The Vampire Diaries

Astrid just laughed a little bit and kissed his cheek, "Of course it does,"

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"Would you like a drink, food, or should I just leave you get some more sleep?" Alfdis asked gently.

"Stay..."

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Dex grinned, when they got to the woods near the falls he began to guide her.

Astrid followed him in silence then.

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Alfdis just nodded subtly in response to that, lowering her head to rest on his as she whispered, "Okay, whatever you want, Bjorn. I'm here.."

Bjorn grinned.

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"You sure you're still up for it?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Astrid asked with a small grin.

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Alfdis stroked his cheek with the back of her hand gently, "I thought you were dead, we were told your boat sank and you all perished in the water. I'm glad you're here, alive..."

Me too."

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"Just checking."

"If I didn't want to be here you'd know, Dex," Astrid assured gently.

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"You were so cold… so, so cold..."

"I'm fine..."

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Dex just smiled.

"I know you are now, I know,"

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"Todays has been the happiest day I've had in so many years, you've made it that, thank you so, so much Dexter."

"Knowing you're happy is all the thanks I need darling." Dex grinned as he lead her through some bushes and out onto a small clearing. The sky was perfectly clear of clouds and all the stars and the full moon could be seen. He set his bags down and started putting te mats down and then their sleeping bags on top.

Astrid watched him with a small smile before lifting her gaze up to look at the stars, "I haven't done anything like this... sleeping under the stars... for so long, not since I was young and even then I never stayed the entire night out because my mum carried me inside when I fell asleep. You do this often, Dex?"

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"Every full moon since I was turned into a hybrid... I've come to appreciate it fully when I can be in a human form..."

Astrid just nodded a little bit in response to that, "So it's like your own little tradition, hm?"

Dex nodded. "Scottie came with me every now and then but he hasn't in years... Too busy with his kids. As most parents are twenty four seven."

"When they get older that fades, when they all go off and move out and have their own kids and don't openly express needing you anymore." Astrid whispered quietly.

"I'll never know. I'm never having kids..."

"No? Why not?"

"Honestly?" Dex whispered as he moved to sit down and pulled her with him. "Right now - and again I probably sound like I'm rushing things and I'm really really sorry - right now you're who I want to spend my future with and I can already tell you wouldn't ever want any more kids. And I'm okay with that."

Astrid sat herself down next to him, leaning into him and whispering after a few moments, "We'll see what the future brings, Dex.."

"Don't feel like you have to want them for my sake. I'm okay with it."

"I've never considered it," Astrid whispered quietly, "Kol was always so dead set against it, it was hard enough convincing him to have the twins. We're still young, Dex, our relationship.. lets.. just give me time, okay?"

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"Of course." Dex nodded, pulling her with him as he lay back to look at the stars.

She turned to roll onto her side facing him, curling up into his side and turning her head to look up at the sky.

"You know your name means divine strength. And I think that is exactly what you are Astrid. All you've put up with and gotten through and you're still here. You're still fighting and that's incredible."

"See, I don't think I've gone through that much, not really." Astrid whispered quietly in response to that, "I know many people that have gone through a lot worse, a lot more than I have and I don't think I've really gone through anything."