Longing ~ Klaus Mikaelson(book 2)

Always and forever

When I first stirred, it felt like waking up from a long, heavy sleep. The room was dim, and the faint light filtering through the curtains painted everything in muted tones. My body was stiff, every movement a struggle, but as I blinked away the haze, I felt a gentle pressure around my hand. I looked down to see Klaus’s hand holding mine, his grip firm yet tender, as if he were holding onto something he thought he might lose.

His eyes met mine, and there was a mixture of exhaustion and relief in his gaze that nearly undid me. He looked vulnerable—Klaus, the unshakeable hybrid, who I’d always seen as invincible, now looked as if he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“You’re awake,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, yet thick with emotion. “I thought…” He trailed off, his jaw clenching as if holding back a flood of words that he couldn’t bring himself to say.

I squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine, grounding me. “I’m here, Klaus,” I murmured, still trying to gather the strength to speak. “You don’t need to worry.”

He laughed, a soft, almost bitter sound, shaking his head. “Don’t tell me not to worry. You’ve no idea what these past three days have been like.” His thumb traced circles on the back of my hand, a gesture so gentle it felt out of place for him. “I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t let you out of my sight. Not again.”

He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine, and for a moment, we were the only two people in the world. I could feel the rise and fall of his breath, his vulnerability laid bare. It was a side of him only I saw, a side that reminded me that beneath all his bravado and ruthlessness, there was a man who loved deeply and fiercely.

The sound of the door creaking open broke the spell, and I pulled back just as Rebekah entered, followed closely by Kol and Elijah. They each wore expressions that mirrored Klaus’s—a combination of relief and lingering worry. I gave Klaus a small, reassuring smile, and he finally stood, reluctantly letting go of my hand as he stepped aside to allow his siblings closer.

Rebekah was the first to reach me, her face a mask of concern that quickly melted into a smile. She leaned down, brushing a stray hair from my forehead, her touch light and comforting. “You gave us quite the scare, Bonnie,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “He hasn’t left your side, you know. We practically had to drag him out of here to eat, but he kept coming back, as if his very presence alone could bring you back to us.”

I looked over at Klaus, who was now leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, but his eyes never leaving mine. Rebekah followed my gaze, and a soft, almost nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “You’ve changed him, you know. More than any of us ever could, you brought him back.” She sat beside me, taking my hand in hers. Her fingers were cool and smooth, a stark contrast to the warmth of Klaus’s grip, but comforting all the same.

“We used to talk about this,” Rebekah continued, her voice low, as if sharing a secret. “About what it would be like if he ever truly let someone in. I don’t think even I believed it was possible. But then you came along again, and suddenly, he’s staying up all night, refusing to leave your side, and threatening anyone who so much as looked at you the wrong way.”

I chuckled, the sound weak but genuine, and Rebekah’s smile widened. “It’s like we’re back in time, isn’t it?” she mused, her eyes growing distant. “before all of this. Before we became…what we are.” She squeezed my hand, a silent acknowledgment of or bond.

Our moment was interrupted by Kol, who breezed into the room with his usual swagger, though I could see the concern lurking beneath his casual demeanor. “Alright, alright,” he said, waving a hand. “That’s enough of your sentimental nonsense, Bekah. You’ve had her all to yourself. Let me at least check that she’s still in one piece.”