CHAPTER FOUR

When Nick came back from Monroe and Rosalee's house where he had dropped off the kids, Adalind was still in the shower. He took this opportunity to retrieve the engagement ring. He walked over to the dresser and took out the blue velvet box from the top drawer. He could feel the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. This was it; in just a little while, he was going to propose to the woman he loved. He felt so nervous but didn't know why. He was sure Adalind would say yes, there was no doubt about that. And yet, he couldn't help but pace back and forth in their bedroom.

He just wanted everything to be perfect. Adalind, the one person he desired most in the entire world, would soon know just how much he loved her. He had never felt this way before, about anyone. There weren't enough words to describe the passion he felt for her. But he would have to find the words... he needed her to know exactly how much she meant to him.

Nick slipped the velvet box in the pocket of his pants right as Adalind walked out of the bathroom, wearing a slim-fitted black dress. Her wavy blond hair cascaded down her shoulders. She was simply stunning. Nick couldn't take his eyes off her. She noticed he was staring at her.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No... you're gorgeous."

"Well thank you, you're handsome too" she said before she kissed him.

Nick could feel the heat rising already... he didn't know if he'd be able to keep himself from taking her dress off. 'No' he told himself, he had made plans, all for his special lady. He had to pull himself together and resist the temptation of making love to her right then and there.

"Adalind" he said, still kissing her.

"You know, we don't need to go out, we can stay right here" she breathed between her lips.

"You're driving me crazy" Nick said.

Adalind let out a little laugh and started to unbutton Nick's shirt.

"No..." Nick said. "I made plans for us, we really should go".

"Are you sure?" Adalind whispered, now kissing his neck.

Her lips felt like fire, the smell of her hair was intoxicating. Nick didn't want to pull away from her... but he had to.

"Yes, but I promise we'll come back here and pick up right where we left off" he said, taking her hands into his so she couldn't take his clothes off.

"All right, if you insist" she said with the disappointment clearly showing in her voice.

Nick smiled at her, his nerves calming down. She looked up at him, smiling back.

"So where are you taking me, Mr. Grimm?"

"You'll have to follow me to find out" he responded. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Let's go then."

Nick led Adalind to the door, but before he slid it open, he stopped to look at her. His heart started beating faster. He couldn't do it. He had planned it all down to the finest details, but he couldn't go through with it. He had to tell Adalind. Now.

"Is everything ok?" she asked.

"Yeah, I just..." he said, his voice fading down to a whisper. "Adalind, I..."

He was about to tell her he loved her when his cellphone started ringing.

"Is that Hank?" Adalind casually asked, not a clue that Nick had come so close to telling her he was in love with her.

"No, actually... it's Renard" Nick said in frustration. His captain had really picked the wrong moment to call him. "Hey Captain, what's up?" he answered.

Adalind couldn't hear what Sean was saying, but she immediately could tell something was wrong when Nick's expression went blank.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

"Ok... yeah. Thanks for letting me know."

Nick hung up and looked at Adalind. He was quiet for a moment, not knowing how to give her the news.

"Nick, what is it? What happened?"

"Eve is gone."

"What do you mean? Where did she go?"

"No... she's... dead."

As Nick said the words, their meaning started to sink in... Eve was dead. Gone. Forever. No coming back from the grave this time. They had both made peace in the last few days, Eve recognizing that Nick had moved on. With Adalind. Of course Nick still cared about Eve, he had fond memories of the years he had spent with her when she was Juliette. But that was the past. Adalind was his present. And more importantly, she was his future. And Eve knew that. As they had both pointed out, none of them were who they used to be, they had become very different people.

"What?! How?!" Adalind said, starting to shake.

The tears immediately started rolling down her face. Nick took her in his arms to comfort her.

"She had an accident. Her car drove off a cliff. Circumstances are still unclear but... Renard says it may have been a suicide."

"Oh my God... it can't be... Nick, it can't be!"

Adalind was crying uncontrollably now. Nick was upset too, but Adalind was taking the news extremely hard. After everything she and Juliette/Eve had gone through, the fact that Adalind was so distraught over this loss amazed him; and it made him love her even more.

"This is all my fault Nick! She did this because I took you away from her, because I wanted revenge... Juliette is dead because of me!"

"Adalind, this has nothing to do with you... Eve had issues with who she was..."

"Because I made her a Hexenbiest!" cried Adalind, pulling away from Nick. "I'm the reason she became one, I'm the reason... I'm the reason she lost you and the life that she loved..."

"Listen to me, you are not responsible for what happened. I won't let you blame yourself for any of it."

Nick put both his hands on Adalind's shoulders and forced her to look at him.

"Adalind, tell me you believe me."

"I can't... I can't! God, you must hate me..."

"No, I don't. I could never... I can't even say the words. Yes, Eve's condition was a direct consequence of the spell we had to perform so I could gain my Grimm powers back. But..."

"The powers that I took away from you, Nick!" Adalind interrupted.

"But what she chose to do with her Hexenbiest powers was in no way your fault" Nick continued. "You didn't make her burn down my aunt's trailer. You didn't make her betray my mom. You didn't make her try to kill me... and you. She loved her new powers more than she loved me, and she made that clear when she joined forces with the Royals to kill my mother so they could take Diana away from you."

"Still Nick, that all happened because I made myself look like Juliette so I could seduce you and make love to you, and take away what you loved most."

"And what is it you think that I love most?" Nick asked, taking her in his arms again.

"I... Juliette... she was the love of your life..." Adalind said, looking at Nick, the pain clearly reflected in her eyes.

Nick couldn't take it anymore; he hated seeing her in such agony. She had it all wrong. He loved her, only her. This had to end. Now.

He looked deep into her eyes, tears beginning to form in his own.

"No she wasn't" he whispered. "You are."