Starring LaCroix and CotK members, Morgaine, Lisa Harvey, JL Kerr and Anjali. (with permission to have LC featured)

Morgaine, Lisa, JL and Anjali wandered around the Jewelled Peach during the Conversion Day party. All in all it had been a good day but now it was nearly time for them to leave.

"Hadn't we better find Margie and Kyer?" JL asked.

Lisa looked around one last time, "But we haven't got to meet LaCroix yet!" the CotK's resident addict complained.

'Good' Anjali thought silently, suddenly feeling panicky. She really liked Nick *and* LaCroix but HE wouldn't know that - especially considering what they had done. He would probably kill her before she had a chance to explain! She groaned, inwardly.

"Let's have a look at the present again!" Morgaine said for the ninth time. Anjali grinned, glad for the distraction and pulled the two frames from their protective covers. The four CotK members leaned over it to admire their handywork.

The first frame had in it a black and white photo that they had lifted from the episode 'Close Call'. JL's computer skills had allowed her to remove Janette from the photo to leave Nick and LaCroix. Knowing how much LaCroix loved Nick, and also that the two vampires being the focal point of their faction, they hoped HE would appreciate it.

The second photo featured the six members of CotK playing in the war in their togas. Kyer, who who had been persuaded to wear a toga just for the photo, and Margie were wearing the traditional white, whereas Morgaine wore her colour of choice, black; Anjali had tye-died hers blue; JL had chosen dark green and Lisa had opted for purple.

Around both pictures they had put their banner quote "Even when they are trying to kill you, they are still family" and across the bottom was written "Cousins of the Knight". Their logo in the corner featured crossed swords, (one Crusader style, the other Roman) the chain of a pocketwatch intertwined with their blades, written on it the watch itself 'Forever'. It symbolised what their faction stood for.

Anjali slipped the pictures back into their covers.

"Great job, JL" Lisa told her.

"Is this something I should know about?" came a voice from behind them. The four CotK members froze. They would have recognised his voice anywhere. Slowly they turned around and said nothing, only stared at him wide eyed. LaCroix.

Anjali resisted the urge to run away screaming at the top of her lungs and only handed the framed pictures over to him. Morgaine seemed to be the only one capable of speech.

"It's a Conversion day gift from the Cousins of the Knight to you." she told him.

"I see."

He removed the pictures from the covering and Anjali thought she saw a flicker of a smile on his lips, but she couldn't be sure. He looked at the photos for several moments before replacing them.

"How thoughtful of you."

Anjali guessed that was his way of saying 'thank you' and smiled nervously. Very nervously. Lisa was still dumbstruck. LaCroix looked down at her.

"Miss Harvey, isn't it." It was not a question. "I would ask you why you had not chosen to play with the cousins in this war," he paused, "but I know that the Cousins of the Knight consider their faction an honor to me."

Lisa opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out.

"It's, er, definately been an honour meeting you, um..." Nunkies? LaCroix? Uncle? General? Anjali stuttered, trying to force herself to speak. "...uh, sir"

"Yes," Lisa squeaked, finally finding her voice.

LaCroix half smiled. "You'll excuse me." and he continued walking past. The CotK members observed that even as a mortal he gave the impression of power and grace simultaneously. Once he was out of mortal hearing shot, Anjali sank to the floor in relief. Obviously LaCroix had not heard about their little prank.

Morgaine was jumping up and down holding onto Lisa's arm. "Cool!" she squealed. Lisa was still in shock.

"Did that really just happen?" Lisa mumbled.

"Yeah," JL said.

"Either that or we're all crazy!" Anjali said, jumping to her feet and hugging them all and feeling very happy to still be alive. "But don't answer that."

"Quick, let's go find the others and tell them!" Morgaine suggested, and began dragging her friends back to where they had last seen the other two Cousins of the Knight.