger sated, his face returned
to normal. Cuddling her close, he nuzzled against her
ear. "You're wonderful, you know that right?"

Licking her lips, she felt her breathing go shallow
and managed at nod. Dying... it was the easy part.

She woke with a jump and a quick intact of air to fill
her empty lungs. Reviving was not her favorite part,
though. It also wasn't very elegant. She coughed for a
few seconds before everything settled into place. Once
she did, her first action was to squeeze the hand that
held hers.

Gently rubbing his free hand up and down her arm,
Angel smiled. "Welcome back..."

"Thank you. I don't mind dying. Really. I just wish
there was a more um... ladylike way to revive." She
laughed after that. "Better now?"

"That revival... You were beautiful. And I'm much
better. " Angel winked. "And....lively." If he could
have blushed he would have. "Immortal blood...its," he
cleared his throat. "Intoxicating..."

Reaching under the blankets, she lightly fondled that
'lively' part of him. "Truth, dying like that was just
as intoxicating. So the feelings are mutual." Her hand
was moving on him as she spoke. He was so intensely
beautiful to her that she couldn't take her eyes off
the effect this was having on him.

A soft groan of pleasure escaped Angel at her
ministrations. "Did I mention arousing?" he managed
hoarsely, reaching out to touch her skin -- needing to
feel her now. Touch her. Love her.

"You did not. But there was no need. *That* I caught
on to." Releasing him, she rolled them over and
straddled his waist. "Let's feed this hunger as well.
What do you say?"
Angel's hands gripped her thighs tightly and he
managed a nod, his eyes locked with
hers. God she was gorgeous...

She kissed him deeply before pulling away and filling
herself with him. The ride she took him on was fast
and filled with need, desire, and passion. Gods above,
they both needed this!! She could tell it wouldn't
take long either. He was close before they even
started. But then... so was she.

Angel was thinking along the same lines so it was no
surprise when he moaned her name and thrust up --
feeling himself close to exploding. Immortal blood
always did have this effect but never quite so potent
so quickly... Had to be the lady not the blood.

She felt his urgency and sat down hard before rising
up to increase the tempo. Softly she said, "Let it go.
I promise I'll be there with you."

Trusting her, Angel let his control slip and fell into
his orgasm with all the enthusiasm she brought out in
him. Adding to it the shared experience of feeding
from her only moments before... intense was nowhere
near close enough a description.

Normally, they tried to be discreet, given the
residents upstairs, but Grace lost all control as her
own orgasm ripped through her and she had to cry out
or die again. She chose to scream before falling
forward and collapsing on him.

Exhausted from his own, the best he could do was hold
her and chuckle ruefully. "Thank
God for soundproofed ceilings huh?"

She nodded. "Definitely. Though there's nothing that I
have to be embarrassed about. I haven't felt this
good... this fulfilled... this complete in centuries.
Wow."

"I know," Angel agreed with a smile. "Good thing that
curse doesn't work here or I'd be
one soulless monster right now... I'd say that
qualifies as a moment of pure happiness... No, I know
it qualifies... but then, I think every time we're
together qualifies as that..."

She had to be careful not to scald him with the
brightness of her smile. She was just as happy...
that giddy girl kind of happy. Normally, she turned
away from that. But not this time... "Immortals are no
different than vampires in that respect, you know. We
may not have the curse as you do, but it's there. The
key to this is that we've found it in each other. That
‘missing piece theory’ we're so content to call this
thing between us. You deserve happiness." She bit her
bottom lip, as she'd run off at the mouth again. "You
can pinch me to shut me up, you know. That does work."

He smiled. "No, I love hearing you talk... You're
beautiful when you're like this... not to
mention how you sound..."

"Ha!" she said. "My sixth husband, I believe, pinched
me constantly. He said I could wake the dead with the
way I talked." She did laugh then. "And he was
right... at least in that I'm keeping the undead
awake.”

Laughing, Angel tickled her. "Yes, but he's not
complaining, the undead I mean."

She began to squirm and the battle was on. Grace
finally did learn that even the undead had sensitive
spots... at least after a good feed and good sex.
When they were finished, both were breathless again.
"Dear Lord. I've reverted to my teenage years. How
divine!"

Angel grinned, rolling her onto her side and pulling
her close. "Definitely divine, but you
tell anyone where I'm ticklish and I'll have to stop
the feedings." He winked. "Can't let it get out
y'know, vampiric pride and all that. I have a
reputation y'know. Big tough good guy."

She sighed. "You're secret is safe with me. So long as
you keep mine about running off at the mouth after a
mind-numbing orgasm, which blissfully followed dying.
I can't let it get out that I actually..." She paused
and then looked him in the eyes. "Hey, you are a good
guy. *I* wouldn't fall for anything less. I don't care
what you say, how you try to sway me differently. It
can't be done, you know. I'm as stubborn as the day
is..." She realized she was doing it again and put her
head on his chest. "I'm done now."

He laughed. "Pity... you're cute when you ramble."

She bit her bottom lip. Shaking her head, she refused
to talk. It was a short battle. "I may say something
that can be held against me."

"So much the better for me." Angel winked. "I can
blackmail you into spending more
time here. Always good to have an edge..."

Shaking her head again, she said, "No blackmail
necessary there. I was thinking you'd have to kick me
out because I could easily become the guest that never
left. I'm starting to crave sunset." She did bite her
lip then. She'd said too much.

"I'd never kick you out... and I'm starting to hate
the sunrise, rather than wish to see it,
it means you have to go," he confessed, touching her
cheek. "And I hate being here without you... even if
I'm asleep."

She clutched him to her, understanding every word he
said. She was at the point where if she could, she'd
walk away from all of it for him... her
responsibilities... her life. But neither of them
could change who they were. "We'll just have to make
sure that we make the most of every millisecond we
have together. At least we have forever... no worries
about one of us dying... or at least growing old and
dying. We should be thankful for that. I..." There was
more she wanted to say, but she was still unsure about
things.

"Love you," Angel finished absently, voicing his own
thoughts, not realizing they were
hers as well.

She looked up at him and softly said, "Yes. Nothing
like taking the words right out of my mouth. I love
you."

Smiling, he ran a hand along her cheek. "I'm thankful
for that too."

"You had to know. You had to. The way I carry on.
Smile and say stupid stuff. That's all your fault."
Leaning in, she kissed him and said, "Thank you."

He pulled her closer, stroking her arm. "Nothing you
say is stupid, and you're welcome."

Spoken like a man truly in love. Looking at the clock,
she said, "It's nearly four. We have plenty of time
for another round before bed." She began to let her
hands roam his body. "What do you say?" She clearly
didn't want to waste even a second of time with him.
The confrontation earlier tonight had scared her
senseless. She had no idea what would happen when she
saw Riddick tomorrow, and right at this moment, she
didn't care. They'd all survived this night, and that
was what mattered.

He grinned. "I'm a man, you think I'm going to
refuse?" He knew the reasons behind Grace's sudden
suggestion and understood them intimately. If she
needed him all she had to do was ask, he was there.
After all...every Angel needed his Grace.

 

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