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Any sort of feedback makes my day! I know I said I would post this after I move back to the US, but I ended up procrastinating at packing instead. That being said, no estimate for the next update, but I hope you enjoy the start of this story!


"I actually missed you. I must be mad, right?" – Charlotte Davidson


[Kris Allen – Falling Slowly]


Time was strange for Originals, especially recently returned from the dead ones. The centuries passed by quickly for him. After the fourth and fifth one, he started to take granted many things. One day didn't matter so much in the grand scheme of things. Now the concept of time was at war with itself. It was only the first year of him being reborn. He was cherishing small moments more than before, especially the ability to exist within the earth and a part of it. But he was still immortal.

Those eight months moved quickly, but yet they didn't. He remembered the significant moments and even the quiet ones. He remembered how alone he was still in this world. It was made even worse with an ache in his chest. There was even an ache in his throat. No blood quite satisfied the ache quite like one in particular and he couldn't have it. The ache got better in the time, but that was only because he made room for more.

He was the type that could smirk and smile where he needed to around the others. He kept on his game and one step ahead. His gaze was sharp and calculating. At the end of the day, when he was alone, the smile faded and the façade. He always stared at the sun setting, reveling being able to feel the warmth again and listen to the sounds of the jungles around him. At the same time, he was always looking to the horizon, longing for something more.

Driving up the expanse of the villa's private drive, Kol intended to just that. The Italian import entertained him a while and the corrupt and lacking police force (compared to the United States) proved to be a fun toy at first. Now, he barely spared it another glance as he stopped in front of the home.

He intended on relaxing a bit and putting the annoying vampire he had just dealt with out of his mind. Honestly, he didn't think he should really have to explain why kidnapping European tourists for blood and organ trafficking drew too much international attention. By explaining, he meant relocating his spinal column to the exterior of his body. Now, he needed to get that off his mind before the cabana party later this evening.

"Saudações, Senor," A butler greeted Kol at the door when he entered the house. He was a middle aged, short, but gentle man with sun kissed skin and wrinkles around his eyes that spoke to his life story.

"Eduardo," Kol nodded briefly in greeting to him, leaving him the keys to the car as well.

"How was your day, sir?" The man followed after him as Kol went for the kitchen. The man spoke more than most house staff and often swapped unintentionally between languages, but Kol didn't mind him so much. He had lasted longer than most of the others.

"Eh," He just shrugged his shoulders while stopping at the kitchen island. The daily mail was gathered there. His fingers started to pick through it with only half interest.

"I should mention, senor," Eduardo cleared his throat, remaining a respectful distance. "You have a guest on the balcony."

Kol gave a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose mildly. "Eduardo, we've been through this before. What have I said about inviting guests inside?" His tone was severe, but he didn't do more than that. The problem with Eduardo is that he reminded Kol of loyal lab. He was so polite and happy to have employment, it was hard to stay mad at him.

Sometimes he missed servants in the United States. Americans had what he considered a healthy suspicion of strangers.

"Sim, sim, as minhas desculpas. Por favor, perdoe," The butler rushed out the words quickly before remembering his manners. "She insisted that you wouldn't mind."

"She?" Kol actually looked up and gave him his full attention at that. His brow furrowed thoughtfully. There were very few constant women in his life. Ironically, all of them were rather strong headed and bossy. That certainly must say something about him.

"Yes sir," The butler nodded, but Kol was already moving past him.

Kol cut through the living room. He saw that the balcony doors were thrown wide open, the semi shear curtains were billowing in the breeze. A few quick strides and he stopped as soon as he stepped outside. He spotted her long legs lounging on the chaise seat. It wasn't the same one as before. He might have thrown the other one over the balcony in a fit.

"I also said if you did mind that I didn't care," Her voice drew his eyes up to her face, seeing the coy smirk before taking a sip from a wine glass.

Kol's mouth fell open a little in awe. He leant a shoulder back against the wood. He tried to play it cool, but his heart was sent racing.

"I wouldn't expect anything less," He retorted simply. Her hazel eyes watched him, but they were different. Her hair had been retouched in the highlights and cut. She wore a pale beach dress that cut off just above her knees. She lounged back on the chair like if she owned the damn place. He didn't feel inspired to make her move.

"You came back…" He not so eloquently pointed out, his mind drawing a blank as he took in the sight of her.

"I came back," She nodded with a knowing look in her eyes. The moments dragged by slowly between them. More was said in the silence than in the words. Her eyes passed over him without shame. He did look good. He was the same, other than for some scruff he was letting grow along his jawline. It did make him look older, more mature, but she knew better. He was more at ease, but he was looking at her as if she was the first drink he had in weeks.

"Where did you go?" Kol wondered. Even there were other things he wanted to do, he kept rooted to his spot a few yards away from her. The natural, but light conversation just seemed right, he didn't know why.

"Home to Virginia at first," Charlotte answered him, letting the red wine swish around in her glass. "I went home to see my parents."

"Yeah?" Kol's eyebrows rose at that with interest. "And how did that go?"

Charlotte made a hesitant face. "Eh, well… They were stunned at first and confused, naturally." She then didn't bother to sugarcoat what happened. "But then they were convinced a demon was possessing my body and they tried to expel me using holy water and an exorcism."

Kol snorted that was somewhere torn between surprised and amused. "Ah, yeah that tends to happen a lot…" He threw out offhand. It was especially common with the religious types and it didn't surprise him to hear her parents fell into that category given the chances with where she lived.

"Which part?" Charlotte cocked her head at him. "The family disownment or exorcisms?"

Kol made a face before shrugging. "Both, actually."

To his surprise, she chuckled calmly. "Yeah, well," She went on. "I decided it was better they forgot seeing me after that…"

Kol frowned. "I'm sorry," He murmured quickly, knowing that must not have been easy to rather have her parents think she was dead.

Charlotte waved her hand. He could tell it bothered her, but she was trying to be brave about it. "It's fine this way. They'll be okay someday… And I got to see my grave," She explained. It finally felt like she had a proper burial then. She was able to lay the girl she used to be to rest. She wasn't her anymore, she was different. She was going to be even better. "And some of my friends," from a distance, of course, "before I left."

"Where did you go after that?" Kol asked, it didn't sound like she stayed there for very long. He doubted all the months that had passed.

"Europe," Charlotte answered proudly. She didn't feel the need to explain more than that. Using some of the compulsion techniques and methods for lying low in the supernatural world he had taught her, Charlotte traveled to several cities. It was the first chance to be completely liberated and to test her own independence.

Kol just gave her a content smile.

It was hard to think of him as a sadistic killer with how at ease and human he seemed right now.

"What about you?" Charlotte turned the question around on him, curiously. "How have you been?"

"Oh, you know," He gave casually with a smirk. "About the same. Billionaire playboy by day, masked vigilante by night."

Charlotte gave a small laugh and Kol's grin grew into a broad smile. "Oh?" She played along. "But surely someone would have missed you sneaking out at night, Mr. Wayne."

His eyes narrowed on her sharply, the wicked smile remaining as he read between the lines. Was she asking him what he thought she was?

"No one other than Eduardo," He replied, watching her coy expression closely.

Her lips pressed together thinly, trying to keep the grin small, but struggling. She buried it behind another sip of her wine. The silence lingered between them, but Kol wasn't bothered by it. It felt natural, but his heart was hammering.

"When exactly did you go to Europe?" Kol asked seriously with a thoughtful pause.

"July," Charlotte replied simply.

"Ah, that explains it," He hummed out casually, nodding to the new piece of information.

"Explains what?" Charlotte picked her gaze up with intrigue at his choice of words.

"Why you weren't in Richmond in September," Kol concluded frankly. Of course there were other reasons he was up that way, but he didn't feel the need to mention them.

Charlotte's head jerked back slightly, her mouth parting at his implication. Wait, he came looking for her? The knowing smirk on his face was all the confirmation that she needed. He just gave a meek roll of his shoulders, letting it sink in without actually saying anything.

She bit her lip and looked away from him, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You know, as much as I tried not to…" Charlotte's voice changed. It was still light, but the sincerity hung in each note. Seeing him and the way he smiled at her along with hearing his voice just compounded everything she had felt. "No matter what city I was in or who I was with… I thought of you." In some form or another, sometimes it was small, sometimes it was like a plague.

Kol's interest picked up, but he stilled. It was hard to tell in what way she was implying that she thought of him. Was it for all the terrible things that he did to her? Or did he dare hope for something better?

"I actually missed you," Charlotte realized after everything, shaking her head incredulously. "I must be mad, right?"

His Cheshire grin mirrored hers. "Completely neurotic," He agreed with her cheekily.

Charlotte threw him a playful glare. She finished off her wine glass and set it aside next to the bottle on table beside the chair. She moved her legs to stand, feeling Kol's gaze on her the entire time.

"Say," He suggested lightly. "There's this cabana party I have to make a brief appearance at tonight…" His eyes moved back up from her legs to her face. "Would you like to go with me?"

And just like that, she knew that was his way of welcoming her back.