Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or The Vampire Diaries, or any content/characters associated with these franchises. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

Klaus and Bella smiled at each other. He then offered her his arm, whispering, "Shall we?"

Bella nodded and smiled softly as she slipped her arm through the crook of Klaus' elbow, allowing him to escort her back to the car.

As they drove back to Klaus' home to wake his siblings, Bella couldn't help but smile. She started the day in hopes of finding an ally or two, but as she glanced over at Klaus, who was staring at her like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time, she couldn't help but feel she found a hell of a lot more than that.

CHAPTER 4 – Getting To Know You

"Wow! It's amazing! Truly, beautiful, Niklaus," Bella said, admiring the classic architecture as they walked into the entrance of Klaus' mansion. "Do you live hear alone?" she asked, striving for subtlety, but at this point her interest in the Original Hybrid was undeniable.

"Yes. Well, until today that is. I did this for my family," he said, gesturing toward to rest of the mansion with his hand. "I wanted them to have a place they could feel safe … a place they could call home. It's all I've ever really wanted," he added, surprising himself with how open and honest he was being.

Klaus was no fool. If Bella was going to be around town, he knew it was only a matter of time before she began to hear horrid tales about him and the horrible things he'd done. He had made many enemies—people that would surely like to keep Isabella away from him.

"Tell me, Isabella. What do you know of us Originals?" he asked, pouring two glasses of bourbon: one for him and one for Bella.

"Thank you." She gently took the glass from Klaus' hand, smiling at him warmly. "Not a whole lot. My father gave me a brief rundown of your family's history."

Klaus raised his eyebrows. "Your father?"

"I thought we were talking about you." Bella smirked.

"Right. Sorry, love," Klaus apologized, adding a wink for effect, causing a light blush to appear on Bella's cheeks. "Your blush truly is beautiful," he added seriously.

"Anyway," Bella diverted the conversation back toward Klaus' family. "I'd been informed that you were keeping some of your siblings daggered, for fear of their father, Mickeal." Bella stopped and looked at Klaus to gauge his response. He nodded, signaling for her to continue.

"However, since you are about to remove the daggers from your siblings, I can only surmise that you no longer perceive Mickeal as a threat. He's dead. Am I correct?" Bella asked with a knowing smirk, enjoying the look of awe currently plastered on Klaus' face.

"Impressive," he said, confirming Bella's assumptions. "As I'm sure you are aware, there is much more to the story of how we all ended up here. Come," he said, holding out the crook of his elbow. "Let's go remove the daggers from my siblings. It will take some time for them to wake. While we wait, I will tell you our story."

Bella stopped, putting her hand on Klaus' chest. She looked up at him and smiled softly. "You know you don't owe me anything, right?"

Expressing his emotions was not something Klaus was used to. But he knew that if he wanted to win Isabella's affections, he'd have to be different. He'd have to be better.

"I haven't always been a good man, Isabella. I've done bad things—sometimes to good people. If we continue to spend time together, which I sincerely hope is the case, I have no doubt people will try and keep us apart. I've made many enemies. I suppose I'd rather you hear my story from me then one of them."

She understood what Klaus was trying to say to her. He wanted her to know everything now, so she wasn't surprised later. After all of Edward's misdirection and secrets, Klaus' open honesty was a refreshing change.

"Thank you, Niklaus. I have been lied to in the past … quite frequently actually. So your willingness to be so open and honest with me means more than you could imagine," she said with a soft smile.

Klaus looked down, capturing Bella's gaze with his. "I will always be upfront and honest with you, Isabella. I give you my word that I will never lie to you," he said with unmistakable intensity.

"Then we should get along just fine!" Bella smiled, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"Come on, love! Let's wake up some Original Vampires," Klaus said with a smile, as he resumed their walk toward the coffins.

-Page Break-

"Oh, Niklaus! I'm so sorry." In fit of emotion she stood up and closed the distance between her and Klaus, hugging him fiercely. He'd just finished telling her the key points of his 1,000 year history.

To say that Klaus was shocked would be a severe understatement. He wasn't sure why Bella was responding the way she was. Shouldn't she be disgusted with him? Wasn't he a monster for all the things he had done?

"I don't want your pity," he said, the emotion straining his voice.

Bella pulled back from the hug so she could look him in the eye. "What you see and hear right now is not pity. I assure you. If anything … I'm pissed off!"

There it was. This was the reaction he was expecting. He looked down at the ground, not able to bear the look of disgust that was surely on Bella's beautiful face.

Bella saw Klaus' reaction and understood her words may have been taken the wrong way. "I am so angry at what Mickeal put you through that if he wasn't already dead I'd hunt him down and kill him myself. And don't even get me started on your mother. I'm thinking of going down in your basement and dragging her out of that coffin just so I can rip her heart out—"

"Easy there, love," Klaus said, hugging Bella tighter, trying to calm her down. He was truly shocked by her outburst. She was angry at Esther and Mickeal on his behalf. Klaus felt a warming sensation in the center of his chest. It began pulsating, radiating the strange warmth he felt out to his extremities. It only took him a moment to understand the source of this warmth, for it seemed to amplify in strength every time he looked into Isabella's eyes.

Klaus knew he was falling hard and fast for Isabella. And judging by her anger toward Mickeal and Esther, it seemed she at least held some affection for him. At least he hoped she did. Her reaction, however, just made him want her that much more.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak that way about your mother. As angry as I am, I still shouldn't have said that."

"Don't worry about it, love. If anyone understands it's me. I did kill her once already," he said with a smirk, causing Bella to giggle.

Klaus noticed that Bella didn't shy away from his darker side. In fact, if he was being honest, it seemed like she kind of dug it. It warmed his heart that she seemed so accepting of both sides of his nature.

"So, may I inquire about your sudden arrival in this town?" Klaus asked Bella with a smile as he let go of her so he could refill their drinks.

Bella visibly tensed, and it didn't escape Klaus' attention. "If you're not comfortable telling me—"

"No, that's not it," Bella said, shaking her head. "It's just … I'm not really sure where to begin…"

"Let's take it from the top then, shall we?" he asked with a smirk. "I must say, I'm beyond curious to know the origins of the most beautiful creature to ever walk the planet." Unsurprisingly, Klaus' compliment caused Bella to blush softly. "Beautiful," he said to no one in particular, as he gazed upon her lovingly.

The intensity of Klaus' gaze left Bella short of breath. She had to admit, he really made her feel beautiful—the way he stared at her.

She took a breath to calm herself down. "My life was relatively normal until last year. I was a typical, socially awkward, teenage girl."

"Wait. You mean to tell me you were human just last year?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

"No. I mean to tell you I was human just last week."

"Start from the beginning." His tone was both commanding, yet caring.

Bella nodded and then smirked. "Tell me, Niklaus. What do you know of Cold Ones?"

-Page Break-

"So let me get this straight. You are the daughter of Osiris: the Ancient Egyptian God. He informed you that he created the Cold One species over 3,000 years ago … that is after he turned you into a one-of-a-kind Vampire Goddess. And now, realizing that Cold Ones were a mistake, a conclusion I strongly agree with, he has asked you to destroy the entire race. Did I miss anything?"

Bella bit down on her bottom lip in thought, causing Klaus to growl softly out of desire. Oblivious to how she was affecting him, Bella answered, "He said I wouldn't have to complete my task alone. And he told me I'd find my answers here, in Mystic Falls."

Klaus barked loudly in laughter. "So he asked you to commit genocide, and then for all intents and purposes, he sent you to me?"

Bella blushed in embarrassment. "In all honesty … everything just happened so fast. One second I was human, minding my own business. Next thing I know, I'm a vampire goddess on my way to Mystic Falls. Before I ran into you and Damon I had no idea what to do, or who to even look for. I'm not sure if Osiris intended for you to help me or not. But I must admit that it does look that way. I want you to know, that's not why I helped you with the coffins. I don't expect anything in return."

"Don't fret, love. I was just having a laugh. But back to your Cold One Problem-I believe I have a way to help you," Klaus said as he walked back toward his chair and took a seat. He took a sip of his bourbon and looked at Bella. "I think you should move in immediately."

Bella choked on her drink. "Excuse me?"

"I believe you heard me." Klaus smirked.

"Why?" Bella asked—her confusion evident.

Klaus shrugged. "Why not? I have plenty of room. You should not be staying in some rundown boarding house. You deserve so much better. You deserve to be treated like a queen. Besides, if you're serious about me helping you with the Cold Ones it just makes sense for you to be close by."

"Thank you, Niklaus. That is awfully generous of you, but I really don't want to be an imposition."

"Imposition? I hardly think so, Isabella."

"Still, I don't want to impose on you and your siblings. You just got them back in your life. I—"

"Sweet Isabella, would you agree to stay if I got on my knees and begged?"

"Now, that is something I would like to see."

"I agree, Bekah. It seems we have awoken in a different dimension," Kol added with a smirk.

"It appears our brother is smitten. Wouldn't you agree, Rebekah? Perhaps Nik is just as much of a fool as the rest of us, don't you think, Kol?" Finn asked his brother and sister as he entered the room behind them, causing each of them to snicker.

"Ah, Rebekah! Brothers! Kol and Finnick, I see you two figured out how to use the blood bags." Klaus stood up, immediately grabbing Bella's hand, pulling her with him. He wrapped one arm tightly around Bella, pulling her tightly to his side. Bella wasn't sure whether she was annoyed or pleased by Klaus' possessive display. Klaus smirked, however, when he heard Bella let out a contented sigh. They both noticed how well she seemed to fit there.

"Brothers … Sister … I want you to meet my Isabella," Klaus said, introducing the stunning woman pressed tightly into his side. "Isabella, this is my lovely sister, Rebekah, and my brothers, Kol and Finn."

"It's lovely to meet all of you," Bella said with a light blush and a soft smile. The three newly awakened siblings were immediately charmed by Bella's easy disposition.

"Isabella… " Klaus said proudly, "…is the reason you are all free today. After Mickeal was destroyed your coffins were stolen. Isabella helped me get them back today. Without her, none of you would be here."

"Well then, allow me to be the first of us to thank you, Isabella," Finn said with a slight bow.

"Please … just call me Bella. For some reason Niklaus insists on calling me by full name. Everyone else calls me Bella."

Rebekah ran up to Bella and hugged her fiercely. "Thank you, Bella! I can already tell we are going to be wonderful friends!"

Bella smiled. "I'd like that, Rebekah."

Finally, it was Kol's turn. As he approached Bella, Klaus' grip around Bella's waist got tighter. Kol took Bella's hand and kissed it in gentlemanly fashion.

"Thank you, dear Bella. I must say that you are a rare, true beauty. My brother, it would seem, has excellent taste," he added. Kol's lustful gaze did not escape Klaus' attention, causing the hybrid to growl.

"Back off, brother. Isabella is mine!"

Bella's head snapped up in Klaus' direction. "May we speak in private for a moment," she said, leading Klaus out of the room.

Klaus directed her down the hall. "My office … it's soundproof." As he closed the door to his office he looked at Bella. "You wanted to speak with me?"

Bella sighed. "You can't do that, Niklaus."

"Do what?" he asked, genuine confusion coloring if face.

"Act like I belong to you. You told your brother that I'm yours."

Klaus was concerned now. "Do you not want to be?"

"Do I not want to be what?"

"Mine."

"Wait a second." Bella was trying to make sense of everything. "What are you asking me, exactly?" Bella was confused, though she'd be lying if she didn't admit to feeling the hope that was now swelling in her chest.

"I know we just met, but since then, you've been in my every thought. Now that I've gotten a little taste of what my life could be like with you in it, I … I don't want to go back to the way things used to be … to the way my life was before you. So tell me, Isabella. What do I have to do to make you mine? Hmm? Tell me? Who do I have to kill? I would conquer every kingdom on the planet for you, if at the end of the day it meant that I could call you mine."

Bella was breathing heavy. They were standing inches apart as Klaus stared down at Bella with his hypnotizing, blue eyes. "I … I don't know what to say, Niklaus. This is happening so fast. In the span of one afternoon you've told me I'm moving in with you, and now … now this."

"Am I wrong about your feelings? Have I misread your emotions, Isabella?"

Bella looked down, blushing. Klaus gently placed his thumb and index finger under Bella's chin and lifted it, causing their eyes to meet.

"I cannot deny the connection I feel toward you. It feels right, when I'm in your arms." Bella sighed. "Perhaps my thinking is still bound by human standards? Maybe that is my trouble?"

Klaus smiled mischievously as he placed a gentle kiss just beneath Bella's ear. "I propose an agreement. I propose that you move your things in to the bedroom of your choice this evening. We have many spare rooms for you to choose from." He placed another kiss a few inches lower. "I propose that we begin dating, effective immediately." Klaus placed another kiss even lower down her neck. "Finally, I propose that you allow me to tell everyone that you are mine. And in return, you may tell whomever you wish, that I belong to you." To emphasize his point he gently bit down on Bella's neck with his teeth—not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to leave an impermanent mark.

Bella shivered in delight from the feel of Klaus' teeth on her neck. Part of her was disappointed that he didn't break the skin. "Deal," she said breathlessly, causing Klaus to chuckle.

-Page Break-

Kol grinned as Bella and Klaus entered the room arm in arm. Bella's reaction to Klaus' possessive display did not escape the younger Mikaelson's attention earlier. "Trouble in paradise?" he asked, taunting his older brother.

To Kol's surprise, Bella responded, "No trouble at all, Kol." She smiled, looking up at Klaus. "We just needed to iron out a few details."

"That's unfortunate," Kol replied, winking at Bella, which caused Klaus to growl. Kol couldn't contain his chuckle when he got the desired response from his older brother.

Klaus needed to address everyone. He cleared his throat in an uncharacteristic display of nervousness. He silently drew strength from having his Isabella by his side and began, "I called Elijah and informed him of the recent developments. He will be here tomorrow. Also … I would like to take a moment to apologize to all of you—Wait … where did Finn go?"

No one had noticed that Finn had been missing ever since Klaus and Bella had returned. Kol and Rebekah both noticed he'd been acting a little off ever since waking up. Every so often Fin would go into a daze. His mind seemed miles away whenever this happened. So, Kol and Rebekah were immediately concerned when they noticed his absence.

They didn't have to wonder about his whereabouts for long.

"I'm right here, brother," Finn replied with a dazed look on his face as his walked back into the room, arm-in-arm with none other than Esther.

"Hello, my children," she said with a smile that could only mean trouble.

Klaus instinctively tightened his grip on Bella, pulling her in even closer.

A/N – So what do y'all think? Sorry if this chapter was a little boring. We needed to set a little bit of foundation for this story.

I'd really love to hear your reviews. They're like crack to a wannabee writer. If you guys are generous with the reviews, I'll try and get another chapter out tomorrow.