I do not own TVD or TO.

There is some SMUT during the first section of the chapter. This one contains the ball which I've come to realize is going to take up two or maybe three chapters.

Elena refused to open her eyes. It was not going to happen that day because she was too damn comfortable and he was warm, plus her eyes seemed to be fused shut. She could have easily stayed in bed all day long cuddled into his chest.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the rich smell of her blood and the subtle scent of her shampoo, and glanced down at her straight hair. His fingers combed through the dark strands. Now and then he paused to detangle the knots with a gentle touch, but she still grunted: a soft sound in the back of her throat.

Klaus chuckled and raised his other hand to tip up her chin and smooth the hair back from her face.

"It's time to wake up, sweetheart."

She made a sound of dissent.

"Come on, love," he smirked, "the sun is up."

She cracked one eye open and glared. There was no way she was going to move an inch. No power on earth could make her shift from her current position, and she mumbled as much in a sleep-laced voice; she was too tired and would not answer to such a rude awakening.

"Rude, huh? Very well," he rolled her onto her back and slipped her tank top up exposing the smooth curve of her stomach. "One gentle awakening coming up, love."

She was still half asleep when he placed the first kiss to her naval. The sharp stubble scratched her silky skin on his downward path. He took his time and drew lazy patterns on her heated skin, dipping his tongue into her belly button and working her shirt higher.

He dragged his fingers back down, dancing over her ribs and hooking into the band of her flannel pajama bottoms.

Slim fingers pushed into his curls and tugged the soft strands. He exposed another inch of skin and nipped the flushed flesh with blunt teeth, soothing the mark with his tongue.

She was starting to make the adorable sounds in the back of her throat that he enjoyed. The mewls traveled through him quickening his blood, and he shifted to relieve some of the tension against the mattress. He slid the material that shielded her from him down her legs and tossed the clothing on the floor.

He nearly groaned at the unobstructed smell of her arousal; it was heavenly and he knew that she would taste even better.

Dipping his head beneath the sheet he spread her thighs.

She threw her head back, tossed one hand over her mouth and tried to swallow her moans.

She wasn't sure how long he spent dragging his tongue through her folds, but he was so soft and gentle about it that she was on the verge of coming when she came fully awake.

She was a quivering, whimpering mess when he pushed a single finger inside and finger-fucked her in time with the flicks of his tongue against her swollen clit.

Moaning as her body tightened, she felt her hips arch off the bed. Exquisite pleasure washed over her, flowing through her veins and making her blood sizzle with electricity.

"Better?" He flipped the sheet over his head and propped his chin on her stomach. Somewhere nearby he heard the gentle thrum of a hummingbird's wings.

"A screaming orgasm is a better way to wake up, but now I feel empty," she managed a sleepy smirk. There was a hollow ache between her thighs.

"I think I can help you with that," he chuckled. Taking her wrist he placed her palm over the bulge in his boxers.

"I bet you can," she bit her bottom lip. Pulling him free from the confines of his underwear she stroked up and down a few times, twisting her wrist and making him buck into her hand.

The movement made him graze her soaked folds making her gasp. She lined him up with her entrance, anticipation hummed through her body at the prospect of being filled, but before he could sink inside of her the bedroom door opened and she swore.

She relaxed marginally when she remembered she was still covered by her rucked up shirt, the sheet and his body, but her fingers still tightened reflexively. He hissed, part pleasure and part pain, and she let him go, but it was rather obvious to the morning visitor what they had been engaging in: the bed sheets weren't hiding that much.

Jeremy stood in the door, having forgotten what he was going to say and his reason for entering his sister's bedroom in the first place.

Elena had to hand it to him: Klaus knew how to throw a last minute party. The mansion had been transformed into a glittering wonderland.

She had completely forgotten to tell him she would be in attendance after Jeremy had walked in on them and so had texted him later. Her brother had tried to talk her out of coming. Stefan and Damon had tried as well, and then Jeremy again when he caught her lying down with a low grade fever.

Her fever had passed, and she didn't care one bit what Stefan or Damon has to say about it since they were working with a limited amount of information. She had still gone to Caroline and asked that she render services as a supernatural bodyguard. She felt perfectly safe with Klaus in the crowd, and she was done hiding, but telling Damon her explosive secret before this kind of event was a bad idea; he would have blown up and picked a fight.

Caroline was her show of muscle to pacify the Salvatore equation.

She had been certain it would be enough because she wasn't actually in danger, but that was before she had messaged Klaus to confirm the dress code.

He had returned to the mansion with her scent all over him, so his siblings now knew he was seeing someone and the fact that he had spent the morning with her told them she was someone important. He had called and tried to talk her out of coming too.

"If they already know won't it look odd if I'm not there, especially since I was personally invited by your mother?"

She flicked through the gowns in the closet. There was the navy blue and gold dress Klaus had sent over, a white dress she'd had for a founder's event last summer, and the royal blue gown from the Miss Mystic Falls pageant.

"If my siblings learn about you they will kill you to get back at me."

"Okay…" she drew out the word and laid the blue and gold dress on the bed, "… riddle me this: how long were you planning on hiding me away? Because forever seems like a bit of a stretch."

"Not forever, sweetheart, just until they cool off, or I find the place Elijah has hidden the daggers."

"Right because daggering them again seems like a stellar idea."

"Your sarcasm is not appreciated, love."

"I appreciate it," she picked out a set of heels, already dreading the prospect of wearing them. "I would think undaggering them wins me some points, and let's not forget that Elijah has made two attempts to save my life now; one of them succeeded."

"Twice?"

Her eyes widened when she realized the admission.

"The point is I will be fine," she waved with her shoes, as if he could see her motion, "and it would be rude of me not to go and see what your mother wants."

"Perhaps she wants to kill you."

"There is only one way to find out, and you'll be able to hear whatever she has to say anyway."

In the end he had conceded the point. If she didn't show up to the ball she had been specifically invited to there would be an inquiry as to why.

They had come to the agreement it would be better to avoid each other during the evening. He had also asked that she leave as soon as possible to which she had said no; she was beginning to rethink her stance now that she was standing in the entrance because her feet were killing her.

She just wanted to kick off her heels, rip off the stupid strapless bra and maybe sink into a hot bubble bath, but she couldn't go yet; she still had to meet his mother.

She was going to be fine, she had even used Caroline's perfume to make sure she wasn't targeted, but then she spotted Klaus through the crowd of sparkling townsfolk.

He straightened up when he saw her and even from across the ballroom she could see the light of fear and panic in his eyes. He masked it quickly, but not before her stomach clenched.

The organ turned over violently. She wanted to corner him and find out what's got him more on edge than usual but she didn't get the chance to move before she was flanked by the Salvatores and Klaus moved.

Through the corner of her eye she saw him approach Caroline; the blue dress caught the light and if Elena wasn't confident in his sentiments she might have been jealous, but she was confident and she knew better because while she had borrowed Caroline's perfume her friend had taken hers.

She shook herself from overthinking the distraction he was causing and turned her attention on to Stefan and Damon.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing?" Stefan cocked an eyebrow.

Elena just kept from rolling her eyes. When Klaus had compelled Stefan he had added in a stipulation that he continue protecting her as he had before the ritual; he had admitted later when she went off about it that he shouldn't have done it, but the damage was done.

"I was actually talking to Damon," her eyes flickered to the elder brother for a moment, "you're obviously Rebekah's date."

"I was invited," Damon adjusted his sleeves, "you're not supposed to be here."

"I am actually," Elena rolled her eyes, "I was invited: you saw the invitation. Now if you two will excuse me I have a party to attend."

"Walking in unescorted," Damon cut in front of her, "is a crime we can't allow."

She looked over his shoulder to the milling forms of her friends and neighbors before sighing and taking Damon's proffered arm.

"Good evening," Klaus offered a charming smile when he approached.

"I'm gonna need a drink," Caroline took one look at him and sighed.

He chuckled as she walked away from him and he caught the unmistakable smell of Elena's perfume. It would be just enough to throw suspicion on the blonde without painting a target on her back. He had learned several weeks back that putting his mate's friends and loved ones in danger was a quick way to get on her bad side. Elena was the reason her friend still drew breath; she had told him to fix what he had done and to spare her losing her best friend he had healed the young vampire.

He had healed her and nobody knew the reason why save for Elena and himself, they only knew that he had. That combined with her shift in perfume made her perfect; all he had to do was avoid casting any longing looks in Elena's direction or stealing the brunette away to properly ravish her. He didn't dare look at Elena; her dress hugged her upper body beautifully and her hair was pulled over one shoulder revealing the elegant curve of her neck that teased him through the crowd.

Across the room Elena had managed to shake off Damon for a moment by approaching the bar, but before she could order a drink she felt the cool presence of another body standing near her. She craned her neck up and took in the features of the man who resembled Elijah; he was older, but they were unmistakably brothers. She knew because she had seen his face before; he looked better now with a modern haircut and suit.

"Elena Gilbert, I presume?" He glanced down at her. The look on his face told her she didn't need to answer; he knew her features as well as his other siblings. "I'm Finn Mikaelson; you're here to see my mother."

"Is she here?" Elena nodded. In her mind she recalled Klaus text: Finn had spent 900 years in a box.

"Her request did not include your friends." He mirrored her nod but glanced at Damon a few feet away through narrow eyes.

"He's… protecting me," she shrugged one shoulder. She tilted her head and revealed the tidbit of information. "You may not know it, but she has tried to kill me once."

She fingered the vervain charm bracelet around her wrist. She had stopped drinking the herb weeks ago in favor of the jewelry. The plan had been to drink some as well just in case but the mix had upset her stomach and come right back up leading to her fevered hour.

His expression remained emotionless.

"If you want to see her, you'll need to be alone."

Elijah's voice interrupted whatever reply had been on the tip of her tongue and she turned to the family that had taken up a stance on the grand staircase. For a moment she was distracted by the memory of those stairs pressing into her back before she forced her mind to focus on what Elijah was saying: a call to a centuries old waltz to open the evening.

She made to follow Esther when she disappeared up the stairs and everyone else started towards the ballroom floor.

"Where do you think you're going?" Damon jumped into her path.

"She wants to see me alone, Damon." Elena's hands found her hips. She wanted to get the meeting over with and find an excuse to go home and take off her shoes.

"Sucks to be here then because you're not going," his eyes narrowed.

"I was invited to see her," she glared.

"You've got to warn me before you walk into the lion's den, Elena."

"Why, so you can stop me?"

"Yeah," he shook his head with a humourless laugh. He held out his hand to which her glare heated. "It would be rude not to dance."

She wanted to dance, but the partner she desired was across the room conning Caroline into a waltz.

"I do believe you're making the lady uncomfortable."

Elena turned her head a few inches and blinked at the young man who had come up beside them. If the elder brother was Finn than this had to be Kol.

"May I have the pleasure of opening the festivities with you?" He extended his hand to Elena with a charming smile.

She knew that smile. She had seen the grin on Klaus' lips many times over the past month. She knew full well what it meant, but right now the Original she didn't know was preferable to Damon's company so she slipped her gloved hand into his open palm and prayed Caroline's perfume was enough.

"We haven't been formally introduced," he lifted her hand and placed a chaste kiss to the back of her knuckles in a show of chivalry that hadn't seen the light of day in decades, "Kol Mikaelson."

"Elena Gilbert," she dipped into the expected curtsy and smiled.

"Well Elena," he pulled her into the dance as the music started, "now that we've been introduced might I say that you look stunning this evening, if it isn't obvious?"

"Thank you," she tilted her head, "and just so were clear that's for the compliment and rescuing me from Damon." She caught a glimpse of Rebekah dancing with Stefan and felt the blonde's eyes boring into her skull when Kol spun her back around.

"Is there a reason your sister doesn't like me?" She chewed her bottom lip.

"She loathes doppelgangers on principle," he smirked, "thinks they believe the world revolves around them. What made you think she doesn't like you?"

"A few snide comments," Elena shrugged, "a less than savory encounter and the fact that she's glaring a hole in the back of my head right now."

"Try not to take it personally, darling," he glanced towards his sister and found her attention was indeed on the brunette in his arms, "she has prejudices that go back a thousand years, all the way to Tatia."

Tatia, she nodded, that was her name. She had been hesitant to ask Klaus because of how Elijah had portrayed the relationship when they had talked about it.

The music swelled, approaching the point where partners switched.

"Please tell me Damon's not nearby?" She smiled hopefully.

"Other side of the room," Kol chuckled. He twirled her around.

Elena felt a strong hand take her waist as she was directed into the arms of her new partner. The tension in her shoulders relaxed when she tipped her head up.

"Forgive me Elena," Elijah offered a small smile, "I overheard your desire to avoid the elder Salvatore."

"Eavesdropping," she clicked her tongue. "That's rather rude you know?"

"I apologize," he tilted his head.

"I suppose I can forgive you." She sighed. A line appeared between her brows. "Did I thank you for last night?"

"You did," he nodded, "three times." His eyes narrowed as he tilted his head. There was something different about Elena, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Caroline chewed her bottom lip and smoothed her palms over the silk gloves covering her elbows. She wouldn't deny that sneaking off to break Damon's neck had been satisfying, but her mind was reeling from the events of the day.

First Elena had asked her to attend the ball and then as if on cue a dress had arrived by courier from Klaus. She hadn't understood the game he was playing until he had asked her to dance.

She stared up at the landscape adorning the wall; passionate brush strokes and a minute attention to detail had been signed off with a signature she recognized from the invitation to the ball.

She had an idea why she was there now, but how much of it was known to all parties involved was lost to her.

"I see you've found one of my passions," Klaus stepped into the room.

"Possibly more," Caroline uncrossed her arms and glanced over her shoulder before returning her gaze to the painting. "Did you know your cologne is rather… distinctive?"

"Does she know what you were doing here?" She pointed to herself and heard his heart stutter.

"Who?" His voice dropped, for a moment he considered ending her before remembering the friends and family rule.

"I don't know what rumors you've heard floating around town, but I'm not an idiot."

"I never took you for one," he stood beside her, watching from the corner of his eye. "She did not know because I did not know until you arrived."

"How homicidal are your siblings?"

"Elijah's fairly sane," he examined the brushwork.

She did not fail to notice his lack of praise for the other three.

"For the record I don't appreciate being used."

"Noted."

"Also," she held up a gloved finger, "if you hurt her I will destroy you."

He would have laughed but the look in her eyes told him she was deadly serious and for one brief moment he saw the force of nature that was Caroline Forbes. She would find some way to make good on her threat, and even though he would never cause Elena harm, he felt a faint shiver of fear.

"Understood," he smirked.

"So why are you in here?" She cocked an eyebrow. "Other than stalking me, I mean."

"I was seeking some peace and quiet," he turned back to the painting, "it's impossible to hear myself think out there."

"It's not much better in here," she shrugged. She had lost Elena's voice a few seconds after he walked in the room.

She paused in the middle of the hall when she heard her name and turned around to see Elijah; his hand landed on her elbow and she stopped walking.

"I understand my mother requested to see you."

"Yeah," she frowned when he glanced over her shoulder down the hall. "Why: is something wrong?"

"Well," he tilted his head. It was clear the topic on his mind was not one he had wanted to broach on the dancefloor. "Her ability to forgive my brother after everything he's done to destroy this family strikes me as odd to say the least."

"Do you think it's an act?" She tilted her head.

"It has me asking questions I never thought I'd ask," he admitted, looking back to her eyes. "Can I depend on you to tell me what she says?"

The thought to refuse him never crossed her mind; he had done nothing but help her over the last few days.

"Of course," she nodded, "I'll find you later, okay?"