his arms around her waist was a welcomed feeling. it was the most affection nicklas had given emma since she had arrived back in his life. at first, it hadn’t been a problem. but then the vampire had found herself aching for it. wanting him to touch her as he once did. to show her that she was his. that’s when he spoke. the words struck emma in the heart. it was perfect. her plan had worked and he was literally crumbling in her arms. but yet, she didn’t feel as satisfied as she wanted. in fact, all she actually wanted was to comfort him. not out of her selfishness. not for her own gain. but because that’s what he needed. nicklas needed comfort and emma didn’t want to see him unhappy.
she didn’t even have time to mentally curse herself before her own arms were wrapped around him. one hand in his hair, stroking it like she once used to so long ago. a soothing gesture. the bottom of her chin rested gently on the top of his head. nicklas always did have a way of working himself under her skin. he was almost as good as emma at getting her to do what he wanted. but, of course, that’s never what he intended. despite the terrible things they committed in their time together, nick still remained to be one of the purest souls emma had ever encountered. the only person that saw beneath her various facades and hard exterior. the vampire did actually care for him deeply. did still have love for him. despite how much she had tried to deny it.
there was a slight satisfaction when he claimed being without her ruined him. emma couldn’t help it. she felt powerful in that moment. but– her plan had changed. was she still here to use him? did she still simply require his protection? or did she want to now be with him? “shhh, my dear. you have me, i’m here.” the words were whispered as she continued to sooth him. “it can be.” emma pulled away, looking at him in the eyes again. “of course it can be. do you love me again?” she had to forget these childish fantasies of love. emma didn’t love anymore. she just needed nicklas for her own selfishness. at least, that’s what she kept telling herself. now, after this, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
The pair were inseparable for hundreds of years, truly one of Nicklas’ only serious romantic relationships. The vampire has been with many partners but he always left them before it became anything more. He was in no way afraid of commitment, in fact he yearned for it, but he was terrified of anyone seeing past his facade for too long. Emma, however, managed to stay with him through thick and thin, for better and for worse. It was almost a miracle how they managed to stay together for so long. Perhaps that’s why Nicklas snapped and abandoned her after some time, during one of his many identity crises.
He immediately melted in her touch, his shoulders relaxing as fingers ran through his hair. He remembered the first night he knew he was in love with Emma, laying his head in her lap as she stroked through his hair. All he had to do was glance up at her, take in her beauty as she smiled down at her, and in that instant he knew he was head over heels. He didn’t even have to think about it before the words came spilling from his lips, confessing his undying affection. It was a time he felt truly happy and he would give anything to return to that feeling once again.
‘Do you love me again?’ her words rang through his ears, his brows furrowing in confusion. Of course, she had every right to believe his feelings may have died out, considering how suddenly he disappeared from her life. He would never forgive himself for that, he just hoped that one day he could earn hers. “Emma,” He slowly unwrapped his arms from around her waist, shifting so that he could cup her cheeks instead. He needed her to believe his next words so he took the time to ensure his voice was steady and calm, leaving no room for misinterpretation. “I never stopped loving you.”