A/N Thank you all for reviewing!


"I can't believe you're going on a date with Klaus Mikaelson!"

Cherie rolled her eyes at Caroline from the mirror she was stood in front of as her sister sat on the end of her bed, legs crossed. The blonde smoothed down the dress she had picked out which was a black off the shoulder lace dress. It was simple. It wasn't trying too hard, but it wasn't too casual that said she hadn't put any thought into it.

"It's not a date."Cherie softly defended herself, shrugging one shoulder."It's dinner."

Cherie nodded in agreement with herself, spinning around to look at herself in the mirror.

She had agreed to meet Klaus at the Grill by six. He had offered to send a town car to her, but she had refused. She wasn't a Queen, it all sounded over the top to her.

"And you might be the first course."Caroline sing songed, laughing when Cherie glared at her.

"Care!"

The younger sister let her smile fade as she showed how worried she was."Let me come with you, Cher, please!"

Cherie turned around from the mirror, slipping into her flats, she hated not being comfortable. She shook her head as Caroline sent her a pleading look, the vampire sibling had been trying to talk Cherie out of it ever since she'd found out that Cherie had agreed to dinner. Cherie had refused, she'd given her word, and she didn't break it.

"No."

"Cher, please!"Caroline stood from the edge of the bed, hands on her hips."He's not a nice person. Actually, he isn't a person, he's a monster!"

Cherie didn't reply to that, but it was clear that she'd heard it.

Instead, she walked over to her little sister and placed her hand on Caroline's shoulders.

"How about we make a compromise?"Cherie raised her eyebrow, and when Caroline hesitantly nodded, she continued."If i'm not back by nine and I haven't called you to tell you that i'm all right, come and get me, okay?"

Caroline chewed on her lower lip, pondering the deal until she finally nodded, giving in. Her sister was just as headstrong as Caroline; it was something that had been handed down from the women in their family and she both hated and loved that about Cherie.

"Fine,"Caroline sighed, eyebrows raising as the pointed at her sister."but i'm still not happy about it."

"You've made that clear."Cherie said, leaning forward and kissing her sister's cheek."I've got to leave now."

Caroline looked like she wanted to protest but she kept her mouth shut.

Cherie smiled as she picked up her jacket and shrugged it on before holding out her arms.

"How do I look?"

Caroline looked at her sister, and she couldn't stop her small smile, her eyes turning a little lighter.

"Perfect."Caroline grinned as she followed her sister to the front door."The flats were a good idea for the running away part."

Cherie sent her sister a playful glare."Hilarious."

Cherie moved to open the front door, but Caroline flashed in front of her.

"Wait!"

"Caroline-"

"You've taken vervain today, right?"Caroline asked, anxiety laced in her tone, and she breathed a sigh of relief when Cherie nodded."Good, at least if he bites you, it won't be pleasant."

Cherie rolled her eyes before she pulled her sister in for a hug, smiling when Caroline embraced her tightly.

"It was nice knowing you; i call dibs on your shoes."Caroline mumbled, clearly forcing the humour, and she hugged Cherie tighter as she whispered."Love you."

"I love you."

Cherie squeezed her lovingly, pulling back from the hug and poking Caroline's cheek with a teasing grin.

"Not stop being sentimental and let me out. The sooner I leave the sooner I can return, right?"

Caroline sighed, reluctantly stepping aside and letting Cherie pass.


The Grill

"You came."

Cherie arched an eyebrow as she ventured further into the Grill, her gaze immediately landing on the source of the voice. Klaus stood on the steps that led to the actual bar, his hands behind his back. He, like her, was dressed casual but no so casual that it seemed he'd put no effort in.

"You didn't think i'd stand up the all mighty Klaus Mikaelson, did you?"

Cherie cocked her head, giving him an almost teasing look that made him smirk."

"Most people wouldn't dare but you're not most people, are you, love?"

He took the time to relish in her smile before gesturing to the table he acquired for them.

"Please, sit with me."

She followed to where he'd motioned at and made her way over to the table, taking that time to look around the Grill. There was nothing out of the ordinary, like Klaus had promised. Chatter filled the bar, regulars sat around and ordered their drinks, friends were together.

Klaus waited for Cherie to sit down before he took his seat across from her.

He eyed her for a short moment as their drinks were poured, smiling a little as she seemed comfortable enough to sip at her drink without questioning if he'd poisoned it or not.

Cherie looked around the bar again until her eyes landed on Matt who was behind the bar on his shift. He had a towel draped over his shoulder and was serving a regular.

Matt had no chance against Klaus if the hybrid decided to do something, she knew that he would be just as defenceless as her. But Matt, like the Grill, was familiar and she felt a sense of comfort knowing that he was there.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Matt lifted his head and gave her a grin. It was evident he wasn't happy with the situation, but he'd never leave her behind to fend for herself.

Cherie smiled back and returned her attention to Klaus.

"You listened to me."

Klaus shrugged one shoulder as he picked up his glass."It's not ideal for me, but you wanted to be in familiar surroundings. Do not worry; your friend is on vervain, and I haven't harmed him even though i'm tempted to do so because he has no manners towards his elders."

Cherie just rolled her eyes and took off her coat, another sign that she felt somewhat comfortable.

"Oh, I almost forgot!"

Klaus suddenly snapped his fingers, and a tall man came up, handing Klaus two different grenades that he looked at with disdain.

"I would've brought the crossbow, but you'd be more skilful with these, I doubt you've been taught to hit your target with a crossbow, love."

She frowned, peering at the grenades inquisitively."What are in those?"

"Wolfsbane."Klaus said, nodding at one grenade before the other."Vervain."

Klaus placed the grenades at each side of Cherie on her side of the table."Each would give you at least five seconds to run, but together you'd have a good ten. I can't die from them, of course, but they'd incapacitate me for those ten seconds."

Cherie's fingers uncurled from her palm, and she curiously moved to touch the grenades but quickly stopped herself, eyes meeting Klaus'.

He nodded and, for some reason, she trusted that and touched the weapons. Then, as she realised that she wasn't going to be hurt just by touching them, the human picked them up and set them down close beside her.

She lifted her head again and gave Klaus a big smile that made his lips curve up.

She had weapons and a sense of comfort with Matt at the bar. Cherie felt safe and grew more relaxed as she felt no sense of intimidation with Klaus.

"Thank you."

He looked somewhat surprised at the simple two words.

The Original eyed her for some reason she didn't know until he nodded."Of course."

He perked up as food was placed in front of them and he watched Cherie as she looked down a the plate, eyebrow quirking.

"Spaghetti Bolognese."She mumbled, giving Klaus a half impressed and half curious look."How did you know my favourite food?"

Klaus gave her a smug grin as he picked up his fork, nodding over to Matt.

"Your friend was useful for something."

Cherie rolled her eyes once more as Klaus gave her a crooked grin and she hid her smile by looking back down at her foot, picking up her own fork.

"I was expecting a compelled chef from France or something to serve me something I didn't know the name of."

Klaus cocked his head, twirling the spaghetti around his fork before he pointed at her with it.

"You're thinking of the wrong Mikaelson brother, sweetheart."He spoke with a scolding tone, tutting with a shake of his head."Those small portions with names you cannot pronounce are Elijah's forte."

"So snobby is something I can cross out then?"

He nodded, raising his glass as he spoke."I guess you don't know me as well as you think you do, love."

She hummed as her, and Klaus' glasses were re-filled.

"You do have to know your enemy."

His smile fell from his face, and he shook his head. Klaus was silent until the waiters were out of earshot before he spoke.

"I'm not your enemy."Klaus stated with a small smile, but it was evident he was serious."All right?"

He stared at her until she nodded silently, looking down at the fingers that were grasping her chin before she met his eyes again.

Klaus remained inches from her face before he cleared his throat and sat back down. Everything returned to normal, the tension fading as he picked up his fork again, his expression remaining impassive.

"So why did you return home?"

"My little sister needed me, so I came home."Cherie quickly answered, smiling softly at the mention of her sister."and I kinda missed my little town."

Klaus' crooked smirk returned, and he looked over at her, quirking an eyebrow.

She knew that look.

"Maybe next time I could show you where my family and I used to reside before Mystic Falls existed."

"Next time?"She repeated, raising both her eyebrows questioningly."Who says there will be a next time?"

Klaus' eyes flickered away for a moment before his smug smirk returned.

"Come on, love,"Klaus set down his fork and knife, resting his chin on the top of his hand."aren't you at the least bit enticed by me?"

Copying him, she also put down her fork and knife, not shying away from his gaze.

"You have beautiful eyes, an accent that makes my legs wobble and a face that never gets boring,"She honestly said, not missing Klaus' smug smile before she added."but that doesn't mean i'm gonna sprawl out in front of you and beg you to ravish me."

Klaus raised his eyebrows, giving the human a once over, clearly imagining her doing exactly that before she cleared her throat, demanding he stop it.

"I am the most powerful being in the world; I am immortal."

The human held out her hands, clearly not affected by Klaus' cocky words.

"So?"

The Original narrowed his eyes, a breathy laugh leaving him as he finally replied."I could give you the world if I chose to, show you things you didn't even know existed. You could be a queen."

"This is the 21st century; I don't need a man to take care of me."

Klaus rolled his eyes, leaning back against his chair."Don't remind me. I'm a devout feminist, love, but i cannot begin to tell you how annoying my sister has become now that she's found out she 'has rights'."

Cherie couldn't stop her simper as Klaus spoke of his sister in an annoyed but fond way, a small smile appearing on his face.

"So, our second dinner..."

"And we're back to you assuming that i'm having dinner with you again."

"All right, love. Lunch, breakfast, whatever you'd like."Klaus' hands met in front of him in an almost prayer position, his lips curving up."Which one would you prefer? Say it, and i'll make it happen."

Cherie didn't retort with a jest filled response. Instead, she just placed her hands on the table in front of her; attention solely focused on the hybrid sitting across from her.

"Are you sure that you going the extra mile isn't because you can't have something that 'should've' been able to have without much effort?"

The crooked smile fell from Klaus' face, and an impassive expression took over, his blue orbs turning cold.

Cherie swallowed, nervousness fluttering in her stomach and her mind told her to backtrack.

But, for some reason, her mind didn't connect with her mouth, and she found herself carrying on.

"Is the reason you want me because there's a possibility you cannot have me without compulsion or what you could offer?"

Klaus swallowed, jaw clenching as he processed her words before he broke their eye contact, a breathy, cold, laugh leaving him.

Cherie looked at the grenades, patting herself on the back for wearing the flats and readied herself for attempting to use the weapons against him.

But, then, Klaus, once more, shocked her.

The hybrid turned back to her, a small smile on his face as he reached out and grabbed his glass. She waited impatiently as he downed the drink, setting down the glass, nodding sharply at the waiter who rushed up to refill his glass.

Klaus finally met her gaze again; eyes still blank, but he didn't look upset with her.

"Sweetheart, i'm sitting in The Grill with a jock i'd love to drain dry watching my every move and given you weapons that would certainly irk me if used, what do you think?"

A playful smile appeared on his lips as he tilted his head, fingers drumming against the table."If I had my way, I would've swept you off to Paris."

No longer on edge, she hummed at his words, reaching over and grabbing a breadstick before asking."And why are you sitting in The Grill with a jock you'd love to drain dry watching your every move and given me weapons that would irk you?"

The Original grinned at the question and seemed to perk up when she sent him a somewhat smug smirk, knowing he was impressed that she'd managed to hurl his own words back at him.

"Because you beguile me,"Klaus answered with such sincerity that it made Cherie freeze."You're true-hearted, gracious yet self-assertive and possess a smile I think ways of being the receiving end of. I like you."

The human didn't the bright smile that appeared and Klaus' own grin widened as he realised the smile was directed at him.

"And I think that, within time, you'll admit that you are charmed by me."

The Original let out a small chuckle as he picked up his fork again and pointed it at her."If you are able to live with the evil hybrid part, that is."

Cherie shook her head, sitting up straight as she disagreed with him.

"I don't think you're evil."

Klaus looked almost puzzled."No?"

"You've done unspeakable things, and i'm sure you'll do more of them. You're flawed, yes, but we all are."Cherie carried on, breadstick forgotten as her attention focused on Klaus."You smiled when you were talking about your sister earlier and when you mentioned your brother. I know that smile, I have that smile whenever i'm around my own sister. That's love and, if you can love something or someone, you're not evil."

For the second time that night, Klaus looked at a loss for words.

He cleared his throat once more, seeming almost hesitant to either confirm or deny her words.

He dropped his fork and reached out for his drink again.

Cherie watched him and, as much as he tried to hide it, she could see that her words had affected him.

There was more to Klaus than, as her sister had said, the ancient dick that had tormented their town. He wasn't a good person by any means, but if he loved just as much as he tormented people, then he wasn't all bad.

He had layers, and Cherie wanted to know more.

"Delizioso."

Klaus set down his glass, curious.

"Sorry, love, what was that?"

"Delizioso. It's an Italian restaurant in Charlottesville, my favourite. It's not Paris, but it's close."

The Original cocked his head, a glimmer in his eyes."What about it?"

The human rolled her eyes, knowing that he knew full well what she was speaking about.

"I'd like you to take me there for our, uh, our second dinner."

A small smile appeared on Klaus' face, a smile that the human returned. And, as she smiled at him, he mentally noted it down along with the other times he'd made her smile.

The Originals' smile grew, and he gave a sharp nod, relishing in the laugh she gave.

"It would be my pleasure."


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