I LOVE THE WAY I WROTE KLAUS IN THIS CHAP, AS PROMISED A LONGER CHAP

THE MANSION had an eerie smell, like old flowers left too long in a dusty vase—a scent that somehow seemed to cling to every corner of the vast, gloomy halls. Sunny scrunched up her nose, glancing around the room with a frown. It was dark, the kind of dark that settled into your bones and made you wonder how anyone could live in a place like this.

"Dad, why are we stealing? Stealing is bad." Sunny's small voice echoed in the vast room as she fiddled with a pen she found on the desk her father was currently rummaging under.

Klaus, head buried beneath the desk, muttered in response, "We are not doing anything, Bunny. I'm doing the hard work here."

Sunny sighed, leaning her chin into the palm of her hand as she watched him scrounge around. "Okay, then, why are you stealing?"

Klaus winced as his head collided with the underside of the table. "Relax, Sun-Bun," he said, his tone light and carefree, though he was rubbing the sore spot on his skull. "I'm just grabbing something that might get us a good motel later."

"Or maybe some good pills..." Sunny muttered under her breath, too quietly for him to hear.

"What was that?" Klaus's voice was sharp as he glanced up at her, but before Sunny could respond, a figure appeared in the doorway.

A woman, her face a mix of curiosity and confusion, stepped into the room. Sunny froze, instinctively going still in the presence of someone unfamiliar. The woman's gaze fell on her, not harsh, but questioning.

"And who are you?" the woman asked, her voice soft but direct.

Sunny hesitated, her small fingers tightening around the pen she was holding. "I—uh—Dad, I'm here with my dad," she stammered, pointing a shaky finger toward the desk where Klaus was still half-hidden.

The woman's eyes followed Sunny's gesture, and when she saw Klaus, her expression shifted from confusion to recognition. "Klaus? What are you doing in here?" she asked, her tone tinged with both surprise and something like concern.

Klaus jerked his head up, a wide grin spreading across his face as he finally registered who was standing before him. "Oh, Allison! Wow, is that you?" he exclaimed, quickly standing up and brushing off his clothes as if he hadn't just been caught rifling through their deceased father's belongings.

Allison's expression remained deadpan as Klaus approached her with open arms. He pulled her into a hug, his embrace enthusiastic and slightly awkward. "Long time, no see! Way too long! I was hoping I'd run into you, actually—I wanted to get your autograph. Add it to my collection!" he added with a mischievous grin and a little pose.

Allison stepped back, raising an eyebrow at him. "Just out of rehab? And now you have a kid?" she said, her gaze drifting down to Sunny, who was now clinging to Klaus's leg like a lifeline.

"Oh! You've met Sunny!" Klaus said, his voice filled with exaggerated cheerfulness as he scooped Sunny up, lifting her into the air as if she weighed nothing. He held her out toward Allison, grinning proudly. "Isn't she cute?"

Allison softened at the sight of the little girl, her stern expression melting into a gentle smile. She reached out and lightly booped Sunny's nose, earning a shy giggle from the child. "Oh, the cutest," Allison agreed, her voice warm. "And she's...how old?"

Sunny beamed, holding up ten fingers in an enthusiastic but sloppy display. "I'm this many!" she announced proudly.

Klaus chuckled, shaking his head. "Minus four, she's a soft...six," he corrected, setting Sunny back on the ground with a fond ruffle of her hair. "But hey, we came by to check if the old man was really dead, and guess what? He is! Yay!" Klaus clapped his hands together in mock celebration, his eyes wide with feigned excitement.

Sunny, however, was less impressed. She crossed her arms and fixed her father with a disapproving look. "Daddy, death is not funny," she said with the sternness only a child could muster.

Klaus's grin faltered, and he placed a hand over his heart in mock contrition. "Sorry, Bunny," he said, his voice softer now, though the glint of mischief never fully left his eyes. "But you know how I know he's really dead? Because if he were alive, not one of us would be able to set foot in this room. He was always in here during our whole childhood, plotting his next torment, right?"

Klaus's tone turned almost wistful as he plopped down into the desk chair, gesturing dramatically toward the massive portrait of their father that loomed over the room. "Remember how he used to look at us? That scowl?" he rambled, pointing at the painting. "Thank Christ he's not our real father, so we couldn't inherit those cold, dead eyes! Ah!" Klaus widened his eyes in an exaggerated imitation, making a face so ridiculous that even Allison couldn't help but smile.

But Sunny wasn't laughing. She was still upset that her dad was making jokes about someone being dead. She frowned up at him, her little brow furrowed with disapproval, but Klaus didn't seem to notice.

He opened his mouth to start on another one of his rambling stories when a deep, commanding voice cut through the room. "Get out of his chair."

Sunny turned, her eyes widening as she saw the huge, blonde man standing in the doorway, his expression stern and unyielding. There was no mistaking the anger in his voice, though he kept it tightly controlled.

"Oh, wow! Luther!" Klaus exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with mock delight as he took in his brother's massive frame. "Oh, wow, you really, uh... filled out over the years," he added with a cheeky grin, flexing his own arms in a playful imitation of Luther's muscular build.

Luther wasn't amused. "Klaus—" he began, his tone sharp.

But Klaus, ever the joker, waved him off before he could continue. "Ah! Save the lecture, I was already leaving, right, Sunshine?" Klaus said, standing up and grabbing Sunny's hand as if nothing had happened. "You guys can talk amongst yourselves."

He started to walk away, but Luther was quicker. He reached out, his hand clamping down on Klaus's shoulder with a grip that was far from gentle. "Drop it," Luther ordered, his voice low and deadly serious.

Klaus stopped, his body tensing as he turned to face his brother. "Ex-squeeze me?" he quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The pun was so bad that even Sunny, who usually giggled at her dad's silly jokes, wanted to hide from the secondhand embarrassment.

"Do it. Now," Luther repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

For a moment, Klaus just stared at him, a defiant glint in his eye. But then, with a dramatic sigh, he pulled away from Luther's grip and reluctantly dropped the items he had pilfered onto the floor. "All right! All right!" he huffed, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. "Just...an advance on our inheritance. That's all it is!"

With a final, exaggerated eye roll, Klaus took Sunny's hand again, his grip a little too tight this time. "No need to get your little panties in a bunch," he muttered, pulling Sunny along as they made their way out of the room. "Come on, Bunny."

Once they were out of earshot, Klaus glanced around to make sure they were alone before pulling a small box from his coat pocket. He held it up with a smirk. "Looks like we're getting a good motel tonight," he whispered conspiratorially.

Sunny stared at the box, then up at her dad, her face a mix of confusion and exasperation. "Jesus fuck, Dad," she blurted out, her voice incredulous.

Klaus froze, his eyes widening in shock as he stared down at her, completely taken aback by the strong language coming from his six-year-old daughter. "Oh goodness!" he gasped, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Where did you learn to talk like that?"

But Sunny just shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "From you," she said simply.

"Fair enough then," he muttered, ruffling her hair affectionately. "What am I going to do with you, Bunny?"

SUNNY KNEW THAT she shouldn't wander, but she did anyway. She had a knack for getting into places she shouldn't, a curious little habit that often had Klaus chasing after her through various dimly lit hallways and dusty rooms. Today was no different.

She tiptoed around the corner of the large, unfamiliar mansion, her small hands brushing against the cold walls. The place was creepy, like something out of a storybook with ghosts and monsters. Her dad's stories had painted the mansion in such a strange light that her imagination ran wild every time she turned a corner. But she was a Hargreeves, and Hargreeves kids weren't supposed to be scared of anything—at least, that's what her dad always said.

Lost in her thoughts, Sunny didn't notice the tall figure that rounded the corner ahead of her until it was too late. She bumped into him, nearly falling backward before catching herself. Her wide eyes darted up to meet a pair of stern, suspicious ones.

Diego stared down at the tiny girl in front of him, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. He had never seen her before, and he certainly hadn't expected to find a child wandering around the mansion.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind. Diego wasn't exactly known for his gentle approach, but he wasn't about to scare the little girl, especially one who looked so lost.

Sunny froze. She didn't know this man, and he looked... scary. Not like her dad, who was scary in a fun way, but like he could actually be dangerous. She shrank back, her small frame trembling slightly as she struggled to find her voice.

"I—I'm here with my dad..." she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She was sure she shouldn't be talking to strangers, but he was asking, and she didn't want to get in trouble for not answering.

Diego's eyes narrowed as he knelt to her level, trying to make himself appear less intimidating. "Your dad? Who's your dad?"

Before Sunny could respond, a familiar voice echoed through the hallway. "Bunny! I've been wondering where you've hopped off to. Oh, Diego! You're here too."

Klaus appeared around the corner, his usual carefree grin plastered on his face. He was always so nonchalant, like nothing in the world could bother him. Sunny felt an immediate sense of relief wash over her, and without a second thought, she ran to him, wrapping her small arms around his leg and hiding her face in the fabric of his pants.

Klaus chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Oh, I see you've met Bunny," he said with a playful lilt to his voice. "My daughter."

Diego stood up, his eyes widening in disbelief. "I swear to fuck, Klaus, if you named that kid Bunny, I'm going to strangle you."

"Relax!" Klaus waved a hand dismissively. "Her name is Sunny. I call her Bunny because she hops and hops like a little bunny. Isn't she cute?" He glanced down at Sunny, who peeked out from behind his leg with a shy smile.

"Yeah... adorable," Diego muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. He still couldn't believe Klaus had a kid. The idea seemed as absurd as Klaus himself.

They stood there for a moment, the absurdity of the situation hanging in the air. Diego couldn't help but wonder what the hell Klaus was thinking, bringing a kid into this mess of a family.

"So, where the hell do you send her while you're in rehab?" Diego asked, his tone taking on a more serious edge.

Klaus shrugged, clearly unbothered by the question. "A friend, you know. Good guy, trustworthy. Takes good care of her. Somewhat I think."

"A friend?" Diego repeated, the concern evident in his voice. "You trust a friend with your kid?"

Sunny, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up, her voice still soft and shy. "He has a dog..."

Diego sighed, rubbing his temples as he processed the information. "Goddammit, Klaus. You're okay with this? You're her dad, for Christ's sake."

Klaus just smiled, his usual carefree attitude firmly in place. "And I'm doing my best. She's alive, isn't she? Happy, healthy. That's gotta count for something."

Diego shook his head, still struggling to wrap his mind around it all. "What about her mom? Where's she?"

Klaus's expression faltered for a moment, a rare flash of something darker passing through his eyes before he quickly masked it with his usual nonchalance. "She left when Sunny was a week old. Couldn't handle the responsibility, I guess. But hey, it's just me and Bunny against the world now."

"God damnit, Klaus, you fucking idiot." Diego said, ready to tear his own head off.

Klaus covered Sunny's ears. "Hey! Watch the language, you what she said earlier? 'Jesus, fuck'. A six year old said that!"

"Do you like my camera...?" Asked Sunny timidly, holding out her camera. "It has unicorns..."

Diego looked at the camera. "Yeah, very creative."

THIS WAS AWKWARD for Sunny—really awkward. The entire family was gathered in the living room, and the air was thick with tension and a kind of uncomfortable silence that made her wish she could disappear into the floor. Klaus, always one to take the edge off in his own peculiar way, was in the kitchen mixing some kind of alcoholic concoction. Everyone was waiting, fidgeting in their seats, unsure of what to say or do.

Sunny, in her oversized purple graphic T-shirt and light-up shoes, sat quietly on the couch, a small glass in her hand. She swirled the liquid around, mirroring what she'd seen her dad do a hundred times, feeling the strange warmth of the drink as it went down. The thing was, no one had noticed what she was drinking—at least, not until Luther's voice broke through the awkward silence.

"Is that—" Luther started, narrowing his eyes at the glass in her hand. "That's not for kids!" He quickly reached over and snatched the glass from her grip, his eyes wide with shock.

Everyone turned to look, their eyes landing on Sunny, who looked as innocent as could be, except for the fact that she had clearly been drinking something she definitely shouldn't have been. It was almost comical—the little girl with her light-up shoes and slightly sticky hands, casually holding a glass of what Luther was horrified to discover was straight alcohol.

"Klaus! Your kid was drinking..." Luther brought the glass to his lips and took a small sip, immediately grimacing. "She was drinking straight alcohol!"

Sunny blinked, slightly dazed, and rubbed her face with the back of her hand, feeling the heat from the drink spreading through her cheeks. "It's... warm," she mumbled, more to herself than anyone else, her words slightly slurred as she swayed a little in her seat.

From the kitchen, Klaus called out, sounding only half-aware of what was happening. "Sun-bug, alcohol isn't for little girls," he said, his voice distracted as he focused more on his own drink than the situation unraveling in the living room.

Luther, clearly not satisfied with Klaus's casual response, sighed heavily and turned back to the rest of the family. "I guess we should get this started then," he said, trying to compose himself. "So, I figured we could have a sort of memorial service in the courtyard at sundown. Say a few words at Dad's favorite spot."

"Dad had a favorite spot?" Allison asked, raising an eyebrow, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah, under the oak tree," Luther replied, as if it were obvious. "We used to sit out there all the time. None of you ever did that?"

Suddenly, Klaus came strolling into the living room from the kitchen, a glass of alcohol in one hand and a cigarette in the other, looking like he didn't have a care in the world. "Will there be refreshments? Tea? Scones? Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner."

"What? No—put that out, you know Dad didn't allow smoking in here," Luther said, exasperated, his hand instinctively reaching out to take the cigarette from Klaus.

Klaus just smirked, not bothering to hide his amusement, and set his bottle on the coffee table with a flourish. But before anyone could say anything else, Allison's voice rang out, cutting through the moment like a knife.

"Is that my skirt?" Allison asked, her tone accusatory as she pointed at the floral fabric peeking out from beneath Klaus's shirt.

Klaus sharply turned, as if suddenly realizing what he was wearing. "What? Oh! Yeah, this? I found it in your room. It's a little dated, I know, but it's very breathable on all the bits," he said, his voice light and teasing.

Sunny felt her face flush, partly from the alcohol and partly from the sheer embarrassment of being Klaus Hargreeves's daughter. She wished she could sink into the couch and disappear, anything to avoid the heat of everyone's gaze as they looked between her and her dad. Why did he have to be so... Klaus?

Luther, trying to steer the conversation back on track, cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "Listen up," he said firmly, attempting to reclaim some semblance of authority in the room. "We still have some important things to discuss, all right?"

"Like what?" Diego chimed in, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair, clearly skeptical of whatever Luther had planned.

"Like the way he died," Luther said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone.

And just like that, the room grew even quieter, the weight of what Luther was implying settling over them like a heavy blanket. Sunny, who had been fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, froze, her fingers going still as she sensed the change in the room.

Diego's expression darkened, his jaw clenching as he ducked his head, not wanting to meet anyone's eyes. Klaus, seemingly oblivious to the tension, plopped down on the couch next to Sunny, his knee knocking against hers. She looked up at him, wide-eyed, and he shot her a quick, reassuring grin before taking another sip from his glass.

The conversation continued without them, with Luther droning on about their father and the last conversation he'd had with him. Sunny wasn't really listening, though. She was more focused on the glass in Klaus's hand, the way the amber liquid sloshed around as he gestured with it. Without thinking, she reached for it, desperate for something to calm the growing anxiety in her chest. But Klaus was quicker, snatching it away and taking a long, exaggerated gulp, making a mockingly satisfied noise as he did.

Sunny glared at him, her small fists balling up in her lap. "Daddy, that's not fair," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with the kind of anger that only a tipsy nine-year-old could muster. "I want a sip."

"Not a chance, Sunny-bug," Klaus replied, his voice playful but firm. He stared her down, wagging a finger in her direction, and Sunny pouted, crossing her arms with a huff.

When she finally turned her attention back to the conversation, she realized Luther was still talking. God, he talked a lot. "I'm just saying, at the very least, something happened. The last time I talked to Dad, he sounded strange."

"Oh! Quelle surprise!" Klaus interjected, gurgling in his drink.

"Strange how?" Allison asked, her eyes narrowing in curiosity, glad to have the focus off Klaus for once.

"He sounded on edge, told me I should be careful who to trust," Luther explained, his tone grave, as if he were revealing some great secret.

Sunny shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension building in the room. This was bad—really bad. She could feel it in her bones. She tugged at the hem of Klaus's sleeve, wanting to tell him to stop being so careless, to take this seriously, but she couldn't find the words. Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth, her thoughts jumbled from the alcohol and the stress of it all.

Luther was relentless, continuing his train of thought without missing a beat. "No, he must've known something was going to happen," he insisted, his eyes locking onto Klaus as if the answer to all his questions was sitting right there in front of him. "Look, I know you don't like to do it, but I need you to talk to Dad."

Allison scoffed, crossing her arms. Klaus groaned loudly, leaning forward with a dramatic flair. "I can't just call Dad in the afterlife and be like, 'Dad, can you stop playing tennis with Hitler for a quick moment and take a call?'" he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

Sunny cringed, wishing she could disappear. Why did her dad have to be so... well, *him*? She loved him more than anything, but sometimes, she really wished he could just be normal—at least for a little while.

"Since when? That's your thing!" Luther retorted, his frustration bubbling over as he glared at Klaus.

"I'm not in the right... frame of mind!" Klaus shot back, slumping against the couch, clearly annoyed that they were even having this conversation.

"You're high?" Allison said, though it was more of a statement than a question. Klaus, of course, just laughed, nodding vigorously like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Sunny's stomach twisted in knots. She was used to her dad being... well, *Klaus*, but this was a lot—even for her.

"In front of the kid, Klaus?" Diego's voice cut through the room like a knife, sharp and full of judgment.

Klaus waved a dismissive hand, rolling his eyes. "How are you not, listening to all this nonsense?" he retorted, clearly unbothered by Diego's tone.

Sunny couldn't hold back any longer. "Maybe because drugs are bad, Dad!" she blurted out, her voice higher and more panicked than she meant for it to be.

Klaus blinked, turning to look at her with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Yeah, maybe if you take too many," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Sunny crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a tight line. "Which you totally do," she shot back, her voice full of conviction.

Luther, desperate to regain control of the conversation, glared at Klaus. "Well, sober up. This is important. Besides, then there's the matter of the missing monocle."

Diego let out a loud sigh, clearly fed up. "Who gives a shit about a stupid monocle?"

"Exactly. It's worthless. So whoever took it, I think it was personal. Someone close to him, someone with a grudge," Luther said, his voice low and full of suspicion.

The room fell silent, the tension so thick that Sunny could feel it pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She glanced up at Klaus, who raised his eyebrows in response, clearly thinking the same thing she was—this was bad. Across the room, she noticed Diego's expression shift, a mean sort of half-smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he leaned back in his chair. It was clear that whatever was happening, Diego had already figured it out. And now, everyone else was starting to catch on too.

"He thinks one of us killed Dad," Diego finally said, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of something darker.

Klaus's mouth dropped open in mock horror. "You do," he said, his tone full of exaggerated disbelief.

A matching expression of vague disgust spread across the room, and Diego, clearly done with the conversation, patted Luther on the shoulder before heading for the door. "Great job, Luther, way to lead," he said sarcastically as he walked away.

"That's not what I'm sayi—" Luther tried to explain, his voice full of frustration.

But Klaus was done—completely done. He turned to Sunny, scooping her up into his arms in one swift motion. "Nuh uh! Nope! I refuse to expose my impressionable baby to this craziness," he announced, holding her close to his chest as he stood up. Sunny instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Close your ears, Bun-Bun, we are leaving!" Klaus said dramatically.