Chapter 14:
When the time came to go to the cottage, they left in the evening so that the travel would seem shorter and easier to Bella. Klaus was seating on one seat next to Bella while his brother and sister were on the opposite seat, facing them. If everything went as planned, they would arrive at the cottage in time for lunch.
Klaus took the time to truly look at the changes in his siblings. Kol was less arrogant, more sensible. He showed his emotions to his family with more ease than before and looked much younger, almost like a teenager, now that the tension and anger had left his face. Concerning Rebekah, she was more open, more trusting and happier…
Without realising it, Bella had taken a leading position in their life. When Finn and Elijah saw only a beloved sister, he knew that both Kol and Rebekah were too young when Esther changed them and that, even before that, she didn't care enough for them so now they had taken the opportunity to have the mothering love they needed to continue their maturing. His Bella had become the matriarch of his family and he loved it. Every time Kol had a son – mother moment with his Bella some strange but enjoyable warmth spread through his body.
.
They were gone for less than 2 hours when Bella fell asleep in her strong husband's arms. She was still sad about what she had discovered about her father and brothers, but decided to work her best to let it go. Kol was right, she was happy with her new family and they truly loved her more than she thought possible. She was now an important part of the family. She felt the mother- children connection strong with Kol and slowly forming with Rebekah, she guessed that it was the reason why they came with them for this little vacation. Klaus knew that being away from them now would not only hurt her but them too through that forming bond. Even if Esther had killed her baby, she had somehow, without intending too, taken Esther's two youngest children alive as her own.
Rebekah and Kol started to talk among themselves as their big brother watched over his love. They did their best to stay quiet so they didn't wake her up. They both loved her far more than their real mother and would do anything for her to stay happy and worriless. Right now, they were arguing about what would be the best gift for Bella's birthday, and this amused Klaus. Of course, they still had several months separating them from the event, but they both wanted to give Bella the best gift…
When she woke up the next morning, the rest of her family was asleep and the sun was shinning through the window of the moving carriage. Kol and Rebekah were leaning against each other and Klaus had his arms wrapped tightly around her. She smiled and looked out to the moving sights out the window. It was very pretty and she didn't even realise Klaus had woken up and was looking at her with a peaceful smile on his face.
"Good morning love."
"Good morning to you too." She answered, kissing him softly.
"Do you want us to stop somewhere to have some breakfast?" He asked her.
"That would be great, but we should wait until Rebekah and Kol are awake." She suggested with a soft smile.
"Of course. I love you." He said before kissing her again.
A strong wave of love went through him every time Bella showed how much she cared for his siblings, their family.
They waited less than 2 hours before the two younger originals woke up. Then Klaus told the driver to stop near a clearing he knew close to their position. He knew that Kol had met some interesting creatures there when he used to stop here.
It felt good to be able to spread their legs. Bella was about to grab the basket that held their breakfast when Klaus beat her to it. She smiled at him and took his free hand in her own as they headed towards the clearing.
"It's a very pretty place Bella, you'll love it so much you'll want to stop here again on the way back." Rebekah told her.
"You're right, it's very pretty… So many different flowers…" Bella said in amazement.
"It's even more than that. See, Leprechauns can't just go wherever they please with their rainbows. They have designated places all over the world where the energy is stronger. This is one of them." Klaus explained as Bella's eyes widened.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and meet one today…" Kol said in a hopeful tone, his look one of an exited little boy.
"What if someone was to build a house, or a town, on top of one of those places?" Bella asked.
"Well, these special places are protected by the spirits of nature. If someone would want to destroy it, he would forget about that idea immediately. Another idea would surpass this one in his head." Her husband explained to her as she served them all their part of breakfast.
"I've been told that fairies assembled here sometimes." Rebekah added.
"I've heard that too." Klaus said, giving his little brother a knowing look.
"I know for sure that they do." Kol said, before starting to tell them of this one time, a few months ago, when he decided to stop in this clearing to rest during the night only to crash what could be called a fairy party.
He told them how they are the same size as them but can shrink to the size of a fly to travel and fly away. He blushed when he started talking about the one that got an interest in him and told him it was only for one night because he was not magical enough for her to date.
Their little break was fun and they laughed a lot before going back to the carriage and towards the cottage. That part of the travel seemed a little longer than the other half but the landscapes they passed where beautiful. Bella knew they were close to their arriving place when she could smell the sea.
As they passed through a very familiar town, Bella said:
"My father has a property here. I remember coming here back when mom was still alive."
"Really? This is where the cottage is…" Klaus said.
"You don't mind do you?" Kol asked, worried that Bella might be pained by the recent memory of her father's defection.
"Not at all… I don't have many memories here... I was very young so most of them are faded…" Bella explained before adding "What little I remember has my mother in it… only her…" She smiled, letting them know it was a good thing.
"What if your father or brothers are there?" Rebekah asked in a timid voice.
"Then we'll watch them try to explain things to us, it will be interesting." Klaus said smirking as Bella tried her best to keep the smile on her face intact.
She didn't want to let them know that the very idea of seeing her old family was hurting her.
When they arrived, they showed Bella around the cottage and the garden before sitting in the garden where the domestics had laid down their lunch. The property limit was right were the beach started. It was surrounded by rocks and made it so their property was the only way to this particular part of the beach.
"It doesn't look very natural…" Bella commented as they were taking a walk there after lunch.
"It's not, an elemental who can manipulate the earth made it that way." Klaus explained.
"Why?" Bella asked.
"For several reasons, mainly because I wanted this to be mine, I didn't want to be disturbed when we came here, but also so the mermaids can leisure on a beach without being spotted by anyone." Her husband told her.
"Mermaids… Do you think I have a chance of seeing some?" She asked, exited.
"I'm sure you will. They come here quite regularly." He said before they kept on going.
Bella was just coming to see just how powerful her husband was. He had made friends with a lot of supernatural creatures and he helped them so they would help him should he ever need it… It was quite impressive.
After their walk, Kol wanted to take Bella to town and show her the shops. Since Rebekah wanted to feed, they where only three to go. Klaus had a feeling that something was coming to hurt his sweet Bella so he kept his eyes open. As they walked by a small house, he saw her pause. He guessed immediately that it was where she used to come with her mother. It was easy to guess since her brothers, Emmet and Jacob, where now walking in the yard with the two women they had seen them with in the mirror. Kol, however, didn't see them and kept on talking:
"You see that tree there Bella, that's were I won a fight against that Cold one 10 years ago."
Bella stood frozen as her name was heard and echoed in the yard they were walking passed. Her brother had heard them and recognized her.
"Honey, who is she?" A tall blond woman looking very superficial asked Emmet as the same question was asked to Jacob by a small brunette looking very attention seeking. Both brothers were looking embarrassed.
"I'm Isabella Marie Swan Mickealson, their little sister. Who are you?" Bella said, putting on a fake smile on her face and introducing herself to the two rude women.
"You have a sister?" The blond asked as the brunette shrieked "That's a lie, they have no sister!"
"Actually Rosalie, she is our little sister… She married last summer and we haven't seen her since…" Emmett confirmed as Jacob nodded his head at his woman.
"It would be only polite to introduce yourselves you know." Kol intervened, irritated that people had the nerves to treat his Bella so rudely.
"This is Renesmee and Rosalie." Jacob said pointing first toward the brunette, then the blond before Emmet added "Ours wives…" They both looked ashamed and Bella decided to play innocent.
"Wives? You mean you married and didn't even tell me? You got married without inviting your own little sister?" True tears came in her eyes as the reality of things came to her.
It hadn't really felt right until now.
"It's not our fault…" Emmet started to say as Klaus and Kol looked really frightening right now.
"It's not your faults? She's your sister! Bella is the best person I have ever met and you all just cut her out of you lives without a word of warning. She wrote you letters and you just stopped answering her... Did you know that she was attacked over a month ago? Did you know that she almost died and lost her baby? I can't believe you people! You're so blind not to see what an amazing person Bella is..." Kol half yelled at the twins who where looking more embarrassed by the minutes.
Bella calmed him down by putting her hand on his arm as Klaus picked up:
"We sent urgent letters by personal carrier to you and your father when Bella was attacked. I know that because I spoke with the carrier myself. You got the message." Klaus was trying very hard to remain calm but he looked very frightening.
"Is that why you're here…to have an explanation?" Rosalie asked, eying Klaus in a very rude way.
"No, we are here because I have a property in this town and since Bella is finally feeling better, we decided she needed a change of air." Klaus answered, not giving the rude blond a second look.
"We are sorry Bella… Father told us that you didn't care about us anymore… That you stopped writing…" Jacob said, shocking the young woman.
"He said what?" She whispered.
"When you didn't write anymore, we wanted to visit, but father said that you didn't want to be bothered by us, that you blamed us for ignoring you when you were younger… Before we knew it we were engaged…"
"You could have written to her." Klaus said as Kol asked in a very demanding tone:
"We know for sure you got the message about her attack, why didn't you write or visit then?" They both looked very ashamed.
"We figured you wouldn't want us nearby since you didn't write anymore."
"You're both idiots. You let your father model you the way he wants you to be without using your brains to think for yourselves!" Klaus exploded.
"You should have known he was lying… This leads me to think that you actually wanted to believe what he said… But even then, a wedding announcement would have been nice…" Bella said, looking her brother dead in the eyes.
"Hey, who are you to talk to them like that?" Renesmee said, looking furiously at the three strangers who claimed to be family.
"I am Lord Niklaus Mickealson, this is my younger brother Kol, also a lord, and my wife. Now young girl you might want to watch your tone with us because I am on first name basis with the king and the queen of this country and I happen to be a good friend of the current king of France. I have friends in high places not only here but all over Europe… Be careful who you're talking to." Klaus answered making her looking sheepish and fearful.
"Let's go, Kol wanted me to see the porcelain shop before we got home and I don't want Rebekah to get worried waiting for us. We don't have anything else to discuss here. We're finished."
These last 3 words sounded like a sentence given by a judge and as Klaus put his arm around her waist and Kol held her arm, they went back on their way without one glance back. Had they turned around, they would have seen the twin brothers looking down and close to tears while their wives pushed them inside.
"You're okay mum?" Kol asked, not noticing the slip in his words.
"I'm fine, I actually feel better now… They don't deserve me, nor do I need them. I've gained a wonderful family and am perfectly happy without those three." She smiled then sweetly at him and asked "Did you just call me mum?"
"Oops… Sorry… You know, you just fell like it… But if you don't like it I will try not to slip again…" Kol said as Klaus smiled.
"No, that's fine, I like it." Bella answered him as he gave her a kiss on the cheek before running off and coming back with a beautiful white flower for her.
They kept on walking in the small town before going back home, where Rebekah was waiting for them. They told her what happened and spend the rest of the day entertaining.
.
After dinner, Bella and Klaus went for a walk up the beach and were met with a much unexpected surprise. At the very centre of the beach was a large circle of round white stones and, at their centre, a baby, no older than a few weeks, laid asleep on a bed of flowers. They both stopped in their tracks and stared at what was in front of them.
"What is this?" Klaus asked.
"It's a baby…Do you think it's safe to come close? Why is there that circle around him?" Bella said.
"Those rocks can be found only where the mermaids live… I think it's safe to get closer… but it's not usual for them to leave their children alone like that…" They both got closer as Bella took the baby in her arms they heard someone coming out of the water behind them.
"Magdalena, it's nice to see you again, please meet my wife Bella." Klaus introduced as a tall woman with long wavy red hair and lightly dressed walked out of the water.
"Niklaus, I'm glad you're here. It is nice to meet you Lady Bella. I need your help." The woman said.
"I'm guessing it has to do with this baby…" Klaus guessed.
"Yes. An evil witch of the sea is trying to kill her. Her name is Maria and she is my niece. The witch already killed my sister and her husband. Now Maria is the last heir to the northern sea and the witch wants to kill her to get it…"
"That's terrible!" Bella exclaimed, holding the baby girl close to her heart.
"Do you want me to get my witches to help you?" Klaus asked, wandering how he could help the mermaid that was, somehow, his friend.
"There is no need for that, we have a defence organized down there, but what I do need is for you to take care of Maria for a few days. How long are you staying here?"
"At least a month…" Bella answered, concerned for the baby before adding "We would love to take care of this baby girl."
"Of course we would, Maria will be perfectly safe with us." Klaus confirmed.
"Thank you so much. She eats the same as a human baby and is 3 months old. She will need to be in water at least two hours a day, but not in the sea, the witch could get to her." Magdalena explained.
"Don't worry; we will put her in the bath tub. She will be perfectly happy with us." Bella promised as the child started to open her eyes.
Bella gave her to her aunt so she could say goodbye before leaving to lead the important battle that would protect the girl's kingdom.
"I'll come directly to the house when it is safe again, if you have to leave, you'll just have to leave a message there for me and I'll find you." She said while giving Maria back to Bella.
"If we have to leave, we will be in the castle where Elijah met you 5 years ago." Klaus said, without completely giving the location in case someone was listening.
"Thank you… Goodbye…" Magdalena turned around with tears in her eyes and as she jumped in the water, her legs changed into a beautiful reddish tail that shone in the sun.
"Well, that was unexpected…" Bella said.
"Bella honey, you understand that the baby will have to go home later, we can't keep her…" Klaus said.
"Of course Klaus, don't worry, I'm fine. It's just a small vacation. We just have to consider ourselves her aunt and uncle." She said smiling truthfully to her husband before adding "Now let's get her home and into some kind of bed."
As they got home, Kol and Rebekah were surprised to see what Bella was carrying. While Klaus explained what happened, Bella changed the baby's diaper with some handkerchief she found.
"Where are we going to put her?" Kol asked, eying the baby as if wondering if she would steel HIS mother away from him.
"Until we have time to shop tomorrow, we'll just have to put her to sleep in a drawer with cloths inside as mattress." Bella said, giving Kol a one armed hug that he understood as a 'don't worry I'm still here for you'.
They decided it was best to leave the baby with Klaus and Bella for the night, seeing as Bella knew how to care for the baby and didn't seem to mind changing the diapers.
.
The next day, Bella woke up to see Klaus changing Maria.
"Good morning Niklaus." She said walking over to him to wrap her arms around his waist with affection.
"Good morning love. I didn't want to wake you up…" he said giving her a soft loving kiss on the forehead.
They went down in the dining room and Bella prepared a bottle of milk for the baby. Kol had been in town early in the morning and bought everything they would need for the baby. After being burped, Bella and Rebekah took the little girl to the bathtub so she could spend some time in the water. Unsure of how to do things, they put her in slowly and when it was obvious she could swim, they let her go and settled on watching her wave her small and shiny blue tail around. Maria seemed to enjoy splashing them with water and when the time came to take her out, after over an hour, Rebekah and Bella were wet and laughing.
.
The next two weeks went by pretty fast and easy.
They had fun and Maria seemed to like them. They all took turn playing with her and it had been a blissful two weeks. Kol had taken this opportunity to spend even more time with Bella and Klaus could see her bond with Rebekah and Kol becoming more serious by the day. He knew that none of them could ever bear it to hurt or betray Bella now, she was too important for them. He chuckled as he remembered back when he was so sure that love was a weakness. He had been an idiot; he could feel his love for Bella making him stronger, just like his family was stronger united, thanks to Bella.
As he relished on this thoughts, someone knocked at the door. Rebekah went to answer and came back with Magdalena. She was just as beautiful as two weeks ago, except for the deep tired shadows under her eyes and a wound on her waist that was obviously healing fast.
"You're back! Did everything go as planed?" Bella asked.
"Yes, everything went perfectly and our little princess is safe to come home." The mermaid answered.
"Do you need some blood to heal your wound?" Klaus asked her.
"No, thank you, it is healing already. It's a little longer than usual because there was poison on the blade she used, but the poison is gone now, so it will be fine. How has Maria been?" She said as she took the smiling baby into her arms.
"Everything has been fine. Maria is a joy to have around." Bella said.
Magdalena stayed a while, to rest and to talk, as they were saying good bye, Klaus told her where to find the key to the cottage, should she ever need shelter or anything else.
Magdalena gave Bella a seashell that could call to her if she was near the sea, so they could see each other again. She also gave them a bag full of rare magical plants that could be found only in the deepest oceans for the witches that worked with Niklaus.
Bella and Klaus were named Godparents of Maria and even if the separation was tearful, they knew it was only the beginning of a great relationship. They would see Maria again soon and often. They walked the woman and her niece to the edge of the water where what seemed like a hundred merpeople was waiting for them to welcome their new princess and thanks the people who had been her protectors.
After that, they stayed a few more days.
They went to town often and sometimes would cross the Swan twins and their rude wives. It seems that word of their conversation 2 weeks ago had gone around town and everyone had taken Bella's defence. People talked to them only if they had to and gave Bella and her family big smiles and fair prices. Bella didn't feel bad about it though. She had given them a chance to make amends and they had thrown it back in her face. They were not her family; she didn't need them after all.
You know what to do.
Lorelei Candice Black