It took almost a month for the Finn, Kol and Esther to acclimate into today's society. They'd all been dead for many years, 100 for Kol, 900 for Finn and 1000 for Esther. Rebekah and I took Ester shopping in some of the larger cities, buying her a lot of clothes using her children's money of course. The Original family welcomed both my son and I with open arms, especially Ester. She took to being a grandmother quickly and dated Nikolas all the time. Ester, in celebration of her family being reunited and growing
"Why aren't you with your family?" Ester asked me one day when we were sitting together playing with Nikolas.
"My family isn't a fan of the Original family. Especially Rebekah and Nik." I told her. "It isn't easy to get along with someone you know wants you dead or for a human blood bag to make more of a species or turned you into a vampire. Doesn't help that Nik made her boyfriend shut off his humanity and now the boyfriend is an ass who tried to kill me and turn her."
"You've been through a lot in your life." she said.
"My life? That was just a before you were awakened." I told her. "Three years of my life was spent looking for your son with the help of the first doppelganger. I was going to get him to fall in love with me before pretending to die and returning home, then lure him back and help him break his curse in place of my sister so she could live a full human life."
"What happened?" she asked me.
"I fell in love and got pregnant." I told her before laughing.
"Why would you do that?" she asked me.
"Do what?" I asked her.
"Why would you willingly try and seduce a man before giving yourself up to be sacrificed?" she asked.
"I was trying to protect my family. I will always try and protect my family and now that includes your family." I told her before she handed me something. "What's this?"
"An invitation to the ball tonight. I thought you might like to give it to your sister." she told me and I smiled.
"Thank you." I said getting up. "You wouldn't mind watching Nikolas would you?"
"Not at all. Go spend some time with your family." she told me and my smile grew.
"Thank you." I said before walking out of the room. When I left the room she and I were in I saw Finn and Kol trying on suits, Rebekah getting her nails done, and Elijah looking through some boxes at new shoes.
"Rebekah? Tell me how handsome I am." Kol told his sister
"Ah Kol, you know I can`t be compelled." she said and I laughed as Finn grinned.
"Nicole? Why don't you tell me how handsome I am." he told me and I gave him a look as we heard the door open.
"Sorry Kol, I'm on Vervain and I'm a one man kind of woman." I told him as Nik joined us.
"Kol leave my girl alone. Rebekah, you went after Elena? What is wrong with you?!" Nik shouted at her.
"Here we go." Bekah said.
"Do you want another dagger in your heart?" Nik asked her.
"Again with the dagger threats? Don`t you have any other tricks?" Kol asked him.
"Oh, go back to staring at yourself." Nik ordered.
"And who are you, my father?" Kol asked him.
"No, Kol, but you`re in my house." Nik reminded him.
"Let me remained you boys, there is a baby in the other room and I will not have you two fighting that close to him." I told them.
"Then perhaps we should go outside." Kol suggested to his brother.
"Enough!" We all turned to see Ester holding Nikolas. "Niklaus...come." Nik left with her and I left the house, leaving for my old home. Before I walked into the house I sent a message to Nik for him to do me a favor before getting out of my, well Nik's, car and walking to the house.
"I believe him." I heard Elena say.
"Believe who?" I asked walking to her and the boys.
"Nicole? What are you doing here?" Damon asked me.
"I came to give Elena this." I said smiling and handing her the envelope. "It's an invitation." "
"Please join the Mikaelson Family, this evening at seven o'clock. For dancing, cocktails and celebration."" Elena read.
"Who the hell are the Mikaelsons?" Stefan asked and I kept close to Elena.
"The Original Family." I told them.
"It's not bad enough they're moving into town, now they want a housewarming gift?" Damon asked.
"No they don't." I said, giving him a look.
"Wait, there's a note on the back. "Elena, I think it's time that we finally meet, Esther."" Elena read.
"Esther is really a nice woman, she just wants to meet you, I swear. Esther has put strict rules on her children and gives her wordthey will behave."
"If Esther wants to talk to me, maybe I should find out why." Elena said looking at the two boys.
"Well that's a dumb idea, she already tried to kill you, your sister and your nephew once." Damon reminded her.
"No, Elena is right. Bonnie was led to open that coffin for a reason. I think there is more to this than just some family reunion." Stefan said and I shook my head.
"It is. She wants to meet the townspeople. Show them that her family will do no more harm to them and she wants to apologize to Elena." I told them.
"Can we go back in time where the old Stefan and old Nicole cared if Elena lived or died?" Damon asked us.
"What for? It's your job now." Stefan told his brother.
"I have a son I must also protect Damon." I reminded him.
"Stefan and Nikky have a point, Damon. I should find out what she wants."
"You can't protect yourself." Damon told her.
"Okay fine, then I'll go." Stefan told him.
"You've pissed off enough Originals to last a lifetime. I'll go." Damon said, snatching the invitation out of Elena's hand.
"Hey!" Elena said glaring at him.
"End of story." Damon told her. I shook my head at him.
"Seriously? Esther wants to make peace and you want to start a war between you and them?" I asked him and he just smirked while shrugging. "You're an idiot!" I quickly turned and left them. I wanted to see Elena and Jenna but I just couldn't be around the Salvatore boys. I wandered around town for a bit, looking at dresses for the ball tonight. After a while my phone rang and I smiled at the caller ID. Nik.
"Hello handsome." I said and I heard him chuckle.
"Hello love. What are you doing?" he asked me.
"Just shopping for a dress. Which is weird cause I don't have much money." I said mostly to myself.
"You can always use my money." he told me.
"I know I can." I told him.
"Come home for a moment. I have a surprise for you." he told me and I smiled.
"Ok, I'll be there soon." I told him before hanging up and going back to the Mansion. Nik met me in the front room, smiling. I walked to him, a large smile on my face, before hugging him a giving him a kiss. "So, why did you call me home?"
"I said I have a surprise for you. Come with me." he held my hand and we walked up to a spare room. He opened the doors and my mouth fell open. The room turned out to be an extremely large closet with dresses and suits lining the walls. In the center was a large table with jewelry on it. Shoes lined the floor under the dresses and suits.
"Oh my god." I whispered looking at the room. "Nik, this is amazing. Their gorgeous."
"Pick one." he told me and I shook my head.
"I could never pick just one." I told him and he smiled at me.
"Then how about you get one that goes with this?" he asked me, handing me a box.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"Open it and find out." he said, still smiling. I opened the box and gasped. Inside the box was a beautiful, vivid blue Tanzanite necklace. The flower pendant had three tiers of petals covered in diamonds, framing the Tanzanite center. (www crcjewelry com \ custom-project/tanzanite-flower-pendant/) (no spaces and fill in punctuation. also / instead of \)
"Nik..." I had no words to describe how beautiful it was or how his gift made me feel.
"You're happy I presume?" he asked me and I laughed.
"Yes, I'm happy." I told him smiling.
"Now, go. Pick a dress." he told me and I hugged him tightly.
"Thank you." we parted but before I could go and pick a dress he took the necklace out of the box and turned my back to him. His arms wrapped around my shoulders and he put the necklace on me, the pendent falling between my breasts. He shortened my other necklaces so they all fell down perfectly without hiding one another. I turned to him, smiling before going and picking a dress for tonight. I found the perfect dress and pulled it off the hanger. "What do you think?" I asked him.
"Perfect." he told me and we went into our room where we both changed into our outfits. (www jjshouse com \ Trumpet-Mermaid-Sweetheart-Court-Train-Chiffon-Evening-Dress-With-Ruffle-Lace-Beading-Sequins-Split-Front-017019743-g19743) (no spaces and fill in punctuation. also / instead of \) I "Are you ready?" he asked me.
"Almost." I told him. I went to Nikolas and picked him up. We'd dressed him up in a tuxedo Esther had bought him for the ball. "Now we're ready." I told him. We went down the stairs and mingled with everyone, talking about things that didn't matter to me but mattered to them. They all wanted to hold Nikolas so I allowed it and we continued talking and laughing.
"Nicole." I turned to see Kol smiling at me.
"Kol." I greeted him, keeping an eye on the person holding my son.
"Why my brother?" he asked me and I looked at him confused.
"I'm sorry?"
"Out off all the men in the world, why my brother?" he asked again.
"I was looking for him." I told him.
"Why?" he asked me and I smiled.
"What does it matter? The past will not change just because you asked me a simple question." he told him going to walk away. He grabbed my arm and stopped me from walking away. "Let me go Kol."
"Answer my question." he ordered me.
"And why should I? Because if I don't you'll hurt me? Kill me?" I asked me.
"I just might." he told me smirking.
"No you won't." I said. Nik walked up to us and held me to him, glaring at his brother.
"Kol. Leave." Nik ordered and he did so. "Are you alright?" Nik looked me over and I smiled at him.
"I'm fine." I told him.
"Nicole, here is your wonderful son. Take good care of him, they grow up fast." Carol Lockwood said, handing me Nikolas.
"Thank you Carol." I said smiling at her.
"Shall we?" Nik asked me, holding his hand out for mine. I took his offered hand and we walked up the stairs with the rest of his family. Finn stood closest to the bottom next to Rebekah to my right. Nik and I stood together with his arms around me while I held Nikolas and Elijah in front of us. Kol stood to our left.
"Uh, if everyone could gather, please." Elijah called out. I watched as everyone joined us in the room, looking up at us on the staircase. "Welcome, thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance." I noticed Esther join us and stand next to Kol. "Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom." Nik smiled down at me and offered me his hand again.
"If we dance who's going to hold Nikolas?" I asked him.
"I will." Ester told me and I smiled.
"Thank you." I handed Nikolas to her and turned back to Nik.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked me and I smiled.
"I would love to." I said smiling. We joined everyone in the Ballroom and waltzed to Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran.
"You look ravishing." he told me.
"Thank you." I said smiling.
"I'm glad you came." he told me.
"Well, I do live here." I reminded him and we laughed.
"That's true." he said smiling. He twirled her around and I was suddenly in Elijah's arms.
"Elijah." I said nodding my head to him.
"Nicole." he nodded his head to me and we started dancing with everyone.
"Hmm. He dances." I joking with him smiling at him making him laugh.
"Yes, I do dance. Quite often." he told me.
"I hope to see more." I told him smiling at him.
"Perhaps you shall." he told me and I nodded. "You look stunning."
"Thank you. You chose a wonderful song for this dance." I told him.
"I didn't chose it." he told me and I looked at him confused.
"Then who did?" I asked him.
"Klaus." I looked at Nik and smiled.
"Then you were smart to take his advice." I told him. "It's a beautiful song."
"I agree." he told me. "I have a question for you and I want you to be honest with me."
"Ask." I told him.
"Do you believe my mother when she tells us she just wants her family to be whole again?" he asked me.
"Do you?" I asked him.
"No." he told me and I smiled.
"Nik killed her." I said after a moment. "He tore out her heart and she forgave him? She is either being the bigger person in all this or..."
"Or she's lying." he finished.
"Or she's lying." I repeated. "As much as I hope it's true, women hold grudges that can last forever." he thought on my words for a moment before nodding. "She want's to meet with Elena this evening. Maybe she'll know more."
"Thank you, for your honesty." he told me and I smiled at him.
"I hope both our fears are misplaced and your mother can be trusted." I told him. He nodded to me as the song ended.
"As do I." he told me. I nodded to him before walking away. I grabbed a shawl and walked outside for some fresh air. I saw some horses and smiled before walking over to the beautiful white creature and holding my hand out to him. He nuzzled my hand and my smile grew as I pet him between his eyes.
"You like horses?" I looked up to see Nik and smiled.
"I love them." I told him. "My parents used to take us riding when we were younger."
"You're very strong." he told me and I gave him a look.
"I don't believe you." I told him.
"Why? You're beautiful, you're strong, you're full of light. I enjoy being with you." he said, listing off different things.
"I'm one of the doppelgangers. You were in love with my ancestor who I look like, down to...everything. I'm only strong when I want something or my family is in danger. As for being full of light, what light? I've done so many things that harm people, their's so much darkness in my heart their's is no room for light." I told him. "How can you enjoy being with someone like me? How can you love me?"
"You may look like Tatia, but you are nothing like her." he told me. "You have a strength she never had and could never have. You protect those who love more than anything and that is your light. You love your family and are willing to give your life for them. You may have done many dark things but you did it to protect your family. You remind me of how I once was, how I wish I could be again sometimes. Your heart is why everyone loves you. How you pull people in." I couldn't say anything after that and I just turned back to the horse and continued to love on him. "You know, horses are the opposite of most people. They're loyal. My father hunted me for a thousand years and the closest he ever came was the day he killed my favorite horse. He severed its neck with a sword as a warning."
"It's a good thing he's gone then." I told him.
"Yes it is." he told me and I smiled.
"It's bad luck to think of the dead on a beautiful night like tonight." I told him, looking around.
"What do you mean?" he asked me.
"It means we should rejoin the party." I told him before we walked back inside hand in hand. We rejoined the party and Finn walked up to us.
"Nicole. Niklaus. Mother wanted me to tell you she put Nikolas down for the night." he told us.
"Thank you, Finn." I said smiling at him. He offered me a small smile before walking away from us so we could talk alone. We heard crystal ringing and looked up to see Esther standing on the staircase, looking down at all of us.
"Good Evening, Ladies and Gentleman. Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass." Nik grabbed two glasses, giving one to me. "It provides me with no greater joy then to see my family back together as one and to see it growing. I wanted to introduce my grandson, whom you've all met, Nikolas Mikaelson, but he was a very tired little boy." everyone laughed lightly. "I would like to formally welcome his mother, Nicole Gilbert, into my family. I'd also like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" we all rose our glasses. Nik turned to me, smiling.
"Cheers." he said.
"Cheers." we clinked our glasses together before drinking a small amount of the liquid.
"Come with me, I wanted to show you something." he told me before pulling me with him into another part of the house.
"So what did you want to show me?" I asked him
"One of my passions." he said showing me a beautiful painting.
"Impressive. I take it the curators at the Louve aren't on vervain." I said smiling at him, making him chuckle.
"Yeah, well that's their mistake." he told me.
"What about these? Where'd you steal this from?" I asked holding up my necklaces he'd given me.
"I had those made for you. No one would ever be able to look as wonderful in them as you do." he told me and I looked down at the table under the painting.
"Did you do these?" I asked him looking at the sketches on it.
"Yeah, um... actually one of my landscapes is hanging at the Hermitage, not that anyone would notice. Have you been?" he asked me.
"I've never been out of the states." I todl him.
"I'll take you." he told me. "Wherever you want Rome. Paris. Tokyo?" he asked me and we both laughed.
"Must be really nice to be able to go where ever you want. why didn't you tell me about the Hybrids having a Sire bond to you? Is it because you knew I wouldn't approve of it? Or you just didn't trust me?" I finally asked him the real questions bothering me. I knew it wasn't the best time to be asking but I just couldn't stop the words from leaving my mouth.
"You're making assumptions." he told me.
"Then why do you need them? Stop controlling them and give their lives back." I told him.
"You know, this has been a fun evening, but I think it's time for you to rest." he told me.
"Look, I get it. Your father didn't love you, so you assume that no one else ever could. That's why you compel people or you sire them. It's why you pushed me away before we started dating. But that's not how it works. You don't connect with people, because you don't even try to understand them. I had to force you to get to know me. You have to be able to connect with people or one day, Nik, you may loose that ones you do have." I told him before walking away. I heard something outside and went to see what was happening with the rest of the Mikaelsons and Elena only to see Damon and Kol.
"Damon! Are you crazy?" I heard Stefan ask after Damon broke Kol's neck.
"Maybe a little. Far be it for me to cause a problem." Damon said before walking away. After the party was over I walked back to my room and went straight to the nursery. I stared down at Nikolas and watched him sleep.
"Nicole." I turned to see Nik standing in the doorway, looking at me sadly.
"Nik." I said plainly.
"I wanted to thank you for being honest. You are the only person I can relay on for the truth." he told me.
"I meant what I said Nik." I told him.
"I know you do." he told me, walking to me. "But I don't want to push you away. Not ever." he stopped walking when he was right in front of me and I stared up at him.
"So what are you doing to do?" I asked him.
"The only connections I need are you my family, Nikolas and you." he said leaning down as if to kiss me. He stopped just as his lips were about to touch mine. The ball was in my hands now.
"Then connect." I told him and he kissed me gently, taking my breath away. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled my closer to him by wrapping his arms around my waist. He pulled me into our room and used his vampire speed to rush to our bed where our kiss quickly became very heated. He zipped my dress open and it fell around my feet before he pushed me onto the bed. He quickly discarded his jacket and vest. He joined me in the bed while discarding his clothes. He ripped off the last of our clothes and kissed me with so much passion and fire that I thought I'd implode.
We slept peacefully that night, not knowing the next day would bring so much pain and separation to my family, both old and new.