November 3, 2020

Elena watched the numbers slowly adjust on screen as the polls started closing down from her corner of the couch.

It had been a vicious back and forth for hours.

"How are we doing?" Rebekah plopped down in an overstuffed armchair and passed a fruity drink to Elena.

"How are we doing?"

"It's pretty even so far," she made no comment on how Rebekah referred to the incoming results as a show of solidarity. "It looks like we claimed Virginia though."

"It's cause the people here know Damon a little better than the rest of the country," she snorted, muttering into her cocktail a word that sounded suspiciously like 'asshole'.

"Petition to start a revolution if he makes it into office," Caroline stretched out across the couch and propped her feet in Elena's lap.

"We're right behind you, babe," Elena patted her barefoot.

"You ladies really don't like that guy," Marcel commented, glancing up from his cellphone as he sat in the corner.

They all chimed in at the same time, declaring Damon to be a complete douche.

"Caroline, you realize you're taking up three seats, right?" Kol leaned over the back of the sofa.

"Your point?" She lifted her brows and poked at Elena's belly with her big toe.

"My point is that a lot of people are milling about the mansion tonight and that some of them might like to sit down," he glanced towards Elena.

"I'm sorry did you want to sit down?" She smiled sweetly.

"That would be nice."

Caroline swung her legs around and scooted to make room, pushing up until she sat directly beside Elena. "There you go."

He eyed the empty space and then Caroline's laughing eyes.

"Something wrong Kol?" She smirked, daring him to tell her to move.

"Nothing, love," he smirked. Two could play that game. He knew that she knew and that everyone in the house knew, just as Elena had been made aware of the situation. Somebody had to break and say something first, and it certainly wasn't going to be him.

He had no intention of introducing Elena as his old friend turned girlfriend. There was an entirely different moniker he had in mind for her, and he wasn't saying a word until he could use it.

He just needed to get her alone.

As the evening progressed his frustration grew because everyone seemed to have it in their head to get between him and the love of his life.

They delighted in it.

He could tell Elena was getting more than a little annoyed when he caught her looking at him longingly a few times.

With the closing of Washington his party pulled distinctly into the lead, and when someone explained to a very tired Hope who had crawled out of bed she gave a big cheer, then she fell asleep against Caroline.

That was also the moment he realized Elena had snuck away.

After twenty-eight years he knew where she would be. She had her habits and her vices and her favourite rooms.

As he tiptoed beyond the front doors and ignored the gathering of reporters outside he went over the list in his head. There was a guest room she stayed in from time to time, Rebekah's room and Elijah's study.

He doubted she would have fled upstairs, too many people could have stopped her on the way with a myriad of questions. And she had always loved that study.

He loved that study.

He loved the towering shelves, the smell of old books and the sturdy desk he may or may not have dreamed about utilizing when he was still in law school and Elena had walked in for a book clad in only a white bikini. He had fantasized about sweeping the contents off that desk, tossing her lightly on top, and hooking her bottoms to the side too many times to count. His dreams were filled in with experiences and now on the occasion he took care of himself he saw her smooth skin contrasting with purest white as he filled her again and again while she writhed and begged for more.

Maybe he'd bend her over that desk someday.

Maybe he'd bend her over that desk tonight.

"Elena?" He opened the door.

As he suspected she was inside. She had perched herself on the desk and was swinging her legs back and forth while biting her thumb nail.

And damn if that sight didn't do things to him.

"I thought you'd be hiding in here," he shut the door and shoved his hands into his pockets. The velvet box brushed his fingers.

"I uh…" she moved her hand down to the desk and rubbed her lips together, "I just needed a little space, a little quiet."

"Is this a no company kind of quiet?" He paused a few feet away from her and tilted his head. "Do you want me to give you a little more space?"

"No," she lowered her eyes, "I think I was hoping you'd follow me."

"I'll always follow you, darling," he smirked.

"You're gonna be pretty busy soon," her stomach trembled, and she bit her lip to stop it from trembling too. "You're winning," she shrugged, forcing a cheer into her voice that she didn't really feel.

"You don't sound happy about it," he blinked, tilting his head. It was hard to get a read on her when she wouldn't look at him.

"I'm happy for you," she shrugged. "I'm just a little sad too; I guess that means we're done."

"What?" His brows rose as his heart stilled. "I don't want us to be done." He took his hands from his pockets and placed them on her knees. "I never want us to be done; I want the opposite."

"Come on, Kol," she sighed. Her lashes glittered. "How can you want the opposite? I'm a potential embarrassment."

"Is this about that stupid folder?" His brows rose.

"I'm not good enough," she bit her cheek, "isn't that what he was saying?"

"Screw that folder," he picked up her chin. "I don't care a bloody bit about where you came from Elena, and if this country or government does then it's filled with idiots. I never want this to be over, darling, never. And if people want to impeach me for it so be it."

"I love you, Elena Gilbert," his thumb caressed her chin.

"I love you too," she held his wrist as he slid his fingers into her hair. "God, Kol, I love you so much; I didn't think I could love anybody this much."

He rubbed a tear from the corner of her eye.

"No more tears, my love," he kissed her cheek, "because if you cry then I'm going to cry and I'll never get this out."

"Get what out?" She sniffed.

He kissed a line to her ear and breathed deeply.

"I want to spend my life with you," he listened to her breath catch, "I want to wake up next to everyday and memorize the pillow creases on your face. I want to make love to you on every flat surface I can find. I want to have children with you and watch them slowly drive us insane. I want to fight over the bloody toothpaste cap, and pizza toppings and stupid things I did to you when I was eleven."

"Kol," her voice warbled. The question of whether he had really thought things through was answered when he sank to his knee and produced a small velvet box.

"I want to introduce you to everyone we meet as Elena Mikaelson." He lifted the lid. "I want to marry you."

"Are you crazy?" Her hand came up to her lips as her eyes took in the oval stone. "It's only been five months, eight if you say when I got on the bus. Think of the scandal," but already her lips were tipping up behind her hand.

"I don't care about the scandal," he shook his head. "And as far as timing goes it's been a lot longer than eight months. Twenty-eight years, Elena; we've known each other twenty-eight years. And I think I was in love with you long before kissing you in the alley; it just took a little while to figure it out."

"You are it for me," he plucked the ring from the box and took her left hand, holding it poised over her ring finger. "Will you take this ring and be my wife?" He started to frown when her eyes shimmered. "Or if you don't like it we can pick out another one."

"I don't want another ring," she shook her head, laughing softly. "I want this one, and I want you. And I want everything you said."

"So…"

"Yes," she nodded. Her tears fell as the ring was placed on her finger. "Yes."

"Yes?" He stood up and cupped her cheeks, pressing joyous kiss after joyous kiss on her lips and all over her smiling face.

"I love you," she murmured, wrapping her thighs around his hips and clinging to his shirt. "Now if you could just stop squeezing the toothpaste from the middle."

"The day you put the cap back on," he rolled his eyes.

She smiled into his kiss and pushed her fingers up into his hair. She tasted salt on his lips and realized it was because he was crying too when she pulled back a few inches.

"We just got engaged," she breathed.

"We did," he nudged her cheek with his nose.

"And we're alone," she dragged the back of his shirt up and teased his spine.

"We are," he dropped his hands to her knees and inched his fingers up until they were beneath the hem of her oversized sweater.

"My new ring is so beautiful," she brought out her left hand and wiggled her fingers. Her right hand dipped low and squeezed.

"It is," he agreed, kissing the tip of her finger.

"Kind of makes everything else I'm wearing look frumpy," she pursed her lips, glad her monthly visitor had left earlier that morning. "Like maybe I shouldn't be wearing it anymore."

"I think you might be right," he smirked, feeling his pants become uncomfortable. He reached under her sweater and grabbed her leggings.

Elena brought her hands down and gave a little hop as he dragged them from her body. He took her underwear with him and left her in sweater as he knelt to remove her socks.

Another fuzzy set.

He dropped them in a small pile and nipped at her inner thighs.

She let him lave at her legs for a moment before she pulled off her sweater, and unhooked her bra; she let it fall before leaning back and hooking her legs around his shoulders.

"What do you think?" She laid her left hand on his cheek.

"I think this is the most beautiful I've ever seen you," he turned, kissing her wrist.

The cool press of his lips sent a shiver down her spine.

"There's just one problem," she hummed. "I hate being the only one naked."

He stripped off his shirt and rose, grinning stupidly when she reached for his belt. The leather slackened. She crossed her legs around his waist and reached for his erection, pumping him slowly.

"We're gonna get married," he whispered, laying kisses up and down her throat. He slipped one hand between her legs and rubbed, marvelling at the arousal already gathered. "You're going to be Mrs. Kol Mikaelson."

"I'll be yours," she mewled, "for the rest of our lives." A gush of juices flooded her channel. "You'll be mine," she whispered.

"You're going to be a very possessive wife, aren't you?" He chuckled. "My beautiful bride."

"You know it," she giggled, "nobody else gets you but me. In fact," she shivered, lining him up with her entrance, "I want that ring on your finger as soon as possible, so the entire world knows you're mine."

"Bloody hell, Elena," he groaned, staring into her sultry eyes. "Tell me you're ready because I need to be in you."

She grasped the back of his head with her free hand and kissed him, breathing against his parted lips. "I've been ready since you said I love you."

She dug her heels into his back, gasping as he pushed forwards, filling her agonizingly slowly.

He took his time, savouring the familiar hug of her walls and the way she moaned her pleasure.

"Lay back, darling," he panted.

She obliged, gasping loudly as his length shifted with her moving body. She used her elbows to prop herself up.

His large hands unwrapped her legs from his waist and pushed, urging her knees to bend until he pressed them down to her chest. The new angle opened her up and as he pushed in she felt him reach spots that made her see stars.

And why had they never tried this position before?

There would be a lifetime of new positions to try out, and many new things as well. There was one thing she had never done with anybody but always been curious about. She just hadn't trusted any of her past lovers to offer or agree when they inevitably asked.

He thrust slowly, pushing her higher and higher with every stroke.

He hadn't asked her.

That didn't mean he hadn't thought about it. He did like to spread her cheeks when he took her from behind.

She thought of how gentle he had been the first night, talking to her and pretending for a moment that it had been her first time.

"Kol?" She pushed up higher and somehow managed to reach his lips for a long kiss. "When we're married…"

"Mm, say that again," he rotated his hips, murmuring against her parted lips.

"When," she gasped, dropping her head back, "when I'm your wife, and when you're my husband," she tightened her pelvic muscles, squeezing as he groaned, "I'd like to try something, but only if you want to," she added.

Her eyes drifted shut as he picked up his pace, likely imagining all manner of salacious.

"I'm open to anything you want to try, darling," he grunted. Sweat glistened on his torso, making his straining muscles shine. "All you need do is ask."

She moaned, imagining him behind her and spreading her cheeks. The taboo nature of what she was about to ask brought a flush to her chest. It also made the coil in her belly impossibly tight and she slipped a hand between her legs to circle her clit.

He growled at the sight and thrust a little harder.

"What do you want Elena? What would you like me to do?" His fingers dug into her thighs.

"I…" she moaned, feeling her legs start to shake. Her train of thought cut off as she came and milked him, nearly pushing him over the edge as well.

When she opened her eyes his jaw was clenched tight and the muscles in his neck stood out with the strain of holding out.

"I want you to take my virginity." Her statement made his brow wrinkle and she giggled.

His eyes narrowed, dropping to where he was very clearly filling her.

And doing a pretty decent job of it.

Then realization started to dawn in his eyes.

"You mean?" His hand left her thigh and grasped her butt, gently pulling.

"I've been curious since the first person asked me to try it," she admitted, blushing.

The tip of his finger circled the tight sphincter and she moaned as hundreds of previously unexplored nerve endings lit up.

Her walls fluttered again, harder and faster than before. She was pretty sure she blacked out for a second, but if so it was only a second.

If it was that intense just being touched she shuddered to think of how it would feel with his entire length inside of her, taking her as he was in that moment.

How would it feel when he released inside?

"You've never done this before," he moaned, thrusting long and slow.

She shook her head. "I never trusted anyone not to accidentally hurt me," she bit her bottom lip. "But I trust you."

He swore under his breath as he came and collapsed half on top of her. He stayed inside as he filled her body with his seed and went soft, looking into her slightly nervous eyes.

"I love you Elena," he panted, kissing the corner of her open mouth. They traded slow, probing kisses for a moment as peace settled around them.

"I love you," he repeated, "and I would be honoured to be your first."

"You'll be my only," she giggled.

"I like the sound of that," he grinned. "When would you like to try?"

"Oh, I was thinking our wedding night," her eyes sparkled playfully.

"You're gonna make me wait for it," he pretended to groan.

"I'm very old fashioned that way," she adopted her prim and proper southern belle accent while curling her shaking thighs around his waist. "No sex until the wedding mister. I can't be defiled before my wedding night. Imagine the gossips, just clutching their pearls."

"I'm pretty sure I've already defiled you," he slipped out of her body and chuckled when she whined, "and you'll be all over me to defile you again long before we get to that aisle."

"Depends how long the wait is," she teased.

"Either way, the anticipation is going to drive you wild," he winked.

"I have a feeling that's actually going to be you, whispering dirty things in my ear," she shook her head.

Suddenly she dropped her head back with a low groan.

"What is it, my lovely fiancé?"

Her heart fluttered and she smiled, but stress was mounting quickly.

"Do you know how hard its going to be to plan a wedding when you're in office?" She pushed up on her elbows, rising higher when he stood until they were both upright.

"That's going to be a bloody nightmare," he bit his cheek. "I guess we'll just have to get married before the inauguration."

"That's in January," she shook her head. "Thats a little more than two months. It's seventy-nine days."

"Well less," Kol kissed the tip of her nose. "Because I fully intend on having a honeymoon with you. What about Christmas Eve?"

"Christmas Eve?" She shrieked. "Are you nuts? That's fifty days! We can't plan a wedding and organize a honeymoon in fifty days! You'd have to an organizational genius to pull that off. You'd have to be a neurotic control freak. You'd have to be Caroline!"

"Then I suppose it's a very good thing she's your best friend," he lifted an eyebrow. "I don't know about you, but I don't want anything too ostentatious. I think fifty days is plenty of time for a small, tasteful wedding."

"You're forgetting that Bekah will also be involved in this," she pressed her lips together.

"Tasteful, leaning on the side of elegant," he amended. "Think about it, love. Christmas Eve. We'll be man and wife before the new year, and if we're married before inauguration we are unlikely to be annoyed by paparazzi. I'd hate for someone to publish a picture of your wedding dress before hand. Think of the bad luck."

"Fifty days," she took a deep breath and exhaled, "I guess we'd better tell the wedding planners."

"Maybe clothes first," he grinned.

When they stepped into the sitting room everyone looked up, but nobody bothered asking where they had been.

He couldn't wait to knock those knowing looks off of their faces. It would be the first time a collective shock occurred since Nik revealed he'd knocked up his one-night stand. He thought the shock and shame was what triggered Mikael's heart attack, not that anyone was sad to see the man go.

"Alaska's about to close up," Cami waved a bottle of chilled champagne. "And we've got a fifteen percent lead. There is no possible way you're losing this."

"Hold the champagne for a moment, love," Kol reached behind him for Elena's left hand, concealing the ring with his fingers. "We have an announcement."

"If it's that you're screwing each other's brains out we already know," Lucien waggled his eyebrows and ducked when Freya smacked him with a throw pillow.

"Actually, mate," Kol's eyes narrowed, "it's something entirely different. And I'd like to introduce all of you to my lovely fiancé."

Elena held out her hand to show off the ring, bracing herself for the loud shrieks, but there was nothing. And as she looked around the room it was to find her family and friends staring at the engagement ring with open mouths and wide eyes.

Everyone, with the exception of Klaus.

And Caroline being Caroline had to point that out first.

"Why are you not surprised?" She smacked lightly on his arm, whispering in a voice that carried around the room.

"Because unlike you, sweetheart," he grinned from ear to ear, "I know how to keep a secret."