The choice

Desmond

I lay in bed listening to the sound of Ara's breathing.  She was asleep by my side. Shifting in her sleep, my arms were around her but I gave her room to move. 

I should really go to sleep but I'm also curious to know what she is dreaming about?  Closing my eyes I focused on her, only her and melted into her dream.  

She stands alone in her room I can tell she's waiting for someone, but who?  I get my answer when the door slowly creeps open and in walks my brother. Her brow furrows. 

"Why are you here?" She demands in that voice I've become all-to-familiar with. Andrew comes in and closes the door, getting to her in a flash. 

"What's going on Ara, why are you avoiding me?" He asks quizzically. I roll my eyes. 'As if he doesn't know.'

"You know what you did." She gets out.  Andrew brushes some hair that has fallen out of her face. 

"I thought I apologized for that? It's been a month." 

"I know that!" She spits, swatting his hand away.   Andrew was so confused, the look on his face made that evident.  I guess she felt sorry for him because the next thing I knew, she was kissing him.    "I still love you, Andrew." She said, hand on his cheek.  He reached up to cover her hand with his. His sad eyes met hers. 

"I miss you," 

"I do too," Ara said. 

"Come back to me." He said sliding his hand down her cheek.    

I didn't like where this was going, she still had feelings for my little brother and to think I thought all that was gone, I'm such an idiot!  Maybe if I was lucky this would only be a one time thing, you know like a goodbye kiss... or something?  Getting out of bed, I put on my clothes and headed for my room, making sure to be quite as I open and close the door to Ara's room.

 "Father," I said swinging the doors to his room open.

"What is it."  Klaus said. This time my dad was at his desk studying a map of his kingdom. 

"I was wrong about Ara, perhaps I don't have her like I thought I did.  She is still having dreams about Andrew."  Klaus's eyes widened at this revelation, he cursed under his breath.

"But she did come to you last night?" The king asked.  I simply nodded. My father put a hand on his chin, forgetting all about the map.

"She is strong I'll give her that. But the fact that she came to you on her own, she's slowly forgetting."  The king said.  "Go back to her be there when she wakes."

"Yes father,"  I bowed and turned back to the door running out I closed the door behind me.   This is what I wanted, for Ara to forget about my brother so she would marry me instead. that's how it should be anyway.  The second born in the family shouldn't get the throne, that's not how it works and it will never work that way, I should get the throne.  Just because I was absent and they thought I was dead did mean they could change the rules.                                                             No!  Tomorrow is the party for me and I would make sure that Ara goes with me, I will ask her tomorrow, everything will work out perfectly you'll see.    

Getting to Ara's door I turned the knob and quickly but quietly opened it. Taking off my shirt I slipped into bed by Ara's side. She mumbled something in her sleep. I could tell what it was right away, I must have enter her dreams as well because she had said my name.  Like I said everything is going to be fine, just fine.  

Morning came, She must have forgotten where she was because Ara jumped out of bed when she saw me laying next to her.   Her next question gave me the perfect opportunity to confuse her.

"What are you doing my room?" She said hurrying to cover herself with her robe.  

"You invited me, remember?"  I said looking into her eyes.  She shook her head.  

"No I didn't,"

"Yeah you did." I was quick to change the subject.  "As you know there's the ball being held in my honor," I paused she looked like she was thinking real hard about something. I delve into her mind, she was trying to remember my little brother. I laughed internally.   "I was wondering if you'd go with me?"   I gave her a choice, I knew what she would say though, her mind was haywire now.

She looked up at me, the confused expression gone from her face.  "Yes," I could tell she said without even thinking, her eyes got wide.

"Was it just you all the time, were you the one that kidnapped me?" She asked. I answered with caution. She was mad at Andrew and if Andrew is the one that kidnapped her than...  I was in some deep shit.  But Andrew wasn't the one that kidnapped her it was Hunter.  

"No I didn't, love." She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"Good, I was afraid you did. You're not Hunter?"  I smiled. Oh, yeah she was definitely confused.  She looked yup at me and smiled.

"Then yes I will go with you." I smiled at her. 

"Thank you, love."