
On his way back from running a secret
errand, Nick unexpectantly bumps
into LaCroix who demands to know
where he has been and what is in
the pouch he's carrying. Nick reluctantly
hands it over, and LaCroix examines
the contents. Seeing that it contains
medicinal herbs, LaCroix realizes
that Nick is making another pathetic
attempt at becoming mortal. Angrily,
he slaps Nick with the back of his
hand, then pushes him up against
a wall.

"This is how you repay me?" LaCroix
rages at Nick's rejection of his
precious gifts of power, immortality
and eternal protection. "You're my
creature, Nicholas!" LaCroix reminds
him. "Made in my image." "Then
I'm a monster," is Nick's stinging
reply. LaCroix forces himself to
calm down and speaks to his son in
a gentler tone. "Why are you doing
this to me?" he asks. "I've done
nothing to you LaCroix," Nick responds
meekly. "You've done this. Kill me
if you wish," he adds. "Either way,
I will leave you." Nick then
walks away leaving his master seething
with contempt.

Nick returns home to Janette and
apprises her about his run-in with
their master. He tells her that he
has to get away from LaCroix and
asks that she come away with him.
She declines, preferring to remain
in Paris, but she gives him some
of her expensive jewelry and the
name of a man who can help him begin
a new life in America. Later, when
LaCroix tries to get Janette to tell
him where Nicholas has gone, she
suggests that they just forget about
him. "We can get a new one," she
murmurs. "I don't want a new
one," LaCroix argues angrily, "I
like that one!" Softening
his approach, he convinces her that
Nicholas needs them to survive and
Janette easily succumbs.

Taking Janette's advice, Nick soon
finds himself in America, arriving
by way of ship and riding in a steamer
trunk. He is met by Don Constantine,
a crime syndicate boss whose father
was known for assisting vampires
for a price. Don Constantine accepts
a gold pocket watch as payment for
insuring Nick's relocation to Los
Angeles. Hot on his trail, LaCroix
arrives in America and confronts
Don Constantine about Nick. The don
is reluctant to give out any information
until LaCroix speaks to him about
the importance of family and his
desire to keep his together. He also
lets Don Constantine know that he
will be eternally in his debt for
assisting him in his search.

In Los Angeles, as Nick descends
the staircase at his hotel, he is
surprised by the arrival of LaCroix
and Janette. He shoots an annoyed
look at Janette, unhappy that she
gave him away. "How did you find
me?" Nick asks. "I shall always find
you, Nicholas," LaCroix informs him.
To show that he's forgiven his offspring
for running away from his family,
LaCroix offers Nick the gold pocket
watch that he got back from Don Constantine.

Three generations later, Nick meets
Don Constantine's great-grandson
David when a hit is put out on the
young man after he offers to testify
against his great-grandfather in
order to free himself from the duties
of taking over the family crime business.
Nick takes David into his protective
custody, then pays a visit to Don
Constantine to plead David's case.
The don is none too happy with his
interference and refuses to back
down and let David live his own life.
Since his great-grandson has a vampire
in his corner, Don Constantine calls
on LaCroix at the radio station and
reminds the vampire that he owes
him a favor. LaCroix remembers well
and is eager to repay his debt.

When Nick returns to the police station,
he's shocked to find his master waiting
for him. LaCroix tells Nick that
he is the only father he has, and
as a father, he warns him to stay
out of the affairs of the Constantines.
Finding a questionnaire about fatherhood
that Schanke left behind, LaCroix
reads to Nick what is expected of
a father. "A father provides love,
discipline, guidance, protection
and support." "He left out freedom,"
Nick points out. "So would I," LaCroix
replies. Getting to the real issue,
he tells Nick, "If David Constantine
does not return to his family, I
will find him and kill him." "Why
don't you do for David what you would
never do for me?" Nick implores.
"Let him go."

LaCroix visits Don Constantine to
determine exactly what it is he wants
done about David. He asks if he really
wants the young man killed. The don
tells LaCroix that he's already lost
his own sons, so he was unable to
pass along the family business to
them. Now that he's old and sickly,
he wants David to take over for him
because there's no one else left.
"Without David, it all ends. The
family, the business, everything
we are. When I die, everything I
built will have disappeared." He
lets LaCroix know how important that
is to him and reminds him that he
still owes him.

Nick has made arrangements for David
and his family to leave town. Just
before they are ready to depart,
Don Constantine and LaCroix arrives.
Instead of trying to stop him from
leaving, Don Constantine has had
a sudden change of heart and gives
his great-grandson his blessings.
They embrace each other with newfound
love and respect. Nick goes over
to LaCroix to find out how he changed
Constantine's mind. LaCroix explains
that the old man was simply afraid
of dying without having anyone to
take over his family business. "Personally,
I don't think he's ever looked fitter.
He could live for another hundred
years." It's then that Nick realizes
that LaCroix has made Don Constantine
a vampire.

While broadcasting his radio show,
LaCroix is surprised by an unexpected
visitor. Nick presents him with the
gold watch that LaCroix had given
him years ago. "Happy Father's Day.
I'm not coming back to you," he tells
him. "I just wanted to say thank
you." Touched by the gesture, LaCroix
is left momentarily speechless. After
Nick walks out of the sound booth,
LaCroix speaks into the microphone
and gives a little well-known speech
about how if you love someone, let
them go, and if they're really yours,
they will return. "You will
come back to me, Nicholas," he adds.
"I can wait. I have all the
time in the world."
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