"Never," Klaus says in a rare moment of complete sincerity, because Ben deserves to hear it. "Not for one second."

For all that he complained about Ben's incessant nagging, having it all suddenly taken from him was so much worse. There was an emptiness that he didn't really expect, like a gnawing pit inside of him. That emptiness is still there, just a little, because even though Ben is here, he still isn't taking up residence in Klaus's head. It's better like this, of course, with Ben alive and a true part of the family, but it still is going to be a bit of an adjustment.

"Come on, you can come watch me smoke pot and get sleepy then," Klaus tells him, rising to his feet with his mug of tea. If they happen to fall asleep in his room, tipped together like puppies in a way that seems to keep happening without them ever talking about it, then so be it.