BLIND LOVE

From: Lovely Vero

Fan Fiction – Alternate Universe TVD & the Originals

Main pairings:
Caroline Forbes & Klaus Mikaelson
Katherine Pierce & Elijah Mikaelson

Also starring:
Bonnie Bennett and Kol


CHAPTER 7


The songs inspiration for this chapter are from: Bruno Mars.

The chosen songs will be listed through the chapter.


To my readers: Guys;it is officially…. "Party time"! We are taking a break from the plot-story to find ourselves being invited to the hottest party in town – Kol's birthday ;) But don't think for a split second that this chapter won't have its load of twists and turns and a major showdown that will lead to a Klaroline scene that I can only imagine a lot of you had wondered how it would ever happen (I went with my guts while creating/writing it the most realistic way possible). Exactly like I believe this entire story is … So, fasten your seat belts, put your sexiest dress and party shoes on…. Because 3, 2, 1 ….


"24 K magic" from Bruno Mars


Kol's rooftop / above his loft/apartment unit; 8:00 pm…

Bonnie's chiffon flowery maxi skirt billowed in the warm spring breeze while she took a few steps on her high heels silver sandals to replace a few pillow on the chairs. She had used a flat iron to let her brown hair fall into a long cascade down on her back and over her shoulders, where a black corset top flattered her neckline and soft roundness of her breasts.

"Damn! You look … Mm… Mm…Mm… Girls, what y'all try to do? 24 karat magic in the air, head to toe so player… Look out!" Eric started to sing; while suddenly appearing with a box filled with cold bottles of beer, vodka and rum.

"Stop it!" Bonnie waved her right hand at him; a chuckle escaping her parted lips and redness filling both of her cheeks. "This is just an old outfit of mine."

"How much of a fool do you think I am, Nurse Bennett?" Eric questioned, with a rose eyebrow. "Don't worry this pretty head of yours I won't tell your secret, and let me tell you that you truly look like 24 karat magic in the air!" He complimented, with a wink.

"We're lucky they say it won't rain and it will be a mild night." She commented, raising her head to the night sky.

"Yap! That was a gamble. But we won the jackpot: it's the perfect weather for a surprise party on a rooftop." Eric agreed, while dropping the box on a nearby table where plastic cups had been placed. "Where were you? It took you forever!" He asked, raising his voice at Christian who had come out from the elevator door.

"Hey… Watch your mouth! Do you know how heavy this sound equipment is – I needed reinforcement, because I wasn't quite ready to wear the D.J. hat tonight, so this is Patrick/aka Pat252 D.J. in his spare time. He's an orderly in the children wing and he knows his way around the sound tables."

"Hey…Welcome! Nice to meet you my man." Eric knocked his closed fist with the new guy. "I'm Eric and this is Bonnie...And it appears you already know Christian."

"Nice to meet you too." Patrick greeted him of his closed fist; before granting a smile to Bonnie. "Sorry for your friend Kol… Isn't it? I've heard he's in a bit of hard place with the hospital."

"Yeah…. We wanted to cheer him up a little bit with this surprise birthday batch." Eric responded, without adding much details of the legal pursuit to the stranger. "By the way, I don't know how much you're charging by the hour but we are kind of low with the money."

"Oh, no! Don't worry man." The guy responded, with a nod and a smile. "This gives me much needed practice."

"We are very grateful for your contribution then… Patrick, right?" Bonnie replied, amicably; while slowly approaching the group.

"That's right." He eyed her from head to toes. "I can only oblige when a nice and good looking girl such as yourself thanks me so warmly."

"Hey… Hey!" Christian slapped the young man in the back of his head. "Bonnie's taken. She's the birthday guy' girlfriend"

"My bad." Patrick presented his apologies while making a reverence.

"Apologies accepted." Bonnie replied, with a large smile.

"So this is where I should do the sound check I guess?" He questioned. "Where should I put the equipment and how many people will be here?"

"Yes, this is where the party is taking place. You can put it by the large banner and the balloons. We've put a small table there. It's a small crowd of fifty to eighty people. Try to keep the sound in a lower level. Though majority of the tenants won't be around because it's a Friday night. I don't want someone to call the police on us for disturbance." Eric gave his instructions.

"Got you!" The guy nodded, before following Christian to the designed spot.

"Oh God, Eric! I'm so nervous that I could throw up right now." Bonnie shared her feelings, raising her right hand on her chest; right over her raising heartbeats.

"Relax Bonnie. We got this under control. It's going to be a blast!" Eric tried to reassure her, by grabbing the young woman by the shoulders.

"He's going to hate it so much…" Bonnie commented. "I can feel it in my guts."

"Yeah… you're probably right. He's going to hate it with a passion" Eric agreed; before they could both burst into laughter. "So… Was he disappointed that you couldn't see him today?" He questioned, lowering his sight on her.

"Not really. I've told him that I was stuck at the hospital for a double-shift." She replied. "But I also added that I would meet him on the rooftop of his building later in the evening." She explained, some more. "Adding the fact that Klaus had managed to set him into a double shift duty at the Center that involved some kind of inventory – and we were set!"

"A double-shift on desk duty for you?" He commented, chuckling.

"He did not think too much about it, obviously." She shrugged. "What about you?"

"Oh… You don't need to know about that." Eric shook his head, wincing. "The important thing is that he'll be here."

"Ok, spill it Eric. What did you do now?" She demanded, stepping aside, both arms firmly crossed in front of her raising chest.

"Well, I kind of lie telling him that Isabella had cornered me into a fight at the hospital and had messed badly with my mind." He shrugged, apologetically. "So that is the reason why "I" – "His best friend" couldn't see him on his birthday day."

"You did what?" She exclaimed, in shock. "Eric, what were you thinking mentioning her?"

"Well, tell me how I was supposed to make him believe this entire bullshit otherwise?" He questioned, with opened arms. "I told him I was drinking beer bottles sitting in front of my T.V. to drown my sorrow and he bought my bullshit and texted me that he would visit me tomorrow." He added. "The only thing he doesn't know is that he'll see me way earlier than that!"

Bonnie glanced at Eric for a few seconds; before bursting into a frank laugh.

"I'm happy this amuses you so much, Bonnie!" He replied, wincing.

"Oh, Eric… This is such a bad lie." She commented, smiling; before giving him a hug.

"Not as bad as a double-shift desk duty!" He argued in a friendly matter, hugging her back.

"I'm happy Kol has you in his life." She complimented him.

"He's damn lucky to have you too, Bonnie." He responded, truthfully.


"So where do I put this?" Christian asked while carrying one large speaker in both of his arms.

"Oh, you brought this man, thanks! Let me help you with that." Patrick took the speaker from Christian's hands before dropping it gently on the roof. "Could you get me the other one?"

"Sure! I'll be right back." Christian nodded, before turning on his heels to reach the elevator.

Patrick glanced rapidly toward Bonnie and Eric who were exchanging a few words to reassure himself that they weren't watching him at a distance, before retrieving his cellphone from the back pocket of his jeans.

Pat252 D.J. The asshole' birthday party is taking place on the roof of Kol's building apartment exactly like I suspected that it would. See you later, beautiful!

I-90022 Thanks sugar! You can count on it!


The previous day – Santa Rosa Hospital; 10:45 am…

"Eric!" The young man heard his name being called behind his back, and this from the opposite side of the hospital corridor.

"Hey Bonnie, what's up?" He questioned, turning on himself to see her rush her steps toward his standing position while carrying a heavy load of patients' files.

"I need to talk to you about…. "She manages to get the words out of her mouth, before swearing out loud the moment the files end up being scattered all over the ceramic floor. "Damn it!"

"Hey, hey… Don't worry! Let me help you with that, OK?" Eric knelled by her side to help her grab the files one by one. "Wow! You were carrying quite a load."

"Did I ever tell you how much I hate the desk duty tasks?" Bonnie asked, under clenched teeth.

"I think so… You kind of mention it … Once or twice." He responded, with a wink and a grin.

"Yeah… I must have." She rolled her eyes, before raising back on her legs.

"I think we got all of them." Eric added, while placing the ones he had picked up in her arms. "You'll be fine?"

"I guess so; thanks. Where were you heading anyway?" She asked some more; while following his steps toward the elevator doors.

"Laboratory; to get them this sample." He informed her, while retrieving the test tube from his front shirt pocket.

"Can I tag along? I'm heading to the …" Bonnie responded, before being cut in the middle of her sentence.

"You're heading to the files archive room?" He teased, amicably; while holding the elevator door open to help her get inside.

"How did you guess?" She responded with a smile.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Eric questioned while pushing the ground floor button.

"Would Kol's landlord be willing to let us use the roof top of the building?" She questioned, excitedly.

"Oh damn!" Eric closed his eyes, a long and loud sigh escaping his lips. "When I've told you that stupid idea – that's what it was, Bonnie: a really stupid idea!"

"Why?" She exclaimed; dumbfounded. "You were so excited at first when you talked to me about it, and you got me into thinking that this surprise party could be a good plan!"

"That's because I never take into consideration for whom this party was for: Kol!" Eric replied with much articulation of his last word/name.

"You were the one who told me that his birthday was coming and that I needed to find a way to lift his spirit." Bonnie protested, vehemently.

"I meant it as: you should put a sexy negligee or something and open a bottle champagne!" Eric tried to argue his case.

"I don't wear negligee, Eric –and Kol hates champagne!" Bonnie replied, with wide opened eyes. "Well, I think he does? I don't know …Are we having this conversation?"

"No, we are definitely not having this conversation!" Eric replied, both arms and hands placed into an "X" sign; while both of his cheeks turned red. "If we would be having this conversation he would probably kill me! No pun intended with his present legal case."

"Eric! It's you who have said that his landlord could let us use the rooftop to organize this surprise party." She cried her frustration out loud.

"Did I?" He questioned, grimacing. "Damn it; I did! But, Bonnie … I don't know what got into me to even entertain this idea. Kol hates those kind of gathering. He dislikes the simple mention of party … For him, a beer at the pub, around a table, with his girl and his friends is all that he needs." He explained furthermore; while the elevator came to a halt.

"God; you're probably right! But, Eric… That's all we ever do! We go to the pub, sit and share a few drinks. I wanted him …. No, let me rephrase: I need him to know that he has a large group of people that is supporting him during these hard times. " She rose her head to the elevator ceiling; an exasperated sigh escaping her lips. "I need to call back the ones I've reached, then."

"What do you mean by: the ones you've reached?" Eric questioned, while holding the door open for her to step outside.

"Well; you were so excited about the idea that I stupidly thought that it was a done deal, so …. I invited a few people already." She informed him, biting into her bottom lip while closing her eyes to avoid looking at him.

"You did what?" He exclaimed, in shock. "Please, tell me you're joking, Bonnie?"

"It's OK; don't worry about a thing! I'll do damage control and call the ones I was able to reach to tell them that the party is cancelled." Bonnie shrugged, apologetically.

"Oh, dear God, please tell me why are you challenging me this way?" Eric questioned the Lord, his eyes rose to the white ceiling; while shaking his head and placing both of his hands on each side of his waist. "Listen… Don't do "damage control" - don't cancel anything, Bonnie; because…. we'll do this. We'll do the "Surprise Birthday Party" set up." He finally agreed, with a roll of his eyes.

"Really?" Bonnie asked, a bright smile spreading over her full lips; before suddenly dropping all the files on the floor (once more), only to jump in Eric's arms to hug him. "Oh …Thank you! Thank you, Eric!"

"You're welcome." He responded with a smile of his own; before gently pushing her at arm length to look at the files spread in front of their feet. "You're doing this on purpose; aren't you?" He winked, teasingly.

"I wish I could make all these files disappear to tell you the truth, but… I still need my paycheck." She replied, kneeling once more to pick them all up.

"Just to be clear though…" He added, before starting to gather the files. "If Kol is throwing a tantrum at the "Surprise Party"; we'll both take the blame for it; got it?" He added; while pointing a finger at her nose.

"Got it!" She nodded, with a smile of her own. "Eric, I… I found something." She whispered, while rapidly glancing at their surroundings to make sure no one was listening, before placing the files in her arms.

"What do you mean?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Come…" She grabbed his left forearm, while pulling him toward a large alcove in the wall, majorly covered by a plant. "Cheryl had suggested to me to dig further into the patients' files to find something on Isabella on that specific night."

"Wait, wait, wait … Backup … Backup … Did you just say "Cheryl suggested to YOU"?" Eric questioned with big opened eyes.

"Yes! Don't be so surprised she's on our side; she just can't say it openly." Bonnie replied, with a nod.

"What did you find, Bonnie?" Eric questioned in a low murmur.

"Isabella has signed the chart of the patient located at two doors of distance from the victim." Bonnie informed him. "She was in that particular room at 11:30 pm. And, the patient died at 11:45 pm."

"So she could have easily slipped herself inside Mr. Patterson' room after you gave the right dosage of medication and left?" Eric commented.

"That could be the case, Eric." Bonnie came to the same conclusion. "Who knows?"

"Wow!" He exclaimed, passing a hand over his face. "If that is true it's unbelievably cruel of her!"

"Yes it is." She agreed.

"Did you tell anyone?" He questioned some more.

"I told Kol and I called Mister Mikaelson. He's his lawyer after all. And though what I found is concerning my own suspension more than being related to his case, it's still relevant."

"I agree." Eric nodded. "You did the right thing."

"I need to go now." She informed him; before starting to walk. "So, you weren't joking? We are putting this party into motion?"

"Yes, we are." Eric nodded, with a smile. "Hey Bonnie?"

"Yes?" She turned around.

"Please tell me you weren't thinking of inviting Cheryl to this party?" He questioned, with a strong shake of his head.

"Eh … Well, I won't tell you then… Ciao!" She responded with a wave and a wink.

"Bonnie!" He shouted her name under her discreet burst of laughter.


A few minutes later…

"Yes, Nurse Bennett. What can I do for you?" Cheryl asked while turning on her heels (from her standing position at the nurses' station) to glance at the brunette.

"I wanted to thank you for your help, Cheryl" Bonnie replied, with a smile.

"And of what "help" are you talking about? I don't really recall." She questioned some more, with a set of raise eyebrows.

"Well…." The petite nurse started replying; while biting nervously into her bottom lip. "You told me not so long ago that I should believe in the magic of Harry Potter."

"Mm…. Mm…. I believe I did." Cheryl nodded; crossing both arms in front of her large chest; chin rose.

"And … You also implied that with this "magic" in my hands; I could unfold, if necessary, more mysteries." Bonnie starting bubbling nonsense; while glancing right and left to assure herself that no one was listening to her insane dialogue that meant more that they would ever imagine.

"I don't believe those were my exact words." She protested with a single shrug.

"But… It's close enough." Bonnie replied with a roll of her eyes. "Well, just to tell you that because of your words of wisdom I was able to unfold a particular mystery…. in the books." She emphasized on the "books" (that really meant files) reference with a nod of her head.

"I see." The head nurse replied, with an almost none perceivable smile raising the right corner of her lips.

"That's all you'll say?" Bonnie commented, dumbfounded.

"I've said and shared more than enough already, would YOU say, Nurse Bennett?" Cheryl titled her head in questioning.

"Yes, you have… Thank you, Cheryl." She responded with a large smile

"You're welcome. Is there something else, Nurse Bennett?" The head nurse questioned some more while turning on herself to grab a chart in her hands.

"Tomorrow it will be Kol's birthday and … Well, to cheer him up over … You know; Eric and I we have put a little "get together" with all of his friends. I believe that he would truly like it if you could be present, Cheryl." Bonnie found the courage to get the invitation out of her mouth.

Cheryl slowly turned around on herself, a stunned expression plastered on her face, before unexpectedly bursting into a loud laugh.

"Wow! I was expecting a direct "no thank you, Nurse Bennett"; but I wasn't expecting "this"." Bonnie commented.

"Tell me something, Nurse Bennett: you consider that Kol and I are friends?" Cheryl questioned; while waving a finger underneath the brunette nose. "Is it because we were bounding so much the past few months?"

"Well…" She started answering, before coming to an abrupt halt; redness filling both of her cheeks. "Fine! You're not per say his closest friend."

"Mm… Mm…. That's what I thought." The head nurse replied, clicking her tongue; before lowering her sight into the chart that she was holding in her hands.

"I'm not done though. You're perhaps not his best friend per say…" Bonnie rectified. "But you are certainly someone who is standing silently in his corner, Cheryl. And for that we are both eternally grateful. So we would like for you to be present."

The headstrong woman rose her sight back at Bonnie to study her for a few seconds, before letting a long sigh escape her lips: "With my connection to this hospital, Nurse Bennett; it would be against protocol to show myself at this particular gathering."

"Mister Mikaleson thinks that Kol is free of living a normal life and people are free to support him because he wasn't accused of a crime by the court… yet!" Bonnie pleaded her case.

"Mm…. Mister Big shot lawyer - Flower man said that?" The head nurse asked.

"Yes, he did." The petite brunette nodded.

"Well … I'll change my answer for a "maybe" then, Nurse Bennett." Cheryl said, toneless, and with her raise chin.

"Maybe you'll be there then." Bonnie concluded, grinning.

"Maybe…" She added, with a roll of her eyes.

"Good!" The brunette concluded, turning on her heels

"And …Nurse Bennett?" Cheryl called.

"Yes?" Bonnie responded, while turning on herself to look at the head nurse.

"I like Bruno Mars's songs." She informed her. "You better put a lot of his hits."

"Duly noted." The petite nurse responded, while raising a straight finger in the air.


The day of the party – The law firm, 10h30 am…

"Louisa?" Elijah Mikaelson called the name of his receptionist as he activated the speaker button on his phone.

"Yes, Mister Mikaelson?" She replied in a jiffy.

"Did we get the lab results, yet?" He questioned.

"I believe we did." She informed him. "I knew you were in a conference call so I've waited to inform you of their arrival."

"Can you bring the written formal response to me, please?" He inquired.

"Right this minute, Mister Mikaleson." She replied, politely.

He released the call button while lowering his back on his leather chair; his sight lost in the emptiness and his private thoughts, the tip of his expensive pen hitting its leather desktop in a regular motion.

A discreet knock at his office door made him finally raise his sight. But he kept hitting his pen over his desk: "Come in, Louisa!"

"Mister Mikaelson. Here are the results of the lab." She informed him with a smile; advancing toward the mahogany desk, before gently dropping the requested envelop on its desktop.

"Thank you: Louisa." He nodded, thankful; before adding: "That will be all."

"Something is troubling you; Mister Mikaelson?" She questioned, while promptly taking a sitting position in front of his own.

"Why would you say that?" He stared at her, confused. "And why are you sitting down? Is there something you want to ask me?" He questioned some more, with an arched eyebrow.

"Out of concerns for you, or course. You've been hitting your pen on this poor desktop like it's a stick on a drum." She commented, placing both of her hands over her crossed legs; while keeping her bright smile in place. "As for me sitting here, Mister Mikaelson. The reason is that I can't wait to see your reaction over the lab report."

"Why is the envelope opened, Louisa?" Elijah interrogated, narrowing his sight on the said receptionist, while raising it in the air. "Didn't you see the "Confidential" inscription with my name on it?"

"Well, of course I did; Mister Mikaelson." She replied, her left hand risen over her chest; mostly outraged by his insinuation. "I really thought you had me in a higher esteem than this."

"I … Of course I do! What are you talking about?" He shook his head; dumbfounded. "Louisa, I certainly have you in high esteem or you wouldn't be working for me!"

"I certainly hope so, Mister Mikaelson. I've given many years of my life to this firm. And I can reassure you right here – right now that I can read!" She replied, dryly; with a rose chin.

"But, of course you can read; that is beside the point." He replied with a shrug.

"I've opened the envelope, because it's been part of my job as your receptionist, to open your mail, since the first day I've started to work for you!" She pointed out.

"I …." Elijah let the single word escape his opened lips, not being able to finish his sentence.

This woman was a force of nature! She had just managed to turn the table around on him, after a true felony of her part!

"Yes, Mister Mikaelson?" She questioned, with a tilt of her head, and a glimpse of victory perceived in her eyes.

"I have nothing to add… Except that I am damn lucky that you're not my adversary in the courtroom, or I'd be in serious trouble!" He commented with a strong shake of his head.

"Oh! That is probably the nicest compliment you've said to me in a very long time, Mister Mikaelson." She thanked him, victorious.

"Mm…" He let the hum sound escape his throat, with a roll of his eyes; while pulling the results paper from the inside of the said envelop. "Did you see this?" He questioned, out loud; the corners of his lips raising into a smile. "Of course you did!"

"Is this a trick question, Mister Mikealson?" Louisa inquired; teasingly.

"The pills that were inside Kol's bottle weren't the prescribed ones, Louisa; they were the equivalent of Ibuprofen sold to the public in any pharmacy in America." He acknowledge the true fact, while raising his sight to glance at his receptionist.

"In concrete facts that could only mean this poor young man Kol wasn't responsible for his violent outburst against the female victim: Miss Isabelle MacDonald, Mister Mikaelson." Louisa pointed out; firmly.

"Exactly…And I knew it!" He busted out, hitting his closed right fist on his desk, before raising on both of his legs to start pacing back and forth in a nervous motion. "I had that hunch since the beginning that he truly was the victim in all of this."

"Of course you did, Mister Mikaelson." Louisa added, proudly. "You're a force to reckon with. This said, it still doesn't incriminate her though; or am I mistaking?"

"No, it doesn't… Yet!" Elijah agreed, with a shake of his head; while sitting back on his chair. "But the boa constrictor that I am is closing real close on her, though." He commented, a large grin spreading on his lips. "Thank you for your input, Louisa."

After a few seconds of immobility from her part, Elijah rose his sight back at his female employee when he noticed that she was remaining sited: "Is there something else you wanted to talk to me about, Louisa?" He asked, mostly curious.

"Yes. On the subject of your earlier "uneasiness" – is there something bothering you, Mister Mikaelson?" She questioned, herself. . "Perhaps you would like to share your burden with someone?"

"Or perhaps not, Louisa!" He replied, dryly. "Thank you!"

"I see…" She replied, with a subtle nod of her head; while replacing her pencil skirt on her knee.

"But, knowing you as well as I do; you will not leave this alone until I'll share with you my burden." He added, rolling his eyes, once more. "Fine! I think Katherine is seeing another man."

"Nonsense!" She objected, vehemently. "Doctor Pierce just started a relationship with you. What could make you think something as grotesque as this?" She questioned, outraged by his own say. "Aren't you suppose to bring her to Kol's surprise birthday party?"

"Aren't you supposed to be there yourself?" Elijah shrugged, fatalist.

"Yes, it's beside the point, Mister Mikaelson." Louisa replied, with a roll of her eyes. "Mrs. Bennett was a true angel to have the attention to invite me as well as you. My husband just left for a fishing trip. You've said, and I quote: Louisa, it is a good idea that we both be there, to show our support to this young man who I believe is obviously wrongly blamed; because he is still innocent until proving guilty. That were your words."

"They were, and I stand by them." Elijah agreed, with a single nod. "Those words were also the ones I've told Katherine when she wasn't inclined to show herself at this event."

"And I stand on the fact that it is the most ludicrous idea to believe that Doctor Pierce has found a man to replace you!" Louisa objected, vehemently.

"She doesn't call back when I leave her voice messages. She has been evasive in her reply when I texted her." He counted the reasons of his uneasiness on the fingers of his right hand; before reprising the motion with the tip of his pen. "She's been absent or busy the past few days, and it wasn't because of her work."

"Now that you are mentioning her being occupied elsewhere, or perhaps with someone…" Louisa shared, with a subtle tilt of her head. "I've noticed something myself."

"What? Have you seen here with someone?" He inquired, abruptly dropping the pen on the desktop; while straightening his sitting position.

"Yes." Louisa nodded. "I've seen her with someone."

"For God sake Louisa, don't sit there with a silent immobile posture!" He scolded her, nervously. "You are way more talkative than this usually. Who is he? When did you see her with him?"

"Mm…I believe it was the day before yesterday that I've seen Doctor Pierce with a young man." She informed, with a smile. "You had asked of me to bring more legal forms concerning Kol's court date to this hospital. That explains my presence there."

"How much younger?" Elijah asked, dryly; jumping back on both of his legs while passing a hand through his tick hair.

"Younger, Mister Mikaelson?" She questioned, intentionally, and with arched eyebrows.

"I mean: is he much younger than me, Louisa! For God sake!" He spat.

"Oh! Well, yes … Much younger than you." She replied; with a nod and a grin spreading on her lips.

"Fuck!" He swore out loud; while reprising his pacing.

"Mister Mikaelson!" Louisa scolded; falsely outraged. "Your language!"

"I know, I know… But…." He waved his right hand, dismissively; before coming to a halt to glance at her. "Why are you grinning so much?"

"Oh, Mister Mikaelson…" She exclaimed with a laugh that came from her heart. "You should see the look on your face now; it's quite priceless. You are falling in love with her, don't you?"

"What?" Elijah shook his head; shocked by her boldness. "Why are you asking such a personal question, Louisa?"

"Of course you love her; there is no need for you to confirm it. You are blushing a bright color of red right now, and you were so jealous a minute ago." Louisa commented.

"Woman; I'm not in the mood right now for you bubbling!" He threaten her, closed fists placed on each side of his tensed body; smoke coming out of his ears.

"His name is Wilfred, he must be 10 years of age. He's a young boy from the orphanage. He's handicap, and he's wearing a prosthetic leg like Doctor Pierce is herself." Louisa confided.

"A child?" Elijah said, stunned by the news; before taking his sitting position back on his chair. "She's helping him medically?"

"I don't think so; this young man seemed in very good health." Louisa responded, with a smile. "If you're asking my personal opinion on their relationship, Mister Mikaelson; I would be happy to give it to you."

"Oh! You're exhausting me, Louisa." He responded; a hand placed over his forehead. "Can I know your personal opinion…Please?"

"I think that Doctor Piece would like to adopt young Wilfred; Mister Mikaelson." Louisa shared her convictions. "But … The state is very strict on that law, as you know it already. They are only allowing married couple to adopt." She stipulated, before adding: "Now, if Doctor Pierce … by luck or destiny … Would find herself married in the next few months … That would be another story; would you say?"

"I never even imagine that…" Elijah tried to express his thoughts, with a shake of his head; without being able to finish his sentence

"I'll leave you to your tasks and thoughts then, Mister Mikaelson." Louisa rose back on her legs, before walking to the door. "I guess we'll see each other at the small gathering tonight?"

"Yes, we will; Louisa." He nodded, absently.

It took a few minutes for him to fully grasp that his receptionist has finally left his office and that he was sitting alone at his desk. He promptly opened his laptop to type Santa Maria Orphanage phone number, before grabbing the headset of his office phone to dial it.

"Santa Maria Orphanage; Rosa speaking." He heard the courteous voice greeted him.

"Yes, mm … Good afternoon. My name is Elijah Mikaelson, I'm a lawyer and …" He presented himself.

"Good afternoon. It's kind of you to call to propose your legal services, Mister Mikaelson; but unfortunately, we already have an assigned lawyer by the Mayor of the City." She replied, politely.

"Actually Rosa, it's the other way around. I need your help." Elijah replied, with a smile spreading on his lips.


The Center – Class room X34… 11:30 am…

Klaus came to an abrupt halt underneath the arch of the X34 class room at the mere moment Jenna's silhouette came to sight.

She felt his presence before raising her redhead to glance rapidly in his direction, before informing him: "I'll be out of your hair in a second."

"There's no rush; Jenna. I'm early for my class." He responded, with a smile; taking a few steps inside.

She kept silent, burying her books in a leather tote, before swirling on herself to grab her blazer: "There! Good to go." She added, before rapidly walking by his side.

"Jenna?" He called her name, before dropping his leather briefcase on the desk; both of his hands now buried in his jeans front pockets.

"Yes Klaus?" She questioned, with a loud sigh.

"Does it have to be this way?" He wondered, out loud.

"I don't know?" She replied, shrugging. "I guess it does."

"I miss our friendship." Klaus confessed, with a sad smile; while turning on himself to face her.

"I miss more than that, but … It is what is is, Klaus." Jenna commented.

"Right." He nodded. "Did you receive the invitation for Indonesia?" He inquired.

"For the seminar? Yes. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow." She informed him. "I guess you've received yours, but … You will stay here because of Caroline?"

He kept quiet, lowering his head; before she could add: "Yeah … That's what I thought."

"Talk to me about Tyler Lockwood; Jenna." He begged of her. "What kind of relationship did you have with that man?"

"Nothing much to say, Klaus. We used to be students at the same high school." She explained, evasively. "That is summarizing our relationship or lack there is, really."

"That is not what I'm asking, Jenna; and you know it." Klaus responded, with a subtle shake of his head.

"Everything has to go back to Caroline … Always Caroline!" She replied, with a roll of her eyes. "What could I say that could save your damsel in distress, Klaus? That is what you're asking; right?"

"You already saved her once from him. What you could say now is something, anything that would save other female victims that he could victimized in the future; Jenna." He commented. "My guts is telling me that this man has brutalized is fair share of victims in the past."

She lowered her head, shamefully; before crossing both arms in front of her chest to raise her sight back at him: "Just stay out of Tyler Lockwood's path, Klaus. The ones who didn't had to pay retribution afterward." She warned him. "You're one of the good ones. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." She added, before turning on her heels and leaving the class room.


The Center – Caroline's bedroom … 01:30 pm…

"Damn it!" Caroline scolded herself; while holding both hangers. "I won't be able to find it. I don't even know what dress I'm holding right now?"

"Knock … Knock!" She heard the female voice.

"Rhonda?" She turned her head, calling the female therapist' name; while recognizing her voice.

"Yes, it's me Caroline." She responded, politely; taking a few steps to reach the female patient while holding her cane in her right hand. "Pardon me for intruding in your private quarters; it's very rare that I allow myself to barge in the private space of my patients."

"Oh, no please don't worry about that, Rhonda." Caroline replied. "You are always welcome."

"Well, thank you Caroline; it's very kind of you." Rhonda commented, before coming to a halt. "I knock on the arch door several times but it appears you did not hear me."

"I'm sorry… but, I'm so frustrated with myself right now." Caroline busted, suddenly; a loud and long sigh escaping her parted lips.

"Well, how can I help you then?" Rhonda suggested, gently grabbing Caroline's right forearm.

"You'll probably think that it's the least of my problems but … as you already know I can't see. Obviously, I am as blind as I can get, which means that I can't find a certain dress that I wanted to wear for tonight." Caroline explained to the female therapist while stomping both of her feet on the ceramic floor. "And it's so frustrating!"

"When you are mentioning "tonight", are you referring to Kol's secret Birthday Party?" Rhonda questioned; a smile spreading on her red lips.

"Yes!" Caroline replied, her breathing picking up. "I just…"

"Caroline." Rhonda called her name, in a comforting way; while gently squeezing her forearm. "It's understandable that your first time out of the Center would seem like a challenge for you."

"Maybe I should have declined the invitation?" Caroline wondered, out loud; sniffing her tears away.

"For what reasons? Just because you can't find that red dress? Don't be silly!" Rhonda scolded her, before asking: "Now, direct me in front of your closet and tell me what you can remember of that said dress?"

"Well … The dress has short sleeves. It's a veil fabric on the sleeves and it is a silk wrap style with a deep neckline." Caroline remembered the specifications of the fabric. "Which is probably a bad idea now that I think about it."

"For what crazy reasons would that be a bad idea? You've lost your sight, not your beauty nor your ability to be seductive." Rhonda replied, unwavering. "Now let me check what I can find." She added, her right hand rooming carefully through the clothes hanging in the closet; while keeping her equilibrium with her left hand firmly placed on her cane. "What is so special about that dress?"

"It was my mom's." Caroline shared; biting her bottom lip to forbid herself to cry. "It's a Versace; we weren't rich or anything, it was pre-loved and offered to her at some point in her life."

"Well, then …" Rhonda replied, with a smile. "We need to find that dress; don't we?"

"You are very talkative today, Rhonda." Caroline commented; a shy smile finally raising both corners of her lips. "Even more than usual."

"When I hear nonsense such as you shouldn't wear that dress tonight. I have to speak up my mind, young woman!" She replied; still palpating the different fabrics in Caroline's wardrobe.

"You are known for speaking your mind; that is a true fact." Caroline replied, holding her laughter at bay.

"There's nothing wrong about being a strong independent woman who speaks her mind, is there?" Rhonda questioned.

"No, of course not." Caroline shook her head in agreement of her say. "Will you be there? I mean … Have you been invited to tonight's party as well?" She questioned, biting into her bottom lip.

"I have been invited, yes." Rhonda responded.

"So you'll be there?" The female patient asked, worryingly.

"Do you need me to be there, Caroline? I know Klaus will be." She replied.

"Oh … I didn't know that … that he would be present." Caroline replied, stammering; redness spreading on both of her cheeks.

"It's quite surprising to me, considering that you two are glued to the hips and are always in each other's radar." Rhonda commented with a hint of sarcasm perceived in her voice; which made Caroline cough in awkwardness. "And look what I found! The dress was stuck between two pairs of pants."

"Oh my God, Rhonda, you found it?" Caroline exclaimed, her hands feeling the soft fabric.

"Give yourself months to learn the small things, and allow yourself years to be at peace with your blindness condition; Caroline." Rhonda told the young female patient.

"It's hard, Rhonda… Most days it's not; but then …" She started to explain; nervously rubbing her hands together. "Days like today…"

"But then days like today are so hard that all your negative thoughts and emotions are raising back to life." Rhonda finished her sentence; while grabbing both of Caroline's hands. "Now listen to me: you need to allow yourself to have those bad days. It's a process of a long journey filled with discoveries of your new self and your new life."

"I'll try." She responded, sniffling her tears away. "These days are just unsettling to me. The hospital contacted me for an appointment to pass one last test that will finally determine if I could regain my sight or not."

"I understand." Rhonda responded, calmly. "And you worry about the outcome of the said test; aren't you?"

"Yes." Caroline confirmed; a loud sigh escaping her parted lips.

"Well, worrying more about it today won't change a thing; will it? So, dry your tears, young lady; and try to have happier thoughts at least for tonight." Rhonda suggested.

"OK…. I'll try." She agreed; turning slowly on herself to gently drop the dress on her bedspread. "So … Do you think Klaus will drive us there?" She questioned, some more; biting into her bottom lip.

"Eh …. Mm…" Rhonda tried to find a way to escape Caroline's question. "I'm sure someone from the Center will drive us there."

"Why take an extra car for no reason if we are all going to the same place?" She questioned, dumbfounded.

Rhonda let a loud and long sigh escape her lips before admitting: "Klaus is not allowed to drive, Caroline. And that is all I will say on the subject. Do you hear me?"

"What do you mean he is not allowed?" Caroline questioned, promptly swirling on herself to take a few steps to reach Rhonda's standing position.

"His driver's license has been revoked a long time ago." Rhonda shared a bit more. "Please, Caroline; don't ask me to tell you more of the private matter of Klaus Mikaelson."

"But I don't understand? What happened?" Caroline pressed her to respond. "Why would his driver's licence be revoked?"

"And I won't add a word on the subject, Miss Forbes!" Rhonda rose her tone of voice; ordering her to keep quiet.

"Right." The young woman replied, a thin line forming on her lips. "I'm sorry."

"Do you really think that Caroline Forbes will let go of the bone you just threw at her, Rhonda? You should know her better by now." They both heard the male voice comment on the subject.

Klaus Mikaelson leaned the right side of his upper body on the arch door (arms crossed over his bulged chest); while a large grin rose both corners of his lips.

"You're right, therapist Mikaelson, I should have known better… Than not mix myself with the both of you!" Rhonda replied, before grabbing her cane and slowly walking toward the exit of the bedroom. "Like I should know that when I exchange private manners with one of you, the other is not far behind." She commented, with a long sigh. "I'll leave you to your female patient; even if technically you shouldn't be in her private quarters."

"Well, that is so thoughtful of you; Rhonda." Klaus responded, while the female therapist passed by him to leave the room. "And we do appreciate your kind words of appreciation."

The silence filled the room for a few seconds, before he would strengthen his body and grab the handle to close the bedroom door behind him.

"She's … I mean; Rhonda is careful to remind us that…. That we should be discreet since we are a thing and that in itself could… Could put your career on the line." Caroline stammered through her sentence; nervously replacing the hangers in her wardrobe.

"I wasn't aware that we were a "thing", Caroline?" Klaus teased; whispering the words near her left ear.

"I … No, no…of course not…We are not a thing! I meant she thinks that we are a … Never mind! Which we are obviously not!" Caroline tried to explain, redness filling her cheeks; while the heat of his body kept warming her backside.

"That we are a what?" Klaus questioned, some more.

"Nothing!" She told him, shaking her head. "You and I, we…"

"Me and you, we?" He repeated her words; amusement perceived in his tone of voice.

"You're doing this on purpose; aren't you? Because you're not able to admit the truth to yourself!" Caroline lashed out, swirling on herself to poke his chest; before becoming lightheaded and losing her equilibrium.

"Hey… Hey? Are you OK?" He questioned; while promptly catching her in his arms. His right arm wrapped around her waist, while his right hand brushed strands of blonde strands away from her face. "Caroline, talk to me?"

"I'm fine." She reassured him with a nod. "They prescribed me a new medication and one of the side effects is that I could get dizzy."

"Then why are you reorganizing your entire wardrobe when you know that you could get dizzy because of this new medication?" He questioned, some more; grabbing her chin in his right hand.

"Oh, don't you know? Because I'm blonde and dumb!" She responded, dryly. "I thought you knew about my dumb condition. You obviously knew about my blind condition so …"

"Well, I knew way more about your stubborn condition." Klaus responded, with a large grin.

"Very funny… Hahaha." She responded; before the tip of her tongue could wet her dry lips. "You can let me go now."

"Mm… What will you do if you get dizzy again?" He questioned; playfully.

"I'll fall into the arms of another man; thank you. There are many of them in this center." She replied, with a rose chin. "I wouldn't want people to assume that we are a "thing"!

Klaus leaned his head backward to let a chuckle escape his throat and lips, before asking: "Oh, Caroline Forbes; what am I going to do with you?" He questioned mostly himself. "What were you doing in your wardrobe; anyway?"

"I was searching for a dress. Rhonda was helping me finding it." She explained.

"What color is the dress?" Klaus questioned some more.

"Red." She responded, shrugging.

"It's my favorite color." He confessed.

"Not it's not!" She shook her head; head and chin rose. "Don't say that just to say it."

"Yes, it is!" He made his point heard. "And I am not saying it just to flatter your huge ego; Miss Caroline Forbes."

She shrugged, before taking a step backward the moment he loosen his grip on her: "Tell me why you're in my bedroom and then afterward you will be able to leave before people could assume that we are a "thing"."

"I've heard about your appointment at the hospital, and I wanted to check on you." He informed her while taking a few steps to reach the foot of the bed, before taking a sitting position on it.

"I don't want to talk about it today." She responded, while reprising to hang her clothes. "Talking about the slim possibility to regain my sight will not change the outcome; will it?"

"But … If you wanted to talk about it. I'm here for you." Klaus reminded her, before adding teasingly: "Free of charge!"

"I know, Klaus. Thank you." She replied, in a toneless tone. "So… How come you can't drive anymore? Is it related to the silent family mystery that you and Elijah had kept quiet for the past ten years?"

"Mm…Aren't you a curious little bee today." He commented; crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Well, you know what? Like you, I think I don't want to talk about it today." He responded, smiling; while reprising her own words.

"You're such an ass; Klaus Mikaelson!" She commented; a long sigh escaping her lips.

"And you're such a dumb blonde; Caroline Forbes." He added, with a small laughter.

"I'll ask Elijah." She counterattacked. "He'll tell me."

"Leave this alone, Love." He responded, in a short sentence. "You'll piss him off, and he won't answer you either."

"Which is telling me that it is exactly related to the reason why you have both stopped talking to each other!" She turned on herself, pointing a finger in his direction.

"Leave the past where it is, Caroline." Klaus gave her the advice. "Concentrate instead in your future; even if that future is so uncertain at the present moment."

"So, my appointment at the hospital was the only reason you wanted to see me?" She finally dropped the subject.

"The biggest part of it, yes." He responded with a nod. "But also to inform you that I've been invited to a therapy seminar in Indonesia."

"I see." Caroline replied, surprised by his sudden announcement, and while swallowing a lump in her throat. "Will …Will you go?"

"Do you want me to go?" Klaus turned the table on her. "Or do you want me to stay here?"

"I don't see myself asking a man to stay; when that said man is not even willing to share the reason why his driver's licence was revoked." She responded, tit for tat.

"Touché; Miss Forbes!" He responded, with a smile blessing his lips.

"Is she going? I mean … Will Jenna be there?" She asked; swallowing her proud and a lump in her throat.

"Yes." He responded, truthfully; before raising back on his two legs to take a few steps toward her standing position. "But… I'm not with Jenna anymore."

"Will you …" She pronounced a few words; before taking deep breaths inside her lungs. "Will you stay gone for a long time?"

"If I go; which is not what I want at the moment; it will probably be for a few weeks to two months." Klaus informed her.

"Wow!" Caroline exclaimed. "That long, mm?"

"Do you know what condition I have Caroline?" He suddenly whispered; out of the blue.

"What…I don't understand?" She questioned, dumbfounded.

"Do you know what condition I have that I can't cure myself of?" He repeated his question.

No…" She responded, in a low murmur of her own; the beats of her heart raising in her chest.

"The condition of not being able to stay away from you… Love." He confessed; softly.

She gasped for air, under the crazy range of emotions that man was capable of creating inside or her heart and soul; before slowly turning on herself, only to feel the emptiness of his absence in the room a few seconds later.


"Treasure" from Bruno Mars


Night or the party – Katherine's house, 7:30 pm…

"What do you think Oscar: is my outfit the right choice? Is it too revealing?" Katherine Pierce questioned her cat, nervously; while placing herself in front of the large body length mirror placed in the entrance corridor.

She had dressed herself of a black shimmering jumpsuit with a deep neckline flattering the curve of her breasts, while the bare low back, black pair of suede sneakers, big golden loops at her ears, bright red lipstick, and finally her loose hair falling over her shoulders in a cascade were completing the sexy effect of the entire outfit.

Her furry friend titled its head before letting a loud purr escape.

"What was I thinking? I'm going to throw up now! This is too much – that is what you're trying to say isn't it?" She commented, a hand placed over her belly to calm her raging nerves. "I found it in the back of my wardrobe and thought this could be perfect for a spring party night on a rooftop. But, seriously; what was I thinking?" She shook her head, eyes closed. "I need to find something else to wear!"

The loud ring of the doorbell made her jump out of her skin; while Oscar promptly jumped from its perched position on the console table to the ceramic floor to vanish into the kitchen.

"No… He's too early!" She commented to herself, raising her wrist to take a look at her watch while realising that he was actually right on time! "Damn it!" She scolded herself; raising her right hand from her belly to her chest, where her heart was beating like a drum. "Get a grip on yourself Katherine Pierce!"

She took one last deep breath inside her lungs before courageously walking toward the front door of her house to turn the handle.

Elijah Mikaelson was facing the street, hands buried in the front pockets of his pair of dark blue jeans; which gave her a few seconds to study him more discreetly. His hair was still damped from his earlier shower and the evening wind had loosen a few dark strands on his forehead, while a five o'clock shadow was blessing the square lines of his jaw, which made him even sexier than he already was (Damn it!). His black silk shirt was rolled over his forearms, and a pair of shiny brown army boot was locking his casual look for the evening.

"Elijah?" She called his name, while holding her breath the minute he swirl on himself to stare at her.

A large smile curved the right side of his lips, his sight sliding from her face to slowly reach her deep neckline; which made her crossed her arms in front of chest in a moment of awareness and shyness.

"Good evening." He greeted, in a deep voice that sent chills in her spine.

"Eh … Good evening. I'm … I'm sorry, I'm running a bit late." She explained herself; nervously rubbing her hands together.

"It's not a problem, Katherine." He shook his head, maintaining the smile on his face. "You want me to wait here?"

"What?" She asked, dumbfounded. "Oh … No, no! I'm sorry; where are my manners, come in!" She invited him inside.

"Thank you." He passed the threshold, before she could close the massive entrance door behind his back.

"I won't be long; I just need to … I mean, I just need to change my outfit." She stammered through her sentence, before passing rapidly by his side; only to be stop on her track when his left hand wrapped her right wrist in a grip of steel.

"Why?" He simply asked; tilting his head while studying her expression.

"I don't know…I think that …" She tried to articulate her thoughts, without being able to do so.

"Is it because you're not wearing a dress?" Elijah asked, softly; while releasing his grip on her. "Is it because of your prosthetic leg?"

Katherine slowly detached herself from his large stature, before placing her silhouette in front of the body length mirror; while nervously rubbing her hands together.

"Please, Elijah … It's always been difficult for me." She tried to explain, between sobbing sounds; tears now filling her eyes. "I stopped going out and … I stopped dressing this way, and..."

"I know." He whispered, approaching her standing position; before placing himself behind her back.

He gently traced the length of her arms with the tip of his fingers before grabbing her bare shoulders, his chin now tucked on the top of her head, his sight locked in the mirror with hers: "Doctor Katherine Pierce; you want me to tell you what my thoughts are about your outfit in a polite gentlemanly way or in a naughty dirty way?" He asked, with a smirk and a wink.

"I'm…. I'm surprised that I have a vote in this counselor Mikaelson?" She questioned, while wiping her tears away with the back of her right hand. "I'm … I'm not sure which one I should choose?" She questioned herself; a ghost of a smile appearing on her red lips.

"Let me give you both then. But before that…Let me add that you just scored a few points in your favor by calling me counselor, Doctor Pierce. The term sounds quite, mm – how may I put it? Deliciously Dirty coming from your pretty red lips. " He whispered softly near her left ear, before gently biting her earlobe under her sudden cry of surprise. "The polite gentlemanly way for me would be to say: you're beautiful tonight, KatherineStop being so insecure; because you have nothing to be insecure about. Which is the truth and nothing but the truth of course, but it would lack honestly from my part." He added, before brushing her curly long hair over her right shoulder to slowly slide a finger downward from the base of her neck to the small of her bare exposed back. "Because…What I truly want to say is that showing me that much skin makes me want to hear you cry my name the moment my lips would follow the same path as my finger." He added, before starting a path of kisses from the base of her neck, down her spine.

"Oh…. Elijah!" She moaned, eyes closed; both of her hands gripping the frame of the mirror to help her maintain her equilibrium.

His hands firmly grabbed her hips while his teeth started to gently bite the firm skin at the seam of the jumpsuit covering her bottom; before reprising an upward line of fire with his lips to meet the softness of her neck once again.

"If you ever wonder if you're enough of a woman for me, Katherine; just don't!" He groaned; while grabbing a hand full of her hair to pull her head back and down on the left side of his chest and shoulder. "I'm sporting a huge erection right now." He whispered in her ear, while firmly wrapping his right arm around her waist to bring her in full contact with his more than obvious bulge. "You're the sexiest woman I've ever met! And no prosthetic leg will change that, you're a treasure, you hear me?" He added, while firmly grabbing her chin to turn her head to grant her the chance to meet the truth in his dark glance.

"Yes." She nodded, with a last sobbing sound.

"Good!" He nodded; before lowering his head to softly brush her parted lips. "And by the way, the deep neckline deserves an honorable mention too." He winked, playfully; while triggering a burst of laughter from the sexy brunette. "I'm falling so hard for you, Doctor Katherine Pierce; do you even realize that?"

She shook her head in denial; a shy smile spreading over her lips: "We need to go or we'll be late." She responded, slowly regaining her balance while taking a few steps away from his embrace.

"You're right." He agreed with a smile. "Are you ready?"

"Yes. I just need to take my clutch bag and shawl, and … Oh no!" She hit her forehead with her closed right fist.

"What is it, baby?" Elijah questioned; grabbing her left forearm in a gentle way.

"I forgot to buy something for Kol!" She scolded herself; rubbing her hands nervously. "I don't see myself making an act of presence as one of his superiors at his surprise birthday party without bringing something." She added. "I've been so busy the past few days, and …"

"Shush… Just stop!" He silenced her, pushing one of his fingers on her parted lips. "You're giving him the gift of being there and supporting him. And as one of his superiors, that is quite something if you're asking me." He added. "As for a gift, I have an expensive bottle of champagne in my car – I'll say it's from the both of us; OK?" He suggested, removing his finger from her lips.

"OK…" She nodded, before adding: "…Counselor."

"Now, you're playing with fire, Doctor Pierce." He winked, before swirling her body around to push her toward the entrance door.

"But I need to give Oscar food." She protested, vehemently.

"Go wait for me in the car; I'll take care of Oscar." He responded, turning the handle before pushing her on the front porch.

"But…" She shook her head, in protestation.

"And…. I won't forget to lock your door before leaving; OK." He added, unwavering; before blessing her parted lips of another kiss.

"OK." She finally agreed, before going down the few stairs leading her to his car.

Elijah retraced his steps inside before spotting Oscar that had just jumped on the console table to greet him of a purr.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" Elijah asked, smiling; while scratching the cat's head. "You know what, buddy? I think that your mistress is starting to trust me." He added. "Maybe there's hope after all."


KOL'S SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY


"Thank you, Philippe it was very kind of you to drive us here." Rhonda thanked the young man who works as a helper at the Center (as well as Kol).

"It was my pleasure, Miss Rhonda. Kol is a cool guy, I wanted to be here myself." He responded, while guiding both Rhonda and Caroline inside the elevator. "Which floor?" He inquired while placing both of women's hands on the rail.

"I'm fine." The young woman pushed Philippe's hand away, in a rude way. "You don't need to fuss over me, Philippe!"

"Well, I believe Miss Bonnie told me that the "R" button for the roof had been unlocked by the landlord to rise to cabin to its destination." Rhonda informed the young man; while frowning at the sudden outburst of the blonde patient.

"Wow! Fancy building our friend Kol is living in." Philippe responded, while pressing the said button and putting aside Caroline's rudeness.

"I'll say!" Rhonda responded, with a discreet laugh. "If it hadn't been the case I don't think neither I nor Caroline could have climb the stairs leading us to the roof."

"You're not always obligated to talk for me, Rhonda. Don't I have a say in this?" The young woman snapped at the female therapist. "I know I'm still blind but …. After weeks of intensive therapy, I can walk fine now! I'm sure I would have been able to climb a few stairs!" She added, slyly; before an awkward silence could fill the small space.

"I see." Rhonda commented, before taking a few steps to gently grab the young woman's forearm. "Did either Philippe or I talked to you in a mean way or offended you, Caroline?"

She shook her head, tears suddenly filling her eyes: "No… I'm just…" She tried to articulate her thoughts a lump forming in her throat.

"You're lost, scared, and most of all anxious because it's the first time you have set a foot outside the Center since the accident when you became paralysed and lost your mother." Rhonda expressed Caroline's mind for her. "You are petrified because in your head you're not the woman you used to be." She added, grabbing both of the female patient's hands. "And you think people will judge you. But that is not the case…. Breathe and give yourself time!"

"I'm so sorry; I don't know what got into me?" Caroline questioned herself, with a sobbing sound and a strong shake of her head.

"We understand, Caroline." Rhonda reassured the young woman with a smile spreading on her lips, while being also felt in her tone of voice. "Don't we, Philippe?"

"I don't even know what you're talking about." The young man shrugged, teasingly and in a nonchalant way. "But it appears we just arrived." He added with a huge smile spreading over his face, when the elevator opened on a colorful decoration theme, an up-beat music and joyful mix-match of conversation.


Bonnie glanced at the arrival of her friend Caroline, before thanking a few guests for their presence, only to take a few steps where the roof exit of the elevator doors were located.

"Miss Rhonda." She greeted, warmly; before grabbing the woman's right hand (because her left was being kept on her cane). "Thank you for coming."

"Well, it's my pleasure Miss Bonnie." Rhonda thanked her with a smile, and a subtle squeeze of her hand. "This is Philippe, he's a helper at the Center like Kol is."

"Of course, hi Philippe!" She greeted him of a strong shake of her hand. "Kol have talked to me about you a few times."

"All in good terms I hope?" He returned her shake, with a wink.

"Absolutely!" She replied, with a laugh.

"You look stunning! Kol is truly a lucky guy to have you as his girlfriend." He commented, truthfully. "A girlfriend, if I may had, who has put all her energy into throwing him quite a surprise party as I can see."

"Oh…" She blushed with a dismissive wave of her right hand. "I wasn't alone putting this together. Both of Kol's friends Christian and Eric, gave me helpful hands with the preparation of this gathering to celebrate his birthday." She commented; while rapidly glancing and being quite concerned at Caroline who remained silent, expressionless and motionless behind them. "I'm sure if you're mingling around you'll meet them at some point in the evening."

"I'm sure, I will." Philippe replied, with a smile.

"Caroline." Bonnie called her friend's name, cheerfully; before approaching her standing position to grab both of her hands. "You look so beautiful. This red dress is so beautiful and sexy on you!"

"I couldn't say; Bonnie. I can't see myself." She replied, toneless; while suddenly making her friend loose her smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply…" Bonnie started explaining herself; heat reaching her cheeks.

"No… You did not imply anything." Caroline shook her head; before slowly pulling her hands away from her friendly grip. "Thank you for inviting me; it was thoughtful of you." She added, before turning her head toward Philippe. "Could you help me find somewhere to sit, please?"

"Of course, Caroline." Philippe agreed, before taking her left forearm to guide her toward one of the lounges area.

"Did I say something wrong?" Bonnie wondered out loud.

"No, you did not; nurse Bennett." They, Bonnie and Rhonda, heard the sharp comment coming from Cheryl (who had just stepped out herself of the elevator).

"Thank you for coming; I wasn't sure you would." Bonnie greeted the head nurse, with thankfulness perceived in her voice. "And please, tonight you can call me Bonnie."

"Well...You promised me a few Bruno Mars's songs; therefore, I couldn't say no." Cheryl shrugged; a devious smile spreading on her lips. "Bonnie it is for the night then!"

"You like Bruno Mars, Cheryl?" Rhonda questioned, teasingly.

"You bet I like that young fellow!" Cheryl nodded, firmly. "What's not to like about him?"

"Well, more fun to you then!" Rhonda added, with a small laugh. "How are you?"

"I am good, Miss Rhonda, I am good, thank you." Cheryl confirmed, politely. "Please let me present you my niece Erica. She's working at the hospital as a nurse, like me. Erica this is Miss Rhonda, she is a therapist for the blind at the Center."

"It's very nice to meet you; Miss Rhonda." Erica added with a smile, while shaking the woman's hand.

"Likewise Miss Erica." Rhonda replied, kindly.

"I hope you don't mind, Nurse Bennett - I mean Bonnie - that I have brought with me a plus one?" Cheryl inquired.

"No. Not at all! The more the merrier, plus …I know Erica. We used to work some night shifts together." Bonnie commented with a smile.

"Yes, we surely did." Erica added with a smile of her own and a nod.

"As for Miss Caroline Forbes. I've warned you that at some point of your relationship that you would be on the recipient end of her bad temper." Chery added in a lower voice.

"I don't know what got into her? If I have known this party would put her in such a bad place emotionally, I would have restrain myself for inviting her." Bonnie commented, while turning her head to see her sitting alone in one of the lounges area, with her hands placed over her laps.

"Do not worry this pretty head of yours. Her uneasiness is not only headed your way, Miss Bonnie." Rhonda reassured her, while raising her right hand to squeeze her right forearm in a comforting way. "This is the first time that Caroline has left the Center and it's not quite as easy as she thought it would be and quite understandably so." She explained furthermore. "She needs to learn to socialize in an entire new way, in a world that is not the one she used to know or see."

"You're right." Bonnie agreed, with a nod. "To get back into more joyful thoughts: you'll find refreshments and food at the far left end of the roof. The dance floor is right in the middle and for the entire night we'll have the chance to have a D.J. with us."

"I bought you a fine bottle of Vodka to add to all of that." Rhonda said in a lower tone, while handing a gift bag. "Please, don't say it was from me though." She winked, playfully. "It would ruin my impeccable reputation."

"And what reputation is that; Miss Rhonda?" Cheryl questioned, with a chuckle.

"The one I'm trying to keep of course." She responded, with a laugh of her own.

"You secret is safe with me, I promise." Bonnie replied, with a small laugh of her own.

"And I brought a large batch of my famous and well-known cupcakes." Cheryl added, while handing a large Tupperware full with the said goodies.

"Are you serious, Cheryl?" Bonnie exclaimed, surprised. "These are like the best; Kol adores them!"

"Oh I know!" The head nurse replied, with a wince. "Each time I brought some in the nurses' lounge he was making several rounds to steal a few of them – and he thought that I couldn't tell that it was him!"

"I'm sure he'll be happy to see you and these tonight." Bonnie thanked her, with a playful wink.

"I didn't know you had such a well-known baking talent, Nurse Cheryl?" Rhonda commented, happily.

"I have more than one talents Miss Rhonda, I am the wizard of Oz of all talents, all by myself." Cheryl acknowledged her own merits, proudly.

"That is a statement I wouldn't argue too much with if I was you, Miss Rhonda." They heard the comment, before welcoming Louisa who had just stepped out of the elevator herself. "Miss Bonnie, this rooftop setting is bringing way too much memories of my crazy youth!" She commented, with a laugh; before handing the young woman a large box of a well-known bakery in the city.

"Oh! Thank you; you shouldn't have." Bonnie welcomed her, while grabbing the huge box.

"Well, it's good manners to bring a hostess a gift." She commented, with a nod. "It's from the Richard & Griffon Bakery – it's a large Mocha Birthday cake with the inscription: Happy Birthday Kol on top."

"You shouldn't have really; I know the price of that bakery and it's way too much." Bonnie shook her head, in shock.

"Nonsense." Louisa shook her head, with a dismissal wave of her right hand; before turning her attention to the right. "Nurse Cheryl and Miss Rhonda, what a pleasure to meet the both of you once again." She commented; enthusiastically.

"Likewise, Miss Louisa." Cheryl replied, with a nod and a large smile.

"You're enthusiasm and joyful spirit is quite contagious, Miss Louisa. Very happy to meet you again, as well." Rhonda presented her right hand to shake hers.

"Oh stop it! You'll make me blush." Louisa responded, with a small laugh.

"Maybe we could walk to the sitting area to mingle a little?" Rhonda suggested, politely. "Caroline must feel deserted at the moment."

"Caroline is here? Of course she is! You brought her with you." Louisa replied, raising her sight at the lounge area to glance at the young woman. "Oh what a courageous young woman she is!" She commented, while raising a hand over her chest.

"Do not pity her, Miss Louisa; she wouldn't take it very well tonight." Rhonda suggested, in a lower tone.

"I wouldn't dream of it!" Louisa shook her head.

"Good evening ladies! I hope you'll enjoy this evening." Eric saluted the trio of women, with a bright smile; before suddenly losing it at the sight of Erica.

"What is he doing here?" She exclaimed, pointing in his direction.

"What are you doing here?" Eric replied with the same dry words to the redhead.

"You two know each other?" Cheryl questioned, crossing both arms in front of her large chest in a confrontational gesture.

"He's the guy that I've …." Cheryl started, before being cut in the middle of her sentence.

"What?" Eric shook his head, before rapidly reprising his composure in front of the head nurse by grabbing the young woman by the shoulders to give her a forced hug. "Of course we know each other! We're buddies …. I thought you were busy tonight and couldn't make it ... eh…Dear …"

"E-R-I-C-A!" She expelled her name from her mouth, while separating each syllables and squirming to free herself from his forced embrace.

"Right … Erica! How could I forget your name; when mine is Eric?" Eric shook his head, with a forced laugh; while the head nurse rose an eyebrow in a suspicious way. "Didn't we have the best of fun with Erica in night shifts, Bonnie?" He questioned his friend, with an insistent stare.

"Eh … Well, I think we must have at some point worked together at night inside the hospital." Bonnie tried to help her friend, without forcing a lie from her mouth.

"Could you, E-r-i-c-a – dear, help me bring this box to the buffet table?" Eric asked the redhead, while forcefully grabbing her hand to put it on the other side of the box.

"You could give him a hand, Erica." Cheryl suggested, herself. "It seems quite heavy."

"I … OK, fine!" She rolled her eyes, before following Eric to the said emplacement of the table.

"Now! Should we go sit?" Rhonda suggested, once more, with a last nod to Bonnie.


"What the hell are you doing here?" Eric spat the moment they had taken a few steps away to reach the table.

"I could ask you the same question?" She replied, slyly. "Just know that if I have known that you were here I wouldn't have come!"

"Hey? Sorry to disappoint you, darling; but this is my best friend's birthday surprise party. It's not like I would miss it for you!" He responded in the same sly tone, before they could both drop the box on an empty spot on the table. "What is your reason?"

"My aunt Cheryl wanted a plus one, so I've said yes." She replied to him; closed fists firmly placed on each side of her hips. "I had no idea for who the birthday batch was for; having known that I wouldn't be standing in front of your stupid face!"

"Stupid face - really? What did I ever do to you, miss "I'm Cheryl's niece so I'm better than anyone"?" Eric wondered out loud, with a shake of his head.

"See how you are! And… you perfectly know what you did. Insubordination at work is one of your first assault." She lashed out to his face, while pointing a finger underneath his nose.

"Are you kidding me?" He exclaimed, with a dry laugh. "For me to insubordinate you, you would need to be my superior – which obviously, you're not!"

"Whatever!" She shrugged his words off at the same moment that he couldn't help himself to peek at the red lace fabric of her red bra. "What are you looking at?" She questioned, while crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Nothing… And certainly not you!" He replied, dryly.

"Good! Because I wouldn't look at you either! Let's just try to stay away from each other for the small amount of time I'll stay here; shall we?" She suggested, unwavering.

"Fine! It's not like I'll be looking for you either, princess!" He added. "And keep your mouth close about this ludicrous idea that I have insubordinate you to your aunt. This is my friend's night, and I don't want you to ruin it; am I clear?"

"I'll keep my mouth shut tonight, as for tomorrow … It depends of my mood!" She replied to him with a raise chin; before swirling on her high heels shoes to walk in the opposite direction.

"Damn!" Christian swore, with a shake of his head; while approaching his friend.

"Yeah … Tell me about it…She's crazy!" Eric commented, while passing a hand through his tick hair.

"Mm… Right, she is; and …You totally want to bang her, my friend!" Christian commented, pushing the rest of his finger sandwich inside his mouth; before turning on his heels to take a few steps away.

"What? No… That is a lie you moron!" Eric shouted, angrily; heat filling both of his cheeks.


"Caroline?" Louisa called the young woman's name before taking a sitting position by her side.

"Louisa? Is … Is that you?" Caroline questioned; while slightly turning her head and body to face the female guest.

"Yes, it's me my dear Caroline; it's me." She responded, while grabbing the blonde girl' hands in her own.

"It's so nice to hear your voice and, I know that I can't see you, but … I feel your presence." Caroline shared her feelings, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Oh no, no…Don't cry! You're way too pretty in this dress to cry." Louisa brushed her tears away with the back of her hand.

"I'll second that statement." Rhonda commented, herself; before Cheryl could ask her to join her to the buffet table. "If you'll excuse us."

"Of course my dear; I'll join you both in a minute. This was long overdue for us to meet, Caroline; but just believe that you were in my heart and my daily thoughts." Louisa gave her words of comfort.

"I thought of you oftentimes too, and … I thought of the firm also." Caroline replied, with a sobbing sound. "And the fact …."

"Tonight, no bad thoughts are allowed to enter this pretty head of yours; you hear me?" Louisa ordered the young woman; while burying her right hand in her purse to retrieve a handkerchief to brush Caroline's tears away. "And as for the tears; it would be a crime if they would ruin that pretty face of yours."

"You did not change. You're still so kind and motherly." Caroline commented, with a shy smile spreading on her lips.

"Well; what else do you want me to be? Did you forget my boss is none other than Mister big shot lawyer Elijah Mikaelson?" Louisa responded, with a chuckle. "That man needs the love of a foster mother; and I took the role many years ago."

"I won't ever tell him that you've said those words." The young woman responded, with a frank laughter escaping her lips. "Because I want you to keep your job."

"Oh! Like he would fire me." Louisa responded, with a roll of her eyes and a dismissive hand shake.

"You're right he wouldn't; Louisa." Caroline agreed with a shake of her head. "He cares for you very much."

"As much as he do care for you, my dear. Are you feeling better since a huge smile is blessing your lovely face now?" Louisa questioned; pushing a few loose strands of Caroline's loose bun behind her ears.

"You always had this special gift to make me feel better; Louisa." Caroline admitted, with a last sniffing sound.

"Now, tell me something…" The receptionist inquired; while grabbing both of the young woman's hands. "Did he told you how beautiful you look in this red dress?" She asked in her unique subtle way.

"I … I don't know of whom you are talking about?" Caroline replied; taking her hands back to nervously brush her palms over the silk fabric of her outfit; redness filling both of her cheeks.

"So we'll play the guessing game of who that man might be then?" Louisa questioned, teasingly. "Even if we both know who I'm talking about?"

"I was about to addressed the subject of how beautiful Caroline looked tonight, Louisa." Klaus responded, with a grin; suddenly appearing by their sides. "But as always you are ten steps ahead, watching my good manners from a distance like a lioness who keeps an eye on her cubs."

"Like you brother; you have a special way to make me blush with your compliments, Klaus Mikaelson." Louisa commented with a smile; raising on both of her legs to approach the young man.

At the sound of his voice, Caroline remained immobile, nervously rubbing her hands together; while the beats of her heart drummed rapidly inside her chest.

"Well; at least he and I have finally something in comment." Klaus responded, teasingly; before blessing Louisa of a few kisses on each of her cheeks.

"You look well; Klaus." Louisa commented; truthfully.

"So do you; Louisa. Not a day older than thirty." He flattered her, with a wink.

"Oh stop it!" She blushed, under a discreet laugh sound. "I'll leave you to flatter a young woman that is way closer to your own age instead." She pushed him discreetly toward Caroline; before taking a few steps to join Cheryl and Rhonda who had reached the buffet table.

"Red is suiting you; Caroline." He complimented her personally, this time around; before taking a sitting position by her side. "You're certainly the belle of the ball tonight."

"Thank you." She replied, toneless; keeping her chin rose, lips closed in a thin line, while remaining silent. "You know …You're not obligated to remain sited by my side. I don't want to be a burden for you, or anyone else for that matter. I can certainly sit alone."

"So why are you so mad? Let's start the list, shall we?" He teased, rubbing his hands together. "You're pissed at me for leaving you alone in your bedroom earlier. You are troubled by the unknown of this evening. You are scared by this new environment. You are wondering what all these people are thinking about you. You're unsettle by all the noises and voices you're hearing and can't pin point what it is exactly that is making you so mad. To summarize, except for the music coming out of the speakers that is somehow reminding you of something that you can actually recognize, you would love to punch someone in the face…. Preferably me, if only you could." He listed all her worries. "Am I close? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Geez! And you were talking about my big ego earlier!" She lashed out. "I think that lately you have forgotten to take a good look at yourself in the mirror!" She added, dryly. "But, you don't have to worry so much about me, therapist Mikaelson. You'll soon take a plane to Indonesia to escape me and the inexistent "thing" between us; while rekindling a relationship with your ex-girlfriend."

"You're not ready; Caroline." Klaus replied, calmly and with a shake of his head; before taking a deep breath inside his lungs.

"Oh please enlighten me! I'm not ready for what?" Caroline busted, turning her head toward him.

"To start a relationship with a man. Any man; and certainly not me." Klaus explained furthermore. "You need to focus on yourself, your therapy, your new life. And…I have a lot of baggage that I don't wish to put on your shoulders. I would be the biggest asshole to become that guy who will drag you down instead of bringing light into your life."

"Wow! And I thought I have heard all the shitty excuses a man could give to a woman to avoid sleeping with her!" She lashed out. "You have certainly no problem dry humping me or kissing me behind closed doors; did you?"

Klaus closed his eyes, a long and loud sigh escaping his parted lips; before replying: "I have never said that I wasn't physically attracted to you, Caroline." He admitted. "Believe me; keeping a distance from you is the hardest thing I had to do in my entire life."

"Then why are you? Just say it! You just don't want to be seen with the blind girl." She replied; the back of her right hand brushing the tears rolling down her cheeks and neck.

"Oh you must be kidding me?" He swore; his jaw tensing under his tensed nerves and his fists closing under the pressure. "You want me to list all the filthy ways I want to fuck you right now; Love?" He added, slyly. "Or you want me to demonstrate it in front of everybody instead?"

"What… What do you mean?" She questioned, in shock; heat spreading on her neck and cheeks.

"You can hate me as much as you want for pushing you away; Caroline Forbes. But don't you ever accuse me of not sleeping with you because you're blind. You hear me?" He commented, under clenched teeth.

She nodded, nervously; before lowering her head down. "Just leave, Klaus."

"No." Klaus shook his head. "I'll wait for Louisa to be back. I don't want you to be alone."

"No, I mean … Leave for Indonesia with Jenna." Caroline told him to do; under a sobbing sound. "Get away from this city, from the center… from me!"

"The answer is the same … It is still no!" He shook his head, unwavering. "I won't abandon you in the middle of your therapy. And If I would decide to leave; I wouldn't leave with Jenna. We are done!"

"Then, what do you want me to do?" She questioned, a finger pointed toward her chest. "Because… In opposite of you I can't shut down my feelings so easily. I can't give you more than my broken heart at the moment."

"I am not shutting down my feelings, Caroline." Klaus replied; nervously rubbing his hands together. "Far from it, believe me!"

"Well, it certainly feels like it." She commented, biting into her bottom lip to forbid herself to burst into tears.

"Caroline?" Louisa called her name, worryingly; before approaching their sitting positions.

"Keep an eye on Caroline, would you; Louisa?" Klaus asked of her, while strengthening his sitting position into a standing one. He blessed the receptionist of an additional kiss on her right cheek before taking a few steps away to move toward the bar area.

"What in the name of the Lord happened here?" Louisa questioned, mostly herself; before sitting by Caroline's side to bring the young woman (who was now sobbing) into her arms. "Shush! Don't cry, sweetie." She tried to calm her. "You want to tell me what happen between you and Klaus?"

"He … He doesn't … He doesn't want to be with me." Caroline managed to let out; trough her tears.

"Oh … Nonsense!" Louisa rolled her eyes; a chuckle escaping her lips. "He wants you way too much and that in itself is making him run… That would be more accurate!"

"No… That's not true." The blonde patient shook her head. "He wants to leave for Indonesia."

"Oh sweet Caroline, dry your tears, because trust me: matters of the heart takes time to unfold." Louisa added, with a smile; while rocking the young woman in her arms.


Kol pushed the "Roof" button of the elevator, before striking his eyelids. Today was not only his birthday, but also a remembrance that he felt that he had made a series of mistakes the past few weeks that could perhaps never be forgiven by the juridical system or even be forgotten by him.

He was not the type to make a fuss over a year passing by, but he was also almost certain that his friend Eric had told Bonnie that it was his birthday and that is why she had expressed the need to see him on the rooftop of his building.

Now, when he was thinking about it; a few hours underneath the stars while tugging his girlfriend in his arms was probably the best birthday gift life could have given him at the moment.


"Uptown Funk" from Bruno Mars


"He's coming up!" Eric shouted to the large crowd; before the colorful lights could be closed, the music shut down, and people would find hiding places here and there, while Bonnie would place herself in front of the elevator doors holding a candle in her hands. "Keep quiet everyone!" She added, while closing her eyes to slow the rapid race of her heartbeats.

The elevator doors finally opened while Kol rose his head to only see Bonnie's silhouette lit by the candle.

"Hi." She welcomed him, with a shy smile and some tremors in her voice.

"That's a surprise." He replied, before taking a few steps to reach her standing position to bless her lips of a kiss. "Eric told you it was my birthday, did he?"

"Well….He kind of did, yes." She shrugged, smiling.

"Are you my birthday present?" Kol questioned, raising his right hand to caress her cheeks.

"Do you want me to be?" She questioned, tilting her head.

"I think you're more than that." He replied, in a more serious tone; blessing her forehead of another kiss. "And you look so damn beautiful, you're taking my breath away; Bonnie." He commented, before adding: "I like the candle; it's a nice touch."

"Thank you." She replied. "It's to give you strength in this period of difficult times. Tonight is meant to remind you that you're not alone, Kol; and that you will never be alone in this."

Kol smiled at her, before frowning at the colorful lights starting to illuminate the empty space of the roof, loud music filling the silence, before hearing the loud cheering of people wishing him: Happy Birthday Kol!

"Fuck all of you!" He exclaimed, in shock. "And you… And you… And you!" He added, pointing toward all the groups who were standing around him; being buried under their loud clapping of their hands.

"Are you surprised?" Eric questioned, cheerfully; before giving a hug to his friend.

"Hey, old guy!" Christian shook his friend' hand. "What did you just say? Oh yeah: you're taking my breath away, Bonnie." He teased, with a wink.

"Assholes… That's what you both are!" Kol commented. "Who responsible for this? I will kill that person!" He then threatened; mi-serious.

"What?" Eric played the ignorance card. "I don't know." He added, shrugging. "Do you know?" He questioned Christian.

"No; I don't!" Christian shook his head.

"Yes, you do!" Kol poked both of their chests.

"It's all Bonnie!" Eric pushed his female friend underneath the train; while grabbing her by the shoulders to push her toward Kol.

"What? That is so not true!" She protested, vehemently; stomping her feet on the concrete floor.

"I know they both helped you put this together, so … for this time around, I'll forgive you." Kol whispered into her right ear, before hugging her tightly.

"A toast!" Eric shouted to the assembly; while hitting a plastic knife over a plastic cup.

"Well that won't be very efficient if you want to grab the attention." She commented, with a roll of her eyes.

"Well thank you Miss Erica for your charming input." He replied, with a wince.

"What is she doing here?" Kol questioned Christian, in a whisper and with a smirk.

"Long story short; she's Cheryl's plus one it appears." Christian replied, with a shrug.

"Are you kidding …The head nurse Cheryl? She's here?" He questioned, in shock.

"Yes, she's standing near Caroline in the lounge area." Bonnie responded, pointing her chin in the direction of the said emplacement.

Cheryl caught his stare, before raising her glass in the air in his honor.

"To Kol: May you find the dance floor before being too damn drunk to find it." Eric and Christian shouted their wishes under the loud sound of laughter of the crowd. "We love you man… Happy Birthday!"

"Thank you guys… But, I still hate all of you!" Kol teased, raising his glass in the air; before taking a few gulps.

"And now: let's dance everyone!" Eric shouted before Funky town from Bruno Mars could came out of the speakers.

This hit, that ice cold
Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold
This one for them hood girls
Them good girls straight masterpieces
Stylin', wilin', livin' it up in the city
Got Chucks on with Saint Laurent
Gotta kiss myself, I'm so pretty

Kol promptly grabbed Bonnie's hand before approaching his male friends on the dance floor, before swirling on himself in a masterful dance move; while hitting the next lyrics of the song:

"I'm too hot (hot damn), called the police and a fireman…." He sang, in front of his friends and the crowd that was circling the dance floor. "I'm too hot (hot damn), make a dragon wanna retire man. Too hot (hot damn), say my name you know who I am; I'm too hot (hot damn), and my band'bout that money, break it down…"

They were surprisingly met on the dance floor by Cheryl who started to sing herself:

"Girls sang your hallelujah, Girls sang your hallelujah, and Girls sand your hallelujah…"

"Ladies and gentlemen, Cheryl!" Kol yelled, under the loud cheering of the assembly.

'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
Saturday night and we in the spot
Don't believe me just watch (come on)

Don't believe me just watch uh

Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Hey, hey, hey, oh

"Are you telling me that Cheryl is on the dance floor and singing right now?" Rhonda questioned Louisa; a hand placed over her chest to control her burst of laughter.

"I believe she is and is also quite good at it if you're asking." Louisa replied, under her own outburst.

"If there is a time in my life that I would love to have my sight back it's now then!" Rhonda replied, with a chuckle sound.


"I don't know…I think it was a bad idea." Katherine commented, when both of the elevator doors open and the music engulfed the small space.

She reached for the panel control, with the mere intention of pushing the ground button to escape the party, but was cut short in time when Elijah wrapped his left hand around her wrist in a firm grip, forbidden her to make that move.

"And wasting the sexy outfit you have put on for this event?" He questioned, with a charming wink. "Though, we both know the outfit was actually for me – But we won't tell anyone." He added, teasingly; before grabbing her right hand to guide her outside the small cubicle.

"Does your pretentious attitude come with the kind of work you're doing?" She wondered, out loud; with a roll of her eyes.

"One would probably think so; but it's actually part of my irresistible charm." He added, grinning.

"Mister Mikaelson. Doctor Pierce." Bonnie welcomed them, politely, and with a smile and a single nod.

"Miss Bennett, I've told you already..." He rectified her say, with a seductive smile. "Call me Elijah."

"Right." Bonnie replied, redness filling both of her cheeks. "Elijah."

"It's nice to see you, Nurse Bennett." Katherine added, truthfully. "Please, forgive us for the lateness of our arrival. We were stuck in traffic."

"Likewise, Doctor Pierce. And, don't worry about it" Bonnie replied, with a smile. "You look … Wow! I'm jealous of your outfit."

"Oh…" Katherine lowered her head, a light shade of pink coloring her cheeks. "I wasn't sure this was appropriate."

"It's really pretty." Bonnie complimented, some more. "You just missed Cheryl's performance. She just sang Uptown Funk with Kol."

"The Cheryl? The head nurse?" Elijah questioned, with a large grin. "Can I have a replay of that performance and put it on Youtube?"

"We all wish we could." Bonnie commented, with a laugh. "But, I'm sure if you're asking her she could sang for you, once more."

"I highly doubt it, Miss Bennett." He replied, with a wink. "She's not a member of my Fan Club… yet!"

"Bonnie…Please, tell me that you did not invite my lawyer here?" Kol suddenly appeared by her side; a shock-expression plastered all over his face.

"If it was the case, then I wouldn't stand on the rooftop of your building apartment, would I, Kol?" Elijah replied, mockingly. "This is from me and Katherine…. Or should I say, Doctor Pierce. Happy Birthday." He wished him, in a warm tone; before handing the gift bag. "It's a very good champagne. Maybe you could share it with your lady later in the night."

"Wow! Expensive champagne… I did not expect this at all!" Kol took a peek at the expensive bottle, a wince breaking the lines of his lips. "I am not paying you a dime for your services, and yet…. you're bringing me a hundreds of dollars bottle of champagne."

"What he means to say is that you shouldn't have." Bonnie rectified his say with a warning glance toward her boyfriend.

"It was both of our pleasure." Katherine replied, to break the awkwardness.

"Thank you for coming, Doctor Pierce." Kol added, warmly; before shaking her hand.

"It's my pleasure; Kol. But it's me who should thank Nurse Bennett for her invitation." She nodded, with a smile. "My wish for your birthday is that all your troubles could be behind you very soon."

"Thank you." He replied, with a smile of his own. "And you look … Can I say damn hot?"

"Well, you see Kol …. We have finally found a common ground!" Elijah commented, teasingly. "Because I think that Miss Bennett looks damn hot too."

"It's your subtle way to tell me that I shouldn't have commented that your girlfriend looks hot; isn't it?" Kol questioned, with one rose eyebrow.

"Oh no! Really … We… We are not …" Katherine stammered, nervously; trying to rectify the assumption.

"Did you ever thought of becoming a lawyer, Kol? Because you would have the flair for it." Elijah commented, with a large grin.

"Mm…" Bonnie coughed to stop the exchange of power between both men. "The buffet table is on the left side of the rooftop. Refreshments are served there too."

"Thank you." Katherine replied, before gently pushing Elijah toward the said emplacement.

Bonnie waited a few seconds for them to be at a distance, before swirling on herself to face Kol; arms firmly crossed over her chest.

"Why were you such a jerk with him?" She questioned.

"Because… Because… Elijah Mikaelson has the flair to make me nervous!" Kol shared his uneasiness, in a whisper. "Did you see how well put together he is? Just his shoes must cost at least a couple of hundreds of dollars!"

"He's certainly a sexy man with impeccable taste; I'll grant you that." Bonnie commented with a smile. "I think that a certain someone is jealous; and doesn't see how charitable Mister Mikaelson truly is with you."

"Are you kidding me right now?" Kol tilted his head.

"And …" She added, slowly approaching him, before gently grabbing his chin. "So you must know… I still think that you're the sexiest man here." She added; before blessing his parted lips of a kiss.


"Elijah." Klaus greeted while grabbing a bottle of beer in a nearby ice bucket; before seeing his brother turned on himself to face him.

"Klaus." He greeted in return with a single nod.

"Listen …. I did not thank you in a proper manner for helping Kol with his legal case." Klaus expressed his feelings; before taking a gulp of his bottle. "Thank you. You weren't obligated to accept it. Even more so that it was me who asked you to help him."

"He's a good kid." Elijah replied with a small smile. "And I don't believe that he's guilty; therefore, it was the moral step to make in my position."

"I won't tell him that you just called him a kid; especially today of all days." Klaus commented, with a chuckle.

Elijah grinned at his brother' comment, before tasting his own glass of wine: "I guess it would be wise of you."

"You truly believe that you'll be able to help him?" Klaus questioned.

"Yes, I do; Klaus." Elijah replied, unwavering; before adding: "How's Caroline?"

Klaus suddenly lost his smile, swallowing a lump in his throat, before taking another gulp of the amber liquid. "She's here." He responded, evasively.

"Don't you think I can see her with my own two eyes? She is sitting near Louisa." Elijah replied. "Katherine took some time to greet her in person, but something in my guts told me that I should keep my distance from her. She has reached a bad phase in her therapy to rehabilitation, hasn't she?"

"Yes." Klaus responded with a nod. "You could say that she is now ticking bomb that could explode at any moment."

"Could you help her?" Elijah inquired.

"What do you think I've done since the first moment you've asked me to take care of her?" He questioned, his brother. "I gave Caroline more than I have given to any of my patients and then some…"

"Some? You must be talking about the fact that you have fallen in love with my assistant; aren't you?" Elijah stipulated the obvious; with a rose eyebrow.

"Wow! You must have forgotten your own say about me not being able to love anyone but myself, Elijah?" Klaus responded, toneless.

"Don't bring the past into this, Nicklaus!" Elijah warned, dryly. "It would be a very bad idea."

"Right!" Klaus nodded, with a sour smile. "What was I thinking? Let's be frank, shall we? The only reason you are talking to me tonight is because of our common relationships: Caroline, Kol and … Katherine of course." He added, slyly. "How is Katherine by the way? Did your relationship with her involved into something more?" He teased, perniciously.

"You've always been an ass!" Elijah commented, with a shake of his head.

"So I've been told many times by you, brother." Klaus replied.

"Let's move on, shall we?" What is happening with Caroline?" Elijah questioned; his sight narrowed toward the lounge area where Caroline sat.

"In the confinement of the Center she had accepted her blind condition because she was among a few therapists and patients that were like her." Klaus started explaining. "But, today marked the first day she escaped that golden environment where she felt safe. She has now faced the reality of who she has become in the eyes of people who are living a normal life."

"Katherine told me she is set to have some sort of medical test done to her next week that will determine if they will be able to help her regain her sight." Elijah informed his brother.

"Yes, I know about it. And imagine for a split second what Caroline will feel if they inform her that it won't be possible for them to operate on her eyes." Klaus made him realize how lost and distressed she will feel.

"Damn it!" He swore out loud; nervously passing his right hand through the thickness of his dark hair. "A ticking bomb, mm? I see what you mean now."

"Yeah. And obviously she'll break in thousands of pieces very soon. And when that will happen; I'll need to be there for her." He added, with a loud sigh escaping his parted lips. "But after all, I'm kind of used to it. I had to live through my share of drama; would you say?"

"We all had to live through it. "Elijah commented, toneless; before swallowing his pride. "Thank you for the help you're granting her."

'That must have been hard?" Klaus teased, raising the bottle to his lips.

"Don't push it, Klaus!" Elijah replied.

"Then I won't push it." Klaus shrugged. "And … Don't you worry; I don't plan to break Caroline's heart."

"That wouldn't be my place to decide; Klaus." Elijah commented. "More yours and Caroline's."


The elevator doors opened one last time, letting a tall blonde out (accompanied by a few of her female comrades). The uninvited guest, Isabella MacDonald, scanned the entire roof to rapidly spot the standing position of her male friend who nodded once from his perched position as the unknown traitor and D.J; before turning her head and meeting the angry stare of Kol from a distance.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Kol asked his friends; before adding: "What does she want?"

"Who?" Bonnie questioned, before they could all turned their heads in the direction of the uninvited female guest.

"Do not react!" Eric stopped his male friend, while placing his left hand over Kol's chest to hold him immobile. "That is exactly what she wants."

"Now that you mention it… What the fuck does she want, anyway?" Christian questioned.

"Well, well, well … Someone have mentioned to me that a party was taking place on a roof top of a building this Friday night." She started her speech, while approaching the group dressed of a black dress (too short to even be called one). "If I had known I wouldn't have forced my presence at your birthday bash, Kol."

"Do not respond!" Eric whispered to his friend; while maintaining his friend's standing position immobile.

"But I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I was crashing it for an hour or two; would you?" Isabella asked, with a tilt of her head and an evil smile spreading on her red lips.

"What do you want Isabella?" Erica manifested herself; unexpectedly.

"Who asked you, Erica?" Isabella replied, dryly; while eyeing the redhead.

"No one wants you here, Isabella." She replied, before adding: "Take your skinny butt, bad perfume and fake boobs out before I kick you out myself!"

"I like your girlfriend." Kol whispered to Eric.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Eric mouthed the words, under clenched teeth. "But … She's kicking serious ass right now, I'll grant you that." He added, with a smile.

"I couldn't care less what you want. Just vanish from my sight." Isabella added, with a dismissive wave of her right hand.


"Elijah!" Katherine reached his and Klaus's standing position, before frantically grabbing his left forearm to catch his attention. "The girl who is standing near Kol is Isabella MacDonald." She added in a whisper near his left ear. "And as always, she will cause loads of trouble if you don't stop her."

"Her, causing trouble; with me here?" He smirked, taking the last gulps of his glass. "Not a chance, baby!" He added, before blessing Katherine's forehead of a kiss; only to push himself at arm length to take a few steps to reach the small group.

"It seems like your brother knows what he's doing." Katherine commented at Klaus; while nervously rubbing her hands together.

"Doesn't he always?" He responded with a smirk.

"Isabella MacDonald?" Elijah addressed the blonde young woman with a nod and a calculated smile.

"Who wants to know?" Isabella responded, a smile blessing her lips; before taking a rapid glance (from head to toes) at Elijah. "Maybe I could be interested?"

"Then, let say just that I'm not." He responded, while making her loose her pretentious smile; before pulling a business card from the front pocket of his silk shirt. "My name is Elijah Mikaelson. I'm Kol's lawyer." He added, with a pernicious smile of his own while grabbing her right hand to bury the card in it. "My suggestion to you is that you turn around, take your group of lovely female friends with you and leave the premises."

"I …" She could only get one word out of her mouth; redness filling her entire face. "What… What is assuring me that this business card is not fake?" She rose the card in the air, in protestation. "That you are truly who you say you are?"

"Oh, I can assure you that I am what that card is saying that I am; but … You can stay, cause trouble, and we'll meet in court soon enough, and then I'll be able to confirm my say. And at that time, it will be my great pleasure to inform the judge of your unwanted behavior of tonight." He added, chin rose; crossed hands over his bulged chest. "Louisa?"

"Yes, Mister Mikaelson." Louisa approached her boss, before handing him a folded legal paper.

"Thank you, Louisa." He thanked her, politely. "This is for you, Miss MacDonald."

"What is this?" She questioned, dryly; pulling the paper from his hands before aggressively unfolding the few pages. "Are you kidding me? This is a restraining order!"

"Is it now?" Elijah teased. "Then, I believe it is."

"You do realize that this man has physically insulted me in front of witnesses who will testify in court?" She lashed out, angrily.

"You do realize that as of today, Kol has not been found guilty of any charges, and therefore is free to live his life as he wants." Elijah replied, in a drier tone. "In opposite, Miss MacDonald, you just forced your presence in a private gathering that is celebrating the said person that you are saying who physically insulted you; while you weren't invited." He added. "Please be advice that if you're approaching my client once more before the trial, it will be my pleasure to call the police on you."

Isabella's chest rose under her rapid intake of air; a thin line joining her lips.

"Whatever! You can all go screw yourselves!" She busted, turning on herself to reach the elevator; before bumping into Christian who was carrying a large tray of pieces of cake.

"Oh … Oh … Oh…" Christian exclaimed, before the pieces of cake could fell on Isabella's dress, staining her outfit.

"Are you kidding me, asshole?" She shouted, unhappy; while trying to clean herself. "Do you even know how much this dress cost?" She added, before swirling on herself to rapidly reach the elevator; her group of followers on her heels.

"I'm so sorry…." Christian shouted; without a felt apology. "Well not really; but I'm being polite!" He added, before triggering a burst of laughter in the audience.

"Are you OK?" Bonnie asked Kol; while gently grabbing his left forearm.

"I'm fine." He reassured her, with a small smile. "Elijah?" He then called, handing his right hand to him.

"Yes?" Elijah turned on himself to face the young man.

"Thank you." He thanked him, sincerely; while shaking his hand.

"You're mostly welcome." Elijah replied, with a smile, and a shake.

"My brother scored again." Klaus commented to Katherine, with a smile. "I guess he was born to win."

"Was he always that way?" She questioned, curious.

"I think you already know the answer to that question, Katherine." Klaus responded.


Eric made his way through the group of people on the dance floor, carrying a tray filled with empty cups. He rose his head eyeing Cheryl's who was nibbling on a finger sandwich.

"What?" She questioned with a shrug (while sensing his presence); before swallowing her food.

"Nothing." He responded, toneless; while throwing the empty cups in the garbage bin.

"Then stop looking at me!" She ordered him, dryly.

"Yes, princess!" He made a reverence, before adding with a wince: "You're a true sunshine; aren't you?"

"It is night time, I don't need to be one." She replied; triggering a roll of his eyes.

"Whatever." He swirled on himself to escape her sourness; before coming to a halt and adding: "By the way, what you did earlier with Isabella, it was a class act."

"She's the Queen of all bitches. She knows what I think of her." She commented. "And…It was nothing, really. I love to rill her up."

"I bet you do, and don't we all!" Eric replied with a smile and a tilt of his head to study her more closely.

"What? Do you want an autograph or something?" She asked; redness filling her cheeks.

"Would your highness grant me one?" he teased back, perniciously.

"Probably not! I have a certain standard of whom should be in my fans base." She replied, mockingly; before they could both let a laugh sound escape their throats.

"You want to dance?" Eric asked, unexpectedly (surprising mostly himself in the process), at the exact moment a lounge music hit the speakers.

"With you?" Eric exclaimed, pointing a finger at him.

"Do you see someone else standing in front of you?" Eric questioned.

"No!" She rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I guess I could accept… Fine, let's do this!" She suddenly responded to his request (in an unexpected way); before passing in front of him to reach the dance floor in front of his mouth opened/speechless expression.

"I'll take that as a yes then." Eric responded, joining the redhead on the dance floor; before carefully sliding his left arm and hand around her waist.

They kept quiet for a while, dancing through the tempo of the slow dance; while keeping a good distance between them.

"So…" Eric the silence short. "How are you Cheryl's niece?" He questioned.

"What do you mean by that?" She rose her head to ask him.

"Well, you're …You're…" He stammered, nervously.

"I'm what…White?" Are you a racist?" She asked, slyly; narrowing her sight on him.

"Me! A racist? You must be joking right now?" Eric exclaimed, in shock. "I'm black, my best friend is white, and Christian is Islamic. I am not a racist, Erica!"

"And you think that only white people can be racist?" She questioned, some more.

"No! Of course not … Anyone can be one. I was just … Ok fine! I was just wondering how you could be related to Cheryl. I'm just sorry if I have offended you." Eric rectified his say.

"It's fine." She shrugged, apologetically. "I'm used to the staring and the questioning." She added. "My parents are black American, and they adopted me when I was a baby."

"Awesome!" Eric commented, truthfully.

"Are you mocking me?" She wondered, out loud.

"Far from it! I think it's great that black people such as myself would have fallen in love with a white color skin baby that wasn't of their origins." He explained his thoughts on the subject.

"Thank you." She lowered her defenses, with a nod.

"You're welcome." Eric responded, with a small smile.

"And…" She swallowed a lump in her throat, redness filling her cheeks: "Thank you also for the dance."

"My pleasure." Eric replied, a grin raising both corners of his lips; while his arms tightened around her waist.


"That Isabella MacDonald is something else; isn't she?" Rhonda commented, dryly.

"She's an awful human being!" Cheryl winced at the sour aftertaste of her own words. "Nor particularly one of the best nurses on staff either. Nurse Bennett exceed her in all the areas."

"I don't doubt that for a second" Louisa agreed with a nod.

"Louisa; did you see Caroline?" Klaus questioned, while approaching the trio of women; before grabbing her left elbow.

"Caroline? Of course, she is sitting at the same place that …" She started to respond, before turning her head toward the lounge area that was now empty. "But, where is she? She was there not five minutes ago?"

"What is it?" Rhonda questioned, herself; worryingly. "Did something happen to Caroline?"

"Damn it! She's not sitting there anymore." Klaus swore out loud; passing a rapid hand through his curly short blonde curls.

"Oh I'm sure she is fine." Cheryl tried to cheer up the group. "Maybe she left with the young man who brought you here? What was his name again?"

"Philippe? No, I don't think so." Rhonda shook her head in denial. "We just spoke to him a few minutes ago. He would have inform me of that."

"Maybe Doctor Pierce or Miss Bennett dragged her away for a walk on the roof?" Louisa suggested to Klaus; hopeful.

"Let's hope." He nodded, before excusing himself: "I'm sorry to leave you ladies; but I need to find her."

"Mm…." Cheryl hummed the sound, crossing both arms in front of her large chest while watching him rush to the other side of the roof. "Does that man even realize how deeply in love he is with Miss Caroline Forbes?"

"No!" Both Louisa and Rhonda exclaimed at the same time; before exchanging a rapid glance of surprise.


"Did you see Caroline?" Klaus asked his brother, with much eagerness perceived in his voice.

"No." Elijah responded, lowering his glass down. "Why?"

"I'm sure it's nothing." Klaus shook his head; a loud and long sigh escaping his lips. "She is not sitting in the lounge area anymore."

"Maybe she's with Louisa?" The eldest suggested to his brother, with a shrug. "Or with the female therapist … What's her name? Rhonda!"

"No, she's not." Klaus confirmed. "I just spoke to both of them."

"Is there something wrong?" Katherine inquired (with Bonnie walking by her side); while approaching both men's standing positions.

"I heard you talking about Caroline… Is she well?" Bonnie asked, herself.

"I know we have reached the roof by elevator, Bonnie; but… where is the emergency staircase?" Klaus abruptly asked the young nurse.

"Well… I believe it's the door near the back wall at your right." Bonnie informed him; dumbfounded. "Why? What happened to Caroline?"

"Thank you!" Klaus responded, before sprinting in that direction.

"Why is Klaus rushing toward the staircase?" Katherine questioned, worryingly.

"Caroline went missing." Elijah informed them both.

"What?" They both exclaimed, simultaneously.

"What do you mean she went missing? She doesn't even know the premises…. How … I mean, how could she leave with her blindness condition?" Bonnie wondered, out loud; dumbfounded by Elijah's announcement.

"She always had a strong will." Elijah replied; stroking his eyelids to calm himself down. "If leaving is that what she truly wanted; she would find a way to do it, even with her blindness condition."

"It's all my fault!" Bonnie thought out loud. "I should have passed more time with her tonight; but she wasn't …" She closed her eyes; holding the last words for herself.

"She wasn't herself? That's what you wanted to say; isn't it?" Elijah commented. "And …I know."

"Don't beat yourself up like this; Bonnie." Katherine comforted the nurse. "We all thought that giving Caroline space was that best thing we could do for her tonight."


Katherine walked into the penumbra and through the entrance of her home, dropping her set of keys and clutch bag on the console table where Oscar had been lying down to wait for her late arrival into the night.

She caressed the top of its head, before brushing its fur of a kiss and asking: "Did you miss me?"

The cat kept its eyes closed, but responded to her ministrations of affection with a loud purr: "You're spoiled like no other; you know that?" She added, taking a few steps into the living room area, before coming to a halt; arms now wrapped around her body, eyes closed.

"Oscar is a lucky cat." She heard the whisper while feelings Elijah's hand rose over the lengths of her arms from the soft curb of her wrist to the roundness of her shoulders; his chin tugged on her head.

"Sometimes I think I'm the lucky one." She responded; nervously biting into the thin skin of her bottom lip: "Elijah?"

"Mm..." He hummed the sound; while keeping his eyes closed.

"I wanted to thank you for bringing me to Kol's birthday party." She expressed herself in a lower whisper; her heart drumming inside her chest.

"I did not bring you to the party… You were my date, Katherine." Elijah responded, grinning. "Not argumentative if you're asking me."

"Why do I think that I couldn't debate your say in court without losing?" She questioned, slowly turning her head, before raising her brown sparkling eyes to meet his dark glance.

"Because it's the truth, you would lose; Doctor." He replied, with a chuckle; softly grabbing her chin to bless her parted lips of a kiss.

"Elijah …" She called his name, once more; sobbing sounds escaping her throat.

"Hey, hey… What is this, baby?" He questioned; brushing her left cheek with the back of his right hand.

"I … I know you want more than this … And…" She tried to articulate her thoughts, tears escaping her eyes.

"Did I say that I wanted more? More than what?" He gently scolded her; cupping her face with both hands. "We had our first official date and I enjoyed it immensely, because I like being with you, Katherine." He added, putting much weight into his say. "I'm not in any rush to sleep with you, if that's what you're implying."

"Oh! I thought that … that…my bad then." She stammered, with a shake of her head.

"You thought what, mm?" He questioned, a smirk raising the right side of his lips. "You thought that I wanted to finish this night in your bed?"

"Isn't it how it works for majority of the men?" She questioned, herself.

"Perhaps…" He agreed with a shrug. "But I am not trying to be one of them; I'm trying to be the "one" for you. So… I'll wait as long as I need to for you to get comfortable with the idea to be intimate with me." He added; his sight locked in hers, before adding: "Get some rest, OK?"

He blessed her forehead of a sweet kiss, before turning his back on her to reach the entrance.

"Elijah?" She called once more.

"Yes Katherine?" He turned on himself to face her.

"I just don't want to be alone tonight." She admitted; nervously rubbing her hands together. "Can you stay with me and just … Just sleep by my side… I mean….In my bed?" She questioned him.


"I placed some towels on the bathroom vanity for when you'll take a shower." Katherine informed him, taking steps out of the said room while tightening the belt around her dressing gown. "If you want to take a shower, of course."

"Thanks." Elijah turned around from his standing position in front of the long veil curtains. "I think I will." He replied, before taking a few steps to reach where she had taken a sitting position on the right side of her bed.

She bit her bottom lip, before slowly raising her sight to meet his smiling face.

"Are you tired?" He questioned; pushing a few long strands of her curly damped hair behind her ears.

"A little bit. I just need to …" She took a deep breath inside her lungs, eyes closed, before reopening them to meet his questioning glance. "I need to get my leg off."

"OK." He nodded. "You want me to help you with that?" He offered, in a softer voice.

"I … I don't know…" She shook her head in vain attempt to forbid herself from crying.

Elijah slowly knelled in front of her sitting position on the bed; both of his hands placed over the fabric of her dressing gown, on her knees.

"It doesn't change anything, Katherine." He reaffirmed to her. "With or without your prosthetic leg; either way I would still be here because I want to be with you."

"I … I was badly hurt in the past by a man." She confessed, brushing her tears away with the back of her right hand.

"OK." Elijah nodded; raising back into a standing position, before taking a sitting one by her side. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"He was an intern." She started to share, between sobbing sounds. "I was recuperating from a terrible car accident, after losing half of my left leg." She continued her tale. "I had just started physiotherapy at the moment a prosthetic leg was granted to me, when I learned that my father had passed away from a heart attack."

"I'm so sorry, baby." Elijah said, truthfully; while grabbing her right hand in his. "What happened after?"

"Gabriel … It was his name." She added, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath in her lungs. "His internship was in the physical therapy. We became friends. He was always there for me, giving me strength, like your brother is doing to Caroline Forbes." She commented. "I needed so desperately to find someone that I could lean on, and he was there…. So one thing lead to the other and … We had sex and I fell in love with him."

"But it wasn't reciprocated or am I mistaking?" Elijah came to the conclusion.

"No." She shook her head. "His internship included a psychological report that he needed to present after studying one of the patients. He …"

"Damn it!" Elijah lashed out, before raising back on his legs to start pacing back and forth; both hands firmly placed on each side of his waist. "That asshole used you for his own gain!"

"After presenting his report he broke up with me. He explained that it would be too difficult for him to take care of a handicap woman like me." Katherine added, sniffling.

"I swear if that jerk was standing in front of me as of now I would beat him good!" Elijah commented mostly to himself, under clenched teeth, before shortening the space between them to kneel, once more, in front of her. "Listen to me, Katherine." He demanded, gently placing a hand underneath her chin to raise her head upward. "What that man did to you was despicable and such an inhuman thing to do to a patient. You are not responsible for his actions or for the bad way he treated you, you hear me?"

"It still hurts." She confessed, biting into her bottom lip to stop her sobbing; while lowering her head shamelessly.

"I know it does, baby." He caressed her cheeks, while pushing the tears away. "But I am not Gabriel. You need to enter that fact in that pretty head of yours, ok?"

She rose her head and sight back to glance at his smiling face, before slowly nodding to him.

"Good." He concluded, kissing her forehead; before very carefully opening the dressing gown fabric placed over her knees to place his hands on each side of her prosthetic leg. "How do I take your leg off?"

"You don't need to do that." She told him, shaking her head.

"I know I don't need to do it, but … I want to do it, Katherine." He replied, unwavering.

She studied his soul through his dark eyes for a few seconds more, before slowly lowering her hands to place his own on each side of the prosthetic leg ankle.

"It's quite easy. You just need to press the pin on the right side for me, wait…Actually, it would be the left side for you." Katherine explained to him.

"OK." He gently proceeded, before slowly pulling the prosthetic part off her left knee. "Did I do it right?" He asked, gently lowering it on a nearby armchair. "You want me to lower your liner?"

"Yes, you did it right." She nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. "And I'll do the rest if you don't mind."

"OK." He nodded, before sliding his right hand behind her neck to pull her head down on his left shoulder. "Shush …The past is the past, Katherine; it should be buried forever." He whispered, in a soothing voice. "Did you have fun tonight?"

"Yes." She replied, while raising her head upward. "Thank you." She added; while thanking him for way more than bringing her to Kol's party.

"You're welcome." He replied, with a smile; before blushing her salty lips of a kiss. "I'll go take a shower now, just lay down; I'll come to join you in a short while." He informed her, before raising back on his legs to reach the adjacent bathroom.

And after getting rid of the liner over her knee, dressing herself with her silk P.J., that is exactly what she did. She laid her head down on her pillow, a long sigh escaping her lips before falling into a peaceful sleep…. A heavy weight leaving her shoulders after so many years of sufferance, and this only because of one single man Elijah Mikaelson.


"Please Me" from Bruno Mars & Cardi B.


Bonnie got rid of her high heels sandals with a long sigh of relieve (her feet were killing her), before reaching the large bucket of ice that was still containing a few beer bottles, only to grab two of them.

She slowly advanced bare foot to reach the lying position that Kol had taken on one of the lounge area chairs, his head risen to look at the stars in the night sky. The remaining guests had left a half-hour ago, and they were finally able to share some quality time together.

"Are you still mad at me?" Bonnie questioned, handing one of the bottles to him. "Before raising the fabric of her evening skirt to slide herself on the lounge chair to tug herself in his arms.

"For putting this party into motion?" He questioned, grinning. "Hell yeah! You're in deep trouble, girl!" He added, before spanking her butt.

"Hey? I wasn't the only one who put this entire party into motion so you know?" She protested, vehemently; hitting his chest with her closed fists. "Eric was in the all secretive pact too!"

"Yeah … I know." He shrugged, taking a gulp of his beer. "But I don't see myself spanking Eric. He could easily take that gesture the wrong way." He added; before they could both stare at each other and burst into laughter.

"I know you hate this kind of gathering, but …Except for Isabella unwanted presence; it wasn't that bad, was it?" She asked, raising her head and sight to stare at him.

"No, it wasn't that bad." He agreed, with a shake of his head; before adding between his clenched teeth: "But, she's such a…" He cut himself short; suddenly wincing to refrain himself from adding more of his thoughts. "Klaus's brother told me to control my anger toward her until the trial; so I just need to chill, and stop my impulsion to do so." He commented, rubbing his eyelids.

"Elijah told you that? Well… He's right, you know? You need to control yourself around her and you did a great job at it tonight, but …As for me, he did not told me to control my anger toward her, so…" Bonnie replied, closing her eyes before filling her lungs of air to add: "She's a bitch, Kol, with a capital "B"; I could have easily ripped her head from her neck with my bare hands if Elijah hadn't reacted in the proper - legal way!"

"You would have ripped her head from her shoulders, mm?" He questioned, mockingly. "And kicked her ass good with your high heels shoes too?" He added, biting his bottom lip to forbid himself to laugh.

"Yes! I would have kicked her ass for sure!" She responded, punching her fists in the air. "Wait… Are you mocking me?" She realized, suddenly.

"Who me? No, no… Well, maybe a little bit." He replied, showing an inch of measurement between two of his fingers; while a loud chuckle escaped his lips.

"You're a jerk, Kol! You're mocking me for the single fact that I wanted to protect my man?" She protested, vehemently.

"Don't forget it's my birthday – technically you can't call me a jerk." He warned, pocking her nose. "I'm just finding you so adorable Bonnie Bennett… and so sexy." He added, charmingly; while his right hand caressed the hollow of her bare shoulders. "Wait? Did you just call me your man?"

"Your old age is making you hear stuff." She replied, tit for tat; while triggering more laughter from his part.

"There isn't a girl who did for me what you did tonight. I've never been one to get much attention when I was in foster homes. So birthday's celebrations weren't even a thing to consider or getting used to." He shared his past and deep feelings with her.

"Oh….I'm so sorry, Kol." Bonnie replied, sadly.

"Nah… Don't be!" He shook his head, before blessing her forehead of a kiss. "I don't want my girl to be sad because of me." He added, with a smile. "I've given you more heartaches and headaches that you deserved already."

"Did you just say: my girl?" She teased, smirking.

"Maybe." He winked, playfully; before grabbing her chin to bless her parted lips of a quick kiss. "You know what threw me on my butt tonight though?"

"My sexy outfit and high heels?" She asked, mockingly.

"Obviously! But also …. Cheryl's presence." He confided. "I thought she disliked me so damn much."

"Yeah… I know, it threw me off too that she showed up." Bonnie shook her head. "She told me that she would attend only if we would play her favorite singer's songs, Bruno Mars."

"Damn! That Cheryl did a number on both you and Eric." Kol commented, with a laugh sound.

"What do you mean by that?" Bonnie questioned, curious.

"I'm the one who's a huge fan of Bruno Mars." He confided, with a shrug and a smile. "She used to hear me listen to his music with my headphone on when I was having breaks in the lounge area."

"I can't believe this!" Bonnie exclaimed, dumbfounded. "Wow! She must like you a lot then to subtly arrange for you to have this surprise?" She teased, with a wink.

"Don't push it...But, maybe she is more inclined to like me a little bit." He replied, with a smile of his own.

"Yeah, maybe." She agreed with a nod.

"Everything you did meant a lot to me." He admitted, before kissing her lips. "But you mean more." He confessed before grabbing her chin with his right hand to stare into her pretty eyes.

"Well….You're very welcome." She responded with a smile.

"Plus, it was probably the only way for me to see you wear a dress, and sexy sandals." He commented, teasingly. The right corner of his lips raising into a smirk.

"Hey!" Bonnie hit his chest of her closed right fist; before adding: "That is totally unfair! I wear … Well, a lot of short jeans skirts." She objected, some more.

"With army boots." He added, with a wink.

"And so you know what I'm wearing is not a dress. It's a skirt and a bustier." She rectified his say.

"Mm, a bustier, really? Well, I like the "bustier" think then, Nurse Bennett… It's very revealing." He commented; slowly raising his right hand from the hollow of her hip to the soft curve of her breast.

"Kol!" She scolded; while grabbing his wrist. "Maybe there are some remaining guests somewhere?"

"Where?" He questioned, turning his head to stare at all the empty lounge chairs. "Are you going to deny your man some make-out action for his birthday on the rooftop of his place?"

"Technically it's not your birthday anymore; it's passed midnight." Bonnie played his game.

He stared at her intently while never leaving her dark eyes for a second.

"Kol… Stop looking at me like this. You're starting to freak me out!" Bonnie demanded.

"Please me baby, turn around and just tease me, baby… You know what I want and what I need, baby…" He started to sing the first lyrics of the songs; while a large seductive smile spread over her deep red lips.

"Let me hear you say…." She sang herself; sliding her hands over his chest.

"Please…." He lowered his head, begging her.

"Let me hear you say…" She repeated, teasingly.

Please!" Kol sang in a higher octave.

"I'm gonna ride it, do it just how you like it, tonight and after that … Let's do it one more time…" She sang some more; before straddling his lap and lowering her upper body (hands placed on each side of his head) to give him a good view of the roundness of her breasts accentuated by her corset.

"Girl I ain't one for begging, but now you got me begging!" Kol sang in a higher octave.

"Shush!" Bonnie put a finger over his parted lips; a laugh escaping her lips. "You'll wake up the entire neighborhood."

"I don't care!" He shook his head, smiling; while grabbing her bottom with both hands. "You know why? Because my sexy girlfriend was waiting for me on my building rooftop while holding a candle and telling me that I was the best thing that has ever happened to her."

"Well, to be honest I needed to make a good speech for the present audience." She teased him, biting into the tender flesh of her bottom lip to forbid herself to laugh.

"Is that so?" He questioned with a raise eyebrow, just before starting to tickle her. "What do you say now, mm?" He questioned, while grabbing both of her wrists to place them behind her back; his body pushing hers into a laying position on the chair.

"No! Please, Kol, stop!" She begged of him, between bursts of laughter. "OK, OK … I love you!" She confessed in a splurge of the moment.

They both froze their movements, while staring at each other for a minute or so.

"What did you just say?" Kol questioned, breathless.

"I …." She started answering him; before closing her eyes and jumping right back into admitting her true feelings to him. "I love you."

"I'm … It's hard to love me, Bonnie. No one has tried before." He replied, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"No…. That is not true! Don't you ever believe that shit, Kol; you're not hard to love at all. And I am not "no one" – I'm your girlfriend, damn it!" She shook her head, in protest; cupping his face with both hands before raising her head to bless his lips of a kiss. "I'm gonna ride it, do it just how you like it, tonight and after that … Let's do it one more time…" She sang in a lower sensual tone.

He suddenly straightened his body, jumping back on his two feet; before sliding his left arm underneath her legs to promptly raise Bonnie in his arms.

"Oh!" Bonnie exclaimed in surprise, before interlacing her hands behind his neck to help her keep her equilibrium. "What are you doing?" She questioned, dumbfounded, when he started to walk toward the elevator doors. "I thought you wanted to stay on the rooftop?"

"I changed my mind; now I'm carrying you to my bedroom to make sweet love to my girl." He responded; locking his sight with hers. "I just need for you to ride me, do it just how I like it, tonight and after that …" He added, singing and with a wink; triggering her burst of laughter, before crashing his lips on hers.


"Versace on the floor" from Bruno Mars


"You're taking me against my will!" Caroline squirmed her body to regain her freedom, while being carried (marital style) in Klaus's arm.

"I am granting you your wishes, Caroline." He replied, toneless; taking long strides in the parking lots of the Center to reach the entrance. "You wanted to leave the party. Your wish has been fulfilled!"

"I never wanted to leave with you; dumb-ass!" She replied; furiously. "I wanted to get away from you!"

"Do you think you're the only one who had to suffer heartaches in her life, mm? If so; is that supposed to explain why you acted so selfishly, without thinking that others were worrying about you? Philippe was forced to leave the party early to bring us both back." Klaus added; underneath a set of clenched teeth.

"You were the one who asked Philippe to bring the both of us back to the Center, not me! Now…Get me down!" Caroline ordered him; dryly.

"No!" Klaus replied, unwavering; while taking a few additional strides toward the revolving doors.

"Get me down Klaus!" She shouted, this time; hitting his chest of her closed fists. "Or I swear I'll scream so loud that I will wake the entire Center!"

"You continue to act like a spoiled brat and I'll throw you over my shoulder and carry you like a bag of potatoes. Are we clear Caroline?" He warned her.

"Fine!" She replied; while crossing her arms back around his neck to help her keep her balance in his arms.

"Mister Klaus and Miss Caroline!" George greeted, enthusiastically; while a large smile spread all over his face. "So nice to see you both!"

"Like usual, George; you did not see a damn thing!" Klaus warned him, with a nod.

"Of course, Mister Klaus; I never saw you carry Miss Caroline in your arms." He teased, with a wink. "Like you always do; nonetheless."

"George! Listen to me…" Caroline turned her head to beg the elderly man. "Call security and tell them that I'm being taken against my will by this asshole!"

"He's security Blondie!" Klaus responded; with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh! You know that I would for you; but I can't do that, Miss Caroline." George replied; in an apologetically tone. "You two are reminding me of my earlier years of marriage. My wife and I we were always fighting with each other."

"And you're still married to your wife?" Klaus questioned; before reaching the doors that would lead him to the entrance corridor of the Center. "You deserve a golden medal my friend!"

"Not all men are coward like you!" Caroline lashed out to his face; before letting a cry escape her parted lips the moment she felt her body being turned on itself and positioned over his right shoulder.

"Who do you think you are Klaus Mikaelson?" She shouted, angrily. "Put me down now!"

"There!" Klaus responded, with a grin; his right hand hitting her bottom in a loud and well felt slap. "That should shut your filthy mouth up for a few minutes."


Her mouth opened in shock when she was suddenly dropped (on her butt) over a few padded exercise mats. She had no idea where he had brought her, but for the direction he had taken and that she had visualized in her head, she could only guess that they have reached the physical therapy room.

"I swear I'll sue you for this; Klaus!" She exclaimed, fists closed; while tears of frustration filled her eyes.

"Fine." Klaus shrugged, lowering his back on the opposite wall of the room, with his head lowered, and both of his arms crossed over his bulged chest. "I could recommend you a very good lawyer. He's my brother actually. But at the moment, he is as pissed as I am at you for trying to leave the party, while taking the emergency staircase. So, I'm not entirely sure that he will help you. You win some – you lose some; Miss Forbes."

"Leave me alone!" Caroline responded; under sobbing sounds; before grabbing one of the wooden bar placed on the mirror wall to raise herself into a standing position. "No! I'll leave you instead." She added, slowly reaching the door to grab the handle; before realizing that it had been locked. "I know you have the key. Open the damn door; Klaus!" She busted, angrily; while pointing a finger at it.

"We're going to have a session now; Caroline." Klaus replied, calmly. "You need to get rid of the anger you have toward life that is eating you inside; before it destroys all the relationships you cherish inside your heart with all the people that care for you."

"Fuck you!" She lashed out, while grabbing the first thing she could get her hands on; before throwing the exercise bar on the mirror that shuttered in pieces. "Let me out of here!" She cried some more.

"No!" He repeated; stoic as a stone.

"I'll destroy this entire room with my bare hands if I have to!" She warned him.

"Good!" He shrugged. "There's nothing good to watch on TV anyway."

"Why are you doing this; Klaus?" She shook her head; tears now rolling down on her face and neck.

"Why do you think I do this; Caroline?" He questioned her. "Because I care so much about you; that is why!"

"I can't do this." She shook her head; all of her strength leaving her. "I thought I could but the world outside; it is not my world anymore."

"Yes you can, Caroline!" Klaus encouraged her. "You're the most courageous woman I ever laid my eyes on." He added, truthfully. "The world is exactly the same as you knew it beforehand. Your blindness is not making you less capable to obtain all that your heart desires, or less beautiful, or certainly not less of a woman."

"They all took pity on me." She added, brushing her tears away with the back of her right hand.

Klaus let a chuckle escape his throat and lips: "Believe me it wasn't pity. They all love you so much. They were all scared of approaching you because you were a ticking bomb ready to explode; Caroline Forbes!"

"I broke the mirror." She realized, shamelessly. "I didn't mean to break it." She gave her apologies; lowering her head down.

"God! You're such a pain in my ass, but you are also so beautiful; Caroline Forbes." She heard him comment; before slowly raising her head back up. "I love you in that dress; but…" He added. "The only thing I could think all night is how much I would love to get rid of it."

"You're leaving with Jenna to Indonesia in a few hours." She commented, in a drier tone. "Don't say those words when you don't mean them." She added, shaking her head; while slowly turning on herself to face the mirror.

"Damn! You're such a stubborn woman, who doesn't want to see the truth when you are figuratively staring at it!" Klaus replied, with a loud sigh escaping his parted lips. "You won't need your dress anymore…" She suddenly heard him whisper; slowly approaching her standing position.

"I … What… What do you mean by that?" She questioned him; a range of shivers hitting her spine all at once, while her heartbeats were accelerating inside her chest.

"What do you think I mean by that?" He questioned some more, in a low murmur; softly biting her right earlobe, while both of his hands were raising the silk fabric of her red dress up her thighs.

"Klaus…" She called his name; her head dropping on his chest, eyelids closing under the warm heat reaching her core when he gently grabbed the elastic lace fabric of her panties to lower it down on her legs.

"Mm…Touching you this way feels like heaven!" He growled, softly; sliding his full lips down the left side of her neck at the mere exact moment her panties hit the floor. "Take it off for me Caroline?" He demanded, softly; before suddenly detaching himself from her burning body.

"Klaus?" She called his name; breathless. "Where are you?"

"I'm here. Take your dress off for me." He repeated, in a low murmur.

Caroline closed her eyes, taking a few deep breathes inside her lungs; before her hands could rose and shakily reach the line of small red buttons. She slowly opened the buttons, one by one; lowering the sleeves down her arms. The fabric brushed in a slow descent her entire body; creating waves of delicious goosebumps, before hitting the floor.

"Bra?" He questioned.

"I didn't wear any." She shook her head; nervously.

"That's what I like about you, Love." She heard him whisper in close proximity; before feeling his arm wrap around her waist to pull her bare body in direct contact with his naked chest. "You go right to the point." He teased, while grabbing her chin; before softly brushing her lips of a few kisses.

"You're naked? Are… Are we really doing this?" She mouthed the words on top of his lips.

"You bet!" He replied, before sliding his right hand and arm underneath her legs to raise her back in his arms. "If I hurt you in any way; you need to tell me, OK Love?" He told her to do. "Physical intimacy could hurt a little bit after regaining the use of your lower body."

"OK." She nodded; her hands caressing his curls at the base of his neck. "Klaus; we can't leave Versace on the floor?"

"What?" He questioned; dumbfounded and under a chuckle sound. "Who's Versace?"

"It's my mother's dress!" She added, as a simple explanation.

"It won't vanish in the air; don't worry about it." He replied; slowly lowering down her body on the mat.

"But, I don't want it to be wrinkle." She begged of him.

"Oh … Dear God; Caroline!" He rolled his eyes; raising back on both of his legs to reach the said dress.

"Thank you." She replied; while closing her eyes in anticipation of his return.

"Where were we?" She heard him say; before feeling the heat of his body reaching her own. "You have beautiful breasts Caroline; do you know that?" He complimented her; his lips swallowing her right nipple, before his tongue could strike its tip.

"Oh God!" She moaned; arching her back up at the moment his fingers were sliding up and down her wet folds; before slowly entering her swollen walls to grant her more pleasure.

"Well, it's about time you whisper my name the correct way; Caroline Forbes!" He teased, before they could both burst into laughter.

"Ass!" She responded; raising her right hand to slowly caress his face.

"Does it hurt?" He questioned, worryingly.

"No." She shook her head.

"I don't think I could wait more before…" He tried to explain his thoughts; shyly.

"Come inside of me, Klaus Mikealson, please?" She begged of him; raising her head to bless his parted lips of a kiss before a single tear could roll down her left cheek. "I've waited for this moment for such a long time."

Her body tensed at first when his tick length slowly entered her slippery walls; under her cries of pleasure and pain.

"Fuck! I can't do this if you're hurting." He scolded himself.

"Please… It's like you're my first." Caroline begged of him; slowly wrapping her legs around his waist. "Come!"

"Damn it, Caroline!" He swore, out loud. "You're not helping me at all!" He added, under a loud growl; before burying himself to the hilt inside of her.

"Oh!" She cried; slowly raising her pelvic to meet his slow thrusting movements. "Now fuck me like there is no tomorrow, Klaus Mikaelson!" She ordered him to do; a large smile spreading all over her face.