Dear Reviewers:

Morgaine of the Fairies: Ok, this is kinda embarrassing, but I got that "Rosita Chiquita Ana Maria Garcia" thing from the Chihuahua on "The Lady and the Tramp." My little sister was watching it and I thought it was funny how it all rhymed. I don't know if that's where you remember it from though. It probably isn't even exactly what he said, but that's where I got the idea. :)

Phoenix72389: I don't know if I'm saying too much, but you're closer than you think... ;)

NewbiaTheElf: How do I know? Because I'm the writer! Lol. No, actually, if you think about it, how would he know about Verse Fluctuation Declaration if he was in the Official F.D.?

VisualPurple: Yes, codes keep the world quiet...

Lady Emily: Don't worry! Updating now!

This one's a little shorter, but I'm trying to stretch it out so I have the right number of chapters. Enjoy!

Chapter 11: C l o s e r

"Klaus, hurry!"

"You're almost there!"

"Run, Klaus!"

Klaus ran.

He had no idea where he was. It looked like night, but something was blinding him, like he was heading straight towards the sun. Straight towards a fire.

His surroundings looked a bit like one of the crowded, gray avenues that threaded through the city he had called home. But it also looked like the street in front of the hotel, back in Paris. Or was he still in Paris? He squinted at the world around him. Everything, the part that was his home, and the part that was France, was blurring together, melting until it was all the same.

"Klaus!"

The voice. It was Violet's. She was calling for him.

"Klaus!" she said. "Wake up!"

Klaus woke up.

He looked around again. He wasn't in his hotel room. But everything was strangely familiar. There were several bookshelves lining the walls, stocked with his favorite stories. A polished desk sat in the corner, and several stacked books were resting on it.

Klaus sat up. Standing at the end of his bed was his older sister.

"Violet!" he said. Klaus paused and put his hand to his throat. His voice. It was different. Younger, like he was a kid.

Klaus looked at his hands. They were smaller, softer. He was a kid.

He stared up at his sister, who was staring expectantly back at him. She was exactly like he remembered.

Klaus's heart sank.

He suddenly knew why everything was so recognizable. This was his room. He was back at the mansion. The mansion that was supposed to be a pile of dust and rubble. And this was Violet. Violet who shouldn't be 14 years old anymore.

Klaus hadn't woken up. He was still dreaming.

"A little early to be sleeping, isn't it?" she asked him.

"Uh... Yeah, I guess," he answered.

"You read too late at night. You're always tired the next day."

Klaus nodded, listening to sound of his sister's voice. He hadn't heard it in such a long time.

"Well anyway, Mother and Father went to the opera, so I have to watch you and Sunny," she said. "I'm working on a device that should keep the TV reception from going out."

"Okay," Klaus replied absently.

"If you need me, I'll be in the library," Violet said, turning and walking out the door.

Klaus nodded, although he knew she wouldn't be able to see him anyway. He watched his sister's tall form shrink as she retreated farther and farther down the hallway.

Klaus's eyes shot open.

Violet. Books.

He bolted upright and scanned the room to make sure he was really awake. In his mind, Klaus repeated the words over and over again.

Violet. Books. Violet. Books.

The answer hit him with the force of a freight train.

"If you ever need me, I'll be in the library."

Of course.

Klaus snatched the small clock from the nightstand. It was a little after seven o'clock. The others probably weren't even awake yet.

He rushed over to the typewriter and tapped out a quick note:

I've figured it out. Gone to

Klaus paused. He didn't even know what library it was. He shrugged, deciding that he would check at every one in Paris until he found her.

That could take a while.

I've figured it out. Gone to library. Be back as soon as I find Violet.

Klaus

His gaze fell back to the nightstand. Resting on it was Sunny's hair ribbon. Klaus picked it up and ran his thumb over the smooth satin.

Maybe this was Violet's, he mused.

He blinked, and corrected himself.

Maybe this is Violet's.

Klaus smiled.

. . .

The smile was still on his face when he pushed open the door of the hotel and continued on down the street. It was pretty busy for being so early in the morning. People on bicycles zipped by, racing the speeding cars. Rain had begun to fall, and some individuals opened umbrellas or unfolded newspapers to shield themselves from it. But Klaus pulled off his glasses and tucked them into his pocket, letting the rain fall on his face. It felt nice.

He walked, not knowing if he was going in the right direction. He had a full morning ahead of him, so it wouldn't really matter where he went first anyway.

He was so close. Violet could be only two blocks away. His sister, who he hadn't seen in ten long years. So close.

"Run, Klaus!"

Klaus ran.

He finally stopped in front of an enormous, old, but very regal-looking building that could have been over a hundred years old. It had been transformed into one of the grandest libraries Paris had to present.

This was it. Somehow Klaus knew.

He pushed open the door and took another step closer to Violet.