A/N I hope you like it!

Be My Forever

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You are the fire to my thoughts, the spark that starts it all
And with your eyes you can move me to your world so far apart

If you die before I do, I know that heartache will kill me too
So if I ever lived again, it will be to find you

Where I can love you, I will love you, until the blood all leaves these veins

Don't you let us, don't you let us, lose to an early grave

Give me a lifetime and then fifty more to find the words
That will never explain, how I need you, how I see you
How you are everything that I have

Where I can love you, I will love you
Until the blood all leaves these veins

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"I'm with you. No matter what else you have in your head I'm with you and I love you."

― Ernest Hemingway

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A FEW MONTHS AGO—VENICE

"Must you go?"

Lucien, who was observing his vampires packing his suitcases, turned around and faced Isabella, who was leaning against their bedroom doorframe. She was wearing a forlorn expression that made his smile drop. She wasn't happy with him going off on his own New Orleans where the Original family was. There were people after him from the other sire lines, and she didn't want him to be subjugated. Lucien sighed and made his way over to Isabella who looked up at him when he stopped in front of her.

"I'm afraid I have to, my darling."Lucien gently responded, arms winding around her waist before he pulled her closer."There is work I must do, and if I am to achieve my goals, I must befriend Niklaus Mikaelson again."

Isabella's worried her bottom lip as she listened to him, hands resting on his chest.

"And what exactly is your goal?"She asked once he finished, I know you are worried about the brewing war between the sire lines, but that is not everything you're up to."

Hiding a small smile at the curiosity in her voice, Lucien looking away from her."That is a secret, my love."

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, no longer arching up into him. Arching an eyebrow in suspicion, Isabella studied him with a scrutinizing gaze. He knew that she knew he was up to something but, in spite of this, Lucien simply offered her charming smile.

"Should I be worried?"

"Not for yourself or your brother, no."Lucien stated, a charming smile on his lips."But for the Mikaelson family, perhaps."

"Lucien, don't toy with Klaus, he is stronger and more powerful-"

"Now, now, my love."Lucien cut in, a hand reaching up and cupping her face, thumb pressing against her mouth."Hush. There is no need to be worried."

Isabella did not attempt to protest, but he could still see the uneasiness glimmering in her dark eyes.

"Listen, I know what i'm doing. I've thought everything over in my head many a time for so long. I know it is risky but would we ever truly live without taking such a risk?"He murmured, fixing her eyes to his as he desperately gazed at her, imploring for her support."Have I ever let you down?"

Humming for a response, Lucien's thumb brushed her lips before he clasped her cheek once more. Sighing contently at the touch, Isabella didn't have to ponder his words before she answered.

"No."

His mouth curving up into the beginnings of a smile, Lucien scanned her features as he had countless times but never grew tired of.

"Would I ever let you down?"

Shaking her head, Isabella allowed herself to smile.

"No."

She trusted his words, she trusted him. She perhaps might not like his plans, but he'd never given her a reason to worry.

"If you trust me then you have nothing to worry over. I would never let anything tear us apart; I promise you that."He ran the backs of his knuckles down her cheek as if she were something fragile and repeated before whispering."Okay?"

Murmuring in acceptance, Isabella reached up and took her hand in her own. She fortified his hands with both of her own before bringing his knuckles to her mouth and pressing a gentle kiss to his daylight ring.

"Just come back to me, all right?"

He slowly nodded, nose brushing her own as he leaned down, murmuring against her lips before he searched for a kiss.

"I'll always come back to you, Izzy. Always."

PRESENT—MYSTIC FALLS

"It's almost time."

Lucien smiled in satisfaction and placed two bottles of the serum into his pocket before kneeling and filling up a third from the spigot. Vincent, crawling towards Freya, winced in pain as well as guilt as he stared at her. Lucien shook his head at them, smiling happily to himself as he filled the bottle.

"Freya, I'm so sorry."

He turned just in time to see Lucien bring the bottle to his lips.

"No!"Vincent yelled at the vampire, shaking his head firmly."Can't let you do that!"

Vincent held his arm forward and flicked his wrist, casting a pain infliction spell that brought Lucien to his knees, though he took great care not to spill the contents of the bottle. Vincent, now standing, made several more quick hand movements that continued the spell, and Lucien reluctantly placed the cap on the bottle to ensure it wouldn't spill just as he dropped it on top of a pile of leaves.

"AH!"Lucien furiously cried out because of his affliction, seething up at Vincent.

Before Vincent could do anything else to him, the witch cried out in agony, and his back arched as the Ancestors cast their own pain infliction spell on him, causing his bones to crack as his body contorted painfully.

Vincent whimpered, pleading with the Ancestors as Lucien took advantage of being freed from his spell.

"You're making a mistake!"Vincent tried to catch his breath as he implored with his people."No!"

The Ancestors suddenly gave up, and Vincent fell on the ground in relief while Lucien snatched up up the bottle. The vampire held it tight in his fist as he turned on his heels, attention refocused on the pair that had been meddling with his plans.

"Alright, my friends!"

As the vampire stormed in their direction, Freya lunged and settled herself on top of Vincent to protect him, raising her head to look up at Lucien.

"No one has to die today."

Slowing his movements, Lucien's mouth curved up into a sinister smirk as he tutted at her.

"Oh. Oh, sweet Freya. Today is the beginning of an awful lot of death-"Stressing his last word with a lopsided grin, Lucien kneeled to Freya's eye level."starting with yours, I'm afraid."

Lucien grabbed Freya by her bound wrists and pulled her to her feet, grin broadening when she yelled out in protect. She groaned in pain as his fingers dug into her skin. Vincent watched from his place on the ground and shook his head, exhausted.

"Truly, you and I could've been quite the thing-"Lucien roughly cupped Freya's face in one hand, fingertips squeezing so hard that she could feel nothing but aching in her jaw."but i'm a taken man."

The last part was whispered so quietly Freya had to strain to hear them. Mouthing his words to herself in confusion, Freya barely had time to think them over and process before she found herself unable to breathe.

"Lucien!"

At the sound of Elijah's voice, Lucien spun around to face the other man, fingers now locked around Freya's throat. He offered the Mikaelson a smirk in greeting as he tightened his grip on Freya.

"Oh!"Lucien breathed to himself, eyes wide with pure excitement."just in time for the party, lads!"

With an elated cry, Lucien held up the bottle of serum and popped the top off of it with his thumb, raising his hand in a toast.

"Cheers!"

Lucien downed the serum in one gulp, licked his lips of the remains smeared across his mouth and grinned happily to himself.

"Let the fun begin!"He drawled with a delighted chuckle, glancing down at Freya who quietly stared at her brothers."Can either of you get to me faster than I can rip your darling sister's head off?"

The brother's shared a worried look while silently conversing.

"Didn't think so."

Before Lucien could do anything, Finn flashed towards Matt and placed his hand on the human's, using his fingers to pull the trigger on the gun and shot at Lucien three times. Freya gasped in pain and shifted, revealing the gunshots that had went through her shoulder.

And, in doing so, they'd pierced Lucien's heart.

Lips parting in awe, Lucien glanced down at the blood starting to spread and quietly laughed to himself. He shook his head, staring at the Originals in surprise as his skin began to desiccate.

"Oh, you clever bastard!"

Both Lucien and Freya fell to the ground, and Finn and Elijah rushed toward Freya. Murmuring her name, Elijah pulled his sister up into a seating position and handed her off to Finn.

"Hold her. Hold her head."

Hushing Freya as she gasped in pain, Finn brushed her hair from her forehead, watching her with worried eyes. Without thinking and wanting to ease her pain Elijah bit into his wrist with a sigh, ignoring the blood that smeared his lip and offered his wrist to his sister.

"It's okay. You're okay."

Freya allowed herself to drink the blood her brother offered and latched her mouth onto the bite marks, desperately swallowing and sighing in relief as her wounds healed.

As soon as she was able to form words, Freya hurriedly asked."Where is he?"

Matt, sitting on a large rock next to Vincent who looked exhausted, gestured to Lucien who was sprawled out on the ground.

"That guy?"He pointed to Lucien's body before offering Freya a small smile."Dead."

Eyes growing wide with alarm Freya shook her head, shaking her head back and forth wildly. She attempted to sit up, but Finn stopped her, murmuring about how she shouldn't stress herself.

"No..."

Elijah, worried as Freya desperately pointed over to Lucien, cupped his sister's cheek and attempted to ease her fears.

"Listen to me."Elijah whispered with a worried tone, cupping his sister's cheek."It's done. It's over."

"You don't understand!"She hurried out, holding tighter onto Finn and reaching out to take Elijah's hand."He drank the serum."

Elijah shook his head in confusion, not understanding what she's saying."What?"

"He wanted you to kill him."Freya carried on, swallowing the lump in her throat as she stared at her brothers."You helped him take the final step..."

Elijah paused for a moment then heard the rustling of leaves behind him. He turned his head, and his eyes widened in horror as Lucien rose to his feet. Finn looked petrified as he witnessed Lucien develop double-fangs on both the top and bottom jaws, and his irises grow bright red as the darkened vampiric veins around his eyes stretched all the way down his face.

"What a time to be alive, eh?"

Jumping to his feet Matt began to shoot round after round at him, but Lucien, amused, began to laugh and spread his arms wide as the bullets passed through him, the wounds causing him no pain and healing as quickly as they were made.

"That all you got, mate?"

Lucien, tired of the human, backhanded Matt so hard that he flew back and was knocked unconscious. He laughed at this and Elijah to leap to his feet to fight against him. Elijah punched him several times but was knocked down quickly by Lucien. Finn, trying to defend his brother, lunged for Lucien but the other man struck him on the chin, and he was sent flying to the ground.

Lucien gleefully laughed, holding out his arms, welcoming any attack that the others had in plan.

"Poor show! Poor show!"Lucien mockingly scolded, wagging his finger at the other men."Come on, gents. You can do better, surely!"

Elijah flashed towards him, only for Lucien to kick him square in the chest, sending him thought eh air as he did Matt.

"What do you think, Elijah? This new power, it suits me, no?"

Elijah listened in horror, feeling a pang of humiliation as the vampire he could once easily overpower had turned the tables on him. But he continued to try to fight him, using every ounce of strength he had only to be defeated at every turn.

"I've pondered this... "Lucien breathily started, sauntering towards Elijah, words dripping with bitterness."Whom to end first, you or Klaus? I had thought him. But now that I'm here, I think it should be you."

Lucien lifted Elijah up by the lapels of his coat and lets his fangs extract to bite Elijah. But Finn appeared at the right moment and punched Lucien across the face. He let go of Elijah and grabbed Finn angrily, hissing before he sank his fangs into the Originals' neck.

Finn cried out in pain, the sound making Elijah and Freya flinch in shock.

"AHHHH!"

He let go of Finn, and Elijah caught him before he fell to the ground, cradling his brother protectively. The siblings stared at Lucien in horror as he licked the blood from his lips. He tried to attack them once more, but he was unable to move farther than a few steps because Freya thrust out her bound, bloody wrists and cast a silent spell.

"A barrier spell? How delicious."

He tested the spell by running his fingers along the invisible boundary, causing a loud screeching noise that hurt Freya's ears, while Finn thrashed around on the ground.

"I do appreciate a bit of spice being thrown into the hunt. It isn't very fun if the quarry just rolls over and offers its neck, is it?"

"I can keep this up as long as I need to,"Freya informed the vampire with a sneer.

"I don't doubt it, you little minx."Lucien lazily replied, buttoning his jacket smugly before he shrugged."Never mind. I have waited a thousand years. I can wait a tad longer. I'm gonna enjoy making this last a long time."

Lucien flashed away, leaving the unconscious Matt and the weakened Vincent, Finn, Freya, and Elijah behind to deal with their injuries. Freya and Elijah crawled over to Finn to check on him as he wheezed on the ground.

"Finn!"

988 A.D

"Ugly! You're ugly."

Nine-year-old Lucien struggled against the older boy, knees buckling as he began to lose his footing. He continued to fight against their hold on him, refusing to allow his tears to show as they mocked him.

"Let me go!"

"Say it!"The older boy pushed, the younger boy to the ground, kicking him in the side."Say it."

The other kids grasped his arms and pinned him down to the ground. He struggled wildly, trying to push them off of him but they were too strong.

He sighed, angry tears filling his eyes."I-I'm ugly!'

"And?"

"I'll always be ugly."

He coughed in pain when one of them kicked him in the ribs, sending him to his side and he spat out blood, making him whimper in pain. The boys laughed, mockingly pointing at him as he doubled over in pain. The boys began to skip around him, pointing at him and sticking out their tongues as they chanted.

Your family has nothing, and you'll always be nothing."

The older boy raised his fist and smiled as he brought it down but before he could a small hand curled around his wrist.

"Leave him alone!"Lucien heard a girl's voice demand; her tone laced with contempt."Do you hear me?"

"Enough!"He saw the leader of the pack of boys turn around, but Lucien didn't see who he was looking at."Go away, little girl."

But, apparently, in spite of the firm demand of the boy, the girl remained firm in her belief.

"I said leave him alone."

"Or what?"One of the boys asked with a mocking tone."What is a little girl going to do?!"

Lucien froze when he heard the girl laugh in response before, screaming at the top of her lungs, she called out.

"Oh, Mateo!"

Lucien's eyes widened in shock when he saw Lucas suddenly lifted into the air. He looked up to see a boy, about the same age as Lucas but much taller, holding the collar of Lucas' tunic as he eased him into the air. Lucas cried out in fear and kicked his feet, but Mateo didn't let him go.

"No! No, let me down!"

The other boys, especially the leader began to back away. Fear was etched across his face as he watched Mateo throw Lucas aside, who shuffled away. The rest of the boys ran away, shouting for their mothers, leaving their leader standing next to Lucien who was still on the ground, blood dripping from his nose.

"You!"Mateo suddenly forward, the move causing the boy to scramble backward. Mateo towered over the younger boy, leaning down to his height as he quietly spoke."If I see you near this boy again, I'll do more than sweep you off your feet, you cretin."

The leader swallowed as Mateo stared at him, his intense and enraged gaze making him squirm.

"Do you understand me?"

The leader numbly nodded before he backed away, running off after his friends. The girl watched after him with a pleased huff, amused as the boy shouted for his mother.

Turning to her brother, the girl beamed up at him, hugging his arm thankfully.

"Thank you, big brother."

Mateo's threatening glare instantly faltered and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"You're welcome, my sister."He murmured, touching her face gently before he looked over at Lucien who was watching them in awe."I'll scare off many a boy for you."

With one last look at Lucien and his sister, Mateo turned and ambled away back to his friends. The young girl smiled after him before turning her head to look down at Lucien, who seemed both relieved and cautious, as if he were somewhat expecting her to make fun of him too.

"You!"

With a skip in her step, the girl pranced over to him and lowered herself to her knees beside him, reaching over with her hand, and she brushed a curl from his eyes.

"Hello."She quietly greeted, carry on without waiting for him to reply.

And even if she had waited for him to respond Lucien was unable to form words. He stared up at her in shock, unsure of how to act as she carried on petting him.

"My name is Isabella de Grace."She beamed as she stated her name, eyes glimmering with instant delight as he stared at her."And you're my new friend. I love making new friends."

He frowned, recognizing that name and his body froze. It was a very important name. The man who he presumed to be her father was Alejandro de Grace, who was a very influential man who came from wealth. His father had told him to never speak to those more important to them because they didn't want to be bothered with people less than them. His father was a hard-working man, and Lucien respected him.

He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out.

He didn't want to sound stupid. He then thought of her previous uttered words, and they made his eyes widen.

Lucien peered up at her, lingering on her smile before he mustered up the courage to reply.

"I don't have any friends."

"Neither do I."She quickly admitted, looking away for a moment with a blush on her cheeks."This is my first time making a friend. We can be each other's friends if you want."

"Why?"He softly asked, a deep frown on his mouth before shaking his head, tugging at his worn tunic."Look at me. I'm ugly, and i'm not as important as you."

Shaking her head, Isabella imitated his frown with a hint of sadness in her eyes he felt guilty for causing.

"Oh, no! You're anything but ugly."She whispered to him, wiping the blood from his chin with the sleeve of her dress without a second thought."You're beautiful, and I don't care what you are. Come on."

Getting to her feet, she held out her hand, and he hesitated.

"I won't hurt you."She promised with a large smile before wagging a finger at him."As long as you don't hurt me."

Eyes wide, Lucien was quick to shake his head and, with a firm tone, he made his promise.

"I'll never hurt you."

"And i'll never hurt you."She vowed, beaming at him as she wiggled her fingers at him."Come along."

Lucien didn't think twice before taking her hand.

Thank you for reading!

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