Chapter 10: Never Felt Like Home

A/N: Chapter 10. I'm surprised I've continued this fic this far because I thought that I would give up on this but I guess it's all the favourites, follows, and nice reviews that people have given me that's kept me going so thank you everyone. Also, I know the Mikaelson ball happened straight after everyone came back from the dead but in this story, it's more of an apology-to-the-town ball rather than a greeting-the-town ball so it happens much later, hope no one minds. And one more thing, updates maybe slow because of exams, ugh.

The title is inspired by Drive by Halsey.

The rest of the ride to Mystic Falls was much more comfortable. The three had left the motel even before the sun woke up so they could get to the Mikaelson residence with time for Katalina to introduce everyone properly. This included the Salvatores and others who needed to be familiarised with the hunters on friendly terms. Dean had told Sam about his and Katalina's little chat the previous night minus the awkward ending which meant there was no more unwanted tension, so they had begun to talk to each other again, mostly about the leviathan issue. The vampire was at her regular seat at the back of the Impala, behind the driver's seat, her earphones plugged in, staring at the scenery presented to her outside the window. Meanwhile, Dean constantly gazed back at her through the rear-view mirror, he told himself it was because he was worried about her mental state but in actual fact that was only used to cover up his true reasons. Sometimes he would catch her blue eyes and she would have to be the first one to break the inseparable contact.

The six hours of driving passed by slowly. Dean didn't stop the car once and the drive resumed without a change in atmosphere. Around the four hour mark, Katalina had dozed off stretching her legs only having her feet dangling off the edge as she knew how pissed Dean got when she just tried to put her feet up. She slept for an hour and even then Dean continued to switch his green eyes from the road to enjoy the view of her sleeping form, something which he rarely saw. She slept for about forty minutes before the light began hitting her pupils once more and she groggily began to sit up, her eyes instantly fixing on Dean's in the rear-view mirror before she looked away. Katalina reverted to her original activity of listening to music and staring out the window.

After about an hour of blurred forestry rushing by the car window, Katalina began to make out the green and beige 'Welcome to Mystic Falls' sign a few metres away. The sign seemed so welcoming, the town was anything but. It had once been a great town. No mysterious homicides, no missing persons, no strange animal bites. No vampires. It was good. Back then people could truly say that nothing bad ever happened in Mystic Falls. Her heart sped up as she pulled her earphones out. She closed her eyes and began to take in multiple deep breaths, letting them out slowly. Okay so maybe she lied a little the other night, sure she was worried about the brothers but she did her best to avoid the fact that she was scared for her own life. Seeing her family again. Seeing Kol. Seeing Klaus. She gulped.

'Just try to think of the positive, everything will be fine,' she thought to herself, her inhalations becoming more obvious to the other passengers.

She tried but no avail. There was nothing good about this goddamn town! Why couldn't she have listened to the brothers and stayed at home? Why was she so– Wait, home? Not once since she had stepped foot in the bunker had she called that place home. She had never considered it that. She always thought Mystic Falls was home, but home was supposed to make you feel safe. Home is the one place where you could escape your problems. This town was the exact opposite. In the back of her mind, she always knew it never been home. She just never found a place that could was even close to the definition, until now. Her breathing patterns had fully caught the attention of the two brothers now causing them to share a look.

"You okay?" Dean was the first of the two to say something glancing at her via the rear-view mirror.

"Yeah of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be okay going into the town where my maniacal family lives?" She answered matching his gaze, the sarcasm dripping off her tongue.

Dean had to stop himself from snapping back at her. He was driving, it really wasn't a suitable time to have your head bitten off. Instead, he remained silent.

"It's only for a weekend, you can survive that," Sam broke his silence.

"Yea," was her lone reply, clearly not believing the younger Winchester.

…

Dean pulled into the unnecessarily large driveway of the Mikaelson house. Scratch that, it was more like a mansion. The driveway was paved with white bricks which had gone slightly off colour due to the multiple number of cars having been driven over it. The brick pathway acted as a border to a small rectangular pond which sat right in the middle of the estate, various shrubs and bushes encasing it. Right at the top of the circular drive was the large wooden doors that provided as an entrance to the large eggshell coloured residence, a balcony resting right above it. Dean had to duck his head just see the roof of the mansion.

"This is your house?" He said gawking at the large estate.

"Yea," Katalina replied with a sigh, "Klaus always did go for extravagant."

"Extravagant would be an understatement," Sam joined in, his mien similar to his older brother's.

Dean slowed the Impala to a gradual stop in front of the grand front door before the three stepped out and embraced the much needed fresh air.

As Sam went to the trunk of the car to get their bags, Dean and Katalina stood staring at the immense house, Dean's expression much like before but the vampire sported a grimace, furrowing her brows at the house as if it had done something awful. The sound of the door opening broke them out of their thoughts as all eyes fell on said door. A fair girl with light blonde hair stepped out, a wide smile plastered on her face.

"Katalina!" She exclaimed walking towards the band of three, "I'm glad you could make it," She said giving the vampire an inviting hug.

"It's good to see you Rebekah," Katalina responded breaking away from the embrace. Rebekah had always been a sister to her and she was probably the only Mikaelson Katalina could stand to be around, with the exception of Elijah, "Where's Esther?"

"She's out right now, you know ball preparations and all." The fair woman continued to smile, dropping it a little when her blue eyes landed on the boys.

"And who are your friends?" She questioned, furrowing her brows ever so slightly.

"Uh, this is Sam and Dean. Winchester. They're hunters," Katalina blurted out thinking it was best not to keep their occupation a secret.

"Oh," Rebekah's grin was now replaced with a frown obviously not liking the idea of hunters being in town.

Noticing this, Dean decided it was time to intervene, "Hi, Dean Winchester," he started putting out a hand his signature smirk on his face.

The younger vampire threw his hand a glance filled with judgement before hesitantly shaking it a sound of approval leaving her mouth, "Rebekah Mikaelson." That was the only thing she said before turning back to her friend, "Come along, everyone's been wanting to see you again," she said smiling and leading the way.

"I'm sure," Katalina whispered quietly, sensing how forced Rebekah's last words were.

…

The group entered the large manor, a look of awe settling on the faces of the brothers. A large entryway greeted them, a grand stairwell leading to the mystery of the upstairs rooms. To the sides of the doors were tall white columns that looked like they had been bought back from the Roman Empire, in between the columns were several wooden doors. Rebekah led the group up the white steps and bluntly turned to the left when reaching the top. Walking through a set of doors she led them to a spacious living room which brought in more brown tones contrasting with white that had been the key colour in the rest of the house. Rebekah stopped as she let her eyebrows furrow, glancing around the room as if she had lost something.

"I swear Kol was in here a minute ago," she said still pondering as to where he went.

"That's okay, I was planning on avoiding him anyway," Katalina sighed out. She had a complicated history with the younger Mikaelson and the tension between them had never been fully resolved.

"We all know that's a lie," a voice resounded from behind the Winchesters who were lagging behind the two girls the entire time as they were marvelling at the intensity of the place.

Katalina rolled her eyes at his remark. She was sick of him and his need to be in the spotlight all the time. All four turned around to meet eyes with no one other than the brown eyed Mikaelson.

"No need to be so dramatic, Kol," she snapped at him, an icy glare being shot from her eyes to his.

He smirked back at her before turning his attention to Sam and Dean. A look of disgust almost crossing his features.

"And who are your little friends?" His classic smirk returned.

She refused to respond. Frankly, she was scared that he'd hurt them. She knew he could, and she knew he wouldn't hesitate to do so.

Not wanting to let the conversation end, he continued, "Kol Mikaelson," he extended his hand out offering a handshake.

No volunteers. Dean glared daggers at him. He didn't have a reason to trust Kol. The hunter sensed the tension in the air the moment Kol stepped in the room. Though his younger brother was hesitantly compliant. Dean guessed he just wanted Kol to go away.

Sam outstretched his own hand and shook the vampire's, "Sam Winchester and this is my brother Dean."

Dean continued to grimace at Kol.

"It's a pleasure," Kol didn't stop shaking his hand as he tightened his grip as every second passed. Sam expressed a sound of complete pain however Kol's smile did not fade.

Katalina's eyes widened and she immediately rushed in between the two men, breaking their contact, "Stop it Kol." She glowered into his brown eyes attempting to wipe the smirk of his face but failing.

"You're no fun," he whined playfully before he was out the door.

The female vampire continued to glare at the door for a few more seconds as if Kol was still there before turning around to see Sam gripping his hand and his older brother standing closer to him, holding a look of concern.

She sighed, "Do you mind taking us to our rooms?" Katalina asked turning to her sister-like figure.

Rebekah sighed herself before sauntering past the three visitors, giving Sam a passing glance. Katalina gave Dean an apologetic look before following the blonde woman.

…

"This is where you will be staying and you're brother will be in the next room," Rebekah notified the entire group but more specifically Dean, "Katalina, you know where you're room is." She smirked at the older vampire before disappearing into the large hallway.

"I'll be right across the hall," Katalina monotonously murmured to the boys not bothering to make eye contact. She didn't know what to say to them. She was frustrated by Kol's behaviour, not surprised, just frustrated. Next thing the brothers knew, they were staring into an empty space.

…

It was mid-afternoon and she was standing in front of the closed door of the room belonging to no one other than Dean Winchester. She knew she had to say something. An apology, at this point anything would do. She felt like she had dragged the brothers into this mess. This hot mess of a thing that she calls a life. Kol had nearly broken Sam's hand earlier that morning and that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that she had tagged along on the Winchesters' coattails about a month ago and for what? The only thing that she had done was put them in danger. She didn't even know why she did it. It was like someone was compelling her. Pretty ironic if you think about it. The sound of her inhaling resounded through the soundless hallway.

She knocked on the wooden door.

It swung open to reveal the chiselled face of the older Winchester, a questioning look posed on his face. She guessed that he was angry at her. She deserved it anyway. Wait, stop. No she didn't. It might have been her fault that the brothers were in this whole vampire mess but it was not her fault that they were in this house. She offered to come alone. They were the ones that insisted that she shouldn't. The fact is, they were all to blame.

"Hi." Despite the mental debate in her head, that was all she could muster.

"Hi." He replied back to her like an echo.

"Can we talk?"

His response was uncertain. Slowly, he opened the door wider so that she could narrowly enter the room. That's when it hit her. This was Kol's room. Or, it was? It was hard to believe she hadn't noticed this earlier, she'd been in here over a hundred times. She couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't–

"Katalina?" Dean's voice crashed her train of thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Talk?"

"Oh, right," she sat down on his maroon toned bed sheets letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding in, "I'm sorry." She finally met his green-eyed gaze.

"For?" What was up with these lone responses? Sure Kol tried to hurt Sam but how was that her fault?

"Kol." Her mouth was filtering out what her brain was thinking, saying something that was the complete opposite.

"That wasn't your fault," Dean responded, his voice managing to reach a softer tone as he sat down on the bed next to her. This was good. At least he agreed with her, "If anything it's my fault."

She felt a wave of relief flood her. He wasn't blaming her for this. He was, blaming himself? Wait, rewind.

"Hold on, how in the hell is this your fault?"

"I mean it was my idea to come here and–"

"Let me stop you right there Dean," Katalina was stunned that he actually put all of this weight on himself, "None of this is your fault. If you want to blame anyone, it should be me. I mean, who dragged you into this vampire mess?"

"Technically, Sammy and I came here all on our own."

"But who convinced you to not kill me and my friends?"

"You wouldn't have even let us try." He smirked.

"Okay fast forward. Who forced themselves to save you two after you kidnapped said person and drove a stake through their heart?"

"Casper the friendly vampire?"

She looked at him in awe. Why was he trying to force all this on himself?

Katalina shook her head and laughed, "I give up. How about we say we're all to blame and call it a day?"

"Done." With that the conversation had come to a close but the two continued to get lost in the pair of eyes opposite their own.

Dean continued smirking at her and Katalina held a look that the hunter couldn't quite figure out, "So when's dinner?"

The vampire smiled breaking herself out of Dean's green eyes, "We're vampires remember?"

"That we are," a voice spoke up from the doorway.

Katalina froze. Everything stopped. She swallowed dryly. Slowly she stood up and turned to face him. Klaus.

"Niklaus." Her mouth was forced to smile but her eyes screamed for help.

At the sound of his name Dean stood up. Isn't it funny how in less than a second, the atmosphere carried out in a room can change?

"You must be Dean. Pleasure to meet you." His signature smirk crossed his face. A trait every Mikaelson seemed to have.

The hunter stood in an aggressive stance but they all knew he stood no chance against the hybrid.

"What do you want?" Katalina gathered up the courage to spit out.

"Relax my dear Katalina, I've come to make peace."

A/N: It was so hard for me to pick the right song for this chapter but Halsey came through for me. Anyways it was a longer chapter than usual. Hope you all enjoyed!