Soul, congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  May you and your
beloved have many, many happy years in each other's loving company.
Best wishes always.  -- Nat

DISCLAIMER: The characters in this story belong to Sony/TriStar and
were created by J. Parriott and B. Cohen.  No copyright infringement
was intended.

**WARNING:  Major sap alert!**

SOUL'S WEDDING: The Proposal
by Nancy Taylor
(c) July 30, 1997


	As Natalie rode up the slow lift to the second floor of the
warehouse, she wondered about the cryptic message she had received
from Nick that morning.  He had left a note on her desk asking her
simply to come by the loft tonight.
	Pulling the door open after the lift had stopped, Natalie
stepped into the room to be greeted by soft music and a room full of
candles.  Not just a few candles; hundreds of candles.  Candles were
everywhere, casting a soft warm glow over the stark furnishings.
	At the dining table, dinner was set out; candles on the table,
Champagne in an ice bucket.  Natalie looked to the kitchenette and
saw the remnants of the meal preparation.  Nick had cooked this
himself.
	Still wondering why Nick hadn't yet greeted her, Natalie called
out into the empty room, "Nick?!  Nick, are you here?"  She was
greeted only by the soft strains of old love songs emanating from the
stereo system.  She smiled as she recognized the old torch songs from
the 1930's and 40's.  
	Wandering over to the dining table, she saw a small, elegant
envelope next to her plate.  Opening it, she recognized Nick's
handwriting.  'Natalie,' the note read, 'sit and enjoy your meal
while it is still warm.  I will return shortly.  Nick.'  Another
cryptic message.  It made Natalie wonder all the more.
	She sat at the table, realizing the food *was* still warm.
Nick couldn't have set it out and left very long ago.  Such a
romantic setting, and she had to dine alone.  Natalie sighed and took
a bite.  Mmmm ... this is wonderful! she thought, rather surprised
that Nick could cook at all.

	Just as Natalie was finishing her dinner, she heard the lift
mechanism engage and the lift begin its descent to pick up the loft's
owner.  A few minutes later the door slid open and Nick stepped into
the room.
	He was dressed in a white poet's shirt, its sleeves billowy
and the neckline open, black tights and short, black ankle boots.  A
man out of time, Natalie thought, but so elegant in the simplicity of
his dress.  His dark golden curls shone in the candlelight, wreathing
his head like a halo.  
	Seconds ticked by, the moment was frozen in time, burned into
Natalie's memory forever.  Finally, Nick spoke.  "Natalie!"  Wrapping
her in his arms, Nick buried his face in the curls beneath Natalie's
right ear.  "I was so afraid you wouldn't come," he whispered.
	"I almost didn't," Natalie whispered back.  She thought about
the night before, when they had had a rather large argument
concerning relationships and commitment.  Nick had stormed out on her
then and, at the time, Natalie was glad he had gone.  Hours later,
the invitation had appeared on her desk. 
	Natalie had slept poorly that day, trying to decide whether or
not to give the stubborn vampire one more chance.  As always, against
her better judgment, she had given in and arrived at the appointed
time.  
	Now, Nick gently pushed her away, just enough to look into her
eyes and study her soul.  "I'm glad you changed your mind."  Nick
smiled his sweet, boyish smile at Natalie and she felt her heart leap
in her chest.
	Nick lead Natalie over to the couch in front of the fireplace.
The fire cast a warm red-orange glow on Nick's face, making him
appear warm and mortal.  Natalie cried inside that she couldn't do
more to make Nick's dream come true.  She sat on the couch, fully
expecting Nick to sit beside her.  But instead, Nick went down on one
knee in front of her.  
	Taking Natalie's warm hand in his cool ones, Nick proclaimed,
"You have accused me, rightly, of many things in the past."  Nick
paused, and looked up into Natalie's warm, blue eyes and saw the
confusion written there.  He continued, "You have accused me of
failing to commit ... anything ... to our relationship.  You were
right.  I was afraid; afraid of hurting you ... afraid of loving you.
But now, more than anything, I'm afraid of losing you."
	"Oh, Nick, you haven't...." Natalie began, but Nick quieted her
with a finger pressed against her lips.
	"Natalie Lambert, as the moon and the stars are my witness, I
love you."  As he spoke, Nick slipped the ring he had been hiding
onto Natalie's finger.  "I want nothing more than to spend all our
eternities together; here, and in the hereafter.  Natalie, will you
marry me?"
	Natalie glanced at the impressive diamond now gracing her left
hand, and looked up with tearful eyes into Nick's love-filled ones.
She tried to speak, to answer, but found her throat was swollen with
the tears.  Natalie nodded her consent and melted into Nick's arms,
feeling safe and protected within their encircling strength.

	One week later, outside, under a flower-laced canopy set up on
the lake shore and surrounded by friends, the moon and stars
witnessed the joining of two hearts, two lives, and one love so 
all-encompassing that it overcame every reservation or doubt.  One love
that would last forever ... and a night.

**finis**