When Niklaus made his way back to the Manor, he almost encountered no one. Key word being almost. That was until Katerina Petrova made her way down the stairs and laid her eyes on him. A smirk curled her red lips.

Niklaus groaned. He almost missed the days that Katerina would have fled just by the sound of is name. But the days were long past.

And she was standing on the stairs with her arms crossed with a smirk and knowing eyes. Her hips leaning on the railing as she said, "Had an eventful evening, did we?"

Niklaus masked his face with absolutely no emotion and replied, "I don't know what you mean."

Katerina chuckled and said, "You do realise that you are talking to someone who acquired PhD in lying, right?"

Niklaus kept his mouth shut.

"Really Klaus. I was hoping that you would have went to have a chat with Damon. But it seems that you spent your time with another resident vampire." Katerina tutted.

"Have you met, Arabelle? You don't want to be in the receiving end of her wrath. Trust me. And going after her mate would only result in that," Niklaus said as he started up the stairs, "now if you'll excuse me, I have a rather I'll tempered Vampire/Witch Hybrid sister to face."

"Good luck with that," Katerina said with a chuckle.

Sage and Finn were having a very great day. They have been away from each other for nine hundred years. Though it was not more than a day for Finn, Sage was a whole new story.

She had to stay away from her beloved and a family she loved no less than her own, just because her lover's father was a egoistic bastard. So she stayed away.

But all the wait was worth it in the end. Sitting in the living room of the Mikaelson Manor with Finn, helping him adjust to the modern technology was a wonderful feel. It helped them grow closer once again.

Curling closer to Finn, she said, "I missed this. For nine hundred years, the only thing that made me go on was the belief that we will be together again."

Finn tucked her red curl behind her ear and said, "And we shall be together for a long time."

Sage sighed, "That sounds wonderful. But given our family's history, we will never have a boring year."

"If that is the case, we shall face it. Together."

Sage remained silent for a long time. Until there was a crash upstairs.

Arabelle glared furiously at her favourite sibling as he was thrown across the room.

It was not her fault. She was wallowing in her self pity when Niklaus entered her room smelling like lilac.

And her acute knowledge of aura and smell reminded her that it was the same flavour perfume that Caroline used.

Arabelle knew she was being petty. But the mere thought that Niklaus got to see his mate while she can't, for the lack of better word, pissed her off.

She knew it was childish. But the irrational part of her that took over the moment Niklaus came into her room felt betrayed. That part silently expected Niklaus to beat Damon to a pulp. Even though she would have fried her brother's brain after that.

And the moment her brain processed that he didn't torture Damon but spend time with Caroline made her finger tips tingle with magic.

And she promptly threw her Hybrid brother across the room with her magic.

And it was that sound that burst the bubble for Sage and Finn.

That evening, Arabelle had an unexpected and unlikely guest.

Bonnie Bennett.

Arabelle lounged on the love seat in the Manor's living room with her lags crossed. Her pose reminded of a Queen on her throne, making Bonnie painfully realise who runs the show.

"So Miss Bennett, may I know why your judge mental self is in my living room?" Arabelle asked with authority.

Bonnie shivered internally but refused to show any weakness. "I am here to ask you about what you told us the other day."

Arabelle quirked her left brow. "I said a lot of things worth of two thousand years, girl. You've to be more specific."

Bonnie clenched her jaw and took a deep breath, which caused Arabelle to smirk. "Your ass of a brother said-"

"I have four, you have to use names," Arabelle shrugged.

"Kol," Bonnie spat, "said that there is a three stage ritual. Stage one is marriage. What are the next two?"

"Why do you ask?" Arabelle asked as she brought her fingers to rest on her chin.

"I want to help." Bonnie said calmly. At least as calmly as she could.

"Mmmm" Arabelle scrutinised her, making Bonnie to shift uncomfortably. "Now why should I believe you?"

"Look," Bonnie said, "you don't like me. I get it. And I assure you the feeling is mutual. I am only here because you said that it was a Bennett's job to keep the world safe. It was what my Grams did before me. And I shall do it for her. Even if it means to work with you."

"Such a noble heart you have there, Miss Bennett. But self preservation is also important. You are more than welcome to join me. Unless you stop sacrificing your life. Meet me tomorrow with your mother and cousin."

Caroline found herself strolling the forest once again. And she found Damon sitting under a tree once again. And she sat beside him once again.

"Why, Blondie, do you smell like the Original Hybrid?" Damon asked taking a swing of his bourbon.

Caroline just shrugged. "Why do you reek of alcohol?"

Damon shrugged. "I am sorry"

Caroline's breadth caught. They both knew where this was going.

"I know it doesn't make what I did go away. But I am sorry for what I did to you when you were a human. I am not asking you to forgive me, Caroline. But in a century or two I would like to be friends with you." Damon said.

Caroline sighed, "To be honest I never thought I would get an apology, even a half arsed one, from you, Damon. I will try to forgive you."

Only then did Damon looked at her. His icy blue eyes with so much emotion. "Thank you."

Hope you liked it...

I am sorry for the lack of update... the only reason I have is I was lazy...

I am thinking about changing the title and summary as the story took a turn from the original one I had in mind... The new title is "Warmth Beneath Ice"

Leave your reviews, please...

Until Next Time...