Previously on The Vampire Diaries:
SOPHIE'S POV
"What is it?" I asked.
"If I tell you something…can you not get upset until I'm done talking?"
I nodded,
Lana shifted around nervously, "I just feel like you need to know this because to keep it from you isn't fair."
"Lana just spit it out, I won't be upset," I said. I knew this had to be bad; Lana wasn't one to beat around the bush.
"The day Klaus and I went hunting together I killed a man," she said it so quietly I almost didn't hear her.
SOPHIE'S POV
"I didn't mean to I just got caught up and suddenly he was dead."
I was shocked that she hadn't told me this. Clearly she had told Stefan because he even said he doubted her when she said she didn't kill anyone.
I glanced up at Lana and there were tears in her eyes. I wasn't sure what to do with this information. I knew that Damon, Stefan, and Klaus had killed people but to hear that my life long best friend had killed someone was insane. I looked at Lana and I knew she was more upset about telling me than she was about killing that person. I guess that was just part of her nature now and I couldn't hold it against her. I wasn't thrilled that it had happened but I wasn't going to be mad about something that was done and over with.
"Lana it's okay. It happened and it's over with. Let's not talk about it again," I said simply.
It wouldn't do either of us any good do dredge it up repeatedly.
"Is this why you and Stefan started fighting?" I asked her once she got her emotions under control.
"No, Stefan doesn't know. I only told Damon."
I was stunned, "You told Damon? Why?"
"I knew he would get it better than anyone else what had happened. I asked him not to tell you because I wanted to."
I smiled at her but she still looked a little miserable.
We sat and visited for a little while and then Lana looked towards the door and Klaus came walking in a few seconds later.
"Ladies," he said greeting us with a smile. Klaus walked over and sat down next to Lana giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Have you had a busy day?" he asked.
"Crazy busy, but everything is in order and Saturday will be fabulous," Lana gushed.
"Sophie, since Lana won't enlighten me on what's happening this weekend perhaps you would be so kind."
"Maybe Rebekah will tell you," I said with a shrug. He glowered at both of us for a minute and I could tell he hated that he wasn't in on the plan.
"Don't worry we'll take lots of pictures and I'll tell you all about it when I get home," Lana said smugly. "So Sophie I'm thinking sleepover Friday, this way we have lots of time to prepare and practice moving around in those items we created today."
"I agree."
Lana's phone started going off repeatedly she grabbed it off the table just before Klaus tried to reach for it.
"The pow-wow of will they come or not must be over," she said as she looked at it. "They're all coming for it."
"I'm kind of surprised…I was sure Bonnie would say no."
"Me too. I knew Elena would be in and Caroline can't say no to anything," Lana said with a grin.
We both glanced at Klaus who was sitting there looking slightly flustered.
"Well she can't say no except to you," Lana directed at him.
I gasped in surprise. "I can't believe you just said that," I blurted loudly.
She shrugged, "To be fair, I think she was starting to come around."
Klaus ran his fingers through his hair and looked like he wished he was somewhere else.
"I always thought you would go crazy and kill her but now I'm starting to think she's asking for it," I said and Klaus chuckled.
Lana leaned in and kissed Klaus' cheek.
Sometimes it still surprised me just how tolerant he was of her. Anyone else he would have killed for making a joke at his expense but with Lana he just smiled. I knew that she was the only one who got a free pass though. Klaus was still Klaus and even though he was good to Lana I knew that didn't extend to everyone.
Lana whispered something in Klaus' ear and his expression went from one of tolerance to one of shock. She smiled and kissed his cheek again. Her hormones were clouding the air.
"Well I'm going to go," I said as I stood up.
"You don't need to leave on my account Sophie, I have some stuff I need to do," Klaus said
Lana's eyes were boring into him.
"I'm not leaving for you," I replied as I walked out of the kitchen.
"Can you control yourself for a minute and go say good bye to your friend," Klaus chastised her loudly.
I heard Lana grumble and then she came racing out into the hall.
"Vampire lust can be a real pain sometimes," she said as she caught up with me.
I rolled my eyes, "Keep it in your pants woman."
"Hey you've seen Klaus naked…you can't blame me for my behaviour."
"Okay, I am not having this conversation while he is right down the hall listening in."
"Well lady if I get preoccupied with things here I probably won't see you until Friday, but I will probably show up early afternoon so we can organize and gossip and the like," Lana said as I walked out the front door.
"I'll see you then lady." I replied as I left.
LANA'S POV
The week passed slowly. The only excitement it provided was when Klaus and I would go a few towns over and feed. My record of not killing people wasn't impeccable by any means but I was slowly getting better at stopping myself. Klaus would usually follow my lead in how we left our victims and my compulsion abilities were improving the more I used them. I loved being a vampire. My emotions were still pretty scattered and I was never really good at controlling them as a human. When I woke up Friday I crawled out of bed happily dancing to the bathroom for a shower. I boogied to the closet. Klaus lingered in bed reading and watching me whirl around the room.
"You are never this happy in the morning," he commented.
"It's going to be a good day. I can feel it in my bones."
I was having trouble deciding what to wear. Did I want jeans and a t-shirt or a dress? I grabbed my two options and walked out of the closet.
"Which one?" I asked Klaus.
"Neither."
"I guess I can just go naked into town. I don't think anyone would mind," I replied confidently.
Klaus frowned. I walked over to the bed and flopped down.
"Are you going to tell me what you're doing?" he asked.
"Throwing a party."
"I had surmised as much. Caterers, wait staff, invitations. What's the occasion?"
"It's my coming out party."
"You are throwing a party to celebrate the fact that you are a vampire?" he asked.
"What else was I going to do?"
"Of course you would throw a party. So why all the secrecy?"
I sighed, "I only get to surprise people once with my transformation, No one knows it's happened and I want to turn it into an event."
"Well why didn't I get an invitation?" Klaus asked.
"Because, you already know."
"So does Rebekah."
"I'm turning it into a girl's day and as we both know you just don't fit the bill."
"Love if you wanted a social event we could have had one here. I happen to be an excellent host and have been known to throw a party or two."
"No one wants to come here for a party. The only friend like people I have in this town are Elena, Bonnie and Caroline. They deserve to know before other people find out. All of them would be more comfortable at the Boarding House. So we are having it there."
Klaus sighed, "Whatever makes you happy."
I kissed him and then evaded his grasp as he tried to pull me closer.
"You will never last until tomorrow without me," Klaus said arrogantly as I tried to stop my hormones from taking over.
I chewed my lip, damn he was right. The thought of leaving and not seeing him until tomorrow night was a problem.
"Well I don't have to leave right away," I said with a racy smile.
I went and collected the dresses far later than I intended to. Klaus had been more than a little distracting. Thank god Rebekah went to school because she would probably get tired of me and Klaus being noisy for long periods of time, that and we were rather adventurous and when the mood would overtake us we rarely made it more than a few feet from where we were. I loaded the boxes into the back of my SUV and headed for the boarding house. Stefan met me at the front door and I handed him the box I was carrying.
"What's in here?" he asked.
"Unicorns."
"Seems like a pretty small box for a horse.
"A magical horse," I replied.
He rolled his eyes and wandered into the house. There were five boxes total and I made him carry four of them. We put them in a large spare room that was out of the way. I walked downstairs and flopped down on the couch and Stefan sat down next to me.
"So Elena's coming over tomorrow."
"I told you not to question what I was doing," sending him a small frown.
"I didn't ask her anything she asked me about it."
"Where's Sophie?"
"Damon cajoled her into going somewhere with him."
"You make it sound like he's a man in a van offering her candy."
Stefan chuckled and I kicked my legs over him sprawling out on the couch.
"So am I going to find out what's in those boxes?" he asked.
"Possibly…It's going to just be a select few guests but when five o'clock rolls around you can party crash if you want."
Stefan smiled, "Well I might have to do that."
"So what are you and Damon going to do while I take over your house?"
"Go to Rick's and discuss manly things," he replied seriously.
"Manly things….oh please, all three of you spend more time than me doing your hair."
Stefan shoved me and tried rolling me off the couch but now that I was a vampire I was much more effective at foiling his plans.
"Do you want to go for a run?" I asked him.
"Like jogging for exercise?"
"No, like running as fast as we can. I'm bored and just want to use my awesome vamp skills."
"Why not," Stefan said he stood up and grabbed my hand. I kicked off my shoes and we went peeling out of the house. We spent the next few hours playing like kids in the woods surrounding the house. Trying to out run, out jump, and out climb one another.
As we walked back to the boarding house Stefan draped his arm over my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around his waist.
"We are doing this all the time," I said gleefully.
"I forgot how much fun stuff like that can be."
"Get used to it because as soon as Damon changes Sophie this sort of stuff will happen all the time."
Stefan smiled, "It's strange to have a big family again. It's just been me and Damon for such a long time."
He seemed to get lost in thought after that and I didn't interrupt his musings we just walked along happily. We came around the corner of the boarding house as Sophie and Damon got back.
"How long have you been here?" Sophie asked.
"Hours."
"I didn't think Damon and I would take so long."
"That's a lovely magenta bra," I said to her as I saw the vivid colour under her white shirt.
She glanced down quickly and then folded her arms over her chest.
"What did you guys do today?" Stefan asked.
"Sophie had to go all super Canadian on me and went swimming at the falls," Damon said as he walked over. I couldn't tell if he was impressed or reproving.
"YOU WENT TO THE FALLS!" I shouted. I was instantly jealous. I still hadn't been there and it was one of those things I always meant to go see but somehow never made it.
"Sophie it's freezing out why would you go swimming?" Stefan said reprovingly.
"Really Stefan, it wasn't that bad," Sophie replied. "The water was still fairly warm."
Stefan and Damon exchanged disbelieving glances.
"I thought southern boys were supposed to be tough and masculine," I commented.
Stefan put me in a head lock and I tripped him and escaped grabbing Sophie's hand we bee lined for the house.
"I have everything we need and it's in a spare room," I whispered as I followed her to her room. She walked into her closet and then went into the bathroom to have a shower and change. I lounged on the bed and grabbed a book off the floor and started reading.
"Move over," Damon said as he flopped down next to me.
"There's a whole other half off the bed next to me."
"Yeah but this is my side," he said as he rolled me over.
"So did you and Sophie have a wonderfully romantic time at the Falls?" I asked.
"Of course we did, I planned a picnic, and there were rose petals, cherubs playing harps, and little chocolates that we fed to each other," he said mockingly.
"You know how to woo a girl," I replied fanning myself with my hand.
"We were bored so we went for a walk and then she wanted to go swimming so we did that."
"I can't believe you got Sophie to go skinny dipping. You sir, are a bad influence on her."
He gave me his classic smirk.
"So are you going to snuggle with me tonight?" I asked him
"Why would I?"
"Because I'm spending the night."
"Isn't that Stefan's job."
"Usually. But tonight Sophie and I have arranged to have a sleepover and since she sleeps in here your options are to get out or spoon me…unless you prefer to be the little spoon."
Damon rolled his eyes.
"Most men are thrilled to hear that there will be two girls in their bed yet you scoff. I'm beginning to have doubts about your reputation."
"Trust me everything you've heard about me is probably true," he replied cockily.
I laughed.
Sophie came out of the bathroom dressed in sweats and a tank top; she sat down at the end of the bed.
"So lady what's the game plan?" she asked.
"Just figuring out the sleeping arrangements," I answered as I gave Damon a sexy pout.
"We should do something different tonight," Sophie said.
"Like what?"
"I don't know just something out of the ordinary."
"Damon do you have a tent?" I asked.
He seemed taken off guard.
"Not like that, pervert, like a camping tent?" I huffed.
"Ask Stefan," he replied.
I hopped off the bed and listened. Stefan as usual was in his room. That man needed to start dating Elena again just so he could have some sort of social life.
I wandered in and sat down next to him. He looked outside and then back at me.
"It's hardly late enough for you to want to go to bed," he said.
"I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"Do you own a tent?"
"Do you have a sudden urge to go camping?" he asked with a sarcastic edge.
"Wilderness adventures are a must; they turn you into a man, put hair on your chest. No Sophie and I want to change things up a bit so we want to set up a tent and sleep outside."
Stefan smiled, "I'd have to look in the garage."
"Well than hop to it good buddy," I said as I stood up. I followed him outside and into the garage. It was very well organized and I was slightly impressed.
Stefan found a couple of boxes labelled 'camping gear' he pushed them aside and uncovered a tent near the back. I helped him pull it out and gave him a bright smile.
"Would you like to help me set it up?" I asked.
"I don't have anything else to do."
We set it up and I reassured Sophie that I scoured it for spiders but found none, even though I hadn't checked at all. We made our beds and we started a fire near the house and roasted hot dogs and made s'mores.
Klaus called to check in but I knew he just missed me. We didn't stay up very late and soon we were chasing the boys back to the house so we could go to bed. We crawled into the tent and I zipped it up.
"Shit I forgot to say good night to Damon," Sophie said as we got comfortable.
"Just yell. He'll hear you."
"NIGHT DAMON."
"He says good night Sophie," I said as I heard his reply. "And that he loves you more than anything on the planet, even his collection of dark wash jeans," I adlibbed, "Oh god I think he's starting to cry a little bit," I added as I heard him telling me to shut up.
She smiled happily and then fell asleep. I dozed off quickly as well. The next morning I woke up feeling refreshed I looked outside and guessed it was probably around seven in the morning. Today was the day of my party! I got up and walked to the house leaving Sophie snoring. I stealthed through the house to Stefan's room. He was still sound asleep in bed. He stirred a little as the door squeaked but he shuffled and was soon out again. I waited for a minute before taking a running start and jumping onto the bed
"Earth quake!" I cried as I cannonballed.
He jolted awake and then threw a pillow at me.
"Go back to bed," he said.
"No wake up," I insisted.
He grabbed me and pulled me against his chest and I wrapped my arms around him.
"You smell like the outdoors," he mumbled sleepily.
"That's because I was outside," I commented.
"Shhh. Let me sleep a little longer," Stefan sighed.
"Well then let go of me. I need to have a shower."
Stefan released me from his grasp and I rolled off the bed grabbing a pair of his pj pants and a sweater. I showered and changed and when I came out of the bathroom Stefan was awake.
"When are you and Damon leaving?" I asked.
"Soon."
I heard Sophie stumble in and up the stairs to her room. Stefan got out of bed and showered and got dressed gave me a quick peck on the cheek and then disappeared for his day with Damon. I walked to the kitchen and got a blood pack out of the freezer and drank it quickly then had a bowl of cereal while waiting for Sophie. The catering and serving people showed up. There weren't a lot of them because it wasn't a huge gathering but they went out to the patio and decorated for the garden party and I got out of the kitchen so that they could utilize the space. The hair dresser showed up and I had them style my hair with lose curls waving yellow ribbons and small tea roses in to it. Sophie had them curl her hair and then pin it up at the back. Sophie did our make up with a fresh innocent look. Then for the piece de résistance our dresses. Lydia showed up early to help us into our gowns. My dress had narrow cap sleeves with a plain bodice but a full voluminous skirt with one large gather on the left side. The dress was white with a yellow floral pattern and lace details. I had also ordered a dainty parasol to go with it.
"Oh my god Lana you look like you walked out of Gone with the Wind," Sophie said excitedly.
"These petticoats and corsets are terrible," I grumbled happily. Sophie was already in her underthings and agreed whole heartedly. Sophie's dress was white and powder blue with puffed sleeves a ruffled detail along the chest, and small gather's with bows all along the bottom of her skirt. She also had small gloves, a fan and a small brimmed hat with a ribbon that perched on the top of her head. We stared at ourselves in the mirror.
"This was such a good idea," I said with a huge smile.
Lydia took a picture of us. I heard the doorbell ring and then Rebekah walking in.
"I'm here," she shouted imperially
"Upstairs," I called back.
She came in and looked unimpressed.
"You didn't tell me we were dressing up," she sulked.
"I already got you a dress," I replied and she brightened immediately.
Lydia pulled out the purple gown I had commissioned for Rebekah. She gave it the once over and I could tell it met her approval. I led her to the other room so she could get her hair done.
"So why are we dressing up for this?" she asked with a bored drawl.
"Because I love to dress up and it make it more memorable," I replied.
Sophie stayed close to me and I realized that she had never really spent any time with Rebekah.
"So how goes the pursuit of Matt?" I asked.
Rebekah frowned, "Caroline and Elena are doing their best to keep him away from me."
"We can blame Klaus for that," I said.
"I blame Nick for most things," she said with a smile.
Sophie kept watching us closely.
Rebekah finished getting dressed and then we went outside. There were flowers all over the patio and a round table with place settings for everyone.
We sat down and I ordered us tea. I heard the other girls arrive and there chattering and speculation on why I had invited them here. They went upstairs and an hour later the three of them came out to the patio together.
Elena smiled at us and Bonnie followed her lead I turned to Caroline.
"What the hell! YOU'RE A VAMPIRE!" she said in shock. Her mouth dropped open and then she smiled at me.
Elena and Bonnie's smiles disappeared and they stared at me in astonishment. I stood up and walked towards them.
"Good eye Caroline," I commented.
"When did this happen?" Caroline said.
"Why didn't Stefan tell us?" Elena blurted.
I smiled, "It happened the night you broke into Meredith's and I asked Stefan not to tell you. I wanted a coming out party and that's why I invited you here. And I must say you three look marvelous."
Sophie and I had put Elena in a dusty dark blue, Caroline in a soft pink and Bonnie in a mint green.
"Why are we dressed up?" Caroline asked as we all sat down.
"Because before me and Sophie got here we got to see you guys wearing these cool dresses and I wanted to do that and the opportunity kept eluding me so I decided to take it upon myself to make an occasion.
"So Klaus changed you," Bonnie said.
I nodded.
"Do you like being a vampire?" Elena asked.
"I love it," I replied.
They kept asking questions and I answered them all patiently until I got bored of that.
"Now ladies, Miss. Cooper," I smiled at Sophie, "and I have arranged games in the garden so if you'll please join me."
I rose from the table and we went racing out into the grass. We played croquet and other lady like games until I got tired of that and we started running around the yard playing tag and laughing. I heard a camera snapping and saw Rebekah taking pictures.
"Nick told me to," I grabbed the camera and took pictures of her and everyone else knowing that I would scrap book these and keep them forever. I heard some commotion on the patio and saw that they were serving our lunch.
We meandered back to the house laughing and having fun. This was the first time in a group all of the girls had hung around and acted like average girls. It was a nice change and brought down everyone's guards.
"Before we eat we need to take a group shot so we all still look nice," I called loudly.
We took a multitude of pictures. Some of them we were being elegant ladies in others we were much less classy. I handed the camera to one of the waiters and told him to document the rest of the day.
We had finger sandwiches, watermelon, ice cream, pies, cookies and everything else we could want. We all ate until we were stuffed and then we all relaxed on the patio for the rest of the day. I glanced at the sun and guessed that the boys would be back soon. Rebekah stood up and went inside, I followed her.
"Where are you headed?" I asked.
"Matt's working and I just thought that while the others are here I could go and talk to him," she said sheepishly.
"Turn around and I'll help you out of your dress," I said as we went back to the room where her clothes were. I helped undo the laces and the buttons and she changed quickly into her designer jeans and shirt.
"I'm glad you came today Rebekah," I said as she pulled her hair down and rearranged it.
"I was surprised you asked me to come."
"Why wouldn't I."
"We aren't exactly friends Lana."
"Yes we are…admit it you hate me less."
She shrugged, "You aren't as bad as I originally thought."
"See progress. Now go and see your man," I said as I sent her out the door. I walked back to the patio and sat down. My skirt flew up and I gave everyone a good view of my petticoats.
"Jesus how did the women move in these stupid things," I said as I reorganized myself.
All of us sat there chatting about nothing in particular then I heard Stefan's car pull up.
"The boys are home, everyone act like ladies," I ordered.
We quickly shuffled into position and started sipping our tea and getting totally into character. The boys walked out to the patio and I wished I could see their faces. I couldn't resist. I spun in my chair to look at them. Both of them looked perplexed.
"Welcome home Mr. Salvatore," Sophie said to Damon with a gentle incline of her head.
"Miss. Cooper you look lovely this evening," he replied getting into character. Nothing ever seemed to take him by surprise for long.
Stefan followed him to the table and I could see him trying to figure out where to sit closer to me or Elena.
"Sit over there Mr. Salvatore with Miss. Gilbert, so I can see you better," I said pointing next to Elena.
Stefan sat down still looking confused.
Nobody seemed to know what to say but they sat and watched me and Sophie chatter back and forth.
Damon's hands started creeping along the folds of Sophie's dress. I would have never noticed before but now that I was a vampire I spotted such things.
"Mr. Salvatore behave yourself, you are in the company of ladies," I said sharply. He pulled his hand back and smiled at Sophie.
"Sorry, I was forgetting myself," he said in a courtly way.
"How are your kin Mr. Salvatore?" I asked Stefan.
"Most of them are dead," he replied with a smile.
"Oh my…did the Yankees get them?" I asked with mock horror in an exaggerated southern accent.
Stefan laughed.
After that we started acting like ourselves. It was getting late and Elena, Caroline and Bonnie said they had to go.
"Are you two ever going to take those dresses off?" Damon asked once it was just the four of us.
"Ask me that next week when I'm still wearing this ensemble," I proclaimed.
Sophie stretched, "These corsets are so uncomfortable."
"I happen to be an expert in removing them," Damon breathed in her ear.
"Dude I can hear you," I said
Sophie blushed a little then yawned. Well that was my cue to depart.
I stood up, "I need to get home."
"I'll help you change so you can go," Sophie said.
"No I think, I'm going to walk home tonight," I answered.
"I'll go with you," Stefan volunteered.
"I'll be fine," I replied.
"What kind of man would I be if I let a lady walk home when it's getting dark?" Stefan said as he linked his arm through mine. I kissed Sophie on the cheek, ruffled Damon's hair and then departed.
Stefan and I walked along quietly.
"So that's not what I was expecting to come home to," Stefan said after a while.
"What did you expect?"
"Not that," he smiled, "but you all looked lovely."
"Of course we did. Sophie and I picked the dresses."
Stefan chuckled and we kept walking. We weren't far from home.
"So I want to surprise Klaus so I will leave you here," I said to Stefan.
He made a face.
"Alright Miss. Walker, have a good night," he said as he kissed my cheek. He blurred off into the trees and I continued walking home. I loved wearing this dress. I didn't often feel lady like or graceful but the dress made me feel beautiful.
I crossed in to the backyard and started singing. I hadn't made it far when I saw Klaus walk outside. I couldn't see his reaction but he stilled for a minute before hopping the patio wall and continuing towards me.
"Who is this lovely creature who seems to have wandered into my path," he said as he got closer. He grabbed my hand and spun me around once checking me over, "I wasn't really a fan of this era but you are making me question my judgement."
"Why thank you kind sir," I replied with a smile.
"Did you have a good time today?"
"Look at my dress…I would have had a good time in this no matter where I was."
We walked back to the house. We got to the wall and I wondered how to scale it in my dress. Klaus hopped up and grabbed my hands and pulled me to meet him.
"Uh-Oh, a lady never reveals her ankles to a man she isn't married to," I cried as he set me down.
"You would have hated being in that time Lana. You would have been the scandal of the town."
"I was usually that anyways."
"You're too independent to have fared well. Even if you were raised a lady you would have been trouble." Klaus smiled at me.
"Perhaps I was born then, you never know."
"Like past lives?"
"Yes."
"Do you believe in that nonsense?"
"Of course," I said seriously.
Klaus studied me for a minute and then leaned in and kissed me.
"I bet you killed me in a past life," I mused.
"It's possible." Klaus replied.
We wandered through the house until we made it to the stairs.
"Do you want to make one of my fantasies come true?" I asked Klaus as I rubbed his chest.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, "You aren't much of a lady."
I felt his fingers undoing the buttons on the back of my dress.
"Slow down partner…carry me up the stairs like Rhett does with Scarlett."
Klaus scooped me up and took the stairs two at a time. I giggled the whole time he set me on my feet once we were in our room.
"Happy now?" he asked.
"So happy that soon I'll be making you carry me up every staircase we come across."
Klaus smirked and once again I felt his hands on the back of my dress.
I moved my hair out of the way as his fingers quickly unlaced my corset and dress.
"Good thing I didn't forget how to do this," Klaus muttered as he kissed my cheek.
