IMPORTANT - My author's notes are divided into two categories. IMPORTANT and ANs. If you like the story, I'd suggest you read the 'IMPORTANT' ones and read the ANs if you feel like it. These will have things like update dates, and important things about the story. Thanks! This chapter will make more sense once Chapter Two is up, by the way. It will all make sense soon. Very T, by the way, and kind of sick and twisted, so if that bothers you...

AN: So, I wrote this while I was sick... I'm not really sure if you'll like it or not, but please tell me what you thought. I'm kind of nervous about this one for some reason... :0

Different

A special branch of the government got too interested in Abnormals. Helen investigated. Nikola came with her. they found the base, and now it was under their control. Nikola and Helen began searching the labs. In the first lab, they found her. The girl he thought he'd never see again.

The bright, harsh, white light did nothing to disguise the blood that was all over her. Her lips twitched upward when she saw him, but she didn't speak. The dead scientist at her feet indicated all of the blood was not hers.

"Lila," he managed in a horse voice.

She grinned. "Nikola."

A surge of emotions came over him. The first and foremost was the urge to apologize over and over again, and sympathy, and guilt. It felt awkward, with Helen standing right next to him. He could see Lila's eyes flicking to her briefly. Then, there was an emotion which he tried his best to suppress. It was the all too familiar urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her until he forgot everything else.

"I don't believe we've been introduced," Helen said warily.

"But I'm guessing you're The Great Helen," Lila drawled.

Nikola's eyes snapped off the floor. He said without thinking, "I never told you her name."

The grin to turned to a sad smile. "You talk in your sleep. Other times, too."

Helen put her hands on her hips. Too many questions. How did she know Nikola? How did she know what he said in his sleep... That question was answered easily enough by the way he was trying not to stare at her. Also, it wasn't comforting to know he said her name in his sleep. "Explanation, Nikola?"

Nikola looked at her with a flash of annoyance that said, 'I'm not a dog, don't talk to me like one'. then he turned back to Lila, a determined but sad look on his face. "This is Lila. One of the biggest mistakes I made. And nothing I say is going to make it alright." He wasn't looking at Helen. He wasn't talking to Helen. He was talking to and looking at Lila. "She got caught up in something she never should have and I will always regret it."

Lila's brown eyes lit up in anger. straight black hair shook a little as she stood up straighter. "I'm sick and tired of your apologies." she growled.

Helen watched, perplexed, for a moment; before deciding on the wisest course of action. "Well, ah, I have to check the other labs." She silently reminded herself to talk to Will when they got back.

When she was gone, Nikola spoke quietly. "I know."

"Do you know why?" She stepped closer to him. "Because they make me trust you. And then everything falls apart, like it always does."

"I know." There was a long bitter silence. "Why are you here?" he finally asked.

"Why does anything happen to me? You. It turns out I spent enough time with you before Rome to snag the attention of the government. They think I knew your failed plans. Fortunately for you, I wasn't smart enough to understand them." She cast her eyes down.

Before he knew what he was doing, his arms were around her. "Liar," he whispered affectionately.

She pushed away. "not smart enough to understand them is true. I just helped you actually do it. So, how's the world domination going? Or has the saintly Dr Magnus talked you out of that one?"

"Lila, this time is different." Nikola sighed.

"It's always different," she rolled her eyes. "But we always end up the same place. Or have you got your girlfriend now?" Her words were like daggers, and he winced.

"This time it'll end up right," he insisted. "That's a promise."

Suddenly, her voice broke. "Nothing ever ends up right." She was fighting back sobs. "I hate you, you know that?"

"I know," he answered quietly. They sank down onto a chair, and once he held her close to him in his arms, she began crying uncontrollably. "I care about you Lila. That's why we're not going to end up in the same place again. I'm not going to hurt you again." he said.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," she whispered, then kissed him suddenly. He felt her hot tears on his face. He tried to push away. Lila, don't -"

"You hurt me every moment of every day," she whispered.

AN: The author would appreciate your continued support, as Fanfiction says.