"Wake up blondie." Damon said kicking up dirt as he walked by.

"God Damon!" She yelled throwing a rock at him. "It's bad enough I agreed to come out in the middle of NOWHERE to search for Elena, which turned out to be a dead end btw, so stop being a dick!"

"Grow up both of you." Ric mumbled from a sleeping back next to them. "This is the second trip we've taken and you're still are acting like 5 year olds."

"He started it!"

"She started it!" They both yelled at the same time. Alaric rolled his eyes.

"Let's just leave." Caroline pleaded to Damon. "We can have Bonnie do another tracking spell once we get back home and regroup. Searching random places isn't doing us any good."

"Leave then!" Damon screamed at her. "You are useless." Caroline knew better than to argue at him. His glassy red eyes told her he was up all night drinking again. He took Elena being gone the hardest. He hardly ever slept and he always drank, more so than before. Jeremy was still in Colorado, he didn't have a clue anything was wrong. Bonnie helped with tracking spells here and there but was trying to live her own life with her mother and boyfriend, away from Klaus drama. Stefan, Matt, and Tyler usually stayed home making sure everything was fine. Caroline thought Stefan hoped Elena would show up home one day and he'd be the first to see her while Damon was away searching. She watched him stare at the letter she wrote him, crinkled from the million times he read it.

"C'mon man. It's no use searching around these small town and random places you think she'll be. We can find more out at home with Bonnie's help." Ric said placing a hand on his shoulder.

Damon looked up slowly with teary eyes defeated. "Fine," He grumbled pushing himself up and stuffing the letter back into his pocket.

It took them 5 hours to get back home and it was painfully silent the whole time.

"Find anything?" Tyler said as they walked back into the boarding house.

"No. I missed you." Caroline smiled sadly kissing him, jumping when Damon slammed the door shut.

"Good." Damon said glancing at his phone ringing. "Where are you? We didn't find anything there."

"Put it on speaker." Caroline mouthed to Damon. Of course he rolled his eyes but obliged.

"They must be moving on from place to place sooner than I thought."

"Cut the bullshit. Do you know where she is or not?"

"Not exactly all I'm going on it what one of his witches is telling me."

"Great real reliable. Did you talk to Klaus?"

"Yes and he isn't planning on giving up his coordinates. I'm working on other means to find out. In the meantime the witch told me they are headed towards the west coast. I'll update you as soon as I get more. Just keep in mind he likes to lay low in small towns but always wants to be close enough to cities for when he gets…bored."

"Great, thanks for being soo specific Elijah." Damon snipped sarcastically but Elijah had already hung up.

Xxxx

Elijah gripped his phone tightly. It was growing tiresome leading Damon on wild goose chases across the country for the one thing that was keeping him sane. He could see that Elena was bonding with them all and she finally had some life back in her eyes but when the time was right he would tell her what he was doing. Whether it was against Klaus' rules or not she would want to know.

"Why so sad?" Elena puckered her bottom lip sinking into the couch next to him.

"Oh nothing just some business deal gone wrong."

"I'm sure it will be fine. Besides you're rich who cares if one deal goes wrong." She chuckled. "Guess what I'm doing today?" She sang playfully into his ear cheering him up.

"What?" He tried to hide the smile growing on his lips.

"Klaus is teaching me how to paint! I mean I can do basic stuff but he's going to help me paint a landscape." She couldn't contain her excitement.

"I'm sure you will be the next Da Vinci."

"Let's hope." She said crossing her fingers and kissing his cheek before bouncing off to Klaus' painting room. Elijah hoped she would stay this happy forever, she deserved it after how horrible her life had been the past few years.

Xxxx

"You're late." Klaus grumbled in his chair not looking away from the window.

"By like 10 minutes." Elena rolled her eyes. "What's wrong?" She said frowning when she noticed he wasn't kidding around.

"Nothing let's get started." He stood up letting her know he wasn't going to tell her. Elena figured he was just in a bad mood and intended on changing that.

"Secrets don't make friends." She sang as she put an arm around his waist.

"That is why I don't have friends love." He smirked pulling her in closer to him. He was instantly happy when he heard her heart beat faster and faster.

"Are you going to show me how to paint or not?" She raised her eyebrow pushing away from him. It only made him follow her to the easel.

She picked up a paint brush waiting for him to start with some kind of instructions. She was surprised when he took her arm and guided it around the canvas. Elena couldn't help but lean into him. She could feel his heat and lean muscle under his shirt pressing against her back.

"Nervous?" Klaus chuckled when he felt her shake a little.

"No." She squeaked.

"Mmhmm." He hummed trying to concentrate on making her painting beautiful.

"Let's get some more trees in there"

"Okay."

"OOOuu and wild flowers!"

"Okay okay Bob Ross." He chuckled.

"I happen to have found that show relaxing." She said fake offended.

"Someone had a boring childhood."

"Hey!" She turned around and dabbed paint on his cheek.

"Bad move Elena." She was honestly scared he was actually mad until he flicked paint back onto her face.

"Oh my god! I can't believe you did that!" She laughed. "I'm so getting you back!"

They chased each other around the room each with a paint covered brush. Klaus couldn't remember the last time he laughed like that. Somehow they both ended up with paint all over their hands and making it a paint war through the whole house.

"Kol! Hide me!" Elena laughed standing behind him as Klaus rounded the corner.

"Touché Elena. We all know Kol would throw a hissy fit if he were to get messy."

"Ha ha very funny." Kol smirked and walked away.

"Got you!" Elena yelled smothering his face in paint using his temporary distraction as a way to win.

"Well played love. Now I am going to clean up. Care to join?" He wiggled his eyebrow playfully.

"You wish." She winked as she ran up to her own shower.

Xxxx

"Elena?" Kol knocked yelled through the door.

"I'm in the shower wait in my room!" He heard Elena shout. He would have heard her talk normally though. Kol played nervously with her blanket waiting for Elena to get out the shower. He was embarrassed how he treated her the other day but knew it was already forgotten. Elena was way to forgiving sometimes. It opened her up to get hurt easily which is why he saw Elijah trying to protect her most of the time.

"What's up?" Elena said walking back into her room while twisting her hair up into a towel.

"As my formal apology I would like to take you out to play pool with Elijah and I. I never really played but Elijah said it's entertaining so I figured I'd give it a go."

"What about Klaus?" Elena bit her lip. She didn't want to leave him out; he didn't deserve to be lonely anymore. She fully intended to help their family get closer again. They needed each other whether they wanted to admit it or not.

"If you must." Kol said rolling his eyes motioning towards the door that she had to invite him if he needed to join them.

"OK! Be right back!" Elena squealed. She couldn't wait to have a night out drinking and playing pool with her best friends.

"You look lovely." Klaus grinned as Elena ran into the living room still wrapped in a towel.

"This is my best look." Elena winked flirtatiously. "Are you busy tonight?"

"Depends on what time of the night." He winked back. Elena rolled her eyes.

"How about in 20 minutes?"

"I should be free. Why what are you suggesting?"

"Kol, Elijah, and I were going to get some beers and play pool and we wanted you to come with us." She smiled "It'll be fun. I'm not very good, I'm sure you could give me some pointers." She said to sweeten the deal. She would probably do just about anything to get these brothers back together.

"Sounds like a plan."

"OK! Just let me get dressed and we can go. I'll let the guys know." Elena talked as she started jogging back up to her room.

"He coming." She said plopping back on her bed next to kol.

"Thought he would. Lilah picked your outfit while you were down there. It's quite sexy. I told her you wouldn't like it but she wouldn't listen." He said holding up the outfit. A tight black dress that was very short, ripped black tights, grey suede wedges, and a short leather jacket. She smiled down at it. Lilah knew she wanted to look good for Klaus. She wouldn't have picked this exact outfit but she knew it would catch his attention.

"I Love it. Now get out so I can change, I'll be down in 20." Elena quickly got dressed, did her makeup and blow dried her hair, she liked it when it was wavy and natural more these days.

"Ready?" Elena said slinking into the kitchen where the guys were drinking wine waiting for her. She smiled when she caught Klaus quietly gasp. He was also the first one to catch up to her and link his arm with hers.

"Shall we?" Klaus said to the others. "By the way, you look absolutely ravishing." He whispered lowly into her ear so only she could hear. She tried not to giggle at that. She could feel the butterflies go crazy in her stomach.

Klaus was the perfect gentleman all night. Getting her drinks whenever she wanted one, staying close to her, and eyeing any random that looked like they were going to talk to her. She surprisingly liked it. Elena decided to stay out of the first few games to let the brothers have fun together, and they did. She smiled at how close they seemed to be getting lately. Elena didn't know it but it was because of her that the brothers united and became, well brothers again. They all thought of her as family and would stick together to keep her safe and happy.

"Your turn love." Klaus turned towards Elena snapping her out of day dreaming.

"I'm not good." Elena hesitated. Klaus and Elijah were really good, even Kol only playing once was good. She didn't want to go up against any of them.

"I'll be on your team don't worry." Klaus winked.

She hesitantly took a pool stick. She was surprised when Klaus came in behind her. One arm on her waist the other on her arm and the pool stick. She could hardly breathe with his mouth so close to her neck.

"The trick is to have a good powerful break. It sets up the whole game." He whispered into her ear sending chills down her back.

"Whoo!" Elena yelled. They both laughed when she hit the cue ball dead on and got two solid color balls into the pockets. "You're better at this that you thought." He said seductively into her ear

"That's because I have a good teacher." She craned her head around to smirk at him.

They played two more games. All of them having a blast. All of them growing closer and closer.

"OH I love this song! Let's dance!" Elena jumped up dragging Klaus and Elijah's hands, Kol following.

Elena laughed as Kol grabbed a girl and started dancing with her, despite protests from her boyfriend. Elena danced between Elijah and Klaus enjoying herself. It was nice not having both of them fighting over her like it would be with the Salvatore's. She loved Damon and Stefan but a change was definitely needed.

"I'm going to get a drink." Elijah said bowing out knowing Klaus and Elena wanted some time alone.

"Finally some alone time." Klaus whispered in her ear as he spun her around to face him.

They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before Elena smashed her lips into his. She didn't know if it was all the sexual tension they'd been having, the alcohol, or the heat of the club, or all of them but she couldn't help herself. Elena broke the kiss and grabbed his hand leading him to the bathroom. He raised his eyebrow when she locked the door.

"I love this side of you." He chuckled. She melted when she saw his smile again and pushed him up against the wall.

"Shut up." She manages to get out before their lips collided again. Her hands wove into his hair as a moan escaped her lips. Klaus spun her around and pinned her to the wall before picking her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist She pulled away slightly trying to catch her breath.

"Let's get out of here." She struggled to get out as Klaus started to nibble on her ear and moved down her neck.

"As you wish." Klaus said placing another kiss on her neck before he quickly texted his brothers they would meet them back home. He swung her up into his arms bridal style and ran off to their house, leaving the car for Elijah and Kol.

They were into Elena's room in a matter of minutes. Neither of them could wait any longer, all of their clothes were gone and their bodies smashed together. Perfectly molded together like they were two puzzle pieces always meant to fit. Elena playfully pushed Klaus onto the bed and straddled him. Before she could do much dominating he rolled on top of her smirking. Elena couldn't control the moans that escaped her as he placed slow deep kisses on every inch of her body. Her body raised up slightly every time his lips left hers for a moment.

"Enough teasing. I need you now." Elena pleaded as she became overwhelmed with lust for him. He tangled his hands into her hair and kissed her deeply before thrusting himself into her.

"Oh my god!" She screamed in pure ecstasy. They were lost in each other forgetting there was even a world outside of just them. Hours seems to go by until finally they both collapsed onto the best finally achieving their releases. Elena having several.

"If I had known you were going to be this good in bed I would have fallen for you a long time ago." Elena joked as he got up. "Hey, where are you going?" She said with a slight whimper in her voice

"Going back to my room. I figured you would want to go to bed." He said confused she was sad.

"I do want to go to bed but I want you to stay with me."

"Why?" He was genuinely confused. He had never been close enough with a woman to stay with her after they had sex. Even when he wanted to stay the woman had pushed him out. He didn't like to open himself up to more hurt by trying to stay with them the whole night. He honestly didn't think Elena cared for him that much.

"Because I want to stay close to you. I love the feeling when I'm with you and I feel…safe with you." She said blushing. She didn't want to admit it but she was actually getting anxious not being close to him. She reached out to take his hand with pleading eyes. He stared at her hand in his for only a moment before he decided to go with his feelings for her and lay back down on the bed. He closed his eyes relishing in the feeling as she snuggled herself close to his chest and draped her arm over her waist. "Feels good doesn't it? Being close like this, I could stay here forever." Elena mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

"Me too." He smiled burying his face into her sweet smelling hair.

A/N: hope you like this nice long chapter! Hoping to start making them longer so you guys have more to read. I was going to wait til tomorrow to upload this but i couldn't wait! let me know what you think!