Kaia savored the breeze blowing past her, her hair caressing her neck softly. She took a deep breath, eyes closed, and let her mind calm. She didn't want to think about what had happened. That Esther had returned, and was now trying to force her broken family back together. That everyone agreed to stay, including Kol, and so she, too, was stuck. She had never planned to have to deal with Nicklaus ever again. When the pain of just being near him was so great. She opened her eyes, and the beauty of Steven's quarry struck her immediately. It was sunset, and the beautiful reds and oranges and yellows reflected on the water, with the waterfall hushing peacefully. She had come to get away from her problems, the unresolved issues and internal crap she was dealing with. Rebekah had gone shopping for a dress, whether extremely excited for the ball her mother was planning to throw, or trying to get away for a while herself, Kaia didn't know. Elijah, it seemed, had been content to remain in the mansion, with his reading material, though most likely trying to get any insight into what his Mother was trying to hide in what she had claimed as her study. Klaus holed himself up in his painting room, fortunately for Kaia. It would be best if she never had to see him again. The oldest, Finn, stayed on his mother's heels always. And Kol... a twig snapped, and Kaia didn't bother turning.
"Looks like I have a stalker."
A low laugh sounded from behind her, "I thought it was only right to return the favor, after you did it for a century." Kol plopped down beside her, leaning in and letting her nestle into him. God even the smell of him made her begin to choke up. Perhaps she was more messed up that she originally thought.
"It's been so long," she said quietly, enjoying the view, "Since we've been able to do something like this."
"Indeed. Though I always knew we'd come back to each other."
She pulled back to look at him. "You knew I would come back. After almost a hundred years?" His answering smile made her heart stutter.
"Oh yes, love. From the moment I set eyes on you I knew what you'd be. What we'd be." The surety in his voice was absolute.
"I didn't." She said in question. His eyes studied her, and eventually he just wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back to him.
"Of course you didn't. But you were waiting for me."
Kaia raised her eyebrows. "Is that so?"
He grinned. "Definitely."
The quiet joy in his eyes, the ease and comfort in which they talked to each other made her throat close. He reached out, pushing a strand of hair out of hair face, stroking her cheek.
She sighed, "God, I missed you." His smile fell away.
"I know." The guilt in his voice made her lean back into him as he rested his chin on her head, pulling her close. "Never again love." He rubbed her arm softly. "I'll never let him hurt us again, Kaia." A tear escaped her, and she quickly brushed it away. "I'll never let him hurt you again." The surety in his voice, the love, it made her pull back, to look at him.
"Why are we still here, Kol?" His jaw clenched, and his eyes looked down.
"It's my mother." He swallowed. "She wants everyone back together. And with her here," He paused, "It might work, I don't know." She pulled back further.
"Wait, Kol. Yesterday you were ready to leave Klaus and never come back, and now you're will to try again?"
"Kaia-" He sighed.
"No." She said immediately, "What are you saying Kol? I thought you just said you'd never let him hurt us again." She rose sharply, beginning to pace.
"I did! I won't! It's just more complicated now. My mother-"
"Your mother what? Kol, I thought you were serious about this? I can't stay in the same house as him. You know that. You have to know that."
"Of course I know that. This is only temporary Kai! We just need to give her time."
"God! Don't you get it Kol?" She tried again, to make him understand. "I can't be around him Kol." Her voice broke.
"Kaia-"
"Remember what he did to us?" He had stood up, body tense like he was bracing himself, bracing himself to defend against her. "You may not remember it but I sure as hell do!" She fought back her tears. "We lasted a month Kol! One goddamn month before he caught us!" He tried to reach for her but she jerked away. "I was gone to get supplies, and when I came back, he was there, waiting for me." The words spilled from her mouth. "And you. With a dagger in your heart, grey and cold, and I reached for you, and he was there, shoving me against a wall. And I thought he was going to kill me. That's when I realized it was a lie." Kol stood, frozen, in what looked like horror as he listened. "I never meant anything to him at all. Because you know what he did?" She swallowed. "He let me live." There was something like devastation in his eyes as she went on. "He whispered in my ear, 'You will never see him again, and you will live the rest of your eternity knowing that I took him away from you.' and then you were gone." She cried. "And he left me alone for 92 years." She gasped for breath.
"92 years without you. 92 years betrayed."
"I'm so sorry." He whispered.
"But I guess you didn't really lose me, did you?" She said softly. He didn't say anything. "I was the only one who had to lose you." The look in his eyes, the pleading, trying to figure out how to help her.
"You were asleep for 92 years." The tears began falling. "But I was awake. I was awake and had to live without you every single goddamn day." She looked down, unable to bear him looking at her. "I was alone." She began backing away, shaking her head. "Maybe I still am." He grabbed her arm.
"Kaia please-"
"Don't." She said breathlessly, jerking away, she started walking away. When she heard him behind her, she jerked back around. "Don't follow me." And with that, she sped away, leaving him behind.
