Arabella Ch. 10

"It was your eyes" I said in a whispered tone.

"What?" Nik spoke, and I felt like it was just yesterday, I remember the first time we kissed, the first time we made love, the first 'I love you', I remember everything, and yet I still remember all the feelings I'd had over the years for him, the hatred I had when he daggered Kol, and wouldn't give him back, the hurt feeling I had when he spoke down to me, I remembered everything, and now my mind was even more fogged than before. I felt a pull to him, and yet as my heart made me feel like everything was alright, my head told me to take it easy. I placed my hand on his cheek and he closed him eyes and placed his hand on the outside of my hand, breathing this moment in.

"I always felt comforted by just looking at you, and I never understand why, and now I remember it was your eyes." I whispered.

"Arabella." He opened his eyes and met my gaze with intensity. I hadn't decided yet, and he was leaning closer to me, to kiss me again. Rebekah must have seen the panic in my eyes, because she stood up and cleared her throat.

"Nik, I am very sorry to interrupt but I need to see you outside now."

"Rebekah can't this wait, she finally knows everything." He turned back to her, giving me the distraction I needed. I looked at Elijah and then down to the floor.

"No Niklaus, she's right, go with Rebekah; I'll stay here with Bella." He gave his stern look and Niklaus sighed and looked down at me.

"When I get back, I know we have to talk." I nodded without looking up and listened as Rebekah and Klaus went out the front door. I stood up and walked into the kitchen and pulled out a big bottle of vodka and two glasses. Elijah had followed me in and I poured us two drinks.

"I am supposed to be mourning my best friend, and plotting revenge on those who did it, not riding off into the sunset with Nik."

He chuckled, under his breath, and took a glass in his hand. After raising his glass slightly he looked at me and said. "To Kol." I raised my glass and repeated. "To Kol." Then we both drowned our drinks. It burned going down, but that only meant it was the good stuff. I poured another round and looked at the counter.

"What are you thinking Bella?" he asked.

"You taught me about books. And different languages?"

He nodded and smiled.

"I thought it might come in handy in our travels."

"I know you pitied me and all, but why did you take me in, you barely knew me, and suddenly I was family. Why?"

"Yes we did feel sorry for you at first, but what I saw in you was fire. You had a fighters spirit, and as much as you know about any of my siblings, it's that we never give up, you reminded me of a sister, I would have had, had my parents continued to procreate." I nodded.

"One of you gave up. Niklaus."

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? He gave up on our love, because of the danger. He made this decision without me, he took my choice away, there is a part of me that wants to understand, that kind of does. But then there is another part of me that is angry at him for it. I still feel like I did before, only now I have two different feelings fighting for dominance inside of me."

"It's not that simple; I think you two should talk. But Arabella, even if you decide that you and Niklaus are not meant to be, you are still our family, nothing you say or do, can make us turn our backs on you. I don't think even Klaus would even if you did deny him."

"Thanks." I drank my drink and heard the front door open. Rebekah winked at me when she walked into the kitchen, and then took Elijah's drink right out of his hand and drank it. Klaus walked in and had his head down, I made him a drink and handed it to him, and he mumbled a thank you and never met my eyes.

"We should talk." I whispered in his ear. He nodded, drowned his drink and followed me out of the kitchen to my bedroom. I sat on the bed and he took the chair in front of me. There was a hollow look on his face, a mixture between devastation and grief. My heart ached to comfort him, but my head told me to remember who I am.

"I didn't think I'd ever get to speak to you about these things again." He finally spoke.

"What things?" I asked.

"My feelings for you. You have no idea how difficult it's been to have you this close, and to have to pretend."

"What is it that you want me to say?" I got snippy; my mind was winning over my heart. He smirked a little.

"In an ideal world, I'd want you to be with me always, and let me make you happy, but in the real world I know that's not possible."

"I don't know what I feel for you. It's been almost 800 years Nik. For goodness sake, do you know how many men I've been with? And worst of all I enjoy it; I love the freedom I have and the lifestyle I live. I kill when I want, but I'm not some ripper, like Stefan was. I have been living how I've wanted to since I can remember, and now I'm just supposed to be someone's soulmate?"

"I know everything, I know how you live, why you live the way you do, I know who you've killed, I know everything, but I know that the only reason you feared love, is because Kol and the 'memories' you have of it, let me ask you something, have you ever in the entire time you've been 'free' have you ever loved any of the men that you've been with?"

"No but"

"Have you ever felt as if there had to be something more than just using men for sex?"

"Yes but."

"Arabella, I have never left. I have always checked up on you, I have always known how you were, who you were with, and why you were there. I know it sounds a bit extreme, but I have never left. I should never have taken away your memories, but I thought it was the right thing at the time. I would have done anything to keep you safe, and I did, but my heart couldn't bear the thought of letting you go, so I haven't. You don't have to be with me, but yes Bells you are my Soulmate, weather I am yours or not, weather you decide to give in to how you feel, or you block it out for the rest of eternity, I love you, and I am not going anywhere." He was standing up now, passion radiating off of him. I stared at him amazing, and intrigued. Here was the most feared Original Hybrid, professing his love for me, and I was second guessing him.

"Nik." I reached for his hand, he gave it to me. I pulled him down to my level; he was kneeling on the edge of the bed now. "I'm not denying that I love you, "I whispered, our faces were close now, I could feel his hot breath on my lips. "there are a few differences from last time, I am still stubborn, I am still loyal to this family, but now you infuriate me and I challenge you, I know what I want out of life, and I know how to get it, I don't like following anyone, and if you decide to treat me like glass this will not work."

"Is that all?" when he whispered at me, I felt electricity run through me; no it was more like flames. A burning fire erupted from within me.

"I want you to trust me, I want you to let me be me, the new me and the old me. I am different now, are you going to accept me?" I asked him, he took both of my hands in his, and pulled me into him. His lips brushed against mine, and he smiled.

"I can do that." He didn't wait now, he picked me up in his arms, and crushed his lips onto mine, I let him this time, moving my lips with his, and it was as it had always been. We were one. My heart took over for my head, and the passion erupted all over again, sending pulsing heat throughout my body. Niklaus moaned, so I took it as his body having the same reaction. He pinned me to the bed, and pushed against me. I moaned in pleasure. Before my mind knew what I was doing, my body was ten steps ahead, my hands reached up and felt him from his chest to his jeans, and started unbuttoning his shirt. He knew what I was doing so he flipped it over his head. I gawked at his chiseled chest, with abs galore, and ran my hands down them again, taking all of him in. I looked at him and he was staring at me, in awe. There was such adoration, and love in his eyes, if I hadn't already decided this was what I wanted I would have caved right then. He took his time with me, and slipped my shirt over my head, and then he glided his fingers from my cheek, down my chest, and to my inner thigh. My hips lifted up in anticipation and he smirked at me. With all of my experiences this is what I was good at, but with every touch Klaus gave me, it all felt brand new. It was like my body spoke a language only he understood. I couldn't take it anymore so I flipped him over and strattled him. He looked shocked but in a good way. The first time we'd made love it was slow and sensual, this time it was passion filled, and there was a yearning that we had. Our desire for each other grew stronger and I ripped at his jeans to get them off. He did the same to my pants, and before we knew it we were naked, gazing at one another. Klaus lifted me up by my hips and placed me above himself. As I came down, a euphoric sensation came over me, and I didn't feel like myself anymore. It felt as though we became one again. Our eyes took hold of one another and it was like we were communicating with only our thoughts. His gaze never left mine, and the more we thrusted, the more intense everything felt. This was the man that I had loved so long ago, and although a lot of mistakes had been made, they didn't matter right now. All I knew from that moment on was that, I needed him to be with me, he was all that I wanted, and I could spend the rest of eternity lost in his eyes and be content. Because in a world with so much hatred, disloyalty, and betrayal, this life with Nik would make anything worthwhile. I felt myself quivering with complete gratification, and when the moment came, Klaus joined me in bliss. I screamed out, "Nik, I love you." And he pulled me to him and kissed me out of breath. "Love, I've never loved anything or anyone so much in my life" We laid next to each other intertwined in one another, and stared into space.

"That was, "I started to say.

"Amazing." Nik finished for me. I giggled, and felt him kiss the top of my head.

"Do you know how much I've missed you sweetheart?"

"We have forever for you to tell me." I felt myself smile at the thought, and knew Niklaus was smiling as well. My eyes grew heavy and I tried to fight my sleep. I didn't want to miss any more time with him. Like he could read my mind he held me close, and pulled the sheet up to cover me.

"Sleep love, like you said we have forever." He kissed me again, and I fell asleep to his content murmurs.

I didn't realize the darkness had taken me under so quickly. I found myself running through the forest, I knew I was dreaming, but it didn't stop the dream from continuing. I realized I was in Rome, near a stream. This was where my memories had told me I had met Kol, I turned around and there standing in front of me was my best friend in all his glory. I ran to him, and instead of a shocked look on his face, like the Kol from this memory would have given me, this Kol held me close.

"I've been waiting hours for you to fall asleep." I looked up at him, confusion obvious on my face. He smiled at me. "I see Klaus finally fessed up." He laughed. "Took him long enough."

"You're telling me! Wait have you been watching the whole time?" I asked suddenly embarrassed.

"It's better than television." I blushed and looked down. "Don't worry Ara; I didn't stay for your reunion, only for the parts leading up to it." He nudged my shoulder.

"Kol Mikaelson, you little peeping tom!" I laughed and he joined in. I hugged him again, and felt my eyes water.

"Don't cry Ara. These things happen for a reason. I died, but my brother finally got the courage to tell you the truth, I've been working on that for what seems like forever."

"I wish I didn't have to have one without the other. I don't know how to be without you."

"Ara you spent three hundred years without me."

"Yes, but I knew there was a way to get you back, this time it's permanent."

"I know." He held me again, and if I didn't know any better I would say he shed a few tears.

"What are you doing here? Saying goodbye?"

"That and I have to warn you about something."

"What?"

"Mother is here, on the other side, and she plans on using the witch Bonnie, to get to you all."

"How?"

"Bonnie has been messing with dark magic, I know you haven't thought of it yet, but since I know you, I know you will try something, you can't go after her and her friends for revenge."

"What? They killed you KOL!"

"I know that." He laughed putting up his hands defensively. "If you do she will get so angry and try to avenge her friends, that Esther will be able to tap into her, possess her. If she succeeds, there will be no stopping her."

"So you want us to just sit down and ignore the fact that they crossed us?"

"Yes, and do you know why Ara." I shook my head. "Because I am dead. There is no bringing me back, and if it took me dying to bring my family together truly then I would have done it willingly if I could do it again. You have Niklaus. Niklaus will finally trust Elijah and Bekah. Yes, I want you to live, the way you should have had Niklaus never taken away your memories. Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Then please Ara, don't let the others get themselves killed, give them my message, tell them to live." I nodded. And went to hug him again.

"I miss you." I whispered.

"I miss." And then there was nothing Kol was gone and I was back in the blackness. Slowly my subconscious left me, and I came into reality. I sat up abruptly only to be pulled back immediately by Nik. I turned and looked at the clock; it was almost seven in the morning. I knew my dream was real, and Kol had communicated with me from the other side. I leaned into Klaus' embrace and let his arms be my safe haven. I began crying without control and when I was finally sobbing I heard Niklaus' soft voice in my ear.

"What's the matter love?"

"Kol." I managed to say. He didn't say anything, only held me tighter. I felt a long kiss on the top of my head and it helped sooth me. Finally when I had gotten under control and looked at Klaus and he wiped the tears off my face. "Kol came to me in a dream."

"That's understandable, you lost him, without saying goodbye, your subconscious was giving you what you needed."

"No it was him Nik, I swear, he came to me to warn me."

"Warn you?"

"Esther is still trying to complete her mission, she wants all of you dead, and she's going to use Bonnie."

"What?" he sat up.

"If we attempt to retaliate against the people who killed Kol, Bonnie will tap into her dark magic, and your mother will possess her, and if that happens there is no stopping her. Nik, as much as I want to torture and maim the people responsible, Kol told us not to. He told me to tell you all to live, the way we should have lived had my memories not been taken. He told us to love one another, and to trust each other, the way a family should. Nik I don't want to just leave it alone, but it was his last request, who are we to deny him that?" Klaus sat there contemplating. Not exacting revenge on those responsible would be difficult for the hybrid, with issues of betrayal under him. I Imagined a fight, or some sort of argument, but what I got was surprising.

"My brother was always smart, but what most don't know is that he had a big heart. Exclusive to his family and you of course. But who am I not to listen to his last words." I stared at him, and planted a kiss on his lips. "What was that for?"

"For reassuring my head that my heart was right." I smiled at him, and he dazzled me with his eyes. My Niklaus and he would forever be mine.