______

When Emersyn woke, she was in an unfamiliar bed. She tried to move but pain flooded through her body causing her to groan.

Her hand moved up to hold her head, only for pain to blossom with the touch.

"Hey, hey. No moving," a voice spoke, causing her to open her eyes. She blinked a few times and saw it was Tony.

The man was walking into the room with a tray of what she assumed to be food before taking a seat in the chair beside her bed. He set the tray down on the bedside table before gently taking her hand and moving it back to her side.

"Dad?" Emersyn muttered, her voice rough from not speaking.

He nodded, "It's me, sweetheart. It's just you and me."

Tears gathered in the young Starks eyes, "I'm sorry, Dad."

Tony shook his head as his hand moved down to wipe the tear before it could fall, "No, honey. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"But I helped them. I knew everything–"

"I know. But I would have done the same thing if it was for my friend. Barnes... as much as I don't enjoy his company right now, is still the man that protected you, the man that saved you from death for years. So, I'm gonna hold a grudge against him, not for long, just long enough."

Her eyes met the bruises on his face, "And Steve?"

He shrugged, "That one is up to you. He's the reason you're stuck in this bed. If it was up to me, he'd be dead."

She was silent for a moment before her eyes met him again, "The world knows?"

"Yeah. Ross enjoyed revealing that."

"Did they see me knock him on his ass?"

"You made sure of that," he replied, laughing softly. "It's been mostly positive reactions. Most people are worried about you. They all saw you get shot before getting dragged into that plane. Ross is dealing with so much bad press you might have run him out of his job."

"Fuck, I hope so. That guy is such a dick."

She glanced out the window and saw fields surrounding them. She frowned, "Where are we? This isn't the tower."

"I started building this when you were taken the first time. I had all the plans in action when we found you, so I put a hold on it. When you were taken again by that vampire, I started building it... It was supposed to be for all of us."

She grasped his hand, "It can be for us. Maybe that Peter kid can come over sometime. He was sweet."

"The Spiderling?"

She grinned, "I'm pretty sure it's Spiderman."

"No, it's Spiderling. And yeah, I can invite him over. I'm sure he'd like some company."

"How long was I out?"

"Two weeks. We had to keep you unconscious for the first week while you healed, but the second week we were waiting on you."

She smiled tiredly, "Sorry for making you wait."

"All I care about is that you're alive, Emersyn." He turned slightly and grabbed the tray of food he had brought in before setting it on her lap. "Now, I need you to eat some food. Don't need you starving to death on me."

She tried to pick up the spoon on the tray only to drop it. She grunted as pain shot through her shoulder.

"Yeah, sorry. I should have mentioned you can't use your right arm until it fully heals. And your left is probably sore too from them tackling you."

Emersyn sighed, "I guess it's a good thing I don't have a boyfriend anymore."

Tony frowned in disgust, "Never say that to me again."

"What? It's true–" Emersyn was cut off with the sound of her phone ringing. "Who's that?" she asked, unable to see the name on the device that was charging on her bedside table.

Tony glanced at the device, "It says... Rover?"

"Can you give it to me?" she asked before he handed her the phone. "Can I have a minute?"

Tony nodded, "Of course, sweetie. Just tell Friday if you need me."

As Tony left the room, Emersyn slowly pressed the answer button, holding back a groan when pain shot through her limb from the slight movement.

Luckily, it was already on speaker phone so she could leave it where it was on her lap and still hear him.

"Emersyn?" the voice came through immediately, his British accent full of worry. "Are you alright?"

The Stark smiled tiredly as she closed her eyes and lent her head against her pillows, "Mm fine."

"You don't sound it."

"Just tired," Emersyn explained. "Just woke up from a coma."

She could almost see him rubbing his forehead. He sighed, "Where are you? Are you safe?"

"I'm home. My dad told Ross to shove it and he brought me home. That motherfucker shot me."

"I know. I saw," Klaus replied, breathing out hard. "I thought you were dead, love. I saw that man carrying you into the plane... You looked dead."

"Only dead inside. Don't worry, Nik."

He smiled slightly at the nickname. "You're sure you're safe?"

"Yeah. I'm at the compound. No one really knows about this place yet... Except for you. Please don't kidnap me again. I'm too tired."

He shook his head, laughing slightly, "I won't. I just wanted to make sure you were still alive. Can't have my favourite human dying on me without saying goodbye."

Emersyn's lip twitched upward into a smile, "I'm your favourite?"

"Of course you are."

"Even when I annoy you?"

"Even then."

Emersyn tried to move but groaned in pain, unable to hold back the pained sound.

"Are you alright?" he asked again, worried once more.

"Mhm. Just can't move very well. Guess Rogers did a number on me."

Klaus scoffed, "So much for America's golden boy. He should know to never hit a lady."

"It's alright. It's my fault–"

"No, it's not. Where is this place you are staying?"

"Like I would tell you."

"Emersyn, I'm not going to kidnap you. Just tell me where you are."

"Friday? Where are we?" Emersyn asked, not sure of the exact location.

"Upstate New York on the coast of the Hudson, Miss Stark."

"You get that?" Emersyn asked, turning her attention back to the hybrid.

"I'll be there soon."

"You don't have too–"

"I need to make sure you're okay. Focus on getting better, okay? I'll be there as soon as possible."

She nodded tiredly, "Alright, Nik."

"Are you tired?"

"No..."

He chuckled, "Go to sleep, my love. Sweet dreams."

The next time Emersyn woke, she felt her father's hand in hers. A grin creeped up on her face as she opened her eyes again.

"Morning."

Tony smiled, "Morning, kiddo. Feeling any better?"

She shook her head, "No. But at least I have you now."

He smiled as he held her hand a little tighter and pressed a kiss against her knuckles before resting his head against it. "You gotta stop doing this to me, Emersyn. I don't think my robotic heart can take it."

"I'll be a bit more careful from now on," Emersyn promised. "Or I'll try my best at least."

He nodded, "That's all I need... You have a visitor."

"A visitor?"

"Says his name is Nik. He said he knew you in Mystic Falls."

Emersyn nodded, realizing Tony had never actually seen the Mikaelson. "Can you let him in? I told him he could come."

Tony stood up from the chair beside her, "Alright. Just tell Fri if you need me."

She smiled, "Will do."

A few minutes later, a knock sounded from her door. "Come in," Emersyn spoke, loud enough for the person to hear.

Before long, the door opened and closed as the person entered. Emersyn lifted her head slightly, or at least, as far as she could to see him.

"Hey, cupcake."

Klaus rolled his eyes as he walked over and sat on the chair beside her, "My name isn't cupcake, love."

She smiled up at him, "But you're so sweet... Like a cupcake."

"Shut up."

Her eyes were slightly hazy but she could still see the look of concern that was swimming in his blue eyes. "I'm fine. I promise."

Klaus shook his head, "You can hardly move, Emersyn. You should let me heal you."

She groaned, "But it's gross."

"It'll be quick. You won't be in pain anymore." His hand moved to hold her face, his thumb grazing along the bruises and cuts on her lip, "That'll be healed too," he muttered, seeing her wince from the feather-light touch.

"I look cool though, don't I?'

Klaus laughed, "Very. But you look much cooler when you can stand and move properly."

Emersyn hummed.

"I can dilute it for you. Put it in some tea, perhaps? It'll be a slower healing process but quicker than normal."

"Okay... I don't have any tea though."

He glanced over and saw multiple energy drinks along with a straw that was about a metre long. "Bloody hell," he muttered, "You do know those are bad for you, right?"

"But they taste like pineapples."

He shook his head in amusement, "You're crazy."

"Insane, actually... Friday?"

"Yes, Miss. Stark?"

"Can you put some tea on? Make it the British way so we don't disappoint the old guy, please."

"Of course, Miss. Stark."

She turned her head as far as she could to see Klaus and smiled, "Happy?"

"Extremely."

After a few minutes, the tea was brought in on a robotic moving tray. Klaus' eyes widened slightly causing her to chuckle. "It's just a new thing my dad and I were working on a few months ago. I watched too much Star Wars and wanted my own R2-D2."

Klaus nodded slowly as the robot handed him a platter with a teapot and two cups as well as a pot for milk and sugar cubes.

She smiled at him, "Is this British enough for you?"

"I can't say I've ever had a robot deliver me tea. But so far you're doing well. How do you like your tea, my love?"

"Three sugars and a shit load of milk."

He frowned, "That's not how you drink tea."

She rolled her eyes, "How am I supposed to drink tea?"

"Perhaps one sugar with no milk?"

"But it'll burn my tongue," Emersyn argued, holding back a smile as she watched him roll his eyes.

"Too bad. My blood will heal it anyway. Close your eyes."

Emersyn complied. "If you drug my tea while I'm not looking I'll–"

"Cut my dick off and super glue it to my forehead. I know, love."

She smiled, "You're a fast learner."

She could hear him bite into his skin before the sounds of his blood dripping into her glass sounded through her ears. Her eyebrows furrowed in disgust. "That sounds really gross."

"It'll make you feel better," Klaus persisted as his wrist healed and he poured the tea into the glass, adding two pieces of sugar in before stirring the pink liquid. "You can open your eyes now."

"I don't want to."

"I will force you to drink this."

She groaned as she opened her eyes, "I can't even hold the stupid cup. How am I supposed to drink the stupid stuff?"

He looked at her for a moment before he stood and placed the cup on the bedside table.

"Where are you going?" Emersyn asked quickly, thinking he was going to leave.

Instead, she watched as he kicked off his shoes before moving to sit on the edge of the bed beside her. His body pressed against hers, his arm moving behind her back, careful of the bruises he was sure were there as he used his strength to gently lift her until she was leant against him.

"I'm not going anywhere, love. Just had to get you sitting upright," he responded, his voice soft as his lips brushed against her hair, causing shivers to run down her spine.

His hand that was once behind her back moved so that it rested on her stomach as his other moved to grab the cup of tea.

"Don't spill it on me."

He grinned, "I won't spill it on you. I believe you to be wounded enough."

As he held the cup near her lips, he watched her sniff it. "It smells hot. It's gonna burn me."

"It doesn't smell hot. That isn't possible."

"Well it does."

"Drink, Emersyn, or I will force you too."

"Is that your way of saying you like me?"

"You'd know if I was saying I like you," Klaus told her as he brought the cup to his nose, "It smells fine."

"Fine," Emersyn sighed, "Give me the fucking tea."

Moving the cup back to her lips, he tilted it slightly so she could drink it before feeling her tap his thigh with her finger. Pulling the cup away, he looked down at her, "It is too hot?"

"There isn't enough sugar."

Klaus scoffed, "There is more than enough. I put two cubes in."

"Well there should be three."

He could see the bruises on her face slowly begin to heal, but they stopped before they could fully. "You need to drink some more. That barely did anything."

She nodded as he brought the cup back, letting her drink the rest of the liquid.

When the cup was empty, he pulled it away and set it back down before looking at her face once more. The bruises were gone as well as the cut on her lip. "There we go."

She tried to adjust herself only for her face to contort into a look of pain.

"Still hurts?"

"No... That's my happy face..." He sent her a look causing her to sigh, "Yes, okay. It still hurts. Don't be a dick about it."

Klaus grinned, "Stop being whiney. I'll pour you another glass."

As they repeated the process, Emersyn closing her eyes as he prepared her next glass before drinking it, Emersyn leaned further back into the hybrid.

"You tired again?" he asked as he set the glass back on the table.

She nodded, moving to lay on her side. The pain was almost gone, only a slight sting with her movements, but dull enough for her to move.

She rested her head against his chest, only to move again. "Lay down. Your chest is really hard."

He grinned, "You know what else is?"

A small laugh left her lips, "That was good."

"I try my best to impress you," he replied as he shuffled down the bed so that his head was resting on a pillow, pulling her with him so she was laying on top of him. He held her in a way that kept the pressure off of her wounded shoulder, he felt her press her face into his neck.

"How are you warm when you're dead?" she asked suddenly.

"It's the werewolf side of me."

"You mean the puppy side of you?"

His lips lifted into a grin that he quickly hid, "I'm not a dog."

"Of course you're not. You're a puppy. A very cuddly puppy."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her a little tighter by clasping his hands together. "I'm not cuddly," he muttered as he nuzzled his nose against her hair.

"You're cuddling with me right now, Klaus."

He shook his head suddenly, "Don't call me that."

"Then what am I supposed to call you? I've called you Klaus ever since I met you."

"Nik. The same name you called me yesterday."

"I thought that name was reserved for your family?"

He shrugged, "It sounds nice when you say it."

"Are you sure you're not the one that was shot?"

"Shut up."

"You keep saying that and yet it's never gonna happen."

He sighed, "You're lucky I like you."

He felt her smile against his neck before her breaths evened as she fell asleep in his arms.

His arms around her waist loosened slightly, his hands moving to rest flat on her back as his fingers drew patterns along her skin.

"Good night, beautiful." 

"I can walk on my own," Emersyn told the hybrid, rolling her eyes when he tried to help her out of the bed.

The pair had just woken from their sleep when Emersyn quickly realized she was starving.

While Klaus had helped her sit up, she refused his help in helping her stand.

"It doesn't look like you can," Klaus replied as he watched her fail to stand for the fifth time.

"That was just a warmup. I'm gonna do it this time."

The pain in her body from being thrown around by a super soldier was still very much present. Luckily all the bruising was gone thanks to Klaus' blood, but the pain remained. Not to mention the pain still present in her bullet wound.

Tony had offered to get Dr. Cho to help her, but when Emersyn learned the woman was out helping wounded soldiers, she quickly refused, stating she could heal just fine on her own.

"Do you want my hand?" Klaus asked, holding his hand out to her only for her to slap it away.

"I'm not six. I can do it."

"You've been saying that for the past ten minutes."

She looked at him with a pointed look, "You're very impatient."

He grinned at her, "This is the most patient I have ever been. Now take my bloody hand."

Emersyn rolled her eyes but took his hand nonetheless and felt his other move around her waist before she was pulled off the bed. With his hand around her back, she was pressed tightly to his chest as she stood for the first time in weeks.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, hearing a quiet wince leave her lips.

"No, it feels like I'm walking on a fucking rainbow. Of course it hurts."

Klaus smiled, "You complain a lot."

"Yes, well you kill people so I think my complaining is a much healthier habit than yours." 

"You got me there, love." He paused, feeling her breath against the skin of his neck as she held onto his arms tightly. "I won't let you fall."

She nodded.

"Can you walk?" he asked, softer this time, trying his best to sound understanding.

Her grip on his arms loosened slightly as she stood on her own. Pain immediately shot through her limbs, forcing her to grab onto him once more.

"Are muscle cramps supposed to be this bad?" Klaus asked, as he lifted her back onto the bed.

"Is it a bad time to say I broke my knee?" Emersyn asked hesitantly. "I mean, it's practically healed. Dad gave me these drugs Bruce had made for it before he disappeared..."

Klaus sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Bloody hell, love. Yes, it's a bad time. You should have told me yesterday. I would have given you more blood if I had known."

She looked at him innocently. He breathed out softly, "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you're so innocent. You knew I wouldn't let you stand if I knew about all of your injuries... That is all of them, yes?"

She nodded.

"Good. We need more tea." He leaned closer to her, "Can you ask your robot?"

She grinned, knowing Friday freaked him out, although he would never admit it. "Fri?"

"On it, Miss Stark."

Her eyes turned back to Klaus, "Is this what normal friends do?"

"Friends?"

"Yeah... That's what we are, right?"

He nodded quickly, "Yes... Of course. And I wouldn't know. I've never had a friend live as long as you–"

"Because you normally kill them?"

Klaus grinned, "Of course. How come you haven't had many friends?"

She shrugged, "I've had a few... Bucky– but we kinda met in a shitty way. Then there's Steve but he broke up with me. Natasha is more like a mom than a friend... Oh my god I have no friends. I'm a fucking loser."

Klaus' laughter cut her off from her pity party.

Emersyn glared at him, "Stop laughing, jerk."

"Sorry, sorry," he cleared his throat, a smile still present on his lips. "It's just you're the most interesting person I have ever met. I don't think it's possible for you to be a loser."

"Well I have no friends..."

"I'm your friend."

"Exactly. I'm friends with a cannibal. I think that makes me a psycho."

"Being a psycho is better than being a loser," Klaus offered only for her to shake her head. "No, it isn't."

"Well out of the three people you listed as your friends, two of them are killers and the third is a moron, so me being a psychopath really isn't that bad."

"Who's the moron?"

"The bloody idiot that broke up with you. Only a moron could be so stupid to lose the purest thing on the planet."

She shrugged, feeling him move to lay beside her once more. Instantly, she wrapped her arms around his waist before resting her head on his chest. She couldn't see it, but a smile fell onto the Mikaelsons' face.

"Besides, if he never broke up with me, I never would have met you," Emersyn told him, her voice hardly above a whisper.

If he wasn't a vampire, he wouldn't have heard it. But he did.

Klaus smiled, his heart skipping a beat as his arms tightened around her. "What a tragedy that would be. A world without my favourite girl." 

a/n

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH