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"Where are you going?" Astrid asked Alistair.

"To Klaus'," Alistair replied. "I just...need to go see him.

"Are you surre you have to?" Astrid asked. "I think he's perfectly capable of managing himself by now. You need to start living your own life, separate from him."

"I don't think that's possible," Alistair scoffed. "I'm under strict orders from the powers that be to be in his service forever. You know that."

"I don't know if that applies anymore," Astrid told him. "Putting you with Klaus was originally meant to serve as a punishment for the murder of your clan leader, right?"

"Yes," Alistair nodded. "So what?"

"Do you really think of it as a punishment anymore?" Astrid asked. "Or do you just feel like a man who's helping his friend?"

"Why can't it be both?" Alistair asked. "And why should I still be punished for a mistake I made five-hundred years ago, anyway? I already was banished to another dimension and forced to be separated from my family, and then my daughter was killed. Isn't that enough punishment for my killing the clan leader? I was young and foolish back then. Now I'm older and wiser and I've learned my lesson. But at the same time, I also made a very good friend and I don't think I should have to stop being his friend just because being in his presence no longer makes me miserable."

Astrid gave him a look. "You know that when Conal put you with Klaus, he never intended for the two of you to get along as well as you did. He was counting on the two of you fighting forever. I think it would be best if you separated yourself from him so that Klaus can have help from someone else who truly deserved to be shackled to him for the rest of their lives."

"I'm not the only one who's changed," Alistair argued. "He's not as bad as he used to be either. I bet, depending on who they sent, being with Klaus wouldn't be a punishment. I bet they'd have just as good of a time as I do."

Astrid sighed. "I'll talk to Hazel and see what she says. But whatever it is, you have to promise to go along with it, all right?"

"Fine," Alistair sighed. "But I really think you're making a big deal out of nothing."


"Yes?" Hazel asked, appearing in Astrid's office. "What can I help you with, Astrid?"

"First, thank you for coming," Astrid told the woman who basically controlled all of magical law, even more than the people on the council. "I know you're busy and I'm just really grateful you could make time."

"It's my pleasure," Hazel responded, pushing her white-blonde hair out of her eyes. "What is it that you need help with? Is someone being particularly unruly? Do new laws have to be made to deal with them?"

"No," Astrid sighed. "And this is why I feel stupid bringing you down because it's more personal. Has your father ever expressed concern or discontent about my husband?"

"Alistair?" Hazel asked, eyebrow raising. "Now that you mention it, he did ask me if I would come down and talk with Alistair, I was just thinking about when I was going to do it.

Astrid nodded. "So he does think that Alistair and Klaus have gotten close enough that the entire point of their association is moot?"

"Yes," Hazel sighed. "That's true. I know it's going to be difficult for him to step away, though. Won't it? All those years of being with Klaus and now what's he going to do with himself?

"And what's Klaus gonna do?" Astrid added. "That's the more interesting question."

Hazel grinned. "Don't worry," she said. "I'll tend to Alistair, and you think about what to do with Klaus."


"Alistair!" Klaus exclaimed when he found Alistair at his door a few days later. Alistair was looking sad.

"Why so glum?" Klaus asked. "Come in! Come in!" He ushered Alistair inside and urged him to sit down. "What brings you here?"

"I really can't stay long," Alistair told him. "I just came to say that although you and I got off to a rocky start, I've really appreciated your company over the years and I'll really miss seeing you every day."

"What are you saying?" Klaus asked. "Are you leaving? You can't be leaving!"

"Yes, I'm afraid," Alistair sighed. "Now that you and I are friends, the powers that be decided that our being with each other doesn't make any sense, since the original point of our association was to punish me and now it's no longer a punishment." He reached out his hand and firmly grasped Klaus'. "It's been a pleasure knowing you," he said. "Astrid promised me she'd find someone to replace me who'll be just as good at managing your life as I was. I don't know who it will be, though. So it could be a rather unfortunate surprise, just to warn you."

Klaus nodded. "If it has to be this way, there's not much we can do, is there? Goodbye, Alistair. And good luck."

Once Alistair was gone, Klaus spent the rest of the day wandering around the house aimlessly and drinking and when he went to bed that night, he had the bed all to himself. He slept fitfully, and in the morning, as the room filled with light, he noticed that he was no longer alone. There was a shape next to him. She was fully dressed and grinning at him, but that didn't make her any less alarming

"Bloody hell!" He cried when he saw her. He scrambled to cover himself up but the redhead with big blue eyes who was in the bed next to him didn't seem particularly alarmed. "Who the hell are you?" He asked her. "And what are you doing in my bed? Did I order a prostitute last night? I don't remember doing it. I'm pretty sure I went to bed alone."

She giggled. "I'm not a prostitute," she said. She got out of bed and, using magic, moved the curtains apart so even more light filled the room. "There," she said with satisfaction. "That's better, don't you think?"

"No," Klaus groaned. "Let me sleep."

She just shook her head and magicked the covers off him. "Get up!" she ordered. "We need to get you busy. Astrid sent me by the way. She told me that your life was an absolute mess and that you needed someone to manage it for you. I can do that. I'm fully qualified. It's my job."

"What?" Klaus asked, still refusing to get out of bed. "What's your job? Irritating people? And you just can't go removing my covers. For all you knew, I might have been naked!"

"Oh, relax!" She told him. "I knew you weren't. I checked already, while you were asleep. Now get dressed! We have a lot to do today!"

"Will you at least tell me what your name is?" Klaus asked. "Since you think you have the right to order me about and all."

"It's Amy," the woman replied. "My name is Amy and you can consider me your new life coach!"

"Wonderful," Klaus groaned. "Remind me to send Astrid a thank you note once I get my bearings. Now would you mind going somewhere else while I dress?"

"Fine," Amy replied. "But I want you in the kitchen for breakfast in half an hour." She left and Klaus groaned, his fingers running through his hair. Where had Astrid found this woman? And how could he send her back?