FINALLY! I am so relieved to finally have this one finished. And yeah, it's big (no innuendo there, I promise)! This chapter, hopefully will explain a whole heap of stuff and answer the few questions people have asked. That said, if you had a question that was not answered, there probably is an answer and if you message me/review I can answer it for you... At 8101 words, I ended up skimming over a few things...

To make things a little clearer, this particular chapter is set IMMEDIATELY after "5" (first chapter of this story). I will post more of a timeline at the end of this 'cause I don't want to spoil anything :) I came up with the idea about an hour after I posted that first chapter so, in essence, this has been a long time coming!

This mother chucker of a chapter was helped along by some really bad country music that is so pop-y that I'm not sure it even counts as country music AND a delightfully flirty chat I had a with a friend... Not that he'll ever read this ;)

Love and hugs to all who have reviewed this story, I sincerely hope this doesn't disappoint...

Oh, and warning: read the rating... ;) (and beware the winking smiley face)

Enjoy

xx

Helen woke up slowly, her mind struggling to process where she was. After blinking a few thousand times, her cream curtains came into focus. With a yawn, she rolled over, surprised when she didn't find the space next to her cold. In fact, it was warm enough that someone else may have just left it. She sat up slightly as the memories came flooding back. With a groan, Helen fell back against the bed, raising a hand to her eyes.

Well, that certainly explains the dreams, she thought, frustrated at her inexplicable yet predictable lack of control. Although, she mused silently, they weren't really dreams, instead they were memories of more stupid, inexplicable things she'd done. Or tried to do, depending on how she looked at it. What was it about Nikola that made her kiss him so very often? Well, not very often, 5 times in over a century wasn't exactly much but none the less, Helen couldn't help but feel it was 5 times too many, especially when two of those had occurred in the past month. Or maybe it was six kisses? No, Rome didn't count, that had just been Nikola making a statement.

Of course, in retrospect, those 5 kisses took on a new meaning. The first two times, she didn't really know why it had happened, suspecting that it was a combination of his lust and her need for affection. Even when he'd made his confession in Rome, she didn't believe him, as far as she was concerned, Nikola Tesla was incapable of love. She'd started to suspect he'd been telling the truth when they'd met again in India, though. Actually, that was when she'd started to think that maybe her feelings weren't entirely platonic either. That moment when he stepped out of the shadows towards them was one of the brightest in her life, she honestly had no idea until that point how much his death had affected her. She let out a weak chuckle at that. She really should have realised it earlier, right back when he'd 'died' for the first time.

With a sigh, Helen rolled over again, burying her face in the pillow. She'd already gathered it was rather late in the morning so a few extra minutes of self loathing was perfectly acceptable.

And she really did loathe herself at times like these. Kissing Nikola like that was unfair. Not to mention the… other things she'd tried. For all the compassion she supposedly had, Helen knew she had a rather nasty habit of hurting Nikola in a way he could never admit.

The night of John's 'unveiling' had been more difficult on her than she'd realised at the time but also painful for the others too but her reaction to Nikola's presence had been not only inappropriate but instinctual. She'd needed to know she was not responsible for John's behaviour. Not that she was but it had been one of those foolish thoughts that had eaten away at her frazzled mind. Nikola was a safe bet. He was warm and kind and enough of a gentleman to keep him mouth shut. She hadn't counted on his rejection. Although she'd never been with anyone but John until that point, rejection was something she was used to dolling out, not receiving.

Enough time had passed for Helen to recognize that she, at the time was more stung by the fact that Nikola hadn't wanted her than John's desertion. Until that point she'd been clinging to a tenuous belief that the problem was John, not her but as Nikola refused her, the idiotic notion that she was infected and undesirable filled her mind. When she'd been kicking him out, she hadn't heard his words properly. If she'd heard him say that he 'wanted to do this right' perhaps she wouldn't have spent the next week and a half avoiding him. Actually, she probably wouldn't have sent him away.

It had taken her a few days to accept James' diagnosis that she was pregnant and then prayed that Nikola would accept her behaviour as a side effect of the hormones in her body. It wasn't the truth but she had hoped it was a story he would buy. Of course, they'd never spoken of it again. She had felt a swell of pride in herself when she realised she had in fact chosen the right man to be vulnerable with.

Then there was New York, the closest she'd ever come to giving in to him. As she'd left his hotel room, the heaviness in her heart almost broke her. It had only been her stiff upper lip that had meant their plan succeeded and not that of her rather unscrupulous mind. In truth, she hadn't noticed his absence until their reunion but after spending even a week in his company, the thought of losing it again was one she found unacceptable.

He had hidden with her for three days after that but disappeared into the back waters of wherever before the funeral. Their goodbye had been stilted and painful, Helen holding back her tears through pure luck. The second he was gone, she'd broken down, biting into a towel to stifle the shattering sobs. It was ridiculous for her to feel this way, after all, she hadn't seen him in years but they had decided the moment they began to formulate the plan that once he was 'dead,' he'd have to avoid her and all his old contacts for quite some time.

And oh his touch! His hands had been gentle and loving but desperate and fiery and the combination of emotions she too had been feeling had been too much. She didn't really know why she had started crying, all she knew was that it all felt too right, like the only mistake she had ever made was not being exactly where she was. His hands on her skin, his lips on her lips, his heart in her hands. Looking back now, perhaps it was the unabashed adoration in his eyes. She couldn't sleep with him because she knew he'd never leave her side. Well, she thought, stretching her legs under the covers, that would work for now. It was easier than thinking she had lost her nerve and run away because she didn't want to hurt him. She tried to push the thoughts from her mind.

It was all because of that death ray, she decided, settling on a new strain of thought. Too many people knew of its existence and too many of them wanted to use it. Whether or not it actually worked, she'd never figured out but all because of that blasted machine, she'd almost destroyed her second to last friendship. Maybe 'death ray' was an accurate title after all.

Then there was the time not 3 months ago that he got shot. Nikola, in all his years as a human (as few as they may have been) had never bothered someone enough to be shot. Sure he'd been frustrating and arrogant and (in her own very ineloquent words) a obnoxious ass but the worst he ever suffered were a few nasty words and a well placed sneer or two but oh no, Nikola Tesla couldn't leave well enough alone. Of course he just had to go out and provoke some of the most feared abnormal hunters in the region. He'd left so quickly that she'd never had a chance to ask him why he'd been annoying that particular bad guy. Dare she suspect he was… trying to help? Trying to save the abnormal community from another blood thirsty killer?

Well, whatever the reason, kissing him had been a bad idea. Seeing him lying in that bed, broken and bloody was something new and something powerful. Her first instinct (well, excluding the whole 'save his life' thing) was to, put frankly, jump his bones. Helen could feel herself blushing at the words she had thought but it was true. Her first instinct had been to assure herself that he was alive. Of course, once she'd returned and seen him asleep, all those plaguing doubts came back to haunt her. He couldn't be with her, he wouldn't want to spend his days with a woman who would out live him, a constant reminder of what he had lost. He wouldn't want someone who had been tainted by the effects of Montague John Druitt, someone who could honestly say that a part of her would always love Jack the Ripper.

Yes, she had avoided him but she really had intended to return, to sit by him and have an actual conversation with him but then he'd left and she'd been to afraid to stop him. Maybe his kiss was nothing more than residual affection for her spurred by her state of undress? Maybe he truly didn't want anything more than a quick screw? Whatever the reason was, Helen had decided rather quickly that she wouldn't go searching him out for quite some time.

But in fact, she hadn't needed to seek him out, Nikola had turned up on her doorstep just two months later with a wide grin and a neatly pressed suit. Only he would be able to turn up just in time to help her with the map and while his presence wasn't needed, it was most certainly welcome. The sleepless nights they'd spent working on its secrets reminded her of those early days when the five of them would work for days on end. His intelligence was handy but his playful banter made her feel alive and that was what she treasured most. When he'd set off that EM pulse she'd been more than a little annoyed but she'd enjoyed being cut off from all the technology she had at her disposal even if it was only momentary.

But then he'd spoken Serbian. The flush of anger and arousal had been so quick and so painful that she'd had no choice but to stride after him. His quiet words had echoed down the hallway and by god, if he ever said them again she'd kill him. Screw him against the nearest flat surface and then kill him. And then, once he'd come back to life, she'd screw him again.

The first time he'd said those words to her, she had been painfully naive when it came to the bedroom but her reaction had belied that. John had been elated and shocked at her behaviour that evening but when she finally came, Helen had to admit she'd had to bite her tongue to stop herself from screaming out for Nikola. It was wrong and perverse and dirty but as she rode her fiancé as hard and as fast as she could, it was that Serbian genius who appeared in her mind's eye, urging her on with his dirty words. Both John and Nikola had pushed for her the next day to say those words again but she'd told them (separately of course) that they were never, ever to even attempt to use those words ever again. John had tried to tell her not to be shy but little did he realise her reluctance had nothing to do with the reckless abandon with which she came. Nikola had said nothing but his use of Serbian from then on was limited to whispers when he seemed to think she couldn't hear.

Now fully awake and a little more aroused than she'd like, Helen swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She looked around the room and noticed her clothes from the previous day were thrown in a corner. Oh, that's right, she'd gotten changed. In front of him. With another groan she fell back against the rumpled sheets. Last night. Last night was a bad idea. A very bad idea. And Helen was woman enough to admit that although her exhaustion had a lot to do with it, towards the end of the encounter, there were other things driving her. His small touches, as innocent and (dare she even think these words in relation to Nikola 'bane-of-her-existence' Tesla?) well intended as they had been had made her both sleepy and aroused.

When he'd undressed her, she'd forgotten to be embarrassed. So much so that she actually insisted on his presence in her bed. Then the kissing began and things… Well, escalated would probably be the exact right word to use. His hands on her skin, their lips moving together as she touched him in ways she'd wanted to for a little too long, it was a potent combination even now in the weak morning light.

But he had pulled back, he had stopped the kisses and touches. She could remember being wrapped around him and the disappointment she'd felt when he rolled her off him. She had wanted him regardless of the fact that she was so tired she was struggling to keep her eyes open. These were the times when Helen both cursed and rejoiced in the fact that when push came to shove, Nikola was a gentleman. An irresistible, smirking, foul mouthed gentleman. She almost added immortal to that list but stopped just in time.

With a sigh, Helen pulled herself out of bed and prepared to dress for yet another paperwork filled day.

It was early evening before Helen had a moment to herself again. She couldn't bring herself to be upset that three separate catastrophes had pulled her away from the mountain of paperwork she had to do but as she sat down at her desk again, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt that she'd let it get this bad. Stretching out her legs, Helen tried to settle into the work but found herself easily distracted, her mind unwilling to work on the tasks at hand

After nearly an hour of struggling to focus, Helen gave up. As she pushed away from her desk, she tried to figure out what had been bugging her this entire time. Oh what was the point in trying to hide it from herself, she wondered with a sigh. It wasn't exactly complicated, she was worried about Nikola. She hadn't seen him once all day and although holing himself up in a lab was nothing new as far as the ex-vampire was concerned, the events of last night made Helen worried.

With a guilty conscience, Helen headed out of her office. The halls of the Sanctuary were quite tonight and, even though they had power again, very dark. With all of her team out and about, the place seemed eerily quiet. Helen found herself glad her home was empty tonight, it meant that nothing would interfere with the discussion she wanted to have with Nikola. Well, in theory.

First she checked the library and was a little surprised to find it empty. It seems neither of them had done any work on the map today which was a little startling considering the fever with which they'd attacked it in the two weeks prior. Moving to plan B, Helen turned on her heel and began a quick march towards the laboratories. As she grew closer and closer, her hands began to shake but she soldiered on. This conversation would happen now or never. She had to apologize not only for last night but each of the other times she had abused his affections. As she drew nearer, she realised she had never actually said those words to him, she had never apologized for her foolish behaviour or her rash words.

Taking a deep steadying breath, Helen walked towards her favourite lab although it was almost to plushly appointed to be considered a lab. The room was not cold and clinical but instead had a rather homey feel with wood panelled walls and an examination bed rather than a gurney. Normally she used it for nothing more than temporary accommodation for incapacitated residents who required ongoing testing but, not only was it empty at the moment, it also had a rather large collection of books, something that could always draw Nikola to a place.

As she reached the end of the corridor, Helen was not disappointed. The door to this particular lab was partially open and she could hear the gentle clink of a wine glass hitting a table. She wondered briefly why he hadn't already called out to her, as was his custom but quickly remember that he probably had no idea of her approach. With a sigh she pushed open the door to the room and plastered what she hoped was a benign smile on her face.

There he was, sitting in the corner, book in hand. He was dressed, as per usual in the most impeccable manner that still seemed to be effortless. She hesitated. He knew she was here but still had not looked up at her.

"What is it Helen?" he asked, not looking up from his book. His tone was patronizing and Helen had the most peculiar feeling that he was hiding something from her.

"I was wondering if you'd like to come have some dinner with me," she adlibbed, hoping to sound convincing. "I haven't seen you all day." That last bit slipped out and she couldn't help the disappointment that coloured her tone.

"I've eaten, thank you," came his terse reply. She knew straight away that, firstly, he was lying and secondly, he was ignoring her secondary statement. She didn't know whether to be annoyed or relieved at that.

"Nikola," she said, exasperated, finally deciding to take the annoyed path. "You need to leave this room. You've been locked in here all day and you need to eat something." When he didn't show any inclination to move, Helen had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. "

At least move to a proper laboratory," she pleaded. "That way if you blow something up I can replace it. That chair you are sitting on is an antique."

"The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, this is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born," he said smoothly, never looking up from the book in his hands.

"And now you're quoting yourself?" she snorted. He looked up at her with a grin before snapping the book shut. She was startled at his change of mood but decided promptly to accept it and move on.

"Good read?" she asked, nodding at the book in his hands.

"Very," he said with a peculiar smirk. Helen felt her heart drop. He hadn't, had he? She looked at the book he was holding and recognized the cover instantly. She cursed herself that she hadn't recognized it sooner.

"Nikola," she warned.

"Relax, Helen," he replied sagely, carefully placing her very first field journal on the table next to him. Right after their injections, Helen had started to keep a journal of all the changes that were happening to them but, as time progressed, it became more and more personal, gradually morphing into her personal views on things they had witnessed or played party to. Of course, she'd kept another, far more scientific version also, but that particular book had held all her personal thoughts on their transformations and so much more. Helen could feel the embarrassed anger beginning to flood her body as she looked between Nikola and the book. Before she could open her mouth to scold him, Nikola held up a hand.

"I'm sorry," he said with an exasperated sigh. "Had I known what it was actually about, I wouldn't have read it. Well, I might have but none the less."

She rolled her eyes at him but felt relieved that he hadn't intentionally gone out to invade her privacy. Not that anything in that book was particularly salacious or overly intimate but her writings had been more emotional than scientific and he could tell.

"I had no idea you were so torn by your lack of a physical transformation," he commented, his tone was light and teasing but she could sense that this was one of those moments when Nikola Tesla was actually asking her a personal question that didn't require her to take off her clothes.

"Can you blame me?" she asked as he walked towards her. "You all were changed so dramatically and I showed almost no change whatsoever." Her tone was light but she hoped he'd understand she was giving him an honest answer.

They stood silently for a moment, watching each other watch the other. Nikola was the first to crack.

"Why are you here?" he asked softly, his eyes asking a multitude of questions Helen could not even begin to fathom.

"Dinner," she said weakly.

He scoffed.

"Why are you here?" His voice was impossibly softer.

"I wanted to apologize," she admitted. Nikola rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Spare me," he said as he walked back towards his chair. "I don't need your sympathy."

"And you weren't going to get it," she retorted, taking a few steps towards him. "My behaviour last night was reprehensible and I shouldn't have treated you in such a way. I never should have." She wondered if he'd get the double meaning in her last sentence.

As he turned around to glare at her furiously, she gathered he had.

"Get out Helen. You aren't sorry, for any of it. You just want to ease your guilt and I won't be a part of it."

His words had tumbled out harsh and low, his voice gravely as he spoke.

"Nikola, grow up," she instructed a little more harshly than she'd intended. "I came here tonight because I know that what I asked of you last night was wrong. You deserve more respect that I showed you and while there is nothing I can say that will undo my actions, you have to know that I am deeply sorry for what I did. Of course I feel guilty about what I tried to do but I am not asking you to forgive me or even understand, I am simply-."

Her tirade was cut short when he stepped towards her and gave her the most toe curling kiss she had ever received.

"Never apologise," he whispered against her mouth as his hands held her shoulders tight. "Never, ever feel guilty for what you did. I love you Helen and I always will. I am yours and there is no need for you to apologise for taking what is yours." As he finished speaking, his lips fell on hers once again with unbridled passion. She found herself kissing him back, mouth opening under his, welcoming his tongue with her own. Her hands moved to his waist and pulled him closer as he threaded his hands in her hair. Pleased with her response, Nikola groaned into her mouth before deepening the kiss. Their bodies were now flush and Helen could feel every inch of Nikola's approval for her actions. Unthinkingly, she rocked her hips against his, eliciting a gasp from him.

Nikola moved his mouth from hers and began a series of hot kisses down the length of her neck, pausing to nibble on her pulse point. She shivered in his arms and her eyes flew shut. He was muttering something against her flesh and it took Helen a few moments to fight through the fog clouding her mind to finally understand what he was saying.

"Love you. Love you. Love you. Love you. Love you."

The words were soft but insistent, used to punctuate his kisses. Helen felt a shiver run down her spine and she was sure that it was entirely a feeling of pleasure. Determined to shut him up, she fisted her hand in his hair and pulled his mouth back to hers. She kissed him greedily and pulled him tighter against her body. He moaned in response and his hands flew to her hips.

Eventually the need for air over took the need to taste him and Helen pulled back to suck in a few life sustaining gasps. Nikola, meanwhile, had ducked his head back to her neck and was now sucking lightly on the flesh. Now it was Helen's turn to moan. Hand still in his hair, she held him steady, revelling in the feel of his wet mouth on her neck once again.

"Love you. Love you. Love you."

The words were tumbling out of his mouth again and Helen froze for just one second but it was enough to draw his ministrations to a halt. He straightened up and immediately Helen dove for his lips. He kissed her firmly before putting his hands on her shoulders and pushing her back.

"What's wrong?" she asked breathily, desperate to return to her previous task.

"I will never stop saying it," he said quietly. Incomprehension filled her eyes for just one moment before it all clicked.

"Please Nikola," she almost moaned. She knew it was a dangerous game she was playing but after so many years of dancing around it, Helen need Nikola. She needed the pleasure his kisses promised and, after all this time, she was more than ready to take it if need be.

"Helen," he said, his voice solemn enough to make her worry. "I love you." Each word was clear and rang through her body in a way that made her elated and terrified. Nikola's love was too much for her. She could take his kisses and caresses but his love? That was something else entirely.

"Nikola," she chastised, trying to pull him in for another kiss.

"I'm not going to stop saying it because you're afraid. I love you Helen. I love you."

"Don't Nikola, please, just… stop," she said, fighting her way out of his arms.

"No, you stop Helen. You love me. You do. You can't bear to lose me," he argued, stepping closer but not raising a finger.

"Nikola please," she begged, he had to stop, she couldn't take any more of this.

"You love me," he whispered as he finally raised a hand to stroke her cheek.

"Don't ruin this," she said, grabbing his hand and holding it in place. Nikola threaded his fingers into hers and held her eye. Both stayed perfectly still for a minute, savouring the contact before Helen gave him a soft, pitying smile.

"I can't Nikki," she told him, her eyes sad. He hated the nickname, absolutely hated it and she was counting on that fact. If he stood this close to her for much longer, she was fairly certain she'd explode.

"Then why are you here?" he yelled as he dropped her hand and stepped back. "I don't need you to say it to me, Helen, I just need you to be able to hear it," he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

Shocked to her core, Helen stood perfectly still watching as he turned away from her again. Nikola leant forwards, resting his arms on the armrest of the chair he had been sitting in earlier. Watching him like this reminded her so much of those early days and the observations she'd made of him. His passion, unchecked and beautiful flowed freely, none of this careful restraint he'd built up to protect himself and everyone else. There was a time when the slightest thing could set off his full transformation, turning him from the quiet and snarky Serb to a toothy vampire in the blink of an eye.

For the tiniest fraction of a second, Helen held her breath, waiting for him to 'vamp out' as Nigel referred to it but then she realised why his very human shoulders were still shaking with his deep breaths.

"I can't Nikola," she said eventually, her voice even. "I can't lo…. lo…." Damn it! So much for sounding cool and composed.

"But don't you get it!" he said suddenly, turning around to show her the tortured look in his eyes. "You do love me. You love me, Helen. You don't have to say it, I know you do." With that he dashed towards her and captured her lips in a bruising kiss. Helen responded with everything she had, willing her lips to communicate the words she couldn't get out, the words she didn't even know if she felt.

"I need more time," she whispered between kisses. Nikola tightened his grip on her for just a second before releasing her, almost shoving her away. He let out a bitter and twisted laugh.

"Don't you get it Helen, I don't have time. I am literally running out of time."

There he stood, one hand on his hip, breathing heavily and Helen realised something. She hated him. She hated every single fibre of his insolent being. She hated the way he risked everything, including herself and her team for his own selfish ends. She hated that he expected her to move mountains for him but only appeared on her doorstep when he needed help and not when she did. She hated that he always, always wore a suit even when it made him stick out like a sore thumb. She hated that he had no respect for anyone, treating everyone like dirt. She hated the way he teased and flirted and hid his true intent with every innuendo loaded statement. She hated the fact that he just assumed she loved him, like it was a given, inevitable considering their history. More than that, she hated that he was right.

She hated that they had no time, that he was right about that too. She hated that he was dying and there was nothing she could do about it. They'd both faced death on several occasions, hell, she'd been reanimated just a few weeks ago but he was actually dying. She hated that he'd waited so long for this moment, almost too long.

She hated him.

And with that thought, Helen swept across the room to kiss him. He didn't fight against her, in fact he fought for control, something, it turned out, neither of them were prepared to give up. As her tongue fought for dominance, Helen wrapped herself possessively around his wiry frame. Nikola had one hand on her hip, the other tangled in her thoroughly mussed hair as he drew her closer. Tugging harshly on the strands, he pulled her head back, exposing her neck to him once again.

"I love you," he said for the umpteenth time and she realised that he was just as afraid as she was. He couldn't say it to her face.

"I know, Nikola, I know," she murmured back. He froze for just a second before moving to devour her lips again, all the while murmuring his adoration for her.

Helen could feel the tears coming to her eyes and try as she might, she couldn't hold them back. She wanted to fight this feeling growing inside her but the sweetness in his words and his kisses were addictive. She couldn't live without this after having experienced it. Again, she found another reason she hated him, he was destroying her. He was tearing down who she was only to build her back, with himself as the glue. She wanted to run from this kind of worship but she couldn't. She couldn't hurt herself or Nikola like that.

Swept up in the emotion of it, Helen pulled him closer, trying to tell him exactly what she wanted through her kisses. And boy did he know it.

Breaking the kiss, Nikola stood back, breathing heavily. With a wicked smile that spoke of nothing but sin, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. She knew in an instant what he had in mind and matched his stride. Hand in hand they walked down the corridor until the pressure was too much to bear.

Without a word of warning, Helen stopped and shoved Nikola to the nearest wall. Surprise flickered across his face before he smirked at her. When she kissed him again, she could almost taste his snarky response but as her body crushed against his, his mood changed abruptly. His hands were pulling almost frantically at her clothes as her nipped at her lips.

Seeking flesh, Helen's hands moved straight to his waist coat, unbuttoning it quickly before trailing her hands down to the waist band of his now painfully tight pants. She started to fumble with but Nikola's hands caught her wrists before she made any progress. Not understanding his actions, Helen pulled back far enough so that she could look into his eyes. The grin he flashed her sent shivers down her spine and, before she could even formulate a response, Nikola had flipped them so that she was pressed against the wall.

Letting go of her wrists, Nikola moved back to her now bruised lips as he forced her back against the wall. With a moan, Helen wrapped her arms around him, tugging on his hair to bring him even closer. His hand grabbed her hip roughly as he ground his erection into her. She gasped and his hand travelled further down her leg until he hiked it up to rest on his hip. Leaning all his weight against her, Nikola pulled away to nibble at her neck as his hand started to push the fabric of her skirt higher and higher up her thigh.

"Oh god, Nikola," she moaned and he chuckled against her neck.

"I would have thought it would take more than a few kisses to get me to the level of a deity but I'll take it," he whispered back and she groaned again, half annoyed and half aroused but the former fell away the moment he brushed his finger tips over her panties. Letting out a rather swooning sigh, Helen let her head fall back against the wood with a soft thunk as her eyes flittered closed. Nikola struggled with her skirt for a few seconds and, as his hands left their delightful positions, Helen opened her eyes.

The look of annoyance on Nikola's face actually made her giggle but the glare he shot her made her bite her lip. His mouth twitched in annoyance but she could see the gleam in his eye that told her she wasn't really in trouble. Quickly he surveyed the corridor they were in and Helen was about to interrupt him when, in one smooth movement, he pulled away from her, grabbed her hips roughly and shoved her towards a small table a few feet away from them. Helen was about to protest but the second she was seated on the table, Nikola's mouth claimed hers urgently.

His hands skimmed down her sides before he shoved the already creased fabric of her skirt up to her hips, exposing her silk panties to his gaze. Helen's hands flew to his belt, trying once again to undo it but again, Nikola stopped her. She let out a frustrated growl and Nikola pulled back to look at her.

"Trust me," he whispered softly and Helen felt a shiver fly down her spine. Seeing her give up the fight, Nikola smiled softly before kissing her again. His nimble fingers moved to the front of her blouse and, with the flick of a wrist her top fell open. Taking advantage of the newly exposed flesh, Nikola swooped down to kiss the column of her neck while his hands held her hips just out of reach of the delicious friction she was craving. With a series of light kisses across her collar bone, Nikola pulled away.

Nikola flashed her another smug grin and, just as she opened her mouth to protest, her strapless bra fell away from her body. Her eyes opened wide as she tried to figure out what happened and Nikola seized the chance, leaning forward to capture a nipple. Clutching him to her, Helen let out a low moan.

"You're brilliant," she moaned as her hips began to buck against his iron grip. He said nothing but, as his fingers began dancing over her hips towards where she wanted them most, she was fairly certain he was grinning even wider than before. When he began tracing the edge of her panties, Helen thought she'd implode. Letting out a rather strained whimper, she prayed he'd just get on with it. As sweet as this torture may be, she needed him and she needed him now.

At the strange noise, Nikola broke away from her, bringing yet another, but entirely different whimper to her lips. He grinned at her but, before she could try anything, he shoved aside the fabric of her soaked panties and thrust two fingers straight into her hot core. She screamed as her muscles began to contract around him, begging him to move even a fraction of an inch.

Taking in her open mouth, half closed eyes and white knuckles as she held the edge of the table, Nikola chuckled. At once her eyes flew open and her hips began thrusting earnestly against his fingers. She was so wet and so tight and Nikola could tell she was only moments away from release so he pulled away. The sound of utter disappointment that escaped her lips made Nikola's heart ache but as he took in her next move, his heart stopped. One of her hands had moved from its position on the table to rest between her legs, gently stroking herself.

Nikola's eyes widened and his gaze flicked to hers. With a groan, he claimed her lips again and replaced her own tentative hand with his own far more adventurous one. As his tongue began to thrust into her mouth, his fingers did the same to her core, each time hitting that sweet spot and making her cry out. Her climax was mounting and he felt her begin to shake in his arms. Her hands moved to his belt and this time Nikola made no move to stop her, instead moving as close as he could to allow her better access as he ripped her panties off with his bare hands.

In a matter of seconds, she was holding his cock, guiding him towards her entrance. In one, hard thrust he was completely sheathed within her, tearing a scream from her as he did so. Barely giving her a chance to adjust to his intrusion, he began to thrust earnestly and she wrapped her legs around him, taking him deeper and deeper. It took no more than 5 quick, deep thrusts to bring them both to their peaks and they exploded in pleasure simultaneously, Helen clawing at his back while Nikola's teeth found purchase on her neck. As their respective cries faded away, Helen clutched him to her, memorizing the feel of his shuddering breath on her neck. The remained locked together for a minute, both shaking from the force of their release.

Slowly, Helen removed her legs and pushed against him until she was able to sit up properly. Nikola stepped back far enough to tuck himself back in but, as he started to do up his belt, Helen captured his hands.

"There's no need for that," she said with a smirk and she pulled him closer so that she could rest her head on his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, Nikola dropped a kiss on the top of her head and smiled. She couldn't see his jubilation but she was about 99% sure he was feeling just as happy as her. Maybe even more so considering the fact that every time they had met in the past four years he had shamelessly attempted to get her into bed. Not that they'd made it that far. With that, Helen pushed away from him so that she could stand up. After slipping her skirt back into its proper position, she quickly did up the buttons on her blouse. She saw the look of disappointment on Nikola's face but she kept her own perfectly neutral. Without so much as a backwards glance, Helen turned and began walking down the corridor, her pace measured and even as a hand smoothed out her skirt. When she was a few metres away from him she stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"Coming?" she asked with a wicked smile. His answering grin was broad and evil.

"Again so soon?" he asked, hurrying to catch up with her. She said nothing, simply chuckling as she kept her pace.

The trip to her room (or their room, she decided with surprising ease) took longer than it should have but the fact that every few minutes one of them would pin the other to the wall for a few moments of ardent kissing made up for the fact. By the time they got to the lift, Helen was just about ready to rip off his clothes and have her way with him again and the conspicuous bulge against the small of her back as he pushed her into the wall made her think he was ready too.

When they finally reached the room, Helen was desperate for him. Grabbing the front of his shirt, she kissed him hard before throwing him towards the bed.

"What happened to your no touching rule?" he asked, quickly unbuttoning his shirt. Helen rolled her eyes as she did the same.

"I said no more touching until we got out of the elevator," she clarified as she kicked off her heels.

"Semantics," was Nikola's breathless response as he discarded the last of his clothing. Once Helen had wrestled off the last of her clothes, she headed straight for the bed.

The moment their lips met, relief washed over her and all that tightly coiled tension in her body morphed into anticipation as his hands began caressing her bare curves. Although it had been no more than 10 minutes since their last encounter, Helen was ravenous for him and she was grateful that vampire or no, his stamina seemed up to the task. With a growl, Nikola rolled them across the bed until he had her pinned. With a grin he started up a trail of hot, wet kisses down her throat. Helen could feel him hard against her leg and, impatient to feel him inside her again, she began to run against him. With a shuddering groan, Nikola stopped just as he reached the swollen peak of one breast. A mix of disappointment and approval washed through her and, without thinking, Helen used all her body weight to roll them until she was straddling his thighs.

Nikola let out a squeak of surprise but she could see the approval in his eyes. With a smug chuckle more befitting the man between her legs than herself, Helen leant down and kissed him harshly, bitting on his bottom lip as her nails scored his chest. Nikola bucked against her as a growl escaped his lips. Satisfied with his response, Helen sat up and shimmied down until she was resting between Nikola's legs. His eyes widened as he realised her goal but before he could even think about the consequences, she ran her tongue up the underside of his throbbing cock before sweeping over the weeping head. His eyes were scrunched shut and his hands fisting in as he let out a moan.

Helen's smirk went unseen but as she slowly took as much of him into her mouth as possible, his responding moan made her want to grin even wider. Wrapping the fingers of one hand around the base of his member, Helen began to slowly move up and down, sucking as hard as she could. The pure, unadulterated taste of him was driving her insane and she picked up the pace, wanting to taste all of him.

"Helen," Nikola choked out. "If you keep that up, this isn't going to last nearly as long as I'd like." She chuckled and the vibrations made his cock twitch.

"Seriously Helen," he growled, threading a hand into her hair. She could feel his body beginning to tense before he dragged her mouth away from him. She let out a grunt of pain as she was propelled to the side, landing in a tangle next to a moaning Nikola.

"Dammit woman, you're trying to kill me, aren't you?"

"Call it payback," she responded breathily.

"No," he said, rolling on top of her. "This is payback."

And with that, he moved quickly down her body, kissing, licking and bitting his way the juncture between her thighs.

Helen thought about reprimanding him but as his wicked tongue began doing wicked things to her, she gave up the idea, instead laying back and moaning as he bought her closer and closer to the peak she was already about to reach. As his tongue played with her clit as one finger and then another began to move within her. The thrust were shallow and Helen began to buck her hips desperately, begging for release but to no avail. Nikola kept his movements soft and teasing, never quite taking her to the heights she was hoping for. Then, with a particularly hard thrust and well placed twist of his fingers, Helen came screaming out his name. Her body convulsed as white hot pleasure seared through her and she could think of nothing but that stupid ex-vampire between her legs.

"I thought payback was meant to be a bitch?" she asked after a few minutes, her body finally calming down enough to allow the construction of sentences.

"Yeah well, I couldn't resist," Nikola said softly, coming up to drop kisses along her collar bone. "Don't let it go to your head."

"That's my line," she mumbled. She could feel him smirk against her collar bone but he made no other answer. "Nikola," she said softly, trying to get his attention but he refused to look at her.

"Nikola," she said a little more sternly, pulling at his hair. With a gentle sigh against her skin he moved back to look at her. "Please."

His eyes soften at the word and in a second he was positioned over her, hovering above her. She could see the apprehension in his eyes but couldn't understand it. After everything they'd done in the past hour, how could he think she'd not want this? Letting out an exasperated sigh, Helen pulled his lips down to hers, allowing her adoration for him to run free. Taking that as his cue, Nikola slowly thrust into her. Still shaking from the after effects of her previous orgasm, Helen had to fight the urge to pull away from the pleasure that was so close to pain as the length of Nikola's body came into contact with hers. They held eye contact for a few seconds before Nikola smiled brilliantly at her. Her answering smile was almost instantaneous and they began to move together.

Hours later, finally sated, Helen lay with her head on Nikola's shoulder. They were curled closer than strictly necessary considering the warmth in the room yet neither seemed to upset with it but while she lay wide awake, Nikola was breathing evenly, finally asleep. Until this point, Helen figured she could count the number of times she'd actually seen him asleep on one hand, even before the blood. With a sigh she snuggled in closer, enjoying the relaxation evident on her lover's face. She wore a little smile as she mused over the news she had to tell him. After everything that happened with Hollow Earth, she figured he deserved a little treat. Surely sex and a side of Praxian stronghold would suffice as an apology for leaving him behind before.

Turning her head to his neck, Helen closed her eyes, finally content enough to fall asleep. Taking one last look at the sleeping man who was holding her, Helen smiled.

"I love you too," she whispered softly into his skin.

So, timeline (which some of you super smart cookies may have figured out but here it is, just in case):

"Three" - Unveiling John

"One" - The Death of Nikola Tesla (Set in 1943)

"Four" - The Angel in White (Set after Sleepers and in early-ish season three)

(There's a time lapse of around about three months here)

"Two" - That Awkward Moment When Helen Learns Serbian

(In here we have the trip to Hollow Earth and that middle section of season three)

"Five" - Tired

"Bullseye" - Awakening

And, as you have probably guessed, this last chapter is the evening before they set off for everyone's favourite episode, Awakening (hence the title for this chapter which I didn't plan but as I sat here typing this, it just came to me and I think it fits because Helen is finally waking up her feelings!).

Also, the Tesla quote is an actual Tesla quote! Cool, huh?

Again, love and hugs,

xx