Standing in front of his full-length mirror, Elijah Mikaelson examined two ties held up against his suit. To the untrained eye, one was black and the other one one was an even more boring shade of black but Elijah knew better. The one in his right hand was raven and the one in his left was charcoal. Since his suit was onyx he thought it best to go with the raven black tie. After all, it was one of his favourites.

Carefully placing the rejected garment back on its rightful place on the tie rack, Elijah returned to the mirror and proceeded to lace the tie around his neck in an immaculate half-Windsor knot before undoing it and retying it again just to make sure. Appraising his appearance in his reflection he eventually decided he looked presentable enough.

His attention was taken by the noise of the shower faucet in the background. Picking at some non-existent lint on his sleeve, he wandered toward the en suite bathroom he shared with his wife and lifted his hand to knock.

As if on cue the bathroom door swung open and Katherine emerged, clad only in a towel, her brown locks dripping beads of moisture down her back.

Coming face to face with her husband, a coquettish smile played on her lips.

"'Lijah," she said gleefully, trailing her finger down his chest. "Were you planning on joining me?"

Elijah gently lifted Katherine's hand (partly because it was wet and he was concerned for his suit) and kissed it.

"Actually dearest, my reason for seeking you out is that I fear that your extensive beauty regime may end making us late for our engagement this evening,"

Katherine faced dropped and twisted into a surly pout.

"What's your hurry?" she grumbled sliding past him heading toward her vanity mirror.

"It's just Kol and Bonnie, it's not like we're meeting the queen," she deadpanned.

"Katherine that is hardly the point, they're expecting us at the restaurant at 8:30 sharp and it's already 7:45 -"

"Relax, Elijah we'll be there," Katherine groaned pulling a comb through her still wet hair.

"I should certainly hope so, In all the years I've spent chastising my brother in regards to his poor manners and penchant for tardiness, I'm quite certain he will not miss an opportunity to criticise me for displaying the same behaviour, on this occasion,"

Katherine peered at Elijah's reflection in the mirror. Slowly she rose from her dressing table and padded towards him putting an extra sway in her hips as she did.

"Are you sure, there isn't anything I can do to… persuade you, to stay home," she hummed, looping her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.

"Katherine..." he murmured warningly.

"We see Kol all the time. Bonnie too; since Caroline's always insists on inviting us to some kind of dumb party at her place. The only difference is now Bonnie and Kol are playing rounds of tonsil tennis together,"

"I'm going to assume that's some sort of euphemism and I'm not going to ask what for, although I can very well imagine. However, unfortunately, Katerina I am currently failing to see your point," Elijah frowned.

"My point is, that we could spend the evening doing something far more entertaining than sitting around, eating breadsticks and having awkward conversation," she said with a suggestive raise of her brow.

"Katherine, I don't-"

Before he could finish his sentence he was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of Katherine's towel hitting the carpet.

Beads of water were still dripping down Katherine's toned and lithe body. Elijah's mouth went dry at the sight of her and his infamous poker face began to slip.

Katherine regarded him with a triumphant smile and stepped forward to undo his tie while peppering kisses on the part of his neck that was visible.

"You are aware of what a devious little minx you are, aren't you?" he groaned as she began to tug on his earlobe with her teeth.

"You love it," she murmured continuing her assault.

"You know this is a nice tie, if you're lucky I might let you tie me up with it and do very bad things to me," she purred.

Regretfully, Elijah sighed and pulled Katherine off of him.

"They'll be plenty of time for that later,"

Katherine scowled and gave him a deep eye roll heading back to her mirror.

"What makes you think the offer will still be open?" she asked looking back at him with a pointed expression.

"Well if you keep up that pouting and ceaseless complaining for the rest of the evening, I'm sure it will warrant some sort of punishment to be carried out on my part," he quipped with a small hint of suggestion in his voice.

Katherine turned to smirk at him and he returned her wry smile before breaking their heated eye contact to straighten his tie.

"Kindly get dressed Katerina," he implored. Every second she wasn't fully clothed a painful reminder that he only had so much self-control and restraint.

Katherine huffed.

"Fine. But I'm not wearing any underwear," she declared with a defiant glare. "And you can think about that while we're making small talk with Bonnie and your little brother,".

With that, she crossed the room still fully naked and headed toward their walk in wardrobe to select an outfit for the evening. Shooting him a smouldering look as she did.

Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed very deeply.

Scowling irritably at the shirt and tie in his hands, Kol Mikaelson proceeded to throw it haphazardly onto the bed, with the five other shirts and tie combinations his girlfriend had picked out for the evening. He was dressed only in his dress pants and socks and his hair was still wet and tousled from the shower.

He positively hated wearing a tie. In fact, he could-could count the number of times he had on his hand: Finn's wedding, graduation, Elijah's wedding and his father's funeral.

But he had decided to oblige with the formal dress code that evening. He knew Elijah would give him one of those looks if he didn't not that that particularly bother him - he was used to it by now - but Bonnie had literally threatened him with the prospect of certain death if he didn't put something other than basketball shorts and a t-shirt.

And honestly, for someone nearly a head shorter than him she was downright terrifying sometimes.

He sighed looking down at his watch. Said girlfriend would not be pleased to realise he wasn't fully clothed yet. He prayed he could hone in on the natural charm God had gifted him at birth and successfully convince Bonnie, staying home and ordering take out was a much better idea.

Talk of the devil.

"Kol!? Are you seriously not dressed yet," Bonnie demanded.

Despite the less than happy scowl on his girlfriend's face, she looked absolutely stunning in the black velvet evening gown she had chosen, matched with black stiletto pumps. He smiled inwardly noting the silver pendant he had gotten her for her birthday hanging around her delicate neck.

"Relax darling, I'll be ready in tick," he replied his tone infuriatingly calm.

"Do you know what time it is?!" Bonnie asked incredulously. She glanced down at the discarded outfits on the bed.

"What was wrong with these?" she asked picking up one of them.

"You how much I detest wearing a tie," he sighed giving her a pleading look.

"Well we're going to nice restaurant making an effort is the least you could do," she paused "You know how to do that right?"

Kol rolled his eyes.

"Besides the dinner jacket won't look right without a tie," she continued smoothing down the material.

Kol's eyebrows shot up.

"Um pardon my love, dinner what!?" he growled.

"A dinner jacket. You know something one would wear if they're going out to dinner at a nice place," Bonnie supplied.

"Absolutely not,"

"Kol-"

"You can't be serious. we're only going out for a meal with my brother. You do realise that?" he said.

"Yes but he was kind enough to invite us out so I just want to make an effort," she shrugged.

Kol took the shirt for her and began putting it on.

"This all could have been avoided you know," he reminded her.

"Kol for the last time I was just being polite. At Caroline's birthday party, Elijah commented on how he hadn't seen us in a while so I said 'Maybe we should all hang out sometime?' you know, the way people do? How was I supposed to know he'd take it literally?" Bonnie explained exasperatedly.

"Because it's Elijah that's why" Kol snorted.

"Well it was still nice of him to offer," she insisted.

"Yes, spending the evening it some stuffy restaurant, listening to my brother prattle on for God know how long. Lovely," Kol grumbled.

"Quit complaining," Bonnie said grabbing the ends of his tie and pretending to choke him. "Now hold still let me do this up,"

Kol watched her intently as she did. Bonnie flushed feeling his eyes on her, he really did have a way of making her feel so desired with one look. She had to redo the-the knot a couple of times as the burning heat of his gaze had significantly diminished her concentration.

When she'd finished she stepped back to admire him.

"There see. You look handsome," she stated approvingly.

He grinned stepping forward to circle her waist.

"Thank you, love," he murmured tilting his head to capture her lips with his. Bonnie hummed into the kiss placing her hands around his shoulders, momentarily allowing herself to be caught up in the moment.

Eventually, she broke the kiss and attempted to prise herself out of Kol's arms.

"Nice try hot shot but it's not gonna work," she insisted.

Kol began to drag his lips tenderly down her neck ignoring her protests.

"Give it a couple more minutes sweetheart, I guarantee you'll be singing a different tune," he smirked slowly lifting the hem of her dress and skimming his hands against her thighs.

"Ugh, you are unbelievable," she huffed smacking his hands off of her.

As she left the room she turned back and glared warningly at him.

"Get. Dressed. Kol,"

Kol pouted, noting regretfully how nicely the dress Bonnie was wearing fit her. Especially from behind.

Honestly he could happily throttle Elijah.

Katherine Pierce watched her husband walk into the master bedroom and sigh for what must have been the two-hundredth time in the space of five minutes.

"Katherine, please tell me you are now remotely ready to leave?" Elijah propping himself up against the wall.

"Well, I'm slightly more ready than the last time you asked me," Katherine replied sarcasm dripping in her voice.

"Darling please don't take this the wrong way but must you be so high maintenance," Elijah questioned.

"You married a model Elijah, maintenance is my only skill," she drawled in reply.

Katherine ignored the dramatic way Elijah rolled his eyes and continued straightening her brown tresses in the mirror.

"What else do you have to do," he implored.

"Aside from my hair? I need to pick out a pair of shoes," Katherine replied.

"Let me help,"

"No. I need a very specific pair, you wouldn't know which ones" she dismissed him.

"Do you know?" he countered.

"I'll know when I see them," she shrugged.

Elijah resisted the temptation to roll his eyes again and instead strolled into their (Katherine's) walk in wardrobe, to find some suitable choices.

He emerged a couple minutes later and presented his selection to Katherine. Only to have every pair swiftly rejected

"No,"

"No,"

"No, absolutely not,"

"Ugh, are you kidding me?"

"No,"

"You know Elijah, if you're going blind, that's really something I ought to know about,"

"Katerina, are you trying to be deliberately obtuse?" Elijah asked disdainfully.

This time, it was Katherine's turn to roll her eyes.

"It's not fault you have such bad taste in shoes," she replied.

"Wh- bad taste!? I resent that, I-"

"Wait!" she interrupted "What about those?" She said pointing to a strappy, sandal pair.

Elijah held them up for her.

"Ew, on second thoughts no," she said wrinkling her nose.

"Katherine for the love of God-"

"Ooh, those. Over there, the Manolo Blahniks," Katherine exclaimed.

"Those are perfect," she hummed admiring them. "Well done Elijah,"

She grabbed the shoes and stooped down to put them on. Then she straightened up and tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Now what purse should I take?" she mused.

Her smile grew seeing Elijah's unamused expression.

"Oh unclench 'Lijah, I've already got one, see?" she smirked grabbing it off her dressing table to show him.

She pecked Elijah on the lips playfully and strutted out of the room.

Elijah let out one last long-suffering sigh before following her out of the door.

"Bonnie?"

Kol stuck his head around the door, to find Bonnie in the room, preening in the mirror.

"Wasn't it, you hurrying me a couple of minutes ago," he quipped.

"I'm just making sure I look okay," she mumbled absently mindedly pulling at her dress.

He shook his head as he stepped toward her.

"You look perfect," he insisted dropping a kiss on her shoulder.

"Which one of us is driving?" Bonnie asked.

"You," he said firmly "I'm going to need a large supply of alcohol to get me through this evening," Kol deadpanned.

Bonnie sighed disapprovingly and elbowed past him.

He chuckled stuffing his hands in his pockets, following her out the room.

"What are you ordering?" Bonnie asked studying her menu.

"Something strong," Kol answered.

"I meant food Kol," Bonnie growled glaring at him from over the top of her menu.

"I don't know, I'm not really hungry," he sighed.

"Well that will happen when you eat an entire jumbo bag of cool ranch Doritos before dinner," she snapped.

Kol flashed her a guilty expression.

"Yeah that's right I saw the bag in the trash can," she said accusingly.

"Our sincere apologies," came Elijah's voice floating in the restaurant.

"But we had a mascara emergency," he said moving to help remove Katherine's coat.

"Oh can it, if you hadn't braked like that at the light I wouldn't have asymmetrical eyes right now," Katherine fired back.

"Do try not to make a scene Katherina, I assure your eyes are as symmetrical as always," Elijah said attempting to sooth her.

Katherine rolled her eyes and seated herself.

"Miss Bennett, it's a pleasure to see you, might I say how lovely you look this evening," Elijah said extending his hand toward her.

"Thank you, Elijah, it's lovely to see you too, but you know I did say you can call me Bonnie," she replied pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"What's up little Mikaelson?" Katherine said addressing Kol smirking.

"Kitty Kat," he replied returning conspiratorial smile.

"I just love your earrings tonight," Kol said leaning forward and squinting "Those aren't my brother's balls you wearing are they?" he said grinning childishly.

"Kol!" Bonnie yelled, angrily stabbing him in the chest with her elbow.

Katherine gave him one of her famous "I'll get you for that one" smiles and bit into a breadstick.

"Glad to see you've brought your most impeccable manners with you tonight, brother," Elijah said disapprovingly.

"He's- he's joking," Bonnie said hurriedly flashing an apologetic look in Elijah's direction.

"Not to worry Bonnie, I have long since gotten used to my brother's antics," Elijah said picking up a menu.

Bonnie turned to glare at Kol indicating that he should wipe the smirk off his lips.

"Behave," she mouthed at him.

He just shrugged and went back to studying his menu.

Eventually, the party all individually decided what they wanted to eat. Bonnie went with a simple stake; Elijah ordered some salmon; Kol ordered just about everything on the menu despite his earlier claims that he wasn't hungry; Katherine did the exact opposite and went with a salad.

Secretly Bonnie was impressed that Katherine ordered anything more than a toothpick with an olive on it.

But Katherine certainly made up for her lack of food with a number of drinks she ordered.

"That's a nice dress you're wearing Bon Bon," Katherine commented while pushing her food around her plate.

Bonnie looked up, momentarily startled by Katherine's out of character compliment. She braced herself for the punchline.

But it never came. Instead, Katherine just smiled innocently looking expectantly at her for a response.

"Oh, um... thank you, Katherine. You look nice too," Bonnie replied uncertainly.

"Mmm," Katherine hummed slipping a single crouton in her mouth "I never see any dresses like that when I go shopping. Maybe it's just been awhile since I visited the regular department stores," she replied casually.

Whomp, there it is. Bonnie thought.

Bonnie gave Katherine a fake smile recognising the thinly veiled insult a mile away.

Kol looked up from stuffing his face noting a significant change in Bonnie's posture.

"Well, you fit so nicely into your dress Katherine. Honestly, I wish I had the discipline to go the whole day eating virtually nothing," Bonnie countered with the same casual tone Katherine had used.

Now both men seemed to sense the tension in the air. Elijah quickly changed the direction of the discussion.

"This restaurant has a lovely ambience, especially this time of year. It's why I enjoy coming here. Bonnie, did my brother ever tell you about the time our family visited Peru on holiday?" Elijah asked wiping his mouth.

Kol cut in before Bonnie could answer.

"If it's the story about the waiter and your matching bow ties, that you tell at literally every family gathering then yes, we've all heard it," Kol growled stabbing his chicken with his fork.

Katherine had fought down the urge to laugh and covered it up with a cough instead.

"Have some water, Katherine," Bonnie said pushing her glass toward her "Don't worry it's calorie free,"

As Katherine's expression darkened and she looked like she was about to say something back Elijah steered the conversation back again.

"Might I propose a toast?"

"Not if you can help it," Kol groaned.

"-To the four of us," Elijah said cutting Kol a look "Enjoying a lovely meal in each other's company," he said raising his glass.

Reluctantly, the other 3 raised their glasses and let them clink together.

Katherine lowered her glass to her lips and proceeded to knock back the entire thing earning her a somewhat disapproving look from Elijah.

"What!?" she hissed "You dragged me here and now I can't drink?" she said as if Bonnie and Kol weren't within earshot.

At that moment, the red-headed waitress that had taken their order came up to their table smiling jovially.

"Hello. Are we all okay over here? Can I get you some desserts?" she asked her pen poised against her notepad.

"We're good, thanks," Bonnie replied almost immediately.

"Yes, check please," Elijah agreed and began to pull out his wallet.

"This was really nice," Bonnie said leaning in to embrace Elijah.

"Most definitely we should all meet again at some point," Elijah agreed.

"So will Bonnie give you a little doggie treat for being a good boy tonight?" Katherine murmured to Kol as their partners exchanged niceties.

"Very funny Kat," Kol grumbled under his breath.

"I just call it like I see it," she said smiling spitefully.

"Bitch,"

"Asshole,"

"Gold digger,"

"Dipshit,"

They smirked at one another for a moment before Kol rolled his eyes and checked his watch, wishing Bonnie and Elijah would hurry up.

"Drive safely," Elijah said pulling his keys out and unlocking his car.

"You too," Bonnie replied good-naturedly linking arms with Kol.

Katherine turned and blew Kol a kiss before she left.

"Text me later little Mikaelson," she paused and gave Bonnie a malicious smile "Bye Bon Bon,"

Bonnie only waved and gave her the most genuine smile she could muster, despite herself.

Then both couples turned and got into their respective cars.

"That bitch! I knew her giving me a compliment was too good to be true! Ugh, we are never doing that again," Bonnie huffed putting the car in gear.

Kol only smiled in silent triumph and leaned foward to turn on the radio, as Bonnie pulled out of the parking lot.

"Okay, I don't care what you say we are literally never doing that again. That was two and a half hours of my life I'll never get back! Even going to the stupid opera was better than that," Katherine said disgustedly as soon as the car door was shut.

"Well perhaps if you made more of an effort," Elijah supplied, already starting to feel a headache coming on.

"Ugh, other people are the worst," Katherine said scrunching up her face and turning her head to look out the window as she pouted.

Elijah just sighed in response.