The wonderful shows Moonlight and Veronica Mars are owned by companies and people other than me. They are just places I go to play.

This is a Moonlight / Veronica Mars crossover. The series starts with Who Are You? This installment follows the last one The Fountain of Youth.

I'll try and keep it out of the M rating.

A/N: this is long. I could have broken it up but it felt like it all belonged together.

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"Are you nervous?" Vanessa asks as she pins Beth's hair up.

A nervous giggle escapes from Beth and she slaps her hand over her mouth. "No. Not about the wedding." she says through her fingers as she looks over her shoulder at Vanessa.

Vanessa finishes Beth's hair and turns her around. If Beth isn't nervous about the weddingwedding, there is only one other thing that can be bothering her this much. "I've never lost even one fledgling. Grant has tested your blood just in case. You're not pregnant and you don't have the antibodies in your blood. There is nothing to worry about."

Beth takes a deep breath steadying herself and removes her hand. "Yes but we're not going to do this the usual way. It makes me nervous that the chances of something going wrong are higher."

"Just because something is different doesn't mean it's bad. Besides, we did our turnings this way far longer than the way it's done now."

Beth tips her head questioningly. "Really?"

"Really."

Beth nods feeling reassured. "There's one last thing. I need you to promise me something."

Vanessa waves her hand dismissively. She already knows what Beth wants. "I told you I've never lost a fledgling. It will be fine. Besides, this is no way to go into your wedding worrying about true death."

"Vanessa, promise." Beth says gravely.

Vanessa sighs. "Alright. I promise. If anything happens to you I'll make sure that Mick keeps going and raises Shannon but I'm telling you it won't be necessary."

Beth nods. "Even if you have to erase me from his memories. I don't care what it takes. I want him to go on with his life. You make sure of it. You kept Finn from going crazy when his wife died and you can do it for Mick."

Vanessa nods. "I will but let's not talk of such an awful thing, on what is supposed to be a joyous occasion."

There is a light tap on the door and Sarah slides in. "I got them." she hands over a pair of diamond hair clips to Vanessa who gently puts them in Beth's hair. Beth looks at her hair in the mirror. "Thank you Sarah, they are very beautiful."

Sarah grins. "That's because Josef has such good taste. He bought those for me before he turned me." Sarah looks Beth over."But I'm thinking you out shine the hair clips. You really do look amazing. Now stand back next to Vanessa so I can take a picture of the bride and."

"Don't you say it. Don't you say matron of honor. It makes me sound old." Vanessa growls.

Sarah and Beth laugh. Neither of them wants to point out to Vanessa that she is old. "I was going to say and the matriarch of our clan."

Vanessa nods. "That works."

Beth moves back and the two women wrap their arms around each other's waists and Sarah snaps the picture.

Veronica slides into the room. She's carrying Shannon. "Oh, you look so beautiful. Doesn't mommy look beautiful?" Veronica asks Shannon.

"Fairy princes." Shannon says.

"Thank you." Beth says as she turns slowly in the long dress.

"Father Patrick wants to know if you're ready?" Veronica asks.

Beth nods. "Yes. Let's do this thing."

It's two weeks after the terrible battle with the hunters. Mick asked Beth to marry him right away but the decision was made to wait a little bit for the wedding. Everyone needed time for life to return to normal. The wedding is being held on the grounds of Josef's estate in a beautiful Victorian style gazebo. Since the guest list was kept to a gathering of family and friends, the gazebo is large enough to double as a place for the reception afterwards. It's a beautiful structure. The base is brick with several patterns running through the short walls. Above the brick, the upper walls and ceiling are all intricately woven wrought iron. The wedding is taking place in the early evening just after dusk so the grounds keepers wove fairy lights throughout the wrought iron. Soft music is playing in the background.

As weddings go this has some elements of tradition but mostly they are just doing what they want. Veronica, Shannon and Sarah are walking down the aisle ahead of Beth. Shannon laughs and throws rose peddles in the air letting them rain down on her head. Vanessa somehow got Finn into a tux. She growled and told him he had to look presentable while he walked Beth down the aisle. He sighed and finally gave in. Josef is Mick's best man and was also responsible for bringing Father Patrick from New York to perform the ceremony.

Earlier in the day there had been one other small ceremony attended only by Mick, Beth, Shannon, Josefand Josef since he is Shannon's godfather, Vanessa and Finn who are, by blood or by fang, her closest living relatives. Father Patrick baptized Shannon. It was short and sweet but Shannon was a little put out that no one would let her play in the holy water.

For his part Father Patrick was happy to come to California and finally meet Sarah, since it was her illness that brought two vampires to the church to light a candle for her when they were afraid she wouldn't make it. At Mick's behest he said many prayers for Sarah and is glad to see that she recovered.

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"You may kiss the bride." Father Patrick says with a smile.

Mick gently takes Beth in his arms "My friend, my lover, my wife." he kisses her and their friends smile and move in to congratulate the happy couple. Mick is shaking hands with Josef. Beth is hugging Sarah and on it goes.

Beth smiles lovingly at Mick from the dance floor. He looks far too handsome in his black tux with a maroon shirt that matches her dress. Finn gave her away and as stand in for the father of the bride he's dancing this dance with Beth. Mick can't keep the silly grin from his face. He's sure Beth is the most beautiful woman in the world. She's wearing a beautiful deep red chiffon floor length sequined gown. The red is so deep it's almost black. The dress is an original Vanessa helped her pick out and paid for as she decided she was mother of the bride.

Vanessa stands next to Mick while they watch Finn and Beth dance across the floor. Mick glances at Vanessa. "Thank you. I know you probably think the baptism for Shannon and the wedding is ridiculous but thank you for going along with it."

Vanessa watches Beth and Finn fondly. "Rituals are never ridiculous."

"I just meant that the religious implications probably seem silly for to the average vampire let alone one of your age." Mick says quietly.

Vanessa smiles. "Don't tell Father Patrick that. Mick, rituals and traditions are some of the things that ground humans and vampires alike. It's even more important for vampires. We live a very long time and it always helps to celebrate joyous occasions. It gives us one more thing to look forward to, one more reason to make it through another year." She turns to him. "Besides if it harms no one and makes you happy how can it be silly?"

"Thank you all the same."

Vanessa hugs him. "It was all our pleasure. Now go out there and dance with your bride."

Mick taps Finn on the shoulder. "My turn." he grins at Beth. "I want my woman back."

Finn smiles and bows to Mick. "As father of the bride, in the tradition of my people I give you responsibility for one who I look upon as my child. She's yours forever more."

Mick bows back."It's a responsibility I take most serious. I will do my best to make sure she is always safe."

Finn winks at him. "Good luck with that." He turns to Beth who is wrinkling her nose at the pair and their antics. He hugs her. "And you my dear are going to have a wonderful life." he glares a moment at Mick. "I promise."

Mick nods once solemnly knowing his grandfather will kick his butt from one end of town to the next if he screws this up. "I will always try to make her happy."

Finn walks away as Mick takes Beth in his arms. The two dance slowly staring lovingly into the others eyes. Mick leans in and kisses Beth. "I will love you always."

"Of course you will." she grins. "Just like I'll always love you." Beth smiles. "I want to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"Will you marry me again, in a hundred years?" she asks with a twinkle in her eye.

Mick kisses her deeply. "It would be my pleasure Mrs. St. John. I think that's a wonderful idea. We should renew our vows every hundred years."

Josef, Vanessa and Coraline stand watching the pair. Coraline shakes her head. "He was never who I thought he was."

Vanessa nods. "Yes, he was always meant to be someone's husband and someone's father. If you hadn't interrupted his journey I'm quite sure he would have found a way to this same place, another woman, another child but yes, this is who he was meant to be."

"I tried to tell you. Mick played around a lot in those days but deep down he has always been the guy who wanted the picket fence. And you have no concept of the house, the yard, the kid or the picket fence. Your vision of married life and his were not the same. He did things he'll probably never want Beth to know about, but even at that he never crossed certain lines that others tried to force on him." Josef says quietly.

Coraline knows he's talking about her, about the things she did to him. "I could never see him like this...he was close the night we got married but then..." she snorts. "He was picturing this." she sweeps her hands towards the pair so obviously in love and so happy, their child dancing around them like a small sprite in the night. "and it was not something I couldn't even imagine."

Vanessa smiles at the confounded look on Coraline's face. "You look a little stunned."

Coraline shakes her head. "I never...I just feel like I never knew him at all. Like I was in love with a completely different person. How could he be so different?"

Vanessa shrugs. "You derailed him in a way that made it impossible for him to find himself for a very long time."

A smiling Sarah cricks her finger at Josef from across the dance floor. "If you ladies will excuse me,me; it seems Sarah would like to dance."

Coraline watches Josef and Sarah. They inadvertently bump into Mick and Beth. The two couples laugh and happy words are exchanged. Finn goes out on to the dance floor and picks up Shannon. He pretends to dance with the little girl as she laughs. Seeing that Sarah and Josef are now dancing, Logan and Veronica make their way out onto the dance floor. More laughter, more happiness.

Vanessa senses Frank's approach. Give me a few minutes yet.

Is everything ok? heHe asks Coraline's surprise is waiting for her inside

I just need a few minutes with her.

Frank moves away. Vanessa watches Coraline. It doesn't take much to see how much Coraline is fighting back tears. "Coraline?" Vanessa asks quietly.

Coraline turns to her. "No one has ever cared for me like that. No one has ever loved me like that, not even Mick, not like that. He wanted me but it was not..."

"You know it doesn't have to be that way." Vanessa says hoping this might be a turning point for Coraline.

Coraline snorts cynically. She tilts her nose in the air. "I am a Duvall. Pain and destruction is all we know...it's all there is." her voice breaks up.

Vanessa shrugs slightly. "Or you could take service to me as a clean break, a second chance. Everyone deserves one. This could be yours."

Coraline continues to watch the dance floor. "I tried once and I lost Mick." she says in a small voice.

"Do you understand why?" Vanessa asks

Coraline nods slowly. "I do now but at the time it seemed like the perfect solutionperfect solution to all our problems...and I lost him." she glances at Vanessa. "I know I'm arrogant and will full and high handed but it's all I've ever known." she shakes her head. "If anyone in my family had your power we would rule. How do you show so much restraint?"

Vanessa looks into the past for a moment. She pulls herself out of her musings and smiles sadly. "Ruling isn't all it's cracked up to be. Coraline you give me too much credit. It took me a long time, and a lot of love to get where I am now. Like all of us who have lived a long time I've done my share of things I'm not proud of. Some of them would make you and your brothers look like armatures. Take my word for it you can make a life for yourself that isn't filled with pain and anger but you have to work on it. Our people have long memories and it won't be easy. They know who you are now and they won't want to let you break out of that mold. They will distrust you and hurt you but if you keep at it you can be who you want to be not who your brothers and the rest of the world think you are or who they think you should be." Vanessa grins. "There is great truth in the old axiom that the best revenge is living well. Coraline learn to live well and be happy." Vanessa smiles. "Now I have a surprise for you."

Coraline discreetly wipes the tears from her eyes. "Really? Is it a good one? I could use a good one right about now."

"Yes, it's a good one. Cynthia is up at the house waiting to see you. I thought since this might be a hard time for you..."

Impulsively Coraline hugs Vanessa. "Thank you for this." she turns and rushes off to meet her friend.

Frank sees Coraline speed off and moves to stand next to Vanessa. "Is she going to be ok?"

Vanessa arches an eye brow at him. "You're asking because?"

Frank shrugs. "She's going to be around for quite awhile. You've taken this challenge on. There is no reason for me to make it harder for you. I guess it's time I started to watch out for her as well."

Vanessa hugs him. "Thank you. Having you be part of this helps."

Frank kisses her lightly. "Come dance with me?"

"Of course."

Logan and Veronica sway to the music entwined in each other's arms. Veronica turns as she feels someone tapping on her shoulder. She and Logan stop for a moment to find Sydney standing before them. "I was wondering if Logan would...if I could..." she sees the look in Veronica's eyes and stammers. "ah..dance with him?" she says in a small voice.

Veronica snaps her fangs at Sydney. Sydney turns and disappears almost as if in a puff of smoke.

Grant looks behind him as his daughter hides. Victoria is standing between Gabriel and Grant. She shakes her head. "I told you that was a bad idea."

"Don't every do that again." Gabriel snarls softly. "You are lucky that she didn't snap you in half. She got training on everything but her temper."

"How can she still hold a grudge?" Sydney asks incredulously.

Victoria and Gabriel exchange glances. Grant sees the exchange and clears his throat. "I think Sydney it would be wise if you stayed away from Veronica and Logan at least for a couple of hundred years. By that timetime, she may have at least forgotten why she dislikes you."

Gabriel snorts his disbelief, but refrains from further comment. He knows Veronica will never forget or forgive Sydney's part in Logan being exposed to the tribe when he was still human. Instead he takes Victoria's hand and leads her to the dance floor.

Logan smiles and pulls Veronica back into his arms.

He looks down and smiles as he sees her once again smiling broadly. Sydney's appearance apparently all ready banished from her thoughts. "What?" he asks. The look on her face is almost dizzyingly happy.

She shrugs. "Nothing. Just thinking about how happy everyone is. My dad is finalizing his move to L.A. this week. Watching Mick and Beth finally getting what they want, seeing the two of them so happy and in love. It just feels so good, like everything is finally falling into place."

"How happy everyone is,is; does that mean you too?' he asks.

She nudges him with her elbow. "Yes, everyone. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but right here in your arms."

Logan sighs with contentment. "You're right. Life is good."

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Two days later, midnight of the winter solstice...

Beth smiles at Vanessa. "Now I'm nervous again."

"Don't you trust me?" Vanessa says in mock protest.

"Of course but...it's a bit scary...you know?"

Vanessa hugs her. "I know but it will be fine. I promise."

Beth takes a deep breathdeep breath to steady herself. "Ok."

"Mick and the others are waiting for us out on the terrace." Vanessa says as she gently steers Beth out the door.

Josef rocks back and forth on his heels trying without success to calm himself down so he can calm Mick but it's not working for either of them. Mick is pacing and Josef is rocking. Sarah watches them and shakes her head. She approaches the pair. "Stop that both of you." she growls.

"I can't." Mick says with an answering snarl.

Josef notices Mick is starting to look a little wild eyed. "She's right. No one will have to drain Beth because you and I are going to scare her to death with our own fear."

Mick squeezes his eyes shut. He knows Josef and Sarah are both right but he's so scared this won't work and he'll lose Beth. If he were human, by now he'd be breathing in a bag in full blown panic mode.

Sarah grabs his arm and squeezes. "It will be fine. Beth has been tested. She has none of the problems I had." she glances at Josef. "Of all the women you've turned, besides me, have there ever been any problems." Sarah hopes like hell Josef has the sense to lie if there has been.

Josef smile because he doesn't have to lie. "No, never. You were the only one I almost lost."

Sarah turns to Finn and Gabriel. "Have either of you lost anyone?"

Both men shake their heads. Gabriel turns to Bowden. "You?"

Bowden shakes his head. "No." he smiles wolfishly down at Janice.

She scowls at him.

One of the reasons he asked if he and Janice could be present at Beth's turning is he's hoping that being exposed to all things vampire will encourage Janice to want him to turn her. Taking the mystery out of the turning can't hurt. He's found himself deeply in love with the woman and she keeps running from him. Her days as a freshie are so engrained in her that vampires don't love humans he is having to work at changing her mind. Of course vampires love a good chase so her chances of getting away are slim to none. He just needs her to learn to trust him. Even if she stays human he knows he will have her for however long she's on this earth. She belongs to him. He senses how much she cares for him she just has to come to a place where she can admit it to herself.

Sarah turns to Mick. "See?" She smiles teasingly at Josef. "If Josef and the rest of these men can do it successfully you know it can't be that difficult?" she tugs on his arm gently. "You know Beth's in the best of hands with Vanessa."

Mick nods. "I know you're right. Thank you." His head snaps up as he senses Beth coming through the door followed by Vanessa. Mick taps down his worry and fear and smiles at Beth. "Everything ok?"

She nods. "A little nervous is all. But I don't want to change my mind." she add quickly."

"Vanessa, how do you want to do this?" Mick asks

Vanessa motions to the double lounge chair. "Sit down sideways. Beth lay across his lap but sit far enough up that you can lean back and tip your head up."

Beth and Mick do as as Vanessa requestsed. "Like this?" He says as he cradles Beth in his arms.

Vanessa nods. "Yes, that's perfect. Are you both ready?"

Beth nods. Mick looks into her eyes and then kisses her. "I love you."

"And I love you." Beth says and turns her head opening up her neck to him.

Mick looks up at Vanessa and she nods. "You know what to do."

Mick traces the vein in Beth's neck with his finger. He moves in slowly and starts at the base of her jaw, kissing is way down her neck. He feels his fangs descend at the taste of her.

Beth lets out an involuntary moan. She feels his tongue linger on the pulse in her neck. She arches to him, opening her neck even more. Suddenly she feels the familiar quick sting as his fangs enter her neck. She lets a small gasp and then relaxes into his body.

Vanessa, as do all the vampires, listen intently to Beth's heart.

Janice grabs Bowden's hand. Her nurses training says this is not good. She can see Beth is dying and she is doing everything she can to keep from intervening to keep Beth alive. Bowden feels her emotions rolling and he pulls her in close. He murmurs in her ear that it will be okay and that this is what Beth wants.

Both Logan and Veronica watch with rapt attention as both their turnings were sudden, unintentional and violent. This planned event and conscious decision on everyone's part interests them greatly.

Without looking at Frank, Vanessa holds out her hand and he puts a dagger in it. Frank then puts a chair next to Vanessa so she can be seated for the feeding.

Beth feels so deliciously languid. Absently she wonders why Mick is drinking from her without making love to her. He never takes blood from her just to feed. She tries to open her eyes. She wants to look in to her loverslover's eyes but she's so tired she can't do anything but lay in his arms and float away.

"Enough." Vanessa says. Her voice like a whip.

Mick instantly pulls back. He holds out his wrist and Vanessa cuts it. "doDo it."

Mick lets his blood drop into Beth's open mouth. As he does this, Vanessa quickly cuts her own wrist and she adds her blood to Mick's. Both Vampires watch intently as Beth's throat begins to move and she swallows the blood. "That's a girl." Mick says quietly. "Drink it all down."

Beth's eyes open fully, her fangs are descended and she snarls as the hunger overwhelms her. She reaches out for a wrist. Mick moves his arm out of the way and Vanessa lets Beth latch on to her wrist. She feels Beth taking deep pulls from her and after a few minutes she smiles over Beth's head at Mick. "Beth, let go."

Beth reluctantly does as she's told but the hunger coming from her is palatable. Mick puts his wrist in front of her and she sinks her fangs into him, he hugs her tight as he feels her drinking from him. "Vanessa, thank you." he tells her softly.

"Of course. Don't let her take much more. Feeding from the two of us she's already gotten more than most do. It's time we took her upstairs and put her in her freezer."

"Beth, that's enough." Vanessa says quietly. "It's time to rest."

She falls back from Mick's arm and smiles sleepily at him. "Ok."

Mick shifts her in his arms and stand up. "We'll be upstairs."

Vanessa nods and follows the pair.

Logan looks at Josef and Josef can see the confusion in his eyes. He glances at Veronica and she's equally confused. "I thought whoever was the sire was the only one who could feed the fledgling. Isn't that why you made Veronica stay with Mick after he turned her?" Logan asks anger creeping into his voice.

"This is far different" Gabriel says from behind them. "Come on, let's go sit and I'll explain it to the both of you."

Josef knows what Gabriel is going to say because Josef asked the same questions when Vanessa explained to him what she and Mick were going to do. "This way, for the first few days when all she's getting is vampire blood, Mick can feed her, it will make him feel more a part of the turning without being her sire." Vanessa told Josef

"You could have told me this was possible when Veronica was stuck in a freezer with Mick." Josef complained.

"And do what? Who would you have put in there with her? Whoever it was couldn't just sit by and feed her from outside. Because of her injuries they had to be in the freezer with her. There wasn't anyone else who was more appropriate than Mick. Sarah was obviously out and for one reason or another, most of your sisters are as well. Doing it yourself would have just confused the hell out of Veronica and a confused fledgling is not a good thing, not to mention the damage it could have done to your relationship with Logan. Would you have taken a chance on some male who may not had as many scruples as Mick? Someone who might have taken advantage of the situation?" Vanessa shakes her head. "No Mick had a woman and a child he loves dearly waiting for him. Under the circumstances he was the best person for the job."

Josef growled not liking the fact that she'd pointed out the obvious to him.

"Besides," she continues. "It doesn't work after the fact. I'd ofhave had to be on hand when she was shot. All this does is allow Beth to be fed by Mick from the beginning. She will still be mine, but this will bind them together a little more. Not enough to take away her free will, nothing like that...it's more like it forges one more link between them."

"Are you sure it will work?" Josef asks with a sigh.

"Of course. Long before you were born there was a time when Vampires weren't allowed to turn anyone without the help and permission from their own sires. I wish it was still that way. We had a lota lot less unstable people in the community, but times change and this way has been forgotten."

"You're not Mick's sire." Josef needlessly points out.

"Of course not, but it's not about the bloodline of the vampire, but the age. Any vampire that's several hundred years older than the other vampire will work. My blood will overpower Mick's influence but she will be able to take blood from either of us."

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Mick looks down into the freezer, watching Beth. The relief he feels makes his legs feel rubbery. As he grabs a chair to sit down, he stops as Vanessa enters the room a glass of blood in her hand. "Drink up and then either climb in with her or go down to the guest house and rest down there, but rest."

Mick smiles. "I'll stay here."

Vanessa chuckles. "Somehow I thought you'd say that."

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TA-DA! It's done and everyone gets to live happily ever after... I really want to give my heartfelt thanks to all of you who were kind enough to comment throughout the story. You have no idea how much it means to have your encouragement.

As always comments are always welcome.