A/N: I know, you want to see Nick and Natalie live happily ever after. You want to see Tracy and Vachon. Or even Nick and Jeanette. But vampires don't get 'happily ever after'... they are damned. Nick goes to the only one who can help him deal with that fact...

I don't own Forever Knight.

Prologue

A solitary figure stood in the shadows, hidden away from the bustle below, as people photographed and catalogued and dusted spoke in consoling or curious murmurs in what used to be his place of solitude. Among these invaders was a woman, mousy brown hair barely hiding the red puffiness of her tear-streaked cheeks, not really photographing or cataloging anything, just standing... just mourning.

Mourning him.

A familiar hand fell upon his shoulder, and Nick nodded imperceptibly, casting one last glance at the woman before receding further into the shadows. Before he turned away completely, however, Nick whispered something under his breath, something he knew would not be heard over the movement and murmuring of the people in his livingroom. Something which could barely be heard by Lacroix, who was patiently waiting for Nick to follow him out the window the elder vampire had often used to enter Nick's apartment.

"Goodbye, Nat," Nick whispered.

And then he was gone.

Below, the woman with the tear-streaked face turned very still, and looked up... to see only shadows.