---

LISTEN TO THE VOICE

Michael's Voice

Michael stood at the window and stared at the full moon. Its brilliance seemed to mock his uncertainty. The moon seemed to know that he was confused and it was laughing in his face.

He tore his gaze away and thought about that moon. It seemed as if the full moon lit the momentous occasions of his life. Lysette had been born the night of the full moon. He had waited with his father on the balcony as the midwife helped his mother. It had also greeted him on his way home to deal with the death of his parents. It was a specter of life and death that wouldn't leave him.

He glanced again at the moon and sighed. Was he really the master of his own fate? Were the decisions he made even really up to him or did some master hand drive it all? "Perhaps the moon has a hand in it all," he grimly laughed to himself. He ran his hand through his hair trying to ease the pain of the headache that was building.

"God, my father would have a fit if he could see me, " he thought as he caught a glimpse of his reflection and the long hair framing his face. But then, his father wouldn't get to see him. His father had been dead over 6 months and the pain never seemed to fade.

"I should really call Lysette and see how she is doing," he thought as he returned to gaze out the window. "But I don't really have time. Rene will be here any minute and I need to make my decision."

His thoughts turned to his friend Rene. He had met the older man when he had first entered university. His friend's political philosophies had at first confused him. How was it possible to run a country if no one ever made a profit? Those individuals in charge deserved to be compensated. His privileged upbringing as the son of a wealthy businessman had prepared him to function within his father's world and become one of those people.

But Rene had opened his eyes. With Rene he had toured the slums of the city and had seen the poverty and the devastation. How could the bureaucracy allow people to live in this manner? Corruption seemed to be at the root of it all, and the only way to kill the beast was to undermine its authority. Slowly everything Rene said made sense.

He thought back to his last conversation with his father. Michael's body jerked as he corrected himself. "No, let's be honest. It wasn't a conversation. It was an argument, " he finally admitted to himself. His father was concerned about the influence that Rene had obtained over Michael.

"He's filling your mind with nonsense. He wants the wealthy to give up everything and just give it way to the poor. It doesn't work that way. It is the obligation of the wealthy to help the poor rise above their station, but each individual needs to work for his or her worth. If you just give to people they have no self-value. Don't you understand?" He remembered how his father's lean figure had paced the floor of his father's study. His dark hair cut short and waving. His blue eyes blazing. He had paused occasionally to stop and gesture at Michael.

Michael had sneered at his father, "And how exactly do you help the poor? By giving money to the bureaucrats."

"I do my best to run my businesses with a fair hand. I pay my employees honest wages and I promote those that excel. I allow them time to see their families and make a living. I let them have a chance of a better existence. Does that make me evil?" His father was practically shouting him at this point.

"You pay them wages and then they have to pay half of it back to the bureaucrats," Michael exploded. "Can't you see that the system is corrupt? You are not helping them as long as you support the pigs who run this country."

"Your so-called friend has corrupted your mind. So what is his solution, uh? If you can't get the politicians to do what you want? What then? Will you just take out a gun and shoot them? Or maybe you will take more people with them? Set a bomb and become a terrorist. That is what your friend has in mind, isn't it. If you cannot change the system within the system, just strike back. Your crazy politics are going to get you killed. I just hope that you don't take your mother and your sister with you!" His father had been striding across the room during this tirade and at his final statement had been leaning in toward Michael's face. Michael had been forced to lean back. If his mother had not entered the room at the moment he was sure he and his father would have come to blows.

"I've had enough of this argument," his mother had flashed. "Lysette is upstairs trying to sleep and you two are not helping." He remembered the way her green eyes had shone with indignation. "I will have no more of this arguing in my house. You are father and son and should love each other." Then with a pointed glance at both of them and a flip of her long red hair, she had turned and led the way out of the room throwing an order over her shoulder, "Dinner is ready and you are both attending. This conversation is finished."

Michael smiled to himself as he realized that indeed, his father and he had never finished that conversation. What his mother commanded was his father's desire. He did what she wanted and happily. Tears gathered in his eyes. What he wouldn't give to be able to finish that conversation now.

He turned from the window and walked over to the bed and sat down. His shoulders slumped forward and he placed his head in his hands. His father had been right. Rene did have a plan. He wanted Michael to build a bomb for him. Rene was going to "strike a blow" for the people, but he needed Michael's help. Michael was the expert in physics. He had the knowledge of science. "Wasn't it fortuitous, " Rene had said, "that we met last year and to find out now that you have the knowledge that will aid us in our fight." Rene had slapped him on the back and had laughed with the rest of their group.

It had all seemed so right at the time. He had readily agreed to make the bomb. He had in fact made it. It rested under his bed and Rene would be coming for it soon. "I can't believe I am doing this," Michael muttered to himself. "I must be crazy. There are so many voices to listen to."

He thought of Rene and his father, their voices echoing in his head. He chuckled sadly to himself. It was as if they were specters looking over his shoulder. One an angel and one the devil, saying, "Do it" and "Don't do it" in turn. But which should he listen to and which was the angel? He flopped back on his bed, and yelled at the ceiling. "I'm only nineteen. Want do I know? Who do I listen to? Please God, tell me!"

As Michael lay there in despair a voice seemed to filter slowly through. He recalled the last time he saw his mother. She had been seeing him off after that last fateful meal with his parents. His father had stalked off and wouldn't speak to him. His mother had placed her hands on his face and she had kissed him. Her words filtered back to him.

"Remember Michael that your father loves you and he just wants you to be safe. He is angry with you right now, but he will calm down," her voice had soothed his wounded heart.

"I just want him to understand me. My opinion does matter. I have a voice," he had muttered to his mother.

"Ah, voices," she had whispered. "Yes, everyone has a voice." His mother's gaze had seemed to blur for a moment then she had looked back at him intently. "Your father and I will not always be here for you. Our voices will carry through the years in your memories and those of your friend Rene will carry also. But remember this. Everyone else's voice is carried here, within your head." She had smiled sadly and had tapped him lightly on the forehead. "But, the voice you must listen to, the wisest voice, is here, " and saying this she laid her palm against his heart. "This voice will never lead you astray, listen to it." She had then kissed him again and had said goodbye.

Michael's eyes flew open as a knock came at the door. Rene's voice called, "Michael, are you there?" Michael jumped up and glanced out the window. The full moon laughed in his face.

*************

Nikita's Voice

Approximately 10 years later

Nikita sat in Central Park and watched the moon rise. It was strange how, in the midst of all this misery, such a place could exist. The full moon seemed to grace the park with a beauty that hid the evil that could exist there.

She placed her head in her hands. "I'm tired, so tired. It's making me sloppy," Nikita thought. Every day she spent walking the streets of the city, scrounging and stealing what she could to survive, but it was becoming more difficult. While the "honest" people of the city hardly ever noticed her, her reputation as a thief was starting to draw the kind of attention she didn't want. The leaders of the underbelly of society had their eye on her. She could feel it.

She had survived so far without prostituting her body for money, but the pimps were starting to draw closer. She managed to hide her body most of the time with the baggy clothes she wore, and a few of the ladies would run interference when their men took notice, but her time was running out. It was just a matter of time before one of the pimps managed to corner her and then she would have almost no choice. Work for him or "else", would be the threat.

She picked her head out of her hands and leaned back against the bench. Gazing vacantly at the moon she thought about that threat. She chuckled grimly. "Face it Nikita," she spoke aloud to herself, "it's not really the "or else" that frightens you. Uncle Joe, and Uncle Tony, and, oh yeah, Uncle Marvin made damn sure that "or else" isn't too much of a threat." She laughed again and drew the odd glance from a passerby. Nikita responded by sticking her tongue out at him. "So much for him," she thought as the man scurried way form her.

Tears gathered in her eyes and she thought about what she had had to do in the past. "No, I could be a prostitute," she finally admitted to herself. "There are worse things. But it will be the final step. I don't think I can come back from it." Prostitution would mean the complete collapse of her dreams.

"How did I get here?" Nikita questioned herself. "What did I do that was so wrong?" At this point she looked at the moon again and questioned it. "Do you know?" She laughed bitterly when there was no answer. "No, I didn't think you would answer. Maybe I should ask God, but then from what I've seen he's just as real as you are."

As Nikita held this conversation the darkness was deepening and a cop was heading slowly toward her, intent on rousting the homeless from their benches. Nikita rose and started walking away from him. She had a niche in a building where she usually spent her nights. It was relatively safe because she usually went unnoticed. However tonight her steps toward her "home" base were slower than usual.

Nikita thought about the alley she had to walk to get to her nightly spot and she shivered. It was another of the reason she needed to choose a new path. Lately she had started to feel "watched", and not by your friendly, neighborhood pimp. "Someone else" was out there and whoever "they" were, they frightened her. She couldn't say for sure that someone was watching her, but she knew that lately her hair would stand on end as she walked through the alley. Its safety was no longer a definite.

She paused by the entrance to the park and lean against a stone wall. Didn't people normally have friends who could help them make decisions? Where was she to get help? She thought back to the only friend she could remember. "Julie," she whispered. "I wonder what Julie is doing now."

Nikita thought about Julie and Julie's mother, Barbara her name had been. Nikita had envied her friend her mother. Her arms came up around her body and she hugged herself, remembering the hugs that Barbara had bestowed on her. Those hugs had never frightened her. She had never questioned if there might have been an ulterior motive. Julie's mother just liked to hug. A tear dripped down Nikita face as the memories drifted by the planes of her eyes.

Nikita shook herself as she realized time was passing. "To go or not to go down that alley. That is the question!" Nikita wondered out loud, as she walked down the sidewalk. "How can I make the right choice."

She thought back to a conversation she had had with Barbara. Julie had been brushing Nikita's hair while her mother had brushed hers. Nikita had asked, "How can you tell right from wrong?"

Barbara had paused in her brush strokes and had looked at Nikita in the mirror. "That's a difficult question, honey. I guess "right" is something that everyone usually agrees is the right thing to do. "Wrong" is what society would frown on or punish someone for doing. Why do you ask?" Her voice had held concern.

Nikita ignored the question. "What if someone told you that something was "right", but you really thought it was "wrong"? What should a person do then?" Nikita asked seriously.

"The person should do what they felt in their heart was right." Julie's mother replied.

"What if that person didn't have a choice?" whispered Nikita.

"Nikita, is there something wrong? Is there anything I can help you with?" Barbara's eyes made contact with Nikita's through the mirror.

"No, I'm fine," Nikita had whispered. "I just wanted to know what was "right" and what was "wrong". I just need to know."

Barbara had risen from her seat on the bed and had knelt in front of Nikita. She had reached out and hugged her and had stroked her hair. "Your heart will be a little voice inside you telling you what choice to make. People can take away your ability to actually make the choice, but your heart will know the truth and someday you will be able to choose for yourself. That day will come, honey. Just listen to your heart."

By this time Nikita was approaching the alley. Her hands were stuffed in her pocket, crumpling a leaflet someone had passed to her today. She stopped in front of the alley and looked back toward the direction of the park. She turned to look into the alley. "Thank you, mom." she whispered, as she made her choice.

************

Present Day

Michael

Michael stood at the window of the study and watched the activity in the garden below. From his position he could carefully observe the guests. The lights that were strung through the garden cast a pale glow on the faces their faces while the light from the moon added an eerieness to the night that could give one shivers.

Michael was in a contemplative mood. It had been almost 15 years since he started down this path and nights like this one seem to lend themselves to self-review.

Michael glanced up at the moon and blinked his eyes in surprise. He hadn't realized at first that it was a full moon, but it seemed fitting. "With me again, are you old man," Michael asked the moon. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're with me tonight. I've become used to you as a companion."

He shrugged his shoulders within the confines of the tuxedo jacket. It was not his normal style of dress, but he wore it because the occasion dictated its use. He would be able to be more comfortable when tonight's business was completed.

How did I become this man? Michael pondered. "This chameleon that can change its face to suit the viewer. I don't believe that the people who spend the most time with me even realize what is under this façade." He grimly chucked as he thought about his nickname. "Old Stone-Face" was what his colleagues called him behind his back. They had no idea that he was fully aware of his unofficial title and that it actually amused him.

He had earned the title. His chosen path had been a difficult one. He had learned to suppress his emotions, had needed to be ruthless. An unguarded man didn't last long in his line of work.

He thought back to the night that Rene had knocked on his door. His choices that night had changed all of their lives, his, Rene's, and Lysette's. "Does she even understand what I did," he wondered, "and did I even really have any other choice."

Michael's back stiffened when he heard the door to the study open. A warm melodious voice drifted over to him. "Michael, my love. What are you doing up here alone? I was watching you from the garden. You are supposed to be downstairs mingling, not up here brooding."

He turned to watch the woman approach him. Her dark hair was drawn back and it framed her beautiful face. Her heavily pregnant body was awkward as she drew closer to him and he took a few steps toward her to draw her journey short.

"You know that I hate crowds," he smiled at her as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her cheek. "I just wanted some time alone. What are you doing climbing those stairs? I thought the doctor told you to take it easy."

She laughed lightly as she returned his caress. "I know that you think it's God's mission for you to look after me but it's not. Your mission is to get downstairs and watch those old men. I know that as sharks go they're old ones, but sharks never lose their teeth, they just keep adding new ones. Come and help me tread water."

He grimaced at her seriously bad attempt at humor. "Alright, alright. I'll come down with you. But I need to make a phone call first."

************

Nikita

Nikita stood at her balcony door. The full moon shone down at her and a breeze gently pulled at her hair. Pachelbel's Kanon in D drifted out from the apartment, setting the mood for the evening. Staring at the cityscape while music played was one of the few ways she found peace. The hectic schedule that she maintained left little time to contemplate life's meanings, and it was a rare occasion that she actually had that time to spare.

"I can't believe it's been almost five years since I stood at the entrance to that alley," she thought. "Who would have ever believed that so simple a choice as walking down an alley could make such a radical difference in one person's life."

She turned and walked back into the apartment and wandered to the stereo equipment. Suddenly the soft classical music was grating on her nerves. She changed the selection and heard a woman's soft voice, echoing the pain of a lonely existence. The faintly Celtic undertones to the music lent it an ethereal sound that heightened Nikita's sense of solitude. Sometimes, the only way to get through a funk, was to wallow in it.

"God, I need a man," she giggled. "A man, yeah that's rich," suddenly solemn again she thought about her past romantic liaisons. "As love lives go, mine sucks big time. This guy turns out to be a creep in sheep's clothing, that guy's life is already a disaster, or my job just screws everything up. A pint of Haagen Das would last me longer."

Nikita drifted back out to the balcony with the beat of the music and stood swaying gently, gazing at the moon. "I know that you can wish on the first star at night," she thought. "I wonder if it works for the moon as well?"

Her body stopped swaying and her stance became rigid. She defiantly threw her head back and glared at the moon. "I know that somewhere out there, he is staring at you too," she stated out loud to the moon. "Can't you show me the least little sign that there is a chance for us?"

From inside her apartment Nikita heard the phone ring.

*************

The woman frowned at Michael's words. "A phone call? I thought you were done with business for the day? You are supposed to be devoting your time to entertaining our guests."

"Lysette," murmured Michael, "I love you dearly, but business doesn't stop anymore. Just because the office is closed here, doesn't mean that it's not open in some other place in the world. I need to call New York and find out if they have solved their production problems. If they haven't it could change the time frame of the next release date. I would think that you would want me to make this phone call. Your husband's vacation depends on the answer. You wouldn't want me to cancel his time off would you?" Michael gave Lysette a mischievous glance, a smile that only a teasing brother can share with a dearly loved sister. "Where is that husband of yours, hmmm? He was supposed to make sure that you didn't do too much."

"He's downstairs tending to the hosting duties," replied Lysette. "Something that you are supposed to be handling." The chastising tone of her voice made Michael wince and he turned away from his sister.

Wandering back across the room Michael ended up looking at the Full Moon again. "I'm sorry Lysette," Michael quietly uttered. "I just needed time alone. It is nights like these that I'm reminded of what our life could have been like had mother and father still been alive."

"Don't you mean, what our lives would be like if you hadn't decided to not help Rene?" asked Lysette.

Michael half-turned in surprise at his sister's question. His mouth opened in an attempt to ask her a question, but her voice forestalled him.

"What, you thought I didn't know what went on back then? Well you're right Michael, at the time I didn't. All I knew was that you had decided to move home and learn the business from the bottom up. I didn't particularly care why. You were home with me and I felt safe again." Lysette had been walking toward him and had reached him. She stopped in front of him raised her hand to rest it along his cheek. "All I knew," she continued quietly, "was in the chaos that was left behind after our parents' deaths, my big brother was there with me every night to hold me when I awoke with nightmares."

Michael's head had dipped with her words and he had trouble looking her in the face. "You make it sound as if I was a hero," he said bitterly. "I wasn't. I was a young fool. You think I came home for your sake. I didn't. I came home because I was frightened, and I ended up betraying a man I respected. I disgust myself." The self-loathing that rang through his voice at this statement made Lysette sigh.

"You had a right to be frightened," Lysette stated emphatically. "If you had followed Rene's plan you could have went to jail for murder."

"What do you know about Rene's plan?" Michael jerked away from his sister and turned his back.

"I know almost everything that happened back then Michael. After you came home you changed. Oh, you were the same loving brother who cared for my needs and hugged me and kissed me. But you also withdrew from me as if you were afraid that your being with me would hurt me." Lysette turned away from Michael and began pacing the room.

"Did you know that I would get up and wander through the house in the middle of the night?" Lysette questioned. Michael's posture stiffened with the question and he turned his head to look at her. She stopped pacing and looked back at him, questioning green eyes meeting a similarly colored pair, but the second showing shock instead.

"At first I wondered why the police inspectors would visit our house at night," Lysette laughed at this point. "Actually I was frightened the first time I saw them so I hid. That was a very profitable bit of eavesdropping. It seemed that a former associate of yours was suspected of engineering a bombing. Innocent people had been killed. Justice was wanted."

At this point Michael collapsed in a chair near the window. He slumped forward and hung his head in his hands. "Lysette," he started.

Lysette continued as if he had not spoken. "They thought at first that you had made the bomb. They had found bomb supplies at your apartment. Luckily the bomb material in your apartment didn't match the remnants left at the bombsite. You hadn't realized that you had been under surveillance long before the bombing. They knew you had been a part of his group, but that you had pulled out just before the bombing. Lysette's voice continued to drift through the room. The unemotional detached tone of a journalist rehashing a well-known news story. "They couldn't figure out why you had left his group. You were the perfect subject for his indoctrination program. He was good at it. Find the smart, wealthy, disillusioned youth, struggling against the dominance of his father, and convince him that there was a better path to follow. His path. You were the fly for the spider. He had been sucking you dry. What could have set you free?" Lysette stopped her travels and turned to look at him. "That's when they found out about me."

"Yes," whispered Michael, his face still hidden.

"I was their leverage. Help them catch Rene and L'Heur Sanguine and you could be free to stay with me and raise me. Not help and you would die and I would be left alone. You would be taken away in the middle of the night and no one would no where. I remember the woman the most clearly. She was a brunette, a beautiful woman. Her voice was soft and pleasant, but her words were hard and frightening. She knew I was listening, did you know that Michael?" Lysette finally paused in her recitation.

Michael head shot out of his hands and his mouth opened in surprise. He began to stutter, "You must be mistaken, Lysette."

Lysette smiled sadly at her brother. "I am ashamed of you Michael. All of these years and all of those girl friends and you still don't understand our sex any better? She knew. She knew and she was counting on my knowing she knew. I was the final card to be played. Didn't you ever wonder why I started having those vicious nightmares about being left alone? After all, I had been fine since your arrival home, other than a few weepy episodes. And then suddenly you couldn't sleep a night through without my awakening you to screams."

Lysette turned and walked to the window. She looked out at the group gathered below. She caught her husband's eye and smiled at him, blessing the stabilizing influence that her husband's handsome visage could have on her. Michael came and stood behind her, his hands gripped her shoulders. "They weren't the police, were they Michael?" Lysette asked quietly.

************

Michael

Michael drew his sister back against his chest and rested his chin on her head. "No Lysette, whoever they were, they were not the police."

Lysette leaned against her brother and gazed out the window. She brought her hands up to cover his where they rested on her belly. "I didn't think so. They were much too in control. They came every night to question you. Picking your brain about Rene. She obtained information from you I don't even think you realized you knew. Every night they came she was aware I watched."

Lysette continued her story; "The man was the one that frightened me. I was afraid that he was just going to haul you away. They argued about that one time, you know. They had given you an opportunity to leave the room. They wanted you to set up a meeting with Rene and get him to talk about the bombing, but you were hesitant. He wanted to just take you and force you to do it, but she persuaded him to wait one more day. I remember the conversation:

"The cold-eyed man said, "He's not going to help us, we should just take him and force him to do it. He's expendable, and even if he does survive he is a perfect candidate for Section material.""

"I remember that she looked toward my hiding place before she answered him. Her voice was low, but clear. "We will give him one last chance to stay with his sister. It would be a shame to have to take him away from her. There is so much good he could do. That is why we're here isn't it?""

"When did this happen, Lysette?" Michael questioned his sister.

"Do you remember the night that I woke you with a nightmare and I made you get the Bible and swear with your hand on top of it that you would never leave me?" Lysette questioned?

"Yes," Michael replied as he gave his sister a hug.

"That night."

"And it was the next day that I contacted them and said I would do it," Michael replied. "I felt so guilty when I contacted Rene. I was being a Judas to this man who had befriended me. I can still remember the look of shock on his face as they hauled him away and his angry voice condemning me. I have never forgotten that."

Lysette turned in Michael's embrace and hugged her brother. She looked at him and in her sternest voice corrected him, "You were not a Judas and Rene was not Jesus Christ! He was a terrorist, plain and simple. He wanted to change society, but he didn't want to follow anyone else's rules. He ruined people's lives. He didn't deserve your loyalty and he doesn't deserve your guilt. You are a good man."

"Am I?" questioned Michael. "All I ever wanted to do was help people live a good life and I became what I once detested, a man of business who influences the powerful to get my way. Those old sharks you referred to are just really just lampreys along for the ride."

"You are a good man," Lysette insisted. "You took our father's business and have built it into an empire. But it isn't an evil empire, as you would choose to think. An evil man wouldn't devote the resources of his companies into charitable works. He wouldn't start work- training programs for the homeless teens in the cities or establish daycare centers for working mothers. You have done so much more as a businessman than you ever could have accomplished as a terrorist. Stop beating yourself about what you had to do."

"Then why do I still feel this way," he sadly asked.

"Because you have spent too many years thinking you had to carry this burden alone. You held yourself apart, thinking that I needed to be protected from you, that everyone needed to be protected from this "evil" man that doesn't really exist. That never existed. You need to change that mind set." Lysette had been drawing back from him and a gleam had appeared her eyes. "I know, we need to find you a woman!"

Michael laughed, knowing what she was trying to do. The conversation about his guilt was over as far as Lysette was concerned. She didn't believe in it and in her mind there was nothing more to talk about. His little sister was going to force him to do what she wanted. He guessed from what he learned that day that she was better at it then he had ever realized.

"A woman," Michael questioned. "What kind of woman are we talking about, hmm?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her to try to make her laugh, but then he realized that she was going full steam ahead with this idea and was perfectly serious in her goals. She had broken out of his arms and had marched over to the desk and was busily going through the address book.

"Yes, a woman. Actually, you need a wife, a wife and some babies. Yes, some babies." Lysette paused in her mutterings to run her hand over her swollen stomach in a motherly caress.

Wait a minute here," Michael interjected. "A moment go you wanted to find me a woman and now you have me married off with children? Aren't you moving a little quickly?"

"It didn't take very long for me to decide that Jonathan was what I wanted. In fact, it took you longer to decide if you thought he was good enough for me," Lysette replied. "I knew the moment I saw Jonathan that he would complete my world. Lysette smiled fondly at the memory of the first meeting between her brother and her future husband. Michael could be a force to reckon with, but her husband had withstood the fire. Her eyes refocused as she looked at her brother.

"What do you think about Alice Renaud?" She asked her brother with a tiny smile on her face.

"Alice Renaud!" Michael exclaimed. "Lysette, that woman pinches by behind every chance she gets. She's like a leech. Do you know how many times I have narrowly escaped without major bruising? She frightens me!"

"Hmm. I didn't think she was that bad. Have you tried letting her catch you?" Lysette looked at her brother with a mischievous grin.

At that moment the study door opened and a tall, distinguished man walked into the room. His black hair was a complement to the woman's and his blue eyes lit when they saw her. He gazed worriedly at Lysette and her brother and questioned them, "Lysette, I thought you came up to get Michael? Is everything okay? Is it the baby?"

"Everything is fine, Jonathan. Michael and I were just discussing his love life," Lysette grinned at her brother and she made this statement."

"You mean lack of one," Jonathan cheekily replied, aiming a smirk at his brother-in-law. "Well, his love life is never going to get any better if he stays here with you. Come on you two. Sibling chat time is over and I'm tired of facing that crowd alone. They came to see you two, not this ugly American." He went to his wife and kissed her face. "Besides, I need your protection. This crazy woman down there keeps trying to pinch my butt!"

Michael and Lysette both broke into laughter at Jonathan's innocent comment and then Michael said to Lysette, "Go, go with your husband and protect him. I will be right down after placing that phone call I originally needed to make."

Lysette got up and walked over to her brother and hugged him. "Think about what I said," she whispered in his ear.

"Do you really think there is someone out there for me?" He whispered back.

"Yes, I know there is." Lysette kissed her brothers cheek and hugged him again. "You just need to believe she is there." Lysette pulled out of her brother's arms and turned into husband. "Lead on dear one and show me this awful woman."

Michael fondly watched his sister and her husband leave the room and smiled when he realized that she had pinched Jonathan's behind on the way out the door. He turned and went to look again at the Full Moon. "Well Old Man," he muttered aloud. "Is Lysette crazy or is there someone out there for me? What can you tell me?"

The Full Moon looked back at the man and smiled.

************

Nikita

Nikita skipped in through the balcony windows in an attempt to get to the phone before the caller hung up. As she picked up the phone she breathily said, "Hello." There was no answer for a moment. Nikita tried again, "Hello, is someone there?"

"Nikita, I almost gave up on you," said the voice on the other end. "I wasn't sure that you were back yet."

"Adele!" exclaimed Nikita, thinking of her best and only friend. "I'm so glad you called. I arrived home this morning and was just puttering around the place."

Adele laughed, "Nikita, I don't think I've ever seen you "putter". What were you really doing?"

Nikita laughed self-consciously, "Oh, I guess I was feeling sorry for myself. Coming down from the adrenaline rush of the trip."

"Well, I have a suggestion," responded Adele. "Why don't you meet me at McMann's Coffee Shoppe and we'll talk about it over a double latte."

"If you make it a hot chocolate instead, it's a deal. Meet you there in 20 minutes." Nikita hung up the phone after saying goodbye and proceeded to get her coat and purse and left for McMann's.

************

McMann's

Adele watched her young friend approach the table and grinned at the chaos that was left in her wake. Every man in the place was turning his head and the women were looking too. She saw one young woman punch her date as his mouth dropped open at Nikita's passage. Nikita herself was completely indifferent to the devastation that was left behind and instead only had a smile on her face for Adele. As she finally arrived at the table the collective sighs from the men were almost audible.

"Adele," Nikita exclaimed as she leaned down to kiss Adele's cheek, "I'm so glad to see you. Your phone call was a life saver." Nikita smiled down at the little woman. She loved seeing her dear friend. The short little woman's gray hair was neatly coifed and showed just a tinge of blue.

"So, how was the trip to San Juan," asked Adele. "You don't look very tanned."

"The company didn't want tanned. Do you know how hard it is to stay untanned in a place like San Juan? The photographer was an egomaniac. He couldn't decide if he wanted the "romantic look of a woman in love" or the exotic look of a woman out of place". He drove me insane. And the company liaison, that little pervert. He thought that because I was under contract to model their product that that meant I was under contract to him personally. I set that little s.o.b straight damn fast. Sometimes I hate this job. Remind me why I started modeling in the first place Adele," Nikita complained at her friend.

"You got into it so you could leave the other place you were in behind Nikita." Adele quietly answered. "You shouldn't forget that. You've been very lucky. A lot of people would die to be in your shoes."

Nikita was immediately contrite, "You're right, Adele. You are so right. I do appreciate my life and how far I've come. I've been feeling lonely and I guess I was starting to wallow in self-pity. I'm so glad that I have you to put me back into my place." Nikita reached across the table and grabbed her friend's hand. "I owe it all to you, you know. I don't think I'd even be alive if it weren't for you."

Adele thought back to her first meeting with Nikita. "You sure were a mess, alright. Coming into the shelter so late. By rights I shouldn't have let you in. We closed the door at 11:00 PM for safety and I was just about ready to lock them. I don't know what made me hesitate. I just felt that for some reason I should wait that night. It was strange. And then you showed up about 10 minutes later. You were out of breath as if you had been running from demons."

"I think I was running from demons," responded Nikita. "It's funny you should talk about strange impulses. I was going to sleep in my usual spot that night, but I suddenly felt that if I did my life would be changed forever, and not in a good way?" Nikita paused. "Do you believe in vampires?" Nikita suddenly asked Adele.

"What?" Adele questioned. "Vampires? Nikita, what are you talking about?"

Nikita laughed self-consciously, "I guess that does sound bizarre doesn't it. It's just that for weeks before that night I felt like I was being watched. As if someone or something was waiting for me to make the wrong move and when I did they would just snap me up. Like they describe in the vampire novels. It was that feeling that drove me to the shelter that night. I had been given a flyer that day in the park and it was in my pocket. I was deciding what to do for the night and I was suddenly afraid of the alley that I had crossed every night before that. I didn't know where else to turn and then I felt the flyer in my pocket. That's how I ended up at your door."

Adele reached across the table to grab Nikita's hands. They had been shredding a paper napkin apart while she had told her tale. "I'm so glad you did come in that night. You have been the reason that I have been able to continue with the shelter. I had been about to quit and leave. I didn't feel as if I was helping anyone. The despair of the situation was getting to me. I felt useless. And then you showed up and you gave me a reason to continue."

Tears had appeared in Nikita's eyes at this comment and she grimaced, "You've got to be kidding, Adele! I was a pain in the ass. I was rude and uncooperative and a general nuisance."

"And frightened," Adele said. "You may have been all of those things, Nikita, but you were also frightened and that kept you in control. You may have been a pain, but you complied with every rule in the end and you really seemed to want to learn some skill to help you out of the situation you were in. You managed to clean yourself up and get a job in no time."

"I was just glad that you and the shelter were there to help me get started. I needed the roof and the shower and the bed. I was slowly starting to feel human again when I got my "big break," Nikita grinned at her choice of words.

"Yes, it was a big break. When that documentary crewmember came over to ask who you were I was a little worried. The film industry isn't known for being kind to runaways, but when he just suggested that if you had a few lessons in posture and manners that you might make a good model, I decided that it was my chance to help you." Adele frowned at the memory. The modeling industry had been a risk for a girl like Nikita, but Adele had known that it would be one way to get her off the streets. Waitressing had been an iffy possibility. Nikita could only stay at the shelter for a short period of time and then she would be on her own again. The shelter system rarely gave anyone the time really needed to be self-sufficient in the city.

"I'm so glad that you did help me Adele. You didn't have to teach me how to be a lady, but you did and you certainly didn't have to help me get my career started. Going with me to the agencies and checking out people's credentials. I don't know what I would have done without you. I was so naïve. I see some of the girls coming into the business and I see them making mistakes that you helped me avoid." Nikita frowned into her hot chocolate, and then looked up at Adele. "I can never repay you for what you've done for me Adele. I'm so sorry that I mouthed off earlier. I had no right."

Adele smiled fondly at the girl who she had come to think of as a daughter. "Nikita, you don't need to apologize. I wouldn't change any of the things I did and I have been rewarded many times for my actions already. You have become my family. I am continuously blessed. Now, I think we have exhausted the past as a topic of conversation. Tell me what's really wrong, Nikita. You know that you usually like the excitement of a job and the traveling. What is really behind your self-pity?"

Nikita leaned back in her chair with a sigh and ran her hand through her long hair. "I think I'm lonely, Adele. I had been feeling good about the trip, but then I came home to an empty apartment. I was feeling stir crazy so I went for a walk and it seemed as if all I saw were couples. People holding hands. People laughing together over silly things. The only one I have is you, and no offense Adele, but your hands are chapped." She laughed at this point and gave her friend a snotty grin.

Adele laughed and shook her head. "But, what about that man you had been dating? What was his name? Started with a "J" I think. What happened to him?

A scowl covered Nikita's face. "Oh don't mention him. I just want to forget him. He turned out to not be who I thought he was. He was just a creep, one in a long series." Nikita shuddered at the memories of her last encounter with "what's his name" as she had chosen to think of him. "A pretty big creep."

"But you meet a lot of men in your line of business. Surely they are not all creeps." Adele frowned as she tried to think of men she could send Nikita's way.

"Not as many as you think," Nikita answered, "and besides, most of them want a good looking woman beside them and that's all, well maybe not all, but you know what I mean. They want to say they have a date with a model, and maybe even say they made it with her. That is not the role I want to play."

"So what do you want?" Adele questioned. Her eyes scanned Nikita's face. She had never seen her young friend so serious about this topic. Nikita had always seemed carefree and had not seemed to worry about being alone.

"I want a man who cares about others more than he cares about himself. "Nikita gaze was wistful and her voice was soft as she thought about her imaginary man. "I want a man who could care less if I'm immaculately made up, and cares more that I'm working at his side to accomplish a shared goal." Her gaze suddenly hardened and resolve crept into her voice. "I don't plan on being a model forever, you know. This is just a means to an end. I want to do more important things, Adele. I need a man who wants to help me do that, not someone who wants me to look good on his arm."

"Well then maybe, Nikita, you have to go and find him. Take a vacation, somewhere that you normally wouldn't go," Adele suggested. "Get your thoughts in order. You have been working for a long stretch. I think you could use some time off. It will give you some perspective."

"That's a great idea, Adele," exclaimed Nikita. "And who knows, maybe I'll meet the man of my dreams on this trip." Nikita gave a slow smile that made the men in the shop moan. "Now, let's put our heads together and figure out where I'm going to go."

************

The wind gently lifted Nikita's hair from her face and left her long graceful neck exposed. Nikita gazed out onto the vista before her and sighed with pleasure. The past week had been one of the most satisfying of her life. Even with all of the exotic locales she had had the opportunity to visit in her career, she had never realized what beauty could be found in her own backyard.

When Adele had mentioned a vacation trip she had never considered this location. She and Adele had talked for hours about where the perfect relaxation spot could be found. At first vacation spas were at the top of the list, then old-world cities. When they had started listing vacation cruises they both agreed to stop for the night. They left the coffee shop agreeing to meet the following night at Nikita's. Dinner, a movie, and magazines listing the top vacation spots were on the agenda for the evening.

It was during the movie that she had realized that she had been approaching the getaway from the wrong point of view. She had finally figured out why all the exotic beach locations had not appealed. Why did one need to relax to take a vacation? She herself had never exactly been a passive individual. It was well known in her business that even when she was sitting still she was not at rest. Her energy was her calling card so why not make use of it.

Her need for a vacation also stemmed from her need to release the emotions she had penned up for the last five years. She needed an activity that cathartic. Surroundings that made her spirit move and speak. When at the end of the movie she had experienced the unusual sensation of tears flowing down her face she had turned to Adele and spoke for the first time in two hours. "There, that is the place. I need to see that place."

Adele had taken one look at her beautiful, weeping friend and had quietly said, "Are you sure Nikita?" doubt creeping into her voice. "It's not exactly what you've become used to. And you're not likely to find the man of your dreams there."

"Adele," Nikita had responded with a watery smile, "finding a man is not the main point of this trip. And you are wrong anyway, what you should have said was that I'm not likely to find a man like the ones I've been meeting lately, and that is actually a good thing. And as far as it not being what I'm used to," Nikita paused, "I don't exactly think that I'll ever forget what I've been used to so that also is no problem."

The next day she and Adele had started planning the trip. It had had to wait until all of her scheduled obligations were handled, and her agent had not exactly been happy at her request for a month off, but the time had finally arrived.

Nikita closed her eyes and ran her hands through her hair, arching her back as she drank in the peace that seemed to flow from her surroundings. She felt rejuvenated by just the one week she had spent in the area. There was so much more to see and she had no set agenda. She was a free woman. A small sexy smile crossed her face as the stray thought entered her mind, "All I need now is a tall dark, handsome man to stand at my side and the picture would be complete. Oh, and God? Could you give him an accent? I truly, truly would love a man with an accent."

************

Michael walked quickly up the path to the top of the mountain, thinking about the sister who had maneuvered him to this place in his life. Lysette had told him that he needed to "reset his life's course" as she had put it. When she had found out that he had plans to travel to New York for business she had insisted that he extend his trip to explore.

"Well," Michael admitted, ""insist" wasn't even a fair word. "Force" would have been a better word to use." He smiled at the memory of Lysette standing in front of the nursery door with her hands on her hips, her green eyes blazing with command.

"You need to rest and reset your course, and so, in order that you do so, I am canceling your visitation rights to Robert. Today's visit will be the last until after you take a holiday and become more satisfied with your life. I do not want my son to grow up with a silent, unhappy man for an uncle. One who everyone whispers about, "Beware of Uncle Michael." I want him to be able to laugh and play with an uncle he will remember with joy, not fear. At this time that man is not you. Go fix your life and come back a happy man."

He had known at the time that for all of her bravado that Lysette was concerned that he would take her command the wrong way. He had thought to argue with her at first, but had instead easily capitulated. Michael had felt her relief when he agreed to do as she ordered when she had come to hug him and had whispered in his ear, "Know that we love you and will eagerly await your return." The tiny smile was all he needed to give her in response.

Contrary to what Lysette believed, Michael had actually been happier already. The conversation that he and Lysette had had concerning his past had actually set his mind at ease, at least about how she felt about him. He no longer worried that his actions would change how Lysette viewed her brother.

The guilt he still felt over his actions remained however. He doubted that he would ever really be free of it. The specter of Rene and the condemnation he had shown toward Michael at the end were salt in the wound of Michael's soul. It would never properly heal.

The fear evoked by the man and woman remained also. Their blank eyes and emotionless faces had frightened the young man that he had been. The memories of their visages troubled him. He was afraid that he had begun to see that look in the mirror as he prepared himself for each day. It was this perceived transformation that was partially responsible for his willingness to comply with Lysette's demand.

Another factor in his travel plans was his sister and her family. He watched Lysette bask in Jonathan's love for her, and at the birth of Robert, had seen them both revel in the joy of parenthood. He envied them. He came to understand that he could not be content as merely Uncle Michael, the extra plate at the table during holiday meals. He didn't want to be a hanger on in his sister's life. He needed the fulfillment of a family of his own.

Thus his decision to begin a personal odyssey. He decided to go way alone, no friends, no relatives, and no interference. He had always been an active man. It had not been unusual for him to taking a hiking trip or a skiing trip during holiday breaks. These were pursuits that had started in childhood and had continued into manhood. They had helped him develop into the man he was now. They could surely help him in his pursuit of the man he wanted to be.

These decisions were part of the path that had helped him arrive where he was at present, hiking the Appalachian Trail. While in New York finishing his business he had questioned his employees about such pursuits. His manager in New York had suggested the trail as offering the challenge that he was pursuing, and he had even been able to outfit Michael with the necessary gear for the trip.

So, as Michael approached the top of Clingman's Dome, he reflected on his travels. "This was exactly what I needed, thank you Lysette," he sent a silent thought to his sister. The solitude had been good for him, allowing him the time to remember the past with somewhat less pain than before. This in turn had produced room for thoughts of the future.

Not that he had been totally isolated. Many people hiked the trail and there was always a new acquaintance with which to share a conversation. He had also called Lysette whenever an opportunity presented itself. She was feeling guilty about sending him away, and it wouldn't have been right to make her worry.

Michael smiled as he thought about the phone calls with his sister. His nephew had transformed Lysette into a worrying mother, and the worrying overflowed in his direction. "Are you well? Are you eating right? Are you staying dry? Has the weather been good?" The litany of questions she had for at each phone call was amusing. But she always ended with the same question, "Have you met any beautiful women to bring home to meet me?"

Michael laughed as he thought about his reply each time she asked this question, "No, no Lysette, there is no one here that I could bring home without them being intimated by your radiant beauty. I doubt I shall ever find the woman who could compare to you dear sister." This reply would tend to make her angry with him until the next phone call, but he needed her to be patient. Finding the woman to spend his life with was probably going to take a small amount of time at least.

Tonight he would have to call her. He could stay at a campground, take a shower, find laundry facilities and call his sister. It sounded like a plan. He thoughts drifted with the evening's agenda and he caught himself as he tripped over an exposed root. The deciduous forest and rhododendron bushes of the Smokey Mountains were renown for their beauty, but they could be treacherous for the unwary traveler. He concentrated once more on his surroundings and realized that he was approaching the summit. One more of his goals was going to be realized. He paused at the view presented to him, stunned at the beauty in front of him. "My God," Michael thought to himself. "I must be in heaven."

************

As Nikita finished running her hands through her hair she was startled by the sound of a softly accented voice murmuring something like, "My God," and "heaven". Her eyes flew open and she turned toward the source of the comment.

She sucked in her breath at the full impact of the man standing before her. He looked to be in his early thirties with the fine physique of an athlete. His slightly less than shoulder length hair curled in the humidity and he sported several days' worth of beard growth. His jeans, flannel shirt, and worn leather jacket made Nikita think she was seeing a genuine mountain man. The power of his body could have been construed as menacing.

His green eyes, however, belied that impression. Nikita realized that she had been standing staring at the man for what must have been several minutes. His eyes had started to crinkle in the corners in amusement and a hint of a smile was showing about his sensuous mouth. "I'm sorry," Nikita stammered at the man. "Were you talking to me?"

Michael slowly took off his backpack and laid it at his feet. He was using the simple task as a cover for his embarrassment at saying out loud the first thing that had run through his head at seeing the woman. The appearance of the Nordic goddess had stunned him. "Ah, I was just saying that this must be what heaven looks like," he fibbed to the woman. "I'm sorry I startled you. Please go back to what you were doing." Michael thought to himself, "Yes, please go back to what you were doing, it will give me another chance to look at you."

"Oh no, no. I'm sorry. I'll move out of your way. I really should be leaving. I'm sorry to disturb you," Nikita quickly said as she made to pick up her day pack.

Michael realized that he was going to lose his chance to learn more about the woman if he didn't quickly set her at her ease. "No, please," he said. "Don't leave. I would enjoy the chance to talk to a friendly face. I have been backpacking alone and I haven't had the chance to talk to anyone." His mind winced with regret at the thought of the friendly couple from Maryland that he had spent hiking with the last several days. "Well. They wouldn't begrudge me the chance to meet a beautiful woman."

"You were hiking overnight alone?" Nikita questioned. "You really shouldn't do that. It isn't recommended. What would happen if you hurt yourself?"

"I know, I know. My sister has said the same thing. She is worried about me. I assured her that was going to check in as often as possible, but. I didn't want to miss the chance to see this area. Have you been here before?" Michael asked the question in an attempt to learn more about her.

"Ah. No, this is my first trip here. I wanted to take a vacation and I saw the movie Last of the Mohicans and I couldn't resist the landscape. The power I saw in it drew me here. They filmed it in North Carolina you know. "Nikita replied nervously.

"Last of the Mohicans? I do not believe I have seen this movie. Was it good?" Michael questioned.

"Well, any movie with Daniel Day-Lewis in it is usually good, and yes I would say this one qualified," Nikita smile as she remembered Adele's sighs of longing as she had viewed Daniel Day-Lewis in his leathers as he ran across the battlefield to Cora. She had watched the movie repeatedly so she could analyze every move he made.

The man replied with a smile that spoke of fondness, "My sister has probably seen it then. She too likes Daniel Day-Lewis. Her husband does not let her go see one of his movies alone, because he is jealous I think. Lysette pretends a little to keep him on his toes." As Michael said these words he was groaning to himself. "Sure, he thought, talk about your sister. That's the way to impress a woman." Little did he know that the thought of this gorgeous man having a sister that he obviously felt much affection towards was intriguing to Nikita. It was unusual in her world to see family men and it was an attractive bonus in what was already a gorgeous package.

"I'm sorry," Michael apologized again. "You do not want to hear about my sister." He moved to step away from the woman.

"Actually I would love to hear about your sister," Nikita replied. She indicated a large boulder that they could sit on. "Sit down for awhile and tell me about her." Nikita stepped back a little to let him move in closer to the rock. "Anything to keep this man talking," Nikita thought. "That accent could make butter melt."

As Michael moved forward toward the rock he paused, "I think I have neglected to introduce myself. My name is Michael Guenot." He held out his hand to the woman.

"Nikita Samson," she replied as she took his hand.

At the moment their hands met, they both gasped as a small electric shock passed between them. Neither acknowledged the slight exchange, but both wondered about its meaning. They looked shyly at each other and moved to sit down on the rock.

************

Nikita sat on one rock facing the man named Michael. She wanted to be able to have a good view of him, but she was still a little wary. The practical voice inside her head was saying that she knew almost nothing about this man, but the voice inside her heart was telling her that everything was all right and that she didn't need to worry. She decided to pick the middle path and get to know him better without compromising herself.

Michael sat down and faced Nikita. "Nikita is an unusual name. Were you named after a relative?"

"My paternal grandfather's name was Nicholas and they wanted to name me after him, so it became Nikita," Nikita answered him dispassionately and then changed the subject. "So you have a sister named Lysette. Is she your only sibling?"

Nikita's answer to his question bothered Michael a little but he decided to follow her lead, "Yes, it is just Lysette and I. My parents died about 15 years ago and we have been alone since then. At least until she married Jonathan two years ago. Now we are three, well four actually." Michael grinned at the thought. "I am a new uncle," he said with pride.

Nikita smiled in response to the joy on Michael's face. "A nephew! How darling. I love babies. What is his name? Do you have a picture of him?"

"His name is Robert." His French pronunciation of the name made Nikita's knees go weak. "And yes, I do have a photo." Michael proceeded to dig in his backpack for his wallet.

As Michael retrieve his wallet and flipped through it for the photo he leaned toward Nikita. The scent of her hair gently curled into his senses and made him dizzy. He had to take a deep breath to keep himself steady.

Nikita took the wallet and gazed at the photos. On one side was a picture of a small baby, his first photo. On the other side was a family portrait. A dark haired woman was seated with the baby in her arms as a tall faired haired man stood behind her and looked down with love. The sight made Nikita's heart seize. "Oh to be that woman, she thought. Will that ever be me?"

Michael watched Nikita look at the photos of Robert and Lysette's family. He watched as her eyes grew misty with longing. Suddenly he could picture this woman with a baby in her arms. "Perhaps, my search will not be a long one," the romantic voice inside him said. Suddenly he needed to know if there was even a remote possibility of such an occurrence. "Do you have any photos of your family?" he asked, hoping that there was not a husband somewhere waiting to hear from her.

Nikita collected herself and looked up at Michael. Was that fear she saw in his eyes? Surely not. "Um, no. I don't really have a family. There is just my friend Adele. No husband, no children. Footloose and fancy free as they say" Nikita laughed as she said this, but it had suddenly seemed very important to make that clear.

Michael was surprised to feel his body relax at her answer. He hadn't noticed how tense he had become, but her answer made him more curious. "Your parents are dead also?"

Nikita grimaced at the question. "Let's just say that I never knew my father and I have not seen my mother in years. I don't really consider that family. My friend Adele is my family in every way but blood." Nikita looked down at the wallet that she was still holding. An intense curiosity was coming over her. She took a quick glance at Michael only to find that he was watching her. His gaze was intense and it made her blush.

"Go ahead," he said quietly. "You may look through the rest of my wallet if it sets your mind at rest. I give you my permission. There is nothing there that I would be embarrassed for you to see."

"No, that's okay." Nikita replied as she closed the wallet. She suddenly needed to get away from him; her feelings were so intensely scattered. Her attraction to this man was unseemly. It was starting to frighten her how comfortable she felt with this total stranger. "I really should be going."

"Please wait," Michael interjected quickly. He desperately searched for some way to keep her with him. "Don't leave yet. I need your help."

"My help? How can I help you? Nikita queried.

"I always take some pictures for Lysette. You can stand in front of the view. For scale. I like to show her the places I have been. You can be my model." Michael frowned when he saw a tiny smile cross her face at his words. "Did I say something funny?" He asked.

"No," Nikita replied. "Not at all. Where do you want me to stand?" As Michel directed her into position, Nikita watched the grace of the man. As he walked away from her she found her gaze studying the way he walked. "Boy oh boy, are my hormones playing havoc with my brain or what?" She wondered. "I need to get out of here before I jump this man's bones." As he turned around she quickly raised her eyes and smiled. "Ready?"

Michael looked through the viewfinder of his camera. A tiny voice whispered the fear that this was going to be the only memento he had of his meeting with this woman and his mind rapidly searched through options to extend his time with her. He snapped the picture of Nikita and thought how at lest he would be able to show Lysette that he had found a beautiful woman in the Americas.

"Now, you must let me take one of you." Nikita said. "I'm sure that Lysette would wan to have a picture of you for her photo album." Michael easily acquiesced to her request and moved into the view. As Nikita looked into the camera she was surprised to see what looked like hunger in Michael's eyes. Something made her think that it wasn't peanut butter that he was thinking about.

As she walked back over to him to give him the camera, he grabbed her hand. Again the small spark of electricity passed between them. She gasped and tried to pull back. He held onto her hand briefly and then reluctantly let her go.

"Please have dinner with me tonight." Michael asked her. "I am sure that there must be someplace we could meet. What ever this thing is between us.." he paused. "I would like to get to know you better. " he began again. "I think that there is much more that I want to know about you."

Nikita stepped back. While his request was tempting (Oh, boy was it tempting), she had been a city girl too long to easily make a date with a man who was virtually a stranger. Her self-defense mode kicked in. "I don't know. I know very little about you and you know next to nothing about me. I'm not really comfortable with this situation. I shouldn't have even really talked with you for so long."

Michael mind was racing. He couldn't lose contact with her now. "What would Lysette tell me to do," he wondered and then he hit on it. "Wait Nikita, I have an idea. I understand your wariness, so I have a suggestion. I am going to write down a phone number. Call it and ask for Lysette Fisher. You can ask her all the questions you want about me and set your mind at ease. If you like what you hear you can meet me back here again tomorrow at the same time. We can discuss having dinner at that time."

While he was saying this he was searching through his backpack for a piece of paper. A strange hand with a note pad in it suddenly appeared before his face. He looked up in surprise to see that a middle-aged couple had joined them at the summit. The couple had obviously been eavesdropping for several minutes. Michael found heat flowing into his cheeks. For the first time in a long time he found himself blushing.

"I'm sorry," the man said. "We couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I think it's a very wise idea to let the little lady call your friend. Can't be too careful. Here's a piece of paper. Write down that phone number. But I really think you should give her two days time. Women need time to make up their minds. I asked Martha here to marry me the second night we went out, but it took me a week to get her to agree. It's been 40 years of bliss since that night"

"And honey," the man's wife said to Nikita, "You make that phone call. You find out everything you need to know about that man and then you make up your mind. It doesn't take very long to know these things. Ed and I were married two weeks after we met." The woman leaned closer to Nikita and whispered, "I knew after one night that I wanted Ed, but I made him wait for several days before I'd agree to marry him. Doesn't pay to look too eager, you know." She stepped back from Nikita and smiled at Ed.

Nikita and Michael looked at each other, bemused. Neither one of them had even realized that they were no longer alone on the summit. The intenseness of their attraction had blinded them to outside influence for a time. Was it possible that they were both dreaming? But Michael found himself taking the notepad from Ed's hand. It seemed real enough. He quickly jotted down Lysette's number. He reached out and curled the note into Nikita's hand, holding on as he looked into her eyes. "It's an international call," he said. "We live in France. Will that be a problem?"

"No," Nikita answered hoarsely. "It won't be a problem."

"If you're interested, meet me back here in" Michael briefly glanced at Ed, "two days time, at noon." Ed was nodding his head in agreement.

"What if I'm late?" Nikita questioned.

"I'll wait all day, "Michel answered.

"What if the weather is bad?" she whispered.

"I will be here even if a blizzard comes from Hell, Nikita. I will be here." Michael voice was insistent.

Nikita started to gather her pack to head back down the trail. As she turned, Michael quietly asked, "Will you call, Nikita?"

"I don't know," she whispered with her back turned. "I don't know." She continued down the trail, walking quickly as if she were being chased.

Michael started to go after her, but he found Ed's big hand on his arm. "You have to let her go, boy. The prey that you have to chase isn't as near as good as the one that walks right up to you. Give her a chance to come back."

Michael closed his eyes and said, "I hope your right Ed, because I think that you just saw my future walking away." He opened his eyes and looked at Ed and Martha with tears in his eyes.

Martha shook her head. "Don't worry honey, she'll be back. I just know it." She smiled at him and then leaned toward him, "And besides, if she doesn't, Ed and I have a really cute granddaughter we could fix you up with."

Michael looked at Martha in horror and then saw the laughter on her face. He smiled sheepishly and said, "If she's anything like her grandmother, I'm sure she's already taken." Michael shook hands with Ed and Martha and thanked them for their help. He then shouldered his own pack and headed slowly toward the trail. He wanted to give Nikita time to get down ahead of him, but it was time to find someplace to stay for a few nights. It looked as if he would be staying in the area longer than he expected. The wait was going to be torturous.

************

Nikita had made it down the mountain path as fast as possible. She had already reserved a place at a campground for the night so when she reached her pickup she headed in that direction. She needed the mundane activity of setting up camp to relieve the pressure that was building behind her eyes.

She set up camp and then wandered to the camp showers she thought about Michael's request. Call his sister. Find out more about him. Ease her mind about any questions she had. It sounded simple, but it was anything but. He hadn't understood. It wasn't that fact that he was a complete stranger that bothered her. The voices in her heart told her that she could trust him. She had come to trust those voices ever since they had led her to Adele.

What she couldn't believe was her own physical reaction to Michael. She had never been so physically affected by a man before. Sure she had had attractions to men and some of those she had even acted upon, but this time it was if her body was out of control. Just being near him had made it difficult to breathe. Her fingers had twitched with the need to touch him. She had felt her flushed as she had sat near him. It was like the oxygen was no longer reaching her brain.

And he wanted to have dinner with her. How in the hell could she have dinner with the Michael when she doubted her ability to remain in control? "I wonder what he would think of me if I just tackled him across the dinner table and made love to him right there and then," mused Nikita.

She hadn't realized that she had voiced this question aloud until a little old woman said, "Well honey, if he's like any man I've ever known, and I've met a few in my time, he'd think you were the best thing since mother's milk." She laughed hilariously as she watched Nikita's face flame.

Nikita muttered, "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize that I wasn't alone." She looked frantically around to make sure there were no children within listening distance.

"It's okay, dear. You gave me a good chuckle and at my age that's always a fine thing. Laughter increases your oxygen intake you know, " and with that comment and still laughing, the little woman left, walking toward her own camp space.

Nikita silently walked toward the camp headquarters. There were pay phones there and she needed to think about calling Lysette. Should she find out more about Michael? Where would this relationship lead? Was it worth it? What should she do?

Sighing, Nikita picked up a camp chair and headed to the phone. She sat down and started to dial. As the phone rang on the other end she felt herself becoming tense. Then there was a voice on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"

*************

Nikita relaxed as she heard Adele's voice. "Adele, it's Nikita," Nikita hadn't recognized how emotional she had become until her voice wavered.

"Nikita, are you okay? Is everything all right? You weren't scheduled to call me until Friday night." Concern flowed from Adele's voice.

"I just really need to talk to you Adele. You are always my voice of reason." Nikita voice strengthened, as she again grew comfortable. This was her old friend Adele. She could surely help her sort out her problems.

"So what do you need me to reason?" Adele questioned.

"I've," Nikita drew in a deep breath and blurted it out, "I've met a man and he wants to take me out to dinner and I'm really confused. I don't know what to do."

"Nikita, you didn't accept his invitation did you?" Adele's concern rippled across the line. "You're all alone. It wouldn't be wise to strike up a relationship with a stranger."

"That's just it, Adele," Nikita replied. "He doesn't feel like a stranger. I feel like I've known this man forever. And he is one of the nicest men I've ever met. He didn't even want my answer right away. I'm supposed to meet him again in two days time and give him an answer. He knew that I would be cautious about accepting an invitation from a stranger."

"So what are you supposed to do in the mean time? He'll still be a stranger in two days time. Nikita are you crazy? Once a serial killer, always a serial killer. Have you been bitten by some insect? You don't sound like yourself." Adele's concern was really starting to rise.