Chapter Twenty Two

I was nodding in and out of sleep on Klauses shoulder as we flew to Paris, yesterdays conversation, of sorts, still on my mind.

"Ask me?" I frowned, genuinely curious.

Klaus nodded, then sighed. "You know what my other endgame is."

What was he getting at?

I nodded now, much slower than him mind. "Yes... if you mean the kid angle."

He tapped my nose. "That is exactly what I mean."

A pissed off feeling went through me now at that. "Go around and knock up some women then if it makes you happy..."

"You're mad at me?" he asked, curious. I nodded and scoffed. "Hello? I love you Niklaus... and you just blatantly said you would go around and screw some other girls-"

"Not in that way! Relax. It's merely for their sevices... nine months to be exact."

I folded my arms and huffed angrily, turning away and going to walk back downstairs.

"But I was going to ask you."

Now I stopped dead at that, raising an eyebrow. "Me? Don't know if you've noticed... but I'm dead. And staying dead."

Klaus walked up and took my hands in his, staring into my eyes in a way that I knew he wasn't trying to compel me. "I had Greta and Maddox make me something before the whole... shebang."

He walked over to the side cupboard and opened it, pulling something out.

"This-" he held up a little vial of completely pure white mixture. "Could make that happen. For a year anyway."

I walked forwards, frowning. "What is that-?"

Klaus grinned. "It's my own kind of cure. For vampirism."

"You found a way to-?" I was shocked at that- a way to become human again-?

"There's enough for a year here." Klaus said, grin widening as he shook it a little. I frowned.

"But I don't want to be human!"

But then I understood.

"You want to use me-?"

The Original nodded, stepping forwards and said. "Yes. If you drink this-"

"I become human, and you... knock me up?"

"That's pretty much it."

I was overwhelmed by his idea, for it did make sense; a child from me and him would be much, much better than another with some girl he had to lock up for nine months so she didn't escape or what-not.

"I- I don't know what to say..." was all I could manage out, feeling totally and utterly blown away. Kids? With him no less...

"I need some time to think." I mumbled now, walking past him.

I sighed a little now, thinking-

Could I really do this-? Become human and get knocked up by a hybrid? The child itself would be... well, like its father. I loved Klaus, oh I really, really did...

But jeez... he did know how to shock me sometimes.

I nodded off somewhere along my train of thought, but now a soft voice in my ear.

"We're here."

My eyes opened and I raised my head, looking out the window at the sight of Paris before my eyes. It had been so very long...

"Welcome home." Klaus said quietly, kissing my cheek. I smiled a little, then nodded. "Home... I suppose I am."

When we got off at the airport, I was still nodding off, making Klaus chuckle. "You tire so easy sometimes, Sweetie."

"Not all of us are over a thousand year old freaks."

"Ouch! That hurt!"

I chuckled, then said. "Monsieur?" offering my arm, which he took with a grin. "Mademoiselle." I giggled at that; his French accent had been rather good.

-FORSAKEN-

"Paris." I sighed as we rolled through the city in a car, a guy compelled to take us to Cannes. It was a few hours away, but that didn't trouble me.

It was when Klaus brought up the previous nights conversation that did.

"What is your decision?" he asked quietly into my hair, making me freeze a little, then say hesitantly. "Niklaus... I have no desire to have children. No motherly instincts... and I don't want to be human. Not even if it is just nine months. I just don't know if I can..."

He nodded. "I understand... it is a shame. I think you would have made an excellent mother if you tried. You care so very much."

"Speaking of caring, where's Stefan? I thought you weren't going to let him out your sight?"

"Oh yeah, I compelled him to stay in that mansion until we were back. No worries. Had a witch human and vamp proof the place. No one's getting in or out."

"Clever guy sometimes." I chuckled, letting him kiss my neck.

"I am, aren't I?" he grinned, moving to my lips and kissed me for a moment. "This week is going to be relaxing, I mean it." he told me quietly, making me smile and nod.

"Let us hope anyway."

When we reached Cannes, it was barely recognizable from four hundred odd years ago. So very modern... but that beach was still the same. Bright gold, the water azure.

"I have something to show you." Klaus now said in a sing-song voice, covering my eyes with his hands and made me walk for a few moments, then removed them and said.

"Welcome to La Roche Chateau."

The memories came flooding back as I stared up at the strikingly familiar place. Its walls may have been repainted a tad, restoration work over the years... but it was still the same old place.

Well, was once my elaborate prison.

"And it's ours for the week." he grinned, putting his arms around my waist, kissing my cheek. "What do you think?"

I shook my head, a whole manner of emotions going through me. "I'm... overwhelmed. It's really still here."

"Of course it is. This place is a fighter. Just like you." Klaus told me, walking forwards and knocked on the door. It was opened by a young lady with hair like my own.

"Oh! You must be Klaus and Claudia?" she smiled, making me nod. "Yes." The woman grinned. "I'm Adele La Roche, me and my husband will be leaving in a moment. Come in, both of you."

As we stepped inside, I frowned. "Are they really my-?"

Klaus nodded, taking my coat off for me and hanging it up. "Yes. You appear to have a sister born out of wedlock a few years before you were born. Her name was Yasmin?"

I was shocked at that. "What-?"

Klaus frowned, then sighed. "They never told you then?"

"No... no they didn't..."

The Original sighed now, then grinned. "Come on, this place has a pool now, a jacuzzi... and you legally still own it really."

I laughed. "Right... let's tell them we're vampires. Or, whatever you are in your case."

He tutted. "Beware, my wolf side is going to get territorial in a moment."

"Well save it for later in the bedroom. I need a break..." I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment, listening to the sound of the sea. "I'm tired. That flight was long..."

He grinned. "The bedroom already?"

"For some sleep, Niklaus! Don't be so dirty minded for once." I retorted, walking up the familiar steps to the rooms, remembering which had been mine.

I pushed my old bedroom door open and stared inside-

It was a tad more modern, of course. But the walls were now a soft pastle pink, the bed a massive four poster with more pink hangings and brown covers and pillows.

I walked over to the window, looking out- nothing had changed. Well, the tree heights had, but that view of the ocean was still so very beautiful. Arms crept around my waist now, then a soft voice in my ear. "I like your bedroom."

A laugh escaped me, then I said. "That crystal chandelier... it hasn't changed."

"Oh but its owner certainly has." he said, kissing my neck for a moment.

So, a week long break-?

"What could possibly go wrong" was an understatement...

So, a few more elements kicking in now;D cheers for the reviews, more loved:D next up later on no doubt:) x Nicc