She lit the final candle on the coffee table and moved to the window to peer down on the still streets. Here and there she could see the flickering light of candles but for the most part the city had gone dark.
New York City, the city that never slept, was still.
According to the radio they could expect to be without power for several more hours before the electrical lines were repaired.
She would have hated to be the employee responsible for the rolling blackout. She also would have hated to be a police officer during the blackout; she could only imagine how crime was spiking in the pitch black alleys below.
Her dark musings were interrupted by a hasty knock on the door.
"Who's out in a black out?" Caroline frowned.
"No idea," she shrugged.
"It's for you," the blonde pulled open the door and sighed.
She set down her mug and came around the kitchen island. She found she couldn't stop her soft smile when she saw him on the other side of the door.
"What are you doing here?"
"I've got something I want to show you," he grinned from ear to ear. "Come on."
"Now," she frowned when he took her wrist, "in the middle of a blackout."
"Now's the only time," he smirked.
"Shall I wait up?" Caroline called down the hall after them.
"No," he shouted back.
Elena let him drag her through the hall for a moment but paused when they got to the stairwell. Her eyes fell to her clothes: sleep shorts, a tank top and slippers; she wasn't even wearing a bra.
"Don't worry about that," he saw what she was looking at. Threading his fingers through hers he pulled her upwards. "We're not leaving the building."
She sighed but followed him anyway. Time had taught her there was no arguing with him when he got that look in his eyes. She giggled when they reached the very top of the building and her slipper fell off.
"Why'd you drag me up here?" She took quick breaths and slipped her foot back into the slipper.
"I told you I wanted to show you something," he smirked.
She could just make out the gleam of his teeth in the emergency lights.
"Close your eyes," he reached for the door that would give them access to the roof.
"That seems safe," she quipped, but did as instructed.
A cool breeze made her shiver. She tightened her hold when he took her hands and squeezed his fingers. Slowly he walked backwards and instructed her where to place her feet so she wouldn't trip over anything. When they were in the center of the roof top patio he told her to open her eyes.
Her lashes fluttered a few times as she focused on the seating area. Everything looked just like it had when they were there the other night; she couldn't find anything new or remiss.
He smiled and tipped her chin upwards.
For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her but he kept tipping her chin back until she had to look through her lashes to see him. She lifted her gaze when he nodded upwards.
The breath flew from her lungs.
Above them millions of stars twinkled in the heavens; more stars than she could ever remember seeing.
He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her with him down onto the blue cushioned couch.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"Worth racing up the stairs in your slippers?" He pressed a kiss behind her ear.
"Definitely," she hummed. Covering his hands with hers she followed him back to lay on the couch.
"So you like your birthday present then?" He shifted onto his side so he could watch her watching the stars.
She was in the middle of an eager nod when she froze. Slowly she turned to look at him and arched an elegant brow.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing," he smirked, "that can be proven."
"Kol," her voice held a note of warning.
"I swear, darling," he held up his palms, "I did nothing."
"Then you forgot my birthday and decided to take advantage of the blackout?" She rolled onto her side.
He wrapped an arm around her back to keep her from falling and kissed the tip of her nose.
"I'd never forget your birthday love," he smirked. When he was certain she wasn't going to fall he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a rectangular box roughly the size of the phone he normally kept there. Flipping open the lid he held it out for her inspection.
"I had intended to take you out for dinner, but the blackout changed my plans."
She blinked at the tiny necklace. A diamond star hung from a delicate silver chain; he took the necklace from the box and shifted so he could fasten the clasp around her neck.
"Tell me about it," she giggled, fingering the hem of her tank top. "I had a nice dress picked out for that dinner."
"I think I like this ensemble more," he smirked. Taking her hips he leaned closer with the intention of kissing her and blinked when she held her hand over his lips.
"I just need to hear you say it," she tilted her head.
"Happy birthday?" He guessed.
"Not that," she smiled.
"I love you?"
"Not that," her eyes sparkled, reflecting the stars. "I need to hear you say you had nothing to do with the blackout."
"Must you hear that?"
"Kol," she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"It seems a bit much."
"Just say 'Elena, I had nothing to do with the blackout'," she smirked.
"Elena," he stared into her eyes, "I had nothing to do with the blackout." He tilted his head. "Do you believe me?"
"Not for a second," she shook her head and closed the distance to kiss him.