HOME

Song: You Do Something To Me – Ella Fitzgerald

"Come"

I looked at the hand he offered and then up to his stern eyes but mirth smile. "Where?" I questioned, trying to ignore his sister and Stefan's fixated stare.

"Come" he repeated in a more serious manner.

I knew better than to argue.

Placing my hand in his, I allowed him to pull me to my feet. Thankfully the cut had already healed and the pain had dissipated.

"Where is your coat?" he asked.

I cleared my throat and nodded towards the burgundy curtains. "Backstage"

"Get it" he ordered.

Nodding tautly in agreement, I walked up the stage and pried the drapes apart. The band had already retired as the club was now half-empty. Daring one glance at Mack, I was relieved that he was busy talking to Gloria which made it easy for me to go unnoticed.

Stepping around to my space, I picked the coat from the chair and turned to leave. Only my path was intercepted. "You're leaving" Jacob noted and crossed his arms over his shoulder and took a strong towering stance.

"My shift is done" I replied nervously. When he began to stare at me again, I forced a smile and ducked my head. "Goodnight Jacob" I murmured and took a step, wanting to escape his intense eyes.

Once again he gave no reply so I continued, my heels clacking on the hardwood floors. "Bella?" he called, making me stop.

"Yeah?" I pivoted and raised my eyebrows expectantly.

He took a step towards me and I sighed, turning to fully face him. "I don't want to interfere"

"Then don't" I snapped.

Jake remained at an impasse. "Just be careful" he said and placed a comforting hand onto my shoulder. Then, he leaned down to place a soft kiss on my forehead. "Goodnight Bells" he whispered and stalked away from him.

I slumped down onto one of the chairs and sighed. My head in my hands as I wiped over my face and looked up at my reflection. My complexion paled and my lips chapped. Not able to help myself, I reached over and picked up the small tube. Then, I swept the red lipstick over my lips, pleased with how it bettered my appearance.

What was I doing?

A frustrated groan left me as I silently berated myself. Retrieving a tissue I furiously wiped at my lips and then my face. I was not trying to seduce him and I was definitely not trying to impress Niklaus Mikaelson.

He wanted to kill me…didn't he?

Why hadn't he done it already?

Why did he stop Stefan from hurting me?

Shaking my head, I abruptly stood up and walked towards the curtains. Drawing in a deep breath, I pushed through and stepped outside. My head cowardly bowed as I trailed down the steps and looked around, only to find him finishing off a shot.

Unsure of what to do, I simply stood and watched how he casually ran his fingers through his caramel wisps. Under the lights, I could see the underlying honey highlights. If I closed my eyes I could see those blue eyes staring back at me. They had haunted my dreams in the past week and I amounted it to fear. However, after tonight, I wasn't so sure.

"Isabella"

Snapping my eyes open, I gasped with how close he was. Without another word, his hand was now placed on the small of my back as he led us out of the door. Several stares burnt hotly on my back as they watched until we disappeared from their sights.

The nightly breeze cooled my heated cheeks and I pulled the coat around me. He began to led me across the road but I stopped. "My car is parked-"

"I don't live that far" I argued with a soft smile.

He eyed me for a second and then nodded in compliance. "Then we'll walk" he said and wound his arm through mine, wanting to pull me along but I stood, stunned by his words. He wanted to take me home – he wanted to escort me back to my house.

"Wh-"

Niklaus paused and turned to me, arching a brow. "Question?"

I contemplated over voicing my thoughts but decided against it. "Thank you for stopping Stefan" I whispered and accepted his hand. My own arm wound around his as I waited for him to take the lead.

"I didn't do it for you" he answered sharply but then began to lead us down the empty streets. The silence slowly stretched and the longer in lingered, the more distant I felt from him.

"Do you always walk home alone?" Nik finally asked after what felt like hours of silence.

I cleared my throat and chose to believe that it was still hoarse after all the singing. "Sometimes my friend accompanies me" I answered.

"The dog?" he scoffed.

My eyes narrowed and my hands curled into fists. "His name is Jacob" I snapped.

Silence prevailed once again.

"Are you two…?"

Nervously glancing at him, I then forced my eyes to remain fixated ahead. "It really isn't any of your business" I grinded my teeth and part of me wished I could pull away from him. Somehow, he noticed this because his grip on me tightened.

"I suppose not" he sighed into the silence and his eyes strayed off.

I licked my lips and gulped down the heavy thick emotion stuck in my throat. I didn't understand the person I was right now or the feelings that sparked within his presence. Part of me wanted to run whereas another part ached to…God no.

"He's my friend" I found myself saying when I caught sight of the apartments. "Here we are" I announced, ready to finally pull away and sink into my bed.

"You live here?" he questioned.

I nodded. "Yes"

"Katherine?"

My breath hitched but I pursed my lips and regained composure. "You tell me" I smiled.

"Whatever happened to family is forever?" he challenged.

Once again, I shrugged and easily repeated, "You tell me"

After another moment with us staring at each other, I stopped breathing when he closed in on me. His heated breath brushing over my face and mine seemed to quicken with his close proximity. I peeked up at him from under my lashes and waited… "Goodnight Isabella" he finally breathed.

"Goodnight…Nik"

He quizzically stared at me and leaned in fractionally. Determination in his eyes as he inched closer to me, causing me to trace my bottom lip expectantly. The hand that rested on his arm now crept up to his shoulder, not pulling and not pushing either.

"Goodnight"

And with that, he disappeared.

The next three nights felt empty. I would arrive at work and my eyes would search the room but I wouldn't find him. However, they occasionally landed on his sister's – Rebekah who sent a sympathetic smile. She and her partner were always there; neither one ever approached me.

I was uncertain as to whether I was disappointed or pleased

On the fourth night, I went through my shift trying to be normal. I flirted with the customers and served them drinks. I went through the songs but this time, it felt like I was forcing myself. My love for singing was drained every time I sought him out from the crowd but found nothing.

When the second last song was done, I sighed in gratitude.

After flashing the audience one last grin, I went backstage to prepare for the next set. Only, I just wanted to get to bed and allow my mind to roam free within the emptiness of my dreams.

Slumping down on the chair, I reached up to take off the short curly wig.

Gloria's singing blurred into the background as a reflection joined mine. "Add any more and you'll look like a woman of the town" she teased and I whipped around, immediately embracing her. A laugh leaving both of us, although mine cracked into a sob. "Don't you start crying" she laughed.

I shook my head and held her at arm's length, slowly studying her. She was dressed in a beaded black dress and had lace gloves. Her hair was sleek, cropped as to reach her chin. The last time I saw her, she had big curls and a large train dress. "It's been too long" I realised.

"Well I can't stay" she replied and walked away from my stare.

A heavy sigh left me. "I didn't expect you to"

"I just wanted to check up on you"

Forcing a smile to assure her, I replied. "I'm okay" I then walked around to her, waiting for her to turn and face me as I asked. "What about you?"

"I'm…" she trailed off, looking through the curtains. Her expression grew forlorn and I looked over her shoulder, following her line of sight to Rebekah who was feeding her companion grapes.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, knowing how much she loved Stefan. She had a funny way of showing it but I couldn't deny it. "That's Klaus' sister" I informed her in hushed tones.

Her eyes bulged as she turned back to me, pushing us back into the shadows. "Klaus?" she gasped, the fear bright in her widened gaze. I nodded, hating how scared she was. "He's in Chicago?!" she asked, her voice breaking.

I nodded again. "You have to go" I said knowingly.

"What about you?" she wondered but I could tell that she was ready to leave.

I smiled sadly and dropped my head. "He already knows I'm here"

"Then I'll see you" Katherine replied and I let the smile drop, pulling her in fiercely for another hug. "Take care Bella" she whispered and reluctantly pulled away from me.

I watched as she stumbled away from me before waving. "Bye sis"

After she left, I ended up missing my last set. Gloria could tell something was wrong but she didn't say anything. Instead, she took my place and closed the show. It was my turn to close up so I simply waited until the customers had left and then the staffers.

The last people to leave had been Rebekah and Stefan. After simply eying me, they strutted out and I waited until they disappeared before locking after them. I liked how peaceful the club was when it had been emptied.

There were no noises; no clattering, no shouting, nothing…

Once I was satisfied with clearing up and stacking chairs, I did what I always did when locking up.

I sang.

When I was on stage, I could barely hear myself from the rowdiness. At least now, I could simply give into the music and actually get a chance to play what I wanted.

Finally, walking up the stage, I sat on the bench before the piano. One spotlight on me as I began to play what was imbedded in my thoughts. My fingers now brushing over the ebony and ivories.

"I was mighty blue
Thought my life was through
'Til the heavens opened
And I gazed at you" I held out the note and sang through the rest of the verse. As the music surrounded me, I closed my eyes and gave into the overwhelming feeling it gave me. Only the sheathing darkness was broken with the face that appeared.

A gasp left me and I withdrew, snapping my eyes open. I licked my suddenly dry lips and nervously trailed over the keys. Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?

"You do something to me
Something that simply mystifies me

Tell me, why should it be,
You have the power to hypnotize me?"

"Let me live 'neath your spell
Do do that voodoo that you do so well"

"For you do something to me
That nobody else could do"

When the last note played out, I sighed and dropped my head. All I could think about was what waited in my dreams. They filled the loneliness that had suddenly piqued over the last few days.

Soon the heavy cover now brought down and the bench pushed back under as I stood up. However, upon turning to leave, I gasped at the sight before me. He stood there with an unruffled shirt and an undone tie. His coat missing and his hair dampened from the rain but tousled.

It didn't matter…he looked irresistible.

"We're closed" I stammered feebly.

Only he began to walk towards me and as he inched closer, I stepped back, the piano pressed onto my back. "Ni-"

His name now caught on my lips which were suddenly pressed onto his. One arm wound around my waist, holding me to his chest as his mouth feverously moved against mine. My eyes fluttered to a close and I allowed myself to fall when bringing my hands up. My fingers now woven through his soft and silky locks as I held him close.

All too soon his hold loosened and he pulled his lips back. Still, he kept his head bowed when pressing his forehead onto mine. We both stilled, steadying our breaths.

When I finally opened my eyes, he was gone.

A/N: They kissed…? Thoughts on this? What about Katherine?