"So," Kol began, taking the cap of his beer bottle. "How are things down under?"
He uncapped Enzo's bottle and handed it to him.
"Not bad, but there's no place like home," he clinked the top of his bottle against Kol's, and took a swig.
"Mm, and how are things down under," asked, suggestively "Any pretty young things catch your eye?"
"One or two," Enzo murmured absentmindedly. Enzo's eyes drifted toward where Rebekah stood on the other side of the garden.
When she looked up and saw him she immediately turned to look in the other direction.
Christmas, 2015
Enzo wandered into the kitchen and dipped his finger into a bowl of cranberry sauce on the counter.
"Enzo! That's supposed to be for dinner!" Caroline exclaimed swatting at his hand.
"Sorry gorgeous," he replied with a completely unapologetic smirk on his face.
Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Hey make yourself useful and take some more wine out of the fridge. I'm pretty sure Rebekah's determined to drain the bottle I already put out,"
Enzo reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Pinot.
"What's the matter with her anyway?" Enzo asked, jerking his head toward the door.
Caroline came closer and lowered her voice.
"She was planning to bring a date tonight so he could meet her family. Apparently, he just called and stood her up," she said.
"What a prick" Enzo murmured.
"Yeah, she's pretty upset about it,"
Suddenly there was the sound of something smashing in the foyer.
Caroline's eyes widened and looked to Enzo who just gave her a confused shrug and.
"Klaus! That better not have been my Christmas ornaments!?" Caroline yelled.
"It's under control sweetheart," he replied, just as the sound of something else breaking resounded through the house.
"Sorry, that was my fault," Kol called out.
Caroline let out a frustrated sigh and stormed out of the kitchen murmuring about having to do everything herself.
Deciding not to stick around for whatever fit Caroline was about to throw, Enzo decided to make his escape
into the living room.
He walked in to find a very depressed looking Rebekah slumped down on the couch. Swirling a straw around in her drink.
"Mind if I join you love?" He asked, moving to settle next to her.
Rebekah gave an unbothered wave of her hand and took a sip of her drink.
"I heard you've unfortunately been stood up?" Enzo asked.
"What's it to you?" she snarled.
"Do you remember me? I was at Caroline's last barbeque I'm-"
"-Yes, yes I remember," she interjected "Caroline's little sidekick,"
"Well I'd hardly used the word sidekick," he murmured. "-Or little for that matter…"
Rebekah sighed and let her head fall back against the couch.
"Look at me, sodding alone at Christmas; surrounded by my idiot's brothers; Caroline; that gold digging, she-devil, trollop that Elijah married; and you. Some Christmas this turned out to be,"
There was a small pause and Rebekah reached to have another sip of her drink.
Enzo thought for a moment and then said.
"If it's any consolation, this guy - whoever he is - is obviously a complete wanker," he stated.
Rebekah sniffed.
"How do you figure that? You don't even know him,"
"I don't need to," he replied "All I know is that he was stupid enough to blow off someone as stunning as you,"
Rebekah turned to look at him taken aback and momentarily speechless.
"If you asked me you dodged a bullet. Don't want to be slumming it with an idiot now do we?" Enzo said, leaning back and stretching his arms out to rest against the top of the chair.
Rebekah regarded him suspiciously for a moment and then bit down on her lip spoke.
"Lorenzo was it?"
"The one and only," he smirked.
"It's rude to leave a lady drinking by herself you know," she prompted, a hint of a smile appearing on her face.
Enzo grinned back and rose from his seat.
"I'll get another glass,"
Present Day
Enzo was abruptly shaken from his thoughts, at the feeling of a small six year-old's body colliding with his; almost completely knocking the wind out of him.
"Uncle Enzo! Uncle Enzo! You're here!" Christopher exclaimed excitedly, his arms still locked around Enzo's waist.
"Hello mate," he replied stooping down to ruffle his hair.
"How've you been doing? Causing lots of trouble for mum I hope?" he joked, laughing when Christopher nodded enthusiastically.
"Blimey look at you! You're nearly taller than me, what are they feeding you," he asked.
Christopher frowned.
"Mommy keeps making me eat veggies. She said they're good for me and they help me grow, but they taste nasty," he said, scrunching up his face.
Enzo threw his head back and laughed again along with Kol.
That's what he liked about children.
Unreservedly honest.
"It's my birthday today, Uncle Enzo! Did you get me anything?"
And apparently blunt and straight down to the point too.
"Christopher," Caroline called, stepping out onto the patio holding some plates. "That's not very polite. We don't just go around demanding gifts from people,"
"Sorry," he lisped, flashing his mother his big apologetic eyes.
"But did you?" he whispered to Enzo.
"I might've done," Enzo said vaguely, grinning down at his nephew.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Christopher's face fell and he huffed disappointedly.
"But between you and me, If I have gotten you something, it's probably a pretty awesome gift," he said, winking at him.
Christopher beamed at him, showing of the two prominent dimples in his cheeks.
"Go on get out of here," Enzo grinned, patting him affectionately on the head.
"And I want a large piece of that cake if I'm giving away any presents today," he called after him.
"OKAY!" Christopher yelled over his shoulder.
Enzo laughed, standing up and returning to his conversation with Kol.
Meanwhile, Rebekah stood by the barbeque, watching the whole scene and glaring in Enzo's direction.
"What's he even doing here," she said, bitterly,
Katherine, who was the only other person standing there, glanced around to see if there was someone else Rebekah was talking to. Since her and her sister in law, maintained a strict 'lets only speak when necessary' policy at all times.
"Who Enzo?" she asked.
Rebekah nodded.
"Well according to Kol he's been in Australia for God knows how long, taking selfies with koalas or something," Katherine said, boredly examining her nails.
"But you know how it is, Caroline only has to bat her eyelashes at him and he comes running from halfway across the world,"
Taking a sip of her drink, Katherine eyed Rebekah with interest.
"What's got you so worked up about it, anyway?" she asked.
"Nothing!" Rebekah shot back immediately. "Why would I be upset?!"
When Katherine gave her a face that said she clearly didn't believe a word she was saying; Rebekah shot her a filthy look.
"What!? Why don't you just mind your own bloody business Petrova!?" she hissed storming away from her.
Katherine just smiled and sipped her wine. Counting it as a victory that she managed so effortlessly to get Rebekah worked up.
Caroline gasped as she was thrown up against the wall of the storage closet. Klaus pinned one her hands up on either side of her head and ran kisses up her neck. While his skilful hands moved between her thighs.
She had just been walking through the house minding her own business (looking for him actually) when a mysterious arm appeared out the closet and dragged in.
Before she could scream or protest a familiar pair of lip were covering hers, while his hands had a mind of their own and began exploring her body.
She would've stopped him ages ago. But he just had a way of kissing her, so that every coherent thought disappeared from her head.
Eventually, she mustered the resolve to push him of off her. He stepped back reluctantly with a disappointed look on his face.
"Sweetheart-"
"No birthday boy, you can't keep distracting me! I have a party to throw," she huffed.
"I think the guests won't miss us for a couple of minutes love," he insisted.
"That's not the point! We have to go start up the barbeque and put the candles on the cake so we can sing 'Happy Birthday' and eat,"
"I was just planning on eating, actually," Klaus grinned, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"That is not what I meant and you know it!" Caroline snapped.
Klaus pouted and flashed her that look again.
"Look if you keep attacking me, you'll ruin the surprise," she said pointedly.
"And what's that love?" Klaus asked, his brows knitting in confusion.
A devious smile spread on Caroline's face and slowly she took down the straps on her sundress revealing the red lace bra she was wearing underneath.
Klaus stared hungrily at her, admiring the way the lace was practically painted on her skin before stepping toward her again.
Quickly she stepped away from him and looped the straps back over her shoulders.
"Later I promise," she said, tip-toeing to press a short kiss against his lip, before turning to walk out.
"Tease," she heard him growl.
She laughed as she slipped back out into the hall.
A couple of minutes later, the whole family stood around a very proud Christopher, who was wrapped up in his father's arms beaming, as everybody sang 'Happy Birthday' to him.
"Make a wish sweetie," Caroline cooed, blowing her son a kiss.
"It's your birthday too," Christopher said turning to his dad. "Help me blow them out?"
"Of course son," he beamed "Take a deep breath mate,"
Together both of them blew all out all of the candles causing everyone else to break out in cheer and clap.
Suddenly there was a bright flash and the person behind the camera yelled. 'Smile!'
Klaus looked up to glare reproachfully at the perpetrator who so happened to be Bonnie.
"Hey!" she exclaimed throwing up her hands. "It's not my fault, Caroline put me on photographer duty!"
"Take another Aunty Bonnie," Christopher said, showing off his rows of pearly white baby teeth.
"I wasn't ready the first time!" he exclaimed.
Bonnie laughed and stooped down to get another photo.
"Smile daddy," Christopher prompted, nudging his father in the chest with his elbow.
Klaus sighed reluctantly, but as Christopher turned and flashed him pleading eyes he relaxed and flashed a genuine smile as Bonnie snapped the picture.
While they posed, Caroline ducked into the kitchen to retrieve a knife to cut the cake with.
She didn't notice Enzo propped up against the doorframe as she swiped tears from her eyes.
"You are a right softie Caroline," Enzo said teasingly, making her jump.
"Shut up!" She exclaimed. "It's not every day your baby turns six for the first time,"
He walked forward and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders.
"You know I'm happy for you. That you've got everything you wanted, a career, beautiful house, a family" Enzo said, smiling fondly at her.
"You'll have it too one day," Caroline smiled.
Enzo nodded rolling his eyes.
"We'll see," he smiled.
Caroline leant forward and pressed a kiss and into his cheek and brushed the lip gloss stain off his cheek with an affectionate swipe of her thumb.
"Are you coming outside to get some cake?" she asked.
"In a second Gorgeous," he promised.
Caroline smiled and nodded turned to leave the kitchen.
"Okay! Who wants cake?!" Caroline called out.
"Wait!" Christopher cried. "You forgot to ask me how old I am,"
Caroline sighed.
"We just sang to you Chris,"
"Pleeeeease," he whined. "It's fun when you do the counting thing,"
"Alright mister, only cus it's your Birthday,"
On Caroline's count, all the guests broke into a chorus of 'How Old Are You Now?'.
"1
2
3
4
5…"
New Year's Eve, 2015
"5!
4!
3!
2!
1!
Happy New Year!"
All around the world people broke into cheers and looked around for someone to kiss or hug.
However in the guest bedroom of Katherine & Elijah's apartment, a couple celebrated the new year in a slightly less traditional way.
Enzo moaned into Rebekah's mouth as she pulled him against her. Running her fingers through his brown locks.
He peppered kisses down her neck and moved to pull off her jacket.
"Are you… sure this is… what you want," he panted.
She grabbed him and pulled him in for another searing kiss.
"Definitely,"
Initially, Rebekah hadn't planned for the evening to take that particular turn.
At first, her plan had been to avoid Enzo like the plague.
After her rather dodgy behaviour at Christmas, she hoped it would be a very long time before she'd ever have to see him again.
Fate, however, had other plans.
She had wandered into the kitchen to fix herself a drink; nothing too strong this time.
When she spotted him in the corner chatting with an attractive brunette, in a pink sequined dress. She was laughing loudly and obnoxiously at what he was saying and her her hand stroked his bicep, idly.
She didn't know why, but Rebekah felt a pang of jealousy watching them.
That's what made her decide to top up her cranberry juice with some vodka.
She poured her drink and closed the fridge.
Only to turn around and come face to face with Enzo.
"Thought it was you," he said."But then again I'd know those magnificent legs anywhere," he smirked.
"What do you want Lorenzo?"
"Only to say hello and see how you are?"
"I'm fine," she said stiffly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Enzo hesitated.
"Well, the last time I saw you were… slightly… inebriated…" he trailed off.
Rebekah huffed indignantly.
"Come to have a good laugh about it have you?" she snapped.
"No.," he said firmly. "I'm showing genuine concern here love. I know all about getting unfortunate hangovers and vomiting after a booze-up,"
Rebekah winced.
"What exactly happened… at Christmas I mean?"
"Well, we were having a lovely time. Then I realised you may have had one drink too many. So I offered to take you home; except you refused to use the front door. And begged me not to let your brothers find out that you'd got so plastered so I let Caroline know we were leaving - And don't worry I swore her to secrecy - and then I drove you home," Enzo explained. "I promise I was a perfect gentleman,"
"Thank you," she replied, sheepishly. "I know you probably had better plans for how to spend your Christmas then dealing with some sad drunk girl,"
"Not at all. In fact, it was rather entertaining actually,"
"...You have a lovely singing voice," he added.
Rebekah's eyes widened and Enzo gave her wide dimpled smile.
"You're a smug git," she growled, glaring at him.
"Sorry… sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's just your rendition of that song from frozen nearly had me in tears," he chuckled.
"You're skating on thin ice," Rebekah said, whacking him on the arm.
"I'm glad I ran into you tonight. You look incredible," he said eyeing her. "If you don't mind me saying,"
A small blush crept onto Rebekah's face.
"Let's have another drink together shall we?" Enzo proposed.
She thought for a moment.
"Alright. Although I'll try not to get quite as drunk this time,"
They'd talked and laughed for what seemed like ages.
They didn't know if it was the buzz of New Year or the champagne but one thing quickly led to another…
As Rebekah reached for the hem of his shirt, Enzo helped her out by lifting it off completely.
She pushed him by his shoulders down on the bed and shimmied out of her cocktail dress; revealing her lacy green undergarments.
Enzo's eyes raked over her exposed skin hungrily.
"Right, it's time to see if you can put your money where your mouth is," Rebekah challenged.
"Ready when you are love,"
Present Day
While the festivities when carried on outside, Enzo sat quietly in the kitchen, pouring himself a drink.
The kitchen door swung open and Enzo immediately perked up as Rebekah walked in.
When she eventually noticed him her face fell and she turned to leave.
"Just a moment," Enzo called out. "Rebekah, come on love you can't avoid me forever,"
Rebekah turned and scoffed.
"You clearly don't know me,"
Enzo flashed her that same handsome smile he'd given her at new years.
"I'd like to," he replied.
"You could've fooled me!" she exclaimed.
"You've lost me?" he frowned.
"Forgotten so quickly? Wow, don't you know how to make a girl feel special, " she huffed, barging past him.
"Wait, please?" He asked, gently grabbing her arm to stop her.
"At least give me a chance to apologise,"
She let out a loud sigh.
"New years, we slept together. I thought, stupidly, that you liked me. I woke up the next day, in my brother's guest room, completely alone. You didn't even leave your number,"
Enzo shut his eyes and exhaled.
"Bloody hell I'm an idiot,"
"Yes. You are," she said bluntly. "So you can understand why I'm not exactly thrilled to see you,"
"I'm sorry. Believe me, I am; I can explain, it's just… a lot more complicated than it seems," he explained.
Rebekah raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"It's just… you know what. Never mind.." he trailed off.
"Hold on. I think after all this time you owe me some kind of explanation," she demanded.
"You don't know me all that well but I don't do too well with romantic relationships,"
"Well that makes two of us," she snorted, folding her arms.
"I've been in this position before, I wear my heart on my sleeve; I have one night stands and I end up getting far more attached than the other person and I end up getting hurt,"
"I like you Rebekah but I was afraid, so I ran. I see now it was a mistake, I'm sorry I hurt you,"
Rebekah was silent and stared him out for a moment.
"Well if you're genuinely sorry, I can forgive you,"
Enzo nodded and gave her a small smile.
Rebekah turned to leave again.
"Just out of interest-" he called out.
"If I had stayed, would you have gone on a date with me?"
Rebekah stopped and gave him an assessing look.
"That depends on, what would you have said if you had?"
"Well if I were less of a prick," he began, making Rebekah smile. "I would' be stayed till morning and woken up next to a complete goddess and asked her very nicely if she'd do me the honour of going on a date,"
"And if I said no?" She asked.
He smirked, stepping forward; his eyes darkening.
"Well then I'd spend the entire morning convincing you to see things from my perspective," husked.
Rebekah let a coy smile play on her lips as she stepped toward him.
"Well, perhaps you should ask me again…"
"Rebekah person, you magnificent, gorgeous woman, would you like to go on a date with me?" he asked.
"Hmm alright, I suppose I could give you another chance," she hummed, softly.
At this point, they had closed what little space stood between them and they were now dangerously close.
"Are you sure?" He murmured. "Positive you don't want me to do the convincing you part, anyway?"
Rebekah smiled and leant in so that her lips nearly brushed against his.
"There'll be plenty of time for that later," she whispered.
Then, as their lips were about to touch she spun on her heel and strutted out.
Enzo touched his lips where Rebekah's had ghosted.
Thank God for Caroline's parties.