Chapter Eighteen: If I Fell

"If I fell in love with you,

Would you promise to be true?

And help me understand…

If I give my heart to you

I must be sure from the very start

That you would love me more than her…"

Ooo0ooO

I woke up early, before the sun started rising. Klaus was stretched out next to me on his stomach, one arm wrapped around me.

Quietly, I slid out of bed. I walked towards the closet and changed. When I left the bedroom, Klaus was still sleeping in my bed. Smiling, I shut the door before leaving the house.

I wandered through the forest, out towards the quarry. I kept going, where I walked into a small meadow. The grass was soft green and yellow, swaying up along my knees. I ran my hand through the blades as I walked to the center.

Looking up, I saw the soft blue morning sky, cloudless and cold. The sun filtered through the trees, golden and warm. Sighing, I closed my eyes.

I sensed nature waking up around me. The birds were flying from their nests, chirping and singing to greet the morning. Deer were walking towards the quarry for a drink of water. I heard the wind through the grass, whispering a quiet song.

The sun warmed my skin and I felt like a flower, absorbing its rays, blooming and awakening. I felt peace wash through me like a soothing river. I breathed in, smelling the grass, the flowers. Mountain lilac, daises, the scent of the pine trees…

My hand, which was tangled in the tall grass, felt another take it and squeeze softly.

Opening my eyes, I saw Klaus watching me. His face was quiet but his eyes were dark, thrashing with some sort of intense emotion.

We didn't say anything to each other. I simply stepped into his arms, letting him embrace me softly at first, then tightly. I rested my cheek against his chest and let my eyes drift shut again.

All I could sense now was Klaus.

Only Klaus.

Ooo0ooO

I was chasing Annabelle through the forest.

I heard her sweet laughter, teasing me to catch her. When I did, I swung her in my arms. Her lips rested against mine and I felt them curve into a smile.

"Niklaus," she whispered softly. Her eyes were bright, like silver, glowing in the light. She was so beautiful.

"Annabelle," I murmured thickly, overtaken by my emotions. It was so much, filling me up, thrashing inside my being.

I saw her lips move, but I couldn't hear what she said. I leaned in closer and she pressed her lips to my ear and whispered softly again.

"I love you, Niklaus."

I jolted awake, my eyes snapping open. The dream faded away quickly, leaving me reeling.

Rolling onto my back, I saw Annabelle wasn't in bed with me anymore. I got up and searched for her, but she wasn't in the house.

"She could have left a bloody note," I scolded quietly.

Exiting the mansion, I went to search for her.

Habit told me the river, instinct however told me somewhere else. Following it, I walked into the forest.

After about ten minutes, I caught her scent, light and floral. It lead out past the quarry, towards a small lining of trees in the distance.

Once I hit the trees, I spotted her among the tall grass. If my heart had still been beating, it would have stopped at the sight of her.

She stood in the middle of the clearing, her head tilted back towards the sky. Her eyes were closed, her lips curved as if she was enjoying some private thought.

The sun hit her face perfectly, showing off the ivory and pink skin, the fall of her curling hair. She looked delicate, yet strong.

My angel, I thought. She need only a pair of wings.

Walking towards her quietly, I saw her hand lost along the grass, her slim fingers wrapped around the blades.

Placing my hand over hers, I saw her gray eyes open, warm. They focused on me and smiled.

I felt no urge to say anything, and she seemed to understand. She took one step and slid her body against mine, holding me in her sweet embrace.

She smelled like the wild flowers surrounding us in the grass, and I felt my dead heart roll in my chest.

Confused about the onslaught of emotions, I rested my cheek against Annabelle's soft hair and let her presence relax me.

"I love you, Niklaus", whispered through my mind. I felt this blinding hope envelope me at those unspoken words, this unexplainable joy and happiness. I almost felt human again, all while simply holding the one woman in my arms that forever changed my life.

My Annabelle.

Ooo0ooO

After a long moment of silence, I knew something was brewing in his mind.

"I can hear you thinking," I said quietly, looking up at him with my chin against his chest. He looked down at me, his blue eyes meeting mine, as he smiled.

"Is it bothering you?"

"It's awfully loud," I teased. "What's going on in there?"

Klaus sighed and rested his forehead against mine. "A lot of things," he said.

Sliding my hands up, I cupped his face and stroked his cheeks. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, concerned.

His blue eyes flickered. "Yes and no," he admitted quietly. Sensing his distress, I ran my hands through his hair, trying to soothe him somehow.

"What is it?" I inquired. Klaus pressed his lips to my forehead firmly, holding them there for a moment.

"Annabelle, it would be so much easier if you could just read my thoughts," Klaus sighed. I cracked a small smile.

"I don't think mind reading is real," I mused. Klaus chuckled quietly.

"Klaus," I started, looking into his eyes. "Please tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing is the matter, sweetheart. I just…" He trailed off, stepping away from me. I frowned. Klaus ran a hand through his hair, obviously figuring out a way to explain himself to me.

"Klaus, please," I beseeched. Unable to do anything else, I took his hand and squeezed. Klaus looked at me, his gaze almost helpless, confused and even a little…scared.

Why was he scared?

"Annabelle, I know we have only known each other for a few weeks… but when I am around you, I feel… Well," he laughed softly. "I just feel." His hand squeezed mine again. His eyes met mine, so serious.

"You make me feel almost human," he said. "And I wish… I need to know…" His eyes swarmed with distress and I understood.

The mighty Niklaus, the feared and well known Hybrid, the Original Vampire and strongest creature on Earth, was undone by me.

It was a shocking realization.

I stepped up to him, and watched with some fascination as the emotions flickered through his eyes rapidly. I couldn't help but smile gently.

"Niklaus," I said, "You are everything."

"Annabelle," Klaus breathed.

"You are the dream come to life. You are my knight, in your own way, with all your darkness and your sinister past." I rested my hand against his cheek. "You are the one I will always choose. I will always find you, because there's only you."

Before I could blink, Klaus yanked me against him. His lips captured mine in a passionate kiss. Unspoken feelings were spoken in the kiss.

"My Anna," Klaus murmured when he pulled away. "Mio angelo. My angel."

My heart throbbed at his hushed words. I longed to tell him more, the real truth that wanted to break free from my heart.

But I swallowed it back and wrapped my arms around him.

Ooo0ooO

Annabelle put her arms back around me and I held her against me tightly. I swore my heart was pounding, and relief and joy sang through my veins.

Even though everything I told her was the truth, it felt like I was lying to her by holding back what I really wanted to tell her. I didn't know how to go about it.

After a thousand years, I found the one person who held my heart in her hands. She said I was her everything and in truth, she was mine.

And I wanted to tell her that, but couldn't.

Holding her, I promised myself that one day… One day I would tell her. For now, I would be the only keeper to my deepest secret.

Ooo0ooO

Klaus left me alone after giving me a goodbye kiss. I didn't mind too much, I knew he had a lot to think about and so did I.

I wandered along the meadow, picking flowers and twirling them in my fingers.

I wished Charlie was here. Despite being a complete goofball, he knew how to comfort me when I needed it. He had been the only solid thing in my life after we had lost our parents and everything in me longed for my brother.

Despite being mated, in the end I was a wolf and Charlie was a part of my pack. I needed him to lean on, to rely on. Without him, a little part of me was lost.

"Out for a stroll, doll face?"

Whirling, I saw Mark standing in the middle of the clearing with a smirk on his lips. His black eyes focused on me, leering. I cringed slightly but gathered my courage and stood tall.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded. My head was screaming for Klaus, but I knew if I screamed, something told me Mark wouldn't be too happy.

"You know, I was surprised when you didn't recognize me when you first saw me. Then again, you might just be a pretty face with no brains," Mark commented, sneering. I gritted my teeth.

"Who are you?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"Your dumbass of a brother asked the same thing."

Before I could react, something smashed against the back of my head and everything went dark.

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: Ah, cliffhangers. Always fun. Don't worry though; the next chapter is on its way!

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