Chapter Seventeen: When You Can't Sleep At Night

"Here in this world I'm awaked with mistakes

But it's love that keeps fuelling me, fuelling me

Pretty little lady with swollen eyes,

Would you show them to me?

I know I'm not that perfect, but just stay awhile…"

Ooo0ooO

When Annabelle returned from her day with April, I had a surprise waiting for her. I lead her into the kitchen and presented it. I watched as pleasure and surprise flitted over her lovely face.

"A picnic?" she asked, smiling up at me. Her gray eyes were sparkling.

"Yes. What says 'romance' better than a sunset picnic?" Annabelle leaned up to press her lips to mine.

"Nothing," she stated softly. "Let me go change." I nodded and she disappeared.

When she walked back into the kitchen a few minutes later, she was dressed in a soft gray sweater, black jeans and boots. My necklace lay against her heart on the outside of her shirt proudly. I was pleased when I saw she had left her hair down and had decided against any makeup.

My Anna didn't need silly cosmetics to look any more beautiful than she already was.

Annabelle gave me a shy smile when she saw me staring.

We gathered the supplies; the basket and blanket, a few candles which Annabelle insisted on, and a small portable stereo.

Annabelle and I walked together into the forest side by side.

"Shall we go to the river, sweetheart?" I asked, glancing over at her. She shook her head and smiled.

"No. Let's go to the Falls." I let her lead the way.

When we arrived to the Falls, I found a nice grassy spot and started spreading out the checkered blanket. Anna set up the stereo and found a radio station playing slow, bluesy music.

"Sit down, Annabelle," I said, motioning. She curled onto the blanket, tucking her legs up against her body while leaning on her hand.

"Join me," she requested, patting the spot besides her. I gave her an amused smile and sat down. She leaned over and kissed me again. I sighed against her lips, which tasted faintly of raspberry.

"Thank you for this," she murmured. Her eyes were a calm, deep gray, full of happiness and contentment.

"Anything for you, love," I said quietly. Her lips curved and she burrowed her face into the crook of my neck, nuzzling. I almost chuckled.

Wolf instinct, I mused. I pressed a kiss to her forehead and nudged her gently so I could lean forward and grab the basket. I drew out a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses.

I poured us some wine and handed a glass to Annabelle. She sipped and hummed in approval.

"Yummy," she praised. I chuckled.

"Indeed," I agreed, taking a sip. Anna glanced at the basket curiously.

"What else is in there?" she asked, raising a brow at me. I flicked a finger down her nose. She crinkled it and giggled.

"Dinner, of course," I said. Annabelle gave me a bland look.

"You do realize I just ate less than two hours ago, right?"

"Your point being…?" I lifted a brow.

"I might not be hungry," Anna said, pouting. I rolled my eyes.

"Liar," I said simply and caught the sheepish smile cross her face.

I pulled out a plate of cold rosemary chicken, a small bowl of potato salad and a plate of biscuits. I heard Annabelle blow out a breath.

"Wow," she muttered. I looked over at her and saw she was gazing at me softly.

"What is it?" I asked, curious. Absently, Annabelle reached up and toyed with my necklace with her slim fingers. I noticed her nails were colored a pale pink color, which matched the shade of her perfect lips.

"You."

"Me?" I repeated. Annabelle nodded.

"I just… Enjoy seeing this softer side of you. The side that cooks me breakfast or dinner, the side that watches me sleep or paints beautiful portraits of snowflakes… This is the side of you I…" she paused, her eyes flickering. "Adore."

"Annabelle," I sighed, reaching over to stroke her cheek with my thumb. Her eyes held mine as she dropped her face into the palm of my hand.

"You make me want to be better. Good," I explained quietly. "I hate that you experienced the darker side of me."

"Niklaus," she scolded, raising a hand to my own. "Everyone has good and bad inside them. You're just…more apt to show the dark."

"I am a dark man."

Annabelle shook her head. "No, my sweet Nik, you're not." I looked into her eyes, that perfect stormy gray that insisted looking for the best in everyone. Even someone as damned as me.

"How could you be so certain?" I asked. Anna's hand left mine to rest against my chest, right over my dead heart.

"Because I know, deep down, there's some part of you that stills feels. There's a part of your heart, your soul, that's very much human. It feels joy, even fear, and overall," she said, her gaze piercing into me, "It feels love. Compassion."

Annabelle's hand slid away. "That's why you haven't flipped the switch. That's why you were so determined to bring your family together. That's why when I first met you, I wasn't afraid."

"But after all you've seen…" I started but Annabelle's soft laugh cut me off. She moved over so she could nuzzle my neck again.

"I'm not running, Nik. I've told you before; I'm not going to run away from you. Like before, I know your hands will be covered in blood again. I'm going to stay with you. I'm going to stay by your side, always."

"Why?" I whispered, resting my cheek against her hair. Again, she laughed.

"To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die," she sang softly. My shoulders slumped slightly and I exhaled shakily.

Annabelle's hand clasped mine and she stroked her thumb over my knuckles soothingly.

"You're stuck with me," she whispered.

I couldn't think of anyone else in the world I would rather be stuck with.

Ooo0ooO

Klaus was fairly quiet the rest of the night. I could see it in his eyes, the millions of thoughts swirling about, some deep and broody that reflected in his midnight orbs.

After we ate and watched the sun set into the fiery horizon, we walked back to the mansion. I wandered into another room, which I figured was like a second living room. In the corner of the room sat a huge ebony Grand piano. Unable to resist, I sat down on the small cushioned bench and opened the lid.

Running my fingers over the ivory keys, I smiled. Going off my memory, I began to play the first song that came to mind.

I sensed Klaus behind me and I smiled when he sat beside me. His eyes watched as my fingers danced over the keys.

"This makes me think of you," I told him. Then I began to sing.

"Hello, hello, anybody out there?

Because I don't hear a sound

Alone, alone, I don't really know where the world is

But I miss it now.

I'm out on the edge and I'm screaming my name

Like a fool at the top of my lungs.

Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I'm alright

But it's never enough

Because my echo, echo, is the only voice coming back

Shadow, shadow is the only friend that I have…"

I looked over at him while my fingers kept playing.

"Listen, listen, I would take a whisper

If that's all you had to give

But it isn't, isn't

You could come and save me

Try to chase the crazy right out of my head…"

Klaus's lips meeting mine interrupted the song and I stopped playing to kiss him back. I stroked his rough cheek and sighed against his mouth.

"Will you play more?" he asked.

"Can you play?"

"Yes." I nudged him a little and moved over to give him room on the bench.

"You play, I sing," I suggested. Klaus looked over at me with a small smile.

"Any requests?" I thought about it. Then I smiled.

"Come away with me, in the night

Come away with me, and I will write you a song…"

Klaus caught up to the melody right away.

"I want to walk with you

On a cloudy day

In fields where the yellow grass grows knee high

So won't you try to come…

Come away with me and we'll kiss

On a mountain top

Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you…"

My fingers joined his on one end of the keyboard and we played together.

"And I want to wake up with the rain

Falling on a tin roof

While I'm safe there in your arms

So all I ask is for you

To come away with me in the night…"

I looked over directly into Klaus's dark eyes.

"Come away with me…"

I sighed when the song came to an end. Klaus's lips were curved as he looked over at me.

"I didn't know you knew Norah Jones," I teased. Klaus scoffed.

"You said the same thing about Michael Buble, sweetheart. Being around for over a thousand years gives you a varying perspective on music."

"Were the 1960's as bad as they sounded?" I asked and laughed when Klaus shuddered.

"You have no idea, sweetheart," he claimed, his voice full of disgust.

"Well this generation is worse if you ask me," I declared, wrinkling my nose.

"Ah, yes, you young people and your Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. I will never understand the appeal of… of that kind of music." I started laughing, clenching my sides. I toppled off the bench and landed on my back, tears rolling down my face.

"Annabelle?" Klaus asked, sounding amused and slightly concerned at the same time.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I said, giggling. Rubbing my hand over my face, I grinned up at Klaus, who had turned to face me on the piano bench.

"I just can't take it when you say something like that with that freaking accent of yours," I explained, laughing again when he cocked a brow and scowled.

"I don't see what's so amusing about my accent. You know, to me you're the one with the accent," he muttered, getting up and walking to the fireplace. I scrambled up and stood up. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I pressed myself to his back and kissed his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Nik, I didn't mean to tease you," I said. He turned to gather me in his arms and looked at me dubiously.

"Okay, maybe a little," I admitted. Leaning up on my tippy toes, I kissed him gently. Klaus sighed.

"I forgive you."

Ooo0ooO

Once Annabelle got tired and headed off to bed, I wandered down to the drawing room. Gathering my supplies, I set myself in front of a blank canvas and got to work.

I painted Annabelle sitting at my piano, her fingers poised against the keys in mid-stroke. The sunlight filtered through the window, bringing out the lighter shades of brown from her chocolate curls, and it hit her face just right. Her skin was smooth and her lips were curving into a smile.

Focusing on her eyes last, I detailed them in, wanting to get them just right. They shone a clear, depthless gray, like the color of the winter sky. Her dark lashes fanned away from them, long and curled at the tips.

The background was muted shadows, playing up the foreground where Annabelle sat, drawing the viewer's eyes directly to her.

Once I was done, I threw a covering over it so it could dry. I washed my hands with hot water and some turpentine to wash away the oil paint that covered my hands.

I walked upstairs and headed to my room. I changed and went to Annabelle.

I found her curled on her side, her hair spilling over her pillow. Her hand rested over the other pillow as if she was waiting for me. I got into bed and she sighed in her sleep, moving closer to me instinctively.

I watched her sleep before sliding away into my own dreams.

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: Hey guys! I got some major inspiration to write this chapter earlier when I was listening to Jason Walker's song 'Echo', which was added in, along with Norah Jones's 'Come Away With Me'.

I hope you guys liked it, let me know what you thought of it!