Page 39

Juniper is laying in her bed not finding the energy to go out and do anything like she has for the past couple of days.

She hasn't answered her phone, or been outside of her room in a while.

Davina knows why Juniper is like this but hasn't done anything to help because she doesn't know how to.

The young witch knows that her sister hates this time of year even though she loved it when she was younger.

There's a knock on June's bedroom door, "Hey June I'm going to the Cemetery to practice my magic, I'll be back soon okay?" Davina tells her through the door.

"Okay..." June rolls over in bed staring off into space, "Vina... I love you."

"Love you too June. Um... Happy Birthday."

"Thanks..." June wraps her arms around her stomach, tears brimming her eyes.

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At noon June finally leaves her room to get something to drink.

She freezes seeing a birthday card on the counter along with a little box wrapped in a present.

A small melancholy smile forms on her lips.

She silently thanks Davina for her present as she opens the card, listening to the recording of it sing happy birthday.

Her phone begins to ring. Distracting her from the card.

Looking at her cell phone she sees a message from Rebekah.

The blonde Original tells her happy birthday, another melancholy smile reaches her lips. June sends her a thank you message.

The heavy knock on the front door pulls Juniper out of her thoughts.

She sighs before opening the door. A man holding a large box wrapped in black colored wrapping paper that has white polka dots on it.

Before the Queen of Demons can question the man the big bad Original Hybrid steps in front of the man.

"Can we come in, love?" Klaus asks.

Juniper steps aside holding the door wide open for Klaus and the stranger. Klaus tells the man to set the box on the floor in front of the couch then Klaus uses compulsion to make him leave the apartment and forget ever helping Klaus.

June clears her throat before asking, "You wanna tell me what you're doing here and what's in the box?"

Truth be told Juniper was glad that Klaus came. It made her unbearable day slightly bearable.

"Well it is your birthday, is it not?"

June stays silent for a few seconds, her hand slightly brushes over the scar on her stomach. "I need a drink. Want one?" She runs her hands through her hair, trying to gain her composure.

Going to her kitchen June bites her lip.

Pulling down her liquor from the top shelf, she stares at the bottle full of clear liquid.

Noticing her reflection in the glass her bottom lip begins to tremble.

Juniper quickly covers her mouth to hide the sobs that are desperately trying to escape.

Her body shakes as the tears flow down her pale cheeks.

The demons in her head whisper to her, feeding off of her pain, they like watching her suffer. June has very little control over them considering she's trying to keep her own at bay but with them picking at her brain she looses a little bit of control by the minute.

Klaus hears the small whimper escape June's chapped lips.

He now remembers the story she told his family of how she became what she is.

The one thing she lost, that she was so grateful to have.

He remembers the day she said that they took her child from her.

It was today. Klaus looks at the ground sadly.

Wishing to ease Juniper's pain as she has done for him.

He doesn't want for her to suffer, in his eyes she doesn't deserve to suffer, and yet she has.

There's nothing he can do to change her past but he will do anything to ease her pain that she feels now.

Now standing behind Juniper, Klaus wraps his arms around her frame. He feels her shake. "It's okay, love." He whispers in her ear.

June turns around wrapping her arms around Klaus. She hugs him tightly. The two embrace, not realizing that they both are afraid to let go. They hold each other tightly liking the warmth that spreads through their chests.

Klaus realizes that he has become to comfortable with June, he has let her see his demons, he has told her parts of his past that he hasn't told anyone, he has cared for her when he claims to care for no one.

June holds Klaus close to her, thinking about how this is the second time he has seen her break down.

The second time she has let him hold her, comfort her, care for her.

She's terrified. The only other time she has ever let anyone get this close to her it resulted with not only her death but her child's death too.

The two rulers hold each other for a while before Juniper pulls away finally regaining her composure. A sad smile reaches her chapped lips. "Thank you,"

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The two have been sitting on Juniper's couch talking. Klaus decided it'd be best if Juniper gets her mind taken off her past. Not sure if he should tell her about the party that he is throwing her. June notices that the Original Hybrid is lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" June questions.

"Its nothing." Klaus answers, June lightly scoffs.

"You just witnessed me balling my eyes out. Whatever it is you can tell me."

"I have thrown you a party at the Compound, it was meant to be a surprise."

"Oh."

"I could cancel it, i-"

"No that's okay, you don't have to do that." June frowns slightly, she doesn't want to go to a party. "Um, just let me get dressed and then we can go."

"June you don't have to."

"No but I want to," She lies. "Besides it'll be a nice distraction."

Juniper stands up from the couch walking over to her room before the Original Hybrid can say anything. June gathers a clean pair of underwear and her towels before going to hers and Davina's shared bathroom to shower.

After her shower Juniper gets ready pulling out the box that Rebekah gave her before she left New Orleans. Opening the box June pulls out a long halter top deep cut black dress with a slit at the side.

Of course she would.

Juniper puts the dress on a hanger hanging it on the hook behind her door.

In the meantime June sits in her towel in front of the mirror to do her hair.

She pulls out the blow dryer and starts blow drying her black and silver hair.

Carefully she uses the curling iron to transform her hair into loose curls.

June pulls the top half of her now curly hair back into a ponytail, she pulls out a few strands to fall in front of her face.

Teasing some of her hair slightly to add volume June grabs a black hair tie and ties off her half up, half down pony tail.

After her hair she puts on her makeup. When both smokey eyes are done she compliments it with a nude lipstick.

Frowning to herself in the mirror June stands grabbing the dress. Slipping into the tight fitting dress, Juniper attempts to zip up the dress from the back. She curses to herself, sighing in defeat.

"Klaus! Are you still here?" June peaks her head out from her slightly closed bedroom door.

"Yes. What do you need, love?" The Hybrid stands up from the couch walking towards her room.

"Can you help me please?" June walks away from the door her back facing Klaus.

"Of course." He slowly walks up to June.

Klaus' warm hands graze June's cold back.

He carefully moves her curled hair to the side out of the way from the dress's zipper.

His curly dirty blonde head turns to the side when he sees two dark patches of skin parallel to each other.

He runs his thumbs between her shoulder blades touching the dark patches of skin.

He wraps his hands around her, his thumbs still on the patches of skin.

Klaus doesn't realize that his fingertips are touching the sides of June's breasts.

The Queen of Demons stiffens. She knows exactly what Klaus is touching. Clearing her throat she pulls Klaus out of his thoughts. He removes his warm hands from her sides and zips up her dress.

"Thank you." June looks up at him before turning away to slip on her black pumps. She grabs her clutch purse shoving her phone, knife and lighter in it before grabbing his hand leaving her room. Juniper lets go of Klaus' hand to grab a coat from the hall closet, she quickly puts it on.

Looking at herself in the small mirror by the front door one last time, her eyes shift slightly to the side looking at Klaus' reflection. A small smile appears on her lips. Grabbing his hand once again they leave her apartment.