Feminine Woes

Edward slept in the guest room until the night of the full moon. He wore his own clothes to meet the witch since he would soon be a man again. He didn't look at Jean-Claude the whole drive.

They pulled in front of the witch's house, and exited the limo.

"Gentlemen!" Rowena greeted them. "How're you feeling, Dear?" She asked Edward.

"Better." Edward said to the witch. "I am just glad that this will all be over soon."

"I am sure, dear." She patted his cheek. "Well, inside, boys."

Edward headed inside of her house, which was filed with interesting smells.

Jean-Claude stayed in the shadows, nodding at Rowena, who gave the vampire a searching look.

"He will see, hun. Don't you worry." She said so Edward would not hear, then handed Edward a drink. "A potion. It'll taste rather... gross, but should work. Drink it as I chant."

Edward tried not to smell the concoction as he began to drink it. He listened to her soft chanting and glanced over at Jean-Claude.

The vampire met his gaze, then looked away. Soon he would be free of Death. Free of this... torture.

Rowena's chanting rose to a climax and she clapped her hands as Edward finished.

Edward tried to prepare himself for whatever would have come, but nothing happened. He looked at the witch. "It is working?"

"It... doesn't appear to be. Do you feel different?" Rowena frowned.

"Not at all." He groaned. It hadn't worked. He was still a woman.

"Did you not say it could take a few days, Mademoiselle?" Jean-Claude asked softly.

"Yes... I did. Perhaps. If there isn't a change in the next week, call me again. I'll consult my coven in the mean time. Perhaps you must simply follow the course of the curse... and have your heart broken..." Rowena tapped her lips with a finger.

"Thank you Rowena." Edward stood. He still had some hope left but it wasn't much. All he could do was pray that it work in a few days.

"The limo is still outside. Merci, Mademoiselle." Jean-Claude bowed, and stepped out of the house.

Edward followed him. Damn, Jean-Claude had a nice ass. He shook his head and climbed into the limo.

"I am sure there will be a solution, Death. Do not fear." The vampire said from his darkened corner of the limo.

Edward stared out the window. "Yeah..." He froze as Jean-Claude was suddenly next to him.

The vampire cursed himself a million times for having moved- he hadn't even realized it until Death was a hair's space from him. "Either way, I shall help you." He shifted a proper space away once more.

Edward looked at him. "Do you want me?" He asked, the words passing out of his lips in a soft feminine voice. He blinked a few times and quickly looked away from the vampire. Good one, Edward. Why don't you just ask him to fuck you on the seat?

Jean-Claude looked at Edward for a moment, then looked away, silent.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. He chanted again and again in his mind. Just thinking about Jean-Claude made him hot. Give him a boner any day because getting wet sucked, especially when your underwear were soaked like his were right now. He crossed his legs and tried to ignore it.

The vampire stilled as a scent wafted his way, heady, musk... arousal, and feminine. Edward. He growled softly, fisting his hands.

Edward heard him growl and looked at him. "Something wrong?" There was definitely something wrong in his own pants that was for damn sure. Damn women and their horniness.

"Non. Of course not. Why would there be, Death?" Jean-Claude enunciated the nickname, as if reminding himself who and what Edward was to him and his kind.

"You growled." Edward said, trying not to notice the fact that the top button of Jean-Claude's shirt was undone and gave him a view of part of his wonderful chest.

"Simply an unpleasant thought."

"Oh." Edward couldn't help but notice that Jean-Claude's pants had a slight bulge in them. He looked away from the Master of the City.

Obviously this was a punishment for his past failings- his indelicate treatment to the hearts of others... his failure of Julianna and Asher...He would be stuck with Edward forever. Straight Edward. Exactly. Straight. That is why Death the woman liked men. Because he was straight, and that had transferred. He'd go back to preferring women soon...

Edward felt the limo stop. "Looks like we're here." He glanced over at Jean-Claude who had been very silent the whole way. He got out of the limo and looked at him. "And I did figure out how to masturbate as a woman. It feels rather nice." He said and headed off to the guest room.

Jean-Claude stared at him, taken aback. MERDE!

Edward was happy to be out of Jean-Claude's room. This room actually had a shower. He stripped off his clothes and stepped under the warm spray. He sighed loudly. Still a woman....still royally screwed.

The Master of the City knocked on his door. Receiving no answer, and wanting an explanation, he entered the rooms, shocked as he saw Edward in the shower.

Edward, soap in hand, rubbed it over his breasts washing himself. He ran a hand down his stomach spreading the suds as he did so.

Jean-Claude swallowed deeply, his mouth suddenly watering with the need to taste. Non! "Death, when you are finished, I'd like a word. My rooms." He turned, leaving.

Edward dropped the soap and looked at the fleeing vampire. Shit, Jean-Claude had seen him naked. He quickly finished and dressed. He entered Jean-Claude's room quietly.

The vampire stood by a painting of an old church, something Edward was pretty sure was painted by a rather famous artist. Jean-Claude didn't move, he simply stared.

"Uh, you wanted to see me?" Edward said.

"Oui." He didn't turn. "What do you mean by all of this, Edward?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"You know exactly what I mean, Death. Do not pretend otherwise." He turned, his eyes deadly serious.


Edward didn't meet his gaze. Jean-Claude had been so cold towards him lately that he had wanted to rile him up. ''Nothing."

"You toy with me, is that it?" He moved, pinning Edward to the wall. "You think it fun to dally in my emotions, my physical responses? Well, Petite Morte, let me warn you- I have played nicely so far, but you try my patience. You know that you do not like men, and you know it well. Do not seek to anger me into a response, or you *will* regret it!" Jean-Claude's eyes flashed in anger.

Edward pressed his lips against Jean-Claude's, moaning. "I am in this body, Jean-Claude and I cannot resist you. I want you more than anything, but you are right. I do not love men, but I am confused."

The vampire kissed Edward back, then pulled back with an oath. "Non..." He held his head in his hands.

"Jean-Claude..." He sagged against the wall looking at the vampire.

"What, Edward?" He asked softly, still not looking at him.

"I should go." He decided.

"Tell me, Edward... si vous plait..." Jean-Claude looked at the assassin

"I want you, Jean-Claude and to me it isn't right. I have never been attracted to men and now this whole thing has me all messed up in the head." DAMN TEARS! Edward shouted in his head. And damn women and their need to cry.

"Non... this is not your fault, Edward..." Jean-Claude cupped his cheek, unable to stop himself from kissing away his tears.

"I should have been more careful." He pressed his face into Jean-Claude's chest.

"Sh... tis not your fault. You cannot help how you feel in this." He rubbed Edward's back.

Edward pulled back, trying to regain his composure. He was acting so out of character. He was shaking and crying and emotional. "I have to go." He said. "I got a job. Being a woman doesn't change that I'm Death."

"Non. Of course not." Jean-Claude nodded, looking away.

"Without Anita around, I seem to keep getting called on as Teddy." He shrugged.

"I see." He nodded once more, moving to sit down.

Edward went over to his bags. He realized how out of character he'd been acting. He hadn't had a single weapon on him since he'd been cursed. He swore to himself and grabbed his weapons to start getting ready.

"Your ammunition is in the wardrobe, Edward."

"Thanks." He quickly grabbed it. He double checked everything before he headed out to his Hummer.

If Jean-Claude had needed a reminder of what Edward was, this was enough. He was Death... always had been, and would remain so, no matter what name he went by, nor what face he wore.

Being a women didn't change how well he could hunt. He'd wore some of Anita's clothes since she had done the same thing he did. It was a quick in and out job. One silver bullet was all it took. He quietly headed back to the guest room. He paused outside Jean-Claude's poor. You're still a guy, Edward. A straight guy, remember that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edward growled at the image in the mirror. "Fuck!" He screamed in frustration. A week had passed and he was still a woman. He headed to Jean-Claude's room to get the number for the damn witch.

The vampire was standing nude before his wardrobe, his skin warm and flushed from his bath.

Edward stared in shock. His ass looked even better without leather covering it. And the front view was even better. "Sor-sorry." He stuttered. "I came to get Rowena's number."

"Ah. Oui. I had thought you would." Ignoring his nudity, Jean-Claude moved to get it.

"Thanks." He took the number and quickly fled the room. He dialed the number and waited.

"It's Edward." The assassin said into the phone.

"Ah, Edward, Dear. How're you? I hear no change... are your breasts smaller?" Rowena asked, as if talking about the weather.

"No." Edward said sighing. "They're still the same size. And my sexual urges are getting worse."

"Edward... I didn't want to mention this before, but... the curse will *not* change your sexual preference..."

Edward covered his mouth with his hand. "So...my attraction to Jean-Claude isn't because I'm a woman?"

"No, hun, it isn't. It's because you're attracted to him, and he's one sexy man." Rowena sighed. "Oh, but to be ten years younger, and have him interested in me..."

His stomach was rolling. "What about me still being a woman? It should have worked by now." He said deciding to deal with that rather than his sexuality.

"I believe that you need to follow through with the curse... or fulfill some clause before you can turn into a man again."

"Thank you for your help." Edward closed his eyes. "Goodbye." He hung up the phone.

"Finished with your call, Edward?" Jean-Claude asked from the door, dressed in a robe that managed to show more than it hid.

"Yes." He said. "Why you want to come in or something?"

"Non. I simply wished to tell you that you have free use of any of my cars should you need to go anywhere. Jason is also willing to spend time with you, as he is off tonight."

"I'll pass on the Jason offer." He opened the door. "Rowena can't help me anymore. I'm stuck like this."

"Ah... Je suis desole, Edward. I had hoped for your sake she would be able to." Jean-Claude said simply.

"Well, looks like my name is Terry, now." He shrugged. "I thought this would be all over soon..."

"As did I... perhaps... would you like for me to look for another witch that might help?"

"No. They'll probably just tell me the same thing." He sighed, "I'll get out of your hair now. Thanks for your help."

"Edward- Terry. Non... you are welcome here for as long as you want to be here. Anything you need of me, simply ask, and I will do my best to give it to you." Jean-Claude moved, as if to touch the assassin, then pulled his hand back. Non, he told himself.

Edward took Jean-Claude's hand and pressed it against his cheek. "I'll never be a man again. I feel so lost, Jean-Claude."

"Sh... you'll be fine, Petite Morte..." He caressed Edward's cheek. "I shall do everything in my power to ensure that you get back to your rightful form... I swear it."

"There's nothing you can do now. And I can't help what I feel for you. The feelings were there, buried. This female form freed my mind enough to realize what I felt." Edward said softly.

Jean-Claude's eyes widened. "Quel?"

Edward closed his eyes. "Rowena said that just because I changed sexes that I didn't change sexuality."

"What are you saying, Edward? What do you want?" Had Jean-Claude been breathing, he would have held his breath in expectation.

"I just want this to end." He said. "I am tired of it all, tired of being alone. I guess I can just fade away from who I once was, but I don't want to be alone."

The vampire sighed, stroking Edward's hair gently. "I am sure you will not be alone... you are lovely, as a man and as a woman." He paused, tempted to mention his preference for Death without breasts, but thought better of it. "If not I, someone else will surely claim you."

"And what if I want you to claim me?" Edward asked him. "Would you try? I'm still not completely with the whole 'I'm a woman and that I kind of like guys' thing, but I think...I can do it."

"The question is not 'can you do it', Edward... it is 'Do you want to'?" Jean-Claude met his gaze. "Do you want me? Do you want to feel what it is like for us to be together?"

He felt like Jean-Claude could see into his soul. "Yes." He said. "But I'm warning you now, there are no guarantees I won't freak out on you. I've never been with a guy before and just because I have a vagina now doesn't change the fact that it still it new for me."

Jean-Claude laughed softly. "But of course." He smoothed Edward's hair. "Shall we go to dinner first?"

"Sure, why not?" Edward looked at his clothes. "I doubt this is appropriate for anywhere you'd want to go."

"Non." He smiled. "There is a dress in the closet... a blue one. Where that. I shall meet you in one hour." Jean-Claude bent, brushing his lips over Edward's.

Edward froze at first, but relaxed quickly. He had asked for this. The man he once had been was, well, now wearing high heels. Being with a guy didn't seem so wrong since he himself wasn't a man anymore. Shit! He cursed. If he had played his cards right, he totally could have been a lesbian. He sighed as he opened the closet. Death was gone now. For all anyone would know, he would have seemed to disappear. He couldn't be who he once was now that he was a woman. Recreating himself as a female assassin was too much work. They took the most shit. He just didn't want to deal with that possibility. He just had to accept who, and what he was now.

He opened the closet and grabbed the dress Jean-Claude had described. Edward put it on. God, the other assassins would tease him if they ever saw him like this, but no one knew who he was except Jean-Claude and maybe Asher.

Good thing too, though he'd bet Bernardo couldn't pull of heels as well as he could. With a sigh, he put up his hair. Date time.