Chapter 9: Bonding

Bonnie Bennet was a lot more accepting then Alexinia thought she would be. Somehow Bonnie and her friends had gotten a hold of the history books, Hermione had written about their years at Hogwarts and how it had led to the downfall of the Dark Lord, most likely Jenna's doing although how she got a hold of them Alexinia didn't know. It seemed just that had been enough that they were opening up to her more now even with her being linked to Nik.

It made researching with her much easier. Although they still weren't what Alexinia would consider friends. Maybe one day, but for now they were just allies with a common goal.

"Nik, Ali come in," Jen said moving aside. Ignoring the grumpy huffs she was getting from Alaric. They might be more accepting of Alexinia, but they still didn't like the thought of the Original Vampire being in their house.

"Jenna, you are looking as lovely as always, I brought your favorite wine to go along with dinner."

Taking the bottle from Nik, Jen smirked before she moved and planted a chaste kiss on Nik's cheek, most likely wanting to get a rise from her boyfriend. Despite what Alexinia had thought of Jen and Nik making a good couple, the two had never even entertained the idea. Nik instead adopting Jen as a younger sister, even if no one other then the three of them knew it. With how flirty Jen was in college it wouldn't surprise Alexinia if one of the other members of the house had asked if she had ever slept with Nik, and knowing how vindictive Jen could be when she wanted to she had probably refused to answer since no one was telling her about the vampire situation in Mystic Falls.

"You shouldn't have Niklaus. You honestly do spoil us."

Nik had finally gotten time to meet Jenna. A year and a half after she had started college. It was odd that he hadn't found a way to meet her before now, considering how protective he is of her, but Alexinia was glad that the two important people in her life would finally meet.

Currently Jen was out grabbing lunch for the three of them and Nik was due in a few minutes. So it surprised Alexinia when she heard a crash at Jen's door. Approaching cautiously she pulled it open and gasped when she saw a pale Nik standing there, he looked like he hadn't fed in a month, and she had no blood here since it wasn't her place.

"Nik, come on love we need to get you out of the hallway," she used her magic to help her support his weight as she moved him towards the couch.
When he was stronger he would be pissed off, but there was nothing else she could do. So without hesitation she made a small cut on her neck bringing Nik's lips down to her. It showed how delirious he was when he latched on without hesitation. Moaning Alexinia was surprised at the pleasure coursing through her as her best friend drank her blood. Wetness was flooding between her legs, she had never been this turned on.

"Nik," she gasped out, needing release. Forgetting completely that he was injured somehow because she knew there was no way he had gone a month without blood, especially since he had sounded fine when they talked only a few hours ago.

Things would have probably gotten out of hand if the door hadn't crashed open at that point and an enraged Jen had come flying into the room. A stake in her hand as she rushed towards Nik. A split second later Jen was on her back, Alexinia having created a barrier spell between them, causing Jen to crash into it and fall. It was partly for Jen's safety and partly for Nik's, in his current state he likely wouldn't have been able to fight her off, and even if he can't die by ordinary means he was still too weak to lose anymore blood.

"Get away from her you monster!" Jen struggled at the barrier trying to force her way through. "Ali run. Please. Don't let him feed anymore."

It was those words that jolted Nik out of the blood lust, he had broken out of his trance, pulling away with enough force that his fangs caused pain for the first time since he had started feeding on her. Looking up into his eyes all she saw was horror, and she could see he wanted to dart away from her, but knew he would also never purposely hurt her, so she grabbed onto his arm tight enough that her nails were digging in. It would have caused a human to bleed the amount of pressure she was using on him.

Nik had been careful to never fed on her. Not wanting her to ever think that was what he saw her as. Thinking someone would convince her that their friendship had all just been him manipulating her. But Alexinia knew that was stupid. He had never given her a reason to doubt their friendship. He had always protected her and she would help him anyway she could.

"Xinia, why, what happened?" There was such confusion in his eyes. As if he truly had no idea how he had ended up here. It made her friend seem mortal, something she had never thought she would see. Nik was supposed to be invulnerable, how had he gotten hurt? Who had enough power that Nik wouldn't even remember what happened to him?

"Shh love it's alright. You didn't attack me, you came here hurt and needing blood. Seeing you so pale terrified me. I cut myself so you would feed."

The only thing that made his memory loss a good thing, was that he wouldn't know how much his drinking from her had affected her. Nik would never know she had begged him for release. Hopefully he wouldn't realize she was holding something back about what happened.

"ALI, I'll kill you. Scum vampire." Jen screamed bringing Alexinia's attention back to her. "No you won't Jen. Nik's my friend. He won't hurt me."

Hearing his name made Jen deflate a look of shock coming into her eyes. "Wait Nik, as in best friend who saved your life Nik. You never mentioned he was a vampire!"

"And you never mentioned you were a hunter. This is the only time Nik's ever fed from me, and he wasn't even in his right mind when he did Jen. I made him."

It was shocking how much their relationship had changed once Alexinia had convinced Jen that Nik would never hurt her. And then of course she had started pushing Alexinia into tapping that. Saying the sexual tension between them was obvious. Plus even if Nik didn't remember her arousal when he had fed, Jen did, and had used it to drag out of Alexinia that she had lusted after her best friend. Making it Jen's mission to convince her to finally ride her hunky best friend.

"Alexinia, hey," Jeremy greeted her. It seemed the Gilbert's had decided to fully embrace their Aunt's friendship with her and Nik, and had no issue with them. "You mentioned Niklaus is an artist, do you think he would mind coming to look at some of my drawings? I'd love feedback from someone who actually know's art."

"I'd be honored." Nik had heard a lot about Jeremy from Jen, knew how he had struggled since the death of his parents, and if the young man wanted his help he wouldn't hesitate. Alexinia knew Nik was just as happy she had realized the problem with the ritual, he had never wanted to hurt Jen and going after her family to kill them would have hurt her. If it wasn't for the fact that he refused to turn her, Alexinia would have thought Nik would start trying to convince Jen to become a vampire. Not wanting to lose her to the pull of time. They were his family, and she just didn't understand why he wouldn't want to stop them from dying within the next sixty odd years.

"It's just the five of us for now. Since Damon and Stefan insisted on crashing dinner, I sent them to get some decent Italian food. I might have told them the wrong time, just so we could have a little peace before they started their interrogation. Elena went with them to make sure they wouldn't do anything stupid, her words not mine."

That was just like Jen. Laughing Alexinia took her arm and demanded a tour of the house. She was constantly aware of Alaric following them, which sort of shocked her since she was certain the hunter would have decided to follow Nik and Jeremy instead. At least he seemed better then the idiots Jen had dated in the past. For now he would get the benefit of the doubt, but if he ever hurt Jen he would find out exactly why you never messed with a Potter or someone under their protection. She wouldn't kill him, well not unless what he did was completely horrendous, but she could make his life a living hell.

As for the Salvatore brothers hopefully Elena could keep them in line, because if she couldn't Alexinia wasn't opposed to locking them up in a tomb until the ritual was completed. Everyone else was willing to work with them. It was the Salvatore's who were the wild cards. It was funny how everyone saw Stefan as the good brother, meaning most likely no one in Mystic Falls knew Stefan was a ripper. With his ripper status it surprised her that no witch had put him down yet or a hunter. Rippers were dangerous when they were off the wagon, nothing could keep their blood lust under control. In the wizarding world a ripper was put to death the moment they were recognized, because there was too high of a chance of the magical world being discovered by them.

Damon could control his instincts, but he was impulsive. Doing what he thought was best to protect those he cared about, no matter how much mayhem and misery he left in his wake. Yet he also helped out in wars, to protect humans, and he had a habit of hunting down the serial killers in any town he lived in. In Alexinia's mind there was much more to Damon than anyone thought. His loyalty to Katerina before he found out about her betrayal proved he was someone you wanted on your side, and hopefully for Elena he would come around and realize they were doing the best they could.

"Did you enjoy showing Niklaus your art?"

"Yeah he's even offered to bring some better supplies next time you drag him over, and give me a lesson. He says I could rival Picasso one day."

The bright smile on Jeremy's face and the slight grin on Nik's was warming to see. Alaric even seemed to reluctantly admit to himself that Nik wasn't giving them a reason not to trust them.

"Good. Now Niklaus Ali when's the wedding?"

If anyone other then Jen had been asking this Alexinia probably would have started spluttering and denying it, but instead she just sighed. And then turned around in shock when she heard gasping from behind her. Whelp seems Jen had finally succeeded in getting under Nik's skin, his face looked purple in his shock and he looked like he wanted to bolt oddly enough.

Jeremy and Alaric seemed just as shocked at Jen's bluntness and Alaric had shifted in front of Jen. Most likely thinking Nik would tear her head off for even daring to suggest it. Anyone else would be asking for a death wish.

"Jen how many times must I tell you things aren't like that and Nik breath. Honestly, you two are going to drive me to an early grave with your antics."
"So you two are just going to live in sin then?" she asked wiggling her brows suggestively.

"To live in sin you have to be having a carnal relationship Jen."

The best way to deal with Jen sometimes was just to act like what she was saying wasn't getting to you. But of course a traitorous part of Alexinia's mind couldn't help but think of marrying Nik one day. Her walking towards him wearing her mother's wedding dress, her long black hair styled with a braid wrapped around her crown the rest flowing freely down her back in the style of his birth time, with a lily behind her ear. Nik's hair would have been grown out for their wedding. His family would be undaggered and happy for them.

With a gasp Alexinia shoved the thoughts out of her mind. Not even believing she was thinking of it. Clearly somewhere in her subconscious she had thought of marrying him before. She had never been the type to imagine her wedding, and the image she saw was too detailed to have come from nowhere. Had it perhaps come from a dream?

"Are you alright, love?"

Banishing her thoughts she turned her attention back to her friends. "Of course I am Nik, and you do know calling me that all the time just encourages her, do you not?"

"Ah, but it fits you so well. I could always come up with another endearment if you would like?"

It seemed the shock of Jen suggesting they married left his mind. And now he was back to his normal teasing self. Rolling her eyes at him she just pushed past him. Heading towards the kitchen. "Jen if I'm going to have to deal with you both acting like this all night I need a drink."

"So they're always like this?"

"Yeah it drove me crazy in college. I was surprised it was left standing. Jen and Nik like one upping each other."

Jeremy just laughed at that. He really was a good kid. Reminding her of Neville and Draco a little. Draco because he was clearly battling demons, but Neville because you could see the courage and big heart he held. Losing his parents seemed to have affected him more then it had ever affected Alexinia, but then again he had time with them. Something she had unfortunately never been granted.

By the stiffening in Nik's shoulders as they entered the kitchen, she knew that the Salvatore's and Elena had returned. She just hoped neither of the brothers did anything to antagonize Nik. But then again with Jen around it wouldn't surprise her if they were best friends by the end of the night. Jen had a way with making people get along. It would be interesting to see what she could accomplish with the stubborn vampires.

AN: It seemed better to split this into two separate chapters. I decided to make it so it took longer for Nik to meet Jenna, so that Ali's a little older. She's in her mid twenties, instead of early twenties. Please tell me what you thought of this chapter, and if you have any ideas for how this story continues please share. I can't guarantee I will use them, but sometimes they do inspire the chapters I write. And with writer's block having hit me for almost a year inspiration is good. I honestly can't believe I've written 3 chapters for this already after so long. Thanks for reading and being such amazing fans.