Force of Gravity • NM

•25•

As the ball concluded, the grandeur of the Lockwood mansion began to settle into quiet murmurs and soft music in the background. Klaus offered Naira his arm with an elegant bow, but his usual confident smirk was missing, replaced by a slightly nervous smile.

"Would you... accompany me back to my home? There's something I'd like to show you," Klaus said hesitantly.

Naira tilted her head, curiosity lighting up her green eyes. "Lead the way, Your Highness," she teased with a playful smile, making Klaus relax slightly.

Klaus guided Naira to his study, a room steeped in warmth, dark woods, and soft lighting. Canvases were propped against walls, some completed and others in progress. Paintings hung around the room, depicting a myriad of landscapes, abstract works, and vivid portraits.

"I've never really shared this with anyone," Klaus admitted, his voice uncharacteristically shy. "Painting has always been... personal."

Naira's eyes widened as she scanned the room. "Klaus, these are incredible! Did you paint all of these?"

He nodded, his expression guarded. "I don't know why I felt the need to share it with you. Perhaps I wanted to show you something that didn't involve bloodshed or schemes."

Naira moved closer to one of the landscapes, her fingers hovering just shy of the canvas. "This one... the colors... it's like you captured the sunset's heartbeat. How do you even do that?"

Klaus chuckled softly, leaning against his desk. "It comes naturally, I suppose. When I paint, it's the one time I feel at peace."

"I wish I could do something like this," Naira said wistfully. "I can barely draw a stick figure that doesn't look like it's melting."

That earned a genuine laugh from Klaus. "Stick figures have their charm, love. Perhaps I could teach you sometime?"

"I'd ruin your legacy," Naira quipped, making him grin.

She stopped in front of a portrait of a woman who looked strikingly like Elijah. "This is your mother," she whispered.

"Yes. I painted her centuries ago. It's ironic, isn't it? She's brought us so much pain, yet I couldn't bring myself to destroy this."

Naira turned to face him. "Because you're not as cold as you think you are, Nik. These paintings... they show a part of you that's beautiful."

Klaus looked at her for a long moment, his icy demeanor thawed by her words. "Thank you, Naira."

After bidding Klaus goodnight, Rebekah cornered Naira with a mischievous grin. "How about a sleepover? It's been ages since I had one, and let's face it, this house could use some fun."

Naira couldn't resist. Soon, they were in the kitchen, attempting to bake cupcakes and brownies.

"You're sure this isn't a fire hazard waiting to happen?" Naira asked, laughing as Rebekah poured flour into the bowl with dramatic flair.

"I've been alive for over a thousand years. I think I can manage a simple brownie mix," Rebekah replied, smirking.

Halfway through, Kol appeared, feigning innocence. "Just passing by. Thought I'd check on the... smells. Very intoxicating."

"Hands off!" Rebekah snapped as Kol attempted to snatch a spoonful of brownie batter.

"Don't be greedy, Bekah," Kol teased, but a pointed glare from her made him retreat, muttering something about territorial siblings.

As the brownies cooled, Rebekah and Naira settled on the couch with blankets. Rebekah seemed unusually quiet, her gaze distant.

"Henrik loved sweets," she said suddenly. "I used to bake him honey cakes when we were human. He'd devour them and then blame Nik for the crumbs."

Naira smiled softly. "You must miss him a lot."

Rebekah's voice wavered. "I do. He was the best of us. Innocent. Sweet. I wanted to protect him from everything, but I couldn't."

Naira hesitated before asking, "Have you ever thought about adopting? I mean, you'd make an amazing mother."

Rebekah shook her head, her eyes glistening. "I've thought about it, but it's impossible. We're vampires, Naira. We live in a world of danger. It wouldn't be fair to bring a child into that."

Naira's heart clenched. "I understand. But for what it's worth, I think you'd be a wonderful mom."

Rebekah smiled through her tears, pulling Naira into a hug.

As Rebekah fell asleep on the couch, Naira stared at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting to her own life. "What if Damon and Stefan hadn't taken me in?" she whispered to herself. The thought made her heart ache, but she felt a wave of gratitude for the family she had.

Later that night, Klaus found Naira in the kitchen, nibbling on a leftover brownie.

"I heard you saved some for Kol," he teased, leaning against the doorway.

Naira laughed. "I don't think he sleeps. He might be raiding the fridge right now."

Klaus stepped closer, his expression soft. "Thank you for tonight. For staying. It means more than you know."

"You're welcome," Naira replied, her voice warm.

There was a moment of quiet before Klaus said, "You bring light into places I thought were forever dark. Don't ever change that."

Naira smiled, her heart fluttering. "Goodnight, Nik."

"Goodnight, love," he whispered, watching her leave with a rare, genuine smile.