Niklaus point of view:

I thought I was dreaming when I saw Reina on my couch. But when she held my gaze, staring back at me fearlessly, I knew this was reality.

How and why was she here? I was puzzled. She had been avoiding and canceling my offers to meet in the past days, so why would she suddenly come here all alone and by herself.

But that was until Isabella arrived, it was her doing, no doubt. Guess I wasn't the only one who was skeptical of Reina's identity. For once, I was happy to say that I'm proud of Isabella's underhanded tactics.

Isabella was gravely devastated by Maya's death. Personally, it would have seemed awkward if she saw someone that looked exactly like Maya and did nothing.

"What are you doing?" Reina cast fierce orbs on me.

I gulped yet didn't show it. Instead, I covered it up with a smile, "Why are you so jumpy and untrusting? I just want to give you a good head rub," I lied.

I had ulterior motives and that had been stealing some strands of her hair to use to conduct a DNA test later to confirm her identity.

"Head rub?" she still regarded me suspiciously.

"Yes, a head massage," I freed my hand and began to massage her scalp before she brought up her guard around me.

At first, Reina was cautious of my action. However, by the time I used very firm pressure and a tiny circular motion, gradually moving my fingers up along her hairline until they met in the middle of her forehead, massaging her entire forehead and scalp, she relaxed into my touch. I inched along, massaging her untiringly till she fell asleep.

I only withdrew my hands when she was sound asleep and looked up to find my daughter giving me a knowing look and smile - it was quite creepy, to be honest.

"Urm," Isabella slapped her head as if trying to recall something, "Imma go check if Jennifer and Neon are done with that visit to the dentist, I suddenly need to do some heavy shopping," she said, winking at me. I understood that gesture, Isabella was buying me time.

When Isabella left the house, I carried Reina off the couch, careful not to wake her up. I didn't go to my room, rather took her to Maya's room.

Every room in the house was renovated except that one and kept off-limit to everyone - including Jennifer and she knew better than to disobey that one. Only Amanda was the one who came in to keep it tidy.

I placed her on the bed slowly before lying down beside her. The motive of stealing some strands of her hair was still fresh on my mind and I was set on accomplishing it when a better idea struck me.

I moved closer to Reina, pushed away her hair on her left shoulder, and found what I was searching for; the scar on her left neck.

Dumbfounded was an understatement to describe how I felt, I was struck numb - so much for pretending to be who she wasn't. After the cat and mouse game, I found out about her this easily.

Amid all, I was greatly relieved to know that she was alive. Maya had survived that fall? It was a huge miracle to me. All those years, it had been my guilty conscience tormenting me instead of her supposed ghost.

"Thank God, you're alive," I kissed her forehead, lingering there while tears slipped from my eyes.

********************

Reina's point of view :

I woke up with a startle, how had I fallen asleep that easily? That sly manipulator, luring me to sleep so he can have his way with me must have been his intention.

However, when I turned to the side, my soul almost flew out of his body when I saw the face staring back at me. He was probed upon his arm and staring back at me with red, swollen eyes.

What the fuck? Had he been crying? Why was he crying? Most of all, it was a relief to know that I wasn't exploited sexually.

"I missed you, Maya," He whispered but that statement was as loud as a bomb in my head. My eyes grew wide, how had he found out?

His hand suddenly moved to my face, caressing my cheek. The voice of reasoning told me to take his hand off but I was captivated by the tears streaming down his face.

My heart arched, what could make a man cry this hard?

To my greatest shock, I found myself leaning over to kiss the tears on his face, I wanted to kiss it better. I began to trace his features with my lips before my gaze flickered to his lips, it was so tempting and I wondered how it would feel pressed against mine.

I was suddenly reminded of the day we met, the way Niklaus held and kissed me; heat flared up in the pit of my stomach. This was a mistake - that was for sure- but I'll deal with the consequences later.

So I pressed my lips against him softly, testing the waters gently first. Niklaus didn't rush me either as if he was waiting for me to make up my mind. Then I deepened it, kissing him hard as the passion ignited between us, he tasted like heaven.

I pried his teeth open, forcing my tongue in and drinking from him. His hand went around to lift me, readjusting himself on the bed, and made me sit astride him.

While I kissed him, running my hands through his hair, his hand slipped into my shirt, caressing the skin beneath before moving to my breast and cupped it.

A moan escaped my throat yet he swallowed it. Niklaus pulled away, trailing kisses down my neck and sucking on my sensitive spot, my moans reverberating across the room.

I was heady with desire and Niklaus wasn't left out either. Raw, intense hunger could be seen in his darkened eyes which made me shiver. The sly curve of his lips and the lascivious glint in his eyes held sweet dark promises of what was to come. Which I would have enjoyed immensely if we weren't interrupted.