Chapter Twenty Four: Ever the Same
"We were brave like soliders
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now,
Fall on me, tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me..."
-Rob Thomas
Ooo0ooO
The journey from the states to the territory in which Klaus had been born went more smoothly than any of the Mikaelsons had expected. With their Mystic Falls and New Orleans territories being watched over by Marcel, Charlie, and Hayley, the family of four found themselves in an ancient forest that still stood quiet and unoccupied for centuries.
Klaus told the twins that ever since the Originals had left the land, no other packs or humans had taken over the area, claiming it was cursed. Annabelle had looked at her mate curiously, mostly because he never really talked about his past and his old homeland, not even to her.
The territory was located in a remote area of France, although it had not been France at the time the Original family had been there. Over a thousand years ago, according to Klaus, the division of the land had not existed and the only borders known were the barriers between territories, which were mostly natural barriers, such as rivers and mountains.
While they entered the forests, the twins kept up a stream of questions directed towards their father. Did anything survive once the territory was abandoned? Why was it considered cursed lands? What had happened here so many years ago?
Klaus' gaze grew distant, almost lost, as his mind went back years and years to think about how this area had once looked, how his family had been there- Freya, Finn, Henrik, and the others, including Mikael and Ester... He told them how the Original Pack had burned the area down, but the blame had been placed on the Mikaelson family due to Mikael's involvement with the Original Witch, which is why it was considered cursed. Those who knew of the stories passed them along down the generations, and the stories became more twisted, until the truth was no longer a part of the picture, and any memory of what had once been was thoroughly erased.
Then he told them what had happened to the Mikaelson family- how Mikael had tricked them, Turned them, and how it was revealed that Klaus was not his biological son. He told them about Henrik's murder, how his family had known Annabelle's ancestor, and how Klaus' father had been a member of the Original Pack. He told them about the years he spent lost, trying to figure out more about the curse he was under, the one that prevented him from truly embracing his Hybrid nature, and how that obsession had twisted him into a cruel creature that was almost lost to the darkness within.
"And then you became a true Hybrid, and eventually met Mom," Hope surmised, watching her father closely with her dark gray eyes.
Klaus smiled, taking Annabelle's hand. "Yes. She was the one who showed me the way out of the darkness I had forced myself to live in, told me I wasn't the monster I believed myself to be."
"She saved you," Mason stated, nodding.
"No," Annabelle interjected. "He saved himself. I was just there by his side through it all."
Hope shifted in her seat. The family was gathered around a small fire Klaus had started. The night was warm, and they had packed lightly, and did not mind staying the night under the stars. Her brow was etched with worry. "Dad..." she began hesitantly. "Will you tell us about... Mikael?"
Klaus and Anna exchanged a look. Anna did not seem surprised by the question, but Klaus hesitated, his mind flashing back to how his father had tried to kill him, how he had slit Annabelle's throat, how he had died on the banks of the falls...
Reaching out, Anna took his hand again, giving it an encouraging squeeze. "They deserve to know about him, even if he isn't their blood."
Klaus took a deep breath, nodding. He began talking, taking them back to when he was young, before Mikael had become such a cruel man. He told them how they were happy, and how all of that had changed the night that Henrik was murdered. The story went on over the years, and how Mikael had relentlessly hunted his own children after being awoken. Klaus found it difficult to tell them how once Annabelle had entered the picture, she also became a target, and in turn, so had the twins. He told them that Mikael was determined to destroy them, believing them monsters, and that terrible night when Annabelle had tried to fight him, even when she was heavy with child.
Annabelle had stepped in, telling her side of the story, saying how one day the twins might understand why she acted so rashly if they ever found their mates. She noticed Hope perk up at that comment, but filed that thought away for later. She told them that she had been saved because of her earlier thought to drink some of Klaus' blood, which had been in her system when Mikael had attempted to kill her.
"So you became a Hybrid... right after having us?" Hope asked slowly.
Klaus and Anna both nodded. "According to Meredith-," Annabelle's features grew sad as she mentioned the doctor, "I was an inch away from dying, saved only by the bond and by the blood. As the transformation took over, my body healed itself and I became a Hybrid."
Klaus described how Anna had been so still, so cold, then suddenly her eyes were open, blazing gold and black. He barely suppressed a shudder at the memory of thinking she was dead.
"Did you know that that would happen?" Mason asked, turning his gaze towards his mom.
Annabelle shook her head. "Honestly, I don't really remember my reasoning for doing that. I hardly remember even doing it. The days before both of you were born are a blur in my memory. All I remember, very strongly, is a strong instinct to protect my mate and both of you. Admittedly, I acted rash and foolish. I should not have attacked and fought Mikael and put you both in danger. I'm only glad that Mikael tried to kill me- thinking that in turn it would cause both of you to die- instead of..." She trailed off, her skin turning icy pale.
The family shook off the thought of Mikael, leaving him in the past as a terrible memory. But Hope had a look on her face, and asked one final question. "Do you regret becoming a Hybrid?"
Annabelle's expression smoothed out, becoming thoughtful. "No," she said. She looked at Klaus, and realized this was a question he had been thinking of too, even if he had never voiced it. "No," she repeated for emphasis. "It was... inevitable. I knew that I wanted to be with your father forever, and I knew that I couldn't have forever with him if I had stayed just a werewolf. Werewolves have a longer lifespan than humans, they can live up to over a hundred years old, like Antonio, but a hundred years..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "A hundred years would not be enough. Plus, I vowed never to leave or run away from him again. How could I possibly leave him after my death to continue on, and how could I leave the both of you, knowing you would have an eternity with him? No, I would have had him Turn me. I think my original thought was to have him do it after our wedding, since I felt that was more symmetrical after having vowed to love him forever, to then change so I could do precisely that. Fate just had other plans."
"You never had any doubts about living forever?" Hope asked. "It's an overwhelming thought."
Mason nodded in agreement.
Annabelle considered that. "I think it can be overwhelming, since it's one of those things your mind cannot truly grasp, like the expanse of space, et cetera. But I try not to think about forever on a large scale. When I think about it, I think about watching you both grow up, finding your own mates, perhaps having grandchildren, and so on. I think about exploring this world, learning all that I can, things like that."
"Will you have more kids?" Mason blurted out suddenly, then blushed.
Klaus grinned at his mate. His mind drifted back to the conversation they had had before. "If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
"There's always loopholes," Annabelle agreed, smiling back at him.
The twins now exchanged a confused look, before silently agreeing this is one of those inside things between their parents they didn't really understand.
Eventually, the conversation became lighter again as the moon- which was nearly full- rose in the sky. The twins fell asleep leaning against each other, and their parents kept a watchful eye over them. They kept talking through the soul bond, thinking about the future and what it had to hold.
But then Annabelle's attention turned towards the moon. Her sharp vision told her it was close to being full, and her instinct told her the full moon would be here in three days time. Her gray eyes, smoky as the campfire, turned to meet the dark blue gaze of her mate. Her worry was met by his, since they both knew what it would bring.
Ooo0ooO
The Mikaelson family traveled from Klaus' first home to Italy the next day. They reached the lush landscape of Antonio's territory while the sun began its descent in the sky, which bathed the land in a golden light.
The twins grew excited as they reached the vineyard that was at the entrance to Antonio's homeland. They could smell other werewolves, along with the familiar scent of Bennett, the witch Hybrid, and they even noticed their mother walk more quickly with an eager expression.
Suddenly, three figures appeared out of the rows of vines, and Annabelle let out a surprised, happy cry before running forward to greet them. Klaus and the twins watched her embrace a tall, dark haired werewolf with stunning blue eyes. Then she turned towards the taller man next to him, who gave a booming laugh before spinning her around. The slight female was last to hug Annabelle, her darker curls mixing with Annabelle's lighter brown hair as they squealed and held onto each other.
When Annabelle turned to face her family, she introduced the twins to the trio. The blue eyed wolf was Donovan, the one with a loud laugh was Leo, and then there was Leo's mate, Marie. Annabelle explained they had all met while Annabelle and Klaus had been on their honeymoon, and had bonded very quickly. Annabelle lifted her wrist, showing them the charmed bracelet she wore today, saying Marie gave it to her before they had left.
"For protection against certain spells and potions," Annabelle recited from memory. "But not from Fate."
The twins seemed perplexed at that, but had greeted the other werewolves nonetheless. Marie took Hope's face in her hands, examining it closely, before kissing both of her cheeks. She did the same with Mason.
"Evil," Marie scoffed with her thick accent. "There is no evil in their eyes! Only love and magic."
Antonio and Bennett greeted them at the large mansion in which the pack lived. The twins ran into Bennett's arms, greeting him with as much enthusiasm as Anna had her old friends.
The rest of Antonio's pack came out to meet the Hybrid children, and Klaus and Anna both noted how much it had grown since they had been here last. A new set of families were there to meet them all, while the others reacquainted themselves with the couple.
Suddenly, a very tall, dark haired young wolf stepped forward, his gaze latched on Annabelle. He had very traditional Italian features- olive toned skin, olive green eyes, dark, curling hair. He looked like Marie, and Marie introduced him as her cousin, Dante.
Dante smiled and even gave her a slight bow.
Annabelle watched the younger wolf curiously, wondering why he was approaching her first and not Klaus, like the others had.
"Annabelle Davis," he began.
"Davis-Mikaelson," she corrected with a smile.
Dante nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, at last." He took her hand, kissing it like some of the older males had.
Annabelle lifted a brow. "At last?"
"There is someone I would like you to meet," he explained. "The youngest werewolf of our pack, who came to us only a year ago."
So Annabelle followed the werewolf, leaving the others behind to explore the mansion. Dante lead her to one of the back rooms, explaining that the young werewolf had captured Antonio's attention when she had stumbled into their territory, and she would see why.
Annabelle entered the room behind him, her gaze latching onto a young woman who was sitting so her profile was to Annabelle. She had thick, black hair that curled softly around her shoulders, and when she turned to look at the visitors, Annabelle gasped.
Unlike the others, she had startling gray eyes, much like Annabelle's.
"Annabelle, this is Stella," Dante said. "Stella, Annabelle Davis-Mikaelson."
"Oh!" the slender werewolf stood up, then in a flash was embracing Annabelle tightly. "Finally! I've been waiting to meet you."
Annabelle studied the younger female, taking in the pale skin, the youthful freckles, the pretty features. "You've been waiting for... me?"
"Oh yes," Stella said, smiling. "I've been searching for you for a long time, but had no way to get to the states. Then I heard of the Italian pack, and how their leader was friends with Annabelle Davis, and I knew if I found them I would find you."
"Do you know me?" Annabelle asked, still lost.
Stella laughed, shaking her head. "Only through stories. But I knew you would come, cousin."
Annabelle gaped at her. "Cousin?"
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or the Originals.
Author's Note: Please review!