Chapter 2:

Klaus lived a charmed life. At least, that's what people thought when they saw the material objects that he had. Elena knew him better than that. She knew that he was the bastard child, blamed for something that wasn't his fault. She knew that in another life, she would have cared about him. She would have wanted to fix him and tell him that he was better than Mikael but this was this life and he was a stone cold sociopath that killed her Aunt.

That knowledge was the basis of her thoughts while she had an awkward breakfast with him. "How did you sleep?" He asked as he sipped on hot coffee. She looked at him with a tired expression on her face. "You don't sleep, I understand." He passed a plate of steaming hot rolls to her as he talked. "Today, we're going on a Cajun tour and then tonight the Apolline Restaurant. I had one of my-"

"Minions." Elena told him, "One of your minions put clothes in my room. Thank you." She knew that she had to play his game and it was best to go along with what he wanted rather than fight him. Her willingness surprised Klaus, he expected sassy comments and disgust.

He watched her eat. She looked like a bird with broken wings…like her world had been crushed- it had been crushed though. He could relate to the pain of loss but not quite under the same circumstances. Any wounds that he had from the past were already healed. He knew that she needed time to recover from her loss rather than sit in her own grief. He had a step program that he designed while he couldn't sleep last night for her. He would stimulate her with tours, dinners and the beauty of New Orleans today and then he would move onto the next step.

He was going to save her life, even if it was from herself. But, until she realized she didn't want to die he would humor her ideas and pretend he was actually considering her plan. He didn't know why he couldn't go through with it. I'd be a simple motion and then he could easily put it out of his mind- but that was his problem, he wouldn't be able to put it out of his mind.

He respected Elena even though he didn't act like he did. He found redeeming and rare qualities in her that he wished he had. This was her darkest moment and she'd come to him to make it pitch black, but for once he wanted to be the light.

XXX

She slid in next to him as they got in the backseat of a car, "So, what's the Cajun tour?" She asked unenthusiastic about their proximity to each other. Klaus looked over at her as he leaned his elbow against the window.

"Don't want to ruin the surprise, love." He said with his fingers covering his mouth. For some reason, his position reminded her of a politician or someone that's famous. He was so cool and collected- she longed to be that way right now. She imagined she looked like a mess. She'd stopped crying a while ago so she didn't have to worry about puffy cheeks, but she did have to worry about lifeless eyes and her makeup not looking right. Her hair was braided, starting at her part and moving towards the back of her head where it was twisted into a tight bun. Her hair was sort of bumped behind the braid. She knew that she would have to change since they were going to a fancy restaurant.

"Don't call me love." She told him harshly but then softened, "Or at least try. I know it's a habit."

"You'll enjoy this." He promised her while the car moved towards the bayou. She'd never done something like this.

"Have you done this before?"

"No." He said, "I thought it would be a good experience. Alligators and all."

She rolled her eyes, "Really? Alligators, Klaus?"

XXX

"Today was a good day." He summarized while they walked back into the house. His tie was loosened and his shirt was partially untucked. His left hand was in his pocket and the other hung by his side. "I'm not sure you're cut out for the swamp life."

"Definitely not." She informed him, "Alligators and mosquitos aren't my friends." Guilt bubbled in her stomach as she recalled that she had fun with Klaus. If Damon were here, he'd ask her what her fucking problem was. Is this how she serves his memory? Eating out with someone like Klaus when she should be mourning him…it was shameful. "I'm going to go to bed." He recognized the shift of her tone. He looked down at his feet as he watched her climbed the stairs in her black sparkly dress. Her hair was in loose curls that fell from a large bump, her makeup flawless, her every move leaving Klaus breathless and confused.

"I thought we could have a drink." He called after her as she walked along the exposed hallway that was gated by the railing.

"You thought wrong."

Their dinner was peaceful, although she never laughed like he wanted her to- she did smile once or twice at his jokes. Klaus believed himself to be very funny but it wasn't the best time in her life to agree with his narcissism.

She needed an answer from him but she knew that he would make her wait. How? He would change the subject every time she brought it up. She just wanted it to be over. Her hands found the silver earrings that dangled down three inches. She took them off feeling like she was dirty for having a good time. She hated herself for it.

Common knowledge: when the guy you love dies, you don't have wine and dinner with his enemy. And that's exactly what she did. She could have said no to the wine, could have passed the dinner in silence and achieved the same thing but instead she had to make small-talk with him, had to drink with him and talk about favorite movies and books. She was an idiot.