RPOV

Panic surged through me as I realized what was happening. He was coming, and I would have to face him again. The memories of our last encounter haunted me, and my heart raced with dread.

I was lost in my thoughts, consumed by fear, when Klaus's strong hands firmly held my shoulders. He gently forced me to look into his eyes, breaking through the grip of my anxiety. My panic attack still clung to me, my heart pounding, my palms sweaty, and my hands trembling.

"Rose, breathe for me, love," Klaus's voice was soothing and insistent. With each breath I took, his presence became more vivid, like he was pulling me away from the nightmare that threatened to consume my life.

These panic attacks have plagued me since I came to New Orleans. They usually came after I snapped back into reality, and Klaus was the only one who could bring me back from the edge.

Flashback

"Shh, love, it's okay," Klaus's voice was a lifeline in the darkness of my mind. He gently cupped my chin, his eyes locking onto mine.

"I don't want to deal with these nightmares anymore," I confessed, still shaken by the memory of that night. In my mind, I could still hear my baby crying and see Mason's ghost watching from afar, his expression filled with disappointment. The echoes of those memories only made the pain worse.

"In the darkest of nightmares, I have no doubt that you will find your way out. You are one of the strongest people I know. Tell me about him," Klaus encouraged, his eyes full of understanding.

I gazed into his eyes, realizing that he didn't seem so scary or unapproachable at this moment. His presence comforted me.

"How can I describe Mason?" I began, my voice trembling. "He was my first real Dhampir friend at the academy. I knew he had been hopelessly in love with me for years. It was the little things, you know, like how his laughter could make anyone smile or his caring personality. He treated every Dhampir in the academy like they were his adopted siblings, well, most of us."

"When we finally gave 'us' a shot, and I told him that the thing he had been dreaming about for years was coming true, I'll never forget his smile. Sometimes, I regret how it happened, but other times, I think the universe wanted me to make him happy before he died. To give him peace."

Tears flowed down my cheeks as the memories overwhelmed me.

"He would be so proud of you, Rose, and I bet he's watching over you and your child," Klaus said before leaving bed to allow me space.

But I reached out and stopped him. "Stay."

He smiled and settled back onto the bed, making himself comfortable. I rested my head on his chest, taking in the familiar scent of his cologne. It felt like home.

As I fell into a deep sleep, Klaus was beside me, and I had no nightmares.

Returning to the present, I finally spoke, forcing myself to focus on the here and now. "Dimitri is on his way to New Orleans. He knows I've been staying here."

My revelation jolted everyone in the compound awake, and the atmosphere grew heavy with concern. Some thought I should leave immediately, believing it would be safer, while others argued that staying here offered better protection. I knew it was more complicated.

As we talked, I was flooded with flashbacks. I remembered the first time he found me, his fierce determination to bring me back, and how cocky I had been, believing I could take him out. I also remembered how miserably I had failed.

My heart raced as I spoke, "I can hardly believe he's coming here. He's like a ghost, always lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He's cunning and calculating, and he'll spend hours, days even, watching me, trying to find any patterns in my behavior. I'm certain he's putting together a team of skilled individuals to ensure that when he takes me down, it will be done in complete silence, far away from the prying eyes of others."

Rebecca chimed in, her voice laced with worry. "Rose, you need to leave. This is too dangerous."

Haley, always protective, added, "She's right. We can't take any risks."

Elijah, typically calm and composed, surprisingly expressed concern. "Dimitri has found you before, Rose. Your best chance is to leave before he finds you again. Your safety here is not guaranteed."

As I stood there, my mind was in turmoil. One part of me was urging me to leave the city and start anew, where danger would not be a constant companion and where I and my baby would be safe. However, the other half of me was deeply rooted in New Orleans. This city had become my refuge, my sanctuary.

Klaus was the one who had made it all possible. He had become my rock, my anchor, and the thought of leaving him behind was unbearable. Despite the danger lurking around every corner, I couldn't imagine going to this place and the man who had become my home.

As the conversation continued, I felt a growing sense of unease. The weight of the decision ahead pressed down on me, and I knew I needed to get out of the room to think.

Stepping into the cool night air, memories of happy moments flooded my mind. This place was the first where I hadn't been used as a tool for someone else's gain. It was where I could finally be free and breathe easy. That realization weighed heavy on my heart.

As I reflected on Klaus, I felt grateful for his unwavering support. He had always been there for me through thick and thin, always offering a helping hand and a listening ear whenever I needed it. In that moment of reflection, I realized that my feelings for Klaus ran much more profound than I had ever admitted to myself or anyone else. I felt a sense of warmth and comfort at the thought of his arms around me, protecting me from the world.

It wasn't just his support and saving me in many ways, but also his kindness(Toward the people he liked), his sense of humor, and how he made me feel safe and secure.

All these things combined led me to fall head over heels for him, and I knew deep down that he would always be more than a friend.

I was in love with him.

KPOV

As Rose left the room, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of unease that had settled over me. Her safety was paramount, and the looming threat of Dimitri's arrival had sent ripples of fear through our sanctuary.

I had known Rose for a while, and my feelings for her grew more profoundly with each passing day. I found myself thinking of her not just as the fiery, determined Dhampir I had first met but as a woman who had been through unimaginable trials and had emerged stronger, more resilient. Her spirit was unbreakable, and I had come to admire her in ways I had never expected.

Dimitri's reappearance only fueled my determination to protect Rose and her child. It wasn't just a duty; it was a deep, profound need. I would do whatever it took to ensure her safety.

But as I stood there, my thoughts racing, I couldn't help but realize that protecting her meant making an unimaginable sacrifice. I had come to love her, not just as a friend, but as something more. It was a terrifying revelation, and I knew it meant I would have to let her go.

The truth hit me like a sledgehammer as I wrestled with my emotions. I loved Rose Hathaway more than I had ever loved anyone, and I would do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant losing her.