One night, a loud ringing awoke Adrian from what had previously been a very deep sleep.

"Shit," he growled. "Who bugs a person at this time of night? Who?" He let it ring and ring, hoping it would stop, and then when it finally did, he picked it up, looking at the number to see who he should be mad at.

"Toni," he whispered. They'd parted in Rome after Lucifer had made his job offer, neither too sad to see the other go. She'd been much more interested in the museums than he had and he supposed she'd picked up on it. He hadn't heard from her since then but he assumed that she'd call when she got back.

He retrieved the message she'd left him and began listening.

"Adrian, I know this is terrible timing. You're probably asleep but I want to say this before I chicken out so I have to do it now; I think we should break up. This trip proved it. You were very sweet to pretend to enjoy all the museums and stuff for my sake, but...you wanted to be home, I could tell. And when the job offer came, you tried to hide it. I knew you were ecstatic though.

"This trip reminded me how much I miss seeing the world. Getting up and going wherever the wind takes me. I hated it before because I was all alone but now I know where my sister is, and I hope you and I can still be friends. I wish you the best of luck with your life and hope you find someone truly deserving of the wonderful man (and animal) that you and Rusty are. Goodbye, Adrian. And if this has hurt you, I'm sorry."

He froze and clutched the phone to his chest. He tried to hold them in, but tears ran down his cheeks. And for the first time in too many years, he truly wished that his mother were right there to hug him.

He lay awake in bed, his pillow clutched to his chest, until he realized that he probably wouldn't be sleeping again tonight so there was no point to trying. He put his pillow down, grabbed his phone, and took it to the kitchen. As he grabbed himself a beer and cracked it open, he kept his eyes on the phone, hoping that Toni would call back and apologize for making such a horrible joke, but when it didn't happen after two beers, he had to face facts that it probably never would. He got up from his chair at the kitchen table with a groan, and went into the living room, staring at the early morning infomercials on TV with unseeing eyes as he mused that it had happened again. He was alone. Maybe it was always meant to be that way. Maybe there was just something about him that made it impossible for him to be loved by anyone other than Rusty and he should just embrace his destiny.

As Rusty scampered into the living room from his favorite sleeping spot in the kitchen, he let Adrian pick him up and stroke him absentmindedly until both their eyes closed and they fell asleep in the big leather easy chair.


"Lookie, Mama!" Kayla yelled as Adrian's truck drove up and parked in the ranch's driveway. "Adean!" She had been playing with some toys in the front yard under the watchful eye of her mother, but got up and broke into a sprint at the sight of the truck as Selina followed behind with a more measured pace.

"Hi," Kayla grinned up at her brother as she wrapped herself around his legs like she'd done with Kai.

After he acknowledged her greeting and she stood up, she grabbed one of his hands and tried to pull him into the house. "Come on, there's pie!" She said.

"Well, how could I turn that down?" Adrian grinned and gave his mother a look of reassurance as she winced at her daughter's bossy attitude.

When they were all in the kitchen with plates of lemon meringue pie, Selina said, "You want a beer?"

"No, I don't think I should, but thanks," Adrian replied. "You...you wouldn't happen to have tea, would you?"

"Oh, definitely," Selina nodded and warmed up some water before putting a box of tea bags on the table. "But is something wrong? You never turn down beer!"

"Yeah, but...I could be going to a bad emotional place now and I don't want to make it worse by drinking," Adrian shook his head. "I think we all know how that will turn out."

"Just a minute," Kayla got out, going to grab her favorite horse stuffed animal to give to him. "Here. You be happy."

"Thank you, Kayla," Adrian told her and ruffled her hair. "It's a good start."

Selina looked between her son and her daughter and then locked eyes with Kayla. "Honey, Mama needs to talk to Adrian alone, okay? Would you mind taking your pie into Daddy's office and hanging out with him for a little while?" She sensed that Adrian had something very important and emotionally charged to say and wanted him to be able to say it in private.

"Okay," Kayla heaved a big sigh, then grabbed her pie and toddled off in search of her father.

"All right, now that's just you and me...you can tell me what's wrong if you'd like to," Selina told him and took his hand. "Are you okay?" His face looked puffy. Had he been crying?

"Oh, it's..." he sniffed. "It's nothing really. Toni broke things off with me last night, but...I'm okay. Things end, right?" He shrugged and tried to smile.

Selina gave him a hug. "Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry! But...but maybe it's for the best. You and she...you've kind of been growing apart, having you?"

"Yes, but the point of the trip was to make that better!" Adrian burst out. "You know what? I give up. Maybe I'll just take Rusty and go live in a cave like a hermit. What's the point of having any sort of relationships when they all end? Maybe I'm just meant to be alone forever!"

Selina shook her head and kissed her son's cheek. "It's gonna be okay," she told him. "I know it seems hard now, but...remember that you have forever. Maybe the woman meant for you...isn't born yet or is still growing up. I know it's hard to be patient and have hope when you're lonely and sad, but...you're not doomed and you won't be alone forever. I know it in my guts!" Then the teapot whistled and Selina gave him a cup of apple cinnamon tea, which he drank slowly before he put the cup down and sighed.

"Thanks for the pep talk, but...I think it's better if I'm alone. I don't want to hurt like this anymore. It was good of you to try and help me though. You're a good mom."

"We're here!" Kayla announced as she and Elijah entered the kitchen. Elijah and his nephew gave each other a nod and a brief 'Hello' before Kayla asked to be released from her father's grip and then scurried over to Adrian's lap.

This made Elijah's gaze darken. "Don't get too attached to her," he told Adrian. "Don't think I don't know how good of friends you and Kai are. If you want to have any sort of relationship with my daughter, that will have to stop."

"Excuse me?" Adrian showed his teeth. "I'll be friends with whomever I want and if you don't like it you can shove the attitude up your ass!"

This made Elijah look as if someone had made him swallow a live frog. Then he sobered up. "All right, if that's your choice...you will not be allowed to see Kayla anymore. You won't cross the threshold of this house until you make the right choice."

At this pronouncement, the other three all glowered at Elijah. Kayla hopped off Adrian's lap and actually gave Elijah's shin as hard a kick as she could muster before she said "I don't like you, Daddy!" and ran off.

"Well, I think someone deserved that," Selina said, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. "You know what? I let you deal with this whole security paranoia that you have cause I thought, 'Okay, if it will help him feel better than whatever. It's not like he's hurting anyone. I can stay out of it.' But you cannot stop Adrian from visiting this house or from seeing Kayla when they clearly love each other and get along very well. She's my daughter just as much as yours and I will not let you dictate who can and cannot come here if there's no good reason for it!"

Adrian looked back and forth between the two feuders as his mother rose to her feet. Anyone who knew her knew that if she was actually willing to put her foot down like this, she had to be pretty angry. He gulped down his tea, yelled as it scalded his throat, and then gave Kayla a kiss on the head as she cautiously peeked around the kitchen wall and his mother a kiss on the cheek, but she didn't react really cause she was too busy glaring at his uncle.

"Okay," he told them. "I think I've caused enough trouble for today. I'm just gonna leave while you two battle this out."

"Good, see you later, honey!" Selina told him without catching his eye.

"You will not!" Elijah told her, his voice rising. "Cause he's not coming back!"

Adrian headed out with their loud bickering at his back, then felt a tug on his hand. He turned and saw Kayla looking up at him with big eyes. "Can I come?" She asked.

He smiled and picked her up. "All right." Then he opened the door and yelled, "Taking Kayla out for ice cream! I'll bring her back soon!"

"Okay," Selina called back, glad that her daughter wouldn't be around for the fighting. "Enjoy!" Then she went back to bickering with her husband as Adrian got Kayla in the car, took a deep breath, and drove away.


"Okay, you can put me down now!" Katherine huffed angrily and pounded on Optimus' back. "We've been walking like this forever and I lost one of my shoes! You don't know where we're going, do you? You lost your damn ship! Good job!"

"Silence!" He roard and gave her a spanking. "I know where it is."

"Yeah," Katherine nodded. "Right."

But it wasn't long before they found the ship, guarded by many suspicious robots, still deep in the woods. "See?" Optimus told her. "I knew exactly where it was."

"That's not really all that impressive considering how big it is. Any moron with eyes could have found it sooner than you," Katherine hissed. "Now that you've found the damn ship, will you please put me down?"

"No," Optimus shook his head and went toward the ship's entrance. "Not now. In a little while."

But when they reached the entrance, their way was blocked. "You are an intruder," said one of the robots, shooting a laser. "Begone." They then watched in amazement as the laser hit Optimus square in the chest but nothing happened. They did it again and again.

"Owwwwww!" Katherine yelled as her legs were burned for a moment. "Damn it, just tell them who you are so they'll stop hurting me!"

"As you fools can see, I am no mere mortal," Optimus told them. "I am your leader and if you continue with this, I will destroy all of you."

They burst into mechanical laughter for what seemed like several minutes until, just as suddenly, it all stopped and they made their way to the door.

"Thank you," Optimus told them through his teeth. "That wasn't so hard, was it? Now, I am going to be alone with our new guest here and no one is to disturb me. Understood?"

"Disturb us!" Katherine yelled. "Do it! Do it!"

But the other robots did nothing as Optimus made his way to a large door and finally put her down on her feet. "Here we are. Home sweet home."

"You know," Katherine panted, her voice full of anger as she slammed the door to the empty room her eyes still on her captor. She wouldn't turn her back on him. That was not smart. "You know if you're planning on seducing me, this isn't the way to go."

"Oh?" Optimus cocked an eyebrow, coming over to run a finger over her cheek as she hid her shiver. "Isn't it? It seems like it is."

"Well...even if it works for some people, you're a major asshole so it's not gonna work on me!" Katherine snapped and pushed him. But he didn't fall.

"You're weak," he smirked. "You can't move me!"

She growled and tried once more, to no avail.

"While you sit here and muse on your terrible failure, I have to check with some of my associates," he chuckled. "A bed will be arriving soon for us...I want to be certain it isn't late."

"'Us'?" Katherine got out and showed her teeth. "You want me to share a bed with you? I'd rather sleep on the floor!"

He squatted down in front of her, a grin curving his lips. "No matter where you sleep, I bet you'll still have sexual dreams about me, won't you?"

"What?" Katherine blushed scarlet and lowered her eyes so she wouldn't have to see him smirk at her. "I don't know what you're talking about and even if I did, I know I wouldn't have any of those dreams because I know what a horrible, crazy person you are!"

Optimus put a hand under her chin so that she was looking him in the eye. "Oh, but that doesn't matter to the body, does it?" He asked. Eyes still on hers, he rubbed her palm gently with his thumb and then kissed it as Katherine tried her hardest not to let out a whimper. Then she pulled her hand out of his grip and slapped him hard.

"Don't you touch me," she ordered. "Lay a hand on me again and I will kill you! You're human now and I can do that!"

Optimus chuckled and got close, his lips against her ear. "Oh, please try," he got out. "I think it would be quite thrilling. Whatever I am now, I don't believe it's human. You saw how my underlings' lasers had no effect on me."

"Well, whatever you are, I bet I can kill you," Katherine scoffed. "I know I can."

He took her hand and ran it over his body. Even under the shirt he wore, she could feel hard muscle. "You'll have to touch me if you do. You know that, right?"

"No," Katherine shook her head, pulling a small knife from her pocket. "Not if I do it like this I won't!"

Optimus' eyes widened in shock as she stabbed him over and over. It didn't kill him, but he was hurt...and bleeding...

But once he realized that it didn't hurt and wouldn't inconvenience him, the look of shock became a smirk, especially when he saw how frustrated Katherine was.

"Why won't you fall, damn it?" she yelled. "Why won't you die?"

"You might as well drop the knife," he said, grabbing one part of it while Katherine still held hers firm. "This isn't hurting me."

Katherine growled and let the knife go and so did he so that it fell with a clatter on the floor.

"Don't frown," Optimus told her. "You'll ruin your pretty face."

She spat in his face and he slapped her hard. "Fuck you!" She whispered, her breath picking up as she brought a hand to her reddening cheek. "Fuck you, asshole!"

"I'm sure you will when the time is right," he smirked, then turned on his heel to go check and see if their bed had arrived yet.


"This was the best idea you could have had," Tyler told Kai as they met at a bar he liked. "You know, I've never been in one of these."

"Really?" Kai asked, sitting down and ordering a beer as the bartender caught his eye. "Well, I'm buying. What do you want?"

"Well, I really don't know what's good so I'll have what you're having," Tyler told him. As long as he knew his parents would disapprove of it, he would drink it.

After they had a bottle each in them, Kai asked, "So you and Isabella...what's up with that? What's up with you and the Devil's daughter?"

For the first time, Tyler actually blushed a little to talk about it. "I...I like her, that's all. And some people aren't happy about it."

Kai thought of Kayla and scoffed. "But she's just a little kid and they're so annoying. How could you like her?"

"She thinks I'm hilarious and she cuddles with me!" Tyler told him.

"Wow, you are seriously wrong in the head," Kai shook his, not believing he could ever feel the same way about Kayla ever.

"Hey, just because you find Kayla annoying now doesn't mean you'll always feel that way," Tyler replied. "She could be really pretty later." His eyes lit up. "Maybe I can take you to the other universe so you can see!" He began to wave his hand and Kai gripped his wrist.

"Don't you dare," he got out. "I don't want to be in love with her!"

"You say that, but I don't think you can run from it," Tyler told him. "It's destiny, man."

"Okay, now I know why no one allows you to drink," Kai told him and reached for his bottle. "I think you've had enough."

"I'm not drunk, I swear!" Tyler insisted. "I've only had a few sips! And why don't you want to meet older Kayla? You might like her better that way!"

"I don't want to like her any sort of better!" Kai snapped. "She is a toddler and no matter what she might look like in another dimension, she's still a needy and annoying toddler here and I want her away from me! How many times do I have to say it before you get it through your head?"

Tyler looked as if he'd been slapped. Normally he could shrug off such reactions but coming from Kai, it really hurt.

"I...I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just...Isabella makes me so happy and since you seem down, I want to do what I can to not make you feel that way."

"That's nice," Kai replied. "I've never really had many people besides my uncle and my...my wife...who wanted to do that for me."

"What do you say we get food?" Tyler offered. "I'll buy."

"Thanks, but do you have money?" Kai questioned.

"Well, no, but I have my ways," Tyler assured him.

They left the bar and went to sit at one of the nearby tables, ordering hamburgers and fries.

As they waited for them, the couple at the next table over began making out openly and Kai made an unhappy noise.

"Wish you were like them?" Tyler pressed when he noticed. "That's why you need to meet Kayla."

"Oh, my gosh, shut up about that, would you?" Kai hissed. "I thought that discussion was closed."

"It was, but I've opened it up again," Tyler replied and reached for the ketchup and mustard. "I'm only trying..."

"Yeah, you're only trying to help," Kai snapped. "Well, stop! You think I want the daughter of Elijah Mikaelson on my back? I don't! She could be just like him and you know how annoying that would be. I'd rather be alone forever or dead!"

They didn't speak again until their food came. Tyler finished both his fries and his burger very quickly, and then reached for Kai's.

"Don't touch my food!" Kai yelled and slapped his hand away. "What in the world is wrong with you? You think you can get come into my life, find me a girlfriend and take my fries? Well, I don't need that and I don't need you." He threw money down on the table. "I know you said you were paying but here's my bit for the tip."

"I know you're mad, but...if you're gonna storm out of here, can I have your fries?"

"No," Kai shook his head and stuff the rest into his mouth all at once."No you can't." Then he stormed out, leaving Tyler alone at the table with two empty plates.


Kai wasn't entirely drunk, but he also wasn't entirely sober as he stormed up to Adrian's front door and found it locked. "Come on, man, it's me!" He yelled. "You never lock the door on me! And I'm drunk I think...maybe just a little bit."

"Well, let that be a lesson to you about what sort of friends you keep!" Adrian yelled from the other side. "I told you to stay away from my brother and you didn't listen."

"Please!" Kai yelled. "Please. please, please!"

"Oh, fine," Adrian snapped and pulled him inside. "I'm only doing this so the neighbors don't say anything."

"Why the hell do you care about the neighbors?" Kai asked.

"I don't, but I prefer to not to have to deal with cops or anyone like that if I don't need to," Adrian pointed out. "So what do you need?"

"I think the question is...what do you need?" Kai got out and swayed. "And I would like a beer, please."

"How many have you had?" Adrian questioned. "I don't need anything myself. Just to be left alone."

"You always say that," Kai got out and put a hand on either side of his face. "But you're not alone. You have me!"

"I'm sorry but you just...can't give me what I need in this regard," Adrian sighed.

"Oh, really, have you tried?" Kai asked. "Let's try!"

"Damn, you are really more drunk than I thought!" Adrian got out as Kai puckered his lips and then fell to the floor.

Then Kai got to his feet and seemed to sober up for a moment. "And what about Toni?" He asked. "You have her."

"No, I don't," Adrian shook his head. "I don't have her anymore. We broke up."

"Sorry, man," Kai got out and held out his arms as he slurred his next words a little. "Do you need a hug?"

"Yes," Adrian nodded and hugged his hammered friend. "I do."

The hug went on for a while, and a small part of Adrian was glad Kai was drunk off his butt or else he never would have allowed it. After they finally pulled apart, Kai shook his head and patted Adrian's arm. "Sorry you're alone, man. That's rough."

"Oh, I've grown comfortable with the idea by now," Adrian sighed. "I'm just gonna take Rusty and go live in a cave."

"No, you aren't!" Kai shook hm. "You have to stay here with me, otherwise who will protect me from Kayla? You're the only one standing between me and that...her."

Adrian sighed. "Well, all right. I suppose I can stick around for you until Kayla's old enough to understand that you aren't interested."

"Hey, she might understand the words but that doesn't mean she'll listen to them," Kai told him. "You aren't allowed to leave until I say."

Adrian sighed. "Help me understand," he said. "You're alone because of Vicky dying. That wasn't part of your plan and you're sad. I get it and I'm sorry. But why push Kayla away? If you're sad and lonely, why not open up a connection? Not a romantic one, of course. But it would be someone to hug you or something."

"Because she's a toddler, you nut!" Kai cried. "I want a woman who isn't clingy and will just have a night with me and then go away. He smiled. "And if she's pretty and foreign and mysterious, so much the better."

"Oh?" Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Where do you plan on finding someone like that? In your dreams?"

"No, I can find one in real life!" Kai snapped. "I'm not incompetent, you know!" Then he lost his footing and face-planted on the carpet.

"Well, okay but may I suggest that you either wait until you sober up or have someone come with you when you embark on this?" Adrian suggested as he helped Kai to his feet. "It's not really a romantic image to have someone hit on you and then fall face first on the floor.

"I don't need anyone to come with me," Kai said firmly to the two Adrians who stood in front of him. "You and your friend can just stay right here. I'll sober up and go tomorrow night."

"All right," Adrian nodded. "But until then, I think you should go to bed."

"Right," Kai nodded as he lay down on the couch and Adrian threw a blanket over him. "Good night."


The next night, Kai decided that the best thing to do was to just get all the way drunk and forget everything. For the first time in his life, food wasn't helping him, but alcohol was.

But he wanted it to be good stuff. So he made his way to a nice little French bistro that he and Vicky had gone to and sat down at the table by himself.

"What can I get you, Monsieur?" Asked the waiter. "We have some lovely steaks tonight. Or some fish..."

"No, no...I just want wine," Kai replied. "Give me the best you got and lots of it."

Just then, a young woman with a platinum blonde bob looked up. "Not that it's any of my business," she said with a hint of a French accent. "But why are you drinking? Love? Sadness? Loss?"

"My...my wife and I used to come here but...she was killed," Kai got out. "Murdered.

The woman rose to her feet and came over to the table to put a hand on his. "Mine too," she told him, gently squeezing his fingers. "My husband too, I mean. I bet she was nice. My Paul was too. I'll never find another one like him. I'm not even looking."

"Not to be too forward," Kai told her. "But...no sense in us continuing to be alone. Maybe we could not be alone just for the night? You could help me finish off this bottle of wine?"

"Well," she gave an unladylike hiccup. "I've already had a few glasses but if you'll drive...why not? And I hope you have silk sheets," she got out. "I only sleep on silk sheets."

"We can arrange that," Kai told her. "I'm Kai Parker."

"Gabrielle Delacroix," the woman took his hand gently. "Lovely to meet you."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're French!" He exclaimed. "You know, I've been hoping that I would have an evening with a mysterious and pretty foreign lady."

"You have?" Gabrielle smiled. "Well isn't that fortunate?"


Kai paid for the wine and then they took what was left in the bottle with them home to his place.

"What a lovely house," Gabrielle observed. "So many antiques. No loud patterns. Very soft."

"Most of this was my wife's idea," Kai sighed and took another swig from the wine bottle. "Details aren't really my thing." He grinned and picked her up. "At least when it comes to interior decorating. I'm much more detail oriented in bed. Would you like to see?"

"Oui," Gabriella nodded. "I would very much."

He carried her up the stairs and through the bedroom door before setting her down on the bed and collapsing on the mattress.

"Did you have too much?" Gabriella asked. "Do you need any help?"

"I don't need help," Kai grinned. "But I'd like it!" They grinned at one another before they began kissing furiously and ripping off each other's clothes.

"Oh, that tore," Kai said apologetically before nibbling on her earlobe. "Sorry about your shirt."

"It's okay," she told him. "I never liked it and I can always get another."

Soon, they were both naked under the silk sheets and she was moaning as he tasted her and gently bit her inner thighs.

"All right, all right," she said, gripping the silk sheets tightly in her fist as she climaxed. "Will you come inside me now? You must. Please."

"You know I will, but...first I have to grab some protection don't I? The condoms are in the bathroom and that's just over there," Kai told her. "I won't be long, I promise."

"No, no, don't leave me, please," Gabrielle pulled him close against her body and him soundly as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Stay here with me. I insist."

"Well, all right," Kai told her and began swirling his tongue around her belly button and biting her nipples gently. Then he grabbed her hand and held it tight before burying himself inside her again and again.

"Mon Dieu!" She yelled. "Mon Dieu!" Then her eyes changed. Became empty holes as her skin went pale and cold. It lasted for just a moment before she appeared human again.

"Oh, my god, you're a demon!" Kai cried.

"It doesn't matter!" She cried. "Don't be frightened."

"I'm not," Kai grinned. "That is so hot!"

"Good," she pulled him close and nibbled on his ear. "Glad you think so. I like a brave man. And you seem like a brave man."

"I'm not scared of demons," Kai assured her and pushed into her again. "How do you feel about..." He zapped up a red rose and ran it down her neck. "...warlocks."

"I don't mind them," she giggled.

"Shut your eyes," Kai whispered against her ear.

Once they were closed, he zapped up a lit candle. "This is gonna hurt a little. Are you scared?"

"No, I fear nothing," Gabrielle swore.

So he slowly dripped little blobs of candle wax down her arm, each burst of laughter as the wax hit her skin accompanied by a cry of pleasure as he buried himself inside her over and over until they were both panting with exhaustion.

"I cannot do this anymore," she panted, her head on his chest as he ruffled her blonde hair. "I'm spent. I am sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Kai told her. "You did very well."

"I'm good at many things," she smiled and began slowly touching him under the blanket. "How do you feel?"

"Good," he whispered. "Good."

"This will go until we are both collapsed and out of breath," she muttered. "This won't be a wasted night."

"N-No..." his breath hitched as he got a tiny orgasm and she kept touching him. "No it won't, if tonight is all we have."

"And it is, my love," she whispered as he let out a cry. "But sometimes, that is enough."