All the characters in the following story are owned by Spelling Television Inc. [A subsidiary of Spelling Entertainment Group Inc.]. Vampire: The Masquerade is owned by Mark Rein*Hagan/White Wolf Publishing. My use is in no way a challenge to their copyrights. The story and events are mine. By Kelly Schweighauser If you have any comments, please send them to: Schweighsr @ aol.com ***** ***** ALEXANDRA *** 1994 ***** ***** "I'm sorry," Alexandra whispered afterwards. "I shouldn't have done that." "Done what?" Frank asked, smiling and stretching. "If you mean this," he gestured to take in the bed and them lying together tangled in the sheets on top of it. "I'm glad you did." "I don't make a habit of seducing married men," Alexandra tapped his wedding band with one pale finger. Frank looked at the ring, started to take it off, then put it back on again. "I'm not married," he informed her. Alexandra's eyebrows rose. She obviously didn't believe him. "I've never met a divorced man who still wears his ring," she smiled. "Or are you just separated?" "Widowed," Frank replied. "She died almost three years ago." His wife had committed suicide, but he didn't want to admit that. If he told Alexandra she'd want all the details, and Frank didn't want to re-live coming home from a double shift to find Julia's body already livid and cold. "I'm sorry," Alexandra whispered, holding him closer. "How awful. No wonder you still wear your ring. You must have loved her very much." "Not enough. Not nearly enough," Frank tried to smile and couldn't. He pulled away from Alexandra's embrace. "Do you mind if I take a shower?" He could see the hurt in her eyes and cursed himself. All he ever did, Frank thought to himself, was hurt women who deserved better. "Go ahead," Alexandra smiled, but Frank could still see the disappointment on her face. "There are towels in the closet." She sat up, completely unselfconscious about her nudity. "I'll make us some coffee." Frank waited until she had walked out of the bedroom before sliding out of her bed. The shower was a blessing. The hard, hot spray pummeled him until he felt clean again, inside and out. It was stupid to be embarrassed, he told himself. He wasn't dead yet. He'd apologize, and tell Alexandra the truth. She was the first woman he'd been with since Julia had died. The first woman he had wanted to be with since Julia had died. When he walked back into the bedroom he heard voices in the living room. He wrapped the towel tighter around his hips and peeked through the gap between the almost closed bedroom door and it's frame. They had been in such a hurry to get to the bedroom that he'd left his pants out there. "I'm glad you've taken a lover," a man's voice insisted. "You deserve to be happy. It's about time that you...." "I don't want your permission!" Alexandra practically shouted. She walked across Frank's field of vision. At least she'd pulled on a robe. "And I don't want you coming in here unannounced, even if you do own the place!" "I wasn't trying..." The man followed her, holding Frank's trousers in one hand and reaching out for Alexandra with the other. He turned and Frank thought his heart was going to stop when he saw the man's face. It was Julian Luna, the mob leader that Frank was supposed to be investigating. "I don't want to argue with you, Alexandra," Luna insisted. "I just want you to be...." "You just want me to be *happy*," she sneered. "I know. You've only told me a million times. If you were really interested in my happiness, Julian, you would leave me alone!" "You know I can't do that," Luna said gently. "I am just trying to look out for you. There's been more talk. People think you're a loose cannon, a danger to yourself and everyone else in the city. They don't like the risks you take...." "I don't care what they say!" Alexandra retorted. "I wish everyone would just leave me alone. Don't the Harpies have anything better to do than gossip about me?" "If you would just try to make a few friends," Julian interrupted. "I don't want to be friends with any of them," Alexandra declared. "I hate them. All of them. Almost as much as I hate you for making me like them." "Alex," Julian's shoulders slumped. "What can I say? I'm sorry. I am sorry." There was a long pause, so quiet that Frank was afraid to move. Then Alexandra whispered, "That is so... completely inadequate." And Julian Luna, framed in the inch-wide gap between the door and it's frame, looked even more defeated than before. "What do you want me to do?" he asked after another long pause. "What can I do for you, Alexandra?" "Just leave me alone," she crossed in front of Luna again. When he tried to stop her she jerked away from him. "I mean it, Julian; leave me alone. Stop checking up on me. Stop having your people follow me around. I want my privacy. I want my freedom. I won't endanger your precious secrets, I promise. I'll behave myself. But I don't want to see you any more." He nodded slowly. "All right," he replied softly. "I'll consider that. Give me a few nights to talk it over with...." "No!" Alexandra interrupted. "What is wrong with you, Julian? I don't want you 'talking it over' with anyone! We both know that is just an excuse for you to go home and get talked out of it." She crossed to stand within inches of Julian. "You agree, or I swear I'll make you curse the night you met me." Luna caught her by the shoulders. "Just the way I've cursed that night for a long, long time," she added venomously. "I don't respond well to blackmail," Luna's voice was low and dangerous. Frank glanced around the bedroom for a weapon, if Luna tried to hurt Alexandra he'd have to do something. He cursed himself roundly for leaving his gun with his pants - in the living room. Alexandra laughed. "Go ahead and put me in my grave," she invited. "No one is going to stop you." Julian pushed her away; stepping out of Frank's line of sight. Alexandra watched him move across the room. "Do you have any idea how much I hate you?" She demanded. "I think so," Luna replied, his voice soft. "But you used to love me once." "Julian," Alexandra sighed. "That was a hundred years ago." "So it was," Julian agreed. There was another long pause. Alexandra stood unmoving, and Frank wondered if Julian Luna had left her apartment and it was safe for him to come out of the bedroom. "I'll send Jeffrey for my things," Luna said finally. "I'll tell him to leave my key with you. Is that satisfactory?" "Yes," Alexandra nodded. "Yes, that will be fine." "I will see you once a month," Julian continued. "At the Directorate Assembly. You have a responsibility to...." "Yes, Julian," Alexandra started to sound cross again. "I know my obligations. Will you please leave now? I don't want him to see you." "Or me to see him? Is it anyone I know?" Julian asked. He didn't sound angry or jealous; from his tone he could have been talking about the weather. "I guess you aren't going to tell me." He walked into Frank's field of vision again, and tried to kiss Alexandra on her cheek. Alexandra pulled back before his lips could touch her. "Good night, Alex," Luna said. "Good-bye, Julian," Alexandra answered firmly. Frank heard the front door open, then close. Alexandra walked out of his view. He heard her lock and bolt the door. There was a terry robe draped over the bed. Frank pulled it on - it wasn't made for a woman. Luna's, Frank thought to himself. Well, he knew Alexandra was Luna's girl when he walked in the door. Alexandra was sitting on a stool near the kitchen's breakfast bar when Frank walked out of the bedroom. Her eyes were red and he thought she wasn't far from crying. "You should go," she said when she saw him. Frank folded his arms around her and pulled her head to his chest. "You should really...." Alexandra's voice choked with tears. She clutched him, almost involuntarily. "You should go," she repeated. He stayed.