Author's Note: So I lied last time. This chapter is taking a few months after the first one. I decided I wanted to start developing Klaus and Alex's relationship sooner, so we will see where this goes. I will honestly say that the number of reviews made me sad, but I also know that the last chapter was really just setting everything up for the next chapters, so I will let it slide. However I would still greatly appreciate it if you reviewed. Also I wish I owned the Vampire Diaries, "sigh," but I don't, just incase you were wondering. I forgot to mention that last chapter ;}

Also I decided to pick a theme song for each chapter. If you guys have any suggestions for a song for chapter 1, or any of the upcoming chapters, let me know!

"I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said, Don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound"

Safe and Sound, by Taylor Swift

Chapter 2

Two months later...

The next few months flew by in a whirl as Alexandra settled into her new life with the Mikaelson's. She fit fairly well into their daily routine. In the mornings she helped Esther and Rebekah in the kitchen. Then they go down to the river to do the wash, and they hang it out to dry. After that they do any other chores Esther tells them to do, and they have the rest of the day to themselves. Sometimes they would convince one of the boys to take them to the market, or to the river to swim. Alexandra, Rebekah, Elijah, Kol, and Niklaus would run through the woods playing tag, hide and go seek, or some other game.

She was getting along well with the other children. Her and Rebekah were nearly impossible to separate. Fin being the oldest was often off with Mikael doing business, so she really didn't see him much. Elijah was more serious than his other brothers, but he was always nice to her going out of his way to make her feel at home. Kol was like the little brother she never had. He was constantly playing jokes on her and messing with her. She didn't mind though, it made her feel more like part of the family. Then that left Niklaus. She didn't really know where she stood with him. It's not like he was impolite to her or anything, but he just seemed to try avoid her altogether. The longest conversation she had with him was the day he brought her to the house. She didn't understand him. Did she do something to offend him, she wondered.

This was the thought running through her head one day while she was laying on her bed. She heard a soft knock at the door that surprised her.

"Come in."

The door opened to further surprise her by revealing Niklaus. He just stood there like he was surprised himself that he was here.

Timidly she broke the silence, "Can I help you?"

"I was wondering if you would mind accompanying for a walk?" He looked down at the ground nervous.

Alexandra hesitated, "Sure" she said not wanting to be impolite. "I will be down in a moment." He disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared. Alexandra quickly threw on here boots and headed downstairs.

"Where are we going?" she asked as they headed out the door.

There was a sparkle in his eye as he replied, "It's a surprise."

She gave a huff, "I don't like surprises."

"And why is that?"

"I don't like not knowing what's going on." She pouted.

Nicklaus just smirked at her, "Well you're going to have to trust me on this, it's a good surprise."

He led her down a little path into the woods. It reminded her of the day they met. They both remand quiet as they made their way down the path, both lost in thought. Suddenly he grabbed he hand and led her off the path into the deeper parts of the woods. The trees were looming over them casting shadows everywhere, blocking most of the sun.

He pulled back one last branch, and light temporarily blinded her. As her eyes regained focus she let out a little gasp. Before her was a beautiful meadow. To one side was a waterfall that tumbled into the river, and on the other was a huge cliff.

"It's beautiful!" she gasped.

Niklaus just stood back watching her. She turned and grinned at him. "I thought you might enjoy it. I come here often just to get away from everything." He looked at the ground again.

Alexandra hadn't been with the Mikaelson's long, but she saw the way Mikael treated his children, particularly Nicklaus. He tried to protect his sibling from Mikael's wrath, and it sickened her to watch some of the things Mikael did. He had beaten Nicklaus nearly unconscious on more than one occasion. She had been lucky so far and had not been on the other end of his fury, and she never wanted to.

Alexandra quickly crossed the distance between the two of them and took his hand. Nicklaus raised his eyes to meet hers in surprise.

Before she could say anything he changed the subject. "Do you want to see the waterfall up close?"

She nodded, and he led her over to it. They sat on the edge of the river bank and watch the water tumble over the cliff.

After several minutes he broke the silence, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Only if I can ask you one" she said with a smile.

Niklaus laughed, "Fair enough. I will start out easy. What's your favorite color."

"Blue, and yours?"

"Green. Did you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, I wasn't as lucky as you."

"That depends on your definition of luck." They both laughed.

"What do you like to do?"

"I love to draw, and if I might add I am fairly good at it. What about you, any secret hobbies?"

"I loved to dance. Back home my parents wanted me to be well educated in the fine arts, so I have had dance lessons sine about the time I could walk."

"At the next village feast I shall have to steal a dance from you to test your skills." He winked at her.

It was her turn and she took a minute to think of a good question. "How did you find this place? Does anyone else know about it?"

"If my counting skills are right that was actually two questions. I will answer both, but this means you owe me, and I can redeem my question whenever I choose." He had any evil twinkle in his eye.

She eyed him suspiciously. "OK deal."

"I found this place after one of my run ins with Father. He was angry because Kol had snuck one of his little daggers and was playing with it. When he found out I lied and said it was me. After I was running through the woods and I stumbled upon this place. I showed it to my other siblings, except Finn that is, and it has become a kind of sanctuary to us. If ever something happens, with Mikael usually, we meet here. We are the only ones who know about it, and since you are one of us now I thought you should know about it. You must promise to keep it a secret." He looked at her with solemn, pleading.

"Your secrets safe with me."He seemed to relax again with her answer, and his mood again turned playful. His ability to switch his emotion so rapidly made it hard for Alexandra to keep up.

"Will you call me Nik?"

"That is more of a request."

He smirked, "But I phrased it as a question."

"Why?"

"I only let people I like call me that."His response made her blush. She looked at the ground to try to hide it.

"I will, but you must also call me Alex. Alexandra is a mouthful, and it's what my mother used to call me."

"Well then, it was nice to meet you Alex." He reached out and took her hand lifting it to his lips to kiss it, his eyes never leaving hers.

"My pleasure Nik." She stammered. Suddenly he looked up. Neither one of them had noticed the sun setting.

"We must hurry. It is almost dark" he said urgently. Her eyes grew wide with fear. One of Mikael's many rules was that everyone had to be home before dark. She had seen what happened the last time Nik stayed out to late, and it wasn't pretty He grabbed her hand, and dragged her back the way they came. "Hurry!" They raced through the forest as fast as they could, but the sun was already disappearing behind the horizon.

When Alex and Nik finally reached the house the sun had already disappeared. Nik slowly pushed the door open, with Alex right behind him, trying to sneak in past Mikael.

"Niklaus, Alexandra, get in here!" Mikael barked from the other room. They shuffled slowly into the other room, keeping their eyes glued on the floor.

"Are you both feeling alright. I was worried your eye sight might be failing considering the sun has set and you are just getting home." He walked over and picked Nik up by the collar of his shirt.

"Don't hurt him please! It was my fault!" Alex cried before she could stop herself. Mikael put Nik down and turned to her. "I...I was going for a walk, and Nik didn't want me going by myself. I wasn't paying attention to the time." She looked down at the floor again. Without warning Mikael pulled his hand back and smacked her across the face, causing her to fall to the ground with a cry.

"Father known of this was her fault. I wasn't paying attention." Nik said trying to direct Mikael's anger back at him.

"Girl you will learn to follow my rules! You will not receive special treatment under my roof! Get up to your room. I don't want to see you the rest of the night. As for you boy I will deal with you." Alex's eyes darted to Nik. He nodded urging her to go. She ran from the room as fast as she could. She could hear all the way in her room how Mikael was dealing with Nik. She felt the tears roll down her face each time she heard him cry.

That night while everyone else was asleep Alex crept from her bed down to the boys room with a rag and cold water. She quietly slipped into the room being careful not to wake any of his brothers. She could tell he was still awake from the sound of his breathing. He looked up as she approached his bed. She lifted her finger to her mouth signaling him to keep quiet.

Gently she lifted his shirt to reveal the cuts and bruises. She could hear him hiss through his teeth as she cleaned the more serious wounds. They sat there in silence as she worked. When she was done she sat back, and their eyes met. Then as quickly and quietly as she appeared she kissed his cheek and darted out of the room.

Authors's Note: Please, please, please review ;)