Chapter 13: Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein

Disclaimer: Written in 2001, this story was inspired by characters and situations created by a certain author who discourages fan fiction.

Writer Contacts: To contact Wiebke (and especially if you would like to link to this site or any of the stories), email wiebke@juno.com.

Wolfgang stared at Louis for seconds that seemed like hours. Behind his eyes, in the subtle expressions of his face, Louis could see the Austrian's heart collapsing unto itself. And then all at once he cracked open like a burst dam, breaking out into sobs. He pitched his body sideways into the chair as the tears came, his breath escaping in ragged gasps, his body trembling.

"Oh, Louis, oh, Louis," he was moaning, shaking his head as if we wanted to refute something but was unable to put it into words.

Stepping out of his stair, Louis slipped onto the arm of Wolfgang's chair and gently put my hand on his shoulder. "What is it, Wolfgang? Why do you cry this way?"

Louis went on for a few more seconds before Wolfgang finally turned his glistening eyes upward. "Because I'm so happy, Louis, so lucky, so unbelievably lucky. Because I never--" His voice had broken and he had to stop to clear his throat and wipe his eyes. "Because I never thought I would ever meet anyone, ever know anyone, who would know me, could know me, would... be able to be there and know. Do you understand? No one has ever known me!"

Louis nodded his head in acknowledgement and ran his hand through Wolfgang's shining straight brown hair. "Shhhhh, sshhhh, all that has changed. You can talk to me." He petted the back of Wolfgang's head. Wolfgang's body shuddered with the touch and to Louis, it seemed that all at once, the Austrian seemed more vulnerable than he ever had before.

Perhaps there was a way he could make Wolfgang feel more secure, to be more accepting of the offer Louis had made, the offer of companionship, of trust. He truly did want to continue to know Wolfgang, to be a friend to him. If Wolfgang was too shocked to believe it, Louis would have to make himself clear.

Louis slipped his hand from Wolfgang's neck down to his shoulder, then reached with his other arm to grip the underside of Wolfgang's thigh. Moving too quickly for Wolfgang to react in any way, he pulled him onto his lap as he himself sank into the chair, turned Wolfgang full around, and embraced him.

"What are you doing?" Wolfgang asked, his accent suddenly grown thick as he struggled against the pressure of Louis' arms.

"Making you understand," Louis whispered into his ear. "I want you to know that you are not alone. I want you to give up that part of yourself that tells you that you must be alone, that is so used to it that it doesn't know how to survive otherwise. I want you to know that is time for you to live again." The words came easily; Louis felt that he knew exactly what Wolfgang needed and how he felt. Knowing this, it was impossible for him not to supply what was necessary: love, support, encouragement. Louis had long been known as the most human of vampires and in that instance, his humanity and empathy shone through.

Wolfgang continued to cry but gradually he seemed to grow calm, relaxing in Louis' embrace. Louis raised his hand to stroke Wolfgang's long locks and planted a kiss on the handsome cheek. Such soft, human skin, an an aroma so tempting to his thirst but which he knew was so deadly.

Louis felt an ache inside but at the same time, there was a sense of relief, of safety. He could be so close to something that was almost human and yet he couldn't hurt it. He would never kill this creature -- would never want to, and could never do it -- and this creature surely would not kill him. He would not have to worry about Wolfgang begging him for the Dark Gift or exposing him to the world. Wolfgang came no strings attached. It was enough to bring Louis himself nearly to tears.

Finally Wolfgang drew away from the embrace. Louis allowed him to step back, away from the chair. "Louis, I can't--" He wiped an eye, filled with the last remaining tear. "I can't tell you how much this means to me -- this night, that you are here, that you have listened to me. I don't think you know." His arms were crossed across his stomach as if he were literally holding himself together.

"I know," Louis said softly. "I do know." His eyes flickered to the table. "But now, why don't you finish off the last of that wine. Wouldn't want to waste it, would you?"

Wolfgang's gaze turned to the bottle. "Ah, yes, I had forgotten it!" He reached for the bottle and, sweeping it up with one hand, brought it to his lips and finished it off in one long draught. Again Louis saw the brief flush on Wolfgang's cheeks.

"Thank you for reminding me," he said sincerely, setting the bottle onto the table without breaking eye contact. "Thank you for everything."

"I didn't do anything, Wolfgang, I simply stumbled into this," Louis explained. "I tried to kill you, remember?"

Wolfgang snickered. "Yes, but let's let bygones be bygones. I am eternally grateful to you -- literally."

He offered Louis his hand. "But now, you shouldn't be going on your way. I should be keeping you any longer. It's getting late, it's almost--" He checked the time on a nearby clock. "It's almost 2 a.m. I've kept you too long and this friend of yours -- excuse me, you maker -- will be missing you. I will be missing you once you're gone, but you'll be back, yes?"

Louis clasped Wolfgang's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. "Yes, I'll be back." He stepped back and glanced around. "In the meantime, do you have a piece of paper and pen for me?"

Wolfgang cocked his head. "And you need this because...?"

"Because I have to write something out for you."

Wolfgang nodded uncertainly and left the room, returning with an antique postcard and a modern-style fountain pen. "Here you are."

Louis walked over to a side table and wrote out a card with his name, cell phone number and the address of his lawyer. He handed the card to Wolfgang. "I will return here to see you but in case you would like to be in touch with me, here is my number and the contact information of a man who can relay messages to me. Probably you won't need to use this information, but just in case..."

Wolfgang admired the card before slipping it into the inside pocket of his jacket. "Thank you, Louis." He gestured to the door to the hallway. "And now... shall we?"

Louis nodded and followed Wolfgang down the hallway to the flight of stairs leading downstairs to the store. Along the wall he noticed paintings of a Baroque city glowing with sunlight and alive with statues and palaces. Coming up the stairs the first time around, he had been distracted by other things -- Wolfgang's blood, chiefly. He slowed his steps. "Vienna?" he asked.

"Yes," Wolfgang replied. "Vienna." He turned to the stairs and as he went down, began to sing*.

"Wien, Wien, nur du allein
Sollst stets die Stadt meiner Träume sein!
Dort, wo die alten Häuser stehn,
Dort, wo die lieblichen Mädchen gehn!
Wien, Wien, nur du allein
Sollst stets die Stadt meiner Träume sein!
Dort, wo ich glücklich und selig bin,
Ist Wien, ist Wien, mein Wien!"

Once Wolfgang had finished the chorus and they had reached the area by the check-out area in the store, they both shook their heads and smiled.

"I can't believe it," said Wolfgang. "Only a few hours ago I was utterly alone. And now... I'm not."

Louis was standing close to Wolfgang and once again, took the opportunity to embrace him. "No, you're not." Wolfgang slipped his arms our from under Louis' and returned the embrace.

They stepped apart. "I will be back sometimes soon," Louis aid. "In the meantime, you have my card."

Wolfgang nodded but then, as Louis made a move to turn toward the door, his face showed a flash of worry. "You mean it, right? You will come back to see me?"

"Of course, Wolfgang." Louis' voice held only sincerity.

"All right then. See you later." Wolfgang offered small wave and with that, Louis slipped out the door, leaving Wolfgang alone, only for the first time in his immortal life, he didn't feel alone.

THE END**

* Rough translation for those of you who don't know German:

Vienna, Vienna, only you alone
Are the city of my dreams!
There, where the old houses stand,
There, where the lovely women are!
Vienna, Vienna, only you alone
Are the city of my dreams!
There, where I'm happy and bblessed
Is Vienna, is Vienna, my Vienna.

It really sounds much more poetic in German. If you want complete lyrics, go to: http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wienwien.html. The song appears (among other places) in the finale of the Carreras, Domingo, Pavorotti Three Tenors album.

** Although this is the "end" obviously there is room for a sequel. I don't think I have it in me to to one right now but I could be pursuaded to do one in the future. If you have any suggestions, let me know ;)