Author's Note: A new Forbidden Addiction chapter? Jeez, Armageddon really is on its way…

Eighteen

"Emberlynn," Alex said tightly. "Are you familiar with the concept of 'letting it go'?"

Emberlynn smiled prettily. "Apparently not, love."

"Don't call me that!"

"Alex…" Niamh managed, the rain was in her eyes, but he stood out vividly in her line of vision.

"Don't worry, butterfly," Alex said softly. "She's not going to hurt you."

"Yes," Niamh heaved herself onto her side. "That's obviously the last thing she wants."

Lightning cracked overhead and Emberlynn's oily pupils lit up and Alex could now see the madness that lingered behind them. That subtle hint that behind that pretty face something was very, very wrong.

"Alright, Alex," Emberlynn whispered. "Right here, right now: tell me you love me."

Alex felt sick at the idea.

"Do you realize how many milliseconds it would take me to disembowel your little Niamh right here and-"

"Okay!" Alex shouted over the gathering thunder- the rain was now pouring down on all three of them. "Okay, I'll do what you want! Just, please, don't hurt her!"

Niamh reached behind her.

"Good boy!" Emberlynn cooed. "Now…get on your knees."

Alex dropped to his knees quickly.

His mind was already coming up with thousands of strategies to save Niamh.

All of which were rejected.

They all put her in some kind of danger and that went against Alex's very aesthetic.

"Now, take my hand," Emberlynn said.

Alex took it.

"Ask me to marry you."

Alex didn't dare risk a glance at Niamh. "I-"

"Alex," Niamh said and now he did look at her. She was looking up at him, her face streaming with rain and her eyes a dark blue. "Don't be a pussy."

And her left arm shot out at Emberlynn.

At first there was amusement, on Emberlynn's face, then surprise, then pain as she recoiled back, staggering onto the grass, staring at Alex's wooden switchblade embedded in her side.

"Oh yeah," Niamh got to her feet. "I went there."

Alex stared. "How the-?"

"Bitch!" Emberlynn spat, ripping the blade out of her side. "You poisonous little-!"

"That," Alex gaped. "Was so awesome."

"I know, right?" Niamh felt more than a little shaken, but inside she was glowing.

Alex snatched her waist and pressed her up against him, nuzzling her neck like an adoring cat. "Oh God, I love you."

Niamh rolled her eyes. "The more you say it, the more meaning it loses."

"I disagree completely, butterfly," Alex whispered. "The more you say it, the stronger it gets."

"Uh, hello?" Emberlynn spat.

"Oh, yes," Alex turned towards her. "Forgot about you."

Niamh picked up a small, but sharp branch from the ground and leveled it at Emberlynn. "I'll do it."

Alex laid a hand on hers. "No, butterfly. That's my job."

"But…you can't hurt a woman."

"Hurting women is something only the vilest, most disgusting breed of men do," Alex agreed. "But if there is even the slightest chance that you could be put into danger again, I would become the devil and more to protect you. And besides," He turned towards Emberlynn. "Can that really be called a 'woman'?"

"Alex, I said I'd start protecting you." Niamh protested.

"Protect me by staying safe- I'd have less heart attacks that way." He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her soft fingertips. "As if I'd let my love's beautiful hands get dirty."

Emberlynn half shook her head as Alex raised the branch. "You won't," She was grinning inanely into the rain and Niamh trembled as, when the lightning flashed, her drenched faced resembled a skull. "You won't kill me just to protect that human, I know you won't. Night World will hunt you. You wouldn't dare risk a lifetime on the run for that girl."

"Oh?" Alex's electric blue eyes shone in the tempest that rose around them, the wind whipping his jet hair out of his eyes. "Wanna bet?"

And the branch came sweeping down in time with the thunder that rattled in the sky.

xxx

The bored hotel clerk, watching the clock for the end of his shift, was stunned to see two beautiful, dripping wet teenagers run into the lobby.

Well, one ran. The black-haired guy was holding the girl in his arms.

"Alex!" The girl protested. "I want to walk."

"And I want to carry you," The guy said. "It appears we have reached a dilemma."

"Can I help you?" The clerk asked.

"Yes, my good sir," The guy nodded and the girl rolled her eyes. "I want your best suite, champagne, double bed, a shower big enough for two- the works."

"Er," Began the clerk, but the guy brought out an American Express and shut him up.

He watched them as the guy insisted on carrying the girl up the stairs, despite her protests.

It must be nice to be young.

xxx

"Alex," Niamh sighed, looking around the overly-luxurious hotel room. "You really didn't have to go to all this trouble. It's just me."

Alex frowned. "What do you mean 'just' you? It's because it's you."

Niamh took off her wet clothes in the bathroom and donned a fluffy bathrobe, when she came back Alex had already poured her champagne.

"Alex," She fussed. "At least take off your wet clothes."

"You come first." He said simply, as if it was an accepted fact.

Niamh's eyes narrowed. "And why did you order a shower big enough for two?"

Alex's eyes glinted. "I think you know why."

"Alex-"

"I know, I know," He kissed a lock of her hair tenderly. "We'll take it as slowly as you want."

"Really?" Niamh stepped forward and kissed him softly, her hands running through his hair.

Alex almost buckled. "W-well," He managed. "If you want me to restrain myself, you've got to be easy on me, butterfly."

"What if I don't want to?" Niamh whispered and kissed him again.

Before she knew it, they were on the bed. Alex's body was still damp from the rain and Niamh had never felt as alive as she did when he kissed her.

"Niamh," Alex rasped. "I don't want to do anything you don't want to do."

"In that case," Niamh smiled up at him through her hair. "You can do anything you want."

"Oh, butterfly," Alex kissed her shoulder and leaned over to kiss her lips.

"Room service!" Somebody hammered on the door.

Alex growled. "Someone's going to die tonight." But his eyes softened as Niamh giggled. "You find my pain funny do you, sweetheart?"

"As always." Niamh smiled.

xxx

Niamh had never dreamed that she would do the things she did with Alex that night, any time before she was married.

He stopped at the very last second- he knew that Niamh wanted to go slow.

Even though it took every last drop of his strength to restrain himself.

As they lay in bed, the clock's neon '1:30AM' the only light in the room, save the moonlight coming in from the wide windows behind the bed, they fell to talking.

Niamh lay curled up in Alex's arms, running her fingers up and down his collarbone. "Where should we go after this? Emberlynn said Night World would be hunting us."

Alex stroked her hair. "I have some connections. We could go stay with my emotionally unavailable childhood friend, Seth Blacklight. Or my second cousin, Jace Everton- although I don't really know him that well, I doubt we're very similar. Hell, we could even crash with Ash and Mary-whatshername."

"Alex," Niamh said. "What about a place of our own?"

Alex sighed. "That would be the ideal, wouldn't it?"

"Do you…?" Niamh began, then trailed off.

Alex looked down, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. "What is it, butterfly?"

"I know this is sudden, but do you want kids?"

Alex frowned. "But, if you still want me to turn you into a vampire, you won't be able to have them."

Niamh looked up. "Aren't you a vampire too?"

"I am indeed," Alex smiled. "But I was born into it. We can have kids."

"And I can have kids whilst I'm still human." Niamh said. "So, do you want that?"

Alex looked worried. "I'm not quite sure what kind of father I'd make."

"A terrible role model who will spoil their appetites and protect them no matter what," Niamh smiled. "That's the kind of dad you'd be."

Alex grinned at her. "Better call Social Services before they're born then," He sat up. "The thing is, butterfly, I can't imagine loving them as much as I love you. I don't want to, you know, be one of those parents who never has any time."

"Well," Niamh said. "I'm not sure either. I don't want to wait too long, but not right away either. And anyway, we'll always have each other."

Alex kissed her. "I'm just the second opinion, butterfly. Everything's your call."

Niamh ruffled his hair and he practically purred. He was doing it again- that incredibly frustrating, incredibly sexy 'your humble servant' thing.

Very chivalric. Very adorable.

Niamh settled herself down in his arms again and basked in the thing they did have.

Time.

At this point, and now and forever, they could rake their hands through it and love each other and, maybe, one day they'd get scared or worried or angry about something, only to turn around and find that they still had the one they loved with them.

Their soul mate.

No argument or lack of trust could change the fact that they were born with the purpose of being together.

Niamh fell asleep for a few hours, but when she awoke, Alex's eyes were on her.

His pupils were dark and loving.

"My darling," He murmured and Niamh's heart panged with love.

Out of the windows leading onto the balcony, a pink horizon was spreading and Niamh got out of bed to go and stand by the window and watch the sun rise.

Alex slid open the french window door and offered her his hand, grinning. "Madam, by your leave."

"You're crazy!" Niamh laughed, holding the cotton nightdress she had found in the wardrobe as the cold breeze caught the hem. "It's freezing out there!"

"I'm freezing too," Alex led her onto the balcony. "Shall we dance, my lady?"

"Is this how you courted all those years ago?"

"This is how I court still," Alex pouted. "I'm a romantic."

Niamh laughed and the breeze whirled around them again, Alex in his shirt and jeans and her in her nightdress- a pretty silly sight for any early riser who happened to be passing by.

"Very well," She curtsied. "As you please, sir."

"As you please, my lady."

He caught her wrists and whirled her around and around as the sky became marigold.

Just when she thought she would fly away like a spinning top, he pressed her close to his heart- a place that she would never leave for the rest of eternity.

"I love you," Alex said, looking at her in awe as she stood there in the sunrise's light. "I adore you, my butterfly."

Niamh regarded him with a small smile at her mouth. "I bet you say that to all the girls, Lord Alex."

Alex laughed and whirled her around. "You're much mistaken, Lady Niamh. I am very much offended."

"Sorry, my darling," Niamh touched his face and his electric blue eyes flickered shut. "I'll have to find some way to make it up to you."

THE END

xxx

StarXedluver12: Well, kind of anyway. I may do one shots, but this is the official end of Forbidden Addiction. To all my darling, darling, beautiful, stunning, (insert adoring adjective here) readers- thank you so much for your saint-like patience. I wish you all the greatest happiness, God bless and for God's sake review!