All recognizable characters belong to their respective owners as intellectual property, we are making no money off this and do it for our love of these wonderful characters and the amazing actors who portray them!

The character of Nikalus Mikaealson will be OOC, if this bothers you please stop reading now. Thank you!

Mistress Martin & MysticalGoddess39

Love. The person who has earned love the least needs it the most.

~F. Enzio Busche

Chapter 1

The snow began to fall softly, coating the park in an icy white blanket. All was quiet in the early morning hour, as two figures strolled through the swirling snow. Ears and eyes alert for any sign of trouble. That was the task that Marcel had set for the newest members of his nightwalker sect and they resented it. They were bored and hungry. They rounded a bend in the sidewalk and the taller of the duo nudged his companion, head inclined toward a park bench. "Do you recognize her?" he asked quietly.

"Nope, never seen her around before. Probably some tourist stranded." the shorter of the two said, licking his lips. "Looks like we found dinner!"

Elijah Mikaelson strode through the street, he didn't feel the cold but was in a hurry to get home and share his latest reconnaissance with his brother. The plotting and feuding between Nicklaus and Marcel was tiresome, but he would do what he had to for his brother.

He stopped short. The smell of blood rent the air a fraction of a second before the scream pierced the night.

Aislynn Bruce felt the pain slice through her neck before her eyes were even open. Panic overwhelmed her while the sheer evilness of her attackers wrapped around her senses. Using her fist she beat wildly pushing and clawing at her attackers as a blood curdling scream was ripped from her throat.

The cloying smell of her own blood threatened to close her throat and take the very breath from her body. Then as suddenly as they were there, they were gone. Aislynn cowered on the wet ground, eyes downcast as she waited for the next onslaught.

The hands that reached for her were gentle, yet strong, the voice melodic and soothing. She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes, wasn't sure she even had the strength. "There, there, love. Let me help you." The fresh scent of blood met her nose and she knew instinctively that it was not her own. Flesh was pressed against her lips and she could taste the coppery tang, "Drink. Everything will be all right."

Aislynn's brain fought against the idea of drinking what she knew had to be her savior's blood, but his voice was so soothing that she couldn't resist. Opening her eyes, she looked up into the gentle face of a the man who had most likely saved her life. Tapping into her ability she could feel his gentleness and innate desire to help her. Doing the only thing she could she drew the coppery taste of blood into her mouth and forced herself to swallow. Almost immediately she began to feel her strength return. "Who are you?" she whispered as he pulled his wrist away from her mouth.

Long, elegant fingers brushed her hair back from her face. "My name is Elijah. I only want to help you." He pulled her closer to his body and realized she was half frozen. "We should get you home. You'll die from exposure if you stay out here."

"I...I have no home...no family or friends," she whispered shivering against his body.

Elijah felt his heart clench at the sadness and fear written in her eyes. "You do now, love...you do now." She was barely an adult, maybe 22 or 23 years old. Taking off his coat he wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled her firmly against his body as he reached down and retrieved the backpack laying on the ground.

She was afraid to resist, afraid the two men who had attacked her would come back and finish the job. She had no sense of any danger from the man who had saved her and was now holding her tightly against his side. "Do you think you can walk?" he asked quietly.

"I'll...try." Her teeth were chattering, as much from the fear as from the cold.

"Just lean on me."

Aislynn did as she was told and leaned into Elijah. It wasn't long before the fear she had felt began to ebb away and was replaced with an overwhelming tiredness that she couldn't fight. Stumbling she tightened her grip on the man next to her.

Elijah felt the young woman stumble and immediately swept her into his arms carrying her the rest of the way to the house he shared with his younger siblings, Niklaus and Rebekah.

The house was completely silent when he stepped inside. Assuming everyone else had taken to their respective beds he headed for the parlor and gently placed the young woman on the couch. He stood over her, staring down at the stunningly beautiful face. She was dressed casually, but not shabbily and he could only speculate at the circumstances that had brought her to this place and time.

She claimed to have no home, no family or friends but she did not appear to be homeless, though she had clearly been sleeping on that park bench. Elijah ran a hand across his face wearily. He knew that Niklaus would be furious that he had brought a stranger home but he really hadn't had a choice.

He could not have, in good conscience, left her to die in the park and become what they were. He'd not been given that choice and he would not force it on anyone for any reason.

He stood there watching her for a moment or two, she seemed peaceful at the moment. Reaching for the blanket laid over the back of the couch he gently covered her before moving across from her to sit on the other couch to watch over her. He still needed to figure out a way to tell Klaus that Aislynn would be staying with them for awhile. His sister Rebekah might be fine with it and just give him a hard time for the sake of being a little sister. But Klaus, he was almost afraid to tell him for the girls sake. He did not want the young woman frightened off and back on the streets. The vampires who had attacked her would be out looking to kill her for causing them embarrassment.

Elijah was still sitting there watching the young woman curled up on the sofa sleeping soundly when he heard the front door open. Standing quickly he went to see who it was all the while praying it was Rebekah.

"Elijah...what did you do?" Rebekah asked immediately sensing how tense her brother was.

"I didn't do anything. Well except bring home a injured homeless girl that got caught in the park by two of Marcel's Night Walkers." he said motioning to the parlor

Rebekah cocked an eyebrow. While it didn't surprise her, she had to wonder at the increased sense of heroism her brother seemed to be displaying of late.

"Nik's not gonna like this, Elijah." She strode into the parlor.

"Well, he isn't going to have a choice. I'm not going to let him throw her out. She says she has no family, no friends and I'm guessing she isn't even from around here. So until we figure out what to do she stays."

"Under your protection. I got it, Elijah. But three woman under one roof might not be the best for you boys," she said grinning at him.

Elijah followed Rebekah into the parlor. "I just worry about how Niklaus is going to react. She's just a human girl. She'll be terrified."

"Well we can't hide her from him, what would you have us do lock her downstairs in the dungeon?" Rebekah asked melodramatically.

"No. I just have to keep him under control while he meets her."

Rebekah turned on her heel. "So you are going to lock him in the dungeon?

"No, little sister, I am not locking our brother in a dungeon. Before he meets her I will tell him what's going. And pray he doesn't throw a tantrum."

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Good luck with that."

Aislynn stirred on the couch. Elijah moved to kneel in front of her as Rebekah leaned against the door jam.

"Starting your own harem, brother?" Rebekah could feel Niklaus's breath as he stopped behind her.

Elijah turned, a sigh of resignation echoing through the room. He stood and faced his brother.

"Look, I know you don't like us to bring new people into our little home here, but the girl was attacked by vampires while she was sleeping on a park bench. It's cold out there, if she doesn't have a place to stay she's going to die."

Niklaus noticed the movement behind Elijah. The girl had moved to a sitting position, scrubbing her hands across her face. She looked up at him with wide green eyes.

The first thing he noticed was the stunning beauty that sat before him. He moved further into the room. "No, it is not all right."

Aislynn could feel every emotion radiating from his body and into hers. She could feel his uncertainty, his anger and hatred. She could also feel the immense sadness and a broken heart. She sat still and let him walk to her. "My name is Aislynn Bruce," she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Her tone was soft and melodic.

Niklaus extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Aislynn. My name is Niklaus Mikaelson." When she took his hand Niklaus felt a sense of peace radiate through his body. He sat next to her. "Tell me Aislynn, do you know what happened tonight?"

Her attention was focused solely on the man next to her. "I was attacked. I almost died. Elijah saved me."

"And do you know who attacked you?" he asked gently.

Rebekah and Elijah stood watching the exchange in shocked silence.

"I don't know who they were, but I know what they were if that is what you mean."

He nodded. "And my brother? How did he save you?"

"He fed me his blood." She didn't need to ask, she knew they were all the same basic species. She also knew there was something more about the man who sat next to her.

"Do you know what we are?"

She nodded. "Vampires."

"That's right, love. Does that scare you?"

She cocked her head at him. She sensed the violence, the barely controlled rage simmering just underneath the surface of Niklaus Mikaelson's polite facade.

"No."

"That's good, love, because from the moment you were saved by my brother Elijah you have this family's protection, a roof over your head and food in your stomach. We will protect you, but in order to that I'm going to need a description of the two vampires who attacked you, so that they can never hurt you or anyone else again.

"I don't remember much, but one was tall and very scary. Maybe 6'1 or 2, the other was short about 5' 9 or 10. They both wore black jackets, the long kind. I think one of them had on a bracelet with spikes on it...I felt it digging into my shoulder as he held me down," Aislynn whispered, a shiver running down her spine at the thought of just how close she had come to death.

"Very good, love." Niklaus stood and held out his hand to her. "Rebekah will show you to your room. Welcome to our home. I hope you will be comfortable."

He hated to let her go. He couldn't begin to fathom why, but he felt at ease with this pixie of a girl. He turned and looked expectantly at his sister.

Aislynn got up from where she was seated and looked at Elijah with a hint of fear in her eyes. "It's okay, sweetheart, this is my sister Rebekah. She'll make sure you have everything you need," Elijah said nodding to Rebekah.

Elijah waited until Aislynn and Rebekah were up the stairs and out of ear shot. "Well that went better than expected. I figured you would have thrown her out the front door without hearing any explanations."

"No, she's more than welcome in our home. we need to find out which two of Marcel's blood thirsty minions were working the park tonight."

Elijah checked his complete shock at his brother's seeming acquiescence on the subject. "I didn't get a good look. All I saw was their backs while they were attacking Aislynn. I snapped their necks and got her out of there. They must be new. Marcel would not stand for that kind of public display."

"Unless he was the one making it." Niklaus quipped moving to the sidebar for a drink.

"That is true. I should have just ripped their hearts out and left it at that. Marcel would have thanked me."

Niklaus smirked to himself. He reached for a glass and realized his hand was shaking.

"So brother what would you have me do to find the two that attacked our young house guest?"

"Go back out and start asking questions of the other vampires so that Marcel knows we are searching for them. Let him come ask me why I'm asking about two of his Night Walkers."

Elijah couldn't help but notice the way Niklaus leaned against the bar, as if steadying himself. "Very well." He turned and walked from the room leaving Niklaus to his own thoughts.

Aislynn followed the willowy blond down a long hallway, taking in the Victorian decor of the magnificent plantation house. Finally she stopped at the last door before another staircase. "We all have rooms on this floor, except Nik. His is up that staircase. This will be your room as long as you are with us." She opened the door and stepped back.

Aislynn stepped inside, her breath catching in her throat and tears springing to her eyes. She had never seen a more warm and inviting room than this. The walls were painted a dark rose. The floors were a dark mahogany and the bed was the most beautiful four poster canopy bed she'd ever seen. Sheer drapes hung from the post almost completely encasing the bed. On the west was a huge picture window complete with a comfortable window seat that would be perfect for curling up and reading or for writing in her journal while the sun sank below the horizon leaving it's colors of reds, yellows, and gold's for her to appreciate. "I don't know what to say. I've never seen anything so beautiful," she whispered around the lump in her throat. Turning to Rebekah with tears in her eyes she said. "Thank you, this is wonderful."

"Nik takes great pride in our home, wherever it may be. If you need anything, my room is at the opposite end of the hall on the same side."

Aislynn thanked her again and Rebekah nodded before stepping out and shutting the door behind her. Aislynn dropped her backpack on the settee at the end of the bed. She was bone tired and all she wanted to was sleep for a week. She sat on the settee and took off her shoes and socks, then stripped down to her t-shirt and panties.

She slipped under the heavy comforter and rested her head on the pillow. Shutting her eyes she was not at all surprised to find the face of Niklaus Mikaelson behind her closed lids. She remembered how she had forgotten to breathe when she'd first laid eyes on him. She tried to put the pain and overwhelming heartbreak she sensed in him from her mind but it was difficult.

She continued to lay there for an hour tossing from side to side. After having slept in alleys and on park benches for the greater part of three years, she was not used to the comfort of a real bed. Especially not a bed this grand and comfortable. Her mind wandered back to the man she'd met a little earlier and couldn't help but wonder who had hurt him so badly. That kind of emotion didn't come from just one thing or person hurting him. It radiated off him so intensely that she'd wanted nothing more than to take him in her arms and soothe away every hurt, every betrayal and show him that it didn't have to be that way. Shaking her head to clear him from her mind she got out of bed and walked to the mirror. "Aislynn you are crazy, you don't even know the man and you want to fix him. You better than anyone know some things just can't be fixed or forgotten."

Turning from the mirror she walked over to the window seat and sat down. Looking up at the moon she couldn't help but wonder where her sister Ariana was and if she was safe and happy. A single tear fell at the thought of her older sister, her protector when they were little. But then Ariana had gone off to college and everything had changed, changed for the worse. Wherever she was, Aislynn prayed her sister had found happiness. Feeling the nights events fully sink in she walked back over to the bed and climbed in. Laying her head on the feather down pillow she closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep.