Chapter 12
It's Alive!
Day III / Klaus POV

I feel like I haven't slept at all last night. Philomena- my god, I haven't thought about her in ages! How can she not know we have history?! But she hasn't told me anything about our history yet, either. Today, I'm getting answers.

The house is still quiet when I arrive.

"She's sitting on the back patio. The children are still asleep." The domovoi informs me. "No flowers today?" He asks as he pitter-patters after me.

"I want answers."

"Careful what you wish for."

Is that a warning? What does that little furball know? Before I can ask, he's gone.

I find her sitting in the swinger on the patio. She's wearing the black and red checkered onesie I got her for the last Christmas we spent together. I knew she'd love it so I bought it, though I have no idea why she likes them so much. Children wear them. She says they're comfortable but despite her best attempts, I've yet to wear one.

She's watching the clouds rolling across the sky. Rebecca feels the need to watch the weather channel. It's due to rain on and off all day.

"Philomena."

"Another girlfriend of yours I don't know about?"

"I think you know exactly what I'm referring to."

"Logan's talking too much, isn't she?"

"You said you were going to tell me eventually."

"Yes. Eventually. Not bringing up previous lives when there's enough to sort out in this life."

"Well it's day three. You owe me a conversation and I want answers."

"Today's not over yet."

"I'll still be here at midnight. What difference does it make if we talk now or later?"

She breathes in deeply. "If we talk now and it puts me in a mood, I'm gonna be that way all day."

"Then if we talk at night and you're upset, you won't sleep. Will you at least listen to me then?"

"Yes." She says it so softly I almost don't hear her.

"Were you- are you- Philomena?"

"I was. And if I come across Mikael before you do, excuse me if I maul him to death."

My smirk grows into a smile as I sit. "You're excused. But if I'm there, I say we each grab an arm and pull."

"Deal."

"When do you plan on telling the trio I'm their father?"

"I think I'm just going to spring it on them some time today. Maybe tomorrow."

"Can I have the names of previous lifetimes we've had together?"

"You sure you want to dig up the past when we've got a big enough rollercoaster right now?"

"Later?"

"Later."

I hold out my pinky finger for a promise and I can see her trying not to smile.

"And you call me childish."

"You wore off on me a little. Lastly," I breathe in deeply. "I wanted to say I'm sorry."

I'm sitting so close to her that when she looks at me I can see my reflection in her eyes. Her silence and vacant stare makes me anxious. She doesn't believe me. Does she? I can't tell! Maybe Elijah and everyone is wrong. Apologizing's not going to change anything so why bother! I can say it a million times and she wouldn't believe me! She hates me and there's no way around it! I just know it!

Damn it, stop crying! My vision of her gets blurry and when I blink, the tears spill out. The stoney expression breaks and she sweeps her thumbs across my cheeks. She breathes in deeply and exhales loudly as the backs of her fingers brush over my stubble.

"I know it doesn't change what happened, but I am. I really am. It was a moment's weakness and it will not happen again. I just need you to know it."

"I know it doesn't change what happened and I know that you are. I appreciate it."

"But you don't forgive me."

"Forgiveness for what? We weren't together when Hayley happened."

"Then why did it feel like I cheated?"

"Because you still like me?" She suggests. "And now you get why I feel betrayed."

"I love you, Rox." I reach out slowly and twine my fingers with her, and she doesn't object but she also does not reciprocate. "Like is an understatement and I'll make you fall in love with me all over again if that's what it takes to prove it."

"It's not gonna be easy trying to retrain my brain. You know I'm convinced men are only sorry because they got caught." Her fingers curl around mine now.

"Thank-you, father Bathory."

"Oh, I wouldn't completely blame him. There's this lifetime of shit and I'm about as old as you are. That's a lotta failed relationships."

"How old are you?"

"Ancient. Maybe even older than you."

"How did Dalilah know? That we've met before?"

"I don't know how Dalilah knew, but I've got an idea. And yes, we have met previously. Many, many times, actually, and I've had a different name every time we met. Stand up."

I don't question why because I know what's coming. Roxy, with the right person, is a hugger.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

"It happened when we weren't together. What's the point of it?" She sounds like she's just tired of holding on to it. Good. Let it go and let us be.

I shrug. "Make me feel better, I guess. I still feel guilty."

"As you should for attempting to compel me like that and then fucking off for three years. I've beheaded people for much less."

I know.

"Where are we? Does this mean we are us again?"

"No. And stop looking like I just killed your puppy and let me explain."
I sigh and let her continue.

"3 years is a long time and you did attempt to compel me to forget you and you did have a child with someone else."

"Something I didn't know possible and I'm not thrilled about Hayley being Hope's mother. You know that. And what we had, those feelings don't disappear overnight."

"Nor do the other feelings I've had since you left. Which is why I'm not interested in pursuing a relationship right now. Not with you or anyone else. And whether or not it was when we were together, you fuck off for three years, return with baby and it's mama, that's not something you just brush off."

Elijah, forever giving me advice he thinks I need, and Rebekah and Freya on my ass that if this were the other way around, I'd forever question if it was mine and where her loyalty and her love truly lies. I wouldn't let it go easily either.

"Not even Carrick?"

"Definitely not Carrick. I'd sooner throw myself into an active volcano than go there again."

"And me? Any chances for me?"

"I'll make you fall in love with me all over again if that's what it takes to prove it." She mimics me.

"So prove it."

"Can I kiss you? Or are you gonna slap me?"

"It's a Schrodinger's Cat situation, so go for it."

"Schrodingers cat?"

"Scientific experiment with a cat and a bottle of poison in a box. It can be both considered alive and dead, and the only way to find out is to open the box. It's been 3 years. Kiss me and I'll let you know how alive that cat is."

This kiss, unlike the first one in three years, isn't rushed or frantic.

"Well? Is that cat alive or dead?" Rebecca's impatient voice sounds from behind us and there, appearing in the doorway one by one is my siblings, Hayley and Hope, and then the trio.

"Who's cat is dead? Did you eat my cat?" Bridget hisses at Kian.

"No, I didn't eat your cat." He rolls his eyes. "I ate the neighbors cat."

"Kian!"

"Mama!"

"What'd I say about eating the neighborhood cats?!"

"They might have rabies and they're dirty and don't eat cats and," He pauses, "Was that all?"

"Yes. We don't eats cats." She picks him up when he holds both hands up.

They're all wearing footed pajamas that look like animals. Bridget is a raccoon.

Kian is a penguin and Killian is a shark.

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes."

"I had a weird dream! We were all seahorses! And we lived in an an-an-nen-enemy." Bridget tells her.

"Ah-nen-o-me. Where did you even learn a word that big?"

"Finding Nemo! Can we watch it again?"

"Finally, a movie on repeat that I like. Go ahead. But first, what's for breakfast?"

"Blood!" Kian announces. "Of my enemies." He adds with a softer, more sinister tone. "Robby says that's what's for dinner."

Rox smiles. "Darling, the blood of my enemies would fill the swimming pool."

"That's a lotta blood. Can I have some?"

She holds the cooler open and lets him pick which one he wants.

"I still can't get over that you give them blood. Don't they have to die to turn?" Hayley asks.

"They're hybrids. It's built into their DNA so I'm guessing it's different for them than it is for us."

She picks Kian and Bridget up one by one to let them choose.

"And for food stuffs? Or do you not want anything today?"

"Cake!"

"Tell you what, I'll make crepes and we can put ice cream on it."

There's a collective groan.

"No cake before lunch. Crepes for breakfast with ice cream and fruit or there will be no cake after dinner."

There's more groaning but they agree, and go charging into the den to watch Finding Nemo again. She puts the blood bags on the stove in a pot of water.

"What's wrong with the microwave?" Elijah asks.

"This warms it slower and it tastes better. How long were you all snooping on us?"

"Since the moment you said you'd throw yourself into a volcano before going there again. Klaus is an asshole, but that's a bit extreme." Hayley comments.

"True. But it was about Carrick and how she'd rather throw herself into a volcano than go there again. Is that cat alive or dead?" I ask.

"In the words of Dr. Frankenstein, It's alive! It's alive!" She grabs me in a bear hug and then grabs my ass.

"Did you just grab my brother ass?" Freya is amused and appalled by that.

"I did."

"And I'm sure he'd do the same if he could find it in that, what is that you're wearing?" Elijah teases.

"It's an adult onesie. Yes, I said onesie as in what Hope wears. It's comfortable and warm and you can suck it." She flips her hood up. "And FYI, your brother got me this for Christmas and he thinks I'm cute. Therefor, your opinion is invalid."

"Adorable. Warm me up a bag of blood, will ya?" Kol speaks.

"Do I look like your maid?"

"I can get you a uniform. I bet you'd look even better in that than this onesie."

"You don't order her around, Kol. She's not your servant." I take Hope as she leans towards me.
"Hayley, warm up his blood."
Hayley and Elijah don't find me funny, but Rox does. Her laughter is infectious and Hope is laughing too.

"Crepes sound good. Would you like a hand?" Hayley asks.

"Klaus, let Elijah hold the baby. You need to hold Hayley so I can get a hand."

"Not funny." Hayley looks at me. "Now I can totally see you two together. Hating people, brooding, and morbid jokes."

"Considering the fact she's even joking is a good sign. If you don't take my word for it, I'll let her give you the curse I had."

"I think I'll take your word for it. And if you've got her, I want some alone time with Elijah."

"I've got her."

Hayley tells Elijah she wants to explore the maze before it rains and they leave together.

"More like she wants to explore his maze. Gross." Rox comments and my sisters laugh.

"And you like Klaus. That's gross." Becca tells her.

"You're his sisters. If you saw what I see, I'd be concerned about just how close you Mikaelsons are."

Her hands raise and with each movement the bags move on their own and the blood sloshes around inside the bag. She deems it warm enough and pours it into sippy cups for the trio.

"Morning everyone in my kitchen." Logan greets as she goes to the coffee machine.

"Hey Stevie." Rox wolf whistles at the sleepy blond that is Logan's vampire lover.

He reminds me of the man that plays Captain America in her beloved Marvel Universe. He's tall, blond, and muscular, and traditionally handsome.

"When are you going home? I miss walking around here in my underwear without being whistled at."

"Never. Logan and I have come to an agreement that perhaps it is best and more convenient if we all live under one roof. We're working out the rest of the financials after dinner."

"Please tell me there's still a room here. This place is bigger than ours and I'd like to be around the children and with other witches." Freya tells her.

"I'll think about it." Logan replies and takes her coffee with her into the dining room. Steve goes with her and so do my sisters, already jabbering away about possibly living together. All of us.

"What changed your mind?"

There are more blood bags warming on the stove and she's beginning batter for crepes.

"Sean and I talked."

"About us?"

"About his wife."

"He was married?"

Surprise, surprise.

"Yes."

"And?"

"And she had a short affair with her doctor when she was diagnosed with cancer. Sean was unavailable and had difficulty coping with it, so she looked elsewhere. She kicked cancers ass, had a kid that wasn't Seans', but they eventually got on and was happy together until her unexpected death."

"What happened?"

"Someone fell asleep at the wheel of a semi truck and it brushed her car right off the road where it crashed and burned. He said with her having cancer realized just how quickly she could be gone, and he wasn't going to waste time being pissed about her affair when he wasn't there for her when she needed him most. Hayley happened when we weren't together. I can be pissed about it all I want, but the trio and Hope are going to grow up and not be oblivious to things and will eventually have questions.

"I'm not going to short change them due to my personal issues, and decided I wasn't going to screw myself in the process. Either I can give you another chance and things will be good, or I'll forever stew about it and we're gonna go round and round like a couple of bears and I don't want them caught in the crossfire."

"Hooray for personal growth."

"Oh, who asked you?"

"Rain." Elijah points outside and he's trying not to smirk.

"And no one ever asks him. He just has to butt in to everything."

"Laundry room is down that hall on the right. There should be robes in the bathroom you can borrow until your suit dries and you can toss yours in the dryer."

"Hey Rox?"

"Hey Rebecca."

"Can you teach me how to cook?"

"Sure."

She reaches out to grasp my shirt and tips her head down in a way that I know she's wanting me to kiss her forehead. Then her head whips up and she pecks me on the lips.

"Go take her to watch Nemo. I'll let you know when it's ready."

"Again."

Hmm, she tastes like the dark coffee she drinks.

"You remember how I like mine?"

"Apple compote, vanilla ice cream and cinnamon crepes. Or would you like the pear crumble?"

"Apple."

"You're so domestic, it's weird. Get out." Rebecca tells me and begins questioning Rox on basic crepe mix.

Elijah and Hayley are in the den with Kol and Freya and they're all watching the movie.

"Can I sit with you?"

"Of course you can."

Bridget climbs up on the love seat next to me and takes a look at Hope, and talks to her and even asks if she can hold her. I love how she's falling in to the big sister role and doesn't even know it yet.