Chapter Seventeen

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Bella tossed her head back and laughed loudly as she and Henrik had ended up somewhere in South Carolina deciding to go on a quick camping trip instead of staying in a hotel. Henrik of course was determined to build a fire without the use of any magic. According to him he wanted to do things the human ways, but Bella couldn’t help but feel amused at how awful it was going for him. “Henri, please just use magic.” Bella pleaded with him as a large amount of time had passed since he had begun.

Henrik glared at Bella playfully, “No, I can do this!”

Bella smiled as Henrik went back to trying to get the fire started. Bella wrapped the large blanket they had picked up at the camping store along with their other supplies, tighter around herself. Henrik had chosen to for the meantime not wear his suits, instead now he was wearing a pair of sweats with a long-sleeved shirt, which were taking the role of his pajamas. What had surprised Bella the most was he had started to wear plain colored T-shirts and jeans, a look she found she rather liked on him, but she still believed his suits were the best outfits for him to wear.

Bella clapped as the fired roared to life, she opened up the blanket as Henrik came and sat down beside her and wrapped the blanket around the both of them. Bella leaned her head against him. “This is fun.” She stated with a genuine smile as she looked at the fire.

“It’s refreshing,” Henrik replied, he leaned down and kissed her forehead as he brought her into his lap and put the blanket tighter over the two of them. “You know,” Henrik said with a grin, “I did bring all the supplies to make s’mores.”

Bella smiled, “My hero.” She teased, “I would say let’s make them, but that would entail getting up and I’m really comfortable how we are right now.”

“We can do it later,” Henrik replied with a smile. “Didn’t Charlie use to take you on camping trips?”

Bella nodded with a smile as she thought back to her father. “Though he knew how to light a fire under a minute, without magic I may add.’”

Henrik chuckled, “He really was talented in all this outdoors stuff. Maybe we should do this more often.”

“We now have the camping gear to keep doing it,” Bella stated, she moved slightly and kissed Henrik. “I love you, despite your inability to make a fire before I freeze to death.”

Henrik smiled, “I love you too, Belle.”  He kissed her lightly before pulling back with a grin. “What do you say that sometime soon we find a populated lake and cause a little trouble with that tail of yours?”

Bella smirked, “I love that idea! We’ll have the myths of mermaids brought back to life!”

Henrik held Bella tighter, this trip was everything they needed and it had only just begun. He laughed as Bella squirmed in his hold. “No, you’re going to stay here forever. Just like this.”

Bella laughed, “But I want s’mores.” Bella protested with a smile.

Henrik used his magic to levitate the items towards the two of them. “There, you never have to get up.”

Bella smiled, she leaned back against Henrik as they both got to making s’mores. Bella laughed as Henrik’s marshmallow burned to a crisp. “No!” She yelled as he went to take hers away. She crawled off his lap and blurred to the other side of the fire. “This is mine.” She stated gesturing over to her perfectly toasted marshmallow.

Henrik smirked, “Well, you can’t have s’mores without the graham crackers and chocolate.” He reached over and grabbed the items waving them at Bella.

Bella smiled at Henrik, she used the spell he had used earlier to try and take the chocolate from him. She laughed as they were both trying to take the items away from each other. Bella smiled as she ran towards Henrik and tackled him to the ground she landed on top of him and grabbed the chocolate and crackers from him. She laughed as he reversed the pin and had her pinned to the ground.

“Now, what do you say sharing with me?” Henrik asked with a smile.

Bella sighed, “I guess, if I have to.”

Henrik leaned down and kissed Bella. He pulled back after a few minutes of kissing. “You do have to.” He gently caressed her cheek and was taken back as she smiled up at him. She was incredibly beautiful and he was the luckiest man on the earth to be able to call her his. “You’re beautiful, Belle. So incredibly utterly beautiful.”

Bella smiled, she reached up and rested her hand on his cheek. “I love you, Henri.”

Henrik smiled brightly as he looked at his Belle. “I love you, Belle.” He leaned back down and kissed her, he reached over and took the marshmallow from her and popped it into his mouth.

“Henri!” Bella said trying hard to hide the smile on her face. “I said I’d share not that you could eat it!”

Henrik stood with a smirk, “I didn’t eat your marshmallow! How dare you accuse me of doing such a horrid thing?”

Bella rolled her eyes, “You owe me a s’more, Henri!”

“But I didn’t eat your marshmallow!” Henrik argued doing his best not to laugh.

Bella glared at him, “Fine, but be aware I will get you back for this.”

Henrik chuckled, he wrapped his arms around Bella. “I’ll make you as many s’mores as you wish, just stop pouting.”

“I was not pouting!” Bella said with a smile. She led Henrik back to the fire. “I would like a s’more, with two marshmallows.”

Henrik laughed, he sat down and pulled Bella onto his lap, he kissed her neck softly. “Extra chocolate?” Henrik questioned.

Bella smiled, “But of course, Henri. Just don’t burn them.” Bella laid her head against Henrik and focused on his heartbeat. “How are you feeling?” She questioned, of course she could feel his sadness, but she needed to hear his response.

“Hurt.” Henrik replied tightening his hold on her. “Sad. Angry, but I’m happy with you.” He turned his head and kissed her temple. “You make me feel loved, and that makes everything else close to nonexistent.”

“There’s nothing that will ever get me to stop loving you, Henri.” Bella whispered as she put her arms around him and rested her head back on his chest. She kissed where his heart was and sighed as she focused on the love they were feeling for each other, nothing could compare to the feeling.

-Previously At Mikaelson Mansion-

“What happened? I don’t understand how he came back to life.” Finn said as he rubbed his face trying his hardest to understand what sort of miracle brought back the brother he had lost long ago.

Klaus sighed and gestured to the empty seats in front of him. “Take a seat, I’ll explain the best I can.”

Klaus crossed his arms over his chest and looked to his siblings, he wouldn’t tell them about Bella’s gift for it wasn’t his secret to tell, but he would do his best to explain things without revealing too much of Bella.

“Henrik returned over ten years ago.” Klaus began as he began the tale. “When I saw him again after his return, he was no longer the boy we once knew he was the man you all saw today. Because he and Isabella met around the same age, he grew with her in his ghost form. When he returned he came back being close to the same ages as her. Our brother’s first and main concern has always been to protect her. He has killed for her, and he will do anything in his power to keep her safe. That is why he did not wish to wake any of you sooner. He didn’t trust you around her, and I don’t blame him for his mistrust of you all. My brother has very little trust in anyone to be truthful, something I imagine he got from all the years he spent on the other side.”

“I can’t understand how he could trust you, but not me. I would never hurt the girl,” Elijah said still not being able to understand how Henrik had chosen Klaus over him. He wasn’t able to come to terms on why he wasn’t good enough.

Klaus sighed in annoyance. “When I first saw Henrik after his return from the dead, he came alone to meet me. He made it clear that if I did not pose a threat to Isabella, he would be more than happy to have me back in his life. Let me make it very clear to all of you, if you wish to earn out brother’s trust once more, you must also earn his wife’s trust. They are team, what one of them feels the other does as well,  it’s how they work.”

“You have the girl’s trust as well?” Kol said tilting his head. “How did you manage that?”

Klaus smirked, “I don’t have any idea. Bella has always been one to follow her instincts, there’s not much you can do if she already dislikes you upon your first encounter with her.”

“Did you turn him?” Finn questioned. “Were you the one to make him into a vampire?”

Klaus shook his head. “With his return, our brother also returned with his magic. With all his time on the other side, Henrik learned a variety of things. One of the most important being the immortality spell our mother used on us all. It wasn’t soon after his return that he re-created the spell our mother created and he became one of us. The only thing Henrik managed to do that our mother never could was he was able to keep his magic.”

“If he knew the girl when she was human, and he returned as a human, why didn’t he stay human? He could’ve had the life none of us could’ve had. The life he wanted, kids, a house, the wife.” Rebekah said as she couldn’t understand why his brother would give up the perks of being mortal for the damnation of immortality. .

“All Henrik really wanted was to be by the side of his true love, and he got that. Bella was never able to have kids, so it wasn’t an issue when he turned. Henrik turned for the sole purpose of being strong enough to protect Bella against anything.” Klaus replied as he eyed all his siblings carefully.

“How long did it take for the girl to change? Is she as strong as the rest of us?” Kol questioned as he tapped his fingers on his knee as he was eager to learn more about his brother and his new sister in law and the life they held.

“It took only a few months for Bella to change as well. Henrik made sure to make her as strong as him, they’re equals to each other.” Klaus responded. “Isabella is just as strong as Henrik is, our brother made sure of that. With the enemies we’ve created for the Mikaelson name, Henrik made sure she would be able to protect herself if he wasn’t able to be there for her.”

“And when did they marry?” Rebekah said glancing back down at the picture she still had clutched in her hands.

“Not that long after they started university.” Klaus replied with a smirk. “Our brother tries to lead as normal a life as he can. He was a lawyer for some amount of time and now he’s a teacher at the local school were Isabella is the nurse.”

“Do you think he will forgive us?” Kol questioned, he wanted to get to know his brother again, to be able to get the chance to know the man he had become.

“Not anytime soon.” Klaus replied with a serious expression.  “You’re all idiots. You hurt our brother more than you can know. He watched over all of us! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US!” Klaus yelled in anger as he really thought on what his siblings had done to Henrik. “YOU FORGOT HIM! Don’t you understand that you rejected him? You had all forgotten him so much you couldn’t recognize him anymore. It’s going to take more than a simple apology for you to get our brother’s forgiveness…that is if he ever decides to forgive you.”

Klaus stood and glared at his siblings. “You all claim that family has and will always come first, but I think it’s time for you all to understand that you’re all liars. If family came first, Henrik would’ve never have had to feel the rejection from the people he once called family. When our brother returns, I suggest you all begin to figure out how you’re going to prove that he is your sibling. After what happened today, it’s going to take a lot to earn the forgiveness you wish to have from our brother. You all don’t understand how much you ruined things. Henrik was ready to forgive you! He was ready to put all of this behind him, but you all were too stupid to stop and think before you acted. You were all too ignorant to realize that he was the brother we all lost so long ago. I’m afraid you might have lost him all over again because of your foolish actions.” Klaus left the room and headed upstairs letting his siblings think on the words he just said.

-Page Break-

Henrik smiled as he woke up with his Belle at his side. They were together on the ground, their tent having no use to them as they slept beside the fire. Henrik chuckled, as Bella rolled over and lay completely on top of him. He ran his fingers down her sides and smiled as he knew the exact spots in which she was ticklish.

He laughed as she swatted his hands away. “Come on, Belle. It’s time to wake up.” Henrik whispered in her ear. “Did you know we slept outside all night?”

Bella nodded against Henrik’s chest. “I was too tired to move, and I thought it was sort of fun. Now, let me get some sleep.” Bella put her hand over Henrik’s mouth to keep him from laughing and making any more noise. She laughed out loud as he flipped them over and kissed her hand as he removed it from his mouth. “Why are you up so early?” Bella questioned as she ran her fingers through Henrik’s hair.

“It began to get cold, the fire finally went out.” Henrik said he smiled down at his Bella. “Why don’t we go for a swim in the lake and then head into town and see what there is for us to do.”

Bella smiled, she got out from under Henrik and ran towards the lake. “I’ll race you!” She shouted as she ran towards the lake. She laughed as she jumped in, her pajamas disappearing as she took on her mermaid form. She popped her head out of the water and looked over at Henrik as he removed his shirt and jumped into the water.

Bella laughed as he grabbed her leg and pulled her back under the water. She kissed him running her hands through his hair. She pulled back with a wide grin as she quickly swam out of his arms and began to swim away knowing he would chase after her.

Bella slowed down and looked over her shoulder and smiled as she saw Henrik coming closer. She turned around to face him. She grinned as he wrapped his arms around her, “I love you.” Bella mouthed as she put her arms around his neck.

Henrik moved in closer and kissed her, he tangled his hand in her hair as he deepened the kiss. He pulled back after minutes had passed and rested his forehead against hers, and met her eyes. He knew he didn’t need to say the words for her to know how much love he held for her.

Bella laughed as she dried off her hair as they planned on heading into town at any minute. Henrik had decided that he would put away their unused camping tent. “Do you need help, Henrik?” Bella questioned as she stepped closer.

Henrik shook his head, “No, I’ll just use magic.”

“That’s cheating!” Bella taunted with a smile.

Henrik shrugged as he used magic to perfectly put the tent away. He smirked at Bella. “There, all done. We can go now.”

Bella smiled, as she helped Henrik pack everything into the car. She got into the passenger seat of the car and put her feet up on the dashboard. “So where to now? What exactly do you have planned in that mind of yours for us to do today?”

“I’m not a hundred percent set on anything, but I’m sure we’ll find something to do.” Henrik said as he started the car and began to drive. He reached over and took Bella’s hand in his and kissed the back of it. He intertwined their fingers together as he drove.

Bella looked over at Henrik with a questioning look. “A carnival? You sure you want to spend the day here?”

Henrik smiled as he got out of the car. He blurred over to Bella’s side and opened the door for her. “Not the entire day, I have other plans for us tonight.” He took her hand in his and led her towards the entrance were he purchased their tickets and headed inside. Henrik wrapped his arm around Bella. “What do you want to do first? We can get on the rides, play the games, or eat.”

Bella smiled at Henrik. “Let’s play some games.” She said as she led Henrik over to the ring toss. Bella paid the man for a game and handed the rings to Henrik. “I want that teddy bear with those swirly glasses.”

Henrik laughed, “Are you sure, Belle? The gorilla with the sombrero looks a lot better.”

Bella shook her head, “That teddy bear looks a lot cooler.”

Henrik smiled he twirled the rings around in his hands as he looked at the game. He pecked Bella on the lips before he tossed the rings getting them to land perfectly stacked together. He gestured to the bear as he looked at the man in charge of the game. “My wife would like that one.” He said to the man, he smiled as Bella reached forward and grabbed the bear. “Thanks.” Henrik said to the man. “Hmm… let’s see if they have anything more challenging.”

Bella rolled her eyes, she smiled as she saw the water guns. She knew there would be no way Henrik could beat her at that game. “Come on, let’s go play this one.” She set her bear down and sat down on the stool.

“What do we have to do for this one?” Henrik questioned as he eyed the setup of the game.

“You shoot the water into the tiny little target hole. Than your numbered horse starts to move, the first one to the finish line wins.” Bella said she smirked at Henrik. “I’m so going to beat you.” She taunted.

Henrik laughed. “You don’t stand a chance, Belle.”

Bella smiled as the bell rang and she and Henrik began. She sighed in annoyance as Henrik was an inch in front of her. Bella reached over and gently pushed Henrik to cause him to lose control of the gun giving her enough time to get ahead. Bella grinned as she won and the man handed over the small toy horse. “I won!” She said with a smile as she waved the toy in front of Henrik.

Henrik laughed, “You only won because you cheated.”

Bella gasped back in fake shock. “I would never!” She said trying to hide back the smile that threatened to surface.

Henrik smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. He kissed her temple. “You so cheated, but I guess its okay, I can’t win at everything.”

Bella smiled. “You certainly cannot.” She replied as she leaned into Henrik carrying the large bear in one hand and the small horse in the other. “So what now?” Bella questioned. “I think it’d be unfair to continue to win prizes.”

“Then let’s go and get something to eat.” Henrik said as he led Bella to a small picnic table. “I’ll be right back with food.”

Bella smiled and watched him disappear. She set her prizes down just as her phone began to go off. She pulled it out from her pocket and winced as it was Klaus. She should’ve called sooner to let him know they were okay. “Hey, Nik.” She said answering the phone.

Klaus sighed, “I was beginning to think I’d never hear from either of you again.”

Bella smiled, “Sorry, we’ve just been so caught up in being together I forgot to let you know we were okay.”

“I assume you won’t be coming back for some time?” Klaus said his voice strained over the phone.

“I don’t think we’ll be back anytime soon. He hasn’t spoken about it, but he still is a bit hurt.” Bella replied. “I can feel it from him, but it’s not as strong as it was back at the house. If anything I think just having some time where it’s just the two of us is helping him.”

“I should get going, we’re having some trouble here in Mystic Falls.” Klaus said his voice becoming strained over the phone. “I’ll call you later, Bella. Keep an eye on him please, I would hate for anything to happen to him.”

Bella nodded. “Be careful, Nik.” Bella said as she hung up. She set her phone down beside her and turned to see Henrik making his way over with a tray of foods. “What did you get?” Bella asked as he set the tray down.

“The works.” Henrik replied with a smirk. “We can’t leave here without trying the best carnival foods.”

Bella rolled her eyes at his. “So what exactly did you get?”

Henrik smirked, “I got the extra-large hot dogs with everything, two corndogs, two chili burgers, fries, onion rings, nachos, and this pretzel with a side of melted cheese.”

Bella laughed as she looked at all the food that they had. “You don’t really think we’re going to finish all of this do you?”

Henrik smiled, “I think we can try, at the very least we have to try a bite of everything.”

Bella nodded with a smile. “Okay, let’s start.” Bella reached for the hot dog and looked it over. The toppings were practically spilling over onto her hand. “How the hell do they get everything to fit onto it?”

Henrik smiled, “Just take a bite, Belle.”

Bella took in deep breath and took a bite of the hot dog. She wrinkled her nose at the taste. “I guess its okay, but I think I’m going to try something else.”

Henrik laughed, he handed over the burger. “Try this.”

Bella sighed, “Something tells me I really don’t want to.”

“Don’t be a baby,” Henrik teased with a smile.

Bella took the burger and took a bite from it. She set it down with a smile. “Okay, that wasn’t as bad as the hot dog, but now you have to try the corndog.”

Henrik smiled, “And if I don’t like it?”

“Then you try the onion rings.” Bella said she handed Henrik the corn dog. “Come on, try it out.”

Henrik took a bike and shook his head. “This tastes worse than the ones they gave out at Forks High.”

Bella smiled, “I miss Forks sometimes.” She admitted as she reached over and grabbed a fry. “It’s where it all started.”

“Technically, it started in Phoenix.” Henrik replied with a smile. “That’s where we met, thats were we became friends.”

“That may be true, but it was Forks that was our home. It was Forks where you came back to life, where you and I finally got together. It was Forks were everything started for us.” Bella said she reached over and took Henrik’s hand in hers. “I’d like to go back at some point in time. It’s the place that reminds me of you the most. It has a few bad memories, but your memory will always be there.”

Henrik smiled, he pulled Bella’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “We’ll go back eventually, I promise.”

Bella smiled, “Good.”

-Page Break-

Bella paused as she and Henrik were about to leave the carnival as their next activity started in 45 minutes. She walked up to the game stand and her eyes widened at the stuffed animal in the back.

“Something wrong my Belle?” Henrik asked as he put his arm around Bella.

Bella shook her head and grinned widely. “What do you say to winning me one more stuffed toy?”

Henrik grinned, “Which one caught your eye?” He said as he glanced over the prizes.

Bella pointed to the stuffed monkey that had the tail of a mermaid and long red hair. “It’s just too adorable to pass up.”

Henrik smiled the monkey was probably close to Bella’s height. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll get it for you, Belle.” He walked forward and paid the man for the darts. He just had to pop the right balloons.

Bella smiled as Henrik seemed to take the game manager by awe as he hadn’t missed a single hit. Bella put her arms around Henrik’s waist. “You really are good at anything you put your mind to.”

Henrik smiled, he kissed Bella lightly and hit the last balloon. He turned towards the man. “My wife would like that monkey mermaid in the back.”

The man reached up and took down the monkey. He took it down and handed it to Bella, “How long have you two been married?”

Henrik and Bella looked to each other with a smile. “About ten years or so.” Bella replied with a smile. “We’ve been friends since we were kids, we got married fairly young.”

The man nodded a smile on his face as he could practically feel the love radiating off the to of them.  “It was nice to meet you both, have a good night.”

Bella wrapped her arms around the monkey. “We will, thank you.” She smiled as Henrik put his arm around her shoulders and they walked back to the car.

“Have a good day so far?” Henrik asked with a smile as he saw Bella set the monkey carefully in the back of the car.

Bella turned and smiled up at Henrik. “Today has been utterly perfect, Henri. Are we headed back on the road?”

Henrik shook his head, “Not tonight, I saw something I wanted to do.”

Bella raised an eyebrow. “And what is it?”

Henrik opened the car door for Bella and helped her in. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Bella smiled as Henrik started the car. He moved his hand and intertwined it with her, something Bella took comfort in. “I love you, Henri.” She said as she moved to sit close to his side.

“I love you, Belle.” Henrik said as he kissed her forehead. He pulled up into a drive in theatre and smiled over at Bella. “You once said you wanted to come to one of these.”

Bella laughed, “This is really cool, Henri. How did you find this?”

Henrik shrugged. “I looked it up, they’re playing a horror movie tonight. I thought it’d be fun to watch it.” He moved his arm around Bella and brought her into his lap. “Thank you for doing this with me, for leaving everything behind and coming with me.”

Bella smiled and rested her forehead against his. “I’d go anywhere with you, Henrik. It’ll always be you and me facing everything together.”

Henrik nodded, he kissed Bella softly and wrapped his arms tighter around her bringing her in closer. “You and me. Always.”

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Author’s Note

So yes, this chapter does have a lot of Henrik and Bella, but it’s what I liked the most of it. I thought it was time these two guys had a little time to themselves.

Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy!

-Ade

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