Love is Unexpected

Part 3

Monday was the beginning of another week. I woke up ready to face another week of school and try to enjoy it while I could.

My morning had started off spectacularly. Klaus had been more than eager to wake me up with a thorough tongue fucking before ravishing me completely. He had also made me a stack of pancakes and fresh coffee while I had showered and dressed for my day. It was so sweet how he took care of me; it was so mundane that it was almost shocking to see Klaus do such things. But the more time I was around him, the more I liked how mundane he could be.

I kissed Klaus goodbye and arrived at school ready for my day. My good mood wasn't spoiled until I ran into Bonnie. I don't know if she had intentionally found her way to me, but I was standing at my locker, pulling out what I needed for the morning when she appeared.

Bonnie let out a small huff before she said, "I don't know what to say."

I turned to glance around my locker door to look at her. She looked annoyed like she had been forced to talk to me. "You don't have to say anything."

Her frown faltered. "Really?"

I nodded. "Really. I think your point from the other day explained everything perfectly."

Bonnie's mouth opened and closed once, then twice, before she scratched the back of her head. "I was harsh, I know that. But you have to understand where I was coming from. Klaus has been nothing but a monster since we first heard his name. For the past thousand years, he has tormented and killed countless people. How can you look at someone like him and see anything but evil?"

The laugh that came out of me wasn't expected by Bonnie or me. It came out bitter. I said, "Klaus has spent the past thousand years surviving. Yes, he has killed and tortured. He has made some pretty fucked up choices. But he has also suffered. He was tormented every day by the thought that his own father was hunting him. Klaus has made every decision to keep himself and his family safe." I closed my locker door. "Just because you have heard one side of the story, don't assume that you know everything about it." I slung my bag over my shoulder's and turned to leave.

Bonnie reached out and grasped my arm, stopping me. She said, "I want you to be happy. I want to support you. But I just don't understand it."

"You don't need to understand it." I placed my hand on top of hers. "But you do need to respect my decision."

She nodded, her eyes growing sad. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay. I will respect that it's your decision, but I will say that I will probably never be comfortable around Klaus, and I will never trust him."

I offered Bonnie a warm smile. "All you have to do is trust me."

It wasn't exactly perfect, but it was a start. Bonnie and Caroline would both try for me, and I loved them for that. I only wondered what would happen when my relationship with Klaus reached Damon and Stefan's ears.

The rest of the day went by as normal. When I got to my history class, I sat down in my seat behind Bonnie and next to Caroline. Alaric walked in as the bell rang and started going over the upcoming final. He was narrowing down the points we should focus on and encouraging as much revision as possible. There was also the final paper that was due on Wednesday. As Alaric started going through the goals of our final paper, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out and smiled when I saw Klaus' name. I have a strange request.

Should I be worried? I replied.

Depends. How do you feel about meeting my mother?

I wasn't comfortable. That was how I felt. Esther made me uneasy, and I didn't trust her. Your mother wants to meet me?

Yeah. She said it was time that you meet.

Doesn't sound suspicious at all. I sent.

You sound paranoid, love. I think you are spending too much time around me.

I bit back my laugh. Or maybe I'm learning to trust my instincts.

You don't trust my mother?

Confirming that I didn't trust Esther could cause tension that I wanted to avoid. Klaus had seemed so relieved that she had wanted to mend their family; after all, it was what he had always wanted. I didn't want to crush his dreams.

I sent, Meeting the parent of the person you are dating is always awkward. Add the fact that your mother is a thousand-year-old witch who created vampires, and that just makes her a lot more scary.

I could imagine his laughter. He said, I promise she just wants to get to know the woman who made my heart beat again.

Everything time he told me that I was the one who 'made his heart beat again,' it made my heart flutter. It felt good to hear how much he cared about me, that he loved me. And I knew that I couldn't avoid Esther forever.

I sent, Alright. When?

Tonight, dinner at my house. 7 o'clock.

I looked up from my phone to see Alaric still talking but giving me a small frown. I put my phone back into my bag tried to focus on what he was saying. But I was having dinner with Klaus' mother, how was I supposed to think about anything else.

When the day finally ended, I found myself walking with Caroline and Bonnie back towards the parking lot. Caroline was going on about her Prom dress and also the planning of the event. It seemed that Rebekah had decided on cooperating for a change; instead of taking over the planning committee, she and Caroline had come to an agreement.

"It's funny how when you work together, how much can get done," I said.

Caroline sighed. "I know. But this is the first time Rebekah has wanted to work together. Every other dance, she has tried to just do it her own way."

"Yes, well, she is used to getting her own way," said Bonnie.

I said, "Not really. Her whole life, she has just wanted what every other girl wants. Now's probably the first time she had been able to enjoy some sense of normality since she was human."

Caroline frowned. "I thought you and Rebekah didn't get along?"

I smiled. "It's tense, but I kind of understand her a bit more. Klaus has told me more about their past, and she has lost a lot."

"Whose lost a lot?"

The three of us paused as we looked up to see Damon.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" asked Caroline.

"I am here to see Elena," he said.

"Well, you saw me," I said, "and now I'm leaving." I moved to walk around him, but he grasped my arm.

"We need to have a chat, Elena."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't really care, and I have places to be." I needed to go home and work out what to wear to dinner.

"That can wait; we need to talk about the Original problem plaguing our lives."

I sighed. "If you hadn't noticed, Damon. Since your little plan failed spectacularly, the Originals haven't done a thing to anyone. No one has died; no one's life has been threatened."

"As long as those Originals are still alive, all of our lives are threatened. We need to get rid of them," Damon snapped.

Caroline said, "Damon, maybe we should just let it go. Why start something?"

Damon threw his hands up. "They started it. Klaus started it when he showed up to break the curse. When he took off with Stefan. Have you forgotten what he has done to us?"

I frowned. "No, we haven't. But things have changed."

Damon grasped my hands and pulled them against his chest. "I know that you are struggling, but you can't let that distract you from what we need to do."

"And what is that?" I asked.

"We need to find a way to kill Klaus. And then everything can go back to the way it was."

I scoffed. "The way it was. Are you serious? We can't go back to the way it was."

"Why not?" he cried. "You were happy, we were—"

"We were nothing, Damon," I snapped and yanked my hands from his grasp.

His eyes widened at my reaction.

I don't know what he expected. I once cared for him, but all he did was try to control everything. I know he wanted me to see him as the hero, the one who saved me and the one that I loved, but the girl that was capable of loving Damon wasn't me anymore.

Caroline and Bonnie had walked away from us, giving us a moment alone. They stood by my car, their eyes watching us. I knew that I needed to tell Damon the truth; he needed to know so that he could hopefully move on and let go of this vendetta. Stefan's desire for revenge had hurt me; what would Damon do if he kept going?

"You need to stop," I said. "If you can't let go and put up with Klaus and his family, then you need to leave, go with Stefan, find a new place to call home."

"Why are you so okay with them staying? Klaus killed you; he killed Jenna."

"I know, but he also so much more than that."

Damon shook his head. "I don't believe what I'm hearing. It sounds like you are defending him."

"I am."

"Has he compelled you?"

"No."

"Is he threatening you?"

"No."

"Then why are you talking like a crazy person?"

"It may seem crazy, but only because you don't really know him."

"Know him? The crazy psychotic Hybrid that has done nothing but torment this town for months."

"When was the last time he hurt anyone?"

Damon frowned.

"It's been months, Damon. Klaus and his family just want to be left alone."

"Is this about because of the day you spent with him at the Grill when I found you two playing pool? What has he done to you?"

I sighed and rubbed my neck. It made me realise that I hadn't really spent any time with Damon since before I became a vampire. He had found me the day after it all happened in the Grill with Klaus, and he didn't want to believe it all then either.

"Klaus has spent the past two months being the biggest support I have."

"What?"

"He helped me with my transition; he has been a shoulder to lean on, someone to talk to. Underneath all that anger and attitude is someone who I really like."

Damon suddenly grasped my face, he stared into my eyes, and I watched as confusion and fear flashed through his eyes. I knew he didn't want to accept what I was saying, but I could also see a hint of belief.

"Elena…"

I placed my hands over his and gently pulled his hands off me. "I love him, Damon."

He shook his head. "No."

"Yes."

"No!" he yelled. Damon's eyes glared at me with pure hatred before he turned around and stormed back to his car. He drove out of the parking lot, his wheels squealing as he went.

I walked over to where Bonnie and Caroline were waiting and was relieved when Caroline pulled me in for a hug.

She said, "Give him some time."

"I know," I sighed. "I just hope he doesn't do something stupid."

I was nervous. The whole drive over, I had been antsy. How could I not be? Esther was a powerful witch that was channelling the whole Bennett line, and she was also Klaus' mother. I was about to have dinner with her and possibly embarrass myself. I had never had to go through the whole meeting my boyfriend's parents thing; I already knew Matt's mother before we started dating, Stefan's parents we already dead, and well, Klaus' were supposed to be, but his family wasn't exactly normal.

I was also having a weird mind spiral about what to call Klaus. We hadn't really stated what type of relationship we were in. We had both confirmed our mutual feelings and basically acted like we were dating. Did vampires even use the say terms as humans? We were boyfriend/girlfriend? Or were we mates? That was the only supernatural term I could really think of when it came to couples.

My nerves also hadn't help when it came to picking my outfit. Klaus had confirmed it would be nice causal, so I went for a pair of skinny black jeans, a royal blue top and a modest pair of heels. I didn't want to overdress, but as I pulled up to the over the top house that belonged to Klaus, I was panicking that I was underdressed.

I climbed out of the car and let out a heavy breath when Klaus stepped out of the front door. The smile on his face was enough to chase away the nerves; it also helped that he was dressed in his typical jeans and henley combo.

"You look delectable," he said. His hands came to rest on my hips.

"You look pretty good yourself." I placed my hands on his chest and stretched up to kiss him. I broke it before he could deepen it. "Save that for later," I said, "time to meet the parent."

He chuckled. "Sure, you wouldn't rather run very late. You could have gotten a flat tire."

I snorted out a laugh.

Klaus back me up against the side of my car and kissed me again. I couldn't stop myself from twisting my fingers into his hair.

"That would be very convenient, wouldn't it?"

He nodded and kissed me again.

"I say we get this over with and then sneak up to your room after."

Klaus smiled, his eyes gleaming like a cheeky kid that was just told he could have as much sugar as he wanted. "Sounds like a plan."

Wrapping our hands together, we walked up the steps and into the house. Klaus had told me that it was possible his siblings would join us for dinner too, so I expected to see them as we walked into the sitting room that sat parallel to the formal dining room.

Elijah, as always, was dressed in a fine suit and was sitting with his legs crossed, drink in one hand and a book in his lap. Rebekah was sitting beside Esther on the couch, a tablet in her hand that she was showing to her mother. Esther seemed to be admiring whatever was on the screen.

Elijah looked up from his book as we entered. "Elena, you look lovely this evening."

I smiled at Elijah warmly. I hadn't seen much of him since the ball, but he was probably the sibling I liked the most. "Thank you, Elijah. It's good to see you."

"You as well. I do apologize for my absence; I've had business that required my attention," he said.

Rebekah huffed. "You always have business. Maybe you just prefer to be away from our family drama?" she raised her eyebrow and challenged him with her stare.

Elijah returned her look with a smile. "Just your drama, Rebekah."

I couldn't stop the small laugh that came out.

"Children," said Esther. She stood from her seat and smiled at me. "They never grow out of their bickering."

"My brother and I certainly haven't grown out of it," I said, "but I was under the impression that it was Klaus who was the argumentative one."

Klaus nudged my side. "Most of it is teasing," he claimed.

"Of course." Esther reached out to squeezed Klaus' arm. "Elena, this has taken far too long to happen. I had originally intended for us to meet the night of the ball, but my attentions were pulled elsewhere."

I kept my smile in place as she took my hand and squeezed it. From the moment I had heard about her, something hadn't sat right with me, and standing before Esther now, it felt worse than ever before. The charming smile that sat upon her face and the warmth she was projecting just didn't make sense to me.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you," I said.

"Same to you. I also can't thank you enough for helping my son." Esther lifted her hand to cup Klaus' cheek. "Niklaus needs a strong woman by his side, and I don't think he could find anyone better."

"Thank you. I will admit I had my doubts, but the man beneath it all is certainly worth it." I turned to look at Klaus, and his cheeky smile only widened.

He pressed a kiss to my head before squeezing my hand.

The dinner itself was so normal. Klaus sat at the head of the table; I was on his right, Esther his left. Elijah had taken the seat beside me, leaving Rebekah to sit beside Esther. An entrée was brought out, followed by a main and then dessert, which we moved back to the sitting room for. I shared a lemon tart with Klaus before finding myself discussing my family with Esther. Family seemed to be the main topic of the night.

But when the meal wrapped up and Rebekah declared that she had a date with a cute football player, Elijah and Esther said 'goodnight' and left Klaus and me alone in the sitting room.

We stayed there for only a few moments before heading upstairs to Klaus' studio. I walked in and spotted a new canvas with a few marking sitting in the centre of the room. It had only been two days ago that he had started another painting, which I could see unfinished and shoved to the side. I walked over to his desk, where an assortment of sketches covered the table. There were many of me, some I remembered him drawing, ones I know he had done from memory.

"What do you think of my mother?" Klaus asked.

I ran my finger across one of his sketches from a few weeks ago; I was lying on his bed, naked, reading a book. Klaus had been sitting against the headboard, rubbing my legs. It had been a Friday evening where we had been granted his house to ourselves.

"I don't know what to think," I said.

"She likes you if that helps."

I turned to see him pour a drink and take a seat on the sofa. I had contemplated telling Klaus about what Caroline had told me. That Esther was talking to Bonnie and her mother about turning them all human. What would that mean for them? Would that be something they would even want?

"What's going through that head of yours?" he asked.

I leant back against the desk and ran my fingers through my hair. "Caroline told me something, and I don't know what to do with it."

"What did she tell you?"

"Something that could change everything."

"Sounds dramatic."

"It might be, but I don't know if it would be good or bad."

"What is it? Maybe I can help determine what it will be."

"Your reaction would certainly tell me."

"What is it?" He stood from the sofa and walked over to me. He placed his drink beside me on the desk and cupped my chin. "Elena, you can tell me."

I knew that if I didn't tell him and he was blindsided by his mother, it could cause him to lash out. But I also wanted to keep him from getting hurt.

"You can tell me anything, love."

I nodded and reached up to cup his neck. I pulled his lips to mine and tasted the sweetness of the scotch he had been drinking. When I broke the kiss, I stroked his cheek and sighed. I said, "Caroline told me that Esther has been meeting with Bonnie and her mother."

Klaus frowned.

"She said that Esther wants to find a way to turn you all human."

His hands clenched. His eyebrow twitched, and his jaw tightened. Taking a step back, he grabbed his glass and drained the contents before turning and throwing the glass across the room. The shattering glass would have made me jump before, but now the crash didn't bother me.

"That bitch." His words came out in a deep growl.

"If it's any consolation, me being a vampire puts a big halt on her plan. Apparently, my human doppelganger blood is the main ingredient in turning vampires mortal," I said.

Klaus shook his head. "I should have known better."

I walked over to him and grasped his face. "You have done nothing wrong."

"No? I stupidly trusted that my mother loved me and forgave me. How could I be so foolish?" He clenched his fists and tried to step away from me.

I caught him by wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him against me. "You haven't been foolish. No son would ever want to believe that their mother would want anything but to love them."

"Most son's probably didn't rip their mother's hearts out of their chest," he said.

"Most mother's wouldn't have caused so much suffering for their children." I leant our forehead's together.

It was understandable why Esther would want to reverse what she had done. As a witch, vampires were supposedly against nature. That was what Bonnie had said, as did her Grams. But to me, it didn't make sense; if nature didn't want vampires to exist, surely nature would have prevented Esther from succeeding.

"Thank you for telling me," said Klaus.

I nodded. "I didn't want to. I could see how happy you were."

His hands wrapped around my body. "You are all I need to be happy." He kissed me firmly.

"One thing I don't understand is why your mother would hide this all from you?" I asked.

"Becoming human isn't something I would be overjoyed with. Elijah, maybe; Rebekah wouldn't turn up her nose at it; Finn would probably be overjoyed; Kol enjoys his predatory nature too much. And me, I like being a Hybrid."

Klaus' mind seemed to turn. I could almost hear the gears grind as he went over it all.

"There is probably more to her plan, anyway."

"Like what?" I asked.

"I know she had always regretted what she made us. Mikael was the same. She probably wants to make us mortal and weak before killing us. It would probably solve the whole vampire problem for the whole world." He took my hand and led me over to the sofa.

"How?"

"It's never been tested," he said, "but nature tends to have a loophole or a consequence. It would make sense that if the original vampire dies, then so would everyone connected to that bloodline."

That meant if he died, so would Damon, Stefan, Caroline and me. It would mean that thousands of vampires would just drop dead. It really would change the world. It made more sense to me to sacrifice a few for the better of mankind if you wanted to look at it that way. But I still couldn't understand how Esther could decide to murder her own children. As a witch, she would want vampires erased. But as a mother, how would she deal with that?

"I guess peace could only last for so long," said Klaus.

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"My mother is channelling the Bennett bloodline. If she is planning on killing me, then I will make sure I break that connection to stop her, by any means necessary."

"Let me talk to Bonnie first."

Klaus frowned. "I don't think your friend is going to side with me in this."

"No, but she would side with me. She's my best friend, and she is trying."

"Trying to murder me."

"Please." I pulled myself up and into his lap. I wasn't above seducing him to get my way. Even more so if it kept people from dying.

Klaus smirked as I straddled him. His hand cupped my neck, and he said, "Are you using sex to get your way?"

I couldn't stop my smile. "Only if it's working?" I pressed my chest against his and placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

He chuckled and kissed me deeply. "It just might be."

His hand found its way into my hair, and the other grasped my thigh. He moved us and rolled me onto my back on the couch, never breaking our kiss. Our bodies melted together, his hands sliding up to undo my jeans and pull them down along with my panties. Klaus sat up to pull them off my legs before laying down between my thighs. He looked up at me as he pressed a kiss to my knee.

"So beautiful," he whispered.

His noise ran up along my inner thigh, and his breath brushed across my opening; it sent a wave of need through me. He pressed another kiss to my thigh, then my mound, before dipping his tongue between my folds.

A loud moan fell from my mouth, and my head fell back. I closed my eyes and gasped as I felt one of his fingers slid into my heat. Every movement sent small jolts of pleasure through me, my heart was beating hard against my chest, and Klaus moved his tongue up to my clit.

"Klaus," I cried.

He moaned against my centre, the vibrations running straight through me. My hips bucked up against his mouth, and Klaus' free hand grasped my hip to hold me down. A second finger joined his first, pressing me open and pushing me close to a quickly building orgasm.

"Ahh." I grasped at his curls, needing more.

A third finger entered me, and I felt Klaus' fangs press against my thigh. He licked and sucked at the skin over my femoral artery before biting down. The jolt sent my orgasm crashing over me.

"Yes!"

Klaus groaned against my thigh and continued to lap at my blood until my body sagged against the sofa. His tongue rang across his bite mark, and his fingers slid out of my centre.

I used my grip on his hair to pull his face up to mine and kiss him. His tongue was coated in a mix of my blood and my juices; it was sweet and hot, making the need for more burn inside me.

"We can do it your way," he said, pressing kissing across my cheek to my neck.

I couldn't stop my smile. "Thank you."