Bella drove Klaus back to her dad's house. She clung to his hand, afraid to let go of him and discover it all to be a dream.

Her heart felt lighter, having given herself an opportunity for healing and closure. Bella knew Jess's death was something she would carry with her, but she thought she might finally move forward without letting her past mistakes continue dictating every decision she made.

As Bella drove the last five minutes to her house, she confided in Klaus about her father's failing health. There was too much happening all at once again. Her thoughts raced through her brain at a million per second. Her emotions were all over the place, and she could feel another panic attack building.

As her vision blurred, Bella pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park. Klaus pulled her into his lap over the console and had her straddle him. He pushed her face into his shoulder and held her, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

As she took deep shuddering breaths, Bella inhaled his scent. Something about his scent was solely Klaus. It was musk and sandalwood, and the familiar smell sent desire coursing through her.

When she was no longer on the verge of panicking, Bella gave into the lust he evoked in her. Tenderly, she trailed her lips up his neck, across his jaw, and to his mouth, where she nibbled his bottom lip.

As he lured her into a deep, sensual kiss, Klaus slipped his hands under the hem of her shirt and stroked the skin above her jeans. While simple and tender, it only heightened her need. It had been far too long, and she needed to feel him all over her.

Gripping one of his hands, she dragged it up her body and placed it on her breast. She didn't bother trying to control her moans when he took her hints and expertly kneaded her flesh, his thumbs rubbing her nipples. Grinding her hips down on him, she bit his lip hard while her hands traced the planes of his chest and abs.

Klaus hissed as she tugged at his nipple through his shirt. He gripped her hips and pushed her down as he raised his hips, grinding her against his erection. Bella loved the friction, the sensation of him between her legs. She needed more.

Bella reached for the buttons on her jeans and made to undo them, but Klaus covered her hands with his and growled. "Isa, love. I fully intend to follow through with this, but not in a car on the side of the highway. Let's go see your dad and then I promise, I'll make it up to you and more."

Bella groaned in frustration, "I've missed you so much. No one makes me feel the way you do. No one else makes my heart race with just a look."

Leaning forward, she pecked his lips, once, twice, and then climbed back across the console into the driver's seat.

After nervously introducing them, briefly explaining their connection, and having a snack, Bella, Klaus, and Charlie settled into the living room together. Handling the situation much better than anticipated, Charlie turned on a baseball game.

Klaus sat beside Bella, his hand entwined with hers, reluctant to leave her side for a second. He waited until the third inning to broach a subject he hadn't even talked to Bella about.

"Mr. Swan?"

Charlie's mustache twitched, and he raised an eyebrow, "Son, you can just call me Charlie. None of this Mister, shit, 'kay?"

"Apologies, Charlie. I have a proposition for you. First, you'll have to swear to the utmost secrecy. Since you know about the wolves, I have no qualms believing you'll remain discreet."

"Yeah, alright. I'll keep your secret. You're not a damn Cold One. Since ya know about the wolves, you must know about them."

"Yes, that is true. I am most definitely not a Cold One. I am, however, a hybrid. A werewolf and an Original vampire of the Traditional sort."

"What the hell?" Charlie's voice rang through the room. "What does that even mean?"

"It means that I have over a thousand years of learning control, and the reason I'm explaining this to you at all–my blood might heal your ailments."

Charlie scoffed. "Then what are we waiting for? Can you just hook up an IV? Or what?"

Klaus tried to cover his chuckle with a cough. Before he met Isa, he'd have laughed outright, but those three months with her had changed him. She made him want to become a better person. He had tried to continue to better himself for her, hoping that she would call someday. When she finally had, he knew his growth had been worth the effort. He wanted to be worthy of her admiration, her approval. No one else had moved him thus in a thousand years - had ever come close.

Holding Charlie's suspicious gaze, he said, "No, Charlie. I'm afraid you would have to drink it."

"D-drink it?" Charlie blinked his eyes in surprise. "I ain't no vampire. I don't wanna drink your blood."

Klaus sighed as he considered an alternative. "It shouldn't require much. I've never tried it via an infusion, so I couldn't guarantee it would work. However, if you know a trustworthy nurse, perhaps we could try a transfusion."

Simultaneously, Bella and Charlie looked at each other and said, "Sue."

Transfusion finished, Charlie slept while his body processed Klaus's blood. Bella could see his face filling out and the color returning to his cheeks while he slept. It was working, and her heart felt like it might burst with relief.

She turned to Klaus and gave him a big smacking kiss. "Thank you so much, Klaus. It is going to work. I can already see a difference. I lost a decade with my father while I was running. Now, I get to keep him around much longer. You don't know how much that means to me."

"Isa, you have to know… I'd do anything for you, love."

She met his gaze and smiled, stroking his jawline with her thumb as his hands splayed over her hips, pulling her closer.

"I missed you so much. I can't wait to spend time with you."

"I missed you too, Isa. I thought of you every single day." Klaus kissed her on the forehead and then settled on the couch with her in his arms to wait for Charlie to wake up. Bella snuggled into him, reveling in his strength and warmth, the comfort of his presence. For the first time since leaving him in Dallas, she felt whole.

Later, Charlie woke, appearing a picture of health, full of energy. He stood and stretched, flexing his rejuvenated muscles, and his skin practically glowed with life. "I feel like I could run a marathon!"

He paused to splay his hand over his chest and took a deep breath. Charlie grinned as he slowly exhaled, his eyes shining with happiness.

"My ticker works, Bells. It doesn't hurt to breathe. My heart doesn't feel like it will burst from my chest if I move around too fast. I haven't felt like this in years!"

Bella giggled as happy tears welled in her eyes and she kissed his cheek. "I think we should probably go fishing tomorrow to celebrate. Would you believe Klaus hasn't been fishing in four hundred years?"

Charlie grinned at Klaus and nodded. "Well, son, we'll have to fix that soon."

Klaus grinned back and then winked at Bella. "I look forward to that, Charlie."

Charlie looked around for a moment, unsure what to do with himself. "Bells, I'm not tired at all. I might drive over to Billy's and taunt him a little. Although, how do we explain this? Maybe I shouldn't go to Billy's." He stroked his mustache as he pondered his options. Bella giggled at him again. Even his mustache looked full of life, thicker and softer than before. Klaus's blood had more than healed Charlie - it had returned some of his youth.

"Charlie, if I may?" When he nodded, Klaus continued, "Where is somewhere you have always wished to visit?"

"I've always wanted to go gator hunting in Louisiana. The adrenaline rush that must give a person…"

Klaus perked up at his answer. "I happen to have quite a few close connections in Louisiana. Would you allow me to send you on an excursion?"

Charlie gaped at him in surprise before chuckling and shaking his head. "I couldn't let ya do that, though I appreciate the offer."

Klaus met Charlie's gaze and reassured him, "It would be no trouble. A thousand years of existence has provided ample opportunity to study stocks and trends. I have made a veritable fortune. I assure you, this will not dent my coffers. I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging, only to express that the cost is no obstacle."

Charlie hummed and promised to think about it, then took the stairs two at a time up to his room.

Once his bedroom door shut, Klaus tugged Bella into his arms and covered her lips with his. Bella pulled back and protested, "My dad might hear…"

"Impeccable hearing, love. I'll hear him coming. Would you rather go to my hotel? I have a seaside suite at the La Push Bed and Breakfast. Do you know it?"

"No, that must be new. Let me just tell my dad I'm taking you over there."

Bella didn't even knock, and the door was swinging open. She stepped back, out of the way.

"Klaus, if you're…" Noticing Bella standing outside the door, Charlie chuckled, "Sorry, Bells." She shook her head at him as he turned to Klaus. "I was thinking… If you're sure it won't be an imposition, I'd be an idiot to pass up the offer. People here will notice that I've suddenly recovered, and it's not like I can explain. If I took a trip and came back healthier, though…"

The corner of Klaus's mouth lifted into an amused half-smile. If Bella wasn't mistaken, Klaus already felt endeared to her father. That meant a great deal to her.

Klaus said, "I'll set it up. I think the sooner you go, the better. We can say that I sent you to a medical facility in Switzerland. No one usually asks many questions, and if they do, I'll just compel the entire town to forget you were ever ill."

Bella giggled, but Charlie looked aghast as he swallowed hard. "Hopefully, it won't come to that. Thank you, Klaus. It will be the trip of a lifetime."

"Indeed. Is there a friend or someone you'd like to take with you, Charlie? I'll make those arrangements, as well."

Smirking, Charlie said, "Think I'll ask Tiffany Call."

Bella blushed at the mere visual that revelation provided. Charlie and Embry's mother? She would have never suspected. "Dad, I'm so glad you get to do this! You deserve a vacation after everything you've been through. I was just coming to tell you I'm taking Klaus to the Bed and Breakfast in La Push."

"Oh, the Cameron's business. It's a nice place. Have fun and be safe, Bells. I'll see you kids in the morning."

Mortified, Bella could feel her face flame with her blush. She was thirty-three years old, but that didn't mean she wanted her dad to know the details of her love life. Klaus laughed loudly at Charlie's comment. He was a thousand years older than Charlie, although he appeared to be in his late twenties. Klaus nodded at Charlie, took Bella's hand, and led her to her car.

Before she got in, Klaus leaned her against the door and kissed her gently. "I meant what I said, Isa. You must know I would do anything for you."

Bella's eyes shone with emotion as she smiled softly at him, "I know that, Klaus. And while I'm just a human, I would do anything for you too."

As he smiled at her, Bella could swear she saw love reflected in the depths. And she loved him. Bella might not have recognized it for what it was when she left him in Dallas, but it was true, nonetheless. "Klaus, I–"

His lips kissed hers again, cutting off her words. "Let me tell you this first, Isa." He took her hands and stroked his thumbs over the back of them, squeezing them gently. "I love you, Isa. I have from the moment you opened your eyes in my penthouse. You challenge me to be a better person. I'd like to spend eternity with you, love."

Bella's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "This probably seems crazy, but I've thought about you every day since I left. It felt like I was leaving a part of myself behind. I wanted to call you so many times, but I wanted to keep you safe. I love you, Klaus. I don't remember when it happened, but I do, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Swallowing hard, Klaus said, "No pressure, Isa, but I'd like to change you. It is not as painful as becoming a Cold One. If you don't want that, I'll be content to live out my days with you and eventually let the sun take me away."

Bella kissed him deeply, winding her arms around his neck, her fingers delving into his soft dishwater-blonde curls. Pulling away, she said, "I've always felt I was supposed to accomplish more than just a human existence. I've known that since I was seventeen. If you are sure you can put up with me, then sign me up for forever."

Klaus leaned in to deliver a sweet peck to her lips, then helped her into the car. When they arrived at the B&B, Klaus picked her up and carried her to bed, where they made love until the wee hours of the morning.