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 This little piece literally came out of the blue, whilst I was writing a paper on the possibility of an unhappy ending to "Jane Eyre."  The idea that things are not always what they seem appealed to me; did we see *everything*, or just what someone wanted us to see?

Non-Standard Disclaimer: This is a Nanette story, and while it's a little sappy and angsty in parts, it's fairly clean; if you dislike implicit sex (and I do mean implicit), go away.  N&NPackers & Immortal Beloveds should run away now!  You have been warned!!

Standard Disclaimer: FK, Natalie & Janette don't belong to me (I only wish they did), but this story does.  I'll put them back when I'm finished playing with them.

Archiving permission granted to Mel and JADFE (if they want it) ... anyone else ask first.
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"The Best Laid Plans..."  part 1 of 1
by Nymue

The door was open, and she could see her companion brushing her hair.  She walked up behind the woman and buried her face in the long tresses that swirled around the woman's back, forming a dark curtain that framed her lover's pale skin.  Inhaling the sweet scent she had come to love, she asked the question that had been plaguing her all week.

"You're leaving sooner than planned aren't you?"

It came out more like a statement of fact, and the other woman looked up at her lover's reflection in the mirror.  So much sadness in her eyes, she thought, but so much strength as well...

"Oui, cherie.  In fact, I will be leaving this week."

"Why?"

A simple question, but one that had no simple answer.  It was past time to move on, this was true, but there was so much more.  Too many reasons...

"Is is because of me?"

The question caught Janette by suprise.  "Quoi?" she asked.

"I mean," Natalie continued, "has someone found out about our relationship?  Someone who would object, like Lacroix...or Nick?"

Janette turned and tugged on Natalie until she sat facing her on the setee.  Reaching out, she ran her fingers through the other woman's auburn hair, while Natalie cupped Janette's face with her hands.  They sat, neither one wanting to let go, but both knowing that many things had yet to be settled.  Reluctantly, Natalie drew her hands back into her lap and waited for her
lover to continue.  Janette took a deep breath before answering the question.

"Non, no one knows about us.  I suppose," she continued, her tone slightly ironic, "that recent actions have led certain parties to believe we are both enamoured of Nicolas."  Natalie snorted, but waved her hand for Janette to continue.  "The events leading up to your meeting with Lacroix at Azure, and what followed, have convinced him of your infatuation with Nicolas.  Lacroix
believes you are helping Nicolas with the hope that, once he is mortal, the two of you can 'settle down' and have the requisite number of children and all that."

Natalie grinned.  "I'm a better actress than I give myself credit for.  And so are *you* for that matter.  It must take time to master the ability to hide the images that come with the blood.  Of course, I imagine it helps that Lacroix skipped a few "lessons" with Nick.  And I do *love* Nick, but..." her voice trailed off.

"Yes, the ability to block the blood images has helped, and I...I know cherie," Janette said softly.  "I too love Nicolas - how could I not!?" she laughed.  "But what I feel for you goes beyond love...beyond sex...even beyond hunger. I do not know how to describe what I feel for you and that scares me," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper.

Natalie stroked Janette's face until she looked up - their eyes met.  "I feel the same way," Natalie said clearly, "but then, *you* know that already, n'est-ce pas?" she grinned.

Janette smiled wolfishly.  "Oh yes, I most certainly do know that...among *other* things!"

The two laughed again before returing to the subject at hand.  "What about you?" Natalie asked.

"Moi?"  Janette asked, smiling.  "Well, let us say that after the problem with Mr. Schanke - you remember, when Nicolas returned my portrait - and Nicolas' "control" problem while investigating that psychiatrist, Lacroix thinks that I am close to winning him back, as it were," she finished, smiling ironically.

"Hmm...what would he do if he knew we had planned it all to hide our relationship?" Natalie asked.

"The truth is cherie, I do not know," she mused.  "Very few have ever fooled the General for very long."

"Then," Natalie continued, "if *they* aren't the problem, why are you leaving now?"

"Cherie," Janette whispered, "I have been here twenty years.  It is time to move on -- some are already beginning to grow suspicious, and I do not involve myself with mortals the way Nicolas does, present company excepted.  And as discrete as we have been, I feel that to remain much longer would be to expose ourselves to the others.  What I feel for you can no longer be
contained."

"What--" Natalie began.

"Natalie, I have become more involved with you than anyone else in a thousand years.  To stay here, feeling as I do..."

"I think I understand," Natalie said, "it would be kind of like Mt.St.Helen's errupting, hmm?"

"Understatement, mon amour, an understatement," Janette said, remembering the previous night.  Her eyes glowed at the memories, but she forced them away; time for that later.  "I have arranged to leave Toronto, to assume a new identity.  I will tell Lacroix that it is due to Nicolas, and he will believe me...Nicolas was always the so-called problem child."

"And..."

"And when the time is right," Janette finished, "you will use these," she handed Natalie a sheaf of papers and a passport, "to join me in our new home."

"It's all arranged?"

"Yes...but you *must* keep up the charade after I have gone.  No one must be able to connect our disappearences; give it about six months cherie, so that poor Nicolas will not suspect a collaboration.  And you should use this time to settle your
affairs with the mortals in your life."

"Six months apart," Natalie whispered.  "How will we stand it?  Isn't there another way?"

"Non, but I wish there was.  I had to call in a few favors for these," she rustled the sheaf.  "Larry Merlin believes that by the time you come into possession of these you will already be a vampire.  Hopefully he will not find out otherwise from Aristotle or Feliks Twist."

"What if something happens...to delay my leaving?  Should I just leave in six months, or ..." Natalie asked.

"*If* something should occur, you should, what is the saying, "roll with the punches" n'est-ce pas?  Do not leave too many loose ends here Natalie - they make it easier for mortals to trace your whereabouts."

"All right," Natalie sighed.  "But when it's all done, then we'll be together, away from *their* interference?"

"Oui," Janette answered her lover.  "I have already arranged a place for us in Montreal...an older building, yes, but one with style and elegance. You'll love it cherie."

"I'm sure I will," Natalie answered, smiling softly.  "Until then..."

Natalie reached up and gathered Janette's lips for a kiss, one that seemed to never end.  And as they melted together the outside world, with all its troubles, seemed to disappear.  Neither one noticed anything except the other's passion...all they could think of was each other, and the life they had planned away from Toronto......

---to be continued---