((A Reminder of the author's note last chapter. This has a good bit of Landon and handon mentions. Rude comments towards the characters and ship aren't necessary and it won't change the content I put in my stories. This is Hope's chance to actually talk about this to her father. She's taking advantage of it.))

Klaus gathered the blood bags in a cooler and then walked to his car. He set the cooler in the backseat and then got in, unlocking the passenger door for Hope.

Hope got inside the car and closed the door, looking down at the prism in her hands as she ran her thumb over it, wishing she could use it now

Klaus started up the car and pulled out of the driveway. "Why do you need that anyway? You mentioned your subconscious earlier." He said remembering some of what she said, but he hadn't really been paying much attention.

"There's someone I want to talk to but cant. So I'm taking the next best thing. This prism manifests my subconscious as a hologram of who I need to talk to. Technically I'm still taking advice from me. But it looks and acts like the person. And even says what they would say if I know them well enough" Hope said. "Also it can tell you things you don't want to hear. That deep down you know is true. It's also good with preparing for conversations"

Klaus nodded thoughtfully as he listened to her. It didn't sound like something he would ever go near. Not only because he was too reckless to ever think about what he was going to say to someone, but also because he had enough voices in his mind judging him already. He didn't need to add another one. "Hm. It sounds...interesting I suppose. Why can't you speak to the person you wish to speak to however? Somewhere out here rather than in your mind."

"Its complicated" Hope said, sighing and leaning back against the seat, thinking about Landon Kirby, the guy she was crazy about. The love of her life.

"When isn't it?" Klaus mumbled mainly to himself as he drove. "Does this person not want to see you?" If she was truly like him then she must've alienated a few people in her lifetime.

"He does" Hope said. "As much as I want to see him. But I can't. Not yet"

Klaus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity increasing at her words. "Why not?" He asked glancing over at her. "You don't have to tell me of course. However we are going to be in a car together for a while."

"There's a spell keeping us apart. And I can't really tell you much beyond that" Hope said. It was clear that she was sad about it. She wanted Landon to be in her arms

Klaus gave her a small nod, accepting her answer. He wouldn't push her. He knew they only just met and they both had trouble trusting people. "You must really care for him. If you are willing to settle for seeing him in your mind."

"I love him. More than i can even describe" Hope said, looking over at her dad. She sighed softly, remembrring everything that has happened

Klaus was a little surprised at that, but not entirely. From the way she spoke about him, it was fairly obvious. "What's his name? If I can ask."

Hope hesitated, but then she remembered her father never met Landon. What was the harm? "Landon. His name is Landon" she said, smiling a little sadly at the thought of him.

"Landon. Strange name. Like yours." Klaus observed as a tiny smile formed on his lips. "How long have you two been together?"

"Almost a year" Hope said, since that topic too was complicated.

Klaus glanced over at her, surprise showing in his eyes for a second. "That is quite a long time for someone your age. How old are you exactly?"

"I'm 18" Hope replied. "I met him a few years ago, but he moved away. And then I found him again" she smiled softly at the memory. "And we started dating"

"It sounds like you are both lucky then." Klaus said quietly. "To have found each other, so young as well. Love is...complex. And more often than not it never is how you imagined." He learned that the hard way. Aurora had been the first and last person he ever loved. After that, he closed himself off completely, and he wasn't planning on opening up again.

"We are lucky" Hope agreed. Despite how unlucky they were, they were lucky to have found each other and fallen in love. "The world seems destined to keep us apart" she said quietly with a sigh before shaking her head and pulling out her sketchbook she had bought. "We always find our way back to each other"

Klaus was silent for a few minutes, watching the road ahead of him. "If I can offer you a little bit of advice...enjoy your moments together. I don't believe in destiny or fate. I believe each of us carves out our own path. Love is rare as it is. Even ordinary people have a difficult time with it. The rules are different for people like us. People society do not deem acceptable. Whenever someone finds it in their heart to ignore other's opinions and care for you...you should hold on to it and enjoy it as much as you can. Because you never know when it could disappear."

Hope listened to his words and nodded a bit in agreement. "Trust me, no matter how much I get frustrated when it seems like the world is trying to keep us apart, I will do everything I can to remain with him. And he will do so to be with me. He doesn't let my worries and insecurities push him away." Hope said with a fond sad smile. She really did love Landon more than she could ever describe.

Klaus briefly glanced over at her. "I am glad then. That you cherish him. It seems as though you truly are lucky. A person like him, who accepts you and loves you for all that you are, does not come around often. If ever. I do hope you two are reunited soon." He mumbled that last part and simply turned his gaze back to the road.

Hope smiled a little at the last part that she barely heard. She pulled out her pencil and started to sketch a dock by a lake

"Is it alright if I ask you something?" Klaus asked. "I know you told me there were certain things you might not answer. However, if you do not wish to answer that's perfectly acceptable." Though he hoped she would.

"You can ask whatever you want. I just may not answer the question" Hope said, continuing to sketch.

Klaus gave her a small nod. "Alright. I suppose my first question is, you mentioned you knew what you were growing up. I want to know more about that. Your childhood. I only want to know how it was for you. Growing up different to everyone else. Did you have any siblings?" Klaus asked.

"No I don't have any siblings." Hope shook her head lightly. "Im an only child."

Klaus nodded. "And what of your parents? Did they...how did they react when they discovered the abilities you held and what you were?" He asked hesitantly.

Hope was silent for a moment. She knew he wanted to know if what happened to him happened to her. "They were there for me. My father was with me when I first turned." Hope said

Klaus' expression darkened at the memory of when he first turned. He remembered how horrified and disgusted Mikael had been. How he forced his mother to place the curse on him. Not that she wouldn't have anyway. And perhaps what hurt most of all, that the brother he trusted the most was the one who betrayed him and didn't help him. "So was mine." He said quietly, keeping his eyes on the road. "One of my older brothers was there as well. The one I was closest to truthfully. My father was the first to claim I was an abomination and then got my mother to place the curse on me. But my brother was the one who helped him hold me down whilst my mother casted her spell that bound my werewolf side." His voice was a mere whisper at this point, as he fought with difficulty to ignore the pain in his heart. "Though your experience sounds...very different. I am glad your parents were accepting of you. Believe me it is not an easy thing to come by. Not only for a hybrid but, for any supernatural being."

Hope went quiet at that. She knew the story, of course. But that didn't make it fun to hear. Finally, she said "plenty of people, especially witches, considered me to be an abomination while I was growing up. Though fortunately not everyone does. My family was there for me. And in the past year I've actually made friends. Something I didn't really have much of before."

Klaus glanced over at her for a moment. He didn't think he ever really had a friend. Except for Stefan but naturally even he betrayed him. "That is good. About your family. Family is important. Granted mine would never believe me if I said that and would simply assume I'm mocking them." He rolled his eyes and looked back at the road. "You know. My siblings and I have a promise we made to each other when our parents turned against us. That we would stand by each other always and forever." He was silent for a few minutes simply thinking about all that's happened with Hope since he discovered her in Stefan's apartment. She had been the only person to actually stand by him and not immediately judge him. Even his own siblings could never do that. "It is a promise that I now extend to you." He said softly.

Hope looked at him, surprised she was included in always and forever when he didn't even know who she was. "Thank you" she said, her voice soft. She looked down, forcing away the emotions that tried to hit her again. She could afford to break when she was alone.

Klaus looked her way, easily being able to notice the struggle she had in her eyes. It was a look he recognized all too well. One that was constantly in his own eyes whenever he was hurt or betrayed in some way. "You know. If there is something on your mind...I can always listen."

Hope shook her head a little. "No, its alright. I've got the prism I can use if I need to talk to someone" Hope said. She couldnt say anything to Klaus about it.

"Alright." Klaus said not wanting to push on the subject. "However I would like to point out that does not technically count as having someone to talk to."

Hope chuckled slightly. "Well its the closest thing I've got to talking to my boyfriend, so I'll take it." She said, smiling slightly at the thought of Landon

"Fine. I do suppose the imaginary version of your boyfriend does best a perfect stranger." Klaus reasoned in a slight playful tone. "However, I figured seeing as we do have things in common, you might want someone who is more expected to share your opinions."

"Not about this" Hope said, shaking her head. "But thank you for offering. Ill let you know if I change my mind"

Klaus gave her a small nod. "Very well then." He didn't want to push her after all. They were alike in many ways, and he suspected this was another. "In that case, why don't we speak of something else? For example, besides painting and sketching, what else do you enjoy?"

"I enjoy training and shifting into my wolf form when my emotions or magic overwhelm me" Hope replied. "I enjoy reading sometimes. Though not as much as other people I know. I dont watch movies much, but I do enjoy a certain cooking show. Though that was before I actually made friends and got a boyfriend. When I was just isolating myself off from everyone."

Klaus chuckled a little as he listened to her. "It appears you and I have similar hobbies. Shifting is all I've done to deal with my anger since I've broken the curse. Or, even other times when I am not angry." He spent so long not being able to access that side of him, that now he took the opportunity to enjoy it whenever he could. "I happen to enjoy reading as well. Though I cannot say the same for watching television. It isn't something I've ever done. Much less to watch cooking shows."

"Yes, well, you are a thousand years old. I'm a modern day teenager" Hope chuckled softly. "Landon loves science fiction movies. I haven't really seen many movies. Except childish ones when I was little. Though my mom wasn't a big tv fan either." Hope said. "I mostly read and painted growing up"

"That is a fair point." Klaus chuckled. "Though perhaps I should try out this television thing at least once. Simply to say I've done it. I do like your mother's parenting methods however. Reading does edify the mind. And painting is an excellent creative outlet for any frustrations."

"Mom doesn't really like painting much. Or art in general. But she could see how much I did, so she made sure I always had paints and such" Hope said

"Hm. I suppose that is interesting." Klaus said thoughtfully, his mind flashing back to memories he definitely didn't want to have. "I never thought it possible for parents to support the passions of their children if they did not share them. My father hated my creativity and anything I made. Granted, it was a different time." But it did make him grow with that knowledge.

"It depends on how fortunate you are with who your parents are. I love my parents. I always have. And they love me" Hope said, careful to use present tense. "But Landon wasnt that lucky"

Klaus looked at her for a moment, curiosity reflected in his eyes. If Landon had a similar story to his, then he admired him all the more. Because not only could be love Hope despite everything, but he also did so all while having experienced true tragedy in his life. "It makes his love more special then. Someone like that, loving anyone is difficult for them." And he would know.

"Despite everything he has been through, he manages to have a big heart. It's one of the things I love about him" Hope said softly. It felt good being able to talk to him about Landon. She didnt have that luxury back home. "He's a survivor" she said quietly, leaning back against the chair, thinking about him. He seemed to be a constant thought in her mind. No matter what events rose, she always thought about him.

Klaus offered her a small smile. "It is rare. For someone to experience pain of that magnitude and still manage to retain the ability to love." He himself didn't lose it entirely. There was still a tiny part of him that could love, should he be open to it. But he wasn't. He couldn't be. "Only a true survivor as you say, could. It's easy to give in to the darkness and seal your heart away forever. What's difficult is finding the courage to keep it open. To keep letting people in despite the pain and misery it has brought you."

Hope knew all about that. Landon was the one that helped her open her heart back up and let people in. If he had never re entered her life, she wouldn't have. She looked down and continued sketching the docks. The water. The trees. "Ive sealed away my heart before. Landon was the one that helped open it back up again. The one that got me to let people in. To trust people"

Klaus briefly looked at her, smiling a little as he took note of her drawing. It was actually quite impressive for her being in a moving car and all. "That's lovely." He commented gesturing towards the notebook. "I am glad actually. That you found someone like Landon." He paused for a a moment, debating whether or not he should say what was on his mind. Finally after a few minutes he figured there was no harm in telling her. She did understand him better than most. "For me it was the opposite. Love is what caused me to seal my heart away. Or rather the betrayal of someone I loved. Her name was Aurora." He said softly, the name feeling strange as he said it. He hadn't said her name in centuries. "She was the first and last person I ever truly loved. One day she simply decided I was not worthy of her. That she did not love me. The cruel words she spoke that night have stayed with me forever." And he was certain they always would.

Of course, Hope knew the story of Aurora. The vampire that was under a sleeping spell in the Abattoir in her time. She knew the truth. Why Aurora spoke those words and how crazy she turned out to be. She knew it was truly Elijah that had made her say this. She wondered how different her father would have been had Elijah not compelled Aurora to say that. "Perhaps one day someone will come around and you won't be able to help falling for them as I have fallen for Landon." She knew he had cared greatly for Camille and Headmistress Forbes. Though she hadn't been old enough to remember Camille or how her father was with her.

Klaus smiled a little but he shook his head. He never had someone care enough about what he felt. In fact most people assumed he felt nothing at all. Yet Hope against all odds was able to see through him. "That is a kind sentiment. However I've long since learned that love is something I am not meant to experience. Nor do I wish to." Not after Aurora. He sighed softly. "We had been the most alike. Back then I was different than how I am now. But there was still a monstrous side to me thanks to my mother's vampirism spell. She could see it and not be frightened. We bonded. And even she couldn't stand the sight of me in the end. What hope can I possible have for someone else?" He shook his head once more. "I would rather focus on creating hybrids and finally gaining my revenge against my parents." It was the only thing he had left now.

"Just because it was like that with her doesnt mean it will be like that with everyone. My first kiss was with a 90 year old vampire who helped murder my mother" Hope said.

Klaus' lips parted open in protest but eventually he simply closed them. He could easily argue and tell her that was exactly why it would be like that with everyone else. Because even the person who was most like him still saw him as a monster in the end. Anyone better than him wouldn't even give him the time of day. However in the end he figured it was better not to say anything. "Right. The man you executed revenge towards." He said remembering what she told him previously. He hadn't known that had been her first kiss as well. "If it helps. My first kiss was with a woman who chose to date my brother the day I kissed her for the first time." He snorted at the memory. He remembered how heartbroken he was at the time. And now he couldn't possibly care less. Not about that at least. Her death...well, that was another thing entirely.

"Love triangles and unrequited love. Not pleasant" Hope grimaced a little, unable to help remembering how much her heart had shattered when she saw Landon and Josie kiss.

"No it is not." Klaus chuckled a little and then looked over at her. "You seem to have experience in the matter. Does this have anything to do with the person you love? Landon?"

"It's a long, complicated story, but yes" Hope said, working on a silhouette of her and Landon at the docks, sitting on the edge, looking out at the water.

Klaus gave her a small nod. "Perhaps one day you can tell me. If you'd like to." He said softly and smiled a little when he saw her drawing. "That is turning out well. I must say I'm fairly impressed with your ability to draw whilst in a moving car."

Hope smiled at the compliment despite everything going on. "Ive had practice" she said.

"I can see that." Klaus said with a small smile and then looked back at the road. "Have you spent a lot of time traveling?" He asked curiously.

Hope shook her head. "No I haven't." She said. "But I do sometimes have to be in the car for a bit every once in a while. It gives me something to do" Hope said.

"Hm. Well. I do admire the ability regardless." Klaus said thoughtfully. "I am the opposite however. I need to be in a tranquil space without any distractions in order to get proper painting or drawing done. In a large studio with the best window light, perhaps a balcony looking out to the city and to have some jazz music playing." He smiled at the thought. "Unfortunately unless I got rid of all my siblings permanently that doesn't seem to ever be a possibility." He snorted. "At least I do get some peace and quiet every once in a while. There are these weapons I can use to put them to sleep for a few decades or so. Or whenever I feel like waking them."

"I much prefer the peace and quiet. But sometimes I can do it regardless. Especially if I have something on my mind. And I like listening to jazz as well." Hope said with a small smile. Especially now that it held a memory of her with Landon, she thought, remembering their first dance.

Klaus smiled at that. It seemed he continued to discover new things they had in common the more time he spent with her. "Do you? I have to say that isn't something I hear often. Especially for someone so young. Typically the teenagers from this generation tend to listen to garbage...no offense." He chuckled.

"Yeah I do" Hope said, looking at him, chuckling at his words about the current generation, despite how she was feeling about the whole time travel and everything. "Well, I wouldn't go as far as to say garbage usually, but it's not the best for sure."

Klaus chuckled softly. "Well so far I have not heard anything that convinces me of that. Perhaps one day you can change my mind." He said with a slightly playful smile. "We do seem to have quite a lot in common."

"Landon sings" Hope said without thinking as she looked down at her drawing. She wanted to talk to her dad about him in the way she never could.

"Does he?" Klaus asked curiously. "Is that why you do not hate modern music then? Because of Landon?" He questioned playfully.

Hope couldnt help the small smile at that. "Not quite. Though his is my favorite out of all modern music. I've only heard him sing once" Though she still replayed it in her mind a lot

Klaus chuckled softly as he listened to her. She sounded very invested in however this boy was. A love like that was one he hadn't had in a very long time. "Why only once? Does he not enjoy it?"

"He does, but he is insecure about it. No one else has heard him sing or play his guitar. Not anyone I know at least. Except perhaps Raf" Hope said, speaking without thinking. It was easy when it involved Landon. Then a pained expression flickered across her face as she considered all of the time he probably played to Josie during the summer. She forced her feelings away and continued adding details to her art work"He writes his own lyrics too. And the question about why only once is a bit complicated" Her heart ached painfully at the reminder of the months they spent apart because of Malivore. She sighed softly and continued to sketch

Klaus briefly glanced over at her curiously before focusing back on the road. He could tell there was more she was thinking about than she was letting on. But he wouldn't push her on the subject. Not unless she wanted to tell him more. "Hm. He sounds interesting then. Your boyfriend." He said giving her a small smile. "Who is this Raf person?"

Hope paused. "A friend of his" she said, knowing she needed to at least be somewhat smart about how much she told him. She fell silent. The two talked a little more before eventually they arrived at the motel they were going to stay at for the night. Hope grabbed her small bag and headed towards the room once Klaus gave her her key.