Love Turns To Ash

Robert Heinlein once said: "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."

…...

Denver, 2018

December

A new month. New weather. New celebrations. New moments. New memories. A new set of thirty-one days in your life could bring many things. But for Mikaela it meant another four weeks of trying to forget, move on and be happy. But somehow her happiness didn't feel complete, even though she had her family close. She felt an emptiness that didn't stop bothering her. She didn't know what she was feeling, and she hoped it had nothing to do with him. Even as she was driving through town to find the perfect Christmas tree, her mind couldn't focus on anything. She parked the car at the mall and stayed inside to check her new phone. She already had a dozen texts from Violet demanding all the groceries necessary for their upcoming Christmas dinner.

As she was reading the messages she heard a sudden knock on the window. Startled, she found a pair of green eyes watching her from outside. Stefan was leaning forward into the window and grinning at her. She smiled and jumped out of the car and wrapped her arms around Stefan who instantly did the same. The emptiness inside her still didn't allow her joy to be fulfilled. So she just rested her head on his shoulder and held in the burn at the back of her eyes.

"I was so worried." Stefan spoke up, "I tried calling you like a million times."

"My phone got crushed." She explained quickly, ignoring his questionable look after that.

"I got an apartment." He told her and she instantly looked up. "I know you don't want to move too fast with our relationship, so I will give you the time and space you need while I observe you from a shorter distance. It's safer that way." She nodded at his suggestion, a flutter of doubt tingled in her gut. "My place is only one block away. Do you wanna see it?" He asked her.

"Sure." Was all she could say, and they started walking hand in hand towards his new place.

When they reached she wasn't too bothered to look around and he wasn't too insistent either. They sat on the couch and started talking.

"Any signs from Kol yet?" He couldn't help but ask, even though he knew that he just twisted a knife inside one of her many wounds.

"Why are you asking me this?" She demanded uncomfortably.

"He came looking for you the day before Thanksgiving. He fought me and I let him think that he was compelling me when in fact my blood was filled with vervain." He watched Mikaela's mouth drop open in shock. "And that's not all," he continued, "he attacked Matt as well, close to killing him really."

The knife's blade was twisted once more, and she wanted to cry so badly but there weren't any more tears left to shed. She embraced him once more and muttered "Are you okay?"

"We're both fine. Relax." He whispered as he laid her down on her back and started kissing her neck. She folded her legs around him and stretched her arms above her head. Stefan was passionately caressing her neck with his lips, her heart beating fast. Her eyes were closed as she allowed him to please her. When his mouth reached her collarbone though. . .

"Kol." She mumbled with a whisper and Stefan suddenly stopped. He glanced at her and her eyes opened straightaway.

"What?" He asked, sitting up from his position.

"N-nothing. I swear." She uttered in panic.

"No." He disagreed. "You just called me Kol." He countered and frowned. "I knew this was going to happen."

Mikaela sat up, ashamed. "W-what do you mean?"

"It's clear that your feelings for him are still existent." Stefan stated, "Your bond with him is unbreakable. You two were meant for each other. There's no point in denying it, Mikaela. He's the only one who's going to make you feel truly happy. Why would you keep telling yourself that it isn't the case?"

"Because it's wrong!" She exclaimed, listening to Stefan's words with disbelief.

"True love is never wrong." He contradicted. "Quit fighting, and give in."

Mikaela shook her head confused. "Why would you tell me to do that?" She wondered, watching his eyes sparkle.

"Because I love you. All I want is for you to be happy. If you're happy I'm happy. And Kol's the only one who can offer that to you." He told her and stood up from the couch.

"Stefan I-"

"Don't lie to yourself." He interjected, "There's someone else who needs to hear those three words from you."

She stood up on her feet and Stefan reached for something underneath the cushion on the sofa. "Since you're going back to Kol-"

"I don't wanna go back to him!" Mikaela snapped wanting to kiss him but he just dodged.

"You say that now but we both know what's going on inside your soul." He grabbed her palm and placed something cold and sharp in it. Mikaela adjusted to its weight before she looked to see what it was. But when she did her eyes widened in response. "Take it. Once you'll enter the Mikaelsons' world this may come in handy."

"You had a White Oak Ash dagger this entire time and you didn't use it." She uttered as her eyes searched for his. "Why?"

Stefan frowned, "Because I know how much Kol means to you." He took her hand and slowly planted a kiss on her forehead. "Go," he whispered, "You must find your soulmate before it's too late."

With a tear in her eye Mikaela emerged out of the apartment and down the street to her car. Her blood was boiling and her heart was disoriented, broken, soothed, sad, happy, she didn't have a clue. She raced her car to the bar, because there was no other place he'd be at this hour. Why was it that even though he made it so easy for her, it still was so hard? She felt like throwing herself off a bridge, because it would be an easier escape, but her family was too precious to abandon. She didn't want to treat her child the way her parents had treated her. She had to face whatever was next, although she didn't feel ready for that. She parked her car randomly on the street and darted right inside the bar, ignoring the 'closed' sign on the door since the lights were currently still burning. There he was. . . Standing with his back facing her.

With all the courage, she yelled, "How could you go after Stefan and Matt? And I actually thought you had a heart for a change!"

She saw him turn around and squeeze his eyes shut while tightening his grip around the neck of a whiskey bottle. "That's right Mikaela, I don't have a heart." He agreed with her once his eyelids parted again. "Because you stole it from me."

She repelled his comment with a shake of her head. "You went after Stefan and Matt." She repeated through her teeth. "You hurt them."

"I did it because I wanted to know where you were!" He protested, raising his arms in the air.

"Right, because you want something from me." She remembered, her voice sounded hurt and full of contempt.

"No," he disagreed, "All I want now is you." He stared her right into the eyes. "At first I wanted to tease you about your former feelings for me to amuse myself soI started playing my games. But while doing so I realised that there's more than just amusement that I seek. . . I guess the joke's on me now, because I truly lost this battle." He approached her slowly but she only stepped backwards to keep the distance.

Her voice came trembling out of her mouth, "Love's a battle that's very easy to lose, Kol. . ." She took a deep breath as a tear fell down her cheek, "And we both lost it." With those bitter words she turned on her heel and exited the bar, pushing away Kol's voice that was calling after her. She heard the door shut together with the sound of breaking glass.

Her phone suddenly started ringing, and she answered it swiftly.

"Violet?"

"Mikaela, I hope you didn't buy a Christmas tree." Her sister's voice said through the phone.

"I didn't, why?"

"We just had one delivered to our house. There's a note in it saying it's from. . . Kol?! It also says Mikaela I love y-"

Mikaela hung up the call before hearing anything. Something suddenly struck her. Did Kol really mean everything he was saying? Was Stefan right? Stefan, the kindest man she had ever met told her to choose him. A pack of emotions built up in her heart, the imaginary knife was being yanked out and she ran back inside the bar. She eyed Kol right away, and didn't wait another second. She rushed towards him, gripped his coat at the chest and pulled him into a kiss. Hit by a wave of surprise he returned the kiss and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, hers tangling around his neck. Their lips opened up, an urge of passion mixed with greed kicked into their senses. The world around them was spinning and their hearts were beating in the same rhythm as they mended. Their heads eventually drew back as they broke the kiss.

They gazed into each other's eyes and Kol cupped her face with his palms. "I love you, Mikaela Carter." He said as if his life depended on it. The old flame inside Mikaela's heart started burning again, and she felt complete.

"I love you too, Kol Mikaelson. I love you so much that I can't breathe sometimes." She told him with her soul being placed on the edge, experiencing true vulnerability.

Kol leaned in and kissed her again. "I love you ten times as much." He reassured her, speaking into her ear. "I will never let you go again. I will follow you anywhere you go. Anywhere."

The corners of Mikaela's mouth reached ear to ear and Kol admired her. "You're smiling," he countered, "I can't remember the last time you smiled at me."

"You'll have to get used to it." She stated and held his hand, afraid of letting go again, and like this she took him to the place where he had to be at tonight.

They reached her house and they barged inside laughing. Violet came running down the stairs, alarmed by the sudden noise. She froze at the bottom of the stairs, holding onto the bannister and analysing her sister holding the handsome vampire's hand. Violet couldn't determine who he was exactly but she was hoping for the best.

"Violet." Mikaela said her name half with fear, "I want you to meet Kol." She added and then glanced at Kol. "Violet's my stepsister."

"You never told me that you had a sister." Kol recalled as he studied Violet's face.

"Frankly, I'm glad she didn't mention me to you before." Violet spoke as she was nearing them. "I was in England during the time period you two dated each other. By the time I came back she was already heartbroken." She mumbled the last sentence in a sharp tone as she gave Kol a cold stare.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew the whole story." Kol said in his defence and wrapped an arm around his lover's waist.

"V," Mikaela broke in with a calm voice, "I chose. Kol will make me happy, because I love him. And he loves me."

Violet smiled, "Well if this is your decision, I will respect it." She countered and hugged her stepsister. "I'm guessing there's someone upstairs who Kol is dying to meet." Violet suggested and allowed the couple to mount the stairs and enter the first bedroom on the right.

The room was dimly lit and warm. Kol followed Mikaela who walked up to the tiny bed placed in the corner. Kol's eyes suddenly saw a small figure lying inside Mikaela's arms, whimpering. He couldn't help but gape at the innocence on the baby's face. She gestured at him and he took the baby into his own arms, feeling cautious about the child's fragility. Mikaela could see the adoration and tranquillity in his eyes as he looked down at her child.

"He is wonderful," Kol commented which only made Mikaela's heart fill with euphoria. "What's his name?"

Mikaela placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "His name is Ash."

Hello there! I must apologisefor the really late update. i have beenso busy lately and just couldn't find any time to write. I really hope you liked this chapter and there isn"t much else I could say. Until next time! xoxo