Age of Innocence (klaus mikaelson)

Choice

The next morning, Grace turned to see him lying next to her. She could not help, but smile. She loved waking up next to him. Grace went to the shower before he awoke. It felt like just yesterday she was in New Orleans with him. Everything was happening so quickly. They never got a break from the chaos. Once finished with cleaning herself up, she came into the room with her towel to see he had woken up already. 

"Good morning," he greeted her still in bed with a smile as he looked her over with a mischievous smirk. 

"Good morning," she smiled shyly. 

"I can get used to waking up like this." He let out his hand to her, and she took it. "You are stunning," Klaus said amazed she was his. He pulled her in, and she kissed him. Her heart began to flutter as he touched her. "What do you say we take our time before we face the world today?" Klaus said mischievously. He pulled her back under the sheets, and held her close. 

"I'm flattered," Grace closed her eyes blissfully.  "But," she turned to face him. "We have a white oak to find." As much as she wanted to, there was no escaping the turmoil around them. 

"Do we have to go?" He groaned. "I'd much rather stay right here," he smirked grabbing her waist and pulling her in as close as he could. His lips crashed into hers, and heat went over Grace's body as her towel began to slip. The darkness is always most attracted to the light. 

 Klaus stopped at the thought. 

"Is everything alright?" She asked as she noticed his change in demeanor. He let out a long sigh.

"Ya, let's just get going," he said getting up, and getting dressed. Grace tucked her towel back on. 

"Are you sure?" She asked wondering what caused his sudden shift in behavior. 

"Everything is fine, Grace," He said irritated and she furrowed her eyebrows. He realized his tone. "I'm sorry. It's just-" before he finished she stood up. 

"It's okay," she smiled and pecked his neck from behind. "I'll be downstairs." Grace grabbed her closed and got ready in another one of the money rooms in the mansion. She went downstairs and wondered what could possibly be wrong with him. She wandered the house until she got to a certain room. She went inside smiling. It was his art. They hadn't changed much through the years. They still had that same dark tone to them. She smiled when she saw a small sketch hung up. It was her. It was different from the rest, though. It was not his typical style, it was far from it. 

"When I was younger, my father hated me," his voice caught her by surprise. "I found myself becoming everything he said I would," he said standing next to her. "A monster." 

"You're not a monster," Grace began and he smiled at her. "You can't allow yourself to be defined by your past or your father's words." 

"I need to tell you something," Klaus said reluctantly. "I have big plans." Grace saw a familiar look in his eyes. It was a blood thirst for power. 

"You can tell me," She said getting worried. She knew opening up to her was hard for him. 

"Hybrids. After everything that's happened with my mother. I can make a whole army of them. We wouldn't have to ever be afraid. No one would dare even touch you," he said with a gleam of excitement in his eye. In order to create hybrids, he would need Elena's blood. People would get hurt. There was no need for an army. Once Esther was gone, there was no more war. 

"Are you sure this is about protection?" She asked noticing the way he was looking off away from her envisioning his army. 

"Of course," he said furrowing his eyebrows looking back to her. 

"I do not know if this is a good idea," Grace admitted. She knew he wasn't going to like it, but she had to be truthful with him. 

"Of course you don't," he said rolling his eyes.

"You don't need hybrids," Grace explained. "You have your family. You have me. You're the original hybrid for goodness sakes," she said. 

"This is different. This is something I need," he said with clenched teeth looking down. "You don't understand." 

"Then, please, help me understand that this is more than just easing your own fears," Grace said and he looked up at her shocked. "Tell me this is more than just your thirst for power and control over everyone else." Grace said as she remembered all the things she had seen him do over the years to prove to others and himself that he was the most powerful. "I saw everything while I was gone. I saw the things you did," she said earnestly. It had to be addressed. 

Klaus shook his head disappointed as he realized she saw him just as the rest of the world did. She thought he was a monster. Klaus grabbed a bottle of paint throwing it to the ground frustrated. He didn't know how to express himself. If only she knew what he really felt for her. "I'm not perfect, Grace. I'm not who you think I am," he said shaking his head and looking away ashamed.

"I know who you are. I know what you've done," she explained. "But I love you," she said tearfully. "I always will love you. You seem to think that your a choice to me, but you're not." He shook his head no not wanting to accept it. He was undeserving of her love. 

"No," he couldn't let her in. He couldn't let anyone in. With that he disappeared angrily. 

Grace looked down at the splattered paint on the floor sadly and sighed. She knew him well enough to know he was just in a mood. Something was on his mind that he wasn't ready to talk about, and he just needed some time to think. She started to clean it up. Once she was done, she went to the kitchen hungry. She knew this wouldn't last, and he would be back soon.

 Grace noticed an ice cream carton and tried it. As she tried it, she became obsessed. It was unlike anything she had before. She turned on an unfamiliar contraption next to her. The radio boomed on loudly. She smiled and started moving to the beat of the music. She laughed loudly and took a bite of her ice cream while dancing around the kitchen. 

"Wow," a voice sounded in and Grace stopped dancing. Rebekah was laughing as she walked in. "Don't stop on my account. Where's my brother?"

"I don't know," Grace let out a sigh and turned down the radio.

"Fight?" Rebekah asked as she noticed Grace's expression. Grace nodded. "My brother," Rebekah said shaking her head. "You two love birds are quarreling already?" 

"It was my fault," Grace said sitting on the stool. 

"He'll get over it," Rebekah shrugged. Rebekah knew her brother could be an especially moody one. 

"I hope so," Grace said thinking about it.  What if this did change things? It wouldn't. They were so much more than a stupid fight.

"You're just lucky you don't have to kiss up to Damon Salvatore," Rebekah rolled her eyes. "I'm still trying to find that stupid white oak." Grace thought for a moment.

"Maybe I can help," Grace offered. "Since I have these abilities now. Maybe I can do something." She didn't know how, but she could at least try. Rebekah agreed. 

"Here," Rebekah handed Grace a phone. "It has everyone's numbers that you know." Rebekah taught Grace how to use the phone.

"Test it out. Call my brother," Rebekah said getting up and going to the door. 

"Where are you going?" Grace asked.

"Just talk to Nik, Grace," Rebekah smirked and left the house. Grace let out a breath and clicked on his name. The phone dialed and she put it to her ear. 

"Hello," his voice rang through the phone. Just at the sound, Grace's body went electric.

"Klaus," and he immediately recognized her soft voice.

"Love," he smirked. He already missed her. "I'll be home in a bit." He couldn't stay away even if he wanted to.