Hello again. This has some Klaus/Era action. I'm not that great with writing sappy or affectionate scenes, so you'll have to tell me how I did. Also, please tell me what I can do to get better. I realize I keep spelling Stefan's name wrong. I'll eventually go back and fix it, but right now I just don't have the time. I do not own Vampire Diaries or any book or movie you recognize.

Era stood stock still. He had a half smile on his elegant face. His eyes surveyed her slowly. He turned to say something to Stefan, who nodded in return. Stefan walked out to do something Era didn't care about. Klaus turned his attention back to her. His hand came up, and his finger made a 'come hither' motion. Era glanced at Jeremy. His face was stoic, almost angry. He was staring straight ahead, trying to concentrate on anything but Klaus and Era. She looked back to where Klaus stood, but she found that he had disappeared out the door.

"Sorry kid," Era murmured. She stood up, head straight, and went to follow him out the door. Her feet moved quickly. She was excited, almost nervous. Era got out the door and stopped. There he was, standing in the parking lot, his back to her.

"Nicklaus," She whispered.

"Erana." He turned towards her. In was in that moment that Era let herself believe he was really here. She rushed to him, jumping in his arms. He held her tightly, inhaling the scent of her hair. They stayed like that for a moment. When they pulled back, he traced her face. His fingers followed her nose, down to her jawline, before tracing her lips.

"My beautiful Era. I haven't set eyes on anything this beautiful in a century." She didn't blush, but smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Klaus smirked at her.

"Couldn't pass up the opportunity to see you," He replied.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you. I've been surrounded by cocky vampires, arrogant witches, and too many humans without the option of killing them to save my nerves." Klaus smiled. This was his Era; the girl who had captured his heart. He'd hurt her. He knew that, but he planned to make it up to her in ways only he could.

"You must have suffered greatly, my dear. The witch would be the Bennett witch?" She nodded, "Ah yes. I'm surprised that you haven't killed her yet. Especially with the protection that handy little medallion gives you on your side. I've tried several times. She's a bit too persistent to live, I think," He said. Era stuck out her bottom lip attractively.

"I've been standing here ten minutes, and you have yet to kiss me." Klaus smiled at her. Next thing she knew, her back was against a car. His hands were digging into her sides, and he had a hungry look in his eye.

"I suppose we'll have to solve that, won't we?" There was no hesitation as he lowered his lips to hers. It was rough and unyielding, just as she remembered. This was the kiss she craved for a hundred long years. It was a kiss that neither Jonathan nor any other man could give her. He tasted of apples and something entirely his own. Era knew she owned him, just as he owed her. He ran his fingers through her hair, giving a sharp tug every now and then. They pulled apart at the sound of approach.

"Sir, the Gilbert girl and Salvatore are leaving." Klaus turned to the hybrid and nodded. Era scowled, angry at him now.

"What are those mutts doing here, Nicklaus?" He turned to her ad frowned.

"Those mutts are my creation, darling." She ignored this.

"What are they doing here, Klaus?" She repeated.

"Protection and Insurance in case Elena's friends decide to get any ideas."

"Elena is it?" Era felt a flare of jealousy rise in her stomach like bile bubbling at the surface. Klaus frowned at her.

"Don't tell me you're jealous. She is a means to an end," He said, getting impatient. He didn't understand what she was getting at. Elena was nothing but a way to create hybrids, just as Katarina had been.

"I have every right! You obsess over this girl, and protect her just because she can make your precious hybrids. You were never obsessed with making an army when I was with you. All you wanted was to end the curse," She spat.

"Let us not forget that you left me, my dear. You left me just because you became too attached to a human toy," Klaus replied, his voice rising. Era glared at him. She knew he would always throw that in her face, regardless of how she tried to make it better. His nostrils were flared. Era knew that was a sign of how angry the subject made him.

"And who is to blame for that, my love? You strutted about with your whores, leaving me to watch!" Her voice broke near the end. It was a sign of weakness that she had never let show. The memories of those centuries were not the best. Klaus looked at her sadly.

"I will regret hurting you for the rest of my life. That doesn't change the fact that you let a human into your heart. That is a place that was only meant for me. Then you left, leaving me alone. I didn't know if you were coming back," Klaus said persistently.

"You did this because you didn't want to be alone? You were never alone, Nicklaus. I was always close by watching you. I was there at that street fair in 1980 and at that club in New York in 1991. I waited for you to notice me, and you never did. You were too caught up in your anger for me to realize I was waiting for you to look for me. The only contact I got was Rebekah telling me to come here and protect your precious doppelganger." They stared at each other, both trying to figure out what to say.

"I was angry because the one person I thought would remain loyal to me betrayed my trust, Era. You belong to me and only me. You seemed to forget that from time to time," He replied in a calm voice. Era knew he was referring to Jeremy as well. He was not blind to the affection he showed her. That didn't matter however. Era was spitting fire.

"Loyalty? How dare you question my loyalty! I killed him for you. I hurt someone I cared for to prove to you that you were and are the only man to truly hold me. I saved nothing from you; not my heart, my body, or my soul. Don't you dare talk to me about loyalty! I made a mistake. One I quickly took care of," She spat at him. She loved him, but his intolerance for mistakes took its toll on her. He accepted nothing but absolute loyalty from those close to him. He didn't realize that there were circumstances to every situation.

"What is the true point to this argument, Erana?" Klaus said, annoyed. He couldn't stay long, and he'd be damned if they were going to spend the entire time arguing.

"You cared about creating your hybrids more than finding me. I expected to be gone ten years at most before you came for me. You never did," She said softly. Klaus realized the source of her jealousy. She thought that he had stopped caring for her. He swept her up into his arms, running his hands over her hair.

"I will kill every single one of my hybrids along with everyone in this town if you so desire. You are and have always been the most important thing to me," Klaus murmured into her era. Era pulled back and smiled at him. He sighed in relief.

"I could never take something precious to you away, Klaus. I just had to know I wasn't being replaced."

"No one ever could, darling. You're the most interesting person in my life."

"As you are in mine," She said happily.

"Do you want to go back to the house?" Klaus asked. Era nodded and put her hand in his. They started to walk down the street.

"You know we're a fucked up couple, right?" She said to him.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, my love."

!

Era lay next to Klaus in the bed. He played with her hair, and she reminisced of the previous nights he had done this centuries ago.

"What are we to do if they awaken Michael?" She asked.

"You aren't going to let that happen, Era." She sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibilities he was putting on her.

"Klaus, if he does awaken, and something happens to me, you mustn't rise to the bait. That is exactly what Michael will expect," Era said tiredly. Klaus was silent for a moment. He tried to think of a way to answer her.

"I know." He had said what she wanted to hear. The truth was he knew what his reaction would be. It would mean pain for anyone in his path. He refused to entertain the notion that anything could happen to her. It wasn't going to happen.

"You're not staying very long, are you?" Her voice broke him out of his reverie. She sounded understanding but resigned.

"No, darling. I've got to go find more werewolves. If they do awaken Michael, we're not running anymore." Era nodded. It was almost a relief to think of not living in fear that Michael would find them eventually. It was a feeling she wasn't familiar with but hoped to become so.

"Can you stay? Just for a few days?" He looked at her, a small smile on his lips. It was a smile that reached his eyes. They were far and few between, and only for her.

"Of course, my love."

!

Jeremy paced the length of his room angrily. He grabbed a picture off of his dresser and threw it at the wall forcefully. She was with him. Era was with Klaus. He had known it would eventually come, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon. He hadn't had a chance to spend any time with the red head that had fascinated him.

"Jeremy?" Elena stood at the door. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. He didn't want to deal with his sister right now.

"What is it, Elena?" He asked crossly.

"This is about Era, isn't it? The fact that Klaus is back?" He didn't answer, "Jeremy, what did I tell you about her? She's evil, and you like her! Do you want what happened to that Jonathan guy to happen to you? Era has proven many times that she's dangerous and has loyalty to only one person. What is wrong with you?" Her questions annoyed Jeremy. He didn't care what she had to say. All he wanted was to be alone.

Don't start, Elena. Let's not compare taste in vampires. Stefan is loyal to Klaus now. Damon was a killer before you met him and even after you met him for a while," Jeremy snapped.

"But Damon isn't like that anymore! Era isn't going to change for you, Jeremy. She likes who she is, and she loves Klaus. I don't want you to get involved with her. Please listen to me this one time," Elena said, almost desperate. She couldn't allow Jeremy get any deeper into this world than he already was.

"Just get out, Elena. Get out of my room. I have a lot to think about." She stared at him long and hard before disappearing down the hall. He sat down on the bed. He didn't understand his fascination with Era. She was beautiful. He knew that. She was a killer. Jeremy knew that too. He didn't love her. He didn't know her well enough about her for that. Jeremy doubted he could if he did. Era wasn't willing to change for anyone.

"Thinking about her again?" He didn't even look at Anna as she spoke. He just couldn't catch a break.

"I don't want to deal with your jealousy right now, Anna," Jeremy said tiredly.

"I'm not jealous. I'm worried," She insisted. Anna sat next to him nervously.

"I wish people would stop worrying about me. I'll be fine. Era won't hurt me."

"And if she does?" Anna asked, eyebrow raised, "See! You know there is a possibility." He sighed angrily.

"So what?"

"So what? Have you completely lost it? Or are you that big of a thrill seeker now?" She shouted.

"It's not a thrill. I just want to know her." It was true. Anna could hear it in his voice. She didn't want to admit it, but she was jealous. This vampire had wormed her way into his heart where she used to be. She may be dead, but she could still feel.

"Knowing her will get you killed, Jeremy. I'm not coming back until you decide what to do," She said quietly. His head snapped up to finally look at her.

"Anna don…" She was already gone.

!

"This is a good movie, Klaus," Era argued. They were watching Pretty Woman, much to Klaus's chagrin. She sat with her knees over his and her head on his shoulder,

"It's a romance about a hooker and a business man," He replied flatly, but there was laughter behind his voice.

"Exactly. It shows that you can still get a hot piece of rich ass no matter where you're from." He chuckled.

"I think you're missing the plot, darling."

"Am not. Though I think a hooker and a vampire would be much more interesting." She nudged him with a smile.

"Well there are some differences. I killed the men who held you captive. He just had his driver flash his gun at the pimps," Klaus replied. Era choked on the sip of coke she had just taken. The fact that pimp had come from his well-spoken mouth was almost too much to bear.

"Yes, well we all know how macho are. At least you don't sparkle," Era said slyly. Klaus groaned.

"I can't believe that the most popular vampire book of the decade depicts us as sparkly. I don't think I could live for a thousand years if I sparkled every time I went out into the sun." Era started to giggle.

"So you have read it?"

"No, but apparently you can't go anywhere without someone whispering about it," He said, annoyed. Era just smirked.

"Admit it. You've read it. Klaus, the big bad vampire, secretly wants to sparkle." She started to full on laugh. Klaus tackled her on the couch. He started to tickle her mercilessly.

"Take it back, Era."

"It's not my fault you want to look pretty in the sun," She said between laughs, "Klaus stop!"

"Take it back, my love," Klaus said persistently.

"Alright! You don't want to be sparkly." He stopped and sat back, a smirk on his face.

"Klaus the Sparkly Vampire," She muttered. He took off after her. She squealed and ran. For a moment, things were normal.

Damon watched them as they ran through the house having the time of their lives.

"They almost seem like a normal couple," He murmured to himself.

"That's the way it used to be," Rebekah said, coming up behind him. She watched them with a smile on her face. Tonight had been a good night filled with dancing and laughter. Now her brother was back and things were starting to look up. His sullen mood was gone.

"He seems almost human."

"It's a side only she can bring out in him. Do you see now? Do you see how much she means to him? I'll kill you if you try to take her away from him. But then again, it might be fun to watch what happens when Klaus got his hands on you." With a last look, she walked away.

Ok that's the end of this chapter. I know it's not as long as some of the others, but I was having major trouble thinking of the interactions. Read and Review please.