'Please can you go? Katherine begged, which was very rare for her, 'I'm a wanted woman and I need these herbs, or rather the witch needs them to make the glamour tea!'

'Katy I don't want to go into New Orleans today. Maybe tomorrow?' I was being a chicken and I knew it. I had slept with the very person Katherine was taking steps to hide from less than twenty-four hours ago. Part of me was terrified that I would run into him in the quarter.

'If I have to spend one more day locked up in here or sneaking around out there, I'm going to start ripping off your limbs for something to do!' She growled, pulling the covers off me. It was eight in the morning and I was close to growling at her myself.

We had been following the Mikaelson's for almost two years now and Katherine usually had a witch to do a temporary glamour spell for her so she could wonder about the city without having to worry about being seen by Klaus. However the witches here weren't allowed to do magic, but Katy had found a witch who had offered to make her a tea that would have the same effects, it just meant a spell wouldn't have to be cast.

'Fine. I'll go, but if I murder a vampire because I'm awake at this ungodly hour and I too get sentenced to death, that's on your conscience!' I warned her before climbing out of the bed and flashing to get dressed. One thing I loved about Katherine was our similar fashion sense. Some thought we dressed too provocatively, but I liked my body and I was happy to dress as such.

I changed into some high waisted black leather shorts, a white vest top, leather jacket and black Mary Jane's that I may or may not have borrowed from Katherine—she owed me for being awake at eight on a damn Saturday. My light brown hair hung to my waist, the loose curls bouncing as I walked.

'Don't get murdered, Ari.' Katy mock warned me, but I could see the genuine concern in her eyes. My bad mood ebbed a little at the sight and I kissed her cheek in assurance before leaving our apartment in search of the herbs I apparently needed to collect.

I managed to get them with no trouble, seeing as most witches in this town were terrified of vampires. And I assumed the fact I was wearing a daylight ring helped as well—they assumed me to be in Marcel's trusted circle and probably thought the ingredients were for him. By the time I was finished, it was nearing noon so I decided to pop into Rousseau's for something to eat. I idly hoped Camille would be there as she had been lovely the night before. But of course that conversation had led to me meeting him. I shook my head free of the image that entered my brain; him hovering above me, his eyes shining with such intensity that I couldn't look away. The way he had leaned down and captured my lips in a searing kiss as he pounded harder into me—.

No! You need to stop thinking about him, he's the enemy. He killed some of your friends back home and he's had Katy on the run for five hundred years! Pull yourself together, Arianna!

Taking a breath I wandered into the bar, smiling brightly when I saw a familiar head of platinum blonde hair. I made my way over to the bar and sat on a stool, placing my bag on the ground by my feet.

'Hey, Cami!' I greeted, my hands splaying out on the wood.

'Hey, how did it go last night?' she gave me a suggestive look that made me laugh.

Once again, flashes of my night with Klaus flickered through my mind without my consent and I found myself biting my lip at the passion and chemistry I remembered between the both of us.

'It was… amazing. Best one night stand I've ever had anyway.' I grinned, taking the bourbon she slid my way gratefully.

'Details, please, my sex life is pathetically none existent so I would like to vicariously live through you.' She said quietly, leaning her elbows on the bar so she was eye level with me.

If I were still capable of blushing, I would have.

'I'm sure that's not true. I've heard Marcel has a thing for you.' I commented, remembering Katy commenting on it the other day. I was grateful that I had listened to her, as I was able to steer the conversation away from myself.

Camille did blush and I smiled devilishly.

'That's nothing, he seemed interested until another blonde came into the picture.' She frowned. That was right—Marcel and Rebekah had a history and the female original had arrived in town a few days ago. I idly wondered if she would remember me—we had actually had a drink in one of the many towns Klaus and Stefan had travelled to over the summer a few years ago. Stefan and Klaus were off hunting and Katherine was following them, wanting to keep an eye on Stefan.

I knew who she was as soon as I saw her, the accent and aura of superiority gave her away, but to my surprise she sought out my company and before I knew it we were laughing and drinking together well into the early hours of the morning.

'I'm sure we can find you someone.' I smirked, glancing around the surprisingly packed bar and trying to sense another human. I bit my lip when I found one. He was an African American man and he was actually already staring in Cami's direction.

'Like him.' I discretely gestured in his direction. She followed my gaze and sent the man a seductive smile that he returned.

'I'm gonna go and see if he needs anything.' She murmured and I laughed a little as she sauntered away. That was easy. I finished my drink and was about to go and find someone to snack on when the stool to my right was suddenly occupied.

'Hello, love.' His smirk made my breath catch and my knees weaken. I decided to stay seated until I was confident I wouldn't fall on my face. I cursed myself for not leaving the bar sooner but it didn't matter now. He was here.

'If you're looking for a booty call I'm pretty sure I already told you I only wanted company for the one night.' I gave him a look that made him chuckle. I ignored what the sound did to my stomach. Damn butterflies.

'Actually I was hoping to ask you a question.' He leaned closer and I couldn't help it when my gaze fell to his lips for the briefest of moments before flickering back up to his eyes, 'why did you leave so suddenly last night?'

Call me crazy, but I could have sworn I saw a knowing glint in his eyes, as if he knew the answer already. But he couldn't have; before last night we'd never even crossed paths.

'It sounds like you already know the answer to that.' I mumbled, leaning away from him and trying to get my bearings.

'I have a feeling it has something to do with the problems I made for you and your friends back in Mystic Falls.' He said bluntly, not bothering to beat around the bush.

'Yes, it does.' If he was being straight forward then I decided I would be as well, 'but I didn't know that you were the elusive Klaus Mikaelson until you offered me your blood. How did you know who I was? How did you know I'm from the town you tormented?'

He opened his mouth to speak and then shut it again, his lips twitching as if he were fighting off a smile that made me want to slap his chest, so I did. He blinked at me and then that annoying dimpled smirk was playing on his features once again.

'I have eyes and ears everywhere, Arianna. As soon as you told me your name it rang a bell and when I checked in with my contacts my instincts were proven right. I heard your name mentioned a few times back in Mystic Falls, I just never had an opportunity to put a face to the name.' He shrugged, but he wouldn't look me in the eye. I knew I didn't know him that well, but something at the back of my mind was telling me he was lying. But seeing as he didn't need to trust me and his answer did make sense, I brushed it off.

'Alright. Well it appears you've answered your own question.' I said dryly, sipping my drink.

'I'm sorry for what I did to you and your friends. None of you deserved the horrors I inflicted on you. You have to understand, I had been plagued by my curse for over a thousand years at that point, and I wasn't thinking rationally; my only goal was to break the curse. To free the part of myself that had been repressed against my will.' His words and eyes were so sincere that I felt myself freeze in shock.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did to you and your friends.

The words bounced around in my head on repeat and I felt my hesitance to be around him thaw a little. I couldn't believe that he was apologising, and to me. I didn't understand why. Why he felt like he owed me anything. Why the powerful Klaus Mikaelson was apologising to me when he famously never apologised to anyone. I felt my heart squeeze a little when he mentioned his repressed side. I had heard the story, and even then I had felt a small amount of sympathy for him, now it had tripled.

'Thank you.' I said softly looking up to him with a small smile, 'for your apology.'

His eyes flickered over my face, and a look crossed over his face but it was gone too quickly for me to analyse it.

'What are you doing today?' He asked, flagging down the barman for a refill.

'I have to get back to my friend and drop off the things she asked me to pick up.' I said, biting my lip at the reminder. I glanced at my phone and noticed the time—it was almost two and Katy was probably pissed. Or worried.

'That's very vague,' he was amused and I shrugged, knowing I couldn't give him any more details than that.

'What about you? I'm assuming the usual plans for global domination.' I teased, grinning at his laughter.

'Of course.' He smirked and leaned closer, 'just don't tell anyone love.'

I chuckled but my laughter fell away when his hand went to my thigh. It seemed innocent enough but his touch reminded me of the pleasure he was capable of creating and my mouth was suddenly very dry. I cleared my throat and downed the rest of my drink before slamming my glass down to the bar with a thump.

'I should get going. It was good to see you, Klaus.' I smiled, genuinely meaning it.

I stood from my stool and headed towards the door, but before I could safely escape I felt someone grab my elbow and turn me around.

'Let me take you to dinner.' He murmured, so quiet I was sure I was the only one able to hear his words, despite the vampires present in the bar.

He terrorised my friends. But you would have done the same thing if it were you under a curse. He's had Katherine on the run for half a millennia. She did betray him and force him to live with his torment for another five hundred years. I shouldn't but my heart and head were at war with each other and my heart was winning.

'When?' I whispered. He blinked for a moment, clearly surprised with my answer. But then his shock dissipated and was replaced with a genuine grin that made my dead heart pound in my chest.

'Tonight. Seven. Meet me here.' He told me and after placing a kiss to my forehead, he was gone.

I stared after him, one question bouncing around in my head: what just happened?

Xxx

That morning I was awoken from my dream of a memory by someone knocking at the hut. I couldn't help but smile when I opened my eyes and saw Klaus's sleeping form next to me. I let the memory of our second encounter in the future play in my mind as I watched him, realising for the first time that Klaus already knew me when he had seen me in the bar for the first time. He perused me because he remembered me.

I'm sorry for what I did to you and your friends.

Klaus Mikaelson was apologising to me when he famously never apologised to anyone.

I could have sworn I saw a knowing glint in his eyes, as if he knew the answer already.

He shrugged, but he wouldn't look me in the eye. I knew I didn't know him that well, but something at the back of my mind was telling me he was lying.

He apologised because he loved me and felt genuinely bad about what he had done. He didn't know I lived in that town, or that time, until he met me when we spent our first night together. That was why he wouldn't give up, that was why he sometimes had a knowing glint in his eyes when I mentioned something I liked, or he told me stories of when he had been human. He had mentioned a girl he had fallen for, but I had just assumed it was Tatia. What if I was wrong? What if that girl had been me? My eyes flickered over his sleeping form once again as my mind reeled with the information and new questions, but I knew I wouldn't receive any answers until I got back to my time. But seeing as Nik hadn't been surprised when he had found me in that bar, I assumed he knew the truth. He knew that I wouldn't remember our time together when he was human until I got sent back to the past. He knew that he would meet me again one day, which was why he hadn't wasted any time earning my forgiveness, and getting me to fall in love with him. It explained why he hadn't killed me when he learned of my friendship with Katherine, because he loved me enough to not want to lose me again, enough to forgive a betrayal he had been chasing for half a millennia. Not only that, he must have realised that the Katarina they had all been friends with in the past was Katherine. I could understand that he hadn't realised it to be her when he tried to break the curse the first time, but her being in my life later on and knowing what he knew would have made it undeniable. He didn't want me to lose my friend, and he knew that at some point, he had been a friend to Katy himself. If it were possible, I felt myself fall even more in love with him. I gently kissed his cheek and after watching his peaceful expression for a moment longer, I detangled myself from his arms carefully, not wanting to wake him, and went to answer the door when someone tentatively knocked again. I had been so holed up in my own mind I had forgotten what had awoken me in the first place.

'Bekah, good morning,' I smiled brightly, more than a little refreshed.

'Good morning. I assumed seeing as my brother was absent from our hut last night that he's with you?' she lifted a brow that had me biting back a shy smile.

'Yeah, I didn't want to be alone and I asked him to stay.' I continued when I noticed her suspicion, 'nothing happened.' Well, not last night at least…

She observed me for a moment before nodding, accepting my answer.

'I was wondering if you would like to take a walk with me? Mother sent me out to gather ingredients for dinner tonight and I would appreciate the company.' She smiled almost nervously.

I glanced over to where Nik was still sleeping and shrugged, figuring why not. Since I'd gotten here I hadn't really been able to spend alone time with Bekah. Back home Katy, Bekah and I had girl nights at least once a week and I was really missing my girl time.

'I'd love that.' I grinned, genuinely excited, 'I'll just get dressed.'

'Of course.' She nodded, seeming embarrassed when she noticed my night attire. Honestly this was more modest than the clothes I wore in public in the future.

'Come on in and wait if you'd like?' I opened the door wider and ushered her inside, ignoring her protests. I didn't want her to be embarrassed or feel awkward so I was ignoring the tension in the room as I fished out a deep red dress to change into. I slipped into it when Bekah turned her back for a moment. I chuckled at her surprise when she faced me and saw me fully dressed.

'I'm a fast dresser.' I placed my nightgown carefully underneath the pillow Nik was lying on before taking her hand and pulling her out of the hut.

We walked in comfortable silence for a few moments until I realised something else. Nik wasn't the only one who would remember me, and again none of them were surprised when they first met me. Bekah and I had met for the first time in a bar—I was seeing a recurring theme here—when Katherine and I were stalking Klaus and Stefan. I had wondered then why she had been so nice to me, why we had seemed to get along as if we had been friends for years. She knew. They all knew. That meant that the plan I had come up with, I carried out on all of the originals. That made me breathe a sigh of relief.

'Were you aware that Elijah and Katarina spent the night together?' Bekah's question broke me out of my thoughts.

'No. I was actually going to ask you if you knew where she was.' I smiled softly, brushing my hair behind my ear, 'I'm sure nothing scandalous happened. Elijah is a gentleman, is he not?'

'He is, but I've never seen him so enamoured with anyone before. Not even Tatia.' Bekah admitted and I bit back a knowing smile.

'What about you? Anyone in the village caught your eye?' I wondered, not remembering Bekah mentioning being in love when she was human, but I'd never asked her about it either.

'What? Of course not!' She denied, but the red colour that swept across her cheeks gave her away.

'Something tells me you're fibbing Bekah.' I teased, reaching up to pick a green apple from one of the trees we were walking thorough.

'There is someone…' she admitted softly, biting her lip and looking around suspiciously.

'You can talk to me about it, you know. I won't tell anyone, not even Nik.' I told her seriously, placing my hand on hers comfortingly.

'Promise?' She asked in a small voice.

'Promise.' And then I added with a smirk, 'us girls have to stick together after all.'

We shared a smile before we continued walking in the direction to gather the herbs.

'There is a boy. His name is Daniel. He's sweet, handsome and kind.' She started, and once the damn was broken everything came rushing out, 'he has the bluest eyes and the most ridiculous laugh. Of course father would never allow me to associate with him, as he doesn't come from a wealthy family. He doesn't even know who I am.'

She suddenly looked very sad and it wasn't a sight I liked. I wound my arm around her shoulders.

'Let me assure you, Bekah, you are one of the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful women I know. Daniel would be lucky to have you and if your father has an issue with it… then that's his problem, isn't it?' I said, but I wasn't so sure—wasn't marrying someone with a large fortune rather important in these times?

'I wish that were the case. Father would be furious.' Bekah sighed forlornly and it hurt my heart a little.

'I promise you Bekah, you will find happiness it may not be with Daniel,' in fact I knew it wouldn't be, but I couldn't tell her that, 'but you will. You'll find someone who makes you happy and content.'

'You really think so?'

'I know so.' I assured her.

We weren't in silence for very long when Bekah steered the conversation to a new topic.

'So speaking of romantic interest… what's going on with you and my brother? You seemed rather close at the feast last night.' She gave me a pointed look that made me smile happily.

'I don't know what came over me last night, I mean he hadn't really expressed any romantic interest in me before last night and I just… I couldn't help myself I guess. Being with him, being around him feels so right it's as if I am drawn to him. I hope I didn't scare him away with how forward I was being.' I bit my lip in concern, was I acting what was considered "indecent" for a woman of this time?

'I don't think he would have spent the night if you had scared him away. Honestly I'm glad you came here. Before you and Katarina arrived, I thought the family was going to be torn apart with how they were messing around with Tatia. Now I haven't seen Nik look in that tarts direction since father…' she trailed off and swallowed harshly before continuing, 'and he was losing interest even before then. I think his sudden feelings for you confused him, which was why he was still hanging around the strumpet. He and Elijah both.'

'What are you trying to say?' I asked, happy with what she had said so far.

'My brothers are both happy with different women and it's a nice sight to see. Especially seeing as you and Katarina aren't awful like Tatia.'

'Thank you, Bekah, I'm happy that I seem to be making him as happy as he makes me.' I smiled, but I was still a little unsure—were his feelings for Tatia gone? Just like that? I would have to talk to Katy about it.

We eventually reached the patch of woodland where we found the herbs and ingredients Ester had requested her daughter to find. It didn't take us long to pick them and soon we were on our way back to the Mikaelson house, but I noticed Bekah led us in a different direction about half way back. I was about to ask her where we were going when I noticed the familiar surroundings. I smiled when I heard the running water. We had come to the same creek that I had wondered to our first night arriving here. The same creek where Nik and I had been intimate. I was grateful for my inability to blush as I my eyes drifted to the bank where he had laid me down.

'I thought a drink of water and a wash would be nice.' Bekah explained before I could ask her why we had stopped.

'Very well.' I shrugged and went over to the edge of the water, washing the dirt that had gathered from picking things from the earth. When I was done, I leant down and scooped some of the water up to my lips to take a drink.

'I quite like it here.' I mused, sitting back on a near by boulder and letting the sun wash over my skin.

'Is this village different from your last?'

'Very different.' I hid a knowing smirk, 'do you ever swim here?'

'Of course.' Bekah smiled, 'my brothers and I have a game we like to play, but of course Niklaus never loses.'

I remembered him mentioning a game that night, but he had never explained the specifics.

'What game?'

'We draw straws and whoever draws the shortest has to find everyone underwater. Of course it's relatively easy for that person if the other players aren't good at holding their breath.' She explained.

'And Niklaus does well with holding his breath?'

'Very well.' She nodded.

Very well indeed. I had seen just how well the other night. I smiled at the memory.

'What do—,' Bekah's question was cut off by the sound of laughter. It was a sound I would recognise anywhere and after Bekah and I shared a confused look we gathered our things and headed in the direction of the sound.

The sight we walked in on made my blood boil, while my heart felt like it had been ripped out and stomped on. Klaus had Tatia pinned to a tree and he was grinning down at her. The doppelganger saw me over his shoulder and smirked, pushing herself closer to Nik. My teeth clenched together in anger but I could feel the stinging in my eyes, and I knew I needed to get out of there. I couldn't focus on what they were saying, I couldn't hear Nik when he turned and saw me standing there with his sister. Instead I turned away and ran. I forced myself to move at human speed until I was out of sight and then I flashed away, mindful not to enter the werewolf territory. I reached an empty field and sat down underneath an old willow tree, and finally allowed my tears to fall, unreserved.