Adalind shifted in the spare bedroom in Nick's house. Even with the sleeping baby boy in the crib just a few feet from her bed, staying in the room that was once meant for her and Diana did nothing to ease her depression. It didn't seem right. None of this was right.

I should have been in a penthouse and a valued member of the royal family. She huffed and threw the covers off herself. She wasn't getting any sleep tonight. Adalind slipped out of bed and pattered down the hallway barefoot, trying not to make a sound. Down the stairs and into the kitchen to make another cup of herbal tea.

Though at this point, I'd settle for not being on someone's hit-list, she thought as she opened the cabinet and took out a coffee mug.

She closed the cabinet door. Then, proceeded to jump nearly a foot in the air, arms flailing, coffee mug flung God knows where, and sucking in a giant breath about to scream bloody murder upon seeing a shadowed figure standing in the kitchen doorway.

A blur of movement whizzed past her vision and suddenly Nick was crouched in front of her holding the coffee mug. She glanced up to the empty doorway, eyes frantically searching for signs of Juliette. Clutching the counter behind her, her chest heaved out big breaths of air.

"Are you TRYING to give me a heart attack?" Still glancing around the room, she tried to get her breathing under control. Nick slowly stood up, timidly offering the cup.

"Sorry," he averted his gaze and gestured around the room, "I was just checking the house. Thought I heard something."

Adalind gave him a side glance look that had 'No shit, Sherlock' written all over it as she turned back to the sink. She filled the cup with water, then threw it in the microwave for a minute and 15 seconds before placing her hands down on the counter and taking a deep breath.

"I'm gonna... go doublecheck the security system." Nick had installed a brand new security system before he allowed her to move in here. It wasn't foolproof-not to a hexonbeist anyway. Best false sense of security money can buy, Adalind thought ruefully.

Actually, it was probably more of a midrange cost system, but she wasn't going to stick her nose up at a 10 second warning alarm telling her to kiss her ass goodbye. The microwave beeped.

"Checks out." The Grimm appeared with silent footing again in the doorway. Adalind internally started, but her guard was still up from his previous creep up on her.

"You've gotta stop doing that," she said with an exasperated smile. She took the hot mug out of the microwave and added the tea leaf and powder concoction Rosalee had whipped up for her. Probably be a while before she noticed a difference, she figured.

"Can't really help it, unless I deliberately stomp around the house." Nick's lips turned up the side in his classic half smile. God, he's gorgeous when he smiles, Adalind couldn't help thinking. She snorted a tiny breath out through her nose, then gave him a little smile back. It was strange being on the receiving end of his smile given their past.

She held the steaming mug under her nose and took a deep breath. She'd done so much to hurt him. I knew he'd protect his child, but I never thought he'd actually be nice to me. It was surreal.

When she ventured to look up at him, she swore he was staring. She was about to say something when he cut in.

"Well, I'm gonna go back to bed." He gave her a small, uncertain smile and turned away. Softly, over his shoulder he added, "Goodnight, Adalind."

"Goodnight," her voice barely a whisper, but she suspected he still heard her.


Nick lay wide awake in bed. If he thought it was difficult falling asleep a few hours ago, it was damn near impossible now with all these thoughts floating through his mind.

Adalind's face filled with fear in the kitchen, sheer terror stricken. At first, it reminded him of all the Wessen reactions to meeting a Grimm for the first time. His reflexes kicked in without thought and he found himself catching the cup just before it hit the floor and smashed to bits. That's when he saw her scanning the room for someone else. It wasn't him she was afraid of.

Well that's a change, he thought. He moved slowly after that so as not to frighten her further, mumbled a sorry and an explanation that sounded obviously stupid to his own ears. Apparently it sounded just as obtuse to her.

He excused himself to go check the security system that he knows full well is working properly, but he needed a moment to collect himself. He wasn't use to seeing what's behind the mask. It's unnerving, seeing Adalind of all people act like a normal human being.

When he slinked back to the edge of the kitchen, he watched her for a moment. It was positively domestic. The short blond standing in front of the microwave heating up a cup of tea. How the hell did this happen? Retorically speaking of course, he knew the answers, but it didn't settle his nerves at all which were a jumbled mess. Seething anger had given way to irration. Shock had given way to apprehension. And antipathy was slowly being washed away, replaced by what? He didn't know. Sometimes it looked an awful lot like protectiveness. Nick shook his head and took a deep breath.

"Checks out." Better to let her know I'm here before she's holding scalding hot water, he thought dryly.

To his surprise, she didn't jump or even flinch. Either she'd heard him, doubtful since she'd suppressed her powers, or the mask was back up. She cocked her head at him with a smile, and it was good to see a smile on her face even if it was just her hiding place. He recognized it now.

Still, it gave him some familiarity to strike up some banter, picturing himself traipsing around the house with heavy boots. He couldn't help the smile that crept up at the thought.

It earned him a faint, little laugh and then he was graced with a real smile, soft and subtle. It was worth a little self depreciation. It was like seeing her slowly lower her mask for a peek, and all it had taken was him being himself. He made a mental note to keep doing that. Something that actually works, he thought to himself. It wasn't until she looked up at him that he realized he was staring.

Looking away, he quickly made his exist trying to keep the nervous edge out of his tone by lowering his voice. As an afterthought, he added a goodnight, because that's what he would have said if... He stopped that train of thought.

His sensitive ears picked up her whispered goodnight easily as he climbed the stairs. Another soft smile naturally formed on his features.