Love's True Path

Author's Note: Yet again I want to let you know that this fic can be found http://pommedesang.com/efiction/viewstory.php?sid=5528&chapter=45 (At Pomme de Sang under my coauthor's screen name AlexiaNite. There, you'll find it is 75 chapters long as of now, but yet to be complete.)



Sara sat down across from Nathaniel. She ate her cereal silently.

Nathaniel shifted in his seat. "You're sure you don't want an omelette? French toast? Bacon, sausage?"

"Cereal's fine." She smiled at him. "Jase was practically glowing earlier."

"Yeah. She's excited..." He stood, pouring himself a glass of his freshly squeezed orange juice.

Sara smiled. "You'll make a great dad. You're such a nice person."

He flushed. "I'm not the best father figure, Sara..."

"Ok, so you're a stripper, but that doesn't matter." She beamed at him.

"Sara..." Nathaniel rubbed his hands over his face. "I was a prostitute... until I was nineteen..."

Sara just kept eating her cereal. "So? That was then, this is now. And now you're a great person."

"How can you just be calm about that, Sara?" He frowned.

"Because people do things they regret everyday. You just have to make up for it and move on." She said simply.

Nathaniel shook his head. "I suppose."

Sara smiled at him. "So...Nathaniel...now that the Anita chick is dead... do you think Micah would let me live with him?"

He stilled. "I... don't know. He might. He's going to be busy cleaning out the house and such. And you'll be living with a bunch of Pard members..."

"Really? That'd be so cool." Sara said, suddenly excited.

"Really... but I don't know what his plans are..."

"Well, maybe I can call and ask in a few days." She took her bowl to the sink and washed it out.

"He'll probably call you soon." Nathaniel smiled.

Sara smiled. "I hope so." She put the bowl into the dishwasher. "Hey... um... can I ask you a question?"

"Sure..."

"Um... well... what do guys... like?" She asked, blushing.

Nathaniel froze. "What do you mean?"

"Oh God, never mind." Sara said, embarrassed.

"No... It's alright... I just... wasn't expecting..."

"I shouldn't have sprung that on you..."

"Eh, I'm not ancient yet. Besides... I've heard worse things." He shrugged. "What do you need to know?"

"Well I mean we've done some stuff... but you know... I don't know if I'm... good." Sara managed.

"Uh huh..." Nathaniel nodded slowly. "Alright... tip number one... Elias is a virgin. You can see it all over him. Anything you do is going to thrill him to the point of explosion..."

"I kind of noticed that." She snorted.

He laughed. "It happens. He'll get better, though I suggest you wait until he learns more control to have sex. It's not really his fault..."

"Elias wants to wait anyway. He wants out first time to be special." Sara smiled.

"Huh. Go figure..." Nathaniel blinked. "That's very... mature of him."

"I thought so too. Also, I did freak out and run the first time he tried to touch me in a sexual way..."

"Why was that?" He frowned. "Was he rough?"

"No... I... my mom used to say horrible things to me. I just freaked out on him. Wasn't his fault." She explained.

"Alright... did you talk to him about that?"

"Yes. I explained it all. He forgave me."

Nathaniel nodded. "I expect he was more worried about you than anything..."

"Yes. I scared him." Sara grabbed a soda and sat back at the table.

"So what did you want to know?"

"How can I... do it right?"

"Do what right?"

"Pleasure him." God, she was dark red by now.

"Sara... it's different for everyone... Odds are, he doesn't know all the things that pleasure him, at this point. Take your time... explore... listen to what he says. Ask him what he likes... show him..." Nathaniel froze. "Please don't EVER mention this to Micah..."

Sara burst out laughing. "Please, Nathaniel. I value you life."

"Thanks." He sighed in relief. "Alright... moving on. This might be embarrassing, but masturbating in front of each other is a really good hint for what you like... it shows them how..."

"How you liked to be touched." She said.

"Exactly." Nathaniel's ears were red.

Sara smiled at him. "Thanks Nathaniel."

"You're welcome."

She went and hugged him. "Want to go to the mall with me? We can pick out baby clothes."

"I was supposed to work, but Jean-Claude gave me the night off... let me just tell Jason he's got to stay here with Jase." He hugged her back, smiling.

Sara was almost jumping for joy. "Great. I want to get Elias a Christmas present." She ran off to her room to change.

Nathaniel grinned. And he could get Jase's.

She came back several minutes later, dressed and ready to go.

Having told Jason what was going on, Nathaniel grabbed the keys to his car. "Let's go."

Sara followed him out to car. "You know, this is the first time we've had a chance to spend time together."

"True..." Nathaniel climbed in. "Seat belt."

She buckled up and let her mind wander on the ride to the mall.

"So what are you going to get him?"

"Gears of War. He's been talking about it since it came out. I told Mika not to buy it for him." She told the cat.

Nathaniel blinks. "Huh?" Why was he on the out?

"It's a game for the 360." She explained.

"Uh... alright." He nodded.

"The new Xbox..." Sara tried, hoping he knew what an Xbox was.

"Oh! The game... thing..." Nathaniel nodded. "And I just went from cool to lame, huh?"

"You're still cool even though you're so out of the loop." She snickered.

He stuck his tongue out at her.

Sara grinned at him.

"You're a brat." He teased.

"Who? Moi?" She said.

"Nope. You're twin, Shirly." He sassed, turning on the radio.

Sara began to hum the song on the radio.

"You've got a good voice. Do you like singing?"

"I used to sing a lot when I was younger." She said, softly.

"What changed that?"

Nathaniel frowned.

"I just didn't have a reason to sing anymore, so I quit."

"What was your reason?" Nathaniel reached over, turning down the music.

"For a while, I had a teacher who really encouraged me. One day she didn't show up to school. They told us she had a stroke." Sara told him.

"I'm sorry." He reached over, patting her hand where it laid in her lap. "But... you've got a reason now, don't you? Several? You father, Elias...?"

She nodded slowly. "I guess I do." She smiled at him.

Nathaniel grinned. "You can sing at the wedding while Keela plays."

"Oh no. I couldn't do that. I'd die of embarrassment." Sara shook her head.

"Nope. And I'm sure Jase would love it. It's be the perfect wedding gift."

She sighed. "I'll think about it."

"I'm sure Keela will help you pick out the perfect song and everything." Nathaniel paused, "You were going to be at the wedding... right?" He deliberately made his voice insecure.

"Of course, silly. I wouldn't miss it for anything." Sara grinned at him.

"Thank you." He smiled. "And I would really love it if you would sing..."

"Oh, ok. I'll call Keela and see what she thinks." She told him.

"Awesome." He grinned.

She got out after he parked. "What are you getting Jase?"

"For Christmas or the wedding?"

"Both."

"Well... to be frank, for the wedding, Caleb was going to help me get her to the club... for a special dance..."

"Oh my..." Sara laughed.

Nathaniel cursed as he blushed. "What?"

"A special dance..." She laughed again.

"Oh, like you don't know what I mean." He shook his head.

"Are you going to give her a lap dance?" Sara asked.

"Well... that was part of the plan..." This wasn't a good idea. Bad conversation...

"What was the rest of the plan?"

"Well... I was going to wear full wedding outfit... the tux, top hat... there's even a cane..."

She laughed. "Oh, that's so great." Sara was still laughing when they got into the mall.

Nathaniel sighed. "Oh, really?"

"I'm sorry. It's just you say it like it's no big deal...but it's a very unique gift."

"What is?"

"Getting all dressed up and then stripping for her... it's different." Sara explained.

"Well, I'm giving her something else while stripping... I just need to find it." He shrugged.

"What it is? Maybe I can help."

"I don't know. That's the thing." He smiled.

Sara laughed. "Very helpful."

"I know." Nathaniel glanced at a jewelry store as they entered. "Maybe a necklace..."

"Maybe..." Sara said.

"What do you think I should get her?"

"Maybe..." Sara said. "Or maybe there's something she'd like even more."

"What do you think I should get her?"

Sara smiled. "Oh...nothing..."

"Uh huh...." Nathaniel gave her an odd look.

"Uh...let's just say Jase and I have had some pretty interesting conversations." Was all she said.

"About...?"

"Oh stuff. If you give me five dollars I can get you something that she'd love more than the stripping, but you have to make me a promise..."

"What's the promise, and I'll consider it." The leopard quirked a brow.

"You can't see what I buy until the night that your perform for her."

"And it's five dollars?" He gave her a disbelieving look.

"Around that, yes." She smiled at him.

Nathaniel pulled out his wallet, handing her fifty.

She stared at the money. "I'll bring you back your change. And remember no peeking." She ran off and came back about ten minutes later holding a plain bag that could have come from anywhere. Jase's gift was wrapped up inside to insure it was peek-proof.

"No... keep it..." Curiosity was nearly killing him. What the hell was in that bag?!

Sara smiled at him. It was nice of him to let her keep the change. "I'll hold onto the bag as well just in case."

"Brat." He reached over, messing up her hair. "No hints?"

"None." She stuck her tongue out at him and fixed her hair.

"Not fair..." He sighed. "You're sure this is what she'd want?"

"Oh...I'm sure." She snickered. "Now help me find something for Elias... something a guy would like..."

"Er... Well, I'm not helping you buy sexy undies. Not happening. Your father will skin me alive."

Sara blushed. "I didn't ask you too."

"Good. Make sure you don't." Nathaniel shook his head. "It's wrong on MANY levels."

"Jase already helped me pi....uh...never mind." She said quickly. "What should I get him then?"

"Lego's. Guys like lego's..." Nathaniel said quickly as he saw Micah walking towards them.

"Those are for kids... oh. Hi Dad." She said, nervously to Micah.

"Hey, Sweetheart... how're you?" Micah hugged her close.

"I'm good. How are you?" Sara asked, returning the hug.

"I'm... dealing. Work and the Pard are pretty chaotic right now..." Micah, stroked her hair.

"Because Anita got hit by a bus?" She asked.

"Yeah." Micah paused, then smiled at Nathaniel. "How are you?"

"Alright, Micah. Worried about the wedding."

"Nathaniel... you're already married. This is just the fussy stuff." Micah shrugged. "What're you guys shopping for?"

"Christmas presents." Sara told him. She should ask Nathaniel what to get Micah.

"Ah, just a second." Micah pulled out his wallet, handing Sara two one hundred dollar bills. "I'm sorry, I don't have more on me than that. I'll get you some more later."

"It's ok. I have money." She said looking at the money. She'd never held two hundred dollars before.

"No, Sweetie. This is yours." He pushed it into her hand. "God knows I owe it to you."

Nathaniel glanced away

Sara hugged him. "You don't owe me anything. You're with me now."

He hugged her back. "Please, take it. You've got a lot of people to buy for, right? Friends, Elias... Jase, Nathaniel, Mika, Richard... and whoever else..." He kissed her temple.

She buried her face in his chest to hide her tears. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." He held her, rubbing her back.

Sara pulled back. "What are you doing here?"

"Why, shopping of course." He shrugged. "I have to get a suit for the funeral."

"Oh." Was all she said.

"Mmhm." He sighed. "I'll see you later, sweetheart, I've got to run. I've a meeting after this... alright? Call me?"

Sara nodded. "Sure. I'll talk to you later." She waved as he left. "What should I get him for Christmas, Nathaniel?"

"The Nimir Raj?" Nathaniel furrowed his brow, thinking. "Pictures of you... he'd love them..."

"You mean like from when I was little?"

"And from now... he missed everything, you know? Potty training, your first steps... your first day of school..."

"I can make him a scrapbook of me then."

Nathaniel grinned. "He'd love it. He might even cry."

Sara smiled. "Ok. So that's one person. I think I know what to get Jase and my friends. I just need to find something for you, Mika and Elias because I know what to get Rissa and Mr. Zeeman."."

"Eh, don't worry about me." He shrugged. "I don't need anything. Get something for the baby."

"Hush, you and Jase took me in. I'm getting you something."

"I'm serious... just get something for the baby. That's what I want..."

"How about I do both?" She smiled at him.

"I guess I can't stop you..." Nathaniel reached over, messing up her hair.

She fixed her hair again. "Nope, I'm very stubborn."

"Again... you're a brat. Come on. Let's shop."

Sara stuck her tongue out at him.

He crossed his eyes at her, and headed to the stores.

"So...about Elias' present..."

"I still think Lego's are the best idea..."

"Lego's are for little kids..." She said again.

"And thus innocent." He nodded.

Sara rolled her eyes.

"Don't you roll those eyes at me..." He reached over, tickling her side.

She squeaked. "Then don't treat me like I'm five."

"Hey, you're shorter than me. Besides... your father would kill me if he knew I was going to spend a lot of time in cooking supplies... allowing you to sneak into Victoria's-not-so-secret-Secrets."

Sara smiled at him. "My lips are sealed."

"Good." He smirked. "Shoo. I need to look at blenders."

She ran off to go look around.