❦❦❦

Klaus and Percy arrived back at her family's apartment in New York City.

Upon entry into the apartment, an excited puppy greeted them.

"Hi, Rudy!" The demigod exclaimed happily, just as excited to see the dog as he was to see them.

The dog barked happily as his tail wagged. Percy ran her fingers through his fur. Kneeling down in front of him, she lightly scratched the fur behind his ears. "Who's a good boy?" She asked in a high pitched voice.

Rudy's tail wagged faster, as though assuring her that he was a good boy.

"You're such a cute doggie," Percy cooed.

He let out another small bark.

Klaus had taken a step forward into the apartment, which caught Rudy's attention. The dog walked towards his other owner happily.

Without meaning to, the hybrid smiled. He softly pet the dog's head.

Rudy's tail wagged happily.

He's so precious.

⇠ ⇠ ⇠ ⇠ ⇠

After greeting Rudy, the trio wandered out to the kitchen, where they heard music.

They stood in the doorway and watched the scene in front of them. Plates containing tall piles of freshly baked cookies lined the counters. Estelle sat in her booster seat, a cute smile on her face as she played with the cheerios in her dish.

In the middle of the room, Sally and Paul were badly dancing, each with smiles on their faces.

Percy's lips quirked up. After watching them dance goofily for a few seconds, the demigod spoke with an amused smile. "We're back."

"Hi, honey!" Her mom greeted, not stopping her dancing. Paul gently took her hand to twirl her in a circle. As she spun, she waved at the hybrid. "And hi, Nik!"

Their dancing was mildly slow, but it was cute.

The corner's of Klaus' lips rose, "Hello."

Percy wandered over to Estelle who had finished her cheerios in her booster seat. "Can we steal Estelle for a little while?"

"Sure, sweetie." Sally responded, her smile not fading.

The sea green eyed girl picked up her little sister. Percy grinned at Estelle, "Hi Estelle."

"Hi, Pewcy!" The two year old replied happily.

Cutie.

Wandering back over to where Klaus and Rudy were standing in the doorway, the raven haired beauty lead them out of the room.

➳➳➳

The demigod and hybrid had decided to go on a walk with Rudy and Estelle. Percy was holding Rudy's leash, and Klaus held Estelle.

They had wandered up to a small playground.

Their steps had paused as Rudy peed. The sea green eyed girl brought her gaze back to Estelle who was in the hybrid's arms.

"She's such a cute baby." Percy commented as she looked at her sister.

Klaus nodded. "She is," he admitted softly.

A kid from the playground cheered as he moved up high in his swing. The sound brought the demigod's attention to the playground. She wished that she had a swing or a slide at her house. "I kinda want one."

Klaus, who hadn't realized she was referring to the swing, looked at her with wide eyes. His mouth opened as he struggled to come up with a reply. "You want one?" He was slightly shocked by her words. In his mind, he worriedly debated whether she knew vampires couldn't procreate.

She nodded. "Yeah. Do you think I should get one?"

Once again, he was at a loss for words. She was asking his opinion on getting a swing, but he thought she was asking his opinion on her getting a child.

"I, um, I don't know, love." He looked down at Estelle, before bringing his gaze back to the demigod. "I mean, they can be cute, but they're a lot of work." His blue eyes scanned over the side of her face. "And it might be a bit early to have this conversation."

Percy turned to him, "You think I can't afford one?"

Klaus shook his head. "No. No, that's not what I'm saying."

"And I don't see how it's that much work. You just need to have a good push, and bam you're set."

The original's imagination turned to labor, which made him cringe slightly. "Well, there can be a lot of pushing involved. Labor-"

Percy cut him off, "Labor? I'd hardly call it that. I mean you gotta move your legs a bit, but-"

"Love, I don't think you have a complete understanding of it. I've heard many stories of what it can be like, and it's not that easy." He spoke, referring to women giving birth.

The demigod couldn't believe him. "Stories from who? Toddlers who don't know what they're talking about?"

"No. Why would I talk to toddlers about this?" He was growing more confused as the conversation continued.

Percy looked at him. "Have you not done it before?"

He was acting like he had never been on a swing set before.

Klaus' eyes widened again. "I have done it before. But you know, vampires are technically dead so we can't exactly..."

"Oh you can't have fun, because you're dead? Honestly, Nik, this whole conversation is just weird."

The hybrid looked like he was going insane by how utterly baffled he was. He didn't think he was the one being weird.

"I mean, I'll admit that recent meetings," he glanced at Estelle who was smiling up at him, "have made them more appealing. But, it's a big commitment and," his words paused as his voice grew softer, "I don't know if I'm good enough for that sort of thing."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I'd get bored of having it after a while? Or would I forget about it after a week or so?"

Klaus was taken aback by the question. He didn't think she could forget about a baby after a 'week or so.' "No, I don't see how you could. Although there can be many highs and lows, it's a great experience. And, I think you'd actually be great at it."

"Yeah." The demigod agreed with him.

There were a lot of highs and lows with swinging. You go up in the air and then you come back down.

The raven haired beauty locked eyes with him. "So...maybe someday?"

He tried to push away his shock. "Um... maybe, love." He spoke hesitantly. "I mean, there's absolutely nothing wrong with adoption."

"Adoption? You mean like a lease? Can you get one on a lease?"

Klaus' eyebrows furrowed, "I, I don't think that's how that works."

"Oh." She looked back in the direction of the playground. "Well, maybe I'm just not meant to own a swing in my backyard."

The hybrid shook his head. "What?"

She met his gaze again. "What, what?"

"What does a swing have to do with anything?"

Her head tilted to the side. "Um this entire conversation was about getting a swing."

His eyebrows rose, "Oh."

Percy looked at him in slight confusion. "What did you think we were talking about?"

Klaus shook his head slightly. He glanced back at the playground and responded dismissively, "Swings."

The sea green eyed girl tilted her head to the other side.

Something tells me he wasn't talking about swings. Weird.

Percy tried thinking about what else he could be talking about.

Maybe he was thinking about slides? She pondered. No, probably not.

The demigod continued trying to think of alternatives. Monkey bars? But that didn't seem likely either.

Huh.

Percy, who was still confused, leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

His face immediately softened. The raven haired beauty sent a small smile at him. She held out her hand.

Klaus intertwined their hands, after making sure Estelle was safe and sound in his other arm.

Percy's other hand was still holding Rudy's leash. She softly encouraged, "Let's go Rudy!" as they were about to begin walking again.

The puppy's tail wagged, excited to continue their walk.

✧✧✧

The group eventually came across a small cookie shop. Percy grinned and glanced back at the hybrid. "Cookies."

She only needed to say one word for him to understand. He chuckled, "Lead the way, love."

They had switched the children, so Klaus was now walking Rudy, and Percy was holding Estelle.

Percy wasn't sure if dogs were allowed in the shop, but the group entered anyways.

The sea green eyed girl's eyes lit up as she saw the large set up of cookies behind glass case at the counters of the shop. She stepped forward with the two year old in her arm. Percy pointed out the different cookies to Estelle.

The two year old smiled and stretched her hand out towards the cookies hidden being the glass display case.

There were raspberry-banana cookies, which Percy checked with her mom to make sure they were okay for Estelle to have one of.

Once the customers in front of them received their orders, the group stepped forward. Percy ordered a cookie for herself and Estelle, before glancing back at the hybrid with a smile. "Would you like a cookie?"

A small smile appeared on his face as he shrugged. Percy turned back to the employee to order him a cookie.

Once the employee told them the price of the order, the demigod handed her the money. Klaus, who was trying to pull out his wallet, realized she paid. He sighed, "I was going to pay, love."

"Too bad. I guess I'm just faster than you," she grinned teasingly.

The hybrid raised an amused eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yup. You're just too slow." The corners of her lips quirked up in a playful smile.

"Hm." He was taking damage to his ego.

The woman behind the counter handed them the cookies. "Thank you!" The demigod sent her a warm smile.

They walked over to a small table at the shop.

Sitting down, Percy helped Estelle sit on her lap. The raven haired beauty helped hold her in place, so she wouldn't fall.

She broke off small pieces of Estelle's cookie and handed them piece by piece to Estelle, once she was sure it was soft enough for her to chew.

The raven haired looked back up at the hybrid. "Caroline and Rebekah are graduating this Saturday."

He nodded. The original's eyes examined her face, "Why do I get the feeling that I am to attend this gathering?"

"Because you are," Percy grinned at him.

He groaned. "Do I have to, love?"

"It's your sister's graduation, Nik."

Klaus took a bite of his cookie. "So?"

Percy raised an eyebrow at him, as she handed another small piece of cookie to Estelle.

"Rebekah's been around for a thousand years, love. A graduation isn't that big of a deal." The hybrid added.

The daughter of the sea smiled in amusement, her eyes holding a knowing look. "Fine. But I'm going."

"Alright, I'll go," he gave in. Klaus liked being by her side. If she was going somewhere, he wanted to go with her.

Percy pressed her lips in a thin line, in a poor attempt to stop herself from laughing.

The original playfully narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you laughing at me?"

"I don't know. Am I?" She teased.

Percy gave another small piece of cookie to Estelle.

Klaus commented with a slight pout. "That's just mean, love."

She blew him a kiss. The daughter of the sea turned her attention back to Estelle, who had finished her cookie. Percy grabbed a napkin, and gently wiped her sister's mouth of any crumbs from the cookie.

⇠ ⇠ ⇠ ⇠

When they arrived back at the apartment, the demigod and hybrid went back to her room.

Klaus and Percy laid on her bed, just staring up at the ceiling.

There was a bowl of popcorn in between them, and an adorable puppy.

The demigod sat up abruptly and shuffled to get into a 'criss-cross applesauce' position that was facing the hybrid. She picked up the bowl of popcorn and set it down on her lap. "Can I tell you a secret?"

A hint of a smile appeared on his face as he nodded. His head turned to her, waiting for her to speak.

"I usually think that romance movies are gross, but lately they don't seem so bad. Especially rom-coms." Percy admitted before pressing her lips in a thin line.

Klaus laughed. "That's the secret?"

"Don't laugh!" She exclaimed as she tried not to laugh herself. Percy threw a piece of popcorn at him, which he easily caught.

Why was that attractive? For some reason, watching him catch the piece of popcorn just made him seem so cool.

The hybrid looked at her in amusement as he struggled not to laugh again. "How is that a secret, love?"

"Because nobody else can know. You're not allowed to tell anyone, it'll ruin my image."

Klaus thought she was adorable for wanting to keep this a secret. "Alright, my love. You're secret is safe with me."

She grinned. "Good."

Percy picked up a piece of popcorn and ate it. "Nik?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I'd make a good vampire?" She kept her eyes on the bowl of popcorn.

The original replied, "I don't know, love. Do you want to be a vampire?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

Klaus asked another question. "Do you not want to be a goddess?"

"I don't know." She responded again.

She raised her head to look at him, and his blue eyes seemed so comforting. "You don't have to decide right now."

The raven haired beauty nodded. "Yeah, I know." She ate another piece of popcorn, before looking up at him again. "The whole immortal thing is just weird, you know?"

He slowly nodded. "Do you, uh, do you want to grow old?"

Percy shook her head. "I don't know, but that's not what I'm saying." She paused, "It's just that I didn't think I'd make it this far. I thought I'd be dead by now."

Klaus rose an eyebrow, "You thought you'd be dead already?"

The sea green eyed girl shrugged. "Demigods don't usually live that long. I thought I'd die in battle or something."

"And, like I kind of expected to die. I never exactly made plans for the future." She glanced back up at him. "I didn't think I'd have one. And honestly, I wasn't a fan of living forever. The world sucks sometimes, and...I don't know."

He processed her words. When he didn't automatically reply, she quickly added, "Sorry, that was dark. I didn't mean to-"

Klaus sat up and gently grabbed her hand. "You don't ever have to apologize to me."

She got lost in his dark blue eyes, before nodding slightly. "Okay," she whispered.

They sat in silence for a few moments.

He spoke again, "Love, I'll support you no matter what you choose. Okay?"

She nodded again, and bit the inside of her lip slightly. "It is different now though. Because I met you. And not even just you, but your siblings. I feel like I've become good friends with all of you, and I guess immortality doesn't seem so bad anymore."

"Did you just call me a friend?" Klaus asked.

Percy laughed, "It was for the sake of the conversation. We're more than friends."

The corners of lips went up. "Still, it's nice to know that I have a friend."

"We're best friends," the raven haired beauty sent him a cute smile.

His lips quirked up and his cheeks dimpled. "I don't believe I've had one of those before."

"Well, I'm honored to be your first."

He looked down slightly as his smile grew even wider.

Percy ate another piece of popcorn. Her eyes widened as she realized something. "Oh my gods! If I became immortal we could be literal bffs! Because it would last forever."

He chuckled, before his face became a bit more serious. "I would like to spend an eternity with you, love, but I don't want you become immortal just for my sake. I only want you to if you're sure it's what you want."

The sea green eyed girl nodded. "Yeah, I know." She stared deeply into his eyes. "But, I'm not opposed to forever if it's with you."

⇿ ⇿ ⇿ ⇿ ⇿

The pair had decided that they would return to Mystic Falls that same night.

Percy held Estelle in her arms and kissed the top of her head. "I'm gonna miss you." The two year old gently placed her hand on the demigod's face.

The raven haired beauty looked at her baby sister. "Bye, Estelle."

"Bye-bye." The young girl replied.

Percy kissed the top of the baby's head again, before handing her back to Paul. Sally moved forward and wrapped her arms around her older daughter. "I love you, sweetie."

"I love you too, mom." The sea green eyed girl replied.

When their hug ended, Sally took Estelle back from Paul. He stepped forward and hugged Percy as well. While they were saying goodbye to each other, Sally walked over to Klaus and gave him a hug as well, with one arm, as her other held Estelle. When she pulled away, she gave him a smile, "You are welcome back anytime. Thank you for visiting, and it was very nice meeting you."

A small smile appeared on Klaus' face. "Thank you, Sally."

During their visit, he was told to address her by her first name.

Sally gestured to the two year old. "Would you like to say goodbye to Estelle?"

He nodded and picked her up.

The demigod's face softened as she watched how gentle he was with Estelle. "Goodbye, Little Star," he smiled softly at the two year old.

The baby giggled and gently placed her hand on his chin. "Bye-bye."

Once Klaus handed Estelle back to Percy's mom, Paul stepped forward. The hybrid held out his hand for a handshake, but Paul pulled him in for a hug as well.

Aw.

"You should both visit again. It was very nice to meet you," Paul sent him a smile when the hug ended.

The original nodded. "It was nice to meet all of you," he sent a small smile to Estelle and the two adults.

Sally, Paul, and Estelle all said goodbye to Rudy too. Percy hooked the leash onto the dog's harness.

Holding their bags, the hybrid and demigod made their way out the door. There was a chorus of 'bye's' and 'love you's'." Sally also added, "I expect both of you to visit again."

Percy laughed, "Yes, mom."

Once the trio left the building, the demigod glanced over at the original. "How are you feeling?"

The blond looked over at her with a small smile. "I'm good, love." He glanced at Rudy. "You know, your mother gave me a subtle threat as well the other day. She kinda scares me. But then she also said that I was like a son to her, and that I'm a part of the family, so I guess that means I did something right."

Percy chuckled. "Well, that's good to hear. I think they all really like you." She paused as a smile appeared on her lips. "And Estelle adores you."

His lips quirked up at the corners.

The raven haired beauty looked down at the many containers of her mom's blue chocolate chip cookies that she was given. An excited grin appeared on her face. "I can't believe we got so many cookies!"

Rudy's tail wagged at her excitement.

Klaus took a step closer to Percy. His eyes trailed over her happy expression. He appreciated the way her eyes lit up, the corners of her eyes crinkling, as her lips tugged upwards.

She seemed to notice the soft way he was looking at her. "What?" She asked with a cute smile.

"I love you." The words fell from his lips gently, but clearly.

Her face softened. Klaus took another step closer, so that he was just centimeters away from her. "And you don't have to say it back. I don't want you to feel pressured to say it. I just wanted to tell you."

Percy opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off with a kiss. When the kiss ended, she tried again, "Nik-"