I don't mind it, I don't mind if you're overrated

Or if you're staring at the edge of the world.

Keep in mind that I'm a sore eye with blurry vision.

But I can see it has to be you love, that I've been dreaming of.

And if we climb this high, I swear we'll never die.

My Understandings – Of Mice & Men


A piercing scream rang through the alley as a young adult woman stumbled across the bloodless body crumpled against the bricks. Instinct to protect the secret kicked in before anything else and in the next second I'd yanked her into the shadows, my hand pressed tightly to her lips.

I wanted to stop. I knew I had to stop. But the need for blood was stronger than my will.

"I'm sorry," I managed to tell the poor girl as she stared up at me in pure fear. She took her last breath as I ripped her throat open, blood spraying from the carotid artery, only half of it finding it's way into my mouth.

In the next moment I was being forcefully ripped away from my meal, thrown against the bricks behind us and yelled at.

The words didn't even sound english. They were just sounds put together in a jumble. I snarled at the fuzzy shape of a person, reaching out to shove them away from me.

"Juliet!"

That was my name, wasn't it?

I whirled around to face the newcomer only to have the person in front of me step out protectively, shouting something at the person I identified as blissfully human. Everything was still blurry, and sounded like I was underwater, but I managed to lock my gaze onto a pair of honey brown eyes that looked achingly familiar. They were wide with fear, and my eyes slid over the person's cheeks, which were deathly pale and covered in freckles.

Instantly I knew, whoever it was, I had to protect them.

Then I smelt the blood.

It was breathtaking, just the mere scent of it was enough to make my body hum with energy. That's what I needed. That's what would heal me.

I surged forwards, intent on sinking my fangs into the figure's neck. A pair of arms as strong as steel wrapped around my middle, holding me back. I screeched in pain as the arms brushed my oozing wound, thrashing desperately, trying to get out of their hold. A hand pressed over my lips to contain the noises I was making, and I instantly bit down on the fingers at the seam of my mouth, blood I could identify as vampire's pooling on my tongue.

"Fuck sake, Juliet!" a voice growled when the back of my head connected with their nose and they ripped their torn hand away from my mouth. Satisfaction curled in my gut and I thrashed even harder. Fingers found their way to the bite mark on my side, and they dug in. I howled again in agony, the pain licking at me like flames. "Hey!" they snapped loudly and suddenly I was thrown to the ground, my head colliding with the cement making my vision go white for a long moment. "Stay back!" the voice growled to the human warningly before turning back to me. "Fucking hell, Adams. Biting isn't nice."

I knew that voice.

"Damon?" I asked dazedly, my vision clearing once more, the heavy fog in my mind slowly lifting, allowing me to think rationally for the first time in far too long.

"Welcome back to the land of the rational," the eldest Salvatore chimed sarcastically, still kneeling over me, bleeding hands held out ready to restrain me. "The clarity might not last long, so we need to get you back to your house without anyone seeing the blood. Don't worry about the bodies, I'll take care of them."

"Bodies?" I asked confusedly, eyes widening as I caught sight of the blood staining the front of my top. My tongue stuck out instinctually, licking at the blood smeared around my lips. "Oh God," I breathed, chest heavy with remorse. "Damon, what did I do?"

"That doesn't matter," he waved off my question, ignoring the way tears pooled in my eyes. He turned around, looking up at someone I couldn't see. "Stay back," he warned them, then looked back at me. "I need to move them out of sight, then I'll run you home, okay?"

He didn't wait for a reply, sliding to his feet and disappearing out of my line of sight. My hands were shaking. I frowned and tried to make them stop, but they only seemed to tremble more violently. "Jules?" a familiar voice said meekly, and I instantly shut my eyes against reality, wishing I was anywhere – anywhere – but there at that moment. "Jules?" Stiles' voice was shaky, concerned and, sickeningly enough, afraid.

My eyes burned as I stared up at the blue sky, refusing to even attempt to meet his eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and I did all I could to ignore the way his heart thudded wetly in his chest. He sounded terrified, and I felt even worse. I contemplated taking off my ring right then and crawling into the sunlight, but a hazy memory of a promise I made to Damon filled me mind, and I knew I couldn't do anything so ridiculous.

I had to go out fighting.

"Please tell me you're okay."

I shut my eyes as a tear leaked out, trailing down my temple and hitting the concrete silently. "Stiles," I began with more of a croak than anything.

That seemed to break him, and a second later he was kneeled next to me, leaning over me to assess me. I wanted to tell him to get away, to run, but I was afraid to breathe in his scent, so I held my breath and stayed silent. "It's going to be okay, Jules," he promised me with a fierce determination.

My gums tingled and I clenched my teeth together, refusing to allow my fangs to slide free. Once I was sure I was under control, I spoke, taking care not to open my eyes. "I'm sorry," I told the kid sorrowfully, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.

"What?" he asked, sounding alarmed.

"Hey, kid!" Damon shouted from a distance away, "take a step back." Stiles said nothing, but I could imagine the bitch face he was sending the vampire. "Fine, but don't come complaining to me when you end up with a ripped out carotid," he snapped and I tried to pretend I couldn't hear the sound of him dragging a corpse across the rough ground, stashing it out of sight.

"Damon's got a plan," Stiles told me seriously, and I couldn't help but slip my eyes open slightly, catching the desperate look on his handsome face. "You're going to get through this."

I wanted to argue, tell him to get away, to stop having such pointless hope, but he merely took my hand. I choked back a cry when his skin met mine, his getting smeared with blood. I pulled away, refusing to let him be tainted further.

"Upsy-daisy," Damon cooed condescendingly as he appeared beside us, leaning down to hook an arm around my shoulders and knees before hoisting me up like I weighed nothing, cradling me in his arms like a child. "Meet back at the house," he told Stiles quickly, barely waiting for an agreement before he was running, faster than humans could properly see as he dodged cars and pedestrians, making a beeline for my home.

"Is it true?" I asked him once we'd stopped when I knew I wouldn't get bugs in my mouth.

"You'll have to specify," he grouched, sounding irritated by the vague question as he slipping into my house. I relaxed once the sun was off me, happy to be in the cool shade of my home.

"Stiles said you have a..." I paused, violently coughing up half the blood I'd just ingested. "A plan," I continued once it'd stopped, leaving Damon scowling down at his blood covered shoes. With a muttered cuss word he unceremoniously dropped me on the couch, caring very little that it sent a searing agony through my body. I bit my lip to hold in a scream, glaring up at him angrily.

Damon didn't reply straight away, sliding off his boots and moving into the kitchen to rinse them off before he came back and answered me. "I pulled all the strings I could," he told me quietly, holding out a damp washcloth and patting my sweat covered brow clean.

"And what strings were they?" I asked tiredly, closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the arm rest.

"After I couldn't find any sign of Klaus within a hundred miles, I called Elena, told her to call Stefan and leave a message. I can't be sure he'll get it in time – or get it at all, really – but it was the best I could do," he huffed, strong brows pulling together as he continued to pat my forehead. "What about you? Surely you have one of their numbers. You were with them for decades, you have to know how to contact at least one of them."

I shook my head, stopping instantly when it brought back the nausea. "I never found them," I admitted expressionlessly, eyes fluttering open to stare at the ceiling. "They always found me."

Damon was quiet, thoughtful as he absently continued to dab. "You're going to be okay," he said after a long minute.

"Who're you trying to convince?" I asked drowsily, letting my eyes slide shut once more. He didn't respond, probably too proud. "Can you promise me something?"

"If I have to," he huffed, sounding more irritated than he felt.

"When I go rabid again – if I put Stiles in danger – you'll put me down."

It was a hard request to make, but I knew it was necessary. Stiles was my priority now, and if he was at risk from anything, including myself, then the threat had to be eliminated. For a moment Damon looked reluctant to comply, but acceptance quickly clouded his icy blue gaze and he nodded compliantly.

I relaxed, glad I could at least control that. "Don't let Stiles see you do it, though," I warned him softly. "I don't want that to be the last way he remembers me." Damon grunted in acknowledgement of my words and I couldn't help a small smirk. "You're a good friend, Damon."

"Yeah, well don't go around telling people that," he grumbled. My smile widened, but beyond that I was too exhausted to reply. A minute of silence passed, then Damon said, "lover-boy is arriving."

I hadn't heard the jeep, which was a depressing thought. What next? I wouldn't be able to lift a car? How do the humans survive?

"Jules?" Stiles yelled as he tripped through the front door, and I did hear him knock into the side table, the glass vase resting there dropping to the floor and shattering.

I opened my eyes as he stumbled into the room, a terrified and anxious expression on his lovely face. I tried to smile at him, hoping it didn't come across as fake as it really was. "Damon," I said quietly, eyes sliding to the vampire in question. "Go clean up the glass," I ordered him with a pointed look in Stiles' direction.

The raven-haired demon looked like he wanted to argue, but he wasn't completely socially inept, and with a begrudged nod he slipped from the room, muttering to Stiles as he passed, something about not letting me near his neck or wrists. I tried to roll my eyes, but it just made me dizzy.

"Hi," he said, standing in the centre of the room, looking like he had no idea what to do with himself.

"Hello," I replied softly, blinking up at him, simultaneously asking him to come closer and stay as far away as he could get. He must not have understood that last part, because a minute later he was inching closer until he came to a stop next to me. After a brief moment of indecision he knelt down beside me.

Figuring I'd already gone so far, I held my hand out palm-up, and with a sigh that sounded suspiciously like relief he reached forwards, grabbing my hand with his own. His skin was slick and sweaty, but I couldn't have cared less, just happy to have contact with him.

"It's going to be okay, Stiles," I said gently, squeezing his hand to punctuate my words.

"Even if you die?"

It was a fair enough question, and even the words coming from his own mouth made his heart stutter. I was flattered he cared so much, I couldn't count the number of times I'd stared up at the stars and wished somebody would care like he did in that moment.

I figured that then was as good a time as any. I had to tell him something, leave him with anything, so that maybe he'd be able to move on smoothly once I was gone.

So with a deep sigh and a heavy heart, I soldiered on.

"I want you to do something for me," I told him quietly, biting my tongue to stop a pathetic whimper get past my lips.

"Anything," he vowed.

"I want you to talk to Lydia more," I said seriously, staring at the tip of his nose, unable to meet his honey gaze. "She'll love you once she gets to know you; it's impossible not to. And I want you to stay close with you dad. Family is more important than you know, and he won't always be around. Burn all my blood packets once I'm gone, just in case they raid the house. I'll have Damon forge my signature onto the correct documents and the house will be in your name by the end of the week. You can sell it, rent it out or move in later, whatever you want. Also, the hot water tap sticks in the bath, so-"

"What the fuck are you doing?" Stiles asked, and I blinked at him in surprise, not sure I could ever recall actually hearing him cuss before.

"Uh, leaving a verbal will?" I said with a frown. "I thought that was obvious."

He began breathing heavily out of nowhere, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he hyperventilated. His pupils blew up as his eyes watered, and his heart tripled it's pace in his chest.

I stared at my human in alarm. "Stiles?" I asked worriedly, clearing my throat to try and get rid of the croak.

"You're not going to die," he murmured distraughtly, pressing his lips together stubbornly.

I softened, trying to sit up but crying out in pain when it pulled at my swollen, oozing wound. I hissed, leaning my head back and holding my breath until the sharp sting of agony dulled. "I admire your optimism, but I think it's time to face reality-"

"You're not going to die," he repeated with a snap, glaring down at me determinedly. "You're not allowed to. I forbid it."

I raised one eyebrow, staring up at him dubiously. "You forbid it?" I questioned skeptically, but his expression never faltered. An amused smirk lit up my features momentarily, but quickly dimmed when I found I didn't have the energy to keep it up. I swallowed, only just noticing how very dry my mouth was; it felt like it was full of cotton. "You're sweet," I told him stiltedly, now smiling at him with my eyes more than my mouth. "But even you, as stubborn and obstinate as you are, can't cheat death. I would know, I've successfully done it once before."

"Well then do it again," he commanded furiously, refusing to allow his pretty eyes to water, determined not to show weakness.

"It doesn't work like that," I spoke gently, squeezing his hand as tightly as I could manage. "I've lived longer than any one person should," I murmured, watching him closely. He sniffed quietly, nostrils flaring as he fought back emotion. "Maybe it's just my time."

"I refuse to believe that," he growled with surprising force. "You've survived this long."

"Do you believe in heaven?"

Stiles looked taken aback by my left-field question, breath catching in his throat as he eyed me suspiciously. "What?"

"Heaven," I repeated gently, rubbing my thumb across the skin on the back of his hand. "Do you believe it exists?"

He seemed reluctant to answer, but after a long moment relented. "I don't believe it's possible that my mom can't be in a good place now," he admitted softly, honey brown eyes tearing up again, though no tears fell.

I smiled at my human boyfriend. "I think that's a very wise answer," I told him before a sudden, pained hiss passed through my lips as agony darted up my side, bile rising in my throat. I kept it down with a gulp, grimacing at the bad taste it left in my mouth.

"You're pale," Stiles murmured.

"Tell me something I don't know," I croaked in response.

His lips tipped up slightly, so I counted it as a win. "I mean more so than usual." We were quiet again, each in our own little worlds.

I pursed my lips, thoughts turning sour. "Then, do you believe in hell?" I sounded pathetically meek, but I didn't have the energy to care. His brow furrowed at me. "I mean, providing heaven exists, then shouldn't hell too? And since I'm damned anyway..."

"You're not damned," he bit out with a glare that lacked strength.

I couldn't help but smile. He was always so passionate in his good opinion of me. It was equal parts endearing and maddening. I decided to change the subject, knowing the common argument wasn't going to be resolved in the short amount of time we had.

I wanted to say more, but I felt like there weren't any words that could sufficiently convey what I was feeling. Still, I opened my mouth to say more, only for violent, hacking coughs to wrack my body, blood dribbling down my lower lip and dropping from the end of my chin.

Stiles looked like he wanted to say something, but cut himself off, staring up over the couch, blinking at something in the archway. I groaned as I tilted my head, trying to see what he was looking at. "Damon?" I croaked confusedly, looking over his tense expression with fuzzy eyes.

"We have company," he said, and after a long, painstaking minute, my eyes adjust to see the newcomer in the room.

"Hello, love."

I froze, my emerald eyes wide as I took in the ancient vampire in front of me.

"Long time no see, eh?"

A tense fear that I'd ever only felt in the Original's presence seemed to swell within me, and I swallowed thickly, struggling to come to terms with the situation. I had to question whether this was real. I'd seen him so many times over the last few days, who was to say it wasn't another hallucination? Let's be real; why the hell would he come all this way for me?

"You're not really here," I said before I could stop myself, meeting his icy stare head on.

His pale lips quirked up, highlighting the stubble around them. "An interesting conclusion, sweetheart," Klaus said, hands folded politely behind his back, a dark waistcoat draped over his strong figure. I was reminded instantly of all the pet-names he used to call me. I'd never told him how I'd despised them. He seemed to enjoy it, and at the time, that was all that mattered. "However, unsurprisingly incorrect."

He was quiet, blue eyes assessing me, drinking me in after so many years apart. "Why did you come?" I asked throatily, teeth clicking together as my hands balled into fists, every cell in me aware of his presence.

"I was under the impression you needed something from me," he said, casually strolling around the couch so I didn't have to stare up at him, moving in front of the dying embers of the fire. I reached up and grabbed Stiles' hand, pulling him out of Klaus' reach weakly. "Something you couldn't get anywhere else."

"You were misinformed," I choked, blinking up at him with wet eyes. "I don't need anything from you."

"Please!" All heads in the room turned to stare at Stiles, who'd ripped himself from my grasp to step closer to the Original. "Please, just-just give her your blood," he begged in a show of uncharacteristic vulnerability.

"No," I snapped, surprising even myself.

"Don't listen to her," Stiles blurted desperately. "She's not in her right state of mind."

Klaus' head tilted as his cold eyes slid over my tense and pained form, and Stiles' anxious body, heart hammering away in his chest.

"You're with one of them now?" Klaus asked with a sneer. "And here I thought you had standards."

"I slept with you, didn't I?" I snapped back before I could stop myself. My blood seemed to freeze in my veins for a long moment as his icy gaze hardened a fraction. So quickly that I wasn't sure it'd happened at all, the look was gone, replaced with a dancing mirth.

"At the door of death and still as witty as ever," he responded with a leer that showed his teeth. "So, how about that cure?"

I'd made peace with the idea of my death, I didn't want all of that soul-searching, all of that heart wrenching coming-to-terms-with-death-and-probably-by-extension-hell process, to be for nothing. But, seriously, given the opportunity to stay with Stiles? There wasn't any doubt I was going to take it.

A stray thought made me pause an instant before I opened my mouth to tell him I wanted the cure. "What'll it cost?" I asked hesitantly, my voice embarrassingly hoarse. I bit my tongue and tasted blood.

Klaus smirked wickedly, in a way I used to (and to be honest, still kind of did) think was unendingly sexy. "I was thinking you could just – how do the young ones say it these days – owe me one?" he said in his lilting accent.

"Thanks, but I'd rather be dust than owe you anything," I sneered right back, the action taking more effort than usual, considering how exhausted I was.

"She's kidding!" Stiles jumped in with an anxious laugh, and instinct told me Damon was rolling his eyes from his place in the doorway. Klaus paid him no mind, brushing him out of the way like he was an annoying insect, and crouching beside me where I lay on my couch.

I wanted to say no, to adamantly refuse the cure, more a matter of pride than anything. One look into Stiles' honey brown eyes and I knew it wasn't really up to me. Stiles was worth anything, even a debt to the oldest and most powerful vampire in existence.

"So how're we doing this?" I asked, tilting my chin up in a tiny act of defiance.

Klaus smirked, clearly pleased. He gestured to where my arm lay uselessly at my side. "For old times' sake," he grinned darkly.

"No."

"What?" Stiles asked loudly, glaring down at me. Clearly he still hadn't made the connection.

"I won't do it," I growled, glaring boldly into Klaus' frosty eyes.

He shrugged indifferently. "Then you'll die," he hummed carelessly. "Before or after you go rabid and kill your little human pet, I can't say."

He just had to pull the Stiles card. Over a century and he still knew me as well as I knew myself. I glanced up at Stiles. I'd tried to explain blood sharing to him before, such as when we did it only a short time ago. I knew he was trying to understand, but he wasn't a vampire, and until he was, he wouldn't know.

"I'm sorry," I told him sincerely, and his eyes shined with confusion. I looked away, unable to look at him while I committed an act of such betrayal. I glared at Klaus with something that didn't quite meet hate, but was pretty damn close. "This means nothing," I spat resolutely, but the older man did nothing but smirk.

With a grimace I held out my wrist and Klaus took it gently in his hands. I wanted to tell Stiles to look away, but I knew it would be pointless. The Original offered the unblemished skin of the inside of his wrist out to me, and as I smelt the blood within, I couldn't help the way my fangs slid free and the blood flooded my eyes, the whites flooding red and the irises turning black.

With a wince I tightened my grip on his hand, remembering what it had once felt like to have our skin brush, and sank my sharp fangs into the thin skin there. Blood instantly pooled in my mouth, and I couldn't resist a moan, especially when a second later his own set of fangs pierced my wrist, my blood being sucked from my body.

I hummed with pleasure, sucking deeper, desperate for every possible drop. It was better than any drug, any high that any human could ever get. I groaned, tongue slipping out to flick at the punctured skin. I could feel the substance healing my body in a way human blood hadn't done since I'd been bitten.

After an eternity that was, once again, entirely too short, the mouth stopped lapping at my wrist and the one I was latched onto was ripped away. I barred my teeth at Klaus for a long moment until clarity once again flooded me and I put away the teeth, licking my lips clean of the mouthwatering blood.

Klaus was smirking smugly, wiping at the blood on his own lower lip. I resisted the urge to call him a rather rude name, instead sneering at him and turning my attention to the ceiling as I felt my body begin to heal itself.

A minute passed and Klaus made no move to leave. "You can go now," I snapped at him childishly.

"You're welcome," he snarked back sarcastically, sounding predictably bitter for his old age.

"You can take my metaphorical thanks, and shove it right-"

"Thank you."

We all glanced to Stiles, who was standing in the centre of the room, staring sincerely at a bemused Klaus. "At least the pet has manners," he drawled, eyes sliding between the kid and I. My lip curled in displeasure, but I said nothing, content to merely glare daggers at the Original. "Well, despite all I've done for you people, I can tell when I'm not wanted," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet smoothly and dusting his hands off on his pants.

"Give my best to Elijah, Rebekah and Kol," I told him, only half-sarcastically.

"Well, two out of three aren't currently breathing, but if that changes any time soon I'll be sure to pass the message along," he responded coolly.

My eyebrows raised. "You daggered your siblings?" I asked in anger, scowling up at him.

"Only the younger two," he waved me off.

"Rebekah will not be pleased when she wakes up," I jeered him, my lips twitching up into a smirk as his own faltered.

"When Kol is up and about I'll be sure to send him your address," he said. "I can imagine he'll be pleased for an opportunity to reunite."

"Goodbye, Klaus," I responded shrewdly, with clear dismissal.

He turned to leave, pausing in the doorway. "When I come knocking, I trust you'll be prepared to give me what I want, darling," he asked politely, merely a formality. There was no doubt I would be complying. "Whatever I want."

"Try not to kill anything on your way out of town," I shot back, refusing to bend to his will.

"Try not to get bitten by anymore werewolves," he retorted smartly. "I won't always come running, you know, love."

"Somehow I believe I'll manage," I responded coldly.

And with a villainous smirk, he was gone, the door banging against the wall with a loud crack.

We all relaxed, the overwhelming tension Klaus exuded disappearing along with him. "I should be heading off too," Damon said after a beat, stepping into the room smoothly.

"You're not staying?" I asked with a frown.

"I've gotta keep an eye on Stefan," he told me, crossing his arms over his broad chest and blinking down at me with those hypnotic eyes of his. "Who knows what kind of trouble my baby brother will get into without me on his shoulder."

"I'm sure he'll see sense eventually," I spoke in what I hoped was a comforting way.

"Once he comes back from the dark side, I'll have him call you and you two can chitchat about the pros and cons of interspecies dating," he grinned wolfishly. "I'm sure he'll have plenty of tips for when you finally pop this kid's cherry," he smirked, gesturing obviously to Stiles, who flushed from head to toe. His smirk only widened, and he moved to Stiles' side, clapping the human on the shoulder in an uncharacteristic show of camaraderie. "Be good to her, she's not a bad egg, she just has a habit of making bad decisions with men, a tradition I'm fairly confident she didn't continue with you."

Stiles' eyebrows pulled together. "But didn't she date you?" he asked confusedly.

Damon nodded acceptingly. "Case-in-point. I'm exhibit B," he told him casually, and I snorted quietly behind him. "The douche-canoe that just dined-and-dashed is exhibit A."

"You're sure you don't want to stay another day or so?" I asked once he'd left the kid sufficiently bemused, turning to face me once more. "Once I'm better I could take you out on the town, compel you a coed."

"You really know what to say to charm a guy," he rolled his eyes exasperatedly, and I grinned back cheekily. "I really do have to get going, I have things to be getting back to in Mystic Falls before I'm back on the road, hunting for Originals."

He reached down, pulling up my top without permission and peering at the gruesome bite mark that was slightly less puffy and infected looking than it was before.

"It should be totally healed in a day or so," he told me impudently, dropping the material and moving his hand to nudge my chin playfully. "You'll be back on your feet, wooing your human lover-boy and running with the local wolf pack before you know it." He paused in the doorway, glancing back at me with surprising softness in his gaze. "I'm glad you survived, Adams. And while I'm not usually one to agree with the Original-dickhead, do try not to get yourself bitten again."

"I'll do my very best," I nodded, and with a wide smirk, he too had disappeared, only this time the door clicked shut gently, no rude or inconsiderate banging to be heard.

Stiles and I were left in silence, I was waiting for his reaction, and he seemed to be deciding exactly how to react. Finally, after a long time, he seemed to break, exhaling loudly and seeming to collapse at my side, burying his face in my neck and throwing both arms around me and squeezing me tightly, practically lifting me from the comfort of the lounge in his eagerness; but I was all too happy to go.

I wrapped my own arms back around him, letting my eyes slide shut as my hand slid up to his hair, which he'd begun to grow at my suggestion. I liked the new look, I realised, tugging at the hair and smiling when he exhaled against my skin.

"Hey," I cooed softly, beaming as he nuzzled me affectionately. "Everything's fine," I assured him.

"I'm still not totally convinced of that," he mumbled into me cutely. He sat up after a minute, blinking tiredly at me, dark circles under his eyes.

"How long's it been since you slept?" I asked him gently, brushing the dark skin carefully with my thumb.

He shrugged, reluctant to answer. "Since you were bitten, I guess," he admitted hesitantly.

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing that I could use some sleep too," I responded, and he smiled exhaustedly. In a move of surprising boldness, he pushed himself up and over me, collapsing into the gap between me and the back of my couch, wrapping an arm around my waist and once again ducking his head into my neck. "Comfortable?" I asked amusedly, wincing as I tried to turn but finding I wasn't completely healed. I knew it would take time, but I was already impatient.

Stiles hummed into my skin, clutching me tighter, even going so far as to throw a leg over mine, intertwining them together. He was like an adorable monkey, and I felt warmer than ever with him curled around me. He made me feel oddly safe, which was ironic, considering I was the one with the supernatural abilities.

Nonetheless I was elated to be where I was, and with a relaxing sigh I snuggled deeper into Stiles' hold, breathing in his scent, proud when I didn't feel even a flare of hunger.

It may have taken a few centuries to figure out, but I finally knew where I belonged.

A/N: Okay, so I've got this serious obsession with Criminal Minds at the moment, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna start a Reid/OC case!fic. Is that something you lovely people would be into? Anyway, hope you liked this one, especially the special guest appearance :)