Chapter 16: Fumbling Toward Ecstasy

Cami spent the next few days bickering with Klaus and finding herself on the opposite side of more than one slammed door, which stung, though not as much as him pretending that she no longer existed, which is how he'd been treating her. She didn't get it. She really didn't. Nothing had happened between them, nothing to warrant this kind of treatment, anyway. It would be one thing if he just didn't have feelings for her anymore, but she knew him too well at this point to believe that that was the case. On the rare occasions that she caught him looking her way, the times when he didn't think she'd noticed, he looked at her with soft eyes…fondness and longing. As soon as she attempted to approach him, though, to talk to him, he practically bolted from the room, which irritated her and provoked her into instigating arguments with him. At least when he was angry, he would forget to ignore her. He would look at her, and for a few moments they would connect…until he realized what was happening and shut himself away somewhere, in his bedroom or a locked study. She hadn't yet had the guts to force herself into any of those private sanctuaries with him. She had a feeling that she knew what the outcome of that decision would be, and as much as she wanted to just give in to the impulse and do it, Klaus's recent behavior had her questioning the wisdom of that choice, now more than ever.

Their last argument had been a bad one. They'd been loud, and everyone, save the children, had been privy to it. She'd wanted to take Hope and Nik out ice skating before the weather got too warm. He'd forbidden it. She'd balked. He'd dug in his heels. The truth of the matter was, she'd known he wouldn't want her going out alone with the kids. He worried about them and felt that the three of them alone on the streets of New Orleans without a supernatural chaperone was inviting trouble. He was probably right, and she wouldn't normally have pressed the issue, but he'd been especially cold to her that day and it had finally pushed her to the point of provoking him into another argument. She knew good and well that no one was available to go with them, so she insisted on going alone. They must have argued for a good ten minutes, sending everyone, except Elijah, running for the hills, and then, once Klaus was good and riled, she'd saucily suggested that she could always ask Marcel to accompany her, as she was sure he wouldn't mind, seeing as how they were old friends. Klaus had gone completely silent, and it was at this point that even Elijah had decided to expatriate to some new and undisclosed location.

Cami had regretted the words the second they'd left her mouth. Klaus had just made her so angry. No one got under her skin the way he did. It was maddening.

His eyes had flashed, and for a brief moment she'd thought she saw a glimmer of real hurt in his eyes, but then it was gone, replaced by a cold smile that didn't go anywhere near his eyes. Her stomach had dropped in response to his pain…she hadn't wanted to hurt him, not really…she'd just wanted him to look at her again.

"You may go wherever you like with Marcellus, Camille," he whispered, acidly. "But you will not be doing so with my children."

He'd left the room, abruptly, leaving her alone, feeling like a complete jerk.

They'd made up later…sort of, as best they could, she supposed, without actually talking. She'd dropped the idea of going ice skating, and instead suggested that he spend some time with the kids. She'd set them up in the living room with games and movies and then retreated to the kitchen. Once they were well distracted, she'd sneaked back into the room with her camera and snapped some candids. Over the next couple of hours, she'd managed to get several good shots of the three of them playing Twister, building a fort out of couch cushions, and snuggling together on the sofa whilst watching Finding Nemo. Later, she'd printed the shots and placed them in his study, leaving them on his desk in an envelope marked with her loopy cursive scrawl, it read—

To Daddy, Love Hope and Dominik

The next morning, she'd found a photo on her bureau. There was no note, but in the picture, she was lying on her back with Nik on her chest, his arms and legs on either side of her and his cheek resting on her heart. Hope's head rested on her thigh. All three of them were sound asleep.

She recognized the background as the hotel room they'd spent the night in on their drive to New Orleans weeks ago. He must have snapped the picture without her realizing it.

Smiling to herself, she'd tucked the photo into the corner of her mirror.

Things weren't okay between them, but they weren't beyond repair either.

"CAMILLE!"

Cami jumped, causing her foot to slip mid-step as she exited the shower. Struggling to keep her balance, she moved carefully, yet hastily, to grab a towel. She'd know that shout anywhere, and given her annoyance over being mostly ignored for the past few days, she would disregard the sound entirely if it weren't for the slight tinge of panic she'd noted in his voice, a tone that had her heart beating fast and her feet moving forward on auto-pilot. She'd gone for a run, and everything had been fine when she'd retuned. What could have possibly fallen apart in the past fifteen minutes?

"Klaus?" she called, worriedly, as she wrapped a bath sheet around her body and tucked it firmly at her breast. "I'm in here!"

"Camille!" Closer now, she could hear the unmistakable sound of her son's cries mingling with his father's panicked calls.

Shoving the bathroom door open, she moved quickly toward the sound of Klaus's voice. Just as she crossed the threshold into her bedroom, he burst through the door, clutching Nik in his arms and looking frantic.

"What happened?" she asked, moving forward, quickly.

"I was teaching him how to catch a baseball..." he said, at the same time, his voice full of contrition, as though he'd done something to be ashamed of.

At the sound of her voice, Nik's cries became louder, and he turned in Klaus's arms, reaching chubby hands toward the sound of his mother's voice. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut, his face flushed bright red, and his cheeks streaked with tears. She could see right away where the damage was. He had a nickel-sized knot protruding from the center of his forehead.

"Baby…" she cooed, taking him into her arms. He wrapped his arms around her neck and his legs around her waist, clinging tightly to her, like a baby monkey. "Shh," she whispered, as he buried his face in her neck, and sobbed. She sat on the edge of her bed and rubbed her hand soothingly up and down his back. "You're okay, buddy. Mommy's got you, you're okay."

Klaus stood by, helplessly, and watched as her words began to have an immediate calming effect on their son. His body began to relax against hers and his sobs slowed to shuddering little hiccups.

Cami looked up and noted the worried expression on Klaus's face. A devious little part of her wanted to let him suffer for a few more minutes, the part of her that was still smarting after a week of being almost completely ignored by the man. The other part of her, however…the decent, loving majority, couldn't let him suffer needlessly. He was obviously upset, and the open expression of love and concern on his face as he gazed at their son softened her heart. "He's okay, Klaus. It's just a bump on the head."

"Are you certain?" he asked, seeming unconvinced. "I could…" he started, lifting his wrist toward his lips and baring his teeth.

"No!" she cut in, firmly. Then more gently, "He's going to fine." She looked straight into his eyes, willing him to believe her. It was the first time they'd shared eye contact in days, sans argument. She'd missed the way he could easily read her intent from just the expression on her face. Even now his shoulders sagged a little in relief in response to her calm gaze.

Feeling that he was suitably convinced of their son's survival, she turned her attention back to Dominik, dipping her head and pressing her lips against his damp cheek. "You're okay," she assured him again.

"He caught the first few pitches perfectly, so I backed up a little and…" Klaus trailed off. He didn't know what he'd been thinking. The boy clearly wasn't old enough to play baseball yet. He had wanted to though-he'd brought Klaus the ball and asked him to play.

It was the first thing his son had ever really asked of him.

And look how it'd turned out.

He'd had only two goals this week- Be a good father, and stay away from Camille.

Well, you're off to a brilliant start on the father bit, he thought. And as for staying away from Camille…his eyes followed the line of her bare arm, from where her hand rested against their son's back, all the way up to the curve of her shoulder, and then down to where the roundness of her breast disappeared beneath her bath towel.

Be a good dad. Stay away from Camille.

So far, his new plan was failing spectacularly.

"It's not your fault, Klaus. He's a little boy," she said, shrugging. "They get hurt. I'm sure you were no exception," she smiled, imagining him at Nik's age, splashing in mud puddles and poking at bee hives. Mischievous even then, she was sure.

Seeming to read her thoughts, he smiled, his lips tilting up of their own accord, then, catching himself, he muttered, "I should get some ice for his head."

He was gone before she could utter a reply.

Sighing, Cami pulled Nik away from her shoulder so she could look at his forehead once again. The bump was red and would no doubt be multiple shades of blue, purple and green by tomorrow, but there was no real harm done. "Are you okay?" she asked him, quietly.

Nik sniffled and nodded, rubbing bravely at his wet lashes, even as his lower lip turned down and his chin quivered.

"Oh, my sweet boy," she said, hugging him close one more time before turning him around and lying down on her side. Tugging him close, she spooned herself around his little body, cocooning him in her warmth. Reaching forward, she began to run her fingers, gently, through his soft blond hair. "You know your Daddy didn't mean to hit you with the ball, right?"

She felt him nod his head beneath her hand.

"Maybe we should use the nerf ball from now on. Until you learn to catch better…that way it won't hurt if you miss, okay?"

"Kay," he whispered, his voice still punctuated by breathy little shudders.

Klaus returned, at that moment, with the ice. "Here," he said, crouching down in front of them and placing the bag, gently, on Nik's bump. "Are you alright, son?" he asked, tentatively.

His eyes were on Nik, and Cami allowed herself to watch his face as he interacted with their son.

"I miss it," Nik said, and Cami couldn't help but chuckle at the obvious pout she could hear in his voice.

Klaus's eyes flicked up to meet hers, and he smiled, his expression one of relieved amusement. "You'll catch it next time, alright?"

"I catch the soft one," Nik agreed.

"The nerf ball," Cami clarified. "We've agreed to give the actual baseball a rest for the time being."

Klaus nodded. Right. He should have thought of that to begin with.

"Hey," Cami said softly, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "He's fine."

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by Hope's voice from the doorway.

"Mama! Look what Hayley buyed me!" Hope called happily, as she rushed into the room, full of smiles.

Cami turned her head toward Hope. "Oh, what is it? Let me see!" she enthused.

Hope held up ten perfectly painted, pearly-pink fingernails, proudly.

"Wooow," Cami replied in faux-amazement. "Those are gorgeous, Hope. Did you tell her thank you?"

"Yep," replied the little girl, happily.

"She wanted "big girl" nails, like mine," Hayley explained, as she followed Hope into the room. "I hope that's okay…she said you'd painted her nails before, and I didn't see the harm in it."

Cami smiled at the effort the other woman was putting into not stepping on her toes. Honestly, it was making it easier to relinquish some control. Just being consulted went a long way toward making her want to try to facilitate this transition into Hayley being an equal parent in Hope's eyes. Right now the scales were still tipped decidedly in Cami's favor, which was a nice feeling, but Cami knew it wasn't the end goal. The best thing for Hope was that Cami, Klaus and Hayley all be equally important in Hope's life. It would take time, and no doubt some missteps and hurt feelings on all sides, but they were all doing their best, and that was all she could really hope for at this point.

"Look, Mama, we match!" Hope said, holding her hand up next to Cami's, comparing similar shades of pink nail polish.

They all looked, and Klaus and Cami seemed to realize, simultaneously, that their hands were still linked. He, abruptly, pulled his away and stood, stepping back from the side of the bed.

Cami felt disappointment settle in her belly, but she smiled, despite it. "I love it, Hope. And you're right, we do match. You picked the perfect shade."

"Hayley, too!" Hope pointed.

"She couldn't wait to show you," Hayley added, holding up her hands, revealing matching pink nails. She shifted, awkwardly, glancing back and forth between Klaus and Cami, seeming to realize that she was intruding on something, though not sure quite what.

"What's wrong with Nik?" Hope asked, seeming to notice her brother's tear-stained cheeks for the first time.

"He got a little bump on his head. He's okay now though. Right, buddy?" she asked, rubbing Nik's shoulder, comfortingly.

He nodded. "I okay," he said, smiling at Hope.

"Wanna go play in our castle?" Hope asked him.

His eyes lit up, and he rose into a sitting position, causing his ice pack to tumble to the floor.

"Wait, just a second," Cami said, placing a gentle hand on his arm to still him. "I want you to have some lunch first. I want to give you some Tylenol, so your head doesn't hurt later, but you need to eat before I can give it to you."

He looked disappointed, but Nik was never one to turn away the offer of food.

"Hayley, did Hope eat yet?" Cami asked, sitting up on the bed.

"No, I was going to make her something now. Why don't I take Nik, too, that way you can get dressed?" she suggested.

"Really?" Cami asked. "That'd be great. Thank you." She kissed Nik's cheeks, one at a time, and then said, "Okay, buddy, can you go with Hope and Hayley and get something to eat? When you're finished, you need to have some medicine, and then you can go outside."

Hopping off the bed, Nik ran straight to Hayley and raised his arms to be picked up.

"Okay, I guess we'll see you downstairs," Hayley laughed, as she swung him up onto one slender hip. "Take your time," she said, winking innocently, as she headed toward the door. "I can handle lunch."

Klaus paused mid-task as the door clicked shut behind Hayley and the children. He'd been reaching for the discarded ice pack when Hayley's remark had halted him in his tracks. He remained frozen, crouched, once again, beside Camille's bed, mere inches from where she sat in nothing but a damp bath towel.

In her bedroom.

Behind a closed door.

He'd been diligently avoiding this exact situation for a week. He needed to get out of here. Now.

He took a deep breath to steel himself, but found that to be counterproductive, as all it did was fill his lungs with the sweet scent of her body, which was all too close and all too bare before him. He thought that the smell of Camille's skin would probably be intoxicating to him if he were just a man, mouth-wateringly irresistible if he were merely a vampire, wholly consuming if he bore the werewolf curse alone…but the combination of the three—the memories, emotions and experiences of a man, combined with the physicality of a hybrid—that unholy combination served to make her scent the single most overwhelmingly appealing aroma that his olfactory receptors had ever experienced. He thought that he might actually be able to feel his neurons firing in response to some secret pheromone that was unique to Camille alone.

He bit back a frustrated groan, but some strangled sound must have slipped free because Camille raised wide, startled eyes to his. He feared that he was about to go back on a week's worth of progress, and he was nearly powerless to stop himself when she looked at him like that.

Her eyes were large, luminous, and unblinking, and he couldn't bring himself to look away, even though he knew that he should. He shouldn't be thinking what he was thinking right now, shouldn't be feeling what he was feeling, but it was building inside of him, snowballing into something bigger than him, bigger than them.

He missed her.

He fucking missed her.

He, whose soul had never longed for the company of a singular other's in a thousand years…

Something in her mirrored him, though, reflecting back something he both wanted and needed to see, something similar and opposite, familiar and foreign, all at the same time.

Cami swallowed, unable to look away from him. The air had become suddenly thick. She felt as though every molecule of breathable oxygen in the room had just bonded to hydrogen and transformed into water, leaving her feeling weightless and struggling to breathe. He'd just ignored her for a week, and now, as a result of nothing more significant than ten seconds alone in each other's presence, here they were again, locked in some sort of gravitational pull that had them orbiting the same central point, unable to move away from one another, yet not quite able to come together either. It was equally frustrating, frightening…and arousing.

"Klaus," Cami breathed, unsure. She wanted this, but…

"Shh…" he whispered, his breathing unsteady, his muscles tense and singing with potential energy. His entire body had just tightened in response to the sound of her voice whispering his name. He wondered, fleetingly, what would happen if she screamed it…