First of all, I must inform you that my lovely husband, David, wrote this fic! I'm so proud of him! :3 Secondly, it's really cold. Really, really cold.
"But if your strife strikes at your sleep, remember spring swaps snow for leaves." - Winter Winds, Mumford and Sons
A sigh rose up to greet the night. A click, and the lamp flickered on, lending a soft light to her large room. The bedsprings creaked as Helen rose and wrapped a plush robe around herself. Apparently, it was to be one of those nights. One of the nights where her demons came to haunt her, reminding her of her losses and failures.
Ashley. James. John. Nigel. Countless innocents. At one point, Will, Henry and Kate. For a few moments, Nikola.
She shuddered and pulled the robe tighter around her. Would those memories ever fade? Would her wounds ever fully heal? Or would they continue, growing larger and larger, until her death - whenever that may be? A frustrated groan escaped her lips. Sometimes, she regretted her immortality. Sometimes, she regretted her partaking of the Source Blood. However, she knew things wouldn't be the same if she hadn't. Would Ashley have been born? What would've happened to James, John, Nigel, and Nikola? What about her father? Her team? The Sanctuary network? What would've happened to the Abnormals she had searched for and protected? Yes, her immortality was cumbersome at times, however it was useful to others. Still, sleep was a requirement for her furthered health and continued existence. She crossed the room to stand by the large bay window, gazing down at the city below. Flurries of snow drifted down, shrouding the area with a pure white blanket. The wind blew, sending the flakes whirling and twirling in a mad dance, mingling together and drifting apart as the raced to the ground. Bah! Even the weather was conspiring against her, unable to soothe her troubled thoughts. She now understood why Nikola wasn't very fond of the stuff.
Nikola. The thought of his name sent memories rushing to the front of her mind, playing out before her sharp eyes.
"What exactly is the point of this trip, Nikola?" Helen queried, clutching his arm as they strolled down the street.
"Well, I was tired of all the snow in England; it's springtime, not winter! Also, Vienna's beautiful at this time of year, as you can see." Indeed, the scenery was magnificent. The trees growing on the sides of the cobbled roads were budding, beautiful blooms bursting forth to greet the sun and the eyes of those who beheld them. The cobblestone streets were littered with blossoms, and the shop owners had planted colourful flowers, their cheery faces turned towards the sun. Horse-drawn carriages meandered down the streets. In the waterways, gondolas floated by serenely, their occupants relaxed in their seats. That, combined with the beautiful architecture of the city was enough to make her want to stay forever.
Nikola glanced over at her, and grinned smugly at her wide-eyed look. Yes, he had made a very good decision in bringing her here.
"I must admit, you've done well, Niko." His smile grew wider as she called him by a nickname.
"Yes, well, I wouldn't want you to freeze in the ice-house you call a country. Spring is when trees shake off their snowy coats and raise their faces to the sun, allowing their leaves to burst forth. They shouldn't stay covered in an icy shroud, hidden from the sun and freezing in the cold!" "Why Nikola," she teased, "I believe you're waxing poetic!"
"Nonsense," he scoffed.
She laughed at his gruffness, and he soon found himself laughing along with her.
A fond smile had graced her lips at the memory. If only she could go back to that moment, where things had been so peaceful and calm! If only she could return to those days of naïve innocence, where her friends were still with her, and her worries were trivial in comparison. Oh, how she longed to see the budding trees and the blooming flowers! How she wished to be there, in Vienna. Not by herself though; no, that would surely cause her even more grief. No, she wished to go there with him. Even on her darkest days, he could find a way to make her laugh, and that was exactly what she needed. Also, though she was grudging to admit it, she felt safe and calm when in his presence.
How could she possibly go, though? She had responsibilities here!
Hasn't Will been training as a protégée? He is more than capable of handling affairs here.
But Nikola! There was no way he could simply drop everything and accompany her on some random adventure?
Hasn't he always, though? Back in Oxford, back when Ashley had been taken, when the Network had been threatened. Hadn't he always been there for her, ready to leave at her beck and call?
Really, though, how selfish of her to drag him from his work!
Do you really think, after all he's said to you, and all he's done for you, that he would really mind?
But-
Oh, shut up! Just send him a note, and explain everything!
Helen sighed and complied. Thankfully, she had kept the old cryptology machine. After searching for a few minutes, she found it and set it on her nightstand. What could she write? How would she know he would get the message? Finally, she decided on once word: Vienna?
She waited with bated breath, unsure why a sudden nervousness had gripped her. However, the old machine began to clank and groan. Soon enough, she had her answer.
Yes.
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