The day had finally arrived, the day I thought would never come, the day I would meet my father.
You might think, Rose, you've been waiting to meet someone you've never met, and the answer is yes.
I had always imagined that one day he would come for me; when I was younger, I was sure he and Mom would pick me up, and we would do what "normal" families do on Christmas. Even though my mom was an atheist and my father didn't care, I did. As the years passed, instead of waiting, I began to expect them to come when Lissa and I ran away. Then it was just me and her.
It's simpler now, but instead of Lissa, I have people who don't just want me around because they need something.
As I get ready to meet my father for the first time, I can't help but wonder what he'll be like. Will he be caring or intimidating? Will he be similar to my mother or the complete opposite?
As I lose myself in these thoughts, Klaus enters the room, silently sneaking up behind me.
Unprepared for the attack, I instinctively flip him upside-down and pin him to the ground. I can hear the shuffling of feet and stairs, summoning the cavalry, but it's as silent as intended.
"Really, sneaking up behind a pregnant, paranoid Dhampir was the brightest idea, Klaus?" I smirk at him.
"Just making sure you're as expert as you claim to be, Love," he retorts, seemingly unfazed.
Seconds later, Rebecca and Haley rush in, expecting someone to be in danger. They burst into laughter upon seeing that I had Klaus pinned to the ground.
"You have to get ready. Save the foreplay for later," Rebecca quips after regaining her composure.
"Well, that's what he gets for messing with Rose. Remember when he brought Rose over for the first time? And he told us not to reveal that we were supernatural? Rose discovered there was something different about us five minutes into the conversation. She hanged you by your toes from the ceiling until you'd give her answers," Haley chimes in, clearly relishing the memory.
I can't help but join in the banter. "Well, just because I'm not your type of vampire doesn't mean I can't tell when something's alarming. Honestly, I thought you were a serial killer at first."
Amid the friendly teasing, Klaus lends me a hand, helping me up. Being seven months pregnant is no joke; from what I've heard, it only gets more challenging.
"Well, you two have fun here, but not too much fun. Remember, we can hear everything, and just because you're pregnant doesn't mean anything," Rebecca shouts as she leaves the room with Haley.
In unison, Klaus and I both reply, "It's not like that."
Caught up in the awkwardness for a moment, Klaus finally breaks the silence. "So, are you ready to meet your father?"
"That's what I keep telling myself, so yeah. Nothing bad will happen if I don't dwell on the worst-case scenarios, right?" I say, looking up into his eyes. There's an unfamiliar energy pulling us together for some reason, something I've never experienced before.
"You'll be just fine because I'll be right there next to you the entire time," he reassures me with a warm smile, trying to ease my anxiety.
I feel more drawn to him as silence fills the air like gravity pulling us together. I can't help but wonder if his eyes have always been this mesmerizing shade of blue. No, Rose, snap out of it. We're friends, nothing more, right?
Our faces inch closer, and I'm about to say something when I hear Haley's voice yelling at Hope, "Come back here, Hope! You're covered in paint!" Damn you, Klaus, for getting her addicted to paint just like you.
We both snap back to reality. "I've got to use the bathroom. See you," I mumble, not wanting to leave him there speechless.
As I reach the bathroom, I slide down the wall to the floor, wondering what would've happened if we weren't interrupted. Were we about to kiss? Surely not. He doesn't feel that way, does he? Rose, snap out of... Oh great, I'm talking to myself. I stay there for a while, lost in my thoughts, wondering about the complex emotions I've been entangled in.
As I contemplated my tangled emotions, I couldn't help but replay Klaus's words. "I will be right there next to you the entire time." There was an undeniable comfort in his promise, a sense of security I hadn't felt in a long time. Despite the complexities of our friendship, Klaus had always been there when I needed him most.
During these solitary moments in the bathroom, I allowed myself to acknowledge the truth I had been avoiding. My feelings for Klaus were more than just friendship. The magnetic pull between us wasn't a mere figment of my imagination; it was real, tangible, and undeniably potent.
But now was not the time to unravel the mysteries of my heart. I had a father to meet, questions to be answered, and a future to prepare for. With a deep breath, I pushed aside my internal turmoil, rose from the bathroom floor, and readied myself to face the unknown.
As I stepped out of the bathroom, Klaus was waiting, his expression a mixture of concern and anticipation. Our eyes met, and I found the strength to move forward in that unspoken connection. Whatever lay ahead, I knew I wouldn't face it alone.
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Rose couldn't shake the swirling thoughts that invaded her mind as they left the house. Her brain was in overdrive, and it refused to quiet down. She couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened in the bedroom earlier. Klaus's presence was now more than just a friend, and she couldn't ignore the growing tension between them.
Rose finally snapped out of her trance as Klaus parked near the church. She gave him one final nod, and together, they walked towards the church entrance.
Guardians were posted outside, but they were different from the ones she was accustomed to, almost foreign in their demeanor. Their presence hinted at something unusual going on inside.
Rose couldn't help but notice the contrast as they entered the old church. Memories of the Strigoi attack flooded her mind—the incense burning, the dusty surfaces, the eerie silence. The old and new seemed to battle for dominance in this place, and a sense of foreboding hung in the air.
Rose's mother, Jaine, was the first person she acknowledged as they approached the altar. Her distinctive red Scottish hair made her stand out. The man beside her seemed vaguely familiar, but Rose couldn't quite place him. His colorful outfit and scarf made him appear out of place, like an outsider in their world. What struck Rose was that he held her mother's hand—a rare display of affection she hadn't witnessed before.
"Hello, Rose," her mother finally spoke, breaking the bone-chilling silence.
"Mom," was Rose's curt reply, loaded with unspoken emotions.
"I would like you to meet your father," her mother continued, taking a deep breath. "Abe, meet Rose, your daughter."
"Ah, no need for formality; we are family, after all," Abe replied, his deep Turkish accent filling the space. Rose stared at him a little longer, noticing their subtle similarities. It was in their hair, eyes, and how they carried themselves. It hit her then—this was her father.
"Ugh, well, old man, I've never met you before, so introductions are helpful. Who are the five or so guardians guarding the church, trying to stay hidden?" Rose asked, a smirk on her face.
Abe chuckled heartily, and Rose saw a slight smirk on her mother's lips. Klaus stepped closer, reassuringly touching her back, a silent reminder that he was there to support her.
"She's quite something, as you told me, Jaine," Abe said, still amused. "Those are my guardians, here to ensure our privacy. But the real question, daughter, is who is he?" he asked, pointing towards Klaus.
"He's no one you need to be concerned with, Abe," Rose replied, trying to keep the conversation focused.
"Now, now, Rose, we are family. After all, you don't need to call me Abe," he said.
"Well, I've never met you, so I won't call you 'Dad.' 'Old man' works just fine," Rose retorted, her signature snarking. She continued studying her father, finally recognizing him as one of the figures from the alley her mother had brought with her.
"Does your business have a name?" Abe inquired.
Before she could respond, Klaus took the initiative. "Klaus Mikaelson," he stated, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Abe examined Klaus intently before nodding and saying, "Mikaelson, as in the original family." He looked Klaus up and down. "You're nothing like your brother."
Rose and Klaus responded simultaneously, "You know my brother?" and "You know his brother?"
"Yes, the man who always wears a suit, Elijah. You could say we've done business in the past," Abe admitted. The shock on her mother's face was evident.
"What kind of business?" Rose blurted out, curiosity getting the best of her.
"We're both compelling people, Rose," Abe replied.
"Ugh, we're talking about this later," Rose stated firmly. "The real reason I wanted to talk to you is that the Court knows where I am, or relatively. I'm wanted dead or alive. Usually, I'd fight anyone who tried, but everything is different now. I don't just have my life to look out for. Mom said you would help."
They spent hours discussing their options, trying to find the best solution to Rose's predicament. Abe took her aside at one point, his voice tinged with regret.
"Rose, I haven't been around, but you must realize I did it for you. Not a day goes by when I don't think about you," he confessed.
"Well, old man, we'll work it out. Thank you for looking after Mom," Rose replied, tears beginning to well up due to her pregnancy hormones.
"You'll be safe with the Mikaelsons. The Court thinks they're legends. And that man you're with will protect you; I can see it in his eyes. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I hear anything from the Court," he assured her.
"Talk later, Paps," Rose said, leaving the church with Klaus close behind.
Once they were back in the car, Rose couldn't hold back her emotions any longer. She burst into tears, and Klaus brought her closer to him, her head resting on his chest. She inhaled his scent, taking comfort in his presence.
"I've got you, Rose," he whispered over and over, and before she fell asleep, she could have sworn she heard him say softly, "I've got you, now and always.".